Clare travelled to another safe area, free of the ministry's eyes. Transfiguration changed her brown hair to raven locks and her blue eyes to green emeralds. She also took the precaution of altering her height and nose. She made sure the changes were not permanent. After studying an American accent, she practiced constantly to perfect it. Their harsh vowels and sounds were foreign to her tongue, and it took her some time to master.
By the time Clare headed to Hogwarts, she had bought an all-American wardrobe and could convince anyone that she was from the USA. Once she reached the grounds, she approached the castle slowly. She was stiff with anticipation. Even with her heavy cover, she was putting herself in a very risky position by coming to teach.
Hogwarts was glowing in the morning light. She inhaled deeply as she reached the doorstep. Headmistress Mcgonagall met her at the door and welcomed her to the school.
"Miss Johnson, I hope your travel was uneventful in the best way."
"Yes ma'am." Clare forcibly relaxed her stance.
"I'm sure you've heard the unlucky nature of our Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position."
"Yes I've heard that's the reason you reached out to the Salem Witches. They said you were desperate for a teacher, and I've always wanted to visit England. So I figured, I'm as good a professor as any."
"Well, we are happy to have you here."
As the Headmistress showed her around, Clare was smiling as if she had never seen a castle as large and beautiful as Hogwarts. She exclaimed how beautiful it was and that she was so happy to be there.
Headmistress McGonagall halted outside Clare's classroom. "This is your classroom." The headmistress stopped and looked her in the eyes. "We have never had an American teacher in all the years Hogwarts has been open. Although you are from a different country, we expect you to behave as any other professor would." She obviously was quite uncomfortable with placing her trust in foreign help.
Clare took this warning very seriously. Her cover was conspicuous as is, she'd have to stay out of the public eye and away from the focus of the Headmistress. "Yes ma'am. You'll have nothing to worry about with me running the class. I hope to keep this position for many years to come."
"Good." McGonagall seemed pleased. Then for a moment, her eyes grew thoughtful and distant as if she was a million miles away. "Have you ever visited London before?"
Clare's heart was beating out of her chest. "No Minerva, I've wanted to move here my whole life. I was working as a student teacher finishing my higher education when I got the call about Hogwarts. Of course I immediately accepted."
Minerva looked like she was running through her mind who she reminded her of as she opened the door to the classroom and gave her the key.
Dismissing the subject, she said to her. "Familiarize yourself with the curriculum, and plan out your lessons. We encourage a hands on approach within all our classes, in this course especially. Let me know if you need access to any supplies or advice."
"I will, thank you."
When she left, Clare took a walk around the room. Memories flooded her, hitting her like a tidal wave. The whole day had been a stroll down memory lane. It pained her to feel it all again, the happiness, the anger, the fear.
She recalled the first time she had visited the room of requirement, knowing that she was betraying her friends. The astronomy tower where she had watched Dumbledore die. The Slytherin dorms which first had been her point of shame, became her strength and only asylum. Each of these places formed her.
The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was large and filled with disorganized supplies. With one quick spell, she put it all in place.
Oddly enough, as she began to organize the room in the way she desired, a different pain in her chest began to grow. It wasn't a bad pain, but one of excitement. She was eager to share her knowledge.
She had learned a lot in her teenage years, not only in classrooms, but in the grueling lessons she was forced into by her father. He took her in as his apprentice. Now, as an adult, her magic was as powerful as his had been.
Through the proper channels, through Hogwarts, she would be able to succeed in something that her father had failed. She would teach the younger generation to accept and embrace her ideas. They would learn to use their wands for any purpose necessary.
The desks were arranged in the traditional setting, row by row. Clare sat down in her office and began to plan the lessons. She wanted to hold a hands-on class, one the kids would like. She had a lot of time in prison to remember every painful detail of her life, especially the details of Hogwarts, such as the good teachers and the horribly boring ones. Wanting to get on the student's good sides, she planned to have a more involved class.