Disclaimer: Last night I dreamt I went to Hogwarts again. I have just returned from a visit to my therapist. There's no possibility that I ever will own Harry Potter. Alas, poor reader, the Gothic disclaimer. Kudos to anyone knowing which 3 novels' opening lines I borrowed for my first 3 disclaimer lines. Hint: I mention main characters in the story below. Bonus cookie for naming the Shakespearean Gothic guy misquoted.
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Harry explained what a Jedi was as they exited the train. A lantern, swung by a giant hand, caught his eye.
"Welcome back, Harry!" Hagrid said. "Come by fer tea. I'm keen ter try a new recipe fer Treacle rock cakes." With a smile and wave, he moved on.
Harry's smile faltered at the thought of Hagrid's baking, which was hazardous to teeth and health. He resolved to practice his Vanishing Spell.
Hagrid called, "Firs' years! All Firs' years over here, an' follow me!"
The first-years followed Hagrid toward the lake where they would travel by boat to Hogwarts. It was the more scenic route. The view of the castle above the lake was incredible. Older students travelled by stagecoach.
While he waited to climb aboard a coach, Harry looked back to see if the robed woman had left the train.
"Mind if I take the driver's seat?" a familiar voice asked. There was no one in sight.
Harry said, "Are you wearing an Invisibility Cloak?"
"Ten points to Gryffindor."
Harry smiled and climbed inside with his friends.
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As the coaches approached the castle, Lorelei admired the many turrets and towers. She had fond memories of visiting the school as a child. Her mother and Dumbledore remained friends long after their association was over, and Marina had brought Lorelei on a couple of her short visits. The girl had envied the children who went to school there.
She shook off her maudlin mood. That was then. This was now. How zen of her. Next she'd be telling people wherever you go, there you are. She crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue, grateful that the Invisibility Cloak hid her immature actions. Get a hold of yourself woman, she told herself sternly.
The coaches rolled to a stop. Lorelei watched the students step down and make their way to the castle. She climbed gingerly down from the box and followed the crowd. On the steps, an elegant figure in black waited. She watched the wizard sweep about, keeping the children in order.
After a time, the last of the students entered the castle. The wizard lingered, walking out of the shadows and into the revealing torchlight. He was tall and slender, with shoulder length black hair and an aristocratic nose that dominated his pale, clever face. The man's intense dark eyes looked out into the night. He rubbed the back of his neck with long, graceful, fingers as the evening breeze rippled his robes and hair. He curled his mouth in a slight sneer. Lorelei forgot to breathe.
He was Heathcliff, Mr. Rochester, and Max de Winter. Arrogant and arresting, he was the personification of Gothic romance. She felt like Wendy seeing Captain Hook for the first time. She was entranced. Lorelei's heart pounded so hard, she felt dizzy. A strange longing welled up inside her, an aching yearning to hear his voice, touch his face. The feeling was so overwhelming, she sighed.
"Is anyone there?" the wizard asked in a voice that matched the dark velvet sky.
She froze. He gave a last piercing look around and entered the castle. Lorelei shadowed his steps and observed him speak briefly to an unpleasant looking man wearing a tartan scarf—Argus Filch—before striding into the Great Hall.
Lorelei glanced wistfully at the Hall before walking away from the sounds of students preparing to enjoy the feast.
"Keep your eyes peeled, Mrs. Norris," Filch said. "Professor Snape asked us to make sure no one's sneaking 'round the corridors up to mischief." He paused to chortle nastily. "Let's keep searching, my sweet."
Lorelei hurriedly ducked into a nearby classroom. Inside, a mischievous poltergeist was gleefully dumping out wastepaper bins.
"My, my, it's Lorelei!" he sang out. He zoomed over, dark eyes gleaming in wicked merriment. "You look worse than the Bloody Baron."
"Gee, thanks. How about doing me favour so I can drag myself off to the Hospital Wing?"
Peeves cackled. Probably at the thought of what he would ask in return for doing her a favour. Lorelei and Peeves had only become acquainted a few weeks earlier. When she brought her belongings and classroom equipment to Hogwarts during summer break, she asked Dumbledore to keep her visit a secret. He had admonished the terrible tattler to do the same. Amazingly, Peeves had actually kept quiet. He'd heard Lorelei sing in her classroom and proposed a deal. He would spare her his usual antics if she would sing drinking songs with him. Somewhere during the chorus of 'Whiskey before Breakfast' the strange pair became something like friends.
"I want a new song!" Peeves replied gleefully.
"I'll give you part of a song now and the rest later. I need you to go rattle the armour near the Entry Hall, so Filch runs to you and away from me." She hugged her ribs as the Abeyance Potion started to wear off.
"I make Filch and his nasty cat mad and I get a song!" Peeves zipped around the room in manic joy before demanding. "Sing!"
"This is a modern song, but the message is classic." She sang a song about drinking a whisky drink, a vodka drink, a lager drink, and a cider drink before singing songs that reminded of good times, of better times. After she crooned "Oh, Danny Boy," ectoplasm streamed from Peeves' eyes and nose, he was so touched. He honked loudly into a yellow handkerchief, saluted, and swooped down the corridor to do his duty.
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Sitting rigidly in his place at the staff table, Severus' penetrating gaze roved the chamber looking for signs of student misconduct. His eyebrows rose at the sight of certain students at the Gryffindor table. The furtive looks and whispers the group gave one another confirmed his belief that Potter and his little friends were up to no good.
Before Snape could begin to speculate on which rules Potter and crew were planning to flout, Dumbledore stood and began his welcome speech. The Potions Master listened with half an ear until he heard something which drew his complete attention.
"It is my pleasure to welcome two new teachers to Hogwarts this year." Dumbledore waited for the applause to die down. "First, Professor Tonks has graciously consented to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts."
Potter's end of the Gryffindor table exploded in a riot of whistling and clapping. Professor Tonks grinned, running her hand through her short, spiky maroon hair.
"The second addition to our ranks," Dumbledore continued, after a brief glance at the empty chair by Hagrid, "was unable to attend tonight's feast as she is temporarily indisposed." He pressed on. "Professors Snape and Binns are in need of more time for research, so Professor Lorelei will be teaching their first through third year classes."
In a look conveying both curiosity and loathing, Severus watched Potter's little group talk furiously. Frequent glances were given to the empty chair at the head table. Clearly, the Gryffindors knew something that he didn't. The state of affairs was intolerable. He decided to gain information and appease his curiosity. Without a backward glance, he withdrew from the Hall and prowled determinedly toward the Hospital Wing.
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A/N: Thanks for all the great reviews - they're better than Prozac :) Did you catch the novels referenced in the disclaimer? The Chumbawumba song? Review and tell me - you know you want to show off how brilliant you are! Good Goth, are you still here? Review, already. :D
