PART NINE: PROFESSOR POTTER

"Preparing for your first class, I see."

Classes would not begin for hours from now, so Harry had decided to prepare his first lessons in the quiet comfort of the school's library. Harry turned around and a smile spread across his handsome face upon hearing that voice that he knew oh so well. He stood up from his seat and welcomed the woman before him with an embrace.

"Alecentra you made it."

Alecentra, his guardian for the past ten years, smiled lovingly at her young charge. She was born eighteen when assigned to protect Harry, nineteen when she finally met the young lad, and now the twenty nine year old was beaming proudly at her student that became like a son to her.

"Of course I would, Harry. I did promise, did I not?"

"You did." He laughed. He pulled out a chair, "Here, here, have a seat."

"Oh, I would love to, Harry but I can't. Dumbledore wishes to speak to me as soon as I arrive but I just needed to see my *James* before I am to meet with him."

Harry chuckled, his green eyes sparkling with laughter. "James I love being called after my father's name. Feels as if I'm a bit closer to him now more than ever before."

"I see that you have decided to keep the contacts." Alecentra commented, noticing that Harry was minus his trademark spectacles.

He grinned, "Well, I kind of like how I look without them I mean, I could have gone the full nine yards and kept the glamour spell to hide my scar but"

"But besides the frames, the scar is what defines the great Harry Potter."

Harry laughed, "I could not have said it better myself!"

"So, how does it feel to be back at Hogwarts?"

He looked thoughtfully at his mentor. A look that told Alecentra that his welcome home was not up to his full expectations.

She remembered that day when she announced to him that he was to return back to Hogwarts as their new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. His eyes sparkled and he could not stop grinning for days. He had just barely managed to get his college degree by taking a lot of course loads and practically attending every semester (from Fall to Winter to even Spring and Summer), just so that he could be certified to teach. Who would have imagined that the Harry Potter was capable of accomplishing so much in so little time? As far as academic wise anyway.

"You could say" Harry began, "That my leaving was not the only time that I left quite an impression on people"

"What did they think about you and your American accent?" Alecentra asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Harry smiled greatly at that. "Well, Dumbledore says that it adds a bit of character. Though I do believe that a part of my lit is still British."

"Well, that will never change, Harry. You were born in England and raised in England after all!"

Though the mood was light, Alecentra could very well tell that something was still bothering Harry. Searching into him, an image of a young woman that Harry quite often spoke about came into her mind.

"You told her everything, did you not?" She asked, sitting down on the table.

Harry sat down, raising an eyebrow. "I thought that you had a meeting with Dumbledore?"

"Harry" Alecentra began.

"Yes." He sighed. "I told her but not everything."

"What didn't you tell her?"

"I did not tell her exactly where we lived. She only guessed it was in America because of my nearly disappearing native accent. Not to mention some of my newly emerged slang and speech."

"Unfortunately you told her about the alternative universe." She stated more than asked.

"Unfortunately" He confirmed.

"Harry," Alecentra also sighed, her eyes a bit weary at his confession. "Harry, I know you realize that a man's greatest strength is also his greatest weakness."

"I had to tell her, Alecentra!" He explained, "I owed her that much. I had brought so much pain when I left without telling her! Do you know how worried she was? How scared she was? She even feared that I might have died! She needed to know. She needed to know the importance of my leave and that every day of my absence I thought of her." He lowered his gaze, then softly uttered, "That I still think of her"

Alecentra's heart went out to her young charge. "Oh James" She used her nickname upon Harry, "You know of the dangers in loving someone. Especially for you. Not only by telling her about this other universe, there is a great chance that you have not only placed yourself at deadly risk, but also her life as well!"

"I know" He softly replied. In his emerald eyes, Alecentra quietly gasped for she was startled to see that though he had known of the danger from the start, he was still going to reveal all. "I know but I still needed to tell her."

A silence fell upon them. A silence of growing understanding and reflection. It was Alecentra that broke it as she found her gaze turning to the hidden chain around Harry's neck.

"Does she know of the amulet?" She asked, her eyes focused on the soft shadow hidden under Harry's white shirt.

