LET GO
CHAPTER 3:
WHEN FATE GIVES A LITTLE
Sheila and the Trio walked slowly up the Entrance Hall's steps, about 700 people following close behind. Sheila would stop every so often to admire the "structure" (as she put it) of the castle.
"It's very... antique... classic, even..."
"If you think that Flying Buttress is great, you should see the arches in the library!" Hermione exclaimed.
"The library?! Oh, I love books! Where is it?" Sheila asked.
"Really?!" Hermione looked at her in disbelief as Sheila nodded. "This is great! Now I have somebody to study with. Someone who appreciates books as much as I do!" Hermione lowered her voice and leaned towards Sheila. "Unlike these two butt holes over here." Sheila giggled as Hermione grabbed her hand, doing a compete 180 and heading in the opposite direction. "It's this way. Come on."
"Uh-uh, I don't think so." Ron said, intercepting Sheila and Hermione.
Hermione gave him a pouty look. "Why not?"
Ron guffawed. "What do you mean 'Why not?'? Hermione, there is a time to study and a time to eat." Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. "And this, this is a time to eat."
"It's always a time to eat to you, Ronald Christopher Weasley!"
"Oooh, she used his whole name. That can't be good..." Harry said to Sheila, who was watching with mild amusement.
"Don't start, Hermione Danielle Granger! Why are you always doing that?"
"Doing WHAT exactly?"
"Turning everything around so it looks like it's my fault!"
"Maybe because it usually is."
"NOW WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!"
"You know exactly what I mean! AND HOW DARE YOU RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME!"
"Please, Hermione, please enlighten me 'cause I am really at a loss here."
"Okay, fine. May 22nd."
"May 22nd?"
"Yes, May 22nd. What was supposed to be a, ahem, special day for us turned out to be shit because SOMEBODY couldn't perform!"
"Hermione, that was one day! And that WAS NOT my fault!"
"Then who's was it, Ron?"
"Yours!"
"Mine!"
"Yeah, yours! I would've been able to perform if you hadn't've insisted on giving me a-"
"Whoa! Okay, that's really too much information!" Harry stepped between the bickering couple, hands raised. "But unless you want to the whole school to hear about your failed interludes, then continue, please."
Hermione and Ron glared at him, then at the some 700 people staring at them, mouths open and eyes wide. They both blushed deep pink and quickly scurried into the Great Hall.
"My goodness, are they always like that?" Sheila asked Harry, taking a seat next to him.
He smiled. "Nah, they're usually worse."
~*~*~*~
The Sorting Ceremony took much longer than it normally did, much to Ron's disapproval. Sheila, letting out a sigh of relief, was sorted into Gryffindor, the only 6th year student to ever do so.
"May 22nd... what the hell...?" Ron mumbled while piling mashed potatoes on his plate.
"That's right, darling." Hermione quirked, adding gravy to his potatoes. "All your fault..."
Ron threw down his fork. "What?! Oh, that is it!"
"Hey Ron, look! Fried chicken!" Harry held up a plate of chicken legs.
"Oooh, chicken!"
Harry shook his head, laughing. "Gets him every time..."
~*~*~
A soft clinking of silverware against glass rang out across the expansive hall, silencing the uproar of the enthusiastic students. Sheila looked up and saw a woman sitting at the front table, holding her goblet in one hand and a fork in the other.
"Your attention, please."
Hermione saw the puzzled expression on Sheila's face. "Professor McGonagall. Transfiguration and Headmistress." She whispered to Sheila, who nodded in return. A man with a long, white beard stood up and turned to Professor McGonagall.
"Thank you, Minerva. Good evening." He smiled, his attention returning to the sea of young faces staring back at him. "My name is Albus Dumbledore. I am the Headmaster here at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. First off, I would like to extend a special welcome to our first years." He smiled. "I hope your stay here will be most enjoyable. As for the rest of you," Pausing, he looked around the room, his eyes bright behind his half-moon glasses. They swept the room twice before landing directly on Sheila. "it's so nice to see you again." Sheila smiled warmly at him. He clapped his hands, their eye contact breaking.
