Chapter Four:
Just the First Week
Usagi never felt more faintish than she did now. She was hyperventilating. The news she had just heard was like a blow to the chest, knocking the air from her lungs. Her head was spinning, and she had to grab onto the wall, to keep herself from falling out of the carriage.
"Miss Usagi, are you all right?"
"Can't breathe."
Looking at him, with wild blue eyes, she lunged at him. Her hand grabbed a hold of his robes, and she jerked his face to hers, so that their noses touched. Ruthlessly breathing through her nose, she gasped, "What did you say?"
A single silver eyebrow rose with worry. "During your stay here at Hogwarts, you will be in training." His hands covered hers, and carefully, he uncurled her fingers from his robes. Pulling back, he let her go, and fixed his garments. "I am getting too old, to be the headmaster at this school, for very much longer. So I need someone, to take my place. Pluto came to me, with her request, and I agreed. I believe you will make a fine Headmistress. But while you are training, you will fill in as the teacher for the Defense Against the Dark Arts class."
"Nande kuso!" She looked at him incredulously. "You can't be serious!"
Albus frowned slightly, "well I hope I'm not joking."
Feeling nauseous, Usagi dropped her head between her knees, and counted to ten. Catching her breath, she lifted her head, and turned to the old man next to her. "I can't teach a class, let alone run a school! You would have to be crazy to believe that I could. No offense, but seriously, my kindergarten sensei didn't even think I would make it to junior high."
The older man chuckled, as the carriage came to a stop. Nodding to the exit, Usagi climbed out, and he followed her. "Then call me crazy, Miss Usagi." The blonde gazed at him, standing where the carriage had dropped them off. He started off for the castle, which loomed over them ominously. Looking up, she sighed. Setsuna was cruising for a bruising. "I bet your getting a kick out of this."
From her bag, Artimis snickered, "only a little."
Wrinkling her nose, she snapped, "well iie cat nip for you kitty." Artimis snorted, "Spoiled sport."
She nodded her head indulgently, before moving to follow Albus inside. Moving with a group of adults, Usagi never felt more intimidated. Ducking her head, she moved around the determine women in emerald green robes. She looked crossed, her beady eyes burrowing down on the blonde. Swallowing, Usagi scurried ahead, bumping into a man in black robes, before she reached Albus' side.
Sighing, she following him up the stairs to the large oak doors. He pushed them open, and with the others, they entered the entrance hall.
Usagi stopped, and the teachers moved around her to get to the double doors, on the right wall. Looking around, she had the uncanny thought that she had done this before. Felt like this before, when she had entered this room. She felt frightened, felt anxious, and the feelings weren't foreign. At some point in her life, she had stood here, and felt these emotions before.
"Usagi?"
Blinking, she looked up to find herself standing in front of the oak doors, the group of adults standing across the room. She flushed, and hurried to stand at the headmaster's side. "Hai, gomen, I was distracted by the decorating of the room." Still red in the face from her lie, she entered another large room with the other teachers. This one held five tables; four of them followed the length of the room, while the last one stood at the ends of the four tables.
The table closest to her, made her pause. Instead of following the others around the two closest tables, she followed the length of the one that stood nearest to the entrance. At the far end, she stopped, and stared at the bench. She felt an odd sensation to sit down, there at the farthest end, on the edge of the seat.
Looking over at the table in front, she noted that all the teachers had taken their places, with only three empty seats remaining. The woman in the green robes she had seen earlier was missing. At the end closest to her, sat the young man in the black robes. At closer look, she wrinkled her nose. His black eyes were fixed with a glare, his thin lips formed into a snarl. His black hair looked greasy, and was shaggy around his face.
He looked towards her, and Usagi had to look away. Drinking in the air, she searched the table for Albus. He sat in the middle, with an empty chair on each side of him. He was looking at her, through the crescent moon glasses of his. "Miss Usagi, you sit with us now."
Her brows shot together, and she looked at the bench, she was halfway in. Sit with them now? So I sat here, in my last life.
Nodding, she moved from the bench, and rounded the teacher's table. She passed the hooked nose teacher, in the black robes. As she made her way down the length of the table, she could feel a pair of eyes on her back.
Looking at the three empty seats, she plopped down in the one on the Headmaster's left. Licking her lips, she eyed the golden plate in front of her. "So, when do we eat?"
He chuckled, his face crinkling into a smile, "Soon Miss Usagi." At his words, the doors to the room opened, and noise filled the silence. Kids her age, some older, most younger than herself, entered the hall. She fidgeted, feeling quite nervous to be where she was.
Usagi quickly realized, that most that walked in, looked at the table they sat in, and searched it. She squirmed under their quizzical looks. Looking to Albus, she straightened in her seat. He looked calm as ever. If she was going to replace him, she would…
Her hands flew up to her face, smacking her cheeks. What am I thinking!?! Eyes wide as ever, she shook her head vigorously, causing those around her, to stare.
Smiling, Albus reached out, and touched her shoulder, "Don't worry Usagi, everything is going to be fine."
She froze, her face turning red with embarrassment. "Oh h-hai!"
