Snape's Heart

Chapter One
(Surprise)

All the upper classmen had already taken their seats in the Great Hall and were awaiting Professor McGonagall and the First Years to enter so that they may begin the sorting. No one really paid attention to the high table at the front of the Great Hall, they were for the teachers and the only empty seats were for the professors of Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts. At this point most of the students didn't even care who they got to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, they couldn't be any worse than that Umbridge woman. But then again.

Suddenly a door opened behind the teachers table, the room went silent as they got a good look at the woman entering the room. She had dark hair that was pulled back in a twist with a red flower tucked into the side. Her eyes were blue and bright and she looked way too young to be a teacher. But the thing that really made every table chatter was that she was wearing Muggle clothes. She had on black silk pants that flowed as she walked and a black silk corset top with sheer sleeves that hung lower than her hands. She looked like she was going out dancing for the night and decided to crash Opening Ceremonies instead.

She walked over to Dumbledore and kissed him on the cheek, he patted her hand before she went and took the seat for the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. As she sat there she looked out over the sea of young faces and smiled with excitement. None of the other teachers even gave her a glance, but a couple students noticed Professor Snape give her a look of disgust.

A moment later Professor McGonagall and the First Years entered the Great Hall and the sorting began, soon after the food appeared and everyone ate heartily. Once everyone had finished dessert and felt as though they were about to burst, Professor Dumbledore stood up to make the annual announcements.

''I want to welcome you all to another year at Hogwarts. I am sure you all had a wonderful summer and hope that this year proves to be your best one yet,'' he exclaimed.

Dumbledore continued, ''I would like to introduce you to our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. This is Professor Julia Lee, she has come here from America and happens to be my great-grandniece, I think.''

''Close enough, Great-Granduncle, I've lost count myself,'' smiled Julia.

''Well then,'' he resumed, ''I hope you all learn a lot from her and hope you treat her with the samect as you would like her to treat you. Her methods may be different than the ones you are used to, but I have faith that my students are up to any challenge. Now, with all that said I think it may be time for everyone to return to their houses to get a good-night's rest. Good night to you all.''

The students then began to follow their prefects to their own houses, whispering amongst themselves about the mysterious new teacher. Meanwhile the teachers all disappeared into the back room behind the tables.