"Albus what happened wasn't David's fault."
"Remus, I understand you are fond of David and want to protect him, but if he is a danger to our students I need to know."
"Albus, I assure you David's presence is not putting them in danger. I don't completely understand what happened but it was my fault not his."
"Perhaps you could tell me what took place?"
"We were talking; something he said made me think that he was attracted to me so I grabbed him and kissed him. I don't know what came over me, but he froze and then I hit the wall. So it was self defence due to sexual harassment and David isn't a danger to the students."
"That seems a somewhat severe reaction. Do you realise that David may well not want to work with you after what happened?"
"I'm hoping to persuade him."
"I might be able to help with that, it appears that a friend of yours persuaded Kingsley to slip a courage potion into your tea, which would explain why you acted, if I may say so, out of character?"
David woke to find himself in bed in the hospital wing with Remus sitting beside him. "Professor Lupin? How did I get here?" he asked.
"You have every right to be angry with me David, but I would prefer you to still call me Remus."
The man on the bed blinked and shook his head trying to clear it so he could think properly. "Why would I be angry with you? You've always been very kind to me. What did I do to end up in here?"
"What do you remember?"
"Nothing that makes any sense of why I would be here. Could you tell me what happened?"
"Well you can't have lost much memory if you know who I am and where you are. You only moved into the castle two weeks ago."
David looked completely perplexed by this. "I think it's all just a bit hazy," he said cautiously. "I do know who you are and where I am, but I don't remember anything about being at Hogwarts for the past two weeks, particularly what happened so that I got here. Perhaps you could at least tell me my name?"
"Your name's David, I'm afraid I don't know your surname. You're at Hogwarts because you and I are job sharing the DADA post. You weren't too keen on the idea when Albus first asked you but after we discovered that one of the students had tried to kill Hermione Granger you agreed."
"So Hermione's also a professor? What does she teach?"
"No, Hermione's a student, seventh year, although she will be a teaching apprentice this year. Do you remember who she is then?"
David paused. There was something very strange going on. "Yes," he said thoughtfully. "Hermione's a muggleborn witch, her parents are dentists, and she's in Gryffindor and best friends with Ron Weasley."
"Well you seem to remember her well; do you remember healing her after a hex made her fall from her broom?"
"No. Remus I am feeling incredibly confused by all this. I think I'm missing a lot of memory; or this in just a bad dream. Is there any way I can try to get it back?"
"I expect Poppy will know. Albus went to get her after he revived you."
Remus refused to tell David anything about himself since it could give him false memories and David was too wary of what was going on to want to tell Remus anything he could remember, so they waited in silence. Luckily it was not long before Poppy and Albus returned.
"It is possible that being stunned caused your confusion, particularly if you were having some kind of flashback when it happened which from what I've heard seems likely," diagnosed Poppy when Remus explained that David recognised them and Hogwarts but did not know why he was there. "There is a potion that can help. I'll ask Severus to make some for you. In the mean time I want to keep you here."
A few hours later after a very boring stay in the hospital wing with Remus who was under observation for concussion, Severus and Albus delivered the proposed remedy. David looked doubtfully at the cyan potion she was offering him. He sniffed it cautiously and a look of recognition crossed his face. "I remember brewing this once, I was thinking about my father…" He trailed off looking horrified and then resolved. He downed the potion. "I really hope what I'm remembering is just some twisted joke," he muttered.
"Can you remember what happened before Minerva stunned you?" asked Albus.
"No."
"I will wait to discuss the incident with you until you regain your memories," said Albus. "I hope you feel more like yourself soon." The nurse and visitors left.
"From what little you've told me about your past I've gathered that some of it was quite traumatic," said Remus. "If you would like to talk about anything I'll be here."
"I think right at the moment all I have is nonsense," replied David slightly forlornly. "I refuse to entertain the possibility of Snape being my father. It's ludicrous. But I am getting more memories. Give me a little while and hopefully they will have all slotted into the right places."
Remus laughed softly, "I don't think there's much chance of that being true so don't worry about it."
