A/N: Hello all! I'm back! Yay! Here's the one confusing bit. I was writing this story with an author, No Reply, but the other day it struck me that I had written the entire story by myself. So I took the story away and here it is now. With its rightful owner! Thanks for reading! Oh and from here on out anything mentioned about No Reply has been scratched, ignore it, she's not in this anymore. She never was. Thanks again!
There was a hollow, loud whistle as a scarlet steam engine pulled away from the London Station. Hermione and Ron were looking out the window of the train, seeing if Harry was there. He hadn't shown up yet. Suddenly the door to the outside burst open and large duffel flew into the train. After that followed a backpack and then a person.
The person had crazy brunette hair and was rather thin. He proved quite tall as he stood up off the ground and his eyes were half-mad and brighter shades of blue than even Dumbledore's sparkle. He gazed upon the teenagers with his riveting stare and a smile.
"What never seen a teacher miss a train before?" He said. His voice was a deep baritone and had a lilting accent they didn't recognize.
"You're the new DADA teacher?" Hermione asked.
"Yes." The man said. "Have I introduced myself? No? Professor Gregory Krikor."
"Hermione Granger."
"Ron Weasley."
"Nice to meet you." He said. "What year are you two in?"
"Fifth." They chimed.
"Are you two dating?"
"NO!" They said loudly in unison. The Professor laughed.
"Just friends then?"
"Yeah." Ron said. "Our other best friend would be with us here to meet you but-"
"We think he missed the train." Hermione finished. "His Aunt and Uncle are terrible to him."
Ron and Hermione both looked out the window. Krikor seemed suddenly very interested.
"He lives with his Aunt and Uncle?" He said. "Why?"
"Because his parents are dead." Hermione snapped.
"Oh." He looked like he wanted to ask a thousand more questions. "Well I hope you meet up with him."
"C'mon Hermione, let's see if Harry's on the train." Ron said. "We'll see you later, professor."
~* ~* ~* ~*
"Excuse me dear. Would you like anything to eat?"
Harry looked up from his book and shook his head no to the woman. She smiled and moved her cart down to the next person. Harry began reading again.
'Thus die I, thus, thus, thus.
Now I am dead, now I am fled
My soul is in the sky.'
Harry paused to ponder this concept. He had never quite grasped Shakespeare and he didn't think he ever would. Looking up again he saw Ron and Hermione enter. Quickly he hid in his book again.
"The famous Harry Potter- reading Shakespeare?" Hermione said, spotting him. She broke out laughing. "That IS a new development."
"Hi." Harry said.
Hermione threw her arms around Harry and kissed his cheek.
"Hello!" She said. "How was your summer?"
Harry shrugged. "Yours?"
"It was great. I saw Krum and…" She trailed off seeing the pinched look on Ron's face. "Harry let's go back to our compartment. It's not crowded like this one."
Harry stood up and grabbed Hedwig and his trunk. Hermione met his eyes and he looked away from her. He had changed over the summer, Hermione noted.
Yes, puberty had snuck up on Harry like a windshield sneaks up on a bug. Not only was he taller, his hair had flattened out slightly but it now looked something closer to normal. The awkward boy had been replaced with an oddly silent, handsome youth. Hermione slapped herself mentally. She would not stare at her BEST FRIEND in that manner!
Harry sat down in the compartment.
"I see you found him." Commented Professor Krikor.
"Yeah." Hermione said. "Harry this is our new DADA teacher."
Harry looked up skeptically. "Hi."
"Gregory Krikor." The man stuck out a hand.
"Harry Potter." The man paled. "And I've had bad experiences with DADA teachers."
"Harry Potter?" He said in a high voice.
"Yeah." Harry said. He brushed away his bangs. "Yes I have a scar, yes it hurts, no I'm not crazy and I do not cry myself to sleep at night because my parents are dead. Any other questions?"
The professor gulped. "No not really. I wasn't really planning on asking you about that anyways."
