Chapter 2
Mischief-makers in Diagon Alley
The weeks flew by so quickly, with Fransisca as the family's true clown and entertainer and with practising Ron's keeper skills, that it seemed as next to no time they had received their booklists and were making their way to Diagon Alley.
They had barely arrived at Diagon Alley when they heard a high-pitch whine and something very hairy knocked into Harry and hugged him tight. It took him a couple of minutes to realise that what had knocked into him was actually Hermione.
"I have missed you so, so much!" she said against his neck. She let go of him and turned to Ron. "Ron!" She gave him a quick hug before she noticed the unfamiliar woman between Mrs. Weasley and Ginny.
They had all agreed to keep it a secret that Fransisca was a teacher at Hogwarts. They were looking forward at seeing her expression when she found her sitting at the teachers' table at Hogwarts.
"Hello," Hermione said to Fransisca. "I'm Hermione Granger," she said and stretched out her hand.
"Fransisca Weasley," she replied and shook her hand. "Arthur's niece," she explained when she saw Hermione's expression. "Congratulations on making Prefect last year," she added. She was about to say something else when she suddenly caught sight of something.
They all turned their heads to see what she was looking at and found two young men and a girl looking into Flourish & Blotts, one of the men and the woman had long, thick black hair and the third one had short, light brown hair. Smirks were on all three's faces.
"Excuse me," said Fransisca and strode over to the three standing there.
"Ok, you lot, let's-"
"Wait, mum," said Ron. He knew trouble was on its way and there was no way he was going to miss it.
They watched as Fransisca said something to the three and the dark- haired young man replied something that made Fransisca snigger and look into Flourish & Blotts too.
A short moment later a loud bang could be heard from inside the store and out came Lucius Malfoy, pink from top to bottom from what seemed as shock pink powder. One step behind followed his son Draco, purple with puke green spots all over.
Fransisca and the three others spun around as they walked out of the store. They had all huge difficulties keeping straight faces.
People outside were laughing their heads off and Lucius and Draco barely managed to keep their postures as they made their way through the howling crowd.
When they had finally moved out of sight they all fell to their knees in fits of laughter.
"Children," muttered Hermione, although she thought it suited them well. But she found no support anywhere because even Mrs. Weasley were chuckling merrily.
When the four had stopped laughing Harry could see that Fransisca motioned for the three others to follow her over to where they were standing. He could also see that there were something painfully familiar with the black-haired man, but he thought it was only his imagination playing tricks with him.
They followed her over to them, still with broad grins on their faces.
"People," said Fransisca. "I think it will please you all to learn these three joy-spreaders. "This is. Angelus Witherby," she pointed at the black-haired man, who took a deep bow. "Charity Hope Eowita Witherby."
"Eowita," replied the woman, who shook hands with them all. She pointed at Angelus. "That's my twin brother. I am the responsible, subtle one, though."
"And finally."
"Marco Tyler," said the last one and also he shook hands with them all.
"They will be staying at Hogwarts for a while," continued Fransisca. They are, the two black-haired ones, your new Defence teacher's godchildren.
Ron saw the way Hermione was looking at Marco and felt a stab of jealousy. He would not like having him around.
"Well, we will have to start looking for the things these four needs," said Mrs. Weasley and strode past them.
"What's up with her?" asked Ron. He didn't see what Harry saw; that Sisca exchanged glances with Angelus, Eowita and Marco.
"Are you lot coming?" asked Mrs. Weasley a little irritable halfway over at Flourish & Blotts.
"You'd better go," said Fransisca. "I'll catch you lot later. I have to go now, need to start thinking of departure."
The four of them said goodbye and hurried after Mrs. Weasley.
Without looking Neville Longbottom suddenly knocked into Ginny. "Sorry," he muttered. Then he saw who he had bumped into. "Hi, how are you all doing?"
"Did you see what happened inside Flourish & Blotts?" asked Ron excitedly. "Malfoy father and son emerged looking like a couple of fags."
"Ron!"
"Well, they did!" he told Hermione. "No wizard in their right mind would wear that unless he was as ham rider."
"Please, don't be so tasteless. There is nothing wrong with being homosexual, they are just as sane and normal as the rest of us."
"First courtesans, now fags," muttered Harry and Ginny and Ron nearly laughed their heads off.
Hermione looked offended, but said nothing.
"So, what happened to them?" asked Neville.
"They were victims of mischief" said Hermione.
"A bit of fun, really. We have no idea what they did to them."
"Who?"
"We don't know them, but our cousin told us that they will be staying a while at Hogwarts. We can point them out for you there" said Ron. "Let's go into Flourish & Blotts and see what they have really done in there."
They hurried over to Mrs. Weasley and entered the store, which looked like Ground Zero after a A-bomb. Pink, purple and green powder everywhere. On the floor lay two pink, one green and one purple enchanted exploding dye-packs.
