For Joe, my kindred spirit.
Chapter Nine: Gus Gruthersford, Keeping Watch
Ron told himself that he was merely in a state of near panic on his first day of teaching. In reality, it was more like a full-blown attack.
"Ron." Hermione called to him as he sat eating his breakfast. "Ron."
"Hmmm?" He looked up to see Hermione's amused expression. "What is it, love?"
Hermione sat down next to him, and calmly put his fork on the table. "You're going to be wonderful, Ronald Weasley."
He sighed. "I hope so."
Hermione shook her head. "No, you have to believe it, otherwise those kids will eat you for breakfast."
"I've never done anything like this. Harry."
"Doesn't have anything to do with this," Hermione finished certainly.
"I don't have any plans, I don't know."
"So, do a practical lesson to get them started," Hermione supplied helpfully. "Lecturing about rules and such never held your attention for long. Think back. what kept you motivated during your years at Hogwarts?"
Ron smiled. "You did, love."
Hermione blushed and tucked her hair behind her ears, a habit she'd picked up during her pregnancy with the first of their two children. "Before me," she whispered.
Ron grinned and kissed her cheek with love, then her lips. "Some people aren't so lucky, I guess."
Hermione stood abruptly. "Ronald Weasley, you pick the most ridiculous times to be romantic! I have to get the children ready for nursery school, and I'm all --" she made a vague motion with her hands "-- flustered."
"You're pretty when you're flustered."
"You're biased," Hermione declared. "When do you have to be at school?"
"My first class is in a couple of hours. I think I ought to leave now."
Hermione nodded in agreement. "Go get 'em, Captain Weasley."
"I shall see you when I get home, Mrs. Weasley."
"I look forward to it," Hermione said, and shook her head as Ron Disapparated, "Professor."
**
Hogwarts hadn't changed much since Harry's days at the school. The staircases still changed, the portraits still moved, and classes carried on with the same varied levels of enthusiasm from both students and staff.
Jessica, James and Mick were seated at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall during breakfast, reviewing their time tables.
"Look at our first class!" James exclaimed.
Mick made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. "Potions, with Snape."
Jessica chewed thoughtfully on her lip. "I don't know. Potions sounds kind of interesting."
"Snape doesn't," James said.
"I intend to go into the class calm, cool, and collected, and come out of it that way. According to what Dad said, Professor Snape may not be the easiest person to get along with, but he's brilliant at what he does," Jessica said primly, and with a hint of sarcasm.
"You do what you want, sister mine," Mick said with careless grin, and shoved an entire sausage into his mouth. When he grinned, he displayed it in its entire length. With a deft movement, he brought the meat back into his mouth and swallowed it.
"Chew," Jessica muttered.
"Mick and I, we've got a plan," James announced.
"Why am I not surprised?"
"Because we always have a plan?" Mick guessed.
"That's probably it," Jessica agreed.
"What's going on?" Gareth asked, and swung himself down next to Jessica. "You all look really serious."
"We're going over our time tables," James said, and regarded the plate of eggs, and a second helping, thoughtfully.
"What's your first class of the day?"
"Potions," Mick supplied and bit off half of another sausage.
"Professor Snape," Gareth said with the smile of the wise and superior. "Wonderful bloke."
"I'm sure he is," Jessica said dryly.
"It's all in the attitude," Gareth went on. "If you go into his class thinking positively, you get so much more out of the experience."
"What is there positive about having Potions first thing in the morning?" James asked.
"Well, that means I don't have it first thing in the morning," Gareth said, and strode off, leaving Jessica debating whether or not to laugh or snarl. She opted for the former.
"I just overhead your conversation," Delia said shyly. "Who do we have Potions with?"
Jessica checked the piece of parchment sitting in front of her. "It looks like Hufflepuff."
"Good. Our first class of the day won't be with Slytherin, then," James said, and shoved his plate away.
