Pieces Mended

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own any Harry Potter characters or related things. Liz Ayres is a purely fictional character [hee hee] you steal her I slice off your… assorted appendages…


Liz Ayres trembled nervously as the Hogwarts Express sped towards the castle. It wasn’t her first time on the train, far from it, only the last time she had been travelling as a student. Now she was a teacher. Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher to be more precise. Liz was filling the position vacated by her predecessor, Dolores Umbridge.

Upon receiving the teaching position request from Dumbledore, Liz had no previous teaching experience, which explained why she was so nervous. In fact, as she thought about it more, the only reason Dumbledore might have asked her to become a teacher was her N.E.W.T. results. Liz had come top of her year in DADA, much to her surprise and joy. She had beaten everyone, including that greasy-haired Slytherin, Severus Snape. How Liz had relished besting Snape at his favourite subject. He had always been talking about castes, how purebloods were better than any other kind of wizard. He had delighted in pointing out at every point that Liz was ‘nothing more than a filthy mudblood’ (her parents were muggles). Well Liz had stepped up to the challenge and reigned victorious, much to Snapes’ fury.

She gazed out the window, musing to herself where he might be now. Probably skulking around Voldemort, if the rumours were to be believed. Liz had spent the past several years working at the Ministry of Magic in the CW (Criminal Watch). The CW was constantly on the lookout for escaped or undetected criminals, but it also investigated any allegations, no matter how ludicrous. Snapes name had been given to her several times on suspicion of Death Eater involvement, although nothing conclusive had yet been uncovered.

Liz startled as the door to her compartment slid open. Staring her right in the face was none other than her best friends son, Harry Potter. Liz’s eyes misted over as she gazed into those sparkling green eyes, so reminiscent of Lily’s. Soon enough, she came to her senses and introduced herself.

“Hi, my name is Liz. You must be Harry Potter.” She stood up to shake his hand as he looked at her, bewildered.

“Liz?” He asked questioningly.

“Oh right.” She blushed. “I mean, Professor Ayres. I’m going to be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.” Finally Harry smiled.

“Well that’s good. I was worried we were going to get another old hag like Umbridge. Listen, do you mind if we join you? All the other compartments are full.” For the first time, Liz noticed the presence of two other students, about Harry’s age.

“Sure, why not. I feel like a loner sitting her by myself anyway.” Harry laughed as he moved out of the way to let his friends in.

“This is Hermione Granger, the smartest witch in our year.” He gestured to short, bushy-haired girl who smiled widely even as she blushed at Harry’s introduction.

“Oh shut up Harry. Nice to meet you Professor.” She shook Liz’s hand. Liz mentally shuddered at the mention of ‘Professor’. It made her feel so… old. Harry then pointed at the tall, red-haired boy sitting next to Hermione.

“This is Ron Weasley.” The freckled boy politely nodded. Liz’s gaze wandered to Harry again.

“I’m sorry, why do you keep looking at me like that?” Harry inquired.

“Your mother used to be my best friend at school. I guess its just weird seeing you, you look so much like her.” Harry smiled to himself. Liz guessed he’d been told he looked more like James.

Liz whiled away the rest of the trip regaling Harry and his friends with stories about his parents, and the mischief the Marauders got up to. Harry became particularly enthralled when Liz told him how she used to date Sirius. Hermione was interested in hearing about the CW program. Ron asked slightly random questions, which Liz found rather amusing. On the whole, the trip made Liz feel more comfortable in accepting the position. She was getting along really well with Harry and his friends, and she felt that if this was a sample of the average student personality, this was going to be a great year.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Liz walked into the Great Hall with Harry, Ron and Hermione at her side. She nearly sat down with them at the Gryffindor table, until Harry poked her in the ribs.

“You have to sit at the teachers table Professor,” he said, sending her on her way. Liz laughed all the way to her seat, on the left of Dumbledore. She couldn’t believe she had nearly sat at the student table. How would that have looked? She wondered. After a genuinely heartfelt greeting from Dumbledore, Liz noticed an empty chair on the other side of Dumbledore, beside Minerva McGonagall, who was apparently still the Transfiguration teacher after all these years. Liz had no more time to ponder the empty chair when a hush fell over the Hall. It was time for the sorting. A ragged line of nervous-looking first years made their way into the Great Hall and was sorted into their respective houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or the dreaded Slytherin.

After the Sorting, Dumbledore got to his feet to make his customary start of year speech. “It’s great to see you all back, safe and sound. This year will be full of magic, as usual, and I hope to see all our students make the astounding progress Hogwarts is accustomed to. New students are advised that the forest around the castle is out of bounds, and a few of our older students would be well advised to remember that as well.” Liz thought she saw the headmasters eyes twinkle in Harry’s direction. So he was as mischievous as James had been.

“Also, we have a new appointment this year, as usual in the Defence Against the Dark Arts position. Please give Professor Elizabeth Ayres a round of applause.” Liz tried her best not to look overly nervous as she stood and acknowledged this introduction with a wave of her hand. Dumbledore then summarily dismissed the students for bed. Harry, Ron and Hermione waved at her as they trotted off to Gryffindor Tower.

“Liz, it is customary for the teachers to celebrate the beginning of the school year with a party in the staffroom after the feast. Would you care to join us?” Dumbledore inquired as turned to her. Liz was delighted; she wanted a chance to get to know her fellow teachers a little better before the school year began. She followed Dumbledore to the staffroom, where the rest of the staff had somehow beaten her. They were already drinking and chatting, those party animals she thought to herself.

Dumbledore stayed with Liz for most of the party, discussing procedures and presenting her with the first lesson plans for each class. He introduced her to the rest of the teachers, many of whom Liz knew from her own schooldays. Something was tickling at the back of her mind though. She had not been introduced to the Potions master. In fact, he was made particularly conspicuous through his absence. Liz was about to question Dumbledore on the matter when a clang announced the arrival of someone knew through the staffroom door.

“Ah, Severus. I was beginning to wonder where you had gotten to.” Liz spun around. Surely not. But there he was, staring her right in the face with that contemptuous sneer.

“Liz, what a… lovely… surprise.” He had forced out the last few words with a grimace.

“Good to see… you too, Severus.” Liz felt equally uncomfortable in this pronouncement.

Dumbledore smirked. “Well I’ll let you too catch up then.” Liz’s brain immediately went into action.

“I need to go to the bathroom. Goodbye,” and with that she strode from the staffroom and made her way to an empty classroom on the floor above. She sat on one of the desks, staring disbelievingly at her hands. What on earth is HE doing here? And why did I react this way when I saw him? Liz couldn’t believe the way she’d reacted. In days gone by she would have made a cutting jibe and wandered off, but tonight, tonight was different. There was something strange about Severus Snape, something Liz couldn’t quite put her finger on.

She sat in the moonlight classroom pondering this when a shadow appeared in the doorway.

“Toilet indeed.” It was he. Towering over her with that ill-begotten sneer on his face. Liz just stared him down. He shrugged and left the room. It wasn’t until Liz got up and watched him around the corner and out of sight when it hit her like a bolt of lightning. She was attracted to Severus Snape.