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CLAWS OF A RAVEN
by Tyde

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Chapter Four

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Harry, Ron and Hermione were headed towards the first floor prefects' bathroom when they heard the sound of Professor Snape arguing loudly with what could only be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. The sound drifted up from the stairway that lead to the dungeons and not wanting to walk into what could potentially become a duel the threesome stopped short of the corner and flattened themselves against the wall. The comments they heard flying thick and fast from their Potions master were pretty standard Snape fare until he said something completely unexpected. Hermione's jaw nearly dropped to the floor.

"Did he just say sister?!" hissed Harry. Ron's bewildered look said it all.

"Apparently" Hermione whispered back. She signalled that they should go back the way they came and soon found themselves in front of the Pink Lady's portrait. After Hermione gave the password they headed into the common room and settled down in a corner to discuss what they'd just overheard.

Ron started first "This is going to be one interesting year with two Snapes at Hogwarts. She sounds just as vicious as he does"

"I don't know. She seemed fairly pleasant at dinner. I think I saw her smile once or twice"

"Yeah and I swear I saw her glare in Malfoy's direction so she can't be all bad" Harry contributed.

Hermione allowed herself a small smile before bringing up a valid point "She was wearing a school tie, did you notice what emblem was embroidered on it?"

"No but I'm betting it's Slytherin" spoke up Ron. "All my family's been in Gryffindor, right? Well it stands to reason that Palgetti would be a Slytherin. I couldn't imagine Snape being the black sheep of a family. I'd say they are all as nasty as one another".

"It certainly does bring up some interesting questions" Hermione noted. "If she's anything like her brother she was probably a Death Eater. I think we ought to keep a close eye on the Professor, especially when it comes to you, Harry"

Ron and Harry nodded and then the three agreed to keep this secret to themselves and see how things panned out.

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As Professor Palgetti swept into the classroom Hermione wondered how it was that she hadn't made the connection between Palgetti and Snape earlier. They both had the same charcoal coloured eyes, they both sat stiffly in their chairs and the way she had just swept into the classroom was very reminiscent of Snape and his bat like qualities.

The fifth year Gryffindors had yet to witness one of her classes but if last night's verbal joust with her brother was anything to go by Sorora was quite likely to be just as nasty as him. She didn't smile as she entered the room and one didn't need to read her aura to sense she was in a foul mood. Two seats over Neville Longbottom braced himself for the worst. His face sank and he looked even more depressed than usual.

"Good morning class no doubt you know who I am. Professor Palgetti, former Ravenclaw" Harry raised an eyebrow, "and until recently much more adept at gardening than teaching a class against the Dark Arts" a few smiles appeared on the students faces.

Her body language was vicious but her words weren't, maybe she wouldn't be too bad after all.

"I've been reading over the notes of your previous professors, good and evil, and Unforgivable Curses seem to be the last thing you did. I propose to lighten the atmosphere a bit and go back to a few of Professor Lupin's teachings. I notice you have covered a slew of dark magical creatures and how to defeat them. I will be starting with a few standards that you will no doubt be familiar with"

She stood up on the platform to the side of the desk that held a few tanks and cages with numerous creatures sleeping in them.

Neville's lip started to tremble as he remembered the Cornish Pixies in second year and that blasted Gilderoy Lockhart. He mumbled under his breath that sounded something like "Not likely to be familiar to me. I never remember anything. I'm hopeless really, can't imagine why they put me in Gryffindor. Can't even imagine why I'm at Hogwarts anyway" His head dipped down so he was closely examining the grain of the wood in his desk. "Can't even look after Trevor without losing him. Gran was right, I'm hopeless"

Sorora whipped around and her eyes searched the classroom.

"Who is talking?"

There was no answer from the students and Neville still had his head down, muttering about his woes.

"I repeat, who is talking?"

Something in her tone reminded Ron of Snape and he gulped. He didn't want to dob in Neville but he didn't want this unpredictable teacher taking a stack of points from Gryffindor for no good reason either. Tentatively the redhead raised his hand. Harry and Hermione looked at their friend shocked, surely he wouldn't?

"Please Professor, I think it's just the wind whistling through the fireplace, rather windy day out there" said Ron hoping against hope that she wouldn't look out the window and see the trees and bushes perfectly still.

"I don't think so Mr Weasley, someone in this room is talking and I'd really like to know why"

All eyes turned to Longbottom as he opened his mouth again, this time wider and his voice was louder now.

