A/N: Here is the next chapter…school will have officially started for both of us next week…ugh…I hope you enjoy this chapter, sorry it took so long-my computer wouldn't turn on for a few days…and get this…it was merely unplugged!
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Before the Boy Who Lived
Chapter 8
"I See Dead People…"
"I am sorry to announce the death of our beloved History of Magic Professor," said Dumbledore gravely to the whole of Hogwarts the next morning. "He died in a fire that took place in the staff room last night."
Lily gasped and turned to Genny who was wearing a shocked look almost identical to the one on Lily's face.
"Oh my gosh! Can you believe it? I had no idea something like this would happen in a place like Hogwarts! Don't wizards have spells or charms to prevent fire?" exclaimed Lily
"I can't believe it either. We do have things to try and prevent it, but we can't control fire any more than muggles can," answered Genny
"What are they going to do about a Professor?"
"I'm not really sure."
Lily sighed and looked up at the ceiling, outside it was pouring rain and very dark and dismal, it would be very difficult to distinguish the time of day hadn't Lily had a watch.
"I have been contacting people all night to find you a suitable History of Magic Professor, and I think you will all find Professor Gonison and excellent replacement," said Professor Dumbledore "But I am afraid to announce he has not arrived yet. So for those of you who have 'History of Magic' on Fridays-if he isn't here by the time your class is held, it will be cancelled."
Lily glanced down the table at Peter and Sirius who had all but leaped from their seats in ecstasy. Lily rolled her eyes at him, as did Remus. Lily expected James to have celebrated with his best friend, but he seemed a bit more solemn than usual.
WHAM!
All of the sudden the doors to the Great Hall were thrown open with a severe force and a sopping wet figure trod into the Hall.
"I apologize, Dumbledore, for the abrupt, unannounced entry, but it is extremely wet out there and I needed to get inside as soon as possible," said the very wet man--at least Lily hoped that it was a man
"No apology needed Francis," Dumbledore turned to face the students, "My I introduce you all to Professor Gonison!"
Lily, Genny, Remus, and James applauded politely as Sirius and Peter melted back into their breakfast.
The man removed his very wet cloak and hung it on the back of one of the chairs at the Head Table and sat down, he was rather young man around his late twenties or early thirties. He had very dark features, wasn't very tall, and had an assertive look about him.
In their opinion classes couldn't have gone any slower. Everybody was eager to see what this unexpected teacher would have to offer. Lily struggled to keep focused during a Charms lesson that would have been very interesting-had it not been before History of Magic.
"Ms. Evans!" practically screamed tiny Professor Flitwick, throwing Lily out of her thoughts.
"Huh?" she replied stupidly.
"I've just asked you to tell me how you make various fruits move on their own."
"Er…cast a charm on them?" she could hear sniggering behind her. It appeared that James was feeling much better than this morning.
"Yes. But what kind of charm?"
"I don't know sir."
"I will demonstrate for you. Pay attention." Flitwick pulled out his wand and pointed it to his apple. "Movi Cibus!" The apple was now performing a complicated dance step on it's own. "Finite Incantatum!" It stopped and the class applauded for the apple.
Finally-it was time for History of Magic.
"You know, after our first class I never thought I'd ever be excited for History of Magic ever again," said Lily bubbling with excitement.
"Yea, same here. I can't wait to see what Professor Gonison will be like."
The pair of girls both made sure to grab seats in the front of the classroom.
Professor Gonison walked into the room and moved to the front of the class.
"I'm sorry to hear about your deceased professor. And as Professor Dumbledore may have told you, he only contacted me last night. So I haven't had time to prepare a lesson. So I suppose I'll will just be reviewing you on simple facts to see how far you are." He announced to the class.
"First off I am Professor Gonison as you all probably know by now."
Half of the class nodded their heads absent-mindedly.
"Alright then, can anyone tell me the who the first Minister of Magic was?"
Genny raised her hand into the air.
"Yes, Miss…"
"Vallier," completed Genny, "Our first Minister of Magic was Ignatius Siphora"
"Correct, now would someone please tell me the date of…" he was cut off by Professor Binns.
