There was an empty seat at the head table during the welcoming feast. It caused quite a topic of discussion. Most of the chatter focused on furtive glances at the professors, and pointed fingers at the empty chair. Harry and the rest of the Gryffindors were most certainly not immune to the talk - they wanted to know what was going on as much as the next - especially if it meant getting to miss a class!



"I heard that Dumbledore is going to teach DADA!" Seamus told his fellows.



"Yeah, well I heard that there isn't going to be a Defense Against the Dark Arts class this year!" Dean had to shout to make himself heard.



"Yeah? But I heard that-" Neville cut himself off as the Hall became silent. A woman had just slid in through the back door, and taken up a seat between Professors Snape and McGonagall - the spot for the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. She looked out over the students, as small blush creeping it's way onto her cheeks. She lifted an eyebrow at the students, though, as if they were the ones who were out of place. When talk once again started, Professor Ildder turned to McGonagall and Dumbledore, ducking her head in apology.



"Sorry I'm late - I was prepping for tomorrow morning."



"It's quite all right, my dear." Albus dismissed her apology with a wave of his hand. She nodded, then attended to her food for a few moments, before she realized that a pair of eyes was fixed on her; well, there were a couple hundred eyes on her, but one pair in particular. She sighed, and turned to look at Snape.



"What is it?"



"Excuse me?" His voice was hard, and cold.



"Why do you keep staring at me?" Her face was blank, and almost calm.



He arched an eyebrow. "I didn't realize I was." He paid his attention to his food, and scowling at random student. What a colleague, Demarga thought.