Chapter Four: McGonagall's Best Students

The Hogwarts train began again to reach Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All of the prefects, not including Draco helped check all of the students to see if they were all ok. The instructor of the train and the lady who pushed the food cart around also walked around to help the students relax. The lady who passed the cart of food around lowered the prices so that the kids who didn't have enough money could buy the food to help them relax.

Rumors flew around the train like crazy and people were still shaken by what had happened. Hermione and Ron left Ginny and Harry a couple of times to tend to things. They returned a few times with a couple of funny stories to tell the two.

"A few of the Hufflepuff students were so shaken up they couldn't hold up their drinks and they ended up spilling their drinks on them." said Ron snickering a little. Hermione nudged him on his arm and gave an irritated look.

"Oh shut up Ron. You were scared to when you came to." Ron looked at her and then looked down. Harry laughed at Ron for being caught. The four continued to talk until they finally felt the train slow to a stop and they knew that they were finally at the school. They grabbed their luggage and walked out into the busy hall. Everyone wanted nothing more to do than get on the carriages and up to the school.

Almost a half went by when they finally reached the school and into the great hall. The night went by with out incident. The sorting ceremony went well and then came the feast. As soon as the feast went by Professor McGonagall stood up and took her stand at the podium. She had taken Dumbledore's place after last year. He had passed away and now his successor is the Transfiguration teacher.

"Now students, I know what had happened on the train has frightened you. The ministry is looking into it and we will inform you on updates when they arrive. Now we have a special guest here. Her name is Tesania Nightshade." Professor McGonagall raised one hand to the same girl that Harry and Ron had seen in Flourish and Blotts stood up from the Hufflepuff table and walked over to the teacher. She faced the other students and once again everyone saw the sorting hat in the professor's hand. She guided Tesania to the stool and the girl sat down.

Professor McGonagall sat the hat on her head and stepped back. The hat's face scrunched together and gave a low growl like a dog.

"I don't like sorting out your sort into this school, but you are still part witch so I must." said the hat in a whisper. He continued to think and then he finally shouted out a house name.

"SLYTHERIN!" Tesania smirked and took off the hat and handed it back to the Professor. She walked down the steps and over to the table.

"Damn and I was looking forward to getting to know her." said Ron.

"Oh you two wouldn't have worked anyway." said Hermione. Ron looked at her and adjusted his black hoodie. Harry unclipped the bondage straps from his pants so he wouldn't continue to keep getting stuck. He looked over at Ginny and saw that she was fiddling with the blue strip in her hair that took the place of her natural colored bangs. He could tell something was up.

"You alright?" he asked her. She looked up at him and gave him an innocent smile.

"It's probably nothing but I have an odd feeling about the new girl. She didn't exactly look friendly." She stopped fiddling with her hair and finished the rest of the food. Professor McGonagall got up again and stood at the podium.

"I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Bill Weasley." Bill stood up and raised his hand and then sat down again. The students clapped for him and then went back to listening to Professor McGonagall. "He will only be teaching fifth through seventh year students. First year though fourth year students will be taking Divination with Firenze. This is only going to go on for half of the year then it will reverse and fifth through seventh with take the divination class and so forth." She paused and then continued. "So with all that said, you all may go to your common rooms and get ready for tomorrows classes."

The prefects stood up and took their houses up to their common rooms.

Draco stood up and walked over to Tesania and stood next to her. She stood up and turned to him.

"I take it I have to follow you so that I know where to go if I am ever on my own and have to get to the common room." She looked at him and smirked.

He smirked right back. "Most likely." She backed away making a path for him so that she could follow. He moved passed her and she turned and followed him out of the Great Hall. She walked next to them with the first years following closely behind. They made their way down to the dungeons and into the Slytherin common rooms. Pansy walked up next to Draco and spoke to him.

"Where were you on the train? I was worried about you."

"I was fine; I wanted to be left alone." Pansy stared at him and then looked at Tesania. Tesania looked back at her and recognized the expression Pansy was giving for she had given the same expression plenty of times before.

"Don't go blaming me; I had nothing to do with it." Pansy turned away swiftly and walked to the girl's dormitory. Knowing that she had to sleep in the girl's dormitory as well, she followed the angry girl. Draco watched as the two girls left. He then felt a foreboding presence and then the feeling disappeared. He shook it off and went to find something to do.

The following day was the beginning of the term and everyone was rushing to find their classes and to get good seats. Well all except for Tesania. She was already in her first class with her books set neatly on her desk in the back of the room. Her fellow seventh year Slytherin classmates were having Transfiguration with the Gryffindor seventh years. When Draco walked in he rolled his eyes at the sight of Harry Potter and his friends who were whispering amongst themselves. He was sure they were talking about the new student and the train incident. He found his assigned seat in the first row and sat down. He quickly looked for Tesania and found her sitting in the last row in the same column as him. She wore a scowl and was leaning back with her arms crossed. Her light brown hair was pulled into two low pigtails on either side of her head and then braided. She wasn't wearing robes so he assumed she didn't get them yet. She was wearing black parachute pants with lime green stitching and a black tank top which bore the Slytherin insignia on her left breast.

