Crystalline Visions
Finally, it was seventh year for the fabulous three, and they were the top of the class. Their favorite Professor was back, teaching Defense against the Dark Arts (DADA) along with his large dog, Snuffles. Anticipation was running high in the great hall as the upper-class students waited for the scared and shaking first years to arrive and be sorted. Ron and Harry scanned the head table, and noticed an empty seat. Hermione, being head girl, knew what was going on and whispered the scoop to her companions.
Professor Flitwick would be working closely with the Ministry of Magic on top secret material for a while. His Ravenclaw cunning, skills, and experience as a Charms Master were highly needed in the impending war against Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Logic usually escaped the minds of great wizards; but Professor Flitwick, while always the epitome of charm and kindness, was a very, very clever man.
Through years attending symposiums in his field, Professor Flitwick had met equally amazing wizards and witches .
As Headmaster Dumbledore reluctantly released him to the ministry, Flitwick recommended a very talented American master of charms who was willing to take the position for a year.
Ron was the first to see her as she strolled into the room. His mouth dropped open, and his eyes widened so much that Harry turned to look in the direction of Ron's dumbfounded stare. The new master charmer had waist long silky raven hair, sea shell gray eyes, and legs clean up to her neck. In fact, her legs were so long that she practically glided her way to the head table. She was wearing muggle clothing: dusty blue jeans, gray alligator cowboy boots, and a mauve sweater under an open, billowing black robe.
"Who the bloody hell is that?" squeaked Ron with a breaking voice.
Dumbledore greeted and escorted the one whose charms were already so actively capturing her audience to the seat between Remus Lupin and Severus Snape. Before introducing herself to the other professors, she gave a half cocked smile towards Ron, just as Hermione smacked him on the shoulder to shut up.
"When do we have our first lesson?" Ron wondered aloud and in awe.
Harry couldn't suppress a laugh as he wondered what Ron would choose as the first lesson, given a free hand; and Hermione kicked Ron's nearer shin.
"She's a highly qualified charms master, not that you would ever notice any charms other than the non-magical!" smirked Hermione.
Harry briefly considered making a jab about her boundless enthusiasm for Lockhart's "charms", but decided he did not want to be hexed clear into next week or even next semester. Just as well, for Dumbledore presently stood to officially begin festivities. He quietly beckoned the new charmer, who half-glided and half-slinked, catlike, completely full of grace to join Dumbledore at the center of the head table.
"Ladies and gentlemen, honorable witches and wizards in the making," he smiled as he slowly turned his head in a kindly survey of the assembled student body, "I am very pleased to present to you our newest faculty member, an extremely skilled and highly experienced woman who will very soon delight and inform you all with her vast knowledge of charms. I present to you the next master of Charms, Professor-"
Neither Ron nor Harry heard what her name was, as Hermione broke into their hormone driven reveries with,
"Notice he did not say 'the hot mamma of Charms'! I sincerely hope the two of you don't embarrass me too severely as you fall all over yourselves trying to please her."'
She paused for moment as she reflected on the too often lackluster academic efforts of her favorite two companions and then added,
"That might not be such a bad thing after all."
If this woman could inspire Ron and Harry to aspire to and achieve academic excellence, maybe she truly was a master charmer worthy of the build up Dumbledore gave her. Shortly, they would begin to find out.
Finally, it was seventh year for the fabulous three, and they were the top of the class. Their favorite Professor was back, teaching Defense against the Dark Arts (DADA) along with his large dog, Snuffles. Anticipation was running high in the great hall as the upper-class students waited for the scared and shaking first years to arrive and be sorted. Ron and Harry scanned the head table, and noticed an empty seat. Hermione, being head girl, knew what was going on and whispered the scoop to her companions.
Professor Flitwick would be working closely with the Ministry of Magic on top secret material for a while. His Ravenclaw cunning, skills, and experience as a Charms Master were highly needed in the impending war against Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Logic usually escaped the minds of great wizards; but Professor Flitwick, while always the epitome of charm and kindness, was a very, very clever man.
Through years attending symposiums in his field, Professor Flitwick had met equally amazing wizards and witches .
As Headmaster Dumbledore reluctantly released him to the ministry, Flitwick recommended a very talented American master of charms who was willing to take the position for a year.
Ron was the first to see her as she strolled into the room. His mouth dropped open, and his eyes widened so much that Harry turned to look in the direction of Ron's dumbfounded stare. The new master charmer had waist long silky raven hair, sea shell gray eyes, and legs clean up to her neck. In fact, her legs were so long that she practically glided her way to the head table. She was wearing muggle clothing: dusty blue jeans, gray alligator cowboy boots, and a mauve sweater under an open, billowing black robe.
"Who the bloody hell is that?" squeaked Ron with a breaking voice.
Dumbledore greeted and escorted the one whose charms were already so actively capturing her audience to the seat between Remus Lupin and Severus Snape. Before introducing herself to the other professors, she gave a half cocked smile towards Ron, just as Hermione smacked him on the shoulder to shut up.
"When do we have our first lesson?" Ron wondered aloud and in awe.
Harry couldn't suppress a laugh as he wondered what Ron would choose as the first lesson, given a free hand; and Hermione kicked Ron's nearer shin.
"She's a highly qualified charms master, not that you would ever notice any charms other than the non-magical!" smirked Hermione.
Harry briefly considered making a jab about her boundless enthusiasm for Lockhart's "charms", but decided he did not want to be hexed clear into next week or even next semester. Just as well, for Dumbledore presently stood to officially begin festivities. He quietly beckoned the new charmer, who half-glided and half-slinked, catlike, completely full of grace to join Dumbledore at the center of the head table.
"Ladies and gentlemen, honorable witches and wizards in the making," he smiled as he slowly turned his head in a kindly survey of the assembled student body, "I am very pleased to present to you our newest faculty member, an extremely skilled and highly experienced woman who will very soon delight and inform you all with her vast knowledge of charms. I present to you the next master of Charms, Professor-"
Neither Ron nor Harry heard what her name was, as Hermione broke into their hormone driven reveries with,
"Notice he did not say 'the hot mamma of Charms'! I sincerely hope the two of you don't embarrass me too severely as you fall all over yourselves trying to please her."'
She paused for moment as she reflected on the too often lackluster academic efforts of her favorite two companions and then added,
"That might not be such a bad thing after all."
If this woman could inspire Ron and Harry to aspire to and achieve academic excellence, maybe she truly was a master charmer worthy of the build up Dumbledore gave her. Shortly, they would begin to find out.