In the time of the Order of the Phoenix, a mysterious transfer student from the United States of America comes to Hogwarts. With hair to rival Hermione's, and a tongue to rival Draco's, the suspicions and tensions rise in Professor Snape's classroom. And we thought Dolores Umbridge was the problem...

Harry 15

The Great Hall was abuzz. Copies of The Daily Prophet could be heard being folded and read. Harry was still seething from Malfoy's comment about how there was a cell in Azkaban with his name on it. When he looked to the right, he saw Hermione puzzling. Without asking, she turned to him and Ron and said:

"What do you think they meant, by Snape having a prospect of his own?"

She was referring to what they'd overheard at the Order of the Phoenix's Headquarters, Harry imagined. It was something that they'd heard just before Crookshanks ate that extendible ear.

"Who knows?" said Ron. "Snape's a git, anyhow."

"You don't think it's at all suspicious?"

"Everything to do with Snape is suspicious. He's a suspicious bloke."

The sorting ceremony was about to begin when Professor McGonagall rose with the hat. Professor Dumbledore came to the podium next to her and held his wand to his throat.

"Good evening, students. I hope that your summer was a safe and happy one. Our Sorting Ceremony will be commencing shortly, but first, I'd like to take the time to introduce to you a new and very special student—"

"Special student?" whispered Hermione. "Could that be it? Could that be 'Snape's own prospect?'"

"—She comes to us, in her fifth year, from the United States of America, of the illustrious academy of Ilvermorny—"

"Bloody hell is Ilvermorny?" asked Ron lowly.

Fred chimed in. "Hope it's good!"

"Americans are fun!" George said.

"—Our new student is an exceptionally talented young witch, and it is my deepest hope that you'll make her feel at home and welcome at Hogwarts. Please join me in welcoming Miss Ella Zamora of Ilvermorny."

The doors flew open and no student came out, but a great black raven, the largest Harry had ever seen, swooping up and down, gliding over the student body, its tail exceedingly long. It swooped around the headmaster, between the floating candles, and back again towards the teachers. When it reached the end of the tables, the raven transformed mid-flight into a girl, first at the legs which were long and shapely. The wings became arms that were thin and strong, and the feathers and beak became a tall witch's hat atop a cascade of black curls.

"An animagus!" gasped Hermione. "At her age!"

Ella Zamora gracefully pirouetted in her black leather heels and held out her arms as the student body applauded. She smiled and removed her hat, swept her curls to one side of her neck, and bowed deeply. When she straightened up, Harry saw her face, and it was a face even lovelier than Cho's; caramel-colored skin, thick black hair, round face with almond-shaped eyes that sparkled. Her arms were long yet taut with muscle, and Harry couldn't recall if he'd ever seen a girl with bare arms or bare legs in Hogwarts before. No doubt, Professor McGonagall would go mad on her.

"Bloody hell," said Ron, who was eyeing her slim-fit black dress that flared at her curved hips and fell just at her knee. "Is that what Americans wear to school?"

"That's fun!" said Fred.

"She looks really fun!" said George.

"She'll be lots of fun!" they both chimed together.

Professor Dumbledore was clapping, as well, as he came to take Ella's hand. "Yes, thank you, Miss Zamora, for that wonderful entrance. And we thank you for participating in our foreign exchange program."

She bowed low at the waist to the professor. "The pleasure is all mine, Headmaster—" she turned to face the student body. "—and I thank you all for your warm welcome! On behalf of the Magical Constitution of the United States of America, I thank you for your hospitality, and I express my deepest hope that our relations continue to be congenial in this foreign exchange program."

Professor McGonagall stepped forward, who seemed to be a combination of annoyed and impressed. "I'm sure we all have high hopes for you, my dear. Please, take a seat." She motioned to the stool, the one that all new students sat on to determine their fate.

"She's got to be in Gryffindor, don't you think?" said Ron quietly. "McGonagall will want to get her hands on someone who's an Animagus."

Fred and George peered. "Could be interesting."

"Could be just right."

"She'll be brilliant..."

"She looks naughty..."

"But the Sorting hat—"

"—It's twisting and deciding."

"The Sorting Hat did that for me, too," said Harry. He couldn't quite hear what the hat was saying, but it was certainly debating to itself. Ella Zamora's brows suddenly furrowed and she said something to the hat, looking rather annoyed.

Harry then could make out "Ohoho, it's like that is it? Well, in that case, it had better be… SLYTHERIN!" The Slytherin table erupted with a huge applause. Professor McGonagall looked a bit disappointed but gestured her to the Slytherin table. Professor Snape looked thoughtful.

"That can't be good," whispered Hermione. "Harry, quick, say something to her."

Harry spun his head around. "What?"

"Quick! She's coming this way! Welcome her! She'll be walking right between us!"

Ella bowed her head and walked gracefully towards the Slytherins with her head held high. He could have sworn that Ron uttered another 'bloody hell' when she passed by. Harry started to get up, but Malfoy had already slithered right into his line of sight with her.

