Harry Potter and the Soul Shifter

By: Alex Lyons3


Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and everything in the wonderful world of Hogwarts. Disney owns Brooklyn, the gargoyle. I own Jessica "Jess" Cotten.


Author's Note: Originally, I started on a story about Harry's sixth year before J.K.R. released OotP. Sadly, when Sirius died, so to did my ability to write that fan fiction. So, I've salvaged some characters and added some cross over points and re did the whole thing. I really didn't expect Sirius to die. Truthfully, I should have. Just for the record, the time line is going to be a bit iffy since most people put it up as Sirius died in 1996. I'm going to say that Harry didn't even start Hogwarts until 1997, so Sirius didn't die until 2002. Did I lose anyone? *A few hands are raised* Okay! Simply, first book published in 1997. So, that's when Harry starts as far as I'm concerned. Harry's fifth year would be 2001-2002, so Sirius (at least in my mind) does not die until 2002. Okay? Anyway, on with the story.


Chapter 17: Welcome Back Professor Umbridge


A week had gone by since Harry Ron and Hermione had Defense lessons. All of the students in sixth year were waiting by the door shaking with nerves. Harry and Ron had even done an extra good job on their Defense homework and looked up anything and everything they could possibly find on gargoyles, banshees and vampires. They'd found more references to gargoyles including a passage about castle Wyvern's clan having two highly talented young ones that actually came to Hogwarts during The Founders' time.

Ron wrote exclusively about the young female who had come to Hogwarts just slightly before the other one. She was a red head with azure blue skin. She was chosen by Rowena Ravenclaw because she just absolutely adored her and her quick mind.

Harry wrote mostly about the male gargoyle that came a few years after the female. Mind you he was chosen by Salazar Slytherin, but he seemed to be an otherwise satisfactory guy. Harry was kind of sad after he got done reading the book they were looking through because it had said that the clan was murdered and only a few members survived. However, those that did were put under a spell of sleep until the castle should rise above the clouds. Harry truly doubted that the gargoyle that he'd chosen had survived the massacre.

Hermione had chosen to stick to the separate clans and wrote about each. She also included the three gargoyles that went to Hogwarts. Her favorite by far was more recent in history and had come to Hogwarts before the battle with Grindelwald in the 1940's. Before muggle World War Two. She wrote extensively about this gargoyle who was sorted into Hufflepuff and after she left Hogwarts decide that she only wanted to do magic to help her clan. The rest of the wizarding population was human and she really didn't care about human problems, such as Grindelwald or Adolph Hitler. It was said that she was still alive, living in London running a nondescript "magic" shop with her mate.

Professor Brooks came up and grinned at the class.

"Sorry, guys! Professor Cotten needed to kick my in the rear before I'd leave food. And I do mean that quite literately!" He said rubbing his bum.

The girls all giggled, including Hermione. The boy's just rolled their eyes.


"Hey, now! That's not fair, guys." Brooks pouted, "Giggling and rolling your eyes at me, just cause I got kicked in the butt."

Now the boys all laughed because of Professor Brooks' naivety.

Professor Brooks looked at them all and glared. He was just as scary as Professor Snape when he did this and the class immediately quieted down.

"Now, I really hate to be the bearer of unwanted news. However, today's class will be subject to an inspection by the High Inquisitor. I believe you know her. Professor Umbridge?"

Everyone nodded their heads. Everyone looked greatly worried. Even Malfoy and his cronies.

"When will she be here sir?" Malfoy asked.

"The Headmaster is talking to her now. I want all of you on your best behavior. Both in this classroom and also in Care of Magical Creatures." He said unlocking the door and letting everyone in. "Especially since you're still studying griffins and we don't want them riled. Besides, Hagrid tells me Nika's getting the urge to nest which means you might be lucky enough to see a birthing of a griffin today."

"Are griffins useful, sir?" Pansy Parkinson asked.

