3. A new teacher
All heads turned in the same direction. A great, black goshawk flew into the Hall. It described a circle over the students' heads and, waving lazily its enormous wings, it flew towards the stuff table. Dumbledore was watching it with a smile. The goshawk hung in the air right over the wizard, candle light was shining on its sharp beak and claws. And suddenly one long, surprised 'Ooooh!' was heard. Next to Dumbledore a slim woman appeared, wearing a black travel-cloak.
'Animagus...' whispered Hermione.
'Vega, I'm glad to see you' exclaimed Dumbledore, clasping woman hands 'Dear students!' he turned to the Hall ' I'd like to introduce to you a new teacher of the Defence Against the Dark Arts, professor Vega Starlight.'
Woman turned to the students. For a second a silent fell and then everybody started to clap enthusiastically. The loudest applause was coming from the boys of the seventh year which were really very impressed by the new teacher. Not only she was much younger than other witches but also very pretty. She had long, black hair and dark-grey eyes, gleaming mysteriously. Her glance, however, was rigid and the pale face severe and grave. A lower part of woman cheek was cut with a deep scar.
Harry, as all the others, couldn't take his eyes off professor Starlight. Now he understood what Hagrid meant talking about a surprise. The Weasleys were often mentioning the Aurors and Vega Starlight was one of the best. After completing Hogwart she had been training at Alastor Moody and, as it often happens, an apprentice had surpassed her master. Many people believed that Vega was the most powerful of the living Aurors.
Harry fell to thinking. If he met her in the street, he would never suspect that she had killed or send to Azkaban more Death Eaters during two years than many Aurors through the whole live.
'Harry!' Ron whispered intently 'Look at Snape !'
Harry looked at the man, sitting on the right-hand side of Dumbledore. Everybody knew that for four years Severus Snape had been trying to get Defence Against the Dark Art lecture. That was why he hated all the previous Dark Arts teachers. No wonder, that Harry was really astounded when he realised that there is no antipathy in Snape's cold, black eyes, but something else, a strange, greedy curiosity.
'Let's sit down, you must be hungry' said Dumbledore.
'I'm starving' said Vega, taking off her cloak.
She was wearing a dark, leather waistcoat, a white silk blouse and a long, black skirt. She had also a black mitt on the left palm.
People started to talk. Harry has just returned to his supper when somebody at the stuff table removed a chair impetuously. Harry looked at the man and got choked. Snape stood up and approached the witch.
'Hello, Vega' he said.
Professor Starlight looked at him and for a split second her face twisted in a nasty expression. She cooled down, however.
'Hello, Severus' she said icily, shaking his hand.
Snape hesitated, as if he wanted to add something, but he gave up, bowed and returned to his seat. Vega followed him with cold eyes, sat down, reached for a chicken chop and vigorously cut it into small pieces.
Ron and Harry exchanged amazed glances.
'It seems they know each other' said Ron.
'Yes' nodded Harry 'And if it comes to professor Starlight she is not fond of Snape. Don't you thing she would like him to be this chop ?'
'So do I.' Ron giggled viciously 'But on the other hand it's an interesting change. Usually Snape was the one who behaved as if he wanted to kill the DADA teacher.'
'I wonder where did they meet' Harry was meditating.
'Maybe in Hogwart' suggested Hermione 'Professor Starlight looks very young but she cannot be much younger than Snape if she had been an Auror after You-Know-Who downfall.'
'Did Sirius mention anything about her?' Ron looked at Harry inquiringly 'If Hermione is right he must know her, too.'
Harry shook his hand.
'No' he said 'He has never told me about her. But it doesn't mean anything. He could simply not know that she was going to teach us. Anyway, I'll ask him in the next letter.'
'And what if...' whispered Hermione 'Harry, do you remember what you sow in the Pensieve? During his trial, Karkaroff accused Snape of being a Death Eater. Dumbledore himself vouched for him, but Moody has never believed in Snape's good intentions. So, if professor Starlight has been working with Mad-Eye, it's quite possible that she knows something about Snape's former sins.'
'And she thinks he is a traitor.' concluded Ron, looking malevolently at the Potion Master 'I will never understand why Dumbledore still trusts him.'
'Apparently he has his reasons.' said Hermione giving Ron to understand that she doesn't find it proper to question the Headmaster opinions.
Ron didn't seem convinced. Harry was observing the stuff table. And suddenly he got an idea. 'Listen!' he exclaimed 'Let's ask Hagird. He had already been working in Hogwart when my father and Sirius were students.'
'Good idea !' rejoiced Ron 'We will go to him tomorrow.'
The welcome feast was drawing to an end. When most of the plates had emptied and even the most starved students couldn't have eaten anymore, Dumbledore stood up and immediately a silence fell. Headmaster smiled and stroked his long beard.
'So, we start another year at Hogwart' he began 'As usual, I have some announcements for you. In consequence of the horrifying events of the last June' suddenly his voice became very grave 'I was obliged to undertake some steps in order to ensure you maximum protection.'
Harry moved nervously on his chair.
'All school grounds' continued Dumbledore 'have been surrounded with an excellent Dark Arts Detection System, worked out by professor Starlight' he bowed to Vega who smiled slightly 'I'm not going to bore you with technical details. What you have to know is that thanks to the system no dark curse can be performed at Hogwart. Moreover, no one get in here without my permission, all sorts of disguising charms will be discovered immediately. So,' he added more cheerfully 'I can assure you that in the school grounds you are safe. Unfortunately,' he raised his hand, hushing a growing buzz 'since the system works only around Hogwart, this year I must cancel all visits to Hogsmead.'
