Seven Strong

~Meet Professor Carmen Traviz~







The morning came with the sun shining bright. They were excited. After all they hadn’t expected to go back. The train ride had been eventful; no one knew that Draco Malfoy was coming back to school except for Ginny, Luna and the golden trio. So yeah, it was an eventful ride to school. The only time there had been more commotion on the train was when Harry Potter had come to Hogwarts.



After their meeting with Madam Hooch, the new deputy Headmistress, Draco and Hermione patrolled the train corridors. Now almost everyone knew about the two of them being Head students. Well, Hermione was an obvious choice, but the ones who knew that Draco had become Head Boy were still trying to figure out why. But strange things happened at Hogwarts and the older kids were worried about the war and the younger kids were scared of the war, so who became Head, for whatever reason, just wasn’t something to worry over. Upon arriving at the station, the first years followed Professor Grubbly-Plank to the boats and the rest of the students went in search of an empty carriage to ride up to the school grounds. Surprisingly enough all the old students had returned to school, and even more surprising were the number of first years that had come to start their Hogwarts career.



Once in the Great Hall, students took seats at their respective house tables. Professor McGonagall got to her feet and waited for the students to settle down a bit. Once she had the silence that she needed she spoke: “Welcome back, let us meet the first years,” and she took her seat. The doors swung open, and in came Madam Hooch followed by the first years, who as always looked frightened and small. She guided them through the Great Hall and stopped once she reached the famous stool with the hat resting upon it. The hat once again came to life and sang its song.



In times of old when I was new

And Hogwarts had barely started

The founders of our noble school

Thought never to be parted:

United by a common goal,

They had the self same yearning,

To make the world\'s best magic school

And pass along their learning.

"Together we will build and teach!"

The four good friends decided

And never did they dream that they

Might someday be divided,

For were there such friends anywhere

As Slytherin and Gryffindor?

Unless it was the second pair

Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?

So how could it have gone so wrong?

How could such friendships fail?

Why, I was there and so can tell

The whole sad sorry tale.

Said Slytherin, "We\'ll teach just those

Whose ancestry is purest."

Said Ravenclaw, "We\'ll teach those whose

Intelligence is surest."

Said Gryffindor, "We\'ll teach all those

With brave deeds to their name."

Said Hufflepuff, "I\'ll teach the lot,

And treat them just the same."

These differences caused little strife

When first they came to light,

For each of the four founders had

A House in which they might

Take only those they wanted, so,

For instance, Slytherin

Took only pure-blood wizards

Of great cunning, just like him,

And only those of sharpest mind

Were taught by Ravenclaw,

While the bravest and the boldest

Went to daring Gryffindor.

Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,

And taught them all she knew,

Thus the Houses and their founders

Retained friendships firm and true.

So Hogwarts worked in harmony

For several happy years,

But then discord crept among us

Feeding on our faults and fears.

The Houses that, like pillars four,

Had once held up our school,

Now turned upon each other and,

Divided, sought to rule.

And for a while it seemed the school

Must meet an early end,

What with duelling and with fighting

And the clash of friend on friend.

And at last there came a morning

When old Slytherin departed

And though the fighting then died out

He left us quite downhearted.

And never since the founders four

Were whittled down to three

Have the Houses been united

As they once were meant to be.

And now the Sorting Hat is here

And you all know the score:

I sort you into Houses

Because that is what I\'m for,

But this year once again I\'ll go further,

Listen closely to my song:

If you have already heard it once please heed my words

Though condemned I am to split you

Still I worry that it\'s wrong,

Though I must fulfil my duty

And must quarter every year

Still I wonder whether sorting

May not bring the end I fear.

Oh, know the perils, read the signs,

The warning history shows,

For our Hogwarts is in danger

From external, deadly foes

And we must unite inside her

Or we\'ll crumble from within

I have told you, I have warned you...

Let the Sorting now begin.





Once it was done, the students clapped and the hat went still again.



“When I call your name, please take a seat at the stool, put the hat on and it shall tell us which house you belong to.” And as she read off the names one by one the students took a seat and were told which house they belonged to.



In the end Gryffindor got eight new students, Hufflepuff got six, Ravenclaw got seven and Slytherin also got seven. Once the sorting was done McGonagall started the beginning of term announcements.



