Chapter 7
Arriving at Hogwarts she was greeted by Professor McGonagall
"Professor Carter I presume, please gather your belongs, you will help me with the first years." She ordered Sam nodded herding the lost little kids up fondly remembering her time as a 1st year on the Hogwarts express.
Arriving at Hogwarts a house elf escorted her to her room, she set her password "fishing" and dumped her stuff just having enough time to return to the great hall to see the sorting. Over the meal she was aware of many of the students looking at her. She spent her time talking to Snape who had a deep interest in defence against the dark arts, perhaps too much, Sam thought.
Dumbledore stood and the whole hall quietened.
"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, 1 beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices," said Dumbledore "First-years ought to know that the Forest in the grounds is out-of-bounds to students - and a few of our older students ought to know by now, too. Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four-hundred-and-sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr Filch's office door. We have had two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome Professor Umbridge, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Carter, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, I'm sure you'll make them feel very welcome" he continued but Sam zoned out gazing over the rows of students picking out the ones she knew. Until she heard an annoying
"Hem hem, hem hem" coming from down the row. Umbridge stood ready to make a speech, gracefully Dumbledore let her. Sam listened very carefully getting the gist the Ministry would be interfering in Hogwarts. She grinned if she could handle the NID and the Gould she was sure Umbridge would be no problem. After the sorting she went to her room sorting through her stuff unpacking then checking out her classroom, she made a few adjustments before seeing Umbridge standing in the doorway.
"Professor" Sam greeted,
"Good afternoon" Sam greeted, "Can I help you?" She asked politely
"I wanted to look over your lesson plans discuss how we can make them better," she said, Sam nodded suspiciously.
She began running through the lesson plans with her after just the first one Umbridge interrupted,
"I was hoping you would go with something less practically based, learning from the books" Umbridge began, Sam stopped her
"No way that's not practical, these kids need to know how to defend themselves, from friendly fights to battles" Sam began defending,
"From what?" Umbridge asked,
"Everything the world is a dangerous place, from the magical creatures to class mates to those that want to be future auroras, I have a duty to teach them the best that I can and I'm going to do it" Sam said fiercely. Umbridge was silent before leaving. Sam tiredly retreated to her room, not even going to tea just collapsing in a heap and sleeping. The next morning she was up, early eating breakfast and taking a run round the grounds then showering before breakfast, her first session was the second years. She quickly ran them through the most basic of defensive spells, getting them to practice on each other disarming the wards. By then end the whole class had mastered it. Sam felt a small wave of satisfaction at knowing her pupils had mastered it.
The next class was hard it was year 7 they were doing their NEWT exams, a boy at the front put his hand up.
"Professor none of us have heard about you before how do we know you're qualified to teach us?" Sam grinned.
"I'm US military, I'm use to defending myself against things so dark you can't even imagine, and although I haven't focused on my magic recently I'll take on anyone in a duel" She challenged knowing respect was earned and wanting to push her students like Colonel O'Neill had done to her. A boy stood up getting out his wand. Sam took him to the duelling area which she had set up.
They bowed, Sam indicating for him to take first shot, she deflected it easily disarming him. Another student stood wanting to take her down she identified him as Slytheryn, he cast a spell, she deflected it, soon the whole class was fighting her, Sam took out an impressive ¾ of the group. Before she was stunned she indicated for them to return to their seats.
"Boy that was fun," she told them "now to teach you guys how to fight properly I mean in the field their won't be 30 of you taking me down, you need to be able to cast a basic defensive and attack spells in your sleep, disarming, attack and diversion, 3 key areas" Sam began watching as the whole class took notes with renewed interest.
She had a free period next spending the time relearning the corridors. Before lunch, she was to supervise the great hall. McGonagall joined her,
"How is it going?" She asked
"Alright, I think the students are great, insightful and willing to learn" Sam told her
"You have an interesting teaching method taking on the whole 7th year" she commented, Sam smiled
"I wanted them to have a taste of combat that duelling isn't about fancy spells it's about reaction sticking to ones you know, trusting your aim. Trusting Instinct."
"True, seems you made quite the impression, rumour has it you've spent the last few year fighting trolls in Iraq as part of a secret military magic group" Sam sighed thinking about what she'd actually been fighting.
"I wish it was that easy, trolls you just blast or buy off" she muttered unaware McGonagall had heard. She moved away grabbing a plate of food. Her lesson next was the 5th years.
"OWL's are very important exams, more important is the ability to defend yourself in a fight" Sam began; a blond boy put his hand up.
"Yes"
"Defend ourselves from what?" he sneered. Sam raised an eyebrow
"From everything, classmates attacks, dark magic, creatures, I've spent my adult life fighting, trust me there is plenty to fight, now I know you guys haven't had the best teaching but I spoke to Professor Lupin and Moody to do these lesson plans. Today defensive spells" She began, at the end everyone filed out she'd tried not to set too much homework, she knew students were under pressure but had to ensure they were up to standard.
The next few days continued the same the students all reacting extremely well to her lessons.
In her free time she spent exploring Hogwarts with a new sense of wonder, having accepted somewhat her relationship to Voldemort and thus Salazar Slytherin was a distance relation. She wondered if she could find any of the secrets that were contained within it, and if any would lead her to defeating Voldemort. She already knew of the 2 portraits of Salazar that hung within the school, and visited the chamber of secrets below it wondering if there were anymore secrets to be held within its walls. Guessing that Hogwarts had given all its secrets up she wanted to go to the Gault home.
After a week Sam took it up a notch adding physical fitness to the lessons and the homework, it was important for her that everyone got the balance between academics and sport and judging by some of the pupils they got too little exercise. It was one such exhibition with the 4th year group that the trouble occurred, they were jogging (with much protest from the 4th years about how this related to defence against the dark arts). They were nearing the edge of the forbidden forest when one of the fourth year girls screamed. Sam went running over, no longer jogging. There posed to attack was the 3 heads of a runespoor snake.
"Get behind me slowly then make your way to the castle" Sam ordered as she brought her wand out. She then turned to the snake. Noting the students were running to the castle.
Uh oh Sam seems too attract trouble, please review, let me know what you think
