A/N: I think you reviewers are too smart for me...you predicted the future! Anyway, thanks to all of you eleven people for your dandy reviews! charmedsisters I have a question...I know the Summoning Spell changed in later seasons for some reason, but isn't the original one:

Spirit from the other side

Hear these words, hear my cry

Come to me

I call to thee

Cross now the great divide

Isn't that it?

If anyone has a spare $200 lying around to give to me, I'd appreciate it. I need it to buy myself some wizard robes, a wand, some parchment, a scarf, a tie...you know, that sorta stuff. I asked my parents if I could have it for Christmas and they just sorta laughed at me and said it was a waste of money. They SO don't understand! Sigh. Oh well, for now I'll have to write to fulfill my Harry Potter needs.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"You screwed her!" Pepper exclaimed.

"No, I didn't," Harry said.

"Well she screwed you!"

"Not sexually," Harry told Pepper solidly, looking her straight in the eye and willing her to believe him. "Screwed me over, in your terminology. I swear I didn't put a hand on her until that kiss in the hallway the other day."

Just to make sure he wasn't lying Pepper asked, "Harry, did you ever lay a hand on Spada before that kiss you had in the hallway."

"No," said Harry.

"Did Spada lay a hand or anything else on you before that kiss you had in the hallway?" Pepper asked, trying to be through before she was sure.

Pepper smiled in relief. "Well then let's get to Defense Against the Dark Arts, I want to see who the new teacher is!"

Harry smiled in relief as well. He was really glad Pepper believed him, though he was a little angry it tool that spell of hers to convince her. "Alright, let's go," he said, getting up from the table.

Upon entering the Defense Against the Dark Arts room Pepper and Harry found that the only person in the room was Hermione, who was sitting at a table in the front, her bag on the floor next to her and her hands folded neatly on the table in front of her.

"Hermione, how'd you escape?" Pepper cried, rushing to the front of the room to talk to the escapee.

"It took ages!" Hermione said, standing up. "I can't believe you locked me in the room Pepper! You really expected me to miss a whole day of classes?"

"Triple locked, to be exact," said Pepper. "And yes, I did expect you to miss a whole day of classes."

"Pepper I need classes to take my mind off of – " Hermione stopped suddenly, turning her head away from Pepper. "Where's Professor Ardel?" she asked, looking at Pepper once again.

"He left yesterday, we're meeting the new professor this period," Pepper informed Hermione. "Shall I sit next to you then?"

Hermione shrugged lightly so Pepper took a seat at Hermione's table. Harry sat at the table behind the two girls and they waited for the rest of the class to file in. "You know Hermione, we've got to talk," Pepper told her friend. "And Ron didn't sleep with Montgomery."

"How can you be so sure?" Hermione asked. As if on cue Ron entered the classroom and took a seat behind the girls.

"I thought you were locked in your dormitory, Hermione," said Ron. He was trying to make normal conversation with her to see if she really did believe that he and Montgomery had done something over the break.

"I broke out," Hermione replied somewhat tersely, not looking at Ron. She still wasn't so sure she believed Ron and Pepper.

"Believe me, I'm sure," Pepper whispered in Hermione's ear in answer to her question.

"So where's this new professor?" Hermione wondered as the bell rang.

"I dunno, she wasn't at dinner last night, either," said Harry. "I've never known a professor to be really late."

"She's an Auror, you know," Ron pointed out to Hermione, hoping dearly that she hadn't heard that news yet."

"Oh really?" said Hermione a little more warmly than she had said her last comment. She also appeared excited now, as she was beginning to squirm in her seat. "It should be very educational to be under the instruction of a real Auror."

"Moody taught us in fourth year and he was an Auror," Harry said, feeling a little protective of his friend and former professor.

"He didn't count," said Ron. "He was locked in a trunk all year."

Pepper looked a little confused but chose not to question what they were talking about. The class was beginning to grow restless, as their professor was now a good five minutes late. Everyone was talking more loudly and some people were out of their seats. "Maybe Dumbledore was just lying to us and we don't really have a teacher yet," Ron said, glancing around the room at the unruly people.

"Don't be ridiculous, Ron, Dumbledore wouldn't send us to a class if there wasn't a teacher," said Hermione exasperatedly.

"Maybe she's going to try and make a grand entrance by Apperating into the room when we least expect it," Harry suggested.

