Hello everyone! Merry Christmas!

I hope you will enjoy this new chapter!

Review please

Precision concerning the OC character of this chapter: I wanted to create a character that would take the place of Alastor Maugrey who was professor that year, and therefore introduce a love interest for Snape. The character of Rousset is purposely modelled on Maugrey: auror who arrested many death-eaters, famous in the wizarding world, mingling with students and of course who made a badass late entrey on the first day feast!

My goal was to make of this character, a feminized version of Maugrey (without the polyjuice part of the story of course). Also she's french because I wanted to do the intermagical school references with Beauxbâtons and also it'll serve the story later :)

That's it, I hope you'll like her and have a nice reading!

Chapter 3

When Hermione made her first steps on the platform in Hogsmeade Station, she got overwhelmed by emotions. Even the air itself seemed full of memories. This place meant so much to her. It was here that she lived the most these past three years, and it felt like being back home. Her throwback got brutally interrupted, when someone took her in his arms. It was Luna Lovegood.

"Hermione, I missed you, it's nice to see you" said Luna with her usual dreamy voice. She was exactly the same; same kindness in the eyes, same dreamy smile, same old turnip hearings.

"It's nice to see you too Luna, I missed you a lot" answered Hermione hugging her back.

Neville Longbottom joined them, along with the twins; Padma and Parvati Patil. Quickly, the whole squad was reunited again, and they all exchanged on their respective holidays and new scandalous rumours about the other students. The last part of the journey led them to the castle and when they were inside, they got more and more excited about being back.

On their way to the great hall, people were whispering as soon as they saw Harry, Ron and Hermione. The three of them didn't even notice it anymore, that became in fact a routine, something that the golden trio had to accept to live with. Popularity was part of their life now.

Just before they entered the great hall, they came across a group of 4th years Slytherins and among them in particular were Malfoy, Zabini, Parkinson and Greengrass. When Zabini and Hermione made eye contact, they wave at each other and got the attention of everyone who had noticed it.

"Since when do you greet Blaise Zabini, Hermione ?" Asked an opened mouth Ginny.

"I'll explain it to you later but during my holidays in Italy, I ran into him and surprisingly we got along" answered Hermione with a smile. Everyone was in shock and they all started to joke around about this new person that took their old friend's place. Hermione looked at Zabini with a mischievous smile and he responded her with a wink of an eye. That exchange was so quick that only one person noticed; Draco Malfoy. His eyes were ice grey and they were fixed on her. She noticed his glare on her and she fixed him back. Why was he looking at her so intensely? They got interrupted when she had to join her friends at the Gryffindor table.

All the students sat down at their own houses' table except the first years. Once everyone's silence and intention acquired, Mrs McGonagall proceeded to the ceremony and send everyone among the youngest wizards to the Sorting Hat. As usual everyone greeted loudly and enthusiastically each time a new student was send in their respective house.

Hermione was finishing clapping one last Gryffindor sorting, when she noticed that a professor was missing. One seat was empty between Snape and McGonagall. It was probably the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher's seat. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore stood up in order to give his annual speech.

"Why is the new teacher missing?" got the time to ask Hermione to Harry, before the great hall's door opened and got everyone's intention.

A woman was standing there, a beautiful brunette, with a light blue pencil dress made of fine silk. A very short grey cloak was elegantly perched in one shoulder. Her eyes were of the same colour as her dress. Her hair was arranged in an elegant low bun, and some rebellious curls on the front framed her lovely face. A stylish light blue hat, rounded on the top and pointed on the front edge, complemented nicely her style. She had a look on the whole room with a smile and started walking towards Dumbledore. Her boots' heels were clapping and as she was moving elegantly towards the front of the Great Hall, students were increasingly whispering, and stunned looks were shared.

"This is Évangéline Rousset!" whispered an unbelieving Ron.

"No way, it can't be!" answered Harry enthusiastic.

"Look at her, we can see her famous scare, it can only be Rousset" answered Ginny amazed.

In fact, the woman had a thin scare starting from the middle of her right cheek, extending to her neck and under the edge of her dress.

"Who is this witch?" asked Hermione curious about all the fuss.

"You probably heard of her before!" answered Ron. "She is one of the French ministry's Aurors, and she tracked down and arrested all the Death eaters who escaped to France after the first wizarding war. She brought them all back to justice in London. Her scare was given by one of them. The rumour says that a few years later she saved a unicorn's life and in order to thank her, the creature enchanted her scare; in fact since then, it can glow beautifully during full moon and Rousset is able to attract all magical creature's help to her when she is in danger".

