Chapter 25 –
A New Generation
Harry had never been so nervous in his entire life. Not even before the Tri Wizard Tournament had he felt so ill and shaky. Not even before the Final Battle, or even when he asked Ginny out for the first time, it was nothing, nothing compared to this. He couldn't steady his hands to pull on his cloak, or even stop them shaking to brush his teeth. It felt as though a thousand fairies were flapping their way around his stomach and up his throat. Their tiny wings tickled his windpipe, making him want to throw up.
Today was the day.
The day everything would change.
Today was the day he would take a large step away from his past life and all he knew, into something greater. He would no longer be an ex-student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He would be a teacher of the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He would be one of the steps, one of the reasons for making those children who they would grow to be. He would have a big part in their lives. He would be responsible for helping them protect themselves in the world. And he could be the reason that some of them were able to fight back.
Of course, he had taught the DA and was the main reason most of the students survived in the Final Battle. He had been their teacher, but he had also been one of them.
But now – now he would no longer be a student leader. He would be a teacher, a member of staff, an adult... Most of the students of the school would look up at him for guidance. What if he was no good at it? What he couldn't teach so many different people, things that the subject asked of him. What if he messed up?
Someone knocked at the door. He turned to see Hermione step through the portrait hole, a large grin plastered across her face. She was dressed in tight blue jeans and a light purple turtleneck sweater. A black cloak was draped across an arm as she walked forward, her face shining in excitement.
"Good afternoon! Did you have a good nap?" she asked taking a seat on the end of his bed, bouncing on it a bit before relaxing down.
"No." Harry answered irritably, smoothing down the front of his black, button-up shirt. Hermione's brow furrowed.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because I was too nervous all day to get any rest." Harry said with a groan as a piece of hair wouldn't stay down on the top of his head. "Bloody hair! I look like Alfalpha!" Harry shouted as Hermione giggled.
"Isn't that the kid from The Little Rascals?" she said laughing. Harry glared at her before pulling on a long, black, thick cloak, that fell to the floor about his feet. Hermione sighed.
"Don't worry about today, Harry. I was nervous as well when I had my first day of teaching. But I've been doing it for almost four years, so I've gotten used to the feeling. You'll get over it, as soon as you realize there's nothing to be afraid of." Hermione said, patting the space beside her on the bed. Harry sat down beside her, clamping his hand around hers. She leant into him with a smile.
"I don't think I can do it." He said, shaking his head.
"Of course you can. You've faced a fifty foot Basilisk, a werewolf, a troll, a giant, hundreds of giant spiders, Voldemort countless times – what's all that to a class of twenty eleven year olds?" she said with a laugh as Harry's face lit up.
"I did all that?" he said in awe. She laughed.
"Of course you did. Most of it before you turned fifteen. You see, Harry? You can do anything if you put your mind to it!" Hermione said, squeezing his hand encouragingly.
"I hope so." Harry sighed. "But what if they don't like me?"
"Harry! Relax...they'll love you. Now, have you got all your lesson plans done?" Hermione said, back to her old, bossy self. Harry smiled.
"Yes, I did them last week." He said his stomach rumbling with both hunger and anticipation.
"Good, anyway, we don't have classes until tomorrow. The only thing you've got to do tonight is have dinner, make petty conversation with some of the other professors and wait through the sorting."
"And ignore all the stares I'll be getting from the hundreds of kids that will be arriving in less than an hour." Harry added bitterly, wringing his hands and standing up.
"Harry, it will be OK! I'll be there beside you the whole way. You weren't a Gryffindor for nothing." Hermione said with a warm smile.
"Well, I was almost Slytherin, that's probably why I want to run right now." Harry mumbled angrily as Hermione stared at him.
"What did you just say?" she said with a confused expression. Harry turned and gave her a crooked grin.
"I've never told anyone this, not even Ron. I thought you would ditch me or something. I had to convince the Sorting Hat to put me in Gryffindor and not Slytherin; it seemed to think I would do great in there. But, after a while, I asked it to put me in Gryffindor, so that's where I went." Harry said with a thin smile. Hermione just stared at him.
"You were going to be a Slytherin?" she said.
"Yeah, weird huh?" He said. "You don't care, do you?" he added with a frown.
"Of course not, it would've been just strange having the Boy-Who-Lived in Slytherin. It would've been ironic." Hermione said with a chuckle.
