Chapter Two
"How are ye, Harry? Ready fer another year a' Hogwarts?" Hagrid grunted.
Harry muttered a 'yes' and turned his attention to Cho, or at least the back of her head. She was talking with a friend, most likely a Quidditch teammate. He wanted to reach for her hand, apologize, and ask her if they were still dating; but she'd most likely laugh at him, or worse, say nothing at all and act as if she'd never heard him speak. He sighed and joined Ron and Hermione in the carriage.
"So, did you talk to her?"
"Who?" said Harry.
Ron stared at him, "Cho! Who'd you think I meant?"
"That girl you were talking to- Tamora."
"Oh... Hope you meet her..."
Hermione was incensed, "Ron! Do you have to talk about that girl EVERY second?"
He seemed at wit's end, and finally let her have it, "Hermione, if you can't do anything but complain about me, why are you so jealous?" She didn't answer, but asked Harry instead, "Who will be keeper this year if Ron's obviously not going to make a fool of himself again this year?" Ron glared at her.
"Why don't you try out, then? I'm sure you have a book that will tell you how to play Quidditch."
They came upon the castle, the carriages pulling up near the archway before the doors. Hermione and Ron were still arguing, even through the entrance hall. Harry couldn't bear the whining and the shouting for more than a few minutes, then he walked away from them, even though they hadn't noticed. Hermione stopped in mid-sentence halfway to the dining hall, "Ron- the Sorting. I don't care what you think right now, we have to be in the dining hall for the Sorting."
They were seated close to the front of the Gryffindor table, Harry stuck in the middle of the two. Seamus sat next to Ron, "Hello Ron, Harry. Hermione- any idea who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is?"
"No, no one's ever heard of him before. But I did hear he's brilliant..."
Suddenly Harry felt a rush of air like he had back in his room at the Dursleys' in June; it forced an intense shiver to run through his body like a violent tremor.
"Harry, are you alright?" asked Hermione. Harry answered 'yes' and ignored the increasing pain of his scar. The hall was silent.
"Welcome back, all." Dumbledore's voice echoed. "Another year, and I am proud to say I will be your headmaster this year." All the students cheered except a small crowd of Slytherins. Dumbledore held up a hand and they were silent again. "I would like to also congratulate the Gryffindor house for their consistent control over the House Cup." At this, all the Gryffindors cheered. "Now," he paused a moment for the cheers to die down, "It is an honor to announce that we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Welcome, Professor Ravenwolf. She has come from her latest werewolf hunt on the outskirts of Romania, and has told me she is thrilled to become a professor at Hogwarts. She isn't here at the moment, but she will teach classes tomorrow. Now, I believe Professor McGonagall would like to begin with the Sorting. Professor?" There was scattered applause, the McGonagall spoke.
"Thank you. I will begin with..." This was the point at which Ron and Hermione began to argue again, softer in their complaints so that McGonagall wouldn't hear. Harry's eyes fixed on a point on the wall and he was lost in thought. He'd been the cause of so many deaths. First his parents, dying to save his life. Then Cedric... if only Harry had been there with him... And now Sirius. Even Ginny was almost killed simply because Voldemort wanted to find him. Almost every person he'd met before had had their life threatened because of him. If only he could save them. But now Voldemort was at his worst. He couldn't be stopped now...
Harry's thoughts circled in his mind for minutes, near an hour he thought of this, then he thought of Cho. He didn't know if he loved her, or if it was an infatuation. Maybe she didn't love him anymore, and he was wasting his time. The same burning of his scar from before brought him into harsh contrast with reality. The Sorting was nearly over, less than a handful of names remained.
McGonagall seemed intrigued, and a long pause came before the next name was announced. "Black, Tamora."
An older girl approached the stool, McGonagall placing the sorting hat on her head.
Harry caught himself before he could cry out in surprise. Black? Sirius. Her sleek dark hair, mysterious eyes and slender face reminded him painfully of his lost godfather. It took a while before the Sorting Hat spoke.
"Hm...Most peculiar...Haven't been any students from the Black family in two decades...Let alone a sixth-year..."
Draco's eyes were locked on her as the Sorting Hat pondered her placement. Harry noted this, intensely awaiting the decision of house.
"...Slytherin!" the Hat finally answered, with cheers from the Slytherin table.
