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A tousled head of brown hair made its way through the crowd that inhabited Platform _. A few heads turned and comments were made at the blatant use magic before the school year even started: two trunks were floating behind their owner. Thera smiled, not genuinely, of course, the people who stared at her, students and parents alike. After all, Thera thought, I am a teacher and the platform is a magically secure location. I can do what I want. As she reached the scarlet steam engine, Hogwarts Express emblazoned on its side in gold, she flicked her wand once and her trunks jumped into the train. Stepping onto the stairs, Thera turned slightly and waved heartily at the crowd, her wide smile practically causing her pain because the muscles weren't used to stretching that far. She waved in a sickeningly jolly manner for about twenty seconds or so, as if she was saying goodbye to a dear friend. In fact, no one was there to see Thera off, which was just fine by her. However, the people on the platform did not know that, and Thera could see a few craning their necks to see who was waving back to the overly-confident witch with the floating baggage. Laughing quietly to herself, Thera turned back to the train and began looking for an empty compartment.

Up and down the train she went, but it wasn't until the last car she came upon did Thera find what she was looking for. She magicked her trunks onto the shelves over the seats and flopped down on the worn upholstery.

"I should have Apparated," Thera muttered, blowing loose strand of hair out of her eyes. "But no, Lenox, you wanted to ride the train to `get the whole experience', didn't you? I think Dumbledore must have put something in that tea I drank..."

"Um, excuse me, but do you mind if we sit here? Everywhere else is full," Thera heard a slightly timid voice ask.

She glanced over and her gaze was met by three students, two boys and a girl. The tallest boy, rather lanky with red hair, seemed to be struggling with something. Curious, Thera sat up, and as she did so, something feathery flew at her head. Ducking just in time, the thing grazed the top of her head and zoomed around the compartment several times before settling down on Thera's shoulder. It was a minute owl and it nipped at her ear playfully.

"Sure," Thera told the boy who had asked, the one with dark hair and glasses, as she warily eyed the owl on her shoulder. She careful extracted the twittering animal and held it out to the other boy. "I think this belongs to you."

Blushing, the boy walked quickly over and retrieved his pet, speaking fiercely to it as he sat down. The girl smiled shyly at Thera and took the seat next to her as the two boys sat next to each other.

"Sorry about that," the redhead said apologetically. "Pig is, well...."he said, gesturing to the owl. "Pig."

"Gotcha," Thera muttered.

"I'm Ron Weasly, by the way," he said, extending his hand.

She took it. "Thera Lenox. I'm new," she explained.

Ron half smiled and glanced at his companions. As if she was suddenly shocked by electricity, the girl next to Thera also stuck out her hand and said, "Hermione Granger."

After shaking hands with the girl, Thera turned her gaze to the last boy, and on cue he stretched out his hand, too, and said, "Harry Potter."

Thera felt her eyebrow rise even though she was fighting to keep it down. She shook his hand quickly and pulled back. She didn't want to make a big deal about his presence; she was sure he got enough of that. Looking out the window so as to not stare at the boy, she sensed that he shrugged at his companions at her peculiar behavior. Soon, however, their conversation began to pick up pace almost as quickly as the train, now traveling out of London. Potter's presence gave Thera mixed feelings....awe, pity, and gratitude. She had never been this close to a person this famous before....then again, there was Dumbledore, but he evolved into his fame, Harry was born into it, Thera thought. She did sympathize with the boy, though. He was constantly stared at, because of what he had done and what was done to him...the infamous scar was undoubtedly hidden beneath his tousled bangs. Thera, however, was stared at because of what she had become: an obnoxious, loud, sometimes arrogant witch...but all characteristics she chose herself. But, having Harry Potter at the school where she would be teaching did have its advantages. People always lose interest in a new face when it becomes old, Thera thought, but a famous face has everlasting attention. Then I may be able to go relatively unnoticed and unbothered through the school year...

A loud profanity jarred Thera from her thoughts. Glancing around the compartment, she noticed innumerable pieces of parchment and books were now strewed around. Ron looked sheepishly at Thera and apologized for his outburst, then went back to flipping through the pages in the book `One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi'.

"I can't believe we had this much Potions homework over the holidays," Harry grumbled, balancing two large stacks of parchment on both his knees.

"Well...we did have the whole summer," Hermione pointed out, her homework neatly clipped together with Muggle paper clips.

"Bet you enjoyed the homework, didn't you Hermione?" Harry grinned.

Biting back a smile, she said, "Well, it could have been worse..."

"Aargh!" Ron cried out in frustration. "This is ridiculous! I hate Professor Snape and all of his slimy homework!"

Ron had Thera's full attention now. "Uh...Is...uh..Profess....Professor Snape your Potions teacher?" she stumbled.