“Welcome students to a new year at Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry, I can’t begin express how happy I am to see you all here.” And she gave the students what looked like to be a smile. “The Forbidden Forest is just as it’s called Forbidden. The list of items that are not allowed on school grounds are posted outside Mr. Filch’s office. Please be advised that any item on that list will land the student carrying it on detention with Mr. Filch. We also have two new teachers, Mrs. Traviz who will be teaching you DADA, and Mr. Wilson who will be teaching you Transfiguration. Madam Hooch is the new Head of Gryffindor. These years’ Head Students are Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy, in the absence of a teacher they have the power to give detentions and give or take away house points. Once again welcome and welcome back. Let’s eat.”



She took her seat as food appeared. The students were truly happy to be back at school.



“Hey Harry did you pay attention to the hat’s song?” asked Hermione.



“Yeah, it’s the same song it sang back on the beginning of our fifth year,” answered Harry.



“Maybe the Hat went crazy after Dumbledore died,” suggested Ron.



“I don’t think so Ron, I think it’s trying to warn us of something to come,” said Hermione going back to her plate.



When everyone was done with dinner and desert, the tables cleared themselves. McGonagall stood up again and gave her final words of the night.



“I have to ask of you a couple more things. As Professor Dumbledore always fought for, and the sorting hat always warns us through its song, I must also beg of you to unite, unite as students of Hogwarts. Even though we have four different houses, in the end we are one. For we stand a better chance united than we do otherwise. Unfortunately I also must say that you are not completely safe in here, me and the teachers will do what we can to help keep you safe, but you must also cooperate, when we put limitations please follow them. Heads and Prefects I expect you tomorrow night in my office after dinner for our first official meeting. Have a good night, for tomorrow you have a full day ahead of you. Prefects show your first years the way and once again good night to all.”



They left the Great Hall with a full stomach. In the morning after breakfast, new time-tables were handed out.



“Hermione what do you have?” Asked Harry.



“I have double DADA first thing Monday, Wednesday and Friday; double Potions first thing Tuesday and Thursday. Transfiguration, Charms, Runes, Muggle-Studies, History, Herbology, Arithmancy and a free period everyday after lunch.” She answered taking Ron’s time table from his hand.



“Well, at least we have some classes together,” said Harry.



“Yeah looks like you and Ron once again have the same classes,” she sighed.



“It’s okay Mione, we have DADA, Potions and Charms together, oh and Tuesday and Thursday we have a free period together,” said Ron trying to make her feel better.



They kept on chatting until the whole of Gryffindor went silent, Hermione raised her head from her book to see Harry smiling, and she looked behind her to find Draco standing behind her.



“Oh, hey Draco, wanna sit?” asked Hermione.



“No just came to say hi, now scoot over,” he smiled at her.



“Malfoy,” Ron acknowledged.



“Weasley,” Draco nodded.



“So Draco what classes do you have?” asked Hermione, she knew Ron and Draco weren’t the best of friends, and even though Harry and Draco had become somewhat civil almost friends, Ron still didn’t accept him.



“Too many, here just read it,” and he handed her his time-table.



“Great I have to put up with you all day and I have to share a dorm with you. Just shoot me,” she joked.



“Oh come on, I’m not that bad,” he pouted at her.



“Come on, get a room you too,” said Ginny.



“Later,” he winked at her.



“How does it feel to be back?” asked Harry.



“Better than I expected, I have a room of my own so I don’t have to worry about being killed in my sleep,” shrugged Draco.



“Yeah I guess that has its advances,” said Harry.



“If you say mate,” mumbled Ron.



“Do you think the Slytherins would ever join our side?” asked Ginny pulling the conversation away from her brother.



“Could be. Some of them I know for a fact that they are just scared, not that they would ever let anyone know. Some of them no way. But the secret is out now, and we’ll just have to wait and see,” answered Draco.



“Of course the secret is out, you made front page of the daily prophet today and the past two days,” scowled Ron.



“Draco Malfoy, the only heir to Malfoy-pure-blooded-fortune Saves Muggle-born Hermione Granger from his own father,” says Harry quoting the news paper article as he throws the paper at Draco.



They all laugh, who would’ve thought that this day would come, when three Gryffindors and a Slytherin would laugh together.



“I have to go meet Luna, later you guys,” said Ron getting to his feet and waving good bye still scowling.



“He still thinks I’m like my father doesn’t he?” asked Draco.



“Give him some time, he’ll come around,” assured Harry.



“Yeah, you can’t blame him. After all your family has done to ours. It’s hard to forget,” said Ginny also getting to her feet.



“I know I can’t change the past, but I’m trying hard to make up for it,” he sighed lowering his head.



