CHAPTER 7: AN EXPLAINATION AND PROFESSORS
As Harry watched Dumbledore pace up and down the office he couldn't but help feel a bit frustrated himself. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the former headmaster returned to his chair and looked at the two students in front of him seriously and spoke.
"All I can give you is a hypothesis, an assumption," he said, "this is probably ancient magic that goes farther back than anyone can trace, lost in time. My theory is that Voldemort gave Harry that scar connecting himself to Harry. But for you Ginny…,"
Harry could plainly see the pain and compassion in the old man's gaze, "for you it was what he thought was a form of torturing you, using your own emotions against you. Yet when he gave you the scar he unkowingly connected you to Harry and to himself."
Ginny flinched.
"What took place then must have been an ancient form of magic, a type of bonding. Without him realising it Voldemort evoked a strong and extremely powerful magical bonding."
Harry just sat there stunned.
"Umm… professor," he ventured, "does that mean Ginny and I are…well… bonded?"
"Yes Harry?"
"But what does this have to do with what happened on the train?"
"Ah that Harry," said Dumbledore, "Is what got me thinking it was ancient magic," addressing them both he continued, "both you come from quite powerful wizarding families and have a good bit of power vested in yourselves. You Harry received an additional part of Voldemort's power when you were a year old.
"Voldemort being a descendant of Salzaar Slytherin himself, you received quite a lot of other talents besides just magical potential, other talents such as Parseltonge."
Harry nodded, Dumbledore continued, "Ginny, you on the other hand also probably got a similar share in your encounter with Tom Riddle. Riddle sapped your strength into himself, part of your magical abilities going with it, which he twisted and used for his own purposes. When Riddle was destroyed, all your unused and used power returned including his own magic, which I presume happened solely because he had bonded himself to you.
"Your scar joined you to Harry, and because of your shared power with Voldemort it connected you two even deeper. Before I explain that I would like to know that when you hit Mr. Malfoy and his friends was there any sort of physical contact between the two of you?"
Harry looked at Ginny, both thinking hard. "Yes," said Ginny finally, a light pink tinge on her cheeks, "I held his arm to stop him from jumping at Malfoy."
Dumbledore nodded, "I assume that you two were probably very furious with Mr. Malfoy, the shared emotions and the bond, I believe enabled you to join forces, the joining was further strengthened by external contact. I would say," Dumbledore concluded, the ghost of a twinkle in his eye, "that Mr. Malfoy got a taste of his own medicine."
Harry's head was swimming. The whole affair was a bit complicated to clearly comprehend at the moment. A glance at Ginny confirmed that she was having no better luck at understanding.
Just before they exited Dumbledore called the, "Harry, Ginny I will have to inform the rest of the order about this, I'm sure you understand, but I would be very grateful if you yourselves notify the rest of the Weasleys and Ms.Granger," they nodded.
"Ginny," Dumbledore said, his face kind, "thank you, I understand how difficult it was for you but I can see the sorting hat never made a mistake by putting you in Gryffindor."
A slight smile still lingered on Ginny's face as they reached the table where Ron and Hermione were seated with Fred and George and Neville.
"Hello," chorused the twins cheerfully, "what have you two lovebirds been upto?" asked Fred wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Ginny blushed and smacked him on the arm as she sat down. "Really Fred," scolded Hermione glaring at him.
"What happened?" asked Neville.
"We'll tell you later, when we're alone in the common room," said Harry, "who's got the timetable?"
"Here," said Hermione handing him a roll of parchment, "oh, and here's yours Ginny,"
Harry glanced through his schedule and groaned, "We have double potions, first thing in the morning!"
Ron grimanced, "I know, with the Slytherins again this year, I tell you Snape does this on purpose…"
"Ron, really!" said Hermione with her 'you-should-respect your-professors' look on her face, "anyway he's not there anymore is he?"
"What?!" said Harry and Ginny together.
