LET GO
CHAPTER 4:
SANS WAND MAGEECK
Sheila set her school bag atop the big oak desk and turned towards the window, watching the now falling rain.
*'I feel like I'm forgetting something... Oh, yes...'* She turned back to the class. "Surprise!"
They sat looking at her, mouths still agape, for a moment, then suddenly broke into fervent whispers. She didn't hear much of what was being said, but did manage to catch a few things here and there like:
"Her?!"
"What the hell is Dumbledore up to now?"
"This is too unreal!"
Sheila chuckled. *'This is going to be SO much fun.'* She thought. She held up her hands.
"Okay, okay. Settle down class!" The whispering stopped and everyone turned to look at her again. In the back of the class, Ron stood up. "Do you have a question, Mr. Weasley?"
"Yeah, I do. Sheila, what the hell?"
Sheila smiled. "First off, I will not be addressed so informally, Mr. Weasley. I am a teacher. It is either Professor Williams or Miss Williams. Only those who are worthy get to call me by my first name, which is Sheila, in case none of you knew that. And secondly, I will not tolerate such language in my classroom." She paused. "Now, I'm pretty sure the question 'What the hell?' is flashing in all your minds right about now and all I can say to it is: Dumbledore."
A girl raised her hand. "Yes, we all know Headmaster Dumbledore's a bit out of it but really, you, a teacher. How?"
"That's a very good question, Miss-"
"Patil, ma'am."
"Miss Patil. Parvati, am I correct? The one with the twin in Ravenclaw?" The girl nodded and Sheila continued. "Where was I? Oh yes. That's a very good question. Let me start from the beginning, okay?"
"It all starts with my mother, Jacqueline Williams. After she graduated from here she found that she loved Hogwarts so much that she didn't want to leave. So, she became a teacher. A Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to be exact. Well, she taught for about eight years and in that span of time, she got married and eventually wanted to start a family. That's where I come in. When she found out that she was pregnant with me, she didn't want work to interfere with her newly found motherhood, so she took a leave of absence. A year, actually, for maternal leave, as you would call it nowadays."
Sheila paused and took a deep breath. The class was staring intently at her.
"She always told my father that a baby's first years were the most critical and that she should be there for every moment so, after a year of being a blissful mother, she decided to take another year off. But, unfortunately, she never made it. See, she died Halloween night, 15 years ago, leaving my father and I alone."
She tried hard to blink back the oncoming tears.
"She was an excellent teacher. Dumbledore told me that he always thought that she was one of the most skilled witches he had ever seen. She had this little room in our house. I called it 'The Magic Room' and that was where she kept all her lesson plans and spells. When I was younger, my dad never let me in there. He always kept it locked up, said that there were too many memories attached to it. But when I was 8, he finally decided that I was of age and he opened the door to me. I read every single one of her books, mastered all the spells and potions. You know, there aren't many wizards who know what I know or who can do what I can do. I learned everything I know now in that little room. Well, when I say everything, I mean everything you can possibly do without using a wand."
Another girl raised her hand. "Yes, Miss-"
"Brown. Lavender Brown. Didn't you get in trouble by the Ministry for doing underage magic?"
Sheila smirked. "Yes well, the Ministry didn't exactly know where we were."
"So, you were in hiding?" A boy with dark brown hair asked.
"Uh, Mr.-"
"Finnegan. Seamus Finnegan."
"Ah, yes. I recognize you. The boy who was blowing milk bubbles out of his nose at breakfast this morning." Seamus blushed. "That question, my friend, is to be answered with another tale that will be told on another day."
"Anyway," Sheila continued. "I practiced and studied and practiced and studied, day in and day out. My dad even taught me a few things. We were always together. He was all I had and I was all he had. He was my best friend. But then he-"
She wiped away a few escaped tears and ventured on, after exhaling a deep breath.
"But then he was m-murdered a couple of months ago and I was left completely alone. I didn't have any other family. Both my parents were only childs, so I had no aunts or uncles. And my grandparents have long been dead. My mom had this little journal she used when she was at Hogwart's and she always wrote about this wonderful man named Albus Dumbledore. So, I did the only thing I could think of. I wrote to him and, thankfully, he accepted me. Telling me I was a prime candidate for the next Jacqueline Williams, I packed my bags and set off. And here I am now."
Sheila stood from where she was leaning against the desk and started walking around the classroom, idly weaving in and out of the students' desks, her high heels clicking with each step.