Students moaned. Dumbledore smiled with sympathy.
'I've been expecting such a reaction' he said 'and I arranged with the owner of the Honeydukes that every month he would supply our school with all kinds of the sweets. Also Madam Rosmerta offered to provide some...drinks' he smiled roguishly.
Students started to cheer loudly. Dumbledore raised a hand.
'And, last of all, I'd like to inform' his keen glance rested on Harry 'that the old maps of Hogwart are no longer useful. Good night !'
Most of the students hadn't the faintest idea what Dumbledore meant, talking about the maps. Harry, however, understood it too well. He scowled at Ron and his sour face told him that his friend also got the idea. Only Hermione looked satisfied. She has never approved Harry's illegal escapades.
'I wonder what they did with the secret passages.' muttered Ron 'Blocked up?'
'I'm sure professor Starlight made sure we would not be able to use them.'
'Maybe she missed one...'
'I don't think so' Harry shook his head 'Just before holidays Dumbledore studied the Marauders Map thoroughly.'
'Potter! Weasley!' a strict voice spoke right next to them 'Are you going to sleep in the Great Hall ?!'
Professor McGonagall was standing near by, impatiently tapping her fingers at the wooden table. Harry and Ron realised that when they had been talking about the Map, everybody left and the Hall was completely empty.
'We are going, professor!' exclaimed Harry, getting up.
Ron looked around.
'Professor, did you see Hermione ?' he asked.
Minerva McGonagall looked at him with a growing irritation.
'Weasley,' she said ironically 'Did you forget that Miss Granger was a Prefect and she had to take the first-years to the Gryffindor Tower ? And now, go away, both of you!'
Harry and Ron bowed and quickly run out the room. They didn't want to tax professor McGonagall patience any longer.
. . .
Snape came back to his office in a gloomy mood. He sat at the table, opened a
large, leather-bound volume and started to read. After a moment, however, he
closed it angrily, got up and began walking along the room. Flames reflected in
his cold, black eyes. Severus thought about the events of the evening and smiled
bitterly.
After the feast Dumbledore called all the teachers to the Transfiguration classroom and Vega Starlight described them precisely how does her Dark Arts Detection System work. Severus was really impressed by her ideas, but he doubted if, beside himself, Dumbledore and McGonagall, anyone else fully understood the essence of the DASD. Especially professor Trelawney looked totally confused when Vega started to draw on the blackboard the complicated schemes of charms and curses.
Vega has been talking for an hour and for the next one she has been trying to answer all questions about the technical details of the system. But anytime her grey eyes rested at Snape, they glittered with dislike and contempt.
Severus sighed sadly. He approached a large chest, opened the lid and from under the heap of the lumbers he pulled out a small box. He placed it on the desk and pressed a lock. The lid sprang back. Inside there was a pile of yellowed parchments. Snape took it out carefully and put on the table. He sat down and stared to look through the papers. Finally he found what he was looking for. It was an old number of the 'Daily Prophet' with a date: 13.07.1983. On the first page there was a picture of a young girl with short, black hair and a caption below said: 'Another triumph of Vega Starlight. David Lestrange in Azkaban.'
Severus was staring at the photograph with a gloomy melancholy. At last he sighed and he was just about to put the paper into the box, when a small package slipped from it. There were several letters, tied with a thin strap. Snape looked at them slightly surprised, as if he had forgotten about their existence. Slowly, he reached for the package and took out the first letter. He moved the candle nearer and began to read.
'15/01/67
Dear sonny,
Happy birthday! I hope you will enjoy a present. You are seven now so it's time you started to learn. But remember, don't show it to your grandmother. She hates everything what is connected with Magic.'
Severus smiled. How could he forget the book he was given by his mother. 'The Dark Arts in Outline.' He reached for the next envelope.
'29/05/68
Son,
I have wonderful news for you. In a month I take you to our new house. Everything is almost ready, I only have to get rid of a few stubborn lamias. '
A new house turned to be an old castle, built on the inaccessible slope of mount Schwarzberg in the Bavarian Alps. Nobody knew when and how it was constructed. From the one side sheltered by the vertical stone wall, from the other reaching a deep abyss, it seemed completely cut off from the rest of the world. However, the inhabitants of the valley claimed that they used to see light on the highest tower of the castle. They called it Devils Nest.
Severus still remembered the night when he arrived to the old castle. He found it dark and gloom. As a matter of fact fact, he has never managed to like it. But he could feel a powerful magic everywhere inside. Several years later mother told him that the castle had belonged to her father, Grindelwald.
But that first night, during the supper, she told him another story. He could still remember every word. That was the night when a new life started for him and when he came to hate a man who was his father.
'Son' she said gravely 'The time has came for you to know, why for all those years you were brought up by your grandmother. Why did you now me, your mother, only from the letters.' She sighed 'You see, somebody hurt me very much. I had to rearrange my life, to think over many things... I wanted to be alone. But now it will change ! We will start everything again. Everything !' she said emphatically 'Till today your name was Perseus Evans. Evans is your grandmother maiden name and Perseus...' she clenched her teeth and her eyes flashed with hatred 'That was the name of your damned father ! But now it's over !'
