A/N: None of these characters are mine except the obvious. Please review.

Chapter 3: The First Dinner

At the middle of the stairs, Laura saw a tall man in black enter the Great Hall with billowing robes around him.

Still staring at the man, she stepped down, lost her footing and tripped to the base of the stairs where she was caught by a pair of outstretched arms.

Looking up, her eyes were met with a steely gray gaze.

"Are you alright?" asked the stranger.

"I...I think so," she replied.

Pulling her to her feet, he introduced himself. "I'm Remus, Remus Lupin." Offering his hand, she took it and allowing it to reach his lips he placed a kiss upon it.

"I'm Laura, Laura Jones," she said while turning a slight shade of pink. She then took his offered arm and he accompanied her into the Great Hall.

Upon entering, Albus Dumbledore said, "Ah, Laura! I'm glad you decided to join us. Let me introduce you to the professors." Pointing to each as he went he named off the professors. "This is Minerva McGonagall: Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor, and the Transfiguration professor. Filius Flitwick: Head of Ravenclaw and our Charms professor. Pomona Sprout: Head of Hufflepuff and the Herbology professor. That at the end is Severus Snape: out Head of Slytherin and our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Professor Sinatra: the Astronomy professor. Poppy Pomfrey: The School Nurse. Professor Binns: The History of Magic professor. Rolanda Hooch: The Flying professor and our Quidditch referee. Rubeus Hagrid: The Care of Magical Creatures professor and Keeper of the Keys and Grounds. Professor Vector: The Arithmancy professor. And, finally, Sibyll Trelawney: our Divinations professor."

They all greeted her with a slight nod and a smile except Professor Snape, who looked like he despised everyone at the table. Laura's head was spinning as Remus pulled out a seat for her between himself and Professor Snape.

Suddenly, Professor Trelawney let out a gasp that could have be mistaken for the wind. "Thirteen people sit at this table!!!" she screamed. "A very unlucky number indeed. The first to get up will surely parish within..."

But before she could finish her prediction Professor Snape slammed his fist on the table. "You dunderhead!!!" he spat. "First it's blasted Potter who's going to meet his fate, and, by the way, I'm still waiting for that to happen," he hissed under his breath.

Professor Trelawney huffed and left the Great Hall all in a rage.

Professor McGonagall looked over at Snape and a grin crept up her face. "Look, twelve now sits at this table..That's not unlucky, is it?"

Laura giggled to herself and hoped she was the only one that would hear, but her hopes were dashed when she looked up to meet a stern black gaze.

"Do you find something amusing?" Snape spat venomously.

"I do, actually," she said calmly while trying to keep a straight face. It seemed Snape didn't have a hard time keeping a straight face; he seemed to just scowl at everyone who dared to look at him.

Remus, who was having a conversation with Minerva about the earlier events, noticed Laura and Snape in a staring contest that had gone terribly wrong. "Uh... Severus, will my potion be ready soon?" Remus asked cautiously.

"Yes, I'll bring it by tonight," he said dangerously while removing his gaze from Laura's bright green eyes. With that, Snape stood and, with a swish of his cloak, he left the Great Hall.

A/N : Thank you for reading this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.

Thanks to my reviewers!! You're the best And to my beta, Kim!! :-)