The day of moving to Hogwarts finally came. I still couldn't believe that I was going to the most magical place on Earth again. My things were already packed, and I was more than ready for my new job.
"Hello again, Professor Walker!" The headmaster greeted me when I arrived, making me smile.
"Hello, Headmaster! How have you been?" I asked him in a friendly tone.
"I am pretty fine, thank you. How are you feeling?" He asked back when he got inside and walked to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"I'm feeling very happy. Nervous a bit, yes, but I am trying to ignore it," We spoke and stopped by the door.
"That's normal, dear. So, I suppose you remember the location of the classroom, but I have to show it to you," He said and swung the door open.
"After you, Catherine," He pleaded, and we entered.
"Here, upstairs, there is your office and behind it, there are your chambers," He instructed, and I nodded. "I will let you unpack your things and get comfortable now. The Ceremony starts at 19.00, so be at the Great Hall by then."
"Alright. See you then, Headmaster," He smiled.
"Please, call me Albus, dear," He said, and I nodded.
Then he left, leaving me to do my own business.
As I opened my suitcase to put my possessions in their new place, I heard little steps in my classroom. I took a glance to see where it was coming from when I saw a little house elf.
"Hello, little friend! What's your name?" I asked while squatting down to meet the elf.
"I- I am Lola, Mistress. My duty is to serve the Hogwarts Librarians," She said in a shaky voice.
"You are so adorable, you know that?" I said and she looked down, clearly very shy.
"Thank you, M- Mistress," She spoke.
"Just call me Catherine. There is no need to be shy or afraid of me," I instructed her, and a small smile appeared on her lips.
"Hello, Headmaster told me that-" I heard a familiar voice addressing me.
"KATIE?!" Zelda exclaimed when she saw me.
"ZELDIE!" I said, mimicking her tone while coming closer to a hug.
"You will be the new Defence professor?!" Zelda asked in disbelief.
"Well, I guess the cat is out of the bag now!" I said, laughing.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Her head was full of questions.
"I wanted to surprise you..." I responded, and she embraced me again.
"I'm so happy that you are going to work here!" Zelda exclaimed, and I laughed.
"Mistress, the Ceremony will start in half an hour," Lola told her in a shaky voice, pulling her robe.
"Alright, Lola. Thank you for informing me!" Zelda replied, and we slowly headed to the Great Hall.
"Librarian, huh?" I asked her curiously.
"Yeah, I am working here with Madam Irma Pince. It's my dream job!" Zelda talked to me excitedly.
"Well, this will be my dream job too!" I confessed.
"I'm so happy for you!" She hugged me for the first time.
I couldn't help myself but admire my cousin in her work robes. She looked so professional, and it was visible from the aeroplane that we were blood-related.
"Are you informed about the Triwizard Tournament that is going to happen in Hogwarts this year?" She asked.
"Yes, I am so excited about it!" I truly was.
It's my first year of teaching here, and already some drama is happening.
"Me too!" Zelda approved.
We were walking down the corridor when we met a tall man, wearing all black and his cloak billowing around him when he walked.
"Good afternoon, Professor Snape," Zelda greeted the man, and I nodded politely.
SNAPE. Severus
- FLASHBACK -
"Well, well, well. Look who's here..." James Potter said. "Snivellus!" Sirius Black exclaimed in fake surprise.
Severus Snape was sitting under the tree, reading a book.
"We are so bored, you know? So we decided to have some fun with you!" James exclaimed.
"Leave him alone!" I ran to them, whipping my wand out.
"Who are you?" Sirius asked.
"That's none of your business. I repeat – leave. Him. ALONE!" I said and they looked at Severus.
"Levicorpus!" James cast the spell and the poor Slytherin, who was two years younger than me, levitated in the air.
"Hey! Put him down immediately! I know too many curses for a sixth-year student!" I threatened them, and they rolled their eyes.
"It isn't funny when the females are nagging, is it now, Prongs?" Sirius stated, and I gave him the murderous look.
"Coward. Needing girls to defend yourself!" James teased but broke the spell, leaving Severus to tumble painfully on the ground.
"Are you alright?" I asked him in a caring tone.
"I'm fine, thank you," He said quietly.
"Anytime. They're just pretentious Gryffindor fools," I said and he nodded.
"I'm Catherine, by the way. Catherine Walker," I introduced myself.
"Severus Snape," He responded the same way.
"I must go look for my friend now, but please don't refrain from asking me to help you with those idiots. While I'm still at school..." I said and winked with a smile, turning around to find Zelda.
