Sabine Rose Champignon Delalune studied herself in the full-length mirror. Perfect. She had just arrived at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry by thestral an hour ago, and she had managed to gather her sleek auburn hair back into some semblance of style in record time. Twenty minutes.
She looked at her watch. There were still three hours until the students arrived, but she felt the time would fly. After all, she still had to meet the other professors and learn her way around the castle, not to mention speak to Professor Severus Snape at length about lesson plans for the year.
Sabine's eyes glazed over as she recalled the past six months. She had applied for a teaching position at Hogwarts because she had nowhere else to go. After breaking up with Tristan and leaving France--
It was too depressing to think about. She had gotten a job. A co-teaching position, really. Defense Against the Dark Arts, with Professor Severus Snape as her co-Professor. She should be thrilled.
Sabine refocused on her image in the mirror. Her auburn hair spilled down her shoulders as though it was chocolate that had been set on fire, sleek and smooth and ending with a slight curl. Its darkness was offset by her startilingly light crystal green eyes, with flecks of aqua and gold. Her nose was lightly sculpted, and combined with her high cheekbones and full lips, she had a very elegant, noble look to her face.
She looked very professorly, she decided. Even though, at sixteen, she would be younger than some of the students she would teach. To add to the professorly look, she decided on glossy navy blue robes with silver bracelets on her left arm, a silver chain around her waist, and her silver dragon hide boots.
Time to face the rest of Hogwarts. She turned from the mirror to look at her room, which was decorated in various shades of blue. It contained a four-poster bed, a wardrobe, a perch for her owl, Nova, and various pillows on the floor for her other pets: her tiger cub, Boo, her black wolf, Sinistra, and her two-year-old French Silk dragon, named Chalice.
As far as Sabine knew, Chalice was one of the last of her kind. French Silk dragons had been domesticated across France, as they made excellent companions, until a mysterious disease had endangered them in the wild.
Chalice was curled up in the corner next to a fire place. She was about the size of a large dog, and still growing.
Pretty soon, I'll have to start leaving you outside, Sabine told the dragon. Being an excellent legilimens, Sabine had the rare ability to speak to animals.
With Buck and Princess? Chalice scoffed. Buck and Princess were Sabine's thestrals. I think not.
With a smile, Sabine turned and left the room, with Sinistra at her heels.

Finally, Sabine reached the staff room. The first person she saw was Headmaster Dumbledore, standing next to a man with long dark hair and flashing, passionate dark eyes.
"This is Professor Severus Snape," said Dumbledore. "He will be your co-Professor for this year. It is my hope that he will teach you everything you need to know about teaching at Hogwarts."
As Dumbledore turned and walked away, Sabine studied Severus more closely. His raven black hair fell half into his face, giving him the illusion of mystery, and a hooked nose made him severe. But his eyes...Sabine was sure that some personal tragedy in the past had given an extra glint of sadness. Curious, she tested his barrier using Occlumency.
Damn. This guy was too smart for that. He sneered. "I will not tolerate the foolishness of such a young girl in my class. You will observe; I will teach. Understood?"
"I'm not being paid to sit on my bum all day," Sabine retorted.
"That is not my concern," Seveus replied, turning away and leaving Sabine to wonder why she felt so crushed.

Seated at the professors' table in the Great Hall, Sabine watched all the students file in. It would certainly be an interesting year