"I left everything behind. My home. Memories of my parents. My preliminary existence. And came here, to Hogwart's, hoping I could find something more. Something worthwhile."
She paused and looked at Harry. "And maybe, by some miracle act of Merlin, I will."
*'Oh, believe me, you will...'* He thought.
She clapped her hands. "Okay, enough of story time. Let's get down to business shall we." Sheila took off her school robe and placed it on the back of her chair, straightening her white button-up shirt and tie.
"First, classroom rules." The students groaned. "Have no fear. They're fairly easy and I'm pretty sure you lot can handle them." She smiled and made her way to the chalkboard.
"Rule #1: " She wrote, while saying it out loud. "Show me respect." She turned to the class. "This one's basically a given. Show me respect, for I am a teacher after all. This means inside this classroom and, Dumbledore insists on in the hallways too, but I don't think it matters. Show me some and I'll give you some in return. I don't like punishing people, but if I feel like they really need it, I'll do it. Don't test me, it's not very pretty. Okay? Good."
"Rule #2: Respect each other. This, like Rule #1, is a given." She sighed.
"I know all about the House rivalries, especially between the Gryffindors and the Slytherins, but in my classroom there is no such thing. No one person is better than another. We are all equals and I expect ya'll to treat each other as such."
"Rule #3: Just relax and have fun. We're all here to learn and learn is what we shall do. There is no such thing as a right or wrong answer, so feel free to voice your opinions. Don't be shy. Ask me as many questions as you feel necessary. My job is to make sure you understand the material I teach and I will do anything in my power to make sure that goal is met." She paused. "On a side note, if anyone misses any of my lessons, please feel free to ask me or a fellow student the material. My door is always open and if you're having trouble with a certain thing, then please, come in and I'll help you, I promise. Everyone clear on the rules?"
The class nodded.
"Excellent. This is easier than I thought. Oh and just a reminder, like many of you, I am only 16-years old. I'm just a teenager with a sarcastic sense of humor. Anything said in this classroom not pertaining to the initial lesson is said with a wink and a smile, so please don't be offended by it."
Blaise Zabini raised his hand. "So, if I were to tell you I think you've got a nice ass, what would you do?"
"I'd say look at Rule #1, the part about testing me, Mr.-"
"Zabini... but you can call me the Slytherin Sex God..."
"Sex God?" Sheila snorted. "Would you like me to bow down and lick your boots as well, Your Holiness?"
"That depends... would you be naked?"
Sheila smirked. "No, but you can." She snapped her fingers and all of Blaise's clothes vanished, leaving him clad only in his boxers. (Which, by the way, were pink with green polka dots.) The class erupted in laughter. Blaise's face flushed as his hands tried desperately to cover up his, ahem, private area.
Sheila smirked. "One way I punish my students..." She snapped her fingers again and his clothes reappeared. "That is why, ladies and gentlemen, you shouldn't test me."
Blaise smoothed down the front of his robes. "But I really meant it."
Sheila walked over to his desk, grabbing his school tie, and roughly pulled him towards her. "So did I." She whispered, then let go. Blaise sneered and rubbed the back of his neck.
Draco raised his hand.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Professor, how did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"That!?" He pointed at Blaise. "That 'snap my fingers and make his clothes disappear' thing!"
Sheila smiled. "And so begins our very first lesson... Today you will be learning about a very difficult technique called Sans Wand Mageeck, or Wand less Magic. It's a very ancient practice, but is very essential, especially during these impending dark times. Now, can anybody tell me anything about Sans Wand Mageeck?"
To nobody's surprise, Hermione's hand shot up in the air.
"Yes, Miss Granger."
"Sans Wand Mageeck came about during the Salem Witchcraft Trials. The people back then would find any excuse to accuse someone of witchcraft so witches and wizards everywhere had to hide their wands from prying eyes. When the actual execution came to play upon a said accused witch or wizard, they had to find a way to survive the incident without their wands. Christopher Sebastian Merewether invented, or shall I say, discovered Sans Wand Mageeck two years after the first witch execution and up until now, it was banned by the Ministry of Magic. They said no true witch or wizard would need to battle without his or her wand."
"Very good." Sheila smiled. "Your like a walking textbook."
Ron rolled his eyes. "She has no idea... " He whispered to Harry, who grinned.
"10 points to Gryffindor.... Now, when fighting an enemy, your not always going to have your wand around, so learning this technique will help a lot. There are so many things you could do without your wand. For example, Stunning."