Taking her gaze from the older man, she looked out at the tables. All four of them were nearly filled with students. The doors to the hall opened once more, and this time the woman with green robes guided a large group of kids into the room.
"They're about Chibi Usa's age."
Searching the crowd she half expected to see the pink haired spore she had come to love. When the single line reached their table, Usagi was greatly disappointed not to find her future daughter amongst the sea of heads. She leaned back in her seat, as the one woman set out a stool, with an old hat sitting on it.
Do you think you have what it takes to follow in their footsteps?
Usagi frowned, where had that come from? Staring at the hat, she was startled from her thoughts, when it moved. The next thing she knew, it began to sing. Snorting in disbelief, she leaned forward in her chair, her jaw hanging open. What on Earth?
Albus chuckled, "Now Usagi don't act as if you're surprised. Since you have heard it before." She whipped her head around to look at him. "I have?" She had sudden fleeting thought, of standing in the large room, feeling frightened and anxious all at once. "I don't remember." She lowered her eyes to the table, a frown fixed on her face.
Patting her on the back, he whispered, "don't force it Usagi, your memories will come." She nodded, and forced herself to concentrate on the hat. Its song ended, and the old woman stepped forward to call names.
Watching, Usagi noted, each kid called from the line, sat down on the stool, and set the hat on its head.
Very well. SLYTHERIN!Wrinkling her nose in distaste, when she heard her stomach growl, she glanced around to see if anyone had heard. She was absolutely starving. Just as the sorting ended, someone sat down in the seat next to her. Looking over, she had to look up to see the man's face. Eyes widening in shock, she stared up at the giant next to her.
He looked down at her, and his face spread out into a grin. "Hullo, you must be Usagi. Pluto told me lot 'bout yeh."
"Really?" She plastered on a smile, while her stomach did flip-flops. She was jerked to attention, when Albus stood.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. But before we begin our banquet, I have few things I must say. As all of you must have realized, I am not as young as I used to be." He paused, his eyes searching the crowd, seeking certain heads. "So I have made a decision that it is time that I retire."
There were a collective gasps, and frightened looks, that flew around the room. Usagi groaned, "I'm going to have enemies before school begins." Her bottom lip trembled, "please don't tell them, please don't tell them."
"I would also like to introduce to you, your new Defense Against the Dark Art professor, and the one who will be taking my place as Headmaster, Miss Usagi Tsukino."
Her head jerked up, and heat roared through her veins. She could feel her cheeks on fire, and she had to swallow to fight off the sudden queasiness in her stomach. I'm not going to be sick, I'm not going to be sick.
Laughing nervously, she half waved, "h-hi."
Grinning, Albus then added, "let the feast begin."
Food appeared in front of her, and her sudden embarrassment washed away. Greedily, she began to fill her plate full of food, till she couldn't even see the gold any longer. Licking her lips, she set to work on devouring it, without a care, that half the school was watching her.
Shoveling each fork full into her mouth, she groaned with pleasure. "Oh this is yummy." Bite after bite, she soon finished the plate, long before anyone else. Leaning back, she patted her stomach. "That was the best meal I've had in days."
Looking around at the table, she realized all the teachers were staring at her, either something akin to disgust, or fascination on their faces. She went red from head to toe, "eh heh, eh heh heh, so what's for dessert."
"Dear lord."
Her face darkened, and she scratched the back of her head nervously, "they don't call me bottomless pit for nothing."
Albus suddenly grinned, "Glad that you are yourself Usagi. I say this school needs your kind of spirit." Grinning back at him, she beamed, "Glad to be of service, now about that dessert?"
w w w
After the feast the kids where sent to their rooms. Groaning, Usagi patted her stomach. She hadn't eaten so much in her life. Pushing back her chair she wondered with a frown where her room would be.
"Full?"
Grinning sheepishly she nodded, "hai, domo artigato." She yawned, sleepiness kicking in.
"You must be tired. You had a long journey." Albus stood, and motioned for her to follow. "Your Quarters will be near mine."
Standing Usagi followed the older man out of the Great Hall, and up the marble staircase. From the first floor they took another set of stairs leading to the second floor. "I must forewarn you the staircases have a tendency not to lead to the same place in one week." She nodded as they reached the second floor. Following the corridor they stopped near a stone gargoyle in the wall. "This is my room, yours is down this way." They moved passed the gargoyle and continued down the hall. They reached a dead end with a window that over looked the Forbidden Forest and a small hut. "Err…"
Albus shook his head, and replied, "Chocolate Frogs." The window and wall opened like a pair of doors, and revealed a room beyond it. "Whoa."
"You will need to come up with your own password later on, considering this will be your room for the year."
Usagi entered the room, and turned around in circles to inspect it. On the wall to her right were a closet, and a fireplace, kitty corner to the wall farthest from her. A window over looked the forest and what she assumed was the hut she saw before. A bed lay in the corner, which was twice the size of the one she had at home.
Squealing with delight she ran across the room and leaped onto the bed. "Woot!" It was covered in soft pink pillows and with a matching blanket. The four-poster bed was made of dark wood, which matched the chest on the left wall. In the middle of the room was an oval shaped rug with a desk. "Oh wow." Jumping from the bed she ran to the desk made of the same kind of wood. She ran her fingers along the surface.
