Chapter 4 Sorry who did you say our defence professor was?
Warnings: Mild use of language
Hogwarts Great Hall, 1st September 7:30pm.
Talk was still ripe across the four houses of what had happened at the world cup along with friends still catching up after the holidays, for six students it was a case of when could this night be over so as they could get some sleep. The announcement that was made of the tri-wizard sent rushed conversations shouts of joy throughout the hall before the age limit was spoken about many of the younger years muttering how unfair it was, while those who were in 6th year discreetly glanced around each other there was only a few of them who would be 17 by that night and none of them had any intention well one certainly had no intention of entering her own name or letting her name be anywhere near the damn goblet her life was complicated enough without needing to add more to it.
The outcries died down as the doors were suddenly thrown open, the 6th years all spinning automatically to the doors some with their hands already residing upon their wands, as the dull clunk of wood was heard against the old worn stones.
Kayleigh kept her face normal though her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she watched the progress of the man towards the head table as Dumbledore walked to meet him, both having a whispered discussion before the man who had interrupted was sat at the head table, "I am pleased to announce this year's defence against the dark arts teacher, Professor Alastor Moody," Dumbledore's voice rang through the hall, "Now as I was saying…"
Kayleigh felt her heart reach her throat at the announcement, her eyes blinking in incomprehension as a buzzing noise filled her ears, it was not until someone slipped their own hand into hers that she started to come back to herself turning her head slightly seeing the concern in the 6th years faces, while Eike continued to hold her hand, "That's it," Eike kept his voice soft, "look at me, just me no one else focus solely on me and my voice."
"Did…" the confident voice was gone as Kayleigh blinked again.
"Focus solely on me," Eike shook his head, "I want you to just look at me."
Kayleigh nodded though her head tried to turn back to the head table only to have Eike catch her chin, "On me, eyes on me just me Kay."
Severus felt his heart still the moment the defence professor was announced his eyes quickly scanning the hall, though most were excited about the ex-Auror he could easily read the sudden apprehension on the 6th years faces most of who had their eyes glued to his own table. Glancing back at his own table he cursed silently seeing the reaction there before scanning the hall once more his eyes falling on Paul from Ravenclaw who was looking up at him, nodding once he answered the silent question and plea for a meeting that night seeing the whispered conversation take place before he turned his eyes back to his own table, this was going to complicate the year more than how complicated it normally was.
As the feast was brought to a close he nodded once to the headmaster before leaving the hall his mind running in overdrive of all the stupid things Albus could do it had to be that! Hire a man that had history with some of his house, hell had history with himself!
Using the walk down to the dungeons to clear his mind Severus paused before the common room door taking slow calculated breaths before entering the room, his snakes were lined up according to year as they normally were at the start of term, "Everyone take your seats," he addressed the group moving to the front, "To our first years Welcome to Slytherin House, for the next seven years…" while giving his speech about the house, the school rules along with the house rules, Severus kept his eyes mainly on the sixth years seeing the pure white face of one. "6th years stay behind please," he spoke with a slight menace to his voice, "There are other things we shall need to discuss including my expectations of you this year after last year." The group stayed though a few of the other years smirked at them explaining to a few first years why the 6th years were staying behind, Severus waited until the common room had cleared sending to discrete wards to stop anyone from listening in his mask dropping as concern filled his eyes, "There is a meeting set for now, where we shall discuss…"
"Is he teaching?" Kayleigh asked softly cutting him off her face still deadly white her hand still wrapped securely around Eike's.
"We will discuss this in the ROR," Severus spoke softly, "The meeting is set for twenty minutes from now, make a show of going to your dorms then join us there."
Room of Requirement 10:30pm.
The hushed conversations of the room fell silent as the first few Slytherin members trickled in, "Severus asked if this could please just be the 6th years," Jeevin spoke softly addressing the younger members of the Alliance.
"But…"
"Please we will tell you what is going on," Jeevin sighed, "But for now we need to discuss this as a group of 6th years, yes the new professor affects you as much as he does us but…"
"It's alright," Samantha nodded standing up, "You can tell us all tomorrow."
"Thank you."
The four younger members slipped out of the room of requirement keeping to the shadows as they headed back to their own common rooms all thinking the same thing, this year was going to be a nightmare in more ways than one.
The Slytherin's who had entered the room all took their seats silence still reigning in the room, "Are…"
"Yes, they will be here shortly, we wanted to stagger our arrivals."
Once again silence fell the heads turning slightly as the door opened and the last of the Slytherin year entering along with Severus who closed and warded the door before taking his own seat looking out at the group wondering just where to begin this meeting, "We…"
"Severus answer my question, is he teaching?" Kayleigh asked cutting him off before he had really begun.
