This is an AU that I wrote before the 5th book. So. read and review if you
like.
Legal: If you recognize it, it's not mine. *pout*
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! Chapter 1 - Summer's End Harry had come to expect staff changes at Hogwarts. After all, no teacher had remained for more than a year in the DADA spot. Including his favourite, Professor Lupin, an old friend of his father and a werewolf.
Harry had spent an anxious summer with the Dursley's, who were abnormally subdued. Perhaps it had something to do with his godfather, Sirius, being so close. Harry was sure that he'd seen Sirius in the form of the gigantic black dog around this summer. He'd also felt that he was not alone all summer, although he didn't know why.
Harry had been as shocked as the Dursley's when Professor Dumbledore himself had arrived at their door on Harry's birthday.
Dumbledore had looked very much like an ordinary muggle, so much so that Harry had done a double take.
"Harry, I'd like for you to come with me. The Weasley's are throwing you a Birthday party and I thought that you should join in. After all, it is for you." He smiled down at Harry. "Grab your school things, they agreed that you could remain with them for the remainder of the summer."
"Just a moment, sir. Who are you to come here and take him like that?" Uncle Vernon blustered.
"Sir, I'm Professor Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hog-"
"How dare you come to my home!" Uncle Vernon blustered. Harry had already rushed upstairs to gather his trunk. After all, between Uncle Vernon and Professor Dumbledore, he'd choose to obey Dumbledore.
"Sir, I come dressed like this for your benefit, not mine. Besides, you'd like to be rid of Harry. All the arrangements have been seen to. So as soon as he's finished packing we'll be off."
"You left him here. Don't we even get a say? We-we are still the boy's guardians aren't we." Petunia added.
"True, I suppose if you really would like to keep Harry until September, I'll-" Dumbledore's bluff worked. The only thing worse than seeing Harry happy for the Dursleys was the thought of keeping him. So Harry carried his trunk out of the Dursley's to find a car from the Ministry of Magic waiting outside.
"Sir, not that I'm complaining but what's with all this?" Harry asked, gesturing around to the car. As he climbed in, he noticed a large black dog lying on the floor - Sirius.
"Since Voldemort's return to the land of the living, we thought it best to take a little more care." Dumbledore smiled. "So Harry, how's your summer going?"
Harry arrived at the Burrow, with Dumbledore to see what he thought was a hero's welcome. The care stopped and Harry looked pensively at the lopsided house with seven stories then turned to Dumbledore. "Sir...Will I be putting the Weasleys in any danger? I mean, He is after me. That's what all this security is for."
"Harry...not to worry. There are three fully trained wizards living here, and of course....Snuffles will be here. It's perfectly safe. Besides, Molly was most persistent, she's owled me daily requesting that you come stay with them. They want you here. They don't care about any risks."
Thanks to all the safety and precautions nothing happened for the rest of the summer. They headed to Hogwarts debating on who or what the next Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher would be.
Ron, Harry, and Hermoine were looking for an empty room, so Sirius could change to his human form. In the last car, a beautiful dark haired girl sat alone gazing out the window.
"Ohh...hello." she smiled, turning to look at them.
"Sorry to bother you, we were just looking for an empty box." Hermoine said. Harry noticed Ron looked as if he were looking at a Veela.
"Oh...well you can have this one. I was just going to go for a walk." she smiled. Harry looked doubtful. "No really, I was going to look for something to eat. I'm starved." She got up and left.
"Wonder who she is?" Ron said airily. "Can Veela have dark hair?"
"Isn't this train only for Hogwarts students?" Sirius asked, having changed.
"Yes. Usually. But Professor Lupin used it when he came to the school." Harry said.
"I'm not sure that wasn't because he'd been asked to." Hermoine replied.. "But she's too young to be a teacher."
Arriving at the school, Harry looked back to Hogsmead where Sirius had remained. Harry smiled brightly when he looked up at the teachers table and saw not only was Professor Lupin smiling back, but Professor Snape wasn't there.
The whispers swept through the room about the staff. Snape's chair sat empty. As usual the Sorting Ceremony took place dividing new students into houses.
