A/N: Sorry it's been a while, I've been busy with the play, homework, and other fanfics. Please enjoy!
DISCLAIMER- I am not J.K. Rowling, therefore I don't own Harry Potter. The Wizarding World is her creation only!
CHAPTER NINE
They arrived in the Great Hall without any hassle. Harry and Ginny spotted Ron and Hermione and sat down next to them at the Gryffindor table.
"Well, looks like our new Headmistress is McGonagall," Ron remarked as they ate, seeing Professor McGonagall in the spot where Dumbledore usually sat. A pang of sadness struck Harry, knowing that Dumbledore would never return to that spot. To get that thought out of his head, he let his eyes wander along the staff table, looking for new faces.
"Hey, we've got three new teachers!" Harry exclaimed, nudging Ron and pointing.
"Let's see...they'll be teaching Transfiguration, Potions, and, of course, Defense Against the Dark Arts," Hermione explained, counting them off on her fingers. Harry studied the new teachers carefully. The one furthest to the right was a completely bald man with a thin black mustache and dark eyes. The next one, who was talking to Professor Vector, was a middle-aged Japanese woman with a hard face and black hair tied back in tight bun with chopsticks in it. The last one was the one that kept Harry's gaze. It was a young woman about twenty years old with long bluish white hair and fair white skin. She was dressed in a light blue dress that almost fell off her shoulders. Harry couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was.
"Harry...you don't think that last one...is a veela?" Ron asked, staring at the young woman.
"Of course she isn't, not every one is staring at her," Ginny remarked. After everyone had finished eating, Professor McGonagall stood up.
"Welcome back to all the old, and to all the new welcome! Now, I have a few announcements to make," she said once all the chattering stopped. "First off, let us welcome three new teachers this year. First off, please welcome Professor Kahn who will be teaching Potions." Everyone clapped and the bald man stood up, nodded, and sat back down. "Next, there's Professor Chang, who will be the new Transfiguration teacher." The Japanese woman stood up, and it occurred to Harry that she must be Cho's mother. "And last but not least, Professor Lupe will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts." As she stood up, Ron leaned forward towards Harry.
"I'm definetely gonna enjoy that class this year," he said. Harry chuckled to himself, then turned back to Professor McGonagall.
"To all those who don't know, the Forbidden Forest is strictly forbidden to everyone. Also, the usual list of items Mr. Filch does not tolerate you playing with can be found over by the message board. That is all." Everyone began to leave the Great Hall and go back to their dormitories.
"She didn't mention Dumbledore, I noticed," said Hermione as they entered the common room.
"Probly too painful," said Harry.
"I wonder if the new teachers are any good," Ginny said, changing the subject quickly.
"Well, we'll find out tomorrow, won't we?" said Ron. Yep, they would find out tomorrow.
As soon as History of Magic was out, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all made their way to Defense Against the Dark Arts, wondering what Professor Lupe would be like.
"I hope she's nice," said Hermione, "and that she teaches us something interesting." They made their way into the classroom and picked a desk at the front of the room. Professor Lupe was standing behind her desk, reading something. They were shocked to see her dressed in a rather cool way. Her clothes consisted of jeans and a white halter top with a blue sash around her waist. Her long hair was tied back in a ponytail, save for two strands of it that hung down on each side of her head. She looked up at them and smiled.
"Hey, ready for class guys?" she asked. Harry was shocked that she was so un-formal. She acted just like a teenager would.
"Yes. What will we be learning about?" asked Hermione as more people entered the classroom. Professor Lupe gestured to a cage behind her. Hermione gasped, as did many other girls. Inside it was what appeared to be a grey wolf cub, save for it's unusual paws. The paws were pale green and webbed and the claws were rather large. As a matter of fact, the paws reminded Harry of fish fins. The cub growled softly and began to gnaw on the bars.
"Uhh...Professor...what exactly is that?" Harry asked.
