Slytherin Pride

Extra: Ten points to anyone who knows the meaning of the second motto… otherwise its detention for you!
 

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Slytherin Pride
Chapter Two – First Lessons/Peeves Strikes Again
 
By Slytherin’s Silver Snake
 

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Raindrops were gently pattering against the stonewall that was just outside of the window, trickling down towards the ground. Holding one hand in front of her mouth as she yawned yet again, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor looked back at her desk that was just in front of the blackboard at the front of her classroom. She then paused; there was still two minutes to go before her very first lesson would get underway. She had left breakfast almost as soon as it had finished, and had quickly made her way to her classroom after asking a sixth-year Hufflepuff for directions. A long midnight-blue cloak was billowing ever so slightly along the floor in the backdraft of wind that was coming through the open window, revealing a pair of small-heeled black shoes that jutted out from under a long professor’s robe.
 
Staring outside towards the lake, the rain still gently falling, she thought about how her first lesson would progress, while golden candlelight was flickering within the classroom. I asked Dumbledore, and he said that I’d do fine… so I guess that I will. Flicking her raven hair over her shoulder, Professor Corvus let out a sigh and straightened her posture, remembering the time when her and Severus had first undertaken the trouble of talking to each other twenty four years ago…
 
Cerise Corvus muttered darkly to herself as with a calm exterior she dumped her textbooks on the empty table in front of her – even though she was almost at boiling point. As she sat down and unfolded her formidable height, the class turned to stare at her, seeing that she was angry about something; and that the girl who was fuming inwardly had already earned a bad reputation for curses – she had used the Impediment Curse on another first-year brunette even before the Sorting had began. This had earned various rumors that were all aimed at her – ‘I’ve been told that the Impediment Curse isn’t even taught until the fifth year…’ Or had she really learnt it from a book about the dark arts? ‘Did you see her reading on the train? I’m telling you, the book she was reading wasn’t a set text; and neither was the one that other boy was reading – that’s for sure.’
 
Cerise swore inwardly, looking over towards the whispering Gryffindors. She had personally been looking forward to Defense Against the Dark Arts (not least due to the fact that if she didn’t get top marks, her father would be reproachful about why she didn’t – although she didn’t know the reasons behind this), but when she realized that it would be with the Gryffindors, her heart felt as if it had skipped a beat too many. From the looks of things, most of them wouldn’t be even able to handle a Flobberworm, let alone a complex curse.
 
At that moment, a blonde girl at the other desk looked over at her with the other Slytherin students in interest as a professor with downy white hair wrote in chalk on the blackboard a few minutes before the start of the lesson. “What just happened to you?” she asked. Cerise looked over at the blonde – Narcissa Flavens – as she took a feather quill from her backpack. She remained silent, but knew that an answer was expected of her. Why couldn’t people just leave her in peace like she wanted? Reluctantly, she gave one, “Well, you know that dreary-looking brunette who got sorted into Ravenclaw?” The two girls carried on talking while the other Slytherins eavesdropped on the conversation, “Yeah – ” However, Narcissa was interrupted by another person’s voice. It was older, masculine, and had a distinctive regal air about it.
 
“ – Now, since it appears that most of you were here, we’ll take the register. Might as well save some more time for the actual lesson.” Professor Nubei then scanned the class with his deep blue eyes, ticking off each name on the roll of parchment that was on the desk. He then looked around the class once more, noticing that there was one student missing, Professor Nubei then looked towards the Slytherin group of students. “Can any of you tell me where Severus Snape may be?” he asked politely. The black-haired girl paused as she tapped her quill’s nib on the desk, remembering a thin Slytherin boy with sallow skin and greasy-black shoulder-length hair. “It is before the start of the lesson, but still… Ah, speak of the devil. Here he is.”
 
Just then, to the sound of the classroom door opening and closing, Severus Snape entered the classroom, and noticing that the entire class was staring at him because of his late entrance, the thin and black-haired Slytherin quickly offered a reason for his lateness as he tried to ignore the warm feeling coming from his forehead, “Sorry that I’m late professor, it’s just that I had to visit the hospital wing.” Professor Nubei listened attentively as Severus looked around for a place to sit, “Oh! Are you feeling okay? How come you had to go?” Severus looked at the empty places, seeing that he had two choices; either he would sit amongst a group of Gryffindors (at this, he scoffed inwardly – thinking that anyone who’d been sorted into that house had to be stupid, pathetic and lazy), or he could sit in the only place left amongst his own house – which was next to a relatively tall girl with pale skin and feather-like black hair. Severus chose the latter, hoping that the girl wasn’t a total dunderhead and he started to walk through the tables on the Slytherin side of the room, which was closest to the door, “Some stupid poltergeist caused me to bang my head on the wall as I – ”
 
“ – And why’d he do that?” echoed another boy’s voice from the Gryffindors. At the mention of the poltergeist, that section of the class had burst out laughing. Why were they laughing at him? Did they somehow find it amusing? Severus froze just before he reached the spare place amongst the Slytherins and glared over at the Gryffindors, “Apparently,” he began, silkily expressing his annoyance, “he found that to give me concussion proved quite entertaining and self-satisfying. Although it would be a different story if he tried it on some of you. There’s not enough intelligence to make it even the last bit rewarding.” Professor Nubei clapped his hands together to get the class’ attention and to divert the Gryffindors away from replying to Severus cutting retort, “It must have been Peeves,” the professor smiled as he informed the Slytherin, “he’s our resident mischievous spirit. Just try to ignore him, he does it to everybody.” Severus nodded quietly as he mumbled under his breath.
 
