The summer had come to an end. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was filled with witches and wizards alike preparing for their classes and setting up the dormitories for the students that would soon be filing in. Most of the professors were already awaiting the students at the dining hall for Hagrid would, no doubt, have brought them all in safely. Professor McGonagall was busy ushering the new 1st years into the waiting hall. Hagrid had already brought in the students from the train, and their lugagge was in the process of being filtered in to the seperate common rooms.
Adalia fiddled with the hem of her robes as Dumbledore gave his speech to the Hogwarts students. She could feel every eye on her, no doubt wondering who she was and whether or not she'd be a better teacher than the retched Professor Umbridge. Adalia smirked.
'These kids don't know me, yet they are all going to have to accept me in the end. She scanned the crowd, eyes never stopping. Just look at these kids. None of them know what awaits them out in the real world. None of them know. I shall do my best to make sure they won't have to. Her fist unconsciously gripped her wand, ten and a quarter inches made from willow with the core of a dragon's heartstring, harder. Her eyes continued to scan the room throughout the room sorting with several of the 1st years going to Gryffindor. Adalia smiled. Gryffindor…the legendary house of Harry Potter. I can not wait to meet him. Finally through with her thoughts, she turned her gaze and attention over to the headmaster as he ended his speech.
"Seeing as how everyone has been sorted into their second house, what's say we eat, hmm?"
A chorus of cheers resounded through the hall as plates of food appeared before everyone. The evening would go joyously, as always. Students mumbled and chattered throughout the course of the meal, and many shouted from table to table. It was fun to Adalia to see the kids that held their love's hand, and the children that read books while reading. Adalia had a gift; her mind was much more...curious than others. If Adalia willed it so, she could pierce into the mind of anyone. Some had managed to block her out for they could feel the gentle proding. Yet, most were never aware that she was peering deep inside their most darkest desires. There was a way that you could do the same thing with a spell, but take away Adalia's wand and she'd still manage to bring you to your knees. She peered into the minds of some of the students gazing at her. One boy from Slytherin seemed to be eying her with interest. Invading his mind hadn't been hard at all to do, and the thoughts she found their contained lust and desire - aimed at her, of all people. Adalia, needless to say, found this extremely amusing. There was one other student that Adalia had tried to penetrate. A girl was sitting at her table, eating politely, and reading a very thick book. In all of Adalia's memory there were very few people that ever did that. She extended her thoughts and pushed at the girl's barriers. Interestinly enough, Adalia's thoughts bounced back. The child's head shot up and she glanced around uneasily, setting her book down and talking to the red headed boy next to her. However, there was still a worried look on her face. 'Amazing. This girl blocked my thoughts. That's no small feat. And not only did she block me, she felt the proding...how can that be?'
Professor McGonagall tapped her fork against the outer rim of her glass, interrupting Adalia's thoughts. All the students who had been to Hogwarts before we well aware that this meant hush. Those that were new could tell by the turn of heads. Dumbledore rose again and faced the tables filled with bright wizards and witches. He made his usual announcements about the Forbidden Forest and the 3rd floor corridor. But, he had a new announcement to make this time. It had been a very embarassing moment for Adalia.
"As I am sure you have all noticed," Dumbledore said, "Professor Umbridge has been found a replacement." There was an echo of cheers through the hall. "Your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is Professor Devlin. I'm hoping that she will be more welcomed than the last teacher."
After a few last minute announcements, the prefects were told to take their house to the common rooms. The students filed out and soon the Great Hall was empty. 'This hall is abandoned. It mirrors my own heart.' She gazed at the enchanted ceiling that was showing a fierce thunderstorm. 'And the ceiling shows my soul...' She stoud from her chair mournfully and exited the hall, eager to escape the memories that came flooding back.
Adalia entered the chamber to face her first class. Indeed, her heart was pounding full blast in her chest. Her palms were sweaty and she had begun a ritual of unceremoniously wiping them against the sides of her black Professor's robe.
How is it that I can face Voldemort and talk to him in an almost civil conversation, yet I'm becoming so nervous at just facing a bunch of children to teach them?
Though she had reached the podium by now, the classroom was still full of laughter and chitchat. Adalia smirked evilly and, in her most Professor Umbridge-like voice, cleared her throat.
"HEM HEM!"
The noise received the desired effect as heads in the classroom shot up, most with a look of complete terror on their faces. Adalia, though, noticed one girl who seemed to realize that it had been her for she was glaring at her with a small smirk on her face, not unlike that of Adalia's. Adalia gazed at the girl as the girl gazed at her. The girl was well on her way to becoming a woman; Adalia figured she was about 16. A sudden flash of recognition hit her.
That's the girl that was reading during the meal last night. She's a peculiar one, yes she is. I couldn't enter her thoughts...how odd.
Now that most of the students had calmed down, Adalia spoke.
"Good morning, students. I am your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, as I am sure you've figured out. My name is Adalia Devlin, though everyone of you here will refer to me as Professor Devlin. I would like to explain a bit how I am going to run this class and I will also make it very clear to you what you will be allowed to do and what you WILL NOT be allow do."
The girl the Adalia had taken a liking to raised her hand. Adalia pointed at her.
"Yes, Miss…..?"
"Granger. Hermione Granger."
"Very well. You have a question, Ms. Granger?"
"I was just wondering if you were planning on teaching will a more hands on approach than Professor Umbridge."
Adalia frowned, obviously displeased with the question.
"Miss Granger, what house are you in?"
Hermione looked confused.
"G-gryffindor."
"Five points from Gryffindor for asking a question that, had you put your impatience aside, would have heard the answer to, Ms. Granger. Now, would you kindly hold all of your questions until the end of my speech, please?"
