The Art of War - Beginnings
Dumbledore chuckled to himself at the reactions of the student to Grimshadow's entrance. "As I said before, Mister Grimshadow will be taking the post as teacher of Defence against the Dark Arts. Please welcome our new teacher to Hogwarts."
The entire student body, except for Harry and Hermione, let out a roar of approval and applause. His entrance had been nothing less that spectacular. Their new teacher bowed and took a seat next to Snape, who looked positively enraged at the thought that a teenager had beaten him for the position he had wanted for years.
Meanwhile, Harry and Hermione had exchanged more than a few worried looks. This was clearly the man Hermione had seen appirating out of Ollivander's, but even now that they knew his connection to Dumbledore, there were still many questions left unanswered.
Dumbledore waited until the crowd was settled before announcing the beginning of the feast. Ron's immediately began stuffing his face with the roast chicken and potatoes that had appeared on the platters before them.
"Might want to slow down there little brother," George offered as advice.
"Girls don't tend to find a full mouth very appealing," finished Fred, miming a kissing face.
Ron threw a chicken leg at them and said something that might have been "bugger off" but sounded like a mumble of vowels behind the pie he had just shovelled into his mouth.
Harry and Hermione smiled at their friend's antics. They would worry about their mystery teacher later, for now they would enjoy the company of friends and family and see what tomorrow would bring.
After the feast and a dismissal by Dumbledore, everyone moved off to their house common rooms. As Harry was leaving he noticed Draco speaking to Dumbledore, he hoped the boy would be ok.
"Well that Grimshadow guy seems pretty alright. A bit young to be teaching, but did you see what he did with that lightning bolt!" Ron said excitedly. "I mean, is he going to be teaching us to do stuff like that?"
"I doubt it Ron, if we can't learn to appirate until next year then we won't learn how to travel through lighting," Hermione countered.
Ron pouted. "It would still be pretty damn cool though."
Harry let his friends bicker as they walked with the rest of the Gryffindors to the common room. Arriving at the portrait of the fat lady, Neville -who had been acting as a tour guide for the first years- called out "leonis fortitudo. It means Lion's Courage in Latin," he explained. The portrait opened to reveal the familiar crimson and gold colour scheme of the Gryffindor common room.
The trio deftly walked around the stunned first years and made their way into the main area, settling themselves in their usual seats beside the fireplace.
Tomorrow would signal the real beginning of the Hogwarts year, with proper classes and Quidditch practice. Harry looked forward to every second of it.
At breakfast McGonagall swept along the Gryffindor tables handing out class timetables. These would be the classes they studied for the rest of the school year.
Hermione sent him a worried glance, he nodded in response. He had also noticed it.
"Hey!" Ron shouted "We have DADA first thing!" the redhead smiled in anticipation while his two friends were filled with apprehension.
"Damn, we're with the Slytherins though," Neville pointed out to them.
Harry sliced into his sausage. The very first class of the year seemed like it was going to be very interesting.
The class sat silently, their teacher leaning casually against his desk at the front of the room. The nervous energy in the space was palpable.
"Well, as I'm sure you all remember from my stunt last night, my name is Gabriel Grimshadow. For the benefit of everyone I urge you to call me Gabe, after all I'm not much older than you guys," he smiled. Some people let out a chuckle at this, but he continued as if uninterrupted. "This is Defence against The Dark arts, as I'm sure you are aware. I look forward to getting to know all of you eventually and for you to get to know me. Speaking of which, before we begin the lesson are there any questions?
A few hands went up, Lavender Brown's higher than most. "Yeah, hi, I'm Lavender. Ummm... A few of us were wondering, do you have a girlfriend?"
Grimshadow raised a single eyebrow at the question. "I doubt whether I do or not is relevant to your studies. And before you ask, no I will not date students; technically even though I'm within the age bracket it's still illegal."
Lavender ducked her head in embarrassment.
"Are you even a real teacher Gabe?" came a question from the back of the room.
Gabriel's head perked up. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me, I asked if you were a real teacher," Pansy Parkinson's voice echoed in the silent room. "Because all the teachers I know attended Hogwarts, and I've never seen you in my life. Can you even do magic?" the girl questioned.
"Your name is?" Gabriel asked coldly.
"Pansy Parkinson sir," went the sarcastic reply.
"Very well Miss Parkinson, if you're so confident that i am inept at magic, let us see who the stronger wizard is. Everybody stand!"
The students rocketed out of their seats. They watched silently as their teacher made an effortless sweeping gesture that ripped all the tables and chairs from the floor and piled them up in the side of the room. At this point many stepped aside so that there was a clear passage between the two combatants.
Pansy's face was white.