“I know, why do you think I’m talking to you,” she said waving them good bye with a smile.



“Come on, I don’t wanna be late for our first class with Mrs. Traviz. She seems real nice, it will be a good thing to have a teacher that belongs to the ‘family’” said Hermione getting to her feet and pulling Draco up with her.



“Back in heaven are you?” asked Draco.



“As a matter of fact I am, now come on. You too Harry.”



“Okay Mom, I’m coming,” Harry and Draco exchanged a look that clearly begged for help.



“Oh come on you two I saw that,” she slapped them both playfully.



They got to the classroom but the door was closed. They waited for a couple of minutes, and then Hermione knocked. The door to the classroom opened but there was no one in sight. The students filed in and took their seats. Five minutes went by and still no teacher, so the students started to chat with each other. The chatter got pretty loud and out of control. Everyone was excited to see their friends again. So there were lots to talk about everything and anything, until someone cleared their throat loudly. Everyone turned to the front of the classroom, where the new teacher now stood. She was around 5’7, midnight black hair and ocean green eyes. She wasn’t the most gorgeous but she was pretty good looking to be a teacher.



“Hello class, my name is Carmen Traviz and I’ll be your DADA teacher, for this year at least. I’ve heard that this position is cursed, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see now won’t we.”



Everyone took out their books, quill, parchment and most important their wand.



“Don’t bother, for today you won’t need any of that.”



Hermione’s hand shot up immediately.



“Yes?”



“What do you mean put everything away?”



“And you are?”



“I’m Hermione Jane Granger.”



“Well miss Granger, for today you won’t be needing any of that, but if you want to keep it out, feel free, I just thought I’d save you the trouble,” and she smiled. “Now does anyone else have any questions?” she looked around but no one said a word. “No. Good. As I was saying, my name is Carmen Traviz,” she picked up a piece of parchment that was on top of her desk and looked at it for a quick second, then looking back up at the students she said:

“Not Carmen Malfoy, nor Goyle, nor Granger or even Parkinson. Now can anyone tell me where I’m trying to get at?”



And to everyone’s surprise Neville raised his hand.



“Yes? Your name first please?”



“I’m Neville Longbottom. And I think that what you are trying to say is that you are not anyone’s parent.”



“Very good Mr. Longbottom. Now that we have that down I may proceed…” she paused cleared off her desk with a wave of her wand, removed her robe and started to speak again, “I’ve heard of your previous teachers and I have to say that the one I like the least would have to be Professor Umbridge, that old hag…” she paused again then said, “But you didn’t hear that from me.”



The whole class gasped at the mention of Professor Umbridge, but they recovered soon enough to agree.



“I can tell you that I am very different from them all, and I promises that in my class you will learn what you need to fight a war. And that you will also learn to heal yourselves and others. So before we begin a class I have a question for you. Who in this class is not willing to follow my orders?” she waited a while then pressed on “Good I can hear crickets. You are no longer first years so nothing in this class will be sugar coated. I take my work very seriously and as long as you take me seriously we’ll get along just fine.



I\'m here, to teach you how to defend yourselves against the dark arts and just about anything else that comes your way. I take it that some of you shall be fighting this war, am I correct?" once again she paused and took a look around, just about all of them were nodding their heads, she smiled once again and spoke, "Okay, now do know that in this war, or any other, people get hurt and people die. Curses have to be meant not just spoken. You have to want to hurt in order to inflict damage. Times are tough, and I think that it\'s about time Voldemort gets terminated."



"Professor, are you even allowed to talk to us like that?" asked Hanna Abbot.



"You are?"



"I am Hanna Abbot."



"Miss Abbot, to be honest with you, no I’m not, but I think that you deserve to know what you are facing before you face it. And honestly text book reading will not help you, because theory and practice are two different things."



"But Professor, what about our N.E.W.T.S?"



"You are?"



"Draco Malfoy."



"Ah Mr. Malfoy, well if you learn, and I mean really learn what I have to teach than all of you should ace your test."



Harry was getting pretty mad at Mrs. Travis, after all what did she know about pain? What did she know about war? He didn\'t know what came over him, he kind of tuned her out after she talked about their tests, and his mind was going a hundred miles per minute. And when he heard her say something about how unforgivable curses not being as bad as people make them out to be, he lost it and before he could stop himself, he was on his feet screaming at Mrs. Travis.



"What do you know? Huh tell me. What do you know about war and curses and even Voldemort?"