She waved her wand. A flickering inscription appeared in mid air. Name of her son. Witch smiled and moved her hand. The twinkling letters whirled madly and they shaped new words. Mother read them with a real pleasure.
'From now your name is Severus Snape.' she said solemnly.
Snape shuddered. He put the letters back in the box. He approached the door, opened it silently and carefully peeped out at the corridor. After making sure it was empty he came back to the office and put two closing spells on the door. He walked up to the glass-case and opened a secret niche. He took out a small, black cauldron and carefully examined its content. A decoction, made a month ago from scorpion venom and dragon bile, started to crystallize.
'In a few days I'll add an essence of beladonna.' thought Snape with satisfaction.
* * *
(September 4th, 1995)
Everybody was waiting impatiently for the first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. Last year, with Mad-Eye Moody as a teacher, it was the most fascinating subject in the school. And though it turned out that an old Auror was in fact a disguised Death Eater, Barty Crouch Junior, the students still couldn't forget his lessons. Now the next famous Auror was going to teach them so they expected a lot.
'I wonder if she is going to teach us the Striking Spells' Ron was pondering, staring at the classroom door with his eyes gleaming with excitement.
'What an idea !' Hermione bridled up 'She will not teach us Dark Arts but the defence against them.'
'But attack is the best defence' said Ron impetuously 'That is Aurors device.'
'I think' started Hermione self-confidently 'that professor Starlight will focus on the Defensive Spells.'
'And in my opinion' a drawling voice of Draco Malfoy spoke behind them 'That she should teach us such curses as Cruciatus and Imperius. My father says that in these dangerous times...'
'Your father...' snarled Harry, turning around but in the same moment the door opened and Vega Starlight entered the classroom.
She was wearing a black, tight-fitting jacket reaching down to the knees, trousers and knee-boots. The class fell silent.
'Welcome on the first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson' she said 'Leave your things here, take your wands and follow me.'
Exchanging exited looks they stated up and gathered at the corridor. Professor Starlight led them down, to the Great Hall. She looked around, muttered 'Should be enough' and turned to the students.
'Professor Dumbledore informed me that three years ago you had been studying dueling.'
The murmur of voices rose, Harry and Ron exchanged amused glances. It was difficult to forget the Dueling Club, patronised by Gilderoy Lockhart.
'This year' said Vega and the silence fell immediately 'we will focus on a difficult art of dodges and blocks.'
Hermione looked superiorly at Ron.
'Most of the spells and charms,' proceeded Vega 'even those of the advanced Dark Arts, can be neutralised by means of the appropriate counter spells. We call them Shields and Covers. Of course, it's not easy to learn them' she said emphatically ' and it needs years of studies and training.'
Hermione raised her hand.
'Miss Granger?' asked Vega.
'Professor, how can one defend oneself against the Unforgivable Curses?' asked Hermione 'I mean Cruciatus and Imperius' she added quickly not to allow anybody to think, that she didn't know that there is no counter curse against the most dangerous Avada Kedavra.
Vega Starlight smiled slightly.
'Good question' she said 'Is it possible to defend against the curses the use of which means the life-sentence in Azkaban?' she looked at the students with a rigid, steely flash in her eyes 'The answer is: yes. There are counter curses, but it's a piece of extremely complicated Dark Arts. Only a specially trained Auror or a Dark Wizard could try to master them but often even they fail.'
'I bet she can do that' whispered Ron looking at Vega with admiration.
'Fortunately,' added Vega, noticing a saddened face of Hermione 'You can always defend yourself against the enemy spell without using the counter course' though it seemed impossible, concentration on students faces doubled 'You only need to dodge. And so we reach the most important point in the Defence Against the Dark Arts' she said markedly 'The most important in the duel are concentration, reflex, quickness and self-control. Any questions?'
Draco Malfoy raised his hand.
'How can we defend against the Killing Curse ?' he asked innocently.
Professor Starlight smiled gloomily.
'There is no counter curse against Avada Kedavra. The only thing you can do is to dodge...if you are fast enough' she said coldly.
'My father told me' Malfoy didn't want to give up 'that many wizards and witches tried to elaborate a counter curse.'
Harry wasn't sure if Vega's eyes glittered sinisterly because of the name of Malfoy's father or because of the counter curse.
'Unfortunately, after they had tried they didn't live long enough to tell us about it' she said icily in a tone of a gloomy sneer.
In the silence that fell after those words the approaching steps sounded very clearly. Harry watched up and felt an unpleasant cramp in his stomach. Snape was coming down the stairs. He stooped at the lowest step and bowed to Vega.
'Ah, professor Snape. Excellent !' said the witch with a cold smile. She seemed to have been expecting Potion Master 'Enough of theory' she turned to the students 'It's time to put the Defensive Spells into practice. Professor Snape and I will demonstrate you now an exemplary duel. One of us is going to attack and the other to defend oneself and to counter-attack. Pay attention to quickness and synchronization of the wand movements and incantations. Stand near the walls.'
The students scattered quickly in two directions. A wide, empty space has been left in the middle of the Hall. Vega and Severus stood face to face, ten meters away. They bowed, rolled up the sleeves and took out their wands. For a moment they looked at each other piercingly and suddenly Snape attacked.
'Immobilarius !' he cried, aiming his wand at Vega.
