nightgate6@yahoo.com Jan 31, 2001
http://www.geocities.com/nightgate6
Rating: PG
Distribution: Anywhere as long as you let me know the addy.
Feedback: It's a fanfic writers paycheck.
Disclaimer: If I was J.K, don't you think that I would make Hermione love Draco back? (lol)
Summary: The Gryffindors have a identity crisis and through the turmoil of that, the new DADA teacher arrives. Don't worry though...you'll like him. I know I love him!
Unwilling To Surrender Chapter 2
Gryffindor Identity Crisis
"They can't do this to us!" Ron shouted, although not really being heard because everyone was essentially saying the same thing.
"What about the Quidditch teams!" Harry added to the noise. Some kids were also complaining about how it's their last year, too.
Professor Dumbledore snapped his fingers and suddenly the noise stopped. Or more specifically, all that were at the Gryffindor table couldn't produce a sound.
"I understand why you are all upset, but this is for the best until we fix the problem. All the Gryffindors are to be added to the sorting list along with the new arrivals."
*****
"GRANGER, HERMIONE!" She went up and was immediately put in Ravenclaw.
"Figures." Ron smirked and then noticed Neville's worried face. "What's wrong?"
"I'm going to be in Hufflepuff. I just know it! I though after the first year, I wouldn't have to worry about that anymore, but there's no way to escape it now. My grandma will be so disappointed." He looked like he was on the verge of tears.
"Oh Neville, don't worry. You might not be put in Hufflepuff. Even if you were, that's okay. It's a fine house. You're grandma will be proud of you no matter what house you're in." Ron reassured.
After a few other names, "LONGBOTTOM, NEVILLE!" was announced. To his surprise, he was also put in Ravenclaw.
"POTTER, HARRY!" Harry sighed and slowly proceeded towards the chair. He reluctantly put the sorting hat on.
'So we meet again, Potter.' The familiar voice in his head sounded. 'This'll be easy. I'll just go with my first choice.'
'No! Make me a Ravenclaw. Please, I think I'll do well in Ravenclaw.' Harry begged.
'YOU are one of the reasons the Professor thinks I'm not doing my job! I do believe you belong--'
"SLYTHERIN!" The hat called out loudly. Almost everybody's face went into a state of shock. Gasps could be heard from the Slytherin table, but Harry refused to budge from that chair.
'I'll settle for Hufflepuff. Really. I'm loyal, don't you think?'
'Don't make this harder than it has to be, kid.' The next person was about to be called, but he didn't budge.
'I'm not letting go until you get me out of Slytherin!' Harry put his hands on his head, securing the cap.
'Now really. You're just embarrassing yourself. I very rarely have to do this, but--'
"SLYTHERIN!" The sorting hat called out once again. Whispers could be heard all over the room.
"What is Harry doing?" Neville asked Hermione.
"I think he's trying to bargain with the sorting hat."
"That's crazy. He can't do anything after it's made up it's mind. Oh look. Professor McGonagall has to get Hagrid to force Harry out of the chair." Neville watched as Hagrid, with little force on his part, lifted Harry from his spot.
"Oh please, Hagrid! Don't make me go. You can't!"
"Sorry 'arry. What's done is done. Might not be so bad." The big guy patted his back sympathetically.
If they weren't still surprised, the other Slytherins would have been laughing at him, but whispers where still sounding.
Hagrid placed him in an empty chair right across from Malfoy. Harry couldn't take the looks he was getting from him so he got up and walked to the other end of the table. That immediately made Hagrid alert, but Harry put up his hands as a sign of defeat and sat down in another chair.
It just so happens that Mabel was sitting next to him.
"I could see it. Slytherin. I knew you had it in you, Potter."
*****
"I repeat to all of you, this is only temporary until we figure things out." Professor Dumbledore gave Harry a sympathetic look. "I hope you will all get along in your houses. Remember, if you were a Gryffindor, you are and will still be a Gryffindor at heart."
