The Avery Women

Chapter 1 - The Welcoming Feast

"Who are they?"

"Is one of them the new DADA professor?"

"Is Snape being civil to them?"

The questions were whispered around the great hall, the students casting curious glances at the two women who sat on either side of Professor Snape. One looked like she would be a contemporary of McGonagall, with graying black hair, and wrinkles stamped into a fine-boned face. The other looked like she had just graduated from Hogwarts, her black hair gleaming in a pair of braids wrapped around her skull.

A small knot of Gryffindors was especially concerned over the identity of the younger one, and what she was doing at the high table. And what it could possibly mean that Snape was talking with her in what appeared to be a civil fashion.

"Do you think she's his daughter?" Ginny shot a look up at the woman, her eyes rapidly scanning her. Black hair, black eyes, and a tan. "She gets out in the sun more than he does."

Ron was looking vaguely ill at the thought that Snape could have a daughter. "I hope not. One Snape is bad enough without him spawning."

"I don't think any woman would let him close enough to have sex, much less get pregnant." Hermione shook her head, blushing furiously. "I don't think she's his daughter."

"Sister, maybe?" Ginny looked over at Harry, who was still watching the women at the high table. "What do you think, Harry?"

Harry shrugged. "It doesn't matter. She's friendly with him, which means this year's going to be hell in DADA if she's the professor." He shot another glance at the high table. Snape was saying something with a sneer on his face, and the woman smiled, shaking her head, mirth in her expression. "I hope she's not our DADA professor."

They didn't have a chance to speculate more before the new first years were led in, and the Sorting Hat began its song. They clapped politely when one was sorted into Gryffindor, while keeping an eye on the woman. She applauded the sorting of all the students, ignoring the scowl on Snape's face when someone was sorted into Gryffindor. Perhaps she wouldn't be so bad if she was the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

~~~ ~~~

At another table, another group of students watched the high table as well, ignoring the sorting in favor of the new faces at the high table.

"I didn't think she'd have the audacity to show her face in public again after what she did to her husband." Pansy was staring at the older woman with mingled hatred and awe.

"Shut up, Pansy." Draco snorted. "She didn't do anything to Malcolm Avery except tell him he was a bastard, and move to the house on Skye." He shrugged. "Avery women have been doing that for centuries."

"Must be something in the women the Avery family marries." Goyle shook his head. "Crazy, every one of them."

"Perhaps." Draco was studying the woman on the far side of Snape. "I wonder where the other sister is."

"Huh?" Pansy looked at him oddly, a frown on her face. "Draco, there's only one Avery daughter."

Draco shook his head. "There were two, twins. Both are in the books mother was keeping for Aunt Bellatrix and that idiot husband of hers."

"Draco!" Pansy squeaked.

"What?" He turned to her, a sneer on his face. "Don't tell me you're afraid of Lestrange. He's not half as dangerous as my aunt." He waved a dismissive hand. "No, there were two Avery sisters in the books."

"But there's only one up at the table, and most records only mention one. Niobe." Goyle leaned in closer to Draco. "So what's with the other one?"

Draco shook his head. "I don't know. Mother took the book away before I could find out."

"That's a pity." Pansy looked at the high table again. "It had to be something interesting that happened to the other sister for her to be missing."

"Maybe she died." Goyle shrugged.

"But if she died, she'd be mentioned in the records, and so would her death." Pansy shook her head. "It's like she never existed."

"Maybe she got bitten by a werewolf or a vampire," Blaise interjected into the conversation, finally looking up from the book he had in his lap. "Wouldn't that make them try and erase her existence?"

Draco looked over at the other boy, and then up at the ceiling, remaining silent for a long moment. "Tonight's full moon. If she was bitten by a werewolf, she'd be locked up right now."

"And wouldn't be with her sister right now!" Pansy shared a triumphant smile with Blaise. "I said it had to be something interesting."

"But why would she still be alive if she was bitten by a werewolf?" Goyle had a puzzled look on his face. "I though Malcolm Avery hated werewolves."

Draco shrugged. "I don't know." He looked up at the high table again, and caught the older woman watching them. "Perhaps it has something to do with why Madame Avery moved to Skye."

"Maybe." Pansy followed his gaze, as did Goyle and Blaise, the four watching the older Avery as she watched them. She smiled after a long moment, and nodded to Draco before turning to Snape, apparently saying something, as he looked over at her.

~~~ ~~~

Dumbledore stood, looking down the hall at the students. He noted the interest of many in the two women sitting on either side of Professor Snape, and mentally smiled. He suspected that most thought one of the Avery women was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and he had done nothing to dispel that idea. Not that Snape would appreciate the student body knowing the women's relation to him.

"Before we eat, I have a few announcements to make. First, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year will be Remus Lupin, who could not join us this evening, unfortunately. Second, the Dueling Club will be reforming this year, and sign up sheets will be posted in all common rooms. As always, the Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden to all students." He continued with the other places that Filtch had requested be banned to students this year, most because they had proved to be quite unsafe for the caretaker over the summer. Which would make them just as unsafe for unwary students.

He sat down as the food appeared on the plates, smiling as he watched the students eating. To one side, he could hear McGonagall returning to her earlier conversation with Marion Avery, the two witches reminiscing over their days in school, and gossiping about problem students in their respective schools. He let it wash over him like the rest of the conversations, his mind focused on other problems. Such as how to introduce Niobe to her students without them becoming convinced she was a Death Eater, a sadist, or dangerously crazy.

