HARRY POTTER AND THE MARK OF GRYFFINDOR
By Geena
Chapter 2 : The Fair Professor
After what seemed like an eternity, Molly Weasley's voice rang out, urging them to come down for breakfast. Both Ron and Hermione yawned like mad, rubbing their eyes in a courageous attempt to wake up. Harry kept cleaning his glasses, but then realised it was the sleep in his eyes that prevented him from seeing clearly.
The entire Weasley family was gathered around the breakfast table. Bill and Charlie had temporarily left their jobs to assist Dumbledore with the organisation of the resistance against Voldemort. Percy was now working for his father, who had taken over the position of Barty Crouch at the Department of International Magical Co-operation. They were both very busy and wouldn't accompany them to the station.
"So, at least we have two prefects in the house."
Percy glared disapprovingly at Ron. Harry quickly sent him a sympathetic look, also a bit apologetic. He had been surprised when he received his prefect badge and felt a bit sorry for Ron. Luckily neither Fred nor George had become Head Boy, so Ron wasn't the only Weasley to miss out on the prestige.
"Actually, I was thinking about declining, but I guess it wouldn't be very decent of me." Hermione's clear voice shook them up.
All stared astonished at her. They had expected her to be made a prefect, and to hear her say she didn't want to be one was strange to say the least.
Percy seemed to take it as a personal insult and started lecturing her on the great honour and the doors it opens for a future career.
"I know and I DO appreciate it, honestly, but it also means a lot of extra work and now with the O.W.L.'s coming up …" Hermione defended herself, looking helplessly.
"Quite right. I must admit I've had the same feelings when I received my badge." Harry's noble rescue, though not entirely truthful but close enough, earned him a grateful smile.
"Unbelievable." Percy mumbled, but his protests were overshadowed by the twin's approval.
"Way to go Harry and Hermione! We're so going to have a great time with such cool prefects like the two of you."
"As long as YOU two don't forget there's N.E.W.T.'s coming up !" Molly Weasley silenced them with one of her trademark death glares.
"Yes mum." Both Fred and George replied subdued.
The sausages and eggs didn't look as appealing to Harry as they used to and by the time Arthur Weasley told them to hurry up, Harry would have raced up the stairs to get his suitcase if his overtired legs could have carried him.
At long last they were packed and ready to go. The Ministry had provided two cars to take them to the station. At first, Cornelius Fudge had insisted that Harry should be escorted to Hogwarts by private car instead of taking the Hogwarts express, but Harry already felt the odd one out and asked to join the others as usual. Fudge acted like an overprotective hen lately. First he had visited him at the Dursleys – Harry still couldn't suppress a little snicker when he recalled his aunt and uncle's uneasiness upon meeting the bizar wizard. It was obvious they thought nothing but the worst of him, but he was a Minister after all and it amused Harry to see the struggle on their faces whether to throw him out or to bite their nails for not being able to show off to their friends they had a Minister visiting their house. And now Fudge wanted someone to hold his hand until he was safe with Dumbledore. Harry didn't know what had caused this change of attitude, but something must have convinced Fudge to take the resurrection of the Dark Lord serious.
Charlie and Bill saw them off at the station, both told them they would be coming to Hogwarts occasionally.
Ron had gone a bit silent when they reached platform 9 ¾. Harry wondered why, but Hermione was one step ahead of him as usual, put her hand on Ron's shoulder and said:
"Don't worry, we're not going to sit in the prefects' compartment." And she walked resolutely to their customary last wagon.
Ron looked relieved and Harry wanted to kick himself for not realising sooner. He would make sure Ron didn't feel left out this year. Last year's rupture in their friendship had been horrible and if it wasn't for Hermione, he didn't know how he would have pulled through.
The train had left London behind when Neville Longbottom, accompanied by an excited Seamus Finnigan entered their compartment.
"Here you are. We've been looking all over for you guys! You weren't with the prefects so we sort of wondered if you might have missed the train again."
"No such luck." Harry smiled, recalling his adventure in the Ford Anglia.
Seamus and Neville turned their attention to Hermione.
"Hey, you didn't say you were going steady with Victor Krum !"
Hermione's cheeks flushed and Ginny let out a giggle.
"I … I'm not going out with Victor." Hermione recovered after a few embarrassing moments.
"Oh really, then how do you explain this, hey ?" With a large grin, Seamus presented a copy of the Daily Prophet. It had a picture of Hermione and Victor Krum on the front page.
* Award winning Bulgarian Seeker with girlfriend * The caption read.
"That 's not true !" Hermione exclaimed.
"You went out with Krum ? I thought you said your parents didn't allow you to go to Bulgaria ?" Ron inquired.