"Now there are a few things I need to take care of before we can run off to bed." He licked his lips, pondering his next sentence. "First order of business. Please remember that the Forbidden Forest is off limits. Hence the name." He shook his finger, like a father who was scolding his child would. "So I better not catch any of you wandering around in there." He looked at Hermione, Ron, and Harry, his eyebrow arched. Blushing with embarrassment, they turned away from him, suddenly becoming very interested in the table's centerpiece.
"Second, all of you should know by now that Professor Umbridge retired last year due to a Ministry Order of Business." He made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle. "So, with Professor Umbridge's retirement there came an opening, yet again, in the DADA teaching position." By this time, he had started to pace in front of the teacher's table. "Now this new teacher is not like the ones we've had in the past. Not only does she excel in medical skills, but is also the 2nd best potions master there is. The 1st being our very own Professor Snape, of course." Dumbledore cast a look at Snape, who looked back at him, his face expressionless. "However," Dumbledore continued, "those aren't the most unique qualities about her." He smiled at the students who were now listening with rapt attention. "Well, I don't want to give anything away, so I'll leave it at that."
The Great Hall suddenly erupted in fervent whispers as everyone tried to guess what the new professor would be like.
"Oh and by the way, students we also have an exchange student here from the Americas. Her name is Sheila Williams and I expect all of you to treat her with respect and kindness." He gestured to Sheila, who was staring at him in horror. "Miss Williams, please stand so everyone can get a good look at you." Blushing, she did as she was told and, feeling everyone's eyes burning into her, she quickly sat back down. "Well, that's all I have to say. Prefects, please escort your Houses to your common rooms." Dumbledore sighed. "Good night, everyone."
"Wait, that's it?" Draco Malfoy was standing at the Slytherin table, goblet in hand. "Your not even going to tell us who this new teacher is?"
Dumbledore smiled. "All will be revealed in due time, Mr. Malfoy. Now, everyone please go to bed, classes start tomorrow!"
~*~*~
"Can you believe Dumbledore? Won't even tell us who she is." Harry hastily pulled his pajama top over his head, causing his glasses to go askew.
"I'm sure he's got good reason to, Harry." Hermione handed the toothpaste over to Sheila.
Ron ran a brush through his red hair. "I think it's cool. Like a mystery or something." He paused. "I just hope she doesn't turn out to be another Umbridge."
Harry watched Sheila through the mirror as she put toothpaste on her toothbrush. Ever since Dumbledore made his announcement, she's been awfully quiet. Her gaze went from the water running in the faucet to him. They stared at each before she turned away, blushing. He grinned, walking over to her.
Harry wasn't stupid. He was, after all, a 16-year old boy. He knew that look, that move. He liked to call it the "I'm looking at you, but if you look at me, I'll feign innocence and pretend that I wasn't looking" look. He invented that look... back in 3rd year... with Cho Chang.
Oh, Cho. Her and Harry had their moments. A couple of kisses in the hall when no one was looking, brushing against each other on the Quidditch pitch during a game, even smiling at each other in the Great Hall. Innocent stuff, you know? Until last year that is... when he lost his virginity to her...
Although he liked to think he had more experience in the sexual department than his two best friends, it was still nothing he would like to admit to (let alone discuss with) Ron and Hermione, who have been going out since 4th year. There were those 2 girls over the summer, of course, but nothing special.
"And what do you think?" Harry asked. Sheila rinsed out her mouth and smirked.
"Don't even try it."
Harry furrowed his brows in confusion. "Try what?"
" I know that move. I invented that move. I call it the 'Yeah, I saw you turn away, blushing, so now I'm going to walk over to ya and see if I can't spit some game' move. It's SO predictable. So, don't even try it." She wiped her mouth off with a towel and turned away, grinning, leaving Harry to simply look after her, appalled.
"Good night, Harry, Ron." She called out before disappearing into the Prefect bedroom, which she shared with Hermione.
Hermione gave Ron a good night kiss and followed Sheila into the bedroom. "Sweet dreams you two." She closed the door behind her and they could hear the soft *CLICK* of the lock.
Ron turned to Harry, grinning. Harry looked at him. "What?"
"'I know that move. I invented that move.'" He mocked Sheila in a high pitched voice. "Man, you are so stuck on her."
Harry shrugged him off. "I am not."
