I DONT OWN ANY OF THIS! I AM LEARNING TO GET OVER IT- SO SHOULD YOU!
Chapter 1
Professor?
"Teachers please, follow me!" Headmaster Dumbledore was trying frantically to usher his colleagues into the great hall for a staff meeting. Of course, this was complicated by the fact that this was the first staff meeting since the summer break had begun so most of the teachers were trying to get re-acquainted although some in the most unorthodox of ways. It seemed that Professor Snape had accidentally stepped on the tiny, Professor Flitwick.
"I'll say it again Flitwick, I didn't see you there!"
"Well maybe if you didn't stick that duckbill of a nose of yours so high up in the air you would have seen me!"
"Gentleman please", interrupted Madam Hooch, who seemed to be playing referee to this fight. "You're acting like your students!"
As the teacher continued to yell, talk, and bicker Dumbledore was losing patience.
With a flick of his wand He shot purple fire-crackers into the air yelling, "Quiet!" Immediately they all fell silent. "Thank you, and now if you all would be so kind as to quietly follow me we can start the meeting."
Once they were all settled in the great hall Dumbledore began.
"I suppose you all know why we're here. No? Well then, last year as I hope you all remember, I said that we may be adding a new course to our curriculum. Well it just so happens that the Minister has agreed to let me do so. We will be adding a course in Magery Magic this year. Now for those of you who are not familiar with the term 'mage', it simply means wizard of signal magic. But of course for those of you still in the dark, the new teacher will be able to tell you a lot more about it than I can."
"Who is it Albus? Are they trustworthy?" asked Professor McGonagall. "You know with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named rising again not everyone can be trusted."
"My dear Minerva, I have known this person their entire life, and I assure you, she can be trusted."
"She? Well go on, what's her name?"
Just as he was about to answer, one of the hall doors burst open to admit a tiny house-elf.
"SHE'S HERE! SHE'S HERE!" squeaked the elf, as he ran to the headmaster.
Once he had stopped in front of the elder man panting, Dumbledore said, "Calm yourself Dobby. Then go and let her in."
At that the house elf rush out the door, only to return again a few minutes later. He cleared his throat, "Presenting..."
"There will be no need for that.," said a comforting female voice from behind the half-open door. "I can introduce myself."
In stepped a young lady in about her mid-twenties. She had iron-straight light brown hair that fell a few inches past her shoulders, fading into golden-blond about half way down. She also had deep blue eyes that shone brightly with amusement. She was somewhat tall, standing about five-eleven, with a slender figure that was mostly hidden by a long, black robe, with three-quarter sleeves, and a golden-painted
She gave a nod to the elf, which blushed and scurried out the door.
"Ah, welcome." That was Dumbledore. "Here let me conjure you a chair."
"No need." replied the women.
As she approached the table she took out her wand. Once she stood just behind Snape's chair, she tapped the back of it with her wand, "Duplidraw." Instantly the wand sprung out of her hand and began to draw an exact copy of Severus' chair. When the chair was almost complete the wand transformed into an ax and made a large divot in the seat of the chair. Then the wand transformed back to its original shape and landed in the woman's outstretched hand.
The lady eyed the chair suspiciously, then looked up to smile at Dumbledore. As everyone had turned to look at him, he began to laugh.
After he had managed to stifle them he asked, "Severus, would you please stand up?"
Snape gave him a questioning glare, then stood. With a simple swish and flick of his wand Dumbledore made both chairs levitate, to reveal identical scratches in the seat of each chair. At this everyone began to laugh except for Snape and the mysterious lady. She seemed to be elsewhere with a blank expression but troubled eyes.
Once everyone quieted the Headmaster lowered both chairs, and those standing took their seats.
"Everyone I would like to welcome the new addition to our staff, Miss Sarahantifany Anastasia Merloom." At that some of the teachers said hello or offered her a hand to shake introducing themselves. Then Dumbledore continued, "My granddaughter."
At this the room once again became silent. After a few Dumbledore said, "well I think that's all for today although, if Professor Merloom does not object, I would like us all to meet in the staff room at nine tomorrow morning for a demonstration of her talents."
When he looked at the girl she nodded.
"Very well then I wish to see you all tomorrow morning. You may use the rest of the day as you like. Remember that the students will be arriving in exactly two weeks."
After all the teaches had filed out Dumbledore walked over to the still-seated Sarahantifany,
"You did good today." he said quietly. She nodded. "You know, there is a lot I think you can teach us - and I don't mean just the students."
"I know grandfather. My only question is, are they willing to learn?"