"I told Dumbledore about it and he said it had to do with some of Voldemort's powers being transferred to me. So the Sorting Hat seen some of Tom Riddle in me, that's why it had trouble putting me in a house. But I think I already had some of those Slytherin traits in me. Who knows?" he said, turning back to the mirror. They sat in a thoughtful silence for a few minutes, with Harry trying to flatten his hair and Hermione lost in thoughts about a Slytherin Harry.
"I think we should go down now. Minerva is expecting us." Hermione said, getting up from the bed with a yawn. Harry sighed, gave up trying to not look like a movie-character and walked with her to the door.
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Harry sat restlessly with his knee bumping up and down beneath the table. Hermione was holding his hand to his left, and Minerva McGonagall sat at his right. On the other side of her was Severus Snape, the new Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts – he kept throwing Harry contemptuous glares – beside him was small professor Flitwick, older than ever.
Hagrid had left fifteen minutes beforehand to meet the students at the station, and direct the first- years across the lake. Even thought the half-giant now had a family, he was still teaching Care of Magical Creatures down in the grounds, his old hut transformed into an animal enclosure.
It was only a matter of time before the Thestral-drawn carriages would pull up on the drive, letting off hundreds of students, who would pack into the Great hall; staring, pointing – like always.
"Relax," Hermione crooned into his ear, giving his hand a tight squeeze.
"Easy for you to say, you've done it a million times!" Harry hissed back. His mind was in full-force, going through all escape routes and back-out plans. He mentally berated himself. You can do this! It's only a few hundred kids, what's the worse that could happen?
"Oh, crap." He murmured, shaking his head. Suddenly, the Great Doors were flung open. A tidal wave of chatter met their ears, as the old students pushed each other out of the way to get in first. Harry sat at the back of his seat, trying to remain calm. Quickly, he flattened his fringe to hide his scar while both Hermione and McGonagall shook their heads in amusement – Snape had disappeared.
The students kept coming in, all dressed in their school robes and hats. They met friends from other houses, exchanging gossip from the holidays, before shuffling off to their own tables. It took a good ten minutes before everyone was seated, which gave Harry a chance to note the changes. The Gryffindor table was packed with eager, shining faces, all talking to each other and throwing sly glances to the Slytherin Table. None of the red-and-gold robed students was familiar, and Harry was momentarily amazed that no red-heads were seated at the table. When he had been at Hogwarts, at least two Weasley's had almost been around.
But now, that great tradition was gone.
Many pairs of eyes had found Harry and were staring quite relentlessly in confusion and curiosity. Harry grinned. No one recognized him. Suddenly, the Great Doors opened again, and Severus Snape strode purposely in. behind him trailed a long line of small, nervous first- years. Harry looked on with awe at how little they were.
"Were we that small when we started?" he whispered into Hermione's ear. She only smiled and nodded, her eyes glittering brightly. Snape led the students to the front of the hall, where he sat down a three-legged stool with a battered hat on top. Harry leant forward in his chair, watching the brim at the bottom open wide into a black, material mouth. The hall sat in silence as it sang.
Many years ago
I sat here in song
Warning all you about a battle
That had raged good and long
That battle was won
By a boy once student here
He looked through the lies
To save our home and school so dear
Like that war over
A new one has risen in its stride
And the world is now again broken
And we are forced to once more hide
Here I am singing
A song meant to split
You into houses where
You are forever to sit
Should it be Slytherin?
Where the Dark Lord was born
Or that of brave Gryffindor
And the hero leader's new dawn?
Could it be Hufflepuff?
With her heart so soft and true?
Or dear, smart Ravenclaw?
Where they crave the knowledge new?
For many years I am forced
To tear you all apart
Put you into the houses four
To learn their ancient art
But once again I must sing
A warning to each and everyone
The Dark is not yet over
And a cloud has blocked the sun
In time for another great war
The Prophesized One has returned
With him he has brought secrets that
He has fought for and earned
So here I am singing
In my jolly old voice
Not a song for sorting but
A warning about choice
Harry groaned. "More warnings?"
The silence of the hall was deafening. The Headmistress was sitting rigidly at the end of her seat, her wizened old eyes wide with fear. Even Snape, who was usually emotionless and blank, was struggling not to show his confusion and dread. The first- years were staring wide-eyed at the now motionless hat, their nerves multiplied by the dire song. Finally, when Harry was starting to feel the eyes of so many on him, Snape shook himself out of his stupor.
"Aston, Brian." The first name on the long list of new students was a boy with sandy hair and a pointed face. He stumbled forward, his young face pale and drawn. Harry watched with strange excitement as the boy placed the hat on his head; it fell to his chin. It took a moment before his fate was decided.