"Come on, admit it. You may not know her THAT well, but you know she's not like the other girls you've dated. Or even like the other girls around here. She's different and you're intrigued by it."
"Ron, read my flapping lips, I AM NOT."
"Yes, yes you are. The sarcastic, yet sweet attitude she throws around has got your interest peaked, admit it." Harry let a small smile tug at the corner of his mouth, but quickly covered it. "Aha, I saw that little smile." Ron exclaimed, poking him playfully in the chest. "You like her, don't you? You like the way her hair blows in the wind, the way her eyes twinkle in the light... The way her ass moves up and down when she walks..." His voice trailed off.
"So... you've been checking her out as well, huh?" Harry grabbed his bathroom necessities and walked into their bedroom, laughing. "Wait 'til Hermione here's about this..."
"Hey! Hey, Harry that's not fair!" Ron chased him into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
~*~*~
Harry could barely sleep that night. He lay, thinking, and staring up at his bed's canopy. He had so much on his mind. The new DADA teacher, Sheila, Quidditch, new classes, Sheila, the dream he had not even a month ago, Sheila...
Sheila... Harry had to admit (although not to his face) that Ron WAS right. She was different and he was VERY intrigued. She was just so... happy. And positive. For crying out loud, she was dancing and singing up and down the hallway on the way to the common rooms like she didn't have a care in the world!
It was almost inspiring. She's exactly the kind of person Harry, Ron, and Hermione needed around, with Voldemort going haywire and everything. She wasn't like Cho, who was always worrying about what others thought of her or surrounded by a bunch of friends. Yeah, Sheila was very pretty but it just seemed as if she didn't put as much effort into it.
Sheila was very... well for lack of a better word, different. He had known her for barely a day and Harry already deciphered that. She looked like she held so many secrets and faults on the inside and Harry was determined to figure them out.
With a smile on his face, he finally closed his eyes and fell asleep.
~*~*~
The following morning dawned with rain clouds in the sky. Sheila and the Trio dressed quickly and raced to the Great Hall, where they received their class schedules and breakfast.
"First class: Defense Against the Dark Arts. That's cool. We get to see the new teacher first." Ron set his schedule next to his plate of eggs and looked at Hermione, who was reading Standard Book of Spells: Grade 6. Ron shook his head.
"It's never too early to start, Ron." She said, sipping her pumpkin juice.
Ron looked taken aback. "I didn't say anything."
Hermione rolled her eyes behind her book. Sheila leaned towards her, reading along.
"Those two, I swear. Their like twins..." Harry took a bite of his grits, smirking, and looked at his own schedule.
"Oh no, look. I didn't even see that." Ron frowned, pointing to their first class. "We have DADA with the Slytherins."
Harry sneered. "Those fucks."
Sheila peered out from behind Hermione's book, grabbing a piece of toast. "I don't see what the big deal is. Their just people, mind you, some of them are terrible people, but still people just the same." Harry looked at her with interest.
"Why do you say that?" He asked.
"Well, just because their parents are horrible people who have done horrible things doesn't mean that their horrible as well. Take my mother for instance. Her parents were followers of Voldemort before his first downfall and she turned out perfectly fine."
Ron and Harry looked at her suspiciously. "Don't look at me like that. I told you, I do not work for You-Know-Who! I just don't think people should judge other people by what House their in or who their parents are." She gave them both a disapproving look and bit into her toast.
Ron's face softened. "Don't do that. You look like Sebastian when Hermione squashed him on the train. It's creepy." Ron teased. Sheila stuck out her tongue.
Hermione closed her book. "That was an accident!"
Sheila, Ron, and Harry laughed, grabbing their bags, and Harry and Ron scooped up a very embarrassed Hermione to head to their first class, DADA.
"Miss Williams, may I have a word?" Professor Dumbledore appeared behind them.
"Sure, Professor."
"This'll only take a minute. She'll catch up to you in class." Dumbledore said, turning to the Trio. They all nodded, giving Sheila small smiles, and headed down the hallway.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Dumbledore turned back to Sheila. "How are you holding up, Miss Williams?"
"Pretty good, Professor."
"Yes, well, you've made friends with three rather extraordinary people. You are very lucky." Sheila smiled. "Now, regarding your first class-"
"No worries, Professor. I have it all under control."
