Chapter 9
Defense Against The Dark Arts Teacher
Harry was panting slightly; there was sweat on his forehead. "Harry" a voice spoke from behind the curtain, Harry drew it. "Ron" Harry saw his friend looking at him; he was dressed and ready for breakfast. "You're ok Harry?" Ron asked, as he saw Harry still panting and the sweat is on his face. "I'm ok," Harry said, "it was…it was just a…bad dream, that's all" he got up and dressed. They went together to the great hall and saw Hermione already sitting and reading her copy of the Daily Prophet. "Good morning boys" she greeted them, looking up from her newspaper. "Hi Hermione" Ron and Harry said, sitting beside her. "Any important news?" Ron asked, starting to eat. "No" Hermione said, closing the paper, "nothing but rubbish about trying to 'catch' some Deatheaters" she took a sip from her lemon juice and looked at the teachers table. Harry saw her, and then he remembered that they are having a new teacher this year. "Who is that?" he asked, spotting the place where Umbridge used to sit. "Oh…that's professor Deacon" Hermione spoke as she looked at the professor who was now talking to professor McGonagall. He had black, straight hair that fell to his shoulders, and from what Harry could measure, he is a very tall person. "He looks kind, right?" Hermione said, looking at Harry. "Yeah" Ron said, "but you can't be sure". As Harry looked at professor Deacon, professor McGonagall stood up holding their tables for this year, and to Harry's surprise, professor Deacon was helping her.
As they split up the papers into two reams, Harry saw him heading towards the Slytherin's table. Professor McGonagall handed out their tables, and Harry noticed that they didn't have divination any more. As he and Ron celebrated, Hermione looked at her own table. "Oh no" she moaned, "what?" they both said, looking quickly at her, "we have double potions today" she exclaimed, looking up at them. "What?" the joy was gone with the wind, they both finished their breakfast quickly and headed to the dungeons. No one spoke, until Ron said quietly to Hermione, "I never saw you moaning about potions…it's usually us"
"What…oh, I'm just sick of Snape treating us that way…but I tried not to show that" she smiled at Ron. "that's development" Harry said, raising his eyebrows, "after all these years, now you realize that he's treating us unfairly" he and Ron laughed all the way to potions, but as soon as they saw their professor standing next to the door, their smile faded. "Ten pointes from Gryffindor" he said, "you shouldn't be late for class…not on the first day" he entered inside and they followed. If the lesson didn't start yet and we already lost ten points, Harry thought, then how about a whole year.
The lesson went well, except for the fact that Harry's potion was completely wrong; he was dazed from the smell and the steams. "What's this potter?" Snape asked him, looking at Harry's potion. "Ere…the Strengthening Potion?" he answered, unsure. "Well, it isn't for me…another ten points from Gryffindor and a detention too Mr. Potter". "What?" Harry said, in disbelieve. "Yes and…" but Snape stopped, Harry was confused, what happened? Then he realized that Snape had noticed the ring. Harry hid his ring under his fingers, and looked away from Snape. Snape seemed to be back to normal, because after a second he said, "Your detention is at 8 o'clock this evening, I don't want any excuses…and don't be late or I shall take more points from your house" Snape walked to his desk and sat down. Harry looked at Ron who looked confused, "he saw it" Harry mouthed to Ron, but Ron looked more confused, apparently he didn't understand what Harry said. "What's wrong Harry?" Hermione whispered from the other side, Harry turned around to look at her. "Did you notice?" Harry whispered back to her, frowning. "Notice what?" she hissed, frowning too. "I don't want any side- talking," Snape shouted towards them, and Hermione stopped talking.
The lesson finished at last and the three of them headed towards their next lesson, defense against the dark arts. As they entered the class, they saw Professor Deacon sitting on his desk and reading a paper in his hands. "oh hello" he said in a gentle and kind voice, as they took their seats in front of the class. After some minutes, the rest of the students filed in and sat on their places too. "Everyone here, good" Professor Deacon stood up and looked at them all with his paper held in his hand. "Well…my name is Deacon Wolfred, that might sound strange, that is because I'm foreign…but you could call me Deacon" he said, smiling gently at them all. No one spoke; the class seemed to be shocked. "Anyway, I'll read your names" he brandished the paper in his hand, "and if you hear your name, please say 'yes'" he said, they all nodded. "Alright then". He read the names and talked to some of the students, "Hermione Granger" he called, "yes" Hermione said, raising her hand. "oh…hello young lady" he smiled at her, Hermione blushed slightly. "Harry Potter" he said, but Harry thought that he said it more like a question, why was he frowning? Harry thought, as he said, "yes". Deacon smiled at him, but he still had his frown. "Dean Thomas" he continued, looking away.
After calling their names, Deacon sat on his desk again and looked at them. "So how's Hogwarts to you?" he asked them. "it's a great school professor" Ron said, "really?" Deacon raised his eyebrows, "yes professor" Hermione agreed, "Well that's good to hear." He said, "Because I'm new here, I never came to Hogwarts before". "Then where did you study professor…when you were young?" Hermione asked him. "Well…" he said, "I went to Durmstrang" at these words, Harry sensed Malfoy focus on Deacon. "I'm not British as I said" he continued, "I'm Bulgarian" there was silence, the class seemed to be more shocked than before, but at that moment the bell rang, and everyone got up and gathered their bags. "Well…I'll see you all next lesson" he shouted above all the noise. As Harry, Ron and Hermione were walking out of the class, Harry looked behind him, he saw professor Deacon gathering his bag, and heading to his office. "Come on Harry" Hermione said, "let's go to lunch" Harry looked at the closed door of the office for a last time, before turning and heading after Hermione and Ron to the Great hall.