**Note: Hello again. I would like to thank everyone for his or her
wonderful reviews! Especially Dogbone7, I thank you for supporting me! : )
Um, this chapter is a little long, I think, but I had to get it all in here
somewhere. I think I may have given the wrong impression about Kat and
Draco's relationship last chapter in my little note at the end. You shall
discover a little bit about them in this chapter, more about it is to come.
I own nothing, except any characters you haven't heard of before. Please
r&r!**
Katerina walked faster than normal to her classroom. She wanted to be sure everything was in order before the students came in for their first class.
The room was decorated with pictures of beasts and dark wizards that looked at her menacingly as she walked by. She had originally wanted to bring in some sort of animal or something of that nature for their first class, but changed her mind. She wanted to get to know her students on the first day, make them feel comfortable. She sat down at her desk after making sure everything was in order and began reading some of the 2nd years' book. Her first class was a 2nd year class of Gryffindors and Slytherins. She found she couldn't read for lack of concentration. She unexpectedly found herself daydreaming about Professor Snape.
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione climbed the stairs to the forth floor, they talked about how down Professor Alberthane had looked until Professor Snape said something to her.
"You know Snape wants her job…I never thought I'd seen him actually act somewhat decent to her, I even saw her smiling at him. Do you think they fancy each other?" Hermione said, somewhat in a whisper, so no one around them could really hear what they were talking about. Ron's face turned pink.
"He had better not! Like she would go for him anyway! He's a pompous, ugly, jerk!" Ron said struggling not to yell. Harry couldn't help but laugh out loud. Hermione sighed.
"I could possibly see the appeal…" Hermione said as if she were in a dream. Harry stopped laughing and he and Ron ceased walking. She suddenly noticed that they weren't beside her any longer and turned to look at them. They just stared at her with wide eyes and their mouths hanging open. "Don't look at me like that! Listen to my logic…." Hermione said, starting to walk up the stairs again, "C'mon! Start walking again and hear me out!" They both started walking again, listening to Hermione intently.
"Well, at first glance, he isn't a extremely attractive man…but if a gothic, dark, strong, mysterious man is what you are looking for, well, he's the perfect fit. So, that type of man may very well be her type. I must say he did intrigue me when I first saw him, but it was killed just as soon as he opened his mouth. Nasty habit of his, opening his mouth like that. Now, just because he is nasty to everyone else in the world, doesn't mean he's going to be a jerk to her. You saw how she laughs whenever he is around. For all we know, he could be quite the charmer in personal life. And that magnificent voice! Even I have to admit that I do love his voice. He can capture the attention of anyone, especially a woman with that wonderful voice of his. So, all and all, it's possible she could fancy him, you never know." As Hermione finished her monologue, they entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"Truly, Hermione, you have a dazzling intellect." Harry said. They looked around and saw that the class was empty except for Professor Alberthane sitting quietly at her desk. Katerina was studying them thoughtfully with her blue eyes.
"Please, sit where ever you would like." She said kindly and smiled. Harry looked at Ron who eyes were glued on Professor Alberthane. Harry struggled to hold back a laugh at his friend. Hermione was in the front row before Harry or Ron knew it. They followed her and sat down with Harry in the middle. Katerina watched them the entire time with a look of interest.
"So, what are your names?" She asked, standing up and walking towards them.
"I am Hermione Granger." Hermione said first. Katerina smiled and looked at Harry.
"My name is Harry Potter." He said timidly, he never really liked telling people his name; they always seemed to make a big deal about it. But to his surprise, Professor Alberthane just smiled even more and looked at Ron. Hermione rolled her eyes and leaned over to Harry.
"This should be good." She whispered and Harry nodded, smiling.
"I…I am…Ron…Ron Weasley." Ron managed to stutter out. Professor Alberthane looked the threesome over.
"Well, Hermione, Harry, and Ron, welcome to my Defense Against the Dark Arts class. As you probably know, I am Professor Alberthane. You all are Gryffindors, am I correct?" She asked. The students nodded. "I thought so. No way you three could pass for Slytherins!" She said laughing. Harry, Ron, and Hermione laughed at this as well.
"In my experience, Gryffindors are always good students, a little mischievous, but good students nonetheless." Katerina said. The students blushed and nodded. "That's the way it was when I was in school as well." She added.
"May I ask what house you were in, Professor?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, you may. I was in Ravenclaw." Professor Alberthane said simply.
"You must be very smart, Professor Alberthane." Ron said sheepishly. Katerina blushed slightly, but recovered quickly.
"Yes, I supposed so, Ron. Actually, I was Head Girl as well." Katerina said, looking beyond them and into her past.
"My dream is to be Head Girl, Professor." Hermione said as other students began filing in.
