Chapter Two
Albus paced before his desk. His students filed in and grew quiet as his steady steps slowed to a halt.
Minerva McGonagall sat at the back of the room, watching Albus intently.
"I am Albus Percivel Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. You may call me Professor Dumbledore and I've been asked, as you well know, by your Headmaster Dippet to teach you Defense Against the Dark Arts while Professor Merrythought is taking a sabbatical."
Albus rested his butt on his chestnut desk and crossed his arms and feet.
"However, what I hope to teach you is more than self-preservation." Albus gazed at each of his students, catching their eye and speaking to each one of them.
"My hope is that you will learn to protect your neighbor first. Your neighbor may be a family member, a friend, a strange witch or wizard, a child, a house elf, or a muggle who won't ever know who you really are. I hope that when someone needs help, you will have not just the tools but the will to put their needs above your own fears."
Minerva looked like she was about to interrupt. Albus stood up abruptly and began pacing between the desks.
"And that is why, you will be partnered for the duration of the year, and you will be graded as a team. You will specifically be graded on how well you learn from and support your partner's learning."
Minerva sighed in her corner and Albus smiled.
"Minerva, would you mind coming up here for a moment?"
"Albus, really." She muttered under her breath.
"Please, Minerva. If you would just entertain me for a moment." Albus offered his right hand out to her until she walked to the front of the class and took it.
"I would like to start with a quick demonstration." Albus conjured a mirror and tapped it with his wand.
He held out his other hand and set down his wand. "Minerva, if you will."
She took Albus's other hand as well and closed her eyes. Albus did the same, and the mirror shimmered showing Minerva's perspective of Albus pacing the classroom as the students filed in.
"Memoria vestra. If Minerva and I weren't so close, it wouldn't have been so clear. Being able to dip into this communal reserve is a testament to our mutual trust. Thank you Minerva."
Minerva walked to the back of the class and sat with a smile.
"Now I will match you up with someone, who will become your partner for the year. Your first assignment is to perform a memoria vestra before the class next week."
Albus closed his eyes and listened to the thoughts of his students. They yelled at him, pleading to be with or not with someone in the class. All except for one girl. Her thoughts didn't yell as loudly as the others did. They spoke in half phrases as if she was actively cutting them off, changing them to confuse him.
"Charlotte Belgrade," Albus called out, "and Sara Hare. Josh Patel and Justin O'Hara. Jean Simmons and Jun Ho…."
As Albus matched unfamiliar students with unfamiliar students, he finally came to the girl with quiet thoughts.
"Megan Harrisson, I'd like for you to join the group with Josh and Justin."
She simply nodded, but didn't look at either boy.
Albus thought I'm sorry Megan. To his great surprise she replied with her own thoughts, It's ok Professor Dumbledore.
The bell rang, and the students began packing up their bags. Their seats scraped against the stone floors as they pushed them in. Their groans at their pairings grew as they left the classroom.
Megan waited for the briefest of moments after the last student left. But seeing Minerva in the corner, she quickly hurried away determining it wasn't worth the risk.
"Albus," Minerva called out, "are you…?"
"Adjusting," Albus responded, "yes, I'm trying to."
"Perhaps, it's too soon. You returned so quickly."
"I need these students far more than they need me."
Minerva smiled and said, "I think they realize that," before closing the door and leaving Albus alone with his thoughts of Grindelwald.