"Yes," said Ron leaning back in his chair, "we've got new teachers for Defense against Dark Arts, Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration and Potions, Snape's gone off somewhere."
"But why Transfiguration?"
"She's headmistress now."
"Oh."
"So," Ginny asked, "who's teaching?"
"No one knows," said Hermione, "apparently none of the new professors could make it to the feast, Professor McGonagall said we'd find out when we go to our classes."
The trio stood up to leave the table Hermione momentarily forgetting where they were gave him a peck on the cheek. "Don't try anything stupid during class alright?"
"HERMIONE!"
Instantly realising her mistake she went red in the face which was nothing compared to Ron. The twins had no idea about their relationship, Ron had suggested they keep it a secret for a while, the twins would have a field day if they found out.
Well now it was too late.
"Oh, look Fred," said Gerorge, "our ickle Ronnikinns has finally grown up!"
"Yes," said Fred, pretending to wipe a fake tear from his eye, "it happened so fast…"
Hermione looked like she was seriously considering the prospect of a Memory charm.
"Anyway," said Harry trying to save both his friends from the embarrassing situation, "we'd better move, or we'll be late for class,"
Before the twins could utter another word all three of them took off, though Harry caught a slightly amused but wistful expression on Ginny's face as he walked past her.
As they reached the dungeons they found the rest of the Slytherins waiting. As usual Malfoy had the sneer on his face that Harry would have dearly loved to wipe out. But right now everyone seemed to be preoccupied about the prospect of a new teacher. Neville was almost at the point of a nervous breakdown.
"Do you think Snape's told the new teacher about me?" he asked fearfully. Hermione was trying her best to ease him. "It'll be alright Neville," she said soothingly as they trooped inside.
Lavender and Parvati were busy discussing if the new teacher could be a man and if he was good, to which Harry saw that both Seamus and Dean rolled their eyes. Pansy Parkinson was batting her eyelashes a little too dramatically while talking to Draco Malfoy making Ron produce fake gagging noises.
Suddenly the door of the dungeon and in strode the new teacher. Harry's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he along with the entire class stared.
Fleur Delacour.
She stood there her long hair in a neat braid as she surveyed her class.
"Good Morning," she said brightly, "I am your new potionz teacher az Professor Znape iz not 'ere."
Harry could see that most of the girls had now overcome the initial shock and were glaring at the boys who were still staring open mouthed at the new teacher. It looked like Ron would have a lot of apologizing to do. The look Hermione was giving his red headed friend was not good.
Fleur seemed a little nerovus but continued, "Eet iz my first time like zis, so I 'ope you will understand if I make some meestakes, non?" she looked at them expectantly. Harry saw some girls kick some boys under the tables.
"uh? Oh yeah…" they managed to mutter when they realized that they were expected to answer.
Fleur brightened, "Oui, very good," she said, "now I would first like to know all of you by youe namez…"
Much later when Harry, Ron and Hermione exited the classroom, Ron snorted, "Looks like Fleur's taken a liking to Harry," he said, Harry wasn't sure if he sensed jealousy in his best frienda voice but just groaned. "There are times I think I should have left her sister down there in the lake."
"And you Ron Weasley seemed to be quite attracted to our new teacher?" asked Hermione shewrdly eyeing him.
"Yeah," said Ron with a dreamy look on his face, 'she's just…" too late he realised exactly what Hermione was saying and quickly turned to her, "I mean Mione…"
"I'll see you in class," she said eyeing Ron coldly as she moved off. Ron groaned. "I've really put my foot in it this time."
Harry felt a little sorry for his friend, he shook his head sympathetically, "Looks like you'll really have to weasel your way out of this one Weasley," smilimg he added. "pun intended."
"Ha ha very funny."