"Welcome students old and new." Dumbledore began, "This year promises to be most interesting. As some of you may have noticed Professor Lupin has agreed to return to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. You may also have noticed Professor Snape has decided to take some time off, and will only be teaching part time. However...it seems that-"
The dark haired girl from the train entered the hall. She still wore her muggle-style clothes. Her hair was still oddly half bound and half free.
"Sorry I'm late Professor Dumbledore, I just needed to get some supplies." She moved to take Snape's normal seat.
"Well, as I was saying, Professor Luna will be filling in for Professor Snape." Professor Dumbledore finished, gesturing to the girl. "Now let the year commence..." The plates filled and the feast began.
First Day of Classes
Comparing timetables for the following morning, Ron groaned. "Transfig followed by double potions with Slytherin. What an awful way to start the week."
"Well, maybe Snape's replacement will be okay." Harry said, with a shrug.
"How can she be a teacher. She can't be much older than we are. How could they make her a teacher?" Hermoine ranted. "So what do you think has taken Snape away? Do you think it has to do with You-Know-Who?"
"Maybe." Harry said distracted. "We don't have Care of Magic Creatures until Friday."
"Well at least that will make a good way to end the week." Ron said. "She sure doesn't look like a teacher. Hey, what about Professor Lupin?"
"It's nice to see him." Harry said. "I think that Dumbledore is bringing in people to protect me. Why is everyone taking so much interest in me?"
"Likely because most crazed conqueror types have fixations. Something they have to do before they get on with their plan. And, Professor Dumbledore believes that Voldemort is fixating on killing you. Which is why he has yet to make a move." Professor Luna said from behind them. Ron blushed and so did Harry. "I'll see you second period." She smiled and left them.
Transfig was, as usual, difficult. Professor McGonagall began the year with a pop quiz of the prior year's knowledge. The only one who scored perfect was Hermoine.
The Gryffindors hurried to see what the new instructor was like. It seemed the Slytherins felt the same as everyone was early. Harry cringed when that oh so familiar voice rang:
"So Potter, had any headaches this summer?" Draco Malfoy called. "How's your girlfriend? Still stringing you along? Better hope you don't run out of that potion, mudblood."
"Why you-"Harry was ready with wand in hand, when he saw Professor Luna enter. "You lucked out, Malfoy."
Malfoy and crew chuckled and moved to their cauldrons. Professor Luna moved to the front of the class dressed, not as most of their Professors, but in jeans and a shirt with a rope thrown over top and open, her hair tied in an odd fashion of three braids at the front and lose at the back. Harry noticed a brilliant copper pendant gleaming. It was in fact the only thing in the room that was gleaming. She promptly jumped up on the desk and sat cross-legged facing the class. They all looked at her stunned.
"Hello. As Professor Dumbledore said, I'll be filling in for Professor Snape while he's away. Actually, I'm sort of a float and will be covering when any of the other Professors are indisposed, or just don't want to deal with you." she smiled, "Alright, I'll be teaching until Halloween, after which Professor Snape will be returning." A groan rose from the Gryffindors, while a cheer rose from the Slytherins. "Come on, I realize I'm a little odd, but I'm not that bad. Anyway, I'll be covering some of this, some of that, and confusion. Any questions before we get started?" The students turned to each other. Hermoine's hand went up. "Yeah, hun."
"Um...Professor Luna, there was no text book listed..." she said.
"Right. That's because I don't teach from a book and Professor Snape has decided that what he'll cover is actually in your last year books, I believe." Luna replied. "Oh yeah, don't call me that. Araya is fine by me. Although I suppose it should be a little more formal. We'll split the difference. Please call me Professor Araya." she announced, jumping off the desk. "The information about the potions will be provided to you, anything I expect you to know, as in required reading, I'll hand you copies of. Recommended readings will be found in the library on overnight loan only, two per house." she was pacing the room, "Anything else? No, then let's begin." she waved her wand and a sheet with potion instructions appeared on each table.
"Dumbledore was right Harry, this is going to be an interesting year." Ron said, as he began to pull out ingredients. He looked at their new potions mistress and blushed slightly.
