Chapter 1: How Does Barbie Survive?
"Ah! Professor Gable!" the ancient Headmaster called, his voice carrying the full length of the hall to the young witch.
"Sorry I'm late – never was good with brooms," Talia Gable smiled apologetically, holding up the offending object. The golden-eyed woman on the left raised an eyebrow. "Did I miss anything?"
"Not a' tall, professor." The bun-wearing lady by the Headmaster stood to greet her. "It's good to see you've arrived safely."
The shaggy man behind them advanced quickly toward the new professor, ushering her toward the group with a burly hand. "Don' be shy now. Rubeus Hagrid, assistant Care of Magical Creatures – call me Hagrid – near ever'one does." He steered her now-unsteady form neatly before the Headmaster.
"Now, Hagrid..."
A large hand scratched the back of a bushy head of hair. "Sorry, Perfessor."
The Headmaster smiled, as did the new addition. Damn, he's tall, she thought, looking back at her escort. Ironic, considering the many jokes about my reaching only knee-height. "Magical Creatures? Any manticores or hydra in the curriculum?"
"Good heavens, no!" gasped a tiny professor at a corner of the head table. "Far too dangerous for our students."
"But ye've got teh admit, the hippogriffs were fantastic!"
Talia smiled at the little man. Finally! Someone who'll actually stay shorter than I am now! She turned back to Hagrid. "Tell me more about them sometime. I've got a book on Hippogriff psychology I think you'd like." She turned to the Headmaster. "You were most kind in sending me information regarding students and teaching staff. I've made a few preliminary lesson plans based on what you've sent me, and I'd like to discuss -"
"My dear girl, now is not the time for business!" the wizard waved Talia's words aside as he motioned her to the head table. "I'd like you to meet everyone before you add more paperwork to my desk!" A chair to the left of his glowed a shuddering blue as a sweep of his wand pulled it out for her.
"Very pleased to meet you, young lady," breathed the bespectacled woman she and Hagrid walked toward. The speaker extended a heavily braceleted hand.
"This is Professor Sibyll Trelawney, our Divination teacher."
"You'll be sitting next to me," she added, bangles dingling as she patted the tiny hand she was presented.
Oh hell. "I'm sure we'll have absolutely fabulous dinner conversations," Talia replied, struggling to keep the politeness in her voice. She smiled as she withdrew from the gentle grip.
"And me too!" offered the elfin man in the corner, edging forward.
"Yes..." Talia relaxed a bit at that, turning a smile to the voice. "Professor Flitwick, isn't it? Ravenclaw head, Charms department?" He beamed ear-to-ear. "Wonderful to meet you."
"Somebody's done her homework!" For once, she mentally added. Her smiling face swiveled round to a lean, graying man who stepped quietly forward. "Remus Lupin, Defense Against the Dark Arts." He smiled, grasping the new professor's outstretched hand. Whoa... the infamous werewolf... Something of her thoughts must have shown in her eyes, for he seemed to turn away with a gracious sort of haste. You sure 'homework' was a good idea? She pushed a sudden rush of awkwardness viciously aside, running through the few remaining introductions as calmly as she could.
"Yes – I'm letting Hagrid assist with my younger students–"
"Never let that fool Lockhart near a broken bone –"
"The tower isn't free on Wednesdays, though–"
"Oh, where is he?" a frustrated Professor McGonagall groused after her greeting.
Talia looked up from an herb-stained hand. "Where is who, Professor?"
"Severus – sorry, dear – Professor Snape, Potions–"
"And Head of Slytherin. I'm not entirely surprised," Talia shrugged. Another – pureblood – fan, her thoughts spat. Just bloody fabulous.
Professor McGonagall seemed to commiserate. "He can be insufferable sometimes," she told Talia softly, "but he's far from as bad as some of his students are. They're the ones to watch out for."
"Thanks for the warning." I'll watch out for him anyway.
"You'll meet him soon enough, Professor Gable," the old wizard intoned sagely. "Oh – Professor Vector! Good of you to come," he called cheerfully to a red-faced, slightly breathless cloud of chalk dust. The professors took their seats: Talia followed suit. "Since there are so few of us here, I've asked the elves to accommodate a special welcome dinner – London Broil with Yorkshire Pudding," Dumbledore told his plate.
