Title: Harry Potter and the Ancient God King
Author: Nopporn Wongrassamee aka The Evil Author
Summary: The new DADA teacher is something else. Harry and the gang want to know what.
Disclaimer: The characters and settings belong to whoever owns them. I'm just too lazy to look up who they are.
Part 12 – About Face
"Hey, Potter!" Malfoy taunted. "How's it feel to come in second best?"
"Harry, we have to practice more often," Katie demanded. "And how are those anti-joke measures coming along?"
"So when's the next DA meeting Harry?" asked Ernie Macmillan.
"Harry, could you show us…" Colin Creevey began.
"ARG!" Harry exclaimed barely a week after the disastrous Quiddich match with the Slytherins. "Harry, I need this. Harry, I need that. Harry, you're an awful Quiddich Captain. Harry, can you show me how to do this spell even though YOU HAVE A THOUSAND THINGS TO DO ALREADY AND NO FREE TIME AT ALL?!"
"If you ask Professor McGonagall nicely, maybe she could get you a time turner," Hermione suggested without looking up from her reading. Her nose was buried in the Quibbler, whose headline was shouting about invaders from another dimension.
"Oh, har har," Harry deadpanned.
"Seriously, Harry," Ron added. "If you're overloaded, maybe you should drop something."
"Like what?" Harry asked tiredly. He began ticking off fingers. "I'm Quiddich Captain, Professor Burkle's TA, DA leader. Pile on top of that things like homework and Occlumency lessons. What could I possibly drop?"
"Well, how about someone else be Quiddich captain?" Ron asked.
"You mean like Katie Bell?" Harry asked. "As Professor McGonagall told me, we've both been on the team for the same number of years. But Katie will be gone next year, so it would be better not to have to change Captains between now and then."
"How about someone else?" Ron asked.
"Like who?"
Ron just raised his hand.
Harry gave him a fish-eyed glare.
"Well, I am the next in seniority after all," Ron said modestly.
"Harry," Hermione broke in before they could get into a row. She put down her magazine. "What about DA and being Professor Burkle's TA? It strikes me that those two jobs pretty much overlap anyway."
"I can't drop the DA," Harry told her. "It teaches the advanced spells that we're not covering in class. And I don't even want to end up like the last wizard that crossed Professor Burkle if I drop being the TA."
"Honestly, Harry," Hermione replied. "I know she can be a bit mean at times, but surely Professor Burkle can't be that bad."
Harry just goggled at her in disbelief.
---
"That's it for today, kids," Professor Burkle said cheerily as she dismissed the class of Fifth Years. "And Miss Weasely, that was an innovative use of a Bat Bogie hex."
"Thanks, Professor," Ginny beamed. She joined Harry on her way out. "I really don't see why you guys find her so intimidating," she told him. "I mean, her teaching style is kinda peculiar, but Professor Burkle seems really nice."
Harry just shook his head. "You haven't really seen her when she gets mad," he replied. "Go on ahead, Ginny. I gotta stay behind and ask her something."
"Okay. Bye, Harry."
Harry turned around and went back into the classroom. He found Professor Burkle poring over some turned in homework. As he approached, she spoke with her cold and intimidating voice, the one Harry had come to associate as the real Professor Burkle. There was noting inviting about it.
"Harry Potter. You have a question." It was less a question and more a simple statement of fact on her part.
"Yes, er, I wanted to ask," Harry began hesitantly. "Why did you help Malfoy with the Quiddich game?"
"I have assisted Draco Malfoy no more than I have assisted you," Professor Burkle replied. She never even looked up at Harry, just continuing to grade the homework.
"But all the fake balls and stuff…" Harry began.
"…means that Draco Malfoy has been a more attentive student in this class than Harry Potter," Professor Burkle finished. "This is your primary concern of the moment and I have answered your question. Your duties here are complete and your presence annoys. Go away."
---
Harry Potter stormed through the halls. He was furious, practically radiating rage at Professor's Burkle contemptuous dismissal of him. Professor Burkle treated everyone but Harry with kindness and courtesy even if they were feigned. But when alone with Harry, she was rude and tactless. What was even worse was that it wasn't personal like between him and Professor Snape. Harry got the impression that Professor Burkle regarded Harry more as a doormat than a human being.
As Harry stomped through Hogwarts, passing students noticed Harry's foul mood and scrambled out of his way. So it was something of a surprise when he ran into someone. Finally, he had someone to vent his frustrations on.
"WATCH…" he began, but the words died in his throat.
"Something you want to share, Harry?" Professor Dumbledore asked kindly.
"Sorry, Professor," Harry mumbled.
"Quite al right, Harry," the Headmaster told him. "I believe you are still allowed a rant or two in my direction. But perhaps you should save them for when you have better reasons to rant about."
"Sure, Professor," Harry said. His rage was fast disappearing, being swallowed up by embarrassment.
"So how is our fine DADA teacher?" Professor Dumbledore asked. "I understand that you have been spending a lot of time with her."
"Well, she's okay…" Harry began noncommittally. But Professor Dumbledore looked at Harry knowingly. For once, Harry decided to tell Professor Dumbledore exactly what he thought. "She's awful! Professor Burkle is mean, uncaring, and I think she might even be outright evil. And no one else sees it because she always presents this caring, kind… I dunno, shell to everyone else.'
"Well, yes," Professor Dumbledore mused. "I did ask her to be nice."
That threw Harry for a loop. "You know what Professor Burkle is really like?"
"I know exactly what Professor Burkle is."
There was a slight pause in the conversation. Professor Dumbledore did not seem inclined to elaborate.
"So… what is she?" Harry finally asked.
"Why, Professor Burkle is this year's DADA teacher," the Headmaster replied.
Harry had a sudden impulse to start banging his head on the nearest wall.
"Er, Professor Burkle mentioned that she had some kind of deal with you," Harry said, deciding to try a different approach. "What was it?"
"That is between myself and Professor Burkle," Professor Dumbledore replied gravely. "It would be best to ask her for the details. She might even tell you."
That was what Harry was afraid of, especially HOW she would tell him. He resigned himself to getting nothing meaningful out of Professor Dumbledore today
"However, Harry, consider this," Professor Dumbledore continued. "To everyone else, Professor Burkle presents a pleasant façade. To you, she shows her true face."
"Yeah, I think I already covered that," Harry told him.
"Ah, but has it occurred to you that this is because Professor Burkle is comfortable around you?" the Headmaster asked.
"Huh?"
"To you, Professor Burkle feels no need to hide herself," Professor Dumbledore explained. "She can be her true self without fear of censure. Perhaps she even likes and respects you."
Professor Dumbledore left Harry scratching his head as turned the idea over in his mind. After several minutes, Harry voice his opinion on the Headmaster's words.
"Nah. Couldn't be."