"I'm not sure if that's to our advantage or not, mate," Mick threw in, and also slid away from the table. "Time will tell, I suppose."
Jessica rolled her eyes. "We have Uncle Ron's class just before lunch."
"It's Professor Weasley now," a deep voice said from behind them.
With a squeal, Delia and Jessica jumped up, frightened.
"Orion!" Jessica exclaimed. Even though Orion was only really seventeen years old, his inherited Divination ability more than qualified him for the position of professor.
Grinning wickedly, the boy stepped back from the table. He wore his long hair pulled back with a leather strip. Long, simple blue robes were draped over his lean and tall body. Anna could never explain why her son was over a foot taller than her, and much taller than her husband. His eyes were blue- the same startling shade as his mother's, though that wasn't the only thing he'd inherited from Anna.
"I thought his name was Professor Lupin," Delia whispered.
"It is, in class," Jessica said. "He used to baby-sit us during the summer when Mum and Dad would go out."
"If I were you," Orion said, and the weight of his eyes drew Jessica's, "I would be more careful about letting people know your connections. I know you don't do it on purpose, but it might seem that way to some people."
"Like we get special treatment because we're Potters?" Mick asked.
"Exactly," Orion, or rather, Professor Lupin, acknowledged. "It may seem ridiculous to you lot, but some of the students get. jealous. Very easily."
James, Jessica and Mick all nodded, in the strange triplet unison that they only rarely employed. "Right."
With a nod, Orion headed up to the staff table and warmly greeted Professor Binns.
"Come on, let's get to class," James said, and they all rose.
**
The class of seventh year students spread themselves throughout the room, with Gryffindors on one side, and Slytherins on the other.
After five minutes of waiting for the professor to arrive, quiet conversations began. The room grew silent again as they heard the distinct step-drag-thump coming down the hallway.
The door opened silently, and Professor Weasley made his way in painfully, though with pride. The medals that decorated his cloak clanged together in testimony of his years of service to the government and the Ministry.
"Hello. My name is Captain Ronald Weasley, of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Professor Weasley will work in this setting.
"This class will be dangerous. If you're not prepared to listen to what I have to say, and then apply it. you will get hurt. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Is that understood?"
The class nodded.
"Real life dark wizards don't give you second chances. They don't give you time to make up your mind. You've got to react instinctively. That is what I'm going to teach you to do in this class. If you're going to react without having to think, that means that all your thinking has to be done ahead of time, so, yes, you will be learning magical theory, and yes, you will be writing papers in this class.
"However, a great portion of this class will be practical application. skills that you will need every day for the rest of your life. Yes, Miss.?"
"Lisa Thompson, sir."
"Yes, Miss Thompson?"
"What do you mean skills that we'll need every day?"
Ron sighed. "I mean self-defense. I mean knowing what to look for. knowing the difference between Dark and Light magic. and the line is blurrier than you think it is, I can guarantee.
"Whether you recognize it or not, you need Defense Against the Dark Arts in your adult life. You will apply this knowledge, I assure of it, especially if you're interested in a job with the Ministry.
"Now, put your books away. Let's start the year off right. We're going to be dealing with the Flamantus Curse."
**
"What did Gareth say about having a positive attitude in that bloke's class?" Jessica asked and pointed irritably towards the dungeons.
James and Mick wisely kept their mouths shut. "Never, in all of my life, have I met someone so. biased without even having met us!"
"I'm certainly glad I'm not you," Delia muttered under her breath.
Jessica let off a frustrated sound. "I'm telling you, it's indecent! Just because our grandfather couldn't stand him."
"For obvious reasons," James put in, and was awarded with a dirty look.
".He thinks he needs to take it out on us. The nerve of that man, insulting Dad in front of us, and there's not a thing we can do about it. I swear, I."
She vented until they reached the moving stairways.
Delia took a step backwards. "I do not like these things."
Jessica shrugged. "To be perfectly honest, neither do I, but we've got to take them to get to Charms."
