Chapter One: New Professor
Four years before Harry Potter arrived at Hogwarts…
"Welcome! To Hogwarts once again and a special welcome to our first year students!" exclaimed Dumbledore.
It was a new year at Hogwarts. Every student and teacher gathered in the Great Hall waiting patiently for the first year students to be sorted and for the delicious meal that was waiting for them. The children and staff were silent as they listened to the headmaster.
"May I please remind you that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to every student in this school? Otherwise we guarantee that you will have a safe and wonderful year at Hogwarts." After his quick speech, Dumbledore sat down just as Professor McGonagall stood up from her seat and hastily made her way to the front of the podium holding the sorting hat with a wooden stool beside her.
"We will now sort out the students into their houses. When I call your name…"
"I hope that it is quiet this year," Madam Pomfrey whispered as Professor McGonagall began to sort out the first year students into their houses. "I really do not want severely injured children this year, just ill ones. That would be nice."
Hagrid responded with a stern voice, "Eh, I don't know. There always seems to be some sort of trouble every year. Either with me creatures or nosey children, or" –
"These students look humble." Madam Pomfrey interrupted.
"But there is always one."
Professor Flitwick gestured at Hagrid and Pomfrey to be quiet. Hagrid and Madam Pomfrey both sat up straight and focused their attention back to the sorting hat.
The sorting hat debated where he should place the child that was shaking underneath him. She murmured, pleading to the sorting hat to place her in the house with her friends. The sorting hat sat still for a moment, "HUFFLEPUFF!" everyone clapped and cheered as she breathed a sigh of relief. The girl hopped from the stool and sat with her house.
The next student was shedding a sleek smile as he walked up to the sorting hat. Professor McGonagall placed the hat on top of his head and did not say a word. The first year student was not intimidated by the hat considering that he knew where he was to be placed. The sorting hat began to speak after a long pause.
"You think….you think that you are so sly. You think that you are better than anyone else. I see that you are not intimidated by me. Most students are. For your bravery it would probably be appropriate to place you in Gryffindor," The student's eyes widened. "Now you are scared. You do not want to be placed in Gryffindor do you?" The student shook his head. "You want to learn something new, something…dark." The child was silent along with the sorting hat. The child felt like someone was watching him. He looked to his right and slightly gasped as Professor Snape was glaring at him. Professor Snape clasped his hands together and leaned forward. The sorting hat spoke again, "Well if it isn't Gryffindor, then it better be…SLYTHERIN!" The staff and students clapped hysterically as the last student took a seat at his house.
McGonagall cleared her throat, "Thank you."
The headmaster stood up and walked back to the podium. Professor McGonagall stood beside him. "Now, I have a couple of announcements. We have a new professor at Hogwarts." Dumbledore stopped and glanced beside Professor Snape and saw that the seat beside him was empty. "Well, our new professor seems to be ill at the moment…but the new professor," Professor Dumbledore was interrupted by a slight creak from the back door. The students all shifted their bodies toward the giant door and watched as a tall, lean man slowly walked in. He turned around slowly and shut the door. Embarrassed, the man swiftly faced himself toward Dumbledore from the far end of the Great Hall. He had white hair with a light tint of purple highlights. His hair was shoulder length and wavy with small strands that covered his cheeks. His eyes were hollow with the pupils virtually impossible to see. His face was snow white and wore a smile that made you feel uncomfortable. He wore a suit with a long black robe overtop. A raven claw scarf covered his neck. He was wearing white gloves overtop of his tanned forearms. The man's appearance was menacing. He took heavy steps, his trail echoed as he walked across the Great Hall. Once the strange man managed to reach Dumbledore, he twisted his body facing the students. He felt uncomfortable with the overwhelming presence of Hogwarts students staring at him, questioning his unnatural appearance. His smile disappeared and faced Professor Dumbledore again.
"And…,"Dumbledore paused. He was speechless as he gazed into the man's empty eyes. "This is Professor Mckinnel! He will be your new defence against the dark arts teacher." The room was silent, "Well this is awkward…uh…we welcome you to Hogwarts!" The students hesitantly clapped for their new Professor. Snape gave the Professor a blank stare. Once the applause had ended, Professor Mckinnel nodded gently and took the empty seat beside Professor Snape. Dumbledore then raised both of his arms in the air and said, "Let the feast….begin!" Suddenly, the banquet appeared on the table and the students and staff began to feast on their dinner.
As the teachers were eating, Professor McGonagall leaned forward attempting to get the new Professor's attention. "It is so good to have you this year Professor."
"Thank you," he replied. Professor Mckinnel chewed on a piece of chicken while Professor Snape sat up straight and slowly tilted his chin to the side.
"What would someone like you teach the children?" challenged Snape.
