Title: Shadow Play
Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Action
Summery: It had been eight years since the Wizarding World had seen Harry Potter after the defeat of You-Know-Who and Draco had become a teacher at Hogwarts. When a new teacher comes in to fill in a post, Draco starts to see the Boy-Who-Lived in the man and become curious. Meanwhile Harry is running from something and is reluctant to tell anyone what it is.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any character associated with the Harry Potter book series. I make no money off this story.
('thought')
Shadow Play
Chapter 1: The Arrival
Draco sighed as the new row of students filed into the Great Hall. It was his fifth year as a Hogwarts teacher and he still hated the Opening Feast. The students would file in, excitement filled the room and the first years would be Sorted. Everything was the same, never changing from year to year. Monotonous.
Draco looked down the teacher's table as the new Deputy Headmaster, Flitwick, lead the students to the front. McGonagall had a time finding replacement teachers after the war and had hired Pansy as Transfigurations teacher and Hermione Granger for Muggle Studies. The students say they were learning more then just theories on Muggles, but also facts. The Defense Against the Dark Arts position was hardest and she hopped from retired Auror to retired Auror till she finally found someone who seemed competent enough to hold the position.
('And late,') though Draco looking at the empty seat next to him. He heard a cheer and looked over to see a boy proudly walk to Slytherin. He politely clapped as the head of Slytherin House should.
Draco had trained in a university for a couple of years and got a degree in Potion making. He applied at Hogwarts and had been working as the Potions professor ever since. He also became Head of Slytherin since there were had been none since the death of Severus Snape.
"Lupin, Theodore R."
Draco looked up to see a boy with sandy colored hair with brown highlights and brown eyes walk up tot the Sort Hat. He gave Granger a small wave which she returned and sat on the stool.
"Gryffindor!" hollered the repaired Sorting Hat and the table cheered. Granger was clapping happily as the Lupin boy ran to the table. When the last student joined the Gryffindor table. McGonagall stood to make her speech.
"Welcome all students," she began. She didn't have the flare that Dumbledore had but she made it as interesting as possible. "May I have your attention please as I list the following matters.
"Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you that no product that in not school related are forbidden in the corridors, this includes any Zonko products and Weasley Wizard Wheezes products." Filch nodded from his place beside the entrance doors. Draco had been amazed to find him and his cat still at Hogwarts.
"Tryouts for your House Quidditch teams will be conducted this October. Captains, please see Madam Hooch for scheduling.
"The Forest is out of bounds to all students and Hogsmeade to anyone below third years. Visits will be posted in the Entrance Hall.
"I would have liked to announce our new teacher, but unfortunately he seems to be….."
BANG
The doors to the Great Hall had been thrown open, throwing Filch aside as a young man rushed in. Every head turned to see the commotion. He looked to be in his late to mid twenties with dark brown hair that had a wild look to it if it hadn't been pulled in a tight ponytail at the back of his neck. His eyes were the deepest shade of green Draco had ever seen with a vivid alertness to them. His cloak was windblown and he wore a black Muggle shirt under a partly closed midnight blue hoody, the hood placed over the back of the cloak and a pair of Muggle blue jeans and sneakers. His bangs covered his forehead thickly and he made no attempt to keep the hair from his eyes. To add to the assemble he wore a silver hoop earring in his right ear.
"I'm so sorry, Professor McGonagall," he said in a thick American accent. Draco suspected he grew up in one of the Southern states. "I'm…"
"Late," said McGonagall. "A habit of yours, Mr. Black. Just don't be late for your classes."
"Of course," said Black, as McGonagall called him.
"Take a seat next to Mr. Malfoy."
Black nodded, apologizing to Filch for almost hitting him with the door and walked up to the teachers table, straightening his robes and hair as he did. He stopped by Granger after the witch placed a hand on his arm.
"What happened that made you so late, James," asked Granger. So his name was "James". James Black. It did have a nice ring to it. And he knows the Muggle witch. Draco had tried to refrain from using the term "Mud-blood" around Granger as much as possible. As Draco learned early one, the witch had a mean temper when provoked.
"I'll tell you later," said Black and took his seat next to Draco, nodding to the blonde as he sat down.
"Students, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Mr. James Black," announced McGonagall. Black sighed, cleared his throat and stood.
"Forgive me for being late, but the train left without me, and you know trains. They're always on time." A few laughed at the obscured joke and Black gave a little chuckle. "Actually, being late is a bad habit of mine. Just set your clocks for after class and I'll be on time."