Somehow, those words didn't comfort Harry in the slightest. Dumbledore wasn't a Gryffindor sitting at the Slytherin table. Sure there were a few others who were cursed, in Harry's opinion, to share his fate, but his two best friends and him were houses apart.
As soon as they were dismissed to go to their rooms, Ron and Hermione immediately ran over to Harry.
"I can't believe you're in Slytherin! This puts my whole Hufflepuff thing in perspective." Ron said, although still unhappy about his own house. Even Fred and George were in Ravenclaw.
"This is absolutely no fair. I'll have Malfoy in all of my classes."
"Plus we're all split up. We'll never have a class with all three of us in it unless they have to change the schedule." Hermione grumbled.
*****
Thankfully, Harry shared a room with a fellow friend and Gryffindor, Seamus.
"Can you believe it? Slytherin. Hmm...do you think this gives us and automatic license to make fun of strangers and get full marks in Potions?" Seamus joked as he dumped all of his belongings on his side of the room wherever he thought seemed fit.
Harry, reluctant to let the reality of his position sink in, didn't unpack his things and simply laid on his bed, trying not to dread the coming days.
*****
To add to his list of misfortunes, it was an all Slytherin Potions first thing in the morning.
"All right. I assume all of you have been studying your new books, so lets start of with a few questions to see what you've learned. Tell me what a foveo spell does." Severus looked around. "Who here would know the answer...Harry." Snape smirked at Harry's blank face.
"Um..."
"It's used to keep yourself warm while in a cold place." Harry could hear Mabel, who was sitting next to him, tell him. He quickly looked at Snape's face. Impossibly, he didn't seem to overhear.
"It's used to keep warm?" He answered cautiously.
"Correct." The professor grumbled. "Two points for Slytherin."
"That's no fair. Any other student would have gotten five." Mabel told Harry once Snape was out of hearing range.
The rest of class actually was tolerable to Harry, except the fact that Malfoy kept stealing glances at his table. Surprisingly, though, he hadn't made any insults directed to Harry yet.
When class ended, however, Malfoy made his was over. Harry braced himself, but Malfoy walked right past him.
"You're Mabel, right?" She nodded cautiously. "I'm Draco Malfoy." He introduced himself.
Mabel studied him for a moment, then smiled. "Hello Draco. You're Lucius' heir if I'm not mistaken."
"You know his father?" Harry interrupted.
Mabel turned to him and answered, "Not personally. I've just heard some things."
If Harry didn't know any better, Draco seemed a little embarrassed about Mabel knowing the Malfoy reputation. Harry thought he'd be gloating about it.
"Why don't we continue this conversation in the hall. We won't find a good table for lunch." Mabel took her books and left, leaving the to rivals to reluctantly walk together.
*****
The three of them headed for lunch. Yes, all together.
Hermione and Ron were already at a table and motioned for Harry to join them. Mabel noticed and headed towards their direction.
"Do you mind if we join you?"Mabel asked. Hermione reluctantly nodded and Ron was giving Malfoy the most unusual look. He just ignored it. In fact, he didn't make eye contact or speak the entire time, except for the occasional question for Mabel.
That is how rare sight of three former Gryffindors, three Slytherins, a Ravenclaw and a Hufflepuff, came to having lunch together.
*****
After lunch, Hermione pulled Harry away from the crowd.
"Why are you hanging around Malfoy and her? Something about her bugs me..."
"Mabel's really nice Hermione, and Malfoy just seems to follow us around...for some reason, I don't feel like leaving those two alone though."
Hermione sighed. "Fine. What class do you have next?"
"Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Me too. Just don't ditch me for your new Slytherin friend, you hear?"
Harry smiled at her. "Never."
*****
They entered the classroom and found most of the people were already there. Harry guessed they all wanted a glimpse of the new teacher, who wasn't even in class yet.
Just then, a thin, youngish looking man walked in. He looked around nervously but when his eyes fell on Harry, he smiled.