Looking down at the desk, Severus then realized that the black-haired girl hadn’t been paying attention, “Excuse me. Do you mind if I sit here?” The girl yawned as she flicked the few black bangs of hair away from in front of her eyes, the rest of the class unrolling their blank writing parchments as Professor Nubei scribbled on the blackboard, “Sure, go right ahead.” This wasn’t exactly how he’d pictured his first lesson, but Severus shrugged his shoulders, “Thanks.” He then placed his backpack on the desk, pulled out a seat and sat down as the quiet girl dipped her quill into an open bottle of ink and began to transfer what was on the blackboard onto her blank parchment, “So what’s – ?” The girl sighed and interrupted his question, “ – My name’s Cerise Corvus, and please forgive me for not sounding interested and for interrupting you, it’s just that this lesson’s my favorite and I don’t want to miss anything. After all, knowledge is power.”
 
Severus carried on taking his textbooks and equipment out of his backpack. The motto was true enough, since it was one of the ones that he preferred. However, he was wondering why the ‘quiet girl’, as the other Slytherins were calling her, was interested. To tell the truth, so was he. Defense Against the Dark Arts was one of the two subjects that he looked forward to – Potions was the other – Severus already knew how to perform about as many curses as over half of the seventh-years, and even all three of the Unforgivables; however, he was only able to perform them on small animals. This particular rumor had already spread amongst the whole seven years of Slytherin house, “How come?” The black-haired girl called Cerise snorted through her nose as she copied more notes, “I’ve read about most of this stuff already. Haven’t you heard about that Ravenclaw first-year who I struck with the Impediment curse? However, the question I really should be asking you is why are you asking me all these questions? I’m starting to get suspicious about your motives.”
 
Severus paused. Apparently, the girl wasn’t a dunderhead after all. He usually remained quiet, attentive and on the sidelines in class, but he was curious, “I’m just interested. You performed the Impediment Curse. It’s not exactly the easiest curse to perform.” Cerise nodded silently as she twiddled the quill between her right hand’s forefingers, while the rest of the class silently chatted, “Just call it a strange gift of mine. Wasn’t as fun as it seemed, well, it was – but that young teacher, Miss. what’s her name - ?” One of the listening Slytherins whispered the teacher’s name so that Cerise could continue, while Severus momentarily looked around. Wasn’t anything he talked about going to be private anymore? “ – Yeah, that was it. Thanks, Avery. Thanks for revealing to us that you’re eavesdropping. You wouldn’t be very useful in the Department of Mysteries, eh, Avery?”
 
At this, Avery returned to writing down on his parchment. “Anyway, McGonagall had me restore her motion and gave me a harsh lecture about – ” here, the girl’s voice took on a mock tone of Professor McGonagall, “’the importance of understanding your fellow students’.” The Slytherins, and even some of the Gryffindors started to snigger uncontrollably at the bad impression, causing Professor Nubei to turn around and tell them to be quiet. Luckily form them, Professor Nubei was pretty lenient when it came to discipline, so no points were deducted.
 
Severus then laughed and began to write on his blank parchment as the professor wrote once more at the board and the students began to scribble on their parchment. Unfortunately for him, Cerise was curiously gazing into nothing, “And I’ve heard the interesting fact that you can also perform the seventh-year curses, as well as all three of the Unforgivables,” she whispered knowingly. Severus paused. He then nodded silently in reply, and the raven-haired girl looked astonished and even paler than usual, “Even Aveda Kedavra?” she asked – seeming to know more than she was letting on. Severus glanced around him, then he nodded again as he carried on writing what was on the blackboard. “Why is it so shocking?” he asked her, “After all, you’ve already heard the rumors.” The girl shook her head as she carried on copying from the board, “No it’s not that. Severus, do you mind if I tell you something?” Severus shook his head. He didn’t really want to hear what the girl had to say, but the girl, Cerise, seemed as if she wanted to get something off of her chest; besides, he thought that it could be interesting; it could be useful blackmail material, “No-one else is listening,” he replied. Cerise looked around nervously. “What is it Cerise?” Severus asked, saying the girl’s name, “Don’t tell me that you can perform them too.”
 
Cerise slumped her shoulders and meekly nodded her head as Severus raised an eyebrow at her confession. It was doubtable, but if she could use the Impediment Curse at such a young age as they were both at, it was plausible that she could use the Unforgivables. After all, he could. Interested, Severus lowered his already quiet voice so that only him and Cerise could hear what he was saying as they both carried on copying notes from the board, “I’m self-taught. Are you?” At the admission that he was self-taught, it seemed to Severus as if Cerise was surprised. If she was surprised and shaking her head, that meant that she was taught to perform the three Unforgivable Curses. Immediately, Cerise scribbled faster on her parchment, which was almost full. Severus paused. It was interesting to learn that someone had taught her the Unforgivables, ( since it was illegal). He then laughed inwardly – this was going to be an interesting first year…
 

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As she finished thinking, Professor Corvus paused. Talk about twists of fate, she thought. Who’d have thought that things would turn out the way that they did; him a Death Eater, and me a Demon Hunter? Professor Corvus knew from first-hand experience that her old friend had once been a follower of Lord Voldemort, who many referred to as You-Know-Who. He had told her just a few days before graduation night in the year of 78’, but what he had told her came back in the form of memories…
 
“Cerise. I’ve decided…”
“I’m going to become a Death Eater.”
“For too long Potter and his friends have been looking down on me. ”
“But I really don’t want to have to do it alone.”
“Can you come with me?”
 
