Jay Morris
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just the gremlins in my head.
Harry Potter and Destiny's Servant
"Chapter 1: Meet the New Guy"
Harry was excited. It was his first night back at Hogwarts and it was his sixth year. He could hardly wait until he could get back into his regular routine. Hermione of course was looking over at the teacher's table to try and find the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Ron was too busy turning as red as his hair looking at girls up and down the Gryffindor table.
"Harry, there's our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. It's Lupin again; but who's that sitting next to him?" Hermione asked.
"How would I know Hermione?" Harry said.
Hermione was interrupted by Ron asking, "Harry who is that?"
"Who Ron?" Harry asked boredly. Ron's obsession with girls was beginning to bug him.
"The cute one between the other two cute ones," he said turning redder.
"That was so helpful Ron."
"Sorry. The one with slightly brown hair, and a dark skin tone."
"Oh. That is...ah Hermione what is her name? I had and lost it."
"Her name is Tanya Raven. And I advise you to steer away from her Ron." Hermione had a dead serious look on her face.
"Why? She's smart, in Gryffindor, and is hot. Why?" Ron looked almost hurt.
"If you had heard a tenth of the rumors about her, you would turn and run."
Ron was about to say something but was interrupted by Professor Dumbledore standing to start the feast.
"Welcome to another year at the wonderful school of Hogwarts." The shouts of the students filled the hall almost earsplittingly. "I will state that the Dark Forest is forbidden, and so are fights in any form. We have an old face for an even older job, Professor Remus Lupin is back to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts." And somehow, whether by spell or not, Lupin turned just as red as Ron to the applause he received even from the Slytherin table. "We also have a brand new course that has been worked into your schedules, and the teacher will be Professor James Devine. He will be teaching a class that will be called Magical Finishing. I hope to have a good year. Let the feast begin."
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Hermione met Harry and a blushing Ron in the Great Hall for breakfast. McGonagall had given out the schedules and of course they still had to double Potions with Slytherins, but now they had to have the new Magical Finishing with them. This was going to be an interesting day, first it was Herbology with Sprout, then Magical Finishing with the new Professor Devine, and then Potions with Snape.
Herbology passed by quickly, that is if you count counting out exactly how many Snapdragon petals to put into a pot of Redberry Nightshade to make sure they don't eat too many.
"Okay, why do we care if her stupid Redberry Nightshade dies because it ate too much anyway?" Ron huffed as he, Harry and Hermione headed towards Magical Finishing.
Hermione stared at him with her usual dislike of ignorance. "Didn't you hear what Sprout said? It's berries are one of the most powerful antidotes in the world, and it will not give them to just anyone. That's why dumb a-"
"Watch that language Granger," came an oily voice.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned to find Malfoy, with Crabbe and Goyle. "You really ought to watch what you say you filthy mudblood." Malfoy hurried off with his usual smirk when he saw Hermione's and Harry's wands in their hands.
"Some day I'm just gonna let him have it."
Harry looked at his watch. "We've got two minutes to get there, or we're gonna get it!"
They got into their seats just as the bell sounded for the class to begin. The room was fairly modest. Professor Devine had put nothing on the walls, and only papers on his desk showed he had been here at all. Malfoy turned to look at Hermione.
"Well it looks as though even bookworm mudbloods have to hurry to be on time."
"Malfoy turn around," Hermione snapped.
"What are you going to do?" Malfoy smirked.
"Nothing!" shouted a voice. From the corner devoid of light stepped Professor James Devine. He was wearing forest green robes with blue and purple flames on the hems. He wore glasses that were small ovals, and didn't hide his piercing hazel eyes. His hair was an almost midnight black, and his skin was slightly tan.
"Isn't that right Miss Granger?" said Professor Devine.
"Yes Professor."
"Oh really. That's either you afraid of getting in trouble or an automatic response." Devine's eyes bored into her with amazing clarity.
"I thought I was going to get in trouble."
"That's what I thought. Now, so I don't have to do this to all of my classes, let me spell a few truths so they can fester into rumors. I too attended Hogwarts, I was a Ravenclaw. And much like Miss Granger here, I am a three-quarters muggle born wizard."
Malfoy smirked at Crabbe and Goyle. Devine whirled on Malfoy.
"Think you're better than me Mister Malfoy?" Devine asked.
"No, I don't think I'm better." Here Malfoy took a long pause. "I know I'm better."
"Stand up." Devine's expression hadn't changed.
Malfoy did as he was told.
"How old and tall are you?"
"I am seventeen and I'm six foot even."
Devine turned to the rest of the class. "How many of you think that this six foot even seventeen year old piece of puke can kick my butt in magic?" Harry and Ron had to shield their faces to hide their smiles, and Hermione's grin was bigger than ever.
"Your fellow students don't seem too big with you. Until you can outsmart me in magic Mister Malfoy I am still your better. So show me some respect and we'll get along fine."
"I'd rather sleep with the mudblood Granger." Malfoy said before he realized what he said. Devine had turned around, and then frozen.
"All students to the side of the classroom except Malfoy NOW!" Not one Gryffindor hesitated.
"Ten points from Slytherin for not following an instruction." That got the Slytherins moving.
Devine turned around to face Malfoy. He looked as though he were trying very hard to control his voice. "If there is one thing I will not tolerate in this classroom is the calling of names. If you want to take a stab at mudbloods then here's your chance." Turning to the desks he waved his wand and they transfigured into a dueling stage. Without even looking at Malfoy Devine said, "Step up." Malfoy looked worried.
On the stage Devine lowered his wand. "You wanted a chance to take a stab at a mudblood; here it is. I won't defend myself against the first shot. Be careful and don't miss, or you will live to regret it."
Malfoy knew what he meant, he got one free shot at this mudblood Professor who thought himself better than a pureblood. "Stupefy!"
Professor Devine simply moved aside and watched it go by and hit the wall. His wand came up, he shouted "Aurora borealis!" and out shot a beam of multi-colored light which slammed into Malfoy, sending him slamming into the wall fifteen feet away from the edge of the dueling stage.
Devine turned to the class. "I am not an easy teacher. Here are some definte tickers of mine: name calling, fights, and slopiness. It is my job to make sure each of you is ready to take on the wide world of magic. You will each be making appointments with me to train specifically in any field that you like. And if you don't show up you will lose 50 points for your house. And any name calling, fights or slopiness in work or attention will result in 10 points being deducted. I urge you to not test me on this. During this class period you will study your butts off, because this class is your new best friend. It will be a trainging day for an individual everyday, and the rest of you can have a study period. The rest of the class is yours. Malfoy your friends Crabbe and Goyle will assist you to the Hospital Wing if you feel that weak." Devine left the class to their own thoughts as he sat at his desk and began writing on a scroll with a giant eagle feather.
When the bell rang for class to end, all the Gryffindors left laughing.
"I cannot believe that a teacher would actually blast a student that far," Ron said.
"That is an image that will forever be burned into my memory," Hermione laughed.
"Well, we'll get it back in Potions with Snape," Harry sulked.
"Just picture Malfoy flying across the room," Ron suggested.
That brought a smile to Harry's lips. For the first time he smiled on the way to Potions.
N/A: Please tell me what you think about my stories. I share an e-mail account so be careful of what you say.