"Now Miss Parkinson, as I am your teacher, it would be unfair of me to take advantage of one of my students, therefore you are allowed to cast the first spell; I will not attempt to stop you." Grimshadow stepped back and spread his arms wide, wand tucked firmly away in his pocket giving Pansy an easy target.
She looked hesitant, but the students around the room were egging her on. This was quite possibly the most exciting lesson they'd ever had.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other worriedly. They had been nervous about this man from the very beginning, and now they were seeing a side of him that scared them. Draco noticed their exchange from the back of the class and went back to keenly examining their new teacher.
"What are you waiting for!" he yelled.
Pansy did not need any further encouragement. With all her might, she pointed her wand and cried "Stupefy!"
The class watched in silence as the bolt of red energy spewed forth from the tip of her wand and raced towards the man at the head of the room.
Every student held their breath as it neared Gabriel's chest, then seemingly with the speed of a striking snake, he brought down his hand and CAUGHT the spell in his palm.
Everyone froze. No-one had ever seen anything like this before.
Grimshadow stood at the front of the room almost nonchalantly bouncing the red ball on his hand thoughtfully. "Mmm, it's ok, I guess," he said as he picked at a tendril of energy. "I'd probably give it 6 out of 10 for power, but 10 out of 10 for effort." He set his cold eyes on Pansy, standing stock still in the centre of the room. "Do you know the shield spell?" he asked casually.
She squeaked and managed a slight nod.
"Good. Use it."
The ball of magic rocketed as he threw it back almost twice as fast.
The poor girl didn't even have time to raise her wand. The force of the spell propelled Pansy up into the air, flipping her over and over. She almost crashed into the ground before Gabriel waved his hand and the ground turned into a mass of cushions.
With another casual flick of his hand the tables and chairs arranged themselves into their original positions.
"Now, are there going to be more questions or can I start the lesson?"
The class proceeded like any normal one would have, teacher at the front discussing the topic of how to fend off Mountain Giants in comparison to the Plains Giants, except that every once in a while a student would turn around to face the back of the room where an unconscious Pansy still laid.
"So while the Mountain variety are a lot smaller and stronger than their Plains brethren, you can still defend well against them because their smaller bodies mean a smaller brain, and a smaller brain is easier to outsmart," Grimshadow concluded. "So considering we don't have another class until two days from now, I want you all to complete the chapter on giants, and I want each of you to come up with 3 ways of besting one of the beasts discussed today."
The class groaned. No-one had expected homework on the first day.
"Because of that I want 3 for each now. And I want full paragraphs as well, this will be on a test sometime in the future." He began packing up his notes as the class filed out.
"You two," he said pointing at Harry and Hermione. "Stay, I need to speak with you."
Draco was the last to leave the room, and was very curious to know why a new teacher already wanted to speak to Potter and Granger after the first class of the year. He cast the disillusionment charm on himself and stepped back through the portal before the door closed behind him.
"No doubt after my little display today I'm sure the rest of the class might be a little afraid of me. You two however; from the very beginning I could sense your wariness. Why is that?" Gabriel asked.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance, both unsure of what to say.
After a moment, Hermione was the one who stepped forward. "In all honesty sir, we were concerned that you had something to do with Dumbledore's injury."
"Oh," said the teacher surprised. "So it was you at Ollivander's that day?"
Harry nodded.
"Well that is something I would like to discuss with you. But first, Mr Malfoy would you please make yourself visible and join us?"
Draco cursed as he dispelled the charm and walked forward to meet the surprised forms of Harry and Hermione. "How did you know I was there?" he asked. "I know that disillusionment is not perfect but a person standing still can become effectively invisible."
Gabriel smiled "Well Mister Malfoy that is related to what I am about to discuss with the three of you. Firstly though, you have every right to be wary of the powers I posses, but you have no need to fear me. While it was me that injured Dumbledore," Harry stiffened at this "it was an act of perceived danger. I was and still am in considerable danger and Dumbledore has sacrificed much to hide me here and have me teach you children. There is something I can offer you that very well could mean the end of Lord Velcromart, or whatever that idiot is calling himself."
Draco smirked at the visual he had just received. "Well sir, before you go spilling any secrets, know that I have every intention of joining the Dark Lord when I turn eighteen."
"No, I'm afraid you don't Draco. Otherwise you wouldn't have warned me just now."
The blonde creased his eyebrows in thought.
"And if that wasn't enough to convince you," Gabriel held out an envelope, a sad expression on his face. "This will."
Draco opened it with trepidation. As he began to read, his companions saw him turn an even paler shade of pale. Coming to the conclusion of the page, he simply let the parchment fall to the floor.
Hermione stepped toward him, "are you ok Malfo.."
