See prologue for warning and disclaimer...
Moonlight and Shadows: Chapter 10
The next day, everyone but Harry seemed to be running everywhere. Teachers bustled up and down the corridors and into every room, wide-eyed and muttering to themselves. Apparently, then, it wasn't just Professor Trelawney that did this. Harry was aghast at how uptight everyone was. Even Ron seemed nervous and high-strung, and bit back at Harry when Harry asked about it at the staff table during lunch.
"Ron, you... you alright?"
"Well, just 'cause you don't have to worry about being liked and being good at your job, just because everyone loves you and doesn't care what you do, because they're still always going to love you, and it doesn't matter what you say to them or what you do and stuff, you don't have to worry about not being liked by people or worry about losing your job... you don't have to–"
"Oh I don't know, Weasley," drawled Malfoy from Harry's other side. "With the trouble Potter gets into, he might just need to worry about it..."
Ron went on, not having heard Malfoy's comment, but Harry wasn't paying attention to Ron.
"What do you mean, I get into trouble?" he scowled at Malfoy.
"Oh, being out after hours, I suppose... not being prepared for classes..."
"How do you know? Maybe I know exactly what I'm doing!" Harry said defensively. Malfoy laughed.
"You? I wouldn't believe that."
"–everyone always looking up to you, probably even if you give them detentions they're still going to worship you..."
"Ron! Shut up!" Harry almost yelled. Ron just turned to Hermione and continued jabbering. Hermione nodded mutely, moving her lips and not paying any attention at all. She had been acting lately like she was studying for a final that she was utterly unprepared for. Yet Harry knew she had been getting help with organizing her lessons from Professor McGonagall, and she couldn't possibly be unprepared for classes.
Harry and Malfoy studied the two of them who were looking so peculiar, completely oblivious to one another.
"Are you sure they're teaching tomorrow and not going back on the train to be carted off to the mental ward of Saint Mungo's?" Malfoy asked dryly. Harry laughed, forgetting that it was Malfoy talking, and completely not registering that Malfoy was joking. He caught himself, but not before Hermione and Ron both turned to see what was funny. He sobered and turned to his food. Malfoy was already frowning at his plate like nothing had happened. But the moment was not lost on Harry, who slowly realized that he had laughed at one of Malfoy's jokes. And the joke wasn't particularly cruel or mean...
By the end of the day, the teachers were still acting flustered, and it was spilling over to Harry. What if most people really were skeptical of him? They might know or assume that he was a good wizard or, yes, the saviour of the wizarding world. But what of his teaching skills? He had nothing– no training, no experience... in a way, he didn't even know all that he would be teaching his students. Surely they would know that and take advantage of him being new and not being a real teacher.
He decided he should just resign. He was walking to McGonagall's office, however, when he almost ran straight into Malfoy. Harry was set on ignoring him and keeping on with his mission.
"Are you heading to resign, Potter?"
"What?!" Harry asked, turning around with a look of alarm. Malfoy chortled.
"That's right– going to resign now?"
"What do you know about it?"
"She won't let you."
"What?" Harry asked again.
"She won't let you. I just tried, Potter. So don't even waste your breath." Malfoy turned back to go to the dungeons.
"Wait," called Harry once he had registered what Malfoy had said. Malfoy kept walking, so Harry made the split-second decision to follow him.
"Why?" he asked, catching up with Malfoy.
"None of your business."
"I knew you were going to say that. What, were you wussing out?" At that, Malfoy stopped, folded his arms, raised an eyebrow, and smirked.
"Yeah, Potter, that's right. What were you doing then?" Harry didn't respond. "I suppose it was the pinnacle of heroic acts for you to ask McGonagall to fire your arse, before you'd even started. I suppose you thought it would be heroic for you... but for me, of course... it's just wussing out. Is that right, Potter?" Without waiting for an answer, he left, and Harry didn't follow this time.
Of course, Malfoy was completely right. Of course he was. Well, to be fair... he didn't consciously think he was being heroic. But honestly, he had to admit to himself... He was only going to go up to McGonagall because in the back of his mind, he knew she'd refuse his offer. And then, once she'd refused to dismiss him, she would reassure him that he would be fine at teaching. He might have even gotten some tips. Yes, he knew it only made his situation more pitiful if he tried to resign.
But why had Malfoy wanted to leave? Surely he couldn't be feeling unsure of himself at teaching... but then, maybe he wanted to go home? Maybe he had... something better to do? Harry almost smirked to himself at the statement, used so many times in the context of Malfoy...