Later that night Sarah found herself in her new living quarters. She had a total of five new rooms. When she first walked in from the hallway, she found herself in her new office. It was rather plain with only a cherry-wood desk and a matching chair padded in red velvet, which was placed in the center of the room. Also there was a little wooden bookshelf in the corner by the door. I'll definitely have to add my own touch she thought, as she walked into the next room.
Off to the left of her office, was a sitting room. It had a lovely deep blue and white checked couch, a mahogany coffee table, stained dark, and two matching chairs, padded with a seat cushion to match the couch. There was even a grandfather clock in the corner. Also much to her delight, she saw many pieces of her weapon collection in glass cases along the walls.
The next room up from that was her bedroom, furnished with a king sized four-poster bed complete with purple satin curtains and a small night stand. There was also a huge walk in closet, which enabled her to space each piece of her small wardrobe a foot apart.
Then, just as she was about to walk into the next room, she saw it, her most prized possession, her sword, 'Blood Biter'. It was hanging just above the fireplace. That sword was like a friend to her, a friend that had also saved her life more than once.
She admired the sword for a few seconds then once again walked up, this time into a bathroom that was all finished in marble with a pedestal sink and a tub that looked big enough for a woman five times her size.
Next, she walked out of the bathroom and into the room on her right. This was definitely going to be her favorite room. It had an oval window-seat that looked out into a private courtyard. The seat was padded with purple velvet. All of the windows were block windows, spotted with drops from the rain.
Every spot on the wall, from top to bottom was covered in marble shelves. Most of them were full of books, that is except four mostly empty shelves above the fire place. Each had a tiny brass plate on it that read, "Professor Merloom's personal collection". The only books on the shelves were the ones she had brought with her from home. This pleased her, for she knew that she could use the rest of the space to add her new favorites from around the room. The last thing she saw before she went through the door that led back to her office, was a wooden work-table with four chairs placed around it.
Once she had realized that all of her possessions had already been put away she decided to go for a walk in the rain. After all she always did her best thinking when she was out in nature, and this would be the perfect time to go over her plans for tomorrow's demonstration.
The Hogwarts Potions-master, Severus Snape, was cleaning out his desk when he noticed it was raining. As he looked out his office window he saw someone standing by the lake getting drenched by the rain, which was coming down in buckets. At first he had thought it was Professor Moody who had decided to take the job of the Dark Arts professor, as he was supposed to have done last year before he was captured and imprisoned in a plot to try and kill Harry Potter. Then he realized that this person was rather slender, too slender to be Alabaster Moody. It's that girl, he realized. That new mage teacher, or what ever she calls herself. What a nut!
He continued to stare at the new professor until he heard a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" he said hotly.
"It's Minerva, may I come in?"
"Well, if you must."
"I must," she said from behind the door.
A few seconds later the door swung open. Professor Minerva McGonagall was a slightly older woman dressed in her usual green robes. She had green eyes, gray hair -which at one point had been black - she was in good shape for her age, and had quite a piercing stare though it was nowhere near as frightening as Snapes' own evil glare.
"I came to ask a favor of you."
Snape smirked.
"My first lesson for the new fifth years is how to transform fire into water. I assume it will get a little - messy, so I was wondering if you had any Burn Balm."
Snape gave her a haunting smile.
"Why of course," he went to a small cabinet on the far side of the room and came back with a rather large jar, "although, might I ask why you didn't go down to the hospital wing to get this, instead of bothering me?"
McGonagall returned his fake smile.
"For your information I have already been down there; there is none. Do you really think I would come down to these dark, smelly dungeons if I didn't have to?"
Snape ignored the question.
"Well Catwoman, since you got what you came for would you mind leaving so I can considerate?"
As if to prove his point Minerva transformed into her cat form and gave him a high pitched meow. Then she transformed back to human, picked up the jar she had left on the ground, and headed for the stairs that would lead her to the main entrance hall.
Severus turned to look out the window again, but notice the lady was gone. Well with any luck, he thought, she has been eaten by that giant squid, in the lake, and I won't have to look at her ever again.
The next day the teachers were all sitting around the staff room table, waiting for the new teacher and the headmaster to arrive. About five minutes later they both came in.
"Sorry we're late," that was Dumbledore, "I wanted to ask Professor Merloom about the supplies she would be requiring."
The girl took a seat at the head of the table by the door while Albus took a seat at the other end so that he was looking right at her.
"Professor, you may begin."
"Thank you Headmaster. Now as I am told, all any of you know about mages is that they have only one magic, right?"
No one answered.
"O.K. then first off I feel that I must say that it is not that uncommon around here. All of England sends their mages to the University at Lightbridge, a school crafted just for mages. Also I must say that what you think about them is wrong. Mages can have more than one type of magic - I myself do - but it is rare. Also that even wizards and witches like yourselves can also have mage power as I do."