"How many times do I have to tell you Harry –" Hermione started. "Don't bother, I know," Harry said, stopping a lecture from Hermione about Hogwarts, A History.

"Or perhaps she's just invisible," remarked Pepper. Realizing that this could be true the four of them looked towards the front of the room, a little paranoid. Before they ended their bought of paranoia the classroom door was opened so hard it banged against the wall, causing all the occupants of the class to stop what they were doing and pay attention to the person that was bustling into the room.

The new professor was just a swirl of black robes until she spun on her heel and faced the class. She was very young. Her figure alone was very intimidating in black boots, leather pants and a collarless leather vest. Her robes were a little tighter than what appeared to be normal. Her face was somewhat severe, probably due to the fact that she had on a little too much eyeliner and very red lipstick. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a fancy twist on the back of her head. The students were all a little stunned by their new professor's appearance.

"It would be greatly appreciated if you all took a seat and closed your mouths," she said in a severe voice, though her voice was also very smooth and her words flowed from her mouth like honey. Everyone found a seat and sat in it, still looking stunned. Most of the boys were staring at her, their mouths open in surprise. "I apologize for my lateness," the professor continued, "but I had things that called for my attention. I can assure you that it will not happen again just I'm sure you lot won't be out of your seats again when I enter this room. If you are it will result in a detention. Is that clear?"

There were a few mumbles of "yes professor" and a few head nods. "Sorry, I didn't quite catch that," said the professor.

"Yes, professor," said the class, (especially the boys in an effort to be liked by the professor), more loudly.

"That's better. Since you most likely don't know, I'm Professor Giancarlo. I attended this school for seven years of schooling before moving on to becoming an Auror, so I'd advise you not to let me find you in any hidden passageways you think you're the only person who knows about, because I can tell you this: if it's in the castle I know where it is.

"I know that Professor Ardel was very well liked by all of his students, and that I'll have to work hard to be liked from all of you, though I may never accomplish that. That is not my greatest concern however. I am here to teach you to the best of my ability, not to care about what you think of me. I will not lie to you; I favor Gryffindor, as that was my own house. Therefore, the rest of you are going to have to work extra hard to prove yourselves to me."

"Teachers aren't supposed to favor anyone," Malfoy spoke up. Pepper slumped down in her chair a little, she wasn't very fond of being around Malfoy anymore – she found she blushed every time he was mentioned.

"Thank you for sharing, Mr. Malfoy, but I already knew that. But seeing as I am the teacher and you are the student, I may do what I please and when you become a professor you may do what you choose," replied Professor Giancarlo. The Gryffindors and assorted Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs snickered. Malfoy's normally pale face tinged pink.

"As I was saying before I was most rudely interrupted, the rest of you will have to prove yourselves to me," continued the professor. "That's going to be hard, let me tell you, because I'm going to work you until you pass out for the rest of the year. It is imperative that you learn how to defend yourself against the Dark Arts. Are there any questions?"

A silence came after this speech. None of the students were exactly sure what to say, though the Gryffindors were ecstatic that Professor Giancarlo favored them.

"Will you be teaching us the Unforgivables?" someone asked.

"Ahh...yes, I was informed the fake Moody taught those somewhat in your fourth year...I might, to answer your question. I am aware of the fact that it is illegal and it is very advanced magic, yet, as I said before, it is very important that you are able to defend yourselves. I suppose it will depend on how well you lot are doing. Are there any other questions?"

There weren't any questions so the professor continued. "Well then, I guess I'll use this time to take role and get to know you all."

She picked up the role list from her desk and ran through it, calling out each student's name. She called Pepper's name and looked to smile at the girl when Pepper called, "Present." Professor Giancarlo then glanced around at the three people sitting around Pepper. She continued on with the roll call list, not smiling at another student until she reached Ron's name.

"Mr. Weasley..." she said, "How's are your brothers? Charlie? Bill?"

Ron looked at her for a moment, not really believing what he was hearing. "Er...they're good," he said.

She laughed a little. "You don't remember me, do you?" she said, a smile twitching at the corners of her mouth, making her even more attractive.

Ron tentatively shook his head "no."

"I'll save the story for later, then, as I'm sure the rest of the class doesn't need to hear it," said Professor Giancarlo.

