Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. But I own my own characters and the plot.

Summary: A woman with a dark past comes to Hogwarts, to be Harry's new DADA teacher. There's also a new girl, the same age as Harry and his friends, who is someone, they never knew they would meet.

Author's note: The start of this story might be little boring, but it will get different and I hope you all like it. I have written other HP fanfics, but this is the first one I ever started to write. And there is Lupin! He's my favorite character! sigh OK, now on with the story. R&R!!!

Arrival to Hogwarts

Hogwarts Express stands at the station of Hogsmeade at 6pm. Clouds have filled the whole sky, hiding the setting sun. Rain drops hit the faces of enthusiastic First Years. Their excitement is so sensible, that it brings a tiny little smile on a little girl's face. Thunder is booming loudly, like nature´s angry with someone. Lightning slashes the black sky above Hogwarts students. But still the roaring voice of Hogwarts gamekeeper's, Rubeus Hagrid, crosses the weather´s soul.

Students are flooding out of the train, running to the carriages, which are pulled by black horse-like animals - Thestrals. Not all can see them, and the ones who can't, should hope they never will.

Hooded, young lady passes them by, petting them a little and then continues her walk. Destination - Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Rain hits her face, forcing her to keep her head down, looking at her feet, which are covered by mud. Her trunk floats beside her and her pet, Xente, walks right ahead of her. The storm seems to be calming down, but the anger still bursts out as lightnings and booming thunder. She finally stops in front of the tall doors of the Castle, opens the other one and walks in.

"This place hasn't changed a bit since I still went here." She turns to Xente as she walks around the Entrance Hall, leaving marks of her boots on the floor. She takes out her wand, and points it at her pet, Black Panther Xente, and says "Driviero!" and Xente is comfortably dry again. She hides her wand as the students arrives and enters.

What are they thinking about? A black haired woman stands in the Entrance Hall, looking like a wet rat. Yeah, that's me. I´m totally wet by that rain outside! She thinks to herself when she hears whispers behind her back and beside her.

She pulls her hood down, revealing her black painted nails and pale face, which is surrounded by her black, straight hair that reaches her middle back. On her left, she has her trunk and on her right, her hand rests on Xentes head, petting it, to make it growl. Students jump when Xente's growl and thunder gets mixed up and lightning flashes outside. Stranger turns her head just a little, to see who is speaking so quietly.

"Who is she? And what is she doing here?" some young girl says right on her left. On the other side, she sees some familiar faces. A girl who owns a brown bushy hair, is speaking with her two friends. Other boy has a red hair and he is the tallest of them three. She recognizes him, and remembers his brothers Bill and Charlie. Boy's name is Ron. The other boy, has a dark brown messy hair and round glasses.

So Harry. I bet we will meet soon. And you will not remember me. What a shame. she smiles to herself as she thinks about it.

And Hermione. You haven't figured out any way to control your hair.

"She looks too old for being a student, but she can't be more than twenty or something." Hermione whispers to Harry and Ron. Ron's staring at Xente.

"Is she allowed to bring that - cat here? It's kind of - big, isn't it?" stranger doesn't look at the trio, but wants to say something to defend her pet.

"His name is Xente. He won't hurt you, if you didn't give him a reason to."

This make students´ heads turn to see who spoke.

"You can think it's just a big cat. You're not afraid of cats, are you?" Her comment makes Harry grin behind Ron's back, but he sees it.

"Oh no Harry. Don't say a word!"

Stranger turns her head to see them all better, but right then, the doors, which lead into the Great Hall, open to welcome the new students, as well the old students of Hogwarts. Stranger snap her fingers and her trunk disappears. Clothes all black, she stares at the Teachers' Table with her cold eyes, which look like, they're not even real, and points her wand at herself and mumbles quietly the same spell with which she dried Xente. Every student has lined up behind her and before she starts walking into the Great Hall, she takes a look at them and smiles. And like a welcome, the thunder booms so loud that the windows shake by its power, and she leads the student line to enjoy their feast.