The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor froze as she recollected the last line, ‘Can you come with me?’ – she wasn’t going to tell Severus this for a long time, but she had come close to joining the Death Eaters, all because of him. Apart from that, the power that Voldemort was offering was very tempting to youngsters of that age, who had never experienced such things before. However, the events of her sixth and seventh years in Hogwarts had finally pointed her along a different path. She had seen the death of her parents reported in the Daily Prophet as she was sat eating breakfast in the Great Hall, and it was all because of him – because of Voldemort.
 
Professor Corvus knew that it sounded selfish, but she didn’t want the same thing to happen to her. That was why she didn’t want to join them in the end. She had then gone on to become a member of the famed elite ‘Seeker Squadron’ of Demon Hunters, who were separate from the ministry. In fact, she had often been responsible for indirectly supplying Severus with the more unusual ingredients for his potions once he had became a teacher – after all, it was in her job description. A Demon Hunter kills Demons. It’s what we do… or did. The professor recalled once more the time in which she had given Hogwarts current Potions Master his answer before Graduation, and was about to recollect what exactly that answer was, when she heard a gaggle of voices from the outside corridor, breaking her from her reverie…
 
“So, what do you think she’s gonna’ be like?”
“Who knows? Perhaps she’s a boggart in disguise?”
“Don’t be silly. Boggarts are shapeshifters- not masters of disguise.”
“Boggarts schmoggarts.”
“Still, she seemed quite pretty. No boggart looks like that.”
“Don’t you just feel sorry for her though?”
“Don’t even go there! She’s over double your age!”
“Whatever. Did you see where she was during the Sorting?”
“Yeah. Sitting by Snape must have been awful.”
“But what do you think Dumbledore meant by ‘retired’?”
“Who knows? And I doubt that she’ll tell us anything.”
“Hey Weasley! Is that your answer for everything? ‘Who knows?’ ”
 
The voice that had last spoken seemed to interest Professor Corvus, as she turned around and listened to the conversation, her arms resting on the windowsill as she mentally banished the sorrow from her face, It’s always best to have one ear open to the ground and not to look too suspicious. Her heels clicked on the stone floor as she swiveled her hips and faced the area of the Dark Arts classroom that opened out onto the corridor, So, she was musing, her thin lips curling into an evil smile as she shifted the subject to the back of her mind, there’s going to be a Weasley in my class, is there? Well, I’ll make sure to give him a most appropriate reception. The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor then turned around and shut the window, cutting off the draft of wind.
 
Walking over to her desk, she listened carefully as the voices came closer. Taking a roll of parchment and unfurling it, the professor stood still as she began to read it; while waiting for the class to arrive, Ah, I see that my first class will be the Slytherin and Gryffindor fifth-years. She rolled back up the register and walked to the back of the classroom to adjust a vine that was hanging too far down from the mineral beams overhead. Just then, the students entered the classroom…
 
“Be quiet ferret!”
“Oh look! He’s threatening me…”
“Oh that’s real funny, Malfoy.”
“… Please, won’t someone come and save me from the Weasley?”
 
Professor Corvus could hear the sounds of ruffling parchment echoing from her desk as she reached up, placing the vine back in its correct place. Her outline was easily hidden by the shadows that seemed to lurk at the back of the room behind the wooden desks. ‘Malfoy! Put that down before you get us all into trouble!” Obviously, some of the less-cautious Slytherin students were taking it upon themselves to examine her desk.There’s never going to be a moment’s peace in this place, she thought. Just then, she heard a girl’s voice…
 
“Hey. Why isn’t Professor Corvus here?”
“Perhaps she got lost?”
 
“Actually-” she announced from the back of the classroom; and as she did, the students turned their heads to face her. Malfoy quickly placed a rectangular parcel back down on her desk, hoping that she wouldn’t know that he had been looking at it, “- I am over here sorting out this very stubborn creeper. I’m really going to have to ask Professor Sprout to come and inspect it.” She then hooked the vine up and over a rafter; after which, she dusted off her hands on her robe, “and I believe that answers your question?”
 
Professor Corvus then turned to face her class, adopting an authoritative posture as she took in an all-encompassing gaze of her classroom. Most of the Gryffindors had remained by the archway that led into the classroom, while a boy with white-blond hair was standing next to her desk, guarded by two taller boys who seemed to have more muscles than brains, and a joint body mass that was the size of Asia. That must be Malfoy’s son, she theorized; recognizing the pointed facial structure and the cold-gray eyes. And like his father, the boy was the main Slytherin ringleader; the other Slytherins remaining by her desk.
 
The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor immediately walked down towards her desk and the students; who seemed to be observing her, “Firstly, I have one thing to tell you before you start this course-” she announced coldly, her right hand tightly clenching the register, “- and that is if any of you think that I will tolerate offensive behavior towards myself, then you are in for the shock of your lives.” Her face was pale and a veritable veneer of calmness. “And if any of you don’t agree with this-” she flicked back her glossy black hair as the students’ listened; all the time walking towards her desk, “- then I will take you by the collar of your robe and throw you out of this classroom faster than you can say ‘Professor, there’s a boggart in my closet!’.” As the class remained silent, the white-blond haired boy called Malfoy just smirked behind her back. Professor Corvus decided to let him know that she was no fool - hopefully, he would take the hint and be more tactful. After all; she didn’t want to have to take any points from her own house, “Draco Malfoy, as I believe that is your name, please wipe that stupid smile off of your face before I do it for you.”
 
