Chapter 1
Dear Lady Dumonte,
We, the British Board of Governors for the extinguished Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are pleased to inform you that your application for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position has been accepted. After thoroughly reading the letters of recommendations from Dueling Master Newman and Potions Masters Dalgon and Richardsons it was unanimously agreed upon that you be given the position in the upcoming school year. We await your arrival on August 20th. A portkey will be sent to you the day before your arrival and shall promptly activate at five past noon.
Head Governor,
Lady Peony Parkinson
The thick parchment laid innocently on the table as Sky finished rereading. It was rewarding to know that she had been accepted to teach at Hogwarts. Rumors or not of the position being cursed she was never one to back down and this would be just the beginning for her. She had finished packing her few belongings that she had obtained over her years of traveling, portkey in hand after receiving it from the exhausted owl that had literally dropped it into her lap. Checking the clock once seeing that it was nearly five past twelve with a quick flick of her wrist, all of her trunks shrunk and flew into the expanded pocket of her robes. The last trunk had just fallen in when the portkey glowed once and the never pleasant feeling of a hook behind the navel pulled her off to her new destination.
Landing swiftly in front of the gates was a blessing in itself. It gave Sky enough time to take a few deep breaths and contain the blonde curls that had escaped the bun they were in. After gathering herself she lightly tapped the lock of the gate with her mahogany wand and waited for someone to retrieve her. It was only a few moments before a fairly large person was making their way to the gates, she wouldn't admit it but as the figure drew closer and taller she was shocked that someone this tall worked at the school.
“C’n aye help ya?” The man's voice seemed to rumble, brows crinkled together and beard twitching.
“Uhm, Y-Yeah I mean Yes sir! My name is Sky Dumonte. I'm the new defense teacher, I'm supposed to meet with the Deputy Headmistress today?” Sky said, looking up at the giant of a man. From an outsider's perspective, it must have seen comical for a lady of only five feet conversing with a man who looked to be a little more than 8 feet
“ Ah! We’ve been es’pectin yah. Lemme jus’ grab meh keys an we’ll ‘ead on up ter the castle.” He said digging through his pockets before pulling out a large ring of keys and opening the gate.
“ Llow me ter introduce meself names Rubius Hagrid keeper of keys and the grounds of Hogwarts but please call me Hagrid er’ one does Ms. Dumonte.” He stuck out a giant palm for shaking.
“A pleasure to meet you Hagrid, please just call me Sky, Ms. Dumonte seems a little cold in my opinion.” She says with a small smile shaking his hand. A quiet chuckle answers her in response.
“ Al’ight Sky if you wish, let's ‘ead up I believe Professor Mcgonagall is waitin’ to meet ya.”
The long walk back seemed shorter as hagrid pointed out certain things around the castle and telling a few stories of the students he caught playing with the giant squid in the black lake, and before long they were climbing the steps to the entrance hall where Deputy Headmistress stood black but greying hair pulled back into a tight bun small oval wired lenses sitting lightly on her nose and a polite smile etched into her face.
“This is where I leave ye’ gots ta get back to feeding the ‘erd if ye’d like to ever meet fer tea I’m jus down at me hut by the forest. Sky, Professor McGonagall.” With a nod Hagrid left, closing the gigantic entrance doors behind him. Sky smiled and reached out a hand to shake the elder woman's hand.
“It's a pleasure to meet you ma’am and to be working with such amazing instructors.” She said, glancing at the woman, excitement gleaming in her eyes.
“Yes well, the staff and I are just as happy to have such a well-educated individual teaching the students of this school as your predecessors were… well let's just say they left something to be desired.” McGonagall said ending with a light huff.
“I have heard about a few things about the professors before me and am well aware of the work ahead of me. I plan to fix what has been… tweaked shall we say.” Sky explains a small frown forming on her lips. “Do you by chance happen to have a copy of the lesson plans from any of the previous professors so that I may make changes to my lesson plans as needed.”
“Of course I will have them delivered to your desk by tonight, please let me show you your classroom and where your quarters are.” with that McGonagall set off up the stairs heading to the 3rd floor opening a set of double doors with a plaque 3c etched into it.
“Your living quarters can be accessed through the hidden hallway in your office or behind the painting of Sir Mykelton in his lab. The password is iustitia but you are free to change it to suit you as you see fit. We have staff meetings every Thursday before curfew and patrols are scheduled then. We as the staff are always able to assist each other if needed and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.” McGonagall explained as Sky surveyed her class and office area.
“Of course a school is only as good as its faculty.” Sky says “If the faculty can’t work together then nothing will be smooth.” She says pulling out a few of her trunks and tapping them books flying onto shelves and stationary flying into the office and neatly sorting into the desk.
“I'm glad we can agree now if only Severus would just be as understanding.”
That name, it couldn't be. “Severus?” Sky questions. “Yes, Severus Snape he's our potions master, brilliant man but as grumpy as a cat dropped in water.” McGonagall says with a huff the inside joke not missed by the fond tone given. Sky hums and shrugs her shoulders “Well you can’t win them all.” she says. McGonagall nods in aqueous and smiles lightly. “Agreed, well I shall let you get settled in the rest of the professors shall be back from summer break by the 31st for now it is just Hagrid, Filius, Myself, and our resident caretaker Mr. Argus Filch. They shall be at dinner tonight in the staff dining room to the left of the great hall. I’ll introduce you to them then.” She says as she makes her way to the door before stopping.
“Oh, and Ms. Dumonte,” Sky tilts her head “welcome to Hogwarts we're very lucky to have you here.” McGonagall says nodding and closing the door behind her leaving Sky to finish unpacking her office.