Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Harry Potter, not even stock.
A/N: I hope this isn't too drab. Please review so I'll know if I should keep writing or not. Thank you, I appreciate your time.
Two weeks before the beginning of term found Professor Dumbledore in Hogsmeade, anxiously awaiting the Hogwarts train. On board were his two new professors Gates and Lockhart. He had spent the day at the Three Broomsticks chatting with Rosmerta and listening to the local gossip. Evidently the female population was also impatiently expecting one of the new teachers for days. The faint rumbling in the ground alerted Dumbledore to the approaching locomotive. As the train grew closer, so grew the number of females about the station. Well, at least the attention would be drawn away from Ms. Gates.
Albus stood on the platform; smiling all the while the train slowly drew nearer to the station. The locomotive gave a great hiss of relief as it parked and the few aboard began to disembark. As one blond headed man exited from the box car most of the women around suddenly rushed forward surrounding him, whimpering like puppies, begging for his autograph. "Yes, yes," his voice carried over the noise, "Lockhart has finally come to Hogwarts." Grinning with a rather large cheesy grin, white teeth shining, he looked over the circle of excited admirers "Of course I have time to sign all of your copies of "Magical Me". And anticipating as I am, I have extra copies available for sale if you want more than one."
Completely unnoticed by the folk around, another passenger exited a few cars down. The tall woman stood for a moment, reorganizing her items and straightening her broad brimmed maroon hat. After making sure, that her also maroon robes with black embellishments looked neatly despite the long journey, she pulled black gloves on and took her large brown suitcase. Smiling she waved at Dumbledore and began slowly making her way toward him, after she cast a quick levitation spell on there case so that it would float along behind her. (I guess it would make more sense to have her do that than carry the bulky thing)
Oh, and there's the need for a description of Rosaline. I picture her as a not too small woman with dark brown hair and a normal figure. Not too thin, not too heavy and especially not one of those fanfiction-persons with "curves in the right places", I would love to read for once of a woman with a bigger waist and smaller breasts.) I like to think that she's a lot like one of the models used during the art nouveau movement. That's at least where I draw my inspiration for her from,
"How was your journey Miss Rosaline?" He greeted when she came to stand in front of him. Putting the case down quickly she gave Albus a small hug and a kiss on the cheek causing him to blush just a little, which he rarely did.
"It's so good to finally see you, Dumbledore!" she was practically giddy with excitement. "The ride over was fine once I got away from him," Rosaline nodded with a grin in the general direction of Lockhart.
"Oh, I'm sure, Mr. Lockhart didn't mean to distress you, dear. However, I do believe that there will only be enough room in the waiting coach for you and myself. You're things will be sent up to the school of course later. I think, I'll have Filch come back for our colleague and an hour or so." mentioned Dumbledore, while they both walked towards the exit of Hogsmeade station. Rosaline didn't miss the small grin, that hid under his long beard, nor did the glint in his eyes escape her attention.
" That would be wonderful, honestly, I can't wait to see Hogwarts after all, that I heard about. Apart form ,you don't know, how many 'magical me' speeches I had to endure on the way here." She smiled again not really knowing how far she could joke with Dumbledore now that he was her boss.
On the ride up to the school, Dumbledore went over the basic rules for the school and began to tell her about the other teachers she would be working with. The sky had turned mildly overcast, causing the interior of the carriage to darken. Dumbledore quickly remedied the situation with his wand. "You'll get used to the cloud cover," he said noticing her rather disappointed look at the sky. (isn't almost always cloudy in England?) Rosaline nodded wordlessly and gave a small sigh.
"My dear, before I forget it, our Transfiguration teacher, Professor Minerva McGonagall is very interested in meeting you. You meet her once, when you were a child, perhaps you can remember her? She transfigured your hair ribbon into a song bird for you when you were small. I told her about your albacore and she found the idea intriguing. I made the assumption that the tuna had not always been so, am I correct?" Dumbledore smiled at her blush." Didn't you think it was funny?" Rosaline giggled, trying to contain herself, at which point Albus began to laugh as well. "Yes, rather. I wonder, how Professor Snape will handle your, shall we say quirky sense of humor. Most of the staff are quite friendly, a few however, such as Professor Snape are not exactly what one would call 'fun loving' " (Explanation, why you mention Snape here. Something like: I think you will go along with the rest of the staff, but he's a bit special...)
"He is the potions teacher, right? I've read his thesis about the affectivity of arum in cauterising potions as well as in medicine for internal irritations. He's brilliant."(wow, that's really great!)
"Yes, I've always thought so. But, back to your albacore..."
"I don't know what got into me that day. I just thought to my self, 'you know what would get the attention of a headmaster, a fish with a resume.'" They both laughed until the coach came to rest at the front entrance of Hogwarts. "Ah, here comes my tuna fish now," Rosaline said pointing to the sky. She removed her hat revealing long chocolate brown hair and raising her arm, a great horned owl came to roost. It waddled up her arm until it was able to come to rest on her shoulder. Turning her face towards the bird, she spoke to him "Butter, I would like you to meet Headmaster Dumbledore."
Nodding at the large bird the Headmaster in question greeted it. "Well, Butter, it is a pleasure to meet you in your natural form," then shifting his attention back to Rosaline, "you must have him very well trained, if he allows you to transfigure him so."
"No, he's just as silly as I am. That's all. I hope he doesn't miss Biscuit too much though. That's mother's owl." She said with a light voice, that was coloured with laughter.
Albus smiled to himself. "Butter and Biscuit?"
Rosaline gave him a very apologetic look, while the corners of her mouth twitched upwards." I was raised in small-town Georgia, USA," she said with a shrug, and then with an especially thick southern accent continued "Why sir, it's part of my charm."
"Let's get you inside and settled then, Butter can make himself acquainted with the owlrey, if he wishes. I'll have you meet the rest of the staff at dinner, so you have some time on your own for now. Don't be afraid, I know you'll get on well here."
Rosaline brushed her forehead against Butter's head before clicking at him. He hooted back at her, gently nipped her nose and launched himself into the air, heading off to get to know the other owls.
"Here we go then," she said to herself, picking up her suitcase again, she followed the headmaster through the main door and into Hogwarts proper. The few times that she had been allowed to visit before didn't prepare her for what was to come as she had never actually been inside Hogwarts before. She wondered momentarily if she had stepped though a time portal before remembering all that she had read in 'Hogwarts a History'. Medieval might be one way to describe it, however the one word that came to Rosaline was 'rich'. She couldn't help but wonder if the students ever noticed the exquisite details that surrounded them. Sculptures were strategically placed and magiced so that they wouldn't tip over. Frescos decorated the upper section of walls, the figures dancing around in them. She ran her hand over the smooth wood of the banister as Dumbledore lead her past the stairs on their way to were her room would be. She couldn't help but to stop and touch the walls and ornamentation on their walk. 'Glorious' she thought to herself.