Sheila snapped her fingers and Pansy Parkinson, who was reading a magazine under her desk and not paying attention, toppled out of her seat, the copy of Teen Witch Weekly tumbling after her. "Another way I punish my students. How long should I leave her like that?" Sheila placed a finger on her chin, contemplating.
"All day, if you can..." Hermione mumbled.
Sheila snapped her fingers again and Pansy got up, her knees shaking, a mild look of shock on her face. "I'd advise you to be a bit more attentive in my class, Miss-"
"Parkinson." Pansy straightened out her skirt and sat back down. "Sorry, Professor Williams."
"It's okay. In fact, 5 points to Slytherin for your participation. I would've made it 10, but your lack of an attention span made me second guess myself." Pansy flushed with embarrassment. "Moving on. Another example would be, Summoning."
She looked up and Ron's Sugar Quill (the one he was still sucking on) zoomed across the room into her awaiting hand. She broke off a piece from the bottom and placed it in her mouth. "Mmm... I love these things. Alongside Summoning you would also have Banishing." The quill hovered above her hand for a moment before it soared back into Ron's still open mouth. He choked a little and spit the quill out. Sheila and the rest of the glass laughed.
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley. 5 points to Gryffindor for participation and 2 points for the cutest look of surprise I've ever seen." Ron blushed.
"And last but not least," Sheila pulled out a small wooden box from beneath her desk and stood on it. "-the ever popular, Levitation." She snapped her fingers and was lifted off the wooden box, as if someone above her were pulling her up by an invisible rope. The class gasped. Sheila snapped her fingers again and was lowered back onto the box.
"Those are the basic spells we'll be working with, with the exception of the one I used on Blaise... That one's strictly used for fun..." Blaise face flushed again. "But hopefully by the end of the year, you'll be able to do this." Sheila walked over to the window and opened it. She closed her eyes and snapped her fingers. The rain suddenly stopped. She reached out and carefully picked up a raindrop with her fingertip. She snapped her fingers again and the rain outside and the drop on her finger became liquid. She wiped her finger on the hem of her skirt and closed the window.
"Wicked." Dean Thomas whispered.
A bell sounded somewhere in the hall.
"Well I guess that ends it for today. Please read over the chapters in your textbooks and feel free to practice some of the more simple spells!" She called after the retreating backs of her students. She sighed. "Thank you."
The Trio walked up to Sheila as she was putting her cloak back on.
"My gosh, you're a teacher. How will you manage your time?" Hermione asked.
"I don't really know. This is, after all, my first class." Sheila shrugged. "We'll see where it goes, I guess."
"This is so cool, Sheila, er- sorry, Professor Williams." Ron said.
Sheila held up a hand, slinging her school bag onto her shoulder. "No Professor. Class is over. It's back to Sheila." Ron smiled.
"Well come on, we do have another class, you know? Let's go before we're late." Hermione grabbed Ron's hand and pulled him out of the classroom. Sheila went to follow them, but felt a hand on her arm. It was Harry.
"Sheila, did you mean what you said earlier?" He asked.
"What are you talking about?"
"Earlier, when you said that hopefully you'll find something more here. Something worthwhile."
Sheila looked at him, brows furrowed. "Why?"
He lowered his eyes to the ground. "You looked at me when you said it." He took a step towards her. "That was no accidental look, I know. You meant what you said."
"Maybe I did, but what's your point?"
He looked up, into her eyes, and took one of her hands in both of his. "I know exactly what you're going through. I was also one when my parents died and I was sent to live with my horrible aunt and uncle. Orphaned and alone, I lost all hope. I thought this was it. That nothing could get better. But it did. The day I got my letter of acceptance from Hogwarts. But now I realize that I need something more... fulfilling... Just like you do."
"What are you trying to say, Harry?"
"I could be that thing for you... That thing you need."
Sheila frowned, pulling her hand from his. "I gotta go..."
Brushing back a few loose strands from her face, she walked out of the classroom, confusion, anger, and acceptance swimming in her head. Harry watched her go, cursing himself for his stupidity.
"Why did I just do that? What the hell is wrong with me?"
Shaking his head in shame, he walked quietly to his next class.
A/N: Sorry if there was too much dialogue in this chapter. At least now you know who the new teacher is and why Sheila's REALLY there. You also got to hear more of her family and history, and that's essential for later chapters. What's going on with Harry? Why is he so determined to get to know Sheila? Stay tuned and find out! Review please!