"I apologize for being late, but I fell asleep in the staff room last night-seems I must've slept in much, much too late." The whole class was in a stunned silence, as was Professor Gonison. "Now we are going to go over the 62nd goblin war today, please open your books to page 476," said Professor Binns wearily.
No body could say anything for a while, that is except Peter who spoke up from the back of the class.
"But sir, you're dead!" Binns merely turned his attention in the plump boy's direction.
"Dead?" he asked nonchalantly, "Nonsense, boy. I'm as fit as a fiddle!" he said gesturing to his now transparent body.
"No, no, Binns," Professor Gonison seemed to have gained his voice by now. "You died last night in a fire that took place in the staff room were you had been sleeping. I was hired to replace you."
Professor Binns merely ignored him as he shifted his attention back to teaching, "Now I will begin reading from the book, please read with me silently…The 62nd goblin wars began in the eight hundreds…"
"Listen to me Binns!" shouted Professor Gonison
Binns turned to look at him. "Yes?"
"GET OUT OF MY CLASSROOM!"
"No, you seem to be mistaken young man. This happens to be my classroom. As it has been for the past 43 years."
"BUT NOW IT'S MINE!!"
Lily looked at Genny who was wearing a confused look; Lily concluded Professor Gonison was sounding more and more like a four-year-old with each passing statement.
"GET OUT! GET OUT! YOU ARE DEAD AND NOW I'M TAKING OVER!" shouted the new professor.
Professor Binns turned sighed and looked at him with an expression that clearly read, "whine, whine, whine, is that all you can manage to do?"
Professor Gonison turned on his heel and let the classroom abruptly slamming the door behind him.
"Now, as I was saying, the 62nd goblin wars began in the eight hundreds when Humbert the Horrendous attempted…"
WHAM!
That was the second time Professor Gonison had thrown open a door today. He stood in the doorway and pointed a long finger in Professor Binns direction.
"Look. Him. Dead. Back. Won't leave."
"I see we have a situation," said a voice that everyone knew as Professor Dumbledore's who had just stepped inside the classroom "Professor Binns it looks as if you decided to come back."
"Come back? I always show up to teach my classes. Aside from the fact that I slept in much to late this morning, I haven't left"
"Yes, and you have no intention of leaving?"
"Of course not Headmaster, I couldn't just leave my students!"
Professor Dumbledore turned and faced Professor Gonison, "It seems he has no intention of leaving."
"Yes I heard that, now what are you going to do about it?"
"Do about it? Why I am going to leave him be."
"But what about me? You had called me at two in the morning and asked me if I could replace this dead man!"
"Well, it looks as if it were a false alarm, and you may go back home to your family."
Professor Gonison just looked at the Headmaster in disgust, and then stormed out in a huff. Professor Dumbledore checked his watch, "It seems we have wasted all of your precious class time, I do apologize, you all are dismissed."
The first years filed out of the classroom all talking amiably.
"Well that was interesting," stated Remus as he walked with Lily and Genny.
"I agree," said Genny, "not the normal History of Magic class wouldn't you say Lily?"
Lily laughed, "No, not quite."
Remus left the two of them to join James and Sirius, who looked to be plotting something…again, Remus inwardly rolled his eyes at them, 'Didn't they know that they could be expelled?' he thought
"Hey, Remus! Come here!" shouted James.
Remus made his way over to them.
"Last night you'll never guess what we heard McGonagall doing?" eagerly asked Sirius
"Er….teaching pigs to chew with their mouths closed?" he said just throwing something out there.
James chuckled "No, she was firing Pringle! Now, we have free reign until they get another caretaker!"
"Fire Pringle?!" asked Remus taken aback. "Why fire him?"
"Oh that's right I haven't told you exactly what happened yet…"James then relayed the whole story to Remus.
"Wow, you'll never guess how many different rumors I've heard that are no where near close to that."
"Like what?" asked Sirius
"Well, my personal favorite is the one where Professor Binns decided to become one of those famous muggle magicians…and I'm sure you can figure out how that one ended."
James and Sirius started laughing so hard they had to grip one another for support
A/N: Also, if you would like to submit any ideas you have, feel free, you may or may not see them up here!
'Til next time,
Ciao!
