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CLAWS OF A RAVEN
by
Tyde
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Chapter Two
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Shopping had always grated a little on her. She much preferred the Muggle way of ordering things over the internet and having them arrive straight to your door. In theory it sounded like a great idea, she'd even gone into an internet café to watch people using computers but try as she might she couldn't get the hang of them. She accidentally broke the mouse (which to her chagrin didn't obey any of the commands she barked at it) and got out of there quick smart before anyone could realise what she'd done.
So it was now that she found herself walking through the hole in the wall behind the Leaky Cauldron that led to Diagon Alley. Sorora glanced down at the scrap of parchment in her hand that was her shopping list: Travelling robes, large jar Comfrey powder, Deconstructing the Dark Arts: A Definitive Teacher's Guide, travelling cage for Ulula, six pack of underwear and a tube of wand polish.
Taking the velvet pouch from her pocket she counted the money to see if she'd have enough, without having to go to Gringotts. Those goblins put her on edge and that wasn't a good way to start a spot of much dreaded shopping. It wouldn't do to be haggling over the price of a good owl cage while you were as cranky as a bear with a sore head. Sorora felt sorry for any shop assistant that wanted to help her today.
The Apothecary was up first on the right so she headed over to get her supply of Comfrey powder. She liked to mix a little in her drink at meal times as it kept all the systems in working order. She was adding a large jar of the herbal concoction to her shopping basket (and ticking it off the list happily) when a blond boy shoved roughly past her.
"Out of my way," he said nastily. He was dressed all in black and the way he held himself reminded her of somebody. She opened her mouth before she even had the chance to talk herself out of it. A long hidden need to attack had taken over her senses.
She practically growled, "There can be no doubt that you're a Malfoy," her lips twisted cruelly into a look she didn't use very often. The comment caused him to stop and turn around to face his accuser. Sorora hadn't meant to say it so loud but as soon as she saw those cold grey eyes she knew her suspicions were confirmed.
"That's right, Draco Malfoy" He regarded her as if she were a smudge of dirt on his shoe. "Who the hell are you?"
"Sorora Palgetti, but that wouldn't mean anything to you. Draco is it?" her eyes burrowed into him and amazingly he started to feel just a little bit uncomfortable, although he'd never admit it. "I can imagine you must be a severe disappointment to your father."
"What did you say?" he snarled. She'd hit the right button and he took a step towards her.
"I don't need to repeat it, you heard me. A complete and utter failure no doubt." The words kept coming and she couldn't stop. Part of her brain screamed at her to shut up, but the other part encouraged her to keep going, make him feel it, it said.
"You better watch your mouth, nobody talks to me like that. Wait until my father hears about this!"
He twisted around, looking out the shop window as if to find him. A wave of panic hit her and she grabbed his sleeve, reverting his attention back to her. The last person she wanted to see right now was Lucius Malfoy, but for a remote, insane minute she figured she could harp on his son a bit.
"Don't bother Lucius with something so trivial, he wouldn't remember me anyway. But I daresay he might be surprised at the way you treat your teachers. You're at Hogwarts, I presume? He's still trying to keep up that façade of being on the straight and narrow isn't he? Wouldn't do to start cursing your Defence Against the Dark Arts professor in the middle of Diagon Alley now would it? He always was a fan of subtlety."
Draco loosened the grip on his wand in his pocket and narrowed his eyes at her.
"I'll have you know I'm not always so predictable as him. Besides," and he sneered at this point "professors in that position don't tend to last very long. I'd be doing you a favour if I cursed you right now," he spun on his heel to leave.
Sorora grabbed the hood of his robes, pulling him backwards so he nearly over balanced. She leaned her mouth down to hiss in his ear.
"Watch your step, Mr Malfoy. You won't always find me in such a good mood," her voice dripped with venom.
To her delight she saw him shudder a little. She smirked a little to herself. Sorora hadn't even gotten to the school yet and she could sense that discipline was going to be her strong suit. She let go of Draco and he hurried out of the shop, furtively glancing back and when he discovered she wasn't watching gave her a patented Malfoy glare.
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Harry and Ron narrowly missed slamming straight into Draco as he came thundering out of the Apothecary.
"Out of my way Potter," he sneered before heading off down the street, no doubt on his way to Knockturn Alley.
Harry picked up the Gambol and Japes shopping bag he'd dropped in a puddle. A few of the wet-start firecrackers were starting to sizzle and he hurried to put out the sparks before the bag exploded.
"Looks like Malfoy's in fine form again this year. You don't think he'll ever change do you?"
"What and become nice and courteous to everyone? Don't think I could handle that, Harry," verbalized Ron.
"Me neither. It'd be like a world gone topsy turvy. Then we wouldn't have a reason to hate him."
"Yeah. I can imagine that the Malfoy's take great pride in being the most feared - or should I say hated - wizarding family in Britain. Possibly even the world!"
"What else have you got to get on your list? We've only got half an hour before we have to meet your parents back at the Leaky Cauldron"
"Just the Standard Book of Spells: Grade Five, you?"
"Same. Off to Flourish and Blotts then," they headed off in the direction of the book shop and didn't see a figure emerge from behind one of the supports holding up the veranda in front of the Apothecary. The figure was heavily cloaked and it's eyes flitted back and forth between Harry and Ron as if calculating something. It Disapparated with a subdued pop and just in time too as Professor Palgetti emerged with her purchases.