Watching her from the doorway, Albus stated, "Your things have all ready been put away." Usagi set her handbag down, and ran to the Headmaster. Throwing her arms around him, she hugged him tightly, "Domo artigato!"
Chuckling Albus replied, "don't thank me yet. You still have classes tomorrow. You should get some rest." He pulled away, closing the doors, as he spoke, "I will see you in the Great Hall tomorrow for breakfast."
When the doors shut, Usagi squealed and sprinted back to the bed. She leaped onto the soft mattress and bounced up and down, "Ha ha!" With a sigh she fell, landing lightly on her back, "oh this is nice!"
Smiling as she yawned, she curled into a ball and instantly fell fast asleep.
w w w
"Usagi wake up!"
Groaning, the blonde lifted her head from the fluffy pillow. A white cat was glaring at her, from where he sat. "Get up, or you're going to be late."
She blinked at him sleepily, before rolling over, and closing her eyes once again. As she slipped back into sleep, she drawled, "Five more minutes Okaasan."
"Luna! She won't listen to me. You do it!"
The black feline snickered, "I told you so. Here, take some pointers."
Artimis rolled his eyes, "she's worst than Minako. I thought I had my hands full. But I've been trying to wake this girl up for the last twenty minutes!"
Luna stood over the blonde haired girl's head, and held up her paw. Unsheathing her claws, she only had to swipe once.
"AHHHHH!!!!!!!!"
Usagi threw herself off the bed, and fell face first into the carpet. There was a momentary of silence, before a wail pierced the air, "LUUUUNNNNAAAA!!!!!"
The black cat crawled out from the blankets, and nodded defiantly. "Serves you right. You're going to be late for your first class."
Usagi suddenly sat up. "Late?" Silence filled the air once again, and gave off false vibes of serenity, before another wail erupted, "I'm going to be late!!!!!! Luna why didn't you wake me up!?!"
The black cat shook her head, not bothering to say anything as the blonde kicked things into overdrive.
Hopping around the room, she threw off her clothes, and putting on fresh robes. "Ugg, you two are horrible alarm clocks!" Running a brush through her hair, she efficiently fixed it into her familiar hairstyle. Racing to the door, she threw it open, only for it to slam shut behind her. As she barreled down the corridor, she tied the sash around her waist.
"Ugh I'm going to be late on my first day." Hurrying down the marble staircase, she came to a screeching halt in front of the Great Hall doors. Gulping in air greedily, she tried to gain composure, before she entered.
Shutting the door quietly behind her, she silently made her way through the crowded room. At least she wasn't too late to eat.
"Aw Miss Tsukino its great for you to finally join us." Professor Dumbledore was smiling at her, as she made her way to the table. "Gomen, I sort of slept in. What time is it?"
The older man supplied reassuringly, "Almost nine, classes start in ten minutes."
Groaning, she took a seat, and went to work on stuffing food into her mouth. "I presume you slept well?"
Usagi nodded, and swallowed a mouth full of food. "Hai I did. The bed is so comfy. Much better than I my bed at home, artigato. Wow this food is sugoi!"
Dumbledore chuckled, "well I'm glad things are going well for you, Usagi." The blonde flashed him a smile, "you bet." Pausing between mouthfuls, she suddenly asked, "Where is my first class anyway?"
Albus looked at her, "I will show you Usagi. After breakfast, I will give a quick tour of some of the school." Usagi grinned, "Domo artigato Albus!" Whipping her mouth with her napkin, she turned to the Headmaster and threw her arms around him. Hugging him tightly, she gushed, "Artigato for such wonderful hospitality."
The old man chuckled, "What fun, to see such a happy face. Come Usagi lets show you the school, on our way to your class room."
Usagi nodded, and stood, "Ok." Pushing in her chair, she waited for the headmaster to take the lead.
w w w
Rubbing her hands anxiously before her, she sighed. She was terrified. Shaking to the bone with fear. Eyeing the door, she contemplated on making a run for it. She could grab her broom, and fly home.
Usagi groaned. There was no escape. All Setsuna had to do was use your portal thingy, and whisk her off back to Hogwarts.
How could she go through with this? She wasn't cut out to be a sensei. Let alone, one teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. Who were they trying to kid?
The voices inside rose, and she shivered. She was going to have to keep them entertained? She couldn't even entertain herself for more than ten minutes. How did they expect her to keep a group of teens occupied for like two hours?
Visibly swaying on her feet, she sucked in all the breath she could grasp, before reaching for the door. No better time than now.
"Its time to face the music. My life is never going to be normal, no matter how hard I wish." Usagi shoved the door open, and stepped inside. As soon as the door shut behind her, the voices broke off.
Okay all I have to do, is be Haruna. I can do that. I can play Miss Haruna. Usagi glanced at the students from the corner of her eyes. Half of them were taller than her!
Scratch that, iie I cant.
Moving to the front of the room, she turned to face the class. They seemed to be staring at her with watchful eyes. Albus had said something about them being Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Whatever the hell that means.
Plastering a smile on her face, she tried to think of what all of her teachers had said on the first day of school. "Morning…" catching her bottom lip between her teeth, she added, "I hope all of you are having a better day than me." She got a few chuckles. It was a start.
