The Beginning of Something

As I went to my classroom, I thought about my new position. 'What were they trying to do?!' I thought to myself in a heat of anger, 'I'm already a teacher and a student! Now I have to baby-sit the whole school. Along side that stupid prick Draco!'

I was not watching where I was going, so I ended up hitting my head on a wall. Poor Denali ended up having to fly away while I regained my balance. He hooted quite angrily. I had miscalculated where it was as relation to angle. The side of my head was throbbing. I was, yet again, gritting my teeth against the pain. Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them cascade over my lids. That would add insult to injury. Although, the laugh that I heard behind me did just that.

"That was bloody brilliant. Maybe I could get a replay." I had heard that sneer enough this morning that I could recognize it on sound. I did not need to turn around, but I did it for effect.

"I have another idea," I started, my tone was icey, " How about you re-in-act what I did. You have to make sure to use just as much force."

"Don't get smart with me, American." he growled. His gray eyes were flashing dangerously.

"Why do you think I am a teacher?" I replied before I turned heel and left. I needed to get to my classroom. I had some re-arranging to do. Denali flew close behind me. Not daring to come near me.

After I arrived at my classroom, I snapped my fingers and all the chairs and tables were gone save for my desk and chair. I strode over to it, still peeved at that Malfoy kid. When I sat down, I realized that my right shoulder was cold. I looked over by the window and saw Denali on the sill. He was looking at me cautiously. I took a deep breath to try and calm my rushing blood.

"Quit being a dork and come over here." I ordered. He knew I did not mean any harm.

I leaned back and stared at the wall. I completely ignored the first of my students that came. They were whispering to each other about chairs and tables. I inwardly smiled at myself. Seeing eleven-year-olds confused is terribly entertaining. Well, to me anyway.

"Pro-professor S-sownbinder?" a Gryffindor started. I had figured out the names after I left the Great Hall lasy night. I was proud of myself.

"Hmmm?" I answered feigning no interest. I was being cruel, but that was my plan.

"Where are we suppose to sit?" he asked timidly. 'Poor thing.' I thought. I looked up and saw that my whole class had arrived.

"Ah, you all are here!" I exclaimed, "Good! Now, form a circle." I instructed them.

Although they were confused, the timid first years made a circle. I noted that they had separated into their houses. That would not do. That would not do at all.

"No." I said. All the poor little dears jumped, "I need it in a pattern. One person from Gryffindor here." I pointed to the spot next to me, "Then I need a person from Hufflepuff next to him or her, then a Slytherin next to him or her and then a Ravenclaw. Got it?" I was looking at them all. They were terribly confused as to why I was separating them from their housemates.

One brave Gryffindor girl came and stood next to me. I could tell she was brave because her hair was red. I also knew she had a temper and that she could be dangerous. Then a black haired Ravenclaw came and stood next to her. The others started to find courage amongst their small bones and formed a circle. I smiled with satisfaction and squeezed my way to the middle.

"Now, all of you may think this odd." I spoke tenderly, "I am doing this so we may do attendance." I thought it was a brilliant plan, "I want you all, in turn, to say your name, your birth month and your favorite flavor of ice-cream."

As I looked around at their confused faces, I knew they were expecting something different. I was feeling happy with myself. The birth month was for grouping purposes and the ice-cream flavor was for kicks. I thought it would be fun. I also thought it would be great entertainment for me.

As they went around the circle, I was quickly calculating. So far, there seemed an even amount of birthdays in each of the seasons. So, when they finished and looked expectantly at me, I knew what I was going to do.

"Alright!" I said excitedly, "Well done. Now that everyone knows everyone by name, here is what we are going to do." a flick of my wrist and there were four tables, "I am going to group you by seasons. I want the summer months, here." I pointed to a table, "Now, the autumn months go here." I motioned to another table, "The winter months go here." I pointed to one of the two remaining tables and started walking to the fourth, "And my spring babies go here." I placed a hand on the last table.

I watched as the children cautiously moved to their respective tables as I went back to my desk. I noted that the Slytherin kids were excluded from the chatter and giggles of the groups. That did not sit well with me at all. 'By Christmas time,' I promised myself, 'That will change.'

"Professor Sownbinder?" a quiet voice said.

"Yes?" I answered.

"You did not say your name, birth month and favorite flavor of ice-cream." the timid first year stated.

"Ah, so I did not." I responded as I smiled, "Well then, my name is Henria Sownbinder. I was born in the month of October and my favorite ice-cream flavor is peanut butter." a hand went up and I looked at the student.

"What kind of a name is Henria?" the dirty blond Gryffindor asked.

"Short form of Henrietta which is a form of Henry." I replied with pride. I loved my name and no matter what anyone said about it, I would not get angry. Another hand shot in the air.

"Yes?" I inquired.

"How old are you?" the innocent question made my cheeks color.

"Seventeen and still kicking." I answered nervously, "I am also an exchange student from America." I added, anticipating the next question. A hand slowly came down.

I turned around to grab my copy of the book they would be reading, Beginning Defense Against the Dark Arts. When I turned back around, I saw a flash of a mischievous grin before a hand went up. I looked at the kid and saw he was in Slytherin.

"Did you and Draco have bad sex last night?" an all too innocent smile was plastered on his face. I refused to blush or be fazed.

"I can and will take away points for inappropriate questions, make no mistake." I replied sharply, "Pull something like that again and I will put you in detention." The class was silent. They did not expect me to go bi-polar on them.