She looks up to see the Charmed Ceiling, that has made to look like the sky outside. It's dark and the rain is finally ending.

"Remember what I told you to do when we get in front of headmaster, alright?" she speaks quietly to Xente, when they get closer to table, where all teachers are talking to each other, staring at the new face with not-so-nice looks on their faces.

Xente and his owner stops in front of great old professor Dumbledore and Xente kneels down, to greet him. Young lady greets him with a bow and he shows her place at the table. Right next to Professor Snape and Rubeus Hagrid, who now is a Care of Magical Creatures teacher. She looks around and greets every one of the teachers but frowns, because she knows not all are pleased to see her there again.

"You know - you kept us all very busy, when you were here. So I suppose you're not surprised about their reaction?" Snape on her right says coldly, looking around the Hall to find someone specific.

"Yeah well, I´m not that person anymore. Are you missing someone?" Lady says while she too takes a good look at the Hall.

Snape gets no chance to answer. McGonagall walks into the Hall with First Years following her scared. Other students follow the line to the front with their eyes.

"Alright then. When I say your name, you walk to the front and I'll place this hat on your head. Almera, Henry!" a short boy walks to the chair, sits down and waits for the verdict. The hat thinks, but doesn't say out loud, what.

"Hufflepuff!" The hat shouts and all the Hufflepuffs cheer for the new student. The sorting ceremony has never been the stranger's favorite, but now she has to watch it closely - from the teachers' table this time.

God, I remember my sorting and my father's reaction when he found out where I was sorted in. She thinks about it and it makes her shiver.

Hagrid looks at her worried.

"Are you alright? Not getting flu, eh?" She smiles to him.

"No, I'm fine thanks. Just thought about my own sorting."

"I see." Hagrid gives her an understanding look and taps her back friendly.

They both pay attention when Dumbledore speaks. Sorting is over and all new students are thrilled to get on with the feast. Their brothers, sisters, friends and maybe their parents, if they went to Hogwarts, have told them about the unusual way to get food on the table. They can't wait to see it with their own eyes. Dumbledore raises his voice, so the unnecessary babbling stops.

"Welcome, welcome all the new students who have joined us in our school and of course, not forgetting, our old students as well! Let us all hope, we have a great year ahead of us!" cheers and clapping fills the whole Hall, but stops when Dumbledore continues. "As usual, I warn you all of the Forbidden Forest, which still is Forbidden from everyone. Mr. Filch has informed me, if he caught any of the students wandering around there, with no good reason, will be punished by him." Hishes and scared looks are changed between the students. "We still have the House Cup and Quidditch Cup between the houses. Good luck to everyone! But, before we can enjoy the tasty food, I am very, very pleased to introduce you, our new professor." Everyone turns to see the teachers better, which makes a lot noise.

"Syra Ewerlost." The young lady stands up and gets loud cheers and many whistles from male students. She blushes a little, but keeps her mind focused and doesn't let a smile form on her face. She sits down and the Hall is quiet again.

"She is our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Lets hope, she remains as a teacher here longer than her predecessors. And now, the moment we have all been waiting for... Let the feast begin!" Dumbledore says the magic words and the tables fill with food.

Some of the first years gasp and start to pile up the food on their plates fast, like they have never seen food before. Ghosts entertain the students and teachers while eating and one student almost chokes when Sir. Nicholas, better known as Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor house Ghost, shows how his head was almost chopped off.

When an hour had passed by, Syra spots Harry staring at her. Snape notices this too and leans closer to Syra.

"That's Mr. Potter as you know. He's not the best student here. I can say that he is as bad as his father. Breaking the school rules and Dumbledore won't punish him for it. Little bit like you when you were younger and in Hogwarts. I really expect lot from you now, when you're teaching here. You were a great student. One of my favorites, even though you were always in trouble and causing me a headache." Snape mutters so no one else can hear. Syra turns to meet his cold dark eyes.

