A/N: The title is actually Decadence/Decay. Just so you know.

Chapter Two

I already liked this job better, and Professor Dumbledore had assured me I could wear just whatever I wanted to. So I immediately went to Madame Malkins and bought myself some nice, conservative, dark-purple, black trimmed robes for the special occasions. My everyday dress was fine, especially if I was going to teach classes like Potions and Defense. I had a number of button-up shirts and tasteful black slacks, and black, close-toed boots which are very important in potions. I similarly packed my library of Potions texts, some of my personal experimental notebooks, a pair of my lucky dragon-skin gloves, and my special-made granite cauldron. Last but not least was my plain looking but extraordinarily smart falcon Rave. I had heard that the English proffered to send post by owl, but back in the states other raptors such as eagles and hawks dominated the skies, at least where I came from.
I had two large suitcases, which I locomotored easily through the narrow corridor. I did, however, almost smack a skinny, tall blonde boy and two of his rather large school chums in the head, and got a nasty set of glares for my apology. Rave, sitting quietly on my shoulder hissed as they squeezed past, but I made it to an empty compartment and settled in.
It wasn't long until I felt as though someone was watching me. I glanced surreptitiously from the corner of my eye to see an older teenage girl with bright red hair and green eyes ogling me. I hoped I wasn't dressed too casual. I had on a slate gray, cable-knit, overlarge sweater, black jeans, my large black combat boots, and my blonde hair was tied up in a high, messy bun with a black ribbon. I often tied up my hair as, being nearly waist-length and quite thick and fine, it was almost unmanageable. I also, of course, had my bat like glasses on.
Finally, Rave let out a small squawking noise and the compartment door slid open and a very small gray owl darted in, racing in quick circles around the ceiling. Rave watched it with great interest and I placed a hand on his tether.
"Oi, Ginny, are you sitting her or not?" I looked over full this time. A boy, who looked like the redhead girl but older and taller, was looking curiously at the girl. She nodded in my direction, and he looked over, flushing.
"Um...hi." I said, raising the hand that wasn't keeping Rave from devouring the small bird above.
The boy stopped talking, and the two-who I assumed to be siblings- just stared. Finally, a very pretty girl with unkempt, wavy brown hair poked her head in, and saw me. "Terribly sorry." She apologised, throwing a look the red-haired boy. "Do you mind? The rest of the train's pretty full"
"No, of course not." I smiled. The redheads, the brown-haired girl, and a boy with black hair and glasses shoved in. They had just about gotten situated when a blonde girl with strangely protruderent eyes poked her head in. She smiled at me and then looked at Ginny.
"Are you coming to sit with us"
Ginny looked at me and then at the blonde girl with relief. "Yes!" She said, and slipped out of the compartment. I was left with the three teenagers all staring at me.
Rave bit at my hand, really wanting the owl.
"Is this one of your birds?" I asked the three, pointing to the still-fluttering owl.
No one spoke, and then the glasses kid said, "Yes, it's Ron's." Ron stood and caught the owl, which squeaked. "Shut, Pig." He mumbled, and stuffed the owl into his jacket.
"So you're the new Defense teacher." The girl stated. Both the boys looked at her shiftily, but I just smiled.
"Well, kind of. I'll be the Defense teacher for a month or so, anyway, until your permanent teacher arrives. And I'll be substituting Potions, and assisting your Potions Professor"
"You're helping Snape?" The black-haired boy blurted. The girl shot a look and hissed. "Harry"
At that moment, I realized something, and my eyes caught sight of a brief glimpse of some sort of pinkish marking between the mussed black forelock of the beglassed boy.
"Oh..." The boy looked me in the eye, as if trying to figure something out.
"Yes, I'm Harry Potter"
My face grew warm. "Sorry...I just didn't put two and two together...till...uh...she said something"
"My name is Hermione Granger." The girl smiled and leaned forward in her seat, extending her hand. I shook it and her grasp was firm, but friendly. "And this is Ron Weasley." She indicated the red-haired boy beside her.
"Well, I'm Hero Smythre...well, I guess Professor Smythre to you now..." I trailed off, stroking Rave's beak absentmindedly.
"Do you know who's taking over for Defense?" Harry asked. I shook my head. "No. In fact, the only faculty from your school I've met is Professor Dumbledore"
"You haven't met Snape yet?" Ron asked, looking at me in wonderment.
"Um...no..." There was something in the kids' looks that was foreboding.
"Alright, what is it? He some evil troll or something"
"Close." Harry said. Hermione shot him a reproving glance, but had an amused glimmer in her eye. I started to feel a little ill at ease. I decided to change subjects.
"So...from what I've read of the school in a delightful book called 'Hogwarts: A History'-" Hermione gasped and Ron and Harry both rolled their eyes. "Anyway, you all have houses? You're sorted by your individual characteristics"
"Yeah." Harry replied, still looking at Hermione who seemed very smug about something.
"So...which house are you guys in"
"Gryffindor." They replied simultaneously.
"Interesting." I commented.
"How did they do it at your school?" Hermione burst out.
"Well, I went to The Seattle Institute for Gifted Magical Children"
"DID you?" Hermione seemed delighted.
"Yes. We didn't have houses, we had different tracks. The first few years everyone is taking the same classes, but then we branched off and decided on different pursuits. I graduated with a Secondary Degree in Potions and was studying Teaching and Theoretical Potions at the Magical University of Northern Washington when I moved to London, a couple months ago, now"
"So you haven't been in England long, then"
"Nope. Was just getting settled when you Headmaster summoned me. Have to say I'm grateful for it"
"Why did you move?" Harry suddenly interjected. His eyes were on me again, and I hesitated.
"Harry, that's rude." Hermione intoned, and Harry looked away. After a moment of silence, Hermione noticed the landscape outside and nudged Ron. "We're supposed to be going around the train getting people ready." They stood quickly and left, leaving me alone with the famous Harry Potter.
"They're Prefects." He explained and stood, pulling open his trunk and pulling on his robes. I took the hint and did the same, first pulling off my bulky sweater. I pulled my hair out of the ponytail and let it fall straight on my shoulders, Rave moving to the seat beside me. After I was again situated, Harry was looking at me again.
"Are you related to the Malfoys?" He asked me, suddenly.
"The who-whats?" I cocked my head, straightening my glasses. "Are they French"
Harry studied me for a second, and then shrugged. "I don't know. You just bear a resemblance."