The next day was their first Defence Against the Dark Arts.
"Hurry up!" Ron rushed Harry and Hermione, practically jumping in his seat. "We're gonna be late!"
"The lesson isn't for another twenty minutes, Ron!" Hermione said agitated. "Will you quit jumping?"
"I would if I were jumping, which I'm not", Ron said indignantly.
"Ron, if you were jumping any higher than you are now, they'd have to raise the ceiling", Hermione complained.
Harry grunted silently and continued eating.
"I just don't want to miss our first lesson, that's all." Ron finally sat down and played with his untouched food.
"Because we all know how you love to study", Hermione said sarcastically. Ron glared at her.
"Not again", Harry muttered, putting his glass down.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron asked dangerously. Hermione threw her hands in the air.
"Let's NOT argue right now, shall we", Harry warned them off. "Unlike SOME people, I actually want to eat."
"Well no one's stopping you", Ron muttered. His eyes drifted across to the teacher's table. Professor Epaulets switched places with a teacher and now sat next to Professor Snape. They were talking quietly and Snape's eyes glanced at the different tables, daring anyone to stare at them. She was smiling sweetly and seemed excited, even though Snape's expression hadn't changed one bit. Finally, when it was only ten minutes to the beginning of class, Ron grabbed the two and headed to their class. They arrived early and took their seats.
"So, you reckon she's any good?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Has to be, otherwise they wouldn't give her the job, now would they?" Ron asked distractedly.
"You know it wouldn't be the first time they gave the job to a bad teacher", Harry said, before realizing too late that he started up an argument. Both Ron and Hermione turned on him.
"Severus, can I swing by later on? I mean, I really want to chat. It's my first class and I'm so nervous."
They turned to the entrance and saw Professors Epaulets and Snape walking into the classroom. The minute Snape saw them his face contorted. But before he could say anything, Eve intervened.
"Oh hello! Are you my students?" She was smiling brightly and Ron was grinning stupidly. Harry nodded.
"Oh good! My, aren't we a bit early? That's odd, when I was a student here at Hogwarts I NEVER came early. Late yes, early not. I guess times have changed." Snape excused himself and left the room angrily. He knew that the three saw him the other day hugging Eve. He knew how their retched mind works. They'll soon start a rumor that the two were seeing each other. Snape smirked a bit a bit at the absurdity of it all. If only they knew…
"You went to Hogwarts?" Harry asked, making conversation.
"Why yes. Let's see now, how long has it been? Twelve years." Eve's eyes seemed to haze with sudden reminiscent.
"You look a lot younger", Ron said earnestly. Hermione snorted. Ron gave her a warning look and she simply sighed.
"So, what house where you in, Professor?" She asked. They had a few minutes to kill.
"Ravenclaw, as a matter of fact", she said, with some pride. "In my last year we won the house cup!"
"Really?" Ron asked fascinated. She nodded.
"But enough about me! What about you?"
They told her their names and their house. A strange expression passed her face when Harry introduced himself. It was a mixture of awe and…Something he couldn't quite name. Her eyes immediately went for the scar on his forehead and Harry felt his face reddening. Students began to pile into class, as the bell was about to ring. They took their place in the back row (too far back for Ron's taste). Professor Epaulets stood in front of the class and coughed.
"Alright, I suppose I should introduce myself, shouldn't I? You must excuse me, but it's my first year as a teacher, so I am not that experienced." She paused and there was silent. She had a captivating, gentle voice that demanded to be heard.
"My name is Professor Epaulets, I am your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. It has come to my attention that this subject is…cursed. That no teacher has lasted more than a year." Uncomfortable silence followed.
"Well, let us try and prove them wrong, shall we?" She smiled. Some giggled, others nodded. So far, she seemed to be a nice enough teacher.
"Right, onwards then. For the first few weeks we will be mostly LEARNING, I fear. I must apologize, but in order to go on to actual experience, we must first learn what we are defending ourselves from. Now, for homework I want a full scroll on each of the following: Werewolves, Dementers, Vampires, the Unforgivable Curses and Death Eaters. Now I know it is much, but the sooner we get down with the boring stuff, the sooner we get to the more practical and dare I say, more entertaining. That's homework. Now tell me what you know about the Dark Arts…"
The bell rang and the class left to go to their next class. Most were unhappy at the amount of work, due next week. It meant time spent in the library. Ron walked over to Epaulets gingerly. He had to ask her a question most teachers would consider rude and intrusive. Yet he had to ask. Harry and Hermione walked up behind him, curious as to what he would say.
"Um… Professor?"
Eve Epaulets looked up from her parchment. A kind smile spread across her face.
"Yes…Ron?" He nodded.
"I have to ask you something and I'd understand if you think it's personal and get mad-"
"What is it?" Curiosity took her as well. She put the parchment down and crossed her arms; her blue eyes fixed on Ron.
"Well, we saw you and Sn-and Professor Snape the other day and we were wondering. I was wondering-I know it's none of my business, but I just thought… Well, that the two of you are…" Ron blushed furiously.
"Are what?" She asked, a sneaky smile playing across her lips.
"Well, that you two are…" He tried again. Luckily she understood the implication.
"Oh." She said. "Lovers?"
Ron nodded. For a moment she said nothing and then she burst out laughing. The three looked at each other confused. She was laughing so hard she was crying.
"What's so funny?" Ron asked hurt, hands on his hips.
"Oh nothing, nothing… No, though I care deeply for Severus, I must admit that thought never crossed my mind." She was smiling broadly, her eyes red from crying. "But now that you mentioned it…He IS handsome isn't he?" Amongst the many words the three could use to describe the professor, "handsome" was never one of them, or any other synonym for that word.
"No, I never thought of him in that manner", Eve continued. "It would be inappropriate." They looked at her puzzled.
Her smile broadened even more. "I could never think of him that way, because…" She paused for a moment in suspense. She enjoyed playing with the minds of the students. Who knows? She might have even played along, convincing everyone that they WERE in fact a couple. But she couldn't help but laugh at the thought.
"Because what?" Ron asked, not being able to take the suspense.
"I'm disappointed in the three of you"; she said shaking her head. "I thought you would have figured it out by now. But I guess we never REALLY looked much alike and we WERE in different houses, I remember the shock in the school when the sorting hat put me in Ravenclaw…" Eve smiled amused.
"The reason, my young friends, is that we are brothers."
-End chapter 2. My apologies to you, who thought this was the teacher who would sweep our beloved potions master off his feet. Sorry, but I promise that WILL happen in a different fan fiction of mine. Scout's honor! Please R/R, tell me what you think and if you have suggestions feel free to let me know!
Ivy-
