The Great Hall was alive with activity, the students greeting friends they'd not seen since last year and new students becoming acquainted. The professors chatted as well, talking about everything but the events of last year. The assembly screamed a bit, though, at the loud calls of a huge hawk. It soared into the room, circling it once before landing on Dumbledore's outstretched arm. The Hall was silent as it watched the Headmaster untie the note from the hawk's talon, a smile growing rapidly as he read it.
One of the windows opened and a black-cloaked figure flew in, landing gracefully on the ground with a broom in hand. The hawk flew around the room a few times, then landing on the figure's shoulder as he… it certainly looked like a man… approached the professors' table.
The stranger conversed a bit with Dumbledore, then stood to the side as the Headmaster addressed the students. "Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the usual start-of-year speech will have to be postponed. I am excusing myself from dinner, but I do hope you all enjoy yourselves. Welcome back to Hogwarts, students," he said briefly, smiled, then moved to the side of the stranger and the two swept from the room quickly, but not too quickly that the stranger couldn't give Harry's shoulder a slight squeeze and a gentle smile on a face he recognized, but had never seen before.
The moment they had left the room, the Hall filled with conversations and speculations.
"That was certainly a dramatic entrance," Hermione said, huffing slightly, her face flushed.
"He was probably a Death Eater," Ron said, grimly.
"No, you saw how Dumbledore greeted him. He's on our side," she replied, shaking her head.
"She. She was a woman," Harry said, softly. "But I'm not sure who. I recognize her… but I don't know from where."
"A truly frightening entrance, my dear. You've got surprise down to an art, I see," Albus said, chuckling a bit. I smiled, nodding, and stroked Fidelis's feathers fondly as he rested on my arm. "I trust you found success in your voyages?"
I nodded. "Yes, I did. Not quite what I expected, and I wasn't quite finished, but I heard of the troubles that occurred last year. I devote my services to protect your students, Albus."
"Thank you, Di," he replied, smiling. "Actually, the Aurors have asked that we give lessons to those interested in learning wandless magic. There won't be too many of them, and you'll get to choose the students in the end."
I sighed, and then nodded. "I can certainly see where it would be very useful in the future. So yes, I'll do it," I replied. "But let's change the subject a bit. How is Harry doing?"
He smiled, a slightly mischievous twinkle in his eye. "He's stubborn, like his father. Always getting himself into trouble. He's in his sixth year now, though, so we're rather hoping he'll start thinking things through a bit more," he said.
I smiled softly, nodding. "It's rather late, and I've found myself immensely tired. Where will my rooms be?"
He laughed. "Always so hasty, my dear," he replied, and called for a house elf. "She'll lead you to the entrance. Goodnight, Di."
"Goodnight, Albus," I replied, smiling, and then exited the room.
---
"I heard that she's a vampire, and that's why she's not come to breakfast or lunch today," one of the students gossiped.
"Well I still think it's a man," another replied.
They all chatted around the Gryffindor table, but stopped suddenly as the doors to the Great Hall opened. She coughed slightly, and then entered the Hall, smirking slightly at the students who'd gossiped about her. She was certainly NOT a vampire, and definitely not a man.
In fact, she was a rather short woman with a slender body and thick masses of wavy brown hair that reached her mid-back. She had an olive complexion and was simply quite a lovely woman.
"Ah! Students, I'd like you all to meet Professor St. Lawrence. She'll be instructing those wandless magic lessons I mentioned earlier. The first will be tomorrow, directly after lunch. Sixth and seventh years are to be dismissed from their classes to attend. They will be held out near the lake, so assemble there as soon as you can. It is optional, of course, but it would be to your benefit to try this. That is all," Dumbledore announced, and she nodded in greeting to the students, who all seemed a bit in awe. Then the whispers began again.
"Wandless magic? What's he on about?" Ron asked, rather confused and a bit astounded.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You'd think that the two of you would start listening to these announcements. Personally, I think it sounds like a rather outlandish and unnecessary idea. I'm only going to see if she knows anything of interest."
But their bickering was lost on Harry as his mind tried to figure out where exactly he knew this woman from. This woman who hadn't taken her eyes off of him since she entered the room.
"Right… good afternoon," I said, biting my lip slightly and standing to pace a bit. "I'm Professor St. Lawrence… and… I'm to teach you wandless magic." Why was I so nervous?
"Now… wandless magic only works if you concentrate. Actually, using a wand is really no different. All a wand does is give you something to focus on," I said, my confidence returning to me. "Unfortunately, some of us aren't capable of this sort of magic, but only because we don't let ourselves try hard enough. So, if you have no desire to be here at the moment, please leave."
No one moved. "Very good. Now, so no one is hurt during this, we are only going to use the 'Stupify' spell, and we will use wands," I said.
A hand went up. "Yes, Miss…?"
"Hermione Granger. How will using wands help us learn wandless magic?" she questioned, and a few students snickered.
I glared slightly, then remembered myself and shook my head. "You don't quite understand just yet. There is a spell that I suppose you've not been taught, but I will teach you it today. That is another thing you will come to expect. My spells are different from yours, but are much more effective."
I spoke the spell loudly, my palms facing up. "Speculum Tutamen." A lavender light rose from my hands, then turned into a mist that I let fall over me. "Mmm… Mr. Weasley. Cast the 'Stupify' spell on me."
He hesitated, looking at me nervously. "Mr. Weasley, it's alright. Everyone near and around him, please move to the side."
The students parted, and he shakily drew his wand. "Stupify!" he said, and the spell came towards me in a shot, bouncing back.
"Confuto!" I spoke, and the ball of yellow-tinged light froze inches before Ron's nose. He gasped, jumping back, but the class looked on in amazement.
"Terminus," I said softly, then stepped to the frozen light, letting the group form a circle around me. "The spell I used is very useful, as it reflects most lower and middle level spells and curses. And 'Confuto' freezes the light before it hits an object or a human. Now, the spell is still alive, so you wouldn't want to touch it, but we've got to get rid of it somehow. So… everybody duck, and I'll release it."
Everyone did as I said, and I said, "Liberatio!" The spell went back into motion…
…and straight into one of the other Professors, who fell to the ground.
The students laughed, or… all but the Slytherins, and the Weasley boy high-fived a neighbor. "Professor St. Lawrence just stupified Snape!" Hermione gasped, but couldn't contain her smile. And Harry looked at me as if I was an angel.
But very quickly, I ran to where Professor Snape lay, followed by the students. "Ennervate!" I said softly, and his eyes fluttered a bit before glaring up and pushing me away. He got to his feet and stormed back into the castle followed by his Slytherins, who all shot me dirty looks, especially that Malfoy kid.
But the rest of the students stayed and celebrated, talking about how they couldn't wait to tell the others what had happened.
Me? I was embarrassed. But it had been rather amusing, I had to admit.
---
"Speculus Tutamen!" Ron said, but was given nothing in return."It's 'Speculum Tutamen', Ron," Harry corrected, and continued to try it on his own as well.
"Didn't you find it odd that none of her spells are in books?" Hermione asked, and Ron snickered.
"Not really. We don't really read much anyway. That's your job," Harry replied, earning him a hit.
"I don't know about you two, but Professor St. Lawrence is my new hero," Ron stated, plopping down on the couch. "I mean… stupifying Snape is not something we get to see everyday. And it was my spell, too!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "So we've heard," she replied sarcastically. "But seriously… there's something more to her… something dark and mysterious…"
"Well, tell us when you figure it out," Ron said boredly, and the two began to argue once more.