Chapter 5
A Little Revelation
"Great enough. Put a charming smile and all will done well," the mirror said.
Chris was surprised, but quickly got himself. "Right, you're magical," he mumbled.
Chris went to his office and changed it just like his room. He shrunk his trunk back to its size, clapped once, and things started unpacking and arranging themselves magically. After everything was neatened up, Chris strolled to the classroom. It was the usual one as the one he had attended every year when he was still at Hogwarts. Chris was really bored of the stone floor and wall, so he clapped his hand once, and the floor and wall changed into black marbles with some artistic white stripes in it. Chris waved his left hand and the rusty wooden desks vanished and changed to newly polished mahogany wood desks. Chris sighed for a relief and checked his watch. It was 7:00. Chris headed to the gargoyle statue that guarded the headmaster's office and whispered the password.
The gargoyle stood aside and Chris stepped through the round stairs. He was only standing in front of the door but the old man's voice had come.
"Come in, Chris," said the deep voice behind the door.
Chris opened the door, entered the room and took a seat as the headmaster pointed his hand on the comfortable armchair on the other side of his table.
"Good morning, Albus," Chris said cheerfully.
"Morning, Chris. Sleep tight?" the older wizard said.
"Well enough. That's a beautiful phoenix. What's his name?" he pretended, as he didn't know about Fawkes.
"He's Fawkes," Dumbledore said and Fawkes chirped when he heard his name being called.
"Hello, Fawkes," Chris said.
Fawkes approached him and sang a short song for approval. Unlike Dumbledore, it seemed that Fawkes noticed who Chris really was. Chris petted the beautiful phoenix and let him went back to Dumbledore's side.
"So, excited to teach?" Dumbledore asked kindly.
"Kind of nervous, I think," Chris replied.
"Ah yes, of course. First day is always like that. Want some tea?" Dumbledore insisted.
"Sure…" he said and two teacups appeared on the table.
"Take your time," the old man said.
Chris drew the teacup from the table. He was going to sip it, but he could smell the strong essence of Veritaserum. So, he only pretended sipping it and put it back to the table.
"Tell me, who are you?" Dumbledore questioned him.
"I'm Christian Harrison Farandole, Chris for short. May I interrupt you for a minute, Headmaster?" he pretended as if he was affected by the veritaserum.
"Yes?" the old man chimed.
"Can you please tell me who else are the staffs and what do they teach?" he asked politely.
"Okay. McGonagall teaches Transfiguration, Snape teaches potions, Sinistra teaches Astronomy, Longbottom teaches Herbology, Malfoy teaches Charms, Lupin teaches History of Magic, Hagrid teaches Care of Magical Creatures, Vector teaches Arithmancy, Trelawney teaches Divination, Perkins teaches Muggle Study, and Tyassa teaches Ancient Rune. And you'll be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, I think you've known this," Dumbledore explained.
Lupin? Longbottom? Can it be Remus and Neville? I guess so
"Do you know any of them?" the old man I interrupted.
Chris shook his head and continued, "No, but I've met Snape and Malfoy."
"I'd better get going now, Albus. I have something to do. And next time, please don't add any veritaserum to my tea. I almost forgot how sneaky you are until I noticed the serum in my tea," the younger man said and left the elder wizard glanced at him curiously in his office.
Chris didn't go back to his room. He walked through the ground and found a perfect spot beside the lake. He lied on the smooth green grass and enjoyed the autumn morning sunlight. After a while, he noticed that it was already 7:45 and he decided to walk back to the castle. Chris entered the Great Hall without students noticing him and took a seat on the only vacant chair at the staff table. In his right side was Professor McGonagall and in his left was Neville. McGonagall greeted him.
"Good morning, Professor Farandole," she said.
"Morning, Professor McGonagall," Chris said and turned to Neville. "Morning, Professor…"
"Longbottom, Neville Longbottom," Neville said.
"Well, good morning, Neville," Chris said and smiled warmly.
Chris and Neville had a light chat until finally the clock showed 8:30. The class would start in half hour and so Chris excused himself to prepare the class. He walked to his classroom and checked everything that would be required. After he finished, he collapsed himself to the armchair behind his table and faced the wall. His position made him hidden from the students and he felt really comfortable with it. His first class was first year Gryffindors and Slytherins.
God, this is going to be tough, he thought and waited for the students to come.
A few minutes later, students started filling up the class. None of them noticed Chris sitting in the room. He heard some conversations behind him.