Harry couldn't quite place it, but the new teacher looked strangely familiar. Maybe it was the black hair, or the twinkle in his eye, but Harry knew he'd seen this man before.
"Hello class. I'm Professor Evans. I'm new at teaching, so bear with me, but I'm not new to this school so don't think you can try anything on me." A few people snorted skeptically. "Ah, I see we have some challengers. I await your attempts."
Harry's mouth widened into a big grin. He knew why he recognized the man at the front of the class. The face was familiar for he had seen it numerous times in old pictures he had.
"He's cute." Hermione leaned over and whispered to Harry.
"It's Sirius." Harry whispered back to the smiling Hermione.
"What's serious?"
"That's Sirius."
"Really? Sirius is cute." It took a minute for her to take in what she and Harry had just said, and what it meant. "What? That's Sirius? As in Black?" She looked back at their teacher. "Woah. He cleans up nice."She admired dreamily, then realized Harry was still there. (and giving her an incredulous look at that.) "Uh, I mean..."
"For my sanity and yours, just don't say anything else." Harry put in front of him defensively. They both turned their attention back to their disguised friend.
"Let's start by reviewing and seeing what you still remember..."
*****
The rest of class went quickly and Harry noticed Hermione wasn't the only girl swooning at Sirius. In fact, all of them were whispering and giggling to each other while they studied him.
After class, Harry told Mabel and Malfoy (why he did that was beyond him) that he needed to stay behind and ask the professor something and that he'll meet them in the common room.
"Sirius! What on EARTH are you doing here?" Harry said as soon as everyone was gone. "You're still wanted and you shouldn't be so close to all these people and--"
"Harry, relax. There is no way I'm going to leave you here alone after what happened last year. This way I can keep a close eye on you at all times. Dumbledore already told the staff and made sure everyone keep their mouths shut."
"You don't have to watch over me, you know." Harry smiled at his godfather's overprotectiveness.
"I've missed twelve years of watching over you. I think I need to do some catching up."
"So Sirius, why did you choose to be Professor 'Evans'?" Hermione inquired.
Sirius smiled sadly and got a faraway look on his face. "It was Lily's maiden name. We always teased her about becoming a professor one day because she was such a goody goody and so smart...she'd laugh if she knew I was teaching anybody anything." He tried to forget the sad memories and lightened up to his old self. "Besides, it's so much less stupid than 'Professor White' or something."
Harry bursted out laughing. "You weren't seriously thinking of using 'White', were you?"
"I--noooo...." Sirius looked away, slightly pink in the cheeks.
"You were, weren't you! That's like the worst alias for 'Black' in the world." Hermione joined in the laughter.
"Oh shut up you two. I--I had...limited time to work with..."
*****
After a few days, they kind have got used to their peculiar situation. Hermione, Ron and Harry hung out together as much as they could, and in classes, Draco sat wherever Mabel sat, which was with Harry.
Harry couldn't stand it anymore. He found Draco in his room and asked him. "Why are you hanging around us? Are you following me or something?"
"Hey! How do I know you're not following me?"
"Why aren't you with your thugs Crabbe and Goyle then?"
"Because I'd like to think I moved up on the chain."
"To me?" Harry looked at him skeptically and with surprise.
Draco rolled his eyes and sighed. "No you idiot! Don't flatter yourself." He cleared his throat. "To Mabel."
"Ah. you have a thing for Mabel." Harry understood. "You must think you have a chance if you resort to eating lunch with your worst enemy, you know."
"I'm Draco Malfoy, Potter." He said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I don't think I have a chance. I know. And it's not what you think. I've heard, from a legitimate source, that she's an interesting witch and worth my time. If I have to hang around with mudbloods and such to let her get to know me, I have no problem doing that." He shrugged.
"Well, I guess I can tolerate you for a little while..."
"Mutual, Potter."
*****
A.N: Don't worry gems, I'm not a Draco/othercharacterthatisn'tHermione writer and I actually DO have a plan for all of this. I'm also a Sirius fan *starry eyed* so I had to find a high volume position for him.