"I don't feel very many Gryffindor tendencies right now," Delia said, and backed right into Mick.
"Nonsense," James retorted. "The Sorting Hat put you with us for a reason."
"The stairs might even decide not to move," Mick said, and smiled. "You could have got all worked up over something that's not going to happen."
Delia took a deep breath. "I suppose if I close my eyes, it won't be as bad."
Jessica shrugged. "I think that would make it worse, but whatever works for you."
Shakily, Delia put her foot in the first stair, and then moved forward, step by step, with her eyes closed and her hand firmly on the railing. Behind her, the Potters formed a wall, never moving until she did.
Watching from the top balcony, Mr. Gruthersford chuckled. "'Arry's children, 'ere at 'Ogwarts already. This will make things interestin'."
Rising his old bones slowly from the sitting position, he stealthily made his way down into the Room of Requirement- the room where Lily and James had stored their message to Harry and Ginny.
The door opened more easily for him than it had for them, and he stepped inside the now cool, cleared out room.
With a caress of one of his long, bony fingers, one of the bricks in the wall slid out, and he removed the last of his collection of papers and put them in the box that was already there. Soon, he would be done with his obligation to the Potter family, and to Albus Dumbledore. Then. and then he didn't know what he was going to do.
The arthritis in his knees impaired his movement, so that he wasn't as quick as he used to be. That didn't mean that he still couldn't get the job done. he just took more time to get it done right.
His last stop before he left Hogwarts was the Owlery. Taking one of the pieces of parchment and a quill supplied by the school, he scrawled out a quick note.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Harry Potter,
I'm not sure that you'll recognize the seal on the document I've enclosed, but I'm an old servant of Mr. Potter's father, James.
Perhaps this will help you in identifying your mysterious disease.
As always, I'm keeping watch, ~Augustus Gruthersford
Just as the bird took off into the sky, Gus felt something heavy on the base of his skull. He had just enough time to register the hit before he passed out completely.
**
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Chapter Nine: Gus Gruthersford, Keeping Watch
Ron told himself that he was merely in a state of near panic on his first day of teaching. In reality, it was more like a full-blown attack.
"Ron." Hermione called to him as he sat eating his breakfast. "Ron."
"Hmmm?" He looked up to see Hermione's amused expression. "What is it, love?"
Hermione sat down next to him, and calmly put his fork on the table. "You're going to be wonderful, Ronald Weasley."
He sighed. "I hope so."
Hermione shook her head. "No, you have to believe it, otherwise those kids will eat you for breakfast."
"I've never done anything like this. Harry."
"Doesn't have anything to do with this," Hermione finished certainly.
"I don't have any plans, I don't know."
"So, do a practical lesson to get them started," Hermione supplied helpfully. "Lecturing about rules and such never held your attention for long. Think back. what kept you motivated during your years at Hogwarts?"
Ron smiled. "You did, love."
Hermione blushed and tucked her hair behind her ears, a habit she'd picked up during her pregnancy with the first of their two children. "Before me," she whispered.
Ron grinned and kissed her cheek with love, then her lips. "Some people aren't so lucky, I guess."
Hermione stood abruptly. "Ronald Weasley, you pick the most ridiculous times to be romantic! I have to get the children ready for nursery school, and I'm all --" she made a vague motion with her hands "-- flustered."
"You're pretty when you're flustered."
"You're biased," Hermione declared. "When do you have to be at school?"
"My first class is in a couple of hours. I think I ought to leave now."
Hermione nodded in agreement. "Go get 'em, Captain Weasley."
"I shall see you when I get home, Mrs. Weasley."
"I look forward to it," Hermione said, and shook her head as Ron Disapparated, "Professor."
**
Hogwarts hadn't changed much since Harry's days at the school. The staircases still changed, the portraits still moved, and classes carried on with the same varied levels of enthusiasm from both students and staff.
Jessica, James and Mick were seated at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall during breakfast, reviewing their time tables.
