You Want Who?

A Dresden/Potter Crossover

Hi guys, sorry I am so slow. Personal demons and all the crap they bring You all know what real Life can be like. *Insert disclaimer.. Not Mine... Al credit where due... blah blah blah...* After a re-read I toyed with the idea of going back and fixing some of my mistakes and then I thought, people would probably much prefer a new chapter then some minor edits to old ones. At the same time I noticed my story was going away from the lighter fic I wanted so am redirecting it the right way. Thank You to the Facebook friend who loaned me Von. Now without further ado, on with the show...

Chapter 9

Dresden POV

The last days before the students returned were hectic. Whilst Dumbledore had hired me to teach DADA, we'd hit upon the small snag that I couldn't actually teach the students the spells they'd need for their exams so the classes themselves had been split into two components, I would be teaching the students the basics of my type of magic, self defense and most of all, how to survive. God knows I had plenty of experience there. For the second component needed for the exams, Dumbledore had brought in a old friend, retired Defense Master Vonafide Cyko. I had to blink when Dumbledore introduced us and the stocky but unassuming looking man had laughed.

"It's quite the name isn't it, My parents had an odd sense of humor." he held out his hand. "Call me Von." we shook hands. I felt a buzz of power, different from my own beneath his skin. Von grinned at me.

"I have heard a lot about you Mr Dresden." I blushed and said "Don't believe everything you hear, and you can call me Harry." Von nodded. "I hear a lot of things about you. Some good, some not. I will make up my own mind I think. Anyone who is goes to fight the Heirs of Kemler and come out alive is someone I can respect." and he moved off to prepare for his own first classes leaving me to try to retrieve my eyebrows from my hair line and my jaw from the floor.

I made a few calls to Headquarters and dropped the whole nasty soul fragment deal neatly back into Ebeneezer lap. He was the Black Staff. That mess was totally his bailiwick. He wasn't too happy but as I pointed out, oh so sweetly, he wanted me to teach kids and protect the school, and damnation that was what I was going to do. The Wardens could handle Moldy Voldy and his Death-munchers. Hell the Recruits could probably handle the Death-munchers just fine, they could even make it a training exercise! If they came calling on Hogwarts.. Well I'd be sure to give them a warm welcome. Fire always works well for me.

With the Hot Potato passed, I settled into planning my lessons. I found myself actually looking forward to it. I loved teaching others about magic, about the nuts and bolts of it, teaching them to gain the focus and clarity they needed to make their spells work, and teaching people WHY they should use their power, not just seeing WHAT they can do. I also looked forward to enlightening the sheltered pure-bloods to the cold fact that they were not the biggest fish in the sea, not by a long shot. They were not beyond reprisal or justice and though their Ministry seemed to be turning a blind eye to their prejudices and abuses of the Laws based on their blood status, the Wardens had no such niceties. I hoped I might be able to save a couple of kids at least from the inevitable run in with a Warden's Blade.

I then set about limiting Bob's ability to cause mayhem in a castle full of adolescent students. It took some serious negotiating. OK OK, Bribery and I wasn't 100% happy, but Bob was to be an inanimate knickknack whenever we were outside my chambers. He could observe but in no way indicate he was anything but a curious decoration. Within my chambers (which were warded out the wazoo), he could continue his absorption of magical books as long as he dummies up if guests came calling. Unless invited to speak Bob was to remain incognito. I was tired, and Bob had twisted my logic every which way in our argument over restrictions, I was sure I had missed something and that I was going to piss off Madam Pince something fierce, as well as go broke on trashy romance novels. Not to mention what it would do to my reputation if anyone saw the growing stack of obviously read bodice rippers. I growled at him not to read all night and fell into bed, Mister curling up on my legs as usual and Mouse, a huge puddle of fur before the softly flickering fireplace. On Monday I would begin my tenure as Professor Dresden.

Usually the day the students arrived preceded a school day, however this year we'd have a whole weekend of hyperactive students roaming free through the Castle before Classes resumed. I paid the other teacher' grumbling little mind as I planned my first class for each year group.

I'd spent part of the day before in my new classroom, unraveling the nasty little curse on the position left by Riddle. It was a clever little spell, tied to an old award the arrogant prick had received some fifty years ago, still proudly displayed in the Hogwarts trophy Room. There was enough ambient power withing Hogwarts that the curse stayed strong, and a mild redirection ward had prevented the plaque itself from being removed. With a nudge or two from Lash I had it dissolved and the weird feeling of pressure in the suite of rooms the Defense instructors used vanished like Chicago mist on a warm day.

Today I pottered (ha- pottered.. I made a funny) about my classroom hanging posters and setting up easels and whiteboards. I arranged a few items on shelves to my liking and made sure I had the other items I'd want or need for my classes before returning to my quarters to shower before the Welcoming Feast. I fed Mouse and Mister, leaving them and a grumpy Bob in my quarters, and joined the rest of the Staff at the Head Table. The whole time Lash and I debated my lesson plans and came up with ways to teach the little wizardlings without anyone dying literally or from boredom.

