They all piled into the Great Hall for the Sorting of the First Years.
"Snape hasn't been sacked," Hermione whispered to Harry.
"Yeah," Harry said, disappointed as he saw his hated teacher sitting with the others professors at the head table. But to his astonishment he saw another familiar face at the head table.
"What's Oliver Wood doing here?" Oliver had been captain of Gryffindor's quidditch team, but had graduated from Hogwarts last year.
"I don't know," Hermione said. "I thought he was playing quidditch for England.
"Oh he was," George said knowingly. "Till he took a bludger to the head that destroyed the sight in his left eye. Dumbledore offered him a job here, after it happened." Harry felt bad for Wood. He'd always liked his captain and he knew that it must have been hard on Wood to not be able to play the game he loved so much.
"Your attention please," McGonagall said. "The sorting will now begin." Of the twenty first years, Gryffindor took eight, Hufflepuff five, Ravenclaw four, and Slytherin three. Once the sorting was done, Dumbledore stood up.
"I welcome you all to another year at Hogwarts. Let me remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students, and that all third years and above have permission to visit the village of Hogmeade on selected weekends. Also, I am pleased to announce that after many years of service to this school as our potions master, Severus Snape will now be taking over the post of Defense against the Dark Arts Teacher." There was very little applause except from Slytherin.
"That should make the old git happy," Ron whispered. Snape had been after the Defense against the Dark Arts position for years.
"Also, I am sad to announce that our flying instructor and Quidditch referee, Madam Hooch had retired after many years of service. Taking over for her is someone who I am sure many of you remember. Oliver Wood." Gryffindor cheered loudly for their former quidditch captain and Wood stood up and nodded to some of them.
"Lastly, taking over the position of potions master, is Professor Emily Dashall, who unfortunately was unable to attend the ceremony. Now with all that having been said, let the feast begin.
After the feast was over and everyone began to head for the dormitories, Harry took the opportunity to say hello to Wood. Wood didn't notice him as he approached.
"Hello Oliver," he said causing the older man to jump.
"Oh, hello Harry," Wood said. "I didn't see you there." Harry kicked himself. He should have known better than to approach from the left.
"I was sorry to hear about you getting injured"
"Yeah," Wood said. "It was a tough blow to overcome. But you know what they say. Those that can do, those that can't teach." Even though he was being good natured about it Harry could tell that Wood wasn't happy about not being able to play quidditch.
"Looking forward to seeing you play again Harry," Wood said. "I understand that Angelina's taken over as captain"
"Yeah," Harry said. "we're holding tryouts for a new Keeper, though you'll be pretty hard to replace"
"Thanks Harry," Wood said. "You better get along to your dormitory. I'll see you later."
Thier first class the next day was potions. For the first time since he'd come to Hogwarts he found himself actually looking forward to Potions. Any class that Snape wasn't teaching couldn't be that bad. Fortuneately, he didn't have to deal with Snape until Thursday. Everyone turned as the door opened and a young woman entered the room. All eyes were on her as she strode to the front of the room. She was extraodinarily pretty. Long brown hung down the back of her black robes. Under her robes she wore a short black dress that showed off her very nice legs, and she wore black high heeled pumps. Once she was at the front of the room she turned and faced them all.
"Good day to you all," she said her voice sounding strange. "I am Emily Dashall, your new Potions teacher. Harry was shocked. When Ginny and Hermione had told him about Professor Dashall, he had suspected someone similar to Professor McGonagall. This woman looked more like a seventh year than a professor. He supposed her voice sounded strange because she was an American.
"Now," she said. "Professor Snape has left me detailed notes on the potions that have been covered by all fourth years thus far. He has also left notes on those who he feels are the more gifted students..." her eyes turned to Malfoy who puffed with pride..."those he feels are lacking in skills..."her gaze landed on Neville Longbottom who blushed..."and those he feels are nothing but trouble." She then looked at Harry and Hermione who sat beside him.
"However," she continued. "from this moment on, you all have clean slates. Those who were thought to be troublemakers have a chance to mend their wicked ways, and those of you who were the favorites, will have to re-earn your superior status. And as I am not the head of any house I can assure you that no one will be granted any favortism." The Slytherins, who had always been favored by Snape all looked discouraged, while the Gryffindors were outright ecstatic.
"Our first potion will be the Felanam Potion. Who can tell me what the Felenam Potion is used for?" Hermione's hand shot into the air.
"Yes, Miss Granger" Professor Dashall said acknowleging her.
"The Felenam Potion is used to cure serious burns"
"Exactly right, Miss Granger," Professor Dashall said beaming, "five points to Gryffindor." All the Gryffindors beamed. They'd never earned any points in Potions before.
"Now the Felanam Potion is not a complex potion, but it is vital that it be made exactly right, or it will either have no healing affect at all or, it will worsen the burn it is intended to heal." She waved her hand at the blackboard and the instructions suddenly appeared. The class gasped. Professor Dashall had made the words appear without using a wand. The only ones he'd ever seen do that were Professor McGonagall, when she'd opened the door to Dumbledore's office his second year, and Professor Lupin.
"Now the instructions are on the board. I will be walking around the room to observe your process, if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask." They all began to work. Professor Dashall strode around their desks looking over their shoulders.
"No, no, Neville," she said. "your cutting those roots too thickly. They need to be about half that wide"
"Sorry, Professor," Neville whimpered.
"No need to apologize, Neville. Just cut them in half." Harry was amazed. Snape would have humiliated Neville for making a mistake.
"Very good Seamus. You need to stir harder, Parvati. You don't want the potion to clump up on you. Not so much water, Ron. You just want to moisten it, not drown it. That's excellent Hermione." For the first time, the Gryffindors seemed to be getting recognition for doing well and gentle criticism for making a mistake. The Slytherins were not at all happy with this. Especially Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. Instead of working on thier potions they were fiddling around with thier roots. This did not escape the attention of Professor Dashall.
"Mr. Malfoy," she said standing in front of his desk with her hands on her hips. "May I ask why you are goofing off instead of working on your potion. Harry couldn't help but chuckle as Malfoy flinched under the professor's dark gaze.
"Professor Snape said in his notes that you were an extremely gifted student, Mr. Malfoy. Perhaps he has given you the impression that your do not have to do the work in this class in order to recieve high marks. Well, I assure you that is not the case. For your lack of focus five points will be taken from Slytherin and you will recieve detention." The Slytherins gasped.
"Professor Snape never gives Draco detention," Pansy Parkinson squealed in protest. Professor Dashall turned her attention on the Slytherin girl.
"Perhaps I should send you to Madam Pomfrey, Miss Parkinson. If you are unable to see that I am NOT Professor Snape than perhaps you need to have your eyes examined." Everyone laughed.
"Quiet down," Professor Dashall said. "As I said before, Mr. Malfoy. Regardless of what Professor Snape may have thought of you, in my class, points must be earned. I will not simply give them away due to what house you are in, or how much the other professors like you, or..." she turned her eye on Harry "how famous you are." Harry felt his face grow red. He had a bad feeling that Professor Dashall wasn't going to be all that different from Snape after all.