Chapter 2: First Lesson

It was an hour before the Opening Feast and Harry didn't know what to feel. He was going to meet his parents, were they together yet? He was going to have to put up with the Marauders in classes, apparently an impossible task, and was expecting a prank from them any time now.

Harry had planned his first month's lessons, and had found himself actually enjoying himself. It didn't particularly amuse him that he had 7th Year Gryffindors and Slytherins first thing though, but what could he do?

Sitting with the teachers, 10 minutes before the students were due to arrive, he looked around at the teachers. The only ones he recognised were Professor Flitwick, who still taught Charms and Professor Kettleburn who retired the year before Harry arrived at Hogwarts. Professor Dawson, the Potions teacher was the Professor nearest to Harry's age, but she didn't really talk much. When the students came in, not many of them noticed the handsome new teacher, who was particularly interested in the 7th Yeah Gryffindors; they were all too wrapped up in the excitement of the first day back.

Harry listened silently to the Sorting, lightly dreading its end and Dumbledores annual speech.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts, I'm afraid to tell you that the Forbidden Forest is called for a reason, and our caretaker, Mr Filch has added dungbombs to the list of banned substances. We also have a new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher, Professor Harry Miller," he motioned for Harry to stand up, "Please give a Hogwarts welcome to him!!" and he sat down and food appeared. Harry grinned at everyone, and sat down, beginning to fill his plate with food.

The sudden interest in the new teacher was obvious. Many girls eyes were flicking to him, and Harry noticed many going to James as well.

Suddenly James looked at Harry and grinned. Harry noticed, and secretly pleased smiled back, happy to see his father carefree and well. alive.

At the end of the meal, when everyone was filing out, Harry decided to go and speak to the Marauders, or was heading there when he was ambushed by a 17-year-old Sirius.

"Hey, James, we gotta prank this new teacher. Hey since when did you have a twin, you're bleeding identical!!"

Sirius was walking in front of Harry, and hadn't seen James arrive behind them and hear Sirius' little speech.

"I didn't know I did." Harry said and grinned as Sirius turned around to see Harry and James, identical smirks on their faces.

"Oh bugger, I just told our plan to the teacher didn't I?" Sirius asked weakly.

"Erm. yes." Harry said, "See you tomorrow." And walked away, laughing.

James, Sirius, Remus and Peter went up to the Gryffindor Common Room, Sirius and James trying to plan a trick to play on Harry, but they weren't getting very far.

"So what's the password?" James asked as they arrived at the portrait hole.

"James, you're the Head Boy, you need to set it." Remus scolded, rubbing his temples.

"Oh, bugger, yeah, erm... this is hard... new password will be...."

"How about phoenix feather?" the new Head Girl, Lily Evans suggested.

"Excellent!! That'll do!!" James exclaimed. He had had a crush on Lily since their 5th Year now, but she wouldn't go out with him. He was apparently too conceited, arrogant and bigheaded for Lily's liking. He hoped that she would go out with him this year.

"Don't wet yourself Potter. So what you think of Professor Miller? Me and Bella think he' cute, don't we Bella?" Lily told James as they entered the Common Room.

"Oh really?" James asked, slightly jealous.

"James don't get green eyed, you're identical to the poor bloke." Sirius said.

"He is isn't he?" Remus commented amusedly.

"I wonder how old he is?" Lily asked absently as she walked up to the Head Girls room.

'Well if she likes him, there might be some chance for me.' James thought, suddenly suspiciously happy for the rest of the evening.

Harry couldn't eat breakfast that morning, he was afraid he might be sick. He didn't get nervous anymore really, not like when he was younger but today he had extremely large butterflies in his stomach. He'd decided to trick his first class, the seventh years, when they came in. He sat at the back of his classroom, waiting for them to come in the classroom. The first people were a few Slytherins, Malfoy, Snape and Bellatrix. Lily and her friend were next then the rest of the class. Except for the Marauders.

"Thank God we're not late," James wheezed as he, Sirius, Remus and Peter sped into the classroom and sat in the remaining seats.

Harry walked up to the front of the class, covered I his cloak and making a lot of noise and sat on his desk.

"Don't be too sure of that." Harry said as he pulled his cloak off. James' eyes widened as Harry appeared.

"Welcome to Defence Against The Dark Arts, I am Harry Miller. Don't call me Professor, makes me feel old. Call me Harry please." Everybody nodded at this strange new teacher.