Time to break the ice.
"Well, I'm going to be your Professor for the year." Turning from them, she moved to her desk. "I just want to get this out in the open, I've never done this before. So this year we can teach each other, How's that?"
She had stunned them into silence. Oh dear, this is not going to work…
Its bad enough they hate me, because they think I'm taking over Albus's job, now they're going to hate me even more, because I cant teach them anything useful.
Sighing, she glanced down at the surface of her desk. A black notebook lay open before her. The date was at the top. It was in readable handwriting, so Usagi skimmed the list.
Introduction? Roll call? Glancing up at the class, she flushed to find them still staring at her. Laughing nervously, she struggled for an excuse, "Err. Gomen. Umm, I'm Usagi Tsukino, you can just call me Professor if you like. Tsukino is more like addressing my Otosan, so…"
When a hand rose among the sea of heads, she found herself somewhat relieved, but yet, more paranoid by the question she feared would be asked. "Y-yes?"
"Professor, just how old are you, if you don't mind me asking."
Opening her mouth to say something, she instantly shut it. She couldn't exactly lie to them about her age. For one, she didn't know how to lie and get away with it, and if she did, the truth would come out anyway, once she started teaching.
"Well, if you really want to know… I'm sixteen." Usagi's face went red, once the room filled with voices. That surely was a mistake to say.
Clearing her throat, she brought the attention of the class back to her. "Well now that you know a bit about me, its time I find out who you are." Picking up a list of names, she glanced at the class.
The paper read, 'Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff (7th),' at the top. Clearing her throat again, she tried the first name, "Abbot Hannah?"
Usagi frowned, her eyes staring at the name, as if she should recognize it. Forcing herself to glance up, she found no hand rose to the name. "She's not here." It was more of a statement than a question, which troubled Usagi. How could she know?
"Hannah disappeared two years ago. They think, You-Know-Who, got her." The boy near the front looked grave, and he seemed to glance over his shoulder as if he expected to find You-Know-Who.
Nodding, she went on, not even wanting to ask whom they were speaking of. "Bones Susan?"
A young girl raised her hand, so Usagi called out next, "Boot Terry." The one who had asked her, her age raised his hand.
By the end of roll call, Usagi found that she had only thirteen kids for her first class.
"Okay now that that's out of the way…" she glanced at the notebook, she assumed Setsuna had left her. She frowned, what on Earth was-
Shaking her head, she skipped to the next line. "Oh here we go." Grinning, she reached into the pocket of her robes, and pulled out a book. Flipping through the pages, she scanned for the right page, "Ah ha!"
Usagi glanced up at the class, only to find them staring at her oddly. Frowning, she wondered what she had done wrong. Her eyes traveled down to the book, and she instantly flushed. "Oh! You guys can't stash things into sub space pockets?"
Terry Boots shook his head, the only one to get over his initial shock. His hand shot into the air. "Err hai?"
Flushing with excitement, the boy asked, "Could you teach us?" Usagi blanched, "teach you? Err well…" she glanced at the book with a frown. "How bout later in the year, when I think your ready to take on the challenge."
Hopefully by then they'll forget about it.
Plastering a smile on her face, she went on, "Okay today we are going to learn a few spells. We'll see how far we can get."
Glancing down at the book, she added. "Okay will everyone take out your wands please?"
Looking up, Usagi waited till all of them had taken out their weapons. "Expelliarmus." Usagi's eyes bulged, and she dove to the ground with a frightened scream. Thirteen wands had come flying at her. "Oy that was close-" the wands landed with a clatter on her desk.
Climbing to her feet, she dusted off her robes. "Well that was a basic defensive spell. Either you can use it to disarm your opponent, as I just showed you. But if you were up against a real adversary the attack could have unexpected results."
Without thought, she flicked her wrist, and the wands flew to their original owners.
Glancing back down at her black book, she nodded thoughtfully. "All right, now you are going to perform the exact spell on me. And I'm going to defend myself-." She looked back down at the page, "Hai, protect myself, by using a defensive charm."
Closing her eyes briefly, she did as the book had said, and then opened them. "Ready when you are.
The class followed her example, and as one, called out the spell, "Expelliarmus."
Usagi felt the tug, but it wasn't strong enough to break through her shield. "If you're going to disarm me, you'll have to be more forceful than that."
"Expelliarmus!"
Usagi winced, feeling the spell attacking her senses. It was literally trying to wrench her from the ground, and send her across the room.
"Expelliarmus!"
"Protego!" The spell bounced off of her, hitting the students. Instantly, the wand flew from their hands.
"Okay, I guess we need to work on that."
Seeing a hand raise, she called out, "Hai Padma?"
The girl glanced around her nervously. "How is it you can use magic without a wand?"
Usagi tilted her head slightly, "I, well…" she frowned, "I guess it would be because of my natural bloodline… I think. I donno, I've never needed a wand, so I guess I never thought about it."
"But enough about me." She shook her head, to the several hands that rose. "Matte, hold your questions. There are a lot of things we need to go over."
w w w
Her first lesson had ended on that note, and soon she found herself with another class to teach. Feeling a little bit more comfortable in front of a group, she tried to sound like she knew what she was doing.
