James watched the students in the Great Hall and they watched him back. It was considered normal to have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts every year, but he knew they were curious because he looked their age. James, for his part, was merely returning the favor, scouting out the student population from his seat at the teacher's table.
He glanced over each table in turn, taking in each student briefly. He was amused to see the thinly veiled surprise and suspicion on Draco's friends' faces, the rest of the Slytherins watching him calculatingly. The Ravenclaws were also looking at him in a calculating manor, however it was more in favor of whether he'd be a good teacher. The Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors, as far as he could tell, were simply as curious as the rest of the students and some of the staff.
"Excuse me," came a voice from his left, and James turned to see a woman who looked like a giant glittering bug. "This table is only teachers, which you should know full well from your years here."
James glanced at Severus and the two of them burst into laughter, Snape much less perceptibly. Snape turned to the woman once he'd stopped laughing.
"Sybill," he started, his voice clearly audible in the suddenly hushed hall. "This is our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, James Evans."
"Professor?" the woman looked positively alarmed. "He can't be more than sixteen!"
"I turned seventeen this past July," James said, bestowing her with a cool smile, before quite pointedly turning back to Snape. "Severus, how was that elixir you were brewing last week?"
The students took their cue to begin gossiping, wondering how their new professor could be so young. They were concocting various theories, especially ones about how he knew Snape, when Dumbledore stood. Silence fell as he began speaking.
"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts those of you who are new, and welcome back to those of you who are returning to these halls. As you have undoubtedly noticed, we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Dumbledore chuckled at the continuation of the unfortunate tradition, inviting the students to join him. "This is James Evans, and although he may be young he is qualified many times over for the position, so do not fear on that front." James merely regarded the students with a blank expression through his introduction, eyes flitting around the room to catalogue reactions as he remained seated. "That is all for this year, please, eat!"
Food appeared on the tables and the students shifted their attentions from James, leaving him to inspect the food on the table. Deciding nothing seemed interesting, he simply sat without eating and continued conversing with Snape instead.
"I still can't believe you didn't tell us he was our new professor. I mean, he was sitting right next to us the whole time."
"Pansy, he didn't want to be bothered. Why do you care so much, do you fancy him?" Draco scoffed as the girl sputtered and turned pink.
"Oh no, a crush already?" came an amused voice from behind them.
The small group of Slytherins froze, and only Draco didn't look like a deer caught in the headlights, used to James's behavior by now. James laughed at their expressions.
"Draco, come with me."
"Should I ask?"
"Should you?" he asked, baring his teeth in a smile. "Don't wait up for him," he said, walking away from the group, leaving Draco to follow.
The blond fell into step obediently. "Why am I coming with you?"
"I want you to spend the night in my rooms."
Draco took this in stride, knowing there had to be something more to it than the obvious. "Why?"
"I want the reputation. I'll grant you permission to check a book out of the restricted section so long as you spend the night in the guestroom."
Draco hummed, thinking over the offer. "That sounds like a good deal," he allowed.
"I should think so, and you can be purposefully vague tomorrow. Just the right sort of rumors will begin to circulate."
"So…why are you doing this, James?"
That worthy just laughed. "Because it will be amusing, I think I deserve to have some amusement around while teaching a bunch of children."
"Draco! I demand you tell us what happened last night!" Pansy ordered, throwing herself into the seat across from Draco.
The blond looked up from his breakfast, inwardly smirking. He could definitely understand why James played these games, they were really entertaining. "Nothing? Why?"
"You never came back to the dorm!" Pansy's shrieking had half the Hall craning to hear the conversation.
"So? How would you even know that anyways?"
"Because that means you spent the night with Professor Evans!"
By this point most of the occupants of the Great Hall had forsaken their food in order to more aptly listen to their conversation.
"Pansy, I think you just missed me coming in last night. I was there in morning, how else do you think I got my robes?"
"Here Draco, you forgot this." Pansy whirled around to gape at James who stood just to her left, holding out Draco's tie to the blond.
"Thank you, sir." Draco had to try his very hardest not to burst into laughter at the look on Pansy's face, she looked rather like someone had hit her over the head with a broom. He could imagine the smirk on James' face as he walked away, making his way to the teachers' table with the eyes of everyone in the Great Hall on him.
The first class that James had to teach was, predictably, Gryffindor and Slytherin seventh years. He nodded to Draco as the blond took a seat at the front before he turned to watch the rest of the students streaming into the classroom. As the bell rang and he waved his wand to shut the door, he noticed that two of the most prominent Gryffindor figures seemed to be missing as well as one absent student. Minus those three, however, all eyes were trained on where he was sitting on his desk.
"I want each of you to write down what you learned that you felt had the most meaning or was most memorable to you for each year in this class." He focused his gaze on the ceiling as the sounds of rustling parchment and scratching quills filled the room. He was just noticing the quickest of the students laying down their quills when the door burst open, two panting boys practically falling into the classroom.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor," he drawled lazily without removing his gaze from the ceiling.
"What! Professor I know we're late, but isn't that a bit harsh?"
"Each," he added, lowering his eyes to Neville Longbottom. "Don't make it more," he said as Ron opened his mouth to protest. He watched detachedly as the two made their way to the only open seats, Ron's face bright red. "Someone please explain to Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Weasley the assignment."
