Ch 2

The next day dawned bright and clear, Minerva helped assist her through the rowdy ingress of new students and the amazing sorting ceremony. Hogwarts really put on a show, the first-year students being ferried across the lake, the announcements and song of the sorting hat, the applause of the houses as they welcomed new students and finally the feast. Headmistress McGonagall stood up, resplendent in her green velvet gown and pointed crooked hat. A small band of plaid across her shoulder and a gorgeous brooch at her neck, shouted her heritage. She stood waiting for the hall to quieten down and gave a welcoming speech, she then made some pertinent announcements regarding the student's safety and introduced the teachers for the coming year.

"This year we introduce two new teachers, Professor Hooper who will be teaching Muggle studies," Cynthia waved her hand in greeting, "and Professor Saandvik who is our new Defence against the Dark arts teacher" the murmuring grew louder, heads swivelled around to see who the next victim of the curse would be. Even the other teachers stared. They had met her of course during the headmistress's meetings, but as she had been recruited close to the start of school, no one had really spoken to her apart from Cynthia. Some smattered applause and then she introduced the regular professors, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, Desdemona Prett, she named the teachers one by one until she came to the end of the table.

"And again, our Potions Master, Professor Snape", a murmur around the hall reverberated, Minerva looked around, it was less of an issue this year at least, though there was still an undercurrent of tension.

From her seat, Allegra looked around at the teachers, a diverse assortment, from the charms master and head of Ravenclaw, Filius Flitwick, Professor Binns, who floated in his chair, Pomona Sprout, a cheery lady, who teaches herbology. I must see her tomorrow thought Allegra, who was in mind to brew her own salves and cure-alls. She tried to remember their names, Desdemona Prett, she thought, aahh…. Ancient Runes. Paulette Jontie, Arithmancy, a transfer from Beauxbatons, down the line to Professor Snape. He looked uncomfortable sitting there, like he wished he could just disappear back to the comfort and solitude of his quarters. He kept glancing at Minerva, his dark eyes flicking in her direction to seek contact, it was like he was waiting for permission to get up and leave. He looked at the food in front of him, but not touching it. She caught his eyes, and he quickly dropped his gaze and moved his food around his plate.

Someone was calling her name... she swivelled in her chair and turned toward the speaker,

"Allegra, hi!" it was Cynthia, waving from the other end of the table, "Isn't this amazing!" she looked out toward the students and tried to take in the wonderous scene. The large hall, with its tables groaning with food and students in robes, high above the candles floated in the night appearing sky, the walls lit with bowls of oil, aflame under iron ravens. She smiled, her favourite bird. The arched diamond paned lead light windows sparkled in the reflected light and the sound of the feasting reverberated around the hall in a soothing cacophony. It was all over too soon; the students were ushered out by the prefects to their common rooms and the hall grew quiet once more.

"Well, that's it for another year" Minerva sighed, she stood and picked up the sorting hat. The staff followed her lead and made their way from the long table, chatting to one amicably about the students and noting the new first years and comparing them to siblings if they had them. She noticed the Professor Snape had quickly exited the hall without any interaction with his colleagues. Minerva caught her gaze and said

"Don't expect anything else my dear, he is I am afraid a lost cause, we can only support him until he decides on the direction he chooses to take. Would you like to take tea in my office, we can share those delicious chocolates you gave me before you retire?" When they had made their way to her living quarters, she pulled out a bottle with a honey coloured liquid, at a raised eyebrow she replied in a roguish voice,

"You didn't really expect tea, now did you?"

She arose early the next morning and looked at the gown for the lessons today. she had chosen a conservative outfit, a plain black dress, with collar to chin, and an outer set of dark grey robes lined inside with an intense purple, and a silver clasp in the shape of a crow. Her black button up boots peeked out from the hem of her dress. Checking the mirror, her hair, usually a mass of curls was tied severely at the back in a bun, though tendrils poked out framing her small oval face. Barely 5' tall she was petite, with hazel eyes and a small rosebud mouth, pale skin and a pert nose. She placed her regulation pointy hat on and feeling a little self-conscious stepped through her door.

She walked into her first class, a group of year 5 students, and waited for the class to quieten down. Merlin, she thought, what in Hades am I doing, she looked at the eager young faces before her and quailed inside. I would rather face a Basilisk on a rampage, than a bunch of hormonal 16year old's. She turned, waved her wand at a piece of chalk and started writing her name on the board. S.A.A.N.D.V.I.K she waved the chalk down, turned around and faced the class.

"Questions"

"Yes miss", said one girl, "that's a foreign name, isn't it?" she looked at her sheet. Minnie Turbig. Hufflepuff...

"Yes, I am originally from Norway, but have travelled extensively over the last few years,

"Yes" she pointed to a boy on Minnies left,

"What school did you attend?", Peter Devon…. Ravenclaw.

"I went to Durmstrang for a few years but was transferred to Uagadou and then to Castelbruxo for my final years." a buzz went up, it was almost unheard of for someone to move around quite so much. She saw the puzzled looks on their faces and before it was asked, she replied. "my teachers believed I should get a good all-round education. Many of these schools specialise in one or two areas, Uagadou in becoming an Animagus and Castelbruxo for herbology and Magi zoology." The next hand that shot up was from a weedy looking student. Meriwether, Slytherin.

"What's your blood status" She narrowed her eyes, amazed that this was still an issue after recent events. She looked him coolly in the eyes and replied coldly.

"I have no idea, and nor do I care. I am an orphan, found abandoned as a babe, by my parents. As for blood status mister Meriwether, we are all humans, Muggles and Wizards both, born through chance to families without choice or reason. Born with a talent or not, we strive to become the best of what we are." She turned, angry that such an irrelevant and bigoted question was asked.

"Right, open your book on Advanced Hexes for Dummies, Chapter one and read through to page fifteen."