An Update! Hopefully I'll have one again for you soon, but finals are approaching for me so I can't promise anything—I've been neglecting my classes terribly this semester.
ShadeDancer
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and can't get money for this, but I can make him into a Mafia Prince.
Warning: Some chapters (the ones including pranks) might not be appropriate to read at work. Laughter may ensue leading your co-workers to see you as even more insane than they previously thought.
Chapter 11: Manuel's Gifts
Harry was sitting at the Slytherin table during lunch the next day after Severus had given him the opening to sneak out of the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey hadn't seemed at all willing to let him out, and was contemplating whether to tell Manuel and Trevor of the danger currently infesting Hogwarts. He was torn on the subject; on one hand they would be able to give him advice, but on the other hand they would probably want to pull him from school. Harry was saved from further contemplation when Lockhart strode into the hall like a puffed up peacock, bags floating along behind him as he made his way to stand before the head table.
"Headmaster Dumbledore," he announced in his most pompous voice, "I regret to inform you that I am tendering my resignation. While I realized that the children have been receiving excellent education under my care, I have also realized that I am being selfish and depriving the world of my unique skills. There are villages out there needing my expertise, people who need the saving that only I can provide, and fans that I have sorely been neglecting. Farewell Hogwarts, I do hope you can find a teacher to take up in my absence even though I know no one will ever be able to measure up to my skills."
After his agonizingly long speech, Lockhart turned and levitated his bags out after him. For a moment the whole hall was stunned, some not daring to realize that their dreams had come true, before the Slytherin table burst out in cheers to be followed by a scattering of people from various other tables.
"Silence!" It took a few bangs from Dumbledore's wand before most of the students were seated again, "it appears that all Defense classes shall have to be canceled until a replacement can be found."
Manuel leaned around Harry and pouted so that only Trevor, Harry, and Blaise could hear. "I was hoping to get to torture him."
Trevor smirked back, "who says we can't? We never gave our word that we wouldn't, we merely informed him that it would be in his best interest to comply with our wishes."
Harry grinned at his father, "I should have known you had something to do with this. It's the best cheering up present you could have given me."
"Really," Manuel asked slyly, "then I guess I won't have to worry about giving you the little gift I picked up for you."
Harry's eyes glinted and he slid his wand out, "you don't have to, but it would be in your best interest to."
Manuel laughed and pulled Harry into a rough hug, "just like a Darkov. I love you Harry."
Harry hugged his dad back before squirming free, his eyes sparkling happily, "now what did you get me?"
By then lunch was ending and Manuel stood with everyone else, "come on and I'll show you before Trevor and I have to leave."
They were nearly out of the hall when Dumbledore's voice stopped them. "Ah, Mr. Zabini, if I could have a word for a moment. You may join up with the others in a bit."
Trevor scowled but hung back while Manuel, Harry, and Blaise headed towards the guest wing. Harry and Blaise were able to avoid most of the after lunch crowd by ducking through the different secret passages they had discovered or been shown by the twins, Harry trying to get his father to tell him what he had gotten him.
"I'm not telling," Manuel laughed as they finally arrived at the guest room, "you'll see in a minute, Harry, though maybe I should make you wait until Trevor gets here."
"You better not," Harry scowled playfully, "I have a wand and Trevor's not here to protect you."
"Alright, Alright," Manuel conceded, "I'm getting it, I'm getting it."
Manuel disappeared into the bedroom, leaving Harry and Blaise sitting in the sitting room. Blaise had no idea what the surprise was either. After what seemed to be forever, Manuel came back out with something cupped in his hands.
"Hold out your hands Harry," he ordered and Harry complied to find himself holding something fuzzy and warm.
It was a tiny grey kitten, it couldn't have left its mother not long ago, with darker grey stripes running through its extremely soft fur. As if realizing that it had just been presented to its new master, the kitten opened its eyes to reveal the most vibrant blue orbs Harry had ever seen.
"She's gorgeous," Harry whispered, "thanks dad. I love her. She's an even better gift than you getting rid of Lockhart."
Manuel grinned happily, "thought you would. We've seen you cuddling up with Blaise's cat and decided you might like your own."
Harry hugged his father before settling down on the floor with Blaise to play with the kitten. It was a peacefully quiet scene, one that was interrupted by Trevor barging in suddenly.
"He wants me to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts!" Trevor said without preamble.
"Really?" Blaise and Harry were intrigued, "that would be awesome."
"The idea does have merits," Manuel's mind was turning, "you would be here for the children so we would know that they were safe. I do not believe that I am imagining things when I say the teachers seem to be uneasy."
"No, I am not going to teach Defense!" Trevor stated adamantly. "Tutoring these two is one thing, but I cannot stand the thought of classes of ignorant brats."
Harry and Blaise exchanged looks before they began to tell all they knew so far about the Chamber of Secrets; it would not be in their best interests to stay silent now.
… … … … …
"Ah, yes," Dumbledore was way too cheerful for a Monday morning, "please welcome your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Trevor Zabini."
Trevor stood and inclined his head to the student population before regally retaking his seat, only Harry and Blaise seemed to realize the groan Trevor was suppressing. It was going to be interesting to see how Trevor handled guiding the students through their lessons, patiently instructing those who screwed up—especially since their last two Defense teachers had been a joke and the students were woefully behind on their lessons.