The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor then lowered her tone to one that was friendlier as Malfoy stopped smirking, much to the delight of the Gryffindors. One thing that she was proud of was how deceptive her voice could be – she could be fuming with rage, but that rage would be calmly expressed, “Now, I trust that you will remember this in the future?” Immediately, she decided to commence with the lesson, “My name is Professor Corvus, and if you would all please go and sit down, we’ll get started.” She then moved around the students to sit on the carved wooden chair behind her desk as the students went to take their places at the tables; Slytherin were down one side, and Gryffindor had sat down the other.
 
The female professor then unfurled the piece of parchment that she was holding. “And just to remind you; anyone who fools around in my class will find themselves in detention, even if you have Quidditch practice. Some of you would do well to take heed of that.” Professor Corvus began to read off the list of names, until she reached a certain name, “Ah yes. Mr. Harry Potter, otherwise known as the Boy Who Lived.” She then glanced up at the teenager in question, who was staring back at her; beside this, the Slytherins were waiting to see what she would say to him, “Although whether you’ll live through this lesson is very debatable.” Harry’s mouth was slightly ajar as the group of Slytherin students looked between Harry’s curious face and the Professor at the front of the classroom.
 
Professor Corvus nodded her head. “Now, let’s carry on.” She paused briefly, remembering the four students who had been her bane back during her time at Hogwarts, and until she reached ‘Weasley, Ron’, she encouraged each of the students with a few well-placed words, while Harry Potter was wondering inwardly why she was unwilling to talk. “Ah, I see that the infamous Ronald Weasley is in my class,” she announced, her voice calm and dry as she ticked next to his name with a feather quill, while Ron Weasley listened on; expecting some encouraging words like everyone else had received. Unfortunately, he received none, and the Gryffindors fell silent, seeing that she was in most cases going to come down on them like a ton of bricks like Professor Snape. Finished with the register; after the students had held up their hands as their names were called to inform her who was who, Professor Corvus remained silent for a minute as she thought about where to start.
 
“She’s weird.”
“You’re telling me.”
“Talk about a split personality.”
“Have you seen her face? It’s as white as a ghost.”
“Perhaps she’s a vampire?”
 
“No. I can assure you that I am not a vampire.” The professor’s lucid voice pierced the room, “And Mr. - ?” Professor Corvus looked around at the students as she was seated in her padded chair; none of them were going to tell her the answer, I can’t believe that I’ve already forgotten someone’s name. Noticing that a section of the Gryffindor students were looking guilty at everywhere except her, she noticed that a Slytherin student was holding her hand up, and was being egged on by her housemates, “Yes, Miss. Blaise?” The Slytherin girl smiled, her rosy face framed by silvery hair, “His name is Neville Longbottom, Professor Corvus.” The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor nodded and saw an opportunity begging to be taken, “Thank you, Miss. Blaise for your forthright sincerity. That has just earned Slytherin two points.” Professor Corvus then moved onto Neville, as the Slytherins leered at the Gryffindors, “And if, Mr. Longbottom, you say that again about me, I’ll take two points from Gryffindor for your impudence.” She then ignored the Gryffindor’s faces as she moved onto the next topic of discussion. I am here to teach, not to mess around.
 
“And since I’ve only just started teaching here, and don’t know that many people, we will have a short question and answer period of getting to know each other. Not that I’m sure I want to know all of your eating habits, so we’ll keep it short and simple.” Professor Corvus then relaxed in the chair and rolled the nib of the quill in her fingers, “Can I have your first question please.” There was no reply to the professor’s request, so she decided to take it upon herself to initiate proceedings, “All right then, I suppose that I’LL have to do it. Did any of you know that I used to attend Hogwarts?” she asked nonchalantly, temporarily glancing up at the stone ceiling; in it there was a small niche where a chandelier used to be. There was a few muttering from the class as Hermione Granger lifted up her hand, finally, we have a reaction. The professor nodded her head and looked at the student. “Which house were you in?”
 
Professor Corvus laughed. It was a strange laugh, as though she was doing it through her nose, “I see that you get straight to the heart of the matter, Miss. Granger. Well, when I was here is going to remain a secret, as it might embarrass someone- and no, I will not be naming names; and as for my house, I was in Slytherin for seven years, and I graduated quite a while ago.” At this, the Slytherins smiled gleefully, as some of the Gryffindors muttered inwardly. “But don’t you dare go and ask me my age unless you want to find yourselves in detention.”
 
The class settled down, sensing that they would shortly have to do some work; the two sets of students thinking different things about their teacher. “Now. Getting back to today’s class; since all of you have decided to take Defense Against the Dark Arts, which, may I add, is the most fascinating of all the core subjects at advanced level-” the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor thought of Professor Snape as she said this; he would have something to say about it, “- I believe that there are a few things you should know. Firstly, there is one thing I must insist upon, and that is that all of you put in the effort!” The professor then cleared her throat, one hand’s fingers drumming on the desk as the class watched her. “If those of you who have the disposition to do as I have just said-” here, she tapped her fingers together and glanced over towards the Slytherin section of the class, knowing that they valued ambition, “- then you will achieve your potential. But I will not keep this lesson behindhand for those of you who just think that you’ll coast on through this course to catch up because you never bother to hand in homework.” Pausing to let all her words sink in, Professor Corvus sighed, “I hope that you have all listened to me, especially-” here, she glanced at Weasley, “- those of you who might not have the mental acuity to do so.”
 
The class whispered silently to each other. Professor Corvus then held up her hand, “Pay attention to me when I talk, because if you don’t, well, you’ll have to wait and see,” she finished mirthlessly, “In this class, you will have to learn about how to use your wits as much as your wands. Dealing with the forces that could one day threaten your life takes much more than just pointing your wand at them and saying some incantation.” At this, the class murmured again as recriminations were passed around the darkish room on the second floor.
 