As if to prove her point she took out her wand and levitated the bag she had brought with her onto the table. From it she took a hilt knife and a book.
"There are two types of mages. One is an academic mage; they harvest their power from within. This type of mage is more popular and easier to recognize in people, although I highly doubt that we'll find any mages of this kind in the students here for they probably would have already found out that they have this skill, and been sent off to a magery school. The second tape is an abicaint mage; they get their power from things that are already made. For example one of my powers is weaponry magic, I can work thought weapons."
At this she began a sort of slow breathing and the hilt knife jumped off the table, and began to weave its way in and out of the staff. Stunned, Professor Flitwick fell off the top of his many cushions, and McGonagall let out a tiny scream. Then the Knife landed right back in Sarah's hand.
"I am sorry if I scared you," she said. "I would not have let it hurt you. You'll be relieved to know that I was in complete control of it the whole time."
"Well not by much!" McGonagall muttered.
If Sarah heard her, she ignored it.
"As a matter of fact, part of my power enables me to be able to sense the people and weapons around me, without seeing them. For instance Professor Snape has a knife tucked in the ankle of his right sock."
"I do not!" He exclaimed. At that moment a knife floated up onto the table from where Severus was sitting.
"Yes, you do," Snape's face went even paler than usual, "Also I can command more than one at a time."
At this both Snape's and Sarah's knives jumped up and started to battle each other as if invisible hands were controlling them. Then they stopped and the mages knife jumped into her bag, while Snape's flew back into his sock.
"Any questions so far?"
Mad-eye Moody raised his hand.
"Yes?"
"How many knives can you control at once?"
"Well I don't know how many knives, but I once had to control forty swords. I made them duel with pirates who were trying to attack my homeland of Winding Circle. Of course I had help from my friends, they lent me some of their strength."
To this Moody nodded.
"Anything else?"
This time it was Professor Flitwick who asked, "You said you had more than one power, what else can you do?"
"Well, the other part of my power is imagination, more commonly known as a writing mage. This type of magic works through literature."
Just then she slid the book on the table down to Madame Hooch.
"This book is called The Door. Madame Hooch, if you would be so kind as to open it to any page and read about a paragraph or so."
Sarah began the slow breathing again then Hooch began, "Chapter 7. John looked at the door wondering how to open it. Every time he tried to pick the lock, his lock-picks just melted into a pool on the floor. He didn't have the key but he knew he had to open it. His grandfather's last words to him had been, 'Find the door that must be found. Once you are there open it, and find your quest.'"
Everyone's face turned from Madame Hooch to Sarahantifany, who was sweating slightly, but everyone's eyes were no longer on her but on the scene behind her.
There was a boy by a big old-fashioned wooden door, a pool of silver by his feet. He was standing there is if remembering.
"The grandfather's voice!" squeaked Flitwick.
Sarah now opened her eyes, and wiped the few droplets of sweat from her forehead, with the back of her hand.
"Once again I didn't mean to frighten you." The vision disappeared.
"But they looked so real - and we could hear them!" exclaimed Professor Sprout.
"Yes, you were supposed to hear them, and they were supposed to seem real. Of course that is why it exhausted me. I did a little experimenting yesterday and have not yet recovered all of my strength. Hearing is a very hard sense for my magic to activate. Also I was trying to make them seem more real than usual. Although I probably would have toned it down a bit if, Madame Hooch, had decided to read the part where he stabs the ghost of his grandfather."
At that piece of information a few people shuddered, but Dumbledore just smiled.
"Now, are there any questions?"
No one answered.
"Well if that is all I shall see you all at dinner," said Dumbledore.
Sarah nodded.
Once everyone had left, Dumbledore, walked over to the still seated Sarah, and handed her the book that had been left on the table.
"You did well again today, Sarahantifany. Pretty soon the students will be here, and I'm sure that you'll become one of the favorite teachers...Who knows maybe someday they might even like you more than Professor Snape."
Sarah had to laugh at that.
"Thank you grandfather."
The next few days dragged on slowly. Sarahantifany tried to ask some of the teachers to lunch or a drink in the evenings, but they were busy setting up their classrooms. Some even advised her to do the same so she decided to take their advice.
She cleaned the windows and washed down all the walls. Winky almost had a heart attack when she saw Sarah scrubbing the floors. It took five minutes to calm the poor elf down.