He looked at her, an eyebrow quirked. "Are you absolutely sure? Some of these students can be quite a handful."
"I assure you, I've handled a lot worse."
Dumbledore chuckled. "That I am quite sure of." He sighed. "Well, just remember that if anyone causes you any trouble, send them to me straight away."
"Oh, Professor... that's a bit much. I don't want people to give me weird looks because the Headmaster's giving me special treatment." Sheila paused. "I want to be treated just like everyone else. I mean just because I'm-"
"That can be arranged, Miss Williams." A bell echoed in the distance. "Dear me..." He sighed. "I fear I have to give you detention on your first day."
"What? Why's that?"
"Well, your late for class and you did say that you wanted to be treated like everyone else." His eyes twinkled merrily upon seeing her shocked expression. "I'm only kidding, Miss Williams. Just because I'm an old man doesn't mean I don't have a sense of humor." Relief spread across Sheila's face. "Now, hurry up or you'll miss your first lesson!"
"Thank you, Professor." She hitched her bag onto her shoulder and took off running down the hallway.
"Oh, and Miss Williams," Sheila stopped and turned around to face him. "good luck."
She gave him a smile and continued her journey to her first class.
~*~*~
"Where is she? She's already late!" Hermione tapped her quill nervously on her desktop.
"Don't worry, Hermione. She's with Dumbledore. She can't get into any trouble." Harry reassured her.
"I'm just anxious to see who this new teacher is!" Ron was sucking on the end of his Sugar Quill.
"Me too." Harry and Hermione chorused together.
Just then the classroom door opened.
"Good morning, everyone." The person who had opened the door strode swiftly into the classroom. "I'm your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Every single head in the classroom followed the person's ascent up to the big oak desk and every single person let out a surprised gasp.
A/N: Oooh, a cliffhanger! Who's the new teacher? And where the hell is Sheila? Oh and when I mention Sheila being with Ron, Harry, and Hermione at the same time I'll just say 'Sheila and the Trio' so I don't have to type it all out, okay? Good! Please review!
CHAPTER 3:
WHEN FATE GIVES A LITTLE
Sheila and the Trio walked slowly up the Entrance Hall's steps, about 700 people following close behind. Sheila would stop every so often to admire the "structure" (as she put it) of the castle.
"It's very... antique... classic, even..."
"If you think that Flying Buttress is great, you should see the arches in the library!" Hermione exclaimed.
"The library?! Oh, I love books! Where is it?" Sheila asked.
"Really?!" Hermione looked at her in disbelief as Sheila nodded. "This is great! Now I have somebody to study with. Someone who appreciates books as much as I do!" Hermione lowered her voice and leaned towards Sheila. "Unlike these two butt holes over here." Sheila giggled as Hermione grabbed her hand, doing a compete 180 and heading in the opposite direction. "It's this way. Come on."
"Uh-uh, I don't think so." Ron said, intercepting Sheila and Hermione.
Hermione gave him a pouty look. "Why not?"
Ron guffawed. "What do you mean 'Why not?'? Hermione, there is a time to study and a time to eat." Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. "And this, this is a time to eat."
"It's always a time to eat to you, Ronald Christopher Weasley!"
"Oooh, she used his whole name. That can't be good..." Harry said to Sheila, who was watching with mild amusement.
"Don't start, Hermione Danielle Granger! Why are you always doing that?"
"Doing WHAT exactly?"
"Turning everything around so it looks like it's my fault!"
"Maybe because it usually is."
"NOW WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!"
"You know exactly what I mean! AND HOW DARE YOU RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME!"
"Please, Hermione, please enlighten me 'cause I am really at a loss here."
"Okay, fine. May 22nd."
"May 22nd?"
"Yes, May 22nd. What was supposed to be a, ahem, special day for us turned out to be shit because SOMEBODY couldn't perform!"
"Hermione, that was one day! And that WAS NOT my fault!"
"Then who's was it, Ron?"
"Yours!"
"Mine!"
"Yeah, yours! I would've been able to perform if you hadn't've insisted on giving me a-"
"Whoa! Okay, that's really too much information!" Harry stepped between the bickering couple, hands raised. "But unless you want to the whole school to hear about your failed interludes, then continue, please."
