Chapter 2 - Quidditch, and DADA

¡§Seventh Year schedules!¡¨ McGonagall counted four, and gave them to Hermione. She in turn handed Harry, Ron and Neville their personal timetables.

¡§Oh, bloody hell!¡¨ Ron exclaimed, slumping down into his seat.

¡§What¡¦s the matter?¡¨ Hermione asked calmly, spooning herself some porridge from the large bowl in front of her.

¡§Double Potions first thing in the morning tomorrow,¡¨ Neville looked dejectedly at his own page. ¡§Is there any way we can make an excuse to skip Potions?¡¨

¡§Neville, you can¡¦t make excuses for the whole year. I¡¦ll help you through what I can. Besides, you¡¦ve made it through so far. Ten more months, then you¡¦ll be free,¡¨ Hermione told him encouragingly.

¡§But be sure you tell us where you¡¦re living, Longbottom. We wouldn¡¦t want to be around when you melt down the entire city.¡¨ A sneering voice came from behind them. Ron turned angrily, and saw Draco Malfoy. He was a nasty, sneering Slytherin that loved to torment the other house¡¦s students, Gryffindor especially.

¡§I hope you¡¦ve had a good, hearty breakfast, Malfoy,¡¨ Ron said pleasantly. ¡§Because if I hear one more word out of your sodding mouth, it¡¦ll be too swollen to ¡V¡§ Ron didn¡¦t have a chance to finish his threat, because Snape had arrived. He placed a hand on Malfoy¡¦s shoulder and smiled nastily at Ron.

¡§Weasley, are you fighting already? Since it¡¦s so early in the year, I shall give you a break, and take off only twent-¡§ Snape was interrupted just as Ron had. Professor Drakul arrived, looking paler than ever. Her eyes were covered with dark glasses as yesterday, and her robes were as black as her hair, very much like Snape¡¦s robes. Close up, she looked even younger than they had thought.

¡§Good morning, Severus,¡¨ she greeted. To the students, her voice was rich and pleasant to hear, but Snape looked like he had been asked to marry Neville Longbottom. He stiffened visible, and his face had twisted into a grimace. He glared haughtily down at the newcomer. He didn¡¦t say anything, but abruptly left, leaving Draco Malfoy alone, without any fellow Slytherins (Crabbe and Goyle were already filling their stomachs with the good Hogwarts food). Drakul glanced at him, and he hurried away quickly.

¡§Can we help you with something?¡¨ Hermione asked with polite stiffness.

The professor nodded, still unsmiling. ¡§I need to see harry Potter, and the Head Girl.¡¨

Harry and Hermione looked at each other. Why would she want to see them?

¡§Er, I¡¦m Harry Potter and this,¡¨ he gestured to Hermione, ¡§is the Head Girl.¡¨

¡§All right. I do not have much time, so I will be brief. Madam Hooch wishes to inform the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain about a slight change in referees. Apparently, she had to go to London to see her ailing mother, and shall not be able to see to the inter-house... competition.¡¨

¡§Oh. But it will go on? Quidditch games, I mean?¡¨ Harry looked very relieved when Drakul nodded once. ¡§Good. Then... who¡¦s the referee?¡¨

There was a slight pause, before she said briefly, ¡§I will be the referee.¡¨ Harry looked surprised, but it turned to relief, when he realized Snape wouldn¡¦t be refereeing the games.

¡§Thank you, Harry Potter. I believe I shall see you later? And Miss...¡¨ the woman turned to Hermione, who gazed coolly at her.

¡§Hermione Granger, Professor. I would be surprised you did not know.¡¨ Harry and Ron looked at each other in amazement. The only time she had been like this to a teacher was with Trelawney, the Divination teacher. Hermione had truly hated the woman.

¡§Yes, Hermione Granger. I have a package I wish to deliver to...¡¨ Drakul rooted through her pockets, and pulled out a letter. She read off the envelope. ¡§...A Mr. Neville Longbottom. It¡¦s from his grandmother, I believe.¡¨

¡§Well, then, why don't you give it to him? After all, I¡¦m not a bloody postal service.¡¨ Ron¡¦s mouth was hanging open. Was this the Hermione they knew? The one who would not talk back to a teacher if she were paid to?

Fortunately, Drakul didn¡¦t seem to mind. ¡§Then will you please show me to Neville Longbottom, I believe this is urgent.¡¨

¡§P-professor, I think I¡¦m the one you¡¦re looking for.¡¨ Neville stood, and nervously tried to step back, but his foot caught one of the table¡¦s legs. The forgetful, accident-prone teen went sprawling into the new teacher.