"Silencio" Mrs. Travis said pointing her wand at Harry, who fell silent instantly, but his mouth still moved. "Now class, rule number one: do not raise your voice at me when I’ve given you no reason to do so. Now, I’m going to lift the spell but if you raise your voice once again you’re out of my class, agreed?"



Harry nodded, but the look he had on his face was of pure anger. "And you are?"



"I am Harry James Potter." Harry answered through his teeth.



"Mr. Potter why don\'t you tell us how you really feel?"



For a while Harry was dumbfounded, he didn’t really know what to make of the situation but if she wanted to know how he felt than well he would tell her.



"You talk about war and pain, and how the real world is tough and shit, but how do you know? From where I stand, you look like you just walked out of your castle. So what do you know about suffering?"



At this Hermione grabbed him by the sleeve of his robe and pulled him down, "Harry please, calm down."



"No Miss Granger it\'s fine. Mr. Potter let me fill you in a little secret. Emotional scars aren\'t visible to the eyes but they hurt just the same."



"Yeah whatever, keep teaching don\'t mind me, I’m just the boy-who-lived and the one who never got to meet his parents, so don’t tell me about emotional scars. Forgive me if I ignore you."



"Of course, that is your choice, but if you wish to pass my class than you better participate," she got to her feet and walked over to the door and held it open. "Now class, you’re my seventh year class, which means that if you do not wish to stay in my class, you do not have to do so. All you have to do is go see your head of house and they shall give you a new class. So please before we move on I ask you to leave now." Since no one moved she spoke again, "fine, as you wish," she closed the door and returned to her desk, “Well Mr. Potter, I know of your history, and I am sorry that you never got to meet your parents. I am sorry that you had to be brought up by a family of muggles,” she passed around the room and stopped by Neville’s seat, “I’m also very sorry for what happened to your parents Mr. Longbottom.” And she placed her hand on Neville’s shoulder. “So you see Mr. Potter, you’re not the only one who knows and dealt with pain. Mr. Longbottom here also grew up without parents.”



“But Neville’s parents are alive,” Harry answered, but at that moment the feeling of how much of a jerk he was being sank in hard.



“Perhaps you wish your parents were in the same condition?”



“Look Professor, I’m sorry. Can we change the subject now?” Harry asked, noting that Neville’s eyes were tearful.



“Once again I’m sorry Mr. Longbottom.”



“Alright,” whispered Neville.



“Last year, when Professor Dumbledore offered me this job, I have to admit that I was not keen in taking it. But Professor Dumbledore was very manipulative, and if that old man wanted something, he would always get it. He tried and tried but I had my mind set, so I refused. But before he left my house, he said ‘only you Carmen’ and he dropped a piece of parchment on my couch. I walked him out. Bid him ‘good bye and I’ll see you later’, but as it turns out I never saw him again. Once I got back inside I picked up that piece of parchment and on it there was a list of names. Your names,” She said waving the piece of parchment that she had read from it a few minutes back. “I had no idea what those names meant or what he was trying to achieve by giving me that list. So being curious as I am, I did some research on you, when I was done I knew why and what that list was for. When I tried to reach him to tell him that I had changed my mind it was too late, so I offered my services to Professor McGonagall and here I am.”



She was silent for a couple of minutes, trying to decide if she should tell them. Yes. She decided it was about time someone knew about it.



“I\'ve got a secret to tell you. I know a lot about each and everyone of you so it’s only fair that you know something about me. Around twenty years ago me, my sister who was sixteen, my brother who was five, my mother and my father were sitting around the fireplace. My dad was telling us a story, and even though he had already told us that story many times before, I always liked the end, he would build this big momentum and...” she smiled as if the memory of her father telling the story brought great happiness. “Just when he was about to tell us the end someone knocked... Knock... Knock... Knock. My mother asked dad if he would wait, for her to come back before he finished, and she didn’t move until he agreed, finally she went to check who was knocking. We heard my mother scream so my father went to check on her. No sound. We waited, my sister, my brother and I, but for a while nothing. Then three masked man came in to our living room, they killed my brother with the Avada Kadavra curse without even questioning, then they tied me and my sister and took us to the kitchen, where they had my parents tied up on chairs, they tied me to a chair next to my parents and then they tied my sister to the dinner table where they proceeded to rape and beat her while we served as audience...” at this point she took a shuddering breath, and her eyes were glazed over as if she was watching it happen all over again. “… after they were done with her, they moved on to my mother. Once they had their fun, they killed them both, again me and my father served as an audience. They killed my father and left me to suffer their deaths. Professor Dumbledore was the one who rescued me, he brought me to a very nice family who took me in as one of their own. So Mr. Potter tell me what do I know? I suffered, and I still do. But unfortunately Mr. Potter it looks like you need a reality check. You are not the only person who\'s suffered Voldemort\'s wrath; you\'re not the only child who was raised by someone else. This war isn\'t about you Mr. Potter, it\'s about a crazed deranged man who thinks he can rule the world, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants," she paused, and took a good look around, half the class had teary eyes, "now I don\'t like tears, I’m sorry but that was just to prove to you all that, when it comes to pain I know just what I’m talking about-"