The students laughed and Granger and Katie Bell, now known as Katie Wood, had to stifle theirs in their hands. McGonagall coughed, as if to disapprove but Draco could tell she was hiding a laugh.
"I certainly hope not," she said as Black sat back down. Clapping her hands the tables filled with food and everyone began to eat. Draco filled his plate and ate his food as if he was in a social gathering.
"You're Draco Malfoy, right?" asked Black beside him. Draco looked at him and Black smiled. It was a genuine smile and not a false one that Draco was used to seeing. Somehow the smile held Draco captivated and he just stared at Black. When Draco didn't answer right away Black snapped his fingers in front of Draco to get his attention. "Are you okay?"
"Y-yes," he said. "What did you say?"
"Well, I was hoping you could give me some advice. See, it's my first time as a teacher and I don't really know what to do."
"Why don't you asked advice from Granger," asked Draco picking up his pumpkin juice. "You two seem to know each other. "
Black laughed and rubbed his neck again. Why was it so familiar to Draco? "You saw that, huh?" he said. "Hermione's sort of a sister. We're not related by blood but we're close, and through I have heard what she had talk about being a teacher here, I would like to have a second opinion."
Draco smirked. "Hn, you must be desperate if you're coming to me for advice."
Black's eyes flashed as he frowned. "Look, I'm just looking for an honest answer, but if you're going to be all huffy about it…."
"They're kids," said Draco. "A lot of them not really caring to learn. They won't respect you, especially from my House. If they push you, push them harder. Don't bother to help the reluctant ones. If they don't want to learn, that's their problem."
"An honest opinion," said Black. Draco didn't say anything as he sipped his pumpkin juice. "I suppose I can go with that." And he returned to his steak.
"Anything else," asked Draco.
"What do you mean," asked Black. He gave Draco an interested look, his full attention on him. This man was showing him more emotion then his parents in his whole life.
"I'm sure Granger told you all about me and my involvement in the war."
"Oh, you mean how you made her and her friends miserable, foiled their club, created the passage that lead the invasion into Hogwarts and tried to capture them?" Black cut a piece of his steak and smiled at him. "Yeah, she told me all about you. But I just came from America. We don't discriminate. I want to hear your story from you." And he ate his steak. Draco stared at him in surprise. Here this man was, knowing everything about him, and yet he didn't care. And his excuse was that he wanted to hear Draco's side of the story? It was like a parent trying to find out who lied to get out of a punishment.
"You seem to have me at a disadvantage," said Draco. Black looked at him in surprise and Draco smirked. "You know all about me, yet I know nothing about you. How did you and Granger met?"
"We were kids when we met," said Black. "Both nervous over what we had. My mother was a Muggle-born and my father a pure-blood, but they died when I was a baby. I hardly remember them."
"Oh," said Draco in sudden sympathy. To lose one's parents so young was a tragic thing for any child. Draco felt himself lucky that he knew his parents. "Did you grow up in an orphanage? Or with a relative?"
"Relatives," said Black. "My aunt from my mother's side, her husband and their son. I was happy to leave them behind."
"Why?"
Black had paused to answer, but was interrupted by McGonagall announced that it was time to head for the dormitories. Black turned to smile at Draco.
"I'll see you at breakfast, Mr. Malfoy," she said.
"Please, Mr. Black, we're colleagues now," said Draco. "Call me Draco." And he held out his hand. For a moment Black's face held one of recognition before he lifted his hand and grasped Draco's.
"Then call me James, Draco," he said with a smile.
"James," called Granger. She spoke the name as if unfamiliar with placing it to the person associated with it. "I'll show you to your room."
"All right," said Black and turned to Draco. "Good night, Draco."
"Good night, James," he said and looked at Granger. "Granger."
"Malfoy," she said and she led Black out. Black smiled at him one last time over his shoulder and followed the Muggle Studies teacher out of the Great Hall. Draco watched them leave before leaving for his own chambers.
xxxxxxxxxxx
"What was that?" asked Hermione as they walked down the corridor. "James" just smiled.
"Just playing the part," he said with a shrug.
"Playing the part? You were flirting with him!"
"Oh, was that what it was?" He smirked at her and Hermione groaned.
"I mean that if you slip up….."
"That's what thick hair's for," he said and pulled back his bangs and let down the Glamour to show the lightening bolt scar. "With a bit of make up and a Glamour Charm I look like any regular guy. I'm not Harry Potter for nothing. This is what makes me who I am. Without it, I'm just a normal wizard."
"You were never normal, Harry," said Hermione. "You were always abnormal. I still don't see why you couldn't apply under your real name…."