With movements faster than Harry¡¦s sharp Seeker eyes could catch, Drakul righted the boy, and set him upright. ¡§Here is you¡¦re letter, Neville Longbottom. I shall bring your things to the classroom, and you can pick them up after the lesson. Have a good morning.¡¨ She bowed her head in greeting, and quickly exited the Great Hall, gracefully avoiding a crowd of Sixth-Years heading for breakfast. When they settled down to breakfast again, Ron turned to Hermione, his hands crossed over his chest.

¡§What was -that- about, Head Girl?¡¨ he asked sternly. ¡§Did we just hear you... affront a teacher?¡¨

Hermione snorted delicately. ¡§She is -not- a teacher. She can¡¦t even stand up to herself! Did you see how she just let me run her over like that?¡¨ Hermione smiled tightly. ¡§She won¡¦t last a day.¡¨

¡§I wonder how good at Quidditch she is? Harry asked absently. Ron shrugged. ¡§It was amazing, how she just picked up Neville like that. He didn¡¦t even reach the ground. She probably played Seeker or Keeper.¡¨

Neville smiled sheepishly. ¡§She¡¦s nice, though. Didn¡¦t even get angry. And my things. Not many teachers would do something like that.¡¨

Hermione pursed her lips again. ¡§Imagine using -me- as a postal service. As if I didn¡¦t have enough to do.¡¨

Harry and Ron exchanged looks. Both of them were thinking along the same lines. Why was Hermione acting like this?

*

Arachne was woken up by a loud knock at her door. She moaned lightly. Whatever it was about, it had better be good. Shuffling to the door, she met Albus Dumbledore. Smiling as always, he bid her a good morning before stepping into her room.

¡§Good morning, Albus. Would you like some tea?¡¨ Arachne collapsed into a chair opposite to Dumbledore.

¡§I didn¡¦t think you kept tea here.¡¨ Dumbledore looked faintly surprised.

Arachne smiled. I don¡¦t. If you wanted some tea, I¡¦d have told you to get some yourself. After all, why would I keep tea here? I have no use for it, though it does smell good.¡¨

Dumbledore¡¦s eyes twinkled merrily at her. ¡§Ah, the same Arachne. I don¡¦t think you¡¦ll ever change.¡¨ He sighed tiredly. ¡§Severus would certainly like to know you when you were... ah, human.¡¨

Arachne shrugged. ¡§I don¡¦t think we can go back to that. People do seem to reveal themselves to you, don¡¦t thy? Telling you their deepest, darkest secrets?¡¨ she didn¡¦t wait for his answer, but plunged on. ¡§Severus Snape isn¡¦t very... friendly. I mean, I would not blame him, but it does get tiring. Stereotypical people aren¡¦t very nice. There was a time I remember, Albus, when I would not have let this go on. It was the darkest time I¡¦ve lived through.¡¨

¡§I believe all of us have flaws. But the better we understand them, the less they become. You are a good example of this. Look at you now. Although, those glasses don¡¦t improve things the least bit.¡¨

Arachne laughed bitterly. ¡§Then you have not seen Severus Snape this morning.¡¨ She told him what had happened between her and the Potions teacher. ¡§It was my fault, really. I didn¡¦t forget about my eyes. I wanted to convince him, but it didn¡¦t quite work. Now he acts as if I were a basilisk.

Dumbledore patter her hand. ¡§I¡¦m sure everything will work. After all, you do have ten months before you can leave.¡¨

Arachne raised an eyebrow. ¡§What if I want to leave before then? You can¡¦t stop me. Mad-Eye Moody could not, even in his youth.¡¨

Dumbledore chuckled. ¡§Then I shall need yet another referee. My flying instructor has been called to London, due to a family member¡¦s illness. I need a referee for the Inter-House Quidditch Cup games, and a flying instructor. I have already appealed to Severus. He will be the flying instructor, and now you... Arachne, you have been around Quidditch from the start. I need a good referee. Especially with the team rivalries this year.¡¨

Arachne nodded slowly. ¡§I think I might. After all, it has been a while since Quidditch. I might be able to stand a spot of time in the sun once in a while.¡¨

Dumbledore smiled broadly. ¡§Excellent. And another thing, make sure you tell the Quidditch captains. You might want to start with Harry Potter, because in finding him, you will find the Head Girl. Ask her to deliver this and tell her that the package is in my office.¡¨ Dumbledore handed Arachne a letter, and stood. ¡§I¡¦ll see you later, then, my dear.¡¨

Arachne nodded. ¡§Albus, I need the other Quidditch captains¡¦ names.¡¨

¡§Ah, yes, I almost forgot... I did forget. You have Harry Potter for Gryffindor, Draco Malfoy for Slytherin, Morag MacDougal for Ravenclaw, and I believe Justin Finch-Fletchley for Hufflepuff. Have a nice day, Arachne.¡¨ Dumbledore left her alone, and closed the door softly behind him.