CHAPTER 4:
SANS WAND MAGEECK
Sheila set her school bag atop the big oak desk and turned towards the window, watching the now falling rain.
*'I feel like I'm forgetting something... Oh, yes...'* She turned back to the class. "Surprise!"
They sat looking at her, mouths still agape, for a moment, then suddenly broke into fervent whispers. She didn't hear much of what was being said, but did manage to catch a few things here and there like:
"Her?!"
"What the hell is Dumbledore up to now?"
"This is too unreal!"
Sheila chuckled. *'This is going to be SO much fun.'* She thought. She held up her hands.
"Okay, okay. Settle down class!" The whispering stopped and everyone turned to look at her again. In the back of the class, Ron stood up. "Do you have a question, Mr. Weasley?"
"Yeah, I do. Sheila, what the hell?"
Sheila smiled. "First off, I will not be addressed so informally, Mr. Weasley. I am a teacher. It is either Professor Williams or Miss Williams. Only those who are worthy get to call me by my first name, which is Sheila, in case none of you knew that. And secondly, I will not tolerate such language in my classroom." She paused. "Now, I'm pretty sure the question 'What the hell?' is flashing in all your minds right about now and all I can say to it is: Dumbledore."
A girl raised her hand. "Yes, we all know Headmaster Dumbledore's a bit out of it but really, you, a teacher. How?"
"That's a very good question, Miss-"
"Patil, ma'am."
"Miss Patil. Parvati, am I correct? The one with the twin in Ravenclaw?" The girl nodded and Sheila continued. "Where was I? Oh yes. That's a very good question. Let me start from the beginning, okay?"
"It all starts with my mother, Jacqueline Williams. After she graduated from here she found that she loved Hogwarts so much that she didn't want to leave. So, she became a teacher. A Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to be exact. Well, she taught for about eight years and in that span of time, she got married and eventually wanted to start a family. That's where I come in. When she found out that she was pregnant with me, she didn't want work to interfere with her newly found motherhood, so she took a leave of absence. A year, actually, for maternal leave, as you would call it nowadays."
Sheila paused and took a deep breath. The class was staring intently at her.
"She always told my father that a baby's first years were the most critical and that she should be there for every moment so, after a year of being a blissful mother, she decided to take another year off. But, unfortunately, she never made it. See, she died Halloween night, 15 years ago, leaving my father and I alone."
She tried hard to blink back the oncoming tears.
"She was an excellent teacher. Dumbledore told me that he always thought that she was one of the most skilled witches he had ever seen. She had this little room in our house. I called it 'The Magic Room' and that was where she kept all her lesson plans and spells. When I was younger, my dad never let me in there. He always kept it locked up, said that there were too many memories attached to it. But when I was 8, he finally decided that I was of age and he opened the door to me. I read every single one of her books, mastered all the spells and potions. You know, there aren't many wizards who know what I know or who can do what I can do. I learned everything I know now in that little room. Well, when I say everything, I mean everything you can possibly do without using a wand."
Another girl raised her hand. "Yes, Miss-"
"Brown. Lavender Brown. Didn't you get in trouble by the Ministry for doing underage magic?"
Sheila smirked. "Yes well, the Ministry didn't exactly know where we were."
"So, you were in hiding?" A boy with dark brown hair asked.
"Uh, Mr.-"
"Finnegan. Seamus Finnegan."
"Ah, yes. I recognize you. The boy who was blowing milk bubbles out of his nose at breakfast this morning." Seamus blushed. "That question, my friend, is to be answered with another tale that will be told on another day."
"Anyway," Sheila continued. "I practiced and studied and practiced and studied, day in and day out. My dad even taught me a few things. We were always together. He was all I had and I was all he had. He was my best friend. But then he-"
She wiped away a few escaped tears and ventured on, after exhaling a deep breath.
"But then he was m-murdered a couple of months ago and I was left completely alone. I didn't have any other family. Both my parents were only childs, so I had no aunts or uncles. And my grandparents have long been dead. My mom had this little journal she used when she was at Hogwart's and she always wrote about this wonderful man named Albus Dumbledore. So, I did the only thing I could think of. I wrote to him and, thankfully, he accepted me. Telling me I was a prime candidate for the next Jacqueline Williams, I packed my bags and set off. And here I am now."
Sheila stood from where she was leaning against the desk and started walking around the classroom, idly weaving in and out of the students' desks, her high heels clicking with each step.