Harry tentatively pulled the chain up to reveal a delicate white stone that glimmered in the light. The stone was carved in a shape of a diamond and its chain was of pure white gold. Fingering the stone with his dominate hand, "No she does not."

"That is good and you must not tell her of it." She warned him. "For you know of the amulet's importance in connection to our other world."

With that, she also reached and pulled out a similar amulet. The only difference was of its color. While Harry's was pure white, this stone was very rich blue.

"Have you discovered the keeper of the second amulet?" Harry quietly asked.

"No but I can feel their presence near, James." She replied, casting the chain back into her robes for safe keeping. Meeting eyes with the young man, "Now Harry, I know that you want to tell your Hermione everything but there are some things that must remain in the dark. That especially includes the existence of the Duel Realm Stones."

Harry nodded his head understandingly. However, Alecentra knew that he was reluctant to keep such a silence. Especially from a certain young witch

"Harry, you must promise me that until the time is right, you mustn't breathe a word about the Stones to your Hermione. You mustn't, please." She reached over, lifting his chin so that he could see how important her heed was. "For me, James. Please promise. Not a word."

The young man gazed down then after a long silence, he breathed a reluctant sigh and promised, "Not a word. I give you my honor, Alecentra. Hermione will not know of the Stones. No one except me, you, and the keeper of the second Stone."

Alecentra could see the pain in his eyes knowing that it was killing him to have to keep yet another secret from Hermione. Wanting to ease his pain, she lightly kissed his forehead. "Thank you, James. This is all for the best you know that."

Harry sighed, nodding. He turned to his notes, as if wanting to sink into them and not have to face the rest of the world.

"Harry you are keeping her safe." Alecentra tried to reassure him, only to have him nod again. She looked upon the materials gathered in front of him and was surprised to see the laptop that she had given him.

"I thought that muggle electronic devices had no affect in Hogwarts because there was too much magic in the air—so the speak."

Harry grinned that sly smile that Alecentra had grown to love. Looking up at her with that knowing grin, "I used an alter world protection spell on my computer. Unfortunately I'm still trying to figure out how I can get access to the Internet"

Alecentra laughed at this, just as an image of the past flashed through her mind. The image being that of the Twinkie box and root beer bottle incident.

