Kio, and only Kio, is mine, everyone else isn't. too bad…. Sigh oh and btw, yes Hogwarts is in Scotland, if anyone doubts this, check out the Harry Potter Lexicon in the Hogwarts FAQs. Sorry for the confusion.
Severus looked up as the new teachers walked in. He knew Shacklebolt was to be this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and nodded to him as he turned in his direction, then his eyes grew wide as he saw who walked in behind Shacklebolt. Merlin's beard! What is she doing here? He watched her, his face turning into a stone mask that hid his inner turmoil. No one else here, except perhaps McGonagall and Dumbledore, knew of their past, and he'd be damned to hell if anyone else was going to find out! He watched as she looked at him, her own eyes widening, then turning away. He saw she put on her own mask of bravery. Oh, how he knew her! She hadn't changed one bit in the time they were apart that was for certain!
He heard the front doors to the Great Hall open and turned his attention with a leer of intimidation toward the new first years. He listened as the hat sang its song, once again talking about unity within the houses. As long as prats like Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle came to this school there could never be harmony between the houses. Oh sure, he had to put up with them because they were in his house, and their parents were Death Eaters, but he never truly liked them. Malfoy, in particular, was as insufferable as his father, but one must keep his wits about, for the Dark Lord's spies were everywhere. He sat in silence through the sorting ceremony, watching as students were sorted into his house, Gryffindor house, Ravenclaw House, and Hufflepuff House. After it was completed he turned to Dumbledore, who stood in elaborate red robes, as he held his hands up for silence. Soon enough the Hall quieted, and he began,
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! We have two new professors this year. Please give a warm welcome to Professors Kingsley Shacklebolt and Kionora Verales." Kio and Kingsley stood, smiling to the students as they clapped. Dumbledore continued on after the applause,
"Professor Shacklebolt will be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, and Professor Verales will take the place of Professor Dimsby, our Muggle Studies professor. I hope you will treat them both with the same respect as your other professors, and make them feel a part of our Hogwarts family. There are other announcements, but those can wait. Let's eat!" Amidst the loud cheers and whistles plates teeming with food appeared on the tables, including the staff table as Dumbledore, Kio, and Kingsley all sat down.
Severus took some food onto his plate, and began to eat, but he hardly tasted it as he mulled over what he had just heard. Muggle studies professor, eh? Well, she certainly knew a lot about Muggles and their lifestyles, this he knew for a fact. He sat in silence as he ate, barely listening to Vector and Shacklebolt's discussion on some of the more recent discoveries on using arthimancy to cure illnesses. Instead, his thoughts wandered to Kio. He took a quick glance at her, watching her animated discussion with Hooch and McGonagall. She was deliberately avoiding looking at him, he could tell by the slight set of her jaw as she laughed and ate. Anyone who didn't know her as well as he did, who didn't know her body, or her mind as well as he did would not be able to detect it. No, he knew she was avoiding him, and at the moment, he would be more than happy to comply, at least until after dinner. Muttering "excuse me" he stood and headed out the back way, heading to his chambers.
Kio laughed and ate, exchanging news with Minerva and Hooch, though her jaw was slightly set, imperceptible to all but those who knew her well. She was avoiding Severus, that much was obvious to anyone who was aware of their history. The rest of dinner passed in a blur with Dumbledore making the usual start-of-term announcements then everyone was ordered to their dormitories and the teacher to their chambers. After waving goodnight to Kingsley Kio followed Minerva to her new chambers, at the base of the north tower. She hugged Minerva goodnight and studied the room as Minerva made her way out. Her own classroom was across the hall and her office outside her chambers. Her bed was large, cherry wood, and canopied, the drapes a deep green color that contrasted nicely with the reddish hue of the wood. Her room also boasted a large dresser, a vanity table, two night tables, and bookshelves lined the walls, all the same type of wood. There was a large brown leather and iron trunk at the end of her bed, and a deep green velvet armchair next to a tall reading lamp. The sheets on the bed were patterned with hunter green and deep wine vertical stripes. The pillows had either green or wine pillowcases and there were some decorative ones in wine or green velvet with the golden tassels at the ends. Weary after a long day of travel and having her nerves frazzled by seeing Severus again she took out some silk pajamas and vowing to herself that she'd unpack tomorrow, she pulled back her blankets, climbed into bed and drifted off to sleep.