"Then that would involve the media, which I've been avoiding for the past eight years, incase you forgotten."
"I know. You're lucky Ginny isn't here or she'd have your hide on a platter."
"I don't need luck right now, so I'm good."
Hermione smiled. "She seems happy with Viktor, doesn't she?"
"Seeker and Chaser for Bulgaria, married to the Bulgarian coach and a baby on the way. I'd say she's pretty happy."
"They're thinking of calling it Amber if it's a girl."
"How's Ron doing? And the kids?"
"They miss me, but I promised that would visit them every other week end and on holidays," she said and smiled at Harry. "Ron's been hoping you'd visit sometime, Harry."
"I'll have to fit it in my schedule," said Harry and both smiled.
In the ten years since Harry's victory at the Last Battle, Harry had tried to live normally in the magical community but reporters and grateful people would stop him on the streets or visit his house and attempt to interview him or talk to him for hours over nothing. After a while Ginny got irritated by the reporters stopping her every few yards to ask how dating the famous Boy-Who-Lived was like and left Harry on good terms. Not long after she was enrolled as a Chaser in the Bulgarian team and married Viktor Krum. She did get irritated at times when publicity took her husband away but she did get used to it. Viktor wasn't as popular as Harry, so the Bulgarian Quidditch coach had more free time then Harry ever would have if he didn't vanish.
Harry, on the other hand, had moved to the Muggle world. He told his friends that he had stopped Voldemort because it was the right thing to do, not for publicity. He couldn't handle the media attention anymore. He moved from continent to continent, working odd jobs to pay for apartments, hotel rooms and food.
It was only that summer when Hermione came to him during a brief visit in London and told him they needed a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. Harry had needed money at the time and he had nowhere else to go. He also thought it would be an interesting occupation to teach children. So he applied, was accepted and created the persona "James Black" to fill the role of teacher, combining the names of both his father and godfather.
"I was wondering, why the flirtatious side?" asked Hermione. "I finally get you back in the United Kingdom after eight years, and the first thing you do is flirt with Malfoy! And this disguise of yours too closely resembles to your real self. I almost called you "Harry" back there."
"I hate changing my look," said Harry, taking out a plain box. "When I want to look in the mirror, I don't want to see a stranger. I want to see myself. I still have nightmares on when I look in a mirror and I see Voldemort. And the flirting," Harry smiled at her as he set the box on the table, "because it's fun!"
Hermione sighed. Harry had changed since the Last Battle, being more carefree, yet grounded. At times, she didn't even recognize the man in front of her.
"Why were you late?" asked Hermione.
"I told McGonagall why I was late. I missed the train." The look on Hermione's face told Harry she wasn't in the mood for excuses. "All right, I was late for the train, but because I had to visit them."
"Oh," said Hermione and didn't say anymore. Harry had become very tight lipped in his private life over the years, even to his closest friends. Both Ron and Hermione didn't say anything about it. The old Harry they knew kept secrets from them as well if he felt it would hurt them.
A knock on the door surprised them both and Harry quickly put a Glamour Charm on his scar before heading to open the door.
"Who is it," he asked.
"McGonagall," came the reply and both sighed. Harry opened the door to lead the Head Mistress in and quickly closed the door behind her. "While I don't abide to lying, an excellent performance, Mr. Potter. You almost had me fooled."
"I almost fooled myself," said Harry sitting down. McGonagall pulled out a scroll from inside her robes and handed it to Harry.
"Your schedule," she said. After Harry looked over the scroll and gave a surprised look at the workload she sighed and looked at him like he was a student again. "I'd never thought I'd see the day when Harry Potter would go into hiding. From what I don't know. You were fearless as a student in this school."
"Not really," said Harry. "I was scared shitless the whole time." McGonagall gave him a disapproved look at the swear word, but Harry ignored it. "I hid before, I can hide again."
"Mr. Malfoy seemed to have taken an interest in you," said McGonagall as Hermione giggled.
"Yeah, I got that idea," said Harry glaring at Hermione and she laughed harder.
"I'm sorry, Harry, but if you don't want to get attention then don't draw attention to yourself," she said.
"But a flower that grows by itself will get attention much more easily then one that is planted among other flowers," said Harry with his hands behind his head.
"Philosophical," said McGonagall. "And logical."
"Poetic," said Hermione. "Shakespeare?"
"Potter," said Harry with a smile. "But I did do Shakespearian plays at one point."
"You are just full of surprises," said Hermione. "Care to share anymore secrets?"
"Not yet," said Harry. "But I think a few more will crop up while I'm here."
TBC