Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, anything from the brilliant mind of JK Rowling, and whatever else that isn't mine.
Chapter 2
The first day of classes was one that James was particularly eager for, which he found to be slightly amusing because, as a student, he had often preferred weekends and holidays to classes and schoolwork. But this would, after all, be his first opportunity to acquaint himself with the students.
The first day came quickly, and James, who had rarely been nervous in all his years, was now experiencing a bit of a worry fest.
What if they didn't like him?
What if he came across as too strict?
Worse, what if he came across as too lenient and lost any chance he had of being able to control his students?
Still worse, what if he seemed pretty cool at first, then lost control of the class, then yelled? Then the students would think he was a control freak.
As his first class of the day, indeed of ever, filed in, he stood at the door, smiling cheerfully.
I hope they can't tell I'm nervous. Do you reckon they can smell fear? Like animals?
He mentally shook the thoughts from his head. He was acting as though he was a hundred years old. He had been a Hogwarts student only a few short years before. And he certainly had not been able to smell fear.
Well, actually, he rather could in Animagus form, but that was highly irrelevant.
"Er, Professor?" he heard a boy say. "Do you plan on starting the class?"
James then realized that he had allowed his thoughts to run entirely amuck. As a result he was still standing at the door, smiling rather stupidly and greeting the air.
He coughed. "Right, sorry."
He had full control of his thoughts. They taught them to keep focused as Aurors. He would not let his mind wander, and he would not allow himself to do anything that made him look like a complete buffoon.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts, class. I trust you've had a good summer?"
He was met with nods from around the room. They seemed to be awake. Good.
"My name is James Potter, that's Professor Potter to all of you."
He had rehearsed this speech the night before, as well as this morning.
"I'm your new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, as you can see. Prior to this, I held the position of an Auror for the Ministry of Magic."
At this comment, a couple of the students allowed their jaws to drop, probably still entertaining the idea that an Auror was a romantic, adventurous hero, an idea that they had most likely held since the first mention and explanation of the term.
But weren't these his sixth years? They should have known better than that. Ah, well. They'll learn; that was his job. He continued his speech.
"I would bore you with a history of my life, but I doubt very much that any of you are interested."
A few of the girls in the back of the classroom, however, did look very interested.
"I will, however, give you a few short facts so that you have to wonder too much about the alluring man of mystery that is James Potter."
A few boys snickered, but the girls in the back sighed dreamily.
"I attended this school eight years ago, excellent school, must say. I trained for the position of Auror for three years following my education here and then participated in missions for the past five. This, for you mathematicians, will bring us to the age of twenty-five. Young, perhaps, for a teacher, but be sure you understand that I lack no experience and will teach you as much and grade you as harshly as any other teacher would. I ask that you are respectful of me, and I will pay you equal respect. If you run into any problems this year, please come to me, I will do what I can."
This was good. He sounded very professional, but fairly relaxed. He sat down on his desk, pleased, but rather surprised when he found that he had not fallen on his arse in the attempt.
"Today, I will lecture shortly on…"
He paused. She was in this class. His very first class. His heart beat a bit quicker, and he attempted to control it, but failed.
"Erm… on deflection spells."
Oh, how he hoped that that was what he had meant to lecture on today.
Lily listened to Professor Potter's talk with great interest. You wouldn't have thought such a simple topic could be anything but boring, but she found it far from such. Also, she had not yet had time to look this new professor over, so it was with no trouble that she gave him her attention, looking over the features that she had glanced briefly at on the night of the feast.
Lily took a few, sparse notes, outlining a few new spells and their properties.
"Now class," the Professor said, "It's time for you to pair up and practice a few of these spells with each other. I'd like for one of you to cast the spell aquius artus, commonly called the jelly legs spell. I'm not taking any chances in allowing you to use your own judgment in choosing hexes," he said, laughing. "The other partner will attempt to deflect this spell with each of the five spells I have just listed."
He then sat down behind his desk. Lily was about to walk over to Gretty, when a blonde boy, the one who had spoken to Professor Potter at the beginning of the class, came over to her side.
"Hello, Lily, I'm Mendalus Archer, I just moved here from Ireland. I was wondering if you'd be my partner?"
Lily looked over his shoulder at Gretty, who cast her a questioning look, but then nodded.
"Yes, that'd be fine."
James looked up from his desk, carefully watching each of the pairs practice and making sure that none of them caused any injury to themselves or others. The girl he had noticed in the Great Hall (he wasn't sure of her name yet) seemed to be doing very well, practicing with a tall blonde boy.
He found himself staring at the pair, and wondering how well they knew each other.
Suddenly, a bell clanged, signaling the end of the class. That didn't seem right. He was sure he had only been watching their progress for a few minutes.
He stood up, sort of disoriented by the feeling that he had lost part of the class time, and opened the door. All the students rushed out, headed for their next class.
She stayed behind a few moments, packing up her belongings. He sat down and watched her attempt to shove a rather large notebook into a rather small knapsack.
He chuckled.
She looked up, with a questioning look on her face.
"Oh, sorry. It just seems as though that isn't going to work," he said pleasantly.
She smiled at him then said, "Well, it's supposed to fit more than it looks as though it would, but I suppose that it's reached its limit. 'Neverending Bag' my foot."
His smiled back at her.
"What's your name?" As soon as he asked the question he felt relieved, as though he had been itching to ask it. Which, he was sure, he hadn't been.
"Lily Evans, Professor."
It was so fitting. Delicate and pretty.
No. Not pretty. Flighty and ridiculous. Who named a girl Lily, of all things?
"Well, I've got to go, or I'll be late to class."
He snapped out of his thoughts.
"Right. Well, have a good day."
He watched her as she left the room, falling into his chair with a sigh. He could not, would not be attracted to her.
Just Another Harry Potter Fan – Hehe. Thanks much, I'll do my best.
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Fergie2 – Thanks tons. Yeah, I've always found them to be interesting, too. : )
Leonie Leo – Thank you. There are quite a few stories out there like this, I know, that have the teacher and student thing. But I wanted to write one, maybe it'll be a bit different. If not oh, well. It's still a lot of fun to do. : )
All – Hehe, thanks to everyone for the reviews so far. Please continue to read and review, it's so appreciated. I try to respond to every one of them. It's really a fantastic exercise in seeing how many different ways I can say thank you. Haha. But really, it's so helpful, knowing what you guys want and think of my fanfiction helps a lot when I go to write it. I'm sure that's the point, of course, but still.