"No no, it's nothing like that." Hermione insisted. The four boys were looking at her expectantly, obviously they wouldn't let her off this easily.
"Ok, fine. Victor owled me and asked me to go with him to the Player of the Year ceremony. He told me most girls he knows only like him because he's a famous Quidditch player and he wanted to go with someone he could talk to. Since the ceremony was in London, my parents permitted me to go."
"Waw!" Seamus and Neville looked impressed.
"And you didn't tell us ?!" Ron was shocked. "Why didn't you ask me to go with you ?"
They all laughed, Ron eventually as well. That's when Draco Malfoy decided to show up.
"Having a party ?" He sneered, grasping the newspaper from Seamus' hands.
He absentmindedly threw it back at them. "You should know better than to believe what they write in the gossip column." With one last glare at Hermione like he was measuring her up, he retreated.
"Huh, did you see the look on that arrogant prat's face ? Couldn't get out of here fast enough. Probably wishes Krum had owled HIM to go to the awards." Ron said grudgingly.
A moment of silence passed and then they burst out in laughter, they all had formed the same picture in their heads: Malfoy on a date with Krum, gazing up at him in adoration.
It was a noisy group of fifth year Gryffindors, accompanied by Ginny, who left the train.
When Harry saw the carriages that would take them to the castle, he suddenly remembered why he had wanted to get here so badly.
Snape.
He shuddered, thinking about last night's vision. The memory was so overwhelming, he didn't even wave at Hagrid. Only when the half-giant gave him a friendly push did he become aware of his surroundings again.
"Hi Hagrid."
"Alright Harry ?" Hagrid gave him an examining look and Harry remembered to smile in time.
"See yer at dinner then." Hagrid went in search for the first years as the senior students entered the carriages.
When they reached the castle, two giant statues flanked the entrance. They hadn't been there last year and some of the students eyed them warily.
"They're gargoyles." Hermione whispered. "Must be here for our protection." She continued.
"But there are gargoyles everywhere on Hogwarts' grounds, why put up an extra pair ?" Ron asked.
"Obviously Dumbledore doesn't want to take any chances." Came Hermione's answer.
As soon as Harry walked through the doors he went looking for Dumbledore, Hermione and Ron assured him they would save him a seat.
He found the gargoyle at the bottom of the stairs leading to Dumbledore's office, but not knowing the password, Harry suddenly cursed himself for his impatience.
To his surprise, the gargoyle took one look at him and stepped aside, giving him a free passage to the door.
Harry was about to knock on the door when it swung open.
"Ah, Harry, I was wondering when I would be seeing you here." Dumbledore invited him in.
There was something strange about him. Stranger than usual.
He didn't seem his perky self and Harry could have sworn he looked at least ten years older then he had last seen him. Considering the Headmaster's old age, that was quite a big deal.
"What can I do for you ?" Dumbledore asked.
"The … the statue, it …" Harry had difficulties not to drop his mouth.
"Oh, I keyed it to you. After last year's events I thought you might want to come here more often."
"I see."
Then, when Dumbledore kept looking at him as if he was waiting for something, Harry recalled the reason why he was here for.
Dumbledore heard him out, never interrupting him, but the concern in his eyes increased as Harry's story went along.
Finally, he closed his eyes briefly and sighed.
"Maybe I have asked too much from him."
"Sir, do you know what professor Snape has taken from Voldemort ?" Harry asked the one question that had been burning on his lips ever since he had told Ron and Hermione about it.
"Huh ? Of course I know. Now, Harry, this is very important. Do you recall them saying WHERE they were going to take him ?"
"Er, no, not really, why ?" But at the same time he was saying the words, he realised why Dumbledore had asked him.
"He hasn't returned, has he ?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
Harry covered his mouth with his hand. Snape had been in bad shape, in urgent need of attendance and if he was still missing …"
At that moment, Professor McGonagall came bursting in.
"Albus, they found him. Hagrid's bringing him in." she uttered breathlessly.
Dumbledore seemed to forget all about Harry and stormed out after her.
Acting on instinct, Harry went down as well. He couldn't stay in the Headmaster's office all evening, could he ?
He decided to go to the Great Hall to wait for dinner, but when he walked through the passage leading from Dumbledore's office to the Great Hall, he was stopped by the scene in front of him.
Hagrid was carrying something that looked like a bundle of filthy robes, but much to his own horror, Harry had to conclude it was Snape's motionless body.
Dumbledore hurried towards his unconscious member of staff and Harry couldn't help overhearing what was said.
"Minerva, get Poppy, quickly. Hagrid, put him down gently, I don't want to risk moving him too much."