Hermione and Ron glared at him, then at the some 700 people staring at them, mouths open and eyes wide. They both blushed deep pink and quickly scurried into the Great Hall.
"My goodness, are they always like that?" Sheila asked Harry, taking a seat next to him.
He smiled. "Nah, they're usually worse."
~*~*~*~
The Sorting Ceremony took much longer than it normally did, much to Ron's disapproval. Sheila, letting out a sigh of relief, was sorted into Gryffindor, the only 6th year student to ever do so.
"May 22nd... what the hell...?" Ron mumbled while piling mashed potatoes on his plate.
"That's right, darling." Hermione quirked, adding gravy to his potatoes. "All your fault..."
Ron threw down his fork. "What?! Oh, that is it!"
"Hey Ron, look! Fried chicken!" Harry held up a plate of chicken legs.
"Oooh, chicken!"
Harry shook his head, laughing. "Gets him every time..."
~*~*~
A soft clinking of silverware against glass rang out across the expansive hall, silencing the uproar of the enthusiastic students. Sheila looked up and saw a woman sitting at the front table, holding her goblet in one hand and a fork in the other.
"Your attention, please."
Hermione saw the puzzled expression on Sheila's face. "Professor McGonagall. Transfiguration and Headmistress." She whispered to Sheila, who nodded in return. A man with a long, white beard stood up and turned to Professor McGonagall.
"Thank you, Minerva. Good evening." He smiled, his attention returning to the sea of young faces staring back at him. "My name is Albus Dumbledore. I am the Headmaster here at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. First off, I would like to extend a special welcome to our first years." He smiled. "I hope your stay here will be most enjoyable. As for the rest of you," Pausing, he looked around the room, his eyes bright behind his half-moon glasses. They swept the room twice before landing directly on Sheila. "it's so nice to see you again." Sheila smiled warmly at him. He clapped his hands, their eye contact breaking.
"Now there are a few things I need to take care of before we can run off to bed." He licked his lips, pondering his next sentence. "First order of business. Please remember that the Forbidden Forest is off limits. Hence the name." He shook his finger, like a father who was scolding his child would. "So I better not catch any of you wandering around in there." He looked at Hermione, Ron, and Harry, his eyebrow arched. Blushing with embarrassment, they turned away from him, suddenly becoming very interested in the table's centerpiece.
"Second, all of you should know by now that Professor Umbridge retired last year due to a Ministry Order of Business." He made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle. "So, with Professor Umbridge's retirement there came an opening, yet again, in the DADA teaching position." By this time, he had started to pace in front of the teacher's table. "Now this new teacher is not like the ones we've had in the past. Not only does she excel in medical skills, but is also the 2nd best potions master there is. The 1st being our very own Professor Snape, of course." Dumbledore cast a look at Snape, who looked back at him, his face expressionless. "However," Dumbledore continued, "those aren't the most unique qualities about her." He smiled at the students who were now listening with rapt attention. "Well, I don't want to give anything away, so I'll leave it at that."
The Great Hall suddenly erupted in fervent whispers as everyone tried to guess what the new professor would be like.
"Oh and by the way, students we also have an exchange student here from the Americas. Her name is Sheila Williams and I expect all of you to treat her with respect and kindness." He gestured to Sheila, who was staring at him in horror. "Miss Williams, please stand so everyone can get a good look at you." Blushing, she did as she was told and, feeling everyone's eyes burning into her, she quickly sat back down. "Well, that's all I have to say. Prefects, please escort your Houses to your common rooms." Dumbledore sighed. "Good night, everyone."
"Wait, that's it?" Draco Malfoy was standing at the Slytherin table, goblet in hand. "Your not even going to tell us who this new teacher is?"
Dumbledore smiled. "All will be revealed in due time, Mr. Malfoy. Now, everyone please go to bed, classes start tomorrow!"
~*~*~
"Can you believe Dumbledore? Won't even tell us who she is." Harry hastily pulled his pajama top over his head, causing his glasses to go askew.
"I'm sure he's got good reason to, Harry." Hermione handed the toothpaste over to Sheila.