"Well I thought I'd clear it all up." Harry said. He opened his copy of A Midsummer Night's Dream and began trying to figure it out again.
"Harry what is different about you?" Ron said.
"I grew." Harry said, not looking up.
"Oh."
"Yeah. I'm only seven inches smaller than you now." Harry said. Ron laughed.
"Midget!" He said.
Harry did not reply with his usual response of 'troll!' but just went back to his book. Hermione and Ron exchanged a shrug.
"Professor?" Hermione asked. The man looked up.
"Yes?"
"Where are you from?" Hermione asked.
"Why?"
"You have an accent I can't put my finger on, that's all."
"Oh." The Professor smiled. "I've been living in Greece for quite some time. The accent must have caught up with me."
Harry snorted from behind his book.
"Harry!" Hermione scolded. "Be nice!"
"Oh it's fine." Assured the new professor. "I admire honest people. But now I think I'm going to go to the front of the train. Goodbye."
"Bye."
"Bye."
A grunt from Harry and the man left.
"Are you always going to be this mean?" Hermione demanded. "That poor man probably thinks you hate him now!"
"I don't hate him. I don't trust him either." Harry said flatly.
Hermione made a noise in her throat and sat down heavily. "Why?"
"Have we ever had an innocent DADA teacher?" Harry asked. He got no answer. "No. We haven't. Why would we be getting one now?"
"Well." Ron said. "That's one way of looking at it."
Harry shrugged. The compartment door opened. It was Ginny and Neville.
"Hey. We've looked everywhere, but we cant find- oh!" Ginny spotted Harry. "There you are!"
Harry waved a little.
"How was your summer, Harry?" Ginny said timidly.
"It was fine."
Ron stared. Harry hadnt been that NICE to them when the same question was asked. His eyes narrowed. "Ginny thanks for your help. Now why don't you and Neville leave so we can talk."
"What?" Ginny said. She rounded on Ron. "You can't order me around!"
"Watch me." Ron said, standing up. He grabbed her shoulders and led her to the door. "Out!"
She scowled and left Neville after her.
"What was that all about, Ron?" Hermione asked. "She was trying to be nice!"
Ron glared at her and sat down again. "She's being nosy."
"No she wasn't." Hermione said. "Do you think that she was being nosy, Harry?"
Harry shrugged and continued to read.
"Damn it!" Hermione screeched and grabbed the book out of his hand. "You are no fun when you read!"
Ron laughed. "You are one to talk." He said. He nudged Harry and raised his eyebrows. "That was pretty good, huh?"
"Oh yeah." Harry said and with his wand summoned the book out of Hermione's hands. "A real knee slapper." He opened the book again.
Ron groaned and turned to Hermione.
"What do you think of the new teacher?"
"He seems nice. A little spacey."
"Spacey?" Ron said. "How so?"
"He missed the train." Hermione said.
"Oh I suppose." Ron said. "I think he seems nice. Kinda looks like Harry."
"He does not." Said Harry from behind the book.
"Maybe it's your dad, Harry." Ron joked.
Harry looked up sharply at Ron, who paled. "Shut the hell up Ron."
"I'm sorry- I was only joking." Ron said quickly.
"Well it wasn't funny."
~* ~* ~* ~*
There was a knock on Dumbledore's door late that night.
"Come in." Dumbledore said, pulling on a robe.
The tall new teacher entered the room.
"Ah James." Dumbledore said, smiling. "I was expecting you."
"Were you?" He sat down.
"Yes. But what brings you here."
"The fact that you didn't tell me that HE was going to be here."
"What?"
"Harry."
"I thought you would have figured that." Dumbledore said. "You have only been absent 14 years, James."
"Yes! But- I thought that-" He faltered and then sighed. "He looks exactly like me."
"He does." Dumbledore said.
"He has her eyes." James mentally shook himself. This was dumb. "I don't know if I can do this."