Plastering a wide grin, she introduced herself to the 6th year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws. "Morning class. Welcome to DADA, or as you know it Defense Against the Dark Arts. I guess I'll be your Professor for the year. But I would appreciate if you just called me Professor. You add my last name, and I'll think you were looking for my Otosan."
Turning from them she made her way to her desk. Looking at the notes written neatly out for her, she thanked Setsuna, and yet cursed the woman.
First on task was to call roll. Remembering the last time she did that, she decided against it. The last thing she wanted to know was that another kid was gone. Never to be heard from again.
"So who can tell me a good defense attack?" She frowned, "err, let me rephrase that. Who knows of a good defense spell?"
Looking about the room, she spotted a hand that rose. "Uh yes-?" Unable to know the boys name, she waited for him to answer her question. "Colin Creevey, Professor. The disarming spell is a defensive spell."
Usagi nodded, storing the small boy's name into her mind. She just hoped she remembered it when the time counted. "Hai that's right." At the moment she was grateful for having read the book given to her. The spells she read about were becoming quite handy.
Pursing her lips together, she quickly counted the students. "Why don't we pair up- into twos? If we are short I'll partner up with one of you."
Taping her chin, she watched as the students went to work at finding partners. It was utter chaos, and as she stood in the midst of them, she wondered why she was even there.
"I feel so sorry for Miss Haruna." She suddenly felt a connection to her teacher back in Junior High. She now understood why her teacher always yelled.
"GAH! Will you be quiet, cant you see I'm trying to think!"
The student whirled around to look at her, shock masking their usual cheery faces. "There, that's much better." She nodded indignantly, before turning from the class.
w w w
How humiliating!
Cursing his luck, he stalked down the halls, with not a thought of where he was going. How dare she, insult him in front of everyone like that!
Anger rose like bubbling lava, wanting to spill, and burn everything it touched. He was nearly drowning in it. The old bat had no right to make a fool of him.
His fists clenched and released, only to tighten into a ball of fury again at his sides. He was storming down the halls, his robes billowing behind him. He had never felt so angry in his life.
He abruptly stopped, and his hand automatically reached for the doorknob. A frown creased his perfect eyebrow, and the sneer upon his lips vanished into a straight line of deep thought. What had brought him here?
He wasn't one to research, or to read a book, so why the library? What good would it do, when he couldn't even talk normally in the damn room, and he felt like ranting and raving? He wanted to throw something, anything that would ease the tension building fiercely in his forehead.
Strangling Professor McGonagall would have been nice, but since nothing that great could ever happen, he would suffice with throwing a tantrum.
He stared at the door with a perplexed look flashing across his light colored eyes. While brooding within his blind furry, he had left his Transfiguration class, bypassed the stairs to his common, and had wound up in front of the Library door.
When had been the last time he had been inside? It didn't feel like it had been to long ago, when he had opened a book, sitting in one of the chairs. Sitting at a small table in the far back, where there was hardly a chance for anyone to see them.
He shook his head, what was he thinking? He needed to find a place right now, and stuff his face in a pillow. Or maybe find some first year to vent his anger upon. Even as he was making up his mind to leave, his hand was turning the doorknob. It moved silently, and he barely had to put any weight on the door for it to open.
Two years. It came to him like a slap on the face. In his fifth year, he remembered bits and pieces about having to come to the library. Why? He could have easily gotten answers from someone else. Much simpler than researching for them.
Sighing, he slipped into the room, and wondered what possessed him to do so. He looked around, studying the shelves upon shelves filled to the ceiling with books. Passing the front desk, he went about looking down each aisle. What he could have been searching for was beyond him.
That is until he saw her.
All it took, was for his eyes to breeze pass her, shelving her off as some student below him, and his anger depleted. His blue eyes shifted back to her, and a smile quirked his lips, wanting to form. It was an odd sight, which was all that he could think of the situation.
She was tiny, smaller than him by a good few inches. But her small body was wrapped tightly in pink robes that fit her nicely. Her blonde hair was the longest length he had ever seen. Pulled into an odd pair of balls on her head, with pigtail trailing to her knees. Her pouting lips were pursed together. One of her brilliant blue eyes was closed, the other narrowed in concentration.
She was standing in the 300 section of the library. On her tiptoes, her hand stretched out as far as it could reach, and she still couldn't graze the book she wanted.
He watched, still entranced by the odd behavior. When the girl paused, her arms crossing over her chest, he smirked. She was tapping her foot impatiently. "Haven't these people ever heard of ladders?"
Ladders? Why didn't the girl just use her wand and ask for the book?
He snorted, trying to contain his laughter, when the girl suddenly jumped. She was actually trying to hop high enough to grab the book from its shelf. It was a sight for sore eyes. It was quite entertaining, considering the girl was a witch, and yet she didn't use the magic given to her at birth for help.
Reaching into his robes, he could not take too much more of this. Flicking his wrist, he muttered, "Accio book." The very book the girl had been trying to get for the past ten minutes flew to his hands. At seeing the book fly from the high shelf, she slowly turned to him.
