Author's Note: And in this section things get...interesting.
Admissions: HP chars belong to J. K. Rowling, Leiko to me, and Ravindra to my soul-sister Rave.
Section 7: Aggressive Pursuits
Snape looked up as someone entered his classroom. He was in the middle of teaching a group of first years who couldn't seem to get even the simplest potion right, and his patience was wearing thin. He'd been about to admonish whoever had disturbed his class when he realized who it was. Instructing the students to look in their books and read about the importance of potions, he motioned for the newest professor to join him in his office.
"They seem to be under control, Snape. In fact, I'd say they're terrified. No wonder you didn't run from me in the forest. You're able to tame small children, a gryffin is surely nothing to be afraid of after that."
"I hardly consider that amusing. Is there a reason you stopped by or have your own students become too much for you?"
Leiko gave the Potion's Master a scornful look. She wasn't there to talk about students.
"Actually I found the class to be very well behaved. The Malfoy brat tried to undermine my authority, but I think I put him in his place. Oh, don't give me that look. I didn't hurt the boy, merely embarrassed him a little. I'm amazed at how little he knows of the non-human community. But I didn't want to see you about anything school related. I want your help with decorating my room."
"What?! You interrupt my class for that?"
"Meet me in my assigned chamber after your last class. I'll need a magic user to finish my decorating, and I do have a few things to talk to you about that can wait 'till then. Now, I'll leave you to your class...such as it is."
They both turned as Snape noticed a strange smelling smoke seeping into the room. He quickly rushed to the door and into the classroom to find that one of the students had managed to set his neighbor's robes on fire. Leiko chuckled and left the room, her eyes flashing with amusement. Snape put out the flames and sent the child to the hospital wing for burn treatment. The professor thought about Leiko's invitation. Again, she'd made it seem optional, but he knew that she'd track him down and drag him to her chambers if he dared not show at the appointed time. She was almost as bad as Dumbledore.
Lucius Malfoy strode through the halls of Hogwarts with an annoyed expression on his face. He'd come to see if the claims his son made were justified. Much as he hated Dumbledore, he had to admit the man was no fool. No headmaster would put an animal in charge of a class. Although there had been that one professor who turned out to be a werewolf. But that had been slightly different. Draco had written of a gryffin, not a cursed human, and that was even more an outrage than allowing a werewolf to teach.
"Hey! Watch where you're going, blondie."
Lucius caught himself from falling after running into one of the most startlingly beautiful women he'd ever laid eyes one. She was shorter than he, but didn't seem to realize it. Her glaring green eyes met his and the intensity of them almost made him look away. She had spirit, she did, and power. Lucius almost forgot to be annoyed at her impudence. He was about to admonish her, but then thought better of it and chose to turn on the Malfoy charm.
"I do apologize, madam. My thoughts were on other things and I was unaware of your approach. I trust you are not injured, Miss...?"
"Leiko. Or, rather, Professor Leiko. And you are?"
"Lucius Malfoy. Professor, you say? My son wrote me of a new Care of Magical Creatures professor. Would you be her by any chance?"
"Yes. I'm temporary as the original instructor is away. I assume your son would be Draco?"
By the way the woman sneered Draco's name, Lucius could tell that his heir was right about the new professor not liking him. But, contrary to the letter he'd received, this woman was not a gryffin. Had Draco dared to insult him by sending false allegations? Lucius would have to have a chat with that boy in private.
"Forgive me for asking, but my son wrote to say that the new professor was a gryffin..."
"And that I am, Lucius. Your son is the reason I'm currently human. Don't be so shocked...I'm perfectly civilized no matter what my form, and as a human I am less than dangerous, especially to those who manipulate magic at will. I have no such ability, you see, and so even the students are more capable of wreaking havoc than I am."
Lucius couldn't help but smile at her use of his first name. So Draco had told the truth, if an exaggerated version of it. This woman was indeed a gryffin, as his son had claimed, but was unable to use magic. Still, he could feel power radiating from her. This was indeed interesting news, and he had a special someone in mind who would like to know about the powerful but powerless creature teaching at Hogwarts.
"Although I should greatly enjoy speaking with you further, I have an appointment to see the Headmaster. Good day to you, madam."
Lucius gave a slight bow and continued towards Dumbledore's office. Leiko merely gave a curt nod and wondered if the man used a spell to make himself that charming. If she'd been human she would have melted. As it was, she had not been completely immune to the charismatic stranger. She hurried down the hallway, thinking about how she'd have Snape help her finish decorating her room.
After the final class of the day ended Snape considered locking himself in his office. He was in no mood to see anyone, let alone help decorate a room. In fact, he'd rather blow one up. The students got worse with every passing year, and today he'd had not one but three disasters in his final class. He just wanted to be alone.
But he couldn't lock himself away from the world. Leiko was expecting him and she was the type who'd break down his door if he dared not show. At least she was easier to be with than the rest of the Hogwarts staff. She didn't care about why he was ill-tempered and wasn't the sort to prattle on for hours about nothing in particular. When she spoke she actually said something, and she always meant what she said. Snape much preferred her to, say, that Trelawney woman who kept predicting everyone's death.
Snape knocked on the heavy wooden door as Leiko finished changing out of her teaching robes. She'd had the house elves bring some clothing that was more to her liking. She wasn't fond of the wizarding robes, so she'd been very pleased to find the bundle of tight-fitting pants and tops on her bed. There was even a pair of knee-high boots waiting for her, just like the ones she'd told one of the elves about. Those creatures certainly earned their keep.
She'd wasted no time in changing into a pair of dark gray pants and a black tank top. She decided to go barefoot, as she'd been wearing such uncomfortable shoes for several days. It was a relief to be in decent clothes for a change. She'd never worn clothing as a gryffin, and now that she was human she wished to wear as little as was decently possible.
Snape knocked a second time as the woman opened the door. Instead of entering right away, he stared at her for several minutes. She was hardly wearing a thing! What little clothing she did wear was so skin-tight he was sure she must have painted the outfit on. Finally, Leiko grabbed his arm and pulled the still shocked Snape into her room.
"About time you got here. I was toying with the idea of hunting you down."
"I'm rather glad you didn't. You can't run around the school dressed like that. It's not decent."
"My body is covered and that should be enough for you. If I had my way, I'd not be wearing anything at all. But then, I'd also still have feathers and fur to cover me so it wouldn't matter. Now, grab that wand of yours and join me by the bed."
Snape was soon conjuring up the decorative items Leiko asked for. He noticed that she was partial to purple and black, and to gold as well. The gold made sense. She herself had informed him that gryffins had a weakness for the precious metal. By the time they finished, the room glittered with golden ornamentation and was draped in purple and black. It actually looked very good, Snape admitted, and fit the gryffin's personality perfectly.
The Potion's Master turned to leave but a strong shove sent him crashing onto the bed. He rolled over in time to see Leiko pounce on top of him, pinning his arms with a strength greater than one of her size should possess. He tried to push her off but she hissed and dug her long fingernails into his flesh.
"We're not quit finished, Snape. There's still something you can do for me..."
Leiko kissed the professor's neck, noticing with some pleasure that he didn't seem to know what to do. Suddenly Snape shifted and managed to roll his assailant onto her back. Leiko fully expected him to make a run for it. Instead, the Potion's Master gave one of his trademark sneers, and kissed her on the lips.