Legal: If you recognize it, it's not mine. *pout*
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! Chapter 1 - Summer's End Harry had come to expect staff changes at Hogwarts. After all, no teacher had remained for more than a year in the DADA spot. Including his favourite, Professor Lupin, an old friend of his father and a werewolf.
Harry had spent an anxious summer with the Dursley's, who were abnormally subdued. Perhaps it had something to do with his godfather, Sirius, being so close. Harry was sure that he'd seen Sirius in the form of the gigantic black dog around this summer. He'd also felt that he was not alone all summer, although he didn't know why.
Harry had been as shocked as the Dursley's when Professor Dumbledore himself had arrived at their door on Harry's birthday.
Dumbledore had looked very much like an ordinary muggle, so much so that Harry had done a double take.
"Harry, I'd like for you to come with me. The Weasley's are throwing you a Birthday party and I thought that you should join in. After all, it is for you." He smiled down at Harry. "Grab your school things, they agreed that you could remain with them for the remainder of the summer."
"Just a moment, sir. Who are you to come here and take him like that?" Uncle Vernon blustered.
"Sir, I'm Professor Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hog-"
"How dare you come to my home!" Uncle Vernon blustered. Harry had already rushed upstairs to gather his trunk. After all, between Uncle Vernon and Professor Dumbledore, he'd choose to obey Dumbledore.
"Sir, I come dressed like this for your benefit, not mine. Besides, you'd like to be rid of Harry. All the arrangements have been seen to. So as soon as he's finished packing we'll be off."
"You left him here. Don't we even get a say? We-we are still the boy's guardians aren't we." Petunia added.
"True, I suppose if you really would like to keep Harry until September, I'll-" Dumbledore's bluff worked. The only thing worse than seeing Harry happy for the Dursleys was the thought of keeping him. So Harry carried his trunk out of the Dursley's to find a car from the Ministry of Magic waiting outside.
"Sir, not that I'm complaining but what's with all this?" Harry asked, gesturing around to the car. As he climbed in, he noticed a large black dog lying on the floor - Sirius.
"Since Voldemort's return to the land of the living, we thought it best to take a little more care." Dumbledore smiled. "So Harry, how's your summer going?"
Harry arrived at the Burrow, with Dumbledore to see what he thought was a hero's welcome. The care stopped and Harry looked pensively at the lopsided house with seven stories then turned to Dumbledore. "Sir...Will I be putting the Weasleys in any danger? I mean, He is after me. That's what all this security is for."
"Harry...not to worry. There are three fully trained wizards living here, and of course....Snuffles will be here. It's perfectly safe. Besides, Molly was most persistent, she's owled me daily requesting that you come stay with them. They want you here. They don't care about any risks."
Thanks to all the safety and precautions nothing happened for the rest of the summer. They headed to Hogwarts debating on who or what the next Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher would be.
Ron, Harry, and Hermoine were looking for an empty room, so Sirius could change to his human form. In the last car, a beautiful dark haired girl sat alone gazing out the window.
"Ohh...hello." she smiled, turning to look at them.
"Sorry to bother you, we were just looking for an empty box." Hermoine said. Harry noticed Ron looked as if he were looking at a Veela.
"Oh...well you can have this one. I was just going to go for a walk." she smiled. Harry looked doubtful. "No really, I was going to look for something to eat. I'm starved." She got up and left.
"Wonder who she is?" Ron said airily. "Can Veela have dark hair?"
"Isn't this train only for Hogwarts students?" Sirius asked, having changed.
"Yes. Usually. But Professor Lupin used it when he came to the school." Harry said.
"I'm not sure that wasn't because he'd been asked to." Hermoine replied.. "But she's too young to be a teacher."
Arriving at the school, Harry looked back to Hogsmead where Sirius had remained. Harry smiled brightly when he looked up at the teachers table and saw not only was Professor Lupin smiling back, but Professor Snape wasn't there.
The whispers swept through the room about the staff. Snape's chair sat empty. As usual the Sorting Ceremony took place dividing new students into houses.