By the look on Tamora's face, she wasn't quite sure whether she dreaded or enjoyed being in Slytherin when she sat at the table. Malfoy grinned smugly in Harry's direction, hoping to unnerve him. He had.
"That's the girl I was talking to! D'you think she's related to Sirius?" Ron asked him.
"I'm certain."
This would be his greatest triumph. He hid his excitement from his fellow Slytherins. His father had told him over the summer about Sirius Black being Harry's godfather, and it was a very powerful secret. This power could tear apart Harry, especially with his dead godfather's only daughter in Slytherin. The only thing that would be needed to befriend this girl was time, and he had all year to finally destroy (if not physically, then mentally) the famous Harry Potter.
But behind all the revenge and hatred there was truth. Lucius had hated James and Lily, and that deep-rooted jealousy had been imprinted on Draco. Lucius had brought up his son to know well the name of Voldemort, taught him to enjoy the darkness. It had been many years since Draco's father corrupted his mind, too bitter to be a memory, too vivid to be a nightmare. All this lingered in subconscious thoughts, even now as he followed her with his eyes until she reached the table.
Draco gazed at Tamora, "Welcome to Slytherin house. Are you really related to Black- the murderer?"
She didn't answer, but continued to lose herself in thought.
Malfoy spoke louder, "Are you related to Black- the murderer?"
"The murderer?"
"Sirius Black."
"...I am. But he isn't a murderer," she replied thoughtfully.
Draco gave up all hope of reaching her at the moment, and Tamora didn't seem to notice he had even stopped talking.
Hermione, Ron, and Harry were huddled at the table.
"I think she's going to be a problem," Hermione said with an air of superiority.
Lavender butted in, "Come on, Hermione. You're just jealous because she's prettier than you and you know it."
"Who asked you, anyway?" she snapped at Lavender, "Jealous of a Slytherin. Ridiculous." Hermione continued her conversation, "The real reason I think she'll be trouble is because I think Draco's got something planned. Did you see the way he was looking at her?"
"Maybe he's considering his options for the sixth year formal ball," Ron sniggered.
"Whatever his intentions may be," said Hermione, "I intend to let her alone 'till I've gotten my first homework assignments completed tomorrow evening. Many more important things on my mind than Tamora."
Harry hadn't been listening. He was focused on Cho. She, too, seemed a different person. She was even more beautiful this year, but Harry still wasn't sure whether she even liked him anymore.
"You'll get Cho back, don't worry," said Ron.
Harry nodded more to convince himself than to agree with Ron. "Yeah..."
The sorting ceremony had soon ended, and all the prefects (including Hermione) lead their house's first-years to the common rooms.
Hermione said the password and let them in. "Boys to the left, girls to the right- your luggage has been set out for you." The first-years nervously scuttled up the stairs to their four-poster beds. The three sat in the common room beside the fire.
"She did almost tell me her father's name, but she wanted me to keep it a secret... It's got to be Sirius..." Ron said.
"Who?" asked Hermione, "Oh no- we're not still talking about that girl. It's too late to be talking about this still..."
"She might be Sirius' daughter, Hermione- we have to find out more about her."
"Ron is right," said Harry, "She looks very much like Sirius. I'm positive she's his daughter. But why wouldn't he tell us about her?"
"Maybe he was going to tell you but then he..." Ron stopped short of mentioning Sirius' death.
Hermione said, "That's a possibility. But how are you so sure about her, Harry?"
"I don't know... I can just... tell. All I know is that we've got to talk to her- and Slytherins' got potions with us again this year."
next day- Potions
Snape walked quickly into the room, doors slamming behind him. He stopped at his desk and grinned wryly. "Welcome back, Mr. Potter. Would you like me to call in Madam Pomfrey case you have another nightmare while you fall asleep in class?" The Slytherins erupted with laughter, Draco leading them. Snape was especially harsh this year since Harry had seen his most deepest, most humiliating secret memories in the pensieve. There was no escape from the constant insult and severity that he would have to endure this year, and quite honestly, it was all the vengeance Snape could inflict now that James was dead.
"Madam Pomfrey won't be needed until Quidditch season begins for Slytherin," said a female voice from the back of the room. The Gryffindors laughed and jeered the perfect reply while Snape scanned the back of the classroom. His eyes focused.