"She is probably this year new teacher. We are very lucky to have her among our professors Hermione" said Ginny.

"Yes, even if Lupin was amazing, I can't wait for our first Defence against the Dark Arts class!" added Harry, "Even Sirius told me about her the other day when he got really drunk. Apparently, she is one of his former conquests and she broke his heart!" said Harry rolling his eyes. He got some muted laughs from his friends and they all quickly silence themselves in order to hear the exchange between Dumbledore and the Auror.

"I am sorry for the delay Headmaster Dumbledore; I couldn't find any valid portkey in France because of the strikes you see. I had to find another way, let's say less comfortable. Also, I have to say that this place is very hard to find. But here I am!" greeted the witch with an apologetic smile.

"Évangéline Rousset, we are pleased to have you among us this year" said Dumbledore to the Auror with a warm handshake. "Students I would like you to welcome our new Defence against the Dark Arts professor, the renowned Madame Rousset coming directly from Beauxbâtons. Headmistress Madame Maxime agreed very nicely to let us enjoy her company this year" added Dumbledore.

All the students applauded cheerfully and with a smile Rousset slightly bowed thanking them for their welcome and took her sit between Snape and McGonagall. All the teachers greeted her with a smile, expect for Snape noticed Hermione, but that wasn't surprising.

Dumbledore continued his usual speech and announced that due to technical necessities this year Triwizard Tournament was postponed to next year. And that information got a lot of disapprobation from the students. But the headmaster silenced everyone and declared however that in preparation of next year, a yule ball would be organized. Students this time, got excited especially girls. Hermione made eye contact with Ginny, both smiling and pleased by the good news, and the distraction that would cause.

Once Dumbledore's speech was over, the food magically appeared on the table and they all happily started to eat.

Hermione was happy to be back and see all her friends again, she didn't fully realize until she saw them again how nice it was to spend time with them.

…

Once they all finished eating, they got outside the Great Hall. They said goodbye to Padma and Luna who had to join the Ravenclaw common room. Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Parvati headed towards the stairs leading to the Gryffindor Tower. As they were walking, they heard a very loud noise. It sounded like thunder thought Hermione surprised. Thunder at this time of the year with the wonderful weather they had today, this seemed impossible.

"How could this noise sound exactly like thunder?" asked Harry looking at his friends for a logical explanation.

Hermione saw a light coming from one of the windows. "Let's go outside something weird seems to be happening there" she said.

They all got outside and what they saw bemused them. It was a magnificent creature standing in front of them with two set of huge wings. It had white and golden feathers that let some moon lights reflect on them. It looked very similar to a Phoenix but bigger and more majestic. It was beautiful.

"It's a Thunderbird!" said Hermione. "How did he get here? These species usually live in Arizona, in the southwestern United States."

"Very good." Said a voice behind them. They all turned back, Professor Rousset was standing behind them with Hagrid. "This is indeed a Thunderbird and his place as you said is not here. It was the only available transportation that could get me here approximately on time. I wanted to ask your Care of Magical Creatures teacher if he was interested in using it for one of his classes. But as you can see Éclair is not very happy right now. So, I will send him back to where he belongs".

Hagrid seemed split between excitement, seeing this magical creature probably for the first time and the sadness of the very soon goodbyes that awaited him.

"How are you going to send him back, Professor?" asked Harry curiously.

"Oh, he knows his way, I just have to release him from the restraining spell I put on him" answered Rousset with a smile. "Now students go to your common room, it's late and I have to stop the thunder from striking again. Which is not an easy job I assure you".

Before they were totally gone, Rousset added with a wink "And I almost forgot, 5 points to Gryffindor for this amazing knowledge of the magical creatures, well done Hermione Granger".

They all entered the castle and headed to the Gryffindor tower.

"Oh my god, she really came to Hogwarts on the back of a thunderbird!" said Ron chocked.

"I love her!" said Ginny. "She is so inspiring, mysterious and glamourous; I can't wait to be in her class!".

"I have to admit that she is" added Hermione. "And she knew who I was, that was rather flattering".

"Of course, she knows who the brightest witch of our age is." said Harry with a smile. In response, Hermione hit him slightly on his arm.

"Also did you see how useful it is to learn in advance your program Ron. That got us 5 points already and the classes didn't even start" said Hermione.

"True and I just can't wait to see Malfoy's face when he'll hear about it" added Ron laughing in advance. "And we start with potion with Slytherin tomorrow. This is the one thing that will take me through that class!"

They spend a short period of time all together in the common room talking, before kissing goodnight, making sure they would get enough sleep for tomorrow's first classes.