A quiet tapping caught his attention and looked to see who was at his desk. Professor McGonagall walked away as soon as she saw that she had his attention.

"Alright students please turn to page 15 in your books. We're going to be learning how to change each other into animals. I'm sure you remember hearing about Malfoy's little chance at experiencing that. So now we all are going to be able to." Malfoy's cheeks went red in embarrassment. Remember his fourth year and being turned into a ferret by the dark arts teacher. "But first were going to practice the hand motions. Everyone pick up your quills and hold them in front of you."

Hermione, Ron and Harry did as they were told and picked up their quills.

"I hope Malfoy gets turned into a ferret again. That was rather hilarious." whispered Ron.

"Oh Ron, that wasn't the right thing to do. It wasn't even fair to Malfoy. He was changed into an animal by an evil wizard who worked for you know who." whispered Hermione. Ron and Harry looked at her.

"Are you actually sticking up for him?" asked Harry.

"No, I was just making a point."

Tesania picked up the quill she had laid before her on her desk. She held her quill in front of her and looked up at the teacher. Professor McGonagall gave the hand motions and the class began to practice. She walked around and watched them practice.

"Very good Ms. Granger." she said as she passed through Gryffindor side. She walked passed the rest of them and Tesania didn't hear anymore compliments. She saw the professor walking through the Slytherin side. As she came to her, she stopped and complimented her as well.

"Very good Ms. Nightshade." Tesania gave a small smile to her and watched her walk away. "Now I want you to find a partner." Pansy went straight for Draco and he gave a helpless look. Tesania gave a small snicker. Harry and Ron automatically partnered up with each other. Soon only two people didn't have partners. Hermione and Tesania. The professor told Hermione to move back with her so that they could be partners. Hermione didn't look to happy about it and neither did Tesania. Hermione sat down next to her and then looked forward to watch the teacher. Neither of them looked at each other until it was necessary.

"Now that you all have the correct movements down I want you all to stand up and face your partner. The partner on the left of the classroom will cast the spell first. As you say the spell, think of the animal you are going to turn your partner into. You have to concentrate; so keep all other thoughts out of your mind." She stopped and looked at everyone. "Wands at the ready. Now say Animange."

Tesania and Hermione faced each other. Tesania's wand was held at the ready and Hermione closed her eyes waiting for the spell to happen. She heard Tesania speak the spell but she did not feel anything change. She opened her eyes and saw her view had changed. She was now looking up at her. Professor McGonagall walked over to where Tesania stood and congratulated her.

"Twenty points for Slytherin." She walked back up to the front of the class.

"Wow I figured Hermione would be the first one to change anyone." said Ron. He had unsuccessfully changed Harry.

"I agree." said Harry. Draco smirked as he heard this. Pansy had also unsuccessfully changed him as well. He looked back at Tesania and saw that she had changed Granger into a cat.

"Now for those of you had successfully or partly managed to change your partner say Humange." Tesania spoke the word and Hermione closed her eyes. When she reopened them she saw that she was her normal self.

"Were you afraid I was going to screw up?" asked Tesania softly and politely. She didn't like having the feeling that people didn't trust her. Hermione gave an embarrassed smile and gave a small nod.

"Yeah, just a little."

"Alright now the opposite partners. I would like you to try this time." spoke McGonagall.

"Well it's my turn." said Tesania with a sigh. "Just don't turn me into a bat." she said her second sentence with a smirk and the two got in position again. Hermione raised her wand.

"Animange!" she said. In her mind she pictured a hawk. To her surprise Tesania turned successfully into a golden hawk. Professor McGonagall again saw this achievement and rewarded her with twenty points as well. Hermione turned her back and smiled.

"Well you did it." said Tesania.

"I wonder why she's teaching us this spell." asked Hermione as she sat back down next to Tesania. Tesania sat down again as well.

"It's for when you're in a wizarding duel. So basically for self defense. It's rather useful." she answered. Tesania turned to Hermione. "We weren't properly introduced. I'm Tesania Nightshade." She held out her hand and waited for Hermione to shake it. She did and with a smile.

"I'm Hermione Granger. You're pretty good at this stuff."

"Thanks. Transfiguration was one of my better subjects." Class had ended about a half an hour later and the two said good bye. Tesania walked back to the Slytherin common room. She had a free period and then she would have to go to Divination. So she figured she would drop of her Transfiguration book and parchment and then head out side to relax and then over to the side of the castle where the class would be.