"Why couldn't you do this?" Dumbledore asked. "You will be excellent."
"I would love to believe you." He said and leaned back in the chair.
"Well then do." Dumbledore advised. "Just so long as you remember that you are not James Potter. You are Professor Gregory Krikor. Don't forget to take your potion either. We can't have your altered features changing in the middle of a class do we?"
"No sir, we don't." James said glumly.
"Well then off to bed Professor Krikor!" Dumbledore said brightly.
James looked like a deer in the headlights. How could he ever get used to living life like a masquerade? Smiling weakly he left the office.
~* ~* ~* ~*
The day had gone smoothly so far. The classes were nice for the most part. James was actually having a very pleasant day until the 5th year Gryffindors walked into the class. Harry and his group of friends sat near the back.
"My name is Gregory Krikor and I am your new Defense teacher. This class is going to be different than what you're used to by now. I don't take any crap. This subject is very serious and even more so now that Voldemort is back. You will be learning how to duel and how to block the Unforgivable Curses. I will not tolerate slackers. Is this clear?"
The room nodded, a little scared.
"But if you do pay attention and do your homework, we will have fun." He said. "Now, let's get to work. Dueling is the dignified sport created by Merlin to test a wizard's knowledge. Nowadays it's used for fighting. But I'm sure you already knew that. Now. First lesson today is stance. Who would like to be my guinea pig?"
Nobody raised their hands. They all remembered the last dueling lesson they had had with Lockhart.
"Don't you all rush up here at once." James said with a chuckle. Still, nobody volunteered. "I'm going to have to pick if somebody doesn't volunteer."
James waited a moment and sighed. He turned around and grabbed the roll sheet, closed his eyes and randomly selected a name with his finger.
"H- Harry Potter, will you please come up here?" James asked.
Harry stood up and walked to the front of the classroom.
"Now we face each other like this." James said and made it so he and Harry were facing each other. "Typically you are around five feet away from your opponent but sometimes- depending on the person- you may want to be farther away. Any questions so far?"
Everybody shook their heads 'no.'
"And then we bow to show that we respect each other." Harry grunted loudly. James raised his eyebrows. "Would you like to add something?"
"Yeah." Harry said. "It's out of tradition that you bow, not out of respect."
"Can you elaborate?"
"Yes." Harry said. "Would you bow out of respect to your enemy?"
"I see your point." James hissed. "But this is my classroom."
"Whatever."
"Now. After we bow- bow Harry- then we raise our wands and duel. Is that clear?" Everybody nodded. "And then you throw your curses or hexes."
Hermione rose her hand.
"Yes?"
"Will you be teaching us some useful curses?" She wondered. "We do have a half an hour left of this class…"
"I suppose…." James said. "Harry are you willing to duel?"
"Not really."
"Please?"
"What'll you give me?"
"Ten extra credit points?"
"Fine."
They bowed and rose their wands high in the air.
"Expeliarmus!" Harry cried quickly. James's wand started over to Harry but James grabbed it and pulled it back to him.
"Stupefy!"
Harry dodged it expertly. "Stupefy!"
James dodged it too.
"Wasletara!" He yelled.
Harry flicked his wand and a shell of magic sprang up around him, blocking the spell.
"Serpensortia!" Harry yelled. The snake appeared and went towards James. Harry was suddenly in the graveyard again. There was Voldemort rising out of the cauldron…Harry yelled out in horror.
~* ~* ~*
To the class, Harry had suddenly changed. His eyes had gone all blank and he was staring at the Professor like he was a rabid bear. He was yelling too. The snake he had made appear was going quickly towards Krikor and the professor actually looked scared.
"SNAP OUT OF IT, HARRY!" Hermione screamed.
Harry started and his eyes went back to normal. He looked at the Professor, smirked and shouted, "EXPELLIARMUS!" and then got rid of the snake. Krikor straitened up and Harry tossed him his wand. "I won." He said and walked back to his seat.