"I hope this guy is good enough. My father told me that the position is cursed and my brother said that he had the worst professor that year," a boy said.
"Oh yeah, Weasley? Do you know that the guy who taught Defense against the Dark Arts was my cousin? And she's nice, you know. Maybe it's just your brother," another boy mocked.
"How dare you, Burkes!" the Weasley said.
"What? I think your brother is a prank… My cousin told me about your family, you filthy muggle lovers!" Burkes said.
"Twenty points each from your house, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Burkes, for fighting inside my class," Chris said from his armchair.
Everybody went silent and took their seat. Chris turned his armchair to face the children and began his speech.
"Okay, I'm Professor Farandole. There were some things you will need to know, rules in my class. I wish you do not fight in my class and I won't tolerate any excuse. Also, I don't want to see any house rivalry. If I found someone do that in my class, points will be taken from their houses plus – a week of detention. If you don't obey the rule for the third time, you'll be kicked out of my class," Chris said quickly.
Some children shifted nervously on their seat.
"No need to be nervous. Your first class, isn't it?" Chris asked and the students mumbled yes. "It's my first class too. So, how about… a little introduction?" he added kindly.
The students seemed somewhat relieved and the lesson continued briefly without any problems. By the end of the lesson, Chris gave them three-feet essay of the first chapter of the book for homework.
The next classes ran well and at last it was lunchtime. Chris strolled to the Great Hall and sat on the only empty seat, which unfortunately was between Malfoy and Trelawney.
"Good afternoon, Draco," he said sarcastically as he sat down and turned to face Draco Malfoy.
"Afternoon, Professor Farandole," Draco snapped.
"Ah, call me Chris," Chris stated and turned to Trelawney. "I believe you are Professor Trelawney?" he said.
Trelawney who seemed to be staring at the ceiling broke her stare and glared at Chris.
"Ah, sorry, young man. I'm Sybill Trelawney, Divination," she said in her dreamy voice.
"Nice to meet you, Professor Trelawney. I'm Christian Farandole," Chris said, holding laughter. With that, he turned back to Malfoy and had a chat about when Flitwick left.
At one time, Malfoy made an extremely funny joke that made Chris burst into laughter and accidentally hit Trelawney's goblet, which made the pumpkin juice spilled to Trelawney's robe.
"Ah, So sorry, Professor Trelawney. Drius," he said and cast a drying charm to her robe. (A/N what is the drying charm? I don't remember the incantation. Please tell me at review if you do remember)
"It's okay, my dear… I just have had a strong urge to read your future… If you mind, hold me your hand?" she glared at Chris dreamily.
Chris showed his palm on the table and Trelawney started looking into it.
"Ah! Interesting lifeline… You've got through many things in your past… And I believe you are hiding something," she said and looked up to see Chris' reaction.
"Ah, perfect, Professor Trelawney. I believe you are a true seer. Tell me about my future then," he said, holding himself not to laugh. He was sure that he heard Neville, Draco, McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape snorted but he ignored them.
"Very well… Oh my goodness! Terrible future laid in front of you, my dear… Your death is approaching!" she mumbled.
That statement made Chris laughed hardly. All the teachers looked at him strangely but turned back to their meal after Chris stopped and sent them a cold glare.
"What are you laughing for? She has just predicted your death!" Malfoy hissed beside him.
"Oh, really? Right, I'm going to die by the end of the term and a new Defense teacher will be appointed," he exclaimed loudly and added something in whisper to Malfoy, "And you know what? She has been predicting my death since our first lesson." Malfoy snorted and tried to hold himself from laughing.
After that eventful lunch, Chris headed back to his classroom for the next class.Days turned to weeks and months. It was already in the middle of November. Christian Farandole was sitting on the armchair in front of the fireplace in his room, gazing blankly at the dancing fire. It was rather an eventful afternoon. When Chris passed the corridors, Slytherins and Gryffindors were fighting. The quidditch match between the two houses was being held in a week. No one, not even Chris could stop the fight, so he decided to ignore it.
Chris' gaze was disturbed by Draco's head showing at the fireplace.
"DRACO! YOU SURPRISED ME!" he roared.
Chris and Draco had been good friends since Chris' first lunch.
"Oh, sorry, Chris. I'm just asking if you want to come. Three Broomsticks, with the other professors," the blond haired man said.
"Which professors?" Chris snapped.
"Neville, McGonagall, and Hagrid. Are you coming?" Draco exclaimed.
"Okay. I'll meet you there," he said and with that Draco's head disappeared from the fire.