"Oh Harry you're still the smart alec, resourceful boy of long ago"


~~~~**~~~~


"Potter as our teacher? We might as well save the Dark Arts some time and energy and just surrender ourselves to them if Potter's going to be our professor!"

"That is if we have yet to do it, eh, Malfoy?" Ron sneered out loud, causing the rest of his Gryffindor class mates to snicker.

Seventeen year old Draco Malfoy returned the sneer three folds with, "Hey Weasley, how's it like sharing your girlfriend with the teacher?"

If Hermione had not immediately locked tight her hold on his arm, Ron would have literally jumped Draco and given him a cut that would never heal.

The Seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins were anxiously waiting the arrival of their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, their former classmate, Harry Potter.

While waiting, Draco had thought it be a perfect opportunity to rag on his favorite Gryffindor wizard and Mudblood.

"Ron," Hermione hissed, her grip practically cutting through Ron's flesh. "Don't you dare he's not worth it"

Draco snickered, "Hey Granger didn't you give that same speech to your boyfriend, Potter? My, my Weasley, I had no idea that the extent of hand me downs exceed far beyond clothes now girlfriends as well"

All the frustration that had been growing since the arrival of Harry, not to mention the anger towards Malfoy, could not be contained any longer within Ron. Violently pulling away from Hermione, shooting out of his chair, "Malfoy, you fuckin' git!"

"Five points taken from Gryffindor!" A voice bellowed within the classroom, causing many gasps and stunned eyes to face the owner of such a voice.

The gasps were just as shocking as they realize that it belonged to Professor Potter.

Harry stepped into the class, a no nonsense look on his face. He stared disapprovingly at Ron, which caused a lot of Gryffindor students to gaze at each other in confusion. Hermione looked up at Harry in disbelief. Both Ron and Malfoy mirrored the same expression of shock, though Ron had a hint of hurt mixed in.

Harry walked to the front of the class, dropping his leather backpack on the main desk. He held onto Ron's pained and confused eyes until Ron dropped his gaze as he returned to his seat. When he did, Harry used this as he cue to turn his attention towards Draco.

Then, surprising everyone yet again, "And five points taken from Slytherins." He added slyly.

"What?!" Draco slack jawed, eyes slit in anger.

Harry turned to Ron, "I will not tolerate profanity in my classroom." Turning to Draco, "Neither will I tolerate provoking of profanity."

Gryffindors and Slytherins alike began exchanging glances. Even Draco and Ron gave each other this look, minus the usual hatred and contempt.

"Those are just two of my rules this year" Harry began, returning to his teacher's desk. Casually, he jumped up and sat on the desk, facing his once fellow peers. Giving them a soft smile, "Now it is pretty obvious that a lot has changed in two years. Not just to all of you, but to me as well." With an understanding look, "Now, just because I may have aged and am now your professor, that does not mean that I don't remember that I was once your equal. I will understand if you feel apprehensive to approach me but I hope that over time that the apprehension will fade. And I also hope that over time, things will somewhat find their way back as if I had not left at all" As he said that, his gaze found its way intentionally onto Hermione. Briefly locking eyes with her, "In life you will learn of two things. One, that things change. And two, changes that may seem utterly horrible are the most likely ones to be blessings in disguise."

Hermione felt a lump in her throat as Harry looked straight at her and into her as he said those words. With everything in her, she forced herself to look away.

The second Hermione broke the gaze, Harry looked upon the rest of his class and added, "Every single one of you, remember that."

The class fell into an awed silence. Who would have imagined that only two years ago that this obviously wise professor before them used to be their school's resident most likely to get into life threatening trouble!

"Okay" Harry continued, turning slightly to reach for his bag, pulling out two things. Taking out what was obviously the teacher's edition of their class text book, holding it up, "Now hold up your Dark Arts text like this"

The class exchanged yet another confused glance. And yet again, Ron and Draco met glances with each other.

"C'mon. Do as I say." Harry encouraged, a sly smile on his face.

Hermione cast Harry this raised eye brow look, which Harry caught for he winked back at her.

Once everyone was holding out their texts, Harry continued, "Now repeat after me Text no more/ knowledge lack/ gone it be/ exchange back."

Again, every student shared a perplexed look.

"C'mon Text no more/ knowledge lack/ gone it be/ exchange back." He repeated, this time meeting eyes directly with Hermione.

A tiny voice in her beckoned her to trust him. Sighing, she closed her eyes and, "Text no more/ knowledge lack/ gone it be/ exchange it back!" Hermione opened her eyes and gasped as the text in her hand suddenly glowed brightly. A bit fearful, she dropped the book just as it exploded into a bright red puff and in exchange was a bunch of coins which counted to the exact price of what she paid for that book.

Stunned silence fell onto the classroom until someone began clapping.

Harry had a proud smile on his face as he applauded. "Well done, Miss Granger. Five points awarded to Gryffindor."

"But-but- Har- I mean, Professor Potter," Harry turned to the voice whom he recognized as Neville Longbottom.

"Yes, Neville?" Harry asked, quite pleased to see his old friend and noticing that besides for the growth spurt, his dear friend had not changed so much.

"Won't we need this book for future reference? Why can't we keep it?"

"Can I ask you a question, Neville?" Harry responded, causing the young lad to nod his head in complete bafflement.

"When faced with an evil sorcerer or wicked witch, will you be having the text with you? Believe me, when it comes to facing your enemy in battle, they will not wait for you to search in your book for a plan of attack." Addressing everyone, "Class, everything you need to defeat your enemy are found here. Here in your mind" And tapping his chest, "And in your heart."

A silent understanding seemed to reach everyone for within minutes, Harry proudly watched every single student utter the incantation he had taught them. The clattering of change was echoing throughout the class.

"Excellent!" He proclaimed, clapping his hands. "Thirty points each awarded to both Gryffindor and Slytherin houses."

Harry turned to the other object he had pulled out, which turned out to be his laptop. He opened it, glanced at the screen, and at the lesson outline he had obviously prepared for class. Shutting his laptop, placing it back in his bag, "Okay, students. Let's officially begin this school term, shall we?"