Once A Student - Always A Student?

"Arawn? That girl was trouble from the moment she stepped into Hogwarts to the moment she stepped out, and now she's back? As a teacher? Defence Against the Dark Arts? Perhaps she is going to teach the students to hide in the forest when a troll appears and smoke a cigarette until it's gone?"

"Come now Severus, we were all that age once."

"Indeed we were, though fortunately, nothing like Coventina Arawn."

"Naturally Miss Arawn will be feeling nervous about her first teaching job and I trust you will make her feel welcome?"

Snape didn't reply. His dark eyes blazed.

Dumbledore patted Snape on the shoulder and walked down the corridor smiling.

***

"Oi, Hermione! Have you seen the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher yet?" yelled Ron.

"Yes," said Hermione sharply.

"And... Come on, it's not like you to be quiet about teachers."

"I saw her talking to Dumbledore earlier."

"Her?" asked Harry and Ron in unison.

"Yes, her!" Hermione hissed. "Personally I don't think she'll be that good. She looks awfully young."

"Cool," said Ron.

Hermione glared at him and stormed off.

"What's her problem?" Ron muttered.

Harry shrugged.

***

Coventina looked at her students. Apart from some very loud gossiping in the back of the room, she had the attention of most of the students. She glanced at her notes. "Slytherin and Gryffindor," she said quietly, "This should be interesting." Then there was complete silence. She looked up and saw Snape.

"Professor Arawn," he nodded curtly, "I will be observing your first and last lesson this year for assessment. It is policy for all first time teachers. I trust Headmaster Dumbledore informed you?"

"Yes," said Coventina cheerfully, with obvious venom, "But he didn't say who."

"Ooh," shrieked Lavender, "your nail colour is changing."

"It's an ever changing nail colour charm," replied Coventina, pulling her untidy dark hair away from her face. "All colours have a different meaning. For instance, if your nails turn blue it means your least favourite person is near you." She looked at her nails. "Oh, would you look at that? They've gone blue."

The girls looked on in awe.

"You could scare even the most deepest darkest creatures of the night away with those colours, Professor Arawn. But are the students ready for such a frightening lesson?" Snape smirked.

All the Slytherins burst into laughter.

"Does this assessment involve interaction from you, Professor Snape? If not you may take a chair and observe."

Everyone turned to look at Snape with stunned expressions, waiting for a reaction. They had never seen someone talk to Snape that way. His only reply was an evil look as he swept to the back of the class and sat down.

"Professor Arawn is it true you were an actress on Muggle TV?" asked Parvati.

"No," she smiled, "I was a TV researcher; it was part of my study on Muggles."

"What's Muggle TV like?" asked Neville, entranced.

"It's just the same as wizard TV, except there are fewer channels."

"What is your favourite show?" asked a curious Hermione, "My parents always watch the news."

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer." She smiled.

Snape glared at her.

***

"Did you see how her nail colour kept changing?" asked Hermione.

"Bring back Lockhart I say," quipped Ron.

"She's OK I suppose," said Harry, "but Snape didn't seem to like her much."

"Nothing unusual there, mate." said Ron

"No, but I heard Pansy say she was a Slytherin when she was a student. And he loves all Slytherins - doesn't he?"

"He's just jealous because he didn't get the Defence Against the Dark Arts job again," said Hermione.

"Maybe," said Harry quietly.

***

Relieved at the sight of the empty classroom, Coventina sat down. It was just her luck that Snape had been assigned as her mentor. She made a mental note to avoid him as much as possible. During her time at Hogwarts she had received ninety-five detentions. Ninety-four were courtesy of Snape. He wasn't a fan.

Remembering she was not paid to relax, she got up and made her way through the corridors. She knew all the short cuts. Unfortunately, so did Professor McGonagall.

"Professor Arawn, are you all right? You seem lost."

"No Professor McGonagall. I'm just on my way to the forest to get some Dolphids for tomorrow's lesson."

"Well, be careful. I don't like the idea of a young witch wandering around the forest alone at night. However, I am sure you know it well." She looked at Coventina for a moment and then said, "Well hurry along if you must. And be careful."

Coventina walked quietly out of the main entrance and kept to the shadows. She didn't want to run into anyone else. She shivered slightly at the edge of the forest. She had always hated the place, but tonight she had a duty to do. Taking deep breath she pushed her way through the crowded trees. Retrieving the letter from her pocket, she glanced quickly over her shoulder and then attached it to a low branch. Coventina felt a slight chill and pulled her shawl closer to her. She made her way back to the school and, thankfully, was not bothered again.

***

"Okay class, today we're going to be learning the best way to control a Dragon, should you ever happen to run into one." She was interrupted by a knock on the door. It was Snape.

"Excuse the interruption Professor Arawn; I was wondering if you had any spare Dolphids? I need a few for a potion I'm making and Professor McGonagall tells me you are using them for today's lesson." He took this moment to sweep the classroom with his eyes, and then he smirked.

"No, I, well, we're not studying Dolphids today we're studying Dragons. Professor McGonagall must have been mistaken."

"Obviously," smirked Snape, "Only, I was unaware the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts contained Dragons. Good day to you."

"Right where were we?" she stumbled. Snape was onto her and she knew it