"Perhaps it shall come true, then." Katerina said smiling and walking back to her desk.
Once everyone was seated, Katerina called role, pausing at everyone's name to get a good look at him or her and memorize his or her face.
"Malfoy, Draco." She called. Harry looked back at the boy with slicked back blonde hair sitting in the back of the class with his cronies Goyle and Crabbe as usual.
"Surely you need not to look at me,I Professor /I. I should think you would know my name and face. Wait, never mind…scratch that whole thing about you knowing me." Draco drawled. Katerina looked at him in surprise, then a smile came onto her face. Not her normal smile, but instead a threatening smile.
"Mr. Malfoy, please refrain from anymore of your comments. You are to treat me with respect, do I make myself clear?" She asked, struggling to hold back her rage. Draco just snorted. "Five points shall be taken from Slytherin for your disrespect, Mr. Malfoy." She said and looked back down at the role to get the next name on the list. She paid no attention to the Draco's scoff at her announcement.
The rest of the class continued in peace. Professor Alberthane spent most of the class getting to know her students. She then tried to go around the room and say everyone's name without looking at the role. She got them all perfect.
After that, she asked the class to open their books to a page with a picture of a lumpy, fierce looking animal.
"That, class, is a Sivily toad. Despite what the picture shows, they are quite small, around the size of an everyday bullfrog. They are nasty creatures, though. Known to lure people to sleep with their boring 'voice'. Now, these toads do not speak, mind you, but they have adapted to make noises that sound almost human. They use these sounds to lure an unsuspecting person into a trap. The person then is lulled to sleep by the toad. No one is quite sure how the toads managed to sound so human and why these sounds make us want to sleep." She paused here, and looked at the class. All except two of them were looking in their books. Both of the rebel students were staring at her. Ron, one of the two, was looking at her with a look of admiration on his face. The other, Draco, was giving her a look most opposite of Ron's. He looked rather disgusted. Katerina inwardly sighed and went back to teaching. "These toads are characterized by their mix of colors. As you can see, their skin is no particular color, but a mix of them instead. Also, notice their mouths. The mouths of these creatures are very fish-like, gaping open and closed. They are toads, however, never mind their mouths' appearance. Now, I will have a Sivily toad in class next week. I am not asking you to write me a report or anything of that nature, but do read up on these creatures. Your book gives a very detailed explanation on how to handle one of these. We'll be practicing the method next week and you'll want to at least be familiar with them. Class demised." Katerina said. The students closed their books and started leaving. Harry and Hermione waited patiently for Ron to gather his things. He was so busy looking at Professor Alberthane that he couldn't get his things together properly. He finally got everything into his bag.
"That was a wonderful class today, Professor. I am looking forward to next week." Ron said, ears turning pinker. Katerina smiled.
"Thank you, Ron. See you at lunch." She said. Ron returned the smile and turned to leave with Harry and Hermione. Professor Snape walked in right before they reached the door. He looked like a large bat flapping into the class, with his robes all swirling behind him. He stopped when he saw Harry, Hermione, and Ron. He eyed them suspiciously.
"Ah! Professor Snape, I was hoping I'd see you before lunch." Katerina said, getting up from her desk and walking towards them. Severus turned his gaze from the students to Katerina. The threesome was curious to how long they could stay and listen before one of the teachers noticed their presence. Severus looked at Katerina, waiting for her to tell him exactly why she had wanted to see him. He had forgotten all about Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"I was wondering if you could brew a potion for me. I have tried many but none seem to serve my purpose. I must admit I am very rotten at potions, so perhaps you could help me?" She said, walking towards her desk, Professor Snape close in behind. Severus simply raised his eyebrows.
"Of course, what is it exactly that you need?" He said once they had reached her desk. She began putting away some of the papers there and Severus suddenly remembered that they weren't alone. He whirled around, his cape flying behind him.
"Potter! Weasley! Granger!" He yelled. The students shuddered at the sound of their names.
"Yes, Professor Snape" Hermione squeaked.
"I believe that your presence is no longer required here. Must I bshow/b you the door?" Severus asked silkily, but dangerously. Harry shook his head. Harry and Hermione made for the door, but Ron just stood there.
"Ron, come on!" Hermione whispered. Professor Snape's eyes grew wide and threatening. Ron just stared blankly at Professor Snape, Katerina, and friends. Suddenly, as if realizing what was going on, he gulped and ran from the room, Harry and Hermione following quickly. Severus turned back to Professor Alberthane.
"You were saying?" He asked.