Professor Mckinnel stopped chewing and turned his head toward Snape. "It's nice to meet you too," he snorted, "and you are?"
Professor McGonagall interrupted the rash conversation, "This is Severus Snape. He is the potions master. He has been teaching here for a while, but do not be worried my dear…he can be a git sometimes." Professor Snape was not amused. "And, this is Kenneth Mckinnel. He was an American teacher. He taught charms for over five years and believes that he is suitable for the defence against the dark arts post here at Hogwarts."
"I will teach them something different Professor," Professor Mckinnel reassured Snape, "Something that is not in the curriculum."
"I…know," he replied…irritated.
"There will be something different for every year in this school. You will see…" Professor Mckinnel trailed off. Again, Professor Snape stared at him blankly. Knowing that the two professors would not get along, Professor McGonagall sighed.
"Well my dear, it is good to have you as a part of the family. I wish you good luck Professor, good luck."
Professor Snape rolled his tongue, "Good….to know."
In the second year's potion class, Professor Snape carefully watched over each student as he examined their productivity in making their polyjuice potion. None of the potions were perfect in Professor Snape's eyes. Some of the potions blew up and became a mess, some turned into the wrong potion, the wrong colour and the wrong smell. As he was assisting one of the students with their concoction, he noticed that a group of Gryffindor's were fooling around and experimenting with the Professor's expensive ingredients. Professor Snape took a deep breath and slowly paced toward the group of boys. He made himself look tall and menacing.
"Mr. Drear," Snape paused for a brief moment, "Are you here to learn and make polyjuice potion or are you here to act like a fool?"
"I prefer the latter sir," said Curry Drear. Curry was always a troubled student at Hogwarts. He got suspended twice in his first year at Hogwarts and was known for sticking pieces of bologna on the roof of Slytherin's corridor. Curry Drear was a troubled student because of his lack of grades and his lust for attention from the teachers. As the year passed, he dug himself a deeper hole.
"I would be preferred to be entitled…Professor. There will be detention Mr. Drear for you and your troubled friends. Twenty points will also be taken from Gryffindor for unnatural behaviour."
Curry Drear chuckled.
"If I had my choice Mr. Drear, I would kick you to the curb, but since I have no authority to do so, all I can do is get you second year students to have ten pages of parchment on my desk by tomorrow morning." The entire class began to whine and complain about Professor Snape's homework assignment. "The essay will be based on the pros and cons of polyjuice potion and the dangers that the potion possesses. Since you children cannot use this time to make a proper polyjuice potion, we will move on with our curriculum." Professor Snape began to write on the chalkboard. "Title your page the individual ingredients of polyjuice potion. We will go into depth with every single ingredient that is added into this brew to the very last detail."
Curry Drear interrupted, "What a snake, no wonder he prefers the Slytherin house." He stood from his seat.
Professor Snape gracefully turned around and pointed his wand at Curry. "Expelliarmus," yelled Snape. A flash of light flew from his wand and shoved Curry against the back wall. Professor Snape lowered his wand. "Are you here to learn?"
Curry Drear winced in pain. "What is there to learn?"
He snarled, "Then you…are dismissed…from my class."
Curry Drear forced himself onto his feet and brushed the dust off of his robe. He looked at Professor Snape in disgust. "How dare you! You attacked a student! Wait till I tell Professor McGonagall!"
"Get…out."
Curry Drear quickly escaped from potions class. He had left his potions book, his quill and other school supplies on his desk. "Class…dismissed." Snape dismissed the class early and ordered his students to get to their next class as quickly as possible. The student beside Curry Drear was forced to return his potion book.
"Are you sure that this is best for the dark arts?" Dumbledore humbly questioned.
"I think so! There will be charms, magical creatures and my own spin on things!" Professor Mckinnel gaily replied.
Professor Mckinnel quietly sat in the Headmaster's office enjoying a nice cup of Sunday afternoon tea. Professor Mckinnel discussed the situation he was in for the dark arts and asked permission from Dumbledore to have his lessons outside and his teaching styles granted. Professor Mckinnel smiled sleekly to the Headmaster's response.
"All right, I give you permission, but for God's sake watch for the children's safety. If anything happens to them, the ministry of magic will be on my case. You would lose your job and I would lose mine. Are we clear?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
"Yes Headmaster," Professor Mckinnel replied, "I…will do my best."
Once Professor Dumbledore dismissed Professor Mckinnel from his office, Professor Snape quickly entered the room and gently brushed Mckinnel's shoulder as he passed by.
"Do not hate the poor boy. He has flaws too," Dumbledore remarked.
Snape scowled, "Why was I called here?"
"Oh Severus, you know why," said Dumbledore, "I am concerned about your well-being."
"Headmaster," Snape quickly responded, "I wish to discuss the situation about the discipline of the children. I am concerned…well, not concerned, but angry. Nothing works."