He grinned, eyes flashing, "Miss Black, I believe?" Silence fell swiftly on the students and all heads turned. She nodded, looking directly into his eyes. Harry was taken aback. She didn't hesitate whatsoever to challenge him.
"Mr. Potter, you've been replaced as the most talked-about person in the school. (there was laughter at this as well) Tell me, Miss Black, do you know what atrocity your father was responsible of?"
"Charged of, not responsible, if you please," she answered, hinting anger.
His crooked grin was becoming less pleasant, but more amused. "Well, well, well. Anyone who can tell tales with such ease and still be so confident belongs here. Welcome to Slytherin, Miss Black."
Tamora glared at him, "Being asked questions about my father is welcome? I've been asked enough questions. I'm not answering them anymore."
"Very well," said Snape coldly, "But your father is infamous. Questions will be inevitable. Moving on, then." He paused, taking a moment to prepare his vials and parcels. "What did we learn last about the ingredient asphodel and its use in certain sleeping droughts?"
Immediately Tamora raised her hand, seconds after Hermione. "Miss Black?" Snape said, refusing answers from Hermione as usual.
Tamora answered, "Asphodel is used in some sleeping droughts to awaken instead of to add to the sedative because the other two ingredients counteract the third."
"Very good, Miss Black."
"I'm not finished," she said, causing several students to gasp. Snape would have given her detention had she not been a Slytherin. Instead, he waved his hand for her to continue. "These types of droughts very seldom have an antidote, therefore aren't commonly used." Everyone in the entire class was stunned, Slytherin and Gryffindor alike.
"...Finished?" Snape asked.
"Yes."
"Excellent. Second question for all those who can read..."
(A/N: I update just like this. Either an existing chapter, or brand new. Be on the lookout! Oh, and apologies for writing "he" instead of "she" in Dumbledore's welcome speech for Professor Ravenwolf. Alas, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is not a hot guy. Boo hoo. Oh well.)
After class was dismissed, Tamora was approached by someone less than pleasant.
"Tamora!" called Malfoy. She turned around to face him. "Yes?" She glared, "Oh, it's only you. Why are you so persistent? Haven't you any friends to bother?"
Draco smiled, trying to put his arm on her shoulder unsuccessfully. "I've heard you're quite the Quidditch player."
"I've heard you're a very rude person. Do you mind not trying to put your arm around me for a moment? Thank you."
"All right- here's what I want."
"I know what you want. Ask me the question about Quidditch," said Tamora sarcastically.
He laughed, his eyes narrow and cold, "Well then. I want to know if you'll be our new keeper. Our keeper graduated."
"Your keeper is a third-year. Don't take me for a fool, Draco." Tamora walked to the ladder leading to Trelawney's Divination class. She turned her head as she was about to ascend the ladder. "But concerning Quidditch, I'll be at practice early tomorrow morning."
Malfoy smiled admiringly, but began to give orders to Crabbe and Goyle when they passed to hide his absence of sharp cruelty.
"Welcome class," said a dreamy, distant voice. Trelawney's class was once again stifling, and judging by the billowing smoke, she hadn't opened the trap door leading to her classroom all morning. Tamora coughed and waved away the smoke in front of her face. "Professor Trelawney?"
The wide-eyed professor seemed to glide towards her through the smoke. "Miss Tamora Black. Your aura is emitting neutral vibrations. I await the shape your tea leaves will reveal. It gives me such... joy... to find the fate of a new student."
Tamora stared at her, completely puzzled, "...W-what?"
"Follow me, dear," Trelawney lead her to her seat, "you'll be revealing the unknown with your new partner, Miss Granger." Her eyes widened behind the thick spectacles again. She smiled, urging her to sit.
"...Thank you...?" she said awkwardly, sitting next to Hermione. "Hello. You're Miss Granger?"
"Hermione. And you're Tamora. Ron's told me about you," she said, trying her best to be friendly despite her aggravation from hearing about Tamora every minute of every day since they'd been on the train. "I didn't want to take Divination this year, but McGonagall said if I would be taking so many extra classes by choice I'd have to take all my required classes as well. Trelawney's a bit... how should I put this..."
"Insane?"
"Yes, that works nicely." Hermione smiled. "She's quite insane."
Tamora lifted a teacup, "...What do we do with the cups?"