"Look at our first class!" James exclaimed.
Mick made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. "Potions, with Snape."
Jessica chewed thoughtfully on her lip. "I don't know. Potions sounds kind of interesting."
"Snape doesn't," James said.
"I intend to go into the class calm, cool, and collected, and come out of it that way. According to what Dad said, Professor Snape may not be the easiest person to get along with, but he's brilliant at what he does," Jessica said primly, and with a hint of sarcasm.
"You do what you want, sister mine," Mick said with careless grin, and shoved an entire sausage into his mouth. When he grinned, he displayed it in its entire length. With a deft movement, he brought the meat back into his mouth and swallowed it.
"Chew," Jessica muttered.
"Mick and I, we've got a plan," James announced.
"Why am I not surprised?"
"Because we always have a plan?" Mick guessed.
"That's probably it," Jessica agreed.
"What's going on?" Gareth asked, and swung himself down next to Jessica. "You all look really serious."
"We're going over our time tables," James said, and regarded the plate of eggs, and a second helping, thoughtfully.
"What's your first class of the day?"
"Potions," Mick supplied and bit off half of another sausage.
"Professor Snape," Gareth said with the smile of the wise and superior. "Wonderful bloke."
"I'm sure he is," Jessica said dryly.
"It's all in the attitude," Gareth went on. "If you go into his class thinking positively, you get so much more out of the experience."
"What is there positive about having Potions first thing in the morning?" James asked.
"Well, that means I don't have it first thing in the morning," Gareth said, and strode off, leaving Jessica debating whether or not to laugh or snarl. She opted for the former.
"I just overhead your conversation," Delia said shyly. "Who do we have Potions with?"
Jessica checked the piece of parchment sitting in front of her. "It looks like Hufflepuff."
"Good. Our first class of the day won't be with Slytherin, then," James said, and shoved his plate away.
"I'm not sure if that's to our advantage or not, mate," Mick threw in, and also slid away from the table. "Time will tell, I suppose."
Jessica rolled her eyes. "We have Uncle Ron's class just before lunch."
"It's Professor Weasley now," a deep voice said from behind them.
With a squeal, Delia and Jessica jumped up, frightened.
"Orion!" Jessica exclaimed. Even though Orion was only really seventeen years old, his inherited Divination ability more than qualified him for the position of professor.
Grinning wickedly, the boy stepped back from the table. He wore his long hair pulled back with a leather strip. Long, simple blue robes were draped over his lean and tall body. Anna could never explain why her son was over a foot taller than her, and much taller than her husband. His eyes were blue- the same startling shade as his mother's, though that wasn't the only thing he'd inherited from Anna.
"I thought his name was Professor Lupin," Delia whispered.
"It is, in class," Jessica said. "He used to baby-sit us during the summer when Mum and Dad would go out."
"If I were you," Orion said, and the weight of his eyes drew Jessica's, "I would be more careful about letting people know your connections. I know you don't do it on purpose, but it might seem that way to some people."
"Like we get special treatment because we're Potters?" Mick asked.
"Exactly," Orion, or rather, Professor Lupin, acknowledged. "It may seem ridiculous to you lot, but some of the students get. jealous. Very easily."
James, Jessica and Mick all nodded, in the strange triplet unison that they only rarely employed. "Right."
With a nod, Orion headed up to the staff table and warmly greeted Professor Binns.
"Come on, let's get to class," James said, and they all rose.
**
The class of seventh year students spread themselves throughout the room, with Gryffindors on one side, and Slytherins on the other.
After five minutes of waiting for the professor to arrive, quiet conversations began. The room grew silent again as they heard the distinct step-drag-thump coming down the hallway.
The door opened silently, and Professor Weasley made his way in painfully, though with pride. The medals that decorated his cloak clanged together in testimony of his years of service to the government and the Ministry.
"Hello. My name is Captain Ronald Weasley, of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Professor Weasley will work in this setting.
