CHAPTER TEN--NEW PROFESSORS
Monday morning found the Great Hall alive with waking students. At the head table, the headmaster watched as conversations began to gain more content. The lovely Spirit Phoenix fluttered and preened about Draco Malfoy, causing the old man to chuckle. Smiling, he quickly stood, gaining everyone's attention. "Good morning students."
Several growls could be heard from the few students yet to become early risers. The energetic headmaster could only add more brightness to his announcement, "I have the pleasure in announcing the arrival of new staff members as they were not able to arrive last night. Several of our professors have agreed to have assistances this year. Our new professors will be respected and obeyed. They are able to take house points as well as give. But I must emphasis the need to be careful around them for they are Mages."
Whispers exploded at the word as Albus began the introductions, "First, Spirit Mages Raja and Maya. Spirit Mage Raja, who will be assisting Hagrid in Care of Magical Creatures, can control the spirits of various wildlife, even mythical. Spirit Mage Maya, who will be assisting Professor Sprout in Herbology, can control various plants as well as communicate with the dead."
Two identical figures in hooded emerald capes pushed through the doors. Upon reaching the head table they turned to face the crowd, shoving the capes aside. Most of the males began drooling at the sight of identical auburn haired females. Both women snickered as warm golden eyes gleamed. They allowed the roving eyes to stare at the pale skin wrapped in simple emerald, floor length dresses, while soft hide slippers of a darker shade peeked from beneath. Twin golden cords graced their waists as open sleeves connected at the shoulders and thin wrists.
Pretending to be uncaring of the drooling males, both twins split ways to stand at either end of the head table as the headmaster announced the next Mage, who had gracefully glided inside the Great Hall. "Second, Silver Mage Lucas. He will be helping Professor Binns in History class. Silver Mage Lucas has control over all silver objects as well as the iron in our blood. He is also a Litherian Elf."
The dark grey cape was shoved aside, allowing the girls to all sigh at the elf. Comfortably dressed in various shades of grey, the elf bowed deeply to the students. Icy blue eyes twinkled at the swooning females as a single hand shoved the long locks of whitish blonde hair aside as he strode to Raja's side, sharing amused looks with the female Mage.
Albus merrily laughed at his students, "Next, Elemental Mage Thor. Elemental Mage Thor will be assisting Madame Pompfrey in the Hospital Wing and Professor McGonogall in Transfiguration. Elemental Mage Thor is part of the Ambroise Clan."
The next male gracefully stalked to the head table, tossing back a midnight blue cape. With a twirl, spiralling out his cape, he faced the speechless students. Every female felt they would drop in a dead faint. The dark honey blonde smiled, flashing his fangs all the while revealing he was a vampire. Dancing dark brown eyes glittered in tightly controlled amusement as the dragon hide boots stormed to Maya's side. The muscles bunched beneath the tightly fitted dark blue outfit, causing even louder sighs of pure adoration and desire.
From those sounds, my friends, I'm quite glad we refused to allow Isis here. Despite the werewolf being here, she would cause everyone to faint or longingly stare at her for being a Fallen Angel.
Just remember, Osiris, you're the last one to be called. You put the meaning into dark sin!
Osiris snorted at the mental laughter, not really caring about his looks. He waited as the headmaster announced his arrival, "Lastly we have two War Mages, though one of them could not make it. She is War Mage Isis. She is from a race called Rare Fallen Angels." All purebloods froze at the name, they had heard about Fallen Angels but not Rare Fallen Angels. "She will be relieving Professor Lupin, in Defense Against the Dark Arts, during the full moon week of each month. Otherwise she will be residing in the Forbidden Forest, in which no one will enter without her guidance and my permission should they wish to learn more about her. But for now I would like to introduce the second Mage, War Mage Osiris. He will be assisting Professor Snape in Potions. Since both assistants are War Mages, they have abilities in physical and weapon combat as well as dangerously high levels of magic." Albus thought it was prudent to explain to the Muggle-borns that War Mages were quite dangerous, as well as to his other students who just may cause harm to themselves should they accidentally or purposely upset the Mages.
Osiris stormed in, allowing his black cape to bellow around his frame, the comfortably loose dark clothing clung to him in the invisible breeze. Everyone had frozen, almost believing that Harry Potter had arrived but the non-appearance of the famous scar said otherwise, as well as his age. Brilliant emerald eyes glowed with power as the long raven hair was pulled back at the nape. His dragon hide boots distinctly tapped out an aura of danger. His tall broad frame caused quite a few males to drool alongside the females.
Severus sneered at the thought of being guilt tripped into sharing his classroom. There could be no way a War Mage knew anything of Potions or the art in making them. But the slamming of doors interrupted his musings.
Minister Cornelius Fudge and three Aurors suddenly stormed the Great Hall, sneering at those inside. "Headmaster Dumbledore."
"Ah, Fudge. How pleasant of you to stop by to greet our new professors."
The man sneered at the five assistants, who simply stared back in unnerving gazes causing the Minister to slightly falter before catching himself, "I'm not here for them, though it would be nice to see that thing," he points to Remus Lupin, "leave his teaching position."
"I assure you, Fudge, that Professor Lupin has yet nor will he cause harm to anyone. We have someone who will be helping him in class, especially during full moons, as well as Professor Snape preparing the Wolfsbane Potion. But how can I help you?"
"I may not prove it but I know you are in constant contact with one Sirius Black. I am here to present to you an Order of Clearance. One of the Death Eaters caught days ago was, indeed, Peter Pettigrew. Under veritaserum we questioned him about the Potters' and Black's cases. Sirius Black is now a free man, as of yesterday. He has been giving back his lands and full access to his vaults as well as a hefty compensation for being wrongly accused and imprisoned." Fudge grudgingly handed over a carefully rolled and sealed parchment.
Albus smiled as he opened the sheet, reading the announcement of his friend's freedom, "I will be sure to give this to him, somehow."
"Yes. I'm sure you will. Rita Skeeter has already written an article of his freedom, it should be out by tomorrow. The other Death Eaters have been either imprisoned or given the kiss with Pettigrew. Good day." Without waiting, the minister and his bodyguards fled the castle; something about the new Professors unnerved them causing them to hasten even faster.
Once their backs were turned everyone cheered at the announcement as a great black dog leapt forward, suddenly changing into Sirius Black. "I'm free!" Several students screamed at his sudden appearance, "Remus! I'm free!" The black haired animagus threw himself into his mate's arms.
Albus turned to the students, "As I'm sure some of you will be disappointed, all classes are cancelled for today."
One student was torn between cheering for her friend's freedom and the nagging feeling that she was missing something since the new professors, the Mages, had been introduced. A part of her kept yelling 'Harry's here!' but she ignored it at the moment to cheer with the rest of the Gryffindors and promised to view everything, once again, about her friend's disappearance, as well as the strange feeling she was not seeing something that she should have already figured out.