Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in any way shape or form. I do not claim to own him or anything else that may in fact be the thought of the lovely writer Jo Rowling is, please don't sue me. I do however own all original characters in whole or in part that appear in this story. This story is not HBP compliant, though quite a few things are taken from that book; again I own nothing except for the plot and original characters. Thank you for reading! -GypsyJade

Chapter 5
Professor Yamele VanHouten

Harry yawned loudly and turned over in his bed, the familiarity of the Gryffindor boy's dorm filling his hazy vision. He sat up and noticed most of his dorm mates were still soundly asleep and groped on his side table for his eyeglasses. Images of the sorting feast the night before filled his head as Harry tried to awaken enough to make it to the bathroom.

: Flashback :

Harry followed Hermione and Ron to their other friends at the Gryffindor table, while both of them sported Prefect badges, Harry had a Captains badge on his robes. This had caught the eye of Seamus and Dean who proceeded to ask Harry what his plans for the team this year would be. He barely participated in the conversation as his eyes kept finding themselves up to the staff table where both Ron's cousin Jasenia O'Riley and Yamele Van Houten sat chatting idly with the other professors. Harry couldn't help but feel rather curious as to why the Headmaster looked a little less than happy at the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. The calm and rather cold looks he sent the girl were not lost on Harry, and he really wondered about their new Professor.

During the sorting Harry couldn't help but watch his new Professor, who watched the sorting with slight interest and boredom, as she looked up her eyes caught his, and even though they were covered with dark glasses he could almost feel the cold mercury color that had haunted him over the summer.

: End flashback :

With a deep sigh Harry stood from his too comfy four poster bed and quietly gathered his bath towel and school robes, there was no point in trying to go back to sleep it would be 7:30 in 10 minutes anyway, and soon his dorm mates would be up. Making his way into the shower, he allowed the words Remus had told him to tumble over in his mind as the warm water flowed over him. 'it is possible though I will say, only magical blood, pure magical blood, in it's most animalistic form has been able to produce such a trait' What did Remus mean by animalistic? Was she an anamagus? Or did he mean she had animal blood in her? Magical animal blood? But then how could she be human...was she even human? Harry groaned, he hadn't even started his day officially and already he had a headache the size of a fully grown dragon, perhaps he could ask Madam Pompfrey for some potion before heading off to his first class.

"Morning mate, I'll be right out of the shower, I had this great idea for a play this year" Harry smiled amused as Ron kept his ramblings going into the bathroom, turning back to his bed Harry decided to look for his Marauder's Map, he wasn't sure why but he thought he'd keep it at hand even if he didn't plan on using it today. Following after Neville, Harry made his way down to the Common Room listening to the other boy tell him about his summer.
"Gran took me with her to visit her friend in France this summer. We met a lot of interesting French witches and wizards, and I've even started learning French! But I'm glad to be home, French witches are too affectionate...it was weird to be hugged and kissed by so many of them at a time" Harry couldn't help but laugh as his friend blushed brightly at the memory. Soon they were joined by Hermione and Ginny and bringing up the rear as usual was Ron who sped by calling them to follow down before breakfast was over, even though they all knew they still had at least another hour.

