Pandore's Box

(10-28-10)

Part 3:

Relieved. That's how he felt at the moment. For awhile Eric had thought that Dumbledore would not hire him- that he had appeared to be too big of a threat, but apparently the goblins new just how to word a resume so that he could get his foot through the door. Now all he had left to do was to prove himself in the classroom and stay under Dumb-doors radar. And even though the old man thought he knew all; Eric had some tricks up his sleeve. As well as a lemon drop in his pocket.

After said old coot welcomed him to the teaching staff he returned Eric's paperwork to him; as well as a set of written directions to the DADA room. So now, Eric stood outside the gargoyle statue, trying to decipher Dumb-doors directions which were posing more problems than he thought. He swore the man was trying to get him lost. Off the top of his head he could name several different routes that could get him to the DADA room with less hassle than the one the maniacal of man chose. Honestly, there's no reason to go up four floors just to walk down three flights of stairs at the other end of the fifth floor corridor.

Deciding to multi-task Eric began walking as he tried to finish reading his "directions". Apparently he was allowed to choose his own personal quarters anywhere in the castle although according to Dumbledore's side note it was common for professors to choose rooms as far from their classroom as they could. It made sense; to him at least. Even professors needed lives away from teaching. With that though in mind he smirked; knowing exactly where he wanted his rooms to be.

So after following Dumbledore's idiotic directions for fifteen minutes Eric threw in the towel. He knew he had a lot of work to do in getting his classroom ready for the students and with the semester starting tomorrow he didn't have very much time to do it. In fact he had even less time because he had to set up his own rooms as well… and deal with introductions between the other staff members at dinner which, if he remembered correctly, started at seven o'clock sharp.

Sighing Eric picked up his pace as he made a mental list of all the modifications he needed to make to the DADA room. That ranged from designating a combat training area as well as enlarging the room in general. It was too small for all that needed to be taught and since Eric didn't believe in the idea that you can learn everything from books his students would surely be in for a surprise when they noticed the modifications. He was busy making mental plans when a voice interrupted his thoughts. It was deep, throaty, entirely recognizable, and seemed to be calling out to him.

…

Eric didn't want to turn around- didn't want to face the owner of that sultry voice. Even after four years he hadn't completely dissolved his emotional connection to the man like he had done to others in his past life. It was easier to forget his two best friends than the man that was now coming up behind him. Who was trying to introduce himself to someone that already knew him so well. Eric even debated on ignoring the man but doubted anything would be achieved by doing that. So, deciding that once again the fates were against him, he turned on the spot and smiled at the approaching figure who smiled in return.

"I'm Remus, Remus Lupin. And you must be the new Defense professor." He stated as he held out his hand- obviously waiting for Eric to shake it.

Eric nodded slowly as he shook Lupin's hand- his whole body tingling with increasing intensity as he did so. "Yes- I am the new resident Defense Professor. My name's Eric though the students will know me as Professor Blake." Letting go of his hand Eric shivered. He almost missed the brief tingling sensation that Lupin's touch caused.

Taking a deep breath Eric decided to ask the question that had invaded his mind the moment he heard the man's voice. "So, are you a, fellow professor?" He almost didn't want to know the answer. He could deal with constantly being around Ron and Hermoinie but Remus Lupin was a whole other ordeal; one that he wasn't sure what to make out of yet.

"I took over the position as the History of Magic Professor. Our former professor finally decided it was time to move on in his death." Eric nodded- slightly surprised that Binn's actually moved on to the afterlife. Taking a quick glance at his watch, more in an effort to stop staring at Remus than to learn the time, he groaned. It was already six o'clock and he hadn't even started to get his classroom prepared. "Have you been to your classroom yet?"

Eric wasn't expecting that as a question but answered anyway in the negative. Remus laughed a bit before smiling again. "If I remember correctly the directions Albus gave you are useless?" Again Eric answered with a nod, although this time it was in the positive.

"So it's not just me then." He stated as he looked at the directions once more. Pulling out his lighter he smiled at Remus; deciding that the paper served them better as fuel than as directions. Quickly enough the paper was in ashes which scattered about and Remus was laughing lightly. "Ah, if I had only thought of that." He sighed, which caused Eric to shiver again.

"If you would like I could show you to your classroom. I have mine set up already so I'm not in a big hurry." Eric debated on turning Lupin down. Alienating Lupin was probably the best course of action; due to the fact that it would reduce the risk of his previous identity being found out, but he honestly didn't want to drive the man away. And the fact was, after seeing him again since he'd been away, he didn't know if he could push him away. So he chose to answer without preamble.

"That would be greatly appreciated."

…

The walk to the room was short, but it was also filled with light conversation. Remus made sure to inform him of the general policies that the staff had to comply with like the fact that they each had to attend at least one meal at the head table daily as well as the fact that, once he chose his rooms, a small booklet would appear going over all of the general information that Eric would need to know as a teacher. After learning this he thanked Remus profusely - because Dumbledore sure as hell didn't mention any of this information. And by the time they reached his door Eric felt that he had made the right choice in not driving Remus away- even if he didn't have plans on ever telling Lupin who he actually was.

After thanking Remus again he made his way into the room and immediately enlarged it. A smile moving onto his face as he noticed that the castles magic was once again thrumming happily. Happy castle happy life he thought as he vanished the black board and replaced it with a chalk free white bored. After moving the desks around to his liking he pulled out a small box from inside his pocket. Placing it on the ground he started whistling as he worked. He enlarged the box and started pulling things out of it like it was Marry Popins Magic Carpet bag. He placed a stack of laptops onto one desk and numerous composition notebooks and ball point pens on another before unloading a multitude of weapons. He was almost waltzing as he set up a long counter on the right side of the room onto which went all of the laptops; twenty of them. Turning on his heel he was about to set up a large magical storage locker at the back of the room when he noticed Remus was still in the doorway.

"You realize the castles magic will interfere with the electronics? And that the parents will complain when they learn that their children will be handling weapons?" Eric paused as he was still in shock that he hadn't noticed that Remus hadn't actually left. God I'm losing my touch and I've only been back for a few hours. Shaking his head lightly he smiled.

"The computers will work- trust me on that. And for the weapons issue… You could say I just don't give a damn. I'm the teacher and I take that responsibility seriously. And part of the course is on weapons, their handling, and strategy with weapons. I will also be coordinating a session, or several, with the potions master here. For potions are vital when it comes to defense." And he had learned that the hard way when Ambrus learned he couldn't brew a decent potion to save his life- physically or metaphorically.

Remus took what he said in stride but shrugged. "Don't say I didn't warn you." Was all he got as a response though he noticed that Remus' eyes didn't stray off his form as he set up several different matted practice areas. However he did hear Remus when he said that the kids will be in for one big surprise.

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I would like to give virtual cookies and thanks to Vellouette, Ronin101, Yami no Kaze, blackwolfgirl88, Halo666, bowfin, cozmic, mairedel26, moondancer7825, Officer Dibble and TimeAndRythmDoesIndeedSleep for adding Pandore's Box to their story alert list as well as to NightFairy79, koepfchen, and Mafia-Maori-Spartan, Officer Dibble for favorite-ing Pandore's Box. Cookies of any flavor and thanks abound!

As for reviews:

TimeAndRythmDoesIndeedSleep:

I would like to say I love your reviews… and as for who will come out on top I am not willing to say. As for the next guest star of this chapter… well, if you read the chapter I hope you now know.