Hey guys! I would've had this chapter out sooner but so many things have been going on. Let me be the first to say that I have seen the new Harry Potter movie and it is awesome! I loved it! Well, I hope you like this chapter! Enjoy!
"Got your lesson plan ready?" Hermione asked.
"Yep" I said, ignoring all the stares I received while Hermione and I made our way up toward the staff table.
We both took seats on the left (my left) of Professor McGonagal. She then stood, her arms opened wide in welcome.
"I would like to welcome you all back to a new school year. With all the events that have occured within the past couple of months we've still managed to continue our teaching here at Hogwarts. With that said, I would like to introduce three new staff members joining us at Hogwarts this year"
"Three?" Hermione questioned. "But who could possibly be the third one?"
"Dunno" I said, as McGonagal continued.
"First, is our new Transfiguration teacher, Professor Gin Taylor!"
Professor Taylor gracefully rose from her chair, while the Great Hall proceeded to applause, then slowly sat back down.
"Next, I would like to introduce Ms. Professor Abigal Delacour!" Professor McGonagal said in, what sounded like, a dissapointed voice.
"Delacour!" Hermione hissed.
And sure enough, an attractive young woman elegantly stood from the staff table, bearing silvery blonde hair, and a veela-like face.
"Must be related to Fleur" I whispered back.
After the clapping (and whooping from most of the male students) died down, Professor Delacour sat down and Professor McGonagal continued.
"And last, but not the least, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Harry Potter!"
I slowly rose from the staff table, but there was no applause. I could feel my face burn with embaressment as I heard only a few hand claps. The rest of the Great Hall was buzzing with questions.
"--Is that really him?"
"--How old is he?"
"--Can he teach?"
"--I thought he was dead"
After a few seconds I sat back down and spent the rest of McGonagal's speech staring at the empty plate in front of me.
"Let the feast begin!" Professor McGonagal roared.
The golden plates in front of us then magically filled with food.
"That went well" I said sarcastically, while cutting my steak
"It'll get better" Hermione reassured me.
"Just think of how my first class will go" I said, looking over at Hermione. "Aren't you hungry?"
"Not particularly" she said. "I'm actually pretty tired. I think I'm going to go to bed"
"But you've hardly touched your food"
"I told you, I'm not hungry. Goodnight" Hermione said, then kissed me on the lips. "You should get some rest, too. You have a big day ahead of you"
"Don't worry, I will" I said.
Then Hermione gathered her things and left the Great Hall.
The next morning I had nothing on my mind except my first lesson. I was so nervous that I didn't even notice that Hermione was late for breakfast until I saw her rushing through tables to get to the staff table.
"Sorry" she said, placing her things beside her and beginning to eat. "Overslept. Nervous?"
"Very" I said.
"But your prepared, right?"
"You know, I'm beginning to think that your more nervous than I am"
Seeing the look on Hermione's face, I assured her. "Yes, I'm ready"
"Good" she smiled.
"My first class is a mix of fourth years" I said.
"What are you going to teach them about?"
I smiled, then looked to Hermione.
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" I yelled, rushing through the buzzing classroom up to my desk. This had seemed to quiet the class down.
Ignoring the awed expression on most of the students faces, I walked around my desk where I was right in front on my class, and continued.
"Can anyone tell me what I mean by that?"
A rather shaky gryffindor girl raised her hand very cautiously. I acknowledged her with a nod.
"It means..er...con- constant awareness"
"Good" I said. "10 points for Gryffindor"
'This feels good' I thought to myself.
The gryffindor girl turned scarlet and smiled. I began pacing back and forth in front of the class.
"You need to be ready for anything that may come your way. Your parents, or any adult really, aren't always going to be there to protect you. I know that some of you may not have discovered this yet, but adults don't always have the answer to everything. Some of you may be face with an adult situation earlier than others, and won't be ready for it. I know I wasn't" I stopped pacing and spoke directly to the class. "You need to be ready to defend yourself...but not today"
I saw a look of relief spread amongst most of the students faces.
"First, you should really know what you might come up against"
I walked over to the covered glass tank beside my desk and unveiled it. There were plenty of gasps and shrieks as the pale green grindylow permentally attatched itself to the side of the tank, searching for a way out.
"A grindylow, also known as a water demon. I managed to get one from the lake. Come up and take a look if you'd like"
The excited mix of gryffindors and ravenclaws rushed out of their seats and surrounded the glass tank. I was filled with pride. A feeling that I hadn't felt in a very long time.
"Remember to review for our next class" I shouted, as the students left the classroom.
"I've been hearing positive things about your class"
I turned to see Hermione standing in the doorway.
"Already?"
She smiled and nodded. I walked up to her and kissed her.
"Do you think we could go somewhere and talk? Hogsmeade, perhaps?" She asked.
"Yeah, sure"
We left Hogwarts and made our way toward Hogsmeade. Hermione remained silent the whole way there, until I started the conversation.
"Have you started your Auror training yet?"
Hermione jumped as though she wasn't expecting me to speak so sudden.
"I...I'm not going to be an Auror"
"But I thought you said--"
"I changed my mind"
"Oh, so what are you going to be then? I suppose you could--"
"Harry" Hermione said, stopping in the middle of the street. "...I'm sick"
"Well, that's ok. I'll take you back to Hogwarts. You'll feel--"
"No, no...Harry!" She said, taking hold of my shoulders. "I have leukemia"
Hope you liked the new chapter. I'm not sure when I'll next update. PLEASE R/R!