'Cancellio !' called out the woman, describing a small circle with her wand.
A wand tip flashed yellow and a silent smack could be hared, but before anybody could ask what was it, Vega cried: Stupefy !.
'Protectio !' called Snape and immediately a subtle, bright glimmer shined in front of him.
The curse was reflected and scattered with a loud: 'Puuf!'
The opponents lowered their wands but still kept eyes on each other.
'Perfect !' said Vega soberly 'It was an example of two simple attacks and of two defensive techniques. Now we are going to use some more complicated spells so the defence will be much more difficult. Notice that although the incantation is often the same, there is a difference in the hand motion.'
Once more Snape attacked first. He called 'Telumigneus !' and a fire ball shot towards Vega. Auror took several steps backwards, she waved her wand fiercely crying: 'Repelio !' and deflected the ball which hit the ceiling with an explosion. She counter-attacked at once, shouting: 'Presio !'. The air whirled and a pressure wave swooped on Snape, who roared: 'Protectio !'. A bright shield protected him again but the spell was so powerful that it pushed him three steps away. But in the same time he raised his wand and called: 'Radius glacialis !'. A white, sparkling ray shot from the wand tip and swished towards Vega as an arrow. The witch cried: 'Defensio !' and her hand made a very complicated move. The white ray stopped suddenly as if it hit an invisible obstacle, but didn't disappear. 'Radius glacialis !' roared Snape again, increasing the power of the spell. The white ray shone with a blazing light. Vega's hand started to shake. Suddenly she lowered her wand and jumped up. The ray flashed the air below her and scattered on the stairs.
'Expelliarmus !' screamed Vega, landing firmly on the floor.
The wand escaped from the hands of amazed Snape.
For a moment there was very silent and then a real storm of applause burst in the Great Hall. Everybody was impressed by the duel. Gryffindors were applauding first of all professor Starlight, but they had to admit that Snape was also fighting superbly. Even Slytherins couldn't hide their admiration for an Auror.
Harry expected that Snape would be furious but to his great surprised it wasn't the case. Contrary, the Potion Master was looking at Vega with appreciation and a strange smile was playing on his thin lips.
'Nice trick' he said 'I was completely taken aback.'
Vega's grey eyes remained cold but she smiled slightly and said lightly:
'An old Aurors dodge. Usually the opponent does not expect you to use a non-magical way of fighting. Several times it saved my life. O.K., the show is over' she turned to the class ' It's time to began learning.'
Till the end of the lesson, divided in pairs, they have been trying to put into practice the easiest protecting spell. But though they were really enthusiastic about that, no one, even Hermione, succeeded.
'I just couldn't do that' murmured Hermione when they left the Great Hall after the lesson 'I'll have to start working very hard. I thing I'll go to the Library...'
'Drop it!' interrupted Ron impatiently 'Professor Starlight said that she would be surprised if any of us would master this spell in less than a month. You have plenty of time !'
'One month it's not so much' snorted Hermione 'I'm starting learning today and if I were you I would do the same.'
'We have some other plans for tonight, haven't we, Harry ?' asked Ron, smiling meaningly.
'Oh...yeah' assented Harry though, like Ron, he hasn't know anything about those plans yet.
Hermione looked at them as if she had seen through them perfectly.
'Your choice' she said superiorly 'but I don't want to hear you complaining before the exams.'
She turned away and went to the library. Ron followed her with an amazed glance.
'Is she talking about the exams ?' he asked with disbelief 'The school-year started four days ago ! Since she was chosen Prefect, she became still more unbearable than she had been before.' They took their things from the Defence classroom and marched towards the Gryffindor tower.
They have just passed by the main stairs and turned to the corridor when somewhere behind they heard angry voices. They stopped intrigued and looked carefully from behind the corner.
Vega and Severus were standing at the lowest step. The Auror looked livid.
'And maybe you just don't like werewolves?' she asked venomously with a nasty grimace.
'Lupin was dangerous' replied Snape trying to stay calm 'From the beginning I was warning Dumbledore that he cannot be trusted...'
'How dare YOU say that !' yelled Vega, loosing her nerve 'After what you did to him !'
Severus turned pale and clenched his teeth.
'Stop it !' he growled with anger 'Stop it ! You know, how...' he broke off and pinched his hands on a marble balustrade 'It was so long ago...' he whispered.
Vega looked at him with hatred.
'I'll never forget it !' she said icily and quickly climbed the stairs.
Harry and Ron moved back into the corridor, exchanging surprised glances.
'Wow, she does loathe Snape !' said Ron 'I thought she would hit him with a curse.'
'They were talking about professor Lupin' noticed Harry 'And it seems that Starlight knows him.'
'Was she furious with Snape because he made Lupin sacked ?'
'I don't think so...' Harry frowned 'That's something else. Snape told it had happened long ago.'
'What is it all about ?' Ron was irritated 'You think we can ask Sirius ?'
'We can but I'm sure he will not answer' Harry sighed 'He became very mysterious.'
In his last letter Sirius mentioned only that he knew professor Starlight from Hogwart. And he asked Harry not to question about her any more. He claimed that one day he would know everything.
So the only thing they could do was to conjecture. Even Hagrid couldn't help. When they visited him the day after the welcome feast, he was just getting ready to the journey.
'Be back in month, then we talk.' he promised, pushing a pair of huge boots to the enormous suitcase.