"Severus, I understand that you were frustrated with Mr. Drear, but attacking a student is out of the question." Professor Snape mouthed a "but", but Dumbledore stopped him. "Yes, we have dealt with his issues in the past, but he is still a child. Do not do it again."
Snape curled his lips. "What am I supposed to do? I want discipline!"
"Your disciplinary action has served you well Severus. Dock the points!"
"I have reduced the points," Professor Snape interrupted, "I…have kicked a child out of my class Albus. I don't want to expel anyone else from my potions class. I wish not to be viewed as the bad…guy, however, I believe that more disciplinary action should be taken. Suspensions or something worse ought to be put into action."
"Severus!" Dumbledore shouted. "I can inform Curry's parents about his behaviour and what had taken place today." He reassured and Snape was satisfied. Professor Dumbledore walked to a bowl lying on his desk. "Would you like a Bertie Bott's every flavour jelly bean Severus?" Professor Dumbledore had grabbed a couple from the bowl and began popping them into his mouth.
"No thank you headmaster," refused Snape.
Dumbledore finished his jelly bean which tasted like earwax and turned his back toward Professor Snape. "Just…let things unfold."
Professor Mckinnel winced as he tripped over several chairs in the library. The time was almost one o' clock in the morning when Professor Mckinnel broke into the restricted section of the library and began searching through the shelves of books. The Professor tossed some of the neatly placed books and papers to the side as he was searching for his prize. After searching for over an hour, the Professor quickly fled the restricted section and left the room as if it had never been touched.
He slowly walked in the darkness of the corridor heading north of the Hogwarts residence. The Professor could have taken out his wand and used Lumous, but did not want to take the risk of being caught by Hogwarts's night patrol. He didn't have time to be questioned about what he was doing past midnight; he wanted to complete his task. Mckinnel continued bumping into inanimate objects in the hallways when he finally heard some footsteps rapidly approaching his path. He knew that night patrol had caught him and all he could do was respond to the questions that he did not want to answer. Professor Mckinnel prayed to God that Professor McGonagall was not the person that had caught him in the hallways.
"Lumous," a narrow beam of light shone at the tip of a wand swallowing any darkness crossing its path and revealing Professor Mckinnel. Professor Snape walked out of the darkness and was not surprised that it was the eccentric Professor. Snape smirked before starting the conversation, "Well, well, well. Isn't it the new Professor?"
"And the potions master patrolling the night," replied Professor Mckinnel.
Professor Snape raised an eyebrow and waved his wand in a circle. "Isn't it a little suspicious for someone like you to be wandering the halls past midnight?" Professor Snape snarled and placed his wand underneath Professor Mckinnel's chin.
"Is it?" Mckinnel was stubborn which annoyed Snape.
"Show me your wand Mckinnel." Professor Mckinnel took his wand out of his pocket. "You did not use it, did you? You decided not to use Lumous? No light in the dark?"
"Okay, yes it would seem a little suspicious," Mckinnel admitted, "But, maybe I don't need a light."
"Well Professor, I suggest that you go back to your dormitory." Professor Snape lowered his wand.
"I am a teacher Severus," Stated Professor Mckinnel.
"Dumbledore…has stated that once after hours, night patrol are the only ones allowed to wander the halls and the last time I had checked you…were not," Snape challenged as he looked to the side. Professor Mckinnel agreed that he was not listed as the night patrol staff. The only ones listed were Snape, McGonagall and Filch. "What were your intentions?" Snape questioned.
Professor Mckinnel felt insulted, "I had to go…outside." He had to think of a decent excuse. "I came back inside, but did not want to disturb anything or anyone." Professor Snape ignored Professor Mckinnel's excuses and instead gazed into his hallow eyes. Did he even acquire eyes? Or were they just empty black holes? He noticed how pale Mckinnel's face was compared to his skin. Professor Snape knew that the new Professor wasn't ordinary. He was an interesting character. His body movements were strange, his complexions were abnormal and his personality was complex. He defended his opinions and wasn't intimidated by anything or anyone. This man was mysterious, but he was a terrible liar. Professor Snape considered keeping a close eye on Professor Mckinnel for suspicious behaviour.
"I can't see your eyes," Snape commented.
"Funny," Professor Mckinnel chuckled, "No one can; only the ones that care." Professor Snape tilted his head to the side confused. Snape lifted his wand and aggressively placed it underneath his chin again. "Severus."
"Do…not…play games Mckinnel." Professor Snape lowered his wand placed his arms by his side. Professor Snape squinted. "Head back to your room Professor." Then Professor Snape slowly walked away from Mckinnel and left him standing in the hallway. Professor Mckinnel was silent as he watched Snape turn the corner. "Nox," he whispered and the light extinguished.
Chapter two coming soon...
