Coven

After tea with Narcissa, Anya sent a letter to Dumbledore. She would accept his offer to be a DADA professor as long as she was the second contract. If this works, then going forward she will return each year as long as someone else was contracted first.

She was skeptical at first, but she went along with it.

And surprisingly? It worked.

Anya still wasn’t quite sure how, but it worked.

“Well, Ms. Evermoore?” Dumbledore asked as Anya entered his office for her end of year review. “How was your year?”

Anya chuckled as she sat down on the chair opposite Dumbledore. “It was an interesting year, headmaster.” The auburn and honey haired woman replied as she thought back on the year. 

Both she and Josephine ‘Josie’ Fern were hired for the DADA position and the twelve classes were split between them. Josephine was hired first, which was strange since Anya remembered Dumbledore mentioning a Quirinus Quirrell. 

“Ah.” Dumbledore had said when she asked him about it. “Professor Quirrell, has decided to take the year off. As such, I have hired Josephine Fern in his place.”

And what a decision that was.

Josephine was useless. Completely and utterly useless as a DADA professor. So much so that former graduate William Weasley had taken up tutoring students after lessons for the second year in a row.

Something that she ended up helping with once she learned about it. 

“Really professor, I can handle it.” William- or Bill as he preferred to be called- tried to assure her one day. “I was able to do it last year by myself and everything was fine.”

But Anya would have none of that. 

“Mister Weasley,” She began. “I greatly appreciate you taking time out of your day to help tutor your former peers. However, as one of the Defense Against The Dark Arts professors, it is my responsibility to help my students succeed.” Casting a look of disdain at Josephine who was passing in the hall, Anya lowered her voice and muttered. “Something that my colleague is unable to do, it seems.”

Well, that and the extra pay didn’t hurt.

Bill had tried hard not to laugh at her comment about Professor Fern and Josephine didn’t hear her either so not only did she help tutor the rest of the students but she also wasn’t reprimanded for her comment. 

Dumbledore frowned as if remembering a similar incident regarding her previous co-teacher. “Yes. I must apologize for Professor Fern’s….teaching methods.”

Or lack of teaching methods was the better way to phrase it. But both of them knew it would be unkind to say so. Besides, it wasn’t all bad. If it wasn’t for Professor Fern’s less than stellar teaching, then Anya never would have met Nymphadora Tonks or discovered her metamorphmagus abilities.

Anya smiled at Dumbledore. “I can’t complain too much, headmaster.”

The wizened wizard raised a brow. “Oh?” 

It was during one of the tutoring lessons she had for the seventh year students. She had taken years 4-7 while Bill had- despite his protest- taken years 1-3.

She was teaching about how Manticore’s kill their prey when the sound of laughter echoed through out the classroom. Anya’s fist clenched around her chalk, her back remaining turned towards the students as she stood in her place at the front of the classroom.

Taking a breath, Anya cleared her throat and the sound of laughter abruptly ended. Turning around just in time, she watched as a pig snout turned back into a human nose and a pink haired girl looking at her sheepishly.

“Ah, I see. Perhaps, instead of Maticores, I should have chosen Metamorphmagus.” Anya noted, staring down the group of students before her before turning her attention towards the pink-haired culprit. “May I have your name, miss?”

The young metamorphmagus’ ears turned scarlet as she murmured something under her breath.

Anya raised a brow, staring the girl down a bit longer. Truthfully, the girl looked so much like a pink haired version of Andromeda Black, that Anya knew who she was right away. 

But it would have been rude of her to presume.

“Your name please?” Anya questioned again, a bit more strict than before.

The young woman fidgeted in her seat. “Erm...Tonks, professor…. Just Tonks.”

Well that settles it. Anya sighed internally. Definitely Andi’s kid.

“Just Tonks?” Anya hummed, getting a chuckle out of some students. “Well Miss Tonks, I feel I must remind you that these tutoring lessons aren’t mandatory.” Anya said pointedly, raising a brow at the girl. “If you would rather goof off with your friends then please don’t let me stop you.” Staring into brown eyes, she added. “But please don’t interfere with your peers’ learning.”

Tonks had gone from scarlet to crimson fairly quickly, muttering a quick apology before Anya resumed her tutoring.

Dumbledore’s eyes were twinkling with a fond smile appearing on his face. “I see.” He said, reaching into the jar of candy on his desk. “A poppet, my dear?”

Anya eyed the glass jar cautiously, staring at the little balls of chocolate. “They’re chocolate covered toffee?”

“Why yes.” Dumbledore replied kindly. “They’re a muggle sweet that I'm quite fond of currently.”

Anya hummed before smiling apologetically. “I prefer Toffo.”

A bellyful laugh escaped the esteemed headmaster as he nodded his head. “I’ll have to remember that.” Popping a few poppets into his mouth, Dumbledore leaned forward on his desk, fingers intertwined. “Have any of the students left an impression on you?”

Anya barely suppressed her snort.

The Weasley twins.

Miraculously, Anya didn't have a single Weasley in any of her classes.  The Weasley boys were in years 2, 4, and 7 and the only Gryffindores she had were years 1, 3, 5, and 6.

No, she didn’t meet the twins in class. 

She met them when she found out who the pranksters that made Chester Beetlewood quit were and It had taken one prank for them to learn why targeting her was a bad idea.

….granted the howler from their mother helped too…..

“Detention, Messers Weasley.” Anya replied with narrow eyes, fighting off a shiver as she crossed her feather covered arms. 

While slightly amused, Anya was disappointed. Not because of the prank, but of how unimaginative it was. She was walking down the hall when she was suddenly doused in water. Adrenaline high, she immediately whipped around, wand out and ready to find and stun the culprit…. only for a bunch of owl feathers to be thrown on her and stuck on by a sticking charm.

