Chapter 32
Dumbledore was pacing in his office, when McGonagall entered, already in her dressing gown. "Minerva I just received extraordinary bad news." The concerned voice of the headmaster sent shivers down her spine and she sat down.
"What happened, Albus?" her voice sounded squeakier than she had expected.
"I've received a message from Severus. Voldemort is sending him to Transylvania tomorrow"
"TOMORROW" the Transfiguration teacher yelled "I thought he would be more valuable for Voldemort here at school?"
"We all assumed that, but after the last incident, Tom must have changed his mind."
The deputy-headmistress sighed heavily "Goodness, now our only connection to Voldemort is lost and we need another potion master"
"I already have someone in mind" The headmaster exclaimed, when he sat back down at his desk and handed a folder to his colleague.
"Oh! Her?" McGonagall asked. "I had no idea you two are still in contact."
"She my descendant after all and one of the best students this school has ever seen" Dumbledore chuckled "I remember a certain Transfiguration teacher who especially was very fond of her"
"Along with a certain student, I may recall" the witch added. "Oh yes, it took her quite some effort to keep the appropriate distance to this Gryffindor"
"So do you think she'd take the position?"
"I'm quite sure, Minerva. She's spent a lot of time teaching in Sweden and the Netherlands and just at our last family reunion this summer she told me, that she wants to return to good old England."
"Have you contacted her already, Albus?" "Not yet; I wanted to talk to you about it first"
"I have no objections"
"Then I will inform her immediately and until she's ready to take over the potions lessons have to be cancelled"
"The poor 5th years'.... Why had this have to happen in their OWL year? But we still have one problem, Albus"
"I've already considered that. We need to come up with a good cover story and find a way to convince young Malfoy not to spread this particular piece of information." Dumbledore closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "And we also need a new Head of House for Slytherin. Professors Flitwick and Sprout are out of the question. So who's left?"
"There is something else you are not aware of yet Minerva" Dumbledore added. "Professor Stone has told me today that his father is severely ill and he needs to return to Austria as soon as possible. You should have seen him today.... he is devastated"
McGonagall closed her eyes and rested her head on her hands. "Now we need a new potions professor and one for DADA. What is coming next?"
"I have thought our options through and came to a decision. Now I want your opinion about it Minerva."
The witch sighed and added "Bring it on Albus"
The headmaster chuckled "You are going to be Head of Slytherin until Severus returns"
"ME?" the witch yelled "And what happens to my Gryffindors? I hope you're not suggesting that she..."
"No Minerva" Albus interjected. "I have somebody else in mind. In fact I'm talking about the professor for DADA"
"And who would that be? Please enlighten me... I think I'm getting to old for riddles" This time the headmaster laughed loudly
"Our old friend Remus" The deputy headmistress' jaw dropped then her mouth turned into a cunning smile.
Malfoy didn't get back the rest of the week and potions was cancelled until further notice, very to the delight of Ron and Harry. In their view it was the best week ever, even without quidditch.
They heard a lot of rumors about what had happened to the strict potion master and each one was stranger than the last one. Ron guessed that Snape has finally rejoined Voldemort, Angelina thought somebody had locked him up in the vanishing closet and the Weasley twins assumed that he blew himself to kingdom come.
The Hogsmead weekend finally came and the students lined up in front of Filch to get checked out. Fred and George were banned for her night out with the dragons and for testing their inventions on the students. And to add to their misery, they had to serve detention with Professor Binns.
It was Kelsey and Kayla's first trip to Hogsmead and their friends were filling them in on all the sights. Neville and Ginny accompanied them and they were looking forward to 3 pleasant hours. Without Malfoy and Snape, Harry's life seemed to be so much easier. The Slytherins had lost all their nastiness and they could use the free periods to study for their OWLS.
They went to Honeydukes and Zonko's, paid the Shrieking Shack a visit and finally settled in the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer. Harry recognized that there were a lot more teachers in the little village than usual, but the oohs, aaahs and questions of his cousins distracted him most of the time. Kelsey and Kayla wanted to know everything about the big Halloween feast that evening and were totally excited when they heard that the Hogwarts ghosts always performed a little show.
Voldemort turned away from the fireplace right after Malfoy's head had vanished. "Wormtail, is my surprise ready?"
"Of course master. Your servant is ready to do as you wished."
"So I want you to give out my detailed instructions .... No failure this time or..." Voldemort's cold voice threatened and Wormtail left the room in a hurry. "Dumbledore... old friend... Let's see how you will handle this" he added and his red eyes glittered in pleasant anticipation.