Smirking, he held it out to her, "Looking for this?" The girl flushed, "H-hai. Domo artigato. I guess I forgot about using magic." Scratching the back of her neck, she laughed nervously.
Handing over the book, he stated smoothly, "Well maybe you should think before you act."
The smile on her face faded, and her delicate brows drew together. Wincing slightly, he wondered if he had a death wish. The girl was positively mad at him now. And all he had wanted to do was tease her.
Even for her short size, she sort of intimidated him. Stepping up onto her tiptoes, she rose an inch, and poked him hard in the chest. "For your information buddy- will you stop laughing at me!"
He couldn't help himself. Everything about her was funny. The amusement couldn't leave his eyes, even though he should have been angry with her for touching him.
Stepping back, he turned away from her seething form. "See you tomorrow Professor Tsukino. Good luck on your spells."
He stalked from the library, his spirit lifted by meeting his new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Even though he would have liked to see Snape get the job, he was quite happy with the new girl.
Something about her.
Shaking his head, Draco Malfoy went off in search of his next class, no longer needing to vent out his rage.
w w w
"Good morning Usagi, how have you been faring these past few days?"
Looking up from her book, the blonde haired girl was slightly startled to find the old headmaster standing in the doorway to her classroom. After learning how to bring food to the room, without having to go down to the Great Hall, she had preferred to eat alone, with not an audience. "Hey Albus." Rolling onto her back, she sat up on the table she had been sprawled out on a moment ago. Hopping off, she dusted off her robes with a grin on her face. "Pretty good. I think I'm getting the hang of things." She hoped her half lie would suffice for now. So she had no clue what she was doing, but at least she was teaching the kids something. Whatever it was, she wasn't all quite sure, but it was working.
"Good, glad to hear. It appears you have Slytherin and Gryffindor next hour?" He seemed slightly amused at the thought of it.
Not sure what he was trying to get at, she nodded, "Hai. 7th years. I'm kind of nervous. Well, since they are my age." She tapped her chin, thinking, "got any advice?"
The older man chuckled, while he shook his head. "It has been years since I have taught a class Usagi. I would not know where to begin." He stepped further into the room, his eyes assessing the mess. "I do have word from Mr. Filch."
Usagi frowned, "Who?" She was quite familiar with most of the staff. She had had the pleasure of meeting the crude Professor McGonagall, and the kind Hagrid, who was the gatekeeper, and a teacher.
"Oh yes, I'm sure you have not met him yet. Argus Filch is the caretaker here at Hogwarts. It appears that some of the 6th years are using a disarming spell on him in the hallways."
Usagi's hand flew to her mouth, trying to fight back a giggle. Why did she want to laugh? The poor guy was being attacked, because of what she was teaching to the kids. But the thought of the gangly old man being hit with the disarming spell was a sight she wanted to see first hand.
Albus shook his head, "it is quite all right. But if you were to witness such an act, it is best to keep it to oneself." He winked, as if sending her a secret message.
Usagi giggled, "You got it!" Nodding, the older man stated, "I best take my leave. I hope to see you in the Great Hall for dinner?"
She shrugged, "maybe." As he left, she turned to look at the book she had been staring at for the passed ten minutes. If she were capable of getting up early, she might have had a chance at reading it.
Hearing the familiar sounds of student coming down the hallway, she snapped the book shut. Carrying it with her to her desk, she dropped it onto the chair to hide it from sight. She didn't need to have her class thinking she didn't know her spells.
As the door opened, Usagi wondered if maybe if it wasn't too late for her to back out of this deal. As if she had had a choice in the first place! Forcing a smile on her face, she turned to address her next class.
What a mistake!
Holding her breath, she watched as kids her age found their seats. One side was green and silver, the other gold and red. How odd, and yet so familiar.
Clearing her throat, she caught some of the student's attention. Seeing that the rest plainly ignored her, she frowned. Glancing, about her, she took notice of her uncluttered desk. Climbing onto it, with only a little bit of difficulty, she stood to her full 4'11 height.
"OKAY!" Her voice amplified over the roar of vocals around her. Catching their attention, they all looked up to see her. "Good, now that I got your attention, I would like to begin with a small introduction."
Hearing a few groans, she couldn't help but giggle. "I know, I know. I've heard all of this in my other classes. I'm getting better, I think."
The smile didn't leave her face, as her eyes swept over the room. This was by far her largest class. At least twenty students or so. "Well then, I'm your DADA Professor. Call me Professor, for I'd rather you not add my last name. Most can't even say it." Her grin broadened, when she caught a few trying to say her name beneath their breath. "I'm sort of knew, so bare with me. This is my first year of teaching, but shhh, don't tell the other teachers. They don't have to know."
Catching a few smiles from her peers, she nodded. "Good to see a few of you are awake. Now, enough about me." She then jumped down from her desk, landing a little off balance, but able to catch herself, she straightened.
"So, what do you guys want to do for your first day? I'm assuming you're more advanced than my other classes." Seeing a hand raise over the sea of heads, she pointed, "Hai?"
"Are you by chance related to Usagi Tsukino from the Slytherin house?"
Usagi frowned, not sure if she was understanding him correctly. "Huh?" She called to the other hand that rose, this one closer to the front.