“AHEM!” Professor Corvus was staring at the chattering class, “Once you’ve finished talking about chocolate frogs and what not, can you please pay attention?” Her voice immediately caused the group of students to fall quiet. Noticing that the Weasley boy wasn’t looking where he should have been, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor smiled and stood up, her heels clicking on the floor as she walked over towards Ron Weasley, who was seated on the front row, “But yet again, perhaps some of you have found something of far greater interest than that of the preservation of your own life.” Each syllable that the professor spoke was underlined with an air of menace. She then squatted down to come face-to-face with his table, her dark-blue cloak draping over the floor, and her curved nose inches from his face, “Isn’t that right, Mr. Weasley?” Her right hand then raced under the desk and wrenched a collection of cards from Ron Weasley’s hands, If he is not going to listen, then I’m not going to be kind. From there on, her mind was made up.
 
“Now –” announced Professor Corvus, standing back up and ignoring Ron Weasley’s startled face, “-the purpose of this subject is to teach you to recognize, and defend yourselves, against all kinds of perpetrators of the dark arts. You will learn about all the many and myriad species of Dark Creatures; and yes, this will include their eating habits as well as their appearance; or their ‘bowels and brains’, as I like to say. The reason for the rising of You-Know-Who will also be covered, as will curses and counter-curses, amongst other things.” She then pocketed the cards and walked back to the wooden desk, shifting the parcel to one side as she sat down on its surface, “In order to defend yourselves, you will have to understand the deeper working of the various creatures and spells that you could very well encounter later on in your lives, even though you might not think it. Therefore, I will be using an amalgam of textbooks and practical lessons.”
 
The class watched attentively as Professor Corvus took out a textbook from a small space under her mahogany desk. She placed it on the table and they carried on watching as she flicked through its pages. Using her finger to mark a page, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor went to sit back down in her chair, “I want you to all take out your copies of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and to turn to pages two-hundred and ten -” she then fingered through some more pages, “ - to two-hundred and fifteen.”
 
Professor Corvus then turned to face the blackboard, grabbing a piece of chalk from a small silver pot on her desk as the class flicked through their textbooks, Now let’s see if my writing doesn’t screw up... S.P.H.I.N.X.E.S. She then stood back and looked at her handiwork. It was surprisingly clear for a first attempt, and thanking the fact that there was a neatness charm on the chalk, she went to stand to the side of the blackboard,“Make sure that you read all of the pages, because today’s subject is the mysterious but elegant Sphinx.”
 

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Time had passed, and it was fifty minutes after the start of Professor Corvus’ first lesson; and already she had already refused several students a request to go to the toilets, “If you want to go, you go at the end of my lesson, not during it. You’ll just have to hold it in.” The professor in question was looking up at the students from her desk, “I hope that you have all been doing what you should have been doing -” here, her yellow-gray eyes glinted wickedly, “-because I will be testing one of you before the end of the lesson.” The class groaned; especially Ron Weasley, who thought for certain that she was going to force him to say the answers aloud in front of the class. He also had the funny feeling that she hated him to the extent that Snape loathed Harry. Professor Corvus started to read the blackboard, a sly smile spreading over her face, and much to her delight, the white words were straight and easy to read…
 
Sphinxes

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Where do they come from? The most well known form of the Sphinx originated in Egypt, although they can sometimes be found in Greece.
 
What do they look like? Their appearance is that of a man, woman or lion’s head with almond-shaped eyes that has been superimposed on an overlarge lion’s body, thus they are a form of hybrids. They have great-clawed paws as well as a long sandy-coloured tail ending in a tuft.
 
What are their characteristics? They are very clever, highly intelligent and love to tell conundrums to whoever passes them. They were created as guards, and will only attack only if they think what they are guarding is in danger – this is why Egyptian wizards used to place them in Pharaohs’ tombs, to guard the treasures contained within.
 
Weak points? If someone solves their riddle, they will not attack; instead, they become demoralized, (as described on page two hundred and fifteen). However, should you find yourself having to fight one, their weak points are their legs. First use Impedimentia (Impediment Jinx) to slow the Sphinx down and to give you time to act. If the Jelly-legs Jinx is used, this will render their paws ineffective at close-range, although Locomotor Mortis and Petrificus Totalus are more useful overall.
 
Anything else? Although Sphinxes are one of, if not the most intelligent Dark Creatures, some of the wizarding world is puzzled as to how a Muggle called Oedipus (from Ancient Greece – ask the Muggle Studies teacher) solved one of it’s riddles; since sometimes, not even the most intelligent wizard can solve them. Also, there is the famous Giza Sphinx in Egypt, which honors an Egyptian Pharaoh. Close ‘cousins’ of the species are Chimeras and Gryphons.
 
The class were sitting at their desks in rows, and were busy writing down the information contained in the textbooks as well as on the blackboard. Unfortunately, Sphinxes were rare creatures – although (in her opinion) very beautiful, and as she could hear the sounds of quills busily scribbling onto parchment, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor leaned back in her chair and glanced around her classroom, Five, four, three, two, one. She wiped the words off of the board with a swish of her wand, stood up and started to walk over to inspect the students’ work. Stopping by Zabini Blaise who was a young female Slytherin, she whistled an admirable hum and encouraged her to keep up the good work, which she also said to a Gryffindor called Hermione Granger. Standing straight after bending down to inspect Hermione’s work, she instructed the class further, “Now please remember that the Sphinx is not to be taken lightly because it is such a rare animal. They are very clever and highly intelligent.”
 