"Come in my dear and sit down" Albus beckoned the young woman inside his office.
"Hello Albus" the blond visitor said and smiled.
"What happened to Dada Albi?" the headmaster chuckled.
"Oh I thought I'm getting to old for that now. I'm not sitting on your lap anymore, after all." the young woman scolded.
"Yes you've grown up so fast. I can still remember the day when I first held you in my arms and now you're ready to have children yourself" Albus smiled mischievously.
"Hold your horses. I will have a whole school full of children to take care of if I remember your letter right" The headmasters' expression became stern instantly.
"Yes my dear, unfortunately our potions master had to go on a dangerous mission and could give us notice earlier. So now we are badly in need of a new potions instructor. Would you be able to help me out of this tight spot?"
"I have already cancelled my old job and I'm ready to start. Just tell me where I can leave my things and I'm on my way to class" the young witch answered eagerly.
"There won't be classes until Monday morning, as you know very well" Dumbledore chuckled when he recognized that she had rolled up her sleeves already. "We will spend the next hours to make you comfortable with the other teachers and your room. Professor McGonagall will give you detailed instructions about what your position here will cover."
The new potion mistress left her chair and walked over to the phoenix perch. "Hey Fawkes!" she called, when she padded the beautiful birds' head. Fawkes sang one high tone, which hang in the air and made the woman feel all warm and comfortable. All the fears and worries about the new teaching position just vanished. The knowing eyes of the bird locked with hers and she knew there was nothing she had to be afraid of, as long as her great-grandfather was there.
"Would you please follow me now? Minerva is already waiting for us in the staff room." The witch turned away from the perch and followed the white- haired wizard out of the office. It is all so confusing; she thought when she walked down the hallway. He's not telling me everything.The self- confident attitude she had presented in Albus' office had been just a little bit more than a good show. She had lots of teaching experience, but it would make a big difference to teach in a school she once had attended herself and where her great-grandfather was the headmaster.
When she arrived at the staff room, most of the teachers had already returned from Hogsmead and were smiling at her expectantly. "Hello my dear" Professor McGonagall called when the new colleague was presented by the headmaster.
"Hello Professor McGonagall" the young witch replied, when she gave the Transfiguration teacher a brief hug. "I trust I'm too old to call you Aunt Minnie and supposed to show you respect now" she whispered with a mischievous grin on her face.
"You were always supposed to show me respect young lady" the deputy headmistress replied in mock dismay. The headmaster cleared his throat "May I introduce you to our new potions instructor. She is filling in until Severus returns. I trust you remember our former student" Just when Dumbledore was finished with his introduction, somebody darted forward and pulled the young witch in a tight embrace.
"Remus Lupin... get off me now" she laughed "I had no idea you would be teaching here as well"
"I bet you would have reconsidered your confirmation I assume" he grinned wickedly. "It's been quite a long time since we've seen each other."
"Yes I've been teaching on the continent the past years. So what are you teaching here? I hope it's not Divination; that would really be a waste of your talent."
A disgusted snort came from a seat in the corner. The new potions teachers' head spun around and her eyes widened in shock.
"She is not still teaching here, is she?" she whispered. Remus nodded, trying hard not to laugh his tail off.
"Oh great" the witch sighed. "First day back and I have to put my foot in my mouth." Then one after another the teachers approached their new colleague and greeted her. Little Professor Flitwick shook her hand and winked, while Professor Binns just lectured her about her duty as a teacher at this most highly respected institute. Hagrid gave her a hearty hug and lifted her off the floor easily.
Bravely the young witch finally walked over to the corner and stretched her hand out to the pouting Divination teacher. "I'm pleased to meet you Professor Trelawney. Unfortunately I don't possess your special gift or I would have known how ... strange... our encounter would be today"
"I know only few people possessing the inner eye like I do. Although I'd like to add that it's not always pleasant to be omniscient" the teacher sighed. Relieved that she had weaselled out of this unpleasant situation, the young witch went back to the headmaster, who was talking animatedly with Remus and McGonagall. "Professor Flitwick asked me if you and Remus would help him to finish the decoration in the Great Hall."