Authors Notes: Yay! We finally finished chapter one! How do you like it? Do you think we should continue the idea? Please R/R! Thanks for reading.
There was a hollow, loud whistle as a scarlet steam engine pulled away from the London Station. Hermione and Ron were looking out the window of the train, seeing if Harry was there. He hadn't shown up yet. Suddenly the door to the outside burst open and large duffel flew into the train. After that followed a backpack and then a person.
The person had crazy brunette hair and was rather thin. He proved quite tall as he stood up off the ground and his eyes were half-mad and brighter shades of blue than even Dumbledore's sparkle. He gazed upon the teenagers with his riveting stare and a smile.
"What never seen a teacher miss a train before?" He said. His voice was a deep baritone and had a lilting accent they didn't recognize.
"You're the new DADA teacher?" Hermione asked.
"Yes." The man said. "Have I introduced myself? No? Professor Gregory Krikor."
"Hermione Granger."
"Ron Weasley."
"Nice to meet you." He said. "What year are you two in?"
"Fifth." They chimed.
"Are you two dating?"
"NO!" They said loudly in unison. The Professor laughed.
"Just friends then?"
"Yeah." Ron said. "Our other best friend would be with us here to meet you but-"
"We think he missed the train." Hermione finished. "His Aunt and Uncle are terrible to him."
Ron and Hermione both looked out the window. Krikor seemed suddenly very interested.
"He lives with his Aunt and Uncle?" He said. "Why?"
"Because his parents are dead." Hermione snapped.
"Oh." He looked like he wanted to ask a thousand more questions. "Well I hope you meet up with him."
"C'mon Hermione, let's see if Harry's on the train." Ron said. "We'll see you later, professor."
~* ~* ~* ~*
"Excuse me dear. Would you like anything to eat?"
Harry looked up from his book and shook his head no to the woman. She smiled and moved her cart down to the next person. Harry began reading again.
'Thus die I, thus, thus, thus.
Now I am dead, now I am fled
My soul is in the sky.'
Harry paused to ponder this concept. He had never quite grasped Shakespeare and he didn't think he ever would. Looking up again he saw Ron and Hermione enter. Quickly he hid in his book again.
"The famous Harry Potter- reading Shakespeare?" Hermione said, spotting him. She broke out laughing. "That IS a new development."
"Hi." Harry said.
Hermione threw her arms around Harry and kissed his cheek.
"Hello!" She said. "How was your summer?"
Harry shrugged. "Yours?"
"It was great. I saw Krum and…" She trailed off seeing the pinched look on Ron's face. "Harry let's go back to our compartment. It's not crowded like this one."
Harry stood up and grabbed Hedwig and his trunk. Hermione met his eyes and he looked away from her. He had changed over the summer, Hermione noted.
Yes, puberty had snuck up on Harry like a windshield sneaks up on a bug. Not only was he taller, his hair had flattened out slightly but it now looked something closer to normal. The awkward boy had been replaced with an oddly silent, handsome youth. Hermione slapped herself mentally. She would not stare at her BEST FRIEND in that manner!
Harry sat down in the compartment.
"I see you found him." Commented Professor Krikor.
"Yeah." Hermione said. "Harry this is our new DADA teacher."
Harry looked up skeptically. "Hi."
"Gregory Krikor." The man stuck out a hand.
"Harry Potter." The man paled. "And I've had bad experiences with DADA teachers."
"Harry Potter?" He said in a high voice.
"Yeah." Harry said. He brushed away his bangs. "Yes I have a scar, yes it hurts, no I'm not crazy and I do not cry myself to sleep at night because my parents are dead. Any other questions?"
The professor gulped. "No not really. I wasn't really planning on asking you about that anyways."
"Well I thought I'd clear it all up." Harry said. He opened his copy of A Midsummer Night's Dream and began trying to figure it out again.
