Moondance

Summary: Sariyah Khan has just returned to Hogwarts as the new DADA teacher.  Once a close friend of Lily Potter and Remus Lupin, she now keeps her past as a closely guarded secret.  Meanwhile, Malon James, sixth year Gryffindor and American native, is returning for her second year at the magical school.  As their year progresses, they find that life is never without twists and turns… especially when magic is involved.

Disclaimer:  JK Rowling is the one and only person with the rights to anything Harry Potter.  We bow down.

Authors' Note:  Hi, just thought I'd mention that this story is not totally my own.  Sophia, a wonderful friend and fellow Harry Potter freak, and I are in this one together.  She's wonderful, let's all give her a hand *canned applause* 

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"Please follow me," said the crisp voice of the elder woman who answered the castle door. Her witch's hat lay perched in the exact center of her head, and everything about her seemed to be organized. She walked stiff and upright up the stairs, leading the woman who had knocked on the door down the long gray corridors. She stopped in front of a large stone gargoyle and glanced down the hall to make sure no one was looking.

"Chocolate Frog." She had only just said the last word when the gargoyle came to life and sprang out of the way, revealing a staircase of sorts. "Just stand on the staircase, and it will take you up to the Headmaster's office." She smiled briskly and walked off down the long hall.

The woman surveyed the staircase for a moment with cool green eyes, then hesitantly stepped on it. It immediately began escalating upwards, and after a short time, another door was reached. The second door slid open, and the Headmaster's office was revealed. It had many intricate items everywhere, curious little knickknacks and numerous spinning metal objects. The pictures of previous headmasters were on the walls, most of them looking quite jolly, and one who was quite asleep. She smiled to herself, thinking that the office hadn't changed much since the last time she had been in it. She ran her long fingers through her deep brown hair, a nervous habit she had picked up long ago.

On a golden stand, Fawkes the phoenix was perching, and the bird had been eyeing the young woman from the second she had entered. His large black eyes met her light green ones as she slowly moved towards the stand.

"Hello, Fawkes." she whispered. Fawkes blinked twice and chirped softly, recognizing the woman he hadn't seen for years. In a rush of bright red and gold feathers, he launched off of his perch and began flapping around the high ceiling of the office.

"Good evening, Sariyah." said a seasoned voice. Sariyah turned to face the one and only Albus Dumbledore, in bright blue robes. His eyes twinkled behind gold-rimmed glasses that sat on his long crooked nose.

"Hello, Headmaster." Sariyah said, a large grin spreading over her honey colored face.

"I'm so glad you decided to answer the ad in the Daily Prophet. I honestly didn't believe that we were going to end up getting a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher...and I don't know why I didn't think of calling you in the beginning, Sariyah, the thought had never crossed my mind until earlier this year."

"Yes, Headmaster, although I don't think I would have been able to start any earlier than this year, what with all the goings on I had to deal with." she answered.

"Of course, of course...I am so relieved that it was you that we did end up getting. I could not have asked for a more qualified teacher...we haven't had a decent one since Remus was teaching three years ago."

Sariyah's eyes lost the happiness they held, and for a moment a glimmer of pain shot through them. She broke her gaze from Dumbledore briefly but quickly made contact again. Dumbledore's eyes narrowed slightly, inquisitively.

"Sariyah...I know you and Remus were very close when you were going to school here at Hogwarts...what happened?" asked Dumbledore.

"Another time, sir, I will tell you...I don't really want to talk about it right now." answered Sariyah, looking away from the wizened old man.

"Anytime you would like to, you know I am here. Now I must order you to leave my office and set up shop in the Defense room, as well as organize the things in your own office. Its good to have you back again, Sariyah." Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled. Sariyah smiled back and exited the office in a swish of lavender robes.

Albus Dumbledore sat down at his desk and sighed. Sariyah Khan had been one of the smartest students at Hogwarts ever, prefect and head girl, eventually. She hung around with the good crowd-the Gryffindor crowd. If he remember correctly, she and Lily Potter were best friends, and she and Remus were very close as well...what had happened there, Dumbledore couldn't comprehend. Even Headmasters didn't know everything about their students.

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Every time someone reviews, an angel gets its wings! –Sophia and Carlyn