Of nightshades and Wolfbane

2. The arrival.

It was late October, long trails of white mist took away the view from Hogwarts.
The only thing there was to see where the large candle-lit towers that seemed to peer over the landscape. Hogwarts fields were covered with a small layer of the first frosted rime that seemed to sparkle in the eerie moonlit night.
And there it was, a human like shadow moving towards the Great Door. With its cloak waving behind it as it made its way to Hogwarts. The figure was human-like, but the lack of decent light made it impossible to identify anything recognizable from the silhouette.
The door swung open, as if it recognized the person instantly.
The person hurried inside and the door shut itself tightly again.

The Halloween Feast ended an hour ago, and only a few were still lingering in the Hall. House elves were cleaning up the remains of the yearly feast, and some professors chatted delightfully about the upcoming Hogwarts events. Gryffindor was main runner for the Quidditch cup this school year to the annoyance of their rivals, the Slytherins.
Suddenly a loud bang was heard all over the Great Hall and beyond.

“Are you expecting someone, professor Dumbledore?” professor McGonagall asked surprised and a little bit shocked.
“As a matter of fact, yes I am Minerva. I invited a new professor to join our staff. She will be taking over the Potions classes from Severus now that he agreed to take the position of Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. I cannot expect him to maintain double classes for ever, can I?”
“But why didn’t you tell me about this appliance, Albus?”
“There is a reason why I could not inform you in advance. My apologies Minerva, but you will understand when I have showed you the reason,” Dumbledore replied to McGonagall.

The doors to the Great Hall swung open and a cold breeze of air entered the room before the woman did. She shook off her hood, and revealed a slender pale face and half-long dark hair. A pair of steel blue eyes peered through the Hall until they met the friendly and warm eyes of Albus Dumbledore.

“Maeve, finally you are here. I hope your journey hasn’t been a hard one?”
Maeve walked to the professor’s table and stopped in front of Dumbledore.
“Albus, indeed nice to be here at last. My trip was not an easy one but I managed. I’m sorry that I couldn’t be here at the start of the new school year, but I had unfinished business to attend to.”
“No worries, I heard all about it. Come, sit and eat. Warm yourself for a moment and let me introduce you to Minerva McGonagall in the meantime. Minerva, please meet Maeve Wolfbane, our new mistress in Potions.”
“Very pleased to meet you,” Maeve said with a pleasant laughing voice.

Maeve took a seat next to McGonagall and they slipped in comfortable conversation immediately. Dumbledore summoned several dishes filled with roast turkey, baked potatoes and varies of vegetables joined with warm spiced wine to tickle the senses.
They talked and ate some more, until finally the night had grown so old that it was time for them to leave to their rooms.
“Maeve, I prepared a space for you in the lower section of the castle, as I heard you like to be close to the ground. However, there is an excellent Potions classroom on the second floor, we haven’t used it for years but I would gladly see you take up residence in there. Are you sure I can’t change your mind?”

“I appreciate your concern and efforts Albus, but really, the dungeons will do just fine. I understood that the students are used to taking their classes there, and besides that I really don’t mind the cool and dim lower residence.”

“Very well then, off you go. Have a delightful sleep, tomorrow I will introduce you to the students and rest of the staff. They are all very anxious to meet you.”
Albus gently rested a hand on Maeve’s shoulder, which made her feel more welcome than she already did.

“Goodnight Albus, sleep well.”

“Don’t mind if I do”, he said with a laughing voice. He tapped his wizard hat and shuffled off to his chambers.

“So, this is home then”, Maeve whispered to herself as she looked up to the heavy oak wood door. She touched it, and it flung open at the slightest pressure. Inside was a round comfortable looking room with enough space for all her potion materials. The bookshelves were mostly empty but here and there were rested rare copies of ancient brewing guides and lexicons of potion ingredients. She tapped her wand on one of the cupboards and revealed the entrance to her bedroom. She found that most of her personal belongings were already unpacked and places inside the room. Maeve walked over to the bed, fell onto it and slipped into a deep dreamless sleep.