55. Back to School
The last day of August bloomed with Harry moving into Hogwarts. Harry was now four months pregnant and beginning to show. He knew there would be questions at this but he was determined to keep this under wraps. He had seen the scan and at no surprise to Harry he was having another daughter. Several people had remarked on the miracle that was Persephone due to the fact that Harry had briefly died before returning to life and had somehow managed to keep his unborn child. Harry worried over this wondering how it would effect Persephone.
On the evening of the welcoming feast Snape as the new deputy head of Hogwarts was sent to get the first years. McGonagall stood up.
'Welcome first years to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in a moment you will be sorted into your houses let us introduce our new teachers; Professor Potter as Defence Against the Dark Arts,' whispers started at once as Harry stood up his midnight blue robes covering the bulge that was just beginning to show. 'Professor Daye,' the blonde witch with scarily blue eyes too stood up smiling at the student population, 'will be taking Muggle Studies which all students must attend.' Harry knew this was to show that Muggles and Wizards weren't that different to stop the racist atrocities from occurring again. 'And Professor Jacobi will be replacing me as Transfiguration. Professor Snape will be reappointed as Potions Professor and head of Slytherin house,' those in second year, except the Slytherins, and above groaned and muttered between themselves on the supposed Death Eater. 'And Professor Hagrid will be reinstated as the Care of Magical Creatures Professor. And Professor Sinistra will become the Head of Gryffindor house and now let the sorting begin.'
'Aldermaston, Genevieve,' Snape read out.
'RAVENCLAW!' the sorting out read out.
Genevieve found a place beside Anthony Goldstein on the Ravenclaw.
The sorting continued in the same way until.
'Young, Margaret,'
The sorting hat took a while deciding where to put the chestnut haired girl but finally she ended up in Gryffindor house.
Then the feast began. The students were sent to bed. Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna came up to see Harry. Ginny held her hand for Harry.
'It's weird you being a teacher,' said Ron.
'I know,' smiled Harry.
'Romilda's been bugging me about it all dinner,' Ginny rolled her eyes.
'Sorry,' said Harry.
'Don't,' said Ginny.
'Though be prepared for questions,' added Hermione.
Harry nodded.
Harry's first lesson was first year Gryffindors. Harry knew it would be there first ever lesson and they would be nervous away from there homes and families. So when they had finally all made it there; fifteen minutes late due to some had got lost. Harry could sympathise he was the same in his first week seven years ago. He began by taking the register of twenty-two Gryffindors starting with Clarabelle Aubrey to Margaret Young.
'I know this is your first lesson and that you're most likely nervous so I will start the day by getting to know you just say your name and something about yourself.'
Blonde Clarabelle stood up nervously twirling a curl around her finger, 'hello I'm Clara and I own an Abraxan called Nico.'
The brunette girl with violet eyes next to her stood up next, 'hi I'm Amy and my dad is the most embarrassing dad on the planet.'
This continued to Margaret another brunette who informed them that her parents were both psychologists and she wanted to be the same.
'Good now we are going to start on disarming your opponent next week so I expect you to read that chapter for next week.'
The Gryffindors left to be replaced by the eighth years. It felt strange to be teaching those who had been his peers for his first six years.
'First before we start I think we should begin by remembering those of us who should be learning here with us,'
Harry looked over to where Malfoy and Goyle were sitting the absence of Crabbe ominous. Parvati and Padma who were missing their best friends Lavender Brown and Galena Oakley; Lavender was still in hospital and Galena had died in the final battle. Then to the Hufflepuff's where Ernie was sitting without his friend Artie Noble the Muggle-Born had been being escorted to Azkaban when he almost escaped and was killed to prevent him from going into hiding.
'We have all lost friends and family to the war and they should not be forgotten.'
A minute later Harry said, 'today I want to watch you duelling I've seen most of you duel,' Harry grinned at the DA, 'but if you start this way I can see what the areas you have to improve on are.'
Harry watched as the pairs duelled they were good but Harry could see faults in them. He was planning the next lesson for them owing to their spell work today. When the class ended break began at which Ron, Hermione and Neville came to see him.
'Hi Harry,' grinned Neville.
'That was a great lesson,' grinned Hermione. 'What are you going to do tomorrow?' asked Hermione.
'I'm going to be expanding on what you already know to get you all up to more or less the same place before teaching you some new anti-jinxes, then moving onto jinxes, then anti-curses, then curses. By next term we can do dark artefacts, and expand on creatures that Remus did.'
'That sounds good,' said Hermione, 'you've really thought this out,' said Hermione impressed.