Now this is worth staying for! "Ton katsu with steamed rice and yuzu dipping sauce."
Hagrid clapped his hands eagerly together, the resulting boom echoing over the other professors' orders. "Extra-large Shepherd's Pie, Black Forest ale, an' treacle pudding for dessert an'... oh... what else..."
If that man's eyes are larger than his plate, I'll eat my broom, Talia thought with a smile. After a brief moment, she appended her order. "Miso soup, carrot-daikon salad, and a poached pear for dessert."
A leisurely dinner passed all too quickly, and half-empty cups of coffee were soon the only tenants of the long table. The old wizard turned to the new professor as she mentally patted her stomach. "Now that you've met just about everyone, I'm sure you'd like to see your chambers."
Talia turned toward Headmaster Dumbledore with her first real smile in what seemed like ages. "That is the second most magnificent thing I've heard today."
Professor Lupin smiled dryly. "And what would the first be?"
"The first, well..." she replied, finishing with an apprehensive sigh. "It's going to take a while to get used to people calling me Professor." She stood and nodded a bow to the assembled staff of Hogwarts. "Thank you very much for allowing me to come here."
Headmaster Dumbledore nodded back. "Our pleasure, I assure you. Remus, would you kindly escort young Professor Gable to her quarters?"
"Certainly, sir." Talia couldn't help but notice the controlled unease in his voice. She flickered her eyes guiltily to the table as he stood.
"We've sent your pet upstairs to your chambers. Introduce us to him once you've settled in, won't you?" Dumbledore called.
"He'll be happy to meet everyone!" Except maybe that... snake. "I'll bring him along to breakfast tomorrow."
"Have you any bags for me to carry up?" He asked as they walked past the House tables.
"Not this time, thank you - " she found her second true smile that time – "because I've developed a wonderful way to pack for trips like this. Wonder what Professor McGonagall will think?" She picked up her broom and a black leather suitcase by the doors, closing the latter behind her. "I was hoping to present my lesson plans to everyone... uh, because some of them involve working in conjunction with other subjects." She broke off, rubbing her cheeks. Damn, I think I pulled something with all that smiling.
A corner of the man's mouth twisted upwards at the movement. "Including mine?"
"Yep. Um..." she scratched the tip of her broom uneasily. "Is there any way to get them out in the open before classes start? I could really use some suggestions."
"Here, allow me - " Professor Lupin reached for the bag, but stopped when she flinched faintly. He straightened, looking somewhat pained.
Talia sighed. "Professor Lupin..." she stopped short when he turned back to her, his lean face masking a flash of annoyance. Crap. What the hell do I say now? She felt her eyes dart from side to side, finally stopping on her bag. "Um... thanks," she muttered shyly, offering him the suitcase, carefully watching his face.
It softened. She smiled in relief as he took the handle. "Would you like me to carry that as well?" he asked, nodding at her broom.
"Nah, I need something to twiddle." She spun it once, falling into step beside him. "Um... Professor - " Talia's voice trailed off as his gray gaze turned to her once more. "I... ah... I'm..."
"Remus."
She grinned. "Okay."
Back in the Great Hall, teachers were beginning to file out of the room just as Severus Snape swept in. Oh dear. I seem to be late. What a shame.
"Severus, you missed meeting the new professor," breathed a swirl of fringed skirts as it passed.
"Really, Sibyll. I hadn't noticed," he retorted, rubbing idly at a tea-stained sleeve.
"Nice sort of lass," Hagrid called to him on his way out.
"She wanted to speak to everyone about her lesson plans. Perhaps you should speak to her during dinner," Dumbledore suggested, peering down his glasses at him as he, too, left. Oh hell. How did he make a grown man feel like a student that had been called to the Headmaster's office? Ignoring the feeling of being a prat, he decided on dinner in the dungeons – per usual. He left the room, extinguishing the lights as he went.
A.N. Standard disclaimer here.