By the end of the day Sarah had cleaned the whole room, and rearranged it several times so the next day she tried to make lesson plans. That soon fell through because she had no idea how many students she would be teaching or what kind of magic they would have so it ended up that she spent the next week either writing, reading, taking walks, or practicing her fighting skills. She even made a list of every book in her study, all 17,162 of them.
One day she woke up and took a look at her calendar.
"Only three more days till the students arrive."
Then she remembered that her grandfather had told her if she needed anything just to ask.
'Well,' she thought. 'I could use some more bruise balm, and willow bark tea." For she knew that no matter what a student's magic was they would sooner or later get bruises and cuts from the practice. 'Well I might as well make it myself considering everyone else is busy."
Just as she was about to start she found that she was out of willow bark for the tea mixture so she went to find Professor Snape although she had found him rather rude and preferred to avoid him. 'Well if he gives me a hard time, I'll tell him if he'd rather make it for me himself he's welcome to do so.'
The first place she checked was in the staff room, then his office. Finally she found him in his classroom. He seemed to be writing something at his desk.
"Um...excuse me Professor Snape?"
He looked up, "Yes, Professor Merloom...did you want something?"
"Yes, I was wondering if you had any dried willow bark. I'm making a pain numbing tea."
"Why didn't you just go down to the hospital wing and get some already made?"
"Because I wanted it in large stores for my class room, and I didn't want to bother Poppy."
"But yet you have no problem bothering me."
"Well, if you going to be rude about it -" She turned to leave.
"Wait, Professor," she turned, "you know if you're going to take my little jokes to heart you'll never last once the students get here."
"I didn't take it to heart, and since we're colleagues and all, you might as well call me Sarah."
"Well Sarah, my name is Severus, and if you would just wait a minute I will get that bark for you."
He swept over to a cabinet and pulled the doors open. After thrusting a few fists full of bark into a bag he handed it to her.
"Thank you," she said. If you ever need anything -"
He waved the comment away.
"I doubt that I will ever need anything from you, but you're welcome." He said the word as if it tasted funny to his lips, which made her nervous.
Walking back to her room she noticed that she was hungry. She thought about asking her grandfather to lunch but then thought better of it. Her grandfather had been rather on edge ever since he came back from Harry Potter's hearing although why anyone would try and expel a fifteen year old boy for defending himself against dementors, was beyond her to even guess.
Sarah woke up and jumped out of bed. Today was the day. She completed her morning staff exercise in a hurry. Then she rushed downstairs to breakfast. Dumbledore smiled when she came in.
"Today's the big day," he said. Snape snorted.
"Finally," said Sarah in a bored tone. "This has been the longest two weeks of my life! What time do the students arrive?"
"About seven or so. Is your class room all ready?"
"Yes. Headmaster, when will I get to test the students? For magic I mean."
"I have decided that tomorrow all classes will be canceled. Each grade in every house will have an appointed time to see you."
"Thank you, sir."
Later on that day Sarah tried meditating, but she kept getting distracted so finally she gave up and went down to the kitchens to see if the house elves would accept her help. She was in luck. They were so busy getting ready for the feast they had no time to refuse her. Using her power over weapons she set to work chopping and cutting everything in sight. Once a knife she had been controlling whizzed by a young female house elf by the name of Hoppy, causing her to drop an entire tray of lemon tarts.
After she had been there for a few hours she decided to stop. She would need all the strength she could get to test the students for magic. Just as she was about to leave Snape walked in from behind the painting that covered the entrance to the kitchen.
"Hello, Sarah."
"Hello, Severus. What are you doing here?"
"I needed some moily herbs for my potion and I'm out."
"Oh"
"By the way Dumbledore is looking for you and don't ask me why. It's not my job to keep tabs on you or your grandfather."
"I wasn't about to."
As she left she began to wonder, "What is his problem? He comes in acting quite nice, then he acts like I'm a little child, and speaks as if my grandfather is a type of poison."
Sarah was in her sitting room reading, "Weather Mages and their Works", when someone knocked on the door. She opened it to find Dumbledore.
"The carriages are on their way," he said. "If you are ready shall we walk down together?"
"Yes, of course just one moment. I would like to change into other clothes."
She ran into her room to get changed. Since she had been alone, she had worn just a white button-down shirt and a pair of riding breeches, the kind of outfit she wore to practice sword fighting. Now she changed into a long undyed cotton dress. Over it she wore a black habit, with a rope belt at her waist. Her hair, which she had left handing loose, was now pulled into a horse tail by a black leather strap.
When she walked out into her sitting room once more Dumbledore smiled, "You look just like a professor."
She replied, "So I guess it doesn't show that I feel like anything but?"
"Not in the least," he said as he swung an arm around her shoulder. "Come, the rest of the staff is already in the hall."