"Yes," Severus sighed rubbing his brow, "I was unaware of this turn of events until tonight like you all. Albus kept it close to his chest who this year's defence professor would be."
"Then there is no fucking way in hell I am taking defence!" Kayleigh screamed jumping to her feet.
"You have already enrolled in the class," Severus sighed also standing up, "Kayleigh please."
"Then unenrolled me! I am not having that man teach me! I am not having that man teach any of us!" Kayleigh screeched pacing the room.
"Kayleigh please…"
"No Severus! He killed my father and you want me to sit in his classroom like nothing ever happened? I do not trust him!"
"There is nothing we can do about it."
"There is everything I can do about it! Or have you forgotten just who I am?"
"You want to reveal your position over this?" Severus asked getting angry as well.
"Over this?" Kayleigh hissed not caring about the shocked looks they were getting from the rest of the 6th years, "You think this is small and nothing?"
"Of course I don't! But you need to see sense and reason in this, it is one year Kayleigh and one year only! If you think for a moment I am happy about the fact that you will all be in his class you are gravely mistaken, Moody pushed to have me thrown in Azkaban it is not something I am likely to forget he played an active part in the last war you are not the only student in this school that he had affected!"
"Severus I cannot be in a classroom with that man…" Kayleigh whispered desperately.
"You will be in a classroom with the defence professor in a classroom with 30 other students who would do anything to protect you," Severus sighed cursing Albus for doing this, "No one in this room is going to allow any harm to come to you."
"How many classes?" Kayleigh asked softly.
"Three a week, no doubles they are all singles, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday all mornings as well," Severus answered retaking his seat.
Kayleigh closed her eyes tightly before nodding once and sitting back down, "If he does anything Severus I will not be held accountable for my actions, if he hurts anyone I will not be held accountable."
Severus sighed nodding once, "Agreed, now we need to discuss rationally about what to do about defence class. Moody has a habit of seeing things that no one else does which puts all of us in a variable dangerous position."
"Would he see through aging potions?"
"No," Severus shook his head, "So we are safe in that respect but I would not be surprised with Albus has asked him to watch over the school for any suspicious behaviour. I have managed to get hold of everyone's time tables and though you are all taking defence Albus is all of his wisdom has not done it by houses he has broken up the four houses to make two even classes, Kayleigh and Eike you are both in different classes…"
Discussions continued well into the night as a new roster was worked out with the classes, Severus also having gotten his hands on the younger members time tables, "It is late, we will meet again tomorrow night and I am sorry to say that if I feel it is prudent then detentions may very well become ripe this year for your year as well as Samantha, Michael, Mark and Natalie."
Defence classroom 9:15am.
The dull clunk of wood against stone echoed throughout the room sending a shiver down the spine of one member of the classroom, while the students waited most filled with pure apprehension of what was about to come. The agreement met the night before playing at the forefront of most of their minds, it was agreed that though they all were not fully happy about the new appointment the only students to truly show their dislike were to be the Slytherin house. The rest of the houses would appear on all levels to like their new defence professor even if that was truly not the case.
A shiver ran down Kayleigh's spine as the man passed her desk before reaching the front of the room turning to stare out at his students, "I have one year to bring this class up to speed…"
"Excuse me Sir, but we all received outstanding's on our OWL why would you need to bring us up to speed?"
A smirk that crossed the man's face was horrid making a few people lean back in their seats, "you know the theory application but not the practical…"
Kayleigh was wedged between two of her house mates one who was light squeezing her hand as their professor went through the rollcall of the class pausing slightly on Kayleigh's name before continuing on with his lecture on what they would be covering that year.
By the end of class there were some excited whispers as was the plan and some quiet muttering as well, though the idea of a once a week duelling competition did appeal to all of them.
Potions Classroom 10:20am.
Severus stood waiting as he class filed in only half of the class had just held defence seeing everyone take their seats he closed the door soundlessly placing a ward upon it as well, "IS there anything we need to discuss before we begin?" he asked softly his eyes mainly looking at those who had just had defence.
"Nothing that cannot wait until tonight Severus," Kayleigh answered softly.
"Very well," Severus nodded, "As I am sure you are all aware the structure for sixth year is different, in this class we will focus on more advanced potions and brewing techniques some of the potions you will be required to make over the year will need to be attended to at various times during the day and night, once a fortnight we will be having a theory based only class where that time will be used to go over not only the theory required to brew a potion but also discussions on knew developments that have been made. You are all required to keep up to date with the relevant journals, as with other years they will be placed in the library and in the common rooms for you to look through if you come across an article you wish to discuss copy it and bring it to that class…"