Suddenly, it was almost twenty-four hours later, and he watched Hagrid walk down to Hogsmeade station to greet the abnormal amount of first-years... Harry's stomach clenched as he realized that the next morning, all of their small faces would be looking expectantly at him, and he would have no idea what to say to them all.
He lost track of time dismally looking out his window, but in no time at all the doors of the Great Hall were being wrenched open and Harry had to throw on his robes and rush down to the staff table. He took his place by Malfoy. Ron was off to escort the first years in for the sorting, but Hermione smiled a bit at Harry.
"Alrigh' Harry?" called Hagrid down the table, looking significantly cheery. Harry grimaced in what he hoped was a smile and nodded.
Everyone, even those who knew what to expect from the new teacher arrangements, was looking up at the staff table in interest. He thought he saw many faces frown in disappointment at Malfoy, but most eyes were focused on Harry, of course. Harry grabbed his goblet to hold in front of his face like a shield. But he hadn't expected it to be full of water, and he gasped as his neck and chest were drenched in iciness.
He hurriedly found his wand to clean it up, but glanced many amused grins throughout the Hall. Next to him, Malfoy looked like he was trying not to laugh, and Harry wondered why he didn't just laugh like he normally would.
Harry sat quietly after that, watching everyone he knew, and desperately wishing he could be in on Seamus' joke, which was clearly amusing most of Gryffindor House, and even Ernie MacMillan's exciting summer story. He was waving his arms dramatically, and several students were even leaned forward in their seats to hear him. Suddenly, Harry heard him, too.
"–giant, one of the biggest ones. You know, twenty-five to thirty feet tall, at least. Well anyway, it takes a swipe at me, and ends up getting the Death Eater I was battling! And then, well... I don't know, it gets a little boring after that..." at least twenty students gasped and started protesting. Malfoy snorted.
"He didn't get within eighty feet of a giant. He was mostly cowering under the West wall," he scoffed.
"How do you know?" asked Harry, keen to get this end of the story.
"Just do," Malfoy said evasively.
"I bet Ernie was doing ten times the fighting you were," Harry challenged. He wasn't even sure this was true– for all he knew, Ernie could actually be telling the truth.
"I know he was, actually," Malfoy said, squinting at Padma Patil, who was dangling a live rat by its tail.
"What?" said Harry, caught off guard. Had he just admitted to not being part of the battle?
"Oh come on, Potter. Don't be so dense. You know I wasn't fighting."
"Well, I wouldn't have known if you hadn't told me."
"Yeah, well..." at that moment, Ron came in with the first years, looking almost as timid as the tiny eleven-year-olds. He cleared his throat vaguely, then feebly tried, "attention!" No one paid any attention to him. McGonagall stood suddenly and clapped her hands, and a loud crack resounded through the Hall. All eyes were on her instantly.
"Attention, everyone! The sorting will now begin." She gestured to Ron, and all eyes turned to him instead. McGonagall sat down, and Ron brought the hat and stool forward. The motionless hat's brim opened wide for its first in the new free world...
All students, great and small, beware,
Treat your Sorting Hat with care!
I've been in rough and evil hands,
I've seen hard times and wicked lands.
Now we are all in better times,
And Hogwarts now will see great minds.
This brings me to our present story–
Which House will bring each first year glory?
Now in peace must they unite,
And seek not more times of hate and fights.
Gryffindors most will honor this:
fearlessness, courage, and valour persist.
If you be friendly, and overall kind,
You must be of the Hufflepuff mind.
The smartest ever brains I saw
Ended up in Ravenclaw.
Shrewd, tricky students not forgot–
They will have a Slytherin spot.
Enjoy the years of peace ahead,
Though studying hard, you are not dead.
Move on to great and better things,
Hogwarts has the peace you'll bring.
Everyone clapped, remembering for the first time that the Sorting Hat had nearly been captured by Voldemort. Harry thought its speech was inspiring, but not sickeningly happy. The hat, like Harry, had recognized that peace would not just appear– the wizarding world needed to work toward it to be happy. Especially in Hogwarts, where the next generation would know what it was like to live in both hateful and peaceful extremes.
Ron stood to the side and called out names, and Harry listened closely to see who would be in his House. The first student was a boy named Thomas Bradbury. He was tall and gangly for his age, and he almost walked toward the Hufflepuff table before veering off to the Gryffindors at a run.
Sherman DeBlanc had the same color hair as his sister, but he had a distinctly different look about him. His eyes looked constantly focused on something, like he was concentrating very hard to figure something out all the time. He walked like he was trying to prove he was strong. Almost like Krum, Harry thought.
