Chapter two

Sometimes you have to leave your past behind, and sometimes you have to do it over and over again. Diana did. The first time she did that was when she started at Hogwarts. She left her aunt's and uncle's house for most of the year. She went from no one to someone. The second time was when the war ended, and she could be a normal person and live a normal life, she left the war behind.

Now, two years after Draco's death, she had moved on again. That was the hardest thing she had ever done, but she needed to do it. Continue to live, even if it was hard to do so. Remus had been a great supporter, and she was sure that if it hadn't been for him, she would have killed herself a long time ago.

The grounds of Hogwarts were as green as ever. The castle stood out against the blue sky, and the trees were thickly wooded. It was a perfect day...almost.

Severus Snape was angry. No, he was furious. He stormed down the halls of Hogwarts and made it to his personal quarters in the cool dungeons, slamming the portrait close behind him.

He had once again applied for the Defence against the dark arts post, and again been denied it. Evidently, the headmaster had already hired someone for the post, but he could for his life not imagine who that person would be. Everyone thought that the post was cursed, and there were very few people who was brave enough to apply for the position.

After the war, he had been a target for the remaining supporters of the Dark Lord. He was a traitor in their eyes, and had been forced to stay behind Hogwarts walls for protection. Now, five years after the war, he was somewhat safer. Many of the death eaters had been killed or sent of to Azkaban, so he could leave Hogwarts for some period of time, nit that he did leave that much anyway.

Snape poured down a whiskey, and took of the outer robe. He sat down by his desk and started with the grading of the previous year potion exam. He cursed the students lack of skill in the subject, and it only got worse. Some had made an effort, but he wasn't pleased anyway.

He graded ten essays, and after that, he took a break. His eyes fell on the picture standing on the desk. A blond tall boy was smiling at him and waving. He was seventeen on that picture. He had loved Draco Malfoy as a son, but after the war the two of them had grown apart. That maybe had something to do with the boys wife.

He had never gotten along with Diana Potter. Some thought that he loathed her, but that wasn't it. He just remembered James Potter every single time he saw her, and he couldn't handle that very well. He had been at the wedding, and that was the last time he had seen her, except for the burial of Draco, but then, he hadn't really seen her.

His godson had been angry with him for his childish behaviour towards Diana. Draco invited him for Christmas, Easter, Birthdays, but he never went to any of it. He met Draco other times, but that didn't please his godson. Severus admitted that he was a bit childish, but he would never admit that-

Severus wondered if he ever would see Diana Potter again. He hoped not.

September first was a stormy day. The rain fell down from the sky like a grey wall, and all the teachers were gathered in the staff room.

"Welcome to another term. In a few hours the students will arrive, and the first years will be sorted into their new houses. This year, we will have a new History of magic teacher, because Professor Binns has finally left to the other side." The staff members smiled. They were somewhat tired of the lazy dead professor. Dumbledore motioned for a man in the corner to step forward. "This is Professor Isaac Rendoff." The other teachers introduced themselves and Dumbledore continued. "So, to the Defence Professor. I'm delighted to present this years addition, A Lady that, I think, many of you remember."

The cloaked woman stepped forward and took of the hood that she had hidden her face behind. "Hello."

The teachers gasped and looked stunned at the young green-eyed woman. Her red hair fell in waves around her face and framed it perfectly. She had a small smile on her lips and everyone could feel the power radiate from her body.

"Oh, Mrs Malfoy, what a pleasure to meet you again!" It was the charms professor, Flitwick who bounced up and down whit a wide smile on his face.

The young woman went to greet her tiny, former professor.

"It's great to see you to professor." The tiny wizard took her hand.

"Call me Filius, Mrs Malfoy."

"Very well, call me Diana then."

Diana greeted her old professors that seemed delighted to see her again. Some of them had been on her wedding and the burial of Draco, but some of them she hadn't met since her graduation five years ago.

There was one man thought, who sat in the far corner of the staff room, that she didn't dare to speak with. Severus Snape had shown, far to many times, what he thought about her.

She could feel the man glare at her, and she tried to ignore him. She turned to the headmaster.

"Albus, I think it would be best if someone showed me to my rooms, so I can unpack before the feast."

The white haired man nodded.

"Yes, I will take you." He turned and headed for the door.

"See you all later then." She followed the headmaster out.

They walked to the seventh floor and stopped outside a painting of Godric Gryffindor.

"Hello Albus, the new Defence teacher I presume?" The headmaster smiled.

"Yes Godric, this is Mrs Diana Malfoy."

"Nice to meet you, young lady." Diana smiled.

"Thank you, sir." The painting looked amused. "Please call me Godric, sir is far to formal."

After giving Godric her permission to call her Diana, the headmaster gave him the password, housepoints and they stepped into a big common room.

"Welcome to the teachers wing." Diana looked at the room with awe. The room was decorated in blue and white, and the furniture was in cream. A big fireplace was in the opposite side of the entrance. To the left there was a corridor and the headmaster guided her in to it.

"This is were the teachers have their personal quarters. Yours will be here." He stopped in font of a painting with three snakes. Diana looked at the headmaster. "I thought it would be a suitable don´t you think?"

Diana stepped forward.

"Hello, whatss your namess?" The snakes moved and one of them answered

"Hello sspeaker, my name is Zen, and thiss isss Xosssa and Cesssa, who are you?"

"My name is Diana, nice to meet you."

"Which passsword would you like, missss?"

Diana thought about it for a moment then:

"Endless love." The portrait opened and she walked in. The first room looked like a mix between a library and a living room. "This is your all room. As you see, you have some books here already, books that we thought you would enjoy, but there are plenty with space for your own. Behind that door you have the bathroom and behind that one, is the bedroom." Albus laid a hand on her shoulder. "I will leave you to it."

Diana sent him a smile. "Thank you Albus."

The old man stopped at the door. "Welcome back, Diana."

An hour later, Diana heard a soft knock on the portrait. She put the book that she held in her hands in the bookshelf and went to the entrance.

Outside stood Minerva McGonagall, her former Head of house.

"Minerva, come in." The stern looking woman gave her a small smile and stepped inside.

"I'm sorry about the mess." Diana picked up another book.

"Oh, it´s fine. It´s better than in the new history teachers rooms. That was a mess if i ever saw one." She sat down in an empty spot in the sofa and Diana sat down in an armchair.

"So, what can I do for you Minerva?" Her former head of house sighed.

"I would like you to help me with a small problem."