'Well I have known about this for three months,' smiled Harry. 'Come on let's see Andy, Teddy and Phoenix Kreacher can bring us food,' Harry grinned at Ron. 'I know you'll be hungry by now.'
Hermione laughed and Ron went red.
'Andy,' called Harry.
'They're having their nap,' whispered the brunette witch smiled.
Harry nodded, 'Kreacher,' he called.
The little house elf appeared, 'yes master,' the little house elf said.
'Could you bring us some snacks?' asked Harry.
'Yes master,' said the elf cheerfully.
Kreacher brought some crisps, biscuits and fruit.
'Would you like some?' asked Harry.
Kreacher took an orange and left with a pop. And soon Ron was stuffing his face with the other three trying to eat when it was possible. Harry then had the first year Slytherins and did exactly the same as with the first year Gryffindors. At lunch Harry got talking with Ginny even though they couldn't continue going out with her being a student they still talked (and flirted). Harry went back to give Phoenix her lunch before taking the sixth years. He took the register.
'The first thing we will be learning about is Dementors,' said Harry. 'As you know they used to be the Guards for Azkaban but as of their treachery in the course of the Wizarding Wars they are no longer guards there. In fact the Ministry is currently working out a new way of guarding the prisoners.'
One of the boys but his hand up Harry thought his name was Ramsey he was a Ravenclaw from his uniform.
'Ramsey,' Harry pointed to the curly brown haired boy with bright blue eyes.
'Especially since so many of them are Death Eaters,' Ramsey said a sad look darkening the permanent light in those bright eyes.
Harry gave the sixteen year old a piercing look guessing that he had lost someone in the war. But then again who hadn't? He wasn't going to pursue the subject if Ramsey didn't want to.
Instead he just nodded, 'there's a lot of clearing up to do.'
This time a curly, dark haired and eyed Slytherin girl that Harry had seen with Draco put her hand up. Harry knew that though a Pure-Blood Slytherin family they like the Zabinis had remained neutral throughout the war,
'Astoria?' Harry nodded.
The Slytherin seemed surprised Harry was treating her – a Slytherin – so well.
'Well why aren't you helping?' asked the girl.
Harry gave the other girl a piercing look, 'I am not fighting at the present for health reasons,' was Harry's response not having gone public about the pregnancy yet. 'Now let's get on with the lesson.'
The sixth years looked like they wanted to question Harry some more but Harry continued with his lecture on Dementors.
'So does anyone know the spell which is used to ward off Dementors?' Harry asked.
Romilda Vane put her hand up she batted her eyes and flicked her hair in a way she obviously thought as sexy, 'Expecto Patronum, Sir,' she fluttered her eyelids some more.
'Precisely the Patronus requires more than just the words it requires a powerful, happy thought that acts as a positive shield with the Dementor will feed on instead of the individual. The full bodied patronus will take a different form for each individual. Like this,' Harry pulled out his wand, 'Expecto Patronum.'
His Stag Patronus danced around the room with oohs and ahhs from the girls and envious looks from the boys.
'For tomorrow I would like you to have read pages 21 – 29 of your textbooks on how to produce a Patronus,' said Harry.
Harry next had the fourth year Slytherins which Harry started with the register. Harry tried to ignore the glares of some of the fourteen year olds.
'Okay we are going to start on anti-jinxes,' Harry said.
A plump dark haired girl Harry had remembered for her second name, Theresa Rowle, put her hand up.
'Teresa?' asked Harry.
'What's the point of anti-jinxes why not do proper curses?' asked Theresa.
'You start with basic then build on this,' said Harry. 'And although we will learn about curses because we have to understand something if we wish to fight it we first have to learn the basics. I should warn you if you do not act maturely I will ask you leave when we do get onto curses. I do not want anyone hurt in my class!'
After this the class went far more smoothly. As did the third year class of Gryffindors in which Harry started by bringing in a jar of freshly corked Cornish pixies. Harry was pleased to say he did better than Lochart; not that it would have been hard!
The next class was the seventh years which included Ginny and Luna. After a quick remembrance to Colin the class was similar to the eighth years. Harry then left to pick up his daughter and godson and Andy where they ate at the staff table. Ginny, Luna, Neville, Ron, Hermione and Harry spent much of the evening talking. Hermione and Ron left to do Head duties whilst Ginny and Luna left to do prefect duties. Ginny and Neville left to do homework at eight whilst Harry put the children to bed. He finished updating the basis of lesson plans he already had before heading off to bed.
