Disclaimers: Anything or anyone you don't recognise belongs to me, especially Eltala Riddle, and Lily Snape

Disclaimers: Anything or anyone you don't recognise belongs to me, especially Eltala Riddle, and Lily Snape. Everything else belongs to J K Rowlings. I haven't, and I won't make any money out of this!

Please R/R if you want me to continue!!! Even if you don't!

The Hanging of a dog - Chapter Six

A beaming face answered the door, a very large face, set on a very large body. In other words, Hagrid. Hagrid invited them in, putting on some water to boil for some tea.

Hagrid started the conversation.

"Where's Ron and Hermione?"

"They had… some things to discuss…" Harry evaded the question carefully, and changed the subject. He didn't think Ron would be pleased if he told Hagrid the real reason.

"I'd like you to meet Lily - Lily Snape, the new girl in Gryffindor."

Not the best idea, Harry thought later. Hagrid frowned, looking from Harry to Lily in a strange way.

"Yer mean, the Professor's kid?"

"Yes, Severus is my father. He was awfully disappointed that I was put in Gryffindor, but I think he was expecting it. Otherwise…" Lily made a motion of Snape cutting her throat.

Harry asked Lily if she had ever played Quidditch before. She laughed and told him that she had played keeper for two years, on the junior league team for England. This meant she had competed internationally.

"Perfect! Do you want to be on the Gryffindor house team? We need a keeper!"

The three of them, chatted about every day things, for about fifteen minutes, but then they decided it was time for lunch. Lily left, but Hagrid wanted to talk to Harry alone.

"Harry, what d'ya think you're doin'? She's Snape's daughter, even if she is in Gryffindor! I dunno, Harry. There's just some big secret around her. Just mind. Careful, you know?"

Harry left Hagrid's hut, with mixed feelings. Was Hagrid right? Harry's mind fell on an old muggle saying. 'Give a dog a bad name, and hang him.'

For all that was wrong with most of the muggles Harry knew, he had to admit that there was something in the saying. Harry pondered whether the saying could apply to Lily. Certainly there was every chance that Lily was nothing like her father. Certainly Snape was a good example of a bad name. Harry decided to just take Hagrid's last advice. He'd be careful.

Harry heard the lunch bell ring, and hurried up into the great hall, and over to the Gryffindor table, where Hermione and Ron were sitting amongst all his other friends. Seeing Lily near the end of the table, He went to sit with her. Lily was surrounded by boys. Lily was really very pretty, and all the boys were hoping she might consider them for the coming Ball, but Harry could tell that Lily was feeling a bit flustered. Her face brightened considerably, as she saw Harry approach. She was just in the middle of turning down Fred (or was it George?).

"No, sorry Fred. I can't. I've already got a date."

"No, you don't! You've said no to everyone else so far. Besides I'm George. If you already have a partner, who?"

"None of your business – Hey Harry, come over here!"

Harry walked over, blushing rather red.

"Hi Lily, Hi George." Harry made as to walk away again but George grabbed him.

"Hey Harry, you're in her class, you should know, does Lily have a partner?"

Harry blushed an even deeper red, before answering, yes, Lily did have a partner. All the boys clustered around chorused:

"WHO?"

"Umm, me?"

The lunch carried out as expected, with Harry and Lily feeling rather uncomfortable, with all their friends, including Ron teasing them. After Harry threatened to tell Fred and George who Ron was going with, he stopped. People soon became distracted, however, as it neared to class time. Everyone was curious, as to who the new Defence Against Dark Arts teacher would be. No one had had DADA that morning, and so fifth year Gryffindors, would be the first to see the new teacher. There had been no new teacher introduced at the Sorting Feast, but that had happened once before, when a new Muggle Studies teacher had been forgotten.

Harry looked up at the Top Table, where all the staff sat, and looked for a new teacher. There were none. There was an empty chair next to Professor Snape, who, Harry noticed, was looking not at him, with the usual hatred. Snape was looking at Eltala, who was sitting near the head of the Slytherin table. The professor looked slightly confused, but he soon regained his usual sneer as his gaze fell on the Gryffindor Table.

The bell rang for the beginning of class, and the fifth year Gryffindors were first on their feet, as they hurried to the DADA classroom. The door was closed and no-one liked to open the door, but a familiar, slightly gruff voice called them in.

A/N PLEASE REVIEW! And try and guess who the teacher is… It is someone you know.