Hagrid did as told and Dumbledore went down on his knees to sit next to Snape.
Harry couldn't see much, but what he saw made his stomach turn.
The face of his Potions teacher had been mutilated by something sharp and although Madam Pomfrey would be able to heal the cuts without much effort, the pain must have been excruciating.
Apart from the face, Snape seemed to be bleeding everywhere, his robe soaked with his own blood. The high pitched scream escaping Madam Pomfrey's lips when she saw her patient only confirmed Harry's worst fears. When Dumbledore turned around to follow Pomfrey and her patient to the Hospital Wing, Harry was shocked to see tears dripping from the usually twinkling blue eyes.
It was a quiet Harry that rejoined his classmates.
Ron and Hermione were sitting on the edge of their seats, desperate to hear some news. Harry whispered to them what he had witnessed. Both his friends as disconcerted as him about Snape's condition.
Professor McGonagall entered the Hall to start the sorting. Neither of them paid any attention, heads turned at the entrance to see when Dumbledore would arrive. Hagrid came in during the sorting ceremony, looking pale and when Harry took a good look at the Head Table, it seemed like none of the teachers were enjoying themselves.
At long last, when the sorting had finished, Dumbledore came in to start the welcoming feast.
He made his usual remarks about the Forbidden Forest, but then his speech took a different turn. With a stern expression on his face he told them about the increased security measures. His gaze lingered on the Huffelpuf table for a moment when he asked everyone to be careful, even around Hogwarts' grounds.
Then he made a few spectacular announcements.
"First of all I'd like to inform you that Professor Snape will not be with us this first week. You will study your Potions textbooks in the library until he returns."
An almost inaudible 'hooray' travelled through the Hall, but Harry, Ron and Hermione did not participate. Although they would have been the first to welcome a Snape-free week, it was simply impossible to rejoice over the Potions Master's absence when they knew all too well what had caused it.
Dumbledore didn't seem to notice the relief of his students – only the Slytherins looked slightly worried , and continued.
"And then there's someone I would like to introduce to you. Please welcome Professor Palmer, she will be your Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher this year."
A frail looking, young, blond woman made her way to the Head Table, accompanied by a spontaneous outburst of applause.
"Hey, they finally managed to find someone suitable." Dean Thomas said, gaping at their new professor.
"I thought Professor Lupin did just fine." Hermione replied.
Harry was about to confirm, but then Professor Palmer passed the Gryffindor table and his eye caught hers. A soothing warm feeling invaded him and he suddenly didn't worry about his vision or Snape's condition any more. He had the strangest, ridiculous idea that everything would be alright.
Next to him, Ron stared at the new Professor and sighed.
"Oh Merlin, she's like an angel."
Hermione and Ginny both roared with laughter. Ron narrowed his eyes and spat: "I have two words for you: Gilderoy Lockhart !"
Hermione stopped laughing, but Ginny couldn't control herself and her face went dark red, tears of laughter rolling down her cheeks.
"She looks like Julia Roberts !" Dean Thomas exclaimed.
"Julia … who ?" Ron started.
"Huh ?" Hermione turned her head to take another look.
"No way, Professor Palmer is blond and Julia Roberts definitely is not."
Dean rolled his eyes.
"Do you think she's Veela ?" Ron asked.
Hermione turned around again. "No, I don't think so. She seems just normal to me. Anyway, I think you're all reacting like that because she's the first female teacher under fifty to enter Hogwarts. Am I right ?"
"Probably." Harry agreed. He had to admit he was instantly attracted to the new teacher as well, but not because of her looks. Sure, she was very pretty, but there was something about her …
"Does she remind you of someone ?" He asked Ron and Hermione.
Both shook their heads.
"I can't get the idea out of my head that I have seen her somewhere before."
"Such a shame she should teach Dark Arts, Snape's going to eat her alive and besides, she's much too nice to know anything about that evil stuff." Seamus said.
Ron spread his eyes open wide. "What if she's a spy from Voldemort ?" he whispered only for Harry and Hermione to hear.
Harry's first impulse was to reject that idea right away, but he had learned from past mistakes that things weren't always like they appeared to be and he told himself to hold onto Alastor Moody's motto: constant vigilance.
"Look at Malfoy !!!!" Ginny yelled, pointing her finger at the Slytherin table.
"Ooooh." Fred and George moaned simultaneously.
The entire Gryffindor table laughed their heads off at the expense of an oblivious Draco Malfoy who was too entranced by the new teacher to notice his mortal enemies were having a good time watching him drooling over Professor Palmer.
"I like her already." Hermione giggled.