** ::evil grin:: a little bit of a cliffhanger, eh? I know you love me for it! About Hermione talking about Sevie: don't take me the wrong way and think Hermione has a little thing for Sevie. She doesn't. Sorry, but I am anti Snape/Hermione. She just understands how someone may find him attractive and was enlightening Harry and Ron. So, next chapter, I shall tell you about this potion that Kat needs from my ……um……*our* precious Sevie!!**
Katerina walked faster than normal to her classroom. She wanted to be sure everything was in order before the students came in for their first class.
The room was decorated with pictures of beasts and dark wizards that looked at her menacingly as she walked by. She had originally wanted to bring in some sort of animal or something of that nature for their first class, but changed her mind. She wanted to get to know her students on the first day, make them feel comfortable. She sat down at her desk after making sure everything was in order and began reading some of the 2nd years' book. Her first class was a 2nd year class of Gryffindors and Slytherins. She found she couldn't read for lack of concentration. She unexpectedly found herself daydreaming about Professor Snape.
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione climbed the stairs to the forth floor, they talked about how down Professor Alberthane had looked until Professor Snape said something to her.
"You know Snape wants her job…I never thought I'd seen him actually act somewhat decent to her, I even saw her smiling at him. Do you think they fancy each other?" Hermione said, somewhat in a whisper, so no one around them could really hear what they were talking about. Ron's face turned pink.
"He had better not! Like she would go for him anyway! He's a pompous, ugly, jerk!" Ron said struggling not to yell. Harry couldn't help but laugh out loud. Hermione sighed.
"I could possibly see the appeal…" Hermione said as if she were in a dream. Harry stopped laughing and he and Ron ceased walking. She suddenly noticed that they weren't beside her any longer and turned to look at them. They just stared at her with wide eyes and their mouths hanging open. "Don't look at me like that! Listen to my logic…." Hermione said, starting to walk up the stairs again, "C'mon! Start walking again and hear me out!" They both started walking again, listening to Hermione intently.
"Well, at first glance, he isn't a extremely attractive man…but if a gothic, dark, strong, mysterious man is what you are looking for, well, he's the perfect fit. So, that type of man may very well be her type. I must say he did intrigue me when I first saw him, but it was killed just as soon as he opened his mouth. Nasty habit of his, opening his mouth like that. Now, just because he is nasty to everyone else in the world, doesn't mean he's going to be a jerk to her. You saw how she laughs whenever he is around. For all we know, he could be quite the charmer in personal life. And that magnificent voice! Even I have to admit that I do love his voice. He can capture the attention of anyone, especially a woman with that wonderful voice of his. So, all and all, it's possible she could fancy him, you never know." As Hermione finished her monologue, they entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"Truly, Hermione, you have a dazzling intellect." Harry said. They looked around and saw that the class was empty except for Professor Alberthane sitting quietly at her desk. Katerina was studying them thoughtfully with her blue eyes.
"Please, sit where ever you would like." She said kindly and smiled. Harry looked at Ron who eyes were glued on Professor Alberthane. Harry struggled to hold back a laugh at his friend. Hermione was in the front row before Harry or Ron knew it. They followed her and sat down with Harry in the middle. Katerina watched them the entire time with a look of interest.
"So, what are your names?" She asked, standing up and walking towards them.
"I am Hermione Granger." Hermione said first. Katerina smiled and looked at Harry.
"My name is Harry Potter." He said timidly, he never really liked telling people his name; they always seemed to make a big deal about it. But to his surprise, Professor Alberthane just smiled even more and looked at Ron. Hermione rolled her eyes and leaned over to Harry.
"This should be good." She whispered and Harry nodded, smiling.
"I…I am…Ron…Ron Weasley." Ron managed to stutter out. Professor Alberthane looked the threesome over.
"Well, Hermione, Harry, and Ron, welcome to my Defense Against the Dark Arts class. As you probably know, I am Professor Alberthane. You all are Gryffindors, am I correct?" She asked. The students nodded. "I thought so. No way you three could pass for Slytherins!" She said laughing. Harry, Ron, and Hermione laughed at this as well.
"In my experience, Gryffindors are always good students, a little mischievous, but good students nonetheless." Katerina said. The students blushed and nodded. "That's the way it was when I was in school as well." She added.
"May I ask what house you were in, Professor?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, you may. I was in Ravenclaw." Professor Alberthane said simply.
"You must be very smart, Professor Alberthane." Ron said sheepishly. Katerina blushed slightly, but recovered quickly.
"Yes, I supposed so, Ron. Actually, I was Head Girl as well." Katerina said, looking beyond them and into her past.
"My dream is to be Head Girl, Professor." Hermione said as other students began filing in.
"Perhaps it shall come true, then." Katerina said smiling and walking back to her desk.
Once everyone was seated, Katerina called role, pausing at everyone's name to get a good look at him or her and memorize his or her face.