As the shocked darlings saw in silence, I motioned at the book in my hands. They all reached down to their bags to retrieve their own copies. I was a little more than angry at the boy. My distaste for the children in Slytherin was growing. It was just then when I realized why they were disliked.

"Now, open your books to the introduction." I said and immediately heard the flipping of pages, "You have twenty minutes to read it. Then class will be over." I turned and went to my chair. Denali gave a hoot and I patted his beak.

There was a deathly silence about the room. I felt kind of bad. I did not want to have to be cross with them on the first day, but that comment was uncalled for. Well, it was in my opinion. Plus, it just plum embarrassed me. 'Great,' I thought grimly to myself, 'on the first day a student has already embarrassed me.' I heard a soft bell that signaled the end of class.

"Have a wonderful day." I said as the class put their books back into their bags. They all exited the room chatting.

I looked at Denali. He looked a little bothered, as if I was not paying enough attention to him. I smiled up at him and he looked away. I giggled softly. Denali refused to look at me. I gently blew on his feathers to ruffle them. He hooted angrily at me.

"Quit being a brat." I said to him. His only response was fly over to the bookshelf and perch himself there. I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back in my chair, "Fine, be a jerk."

"And I haven't said anything yet." a very familiar voice said. I flicked my eyes to the door and there was Draco Malfoy. I scrunched my face into disdain.

"Don't you have some class to be at?" I sneered. Draco raised his eyebrow at how well I executed it. I smirked at him.

"You sound like you could be in Slytherin." he commented off-handedly, "And no, this is my free period." he answered my question looking around the classroom. I followed his sweeping eyes.

"No, I wouldn't be good in Slytherin." I said, "I am all for inter-house relations. Hence why I have only four tables." with a snap of my fingers, the tables were replaced with four rows of chairs and two chair desks, "Correction, had."

"Ah, yes, that would be a bit of a hassle." he muttered, "Why did your owl fly off?" he asked after noticing the lack of Denali on my shoulder.

"He was upset about me not paying attention to him." I replied while looking at the bookshelf. I saw Denali looking intently at Draco, "He doesn't like you, you know." I added shaking my head.

"And how, may I ask, do you know that?" he followed my gaze up the bookshelf.

"He talks to me." I replied flatly.

"I knew Americans were odd," he began turning to me, "I never knew they were mental too." his steel gray eyes locked onto my light brown eyes. I held his gaze without blinking and very steadily.

"If you refer to me as 'American' again, I will hurt you." I hissed through my teeth. I was getting angry again. Maybe it was my time of the month soon. I remembered it was the first week of September and I should be starting soon.

"Handing out threats like candy, are we?" he took a step closer while keeping eye contact. I stood up from my chair and held my ground.

"You keep asking for more." I replied. His eyes flashed with something but I could not read it. I can read Denali and other owls like a book, but people were different. I was almost lost when it came to people.

"You have a quick tongue." he commented with something like approval, "Do you mind if I stay here?" his question caught me off guard. He saw uncertainty flood into my face and smirked.

"Fine." I replied. Surprised took over his cool calmness. It was my turn to smirk, "So long as you do not disturb my students." I looked up at Denali again. I was pleading with my eyes for him to come down.

I heard quiet footsteps at my door. A few of my students were entering and looking at Draco and me. Questions were running through their little minds. I shot Draco a glare and he shrugged. I took a step forward and Denali swooped down and landed on my shoulder. The wrong shoulder. I gasped at the pain and Denali hooted.

"You great lard!" I hissed, "That hurt like a-" I caught myself before I said anything too terribly graphic. Draco was snickering behind his hand, "Switch shoulders." I ordered while I glared at Draco, "Now!" I raised my voice a notch when he did not move. Draco smiled wickedly and Denali hooted defiantly.

The class was getting a good show, I noted. They were a buzz with whispers. 'Twelve years olds.' I thought to myself. I motioned to the chairs.

"Please, have a seat class." I said pleasantly through the pain shooting down my arm and chest. Draco opted to go over to the window. I conjured a coushin-y red chair. It had some gold trim. He glared at me while he took out his wand. He touched the chair with it and mumbled a spell. I smiled sweetly.

"Now, seeing as how you all are sitting, we may begin." I began, walking in front of my desk, "I need everyone to stand up again." the scraping of chairs across the floor rang in my ears, "Now, I need everyone, in turn, to state their name, birth month and which color is your favorite." I saw a few nervous glances.

They may have been nervous, but they were not timid like the first years. They started at the left side of the classroom. I could feel Draco looking at me. I glanced at him and he looked at me with a questioning gaze. I mouthed 'Just wait,' and turned back around and was proud of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Everything was going smoothly.

When they had all finished, I quickly counted up the amount in each month; six in July, eight in June, one in December, two in January, four in November and three in May. I was disappointed, again, to find no one born in October.

"My name is Draco Malfoy. I was born in October and my favorite color is green." I heard Draco say. He was looking at me expectantly. In fact, everyone was looking at me expectantly. I cleared my throat. I was not expecting that.

"My name is Henria Sownbinder. I was born in October and my favorite color is purple." I was nervous, "Now, before you all sit down again, I want you all to find someone with the same birth month as you and sit with them. They will be your partner." Everyone started to move, but a hand shot up.

"No one has the same birth month as me." a voice whined.

"Take one of the May kids. They have an extra one." I flicked my hand to the board and writing appeared, "Here is your assignment. It must be done by the next class period." and with that I went to my chair and sat and observed.