Chapter One: A New Beginning
Hespar Erosa stood fretfully before a large, pine cupboard, chewing her nails and tapping her foot frantically against the floor. As she eyed it, the cupboard shook ominously, making a loud cracking noise as it did so. She gave a start and backed up several paces, putting some distance between herself and the cupboard. In a harried fashion she smoothed her hair and began to pace around the empty Transfiguration classroom. Twenty minutes before, when she discovered the Boggart, she had been confident in her ability to rid herself of it, but now, after several failed attempts and only minutes before her first class, panic began to set in.
It was only her first day as Professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and already it had gotten off to a rotten start. She was nearly late for the Start of Term Feast the night before when ran out of Floo Powder at the last moment, and had to run out to get some. And only this morning, she had to fetch Madam Pomfrey to detangle her hair from her Self-Combing Comb. The teeth had become so enamored with her locks that they had refused to release them from their grip. Hespar massaged her temples as she thought of what Minerva McGonagall had said when she offered her the position that would become available upon her retirement. Something about staying her ground, keeping her chin up, and……….something else that she had felt a surge of confidence at hearing……….The Boggart continued to rattle the cupboard, shaking Hespar from her thoughts. She stopped her dance of anxiety and walked steadily towards the cupboard once again. Squaring her shoulders, she breathed deeply and, with a flick of her wand, opened the cupboard.
It took Hespar only a moment to realize her eyes were closed, and that she was trembling like a leaf from fear of what she knew was standing in front of her. In her hurried pride, she had forgotten to transform the image in her mind into something that would make her laugh, and now she couldn't even open her eyes. She stood desperately for a moment, willing herself to look, but unable to. Suddenly, she heard quiet footsteps and man's voice in front of her said firmly,
"Ridikulous!" The Boggart disappeared swiftly with a loud crack, and the cupboard doors closed softly.
Slowly, Hespar opened her eyes to face the voice. Standing in front of her was a gentle, if haggard, looking man, who wore his tattered robes with a kind of quiet dignity. She recognized him from the feast.
"Professor Lupin…..I-well, I was-hello. How are you this morning?" Hespar fought the urge to roll her eyes at her own stupidity, but Lupin smiled kindly.
"I'm fine, thank you, Professor Erosa. And you?"
"I'm very well, thank you…….Um, thanks for handling that for me, I'm afraid Defence Against the Dark Arts never was my specialty."
"Not at all, I was happy to. How are you feeling this morning? A bit nervous before your first class?"
Hespar smiled warmly at this man's kind ways, perhaps she would be able to handle today.
"Yes, well a bit," she paused, and bit her lip, "Actually, that was a lie, I've never been more nervous in my life. I remember Professor McGonagall, and her class, I just don't want to ruin the reputation of this department." She exhaled loudly, as all of this had been said in one hurried breath.
"I wouldn't worry about that. Both Albus and Minerva spoke very highly of you when I spoke with them. "
"Thank you, Professor. I know they both have nothing but the highest esteem for you." In the corridor, first bell rang, signaling the beginning of class.
"Please call me Remus. And don't hesitate to call on me if you require the removal of any other Dark creatures or magic in your classroom." Hespar smiled pleasantly, she was already developing a fondness for this soft spoken Professor.
"Yes, I'll do that, Remus. And you can call me Hespar," He took her hand lightly in his, and she immediately liked the warmth of it in her palm. With another kindly smile, he left as quietly as he came as the first of her students began to filter in.
Hespar smoothed her hair again and faced her first class of the day with renewed confidence.