Ron ran a brush through his red hair. "I think it's cool. Like a mystery or something." He paused. "I just hope she doesn't turn out to be another Umbridge."
Harry watched Sheila through the mirror as she put toothpaste on her toothbrush. Ever since Dumbledore made his announcement, she's been awfully quiet. Her gaze went from the water running in the faucet to him. They stared at each before she turned away, blushing. He grinned, walking over to her.
Harry wasn't stupid. He was, after all, a 16-year old boy. He knew that look, that move. He liked to call it the "I'm looking at you, but if you look at me, I'll feign innocence and pretend that I wasn't looking" look. He invented that look... back in 3rd year... with Cho Chang.
Oh, Cho. Her and Harry had their moments. A couple of kisses in the hall when no one was looking, brushing against each other on the Quidditch pitch during a game, even smiling at each other in the Great Hall. Innocent stuff, you know? Until last year that is... when he lost his virginity to her...
Although he liked to think he had more experience in the sexual department than his two best friends, it was still nothing he would like to admit to (let alone discuss with) Ron and Hermione, who have been going out since 4th year. There were those 2 girls over the summer, of course, but nothing special.
"And what do you think?" Harry asked. Sheila rinsed out her mouth and smirked.
"Don't even try it."
Harry furrowed his brows in confusion. "Try what?"
" I know that move. I invented that move. I call it the 'Yeah, I saw you turn away, blushing, so now I'm going to walk over to ya and see if I can't spit some game' move. It's SO predictable. So, don't even try it." She wiped her mouth off with a towel and turned away, grinning, leaving Harry to simply look after her, appalled.
"Good night, Harry, Ron." She called out before disappearing into the Prefect bedroom, which she shared with Hermione.
Hermione gave Ron a good night kiss and followed Sheila into the bedroom. "Sweet dreams you two." She closed the door behind her and they could hear the soft *CLICK* of the lock.
Ron turned to Harry, grinning. Harry looked at him. "What?"
"'I know that move. I invented that move.'" He mocked Sheila in a high pitched voice. "Man, you are so stuck on her."
Harry shrugged him off. "I am not."
"Come on, admit it. You may not know her THAT well, but you know she's not like the other girls you've dated. Or even like the other girls around here. She's different and you're intrigued by it."
"Ron, read my flapping lips, I AM NOT."
"Yes, yes you are. The sarcastic, yet sweet attitude she throws around has got your interest peaked, admit it." Harry let a small smile tug at the corner of his mouth, but quickly covered it. "Aha, I saw that little smile." Ron exclaimed, poking him playfully in the chest. "You like her, don't you? You like the way her hair blows in the wind, the way her eyes twinkle in the light... The way her ass moves up and down when she walks..." His voice trailed off.
"So... you've been checking her out as well, huh?" Harry grabbed his bathroom necessities and walked into their bedroom, laughing. "Wait 'til Hermione here's about this..."
"Hey! Hey, Harry that's not fair!" Ron chased him into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
~*~*~
Harry could barely sleep that night. He lay, thinking, and staring up at his bed's canopy. He had so much on his mind. The new DADA teacher, Sheila, Quidditch, new classes, Sheila, the dream he had not even a month ago, Sheila...
Sheila... Harry had to admit (although not to his face) that Ron WAS right. She was different and he was VERY intrigued. She was just so... happy. And positive. For crying out loud, she was dancing and singing up and down the hallway on the way to the common rooms like she didn't have a care in the world!
It was almost inspiring. She's exactly the kind of person Harry, Ron, and Hermione needed around, with Voldemort going haywire and everything. She wasn't like Cho, who was always worrying about what others thought of her or surrounded by a bunch of friends. Yeah, Sheila was very pretty but it just seemed as if she didn't put as much effort into it.
Sheila was very... well for lack of a better word, different. He had known her for barely a day and Harry already deciphered that. She looked like she held so many secrets and faults on the inside and Harry was determined to figure them out.
With a smile on his face, he finally closed his eyes and fell asleep.
~*~*~
The following morning dawned with rain clouds in the sky. Sheila and the Trio dressed quickly and raced to the Great Hall, where they received their class schedules and breakfast.