Walking into the middle of the Gryffindor students, Professor Corvus was peering over Ron Weasley’s shoulder and was trying to see what he had wrote. Ron, who had sensed her animosity towards him, was trying to protectively cover his work with his arms. “Mr. Weasley, unless you want me to embarrass you by reading it to the rest of the class, please remove your arms from over your parchment,” the professor’s tone was one of finality. Reluctantly, Ron’s arms moved away from his parchment. Professor Corvus read it, sighed, and threw it back down onto Ron’s table. “In fact, they are much more intelligent than some of you, it would seem.” Ron fell quiet as Draco Malfoy leered at him. “Now. As you have just heard, one of you will be answering questions so that I can see if you are paying attention. If you get all of my questions right, your house will be awarded with five points.”
 
At this, it appeared as if Hermoine Granger wanted to be asked as many questions as the professor would ask. She was about to volunteer, when Professor Corvus announced who she had in mind, “Mr. Malfoy. Perhaps you would care to give us your most accurate attempt.” Draco Malfoy stood up, “I would be glad to.” Draco stood up, while the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor adopted a teacher’s voice, “Can you tell me where the first Sphinxes originated?” Draco replied almost instantaneously in a drawling voice, “They originated in Ancient Egypt, during the time of the Pharaohs; this was because they were stationed there by Egyptian wizards who wanted to protect tombs and temples that were sacred or housed something of value.” Professor Corvus nodded, as rumors started to circulate amongst the Gryffindors. After the first question, Draco correctly answered the second one. Professor Corvus was pleased, “Excellent. Perhaps, Mr. Weasley, you should pay attention as much as some of your classmates instead of placing it into your chocolate frog cards and learn from Draco’s example.”
 
The Slytherins leered at Ron from behind the professor’s back; and since it was at Ron, she allowed them to continue to do so. As long as their victim was Ron Weasley, she wasn’t that concerned, “Now, this is my last question. Where is the dual-headed sphinx more commonly found?” Draco Malfoy paused, “That’s a trick question. They cannot be found, because they don’t exist. They have either a single head of a human or a lion,” he replied finally, as the candles flickered their light around the room. Professor Corvus walked back over to her desk and picked up her brown parcel, “Very good. I believe that Slytherin should have five points for that.” As she was awarding the points, Professor Corvus heard whispers echoing from behind her…
 
“Told you she was in Slytherin.”
“Yeah. You can sort of tell these things.”
“Uh-uhh. Just look at how she favors them.”
“A right Slytherin Snake she is.”
 
Professor Corvus paused, and decided to say nothing at all. She was proud of her house and it’s symbol – why shouldn’t she be? “Now, your homework, due in for next Friday’s lesson – and not Tuesday’s – is to write me a side of parchment. And the title is – ” the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor waited as her class scribbled down on their parchments, “ - ‘To what extent are Sphinxes built to be capable guards?’ For this, I expect to find evidence that you have done your own research. Try to refer to their build, as well as defensive capabilities; and be aware of the words ‘to what extent’.” Professor Corvus gazed overhead as the bell rang. She then sighed, “Very well. You may go.”
 
As the professor finished speaking, the class half-grumbled as they filed out of the classroom; the Gryffindors and Slytherins both had Potions. What an unfortunate schedule. Severus is going to be as unapproachable as usual down there in the dungeons, swooping around like a giant bat. Professor Corvus then turned to face her blackboard. In no time soon, it would be known through the whole of Hogwarts that she was of Slytherin house, Maybe I shouldn’t have been so harsh? But there’s no need for immaturity. Now… Let’s see… She then turned to the blackboard to write up the start of her next topic for the first-year class that she had next.
 

* * * * *

 
Several hours later, and after supper in the Great Hall, a woman dressed in black robes was standing in the middle of a large plush dark green carpet that covered the entire floor, stretching from wall to wall, Damn, I never thought that the carpet would end up being this-” she then took a step forwards, “ - big.” The woman had to suppress a snigger as she imagined what her friend would say if he saw what she had done to her previously perfect carpet, “Well, Cerise, you did use the Engorio spell, so what did you expect? It wasn’t going to shrink, was it?” During her impersonation of Severus, Cerise’s voice had attempted to portray his quiet but sneering demeanor; but she had failed – miserably.
 
Anyway! That’s enough time to be thinking about THAT! Time to add the finishing touch! Looking pleased, Cerise gazed towards the space that lay between the laden oak bookshelf and the bathroom door at the far end of her room, holding a folded piece of green cloth in her arms, Naturally, it has to have pride of place, she thought, walking over towards the wall, Can’t have him coming in here and saying I should have been sorted into Ravenclaw. She then cast a quick glance around her room and exclaimed loudly, “Besides, this is as green as you can get!”
 
And there was no doubt about that. A plush green carpet was underneath her feet, while folds of green fabric were gathered in her arms. There were dark-lilac Egyptian cotton sheets upon her sizable bed that was placed by her fireplace, but not so close that the sheets would catch fire. On top of the bed was a copy of the day’s Daily Prophet. Glinting up at her from the front page was the moving photographs of it’s newest reporting team, a brunette called Laura Lineally, and a man with the most inane smile that she had ever seen. He had curly blond hair and his teeth were gleaming white, “Gilderoy Lockhart,” she announced aloud, recognizing the name from a list of books that other witches seemed fascinated by. There was that – and then there was the fact that she had heard her friend gripe about him during that evening’s supper in the great hall, What was it he said? Ah yes, ‘Gilderoy Lockhart? He’s an ignoramus with about as much personality as a plank of wood, and about as charming to look at as a Gorgon.’ She remembered that after that, Severus had been feeling quite indignant. ‘Can you believe that they passed over me to give the job to that brainless imbecile?’ Cerise then stopped thinking and carried on inspecting her quarters.
 