"Usagi Tsukino and her brother were in our Fifth year. She was one of the girl's that went missing. The last one I think."
Usagi shivered, and the sudden urge to sneeze almost took over her. Rubbing her head, she tried to focus. Another girl named Usagi Tsukino. It had to have been her, like Setsuna had said. "Um iie, I don't think I am."
Clearing her throat to cover her lie, she struggled to keep a straight face. "Since the sun is still out, how many votes do I have to spend the rest of our two hours out there?" She watched as every hand went up. "Good, because we were gonna go, whether you wanted to or not."
Grabbing her book, she all but bolted for the door. Calling out over her shoulder, as she wrenched the door open, "last one out is a rotten egg!"
w w w
Usagi threw open the front doors, and stumbled down the stairs. Yelping in surprise, her foot met air, and she fell like a pile of log onto the open grass. Gasping and giggling, she watched as everyone spilled out of the school behind her. "HA! Beat ya!" Throwing her limbs back, she laid sprawled on the lawn, with a goofy look on her face. The kids, mostly older than herself, and for sure taller than herself, circled around her. "Okay, okay, I see that all of you are anxious to learn."
Grunting, as she heaved herself up, she stood to her full height, even though she might as well have been sitting. "Now that we are outside, pick your partner, the one you want to work with for the remainder of the year." Reaching into her pocket, she produced a clipboard and quill. "I'll take your names, and give you a number in return. Pick someone you can get along with, but can also use a spell against."
From where she stood, she watched as the group partnered off. "I want you in pairs, not in groups." The ones that had parted in threes, then parted again, seeking partners.
Moving to the closes two, and asked, "Okay your names."
"Lavender Brown. And my partner is Parvati Patil." The girl was quite lovely, both seemed to be close friends, and Usagi nodded solemnly. She missed her friends more and more everyday. "Your group one." Moving from them, she made her way to the next pair. I wonder if they miss me. Could they have not noticed yet that she was gone? Or was Setsuna making up stories for her absence.
Most likely Rei was fuming for, her odango atama not showing up for their weekly meetings. Her lips twitching into a smile, she asked, "Names."
Looking up, she was startled to find herself looking into a pair of vivid green eyes. Dragging in a strangled gasp, she felt an odd sense of Déjà vu. Flushing, she backed up, and dragged her eyes away from the green eyed boy, with unkempt black hair.
The boy looked at his partner, before he answered, "My partner is Dean Thomas." Usagi's quill moved on its own accord, writing the name with perfect handwriting. He then added, his eyes watching the quill thoughtfully, "and I'm Harry Potter."
Usagi swallowed the forming lump in her throat. "Okay, you're group two." Turning, she all but ran from the boy, who had a frighteningly familiar scar on his forehead. She had seen it, as if she had known it was there before she had looked.
Next on her list, group three was a girl and boy, Hermione and Ron. They didn't appear to be the best pair, considering when she had approached them, they were arguing. At least they won't mind using a few spells on one another.
Usagi made her way down the list check marking off names on her attendance sheet, and writing down their names. She came to realize not one Gryffindor paired with a Slytherin, which made her frown.
Her last group was an odd pair. Considering there were three of them standing together. Glancing at her list she noted that one of her students was missing. Pansy Parkinson, and Usagi had a faint feeling that she knew why the girl wasn't there with them.
Reaching the three boys, she tried her hardest to look intimidating. It wasn't easy, with the two overbearing brutes where twice her size in length, and in width. "Gomen guys, but you're going to have to split up. Only two to a group. One of you can be my partner, since we only have nineteen students."
After a brief pause, she added, "Take your pick, and then give me your names."
"Why don't you two work together, I'll pair up with her. Since neither of you could possibly keep up." The voice was slightly drawled, and faintly familiar to her ears. She shivered, wondering what about the eerie voice sent chills dancing along her spine, and yet warmed her from head to toe. "Well if that's what you want-"
Looking up, for the second time that day, she felt a sense of Déjà vu. But this time it was a lot stronger. She instantly recognized him, with his mocking expression, and startling cool blue eyes. His silvery white hair was slicked back from his charming face, and as if he sensed her drinking in his image, his lips quirked into an all too familiar smirk.
"Oh." It was all she could think of saying. He had been the boy who had insulted her in the library yesterday before her next class. Running her hands uncomfortably down her robes, she struggled to gain control of her voice. "Your names."
"This is Gregory Goyle, and Vincent Crabbe. I am Draco Malfoy." The name was like a blow to her brain. Looking up sharply at him, a frown creased her brow. Malfoy? How could his name seem so familiar, when she had only met him twice?
Shaking herself from her thoughts, she replied, "Okay, you're group nine, and we are group ten."
Forcing herself to turn away from the boys, she looked to the rest of the class. "Now that the hard part is over with, we can begin with the fun." Grinning as she spoke, she hurried on, "Take out your wands, and face your partner. Its time for our year to begin." She gazed about her, watching them as they followed her instructions. At least they weren't like her class back in Juuban. They would have never listened to someone shorter or younger than them. They would have rebelled. Refusing to be ordered around by some amateur.