- END OF FLASHBACK -
He nodded as a sign of greeting, but stopped and turned around when he noticed me.
"And who might this be?" He asked as I wasn't there.
"-This- has a name, and it's Catherine Walker. Nice to meet you." I said and noticed the change on his face, his eyes locked with mine.
He remembered me.
Zelda laughed awkwardly, fidgeting with the little charm on her bracelet.
"Catherine will teach Defence Against the Dark Arts this year," She said, and he raised a brow, then just stormed off.
"That is Severus Snape. He teaches Potions," She said and looked at me.
"I know," I said casually and her eyes widened.
"How exactly?" Zelda asked curiously.
"Oh, come on, I remembered him from our school days. Those four Gryffindor fools always picked on him," Then Zelda realised.
"Oh, Merlin... of course! How did I forget? You told me the story of how you saved him from them once!"
I could have sworn that she talked about him in a rather peculiar way.
"Zeldie?" I asked her, confused. "Is there something happening between you two?" I asked with a smirk and she smacked my arm.
"No! Of course not!" She laughed stiffly.
I couldn't describe how convinced I was, though I continued the conversation.
"So, Sluggy retired?" I asked.
"Yup, about 13 years ago," She responded while we were heading to the Great Hall.
"Oh, but he was so young..." I said, and we burst out laughing.
* * *
When we entered the Great Hall, I felt the same way as when I entered it 25 years ago. Albus greeted us with a smile and signalled to us to sit down. We appreciated the fact he made us sit next to each other.
Students were slowly filling the hall and sitting at their house's tables. About 10 minutes later, the Grand Door opened again and the first-years came to the hall for the first time, led by Minerva. The Sorting Ceremony started and Minerva was calling the first-years one by one to put the hat on their heads. Zelda and I were spending our time guessing the house the student will be put in.
The Ceremony ended and Albus stood up intending to hold a speech.
"Well, now we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make a few announcements." He started.
"The castle will not only be your home this year but home to very special guests as well. You see, Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event – the Triwizard Tournament," Albus announced, and the students were amazed.
I was also very excited about it.
"For those of you who do not know, the Triwizard Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school, a single student is selected to compete. Now let me be clear. If you are chosen, you stand alone. And trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint-hearted. But, more of that later," He finished and moved closer to the tables.
"For now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and their Headmistress, Madame Maxime," Albus introduced them and the group of beautiful witches dressed in the light blue uniforms entered the hall, followed by a rather tall woman who we assumed was Madame Olympe Maxime.
They were welcomed by loud applause, and I noticed our male students simping for them already.
"And now our friends from the North. Please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang and their Headmaster Igor Karkaroff." Albus introduced them too and the same applause shattered through the hall at the moment of their entry.
The students were in brown robes, and their Headmaster was in white robes with a hat and a walking cane. I was a bit stunned because I knew a lot about Igor Karkaroff and his skills in the Dark Arts.
"Your attention, please. I'd like to say a few words," Albus pleaded. "Eternal glory. That's what awaits the student who wins the Triwizard Tournament. But to do this, that student must survive three tasks. Three extremely dangerous tasks," He said in a stern tone. "For these reasons, the Ministry seemed fit to impose a new rule. To explain this, we have the Head of the Department of International Cooperation, Mr Bartemius Crouch," Albus introduced the man who was going to speak.
He looked older, with moustache on his face. He was dressed formally and pretty old-school, with the suit and the tie.
Bartemius Crouch was famous for putting his son in Azkaban. He wasn't a pleasant man, and he proved it by the things he said, leaving most of the students disappointed and angry. He explained that students under the age of 17 aren't allowed to compete in the Tournament. I mean, it sounds rational, but it was a bit unfair because half of the school couldn't compete. When Crouch said what he had to say, Albus asked for a word once more.
"Only one more thing left to say before we can start eating. I would love to introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor to you, Miss Catherine Walker," He said, and I stood up, greeting all the people. "Miss Walker is highly educated and experienced in the area of the Dark Arts, and I am convinced she will teach you the best way she can," Albus said and nodded to me. "Now, let's finally eat something. Let the feast begin!" He announced and the tables filled with all kinds of food.
I took a steak and a bit of salad, sipping a goblet of red wine. While we were eating, I chatted lightly with Minerva and Zelda.
After everything ended, it was about 21:45, so we slowly started to fade out of the Great Hall, back to our bedrooms. Tomorrow was the first day of my teaching, and I planned out the lessons already. My biggest fear was sleeping in, so I went to bed earlier and hoped I wouldn't sleep in.