Author's note: How is everybody? Let's see, it's been a whole day since I last posted. Whoopee! Anyway, I'm in a very writer mood lately so I might be updating more often, especially since I plan to get this story finished before the next book comes out. So there.
Disclaimer: You know I don't own it.
A Muggle in Hogwarts
Harry's first class wasn't the disaster he had thought it would be. In fact, it went extraordinarily well (much in the same vein as DA meetings were held), and despite the fact that they were practicing basic duel spells such as expelliarmus and the shielding spell, not a single person was harmed. With the minor exception of a few dirty looks from Ginny's quarter, Harry was surprised to find that he was treated with much respect, almost as if he were an actual teacher.
Of course, there was the minor detail of him being a renowned Quidditch champion now affecting matters.
However, there was a bit of news sprung upon him after his second class that made a little knot form in his stomach. McGonagall approached, bearing a letter with the seal of the ministry.
"Mister Potter, I've heard from my class that you are doing well. I'm glad to hear it, but the ministry doesn't seem so confident of your ability and would like you to go ahead with taking the N.E.W.T. for Defense Against the Dark Arts early if you wish to teach the subject.
"A N.E.W.T.?" said Harry with a gulp—he certainly hadn't been expecting to have to take the dreaded test so early on. "When, Professor?"
"Well, the letter we received was marked as urgent, so I've already sent a missive to the Defense Against the Dark Arts testing agent to come on down tonight."
"Tonight?" Harry said in horror. He hadn't even thought about the fact that he was going to have to take his N.E.W.T.S. this year, and now he was already set to take one.
"It's just to prove that you have knowledge enough of seventh year curriculum to teach it. With all your experience in the subject you should be able to pass the test with flying colors. I wouldn't be surprised if you were able to get a top score."
Harry stared at her in dismay—he already had a few doubts of his ability to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, and now he had to prove the fact that he could do so to the ministry.
That evening, an exhausted Harry found himself once again in his classroom, waiting for the testing agent the Ministry was spending. After an entire day of classes and yet another entire day of teaching (and sixth period, when seventh year Gryffindors had the class being spent sleeping), he was dead tired and reluctant to even try and take the test.
He jumped to his feet when he heard movement at the outside door, and McGonagall entered. "Ah, here he is Madam Bones," said McGonagall as she entered.
"Madam Bones?" Harry repeated, eyes widening as Susan's aunt stepped in.
"Hello again, Harry, it's nice to see you," she said, extending her hand in a businesslike manner.
"Madam Bones volunteered since the usual tester was unwell," McGonagall said with a nod. "She gives the tests every few years, I believe."
"Which I must say is the reason I was quite impressed upon hearing that you could produce a patronus," she said. "Never before has a seventh year produced one, and you were quite young when you made your first, now weren't you?"
"Yes, Madam Bones," said Harry gravely, afraid to act even the slightest bit smug.
"Well, I'll leave you two to get started shall I?" said McGonagall as she left.
And so Harry was left in solitude with his girlfriend's aunt. "Now, where shall we begin?" said Madam Bones. Harry was now concerned, as this was the first time he had seen Susan's aunt smile. "How about a duel, Harry?"
Even though he was still sore from the duel with Susan's aunt, Harry was quite proud of himself when it came dinnertime. Although he had to admit that it was a little rude to be showing off his N.E.W.T., especially when Hermione had just begun setting up a schedule for her own N.E.W.T. study sessions, he couldn't help but let it be known how he had done at the dinner table.
"Full marks?" said Hermione in shock.
"How'd you pull that off?" said Ron with wide eyes. "I've never heard of anybody getting a perfect score on a N.E.W.T."
"I dunno," said Harry with a shrug. "I mean, I never expected it myself, I haven't even had as much of this class as everybody else does."
"But you've had more outside experience than anybody in school does," Hermione added. "Plus, you've got extra protection."
Harry thought suddenly of that which had been imbedded inside of him by Lenina's dagger a few months before. "Yeah…that's true," he said softly.
"I only hope I get a N.E.W.T." said Ron with a shake of his head.
Harry laughed. "With me as your teacher, chum?" he said, tapping Ron lightly on the shoulder. "Of course you will."
After dinner the group dispersed, with Harry heading back to the room that Dumbledore had given him the year before. He would have stayed for a while in the Gryffindor common room but he found himself excruciatingly tired from the long day he had had.
'Guess I'll just have to get used to it,' he thought to himself as he sat down on the edge of his bed.
He was about to go to sleep when he heard a knock at the door. 'Who can that be?' he thought in irritation as he got up and answered it. Hermione was standing there, looking slightly shellshocked.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked immediately, knowing that Hermione didn't react to light matters.
"My cousin Willow just sent me this, Harry," Hermione said, handing him a brown envelope that had been torn open already. "She's sent one to Dumbledore as well. I don't know what it could possibly mean but….but it's certainly not a good thing in the least."
Harry got a small chill from the pure whiteness of Hermione's face before reaching into the envelope and pulling out a large square of newspaper called "The Dallas Morning News".