She returned to the role call, Pepper, Harry and Hermione shooting a look a Ron, whose ears were turning red. When the role was finished she placed the sheet on her desk and returned to the front of the room. "For this first lesson, and a few after this one, we will be working on a rather difficult bit of magic. This particular spell will help you drive a Dementor away. Does anyone know what it's called?"

Hermione's hand was the first in the air. "The Patronus Charm," said Hermione once the professor had called on her. "It acts as a shield so the Dementors feed on it instead of you."

"Very good Miss Granger, five points to Gryffindor," Professor Giancarlo said. "Can anyone tell me what a Patronus is supposed to look like?" Hermione hand was, once again, the first in the air, but Harry's hand also shot up. "Mr. Potter?"

"It's slivery and it's supposed to take the form of an animal. The animal form your Patronus takes is significant, as it says something about you," Harry supplied.

"Another five points to Gryffindor, Mr. Potter. A Patronus Charm is very advanced magic; however, I believe it is necessary for you to know, seeing as the Dementors are no longer under the control of the Ministry of Magic. Some of you will not be able to conjure this until you are out of school and more powerful witches and wizards, and some of you will be able to create a corporeal Patronus the first time you do it in this class." Her eyes flickered over to Harry, who avoided her gaze. "The incantation is "Expecto Patronum." While you are saying this you must think of a very happy thought and concentrate on that thought alone. Now, everyone pull out their wands and practice this with me."

The students took their wands from their bags and robes while Professor Giancarlo pulled her own wand from a pocket inside her robes. "Ready?" she asked. Without waiting from any answer from the class she held out her wand and said, "Expecto Patronum!" A silvery fox sprung out of the tip of her wand. Being that there was no Dementor around, it disappeared almost instantly. "That, class, is a Patronus. Do it with me this time. Remember to think a strong, happy thought..."

"Expecto Patronum!" the class said in unison. Professor Giancarlo was pleased (but not surprised) to see a stag jump from Harry's wand and an otter to spring from Hermione's. Ron had conjured an almost corporeal Patronus; one that resembled a cat. A few other people produced silvery clouds and some others produced nothing.

"Good," complimented the professor. "Now break off into groups and practice."

The class stood and went off into groups as the teacher asked.

"Why is nothing coming out of my wand?" Pepper asked, tapping her wand on her other hand to make sure it was working correctly. Since Harry, Ron, and Hermione could already conjure Patronuses they were focusing on making something come from Pepper's wand.

"Were you thinking happy thoughts?" Ron wondered.

"I think I was..." said Pepper, still examining her wand.

"It has to be a really powerful, happy thought," Harry explained, plucking Pepper's wand from her hand because she was starting to annoy him by tapping the wand against the desk.

"I'm not sure if I have any of those," Pepper said, glaring at Harry before snatching her wand back from him.

"Well think, Professor Giancarlo will probably be giving us a huge essay on how to conjure a Patronus and what the shape ours takes says about us," Hermione said knowingly. "Besides, we know you're a powerful witch, Pepper, so you can do this."

Pepper racked her brain for a happy thought or memory. When her Aunt Piper and Uncle Leo got married...when she found out her Aunt Phoebe was engaged to Cole...getting her car...finding out her Aunt was pregnant...when her mother and her aunts discovered their powers...meeting Grams...meeting her grandmother...spending time with her father...learning that she was a two-way witch...seeing her mother and father laughing and talking together...

That one had to be it, Pepper knew it right away. "I've got one," she told the other three, nodding determinedly. She raised her wand, focused on the thought and said solidly, "Expecto Patronum!"

Apparently the thought was happy enough, for a defined, silvery unicorn sprung forth from Pepper's wand tip. "I can cojure a Patronus," Pepper said in a sing-song voice, doing a little happy dance.

"Very good, Miss Halliwell. Conjuring a corporeal Patronus on your second attempt is a very hard thing to do," said Professor Giancarlo, coming over to the group. "And a unicorn, at that. Do you care to tell me, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley, how it was that the two of you learned how to conjure a Patronus?" She turned to look at Hermione and Ron.

"Harry taught us," Hermione said, not wanting to go into the DA because this teacher was an Auror.

"I see," said Professor Giancarlo, knowing that was not the whole story but deciding not to push the matter. She could always just ask Dumbledore anyway. "Well, why don't you work with Mr. Weasley a bit and then the four of you can help the other students."

"Yes, Professor," said Hermione politely.

With a small smile the professor sashayed off to another group.