Chapter 11 - Teacher Trouble
At the start of the next week the air was filled with excitement, but also depression. By lunch on Monday, most wanted Snape to go. Harry wasn't sure if some hadn't planned foul play to get Araya back.
The Slytherins had spent half the class complaining about Araya's exam. Harry was nearly certain that Snape was going to discount it. The best mark he'd ever received in potions.
Araya arrived to lunch looking bored. Her seat was now beside Snape's. She hadn't even gotten comfortable before Snape turned on her.
"What were you thinking?" he snapped.
"Could you please be a little more specific?" Araya replied pleasantly, but her eyes were cold and hard. She turned to look at him.
"That...that test was unfair." Snape said. "How dare you take a potions class into the Black Forest. It's off limits to students."
"Oh that. Are they still whining?" Araya said off-handedly, "First of all, the area was checked, cleared of dangers, and blocked off. Secondly, I went through all the information needed to do the exercise. Finally," Araya's voice dropped, it took on a cold note that made even Snape cringe a little, "This is not the proper forum for this discussion." Araya smiled pleasantly at him again. "If you would care to discuss this further, let's go to the staff room."
Snape looked like she'd just slapped him in the face. Harry watched him rise to leave, followed closely by Araya. They walked silently to the staff office. Professor Dumbledore was still in there.
"How dare you?" Araya demanded as soon as the door closed. "I would never undermine your authority in front of the students. How dare you do it to me?"
"What is going on?" Dumbledore asked.
"If you have a problem with my teaching methods, take it up with me. But not in front of the Great Hall full of students." Araya fumed, "It seems Professor Snape disagreed with the final exam I gave the fifth year potions class."
"I see. Well, what is the problem?" Dumbledore asked sitting up. Araya perched herself in the window and glared at Snape, who stood stiff-backed.
"I was informed that Professor Luna," Snape sneered, "Took the class out into the Black Forest, and let them traipse around looking for ingredients to make a potion. I contend that it was reckless and unfair."
Araya opened her mouth, but said nothing as Dumbledore held up a hand, "You will get your turn. How was it unfair, Severus?"
"It is not a herbology class. The students do not need to know the plant that makes the ingredients. They were not allowed to use their supplies." Snape paused, "She gave the Slytherins less time than the other houses. There weren't enough to go around."
"Alright, Araya. Let's hear your side." Dumbledore said calmly.
"It was completely fair, and safe. As I told you, the area was cleared of any hazards, and sectioned off with force walls." Araya replied. "All the plants had been demonstrated in class and were plentiful enough for all the students. I allowed them to share information. It's true that they weren't allowed to use their supplies, but there was no need. The exercise was based on the premise that poisoning of that nature doesn't happen in the home, but in the forest. The other houses had no problems with it, only Slytherin did." Severus was going to say something, but was stopped by Dumbledore. "As for the time issue, they lost time by arguing with me. Do you allow students to argue with you when you've given them an exercise?"
"No." Severus said, taken off guard.
"So why should I?" Araya asked.
"Do you have an answer for that Severus?" Dumbledore asked, "I'll take your silence for a no. Do you want to tell me about the rest?" They both began to speak, "Araya."
"I don't mind being asked about my teaching style. That's fine, but don't challenge me in front of a room full of students." Araya said, much calmer than before, "I have to work very hard, especially with the senior students, to have any sense of authority with them. Many of them have siblings my age. Then you go, and in thirty seconds wiped that all away...all that I've worked so hard in your absence to build."
Dumbledore saw the fury in Araya, "Well Severus, do you have anything to say to that?"
Snape's eyes narrowed, "Perhaps I...my timing was inappropriate." he said grudgingly. If Araya didn't know better, she would have sworn Dumbledore was controlling him.
"Whatever." Araya waved, "I'm hungry. Can we get back to lunch?" She strode across the room and paused at the door. "Oh, just for your reference, I'm not someone you want as an enemy."
Wednesday, the Hufflepuff told them that their Care of Magical Creatures class had been cancelled during their double herbology with Gryffindor.
"I've heard that none of the Care of Magical Creatures classes have resumed yet." A Hufflepuff girl said.
"I thought that Professor Araya would be taking it." Neville said.
"So did we, but maybe she's not inclined to." the girl replied.
