"You've GOT to be kidding me!"
Ron, Hermione and Harry sat in a nice compartment near the back of the train, the countryside of England sweeping past them.
"She's here! On the train!" He said incredulously.
"Ron, calm down." Harry bit into a chocolate frog, rolling his eyes at Ron's contempt for the American girl.
"Parvati told me she was a transfer from New York." Hermione was reading her spell book for her sixth term, practicing wand motions.
"Just calm down; I don't know what you have against her anyway."
"She just, ugh, she holds this whole arrogance aura. It's like the female version of Malfoy." He plopped down in his seat, taking a bite out of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans and spitting it out in disgust, "ICK! It's bean soup."
Harry cracked up as he bit into a Licorice wand, his mind drifting into other thoughts as he looked out the window.
----
It began to rain, sheets of ice cold water plastering against the Plexiglas windows as they had an hour left in their journey. Hermione had dozed off, Crookshanks purring in her lap as Ron played Wizard chess with Harry. The guttering sounds of the train seemed soothing to Harry, welcoming him to memories of his first year.
How he met Ron, how he bought everything on the small train cart and saw the surprised look on Ron's face. How Hermione used to be snobbish and a show off. Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday. Peeves.
He didn't realize Ron's knight had just run his lance through his pawn. Coming back to reality, he was about to place his bishop to checkmate Ron when a sudden scream pierced through the serenity of the train.
"Oh my goodness, help!" Heavy breathing was coming from the floor, the person convulsing as hands clawed at the carpeting, "Someone; HELP!"
Parvati was screaming as she ran down the aisle, crying out for help. People stretched their heads out from their compartment windows, wondering what the hell was going on.
"She was just sitting there, fine and all and she suddenly turned white. I tried to ask her what was wrong, but then she started to shake and froth like some sort of mad dog. I backed away as she lurched and then, oh my god, then she came flying through the open door and collapsed!" She sobbed into her sister's arms, comforting Parvati as other crowded around.
The girl lay on the floor, her cloak hood up and covering most of her face as a wave of coffee hazel hair tumbled out.
"Move aside! Quickly, MOVE!" Something came bursting through the crowds of students, her loosely drawn cape wavering behind her as her wand was out.
Many whispered and questioned the new figure as she gently knelt down and placed a hand on the girl's back. A growl was heard as many others jumped back in fear, the adult female speaking calming words as she placed a hand on the girl's forehead. Slowly, she student went limp.
The teacher knelt down, gently picking up the dazed student as she walked into an empty compartment. Lying her down, she came back out.
"All of you are to return to your compartments immediately!"
The crowd slowly dispersed, leaving a few behind. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle had come out to see what jests were being conjured as they snickered.
"And they think this Yank can study with the likes of us?" Harry glowered at the comment.
"You watch your mouth, Malfoy."
"Well, if it isn't Potter." His voice had changed over the summer; no doubt puberty hit him. Harry wished he had gotten the bad side of it.
"Trying to save the world again, are you, Potter?" His voice was snootier than he could recall; nasal had befriended his vocal cords.
"By your leave, Malfoy." The all 'oo-ed' in mockery.
Turning back, Malfoy sneered.
"Bet that girl's going to be in Gryffindor, what a laugh she'll make-"
A black wand was suddenly pointed at Malfoy, aqua cold with a hint of sadistic humor as she spoke in a commanding voice.
"Silentium!" Malfoy's lips suddenly pressed together, sealing shut as he tried to wrench his mouth apart.
Crabbe and Goyle drew their wands in a thuggish manner.
"Expelliarmus!" Their wands flew down the hallway as she pointed her wand at them.
"Assaulting your new teacher? I should be ashamed if I were you. –10 for Slytherin." Malfoy looked up, his face in outrage.
"You heard me, now go!" She pointed her wand threateningly at them, scaring Malfoy as he ran down the aisle, snatched his wand and vanished.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were speechless in awe, looking back as the teacher sighed a wry chuckle.
"I'm going to get my ass fired even before I start term." She looked to the three of them, "Hello."
"Are you…the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Ron was on the verge of worshipping her.
She took a sweeping bow, grinning.
"The name is Artemis Raven. Heard about the job while perusing through the Weekly Oracle back home. Heard it was jinxed too." She threw back some of her glossy black hair, looking down at the three of them.
Her eyes caught sight of Harry and the scar on his forehead. She bowed once more, formally but not too extravagant as she beamed.
"I heard many stories of you back home. Though, mind you, I'm not going to get carried away with them." She grinned, "I'd like to see your abilities once we get started this year."
A soft moan was heard from the compartment as a hand pressed against the glass.
"If you will excuse me." She bowed once more to the three of them as she swept into the compartment.
The three of them looked to one another quietly before exploding into laughter.
"Oh man, that was so cool! Only Mad Eyed Moody did as good a punishment on Malfoy as Raven did!" Harry and Ron were roaring with laughter, Hermione smirking.
It wasn't as cruel as Moody's punishment was either, so Hermione took no sympathy (not like she did for Malfoy anyway). Looking back out of his compartment door, Harry noticed something glinting on the floor. Opening the door and bending down, he saw that it was a necklace. He picked it up, a strand of coffee hazel hair wrapped in the chain to signify whom it belonged to.
"I'll be right back, you two." They both nodded to Harry as he closed the door behind them.
He walked down the aisle, traveling to the last compartment. All the flaps were pulled down, the lights dim from the outside. Harry was about to knock and enter when he heard voices. He leaned in to listen.
"…No, stop…you're still too weak…I'll try and find it, don't panic…I'm sure you dropped it somewhere on the floor…Yes, I know you need it…Just calm down and rest…" The door suddenly swung open, Harry tumbling in.
Raven looked down at him, her eyebrow slowly rising.
"I see your reputation precedes you, Potter." He stood up quickly, dusting himself off.
He was merely able to get a glimpse of the girl before Raven pushed him out and closed the door behind her.
"I take it you have some business to discuss with me?" He nodded and swallowed.
"I uh…I found this on the floor and I thought, well, I should return it to whoever…umm" He held up the necklace, the moonstone twirling ingenuously on the chain as Raven snatched it.
"Thank you very much, Potter. I'll be sure to give it to the rightful owner." Her voice had suddenly gone cold, turning as she entered and closed the door again.
Staring blankly, Harry turned and slowly made his way back to his compartment, questions buzzing in his mind.
----
The rain had turned to sleet when they arrived at the station, students bustling off quickly as a lumbering giant bumped into Harry.
"Oy, 'Arry! Watch yerself!"
"Hey, Hadgrid!" The half giant gave a jovial salute before shepherding the first years onto the boats.
Harry looked to see Raven dismount from the train steps, walking to Hadgrid and whispering rapidly to him. He nodded, his face looking serious under the mane of scraggly black hair. He watched at she stepped back onto the train, walking out with a bundle in her arms.
"Harry?" Hermione tugged on his sleeve, "We have to get moving, Harry."
"Mm? Oh yes, right." He took one last look at Artemis Raven, seeing the panic in Hadgrid's face as he shuttled the students onto the boats quickly.
The coaches were once again stationed at the gates, Harry seeing what truly powered these automobiles. Their milky white eyes gazed upon Harry before he entered a coach with Ron and Hermione, closing the door behind them as it jutted and ambled its way up the muddy path.