"RAVENCLAW!" One of the tables erupted into cheers and the boy, looking a little better, ran of to join them. So the sorting slowly commenced, with a new generation of students joining each house with happy faces, and the long line of first- years slowly vanished. Finally, when Kimberly Zebra was placed in Hufflepuff, Snape removed the stool and hat, returning not long after. As soon as he sat back down beside McGonagall, the Headmistress stood shakily. Harry was just as excited as the students were.
"Welcome, old and new to another year at Hogwarts. Over the last year, more and more news is rising about a new Dark Lord. There have been attacks across Britain that has affected most of you, directly or indirectly. But I must ask you to stay strong and brave, because the war will be over sooner than you think." Harry could've sworn that McGonagall's eyes flicked down to him – but he couldn't be sure. "The Sorting Hat speaks the truth about this War – it will be your choice as to which side you fight on or if you fight at all. The days are getting darker, and soon they will be as dark as they were five years ago when Lord Voldemort roamed the lands."
There was a sharp intake of breath, and a few people whispered behind their hands. Harry frowned. Surely everyone had gotten over Voldemort and the silly fear of his name? Obviously not. Hermione seemed to share his views as her forehead was creased in worry.
"Fear not, because you are safe within Hogwarts grounds, more so this year than any other." There! She had looked directly at Harry. He knew it. "Now that the grim subject is out of the way, I would like to announce that Professors' Dermbridge and Nickelson have retired, leaving the position of Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts open. I would like to welcome our new transfiguration teacher, Hermione Granger." There was a loud round of applause, as people remembered her name. She was once one of Harry Potter's best friends. Hermione stood and bowed, smiling and waving, before sitting back down. She gave Harry an encouraging smile.
"And, I would like to announce the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor has been given to none other than –" Minerva smiled, drawing out the tense silence – "Harry Potter."
Harry stood nervously as the hall was lapsed into silence. Every single eye was on him, including those of the teachers. He had never felt so isolated and alone, standing in front of hundreds of people, all staring at him. Just when he was about to sit down, clapping started. Soft at first before it grew louder. It thundered around the room, ear-cracking applause that rang in everyone's eardrums. Harry paused halfway to his seat and his jaw dropped.
"Wave, you prat!" Hermione whispered into his ear. Harry nervously straightened out and waved once – twice – three times. People began cheering, whistling, and hitting the tabletops. Harry exchanged glances with Hermione and McGonagall before sitting down. It took three shouts from Hagrid and two lots of sparks from the Headmistress's wand to quiet them down. But still, people let off odd calls of praise, some louder than others.
"You go, Potter!"
"You're my hero!"
"You suck!" That came from a Slytherin, and Harry couldn't help but laugh. Some things never changed. The rest of the night wove on, with the feast just as delicious as Harry remembered, and the enchanted ceiling bringing back many memories he had long since forgotten. Soon, though, the evening was drawn to a close, with McGonagall telling the fifth- year prefects to take the first- years to the dormitories and the Head Boy and Girl to make sure none were left behind.
Many students wandered up to Harry, who was feeling incredibly swamped and outnumbered. Many girls were presenting him with items of clothing or parchment to sign, and one seventh year even offered him her chest with a sweet smile. Harry just wanted to vanish. Finally, after much persuasion from Harry and Hermione, they reluctantly went through the Great Doors. Hermione's face was glowing in embarrassment, after a mob of young boys had asked her for autographs, hugs, kisses, and some things Harry wanted to hit them for.
So, it was with a heavy mind and body that the two of them clambered up to Harry's dormitory. Hermione wished him a good night before Flooing away from the fireplace, telling him to be up at six the next morning to prepare classes. Harry groaned as he collapsed onto his bed, wishing he would never, ever have to go through that experience again.
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Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter and never will.
Hey, yes, I know it's late, and short. But stuff happened as I said in BOH – and you can't refuse stuff.
The first class was meant to be in this chapter, but I couldn't be bothered writing it. It will be in the next chapter though, o Friday (hopefully). The next chapter for Behind the Eyes of the Hero won't be out today, maybe tomorrow. I cant find the words to finish the chapter, and I have to go back to school tomorrow and work tomorrow night. I wont finish until eight and I will try to finish the chapter tomorrow night and post it. If not it WILL be out Tuesday.
Sorry. Please review and thanks to those that have so far.
And do you think I can get to 250 with this chapter? Please? Please, please! If I could get 200 with 20 chapters why can't I get 250 with 25? C'mon, I know you can do it!
Bye
DW