Anmarie Island

"Good morning Hogwarts students and welcome to Anmarie Island," a female voice said brightly, echoing magically through the rooms. "Please report to the top deck with all of your luggage in 15 minutes."

The students made their way to the top deck, some bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with excitement (Hermione), and others dragging one foot after another, fighting off sleep (Seamus).

Once all 12 students were present, Snape beckoned them to follow him down a ramp, which led to a small dock. The students dropped their trunks and, rubbing their aching arms, looked up for their first view of the island that would be their home for the summer.

They were not disappointed. There was a simultaneous sharp intake of breath from every person. Anmarie Island was absolutely stunning. There was a lush tropical forest, with a carpet of many exotic flowers, from which they could hear strange birdcalls. To their left was a sheltered cove with vivid turquoise water. They could see a string of huts lining the cove, with two larger buildings in the distance.

"You can all close your jaws now," Snape snapped at them. "Follow me so we can assign cabins."

He led them to a small clearing behind the huts, where a wooden platform with picnic tables was set up. He pulled out his wand and transfigured two small rocks into boxes, into which he dropped bits of parchment with each student's name: girls in one, boys in the other.

"I am simply going to draw two names out of the box at a time. Those two students will share a hut for the summer. If I draw two students from the same house, I will replace them and draw again. Is that clear?" he said dryly, smirking at the students. They were gazing apprehensively at the boxes that were deciding their fate. Hermione was about to make a comment about it being like their sorting ceremony from their first year, but was interrupted by the beginning of the pairings.

Snape drew two names from the boys' box. "Stewart Ackerly and Malcolm Baddock, cabin one." He drew two more. "Seamus Finnigan and Ernie MacMillan, cabin two." Harry looked anxiously around as he realized the only other boys left were Justin and Malfoy. "Harry Potter and...Justin Finch-Fletchley, cabin three." Harry breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Justin. "Mr. Malfoy, I trust you have no problem having a cabin to yourself?" Snape asked.

"Not at all professor, I'll be fine."

"Good. You'll be in cabin four then," Snape said, smiling at his favorite student. " And now for the girls...Padma Patil and Hannah Abbott you'll be in cabin five." The two girls smiled pleasantly at one another. "Blaise Zabini and Lisa Turpin, cabin six." Blaise tossed her head and didn't acknowledge Lisa's small wave.

Hermione looked around, then asked, "Professor, does that mean I also have my own cabin?"

Snape turned to look at her and after a moment replied coldly, "I suppose...cabin seven. If everyone will drop off their things, we will meet back here in precisely 35 minutes where you will meet your other teachers and have a brief tour of the island. Do not be late." Snape walked briskly away to his own cabin, floating his belongings ahead of him with his wand.

The students gathered their things and went their separate ways, chattering animatedly. Hermione, watching Snape, thought he had the right idea and pulled out her wand, which she pointed at her trunk. "Now what's that spell again?" she pondered aloud and was startled when a voice just behind her said sharply, "Levitatus." Her trunk rose in the air.

She whipped around and found herself face to face with Malfoy. She looked into his gray eyes for a moment, but they were devoid of emotion. He merely stared back. Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, she said, "Th-thank you, Malfoy," the words sounding foreign to her ears.

He merely looked at her for a moment longer before breaking eye contact and walking to his own cabin where he slammed the door shut.

Confused, Hermione walked to her cabin and was pleased with what she found. Every cabin was rustic looking with decorative palm fronds on the roof and a large covered porch with a swinging bench. Inside were a small bathroom and two decent sized bedrooms that each contained a twin sized bed, a dresser, a closet, and a desk. There was one other room with a large bookshelf, a few extremely comfortable-looking chairs, and a small couch, which surrounded a low table. Hermione magically unpacked her trunk, choosing the bedroom with a bay window facing the cove. She sat on the window seat for a moment, gazing out contentedly before getting up. She magicked some pale blue curtains that matched her bedspread onto the window and then walked back outside towards the clearing.

After a few minutes of waiting, the students were joined by Professor Snape and two other adults. "Prefects, these are your new professors, Madame Liza Bargs and Professor Seedly. They will be joining me in furthering your DADA education." He paused, giving the students a moment to study the new additions.

Madame Bargs caught the eyes of the boys immediately. She was young, probably in her early twenties, with flowing blonde hair and richly tanned skin. She smiled warmly at the students, but Hermione could see past the toothy grin. It won't be long until she's deducting points and losing what little patience she has, she thought.

Professor Seedly gained considerably less adoration than Bargs, but maintained his friendly smile. He looked like a man in his mid-thirties. He had wavy brown hair with wisps of gray strands and wore small, wire-framed glasses that gave him a distinguished look. Compared to Snape, Seedly had a much softer, easier going air about him. Hermione would have looked forward to his teaching if he weren't the divination instructor.

Snape addressed Bargs in a surprisingly gentle tone, asking, "Would you like to say anything to your new students, Madame Bargs?"

Her smile faded instantly and she grew serious. "Yes, Professor Snape, I would," she nodded, speaking with a rich Australian accent. "Good morning everyone. I am Liza Bargs and I will be your curses and charms instructor for this summer's course. Don't assume that since it's summer I'm going to go easy on you. This session is meant to be work, not a vacation. We will be dealing with very serious, very dangerous spells that could one day save your lives. I want you to all pay close attention and strictly obey every bit of instruction I give. I do want you to have fun here, but I also want you to leave Anmarie Island with clear, reliable ways to defend yourselves against the dark arts. With that in mind, I look forward to working with each of you and I hope you will enjoy our time together." Her smile lit her face back up after her speech and she nodded at Snape to signal that she was finished.

Snape turned his gaze to Professor Seedly. "And," he motioned coldly to the man on his right, "Professor Seedly, would you like to say anything to the students?"

"Why, sure," said the pleasant American. "Hi everyone! I'm Marvin Seedly and I will be your divination instructor this summer. I know, I know, divination is boring and useless, right? Wrong! It can come in very helpful when dealing with the dark arts and you'll see how through this course. I think you will all be surprised and you might actually find divination fun. Well, I look forward to spending the summer with everyone and I can't wait to start instructing all of you." He clapped his hands together to signify the end of his speech and all the students except Hermione, who still loathed divination, began whispering excitedly to one another.

"Hush!" Snape commanded in a monstrous tone. The clamor of voices immediately died down and every eye focused on him. "It absolutely thrills me to know you are all childishly exuberant about your future instructors," he grumbled sarcastically, "but the tour of the island will be postponed slightly. I am feeling ill, so in one hour we will travel the island. Until then I suggest you get acquainted with your fellow students and settle into your rooms." With that he turned around, stumbling slightly as he walked toward his room.

Harry nudged Hermione and with a smile on his face said, "I don't think Snape likes traveling on water too much." Hermione stifled a laugh and walked with her friend toward his cabin.