"Oh, you'll see. We read tea leaves." She groaned, putting her head on the desk, "I hate this smoke... It's nauseating."
"Yes... it makes you very... sick." She had noticed Draco taking his seat at the table nearest them. Unfortunately, he spoke, "Tamora, why do you waste your time with them? First Weasley, now Granger. I thought you were more selective of your company."
"I am. That's why I've avoided you," said Tamora bluntly. Hermione laughed at the look of rejection on his face. Malfoy jeered, "Can't fight your own battles, Granger? If it's not Potter, at least you have a backup."
Hermione nearly put a curse on him, but Tamora made a deal with him, "Draco- I know for some bizarre reason you're interested in being a plague in my life, so if you leave us alone in this class for the rest of the year, I'll be your partner today."
"For the entire day?" he said in a coltish tone, "And does this include retiring to the boys' dormitories?" Crabbe and Goyle laughed stupidly from the table in front of Draco and one could make out the words "bed" and "Draco" amid the unintelligible speech.
"This offer will expire, Draco. Take it or leave it." Tamora folded her arms.
Draco nodded, "Fine. I'll play by your rules for today."
Hermione tried to tell her that it was alright and she didn't need to sit next to Malfoy just to stop her from killing him. As usual, Tamora had her own plans that would give her a dramatic advantage. She sat to the left of Draco, setting down her tea cup. Then, before he could speak, she lodged her wand between two of his ribs forcefully, "If you don't leave Hermione alone, I may have to resort to moving my wand lower to do some more permanent damage. It's all about choices, Draco." The shock was evident on his face. She whispered into his ear, "...Choose wisely." He sighed with relief when she placed her wand back in her pocket.
"Class, may I have your attention..." said the liquid voice of Professor Trelawney, "We will be reading tea leaves again this year in order to find our fates for this year. I see Mr. Potter has died over the summer? Once again, the tea leaves are correct..." Parvati and Lavender clapped enthusiastically.
"Actually, Professor- he's in your last class of the day." Hermione smiled, nodding in Tamora's direction. Parvati and Lavender gave Hermione a nasty look, then said Lavender said, "Well, Professor... Mightn't he die... this year?"
"Excellent thinking, Miss Brown- your senses of the unknown are very hightened." Trelawney approached Tamora. "I have passed out the tea leaves. Please begin, Miss Black." Tamora nodded and drank her tea, leaving only the leaves. Trelawney took her cup. "Interesting... they are forming a shape... Oh... my! The black dog returns! It appears from mist!" Trelawney was terrified, her hand drawn over her mouth.
Tamora froze, "...The black dog?... That's impossible."
"He appears! He appears!"
"...What's going on?" Draco said warily.
"...I don't know."
Hermione couldn't believe what she'd heard, and she was glued to the edge of her seat, feeling unable to move.
Trelawney was hysterical, "The black dog... it's not of death... it's of life... He lives!... He lives!..." She repeated this to herself, fainting backwards onto the floor.
"Professor Trelawney!" cried Lavender and Parvati, rushing to her aid. She awakened, staring at Tamora, removing her glasses to reveal her orb-like eyes. She pointed at Tamora with a trembling hand. "...Miss Black. You are in grave danger. The black dog lives... the curtains have opened... someone is behind them... Something in this school..." Trelawney waved the smoke from her face, rising from the floor shakily, "...Class dismissed. All classes dismissed."
For the first time in her history, Hermione sat next to Malfoy. "Tamora... what was that?"
"I wish I knew. No one understands- The black dog can't return..."
"Fang?" Draco said obliviously.
Hermione sighed, "Tamora, sit with Ron and Harry and me tonight at dinner. We have to talk."
On the way to Defense Against the Dark Arts, Hermione met Harry and Ron and told him what happened. "...Then she fainted! And she said Tamora was in danger."
"Trelawney thinks everyone's in danger. I think she's just finally gone over the edge of insanity," said Ron.
Harry waited for the stairs to change, "But if she isn't... we'd better be prepared for anything." They were seated at desks near the front of the class (which was a nice change from Trelawney's round tables), near a few less likeable Slytherins.
"You'll need some help fighting the Dark Arts this year, Potter- You might run into an enchanted toaster," laughed Millicent Bullstrode. The small group of Slytherins laughed at him.
"I'd be surprised if you could spell toaster, Millicent." Hermione was saved from Millicent's clenched fist by the door creaking open.