"Welcome students old and new." Dumbledore began, "This year promises to be most interesting. As some of you may have noticed Professor Lupin has agreed to return to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. You may also have noticed Professor Snape has decided to take some time off, and will only be teaching part time. However...it seems that-"
The dark haired girl from the train entered the hall. She still wore her muggle-style clothes. Her hair was still oddly half bound and half free.
"Sorry I'm late Professor Dumbledore, I just needed to get some supplies." She moved to take Snape's normal seat.
"Well, as I was saying, Professor Luna will be filling in for Professor Snape." Professor Dumbledore finished, gesturing to the girl. "Now let the year commence..." The plates filled and the feast began.
First Day of Classes
Comparing timetables for the following morning, Ron groaned. "Transfig followed by double potions with Slytherin. What an awful way to start the week."
"Well, maybe Snape's replacement will be okay." Harry said, with a shrug.
"How can she be a teacher. She can't be much older than we are. How could they make her a teacher?" Hermoine ranted. "So what do you think has taken Snape away? Do you think it has to do with You-Know-Who?"
"Maybe." Harry said distracted. "We don't have Care of Magic Creatures until Friday."
"Well at least that will make a good way to end the week." Ron said. "She sure doesn't look like a teacher. Hey, what about Professor Lupin?"
"It's nice to see him." Harry said. "I think that Dumbledore is bringing in people to protect me. Why is everyone taking so much interest in me?"
"Likely because most crazed conqueror types have fixations. Something they have to do before they get on with their plan. And, Professor Dumbledore believes that Voldemort is fixating on killing you. Which is why he has yet to make a move." Professor Luna said from behind them. Ron blushed and so did Harry. "I'll see you second period." She smiled and left them.
Transfig was, as usual, difficult. Professor McGonagall began the year with a pop quiz of the prior year's knowledge. The only one who scored perfect was Hermoine.
The Gryffindors hurried to see what the new instructor was like. It seemed the Slytherins felt the same as everyone was early. Harry cringed when that oh so familiar voice rang:
"So Potter, had any headaches this summer?" Draco Malfoy called. "How's your girlfriend? Still stringing you along? Better hope you don't run out of that potion, mudblood."
"Why you-"Harry was ready with wand in hand, when he saw Professor Luna enter. "You lucked out, Malfoy."
Malfoy and crew chuckled and moved to their cauldrons. Professor Luna moved to the front of the class dressed, not as most of their Professors, but in jeans and a shirt with a rope thrown over top and open, her hair tied in an odd fashion of three braids at the front and lose at the back. Harry noticed a brilliant copper pendant gleaming. It was in fact the only thing in the room that was gleaming. She promptly jumped up on the desk and sat cross-legged facing the class. They all looked at her stunned.
"Hello. As Professor Dumbledore said, I'll be filling in for Professor Snape while he's away. Actually, I'm sort of a float and will be covering when any of the other Professors are indisposed, or just don't want to deal with you." she smiled, "Alright, I'll be teaching until Halloween, after which Professor Snape will be returning." A groan rose from the Gryffindors, while a cheer rose from the Slytherins. "Come on, I realize I'm a little odd, but I'm not that bad. Anyway, I'll be covering some of this, some of that, and confusion. Any questions before we get started?" The students turned to each other. Hermoine's hand went up. "Yeah, hun."
"Um...Professor Luna, there was no text book listed..." she said.
"Right. That's because I don't teach from a book and Professor Snape has decided that what he'll cover is actually in your last year books, I believe." Luna replied. "Oh yeah, don't call me that. Araya is fine by me. Although I suppose it should be a little more formal. We'll split the difference. Please call me Professor Araya." she announced, jumping off the desk. "The information about the potions will be provided to you, anything I expect you to know, as in required reading, I'll hand you copies of. Recommended readings will be found in the library on overnight loan only, two per house." she was pacing the room, "Anything else? No, then let's begin." she waved her wand and a sheet with potion instructions appeared on each table.
"Dumbledore was right Harry, this is going to be an interesting year." Ron said, as he began to pull out ingredients. He looked at their new potions mistress and blushed slightly.