In between her bed at one side and the fireplace that was opposite, there was another oak door that led to a marbled light-blue bathroom that she would make use of later that night. At the other side of the room was a large desk for personal use – similar to the one in her office next door. On the wall behind it, there was a framed painting, in which trees were rustling in the wind as a river flowed and brightly plumed birds flew through the air as on the savanna below a black leopard was dragging it’s kill towards one of the trees, where it would proceed to eat. The moving painting was a gift from tribal wizards that she and other members of her ‘Seeker Squadron’ had helped in Africa, while on top of the not-yet-cluttered desk there were a few opened books about her subject area, a set of feather quills, a bottle of ink and rolls of unused parchment. Next to these was a green and silver statue of a winged serpent. Around the green crystal base were inscribed the Latin words ‘aut disce aut discede’ – either learn or leave.
 
This was her personal and favorite motto; both in the present and in her past at Hogwarts – this was why she had been hard on certain students who she had taught throughout the day, well if they’re not going to bother to pay attention… Cerise then made a mental note to magically inscribe that motto somewhere in her classroom for everyone to see as she grabbed the top two corner pieces of the green fabric that was in her arms. Holding them against the wall, she used a Fastening Charm to hold them in place on the wall, just a couple of centimeters from the ceiling; she stepped back once she had finished to admire her handiwork.
 
As soon as she had let go of the corner pieces, the forest-green length of fabric rolled down towards the floor; and upon it’s green surface, there was twinned silver snakes; one was on each side, and were symmetrically wound in coils around sewn silver words. It was yet another one of her favorite mottos – ‘nemo me impune lacessit’. Looking at it, Cerise’s face was one of pleasure, “I’d like to see you complain now!” she laughed, leaving the tapestry on the wall as she turned around and walked to sit down on her bed; and as she removed her left shoe to get changed into her nightgown, Cerise noticed that she was sitting on something. Reaching under, she pulled a small piece of folded paper, opened it and began to read…
 
Dear Cerise,
Please come to the Potions Office at 20:30…
 
Laughing, Cerise refolded the paper, threw it on the bed and stretched out; at the same time, she wriggled her toes. The letter could only mean one thing; Severus was waiting for her in his office after hours, and fancied a game of wizard’s chess, or to brew more potions– just like when they were kids; except then, they would have been in the library or a Potions classroom after hours. Thinking about it, Cerise thought it was a good idea. Grabbing her left shoe and hastily putting it on, she hopped across her bedroom floor on one foot; passing through her office and out of the door, she headed downstairs towards the dungeons.
 

* * * * *

 
Pausing at the start of the darkened corridor that led to the Potions classroom, Cerise thought about how long it had been since the last time she had been down in the dungeons, it’s still really dark here. Cerise had a couple of minutes to spare before it was eight thirty, so she gazed at the paintings that were hung upon the walls on either side, remembering her own time that had been spent down here – sometimes sleeping, or sometimes studying and experimenting. Moving within the paintings were portraits of people of all shapes and sizes, and Cerise passed by as she walked further down the corridor, almost losing her way in the darkness that covered it like a shroud, Actually, that was an understatement. Cerise could just about see in front of her, so she carried on going, not feeling the need to use a Lumos spell – besides, she knew the way through the dungeons like the back of her hand. She wouldn’t get lost.
 
Walking just a little bit further, Cerise suddenly felt as if she had bumped against someone, “Who’s there?!” She immediately grabbed her wand from out of her black professor’s robe as she felt someone – or something – push past her, “Lumos!” A bright flare of light was generated at the tip of the ebony wand, illuminating the corridor. Turning in both directions and holding her wand out in front of her, Cerise could see no one, “Hmph! It’s probably just students playing a practical joke,” she thought aloud, not noticing a wobbling pot in the corner that had fallen off of it’s pedestal, but had magically been saved from crashing on the floor as she resumed to walking towards the Potions classroom, from which she would make her way to Severus’ office. Cerise was then looking at the cobbles beneath her feet as she reached the end of the corridor and placed her hand on a brass doorknob, about to open the door to the potions classroom…
 
Just then, cackling laughter reverberated through the corridor. The next thing that she knew, Cerise was lying spread-eagled on the cold dungeon floor, having had the classroom door hit her in the back of her head as she had turned to see where the laughter was coming from, “OW!!!” She heard a cackling voice as she turned her head to one side and picked up her glowing wand from where it had fallen onto the floor. Looking down the still-illuminated corridor, she saw the thin and translucent form of a poltergeist stop still, turn course and fly towards her – still followed by more of the evil laughter. The poltergeist himself was wearing an orange tie and a bell-covered hat on his head that was jingling as he flew down the corridor. Cerise muttered a curse through bared teeth as the poltergeist stopped flying and hovered directly above her, Oh great… The poltergeist had wicked-looking black eyes and a wide mouth, which was smirking at her. “Peeves…” she muttered angrily, letting the poltergeist know that she wasn’t pleased with his behavior, “… what do you think you’re doing? Don’t you know that you can’t get me into trouble anymore?”
 
