Avian Anarchy
by Teddylonglong
All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling or Disney, and I am not earning anything by writing this story. I am merely borrowing the characters to play with them.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.
Warnings: Completely AU, partly OOC, magically powerful Harry. Dumbledore/Weasley bashing.
A few days after they had witnessed Nicholas Flamel's refusal to become the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts, Remus received a letter from Albus Dumbledore.
'After ignoring me for more than a decade, he suddenly remembers and sees fit to contact me,' Remus thought, feeling extremely upset at the old wizard.
"What does it say?" Sirius cast him a questioning look, apparently sensing his anger.
When Remus read the letter aloud, everyone blurted out laughing.
'Dear Mr. Lupin,
I hope you are fairing well. As I have not heard from you in a long time, I am wondering how you are doing. Would you perhaps be interested in becoming the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts from September onwards? As the position is cursed, I am afraid that it will only be for a year, however, I would appreciate having you among our staff for the year. You do not have to worry about the full moon, as I will ask Severus Snape, who has become our Potions professor in the meantime, to brew the Wolfsbane potion for you, and on the day after the full moon, I will teach your classes. Please consider the matter.
I am looking forward to your response.
Best regards
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster of Hogwarts'
"Congratulations Albus. You've managed to invite exactly the two persons whom Merlin has already hired for his academy," Minerva said, smirking.
"Good to know that with my more than one thousand years of age I am still faster than Dumbledore with his one hundred and fifty," Merlin quipped, causing everyone to laugh.
"Oh well, I better reply right away."
"Moony, why don't you suggest to him asking Meli if I could teach for a year?" Sirius spoke up. "I'd love to join my godchildren at Hogwarts for a while. Tonks would also be willing I suppose."
Remus nodded in agreement, before he set to write his response.
'Dear Professor Dumbledore,
thank you very much for considering me; however, I am already in a contract with a different school.
I suggest asking Amelia Bones if Auror Sirius Black could relocate to Hogwarts and teach the class for a year. As an Auror, he is surely qualified to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Yours sincerely
Remus Lupin'
"He'll never employ Black, considering that he's Harry's godfather." Severus smirked.
"What does that mean?" Minerva cast her colleague an incredulous look; however, Severus merely shrugged.
"Oh well, we'll see." Sirius grinned. "Let's watch Dumbledore's office, when he receives the letter.
HP
Later the same day, Merlin alerted them from the portrait that Dumbledore had just received Remus' letter, and Harry and a few others eagerly sat in front of the screen that was adjusted to show the headmaster's office.
Dumbledore let the letter sink in apparent annoyance. "Sirius Black," he said aloud. "No, we can't have that. Fawkes, what do you think?"
#I believe that I should have separated from you a long time ago.#
Hedwig quickly translated the phoenix' reply, causing everyone to stare at the headmaster in surprise.
"Yes, I know, and I really appreciate that you didn't," Dumbledore said, gently petting his familiar's crown feathers. He let out a deep sigh. "Oh well, I better head to the Ministry of Magic to enquire about this Selective Academy of Magical Sciences. The existence of another school is very unnerving, especially as I've never heard about it before. As to the question of the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, I still have a few weeks to find someone adequate, even if it might be difficult."
"Phoenixes can only bond with really good people; however, Dumbledore seems to have some evil traits as well. At least that's how I understand Fawkes' response." Sirius shrugged.
"Oh well, that's not really a surprise." Harry shook his head in annoyance at the old wizard.
"No Harry, Professor Dumbledore is not that bad." 'Minerva does not sound really convincing,' Harry thought, just when Paws jumped up at the professor.
=Minnie, why don't you change into your Animagus form, so we can have some fun together?=
Harry quickly translated the canine's words, causing the professor to glare at the puppy. "Only when Severus is here as well, so he can chase you all over the grounds," she replied in apparent amusement, before everyone turned their attention back to the screen.
Santa had set the screen to follow Dumbledore, and by now, they found themselves at what seemed to be the Ministry of Magic, where Dumbledore just greeted an older witch.
"That's Griselda Marchbanks, the head of the Department of Magical Education," Minerva explained, and everyone eagerly observed the conversation between the headmaster and the ministry employee.
"Griselda, have you ever heard of the Selective Academy of Magical Sciences?"
The old witch stared at Dumbledore in apparent disbelief. "The Selective Academy of Magical Sciences?" she asked, incredulously. "Albus, is that a joke?"
The headmaster shook his head. "Do I look as if I was joking? I urgently need a new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor for the new school year, and when I asked Nicholas Flamel, he told me that he was working at that very academy."
"I am sorry, Albus, but I've never heard about it. Perhaps, it's somewhere abroad?"
Dumbledore thoughtfully stroked his beard. "That is, of course, possible. Nicholas must have good connections to France, considering that he and his wife attended Beauxbatons."
Marchbanks let out a scoff. "Albus, that must have been six hundred years ago. None of these connections should be alive anymore."
Letting out a deep sigh, Dumbledore took his leave and returned to Hogwarts.