When they asked where he was going he smiled mysteriously.
'Secret business. For Dumbledore' he said briefly.
And they couldn't make him say anything more.
All heads turned in the same direction. A great, black goshawk flew into the Hall. It described a circle over the students' heads and, waving lazily its enormous wings, it flew towards the stuff table. Dumbledore was watching it with a smile. The goshawk hung in the air right over the wizard, candle light was shining on its sharp beak and claws. And suddenly one long, surprised 'Ooooh!' was heard. Next to Dumbledore a slim woman appeared, wearing a black travel-cloak.
'Animagus...' whispered Hermione.
'Vega, I'm glad to see you' exclaimed Dumbledore, clasping woman hands 'Dear students!' he turned to the Hall ' I'd like to introduce to you a new teacher of the Defence Against the Dark Arts, professor Vega Starlight.'
Woman turned to the students. For a second a silent fell and then everybody started to clap enthusiastically. The loudest applause was coming from the boys of the seventh year which were really very impressed by the new teacher. Not only she was much younger than other witches but also very pretty. She had long, black hair and dark-grey eyes, gleaming mysteriously. Her glance, however, was rigid and the pale face severe and grave. A lower part of woman cheek was cut with a deep scar.
Harry, as all the others, couldn't take his eyes off professor Starlight. Now he understood what Hagrid meant talking about a surprise. The Weasleys were often mentioning the Aurors and Vega Starlight was one of the best. After completing Hogwart she had been training at Alastor Moody and, as it often happens, an apprentice had surpassed her master. Many people believed that Vega was the most powerful of the living Aurors.
Harry fell to thinking. If he met her in the street, he would never suspect that she had killed or send to Azkaban more Death Eaters during two years than many Aurors through the whole live.
'Harry!' Ron whispered intently 'Look at Snape !'
Harry looked at the man, sitting on the right-hand side of Dumbledore. Everybody knew that for four years Severus Snape had been trying to get Defence Against the Dark Art lecture. That was why he hated all the previous Dark Arts teachers. No wonder, that Harry was really astounded when he realised that there is no antipathy in Snape's cold, black eyes, but something else, a strange, greedy curiosity.
'Let's sit down, you must be hungry' said Dumbledore.
'I'm starving' said Vega, taking off her cloak.
She was wearing a dark, leather waistcoat, a white silk blouse and a long, black skirt. She had also a black mitt on the left palm.
People started to talk. Harry has just returned to his supper when somebody at the stuff table removed a chair impetuously. Harry looked at the man and got choked. Snape stood up and approached the witch.
'Hello, Vega' he said.
Professor Starlight looked at him and for a split second her face twisted in a nasty expression. She cooled down, however.
'Hello, Severus' she said icily, shaking his hand.
Snape hesitated, as if he wanted to add something, but he gave up, bowed and returned to his seat. Vega followed him with cold eyes, sat down, reached for a chicken chop and vigorously cut it into small pieces.
Ron and Harry exchanged amazed glances.
'It seems they know each other' said Ron.
'Yes' nodded Harry 'And if it comes to professor Starlight she is not fond of Snape. Don't you thing she would like him to be this chop ?'
'So do I.' Ron giggled viciously 'But on the other hand it's an interesting change. Usually Snape was the one who behaved as if he wanted to kill the DADA teacher.'
'I wonder where did they meet' Harry was meditating.
'Maybe in Hogwart' suggested Hermione 'Professor Starlight looks very young but she cannot be much younger than Snape if she had been an Auror after You-Know-Who downfall.'
'Did Sirius mention anything about her?' Ron looked at Harry inquiringly 'If Hermione is right he must know her, too.'
Harry shook his hand.
'No' he said 'He has never told me about her. But it doesn't mean anything. He could simply not know that she was going to teach us. Anyway, I'll ask him in the next letter.'
'And what if...' whispered Hermione 'Harry, do you remember what you sow in the Pensieve? During his trial, Karkaroff accused Snape of being a Death Eater. Dumbledore himself vouched for him, but Moody has never believed in Snape's good intentions. So, if professor Starlight has been working with Mad-Eye, it's quite possible that she knows something about Snape's former sins.'
'And she thinks he is a traitor.' concluded Ron, looking malevolently at the Potion Master 'I will never understand why Dumbledore still trusts him.'
'Apparently he has his reasons.' said Hermione giving Ron to understand that she doesn't find it proper to question the Headmaster opinions.
Ron didn't seem convinced. Harry was observing the stuff table. And suddenly he got an idea. 'Listen!' he exclaimed 'Let's ask Hagird. He had already been working in Hogwart when my father and Sirius were students.'
'Good idea !' rejoiced Ron 'We will go to him tomorrow.'
The welcome feast was drawing to an end. When most of the plates had emptied and even the most starved students couldn't have eaten anymore, Dumbledore stood up and immediately a silence fell. Headmaster smiled and stroked his long beard.
'So, we start another year at Hogwart' he began 'As usual, I have some announcements for you. In consequence of the horrifying events of the last June' suddenly his voice became very grave 'I was obliged to undertake some steps in order to ensure you maximum protection.'
Harry moved nervously on his chair.