David's memories came back to him in dribs and drabs over the day leaving him very confused. When he woke up the next morning they were back in place and he realised with a groan that he had told Remus that Severus was his father. Hopefully Remus had not believed him, after all, David was meant to be as old if not older than Severus. David's returned memories were followed by an uncomfortable chat with Albus and Remus about what had caused him to attack Remus. David was evasive and would only tell them that since he had been a recluse for a while he was not used to physical contact. He reminded them that he had never shaken anyone by the hand when they had been introduced and he had declined to spar physically with Remus. He also pointed out that his discomfort was unlikely to cause any of the students problems since none of them were likely to hit him.
"I think since both of you seem agreeable and no permanent harm was done we can put the matter to rest," summed up Albus. "Although I would ask you, David, to take steps to combat your discomfort. I believe your behaviour is caused by something traumatic you aren't mentioning. Would talking to someone about your experiences help?"
"You're right that I have had some traumatic experiences," said David resignedly, "but I have already spent a long time talking to some highly qualified people about most of them and have healed as best I can. The problem simply is that I am unused to human physical contact because I have been without it since those events happened. So while intellectually I have come to terms with what happened to me, I still find physical contact threatening and react accordingly."
"I think it would be a good idea if you were to practice sparring. You need to get accustomed to defending yourself in proportion to the manner in which you are attacked and that would help," suggested Albus.
"I'll consider it."
The day before term began all the teachers were back in residence. Albus sombrely announced at breakfast that Diana, Princess of Wales had been killed in a car crash in France during the early hours of the morning. The Queen and her heir were the only member of the royal family who were aware of the Wizarding World, although there was speculation that she would be introducing her grandson HRH Prince William of Wales to it in the near future. Thus the Princess of Wales was not a figure in the Wizarding World but she was recognised as a key member of muggle Britain. The wizarding section of the royal protection service would be involved in the investigation into her death and the arrangements for the funeral. There would be many senior figures in the Wizarding World invited to attend.
Albus mentioned that one of the new muggleborn students had been a chorister and could be recalled for the funeral and that he himself would most likely be attending. David knew that he and Severus would be expected to be present as well. He looked questioningly at his father who inclined his head slightly.
"I expect I'll be needed there in some capacity," David told Remus vaguely. "I may be asked to visit the accident scene as well. Can you cover my classes?"
Remus, and all the others who heard this, was astonished; David was not a public figure, how was he connected to the monarchy? "Certainly," said Remus after a few moments. "How soon will you know dates?"
"Within the next couple of days I expect," said David. "There's always a plan in the drawer for this kind of situation. All we're waiting for is the secretary to find it." He turned to his father, "Severus, if I am asked to do what I expect to be asked then I may need your help, will you be able to get to the funeral?"
"Albus?" asked Severus.
"If you are invited I'm sure we can find someone to cover your classes," Albus assured him. "Or you could just give the students some time off!" he added with a smile.
The teachers all gathered in the staff room after lunch. General beginning of term business of timetables and duty rosters were handled. Albus informed the staff that Hogwarts would be hosting a Yule Ball for the upper two years with students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang also invited in the spirit of building interschool relations. The Triwizard Tournament of three years previously was still a sore point but the Ministry had decided that a safer event to promote harmony would be a good idea. Albus wanted volunteers to chaperone the event. David thanked his insistence that his contract did not require him to be in residence during the holidays. Albus could not force him to dance.
Albus announced that Lucius Malfoy had lost his governorship to the approval of the whole staff. His further announcement that Sirius Black would be joining the board of governors in his place since the seat was in the gift of the Crimson House had a less enthusiastic reception. Most of the staff could remember teaching (or being at school with) the infamous Sirius Black and even the knowledge that he could only take up the posting if he were found innocent did not give them much comfort. David added to their unease by mentioning the 'prank Snape' proposal and causing said teacher to start composing the lecture he would give his son later in the evening.
The subject of magical repression was introduced hurriedly and David explained that he was working on a quicker method of diagnosis which he hoped to have completed within a few more weeks. Albus confirmed that David was going to be travelling on the Hogwarts express in case there were any problems. At the mention of Kings Cross Remus looked up thoughtfully.
"If the muggles I worked with earlier this year are any indication, then it is probable that muggles have been converging on London ever since the announcement this morning," he said. "Kings Cross is a major through point and with the increased number of muggle travellers it could be chaotic tomorrow. Her body's not lying in state yet, but I remember what happened in 1965 with Churchill's funeral. People will want to get there early."