Chris sighed and stood up from his armchair. He thought it was quite safe to apparate to Hogsmeade. He disapparated with a small pop and now he was standing right in front of Honeydukes. He walked around the marvelous village first, knowing that Malfoy and his other colleagues wouldn't be coming that soon. He decided to go inside Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. The building was painted in yellow with red lining. It was built right beside Zonko's. Chris stepped inside and noticed Fred and George standing behind the desk.
"Welcome to the infamous Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, young man!" greeted one of the twins.
"Find what you need to do pranks here. I'm Gred and here is my twin, Forge," said the other.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Messrs Weasley, but I'm a teacher at Hogwarts, so I'd rather not buying your stuffs because I've seen enough pranks played by my students using your products," Chris said jokingly.
"Oops, we run to the wrong person, bro! By the way, there were some useful products here. Let us show you," said the first twin.
"Like what? The Extendable Ears? I've experienced many of that since I was in my fifth year," Chris said.
"How could you know? Ah, forget it, you should've known our great products. By the way, what is your name and what did you teach?"
"Eh? I'm Christian Farandole, Defense Against the Dark Arts. You may call me Chris. Anyway, nice show when you flew with your broomsticks on your last year at Hogwarts."
"Well, Chris, would you mind telling us which house you were in?"
"Same as you two. By the way, is Samuel Weasley related to the two of you? He's on my first year class and had got trouble since his first lesson, fighting with a Slytherin."
"Oh, he's our nephew. Bill and Fleur's son. First one of his generation to go to Hogwarts though," the red haired said.
"Fleur? Do you mean Fleur Delacour, the champion of Beuxbatons?" Chris said excitedly.
"Ah, yes. It seems that you know a lot about my family," one of the twins said and they glanced curiously at Chris.
Knowing that the situation was no longer safe, Chris excused himself from the shop.
"Oh, my. It's time to go. I need to meet some of the professors in the Three Broomsticks. Sorry, maybe I'll buy some of your pranks next time!" he said and ran out of the store without waiting for the twins to reply.
Chris headed to the Three Broomsticks and joined the other teachers on their seats after seeing Malfoy wave. Unfortunately, there was Severus Snape sitting next to the empty space. Snape stood up after he saw Chris heading toward them.
"Draco! You don't tell me that Sn – Severus is coming!" Chris shouted.
"I won't come if I know he's coming!" Snape shouted to Draco too.
"Calm down, you two!" Draco shouted back. "Both of you were so stubborn. I already knew that you won't come if you know one of you is coming. That's why I didn't say to you."
"I'm leaving," said the two black haired men in unison.
"No, yer not leaving. Sit," Hagrid said in a dangerous tone. "We have something important to talk about."
"Okay, just this time, though," Chris said and sat harshly beside the potions master.
"God, Severus! Just sit!" McGonagall said.
Snape scowled at Chris and finally collapsed himself on his chair. Snape loathed Chris since the first time he saw him in the meeting. Chris loathed his former professor too for the things he had done to his new self, but deep inside himself, he didn't.
"Firewhisky or Butterbeer?" Madam Rosmerta asked kindly.
"Butterbeer, please," Chris ordered.
"Okay, explain yourselves," he said to his colleagues.
"We just want to know how are you doing. You are rather quiet in meals and other occasions," Neville said.
"And what took me here if it is the problem?" Snape snapped.
"Calm down, Severus. We're getting into it," Draco said. "Okay Chris, tell us how have you been doing lately. You rarely showed up during the meals."
"I'm perfectly fine," Chris lied.
"No you are not!"
"Yes I am,"
"No you are not!"
"Yes I am,"
"No you are not!"
"Yes…"
"Shut up, will yeh?! We're not 'ere to 'ear yeh debating," said the half giant. "Chris, tell us where have you been during the meals."
"It's none your business," he snarled.
"Do tell," Hagrid said in a warning voice.
"Or you will what?"
"I'll hex you," Malfoy added.
"No you can't."
"Yes I can."
"No you…"
"Chris, Draco, we're not here to hear you debating forever!" Neville exclaimed.
Both of the young men stopped and slurped their beverages.
"Okay, I'm in the library. Believe it or not, ask Madam Pince. That's what you want, isn't it?" Chris said and started to walk away from the table but Draco stopped him.
"What else?" he growled at the blonde.
"Just sit. Can't be just have a talk?" plead the blonde.
"Okay, okay," Chris gave up, sat back down, and took another gulp from his goblet of butterbeer.