Sighing heavily, she slowly made her way to the wardrobe, and looked inside. There wasn¡¦t much in it, only a few spare robes (black ¡V she would have no other color), and two cloaks. No hat for her, and it looked like hoes today. She¡¦d be tired today. There was no point in trying to pull a pair of heavy boots around the school. She dressed quickly. She needed to get to Harry Potter and the Head Girl, before the sun was out and about. The enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall provided no protection against the sun¡¦s sharp rays.

Upon entering the Hall, she scanned others¡¦ minds lightly, and found them quickly. Severus Snape was there, in the middle of a conversation, but stopped, as soon as she had arrived. She greeted him cordially enough, but he took off, and she was left with the students.

The Head Girl (Hermione Granger) seemed to be thinking along the lines as the Potions Master ¡V to make her life at Hogwarts as miserable as possible. It was apparent after a few moments of talking with her.

Harry Potter was like any other teen. It was either sports or friends. Nothing mattered at the moment for him. The clumsy one... Neville Longbottom was sincere enough. He had no other intention but to pass Potions and graduate, leaving Snape behind as a distant memory.

After speaking with Harry Potter, she began to feel the sun burning her. The strong rays were probably tanning her so she looked more human, but it was unpleasant just the same. And she still had the Head Girl to deal with. This was taking longer than she had anticipated. Then the girl gave her more problems. Thank goodness the Longbottom boy was to the point.

As soon as she delivered her messages and letter, she was out of the Hall, and into the castle¡¦s dark corridors.

Arachne pressed her hands to her cheeks, and felt the blood boiling within her. She longed to curl up in a dark corner and sleep, but instead, she skirted the bright windows of the hallway, and made her way to Dumbledore¡¦s office, and murmured the password and entered. Seeing the box at the bottom of the spiraling staircase, she took it, and left his office. She certainly needed to get to the classroom before students clogged the hallway, bathing in the warm, September sun.

*

Half of the class was chattering happily outside the closed door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom when Harry, Ron, Neville and Hermione arrived. Hermione kept glancing at her watch, then at the closed classroom door.

Ron was observing her closely, and it finally dawned on him what she was doing.

¡§Hermione, she¡¦s not going to be late,¡¨ he told her, exasperated, just as the bell rang, echoing through the school. She was going to say something to Ron, but the door to the classroom creaked open, by itself and students started to file in.

When they settled themselves into their seats, Professor Drakul looked up from the register, and surveyed the class. They waited expectantly as she stood.

¡§Good morning. As you might know, I am Professor Drakul, and I shall be teaching Defense Against Dark Arts. Before we start, I suppose this would be the time to answer a few questions about myself, since I expect you lot to be curious.¡¨

Hermione¡¦s hand immediately flew up, nearly knocking Ron¡¦s hat off. Drakul nodded at her. ¡§Which school were you at?¡¨ she asked.

Drakul shook her head. ¡§I¡¦m afraid I can¡¦t answer that, because I was tutored privately.¡¨

Hermione didn¡¦t bother raising her hand again or giving her classmates a chance, but shot another question at her. ¡§How long have you been teaching?¡¨

¡§This is my first year as a teacher,¡¨ Drakul answered without hesitation.

¡§Have you any experience with the Dark Arts?¡¨ Other students¡¦ hands were beginning to fall.

¡§My whole life has been dedicated to the Dark Arts.¡¨

¡§Are you saying you are a Dark Witch?¡¨ Parvati and Lavender¡¦s gasps could be heard from across the room, but Drakul answered Hermione levelly.

¡§No. However, I must say I was abnormally involved in it in my youth.¡¨

Hermione was silent, and Drakul turned to other students. ¡§Yes, Dean Thomas?¡¨ Dean looked surprised at her knowing his name, but asked his question.

¡§If you don¡¦t mind, Professor, how old are you?¡¨

The teacher hesitated at this, but answered the boy¡¦s question. ¡§Eighteen, nineteen not soon enough.¡¨ There was a general exclamation, but it died down soon enough, as questions began in earnest.

¡§Professor, why do you have glasses?¡¨

¡§My eyes are extremely sensitive to the sun. In that case, Parvati, please shut the blinds.¡¨ Parvati complied, while Drakul answered Harry¡¦s question.

