Chapter 18

The figure passed down the center of the hall, between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, closely followed by a large dog. This dog was thin, but well fed, with sleek shinny black fur touched with gray.

"Ah, welcome, Professor," said Dumbledore as the dog and figure stopped at the end of the tables.

A pair of thin and lightly tanned hands appeared out from the sapphire cloak and pushed back the large hood hiding the figure's features, to reveal a young lady. She had dark blue eyes and long black hair with fiery red tips. Her hair was loosely braided and was draped over her shoulder. She wore a pair of black boots and a dark blue gown that hugged her the base of her neck and skirted her ankles.

"Good evening, headmaster," the young lady said with a curtsy. "I am honored to be here in such a prestigious school. Your invitation was most unexpected."

"That's might be Shannon," Hermione whispered into Harry's ear.

"Shannon can change her appearance," Harry whispered back.

The young lady turned around and faced the students. "This is Professor Shannon Darconia," announced Dumbledore. "She is our new Dark Arts teacher. She was kind enough to agree to come all the way from America to teach at our school."

Shannon turned on her heels and quickly moved to her spot beside the headmaster at the table. Once she was seated and the large dog curled up at her feet, Dumbledore returned his attention to the students.

"Now that everyone is here," the headmaster said. "Let the feast begin."

On the long tables, platters of food suddenly appeared. From meats to vegetables to sweet desserts. The students gave a great cheer and began to fill their plates before them with food.

Harry glanced up at the teachers' table and caught Hagrid's attention. They exchanged waves and smiles. Harry's eyes continued down the table and stopped at Dumbledore and Shannon. They were talking while Dumbledore petted her dog.

The dog suddenly looked at Harry. It seemed to be smiling at him. For some reason, the way the dog looked at him seemed familiar but he couldn't put his finger on it. Slowly, the dog stood up and made his way to Harry.

Shannon looked at once towards her pet as it made its way down to the tables. Dumbledore, also, watched the large dog as it stopped and looked at Harry. Harry looked back at the table, took a chicken leg as he ate and handed it to the canine, who took it happily, and laid down right there.

"Hey, Hermione," said Harry quietly. "Does this dog look familiar?"

Hermione looked up from her food and looked at the dog. The dog looked at her and cocked its head to the side as if to say 'what are you looking at?'. Her eyes narrowed as she turned back to Harry.

"Not really," she said. "Why?"

"No reason," he said looking at the dog again.

This time, the dog winked. Harry looked from the dog to Shannon who was smiling at them and then back at the dog who seemed to be laughing at him. The dog stood and went back to his spot at Shannon's feet.

As Harry looked at the dog, memories of Sirius came flooding back. Harry had had a hard time getting over his godfather's death nearly two years ago. He had become quiet and solitaire, only writing to his friends to let them know he was alive and 'okay'. Whenever a member of the order would pop by, he would pretend to be okay. But deep inside, they knew he was still hurting.

"Harry," said Ron.

Harry spun his head around to see what Ron wanted and found that Dean and Neville were staring at him. "What?" he asked.

"What do you hope we learn this year in Defense?" asked Dean.

"I don't know," Harry said with a smile. "I just hope it's exciting like the last six years."

"And better than fifth year," said Neville. "Umbridge was at St. Mungo's for seven month after they found her in the forest."

Harry, Ron, Ginny, Dean, and Hermione laughed. "She deserved what she got," said Hermione. "Trying to tell centaurs what to do. You must be crazy to try that."

None of them were big fans of Professor Umbridge, their Dark Arts professor fifth year. The only house that liked her was Slytherin, but that was only because they're just as evil as she was.

"This school would be better off with her here instead of the mad man you lot call headmaster," said a cold harsh voice from behind Harry.

They turned around to see Malfoy's pale face sneering at them. Pansy had a smirk on her pug-like face as she waited for one of them to say something. But they turned around and continued to talk, ignoring the snickers and whispers behind them.

A ringing sound filled the hall as McGonagall tapped her crystal glass with a fork. All heads turned towards the sound as Dumbledore stood.

He cleared his throat and said, "Now that our stomachs are full and feel like they're going to explode, it is time to say good night. May this year be full of excitement."

Everyone clapped.

"Tonight we welcome new members to our family," he said with a wide smile. "But tomorrow is the first day of term and we must have our sleep so we may be ready to dive head first into our lessons and learn things to help us prepare for the future. So now I say good night to you all and may your dreams be peaceful. Now, off to bed with you."

The hall then erupted in applause and cheer for the headmaster. Once the noise had settled, the prefects called out for the students to follow them as they went to their common rooms.

Hermione and Ginny stood on either side of Harry, as they were last to make their way out of the Great Hall. Behind them, they suddenly heard a sharp, familiar voice mixed with a sweet and gentle voice. Since the mob before them wasn't moving very fast, Harry and the girls were able to listen to the conversation behind them.