That night Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to check on Fang. They knocked and Fang's booming bark came from the back. They went around to see.
"Hello." Araya greeted.
"Hello." Harry said. "We were just checking on Fang." Fang woofed and bounded over to them.
"Ah, he misses Hagrid." Araya said pleasantly. "I don't want to leave him out here alone, but he hates the castle. Poor fella."
"So, you're taking care of him?" Hermione asked, scratching Fang's head.
"Yeah." she smiled, "I really admire what Hagrid has done around here. He has quite an animal affinity. So are you glad to have Professor Snape back?"
"Um, not really." Ron said.
"You may have been tough, but at least you were fair." Hermione said.
"So are you taking Hagrid's class until he comes back?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Looks like it." Araya said, she finished what she was doing in the yard. "And I'll keep covering for Professor Lupin when he's ill."
"So, why have all the classes been cancelled so far?" Hermione asked.
"Well, it is going to be a surprise. You'll see on Friday." Araya smiled. An owl came and landed on her shoulder. She untied the note and smiled. "Sorry, it's from my boyfriend. But don't try to ask any of the others about the surprise project. I don't want it spoiled."
"Should I be worried that she's starting to sound Hagrid when he's about to unveil a monster?" Ron pouted.
"No monsters." Araya said, "Promise. Would you lot like to take Fang for his evening walk around the lake?"
"Could we?" Ron said.
"Sure, there's plenty of time before dinner." Araya said, "Have fun. Stay on the grounds."
By Friday, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were so excited they left as if they were going to spill about the secret. Friday morning on the way to breakfast they saw Araya stop Snape in the hall.
"Could I have a word?" she asked nicely.
"I was wondering. You have double potions with fifth year Ravenclaw - Hufflepuff last period today, don't you?" Araya said.
Snap gave her a look that clearly said 'what do you want?'
"I was wondering if you would let them come into the yard to join my Care of Magical Creatures class. That is of course, if you finish early."
"My classes never finish early." Snape returned coldly, "And they need to whole class to ensure that they have received as much knowledge as the Monday class."
Araya squared her shoulders. She smiled sweetly and looked at him directly in the eyes. "Oh, I completely understand. I would hate for that to happen. I was just hoping that if you did happen to finish early, you could send them out." Araya paused slightly, "So all the fifth years would start their project together.
"I'll try." Snape said, his voice sounding almost pleasant. "Perhaps I can arrange fifteen minutes at the end."
"Oh that would be wonderful." Araya smiled, "Thank you so much."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other. Never had anyone talked Snape into something. Besides, Snape never let any of his classes go early.
"Araya!" Dumbledore snapped. She turned to look at him sweetly, "Could I see you. Now!" Although his voice was pleasant enough, there was a commanding undertone. Araya followed him without a word into the staff room. Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched Snape shake his head as if coming out of a trance.
"I'll see if I can hear anything. You two keep an eye on Snape." Hermione said, moving off toward the staff room.
"You are never to do that!" Dumbledore snapped, "You swore you wouldn't."
"I did. No harms done, its just fifteen minutes." Araya said innocently, "He just wasn't being reasonable, and it's really important that they start together."
"Then you should have started after class, or on Saturday." Dumbledore said, "Now you WILL go and undo what you did to Severus. Give him the option. Free of influence. And you WILL apologize."
"Yes, sir." Araya replied.
"If you ever do that again on this campus, I'll have you out of here so fast it will put even your reflexes to shame. Am I clear?" Dumbledore demanded.
"Yes, sir." Araya said quietly, "It was a poor use of judgement." There was a pause, "Sir, I...I've been thinking about the events of Halloween. I have an idea but I want to check it first. I was thinking of using a portkey, as apparating is blocked in the castle, and wanted to use your office as my entry point."
"Do tell, why my office?" Dumbledore asked sceptically.
"Well, sir, that way I can report to you and there is less likelihood that anyone unexpected sees something." Araya said logically, "I wanted to go today. I don't have class until 2:00 pm."
"Alright," Dumbledore said, "First-"
"Yes, yes, Snape." Araya said, she sounded like a child forced to do something she didn't want to, "I'm not going to do it in the Great Hall. Why don't you bring him in here?"
"Fine, wait here." Dumbledore said. Hermione rushed off at that. What would the others say when she told them?