Hermione blushed and nodded as a few of her classmates snickered at her. There was a boy, though, sitting next to her that seemed positively angry with Adalia. His black hair was messed up, though you could tell he'd made an effort to maintain it. His glasses did nothing for his face, but you still couldn't miss his green eyes.
"Thank you. Now as I was trying to say, I will be teaching this class in a way you have NOT experienced before. I've been informed that, indeed, your class has been very…chopped through the years. Therefore, we will be doing a review of the major defensive spells that you are supposed to already know. Once those are complete I will be teaching you the standard basics of the high skill level spells. I'm hoping to accomplish this all before Christmas, so please everyone, and do your best. Now, as for the actual style of teaching, we will have a schedule that will be somewhere along the lines of two days with wands and a day without them. I understand that you are probably all against that, but your mind, believe it or not, is just as important as your wand. So, on those days we will have "miniature" battles. Here, let me demonstrate."
Adalia flicked her wand a little stage appeared on her desk. Behind her on the wall appeared a projection screen that mirrored the playing field.
"If you look at the screen, you will see the match magnified so that you won't have to strain your eyes. Now, I need two volunteers."
She scanned the room and chose Hermione and a blonde boy that seem to be completely arrogant. She also noticed that it happened to be the boy from the feast that had been fantasizing about her.
"What is your name?"
She addressed her question to the boy, and he in turn, stuck his chest out and held his chin high.
"Draco Malfoy, Professor Devlin. I am the Slytherin Quidditch Seeker. I'm also the leader of the Syltherin house, as anyone will tell you."
Oh god. Adalia sighed. He's nothing but a pompous idiot!
"That's all very well, Mr. Malfoy, but I asked for your name, not you nonexistent title that only you seem to believe. Five points from Slytherin for not listening."
Snickers once again filled the room. Draco scowled.
"Now, if you'll please take out your wands," Adalia instructed, "and set them at opposites sides of the stage. As you will notice, two figurines have appeared. Also, if you'll look at the projection screen, they look exactly like you. Now, Hermione, would you please cast the "Expelliarmus" spell on Mr. Malfoy."
Hermione looked confused.
"I'm sorry, Professor, but how do I do that without my wand?"
"Simple. Exactly as you would with it. Move your hand as if it still held the wand and cast the "Expelliarmus" at Mr. Malfoy. Everyone, focus on the projection screen please!"
All eyes were focused on the front of the room, entranced by the new method of teaching. Hermione raised her right hand in the air and pointed it at Draco.
"Expelliarmus!"
The two figurines on the stage moved. The figurine mirroring Hermione raised it's right hand in the air and waved the wand. The Draco figurine was hit by the spell and his wand flew form his hand, landing a few centimeters away from it. There was a round of collective gasps from the students and Adalia smiled.
At least they seem to enjoy my little invention. Mayeb this won't be as bad as I thought.
"Thank you, Hermione. Thank you, Draco. Hermione, 10 points awarded to Gryffindor for performing the spell correctly. Now, will you two please collect your wands and return to your seats."
She watched as the two sat back down. She'd come to realize that Hermione was the good girl while Draco would prove to be more bad than good. She could also see it now as they sat down next to their friends. Hermione's friends, the black haired boy and a red head, looked pleased with her. Draco's friends, on the other hand, seemed to only respect Draco or were maybe just afraid of him.
"Does anyone have any questions now," she glanced at Hermione smiling. "or is everyone clear on what will be expected of you?"
The boy next to Hermione raised his hand.
"Yes sir. Your name is…?"
"Harry. Harry Potter"
This boy is Harry Potter? He looks so much older than I would have expected. Though, anyone that is close to Voldemort in anyway has felt their age catch up with them. He's such a poor boy. At least Voldemort hasn't tried to kill me…yet.
"Potter? Well, Mr. Potter, what is your question?"
He leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs on top of the desk.
"Yeah. Where'd you get your experience for this? You're not another nut from the council, are you?"
Hermione gasped and punched Harry in the arm. The red head beside him had to hide his face in his hands to keep from laughing. The room seemed to tense, awaiting the punishment for such an outlandish remark.
"Excuse me, Mr. Potter? I really do not think that your question is a suitable one. Perhaps we should have a conversation after class."
The bell rang and the students filed out of the classroom with Hermione and the red head hanging behind. Harry turned to them both.
"Go on, guys. I'll see you later. Oh yeah, Ron, tell Ginny I'm sorry about the Quidditch thing."
Ron, the red head, nodded and left the room with Hermione. Adalia sat on the desk infront of Harry, facing him.
"Why'd you ask me that question Harry?"
He shrugged.
"It hasn't been the best summer and I'm not exactly so happy to be back at Hogwarts."
"Because of Voldemort being back?"
He shrugeed again.
"Look, can you just give me the detention so I can get out of here and get on my way to Divination?"
"I'm not giving you detention, Potter."
"Please!" He threw his hands into the air and set a glare on her. "Don't you think me some poor boy who can't handle himself! Don't you think I know what people say behind my backs! Well, what I hear isn't anything I'm proud of, I'll tell you that. Listen to me, ADALIA!!!" He said her first name slowly and loudly. "I don't need your pity and I don't want it. So just give me detention and let me go."
Adalia gazed at this boy. He was not the boy that she had read about. She gently tried to push into his mind, and immediately felt the heat of his anger burst out. She hadn't wanted to give him detention, but the prospect of getting to know him was very interesting.
"Fine. Detention Potter. Come to my room tonight after dinner and we'll arrange a suitable punishment."
Harry grabbed his wand and his books and disappeared in to the hall.