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Passing through the gates she felt like the gargoyles were watching her very closely. Maybe at night they'd sit around with a few drinks and discuss how long they thought she might last. Everyone she'd told about her new position had mentioned the same thing. Her mother (in a rare fit of caring) had loaded her up with talismans and protection symbols and warned her not to fly off half-cocked like she tended to. Sorora was surprised she'd been able to fit everything in the trunk without using an enlarging charm. The front door of Hogwarts came into view as she trudged along the grass and even from the great distance she could see the flowing beard of the Headmaster.
"Welcome Sorora," Dumbledore held his arms up in welcome as the mousy haired teacher made her way up the entrance steps to Hogwarts. Behind her floated a trunk, an empty cage (she'd let Ulula out to stretch her wings) and a large bulky package wrapped in brown paper.
"Hello Albus," she replied, a little out of breath, "I didn't remember how breathtaking the castle was, especially at sunset."
Pinks and golds shone on the horizon and gave Hogwarts a smattering of dark shadows that could hide all sorts of nasties and made one shiver with delight (or fright, depending on your personality).
"It is quite, isn't it?" he didn't follow her gaze though and his voiced sounded strained.
"Anything the matter?"
"Oh no," he was back to his jolly old self again and she wondered if she'd imagined it. "Just a little tired"
A house elf stood by his side, eager to take her belongings to her new home.
"Jippy will take your things Sorora. I'll give you a little time to settle in before dinner is served at seven. The other professors arrived this morning and will join us in the Great Hall also."
Her stomach did a little flip flop at the mention of the other professors. Would Snape be back from his travels now? Would she have to face him after so many years in front of a bunch of people she hardly even knew, at least socially. Sorora knew what his reaction would be but she had no idea what hers would be.
Jippy led her up two flights of stone steps and onto the second floor. Her office and living quarters were adjoined and she sank down onto the bed gratefully. The mattress was soft and she lay back with her head resting on the palms of her hands. The house elf left her alone but not before she'd made a time tomorrow for him to take her on the grand tour of the school.
Although the outside never seemed to change Sorora was reliably informed by Dumbledore that several rooms, staircases and indeed whole floors would disappear or relocate on a monthly, yearly or decade basis. He was sure that significant changes had been made that warranted her taking a tour.
"Besides," he'd said with a twinkle in his eye, "You're a professor now, not a first year and I dare say the respect of the students will not be gained if their Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is found wandering around lost in the dungeons".
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Her first tentative step into the Great Hall was accompanied by a pounding heartbeat emanating from her chest that she was sure they could hear in Africa. Sorora could see Professors Sinistra, Sprout, Flitwick, Vector, McGonagall, Madam Hooch the flying teacher, Madam Pomfrey, Filch the caretaker and a jolly looking Hagrid who appeared to be onto his second goblet of wine. A voice spoke softly in her ear and caused her to jump at least a foot in the air.
"He's not here."
She turned to see Dumbledore looking at her most amused.
"I'm sorry, who?" she fluttered her eyelashes innocently at the Headmaster.
"Severus won't be back until the beginning of term. I think that warrants you being able to unstick yourself from that door handle and join the rest of us for a meal, yes?"
Professor Palgetti loosened her grip on the door and allowed Dumbledore to escort her to a seat at the end of the table.
"May I have your attention, please"
McGonagall paused with a giant forkful of peas aimed at her mouth and turned towards Albus.
"I would like to introduce our new Defence Against the Arts professor – Sorora Palgetti"
There was shuffling as the professors stood up to shake her hand, congratulating her on acquiring the job and then trying to avoid talking about the previous professors that had the misfortune of being in her position.
Professor Flitwick warned her about the antics of Fred and George Weasley ("Those scallywags") while Filch advised her to instantly report anything that those "filthy rotten good for nothing redheads" did and he'd deal with it in his own way. She thought she heard him mutter something about oiling the chains up but she couldn't be sure.
McGonagall went through the list of new Prefects for that year (four for each house, she was appalled to find that Draco Malfoy was among them) and also told her about a few new children starting whose parents were suspected Death Eaters and to keep a particular eye on them.
As she said, "In this time it's hard to know whom to trust. Albus can't be expected to defend the whole world, he's got a school to run!"
Sorora hoed into her food and enjoyed the light banter between all the teachers.
There were some noticeable absences, Professor Trelawney "who doesn't like to come down to our level" As Sinistra, the Astronomy professor had put it. "Honestly, if I make the effort, she could bloody well too!" and the History of Magic teacher Binns who didn't eat (as he was a ghost) and sometimes quite forgot that there were other people in the room anyway. He would have been no good in a conversation. After too much wine they all let their hair down, except McGonagall of course (that always remained tightly in a bun), and took to the floor for a bit of dancing.
"Best enjoy the fun times like these, dear" said Madam Pomfrey as Hagrid whizzed her around the room. "They'll all be back in less than a week and it'll be broken bones and bloodied noses for as far as the eye can see".
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Author's note: Finding it a little harder to write this than my past stories. I'm desperately trying to stay away from reading other people's fics about female DADAs teachers. I want to try for some originality but it's really quite hard.
Akki Torren – Yay my first reviewer! I always heap more love on my first reviewer of a story than any other. A chocolate frog you say? Make it a whole cart full. I'm not sure if it's going to come together so easily though. I'm a little stumped at the moment. There is a third and fourth chapter sitting on my computer but they are unfinished and won't let me add more.
Hey CrinkleCutRuffles – nice to see you back! I didn't get the chance to thank you for your comments on Path to Darkness cause you just appear to be a random fanfic reader. Yeah I kinda left it up in the air and to tell you the truth I'd run out of ideas so that's where I finished it. Before you ask, this one isn't a sequel or anything, although some things that were in the other story are relevant here too. Oh and Cranky!Snape is coming up in the next chapter. Along with a revelation.