"What's our first class Hermione?" Harry asked pushing back his now empty plate, Hogwarts food had to be the best ever. He watched half in awe as his friend continued to pile food in his mouth oblivious to the disgusted looks he was getting from his fellow Prefect.
"Double Potions with the Slytherins followed by Charms, then History of Magic right before lunch and you two have Divination while I have Ancient Runes and before dinner we have Defense Against the Dark Arts. Ronald you've sufficiently stuffed your face now help me hand the rest of these schedules out." Hermione handed out their schedules as she explained this and chastised Ron as she continued down the table. Harry read over his schedule and frowned, normally he was ecstatic at going to DADA, as it was always his favorite class but now he wasn't sure how to feel. Almost as if reading his thoughts the youngest Weasley, Ginny sat next to him holding up her schedule.
"I have Double Defense Against the Dark Arts first, Jasenia told me that we couldn't have a more qualified Professor this year but I don't know she's so intimidating." Harry couldn't help but agree with her, over the summer he and Ginny had what could only be described as a fling, but they both agreed they were better off as friends.
"I guess we'll have to see, at least she can't be as bad as Umbridge." Harry made his way back to Gryffindor tower still talking to Ginny when the Prince of Slytherin himself bumped into them causing Ginny to fall onto the floor.
"Oy! Watch where you're going Malfoy!" Ginny huffed angrily at the older boy and in place of a nasty remark Draco Malfoy actually stopped as if only then had he seen Ginny and helped her up.
"So sorry Weaslette, you should watch where I'm going too then these things wouldn't happen." A ghost of a smile traced his features before he turned to look at Harry and continue on his way.
"That…was…strange" They continued on their way to get their books both in contemplative silence.
"Why would Malfoy…I mean…he…almost…nice?" Harry couldn't wrap his mind around what happened.
"Harry, I know what you're thinking. But he's not, well at least not up to anything really bad. Malfoy's acting different because of Professor VanHouten" Ginny's voice cut through his mind as Harry looked at her quizzically, but she said no more opting for leaving the Common Room instead.

"It should be illegal to have Double Potions with the Slytherins this early in the morning." Ron complained as the Golden Trio made their way down to the dungeons. Hermione rolled her eyes but opted to change the conversation instead of encouraging him any further.
"I wonder what we'll have to brew today…do you think much will change now that Professor O' Riley is part of the class?" Hermione was voicing what everyone wondered. Would it be welcome? Harry thought it odd that Potions class could be any different than it had been for the past 5 years.

Harry was only partially right, Potions was still tedious and dangerous but while it was obvious that neither of their Professors truly liked each other they did, in the least, tolerate each other's teaching practices and for the first time since Harry could remember the Slytherins were just as much reprimanded as the Gryffindors. But more impressive, was the fact that Neville Longbottom had not caused any kind of explosion today. This had to be a sign right? Maybe Neville had finally outgrown his fears of Professor Snape, but Harry thought it was the fact that Professor O'Riley kept Professor Snape busy enough that he wasn't able to breathe down poor Neville's neck as much. If he took all this information to heart then Harry could say, rather foolishly, that if Professor O'Riley was an improvement in Potions then Professor VanHouten had to be an improvement on Umbridge, but honestly, a full grown mandrake as teacher was an improvement over the toad looking woman who was unfortunately still very much alive and well at the Ministry. Harry's schedule was full enough that soon all thoughts of Defense class were pushed into the very edges of the back of his mind.

It wasn't until he was standing in the Defense classroom that his earlier conversation with Ginny came to mind. Come to think of it, Harry hadn't even seen Ginny at lunch or surely he would have remembered to bring it up again, but now it was too late Professor VanHouten was making her way into the class room. She certainly struck out in Harry's mind, but then again he was almost sure that Dumbledore (or maybe it was Hermione) had mentioned their new Professors were the youngest that Hogwarts had in over a decade. Maybe that was part of it, but Harry like any and possibly every other student there had to admit Professor VanHouten looked nothing like any of the Professors they had ever had the pleasure of being taught by. For one, she didn't wear witches' robes as was the norm among the other teachers; she was dressed in what Harry recognized as muggle clothing: dark jeans, a tight looking undershirt with slim straps, and a long sleeved black knitted jumper looking shirt that was thin enough to see the color of the aforementioned undershirt was red. Across her hips she wore a belt and off the belt what Harry could only assume was a sheathed dagger hung, her hair was loose but did not completely hide the intricate necklaces around her slim neck, there was even a gothic cross among the many intricacies, and as if to match the glint of rings could be seen on her delicate hands. Harry supposed that on any other woman, such apparel would look absurd, but there was little fault to be found on Professor VanHouten, even the ever present sunglasses complimented her demeanor, and it was then Harry realized, what a breath taking picture she made.