Hermione glared at the boys as the explained, her parchment already lying to the side, finished. James smirked a bit when he heard her mutter "serves you right" to the boys, who'd apparently been in the kitchens after having missed breakfast.
Once everyone was done James waved his wand and the parchments landed next to him on the desk. He picked on off the top and read through it. "Please tell me that you all learned more in Second Year than to never free Cornish Pixies." He sighed at the silence permeating the room. "It seems I have my work cut out for me. Stand."
The class did as he commanded and James waved his wand, the desks neatly stacking themselves against the walls. "I want you to pair up and practice the disarming charm."
"Draco, come here." The blond walked over to him, curious. "There's and odd number and since I know you can do this already I want you to hold Wyn instead."
"Wake up, I want you to stay with Draco for now," he hissed to the dragon around his neck. She unfurled herself slowly, grumbling a bit a being displaced. Ignoring the squawks of those who had been watching, the little dragon curled up in Draco's waiting arms, promptly going back to sleep.
"Sir…" Hermione started hesitantly. "Is that…a dragon?"
"Yes," he said simply, petting Wyn's head lightly before turning to face the class.
"May I ask…what kind she is?" Hermione was still staring at the creature in Draco's arms, her expression unreadable.
"An Opaleye, I came across her mother in New Zealand. Now, why aren't you showing me the disarming charm?"
The students all turned to their partners, Hermione quickly disarming Parvati before approaching James, who was still standing at the front observing the students. As she stopped before him she noticed that the way he was eyeing them was indeed indicative of a professional.
"Yes, Ms. Granger?" he asked without looking at her.
"I disarmed my partner and wanted to ask…sir, may I hold your dragon?"
James turned his head sharply to look at her, his gaze sizing her up before he turned back to the mass of students. "Draco, hand Wyn over to Ms. Granger."
Draco did so with such gentleness that he didn't even sneer at Hermione, completely focused on the little dragon. Wyn opened a sleepy eye to take in Hermione as she was handed over to the witch, feeling the great care the girl was using in holding her she decided she didn't much mind the change. She let a purr run through her as the girl ran a finger lightly over her head. Feeling Hermione startle she prepared to land on the floor, but the girl hadn't released her and was still holding her gently. She relaxed into Hermione's soft embrace, reveling in the gentle caresses.
James watched the exchange from his peripheral vision, and once he was secure in the knowledge that Wyn was safe he proceeded to focus on the other students. "Draco, pair up with Ms. Patil."
By this time the rest of the class had finished and were staring at them. "Since you've managed to get through Expelliarmus perhaps you can manage something more advanced."
"This is stupid!" James turned slowly to face Neville. "Can't we do something that'll actually help us?"
"Ten points from Gryffindor and I would think, Mr. Longbottom, that you would realize the value of the simpler spells, especially since this one in particular saved your life." Neville flushed at his words and looked to be biting his tongue. "I think that, in light of your obviously lacking repertoire," at this his eyes lingered over some of the students who had been having difficulty, Crabbe in particular, "you would do well to spend the rest of the period reading chapter four."
The students groaned as the desks floated back to their places in the room and they took their seats. Hermione stared at the dragon cradled in her arms, wondering what she should do now that their practical lesson was over. Professor Evans hadn't said or even implied, really, that he wanted her back, but she approached him anyway.
"Professor," he began to catch his attention, although she had the feeling that his attention was never really off any of them. He turned to look at her, his face blank, and raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, Ms. Granger?"
"Your dragon, sir." She said hesitantly, offering the bundle in her arms.
"You may keep her until the end of the lesson, I believe you have already read the material anyways. When the bell sounds I would appreciate it if you could take her to Care of Magical Creatures with you, Hagrid expressed an interest in her."
"Of course, sir!" she answered, excitement written plainly across her face. She looked down at the little dragon in wonder as she took her seat next.
To say that Hagrid was ecstatic about the dragon that Hermione brought with her to class would be an understatement. The half giant was completely entranced by Wyn and cooed at her appreciatively. He was a bit put out, however, when she refused to leave Hermione's arms.
"And he just let you take her?" he asked Hermione, wondering how Evans could ever stand to let the dragon out of his sight.
"She was asleep, and I guess he didn't want to wake her. He also said that you wanted to see her."
"Asleep? In a stranger's arms?"
"Yes, Malfoy was holding her earlier, but I asked to hold her."
"Hagrid! Can we get on with the lesson, please?" Ron called from where he was sitting near the lake, the rest of the class nearby. Many of the other students glared at the redhead as they were enjoying the free time.
Hagrid grunted as he moved his eyes from the dragon. "Today we'll be learning about the Merpeople that live in the lake. They're reserved for the older classes due to their intelligence."
On the class went, Hagrid shooting covert glances at Wyn, the little dragon refusing to leave Hermione. When the sun came out from behind the clouds she sprawled out on the witch's lap, purring as she was pet, and refused to move until it was time to go back inside.
*The Opaleye is a real type of dragon in the Harry Potter World, and has pearly scales and a temperate nature.
A/N: Thank you for all the reviews/favorites/alerts! I love getting them! So please, don't hesitate to tell me what you think of this chapter either! :D