"Harry what is different about you?" Ron said.
"I grew." Harry said, not looking up.
"Oh."
"Yeah. I'm only seven inches smaller than you now." Harry said. Ron laughed.
"Midget!" He said.
Harry did not reply with his usual response of 'troll!' but just went back to his book. Hermione and Ron exchanged a shrug.
"Professor?" Hermione asked. The man looked up.
"Yes?"
"Where are you from?" Hermione asked.
"Why?"
"You have an accent I can't put my finger on, that's all."
"Oh." The Professor smiled. "I've been living in Greece for quite some time. The accent must have caught up with me."
Harry snorted from behind his book.
"Harry!" Hermione scolded. "Be nice!"
"Oh it's fine." Assured the new professor. "I admire honest people. But now I think I'm going to go to the front of the train. Goodbye."
"Bye."
"Bye."
A grunt from Harry and the man left.
"Are you always going to be this mean?" Hermione demanded. "That poor man probably thinks you hate him now!"
"I don't hate him. I don't trust him either." Harry said flatly.
Hermione made a noise in her throat and sat down heavily. "Why?"
"Have we ever had an innocent DADA teacher?" Harry asked. He got no answer. "No. We haven't. Why would we be getting one now?"
"Well." Ron said. "That's one way of looking at it."
Harry shrugged. The compartment door opened. It was Ginny and Neville.
"Hey. We've looked everywhere, but we cant find- oh!" Ginny spotted Harry. "There you are!"
Harry waved a little.
"How was your summer, Harry?" Ginny said timidly.
"It was fine."
Ron stared. Harry hadnt been that NICE to them when the same question was asked. His eyes narrowed. "Ginny thanks for your help. Now why don't you and Neville leave so we can talk."
"What?" Ginny said. She rounded on Ron. "You can't order me around!"
"Watch me." Ron said, standing up. He grabbed her shoulders and led her to the door. "Out!"
She scowled and left Neville after her.
"What was that all about, Ron?" Hermione asked. "She was trying to be nice!"
Ron glared at her and sat down again. "She's being nosy."
"No she wasn't." Hermione said. "Do you think that she was being nosy, Harry?"
Harry shrugged and continued to read.
"Damn it!" Hermione screeched and grabbed the book out of his hand. "You are no fun when you read!"
Ron laughed. "You are one to talk." He said. He nudged Harry and raised his eyebrows. "That was pretty good, huh?"
"Oh yeah." Harry said and with his wand summoned the book out of Hermione's hands. "A real knee slapper." He opened the book again.
Ron groaned and turned to Hermione.
"What do you think of the new teacher?"
"He seems nice. A little spacey."
"Spacey?" Ron said. "How so?"
"He missed the train." Hermione said.
"Oh I suppose." Ron said. "I think he seems nice. Kinda looks like Harry."
"He does not." Said Harry from behind the book.
"Maybe it's your dad, Harry." Ron joked.
Harry looked up sharply at Ron, who paled. "Shut the hell up Ron."
"I'm sorry- I was only joking." Ron said quickly.
"Well it wasn't funny."
~* ~* ~* ~*
There was a knock on Dumbledore's door late that night.
"Come in." Dumbledore said, pulling on a robe.
The tall new teacher entered the room.
"Ah James." Dumbledore said, smiling. "I was expecting you."
"Were you?" He sat down.
"Yes. But what brings you here."
"The fact that you didn't tell me that HE was going to be here."
"What?"
"Harry."
"I thought you would have figured that." Dumbledore said. "You have only been absent 14 years, James."
"Yes! But- I thought that-" He faltered and then sighed. "He looks exactly like me."
"He does." Dumbledore said.
"He has her eyes." James mentally shook himself. This was dumb. "I don't know if I can do this."
"Why couldn't you do this?" Dumbledore asked. "You will be excellent."
"I would love to believe you." He said and leaned back in the chair.
