I don't own anything

I don't own anything. They all belong to J.K. Rowling. The unfamiliar names, places, and things do belong to me. Or I made them up rather. Please read and review. I am more than welcome to read any criticism. Happy reading!

Chapter 8

**********

When they all heard about how wonderful Professor Sullivan's lesson was, Harry and his fellow Gryffindors looked forward to their lesson with her. The following day, they all lined up outside her classroom extra early and waited for her. When the bell rang, she came around the corridor wearing a crimson robe. She let them inside and closed the door. Ron, Harry, and Hermione chose the seats in front of the class and took their books out. Professor Sullivan went up to her desk and picked up the attendance.

"Good day to all of you. Hmm. Let's see. This would be my fifth year Gryffindor class, right?" said Professor Sullivan as she quickly ran down the list of names only stopping to see who they were. When she was done reading the list, she said, "As you all know, my name is Professor Sullivan and I would be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for this year. First and foremost, yes, I am a woman and, yes; I am capable of teaching you anything about the Dark Arts. Now, because of the unfortunate incidents that had happened the previous year, I have no records of what you all have learned-"

She was interrupted by hand that rose up in the air. It belonged to Hermione.

"Er, yes, er, Ms…"

"Granger, ma'am. I just wanted to say that what we learned last year was curses and hexes. And ways to counter them," said Hermione.

Ron looked at Hermione uneasily. But Professor Sullivan smiled and said, "Well, Ms. Granger, I am glad you are very attentive. I am sure that I would be needing your help in filling me with information that has happened here in Hogwarts-"

She was again interrupted by not Hermione, but by Seamus Finnigan who asked, "Why, Professor? Didn't you hear about what happened?"

She laughed and said, "Well, Mr. Finnigan, I was stationed in Norway just before I came here to take this job. I have heard of the things that happened here. But just the general idea, like I have heard of the Triwizard Tournament being opened again here in Hogwarts."

"Wow, you were in Norway? What were you doing there?" piped up Dean.

"Dean, she's an auror. She was stationed there," Ron told Dean. But realizing that what he just said, he blushed and added, "At least that's what dad told us."

She laughed again and said, "You must be Arthur Weasley's son, am I right?" Ron nodded. "Well, you are correct. I was stationed there."

"Did you catch any dark wizards while you were there?" asked Lavender.

"Er, yes, I did, actually."

"Wow, how did you do it?"

"Well, we trapped him by using a kappa and then, well, we really should get back to our lessons," she smiled as she saw that the class was now hanging on to her every word. "Yes, shall we continue? Anyway, since you all have to take your O.W.L.s this year, I will be teaching you more curses and hexes, and how to counter them. I would also, under restrict conditions of the Headmaster, teach you all how to duel."

There was a note of excitement that filled the air as she said this. Harry remembered the last time they had a dueling class. It was in their second year, and he didn't really learn anything. Well, aside from never to get partnered with Malfoy and the Disarming Spell, he never actually learned anything else.

"Now, our lesson for today is a practical one. I need you all to get in to pairs. Let's just move these desks aside," with a whish of her wand the desks moved to the side of the room. "Yes, that's good. We aren't going to try any dangerous curses for now. Today we will be doing the Furnunculus Curse, and the counter to that goes something like this." She made a movement with her wand. "Now you all try it. That's good. Excellent. All right. Let's begin."

For the next forty-five minutes, the class was having fun throwing curses at each other. Even Neville, who always had a hard time with everything, seemed to be enjoying himself. Of course, Hermione was his partner, and she taught him to be extra careful.

"Some lesson, eh?" said Seamus, as they got ready to go out of the class.

"Yeah and did you see how I blocked that curse?" said Dean, as they headed down to the entrance hall for lunch.

"Fred's right about her. She's okay," said Ron.

"I guess she's all right. After all, she didn't even give us homework. What's wrong, Harry?" said Hermione, looking at Harry, as he searched gingerly for something.

"I'm looking for my Defense Against the Dark Arts book. It's not here. Maybe I left it at her classroom. Hold on," he said. He got up and made his way through Professor Sullivan's classroom.

"Well, Mr. Potter, is there anything I can do for you?" asked Professor Sullivan, looking up from her desk.

"Er, Professor, did you happen to find my book here?" he asked cautiously. He was very nervous. This is the first time he had spoken to her.

"Yes, actually. A H. Potter signed on the book. I'm sure that this is yours," said Professor Sullivan, as she got up to hand him the book.

"Er, thanks," said Harry, taking the book from her.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?" she smiled.

"Er…" Harry hesitated, something about her looked very familiar. There was a knock on the door. It was Severus Snape. As he came in, his eyes narrowed at the sight of Harry. Professor Sullivan, as if noticing something, said,

"Severus, what can I do for you?"

"The Headmaster wants to see you, Briana," he said, but he was still looking at Harry in his narrowed eyes.

"Oh, he does? Thank you for telling me," she said. She turned to look at Harry and said, "Well, Harry, if there's anything at all I can do for you, don't hesitate to come to me and ask. Are you headed down to the Great Hall? Why don't I walk with you?" She smiled at him. He nodded and they both made their way down to the second floor corridor. She bid him good-bye and went in the entrance to Dumbledore's office. He made his way down to the Great Hall for lunch, still thinking on what's so familiar about her.

After their exciting first lessons, students in Hogwarts have taken a liking to their Defense class, most especially to the one that teaches it. Many of the boys in Hogwarts have a crush on Professor Sullivan and made sure to greet her on the corridors as she passed by. Draco Malfoy, who always find a criticism in anyone, couldn't help but blushed every time she smiled at him. Even Snape, as Harry noticed, seemed to be slightly smitten by her.

"Shouldn't he hate her? I mean he wants the Defense job, right?" asked Harry, as they made their way up to the Gryffindor Tower.

"Well, what's not to like about her? She's all right," answered Ron, earning a repressive look from Hermione. "What? She is, right, Harry?"

"Yeah."

As they got in the common room, there was a little crowd at the bulletin board.

"What's going on?" asked Hermione, tiptoeing to see what was posted.

"It's the Gryffindor quidditch try-outs. They're happening on Thursday," replied Seamus. "I reckon I'll try out. How about you, Ron?"

"Er, I don't know. I reckon it'll be good, but I don't have a broomstick," said Ron, suddenly looking gloom.

"You can borrow mine," suggested Harry. "I mean it's just the try-outs, right? I reckon I don't have to use it yet, and if you do get the position, you can practice with a school broomstick till you can get a new one."

"Really? But are you sure that's going to work?"

"Well, I can talk to the captain. Maybe we can work things out. Hang on, where's George? We should ask him who's going to be captain."

He went to look for George and found him talking to Angelina.

"Hey, George, who's our new quidditch captain?"

George looked at Angelina and chuckled, "Well, she's sitting right next to me."

Harry felt his jaws drop. "What? Really? That's great, Angelina!"

Angelina's face turned red and said, "Thanks. Well, don't expect me to go easy on you guys. I can be as crazy as Oliver, well, not as crazy as him but you get the idea."