They had a pleasant chat. Chris and Severus glared daggers each other frequently, unnoticed by the other professors.
"Hagrid, do you have any interesting creature?" Chris started a conversation.
"Hmm, what sort o' creature?" he asked.
"Hmm, any type is okay for me," Chris said.
"Err… centaur?" Hagrid suggested.
"It's okay as long as it's Firenze. I don't want to be kicked by Bane," Chris shot.
"Yeh knew 'em?"
Oops, shouldn't have said that, he thought. "No, an old friend of mine told me about them," he lied.
Hagrid nodded but Snape eyed him curiously.
"Hmm, yeh can meet 'em if yeh like," Hagrid said.
"I'd love to. When can you show me?"
"How about… tomorrow night after dinner?"
"Sounds perfect for me,"Chris was sitting on the headmaster office. The headmaster gazed him with twinkles in his eyes. Next to him was Hagrid, the half giant.
"Chris… are you a… Parselmouth?" the white haired old man asked hesitantly.
"Does it have to do with anything?" the younger man scowled.
"Are you… are you… Harry Potter?" Hagrid asked.
"What makes the idea if someone who can speak Parseltongue is Harry Potter?"
"We just… guess. Well, you are around his age, both come from London, and… moved somewhere six years ago without leaving any traces," Hagrid said.
"I'm not Harry bloody Potter! And it is not your bloody problem if I have the ability to speak Parseltongue!" he said, strolled out of the headmaster office, banged the door and walked back to his room.
Oh, shit! If the snake didn't turn up that time! Shit, shit, shit! he said mentally and continued his walk with images inside his head.
---FLASHBACK---
Chris was walking with Hagrid inside the Forbidden Forest. They were walking back to the castle after meeting the centaur. Just before they went out of the forest, a huge boa constrictor stopped their way.
"Chris, draw your wand!" Hagrid yelled.
As Chris was in a halfway drawing his wand, he heard the boa hissed.
"We meet again, my sssavior," it hissed at Chris.
"Are you… the boa I freed from the zoo some years ago?" Chris said but it turned out to be hisses.
"Yesss… I've been sssearching for you sssince that day, and today I ssaw you walking from the cassstle. Thanksss," it hissed.
"You're always welcome, my friend," he hissed back.
The boa nodded and slid away from the sight. Chris watched it disappeared his sight and turned to Hagrid. Hagrid showed a shocked face.
"Chris… yeh, yeh can speak Parseltongue! Headmaster's office, NOW!" the huge figure roared.
Chris knew that it wouldn't be a good idea to refuse in Hagrid's current temper, so he followed Hagrid stalking to the headmaster's office.
---END OF FLASHBACK---
Chris reached his room, collapsed himself to the comfortable bed, and fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.The castle was filled with warm sunlight on Saturday morning. Chris was sipping his tea at the staff table. The Great Hall was already filled with students. Gryffindors and Slytherins were insulting each other. The quidditch match would soon begin. Chris was somehow feeling very excited. The last time he saw a quidditch match was 7 years ago. Chris sat between Draco and McGonagall. He ignored Dumbledore and Hagrid's curious glances and started sipping his coffee.
"Interested in today's game?" Draco started.
"Quite. I miss quidditch."
"Which one do you think will win? I definitely think Slytherin will win the match! They are a great team. A second year girl managed to be a chaser, a really good one, I'd say."
"Hey, Gryffindor will win the match, Mr. Malfoy. I believe Samuel Weasley is a perfect seeker, just like his uncle, Charlie. Gryffindor will definitely win the quidditch cup this year," McGonagall scolded.
"Oh yeah? After losing five years in a row?!" Malfoy persuaded.
"You…" McGonagall started boiling up.
"Cut it, you two. You'll ruin this perfect day…" Chris joked.
"Eve Tai is coming to the quidditch match, Dumbledore's request. She'll be coming with Hermione Granger and played the instruments for the yule ball tonight," McGonagall informed.
"Yule Ball? I haven't been informed about this!! And Eve Tai and Hermione Granger, the famous pianist and cellist?" he asked disbelievingly.
"Yeah, that mudblood Granger girl will be showing up to - Oops, Ginny will hex me for that…" Draco mumbled.
"Who is Ginny?"
"Mr. Malfoy's dear girlfriend," McGonagall mocked in a singsong voice.
"Oh, shut it. She'll come to the yule ball too, never mention what I call Granger to her. Weasley's blood, gets angry easily, especially females one," Malfoy sighed.