The boy sat on the stool for a long fifteen seconds before the hat declared him a Slytherin. Harry clapped with everyone else, but looked sideways at Malfoy, who couldn't hide his surprise. Harry, too, thought that any sibling of Svala's might be sorted into Hufflepuff. Gryffindor got many more students who all joined the crammed benches. All the House tables were looking very crowded, but everyone seemed to look comfortable enough, if very hungry.
Ron took the stool and hat off to the side of the staff platform and took his seat, groaning to Harry as he sat down. McGonagall stood and clapped again, and all eyes fell on her.
"Good evening, everyone. Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have many announcements to make, but they can wait until after dinner. For now, Harry Potter would like to welcome you all here–" Harry shook his head, trying to be subtle.
"No, Professor," he called to her in a whisper.
"What?" she turned to him.
"After dinner, please," he said. She turned back to the students, most of whom had pleading looks on their faces for food.
"Oh alright then," she sighed. "Mr. Potter has decided to hold his speech for after the feast as well." There were sighs of relief, then a standing ovation from many students. Harry couldn't help but smile at all the familiar faces as he caught snippets of "Thank Merlin for Harry!" "He's a lifesaver... I'm so hungry!"
McGonagall clapped her hands again and food appeared on the tables. Harry was used to the extraordinary Hogwarts feasts, but he was unprepared for the amazing variety he got that night. He sampled everything, only occasionally remembering his manners with Malfoy next to him and in his place as a teacher. Finally, when all evidence of dessert was cleared away and Harry was taking his last swig of pumpkin juice ("Don't spill, Potter," muttered Malfoy), McGonagall stood again. This time, she didn't need to clap, and she had every student's attention.
"Now that your stomachs are satisfied... I give you Mr. Potter." She sat down, but almost every other person in the Hall stood up, clapping. Some Slytherins and Malfoy scowled at the commotion, but everyone else was clapping and hollering at Harry, who had stood up and now wished he hadn't. The applause went on for much longer than Harry was comfortable with, but the Hall was silent when everyone sat back down.
"Er... Thank you," Harry started. A few people chuckled. "Welcome back... And it's great to be here again. Everyone here is very lucky and very privileged. Not only are you alive... but you also have the responsibility of carrying the message of the next generation out of Hogwarts, like the Sorting Hat mentioned. For those of you who have lost– anything or anyone– my condolences to you. Here at Hogwarts you have yourself, each other, and your education... all you need to make the wizarding world better next time around. I wish I could say something really... great... like Dumbledore could, but I can't. So, everyone... have a great year at Hogwarts!" He finished, sitting down, miserable with the outcome of his speech. It was another "hold hands and dance around" moment, he knew.
But the next second, everyone else was on their feet again, except for the stubborn Slytherins and Malfoy, applauding Harry. He reluctantly looked around and saw tear-stained cheeks and smiles, including Hermione's and Professor McGonagall's. He must have done something right, then...
McGonagall clapped again after a minute and everyone else sat down and fell silent.
"As you can see," she began, and Harry noticed her slightly choked voice, "we have many significant changes in our staff this year. Until Professor Sprout is fully recovered, I give you Professor Longbottom." Neville stood and got a sizeable amount of applause, which he beamed at. "Replacing me in Transfiguration is Professor Granger." Hermione stood and waved at everyone, getting applause and smiling. "Hogwarts' new caretaker and Disciplinary Manager is Mr. Weasley." Ron stood awkwardly, receiving his applause. "The Potions master this year is Professor Malfoy." Harry watched Malfoy stand and nod at his scattered applause. "And your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is Professor Potter." Harry thought that sounded extremely odd, coming out of Professor McGonagall's mouth, but he accepted it and stood for his third standing ovation.
"All rules are still in effect on Hogwarts Grounds. The Forbidden Forest is out of bounds, as always. There is an alteration to Hogwarts' disciplinary regulations. Until approximately one week ago, a rule was still in effect that allowed the Hogwarts Disciplinary Manager to punish students using physical means. However, Mr. Weasley himself has decided to revoke this option. Corporal punishment is no longer allowed at Hogwarts."
Again, the Hall erupted in applause, with loud cheers especially from those who had been at Hogwarts while the Carrows were taking advantage of being able to physically harm students.
"With that," McGonagall finished, "you may all go to bed to rest up for classes tomorrow! Good night."
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A/N: I told you not to expect really long chapters! Sorry this is a bit shorter. But it IS an update!
I don't have time to do all the acknowledgements I would like to. But thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. My reviews continue to be positive, which is very encouraging and motivating!
I'm back in town, but school starts soon and my brain will most likely be fried. But we'll see. Cross your fingers for a longer chapter next time. I would cross mine too, but then I couldn't type. :)
Keep reviewing! I love you all :)
jo