"It's called a Narmolingwe. Very interesting creatures, Narmolingwes. Anyone here know why?" Professor Lupe asked, looking around.
"Because it can survive on both land and under water," said Hermione. "A Narmolingwe can grow to about the size of a horse and feeds on mostly everything...even humans." The class recoiled, but Professor Lupe held up her hand.
"Not to worry, this one's just a pup. Ten points to Gryffindor by the way. Now, this creature is quite useful too. The saliva of one can cure a head ache and the fur is a valuable material used in blankets because it never loses its warmth. Also, the fang of a Narmolingwe is a rare ingredient in a few potions. These creatures can be loyal to humans, only if you know how to deal properly with them." Professor Lupe bent down and opened the cage. The pup jumped out and sniffed its surroundings.
"Professor..." Ron said nervously as the pup began to sniff his shoes. Professor Lupe just laughed and held out her hand to the pup. It immediately began to growl at her, as though warning her to keep away. Professor Lupe, however, was unnerved.
"Watch closely, this is how you deal with them," she said, and everyone watched. The room grew tense as Lupe's hand got closer and closer. Finally, the inevitable happened and the pup sank its teeth into her hand. The entire class gasped and Lavender fainted, but Lupe merely winced a little. Blood began to leak out from the wound, and the pup held its grip. After a few minutes, there was more gasping as the pup released her hand and began to lick the wound. "See?" Lupe told them, smiling at the pup.
"How...?" Harry was at loss for words. Everyone else seemed just as confused.
"Why are we learning about that?" Draco Malfoy asked with a disgusted look. Lupe picked up the pup and stood up to face him.
"Because it's important to know," she said sternly. "Surely you, Malfoy, know that Lord Voldemort will be using these creatures soon enough?" The class winced at the name, and Malfoy scowled at Lupe but didn't say anything. "Now, you're all probly wondering why I let her bite me. Well, when Narmolingwes are pups in order to gain their trust you must show them that you won't hurt them by letting them hurt you instead. From this they'll learn that you are kind to them, then they'll also allow you to pet them and hold them. You see, class, the taste of blood...well it usually calms them down." The class went dead silent. Professor Lupe smiled and put the pup into Hermione's arms. Hermione looked petrified, as though she were holding a bunch of nuclear weapons, bound to go off at any moment.
"Will it-er-bite?" Harry asked. Professor Lupe shook her head, so Harry bravely reached out a hand to pet the Narmolingwe. To his surprise, it nuzzled his hand and licked it, just like a normal dog would. The class breathed a sigh of relief, and crowded around the pup, all except the Slytherins of course.
"It's so warm and cute!" gushed Parvati as she scratched the pup's ears.
"Yeah, kinda hard to believe that this little thing could tear you to shreds when she's older," said Ron, clearly staying as far away from the pup as possible. The class ended and everyone began to leave.
"No homework," announced Professor Lupe, "and Harry, I want to talk to you." Harry nodded at Ron and Hermione to go to Herbology without him and went over to Lupe's desk. "Wotcher, Harry," Lupe said as soon as everyone was gone. Harry's mouth fell open.
"Tonks!"
"Yep, surprise surprise," she said grinning.
"Why-?" Harry couldn't speak because he was so shocked.
"I wanted to. McGonagall wanted an Auror at Hogwarts disguised as a teacher, so I figured why not?"
"Well...it's good to see you again," Harry finally managed to say after a while. "How's Lupin?"
"We're doing good, despite Lupin's problem. He was sad to see me go, but it was for the sake of everyone here. Anyway, you better get to class. Oh, and it's best that you don't tell anyone but Ron, Hermione, and Ginny 'bout me, ok?"
"Alright, see ya Ton-I mean Professor Lupe." Harry sped down to the greenhouses, anxious to tell Ron and Hermione about what he just learned.
A/N: Short, I know I know, but I had to get this chapter up. Anyway, please be patient for the next one!