A witch with silvery mid-length hair walked into the room, her bright green eyes shining. She was very sickly pale, almost to match her hair. The stark color of her skin forced her slender nose into contrast whenever shadows lined her face. . Her black leather boots trod heavily on the floor, and her long cloak was onyx black. Any Muggle to walk through that classroom and lay eyes upon that woman would certainly think her a ghost, or a vampire; even to the students, her mortality was questionable.
Her looming stance left the class in stunned silence, and then, in a lucid voice, she spoke. "I am Professor Ravenwolf. This is Defense..." she emptied her left pocket onto her desk, revealing several stakes and her wand, "Against..." then her right pocket, two silver bullets, a few runes, a vial of some sort, and a talisman, "...the Dark...Arts." Then, she pulled a single crystal on a chain from around her neck. She held the end of the chain, letting the crystal swing in a circular motion. It spun faster and faster until it escaped from her grip, whizzing past the heads of the people in the first row, causing the girls in the front to scream. It stopped an inch from Neville's head, directly between his eyes. He was petrified, Ravenwolf approaching him and taking the crystal from his face. Ravenwolf stood at the head of the class, "...Any questions?"
Hermione raised her hand. Ravenwolf nodded.
"Erm... Professor? What will we be studying first?"
"Werewolf hunting, Miss Granger," said Professor Ravenwolf, returning all of the items on her desk to her pockets. Harry blanched. Werewolf hunting? Had she been hunting in the Forbidden Forest? Possibly Moony was still there, living off of small animals. Harry shuddered to think that he may be a shell of a man, hunted by a woman who replaced him in his job.
"Class," she said loudly, "we will have a start of term ability exam." Groans echoed through the classroom. "It will not be of the written form." The groans died down. "It will be of general knowledge: boggarts, werewolves, dragons, vampires, trolls,giants, dementors... (a few students gasped) and most importantly- other witches and wizards. It will be given in the Forbidden Forest tomorrow evening after dinner. We will meet in the entrance hall and from there be escorted by Professor Hagrid into the forest. At the end of the year, we will have individual tests of knowledge, so it would do you all some good to pay attention in my class. It may even save your life." She smiled at Neville. "Let's begin with a bit of review. What is the spell cast to disarm a boggart? Mr. Weasley?"
"...Ridiculus."
"Correct. Miss Granger, what is the spell used to ward off dementors?"
"Expecto Patronum."
"Very good. Mr. Potter, you should know this- what is the curse that kills Muggle and wizard alike with a flash of green light?"
Harry couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Hermione seemed completely insulted as well. "Professor Ravenwolf!"
"Yes, Miss Granger- is it an unfair question?" Hermione's angered silence made the answer obvious. "Oh... I see. Well, this question shouldn't be taken offensively. Things in the past should stay in the past. Mr. Potter?"
"...Advada Kedarva."
"Excellent. Mr. Longbottom, is it? What can be used to ward of vampires?" Neville nodded, still a little unsettled from nearly being hit between the eyes by a flying crystal on a chain. "Cloves of garlic...?"
"No, no..." laughed Ravenwolf, "Garlic cloves aren't useful unless the vampire wants to season his prey. Anyone else? Miss Bullstrode, perhaps?"
"... A silver bullet?"
"Vampires, Miss Bullstrode- not werewolves." Ron and Seamus laughed, Millicent glaring at them threateningly. Slowly the laughter faded and they turned back around to face Professor Ravenwolf. Hermione raised her hand.
"...Yes?" said Ravenwolf.
Hermione sat up straight, replying clearly, "Lumos."
"Correct. Well done." Ravenwolf paced the floor addressing the class, "Sunlight is lethal to vampires. Crosses are their bonfires. They think nothing of garlic. Stakes, yes. But you must be an excellent aim to pierce a vampire's heart, therefore I do not recommend it." She stopped pacing and stood in front of Luna Lovegood. "Miss Lovegood. What is your input for today?"
"I know lots about werewolves," Luna said excitedly, "About silver bullets, and moon cycles, and..."
"I can see you'll be one of the better students. Very well, Miss Lovegood." The three of them snickered, watching Luna clutch her latest edition of the Quibbler tightly to her chest. Luna? An excellent student? Maybe this year would be more entertaining than they had assumed.