"Of course, I'd love to" the two young teachers answered in unison, before they followed the tiny Charms teacher out of the staff room. "I hope you made a wise decision, Albus, when you appointed these two as teachers at the same school and the same time" McGonagall sighed
The Gryffindors returned to the school, hungry and excited about the upcoming feast. Kelsey was a little upset because in his point of view, they didn't have time enough to explore everything as he would have liked to and he had had no chance to see or talk to Zara after the closet incident on Tuesday. He had thought about sending her a message via journal, but he didn't dare to, because he wasn't sure about how she'd take it. The young wizard assumed that the pretty Ravenclaw had no bad feelings about what had happened in the closet, but he still had no clue how to deal with her.
When they entered the Great Hall for the feast, Kayla was so overwhelmed that she accidentally walked through Nearly-headless Nick. Instantly she felt like she had been drained with a bucket of ice water and shuddered. The Gryffindor ghost apologized immediately and tried to pad her arm pitifully, but Kayla moved quickly to the house-table.
"It's strange that Malfoy isn't back yet. I was sure he wouldn't want to miss the Halloween feast" Hermione said to Kayla, who was still staring at the decoration in awe. Enormous jack-o'-lanterns were floating over the tables and buckets of sweats were positioned everywhere in the Great Hall.
"How did Hagrid managed that? I have never seen pumpkins that large" Kayla gasped.
"Oh he has this special fertilizer..." Ron explained hastily. At this moment, the headmaster addressed the students. "I hope you had a pleasant time in Hogsmead and that you are ready for a little more fun. But first I'd like to introduce you to the new teachers who will fill in for our two absent professors"
"Two?" Ron shouted "I know Snape's gone, but who's the second?"
"I was just about to explain this if you don't mind, Mr Weasley" Dumbledore interjected. Ron's face turned crimson as he mumbled an apology. "You all know that Professor Snape had to leave us earlier then expected; The MOM has sent him on a diplomatic assignment to Spain, which was scheduled for January, but unfortunately plans have changed. And our dear Professor Stone had to return home; alas his father fell ill and is requiring his presence. Despite these unpleasant circumstances I'm happy to present your new instructors. Most of you will remember our new teacher for DADA Professor Remus Lupin"
Harry's face lit up like somebody has just turned on a light bulb in his head when he joined the rapturous applause. The headmaster chuckled and continued "Your new teacher for potions was also a Hogwarts' student a few years back. So please welcome Professor Kimberly Wells" Dumbledore had made sure, that both teachers stayed hidden to increase the surprise.
Harry looked at the witch, who was standing next to Remus. She looked friendly and a lot less greasy and gloomy than his former potions instructor. Her shoulder-long dark-blond shone in the torch light and she looked around with a pretty smile on her face. "This is most definitely an improvement to the oversized bat" Ron exclaimed dryly and everybody started laughing.
Then the Hogwarts ghosts started their show. They appeared out of the walls and the floor, floated through the air and popped out of the tables. The Bloody Baron made Kayla jump when he emerged from the jack-o'-lantern on the table in front of her.
"Crazy Slytherin" was all she could say when her stomach slowly went back in its original place. "Enough now...I'm starving" Ron growled. Then to everybody's delight the tables were full of all sorts of food and they tucked in. Ron even managed a 4th helping of the desert, before he admitted he was full. Harry led his friends to the teachers table and introduced his cousins to the new teachers.
"So you are actually Nicole's children? I didn't even know she was married" Kim asked and looked at Remus.
"I've met her husband at James' and Lily's wedding first. He is also a 'friend' of Dumbledore now. You will meet them all next week" he whispered.
"And this is young Harry" the potion instructor smiled at the dark-haired boy. "I've been a very good friend of your parents... and your mother" she nodded in the twins' direction. "We were not in the same year. Lily tutored me in Charms during my first year and although she was more than three years older we got along very well."
"You've been a friend of all the marauders'" Remus insisted, before he leaned over and whispered in her ear.. "Especially to Padfoot I would like to recall"
Harry left the little group and walked over to greet Hagrid, while he was trying to figure out while all of a sudden old friends and family members appeared like mushrooms after a summer rain. The first 14 years of his life none of then hadn't bothered to seek him out or couldn't like in Sirius' case. In his third year at Hogwarts, he met 3 of his dad's old school friends and now in his 5th year he even met family members and another old friend no one had ever mentioned.
This was all so confusing, but he was determined to get an explanation. Maybe this was all a part of the protection Dumbledore had set up for him. After a little chat with Hagrid, he strolled over to the headmaster who was engaged in a conversation with Professor Vector and Professor McGonagall. Harry cleared his throat and addressed the white-haired wizard. "May I have a word with you Professor?"