As they walked down the corridor that led to the Great Hall Dumbledore stopped.
"Sarahantifany, tonight at the banquet I am going to introduce you. When I do I am going to tell everyone that you are my granddaughter. If there is one thing that I have learned after thirty-five years as headmaster, it is that the students have a way of finding out everything you don't want them to. I'm only doing this because I don't like hiding things, and I feel it will only blow up in our faces later. Although before I do, I must be sure that you are O.K. with this. If you are not then I shall -"
Sarah put up a hand to silence him, "You know best, grandfather."
Twenty minutes later Sarah found herself seated at Dumbledore's left with McGonagall at his right. The older women smiled at her weakly. Sarah gave her the same weak smile in return, she could tell that this person didn't like her at all. Seated on her own left was Snape. He didn't look any more pleased at her company than McGonagall.
Most of the students where already seated in the great hall The few extra seats at each table would soon be filled with first years. The hall doors swung open, and in stepped a giant man Sarah knew as Hagrid. Sometimes on her walks around the grounds she had meet the jolly man. Although his figure was quite hunting, with his unusually large frame and the cuts and bruises he had received on a trip he had taken during the summer he was as friendly as a puppy. Behind him were all of the frightened first years. They all looked wide-eyed at the room before them, and most of them were as pale with shock as Professor Snape's normal complexion.
"Let the Sorting begin," said Dumbledore.
Professor McGonagall stepped down from the head table and withdrew a list from her pocket.
"When I call your name please come forward, Abercrombie, Euan."
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat.
Sarah watched as the line of first yours slowly thinned. At last the sorting was done and the headmaster stood.
"Welcome students to another year at Hogwarts. I hope you all had a good summer. Before we begin the feast there are a few start of term announcements. First off, we are to have Professor Moody fill the position of Defense Against Dark Arts. I'm sure he will be a perfect replacement for last year's teacher. Second we are to have a new figure on the grounds. Miss Dolores Umbridge is here to make sure that every thing is running smoothly. As many of you know we have had a few accidents these past few years, and the ministry believes that this is for the good of the school."
Anyone who did not know Dumbledore well might have thought he completely agreed with the ministry sending this Umbridge woman here but anyone who knew him as Sarah did could see that his eyes showed utmost disgust for the woman. She wondered why Dumbledore had never told her that someone from the ministry was coming to Hogwarts.
"Too proud probably."
Dumbledore loved this school and loved running it. Having the Ministry send someone to look after him was like a personal insult. As she looked around the room she was relieved to find that she was not the only one shocked by this woman's presence. By the looks on some of the other professors' faces, she could tell that they had not been not told about this either.
Dumbledore continued.
"Also, we are to have a new subject added to our curriculum this year," Sarahantifany then realized that almost every eye in the room was on her, "a class in Magery."
Silence.
"For those of you who don't know a mage is a person with a special kind of magic. As I understand it this can include anything from being a seer to having special powers with something, for example your new teachers powers are over weapons and imagination."
Dumbledore turned to look at her. At first she didn't know what he wanted but then she realized he wanted a demonstration. After a nod of agreement, she closed her eyes and drew in a slow deep breath. Suddenly all of the table knives at the head table jumped up into the air. She made them do a signal flip, and then land back down to the table again.
At first everything was quiet. Then a few kids at the Gryffindor table began to applaud. Pretty soon everyone was clapping, or whistling. She was still blushing when Dumbledore continued.
"Although not every one will be able to attend her class. This type of magic is something you are born with," a few people groaned, "but don't give up hope yet. Many of you may have this magic and not even know it. So you shall all be tested for it tomorrow instead of having class."
At this a few people clapped, and a few groaned. Sarah supposed that was because many of them thought it was a test with quills and ink, but it wasn't.
Listen up!
Story Clues:
1.) Just to let you know Mad-eye also had a knife on his person. Also there is a reason why Sarah didn't use him as an example instead of Snape.
2.) Umbridge will not have a huge role in this story: SORRY
3.) IF YOU WISH TO CONTINUE READ THIS:
There is something to be uncovered about Snape and his abilities: What do you think it is?
For those of you who think that I need to work on this a bit, you're not alone. I am planning on a rewrite anyway. However, I would like to know what you would like me to improve most and what your favorite section was so I make sure to keep it throughout the rewrite. Also if you are interested in reading more give me your email so that I can send you the new web address once re-posted. If you don't have email let me know I'm sure we can find a way to contact you.
By the way
Flaming has no effect on me.
I will not report you but if someone else finds out that is not my problem.
I am a better reader than writer so if you have any stories- LET ME KNOW!