"Sickle for your thoughts, Albus." Madame Pomfrey had a slight smile on her face, and she popped another piece of her salad into her mouth.

"Niobe." He twirled his fork, bringing the mouthful of alfredo noodles to his lips. He chewed as he thought, his eyes glossing over the students again.

"Trying to think of how to introduce her?" Pomfrey chuckled. "Perhaps you just use the name she apparently gives to all the recruits she teaches how to duel."

Dumbledore chuckled, shaking his head. "I doubt the students would be reassured that their dueling club advisor is called sadist and slave-driver by the Auror recruits."

Pomfrey returned his smile, her eyes twinkling. "I thought she gave her name as Niobe Atalanta. No family name to worry them about their teacher."

"They worry enough about her as it is." Dumbledore switched his gaze to the Gryffindor table, seeing Harry and his friends leaning close together, one of them sending a glance towards Niobe and Marion every so often. He made a small gesture with his fork, directing Pomfrey's gaze to the knot of students. "What do you think they are discussing?"

"Likely trying to figure out who she is. And suspecting she is a sadist already, or perhaps a masochist, seeing as she is talking civilly with Severus." Pomfrey peered down the table at the main subject of their conversation, a smile gracing her face at the expression she saw on Niobe's face. "And looking like she's having a grand time of it, as well."

Dumbledore glanced at Niobe and Snape, nodding. "Ah, young love." A twinkle of amusement came to his gaze as he turned it back to Pomfrey. "I seem to remember a couple that looked quite as adorable when they were in school."

Pomfrey blushed, and shook her head, flicking a piece of lettuce at his head. "You are incorrigible, Albus!"

Dumbledore chuckled, applying himself to his food. He looked forward to seeing what the house elves had come up with for dessert.

~~~ ~~~

"Ah, adulation. A heady draught of fame." Niobe smirked at the sour expression on Snape's face, and the sideways looks she was getting from many of the students.

"More likely they suspect you are a raving lunatic." Snape snorted. "After all, what sane woman would be holding a conversation with the sadistic Potions Master?"

"Hmm, I don't know. Perhaps they're right, and I am insane." Niobe chuckled. "After all, I married you."

"You were five when the contract was arranged. I doubt that qualifies for insanity. Ignorance, perhaps." Snape flipped a mushroom to one side of his plate, carefully excavating the lamb from beneath the vegetables the house elves had insisted on piling on it.

"And you were six, and it wouldn't have mattered if we decided we hated each other before we turned eighteen." Niobe speared one of his mushrooms, chewing on it a moment. "They're properly cooked, and well seasoned. I don't see why you won't eat them, Severus."

Snape sneered. "I don't consider potions ingredients to be a viable food group, unlike some people." He stabbed at the lamb, glaring at Niobe when she made a bleating sound.

"You need to get a sense of humour, Severus." Niobe stole another mushroom off his plate. "Though I'm curious, what do you consider food?" She tilted her head, raising an eyebrow.

"Anything that I wouldn't put into a potion and doesn't poison me."

"That would explain your odd eating habits." Niobe shrugged, heavily buttering a hot roll.

Snape rolled his eyes. "I'm not the one who ruins and consumes perfectly good potions ingredients."

"No, you just choose to consume more than your fair share of meat and alcohol. That might explain your rotten temper." Niobe's eyes were sparkling with amusement, and she wiggled her fork as if going after one of the chunks of lamb still on Snape's plate. He growled, and she laughed, shaking her head. "Really, Severus. I don't like red meat." She waved a hand in an airy gesture. "It's not good for my sweet disposition and slim figure."

Snape snorted. "Sweet disposition? Even my students haven't called me spawn of Salazar yet."

"Actually, one of the Muggle-born students called me the spawn of Satan once. I think that's an equivalent to calling me the child of that half-blood idiot I have to send them out against now." Niobe's lips curled in a snarl of distaste, which made Snape smirk with amusement.

"So you've gotten promoted to the second worst evil they'll ever face, hmm?"

"Apparently." Niobe's snarl faded, and was replaced by a sunny smile. "At least then I can guarantee they'll survive long enough to get promoted."

"To what? Desk work?" Snape gave her a skeptical look.

"To 'Very important target. Destroy at all costs'." Niobe smiled toothily. "And then they can come back to me and thank me profusely for being a sadistic bitch."

"I doubt most of them realize they owe you their lives. They probably put it all down to luck, and their own talents they took into the training."

"Like every other young and foolish idiot who comes through." Niobe shrugged, licking melted butter off her lips from the roll she'd been eating. "Speaking of young and foolish idiots, you were beginning to expound on some of your least favorite students, Severus. Ah, let's see. Potter."

"Arrogant, over confident dunderhead who thinks that he can get away with anything he wants simply because of who he is."

Niobe chuckled, glancing down the Gryffindor table, and catching the subject of her current conversation watching her warily. "And apparently none too certain of this new person who is talking civilly to the professor who, I dare say, hates him most." She raised an eyebrow in question, and Harry flushed, turning away. "It will be interesting to see his face when he realizes who is the teacher for the dueling club."

"Quite," Snape replied dryly.

"Hmm. Who next?" Niobe's eyes flicked over the tables. "Longbottom."

"Sniveling coward with a great talent for destroying things."

"Like potions cauldrons?" Niobe glanced at Snape knowingly, grinning at the scowl on his face. "Oh, the horror!" She shook her head, turning her attention back to stealing his mushrooms, and letting him eat his meal almost in peace.