Fourteen Dead as Strange Mark Hovers Overhead
Early in the hours of Sunday morning, fourteen people including three under the age of eighteen were found dead at a movie theater in Denton. A forensics team has been working to find the cause of death but so far none has been reported. "It's as if they died of fright," said Tom Walters, the first officer to arrive at the scene. "They looked as if before they died something had really frightened them."
However, strange as the bodies themselves were reports of a smoky mark found above the Rave theater in which the incident happened. "It was like a skull with an emerald snake coming through it's mouth," said Officer Walters. "Strangest thing I've ever seen. It personally makes me think it's a cult or something we're dealing with here.
Of course, Officer Walters neither confirms nor denies that a cult actually exists, but various characteristics of the murders indeed seem to lead in that direction. While the people of Denton look for an answer to the chaos, the rest of the Metroplex will be keeping their eyes out for any strange groups of people who might once again perpetrate such an act.
"This is horrible," Harry said in shock.
"That was my reaction," Hermione said. "Those people were Willow's friends. She was…she was supposed to go with them, Harry. Voldemort tried to kill her."
"I'm fine," said Willow with a small shake of her head. "Really, I am. He didn't do anything to me, I wasn't there, I'm okay."
"But that doesn't mean that he's going to leave you alone," said Hermione in exasperation.
"Listen, what would I do at a magic school? Be depressed because I can't do the wonderful things that you can? No thank you, I'm content to make up my own worlds and mess around with them."
"You are a writer Willow," Hermione said. "Afterwards you could write about our world. I'll bet you could even get it published and the Ministry of Magic wouldn't bat an eye. Muggles couldn't prove it was real, after all."
Willow perked up at this statement. "That would be awesome!" she said. "But…are you sure you wouldn't mind, sir?" she said, turning around to face Dumbledore.
"It was my idea after all, Miss White," Dumbledore said. "There are a few minor spells I'll have to perform on you to allow you into Hogwarts, but in the end I believe that it will be for the best. It is my partaking of your services that got you in this position, Miss White, and I do believe it will be for the best that you are kept with us in Hogwarts."
"I'll have to drop out of school," said Willow with a frown.
"Actually, no," Dumbledore said. "I've made arrangements also for you to be able to attend your classes with a simple Floo fireplace I'll have put into your room. Nobody will notice anything out of the ordinary. And if you wish, you may even attend some classes at Hogwarts—a few, such as Charms and Transfiguration, are out of the question of course, but you could work out well in Divination. And Harry could always use an assistant in regards to lesson plans and clean up in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Awesome," Willow said again with a grin.
"Now, I hope you don't mind staying here the night to give me a chance to get the wards at the school set up for you. You'll be the only muggle able to see the school, to access it of course."
"Yes, sir. And thank you."
"And if you wish, I'll allow you all to stay a night to get to know Hermione's cousin," Dumbledore said to Harry and Ron. "After all, she is the newest addition to Hogwarts. And to our world, as a matter of fact."
And saying that, he disapparated. "This is so cool," said Willow with a smile. "I mean, I'll miss my friends…Larry and Heather got back together after, like, a week by the way. But I'll have an awesome time at Hogwarts, I'm sure." She looked around herself then. "So, this is your house Ron?" she asked. "It's called The Burrow?"
Ron nodded. "Yeah. I've lived here my entire life."
"I've never had a house," said Willow. "I grew up with my grandmother—we were really, really poor. I lived in the same place my entire life, though. This is really nice…really comfortable."
Ron, being Ron, blushed.
"Aww, don't turn red Ronnikins," said a sudden voice coming from the kitchen. "It clashes so horribly with your hair."
"Hello, Fred," said Harry, rolling his eyes in amusement.
"So, this is Willow," he said, holding out his hand to her. "My other half will be here in just a moment."
A loud crack later and George was standing beside them. He offered Willow his hand. "Hello there, I'm George, this prat here's brother."
"Did you really drop out of seventh year? Fly out on broomstick like Hermione said?"
Fred nodded. "Oh, yeah, definitely. It was loads of fun."
"I wish I could fly," she said with a sigh.
Fred and George looked at one another for a moment. "I could take you up on one," said Fred.
"Really?" she said in excitement.
"Don't trust them," warned Hermione.
"Actually, a good swift flight sounds terrific," said Harry, who wasn't quite used to not practicing every day after the summer he had had.
"All right then, let's go," Fred said, grabbing Willow by the hand and dragging her outside.
Harry didn't have his broomstick with him, obviously, and neither did Ron, but using old brooms that had belonged to the family for years they were able to have a few rounds in the air.
Willow was clutching her arms around Fred's waist. "I love this, thanks!" she said with a smile and Fred dove, causing her to shriek and laugh.
Harry exchanged looks with Ron. "He fancies her," he muttered.
"Does not," Ron snorted.
Harry looked up at the two of them and smiled. Yes, he did—somehow Harry knew.
This was going to be a very interesting addition to the group, indeed.