Chapter 5
The Teacher and the Snake
"Ah," said Dumbledore, clasping his hands together.
The dark figure's hood slid backwards, as though being pushed by an invisible hand. Harry's scar continued to burn.
The woman began to walk towards the staff table, her gloves magically sliding off her hands and into her pockets. As she got closer to Harry, he was shocked at what he saw.
"She's no older than Charlie," whispered Ron, as she passed them.
"Students," Dumbledore began, he remained standing. "I would like to introduce you to an old friend of mine, and you're new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Miss Sahara Dominique Nailah Mandana Eshana Thina Priscilla Bellona Aradia."
Harry could hear a few people giggle.
"One should always be proud of a long name," said Dumbledore. He smiled. "Now, Let the feast begin."
As Dumbledore waved his hands, food magically appeared before everyone. But Harry's attention was still on the her She sat down at the staff table and shook Prof. Mcgonagal hand.
Harry could feel someone looking at him, so he turned to his plate. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Dumbledore watching him intently.
"She is going to be horrible," said Hermione, shaking her head. "I just know it. We are going to end up teaching her."
"I wouldn't be complaining," said Ron, helping himself to every dish in front of him. "You're the one that jinxed it."
"I didn't Jinx anything," she said. "How can Dumbledore get someone so young to be the Dark Arts teacher, especially now?"
Harry didn't answer or say anything. He could still feel Dumbledore watching him. Why? He didn't know. He began to take things and put them on his plate to try to keep himself from looking back at him.
"Harry I don't think you want to eat that," said Ron, pointing to the massive amount of Lima beans that Harry was dumping onto his plate. "So what did Snape want?"
"He told me about my O.W.L.S," said Harry, still not looking up. "And...something else, I'll tell you tomorrow."
"Are you ok?" Hermione asked, she stooped her head so that she could make eye contact with him. "You've been acting a little odd ever since the train. "
Harry felt the crystal blue gaze move away from him, and saw Dumbledore begin to chat with Prof. Flitwick.
"I'm just tired," he said, thinking of the first excuse that came to his mind. Harry could see Hermione open her mouth to say something, but loud footsteps began to make their way between the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor table. Harry looked up to see the new Dark Arts teacher making her way to the door, her pointed boots making loud snaps as they hit the floor. Slowly, the heads of student began to pop up from their plates, and watch her. She opened the door, looked at Dumbledore, gave a nod, and then left.
"I can't wait to have class with her," said Ron, and he took a swig of Pumpkin Juice.
The 6th year Gryffindor's chatted throughout their meal, but Harry did his best to stay out of the conversation. He continued to ponder over what Snape had told him, and why Dumbledore was watching him.
The meal finished and Head Boys and Girls lead their house to their common rooms. Hermione said goodnight to Harry and Ron and they made their way up to the boys Dormitory. Their trunks were in front of their beds, and they began to unpack a few things.
"I don't get it," said Ron, as he threw a few things in his drawer. "She looks like she is no older than Charlie, but Bill must have met her when he was about, 19 or so. He is 26 now, so she must have been only 16 or something. But I got the impression that she was older."
"Maybe she just looks young," said Harry, closing his trunk, and getting ready for bed.
"Yeah I guess so," said Ron, closing his trunk as well.
Harry didn't sleep well that night. He could not stop thinking about what Snape had said. Why would Snape try to warn him? It's not like he ever cared about Harry. And why did Dumbledore watch him like that?
It all made him feel very uneasy. Like they were all watching him, and waiting. Waiting for what he was going to do next. Harry felt as though something was about to happen, but he had no idea what.
"Why in bloody hell am I in Divination?" asked Ron, as he threw his schedule at the table. "I got a 'P'!"
"Maybe Trelawney 'see's' something," laughed Hermione. "It looks like we have potions together, Harry."
"Make that double potions," said Harry, reading his schedule. "And before that we have double Dark Arts."
"This ought to wake us up," said Ron, pouring himself some Pumpkin Juice, as he looked up at the staff table. "She sure isn't friendly, that's for sure."
Hermione and Harry looked as well. The seat next to Prof. Mcgonagal was empty.
"Morning," said a familiar voice behind Harry. He turned and came face to face with Luna Lovegood. "Wonderful Dark Arts teacher this year, don't you think?"
"Sure," said Hermione, as she picked up the Daily Prophet.
"I think she might be Madame Missing," Luna looked as though she had just found gold.
"Who's that?" asked Ron, looking up at her.
"She is from all over the place," said Luna. "No one can ever find her when they need her. My father did an article on her in the Quibbler."
"What makes you think that she is Madame-" But Hermione was interrupted.
"Her boots of course," said Luna Lovegood, and she began to walk away. "Good day."
Hermione rolled her eyes and returned to the Daily Prophet.
"More 'How to' list from the Ministry," she said. "As if a list is going to help you against death eaters."
Student began to file off to their classrooms, and the three of them did the same. As they got to the classroom Hermione immediately proceeded to the front.
"What do you want to sit in the front for?" Asked Ron ,as he followed her.