A little way down the Slytherin table Draco could be heard commenting, "it seems we might actually have a decent Defense teacher. This one is pureblooded at least."
Harry didn't know if Draco had yet made the connection between their new professor and Blaise, but turned to his friend with a smirk, "he has no idea."
"Come on," Blaise popped a last piece of fruit into her mouth, "lets go see what today's lesson is about."
Trevor caught up with them in the hall as they were heading towards the Defense corridor to wait for him to finish breakfast.
"So what's today's lesson?" Blaise asked curiously.
"We'll be working on shields," Trevor said, "I was considering shielding against bludgeoning hex but I cannot find where your class has covered that yet so we'll start with the simpler stunning spell."
Harry snorted, "you'll have to teach them the stunning spell as well. They haven't been taught that either."
"Great," Trevor sighed in a resigned voice, "just what have I gotten myself into. I think you better tell me what you have actually covered in your classes, successfully covered."
"Well," Harry began, "we've learned never to let pixies loose and that teachers with turbans smelling like garlic are probably possessed by an evil Dark Lord named Voldemort."
"I'm doomed," Trevor groaned, "damn Dumbledore for offering me this job and damn you two and Manuel for talking me into taking it! That's the last time I ever stick around after threatening someone into quitting their job, even if they are a bloody incompetent wanker and I wanted to enjoy the show."
Harry and Blaise continued to fill Trevor in until the rest of the class came in and they appropriated their usual seats in the back of the room. At their move from the front table to a pair of seats at the back of the room, Trevor gave them a look of abandonment. Harry and Blaise merely shrugged back, they weren't about to give up the seats they had been inhabiting all year and the good vantage spot it gave them. The rest of the class filed in and waited quietly, unsure of what their new Defense teacher was going to be like.
"I'm Professor Zabini," Trevor announced, looking slightly awkward with his new title, "I'll be calling you up in pairs to test you on disarming and shielding. Mr. Nott, the disarming spell is expelliarmus; Miss Bulstrode, the shielding spell is protego. On three—three, two, one, now!"
Trevor had demonstrated the simple wand movements as he said the spells, but both Theo and Millicent failed to produce the correct results. Asking them to sit down, Trevor called up two more pairs of students before getting frustrated.
"Harry, Blaise," Trevor called, "if you would demonstrate."
It was more of a commanded then a request so Harry and Blaise moved forward, effectively casting the spells and receiving points from Trevor. After that he broke them into groups and walked around correcting the students, having Harry and Blaise do the same. Unfortunately, Harry ended up with Malfoy to help and the aristocratic blond hadn't forgiven Harry for the comment on his family's wealth yet.
"Go away Potter," Draco hissed through clenched teeth, "I don't need a mudblood lover helping me. You disgrace Slytherin."
"Detention Mr. Malfoy!" Trevor had heard the exchange.
"What?" Draco was incensed and confused "but you're a pureblood, you—"
Trevor cut Draco off. "I may be a pureblood, but it doesn't mean I have to hold to bigoted beliefs. I want you all to read up on and practice the disarming and shielding spells. Class dismissed."
Slowly the class gathered together their things, pausing when Millicent spoke out, "I don't think those spells are in our books."
"Oh, yes, your books," Trevor smirked and pulled forward Harry and Blaise's set of Lockhart's books, "that brings to mind another spell you should learn. Incendio."
Not much more than ash remained when Trevor was done and he grinned at the looks on most of the kids faces, "see you next class."
"I wanted to do that," Harry pouted to Trevor on the way out, Blaise giving her father a quick hug before the two headed to their next class.
… … … … …
"How'd it go?" Blaise asked her father as she flounced into his classroom at the end of the day.
"Doesn't anyone understand the concept of independent study?" Trevor groused. "I think the only ones not too far behind are the first years, and that because they've only been here a few months."
"Then it's probably a good thing you're here to get the classes back on track." Harry looked up from stroking his kitten, Tempest, who had stayed in a basket with Trevor during classes.
"I need some way to get the lessons back on track, but without extra lessons that will be next to impossible—" Trevor trailed off, a gleam starting in his eyes. "I think I have an idea that just might work, but I'll have to get the old bastards permission first."
Try as they might, neither Harry or Blaise could get Trevor to even hint at what he was thinking and finally gave up to head to dinner. They would find out soon enough if Trevor had his way.
A/N: I just had to give Harry a kitten and make him act cuddly towards it. Grins! I also fixed the mix up in names that I made either last chapter or the chapter before. Thanks to everyone who pointed that out to me.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
HazelWolf11: Harry and Blaise know Lee through the twins and he occasionally helps them with pranks. Harry does know he can speak to snakes because in first year I had him set the snake after Quirrell as part of a prank.
Jollander: I would love to answer those questions, but I don't want to give anything away.
Black Wolfress: You'd have to get through the whole of the Darkov clan first to get to me. (grins). I was thinking of slitting Lockhart's throat, or some other such torture, but I can't exactly have Manuel or Trevor murder him on Hogwart's grounds. It would be too suspicious. That's not to say Manuel is done with Lockhart though. I might bring him back into it just for some fun and games.
Posted: April 19, 2005