"Excuse me Professor?"



"Yes Miss Granger?"



“How old were you? If you don’t mind me asking.”



“I was nine.”



“How come they left you alive?” asked Hanna.



“That is a secret you will find out later.”



"How did you cope?" asked Lavender.



"Miss Brown? Correct?” with a nod from Lavender Mrs. Traviz continued, “I cried for two years, then I came to Hogwarts and I learned all they could teach me and when I graduated I started to teach myself. But enough about me, we still have twenty minutes of class and I think that I should do a little teaching. Question, what is your best defense?"



There were many hands up, so she decided to pick someone new.



"You, with red hair, name?"



"I\'m Ronald Weasley. And I think that your best defense is your wand."



"Don\'t be so sure Mr. Weasley. Let me demonstrate, do you mind coming up here?"



She got to her feet, and so did Ron, he walked slowly towards the front of the class, his face just as red as his hair.



"Now there\'s no need to be embarrassed. Get into dueling position. Count to five and give me your best shot."



Ron counted to five and shouted ‘expelliarmos’ and her wand flew half way across the classroom.



"Not bad Mr. Weasley, so according to you my wand is my best defense, so now I’m defenseless. Right? wrong." she extended her hand and said "Accio Weasley’s wand" and Ron’s wand came flying into her hand, she then called "Accio wand" and her wand flew back into her hand. She then called "wingardium leviousa" and Ron levitated off his feet, she waved her hand and Ron levitated back to his seat.



"Now class can you tell me what my best defense is? Mr. Malfoy?"



"That would be wandless magic, right?"



"Very good, but why?"



"Because if they disarm you, you can still fight when you know wandless magic."



"Very Good, name?"



"Blaize Zabini."



"We\'ve only got seven minutes left of class, just so you know what to expect for my first lesson. You will learn how to do wandless magic, maybe not on first try but I expect all of you to have mastered it by the end of this term. And just so we are clear my name is Carmen Traviz, but I prefer to be called Carmen, I’m not a big fan of pleasantries so until Wednesday than. Have a Good day class." And she left the room.



Immediately the students broke into chatter.



“She knows us by name already, she was in the order meeting, why was she acting like she doesn’t know us?” said Ron confused.



“Maybe because she doesn’t want everyone to know that she knows us, it would raise questions,” said Draco.



"I like her," said Hermione.



"I don\'t know, she seems tough but nice at the same time, she\'s nuts if you ask me," said Ron.



"That\'s why we don\'t," said Neville.



"What\'s gotten into you?" asked Harry.



"I don\'t know but I agree with Hermione, I like her,” shrugged Neville.



“Hey, could we talk,” whispered Draco just so Hermione would hear.



“Sure,” she stopped to let the others walk ahead of them.



“Professor Traviz, I’ve heard her story before. Well, from a different point of view, but I’ve heard of her story before.”



“Do you mean from your father?” Hermione asked though she already knew the answer to that.



“Yeah, do you think I should say something?”



“Draco you can’t right all of your fathers wrong.”



“No but I can try,” he sighed.



“Maybe. But now we have urgent matters to discuss.”



“Oh really, what is it?”



“We are being called.”



“Called? What are you talking about?”



Hermione unbuttoned her school robe and looked around to see if any wondering student was paying them any mind, when she was sure no one was looking she pulled up the ream of her skirt. Bringing to Draco’s view her phoenix tattoo that was normally just the bird, engulfed in a ball of fire.



“Is that what that warm sensation in my arm was?”



“Yes, that’s what it is.”



“Way better than the pain the Dark Lord inflicts when he wants all of his followers present.”



“Come on, lets get going,” she said pulling him by the hand.



“By the way, I like your tattoo.”



“Yeah I know, now stop drooling and let’s go.”



“Where are we supposed to go?”



“To the Headmistress’ office.”