It was December. It was only a week ago when Harry took the memory from Slughorn and learnt about the Horcruxes, when someone entered Dumbledore's office. "Horace, in what do I own the pleasure?" Horace Slughorn stood in front of Dumbledore, ready to explode in pure anger."You! YOU, evil, old man! How dare you persuade the Potter kid to take MY memories?"He was furious at him to say the least. "I don't know what you are talking about Horace." Dumbledore tried act like he known nothing."You BLOODY know WHY! Well, then I inform you that I QUIT! I am TIRED to play A PAWN to YOUR games!" Slughorn then left the office slamming the door behind him, leaving Dumbledore shocked with eyes locked on the door that slammed. That went worse than I expected…Better find Severus. And with that he reached the fireplace and called Severus's name.
Severus Snape sat in his usual chair in front of the unlit fireplace flipping the pages of a magazine with no big purpose."Severus! It is an emergency please come to my office this instant." The voice of Dumbledore echoed Snape's rooms."Reason?" Severus placed his magazine on a nearby table and looked directly on Albus Dumbledore talking to him through the fireplace."Slughorn left his position…"Dumbledore sighed."He did what? How?" Snape was confused at the statement."I will tell you if you come up here." Dumbledore vanished from the fireplace and Severus rushed to Albus office.
Dumbledore and Minerva MacGonagall sat on each side of the desk in his office talking about the matter and who will replace the DADA teacher."I have already addressed the public that we are in need of a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor within the week. Let's hope that someone will reply or else the Ministry will step in."MacGonagall nodded while a slight knock on the door interrupted."Professor Dumbledore. Minerva. What is the meaning of this?" Severus quickly started asking questions."Well, Horace was more than angry when he realized what I wanted from him, so he came to face me and threw the resign to my face…" Dumbledore was a bit ashamed, as Slughorn was the second teacher that asked for a resignation within the past 3 years."So, let me guess…I have to take the potions class from now on and you will have to find a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor to replace me?"Snape wasn't going to like the answer since he already knew it."Precisely."
Ember Cia Potter looked up to her living room one last time. After 30 years of living in Greece she decided to leave her position as an auror in the Greek Ministry of Magic and move to England. She left Britain when she was only one year old with her mother. The rise of Voldemort had scarred her mother who decided to leave her husband and her son in England and she and her little girl would go far away to keep Ember safe. James-her brother- occasionally wrote letters to her to keep her informed about what was happening while he kept her existence a secret, for her own sake. Ember-as a wealthy pureblooded witch she was- possessed extraordinary skills and she excelled in spells and potions. Her mother in order to keep her safe she didn't enroll her to a wizardry school but she kept her homeschooled. She learnt about muggles and wizards, ancient Greek spells, how to play the piano, how to play Quidditch in her favorite position as a seeker- she was really good at it- and such but she never really had friends. Her muggle neighbor girls always harassed and teased her even now when they are all grown up. She didn't really remembered her father nor James but she had a picture of them all together laughing and holding a little girl in their arms. She didn't look like James, heavens no, she looked more like her mother. Her long curly brown hair with blonde highlights and blue glimmering eyes were nothing like the black scruffy hair and brown eyes of her brother's James.
Ember took her luggage in her small delicate hand and apparated. It wasn't hard since she was now used to it due to her work. Upon reaching London she swiftly moved through the crowd in her Cap sleeve Laced-neckline black dress that went to her knees and black heels to match her dress. Thank God no one realized to whom she was related to… yet…
She found the red phone booth that was the entrance to the English Ministry. She dialed the numbers and then the booth started going down…and down until it stopped. To her surprise the Ministry was full of people. Other were talking about the recent breakout of several Dementors and –as they call him- you-know-who's return but she wasn't worried about him. After a few steps she heard a red-headed man talking to someone else."Yes, I'm telling you Hogwarts has now a vacant position. Professor Snape took the potions class and now the Defense Against the Dark arts position is open. I don't think anyone is going to apply though…"Ember stopped. Did he say Snape? As in Severus Snape? The boy who was always harassed by my brother? And the DADA position is open? In the middle of the year? Ember headed to the administrations department."Excuse me; I am here to register myself. Just came from Greece, I worked there as an auror." Ember approached the receptionist in the desk. The woman eyed Ember's figure before she spoke."Name, and present your wand please." The woman handed over a box for Ember to put her wand in. Ember took out her 13 inch elder wood with dragon heartstring core wand presenting it."Ember Cia Potter." The woman in the desk froze at the spot upon hearing her last name but said nothing. After a few minutes Ember broke the silence."Excuse me, I heard that there is a vacant position in Hogwarts. Do you have any further information on the matter?"The woman looked up."Oh yes, Professor Horace Slughorn came to a disagreement with Headmaster Albus Dumbledore about his potions class and decided to resign. Professor Snape took his old position, the potions master, so Hogwarts has now emptied the Defense Against the Dark Arts place." The woman explained."If you would like to apply for the job, since you were an auror, from what I can see in your papers, you can go to the owlery and send an application." The elderly woman said, and with that she handed Ember her wand."Thank you ma'am. Have a nice day." And with that Ember went to find the ministry's owlery to send her application. Hopefully her nephew was still in school.
Christmas was only a week away and the students were more than excited. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat on the table for dinner when Dumbledore rose from his seat to address the staff and the students. Everyone noticed Slughorn's absence and the fact that Snape sat in the Potions Master instead of the DADA one. When Dumbledore rose, the hall went silent."I am very sorry to announce you that our Potions Master, unexpectedly decided to resign after a confrontation between me and Professor Slughorn. The Potions Master position will be filled by none other than our Professor Severus Snape. Although we are still on the search for the Defense Against the Dark arts professor. Now without further ado… let the feast begin!" The students weren't paying much attention to what they were just told but instead they focused on the delicious food in front of them. At the staff table Minerva noticed Dumbledore's squeezed Black Hand."Albus I think a mediwitch should take a look at your hand. I believe it is spreading…" At the witch's comment Severus drew his gaze from his plate onto the old man's hand."Like I said to Albus in person, I do not think there is a known spell or potion to cure the curse in his hand. So the mediwitch solution is out of the question."Minerva gazed on the younger man but said nothing. On the other end of the great hall The golden trio, Neville Longbottom and Lavender Brown were talking about school, teachers and things in general while Harry's mind was travelling, thinking solutions and possible scenarios for the defeat of tom riddle."My God…Just make out already!" Hermione's voice returned Harry back to reality. Ron was snogging Lavender in public, and when they heard Hermione's voice their cheeks went boiling red. Disgusting...Harry thought. As much as he loved Ron he could not see him with Lavender. It was weird…But Ron was his friend and he accepted his choices. Harry and Ginny used to be a thing last year, but it turned out she fell in love with The-Boy-Who-Lived and not with Harry. She wanted his fame, wanted to be The-chosen-one's girlfriend. But when Harry found out, he was on the verge of slapping her for her idiocy. Hermione wasn't in a relationship either. Lately Harry started to see her with from a different view. He just didn't know if it was going to be just like it was with Ginny.