Mrs. Weasley merely shook her head, but Harry could see a smile in the corner of her mouth. "Find what you need" she told them.
It was easy finding the books they needed because there weren't many new books they needed, only one really stood out. It was the Defence Against the Dark Arts Book, or rather books, that really caught the attention because it told them they wouldn't lye on the lazy side. It was Dark Creatures and Repelling Curses and Protection Against Dark Magic, both by Patricia McStar.
"What are you thinking?" asked Ron.
"I'm thinking that we are back in business," replied Harry with a smile, but he was a bit heavy hearted because both books were extremely thick.
Hermione, on the other hand, seemed absolutely delighted.
"What's up with you?" asked Ron.
"Don't you see? This means that there will be a lot practising the spells and that the Ministry has finally taken the threat seriously. We are finally going to learn to protect ourselves and with the Ministry's approval."
"Yeah, but you didn't hear Sisca" said Ron. "She said that the new Defence teacher isn't loyal to the Ministry, but to Dumbledore. We may be in-"
"Heaps of trouble if this isn't approved by the Ministry." Harry could feel dark clouds over his head.
"The Ministry has been chucked out of Hogwarts," said a familiar, happy voice behind them.
All turned to find Lupin.
"Professor Lupin!" exclaimed Neville.
"Well, not any more" replied the werewolf with a I-know-something- you-don't-smile on his face. "You have now got the best defence teacher you could possibly want."
"You know her?"
His smile grew bigger. "Let's just say that you are in for a treat. Maybe she'll even let you continue your club, Harry. To be on the safe side ask her."
"What?"
"Keep no secrets from her because she will find out sooner or later anyway." He looked around. "Saw what happened to the Malfoys. don't you go looking to do anything like that. Look, I have to go, catch you later. I think I'll pop in sometime during the year. I'll check on you then if I can."
As soon as he had appeared he was gone, looking shabbier, more tired and more grey than ever.
"Poor man" muttered Hermione.
"Wonder why Fransisca don't want him, he's a nice bloke."
"She said he was a bit too nice for her liking" replied Ginny. "Probably fancies some satanic rock artist or something."
"Look at this mess!!!"
They spun around to find the manager and three of them smiled broadly, knowing that they, Fransisca and a brilliant Defence teacher would be spending the year at Hogwarts.
Mischief-makers in Diagon Alley
The weeks flew by so quickly, with Fransisca as the family's true clown and entertainer and with practising Ron's keeper skills, that it seemed as next to no time they had received their booklists and were making their way to Diagon Alley.
They had barely arrived at Diagon Alley when they heard a high-pitch whine and something very hairy knocked into Harry and hugged him tight. It took him a couple of minutes to realise that what had knocked into him was actually Hermione.
"I have missed you so, so much!" she said against his neck. She let go of him and turned to Ron. "Ron!" She gave him a quick hug before she noticed the unfamiliar woman between Mrs. Weasley and Ginny.
They had all agreed to keep it a secret that Fransisca was a teacher at Hogwarts. They were looking forward at seeing her expression when she found her sitting at the teachers' table at Hogwarts.
"Hello," Hermione said to Fransisca. "I'm Hermione Granger," she said and stretched out her hand.
"Fransisca Weasley," she replied and shook her hand. "Arthur's niece," she explained when she saw Hermione's expression. "Congratulations on making Prefect last year," she added. She was about to say something else when she suddenly caught sight of something.
They all turned their heads to see what she was looking at and found two young men and a girl looking into Flourish & Blotts, one of the men and the woman had long, thick black hair and the third one had short, light brown hair. Smirks were on all three's faces.
"Excuse me," said Fransisca and strode over to the three standing there.
"Ok, you lot, let's-"
"Wait, mum," said Ron. He knew trouble was on its way and there was no way he was going to miss it.
They watched as Fransisca said something to the three and the dark- haired young man replied something that made Fransisca snigger and look into Flourish & Blotts too.
A short moment later a loud bang could be heard from inside the store and out came Lucius Malfoy, pink from top to bottom from what seemed as shock pink powder. One step behind followed his son Draco, purple with puke green spots all over.
Fransisca and the three others spun around as they walked out of the store. They had all huge difficulties keeping straight faces.
People outside were laughing their heads off and Lucius and Draco barely managed to keep their postures as they made their way through the howling crowd.
When they had finally moved out of sight they all fell to their knees in fits of laughter.
"Children," muttered Hermione, although she thought it suited them well. But she found no support anywhere because even Mrs. Weasley were chuckling merrily.
When the four had stopped laughing Harry could see that Fransisca motioned for the three others to follow her over to where they were standing. He could also see that there were something painfully familiar with the black-haired man, but he thought it was only his imagination playing tricks with him.