"This class will be dangerous. If you're not prepared to listen to what I have to say, and then apply it. you will get hurt. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Is that understood?"
The class nodded.
"Real life dark wizards don't give you second chances. They don't give you time to make up your mind. You've got to react instinctively. That is what I'm going to teach you to do in this class. If you're going to react without having to think, that means that all your thinking has to be done ahead of time, so, yes, you will be learning magical theory, and yes, you will be writing papers in this class.
"However, a great portion of this class will be practical application. skills that you will need every day for the rest of your life. Yes, Miss.?"
"Lisa Thompson, sir."
"Yes, Miss Thompson?"
"What do you mean skills that we'll need every day?"
Ron sighed. "I mean self-defense. I mean knowing what to look for. knowing the difference between Dark and Light magic. and the line is blurrier than you think it is, I can guarantee.
"Whether you recognize it or not, you need Defense Against the Dark Arts in your adult life. You will apply this knowledge, I assure of it, especially if you're interested in a job with the Ministry.
"Now, put your books away. Let's start the year off right. We're going to be dealing with the Flamantus Curse."
**
"What did Gareth say about having a positive attitude in that bloke's class?" Jessica asked and pointed irritably towards the dungeons.
James and Mick wisely kept their mouths shut. "Never, in all of my life, have I met someone so. biased without even having met us!"
"I'm certainly glad I'm not you," Delia muttered under her breath.
Jessica let off a frustrated sound. "I'm telling you, it's indecent! Just because our grandfather couldn't stand him."
"For obvious reasons," James put in, and was awarded with a dirty look.
".He thinks he needs to take it out on us. The nerve of that man, insulting Dad in front of us, and there's not a thing we can do about it. I swear, I."
She vented until they reached the moving stairways.
Delia took a step backwards. "I do not like these things."
Jessica shrugged. "To be perfectly honest, neither do I, but we've got to take them to get to Charms."
"I don't feel very many Gryffindor tendencies right now," Delia said, and backed right into Mick.
"Nonsense," James retorted. "The Sorting Hat put you with us for a reason."
"The stairs might even decide not to move," Mick said, and smiled. "You could have got all worked up over something that's not going to happen."
Delia took a deep breath. "I suppose if I close my eyes, it won't be as bad."
Jessica shrugged. "I think that would make it worse, but whatever works for you."
Shakily, Delia put her foot in the first stair, and then moved forward, step by step, with her eyes closed and her hand firmly on the railing. Behind her, the Potters formed a wall, never moving until she did.
Watching from the top balcony, Mr. Gruthersford chuckled. "'Arry's children, 'ere at 'Ogwarts already. This will make things interestin'."
Rising his old bones slowly from the sitting position, he stealthily made his way down into the Room of Requirement- the room where Lily and James had stored their message to Harry and Ginny.
The door opened more easily for him than it had for them, and he stepped inside the now cool, cleared out room.
With a caress of one of his long, bony fingers, one of the bricks in the wall slid out, and he removed the last of his collection of papers and put them in the box that was already there. Soon, he would be done with his obligation to the Potter family, and to Albus Dumbledore. Then. and then he didn't know what he was going to do.
The arthritis in his knees impaired his movement, so that he wasn't as quick as he used to be. That didn't mean that he still couldn't get the job done. he just took more time to get it done right.
His last stop before he left Hogwarts was the Owlery. Taking one of the pieces of parchment and a quill supplied by the school, he scrawled out a quick note.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Harry Potter,
I'm not sure that you'll recognize the seal on the document I've enclosed, but I'm an old servant of Mr. Potter's father, James.
Perhaps this will help you in identifying your mysterious disease.
As always, I'm keeping watch, ~Augustus Gruthersford
Just as the bird took off into the sky, Gus felt something heavy on the base of his skull. He had just enough time to register the hit before he passed out completely.
**
My Yahoo! Group is: groups.yahoo.com/group/testedinfirefans/- come on in, we'd love to have you!