"Welcome to Slytherin House," he said, taking her hand with a firm shake. "I'm your Prefect. My name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

Ella smiled. Her teeth were white and rounded. "Prefect, eh? I suppose that means you're important."

"I'm the most important. You'll want me as your friend."

"Well. It's nice to know that I'm already in your good graces, then. I must simply stay there." She was charming, Harry hated to admit. But was she really like that or was she playing with Malfoy back?

"Oh? What makes you say that?"

"I saw the way you looked at me when I was being sorted. You wanted me here." She winked. Malfoy seemed impressed and kept her right hand in his, then guided her back to Slytherin table with his left arm around her waist.

Harry peered to hear what they were saying. "You aren't, by chance, named after the constellation, are you, Draco?"

Malfoy seemed very impressed. "Exactly like the constellation."

"I fell asleep on the train ride here and I had a dream about a dragon made entirely of light. This must be fate."

Malfoy smiled and gestured to where he was sitting with his group of cronies. Harry sneered as he watched his hand slide to the small of her back. To Harry's shock, Malfoy flicked his wrist for Pansy to get out of the way, which caused her thick jaw to drop. Zabini shoved her aside and smiled at Ella, offering his hand, too.

"Blaise Zabini," he said, oil in his voice. "And this is Theo Nott..."

Harry heard them go through introductions; Malfoy was playing it up like Slytherin house was the gift to end all gifts, his grey eyes constantly wandering up and down her form.

"That really can't be good," said Hermione. "Slytherin getting someone like that cannot be good. Malfoy's already got her in his clique of cronies. We have to act. Someone like that can't go dark." Harry then heard Hermione smack Ron from across the table. "Will you stop staring at her Ronald?"

Ron shrugged. "Sorry I can't help it!"

Harry noticed that Crabbe and Goyle couldn't seem to help it, either. Even though there were new first-years being sorted in, Malfoy's entire clique couldn't seem to keep their eyes of the new American girl. At her hip, he then noticed a thin belt holding a wand. It was very light-colored, and appeared to be quite short, with intricate carvings he'd never seen before.

"If she's already in Slytherin," said Harry, "Maybe she's already an enemy." He was so lost in his own thoughts that he barely noticed the feast in front of him, the pudding that soon appeared. He kept on looking over at the Slytherin table. Everyone was hanging off of all that Ella said the way they normally held onto whatever Malfoy said. They seemed to be even more impressed when she complained about the food and how awful and tasteless it was, groaning about how in America they had real food. He then saw Malfoy glance over towards Harry. He gave a knowing grin, then slid his hand further down on Ella's hip, past her—"

"Ouch!"

Harry heard the crack of what sounded like a whip, and Malfoy's hand was quickly withdrawn. But what had happened? Harry only heard a sound, but Ella made no movements. Malfoy quickly sat on his wounded hand and continued the conversation as if nothing was wrong. He then managed to see Ella giving him what appeared to be a knowing glance. Maybe she could take care of herself?

Harry turned around. "Did you all see that?"

"See what?" asked Ron, his mouth full of pudding.

"She..." he shook his head. "Nevermind." When Harry looked up, he hadn't even noticed that Professor Dumbledore had already begun his introductions.

"...We also wish to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge." The room went tense as it eyes a plump woman wearing all pink. A pink suitcoat, pink skirt, pink hat, and all with perfectly primped hair. Harry squinted. "I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the Professor good luck." He cleared his throat. "As usual, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you—"

"Ahem!" Professor Umbridge cleared her throat and rose from the table.

Harry then whispered to Hermione. "She was at my hearing. She works for Fudge."

Professor Umbridge stood and all but waltzed across the platform. She held her head quite high. "Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome." She came towards Professor Dumbledore, then turned to address the Great Hall. Her smile was so...creepy. "And how lovely to see your bright, happy faces smiling up at me. I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends."

"That's likely," chimed Fred and George quietly.

Professor Umbridge turned her head, then tilted it, and smiled across the faces, seeming to glance especially hard towards the Slytherin table. Her hands were clasped together, as if to convey a measure of sincerity. "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance." She paced back and forth, examining the room, still with a bit of a dead-eyed smile. "Although each Headmaster has brought something new to this historic school," she began, then exchanged a nod with Professor Dumbledore, "Progress for the sake of progress, must be discouraged." She then gave, what appeared to be, a knowing look towards the Slytherin table, towards their new American friend. Was that supposed to be a warning? Umbridge continued: "Let us preserve what must be preserved. Perfect what can be perfected. And prune practices that ought to be..." her pale eyes darted around, still grinning madly before whispering "...prohibited." She then broke into a disarming smile, and gave a tiny giggle, before returning to her seat.

Harry couldn't help but overhear what Ella was saying to Malfoy. "I think you should get on her good side, Mister Prefect."

"Do you, now?" Harry pretended to stretch and leaned back so he could hear what else they were saying.

"You don't want to be the enemy of a woman wearing that much pink."

This one's brief. I thought about switching around perspectives in chapter, but that just seemed like too much. Next chapter is coming soon!