'All school grounds' continued Dumbledore 'have been surrounded with an excellent Dark Arts Detection System, worked out by professor Starlight' he bowed to Vega who smiled slightly 'I'm not going to bore you with technical details. What you have to know is that thanks to the system no dark curse can be performed at Hogwart. Moreover, no one get in here without my permission, all sorts of disguising charms will be discovered immediately. So,' he added more cheerfully 'I can assure you that in the school grounds you are safe. Unfortunately,' he raised his hand, hushing a growing buzz 'since the system works only around Hogwart, this year I must cancel all visits to Hogsmead.'
Students moaned. Dumbledore smiled with sympathy.
'I've been expecting such a reaction' he said 'and I arranged with the owner of the Honeydukes that every month he would supply our school with all kinds of the sweets. Also Madam Rosmerta offered to provide some...drinks' he smiled roguishly.
Students started to cheer loudly. Dumbledore raised a hand.
'And, last of all, I'd like to inform' his keen glance rested on Harry 'that the old maps of Hogwart are no longer useful. Good night !'
Most of the students hadn't the faintest idea what Dumbledore meant, talking about the maps. Harry, however, understood it too well. He scowled at Ron and his sour face told him that his friend also got the idea. Only Hermione looked satisfied. She has never approved Harry's illegal escapades.
'I wonder what they did with the secret passages.' muttered Ron 'Blocked up?'
'I'm sure professor Starlight made sure we would not be able to use them.'
'Maybe she missed one...'
'I don't think so' Harry shook his head 'Just before holidays Dumbledore studied the Marauders Map thoroughly.'
'Potter! Weasley!' a strict voice spoke right next to them 'Are you going to sleep in the Great Hall ?!'
Professor McGonagall was standing near by, impatiently tapping her fingers at the wooden table. Harry and Ron realised that when they had been talking about the Map, everybody left and the Hall was completely empty.
'We are going, professor!' exclaimed Harry, getting up.
Ron looked around.
'Professor, did you see Hermione ?' he asked.
Minerva McGonagall looked at him with a growing irritation.
'Weasley,' she said ironically 'Did you forget that Miss Granger was a Prefect and she had to take the first-years to the Gryffindor Tower ? And now, go away, both of you!'
Harry and Ron bowed and quickly run out the room. They didn't want to tax professor McGonagall patience any longer.
After the feast Dumbledore called all the teachers to the Transfiguration classroom and Vega Starlight described them precisely how does her Dark Arts Detection System work. Severus was really impressed by her ideas, but he doubted if, beside himself, Dumbledore and McGonagall, anyone else fully understood the essence of the DASD. Especially professor Trelawney looked totally confused when Vega started to draw on the blackboard the complicated schemes of charms and curses.
Vega has been talking for an hour and for the next one she has been trying to answer all questions about the technical details of the system. But anytime her grey eyes rested at Snape, they glittered with dislike and contempt.
Severus sighed sadly. He approached a large chest, opened the lid and from under the heap of the lumbers he pulled out a small box. He placed it on the desk and pressed a lock. The lid sprang back. Inside there was a pile of yellowed parchments. Snape took it out carefully and put on the table. He sat down and stared to look through the papers. Finally he found what he was looking for. It was an old number of the 'Daily Prophet' with a date: 13.07.1983. On the first page there was a picture of a young girl with short, black hair and a caption below said: 'Another triumph of Vega Starlight. David Lestrange in Azkaban.'
Severus was staring at the photograph with a gloomy melancholy. At last he sighed and he was just about to put the paper into the box, when a small package slipped from it. There were several letters, tied with a thin strap. Snape looked at them slightly surprised, as if he had forgotten about their existence. Slowly, he reached for the package and took out the first letter. He moved the candle nearer and began to read.
'15/01/67
Dear sonny,
Happy birthday! I hope you will enjoy a present. You are seven now so it's time you started to learn. But remember, don't show it to your grandmother. She hates everything what is connected with Magic.'
Severus smiled. How could he forget the book he was given by his mother. 'The Dark Arts in Outline.' He reached for the next envelope.
'29/05/68
Son,
I have wonderful news for you. In a month I take you to our new house. Everything is almost ready, I only have to get rid of a few stubborn lamias. '
A new house turned to be an old castle, built on the inaccessible slope of mount Schwarzberg in the Bavarian Alps. Nobody knew when and how it was constructed. From the one side sheltered by the vertical stone wall, from the other reaching a deep abyss, it seemed completely cut off from the rest of the world. However, the inhabitants of the valley claimed that they used to see light on the highest tower of the castle. They called it Devils Nest.
Severus still remembered the night when he arrived to the old castle. He found it dark and gloom. As a matter of fact fact, he has never managed to like it. But he could feel a powerful magic everywhere inside. Several years later mother told him that the castle had belonged to her father, Grindelwald.
But that first night, during the supper, she told him another story. He could still remember every word. That was the night when a new life started for him and when he came to hate a man who was his father.
'Son' she said gravely 'The time has came for you to know, why for all those years you were brought up by your grandmother. Why did you now me, your mother, only from the letters.' She sighed 'You see, somebody hurt me very much. I had to rearrange my life, to think over many things... I wanted to be alone. But now it will change ! We will start everything again. Everything !' she said emphatically 'Till today your name was Perseus Evans. Evans is your grandmother maiden name and Perseus...' she clenched her teeth and her eyes flashed with hatred 'That was the name of your damned father ! But now it's over !'