"Oh, of course, Ms. Parkinson. Highly useful creatures, really, they're treasure guardians by nature. They can be asked to guard other things too. They're very strong and capable of ripping anyone who tries to take their treasure, children or friends from them apart. This is the reason no wizard or witch really wants to deal with them. Now, today we'll be studying the beings known as gargoyles. Any questions about gargoyles?" Professor Brooks said as he began taking up homework.

"Hem Hem." Professor Umbridge strode into the room with her clip board. "I have one, Professor. Do you think it is wise to be teaching children so young about such vile creatures as gargoyles?"

"Of course." Professor Brooks said turning from her and to the black board.

"Hem. Hem." Umbridge cleared her throat again and Brooks faced her, "Why do you find it wise to teach such young children about gargoyles?"

Brooks gave her a look of upmost contempt and turned back to the black board. "You may sit down Ms. Umbridge and when I'm not busy then and only then will I answer all of your questions about how I teach, if you don't figure it out by the time I let the class go anyway then obviously you are a waste of my time. Now," he said turning back to her which she was still standing scratching furiously on the parchment on her clipboard, "SIT DOWN!!"

She jumped and quickly waddled off to an empty seat in the back.

Professor Brooks began.

"Now, it is most important to remember that gargoyles are community dwellers. They live in groups of two or more. Mostly of about thirty-six plus. Grown-ups, hatchlings, elders. They all live together. The gargoyles are close knit and highly loyal to their clan. They live to protect and if they lose that they lose their since of self. They become insane and highly dangerous. Even more so than usual. If you anger a gargoyle their eyes will glow, white for males, red for females." He said.

"Hem.Hem." Umbridge cleared her throat, "What is the purpose of teaching these students about these creatures?

"I ALREADY TOLD YOU TO HOLD YOUR TONGUE! UNLESS YOU WISH TO BE THROWN FROM THIS CLASS ROOM, I SUGGEST YOU DO AS YOU'RE TOLD!!" Ppofessor Brooks snarled his eyes held tight shut from anger.

No one was expecting that and Umbridge began writing furiously on her clip board. However, Professor Brooks walked to the back of the class and snatched it up from her.

"This is getting annoying." He snarled at her, "Good God! What kind of tortures do you have in store for me today?" He said to no one in particular as he strode back to his desk and placed the clip board down, not even looking at it. "Now, as I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted, a gargoyle will go insane if he or she has neither a protectorate or a clan. One such gargoyle is said to exist and is believed to be immortal. She's said to have lived for a thousand some odd years and was named by the humans, her name was or is Demona. Now, any questions?"

Hermione's hand shot into the air, "Professor, why do gargoyles live in groups?"

"It is their nature. Humans live in groups to if you haven't noticed Ms. Granger..."

"Hem! Hem!"

Brooks glared at Umbridge.

"Ms. Granger should not be asking or answering questions nor giving out opinions. You should go by what the Ministry tells you Professor."

Brooks rolled his eyes and continued as though he hadn't heard Umbridge. "...however, most humans are not related to the entire community in which they live like gargoyles are."

Malfoy's hand shot into the air next, "Sir, how is it possible for one of these creatures to be immortal?"

"It was said that the Weird Sisters, not the band, but the real Weird Sisters used a magical spell to bind Demona to that of a human whom she had agreed, grudgingly, to help with a coming battle."

The bell rang signaling the start of the next thirty minutes of class. Professor Cotten walked in looking at Professor Brooks with a grin on her face.

"Hmm. Seems the class wasn't as good for you today as they were last time?" She asked sweetly.

"Bah! The High Inquisitor needs to learn to keep her mouth shut during lessons, otherwise I'll be tempted to turn her into a toad." Professor Brooks snarled as he walked out glaring at Umbridge the whole time while Jess looked at him with surprise.

He slammed the door shut and Jess stood there in the middle of the class room wondering where this was going to lead.

* * *

To Mella deRanged: Interesting use of emoticons. Glad you liked it.


To dreamer43: The main reason that one was so short was I couldn't think of anything. This chapter was originally suppose to be chapter 16. I'm glad you liked that amazingly short chapter. Who knew I could write something so short.