"I believe any spell you use can be used to defend yourself. From my notes, I found that you guys learned about the unforgivable curses, about Dark Creatures, and other interesting stuff. Well this year, we are going to learn every spell we can cram into whole year.
"We wont continue to the next spell until I am sure everyone is up caught up with the class. I'm sure some of you will recognize most of the spells we will use, which will give you an edge over the class."
Usagi looked pointedly at the bushy brown haired girl, as if she knew for sure the girl was already far ahead of them on this subject.
Turning, she circled her partner, so that she face him, and gave the class a chance to see both of them. "Well Mr. Malfoy, you seemed to know our first spell, if I remember correctly." Her grin broadened, with delight dancing in her eyes. Glancing to the class, she added, "we'll give you a demonstration first, and then you can give it a go. The first spell will be the summoning charm. We will be using this spell for more complicated matters than you would in your charms class."
Seeing that she had the whole classes attention, she added, "You will be using it to defend yourself. With this spell you can summon anything you ask for. Which could be of something large to block yourself with."
Directing her eyes to the boy before her, she hoped she wouldn't slip up in front of the class. Reaching into her robes, she pulled out a book, and let it drop to the ground between them. "Whoever can get the book first, gets the point. At the end of the semester I'll tally up your points. The more you get, the higher extra credit you get on your semester exams."
Nodding her head to her partner, she stated, "on my mark, one, two-three!" Using her finger, she flicked her wrist, and muttered, "Accio."
The book flew to the boy's hand, and Usagi cursed her luck. "Bachiatara!" Pouting, she crossed her arms over her chest. The boy's smirk grew, as he held out the book to her. "A little slow perhaps?" His tone of voice was taunting her, trying to get a rise out of her.
Usagi glared back at him, "Accio." The book was wrenched from his hands, and flew into hers. Turning from him, she faced her class. "We wont have enough time for today, for all of you to give the spell a try. But for our next class, we will meet out here. You're dismissed."
Just then the bell rang, and the class dispersed, heading for their next hour. Usagi stuffed her book into her pocket, along with her clipboard and quill. Looking about her, she wondered if she was forgetting something. "Lose something?"
Startled by the voice, she turned to find the black haired boy from before. With the distance between them, his green eyes weren't as intimidating. But the scar on his forehead was burning itself into her mind.
Struggling for composure, she replied, "I- I'm not sure." She looked at the grass around her, not finding anything that could belong to her. "Iie I guess not."
"How do you like Hogwarts so far?" Was it just her imagination, or had he moved closer? Pivoting around him, so that she had a free escape for the doors, she answered, "Good. Everyone seems really nice so far."
The boy nodded, as he replied teasingly, "then you haven't met Snape." Usagi frowned, turning the name over in her mind. Snape? The name was uncannily familiar. "Iie, I don't think I have, why is he bad?" She was whispering, with a mischievous glint in her eyes. It was nice to get the scoop on anyone, before she ran into them. The dark haired boy chuckled, his face lighting up, "From most of the house's perspectives yes he is. He's the head of the Slytherin house."
Usagi pulled back, as recognition dawned on her. "That man, that always sneers?" Paling, she glanced around to see if anyone heard her gasp. The man had on several occasions glared at her in the Great Hall, or in the corridors.
The boy moved towards her, a smile playing on his face. "Don't take it personally, I never do. He just doesn't like anyone that's not from Slytherin."
Before she could comprehend what had popped into her mind by his words, they had already escaped her mouth, "I'm a Slytherin."
Harry, it was instantly in her mind, as if a flood gate to her memories had opened. She recognized him, knew who he was. But as quickly as the memories came, they left, leaving her feeling raw.
"You're a Slytherin?" He sounded genuinely startled, and yet something in his voice told her that he wasn't completely shocked by the news. Was she a Slytherin? She couldn't remember. Hadn't she tried to sit at the table, where that house sat during meals? "Err, I think so." She scratched the back of her head thoughtfully.
It was then the bell sounded, and the silence upon them lasted for a mere second. "Oh iie, I'm going to be late!!!"
Panicking, she scooped her things into her arms, hugging them to her chest, before racing off to meet her next class. "Oh iie, I can't be late, I'm the SENSEI!!!!"
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Well here you have it, the next chapter. I told you they would get longer. And this one is a lot longer, with a lot more comedy. I do hope that you will enjoy this chapter as much as you enjoyed the last three.
I am terribly sorry for not updating sooner, but my laptop kind of broke, (not crashed, but literally broke). It was quite heartbreaking, but I was finally able to download my files to another comp, the hard way. And also, when I was able to do that, I released I still had to write the chapter. So here it is, in all of its glory, the First week of Usagi's new life. Can't you smell the romance in the air??? Hehe I can, and it's only going to get stronger.
Now I just have one question for you, do you think Usagi will leave her prince charming, for another man, err boy? (I can't see Draco any older than in the second movie). Will for once, Mamoru not be the one to leave Usagi, but Usagi leave Mamoru? Those are some good questions, are they not? Which will make the story all the more original correct. Hehe
Well enjoy, and I plan to get the next chapter out sooner than this one came out.
TTY in the next chapter.
LP