"Ahh Fawkes," he said, as he lowered himself into the seat behind his desk. "Why does everything have to be so complicated? And where is Minerva when I need her?"
Everyone looked at the Transfiguration professor in amusement; however, she merely rolled her eyes.
HP
During the rest of the summer holidays, Merlin occasionally fetched them to the screen, when someone visited Dumbledore at Hogwarts, so that they could efficiently spy on the headmaster.
Other than that, Harry spent much time in the potions lab with the Weasley twins, Severus and Polly. He also went for long walks in his Animagus form together with his parents, and he thoroughly enjoyed being together with them.
=Remus is going to teach a subject called Animal Transformation at the SAMS,= Paws informed him one day. =Hedwig and I have helped him with his lesson plan, and we've both decided to try the transformation into our former human form. As long as we're here, Cassiopeia is going to join us as well. When we're back at Hogwarts, we'll practise in your room from time to time, just so you know. Perhaps, you should also tell Draco.=
=I will,= Harry promised, feeling very excited at the prospect of perhaps getting to know his parents in their human forms. =My friends are going to arrive on my birthday anyway.=
One day, Merlin took him aside. "Harry, would you be willing to assist the professors of the SAMS with the preparations for the school year? Everyone is going to arrive on August 15."
"Of course. I'd love to assist, and my friends are going to return home on that day anyway." Harry cast Merlin a smile of pure excitement. "Thank you so much for allowing me to get to know them."
HP
On August 15, Merlin, Remus and Harry headed out onto the grounds right after breakfast.
"How are they going to arrive?" Harry instinctively looked for a sleigh; however, all of Santa's sleighs were in their respective parking slots. 'There's none missing, and the reindeer are all here, too,' he thought in surprise.
"They're going to arrive by a special Portkey that I've made for them from the seeds of a North Fir Tree cone. It brings them straight to the arrival area, where the sleighs use to arrive."
They only had to wait for a few minutes, before five people appeared almost at the same time.
"Hello and welcome to the North Pole. Please follow me inside, where it's definitely warmer." Merlin led them into the iglu, where everyone gathered in the entrance hall. He then introduced each of the teachers.
"This is Remus Lupin, our professor for Animal Transformation. With the help of the North Fir Tree, he changed from a werewolf to a weredeer and is able to transform back into his human form even during the full moon. He is also able to transform into a reindeer as well as a puppy and back at free will."
Everyone applauded, and Remus smiled. "Thank you. I am very much looking forward to teaching at the SAMS."
"This is Tobi, a Yeti, who will be our professor for Concealment Magic."
'He looks like a combination of a snowman and a gorilla,' Harry thought, however, noticed quickly that Tobi was very friendly.
"The Yetis are very good at hiding themselves as well as objects. For this, we use concealment magic, which I wish to teach to the students. Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to teach at this academy."
The next person introduced was Gwenlin, the goblin. "Some of my human colleagues know Buckbean, who is working at Gringotts in Britain. Now, Gwenlin is his wife and has agreed to teach the subject of Financial Management at our school. Gwenlin will, however, return to her home after classes, as she has two children at the age of thirteen."
"Thank you for the introduction, Merlin." Gwenlin seemed very good-natured, and Harry liked her immediately. "I am looking forward to working together with humans, elves, yetis, dwarves and any other kind of beings."
Bandhu, who was an elf, and Torwald, the dwarf, seemed much stricter.
"I am Bandhu, and I usually live on the Isle of Elves. I will teach Elven Magic, which includes Household Magic and Family Magic. I am looking forward to spread some knowledge about elves and our magic."
Torwald, the dwarf, was going to teach Enchanting. Harry had to admit to himself that he did not overly like the seemingly grumpy dwarf. 'Oh well, as I can't attend the academy, I won't have much to do with him anyway,' he thought in relief.
"This is Professor Ito from Japan. He is going to teach the subject Laser Magic."
'Oh, that sounds interesting,' Harry thought in amazement. 'Too bad that I won't have the opportunity to study with him.'
Finally, Merlin introduced Nicholas Flamel, who was also going to return home to his wife every day. 'Alchemy? I wonder what that is,' Harry thought, resolving to check the library for that specific subject.
When the introductions of the teachers were done, Merlin introduced Harry. "He is my brother's ward and is living with us here on the North Pole, when he is not at school. He will assist you with the preparations for the school year."
"Hello," Harry said, smiling.
HP
On that same day, Minerva and Severus had to go back to Hogwarts, and Harry's friends returned home to spend the last two weeks of the holidays with their parents.
=Harry, why don't you invite Luna to visit for a week or two?= Hedwig asked him at lunchtime. =I'm sure she'd be happy to get away from home for a while. She's only living together with her father, who is quite eccentric to say the least.=
Harry immediately agreed and right after lunch penned a letter to the girl for immediate delivery by Hedwig.
When the phoenix returned, she said, #Sorry, Harry, I talked to her and somehow kept her from writing back. Anyway, she'd love to visit for the rest of the holidays and already got the approval from her father. At three o'clock this afternoon, I am going to pick her up.#
"Thanks Mum, and thanks for reminding me to invite her. I wasn't sure if my friends would be happy if I invited her, but just now was the best timing."