They followed her over to them, still with broad grins on their faces.
"People," said Fransisca. "I think it will please you all to learn these three joy-spreaders. "This is. Angelus Witherby," she pointed at the black-haired man, who took a deep bow. "Charity Hope Eowita Witherby."
"Eowita," replied the woman, who shook hands with them all. She pointed at Angelus. "That's my twin brother. I am the responsible, subtle one, though."
"And finally."
"Marco Tyler," said the last one and also he shook hands with them all.
"They will be staying at Hogwarts for a while," continued Fransisca. They are, the two black-haired ones, your new Defence teacher's godchildren.
Ron saw the way Hermione was looking at Marco and felt a stab of jealousy. He would not like having him around.
"Well, we will have to start looking for the things these four needs," said Mrs. Weasley and strode past them.
"What's up with her?" asked Ron. He didn't see what Harry saw; that Sisca exchanged glances with Angelus, Eowita and Marco.
"Are you lot coming?" asked Mrs. Weasley a little irritable halfway over at Flourish & Blotts.
"You'd better go," said Fransisca. "I'll catch you lot later. I have to go now, need to start thinking of departure."
The four of them said goodbye and hurried after Mrs. Weasley.
Without looking Neville Longbottom suddenly knocked into Ginny. "Sorry," he muttered. Then he saw who he had bumped into. "Hi, how are you all doing?"
"Did you see what happened inside Flourish & Blotts?" asked Ron excitedly. "Malfoy father and son emerged looking like a couple of fags."
"Ron!"
"Well, they did!" he told Hermione. "No wizard in their right mind would wear that unless he was as ham rider."
"Please, don't be so tasteless. There is nothing wrong with being homosexual, they are just as sane and normal as the rest of us."
"First courtesans, now fags," muttered Harry and Ginny and Ron nearly laughed their heads off.
Hermione looked offended, but said nothing.
"So, what happened to them?" asked Neville.
"They were victims of mischief" said Hermione.
"A bit of fun, really. We have no idea what they did to them."
"Who?"
"We don't know them, but our cousin told us that they will be staying a while at Hogwarts. We can point them out for you there" said Ron. "Let's go into Flourish & Blotts and see what they have really done in there."
They hurried over to Mrs. Weasley and entered the store, which looked like Ground Zero after a A-bomb. Pink, purple and green powder everywhere. On the floor lay two pink, one green and one purple enchanted exploding dye-packs.
Mrs. Weasley merely shook her head, but Harry could see a smile in the corner of her mouth. "Find what you need" she told them.
It was easy finding the books they needed because there weren't many new books they needed, only one really stood out. It was the Defence Against the Dark Arts Book, or rather books, that really caught the attention because it told them they wouldn't lye on the lazy side. It was Dark Creatures and Repelling Curses and Protection Against Dark Magic, both by Patricia McStar.
"What are you thinking?" asked Ron.
"I'm thinking that we are back in business," replied Harry with a smile, but he was a bit heavy hearted because both books were extremely thick.
Hermione, on the other hand, seemed absolutely delighted.
"What's up with you?" asked Ron.
"Don't you see? This means that there will be a lot practising the spells and that the Ministry has finally taken the threat seriously. We are finally going to learn to protect ourselves and with the Ministry's approval."
"Yeah, but you didn't hear Sisca" said Ron. "She said that the new Defence teacher isn't loyal to the Ministry, but to Dumbledore. We may be in-"
"Heaps of trouble if this isn't approved by the Ministry." Harry could feel dark clouds over his head.
"The Ministry has been chucked out of Hogwarts," said a familiar, happy voice behind them.
All turned to find Lupin.
"Professor Lupin!" exclaimed Neville.
"Well, not any more" replied the werewolf with a I-know-something- you-don't-smile on his face. "You have now got the best defence teacher you could possibly want."
"You know her?"
His smile grew bigger. "Let's just say that you are in for a treat. Maybe she'll even let you continue your club, Harry. To be on the safe side ask her."
"What?"
"Keep no secrets from her because she will find out sooner or later anyway." He looked around. "Saw what happened to the Malfoys. don't you go looking to do anything like that. Look, I have to go, catch you later. I think I'll pop in sometime during the year. I'll check on you then if I can."
As soon as he had appeared he was gone, looking shabbier, more tired and more grey than ever.
"Poor man" muttered Hermione.
"Wonder why Fransisca don't want him, he's a nice bloke."
"She said he was a bit too nice for her liking" replied Ginny. "Probably fancies some satanic rock artist or something."
"Look at this mess!!!"
They spun around to find the manager and three of them smiled broadly, knowing that they, Fransisca and a brilliant Defence teacher would be spending the year at Hogwarts.