"David, I'll instruct the driver to wait for your signal before leaving the station," said Albus. "It would be better that the train was delayed than half our students were left behind. We can hope that our students have heard the news and realised that there could be a problem."
David did not like the way everyone started looking towards him and his suspicions were confirmed when Albus announced, "I believe we have an initiation to perform."
"David, as you did not attend here as a student you have not been sorted into one of our houses," explained Albus. "The induction ritual is specific to each house so it is necessary for you to be sorted."
"I was hoping for a chat with Alph one of these days," said David as Albus placed the hat on his head. "I'm afraid this might take some time."
David predicted correctly; he spent over five minutes talking silently to the hat while the rest of the staff fidgeted since it was traditional not to talk during a sorting. Eventually the hat called out "Gryffindor."
"Thank you Alph," said David.
"Alph?" sneered Severus.
"Yes Alph or rather Alpha, Godric called Alph 'Alph' because he was his favourite hat. The Alpha hat so to speak."
The staff apart from Albus looked a bit shocked at this revelation; none of them had considered the possibility that the sorting hat had a name. "David, the ritual is voluntary, I am unable to tell you what the ritual consists of, but are you willing to go through with it none the less?"
"Certainly Albus," said David.
The headmaster handed his newest teacher a potion to drink. David sniffed it and did not recognise it but after an encouraging look from Severus he decided to drink it. Once he had finished he became quickly disorientated and so could not defend himself when Albus spelled him unconscious.
While David was unaware of his surroundings Fillius levitated him into a chair in the centre of the circle and Albus cast charms on Minerva to give her the guise of the founder of Gryffindor house, Godric Gryffindor. She stepped in front of David and created a bubble around the two of them so that the rest of the staff could see them but they could not see out. Then she revived David. His reaction completely surprised everyone present.
"Grandfather Godric!" exclaimed David rising unsteadily out of his chair to greet the image of Godric. Minerva instinctively caught his arm before he could fall. A look of shock crossed David's face before being replaced by resignation. "He killed me didn't he?" he asked as he engulfed Minerva in a hug. "Oh Grandfather I've failed you. After you spent all that time teaching me I was still unable to do anything right. It is wrong of me to feel relieved though, now it's over?"
He broke away from Minerva and looked her in the eyes. "You thought I'd do better," he stated misreading the cause of her surprised expression. "You're right, I shouldn't have been caught. Uncle Salazar told me I had to learn to lie but I wasn't comfortable with it. I only lied by omission. Though I did think I'd done it well enough that they wouldn't work out the truth. At least Sirius should have his trial. I gambled that…"
"David stop!" ordered Minerva. "It is not fair of us to pry into your personal affairs like this. You're not dead and I'm not really your grandfather."
David looked horrified. He slumped back into his chair and hid his head in his hands. "This is part of the ritual isn't it?" he muttered.
"Perhaps we should start again?" offered Minerva.
"Actually I don't think I could cope with talking to someone with that face who doesn't remember me. Could we end this charade?"
Minerva nodded and removed the bubble so that the rest of the staff were once again visible. Albus returned her to her normal appearance and handed David another potion.
"The potion you drank made you disorientated and susceptible to suggestion so that you would believe what you were presented with. The idea was for new teachers to meet the founder of their house. This potion is the antidote."
David drank it swiftly. "Thank you, I get the impression you all heard what I said?" he asked looking round.
It was Severus who answered, "Yes we all heard you."
"Well since you weren't meant to, could I ask that you pretend you didn't?"
"I'm sorry David but that is not possible. Some of what you said disturbs me greatly, I need to know more," said Albus. "I have given you a great deal of leeway as to telling me about your past, but now I must insist on some answers or ask you to leave the school."
"You know I can't leave after what happened to Hermione," responded David. He thought for a moment, "Can I suggest a compromise? Severus knows me better than anyone else. If he was willing to vouch for me would that be enough?"
"Severus?" asked Albus
"I trust David," Severus said simply. "He has the wellbeing of the students at heart."
"Very well," agreed Dumbledore.