Disclaimer: All characters, with exception of Setha Stuart, are not my invention but J.K. Rowling's. I'm not writing to make any profit but for writing's sake, and because I love the HP books.

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A Love Lost - and Refound?

Chapter 2 - The Banquet.

Harry, Hermione and Ron entered the Great Hall, dreading to find out that Snape had been made Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. They knew that he had been after this subject for years, and after Moody, or rather Barty Crouch, and the re-birth of Voldemort, who'd be willing to come to Hogwarts? They were glad when they saw Snape in his usual seat, staring around the hall with an expression that suggested that for him Christmas had been cancelled. Next to Dumbledore sat a young witch with fiery red hair. She wore a long, purple robe, which, as Hermione remarked, looked absolutely stunning and rather expensive. To Harry's and Ron's distress, Hermione had developed a rather sick interest in the latest fashion.

The young witch spoke quietly to Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall. Was she the new Defence teacher? When Harry saw how Snape eyed her, he was sure she was. But wait; there was no hatred or loathing in his eyes. No. He seemed to be rather distressed, shocked, and . Harry couldn't believe his eyes . but Snape seemed to be . sad.

The Sorting of the first years was about to take place and when Harry looked around the hall he could see that the Slytherin table was almost completely deserted. Unfortunately only almost . his archenemy Draco Malfoy and his cronies Crabbe and Goyle where still at Hogwarts. Before Harry could point this out to Ron and Hermione, Professor Dumbledore got to his feet and began his usual begin-of-term speech.

"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. I'm happy to announce that we have found a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Please welcome Professor Setha Stuart." Harry, who had been eying Snape, almost dropped his box of Chocolate Frogs, which he had started eating because he was so hungry. Snape turned even paler that he was usually when the young witches name was announced. What was the matter with him? He looked as if he'd just seen a ghost. And then, as Professor Stuart turned her head here and there to smile at all teachers she had not yet met, her eyes met with Snape's. He was thunderstruck it seemed to Harry, who couldn't help gloating . someone could make Snape uneasy it seemed, what a great start of the new year.

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After the banquet, Harry, Ron and Hermione went strait up to the owlery to send a note to Sirius about the new professor and Snape's strange behaviour. They didn't know, what this message would trigger off.