Peeves the poltergeist just smiled down evilly at her, “Ooohhh!!! A professor now, are yeh’? Teachin’ Defense Against the Dark Arts, I believe… ” the poltergeist’s eyes glittered impishly as he realized that something was amiss, and he glanced in both directions down the corridor, “… but isn’t that on the second floor? What y’ doing all the way down here in the damp and dark dungeons?” Cerise grunted and didn’t reply straight away as Peeves resumed smirking at her – whatever she could have said would have only made it worse, yet she had to offer some sort of excuse, “Actually, I was walking around down here to check that no students are walking around after hours.”
 
However, Peeves could tell that he was onto something; Cerise hadn’t exactly helped herself with her answer, and he continued to hover over the professor, “But Proofessorrr McGonagalllll’s doing that tonight!!” he drawled. Cerise rolled her eyes. How could I forget that? she thought, as Peeves realized why she was down in the dungeons, “Hmm…” If it was possible, an even wider grin was on the poltergeist’s face, “… are you goin’ to a playful tryst with your ol’ mate Severus Snape in his bedroom?” Cerise’s face turned bright red as she realized what the poltergeist was implying, “Peeves!!” She was indignant and the poltergeist chortled wickedly, “I knew it!” Peeves then extended a thin spindly finger and hovered down low enough for it to just stop in front of Cerise’s face, “So what do y’ really get up to in there, eh’? Don’t tell me that you just make potions and enjoy a game of chess!”
 
Cerise paused, her face half-contorted in disgust. “That’s disgusting – !” However, the mischievous spirit wouldn’t take no for an answer and he was pulling on her curved nose, “ – GOT YER’ CONK!! Come on, what do the two of you get up to, eh’- ?!” Cerise felt like using the vanishing spell on herself; her right hand was tightly clutching her luminous wand, when Peeves suddenly let go of her nose. Wondering why, Cerise heard a quiet but frosty voice echo slowly from behind her, “ – Peeves, if you ask that once more, I’ll tell the Baron that you’ve been harassing a member of staff; and I don’t think that he’ll be too indebted to another of your frivolous antics, do you?” Cerise looked at Peeves, who was no longer leering down at her – in fact, he seemed disappointed that he’d been caught, “And when he hears that you’ve been bothering a Slytherin of all people…”
 
Cerise tilted her head backwards, striking it against a pitch-black shoe that was pointing out of the folds of a cloak that was directly behind her as the voice portentously diminished. She rubbed her head and looked up expectantly through her now-messed up black hair that was falling over most of her face – sure enough, the classroom door was open and Severus was standing behind her, not exactly satisfied with Peeves’ behavior – his beetle-black eyes were dangerously gleaming in Peeves’ direction. “Well, if it isn’t the knight in rusty armor!” the poltergeist cackled. “Peeves, either you abscond and hold your tongue, or the Baron will hear about this – ” here, Severus narrowed his eyes and paused for effect, “ – I mean what I say.” Peeves paused, then he stuck out his tongue at the Potions Master, which he shouldn’t have done, “I MEAN IT! GET LOST!!” Spitting feathers, Severus glowered at Peeves, who made a raspberry sound as he flitted away from the two professors and disappeared through the ceiling.
 
Severus remained quiet as he watched Peeves disappear, his sallow face a picture of vexation, “Sooner or later someone’s going to have to do something about that nuisance,” he irately muttered, as Cerise made a quiet giggle through her nose in agreement, “that’s the second time in as many days that he’s flattened someone with that stunt.” Looking down at Cerise, who was starting to feel slightly embarrassed, he held out his right arm to help her up while smiling quietly, “You really should learn to watch where you’re going.” Cerise grunted as she grabbed Snape’s hand, “And you ought to stop being so facetious with your words.” Severus then pulled Cerise up from the floor with his right arm.
 
The smaller of the two stood on her own two feet once again and still holding hands, Snape pointed one of his fingers towards a split in Cerise’s robe, “Looks like you’ve had an accident,” he stated. Cerise looked towards where her friend had pointed; sure enough, there was a large and revealing tear down the side of her robe, “Must have stepped on it when I fell,” she muttered, “looks like the seam’s been torn.” She then turned towards Severus and eyed him suspiciously, “And how did YOUnotice that?” Choosing not to answer the question, Severus looked down at their clenched hands, as did Cerise.
 
They quickly let go at the same moment. “Are you going to come inside?” Severus pushed aside the swinging door to the Potions classroom, “Or are you going to stand out here until you turn into an ice statue? And besides, I’ve managed to get my hands on quite an exquisite chessboard, although not in methods that the Ministry would approve of.” Cerise laughed at her friend, “I don’t doubt it,” she replied, “I know about your vast range of connection. Albeit some of them have dried up after the… old days, you can still claim to own your own little network.”
 
Cerise then looked at her still-glowing wand, “Nox.” At once, the glowing beam of light disappeared. She then looked down at the tear, as Severus entered the classroom, “I’ll be there in a minute. Just got to do a little something – ” she then pointed her wand towards the tear in her robe, “ – Reparo.” Cerise’s black robe jerked as the seams were magically embroidered themselves together, leaving the garment as undamaged as when she had first tried it on in Madam Malkin’s. That’s quite a useful little spell, she thought, walking through the open door and shutting it behind her as she entered the Potions classroom, while all the while, Peeves words were floating around in her head.
 

* * * * *

 
Coming up in Chapter Three…
 
Severus and Cerise have a long talk about the past and present over a game of wizard chess, and unfortunately for a student, Severus catches him running down the corridor later on at night… ouch.
 
Please r/r if you want to see more, or to leave a guess as to what the second motto means.