"First class: Defense Against the Dark Arts. That's cool. We get to see the new teacher first." Ron set his schedule next to his plate of eggs and looked at Hermione, who was reading Standard Book of Spells: Grade 6. Ron shook his head.
"It's never too early to start, Ron." She said, sipping her pumpkin juice.
Ron looked taken aback. "I didn't say anything."
Hermione rolled her eyes behind her book. Sheila leaned towards her, reading along.
"Those two, I swear. Their like twins..." Harry took a bite of his grits, smirking, and looked at his own schedule.
"Oh no, look. I didn't even see that." Ron frowned, pointing to their first class. "We have DADA with the Slytherins."
Harry sneered. "Those fucks."
Sheila peered out from behind Hermione's book, grabbing a piece of toast. "I don't see what the big deal is. Their just people, mind you, some of them are terrible people, but still people just the same." Harry looked at her with interest.
"Why do you say that?" He asked.
"Well, just because their parents are horrible people who have done horrible things doesn't mean that their horrible as well. Take my mother for instance. Her parents were followers of Voldemort before his first downfall and she turned out perfectly fine."
Ron and Harry looked at her suspiciously. "Don't look at me like that. I told you, I do not work for You-Know-Who! I just don't think people should judge other people by what House their in or who their parents are." She gave them both a disapproving look and bit into her toast.
Ron's face softened. "Don't do that. You look like Sebastian when Hermione squashed him on the train. It's creepy." Ron teased. Sheila stuck out her tongue.
Hermione closed her book. "That was an accident!"
Sheila, Ron, and Harry laughed, grabbing their bags, and Harry and Ron scooped up a very embarrassed Hermione to head to their first class, DADA.
"Miss Williams, may I have a word?" Professor Dumbledore appeared behind them.
"Sure, Professor."
"This'll only take a minute. She'll catch up to you in class." Dumbledore said, turning to the Trio. They all nodded, giving Sheila small smiles, and headed down the hallway.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Dumbledore turned back to Sheila. "How are you holding up, Miss Williams?"
"Pretty good, Professor."
"Yes, well, you've made friends with three rather extraordinary people. You are very lucky." Sheila smiled. "Now, regarding your first class-"
"No worries, Professor. I have it all under control."
He looked at her, an eyebrow quirked. "Are you absolutely sure? Some of these students can be quite a handful."
"I assure you, I've handled a lot worse."
Dumbledore chuckled. "That I am quite sure of." He sighed. "Well, just remember that if anyone causes you any trouble, send them to me straight away."
"Oh, Professor... that's a bit much. I don't want people to give me weird looks because the Headmaster's giving me special treatment." Sheila paused. "I want to be treated just like everyone else. I mean just because I'm-"
"That can be arranged, Miss Williams." A bell echoed in the distance. "Dear me..." He sighed. "I fear I have to give you detention on your first day."
"What? Why's that?"
"Well, your late for class and you did say that you wanted to be treated like everyone else." His eyes twinkled merrily upon seeing her shocked expression. "I'm only kidding, Miss Williams. Just because I'm an old man doesn't mean I don't have a sense of humor." Relief spread across Sheila's face. "Now, hurry up or you'll miss your first lesson!"
"Thank you, Professor." She hitched her bag onto her shoulder and took off running down the hallway.
"Oh, and Miss Williams," Sheila stopped and turned around to face him. "good luck."
She gave him a smile and continued her journey to her first class.
~*~*~
"Where is she? She's already late!" Hermione tapped her quill nervously on her desktop.
"Don't worry, Hermione. She's with Dumbledore. She can't get into any trouble." Harry reassured her.
"I'm just anxious to see who this new teacher is!" Ron was sucking on the end of his Sugar Quill.
"Me too." Harry and Hermione chorused together.
Just then the classroom door opened.
"Good morning, everyone." The person who had opened the door strode swiftly into the classroom. "I'm your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Every single head in the classroom followed the person's ascent up to the big oak desk and every single person let out a surprised gasp.
A/N: Oooh, a cliffhanger! Who's the new teacher? And where the hell is Sheila? Oh and when I mention Sheila being with Ron, Harry, and Hermione at the same time I'll just say 'Sheila and the Trio' so I don't have to type it all out, okay? Good! Please review!