¡§Do you play Quidditch?¡¨

¡§Yes.¡¨

¡§What position?¡¨

¡§I have played all, except for Beater.¡¨ She nodded at Ron.

¡§Where are you from, Professor?¡¨

¡§Romania.¡¨

¡§What is your best subject?¡¨

¡§I don¡¦t have one.¡¨

¡§Are you ever going to teach?¡¨ This last question was from Hermione, who was looking mutinous at the friendliness the class was displaying. ¡§After all, you -are- the teacher,¡¨ she added acidly. The class blanched at the fierceness in Hermione¡¦s voice. They were as shocked as Ron was when they heard her speak like that.

Drakul only nodded once, and said faintly, ¡§Lessons. Yes.¡¨

She paused for a moment as if collecting her thoughts. She perched on the edge of her desk, and absently picked up a Sickle before she began to speak.

¡§Imagine you¡¦re in the deep, dark forests of France, and you have this nasty feeling. There¡¦s someone following you.¡¨ Drakul paused, rolling the coin between her fingers. ¡§You look around, and there is nothing there. Shrugging this off, you start to walk again.¡¨ The Sickle in her hand was slowly changing shape. Surely her long, thin fingers couldn¡¦t...

¡§But then, something -leaps- at you.¡¨ The whole class jumped in their seats. They were so caught up in the story, so that story and reality had begun to blur. When Drakul didn¡¦t say anything, one of the students blurted out loudly into the silence.

¡§What happened?¡¨

¡§You don¡¦t know. And not a wand in your pocket nor anything.¡¨ Drakul got up, and started pacing along the desks. ¡§You realize it is the legendary **loup-garu,** and not even a silver Sickle on you.¡¨ The students were mesmerized by the shifting Sickle in her fingers, but were snapped back to reality by Hermione¡¦s sharp voice.

¡§Werewolves aren¡¦t all dangerous, **Professor.**¡§

Drakul stopped playing with the Sickle, and it dropped back into her palm. She closed her fist around the coin, all the while walking towards Hermione.

¡§How about in their wolf form?¡¨ she asked softly.

¡§There is a potion they can take. It¡¦s to prevent them from ¡V¡§

¡§The potion does have a problem. Not everyone can brew it. There are wolves out there. Then there are werewolves. Part human, part man, and damned for all eternity.¡¨ Hermione looked very angry at the professor¡¦s comments, but didn¡¦t reply.

¡§So... you are facing possibly one of the most dangerous Dark Creatures. You are doomed.¡¨ Drakul was still in front of Hermione, who looked positively murderous. Drakul opened her palm, and there was the coin ¡V or what -was- a coin ¡V crushed and molded into a round, metallic ball of silver. She let it drop onto Hermione¡¦s desk. Hermione stared at it.

¡§Don¡¦t be caught unawares,¡¨ she whispered. She abruptly stepped away, and to the front of the room. She opened her arms.

¡§Boys and girls, say good-bye to your sheltered lives, and step into the true Defense Against the Dark Arts.¡¨


As the lesson progressed, the Seventh Years were getting increasingly annoyed at Hermione¡¦s continued interruptions and snide comments. But in-between those, they were enjoying the lesson Professor Drakul laid before them.

¡§There are many ways you can avoid trouble, but there is always one thing that will save your life more than anything else. Any takers?¡¨

¡§Wands?¡¨ Drakul shook her head.

¡§Someone does a Disarming Charm. No, there¡¦s something simpler though less lethal... Seamus?¡¨

¡§Run like hell.¡¨ There was general laughter.

Drakul tsked. ¡§No one knows... then let me tell you. Be aware. Aware of your surroundings and aware of what your limitations are. Secondly, have a plan. Disaster strikes, and you will know what to do. Always be prepared.¡¨

¡§But Professor, what if someone¡¦s hexing you?¡¨ Lavender Brown asked worriedly.

¡§Another thing we will be working on this year will be building on immunity towards certain spells. I suppose the beginning of next year ¡V¡§

¡§Is it even possible? Being able to deflect spells? I hope you¡¦re not bringing us to a dead end, professor.¡¨ Hermione interrupted yet again.

¡§I assure you, it is possible. You all shall graduate, ready for the unexpected. Now there¡¦s another rule. Be ready for the unexpected. If something goes wrong, chances are, everything will.¡¨ Drakul dropped into her seat. ¡§Read chapters one to three in your books. Class dismissed.¡¨ Two seconds later, the bell rang. The Gryffindor Seventh Years started talking excitedly amongst themselves.

