The Rival Professor
Chap. 1: An Unfortunate Departure
Note: I've only read the Harry Potter series up to halfway through The Goblet of Fire so there may be some inconsistencies, I know. As to WHY I'm doing this, I'm not too sure myself. But I don't know how readers will respond so I'll be cautious and wait for some hopefully constructive criticism! Thanks and review!
Harry Potter had just stepped off the Hogwarts' Express in Hogsmeade accompanied by his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They were about to begin their 5th year at the Wizardry School and they were eager to get to the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony and the feast afterwards. They were quite glad that this year, Peeves the poltergeist seemed to be busy off tormenting someone else. Hermione, to no one's surprise, had been named Prefect for Gryffindor and this year was the fatal one where they would be trying best they could to receive their O.W.L.s. They were slowly marching up the great marble stairs leading to the entrance where Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor, greeted them… Or so they thought. Harry, with a broad grin on his face, approached her to say hello. She smiled back but looked a little troubled, a little melancholic perhaps.
"Is something the matter, Professor McGonagall?" asked Hermione.
"Oh, no dear, not at all. Quickly now children, to the Great Hall. Albus is waiting." McGonagall answered.
Of course neither Harry, Ron nor Hermione believed her but they went trudging along after her all the same. As they came in, they saw four tables, with many students already sitting down with their respective houses. They hurried off to sit with the Gryffindors and saw the line of first years waiting to be sorted out. The Sorting Hat had already been placed on the three-legged stool. Hagrid came in after the last first year and took his place at the staff's table.
Harry took a quick glance at this table, anxious to see if there were any new faces. As they all knew, the Defence Against the Dark Arts position had been vacated again last year and he wondered what teacher awaited him this year.
"Look Harry, that woman over there. I don't recognise her," whispered Ron.
"Where? Oh, that one sitting next to Snape and Flitwick?" replied Harry.
A perplexing woman sat at the table, next to Snape who seemed to feel very uncomfortable there.
"Why'd you s'pose Snape looks so queer there? You don't think he's still all mad because he can't manage to get that job, do you?" asked Ron.
" He doesn't look mad so much as he looks embarrassed or something." answered Hermione.
Snape was looking around the room and had realised the three looking at him. He shifted around so more, looking even more awkward and turned to Dumbledore while Ron tried to stifle his laughter.
" Hey Ron, get a load of the new teacher. Pretty gal, ain't she?" said Seamus and Dean in unison.
Ron turned around to look at the teachers once more and tugged at Harry's sleeve to do the same. The new teacher was indeed pretty. She didn't look quite old enough to be a professor though, only perhaps in her mid-twenties. She had a strange look about her, neither cheerful nor sinister. She was very pale in contrast with her long black hair but, thankfully, it wasn't greasy like a certain Potions' teacher. The woman turned around to speak to Flitwick and Snape tried to subtly catch a glimpse of her, with a very odd look on his face. Harry was about to comment on this when Professor McGonagall's voice echoed through the hall.
"Welcome, students, to Hogwarts. As it is accustomed, we shall now proceed to the Sorting Ceremony and then Headmaster Dumbledore shall speak a few words before the feast."
The Sorting Hat broke out into his new song while it's audience stayed silent. When it was done, the room exploded into a wave of cheerful clapping and McGonagall began to name the first years. After they were all sorted out and applauded, Dumbledore got up to speak.
" Dear students, I am very happy to see you all here. As I am sure you are all very hungry, I will make this brief. I am sad and glad at the same time to say goodbye to a dear friend of mine, and a valuable professor to this school tonight. For tonight was the last time Professor Minerva McGonagall would ever handle the Sorting Ceremony. She has decided to begin her well deserved retirement."
Gasps were heard throughout the crowd as many cries of "No!" were said. Most of these seemed to be coming from the Gryffindor table, as the Slytherins seemed to be snickering more than anything.
" McGonagall's leaving? How can that be?" gasped Harry.
" Who'll be Head of Gryffindor now? How come I wasn't informed?" said Hermione, with a touch of prefect pride in her tone.
Tears were welling in Professor McGonagall's eyes as she stepped forward to say a few words.
" I'm very happy to have taught so many of you here and can only hope you will retain good memories of me. I am also saddened by my leaving but the time had come but, mark my word, you haven't seen the last of me here at Hogwarts!" she said triumphantly, through her tears.
Most everyone got up to applaud her with loud cheers, even the Slytherin table. Dumbledore, on his feet again, offered the empty chair to his right to McGonagall and she sat down, still wiping her eyes a bit. Dumbledore spoke once more.
" A new teacher has been appointed to teach you Transfiguration." said Dumbledore as he pointed to a very common looking man, whom Harry had missed all together so much he seemed to blend into the background. " And Gryffindors, you'll be happy to learn that the new Head of your house is an old Gryffindor herself and was sitting right where you are now just a decade ago. She will also be your new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. Please welcome Professors Martin Santon and Natalie McAllaster into our Hogwarts family."
The crowd, a bit perplexed and still under the shock, clapped, more politely than anything else. Dumbledore offered Santon to speak but he waved his hand as to say no in a very bored way. Professor McAllaster on the other hand got up to speak.
" Thank you for welcoming me here. I know I have some mighty big shoes to fill here, as I had Professor McGonagall myself, but I do promise I shall make a lot of effort to do my best. Thank you again." she said, with noticeable insecurity in her voice.
" Well said, Natalie. Now, after this not-so-brief message, I have but two words to say to you all." said Dumbledore, with a shimmer in his eyes. "Tuck in."