"I left everything behind. My home. Memories of my parents. My preliminary existence. And came here, to Hogwart's, hoping I could find something more. Something worthwhile."
She paused and looked at Harry. "And maybe, by some miracle act of Merlin, I will."
*'Oh, believe me, you will...'* He thought.
She clapped her hands. "Okay, enough of story time. Let's get down to business shall we." Sheila took off her school robe and placed it on the back of her chair, straightening her white button-up shirt and tie.
"First, classroom rules." The students groaned. "Have no fear. They're fairly easy and I'm pretty sure you lot can handle them." She smiled and made her way to the chalkboard.
"Rule #1: " She wrote, while saying it out loud. "Show me respect." She turned to the class. "This one's basically a given. Show me respect, for I am a teacher after all. This means inside this classroom and, Dumbledore insists on in the hallways too, but I don't think it matters. Show me some and I'll give you some in return. I don't like punishing people, but if I feel like they really need it, I'll do it. Don't test me, it's not very pretty. Okay? Good."
"Rule #2: Respect each other. This, like Rule #1, is a given." She sighed.
"I know all about the House rivalries, especially between the Gryffindors and the Slytherins, but in my classroom there is no such thing. No one person is better than another. We are all equals and I expect ya'll to treat each other as such."
"Rule #3: Just relax and have fun. We're all here to learn and learn is what we shall do. There is no such thing as a right or wrong answer, so feel free to voice your opinions. Don't be shy. Ask me as many questions as you feel necessary. My job is to make sure you understand the material I teach and I will do anything in my power to make sure that goal is met." She paused. "On a side note, if anyone misses any of my lessons, please feel free to ask me or a fellow student the material. My door is always open and if you're having trouble with a certain thing, then please, come in and I'll help you, I promise. Everyone clear on the rules?"
The class nodded.
"Excellent. This is easier than I thought. Oh and just a reminder, like many of you, I am only 16-years old. I'm just a teenager with a sarcastic sense of humor. Anything said in this classroom not pertaining to the initial lesson is said with a wink and a smile, so please don't be offended by it."
Blaise Zabini raised his hand. "So, if I were to tell you I think you've got a nice ass, what would you do?"
"I'd say look at Rule #1, the part about testing me, Mr.-"
"Zabini... but you can call me the Slytherin Sex God..."
"Sex God?" Sheila snorted. "Would you like me to bow down and lick your boots as well, Your Holiness?"
"That depends... would you be naked?"
Sheila smirked. "No, but you can." She snapped her fingers and all of Blaise's clothes vanished, leaving him clad only in his boxers. (Which, by the way, were pink with green polka dots.) The class erupted in laughter. Blaise's face flushed as his hands tried desperately to cover up his, ahem, private area.
Sheila smirked. "One way I punish my students..." She snapped her fingers again and his clothes reappeared. "That is why, ladies and gentlemen, you shouldn't test me."
Blaise smoothed down the front of his robes. "But I really meant it."
Sheila walked over to his desk, grabbing his school tie, and roughly pulled him towards her. "So did I." She whispered, then let go. Blaise sneered and rubbed the back of his neck.
Draco raised his hand.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Professor, how did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"That!?" He pointed at Blaise. "That 'snap my fingers and make his clothes disappear' thing!"
Sheila smiled. "And so begins our very first lesson... Today you will be learning about a very difficult technique called Sans Wand Mageeck, or Wand less Magic. It's a very ancient practice, but is very essential, especially during these impending dark times. Now, can anybody tell me anything about Sans Wand Mageeck?"
To nobody's surprise, Hermione's hand shot up in the air.
"Yes, Miss Granger."
"Sans Wand Mageeck came about during the Salem Witchcraft Trials. The people back then would find any excuse to accuse someone of witchcraft so witches and wizards everywhere had to hide their wands from prying eyes. When the actual execution came to play upon a said accused witch or wizard, they had to find a way to survive the incident without their wands. Christopher Sebastian Merewether invented, or shall I say, discovered Sans Wand Mageeck two years after the first witch execution and up until now, it was banned by the Ministry of Magic. They said no true witch or wizard would need to battle without his or her wand."
"Very good." Sheila smiled. "Your like a walking textbook."
Ron rolled his eyes. "She has no idea... " He whispered to Harry, who grinned.
"10 points to Gryffindor.... Now, when fighting an enemy, your not always going to have your wand around, so learning this technique will help a lot. There are so many things you could do without your wand. For example, Stunning."