She waved her wand. A flickering inscription appeared in mid air. Name of her son. Witch smiled and moved her hand. The twinkling letters whirled madly and they shaped new words. Mother read them with a real pleasure.
'From now your name is Severus Snape.' she said solemnly.
Snape shuddered. He put the letters back in the box. He approached the door, opened it silently and carefully peeped out at the corridor. After making sure it was empty he came back to the office and put two closing spells on the door. He walked up to the glass-case and opened a secret niche. He took out a small, black cauldron and carefully examined its content. A decoction, made a month ago from scorpion venom and dragon bile, started to crystallize.
'In a few days I'll add an essence of beladonna.' thought Snape with satisfaction.
Everybody was waiting impatiently for the first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. Last year, with Mad-Eye Moody as a teacher, it was the most fascinating subject in the school. And though it turned out that an old Auror was in fact a disguised Death Eater, Barty Crouch Junior, the students still couldn't forget his lessons. Now the next famous Auror was going to teach them so they expected a lot.
'I wonder if she is going to teach us the Striking Spells' Ron was pondering, staring at the classroom door with his eyes gleaming with excitement.
'What an idea !' Hermione bridled up 'She will not teach us Dark Arts but the defence against them.'
'But attack is the best defence' said Ron impetuously 'That is Aurors device.'
'I think' started Hermione self-confidently 'that professor Starlight will focus on the Defensive Spells.'
'And in my opinion' a drawling voice of Draco Malfoy spoke behind them 'That she should teach us such curses as Cruciatus and Imperius. My father says that in these dangerous times...'
'Your father...' snarled Harry, turning around but in the same moment the door opened and Vega Starlight entered the classroom.
She was wearing a black, tight-fitting jacket reaching down to the knees, trousers and knee-boots. The class fell silent.
'Welcome on the first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson' she said 'Leave your things here, take your wands and follow me.'
Exchanging exited looks they stated up and gathered at the corridor. Professor Starlight led them down, to the Great Hall. She looked around, muttered 'Should be enough' and turned to the students.
'Professor Dumbledore informed me that three years ago you had been studying dueling.'
The murmur of voices rose, Harry and Ron exchanged amused glances. It was difficult to forget the Dueling Club, patronised by Gilderoy Lockhart.
'This year' said Vega and the silence fell immediately 'we will focus on a difficult art of dodges and blocks.'
Hermione looked superiorly at Ron.
'Most of the spells and charms,' proceeded Vega 'even those of the advanced Dark Arts, can be neutralised by means of the appropriate counter spells. We call them Shields and Covers. Of course, it's not easy to learn them' she said emphatically ' and it needs years of studies and training.'
Hermione raised her hand.
'Miss Granger?' asked Vega.
'Professor, how can one defend oneself against the Unforgivable Curses?' asked Hermione 'I mean Cruciatus and Imperius' she added quickly not to allow anybody to think, that she didn't know that there is no counter curse against the most dangerous Avada Kedavra.
Vega Starlight smiled slightly.
'Good question' she said 'Is it possible to defend against the curses the use of which means the life-sentence in Azkaban?' she looked at the students with a rigid, steely flash in her eyes 'The answer is: yes. There are counter curses, but it's a piece of extremely complicated Dark Arts. Only a specially trained Auror or a Dark Wizard could try to master them but often even they fail.'
'I bet she can do that' whispered Ron looking at Vega with admiration.
'Fortunately,' added Vega, noticing a saddened face of Hermione 'You can always defend yourself against the enemy spell without using the counter course' though it seemed impossible, concentration on students faces doubled 'You only need to dodge. And so we reach the most important point in the Defence Against the Dark Arts' she said markedly 'The most important in the duel are concentration, reflex, quickness and self-control. Any questions?'
Draco Malfoy raised his hand.
'How can we defend against the Killing Curse ?' he asked innocently.
Professor Starlight smiled gloomily.
'There is no counter curse against Avada Kedavra. The only thing you can do is to dodge...if you are fast enough' she said coldly.
'My father told me' Malfoy didn't want to give up 'that many wizards and witches tried to elaborate a counter curse.'
Harry wasn't sure if Vega's eyes glittered sinisterly because of the name of Malfoy's father or because of the counter curse.
'Unfortunately, after they had tried they didn't live long enough to tell us about it' she said icily in a tone of a gloomy sneer.
In the silence that fell after those words the approaching steps sounded very clearly. Harry watched up and felt an unpleasant cramp in his stomach. Snape was coming down the stairs. He stooped at the lowest step and bowed to Vega.
'Ah, professor Snape. Excellent !' said the witch with a cold smile. She seemed to have been expecting Potion Master 'Enough of theory' she turned to the students 'It's time to put the Defensive Spells into practice. Professor Snape and I will demonstrate you now an exemplary duel. One of us is going to attack and the other to defend oneself and to counter-attack. Pay attention to quickness and synchronization of the wand movements and incantations. Stand near the walls.'
The students scattered quickly in two directions. A wide, empty space has been left in the middle of the Hall. Vega and Severus stood face to face, ten meters away. They bowed, rolled up the sleeves and took out their wands. For a moment they looked at each other piercingly and suddenly Snape attacked.
'Immobilarius !' he cried, aiming his wand at Vega.
'Cancellio !' called out the woman, describing a small circle with her wand.
A wand tip flashed yellow and a silent smack could be hared, but before anybody could ask what was it, Vega cried: Stupefy !.