"Yeah, I've heard all about him and even more. I am waiting to see how is he going to get through his courses with me. I'm not gonna be as gentle as the others. I will make him work for his marks, like I did. I heard from Mrs. Umbridge last year that he wants to be an Auror in the future, and I must say that I kind of wait him to become one. About that getting in trouble. I just can't help my nature." She smiles to Snape.

"But, I must leave now. It was nice to talk to you again Severus. I guess we'll see tomorrow." Syra ends her eat and leaves the Great Hall.

She's walking to the library, to find some books she needs for tomorrow and for light reading when she has nothing else to do. She knows she's been followed, but doesn't give a signal that she has noticed it. She takes her wand out unnoticed and looks in the eyes of Xente, who understands what she's trying to say silently, and takes off. Syra stops after a turn and wait the ones who is following her. She can hear that they are talking to each other. They turn to right after a corner and then stop like they had run into a wall. Syra points her wand at them, looking rather amused than angry. One of them gasps.

"What the -" but is cut off by Syra.

"Now, give me one good reason, not to cast a spell on you for following me! Or were you spying on me?"

They are exact the same trio, that Syra already saw in the Entrance Hall. Harry, Ron and Hermione change fearful looks and then Harry speaks.

"You're a professor?" Syra forms a wondering look on her face and raises her wand, causing the trio step backwards, but only scratches her temple with it.

"Yeah, well. Maybe you're right there Mr. Potter." Harry frowns and change quizzical look with Hermione and then turns to Syra again.

"How do you know who I am?" Syra grins to them.

"Oh come on. Everybody knows you as a boy who lived. But anyway, that's not how I know you. I talked with professor Snape in the Great Hall and he told me all about you."

"You talked with Snivellus?" Harry looks at Syra with disgusted expression and so does Ron and Hermione.

"How do you know about that name?" Now Syra stares right into eyes of Harry, feeling how the hatred grows inside of her. Harry gets confused, not knowing what to answer. Syra lifts her eyebrows and then asks

"So, you two are?" Syra feels stupid asking this because she knows who they are, but they don´t know that.

"I'm Hermione Granger and this here, is Ronald Weasley." Ron blushes and his ears change color in a record time.

"Only my mom calls me that. It's Ron Weasley." He shakes Syra's hand and smiles.

"So, why were you following me?" She looks at them curiously, but none of them speaks. Hermione is really trying to make up something, but her excuse isn't the best one.

"Well, we were just wondering if you got lost or something. You know, your office isn't around here, so we thought if you needed any help finding it?" Syra shakes her head and laughs.

"Oh no, I'm not lost. I'm going to library to find some reading for the night. I know this castle as my own pockets, so I doubt that I'll get lost in here. I went to Hogwarts when I was still on that age. I kind of miss those times still. But well, thanks for caring. But I guess you three should go to your common room already, so Filch won´t find you here."

Hermione checks her watch and won´t leave. Neither does Harry, but Ron seems to be ready to go. He looks disappointed to notice that Hermione and Harry isn´t following him and he turns back.

"You're not as old as our other teachers, so I was wondering how did you get accepted to this job? And I think you know that Snape wants your job more than anything, but he still isn't treating you as cold as the other ones who has got your position." Hermione looks at Syra in disbelief. But Syra does answer

"Look, I went to this school eight years ago. And when I first got here in '81, was when you three were only a babies, Snape just got his position as a Potions teacher. He knows me well, as a student, and believe me, he didn't like me a lot when I was here. But he knows that he's the best Potions teacher ever and that I was the best choice to be your DADA teacher now. Clear? But really, I have to go now. It was nice to meet you three..." Syra waits until they all disappears and can´t hear her anymore "...again."

A/N: It's pretty long.. so sorry, if you got bored!