"Malfoy, Draco." She called. Harry looked back at the boy with slicked back blonde hair sitting in the back of the class with his cronies Goyle and Crabbe as usual.
"Surely you need not to look at me,I Professor /I. I should think you would know my name and face. Wait, never mind…scratch that whole thing about you knowing me." Draco drawled. Katerina looked at him in surprise, then a smile came onto her face. Not her normal smile, but instead a threatening smile.
"Mr. Malfoy, please refrain from anymore of your comments. You are to treat me with respect, do I make myself clear?" She asked, struggling to hold back her rage. Draco just snorted. "Five points shall be taken from Slytherin for your disrespect, Mr. Malfoy." She said and looked back down at the role to get the next name on the list. She paid no attention to the Draco's scoff at her announcement.
The rest of the class continued in peace. Professor Alberthane spent most of the class getting to know her students. She then tried to go around the room and say everyone's name without looking at the role. She got them all perfect.
After that, she asked the class to open their books to a page with a picture of a lumpy, fierce looking animal.
"That, class, is a Sivily toad. Despite what the picture shows, they are quite small, around the size of an everyday bullfrog. They are nasty creatures, though. Known to lure people to sleep with their boring 'voice'. Now, these toads do not speak, mind you, but they have adapted to make noises that sound almost human. They use these sounds to lure an unsuspecting person into a trap. The person then is lulled to sleep by the toad. No one is quite sure how the toads managed to sound so human and why these sounds make us want to sleep." She paused here, and looked at the class. All except two of them were looking in their books. Both of the rebel students were staring at her. Ron, one of the two, was looking at her with a look of admiration on his face. The other, Draco, was giving her a look most opposite of Ron's. He looked rather disgusted. Katerina inwardly sighed and went back to teaching. "These toads are characterized by their mix of colors. As you can see, their skin is no particular color, but a mix of them instead. Also, notice their mouths. The mouths of these creatures are very fish-like, gaping open and closed. They are toads, however, never mind their mouths' appearance. Now, I will have a Sivily toad in class next week. I am not asking you to write me a report or anything of that nature, but do read up on these creatures. Your book gives a very detailed explanation on how to handle one of these. We'll be practicing the method next week and you'll want to at least be familiar with them. Class demised." Katerina said. The students closed their books and started leaving. Harry and Hermione waited patiently for Ron to gather his things. He was so busy looking at Professor Alberthane that he couldn't get his things together properly. He finally got everything into his bag.
"That was a wonderful class today, Professor. I am looking forward to next week." Ron said, ears turning pinker. Katerina smiled.
"Thank you, Ron. See you at lunch." She said. Ron returned the smile and turned to leave with Harry and Hermione. Professor Snape walked in right before they reached the door. He looked like a large bat flapping into the class, with his robes all swirling behind him. He stopped when he saw Harry, Hermione, and Ron. He eyed them suspiciously.
"Ah! Professor Snape, I was hoping I'd see you before lunch." Katerina said, getting up from her desk and walking towards them. Severus turned his gaze from the students to Katerina. The threesome was curious to how long they could stay and listen before one of the teachers noticed their presence. Severus looked at Katerina, waiting for her to tell him exactly why she had wanted to see him. He had forgotten all about Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"I was wondering if you could brew a potion for me. I have tried many but none seem to serve my purpose. I must admit I am very rotten at potions, so perhaps you could help me?" She said, walking towards her desk, Professor Snape close in behind. Severus simply raised his eyebrows.
"Of course, what is it exactly that you need?" He said once they had reached her desk. She began putting away some of the papers there and Severus suddenly remembered that they weren't alone. He whirled around, his cape flying behind him.
"Potter! Weasley! Granger!" He yelled. The students shuddered at the sound of their names.
"Yes, Professor Snape" Hermione squeaked.
"I believe that your presence is no longer required here. Must I bshow/b you the door?" Severus asked silkily, but dangerously. Harry shook his head. Harry and Hermione made for the door, but Ron just stood there.
"Ron, come on!" Hermione whispered. Professor Snape's eyes grew wide and threatening. Ron just stared blankly at Professor Snape, Katerina, and friends. Suddenly, as if realizing what was going on, he gulped and ran from the room, Harry and Hermione following quickly. Severus turned back to Professor Alberthane.
"You were saying?" He asked.
** ::evil grin:: a little bit of a cliffhanger, eh? I know you love me for it! About Hermione talking about Sevie: don't take me the wrong way and think Hermione has a little thing for Sevie. She doesn't. Sorry, but I am anti Snape/Hermione. She just understands how someone may find him attractive and was enlightening Harry and Ron. So, next chapter, I shall tell you about this potion that Kat needs from my ……um……*our* precious Sevie!!**