"Yeah," Ron muttered. "Unfortunately."

"Is he that bad?" Thera asked, eager to retrieve more information about the elusive man she met in Diagon Alley.

"Worse," Harry groaned, his papers wobbling perilously on his knees.

"Oh come on, he's not all bad," Hermione said, eyeing Harry's stack of papers.

"Right, Hermione," Ron said sarcastically. "Remember what he said about your teeth last year?" Ron made a horrible face and hissed in a reptilian manner, "I see no difference."

Hermione brought a hand gingerly to her mouth and touched her rather attractive front teeth. "Ok, ok," she said in a resigned voice. "He is all that bad."

Ron and Harry laughed and then went back to grumbling to Professor Snape. Thera wasn't sure what to make of what she had just heard. Good, she thought, he's a horrible man and I should have never given him a second thought. Smiling to herself, Thera thought the matter was closed, but an image of a man clad in black who was gently caressing her hand kept popping into her mind. Drat it, she thought. Well, they are only children....What do they know?
A rustle startled Thera. Covering her head, thinking it was Ron's owl again, Thera realized it was Harry's collection of summer homework that had just fallen to the floor. Laughing slightly, Thera grabbed her wand out of her sleeve and waved it once. The papers lined up neatly on the seat next to Harry.

Harry said thanks, but Hermione looked a little agitated. "I don't want to sound rude or bossy..." she started. Ron snorted loudly. Shooting a glare at him, Hermione continued, "It's just that the school year hasn't officially started and doing magic on the train may get you in trouble. I just don't want you to get a detention right when you get to Hogwarts."

Thera smiled. Funny, she thought, someone is actually concerned about me.....nah, must be a fluke. She dismissed the thought. "Thanks for warning me, but I think I'm exempt. When I said I was new, I meant I was a new teacher."

Thera wanted to laugh at the expressions on their faces: ones mingled with horror and embarrassment. Ron was trying to sputter an apology for practically everything he said, but Thera waved her hand at his dismissively.

"There's no need to apologize. Students have the right to discuss what they want, even their less than favorable opinions of teachers, on their own time. I would, however, Ron, try to cut down on the swearing."

Unsure what to do Ron smiled and said, "Ok, but just to let you know, the only reason I said those things about Sna...Professor Snape was because I thought you were a student."

Thera smiled inwardly.

Ron blushed. "An older student, of course."

Thera frowned inwardly.

Ron began sputtering again. "A much older student."

Thera grimaced inwardly.

"Er....er...I mean...I mean I meant.....not all that old, but......" Ron stumbled, his face almost red as his hair.

A little miffed, Thera said, "Just stop now before you get your entire leg stuck in your mouth."

Ron nodded hurriedly and turned back to his homework. Hermione and Harry were shaking with silent laughter.

"Teenagers," Thera muttered, turning back towards the window. "Glad I never was one."

*

Thera walked quickly up the stone steps of Hogwarts to get to the Great Hall. She was ahead of the pack of students and wanted to stay that way. Glancing quickly around her, she liked what she saw outside of the front doors and was eager to see what, and who, was on the other side of it. But, of course, she didn't want to show it. A quality that Thera prided herself on was her ability to conceal her excitement or disappointment, and she surely didn't want either to show tonight when she would be making a first impression on some teachers and many students.

The Entrance Hall was warm and cozy, as the cool autumn wind had begun to blow as the Hogwarts Express had pulled into the station. Bright tapestries and shining armor lined the walls, giving the room a mysterious medieval feel. Thera saw the doors that led into the Great Hall, and, catching a glimpse of silvery white hair (Dumbledore!, Thera thought), she began walking towards him. A quick moving something, however, stopped her.

"You're nose is too snotty....in more ways than one. Be a student or teacher, I don't like your face!" giggled a brightly dressed poltergeist.

"And I don't like your tie," Thera retorted, pulling on the orange polka-dotted bow tie the spirit was wearing. She let go of it unexpectedly and it snapped back.

Flying backwards into a suit of armor, the poltergeist let out a squeal. The helmet snapped shut and Thera could hear muffled curses coming from somewhere near the midsection. Smiling to herself and brushing of her hands on her robes, Thera didn't notice a man standing near the doors to the Great Hall until she nearly bumped into him. Tall and dressed in black, Severus Snape had a strange expression on his face.

"Funny, Ms. Lenox," he murmured. "Not many can handle Peeves." His eyes traveled to the suit of armor that was now rocking from side to side.

Thera smile coyly, to her utter horror. She quickly regained composure and said, "Well, yes, I have...uh.... specialties....in......this sort...of thing," she finished quickly.

Snape looked slightly amused. "Yes. I can see that. I just found it rather surprising you could give Peeves some of his own medicine. Only one of our own ghosts has been able to do that." He flexed the corners of his mouth into what Thera realized was supposed to be a smile and swept into the Great Hall.