Harry sighed, "OK I don't set much homework because, hell I don't like marking it. Any questions? Any at all?"

James put his hand up.

"James?"

"How old are you exactly?"

"Nineteen, well I was a month a go."

"Blo... you're young!"

"Thank you I think."

Sirius put his hand up. "How did you get that scar?"

Harry subconsciously rubbed his scar. "I got it when my parents were killed," It was obviously a great source of pain for him so no one persued it, "People I hate to depress you but the next few years are going to be hell on earth for you all. Voldemort is rising; there is no question about it. Please remember I am here to help and will always listen." Harry's eyes were pleading and every body automatically felt sorry for this young man who acted as if he had seen evil and faced it as well. Shakily Lily raised her hand.

"Lily?"

"Professor, have you ever been in a real duel, a real duel?"

"Lily, I will answer that question if you use my name."

"OK... Harry have you ever been in a real duel?"

"Yes. Hundreds, you can't imagine what is like. Its nothing like a practise, it takes you totally by surprise. You have to carry on, every time wanting to give up, but knowing you can't. I hope this year I can teach you this and get you prepared. For the real world. It sucks." Harry said.

The class was silent, digesting this information. James raised his hand again.

"James?"

"Harry, what kind of stuff you going to be teaching us this year?"

"Well, you'll need knowledge on the Unforgivables, no doubt about it. I'll do Patronuses, you'll learn about Voldemort, new curses, hexes and how important Transfiguration, Charms and Potions are in Defence. We'll do duelling and maybe combat, sword fighting, very popular with the Death Eaters I met."

"You've battled Death Eaters?" Sirius asked agape.

"Yes," Harry said simply, "Any more questions?"

Remus raised his hand.

"Remus?"

"About the homework... we won't get any. at all?"

"No you will, just not a lot, although I suppose I could set some extra credit if people want it." Harry thought out loud.

"OK, that's fair," Remus nodded, "Any tonight?" he asked mischievously. At this Sirius and James groaned and rolled their eyes.

"God, never known any one actually want homework... mental," Harry chuckled, "Gimme a while, I'll think of something OK?"

Remus and Lily nodded, satisfied. James raised his hand trying to get out of any work today.

"James?" Harry sighed, "I know you're trying to get out of work, but what is it?"

"Erm. you got. ..a girlfriend?" He said not lamely, not having a real question to ask.

Most of the girls in the class suddenly sat forwards interested in the answer. "Nope, single." Harry grinned.

Sirius raised his hand.

"Sirius what now?"

"What's you shoe size? Nah only joking... we going to be doing about Dark Creatures or anything?"

"Yes briefly I should think, we could begin now actually I don't technically have a lesson plan set out yet..." Harry said.

"OK."

"So what do you know about werewolves? What do you think of werewolves?" Harry addressed the class.

Severus Snape raised his hand.

"Mr Snape?"

"They are human beings who turn into vicious beasts at full moon. They react badly to silver." Snape said slimily.

"I disagree." Harry announced after giving Snape a one-sided staring match, "Know a werewolf personally, nicest bloke you could meet. So what if he grows a bit more body hair once a month? He's more human that say a drunk Sirius...."

"Hey... should I be offended?"

"Only if you want to be."

"OK, never mind." Sirius shrugged.

"These people don't want to be bitten, we should feel sorry for them and help them instead of subjecting them to prejudice and judging them from a day in a month. One day I think there will be a cure, or something close to it. We can only hope." Harry said seeing Remus' eyes light up.

The bell rang.

"Right next lesson... we'll be doing the Unforgivables so be prepared. Anyone wanting extra credit come and see me after class please."

Remus, Snape and Lily came to the front. Harry wasn't surprised really and racked his brain for an assignment.

"OK, find anything you can about werewolves, seen as there is not a lot written about them it could be hard. Due in in a week? Oh and Remus could I talk to you?" Harry said. Lily and Snape left and Remus stood there shaking slightly. "Sir that was really nice, what you said about werewolves."

"Its Harry, its OK and I know."

"Your OK with it then?"

"Why not? I have a friend who is one, one of my best. Very nice bloke he is too."

"Thank you Sir." And Remus turned to leave, when he got to the door Harry yelled, "Its Harry!!" making Remus turn and grin.

'Assignment should be interesting' thought Harry, 'Now I need to see Dumbledore.'