It was a bustling day at King's Cross Station September 1st, 1989. A man wearing blue jeans, a button-down shirt with dragons, a leather jacket and a knit hat pushed a trolley with a large suitcase and a cage with an iguana through the crowd. He looked at the ticket that he had been given. Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters. He had been given proper instructions; unfortunately, he was not sure which column he was supposed to go through in order to catch his train. He knew that there was no hope asking someone who worked at the station. The No-Maj's or Muggles as they were referred to on this side of the pond wouldn't understand, and he was not about to reveal a world that was supposed to be kept secret.
Then, he saw a large family; all of them with red hair pass by him. He noticed that the older children were pushing trolleys similar to his. He followed them quietly.
"Now, Fred and George, you're starting Hogwarts this year, and I expect you both to be on best behavior," the mother said. The man smiled, he knew that he had found someone he could trust.
"Mum, with those two, that could be a loose commandment," one of the other boy's said.
"I'll go through first! Wish me luck, Quidditch is going to be great this year!" the oldest boy announced. He went right through a brick wall, vanishing into it.
"Excuse me folks! I certainly hope I'm not bothering you but could you answer a question for me?" the man asked, making himself known to the family. They all turned around.
"My name is Professor Andrew McBride. I'm taking the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts this year. I'm on loan as it were from Ilvermorny, the Magic School in America," the man explained.
"Oh wonderful! Well it's a pleasure to meet you sir!" the mother exclaimed, shaking the Professor's hand.
"Yes, I got permission to ride the Hogwarts Express because we've heard about on our side of the pond, and I wanted to check it out. Anyway, I just wanted to ask, do you just run straight into the wall to get on the Platform?" asked Andrew.
"Yes, you do. By the way, we're the Weasley's. Our twins Fred and George here are about to start their first year at Hogwarts; you just keep an eye on them. Little Ron and Ginny here won't be going for another two to three years," said Mrs. Weasley.
"Well, I look forward to having your kids in class this year, I'm sorry I won't be able to teach Ron or Ginny, I'm only here for one year," Andrew replied with a smile before pushing his cart right into the wall. In a few seconds, he found himself looking upon the Hogwarts Express. He smiled he had finally arrived.
He found himself a compartment, placing his pet iguana right above him. Then he settled himself in, expecting that he would be able to watch the scenery fly by him. Then he heard a knock on his door. He turned around to see one of the Weasley children at his door.
"Excuse me Professor? Can I sit with you? I really need to take a break from my brothers," the young boy asked.
"But of course," Andrew replied motioning toward the seat in front of him. The red-haired youth settled himself down. Andrew noticed that there was some kind of squirming going on in the boy's chest pocket.
"Got something in there?" he asked. The boy pulled out a rat from his pocket.
"This here's Scabbers. He's been my pet since I was five, and I took him to Hogwarts my first year. They don't really encourage rats anymore, but he's been grandfathered in. By the way, I'm Percy," the boy explained. Andrew smiled and pulled the cage holding his iguana down.
"This here's my pet, Darwin," he said. Percy smiled and waved at the iguana.
"I'm finally able to go to Hogsmeade this year, I'm actually kind of excited about it. So you're teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year? My brother Bill say's they're always having trouble with that post. Some say the job's jinxed, not to scare you," Percy said, gently petting Scabbers.
"Well, I guess I'll just have to be careful won't I?" Andrew replied with a smile. That's when the trolley witch came by. Andrew bought himself some chocolate and Licorice Wands, then noticing that Percy was eating what appeared to be a cold corned beef sandwich, he bought two Cauldron Cakes and a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans. He gave Percy a cake and the bag of beans.
"I'm sure Scabbers would love some of Bertie's creation," Andrew replied with a smile. Percy smiled back.
Later on that evening, everyone was gathered in the Great Hall, the Sorting Ceremony was over; the Weasley twins had been sorted into Gryffindor.
"Before we begin our feast I have some announcements. First years will note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden. Also, on a much lighter note, this year Hogwarts will be playing host to a very special guest. All the way from Ilvermorny, the American School for Magic, I hope you will all join me in welcoming Professor Andrew McBride, who has graciously agreed to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts this year!" Dumbledore announced. The Great Hall erupted in applause; Andrew stood up to receive it, waving to the pupils. He looked a little unusual wearing his leather jacket while everyone surrounding him at the teacher's table was wearing robes, with the exception of a tall man named Hagrid.
"Now, let the feast begin!" Dumbledore announced. Then, just like that, food appeared in great quantities on the tables.
"Oh boy, this grub looks great!" Andrew said excitedly. He helped himself to some chicken, a little bacon, green beans and potatoes. He allowed a woman named Professor Sprout who was sitting to his right to pour him some wine.
"Thank you," he replied, she just smiled sweetly back.
"Tell us Professor McBride, how exactly are things done at Ilvermorny, do you have a Sorting Ceremony?" asked another woman, who he had learned earlier was named Minerva McGonagall. He swallowed the potatoes that were in his mouth, and after making sure that they would stay down, he began to speak.
"Oh sure, but we don't have them wear a hat. See, the new students have to stand in the center of these four tiles, if you will. Each tile has the coat of arms of our four houses. The tile that represents the house the student belongs to responds in one of four ways," he explained.
Is it also true that your school was founded by a descendent of Salazar Slytherin? One of the founders of our school?" asked a rather dark voice. Andrew turned to his left to see a man with long, black greasy hair and hooked nose wearing a black robe. He seemed to be the sole individual in the entire room that wasn't smiling.
"Oh yes, that is certainly true. I could go into further details about that if you were so interested, but let's leave the storytelling for another time. I don't think we've been properly introduced. As Dumbledore said, I am Andrew McBride, and you are?" Andrew asked as he got up and walked over to the man, in order to shake his hand, he offered his hand, but the man just looked at it with disgust.
"Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master and Head of Slytherin," Snape replied, never uncrossing his arms. Andrew shrugged and returned to his seat.
"Methinks I'm gonna enjoy having yeh here. Yeh seem like a good guy," Hagrid told Andrew.
"If yeh get a chance could yer tell me abou' the creatures over there in America?" he asked.
"I'd be happy to. Although I think you could find just as much information about that in the book 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,' I believe that is required reading here?" replied Andrew before shoveling more bacon in his mouth.
"Oh yes, the author Newt Scamander actually visited the Americas on business, but that certainly was a long time ago. But I take pride in the fact that I am in the same house as him, Hufflepuff," replied Sprout. Andrew nodded in interest.
"Yeah, that book's required reading at our school as well, it certainly does give insight into various creatures that few other magizoologists have been able to, what's the word I'm looking for, reciprocate," Andrew continued.
"Do tell us more, is it true that over in America, you have stricter rules on wands?" asked a short named who introduced himself as Professor Flitwick.
"Yes, the students don't get their wands until after they have entered the school. I understand that here, they get their wands beforehand, but to each their own as they say," replied Andrew. Once dessert was presented, he lost no time in helping himself to satisfying his sweet tooth.