"Professor Snape," said the sweet and gentle voice.

"Please, call me Severus, Miss Darconia," Snape said.

"Please call me Shannon," said Shannon. "Miss Darconia is too formal."

"What can I do for you?" asked Snape.

"I was wondering if you could take a look at what I've planned for the first few weeks," Shannon said. "I'm new at this and I would love to have the opinion of someone who's been teaching for so long and from someone who's been after this position for so long."

"I would be honored," Snape said his voice hinted with pride. "Please follow me and we can talk it over."

"Thank you, Severus," said Shannon. "Do you mind if Morpheus comes?"

Snape looked at the dog at her side and smiled. "Of course," he said. "This way."

They left the group and went down a stone stairwell behind the Slytherins. Harry looked at Hermione who just shrugged and then at Ginny who wasn't paying any attention to what they just heard. He shook his head as they climbed the many stairs leading to the portrait of the fat lady.

"I wonder what Dark Arts is going to be like after Snape gets done talking to her," said Hermione.

"I hope nothing like Umbridge's class," Harry laughed as they entered the Gryffindor common room.

"I'll see you in the morning," Ginny said kissing Harry's cheek. "Good night."

"Night, Gin," said Harry.

"Night," Hermione said as she ran upstairs. "Finally, sometime to ourselves."

Harry smiled as they moved to the most hidden part of the room, which just happened to be the large chairs beside the fire. Hermione let Harry sit down before sitting on his lap. He set his hand on her thigh as she leaned down and began to kiss him. Carefully, Harry ran his fingers through her silk soft hair as he returned her passionate kisses. After about five minutes, Hermione pulled back and smiled at Harry.

"We better get to bed before someone comes looking for either of us," she said regretfully.

"You're right," he said as she stood up. "But we'll see each other in the morning."

"True," she said as he stood up.

"Good night," he said kissing her cheek quickly.

"Night," she said as they went their separate ways.

As Harry entered the bedroom he shared with Seamus, Ron, Neville, and Dean they all looked at him with curious looks. They had already changed into their pajamas and had congregated on Harry's bed.

"Where did you get to?" asked Seamus.

"I was down stairs," Harry said. "Just remembering something."

"Snuffles?" asked Ron.

"Yeah," lied Harry.

"Who's Snuffles?" asked Dean.

"Harry's dog," Ron lied. "He died over the summer."

"That suck," Seamus said.

Harry quickly changed his clothes and joined his friends on his bed. Seamus sat at the end of the bed, Neville sat on a bed to Harry's left, Ron sat on the edge of the bed to Harry's right, and Dean sat on the nightstand between Harry and Neville. Ron tossed him a bag of jellybeans and said, "I can't wait until our first Defense class."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," said Harry.

"Why?" asked Seamus.

"Because she's talking to Snape right now about what to teach us," Harry said. "I heard them talking as we left the Great Hall."

"Great," Ron said. "Different subject please."

The guys laughed at Ron as they began to talk about their summer.

The next morning as everyone sat down to breakfast, McGonagall handed out his or her schedule. Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville had all the same classes.

"Great we've got double Defense today," Ron said.

"Yeah but at least it's not double Potions," Harry said.

"Morning, Harry," Ginny said as she bounded over to him.

"Morning, Gin," Harry said as she sat beside him.

"Get your schedule yet?" asked Ginny.

"Yeah you?" he asked handing her his schedule.

"Yep," she said handing hers over. "I've got double Potions this year."

"I feel sorry for you," Ron said.

"Actually I do very well in there," she said. "Have you two seen Snape and Shannon?"

"No, why?" asked Harry.

"They've been very touchy," she said pointing to them as they left the Great Hall.

Shannon had her arm intertwined with Snape's as they left. Suddenly, Malfoy jumped up from the Slytherin table and hurried out of the hall.

"What was that all about?" asked Hermione.

"I don't know," Ginny said as she jumped up and ran to the doors.

Harry returned his attention to his breakfast and by the time he was done, Ginny had not returned. "Shall we head to class?" he asked.

"Yes," Hermione said as she put down her cup.

Ron jumped up and gathered all of his belongings as he looked at the schedule once more. "Better take Ginny's things too," he said. "She should have taken it with her."

"She was following Malfoy," Harry said as she gathered Ginny's book bag. "Maybe we'll run into her on our way to Defense."

As they walked down the hallway towards their first class of the morning, the spotted Ginny hiding around a corner watching something.

"Ginny," spat Ron. "What are you doing?"

Ginny spun around and put a finger to her lips as she hurried over to them. "Ron, you git," she said. "You could've gotten me caught."

"Who were you spying on?" asked Ron.

"Here," Harry said handing her book bag to her.

"Malfoy that's who," Ginny said taking her bag.