Ch.8 : Reunion of Sorts

The Hall quietened down at the sound of tinkling glass, a sound that signified Prof. McGonagall had an announcement to make.

"Your new Defence Agianst the Dark Arts teacher will address you now. I'm sure you'd all like to hear from her"

There was a general murmur of assent around the room. Indeed, most of the students had not been able to take their gazes of the new teacher; evidently they still found it hard to believe that the star really was in their midst.

Mildly apprehensive about what she should say, Prof. Blizzard nevertheless put on a brave, almost nonchalant appearance and rose from her seat, clearing her throat. She spoke clearly, and slowly as if making sure that everyone understood what she was trying to say.

"I'm sure most of you have heard of me..quiet a lot in fact. However, I'd like to make a request. I will be most delighted to sign any autographs today in my office after dinner, but please don't bother me for them again ..till Christmas atleast, or you will regret it. I look forward to our interaction in class as I'm sure most of you do. Best be prepared."

With the last couple of lines her face changed considerably. She started off with a friendly half-smile, but ended on an ominous note, her eyes and the contours of her face, speaking the unspoken; she would not stand any hankypanky. She meant business.

"Wonder what she's like in class" said a visibly shaken Ron, "I didn't much like the look on her face."

"I'm sure she'll be fine" said Hermione. The new Professor's change had affected her quite differently; she had not only read the threat, bur also the evidence of competence underlying her words. She certainly seemed like she knew what she was talking about.

...

She ran into Reive on the way out of the Hall after dinner. She was with a very blonde boy about her age. It appeared they had been waiting for her.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" cried out an excited Reive as she enveloped her ex-mentor in a warm hug. The blondie stood looking on a few paces off, smirk firmly in place. However his eyes told an entirely different story. The blondie in question was in fact thinking of his own mother. She would probably be shocked out of her wits if he ever greeted her like that!

Myra returned the hug but did not stop looking at the . boy? Reive was quick to catch the questioning look and said, "This is Draco Malfoy, my housemate. I'm in Slytherin!"

At this Myra couldn't help but raise her eyebrows. " I thought your face looked familiar," she said, addressing Draco. " I knew your father as a senior."

"You were in Slytherin too?" asked an incredulous Reive. Then, "Wait a minute, you even attended Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry? I thought..."

" That I had been taught by the Luna. Well I had , till I turned eleven, then I received my letter of admission."

" And ended up here to shake the very foundations of the school!" cut in a familiar voice.

" It wasn't that bad Severus!" Myra returned. Both kids looked at Prof. Snape with surprised and slightly confused expressions on their faces. He had come up behind Prof. Blizzard as she was now, unnoticed. That is until now.

" So you named this one after me" he said looking directly at Reive. Reive turned her surprised gaze to Prof. Blizzard and blinked, then looked back at Prof. Snape.

"Yup, that's the one. Looks like you and sometimes...well, ok most of the time even acts like you!" replied Myra. "Yes darling, I think now you understand why you made me laugh so much. It was like watching a miniscule version of Severus here in action." she said in reply to the look on Reive's face and smiled slowly as she recalled many of her(Reive's that is) childhood tantrums and the faces she used to pull.

This remark caused Severus to smile slightly but he managed to hide it in a half-smirk as he said, "Well, I'm glad to say she hasn't disappointed me. Seems like you've taught her well!"

" I couldn't risk disappointing you now could I?" Myra returned, enjoying the battle of words that was just beginning. However it was cut short by Reive who had by now regained the use of her voice.

"Seems there's a lot that you've been hiding" she said in a slightly accusatory tone.

'You don't know the half of it. And I hope it stays that way,' Myra thought fervently but somehow knew her hope was futile.

" I'm sorry dear. I didn't really have a choice. If I'd told you...why don't you come upto my rooms, and we can talk", she said, abruptly closing the conversation which she had just realised was a tad too public. All the students hanging around seemed to be trying to catch snatches of their conversation. With that however, most of the students dispersed looking a little disappointed at not having heard more.

"See ya later," Draco said as he walked off in the direction of the dungeons in the wake of Prof. Snape's billowing robes.

The trio(as we shall call them henceforth) watched as the two reunited Lunas walked off together, deep in conversation. They now knew along with the whole school, that Prof. Blizzard and the mysterious "Severus, Madeleine Reive" knew each other. It was also evident that both professors knew each other well and that Prof. Blizzard was a Slytherin.

"Ok ,so the new Professor is a Slytherin and knew Snape and Malfoy at school. It just gets better and better doesn't it?" Ron asked sarcastically.

Harry and Hermione just shrugged their shoulders in answer, their faces wearing slightly apprehensive looks.