"DON'T SAY THAT NAME!" the boy shouted. Fury etched across his face.
Hermione flinched as Harry bent down to pick up the dropped letter.
It read:
Draco Malfoy
We regret to inform you that the body of Narcissa Malfoy was found last night inside Malfoy Manor.
Evidence suggests that she was murdered by Lucius Malfoy -through use of the Killing Curse.
The suspect promptly escaped apprehension by Ministry Agents and is now in hiding.
We are deeply sorry for your loss
Cornelius Fudge
-Acting Minister of Magic in the absence of Albus Dumbledore.
Gabriel stood and laid a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Rage is a good thing Draco. It makes us strong, gives us an edge, a focus. But you must learn to control your rage, to harness it into a force for good, not destruction. I can help you do that. Listen to what I have to offer. It is something that will give you the vengeance you seek."
"Speak then." Draco said in a clipped tone. "I want to know everything!"
The man before them nodded and gestured for all of them to take a seat.
"For you to fully understand me and what I have to give you, you must understand my past," he began. "My father Sturgis Grimshadow was a very accomplished wizard. He attended Hogwarts, and was sorted into Ravenclaw. He had a very keen mind. It was so it was no wonder he was attracted to my mother Renee. She was a muggle, but had a mind to rival his own." their teacher took a shaky intake of breath before continuing.
"They were contacted by the Australian Wizarding Council -the equivalent of your Ministry- to do research into the origins of magic. They thought that if they could find this primal power, they could convert the raw energy into something new." he chuckled, "it's quite ironic, that you kids spend years at school learning how to use magic, but no-one in our history has ever questioned where it came from. My parents found it."
All three children sat forward attentively, even Draco who was barely holding his rage in check.
"However, they had long suspected that they were in trouble. They were kept in a secure compound, with no way in or out except by security escorts. They were very surprised when I came along I can assure you. They hid me well, I was their little secret. For years all I knew was those four walls. My parents taught me about the world, and about magic, but in a way no-one had been taught before, because they knew it's secrets. The Council had been waiting for years and expected results, but my parents knew the power would be too dangerous in the hands of the authorities. They tried to hide their research, but many men came in and took them and all their notes. I was left, invisible in the bottom of a cupboard, trying desperately not to make a sound. I was 7." At this point his voice took on an ethereal note, as if it was not Gabriel who was talking, but some power speaking through him. "I was afraid, of course. But that fear drove me. I did not know much, all my parents had told me was that I had the potential to do things others could not. In my fear and anger I stormed out of the compound. You could imagine they were surprised, no-one even knew I existed. You don't need to know details, but that day a 7 year-old boy murdered 23 people trying to reach his parents. When I did, I saw they had been tortured to death trying to find out what they knew." a single tear slid down his cheek, "they died to protect me. So for them, I destroyed the entire facility. Everyone responsible, and many who were not died by my hand. All their notes were destroyed, and the Council left at the same point they had been 10 years before. Square one."
He deliberately looked in each of their eyes, his golden orbs reflecting the light. "I spent the next ten years sabotaging the Council's efforts, living like a homeless person to hide from them. Dumbledore came upon me one day and I confused him for an enemy. Fortunately he forgave me, and offered me a home, shelter, and a purpose. Right now Voldemort is the biggest danger this world faces. I owe Albus my life, the wards here at Hogwarts mean the Australian Council will never find me. So I will do him this favour."
The black haired teacher stood up and began to pace the room. "Your Headmaster has asked me to school 5 students in the ways of magic the way my parents taught me. The training will be difficult, mentally and physically. I'm not sure if it can even be done with people your age. The first years might even be too old to learn, but I gave Albus my word. You three possess qualities that may help us in the war against the Dark Lord."
He turned to Draco, "your anger can be shaped and harnessed, you will be stronger for it, and you are willing to do anything to see them all fall." To Hermione, "There are very few people like you, those who are sensitive to what magic has to offer. Dumbledore is another, but you are special. He is old, and while he is a master wizard, he is set in his knowledge and ways. You are still young, and can learn to harness your natural intuition into something more, much more." Finally, he turned to Harry. "You have the ability to be a great leader. People will follow you to the end, you represent all those who defy the Dark Lord. I will make you strong enough to protect everyone. They will rally to your flag and you will learn what it takes to defeat your enemies."
Gabriel Grimshadow stood before them, inspiring them like no-one had done so before. "You three will be the first to learn my secrets. The road will be long and hard, but we will come through in the end. That is what it means to be a true wizard!"
*Author's Note*
Really sorry for the time it took to update, my weekend was a little too busy.
So hopefully now i'm back in the swing of things there should be updates every few days
As always keep reading, keep reviewing, and otherwise enjoy :)