"That would be me, you may as well expel me for breaking rules" he had something small and grey on the table top that he was stroking slowly like a cat. "Send me home where I'll just curl up into a ball and die. No one will notice anyway. It's not like I matter. No one will miss me"

He continued stroking the grey stone that seemed to have a furry underside. His fellow classmates looked at Neville in astonishment. What was going on? What had happened to Neville? If there ever needed to be a poster boy for Despair he would have been the natural choice. Professor Palgetti however just strode over to his desk and spoke to him in a matter-of-fact way.

"Mr Longbottom, what is that you have?"

"Pet rock" he said miserably, "Trevor jumped out of the carriage yesterday coming up to Hogwarts and I can't find him anywhere. I can't lose Martin though - that's the rock's name - he is always there when I need him. Although I don't think I'll need him much longer"

"Mr Longbottom, did you listen to the Headmaster's announcements at beginning of term last night?"

"No," he said glumly, "I was trying to find Trevor. I thought he might have hopped down near the little creek that runs behind Hagrid's place for swim"

"And is that where you found Martin?"

"Yes'm. There were a lot of them but I thought this was the prettiest one. See how it glitters a little there like an eye" Neville held the rock up so the teacher might get a closer look. She snatched it from his grasp (a shout of pain issued from the boy as she took away his prized rock) and nudged it with her wand.

To the amazement of the class the rock unfurled a little furry body from underneath and the stone slowly turned into a flat, evil looking face that was no bigger than the size of Galleon. It opened it's little mouth and bit her on the finger but she held on tight.

"This class is a Pogrebin. For those of you who were in the Great Hall last night would have heard Professor Dumbledore mention there is a score of them that recently settled in the Forbidden Forest and to leave every stone unturned. They can be very dangerous to humans. A class three I believe. Can anyone tell me why?" As usual Hermione's hand sprung up and she answered the question in her usual textbook fashion.

"Native to Russia the Pogrebin devise pleasure from following people around, infusing them with a sense of hopelessness until the human collapses, at which point the Pogrebin attempts to devour them. The Pogrebin resembles a grey rock with a small hairy body and it hides by crouching down and pretending to be nothing but a harmless stone. The only way to get rid an area completely of Pogrebin is to burn it"

"Excellent Miss Granger, five points to Gryffindor" The professor walked over to the fireplace and shot some flame into it from her wand. "A simple stunning spell is also required before putting them in the fireplace because otherwise their furry little legs would just carry them away"

She demonstrated this and dropped the little devil into the flames where it burned quickly, leaving the room with a smell of pine needles.

"How are you feeling now, Mr Longbottom?" Sorora looked kindly at the poor boy who had once again managed to get mixed up in something by accident.

"A little better Professor," he answered but still looked a little shaken by the whole incident. She patted his shoulder comfortingly.

"Go to Professor Snape and ask for some crushed hyssop petals from his stores. I can brew you up a tea that will make you feel better" Off his terrified look, "Mr Longbottom?" The poor boy had now turned a nasty shade of green at the mention of the Potion master's name.

"Um, Professor?" spoke up Harry, "Maybe it'll just be best to send him to the hospital wing. I'm sure Madam Pomfrey has something to fix him up with"

Neville looked at Harry with a flash of relief but Sorora narrowed her eyes a little. She couldn't help thinking that this famous boy was trying to undermine her slightly. It was her first day as a teacher she was really trying hard to impress.

"Very well Mr Potter. Escort Mr Longbottom to the hospital wing" she walked back to her desk and loaded her quill up with some ink. "Hurry up then!" she snappily added when Harry didn't seem to be moving, undoubtedly a little surprised by the look she had given him earlier.

She made a note in her book as they left the room. Ron and Hermione each made mental notes of this. Half of their previous Defence Against the Dark Arts professors had been in league with He Who Must Not Be Named and although her niceness to Neville was noted, she wasn't in their good books just yet. The odds weren't in her favour just now, especially after the suspicious way she'd handled Harry earlier.

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Author's note: Colleen and fish (the fish) [what's the reason for the fish bit? Dying to know darl :o)] – Now I have to give myself a mental cleanse. You mentioned white shorts and it made me think of my PE teacher at high school. Ick. Very icky. He used to wear bright g-strings under the white shorts and that was just totally unpleasant. Ick. I've never actually had any Snape dreams yet (although I did have one where I was 12 years old and being forced to marry Draco Malfoy who was also 12 at the time) and just have to rely on my daydreaming, which is so much easier to control.

CrinkleCutRuffles – I don't think I can write romance very well. I think I'm better suited to conflicts. No pairings in this one. And I think we all love Snape when he's cranky. God forbid he should become nice one day...that would just ruin everything!