To Be Continued…?
Chap. 1: An Unfortunate Departure
Note: I've only read the Harry Potter series up to halfway through The Goblet of Fire so there may be some inconsistencies, I know. As to WHY I'm doing this, I'm not too sure myself. But I don't know how readers will respond so I'll be cautious and wait for some hopefully constructive criticism! Thanks and review!
Harry Potter had just stepped off the Hogwarts' Express in Hogsmeade accompanied by his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They were about to begin their 5th year at the Wizardry School and they were eager to get to the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony and the feast afterwards. They were quite glad that this year, Peeves the poltergeist seemed to be busy off tormenting someone else. Hermione, to no one's surprise, had been named Prefect for Gryffindor and this year was the fatal one where they would be trying best they could to receive their O.W.L.s. They were slowly marching up the great marble stairs leading to the entrance where Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor, greeted them… Or so they thought. Harry, with a broad grin on his face, approached her to say hello. She smiled back but looked a little troubled, a little melancholic perhaps.
"Is something the matter, Professor McGonagall?" asked Hermione.
"Oh, no dear, not at all. Quickly now children, to the Great Hall. Albus is waiting." McGonagall answered.
Of course neither Harry, Ron nor Hermione believed her but they went trudging along after her all the same. As they came in, they saw four tables, with many students already sitting down with their respective houses. They hurried off to sit with the Gryffindors and saw the line of first years waiting to be sorted out. The Sorting Hat had already been placed on the three-legged stool. Hagrid came in after the last first year and took his place at the staff's table.
Harry took a quick glance at this table, anxious to see if there were any new faces. As they all knew, the Defence Against the Dark Arts position had been vacated again last year and he wondered what teacher awaited him this year.
"Look Harry, that woman over there. I don't recognise her," whispered Ron.
"Where? Oh, that one sitting next to Snape and Flitwick?" replied Harry.
A perplexing woman sat at the table, next to Snape who seemed to feel very uncomfortable there.
"Why'd you s'pose Snape looks so queer there? You don't think he's still all mad because he can't manage to get that job, do you?" asked Ron.
" He doesn't look mad so much as he looks embarrassed or something." answered Hermione.
Snape was looking around the room and had realised the three looking at him. He shifted around so more, looking even more awkward and turned to Dumbledore while Ron tried to stifle his laughter.
" Hey Ron, get a load of the new teacher. Pretty gal, ain't she?" said Seamus and Dean in unison.
Ron turned around to look at the teachers once more and tugged at Harry's sleeve to do the same. The new teacher was indeed pretty. She didn't look quite old enough to be a professor though, only perhaps in her mid-twenties. She had a strange look about her, neither cheerful nor sinister. She was very pale in contrast with her long black hair but, thankfully, it wasn't greasy like a certain Potions' teacher. The woman turned around to speak to Flitwick and Snape tried to subtly catch a glimpse of her, with a very odd look on his face. Harry was about to comment on this when Professor McGonagall's voice echoed through the hall.
"Welcome, students, to Hogwarts. As it is accustomed, we shall now proceed to the Sorting Ceremony and then Headmaster Dumbledore shall speak a few words before the feast."
The Sorting Hat broke out into his new song while it's audience stayed silent. When it was done, the room exploded into a wave of cheerful clapping and McGonagall began to name the first years. After they were all sorted out and applauded, Dumbledore got up to speak.
" Dear students, I am very happy to see you all here. As I am sure you are all very hungry, I will make this brief. I am sad and glad at the same time to say goodbye to a dear friend of mine, and a valuable professor to this school tonight. For tonight was the last time Professor Minerva McGonagall would ever handle the Sorting Ceremony. She has decided to begin her well deserved retirement."
Gasps were heard throughout the crowd as many cries of "No!" were said. Most of these seemed to be coming from the Gryffindor table, as the Slytherins seemed to be snickering more than anything.
" McGonagall's leaving? How can that be?" gasped Harry.
" Who'll be Head of Gryffindor now? How come I wasn't informed?" said Hermione, with a touch of prefect pride in her tone.
Tears were welling in Professor McGonagall's eyes as she stepped forward to say a few words.
" I'm very happy to have taught so many of you here and can only hope you will retain good memories of me. I am also saddened by my leaving but the time had come but, mark my word, you haven't seen the last of me here at Hogwarts!" she said triumphantly, through her tears.
Most everyone got up to applaud her with loud cheers, even the Slytherin table. Dumbledore, on his feet again, offered the empty chair to his right to McGonagall and she sat down, still wiping her eyes a bit. Dumbledore spoke once more.
" A new teacher has been appointed to teach you Transfiguration." said Dumbledore as he pointed to a very common looking man, whom Harry had missed all together so much he seemed to blend into the background. " And Gryffindors, you'll be happy to learn that the new Head of your house is an old Gryffindor herself and was sitting right where you are now just a decade ago. She will also be your new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. Please welcome Professors Martin Santon and Natalie McAllaster into our Hogwarts family."
The crowd, a bit perplexed and still under the shock, clapped, more politely than anything else. Dumbledore offered Santon to speak but he waved his hand as to say no in a very bored way. Professor McAllaster on the other hand got up to speak.
" Thank you for welcoming me here. I know I have some mighty big shoes to fill here, as I had Professor McGonagall myself, but I do promise I shall make a lot of effort to do my best. Thank you again." she said, with noticeable insecurity in her voice.
" Well said, Natalie. Now, after this not-so-brief message, I have but two words to say to you all." said Dumbledore, with a shimmer in his eyes. "Tuck in."
To Be Continued…?