'Protectio !' called Snape and immediately a subtle, bright glimmer shined in front of him.
The curse was reflected and scattered with a loud: 'Puuf!'
The opponents lowered their wands but still kept eyes on each other.
'Perfect !' said Vega soberly 'It was an example of two simple attacks and of two defensive techniques. Now we are going to use some more complicated spells so the defence will be much more difficult. Notice that although the incantation is often the same, there is a difference in the hand motion.'
Once more Snape attacked first. He called 'Telumigneus !' and a fire ball shot towards Vega. Auror took several steps backwards, she waved her wand fiercely crying: 'Repelio !' and deflected the ball which hit the ceiling with an explosion. She counter-attacked at once, shouting: 'Presio !'. The air whirled and a pressure wave swooped on Snape, who roared: 'Protectio !'. A bright shield protected him again but the spell was so powerful that it pushed him three steps away. But in the same time he raised his wand and called: 'Radius glacialis !'. A white, sparkling ray shot from the wand tip and swished towards Vega as an arrow. The witch cried: 'Defensio !' and her hand made a very complicated move. The white ray stopped suddenly as if it hit an invisible obstacle, but didn't disappear. 'Radius glacialis !' roared Snape again, increasing the power of the spell. The white ray shone with a blazing light. Vega's hand started to shake. Suddenly she lowered her wand and jumped up. The ray flashed the air below her and scattered on the stairs.
'Expelliarmus !' screamed Vega, landing firmly on the floor.
The wand escaped from the hands of amazed Snape.
For a moment there was very silent and then a real storm of applause burst in the Great Hall. Everybody was impressed by the duel. Gryffindors were applauding first of all professor Starlight, but they had to admit that Snape was also fighting superbly. Even Slytherins couldn't hide their admiration for an Auror.
Harry expected that Snape would be furious but to his great surprised it wasn't the case. Contrary, the Potion Master was looking at Vega with appreciation and a strange smile was playing on his thin lips.
'Nice trick' he said 'I was completely taken aback.'
Vega's grey eyes remained cold but she smiled slightly and said lightly:
'An old Aurors dodge. Usually the opponent does not expect you to use a non-magical way of fighting. Several times it saved my life. O.K., the show is over' she turned to the class ' It's time to began learning.'
Till the end of the lesson, divided in pairs, they have been trying to put into practice the easiest protecting spell. But though they were really enthusiastic about that, no one, even Hermione, succeeded.
'I just couldn't do that' murmured Hermione when they left the Great Hall after the lesson 'I'll have to start working very hard. I thing I'll go to the Library...'
'Drop it!' interrupted Ron impatiently 'Professor Starlight said that she would be surprised if any of us would master this spell in less than a month. You have plenty of time !'
'One month it's not so much' snorted Hermione 'I'm starting learning today and if I were you I would do the same.'
'We have some other plans for tonight, haven't we, Harry ?' asked Ron, smiling meaningly.
'Oh...yeah' assented Harry though, like Ron, he hasn't know anything about those plans yet.
Hermione looked at them as if she had seen through them perfectly.
'Your choice' she said superiorly 'but I don't want to hear you complaining before the exams.'
She turned away and went to the library. Ron followed her with an amazed glance.
'Is she talking about the exams ?' he asked with disbelief 'The school-year started four days ago ! Since she was chosen Prefect, she became still more unbearable than she had been before.' They took their things from the Defence classroom and marched towards the Gryffindor tower.
They have just passed by the main stairs and turned to the corridor when somewhere behind they heard angry voices. They stopped intrigued and looked carefully from behind the corner.
Vega and Severus were standing at the lowest step. The Auror looked livid.
'And maybe you just don't like werewolves?' she asked venomously with a nasty grimace.
'Lupin was dangerous' replied Snape trying to stay calm 'From the beginning I was warning Dumbledore that he cannot be trusted...'
'How dare YOU say that !' yelled Vega, loosing her nerve 'After what you did to him !'
Severus turned pale and clenched his teeth.
'Stop it !' he growled with anger 'Stop it ! You know, how...' he broke off and pinched his hands on a marble balustrade 'It was so long ago...' he whispered.
Vega looked at him with hatred.
'I'll never forget it !' she said icily and quickly climbed the stairs.
Harry and Ron moved back into the corridor, exchanging surprised glances.
'Wow, she does loathe Snape !' said Ron 'I thought she would hit him with a curse.'
'They were talking about professor Lupin' noticed Harry 'And it seems that Starlight knows him.'
'Was she furious with Snape because he made Lupin sacked ?'
'I don't think so...' Harry frowned 'That's something else. Snape told it had happened long ago.'
'What is it all about ?' Ron was irritated 'You think we can ask Sirius ?'
'We can but I'm sure he will not answer' Harry sighed 'He became very mysterious.'
In his last letter Sirius mentioned only that he knew professor Starlight from Hogwart. And he asked Harry not to question about her any more. He claimed that one day he would know everything.
So the only thing they could do was to conjecture. Even Hagrid couldn't help. When they visited him the day after the welcome feast, he was just getting ready to the journey.
'Be back in month, then we talk.' he promised, pushing a pair of huge boots to the enormous suitcase.
When they asked where he was going he smiled mysteriously.
'Secret business. For Dumbledore' he said briefly.
And they couldn't make him say anything more.