Hedwig nodded, seemingly contented.
HP
After spending the afternoon at the SAMS, Harry returned to Santa's Workshop late in the afternoon. Everyone including Luna, who had arrived in the meantime, was gathered in front of the screen. Harry looked at the screen with interest, chuckling, as he realised that Severus and Minerva had just a meeting with the headmaster.
"I would have loved to enlist your help; however, I did not know how to reach you." The headmaster sounded slightly reproachful, causing Harry to smirk.
Severus leaned slightly forward. "In which matter might that be, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore let out a deep sigh. "The Defence Against the Dark Arts position. I invited several people, who would be adequate; however, they all refused."
"Albus," Minerva gasped. "Don't tell me you don't have a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. The school year is going to commence in a fortnight."
Sighing again, the headmaster shook his head. "Worse."
The two professors exchanged a look of pure annoyance. "Means exactly what?" the Scottish lioness asked, crisply.
"The Minister of Magic interfered and decided to send Dolores Umbridge to Hogwarts as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor."
"They what?" Double glares shot at the headmaster. "That bitch?"
"Minerva," Dumbledore lightly scolded his deputy. "She can't be so bad."
The professors let out a collective snort. "She is a walking nightmare," Severus said, and Minerva nodded her agreement. "Is there nothing that we can do about it?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "No, it's too late for that."
"Merlin, see what you've done to us," Severus uttered, causing Minerva to smirk and the headmaster to look at him in irritation.
HP
"Oh, but I'm not sorry," Merlin quipped, only for the people gathered in front of the screen on the North Pole to hear.
"Considering that Quirrell tried to kill me and Lockhart was a fraud, she can't be so bad," Harry voiced his opinion, causing Sirius and Remus to snort.
"Umbitch is the undersecretary to the minister and an absolute bitch," Sirius informed everyone huddled in front of the screen.
HP
From the following morning onwards, Luna followed Harry to the SAMS every morning without even asking if she was allowed to do so. As glad Harry was that Annika and Dudley did not join him, he noticed in surprise that he did not mind Luna's company. During the last two weeks of the holidays, Harry and Luna got to know the professors of the SAMS on a personal basis. While they helped the teachers prepare their classrooms, they told them much about themselves. Gwenlin even invited Harry and Luna to visit her on Goblin Island during the next summer holidays and get to know her twin children, who were of the same age as Harry.
"Harry, you're very lucky that you'll be able to attend the SAMS one day," Luna said, when they returned to the workshop on the last day of holidays, giving him a dreamy smile.
"I won't." Harry looked at the girl with a combination of surprise and bewilderment. "Too bad that we're not able to meet the students though. They're going to arrive shortly after we'll have to leave for Hogwarts."
"Perhaps during the Christmas holidays. Laser Magic will be interesting," Luna replied, still wearing a dreamy expression.
#Luna, are you ready to return to Hogwarts?#
"Yes," Luna replied, gently petting Hedwig's crown feathers. "I wonder if we're going to have much fun though with Umbitch as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor."
"Do you know her?" Harry cast her a surprised look.
"No, but after all that Sirius and Remus have told us about her…" Luna slowly trailed off, smiling.
#Anyway, if anyone bothers you, please tell us.#
"Thank you, Hedwig. I will. I hope you and Paws will succeed changing into your human forms soon. I can't wait to meet you both."
"Me too." Harry fully agreed with the girl's assessment. He was only surprised that she knew things, which she was not supposed to know.
'She might have some Seer qualities,' his mother informed him.
Harry nodded in understanding, knowing that his mother was a Seer as well.
HP
When they boarded the Hogwarts Express the following morning, Harry, Annika and Dudley took Luna into their midst, so that none of their friends questioned the Ravenclaw's presence. Harry quickly enlarged the compartment for all of them to fit in.
The nine students chatted about this and that, however, main topic of conversation was the appointment of Dolores Umbridge as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor.
"My Dad once told me about her. She must be awfully bigoted," Ginny spoke up. "He said that she's the most annoying person in the whole ministry."
Daphne rolled her eyes. "Oh well, they'll be glad to get rid of her for a year."
=Don't worry. If she annoys you, we'll do something worse to her.=
"Ah, Paws, behave yourself. She's a professor you know," Harry replied after translating the canine's words.
#That hasn't hindered him from killing a professor before.#
"Yes, but Quirrell tried to kill me." Harry shook his head in light annoyance at his familiars.
"I wonder why the ministry even wants to interfere at Hogwarts," Annika said, frowning. "I mean, they're politicians, not teachers."
#Oh believe me, I'll ask her that at the first opportunity.#
tbc...
Thank you for your kind comments on the previous chapter. The last two chapters received less feedback than the previous chapters, and I am wondering why. Please tell me what you thought about this chapter and what you expect from this story. My muse really appreciates the feedback.
Next chapter: "The Defence Against the Dark Arts Bitch".