"I want to witness this first hand," she said, as she took a seat. "And she isn't even here yet. Lovely first impression."
"Don't you three just brighten up my morning," said a cold voice from behind. Malfoy walked to the table right behind him. He had grown a few inches over the summer. Harry and him stood eye to eye. "Can't wait for the class to begin," he said, with a laugh. And he took the seat right behind Harry.
Everyone was in the classroom by now, and had taken their seats. They all talked silently with the people around them, waiting for the teacher to arrive. Minutes passed, but no one came.
"Where is she?" Asked Ron after a certain period of time.
"Maybe I should go get McGonagal?" asked Hermione. But Just as she finished her question, the door to the class room swung open. Everyone's heads turned.
Her boots began to tap in rhythm as she made her way to her desk, her black robe flying behind her. In her hand she carried a single, rather large, book. She threw it onto her desk and took her seat. She didn't say a word, but opened the book and began to glare at its contents. Harry finally got a good look at her.
She had large facial features that gave the impression that she wasn't from here. But where she was from, he didn't know. Her hair was as black as the night sky and tied up in an old fashion bun, just like Prof. McGonagal wore hers. She had a very tired expression on her face, like she hadn't slept in days.
To Harry, she looked like she had just popped out of a history book.
She began to tap her boots against the inside of her desk. The class looked at her anxiously, waiting for her to say something.
Hermione looked at Harry and Ron, and then rolled her eyes. She picked up her text book and dropped it on her desk, sending a loud 'smack' echoing through the room. A few students jumped.
But their new teacher continued to look at the book in front of her. After a few seconds Hermione leaned back in her chair.
"Excuse me," Hermione finally broke the silence.
"V'will you shut up, impatient girl," said the teacher, glancing up from her book. Her voice was carried a very deep accent, that Harry had never heard before.
Hermione closed her mouth and raised her eyebrows. She leaned back in her chair, and waited like the rest of them.
Not that much more time passed before the teacher finally stood up. She walked to the front of her desk, and leaned on it surveying the classroom. She didn't even glance at Harry.
"My s'name is Sahara Dominique Nailah Mandana Eshana Thina Priscilla Bellona Aradia," she began, and her thick accent echoed throughout the room. A few students laughed, but she payed no attention. "S'you can call me anythin' that s'you like, just as long as zee word Professor doesn't appear before it. And if it doez, I v'will cut out s'your tongue myselve."
"It would help if we could understand what you were saying.," said Malfoy from behind Harry.
"S'you don't make fun of zee way I talk'e and I won't make fun of zee way s'you do," she said, glaring at him. She shook her head, and then simply uttered "V'whatever."
"And s'you can put s'your bookz a'vway," she continued, pulling out a very old wand. "S'you don't learn spells vrom a book." She looked directly at Hermione as she said this, and Hermione glared back at her.
Hermione raised her hand.
"Yes?"
"Are we not going to use books at all?" Hermione asked. She nodded.
Hermione shook her head and then through her book on the floor.
"Throughout the whole year?" said Seamus, putting his in his bag.
She nodded again.
"But we paid for them," said Ron, hesitantly.
"I v'will give s'you s'your money back if s'you want," she said. "It can't 'ave been that detrimental to-" But a loud scream from Parvati Patil interrupted her. She stood up, and something fell to the floor with a soft thud.
Aradia walked over, and picked up what fell. "S'you don't just let t'ings fall to zee floor." She said, as she walked back to her desk.
As she walked pass Harry, what was in her hands shot it's head straight at his face. Harry jumped back, and she grabbed it before is struck.
"It is g'ust a snake. It v'will not bite you." she said, smiling at Harry. Her charcoal eyes glared at him, and Harry's scar seared with pain. But he didn't grab it, but continued to look at her. The word Voldemort popped into his head, but he didn't pay any attention to it.The class went quite well. They spent most of it reviewing things they had learned over the past year. Students would take turns doing jinxes, and whenever they did something wrong Aradia would simply say "Fix it."
She watched everything they did, not interrupting, just simply watching. And then the bell rang.
"Good'vye," she said, and turned to walk around her desk.
"No homework or anything?" Asked Hermione, not moving from her seat.
"No," said Aradia, not even bothering to look at her.
Hermione picked up her books and stormed out of the room. Harry and Ron jogged after her.
"It wasn't that bad Hermione," said Ron. "It was almost like being in the DA again. Casting jinxes and everything, only Harry wasn't the one teaching."
"There is something wrong with her," she said, as they continued to walk. "Did you see the look she gave Harry when that snake almost tore his head off."
"That was a bit odd," said Ron. "She is very different, but I think you over exaggerating a little bit."
Hermione stopped and rolled her eyes at him. "Your not coming this way," she said to him. "You got a 'P' in potions remember."
"Thanks for reminding me," said Ron, and he walked away in the other direction.
"That was a bit harsh," said Harry, as Hermione and him walked down to the dungeons.
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Hope you liked it. More to be explained, I promise. Thanks for reading and please review. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Next Chapter: And Captain, Too