"Slytherin and Gryffindors for Defense Against the Dark Arts," Ron informed the 6th year Gryffindors at breakfast, "We better get going," the Gryffindors got up and headed for Defense Against the Dark Arts class on the third floor.
"Looks like our classmates are leaving," Pansy spat as she watched the Gryffindors leave the Great Hall. She glanced at her watch and said, "We'd better get going or we'll be late," She told Harry. They followed the Gryffindors, at a distant mind you, up the stairs to Professor Popa's classroom.
"Ok! Everyone take a seat and we'll get started!" Professor Popa announced after the bell rang. Draco, Hermione, and Ron were sitting in the front of the class with most of the Gryffindors, "Great! Now when I call your name say 'here' alright?" she turned to the class register.
"Brown, Lavender," Popa started and was followed by a 'here!' like asked from an eager Lavander. This continued till Popa reached Hermione's name.
"Well here's a name I like seeing. Dumbledore has said so much about you Miss Granger," Hermione answered and Popa flashed a giant smile revealing brilliant white teeth, "It seems like you are the top student at the school here. I went to Beauxbatons and got a fair challenge there so I hope to test all you've got Miss Granger," Hermione was positively beaming. She looked from Draco to Ron, both who were sitting on opposite sides of her. Ron had not said anything to Draco since last night's events. Draco smiled and Ron rolled his eyes, but what Hermione didn't see was Harry sitting in the back contemplating Professor Popa being a teacher at Hogwarts, while the rest of the Slytherins rolled their eyes in disgust. Popa continued down the list till Neville's name where she made an unexpected pause.
"Longbottom, Neville,"
"Here!"
"Fantastic at Herbology according to Professor Sprout. We'll get to use some Herbology in here. Not today though maybe in a few weeks," She continued till, "Potter, Harry, ohh…"
"Here,"
"Keeping up on karate?"
"Er… yeah…" Draco answered not quiet sure what he should do. Harry, in the back of the class winced hoping she wouldn't linger on him. Had Dumbledore told her?
"Good," she continued down the list without any stops this time, "Ok now that, that's done," Popa sat on her desk, "Let's see how far did you get last year?" Hermione's hand shot up, "Yes Miss Granger?"
"Pardon me but last year we had Dolares Umbridge… and she taught us theory… we didn't have any in class practice with spell,"
"Well… that doesn't prove well for me…" She sighed, "Well does everyone remember the 'theories' that your last 'Professor' so poorly taught" the Gryffindors smiled. They were going to like Professor Popa. Almost all the class raised their hands. Of course they remembered.
"Neville, please give me on theory you remember," Neville told her only part of a theory and then she questioned a few other people, Hermione being the only one remembering full theories.
"Well," Popa said haughtily, "It seems you're even more behind then when she go hold of you… Now what about some of your other teachers? Before Umbridge?" Hermione raised her hand, "Yes?"
"Well in our first year we had Professor Quirrell who had Voldemort," a shiver ran through the Gryffindors but everyone was shocked that Popa only nodded recognition at his name, "in the back of his head, second we had Professor Lockhart who was a fraud and wasn't worth anything and currently resides in St. Mungos," A laugh went through the Gryffindors, "Third we had Professor Lupin," she said with pride but a scoff came from the back of the room from Harry. Popa tilted her head in his direction.
"Something funny?" Popa asked him. Hermione and Ron turned and looked at him in fear that he'd let the truth spill out. Harry sat a little straighter in his seat.
"No, not at all. No Professor Lupin was a werewolf. A subspecies of human, he should never have been hired. What if he'd eaten one of us? I think we were all fearful of him," Harry nodded to Pansy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Blaise who all pretended to be afraid at the mere thought of being in the presence of a werewolf.
"Well… We can all tell that Mr. Malfoy seems to be prejudice of werewolves and perhaps others too. Maybe after this year I could show you that not everyone can be judged by what they can't help being," Popa commented and returned to Hermione, "Please continue about Professor Lupin," Harry and the Slytherins shared raised eyebrows and false looks of interest before rolling their eyes. Another corrupt teacher.
"Professor Lupin," Hermione began again, "Taught us most of what we know, then we had Professor Moody who turned out to be an imposter, who happened to be a Death Eater. Then we had Umbridge," Hermione continued.
"Well that's a whole slue of people… An I am a muggle karate teacher!" She laughed, "I plan to last a couple years before I'm sacked or quit. So lucky you! Alright! Let's just brush up on some of the spells from last year. They are listed on pages 5-10," the rest of the class went with full hands on activity. Of course the members of the D.A. had excelled. Harry felt proud at the members for a moment as he watched them practice. Neville had shown the most improvement. Of course when Harry returned looking at the Slytherins he noticed that they weren't doing quiet as well. When his eyes roved over the Gryffindors again instead of happiness he felt an overwhelming bitterness.
Draco had nervously participated in class. Usually he was in the back of the class messing around, not actually participating. So this is what it feels like to be Potter… Harry. Draco thought to himself.
When class ended everyone grabbed their stuff.
"Now everyone! Don't forget to practice! That's your homework! Do each spell at least once! Potter! Malfoy!" She called, "Wait for a moment please," Harry and Draco waited until the last student left. She shut the door with a flick of her wand.
"Ok, I know about you two being switched and all. I told Dumbledore that I've heard of a fairytale like this. He told me to tell you two about it. I've only heard of this in that fairytale that my mother told me when I was little," She saw Harry wanted to ask her something but she held up her hand, "Harry I couldn't tell you because it would blow my cover. Ok now what I have to tell you two is important… I know it's a difficult task but in order to return to your own bodies you have to let yourselves go. You're going to have to let yourselves become each other. Really you have no choice. Things will come out and you'll start thinking like each other. The really weird thing that happened in the fairytale was that the ones who were switched actually could remember things that the other had gone through, events that they really had never seen and stuff like that. Draco you would remember the first time Harry met his godfather and what he said and Harry… You would remember what Lucious said to Draco the night that the plan to murder you was made," Draco's eyes got wide.
"How do you know about…?" Draco started.
"I know lots of things Draco and trust me you wouldn't have made it. You were going to get a detention that night," Harry and Draco looked very puzzled, "Oh… I can see the future,"
"Like Professor Trewnoly?" Harry blurted.
"No… she's a fake… I can really see the future. She just pretends," Popa seemed proud to say so, "If this position hadn't been open I would have gone for divination teacher… I would love to help people. Although you don't seem to have the eye for it, Harry," She chortled. Harry did too, but it was coldly and unemotionally. Draco nervously laughed, "With this fairytale it gets worse. Supposedly you lose all sense if your own self. You begin to become that person. My mother told me that story so that I would learn to treat my enemies with greater care and possibly look at life form their point of view. I think that's why you two were chosen perhaps. Now get to class!" she smiled and ushered them out the door, "If your teachers give you a hard time tell that I held you," Harry and Draco headed off to their next classes. Draco stopped Harry before they were about to go their separate ways.
"Ready for this?" They stood in the corridor barely whispering to each other.
"I guess,"
"I'm going out with Hermione now. She loves me. Me. What ever she told you… It was a lie. Sorry Harry,"
"Do you love her?" Harry asked him there was no note of anger. He was calm, "Tell me. If you do then I have no problem with it. I knew she lied to me. I hope Ron doesn't kill you," a group of 5th years walked between them and Draco yelled over their heads.
"Yes!" and went to his next class. Harry blinked and went down to Herbology with the Ravenclaws. As he reached the bottom stair from the entrance door he was bombarded by something big and red. It hit him on the head.