"Well then do." Dumbledore advised. "Just so long as you remember that you are not James Potter. You are Professor Gregory Krikor. Don't forget to take your potion either. We can't have your altered features changing in the middle of a class do we?"
"No sir, we don't." James said glumly.
"Well then off to bed Professor Krikor!" Dumbledore said brightly.
James looked like a deer in the headlights. How could he ever get used to living life like a masquerade? Smiling weakly he left the office.
~* ~* ~* ~*
The day had gone smoothly so far. The classes were nice for the most part. James was actually having a very pleasant day until the 5th year Gryffindors walked into the class. Harry and his group of friends sat near the back.
"My name is Gregory Krikor and I am your new Defense teacher. This class is going to be different than what you're used to by now. I don't take any crap. This subject is very serious and even more so now that Voldemort is back. You will be learning how to duel and how to block the Unforgivable Curses. I will not tolerate slackers. Is this clear?"
The room nodded, a little scared.
"But if you do pay attention and do your homework, we will have fun." He said. "Now, let's get to work. Dueling is the dignified sport created by Merlin to test a wizard's knowledge. Nowadays it's used for fighting. But I'm sure you already knew that. Now. First lesson today is stance. Who would like to be my guinea pig?"
Nobody raised their hands. They all remembered the last dueling lesson they had had with Lockhart.
"Don't you all rush up here at once." James said with a chuckle. Still, nobody volunteered. "I'm going to have to pick if somebody doesn't volunteer."
James waited a moment and sighed. He turned around and grabbed the roll sheet, closed his eyes and randomly selected a name with his finger.
"H- Harry Potter, will you please come up here?" James asked.
Harry stood up and walked to the front of the classroom.
"Now we face each other like this." James said and made it so he and Harry were facing each other. "Typically you are around five feet away from your opponent but sometimes- depending on the person- you may want to be farther away. Any questions so far?"
Everybody shook their heads 'no.'
"And then we bow to show that we respect each other." Harry grunted loudly. James raised his eyebrows. "Would you like to add something?"
"Yeah." Harry said. "It's out of tradition that you bow, not out of respect."
"Can you elaborate?"
"Yes." Harry said. "Would you bow out of respect to your enemy?"
"I see your point." James hissed. "But this is my classroom."
"Whatever."
"Now. After we bow- bow Harry- then we raise our wands and duel. Is that clear?" Everybody nodded. "And then you throw your curses or hexes."
Hermione rose her hand.
"Yes?"
"Will you be teaching us some useful curses?" She wondered. "We do have a half an hour left of this class…"
"I suppose…." James said. "Harry are you willing to duel?"
"Not really."
"Please?"
"What'll you give me?"
"Ten extra credit points?"
"Fine."
They bowed and rose their wands high in the air.
"Expeliarmus!" Harry cried quickly. James's wand started over to Harry but James grabbed it and pulled it back to him.
"Stupefy!"
Harry dodged it expertly. "Stupefy!"
James dodged it too.
"Wasletara!" He yelled.
Harry flicked his wand and a shell of magic sprang up around him, blocking the spell.
"Serpensortia!" Harry yelled. The snake appeared and went towards James. Harry was suddenly in the graveyard again. There was Voldemort rising out of the cauldron…Harry yelled out in horror.
~* ~* ~*
To the class, Harry had suddenly changed. His eyes had gone all blank and he was staring at the Professor like he was a rabid bear. He was yelling too. The snake he had made appear was going quickly towards Krikor and the professor actually looked scared.
"SNAP OUT OF IT, HARRY!" Hermione screamed.
Harry started and his eyes went back to normal. He looked at the Professor, smirked and shouted, "EXPELLIARMUS!" and then got rid of the snake. Krikor straitened up and Harry tossed him his wand. "I won." He said and walked back to his seat.
Authors Notes: Yay! We finally finished chapter one! How do you like it? Do you think we should continue the idea? Please R/R! Thanks for reading.