Dazed for a moment, Thera was jarred back into reality as the throng of students made its way through the oak doors to the Entrance Hall. Hurrying along through to the Great Hall, Thera's eyes were again met with exceedingly pleasant sights. Four long tables were side by side and one was facing them all. As she made her way to the last table, Thera noticed the ceiling. She knew it was an enchanted ceiling, as it was mentioned in many wizarding books she had read, but she didn't know how enchanting it really was. An inky blue sky was above her dotted with sparkling stars. Dark purple clouds were moving lazily across the ceiling. Thera's head was tilted upwards, distracted by the beauty of the magic. Therefore, she didn't notice the hem of her robes get stuck on a nearby chair. Still looking skywards, Thera was surprised to be jerked backwards and soon found herself on her back.

"Well," she muttered. "You get a better view from this angle, don't you?"

"Serves you right, oh snotty nosed one!" cackled a voice. Still lying on the ground, Thera moved her head to the left and saw Peeves the Poltergeist zooming gleefully next to her. "I didn't even have to trip you on that one!" he laughed, and flew away.

Thera began to hear other bits of laughter now from her future students.. Realizing how ridiculous she looked on the floor, she began to get up. A long-fingered hand appeared in front of her face. Blushing furiously, she took it and tried not to look in to Severus Snape's black eyes.

"All right there, Ms. Lenox?" he asked, eyes twinkling.

Thera nodded hastily.

"Can you make it back to your seat in one piece then?" he asked, laughing slightly.

Thera whipped her head around and glared at him. She had had enough of this. Not only did she make a fool of herself in front of him numerous times, but he had the nerve to laugh at her! She was mad at herself for having any other feelings than utter dislike for this man, but she was even more angry with Snape for...for...she didn't know what for. Something good though.

"I'm perfectly capable of walking to my seat," she said through gritted teeth and haughtily made her way to the Staff Table.

"I guess walking just isn't one of your, er, specialties, is it, Ms. Lenox?" she heard Snape call.

Refusing to turn around, Thera stalked to her seat and stayed there for the rest of the night, through the Sorting and the feast. She had to resort to transfiguring her fork into a spoon and then back again, numerous times, so as not to look at Snape again. The only time her eyes left her plate was when Dumbledore introduced her to the student body, along with a plump old man named Owen Montgomery, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor. After polite applause, and a few last words from Dumbledore, the students were dismissed and it was time for bed.

Thera walked wearily up several flights of stairs to get to her room. It was in one of the many towers in Hogwarts, but one of the small ones. Her office was the first room one came to, a quaint, round area, with many bookshelves. A door lead to a small living area and a ladder led up to her bedroom. A four poster bed with pale yellow hangings took up most of the room, but there was also a dresser, a night table and a large, ornate mirror. Yawning, Thera looked into the mirror and yelped as she saw a face that was not her own stare back at her.

"Hello," said the face, a young woman with bright pink hair. "You must be Thera. I'm Scarlett O'Hara."

"Scarlett O'Hara?" Thera repeated incredulously.

The face grimaced. "Yes, I know, but let me tell you, I had the name first! But people never let that alone, do they? Oh well, you can just call me Scarlett."

"Ok.....Scarlett. Uh, exactly why are you in my room?" Thera asked, a little bewildered.

"Right! Almost forgot." Scarlett cleared her throat. "I reflect your face and rate your looks, I'm busier than a bee. I'll answer questions, give advice, and show what you want to see!"

Puzzled, Thera asked, "What is that supposed to mean?"

Scarlett smiled and said, "I do everything! I act like a mirror, but I can tell you when you look good and when you don't, I can help with your personal problems and I can show you pretty much anything in the world. The best part is that I can't tell anyone what you've said to me so any secrets are safe with me! Also, I can't steal your man, since I'm confined to this mirror." Scarlett paused. "I think that's it."

"Great...well, I'm a little tired, but maybe sometime we can , um , chat, or something." Thera said, turning away from the mirror.

"Sure! I understand," Scarlett said. "Have sweet dreams! Just for your own information, Professor Snape's room is in the hall leading to the dungeons, on the left side behind the tapestry of the manticore."

Thera whipped around at these words, and stared at Scarlett. How did she....?

"By the way," Scarlett said. "I can read your mind when I want to. Don't let the bedbugs hex you!" She disappeared with a pop.

After staring mutely at the mirror for a few moments, Thera began to laugh. She had no idea what to make of everything that had happened to her. Crawling into bed, still laughing, she promptly fell asleep. Later, Thera would recall that the first night she spent at Hogwarts, she dreamed of sneaking through twisted passageways that led to a vicious manticore which she defeated in order to get to the treasure it guarded.