"Oh yeah. By the way, Eve Tai isn't only a pianist. She's also a chaser in the National Quidditch Team and a world famous seer, especially with tarot, Feng-Shui, and astrology," McGonagall explained.
"Huh? A seer? I hope she's a true seer, not a foul one. By the way, what in heaven sake is Feng-Shui? I think I've heard a little of it before, but didn't know what it means," Chris asked.
"It's like a Chinese version of divination. I don't really understand it though. I hate Divination, but she's a lot better than that old fraud." Malfoy filled in.
"For once, I agree with you, Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall added jokingly."WELCOME TO THE FIRST QUIDDITCH MATCH OF THE TERM. LET'S START WITH THE GRYFFINDOR TEAM, BROWN, PERKINS, ROHAN, TRAMP, RODICK, FINNIGAN, AND… WEASLEY!!!" shouted the commentator, a sixth year Gryffindor, Johannes Barrymore.
Seven red figures flew to the pitch, forming an arrow. Chris watched them from the top box, with the teachers and guests. He sat in the left corner, leaving an empty seat beside him. No one sat on that seat because it was hard to see the match from the corner. Chris didn't really care about it because he didn't want to be with the crowds.
Chris wasn't really paying attention when the commentator called for the Slytherin team. The only thing he noticed was seven green figures flew on their broomsticks, and soon the game began. Both teams were equal, the scores kept going up and it seemed that the team that caught the snitch would win the game. The game wasn't really interesting. Chris had seen the snitch five times and neither of the team seeker saw it, even once.
While watching with a blank expression, Chris mind wasn't really into it. He didn't notice someone approached to the empty seat next to him until being asked about it.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" said a deep and feminine voice.
Chris snapped back and answered dully, "No, you can take it."
The lady sat quietly and Chris went back to the match.
"This is getting boring… The snitch is right in the Slytherin goal for a long time, you fools," he cursed silently.
"Yeah, it's boring… The snitch was there since I came and neither of the seeker notice it," said the lady who was sitting next to Chris.
"Yes… Wait a minute! I didn't say that! How do – Eve?" Chris noticed the lady as he paid attention to her.
"Chris? What are you doing here?! You're not a wizard, are you?" Eve asked excitedly.
"Of course I am a wizard if I'm sitting here. Why would a muggle came and watched a quidditch match, silly," he joked.
"But… But… You've never been a bit of a wizard in the States when I met you… And what in Merlin's name are you doing here, in Hogwarts?"
"Look, I'm sure you know that my boss is a wizard, and I had never known about it until last August when I came to a meeting in our hotel with him and the shares holders, including him started talking about dementors. The thought I'm a muggle too, but then I admitted I'm a wizard. I know Hermione Granger is a witch and that's why I'm suspicious about you. I asked Lynch after your visit to my college and he said that you too is a witch, and a chaser. I left the wizarding world six years ago, and unfortunately, the meeting made me comes back and my boss ordered me to work here. Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Your turn to explain. I didn't anything about the snitch, how do you know?" Chris explained briefly.
From the conversation, Chris knew that Eve was a telepath. Not only a telepath, she also could hear people thought when they were nearby. Chris also learned much about Eve in the wizarding world.
"YES, IT SEEMS THAT THE SEEKERS HAVE SEEN THE SNITCH! THEY'RE RACING THROUGH THE SLYTHERIN GOAL! A ROUGH MATCH, REALLY. OH MY, ROHAN GET HIT BY A BLUDGER! SLYTHERIN'S SEEKER, GORDON GET THE SNITCH! SCORE 250 – 240 TO GRYFFINDOR!!! GRYFFINDOR WINS THE GAME!!" shouted Johannes Barrymore, bringing back Chris and Eve to the real world.
"Oh, at last they notice it," Eve joked, turning back to the match, watching Gryffindors hugging for their victory.
"Oh my, I got to go, still have papers to grade. See you in the ball, I guess?" Chris asked, starting to raise from his chair.
"Yeah, see you later," she gave him a reassuring smile.
A/N. Hey!! At last I finish this
chapter… After a whole week full of exams… Well, all HP characters are JK's
and not mine, except the characters you do not notice in the books! For the
reader in fanfiction.net, if you want to see your review response, go to the link didn't show up, go to my user page and click my homepage, it links
there. It's a message board to chat with me and to see my response to your
reviews in fanfiction.net). Everyone else is welcome to join and have a chat
there! Clutchy
(06/14/04)