Once the feathers were all stuck on and the adrenaline went away, she immediately followed the sound of laughter to the near by hallway corner that the twins were hidden behind.

“And you can be assured that I will be writing a letter to your parents.” Anya said as she spelled away the remnants of their prank.

The twins groaned.

“Probably the two who made Beetlewood quit.” Anya replied simply.

It took a moment for Dumbledore to process her words, staring at her blankly while blinking a few times. “You’ve figured out who there are?” He asked.

This time, Anya did not suppress her snort and Albus couldn’t say he was surprised.

“It wasn’t difficult to figure out.” Anya replied truthfully. “And young Percy certainly confirmed my suspicions.”

She met Charlie and Percy about a day after the twins tried to prank her.

“I’m terribly sorry, professor.” Percy Weasley apologized for the sixth time. “I’ll make sure those two never do something like that again.”

“No harm done, Mr. Weasley.” Anya reassured, giving the third Weasley son a tired smile. “I’m sure those two won’t do it again.”

Honestly, she would have said she was perfectly fine with the prank if it was Bill or Charlie. Those two seemed far more lax in comparison to Percy.

“Still,” Percy said haughtily. “To target a professor. A professor.” The redhead shook his head. “Especially after last year? Those two have no sense.”

Charlie laughed, clapping his younger brother on his shoulder. “Oh let up, Perce.” The Quidditch captain chuckled. “I’m sure mum won’t let them forget, they’ll probably be grounded through summer.”

“We can only hope.” Percy huffed. “You would think their punishment for that prank on Professor Beetlewood would have taught them a lesson, evidently those two never learn.”

Of course, Anya realized early on that Percy Weasley was the exact opposite of the twins, even before this meeting. What with his strict and no nonsense personality as opposed to the twins’ playful and easygoingness.

She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

Dumbledore’s smile wavered slightly. “Yes.” He muttered. “I had heard that he was most displeased with his brothers.” Looking thoughtful for a moment, Dumbledore wondered aloud. “I wonder if he would be a good prefect…” Turning to Anya he asked. “What do you think?”

Anya blinked for a moment before looking past Dumbledore’s shoulder, catching the sight of the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black. 

The portrait’s were narrowed at her, as if daring her to say something that would displease it.

Smirking, Anya turned back towards Dumbledore. “He would be on the Prefect wall wouldn’t he?” She questioned.

The Prefect Wall- like the Quidditch Wall, was something that was created during her first year at Hogwarts. It was located just outside The Great Hall and had portraits of each Prefect, wearing their badge and had their name underneath. 

Anya’s grin widened at Dumbledore’s “Of course.”

Since Anya’s time at Hogwarts, there have been five Blacks on the Prefect Wall, this would be the third Weasley and she knew that another Weasley going on the same wall as his descendants would make Phineas Nigellus fume. 

Turning to look Phineas Nigellus’ portrait straight in the eye, Anya snuggly replied. “I believe that he would be perfect as a Prefect, headmaster.”

The reaction was instentanious. 

“Why you-!” Phineas Nigellus seethed. “Another blood traitor on the same wall as my progeny! I will not stand for it Albus!”

Dumbledore sighed, using his wand to close the curtains on the portrait as Anya watched with a please look on her face. 

“Well it’s a good thing he’s not standing.” Anya snickered.

Dumbledore sighed. “Please don’t antagonize the former headmasters, Ms. Evermoore.” Anya just smiled in return and Dumbledore smiled slightly. “Speaking of Prefects,” he began. “It’s a bit too soon for them, but there’s another student who I would like to make a Prefect. Once they react fifth year, of course.”

Anya blinked. Another?

Dumbledore looked at Anya carefully before smiling. “Ms. Lestrange.”

If there was an incident during the school year that Anya would remember best, it was the one on the first day of the school year. An incident that involved another of her godchildren.

Anya had just sat at her desk, lesson plan ready and handouts stacked neatly on the corner of her desk when the classroom door slammed open.

...causing the handouts to spill all over the floor…

Anya felt her eye twitch.

“Auntie!” A raven haired girl called happily as she bursted into the empty classroom.

Anya deadpanned at the grinning third year who eagerly ran up to her desk. 

“I can’t believe it!” The ravenette grinned. “You’re a teacher!?” The girl’s grin turned into a pout. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Anya sighed before looking into electric blue eyes that were startlingly similar to her own.

“Hello, Celeste dear.” Anya intoned in an almost bored way as she flicked her wand to clean up the fallen handouts and reorganize them into a neat pile. “How wonderful to see you, how’s your Uncle Archie?”

“He’s fine.” Celeste pouted before she rolled her eyes. “You could try to be a bit more excited to see me.” She said petulantly before her eyes narrowed. “Why is it that I had to find out you were my professor when I saw you at the head table?”

Anya laughed slightly as she stood up and walked around her desk to join Celeste. Reaching forward, Anya pulled the young girl into a hug and held her tight.

“I got to keep you on your toes some how, don’t I?” Anya laughed.

Anya smirked at the memory.

Other than those incidents, Anya’s year of teaching wasn’t very noteworthy. Josephine Fern ended up leaving due to an incident with a boggart and her year long contract ended without any issues. 

“Well Ms. Evermoore?” Dumbledore questioned, bringing Anya back to the moment. “Do you think she should be a Prefect?”

Anya sighed. “Honestly, Professor? It would take me the whole year to come up with an answer.”

Dumbledore smiled. “I see. So I take it you will be returning next year?”

Anya hummed. “I would not be opposed.” She agreed. “However, I will let you know once you have found your next Defense teacher.”