Sheila snapped her fingers and Pansy Parkinson, who was reading a magazine under her desk and not paying attention, toppled out of her seat, the copy of Teen Witch Weekly tumbling after her. "Another way I punish my students. How long should I leave her like that?" Sheila placed a finger on her chin, contemplating.
"All day, if you can..." Hermione mumbled.
Sheila snapped her fingers again and Pansy got up, her knees shaking, a mild look of shock on her face. "I'd advise you to be a bit more attentive in my class, Miss-"
"Parkinson." Pansy straightened out her skirt and sat back down. "Sorry, Professor Williams."
"It's okay. In fact, 5 points to Slytherin for your participation. I would've made it 10, but your lack of an attention span made me second guess myself." Pansy flushed with embarrassment. "Moving on. Another example would be, Summoning."
She looked up and Ron's Sugar Quill (the one he was still sucking on) zoomed across the room into her awaiting hand. She broke off a piece from the bottom and placed it in her mouth. "Mmm... I love these things. Alongside Summoning you would also have Banishing." The quill hovered above her hand for a moment before it soared back into Ron's still open mouth. He choked a little and spit the quill out. Sheila and the rest of the glass laughed.
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley. 5 points to Gryffindor for participation and 2 points for the cutest look of surprise I've ever seen." Ron blushed.
"And last but not least," Sheila pulled out a small wooden box from beneath her desk and stood on it. "-the ever popular, Levitation." She snapped her fingers and was lifted off the wooden box, as if someone above her were pulling her up by an invisible rope. The class gasped. Sheila snapped her fingers again and was lowered back onto the box.
"Those are the basic spells we'll be working with, with the exception of the one I used on Blaise... That one's strictly used for fun..." Blaise face flushed again. "But hopefully by the end of the year, you'll be able to do this." Sheila walked over to the window and opened it. She closed her eyes and snapped her fingers. The rain suddenly stopped. She reached out and carefully picked up a raindrop with her fingertip. She snapped her fingers again and the rain outside and the drop on her finger became liquid. She wiped her finger on the hem of her skirt and closed the window.
"Wicked." Dean Thomas whispered.
A bell sounded somewhere in the hall.
"Well I guess that ends it for today. Please read over the chapters in your textbooks and feel free to practice some of the more simple spells!" She called after the retreating backs of her students. She sighed. "Thank you."
The Trio walked up to Sheila as she was putting her cloak back on.
"My gosh, you're a teacher. How will you manage your time?" Hermione asked.
"I don't really know. This is, after all, my first class." Sheila shrugged. "We'll see where it goes, I guess."
"This is so cool, Sheila, er- sorry, Professor Williams." Ron said.
Sheila held up a hand, slinging her school bag onto her shoulder. "No Professor. Class is over. It's back to Sheila." Ron smiled.
"Well come on, we do have another class, you know? Let's go before we're late." Hermione grabbed Ron's hand and pulled him out of the classroom. Sheila went to follow them, but felt a hand on her arm. It was Harry.
"Sheila, did you mean what you said earlier?" He asked.
"What are you talking about?"
"Earlier, when you said that hopefully you'll find something more here. Something worthwhile."
Sheila looked at him, brows furrowed. "Why?"
He lowered his eyes to the ground. "You looked at me when you said it." He took a step towards her. "That was no accidental look, I know. You meant what you said."
"Maybe I did, but what's your point?"
He looked up, into her eyes, and took one of her hands in both of his. "I know exactly what you're going through. I was also one when my parents died and I was sent to live with my horrible aunt and uncle. Orphaned and alone, I lost all hope. I thought this was it. That nothing could get better. But it did. The day I got my letter of acceptance from Hogwarts. But now I realize that I need something more... fulfilling... Just like you do."
"What are you trying to say, Harry?"
"I could be that thing for you... That thing you need."
Sheila frowned, pulling her hand from his. "I gotta go..."
Brushing back a few loose strands from her face, she walked out of the classroom, confusion, anger, and acceptance swimming in her head. Harry watched her go, cursing himself for his stupidity.
"Why did I just do that? What the hell is wrong with me?"
Shaking his head in shame, he walked quietly to his next class.
A/N: Sorry if there was too much dialogue in this chapter. At least now you know who the new teacher is and why Sheila's REALLY there. You also got to hear more of her family and history, and that's essential for later chapters. What's going on with Harry? Why is he so determined to get to know Sheila? Stay tuned and find out! Review please!