¡§She didn¡¦t even get mad!¡¨

¡§Did you see that Sickle...?¡¨

¡§Neville Longbottom, I believe I have something of yours.¡¨ Drakul called out.

Neville broke apart from the crowd, and stood before her. ¡§Professor, I¡¦m terribly sorry about what happened at breakfast. And for the trouble of ¡V of bringing my things here...¡¨ He broke off at Drakul¡¦s dismissive wave of her hand.

¡§It is all right, Neville. I understand about the forgetfulness and the clumsiness.¡¨ Professor Drakul got up from her desk, and retrieved a box from a cupboard. ¡§These are your schoolbooks, I believe, Neville. Now go on to Transfiguration.¡¨ Neville took the box, and whispered his thanks.

The professor only held open the door for him. As he gingerly made his way out of the room, he heard Drakul chuckle. It was low and deep as well as soft and gentle. He turned to face her, puzzlement written all over his round face.

¡§If you were not so... careful, Neville, I¡¦d dare say you wouldn¡¦t be as awkward as you are. Walk with confidence, boy.¡¨ Drakul nodded at him then closed the classroom door.

¡§Hey, Neville!¡¨ Neville turned to his classmate, with a slightly dumbfounded look on his face. ¡§Neville... you all right there, mate?¡¨ The boy nodded, and quickly went to class, following his classmate.

*

Snape was in a foul mood today. Not only did the Ravenclaw Fourth years whisper in awe about the new, ¡¥amazing¡¦ teacher, but none of them picked up -any- of the hints he dropped during the lesson.

¡§You clodpoles wouldn¡¦t know the difference between holy water and normal water if it bit you between the eyes!¡¨ he snatched the bottle away from the astounded student. ¡§If you go ask your -precious- Professor Dracula, perhaps she would tell you!¡¨

If the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs noticed the ¡¥slip,¡¦ they didn¡¦t look surprised, but bent over their cauldrons in earnest, and worked in silence.

Snape spent the double period prowling among smoking cauldrons and very, very nervous students.

It was a disgrace, these students. None knew anything. He hadn¡¦t spent his entire life devoted to the art of potions to see the incompetent students make a joke out of it. He should have quit long ago.

*

Harry and friends were enjoying the second supper of the year, when he was tapped on the shoulder. He saw Justin Finch-Fletchley, a curly-haired Hufflepuff who was also Quidditch captain.

¡§Hullo, hullo all,¡¨ he said brightly. ¡§Harry, I have a message from Drakul. She said to meet her in the Defense classroom after dinner. Got that? Right then, I¡¦ll tell Morag, then Malfoy. I¡¦ll be seeing you then!¡¨ he smiled happily and waved. He had hardly taken time to draw a breath, but plunged through the sentences.

¡§I wonder what¡¦s -that- about?¡¨ Hermione muttered, darkly stabbing at the greens she had just picked.

¡§Quidditch captains have to meet the referee at some point, I suppose, and this being Drakul¡¦s first year.¡¨ Harry grinned at Ron, who grinned back. Hermione still didn¡¦t look happy. ¡§Oh, come off, it, Hermione. Drakul¡¦s not that bad. I¡¦d rather have her than... Lockhart.¡¨

¡§It¡¦s a funny name, you know. Drakul.¡¨ Ron said flippantly. He caught Hermione¡¦s thoughtful look. ¡§Oh, come off it, Hermione. She¡¦s not Dracula or anything. She¡¦s not going to eat the teachers... though Snape... oh, now there¡¦s a thought.¡¨

¡§What did you say Ron?¡¨ Hermione spoke for the second time during that meal. She looked strange.

Ron looked taken back. ¡§Well, I didn¡¦t -mean- it... I only said I hope she¡¦d eat Snape or something. But I was only joking.¡¨ Ron twisted in his chair uncomfortably.

¡§No, before that. Who did you say she was?¡¨

¡§Oh. Her name Drakul. I just thought it was strange, like Dracula or something. Hey! Hey, where are you going?¡¨ Harry and Ron both twisted in their seats, in time to hear her shout.

¡§Library!¡¨

¡§I wonder what set her off?¡¨ Ron frowned. ¡§Was it something I said?¡¨

¡§Dunno. I¡¦m going to go to Drakul¡¦s meeting. I¡¦ll see you upstairs.

¡§Will do.¡¨ Ron grinned. ¡§You know, it¡¦s strange, how Hermione¡¦s acting. Reckon we... surprise her somewhat later on?¡¨

Harry shook his head. ¡§She¡¦ll probably take points off,¡¨ he said dismissively. ¡§Right then, I¡¦m off.


Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JK Rowling. Well... almost everything.