The next few classes went on smoothly, Harry found out that their new Transfiguration teacher was Arabella Figg, and Care of Magical Creatures was, believe it or not, Charlie Weasley. All of them had fairly gawked at him, most of the girls had been eyeing the new Professor with intrest, Gryffindors and Slytherins alike. Harry was quite amused to see Malfoy trying to get Pansy Parkinson's attention as they dealt Iggleniffs, a sort of round black furry creatures and bat like large grey ears. They were cute.
They treked to the castle for their last class before lunch: Defense against the dark arts. Ron was grumbling under his breath, "Some ruddy brother he is, never even told us he'd be at Hogwarts,"
"Honestly Ron," chided Hermione, "I'm sure there was a reason,"
"He could've told us!"
"He must have been told not to tell."
"Who knew he could teach anyway."
"Ron, he's a professor now, be respectful!"
They continued arguing as they entered the classroom, it took them a few minutes to realise that the teacher hadn't arrived yet. "Think it's Lupin?" asked Ron.
Harry shrugged, "Could be."
Five minutes passed since class began.
The door suddenly swng shut. The entire class was silent looking around, what was going on? Two minutes passed. Seamus went up and tugged at the door.
"It's locked," he said. Everyone looked around uneasily. Harry reached for his wand, he could feel something was going to happen. He nudged Ron and Hermione who also pulled out their wands.
A sudden bang was heard and they all jumped but Harry, Ron and Hermione instantly cast a shield charm around themselves, but the rest of the class was hit.
Girls screamed while many tried to dart out of the way, but the curse came flying in all directions.
"Use the shield charm!" Harry yelled.
Most of them were panicked or hit by the curse but the few who heard cast it around themselves.
As suddenly as it started it stopped. Once the silence returned Harry craned around to see the damage. All those who had been hit, and that was nearly the whole class, had gone completely blue in the face. Blaise Zabini, Dean, Ron, Hermione and himself seemed the only ones to have warded off the curse.
Harry felt Ron nudge him in the elbows, he had a huge grin on his face, "Look at Malfoy," he whispered. True enough the proud Slytherin was quite a sight to see, his light blonde hair stood out strongly against his blue face.
A low chuckle near the teacher's table caught his attention.
"Well, well, well," a disembodied man's voice spoke, "Looks like hardly any of you are prepared for an emergency I have quite a lot to teach you then." Harry thought that the voice sounded oddly familiar.
"Well done to all those who could protect themselves," the voice continued, "Five points each to their respective houses."
A rustle was heard and Harry saw a person slip out of what could only have been an invisibility cloak. Harry saw most of the students jaws hit the floor, he felt his own eyes widen for about the third or fourth time that day. Ron looked like he might have a heart attack.
"Hello," he greeted cordially, "I'm Bill Weasley."
Most of the girls seemed to have forgotten the curse he had put on them and were openly staring in a starstruck manner. Bill, Harry was sure, made a one of a kind professor. With a ponytail, fang earing and what girls would call devilsihly good looks, he was quite different from the other professors.
Parvati and Lavender looking at Bill with dreamy looks.
"Don't worry about your faces," Bill continued, "it'll wear off in an hour," surveying the class he said, "this year holds a lot for you especially since you'll be doing your O.W.L.S., now take this down…"
As Harry rummaged through his bag for a quill he couldn't help smiling. This was going to be an interesting year after all.
A.N.:There finished! Thanks to all my new and old reviewers, I really appreciate it and please keep reviewing. All those who rread read this, please, I beg you take a few minutes and send me an itty bitty little review, it helps a lot believe me. Oh yeah there's a new anst fic I've written R&R that also.
The next chapter may be up next Sunday but I want atleast ten reviews by the. Yes TEN! If not you'll just have to wait. Oh (grins) did I mention the next chapter includes a prophecy?
And Anu (rolls eyes) keep your thoughts of Oliver Wood to yourself please thank, you very much! You're a wicked woman out to corrupt innocent minds!
SHE best of luck for the chemistry exam on Wednesday.