The Great Hall was quite the sight. Unlike anything you can imagine. Hundreds of candles floated gently under a roiling night sky so realistic you would think we were in an amphitheater. Four long tables with pristine white coverings and lined with sparkling crystal glassware, golden dishes and flatware that gleamed in the candlelight. We sat for a moment before the magnificent doors at the end of the hall opened and the students flowed in. There seemed to be a lot of them. I watched as they veered off to their respective tables, ties and scarves of bronze and blue to Ravenclaw, yellow and black to Hufflepuff. Sullen students in silver and green ties and, mostly, pristine uniforms settling down quietly at the Slytherin table. I spotted the pale faced Malfoy Boy siting between a pair of trolls.. cough.. I mean rather large boys. The rabble of Students trimmed in red and gold, easily the loudest and most boisterous, went over to Gryffindor table, all talking loudly and calling out to friends. I spotted the red-haired devils and Ginny splitting off to see various friends with Harry, Ron and Hermione right behind them, The "Golden Trio" were talking quietly together as they settled into seats. The Hall around us began to settle.

Dumbledore rose from his high backed chair and raised his hand. Silence fell, mostly, and he smiled. "Welcome! Welcome back to Hogwarts. Before we continue we shall, of course, Welcome our new Students!" he sat down, as applause rang out and Professor McGonagal led a procession of very small people into the grand hall. Soft whispers and gasps could be heard as the wide eyed and quite star-struck youngsters took it all in. I had to admire Hogwarts staging, who wouldn't be enthralled if all this drama and theatrics was their introduction to Magic. I then got to watch a very patched and dirty old hat sing a really weird song that it doubtlessly spent a lot of time perfecting before being plopped on head after head and 'sorting' the students. I shuddered. Hadn't these people heard of head lice? I ideally noticed that the spread of students was fairly even throughout the houses, which didn't seem plausible to me. Inside my head Lash muttered about short shortsightedness. After all, who is the same at 11 as they are at 17? Or even 12. However I figured the hat must have some magics to it that allowed for fair dispersal of students. With the newest students sorted Albus grandly began the feast with all the staging and pomp of a ringmaster.

The Feast was amazing. I had never seen so much food in one place and it was all awesome. I was going to have to up my runs if I kept eating like this! I was feeling rather relaxed as I chatted idly to Snape and Von whilst Dumbledore gave his welcome speech.

The fun part of the night came when Dumbledore asked Von and I to stand up as the newest teachers on staff. I'm not sure whether it was Von's name or mine but the whole student body went silent and more then one green and silver trimmed student went pale as they took me in, height, battered pentacle, black robes, scars and all. Beside me Von grinned and I distinctly heard a snort from Severus. As I sat down he muttered, his face an emotionless mask "This is gong to be an interesting year Dresden." Von snickered. I flushed.

The attention was off me fairly quickly after Dumbledore introduced the toad.. ah Madam Umbridge. As the horrid woman took the stage and began speaking I felt both Von and Severus tense. Keeping my own features bland I muttered back to Severus "You could be right." Von murmured "She bears watching, especially around vulnerable students." The three of us listened as the woman wound down her speech, I watched a few of the students seem to take note of what was really being said, many at the Ravenclaw table were frowning, a tiny ethereal blonde in particular, the frown seemed unnatural on her sweet face. There were others, the inestimable Miss Granger hadn't missed it, nor had the red haired devils, Ginny or the pair of Indian twins sitting at different tables. A pair of girls in Hufflepuff were muttering to one another, casting dark looks at Madam Umbridge and several in silver and green were frowning in distaste or grinning smugly. I took note of those faces, Malfoy' jr in particular. The Toad was here as a spy. The Ministry was trying interfere at Hogwarts. I swallowed a snort. I was betting Albus would not take this lying down. With the Wardens kicking over ant hills at the Ministry he had little to fear from their so called government now.

Still... Umbitch was on my list.

After a few more announcements and messages, Dumbledore dismissed the students and staff for the night. I happily returned to my quarters, stuffed to the gills and mulling over the Toad shaped issue of one Delores Umbridge. No wonder I had nightmare.

I woke early the next day, or should I say Mouse woke me early, pawing me awake and running to scratch at the door. I muttered something about uppity dogs and threw a robe and shoes on to take him out. We almost bowled over the tiny blonde Ravenclaw from the feast the previous night. She didn't seem perturbed at all and was scratching Mouse's ears before she said, her voice a faint sing song., "Good morning Professor Dresden." I blinked and tried for a smile. "Um hello.." the girl smiled and held her hand out to shake "Luna Lovegood" I shook her had, bemused and she smiled. I like your friend Mr Dresden, he truly love you and will one day do what you can not." and with that odd statement she skipped off. Her feet were very white and completely bare in the freezing morning air. Before I could ponder this, Mouse was dragging me, urgently down the hall.

Once outside, and away from the actual castle Mouse did what he was bursting to do and we headed back around the lake towards the great castle. Rounding a blind bend I found myself in the middle of a gaggle of Firsties who, without a moments hesitation, were all petting and scratching an ecstatic Mouse. It took me a good ten minutes to extract him from their loving administrations and I had a pretty good idea where to find the big lummox next time he went astray.

The weekend passed too quickly with class prep, running duels with Madam Pince.. (Man that Witch can aim a stinging hex!) and walking Mouse, who seemed to want out a lot, and always managed to find some kids to admire him. Or Hagrid, who worshiped him and Mouse adored. What can I say, he's a people person, canine. Whatever.

After dinner I retrieved Mister from his favorite past time of tormenting Mrs Norris, and tried for an early night. Classes began early the next day.