V—Teaching the Professor
The next morning after breakfast, Professor McGonagall announced that for the time being, DA class was cancelled until the following week. There was a mixture of groans and praise and much gossip and chatter as they exited the Great Hall. Lavender Brown whispered to Hermione, "I think it's because they don't have a teacher yet."
Hermione only shrugged and looked toward Harry who walked away, nervously toward the classroom in which he would have to teach.
"Now Potter," began Professor McGonagall, "when we are in this room, we are colleagues."
"Yes professor," Harry replied.
Professor McGonagall sighed. She was trying to establish the ways to teach before going into what he should teach.
"Just as I will call you Harry instead of Potter, you may call me Minerva while we are colleagues because that is who I am. While you are teaching, you must establish a level of leadership above the students otherwise; they will walk all over you. Student-teacher relationships are based on surnames because respect is of the essence. If I were to come into this room while you were teaching and you addressed me as 'professor', your students would have as much respect for you as they do for the person sitting next to them. Does that make any sense?"
"Yes Minerva," He corrected.
"Good. Now, this year is going to be difficult, Harry, I will not lie to you but I do believe that you will do it. Once you establish respect with the students, teaching is a breeze."
"I have a few concerns, Prof—Minerva," she nodded as his go-ahead, "First of all, will I have to eat at the staff table or leave Gryffindor House?"
"No, Harry, you are still a student."
"But won't the other students think I favor my friends like Ron or Hermione. I mean, Hermione is brilliant, what if the foreign students think she does favours for good marks?"
Minerva pursed her lips, "Harry, I know you would not do that. That would be cheating; however, I was going to go over this with you anyway. Have a seat."
Harry sat down at a desk in the front, Minerva's eyebrows raised when she said, "I don't believe a professor would sit there, Harry, take your proper seat."
He sighed at his stupidity, stood up and ashamedly plopped himself down in the chair behind the desk. Being a teacher was going to take a lot of getting used to.
Minerva clicked her tongue and sighed, "You are definitely a student."
Heat began rising in Harry, he wanted to exclaim, "That's what I am!" but instead bit his tongue and took her abuse in stride, waiting for her next lecture.
She sat in the desk Harry had initially taken. She looked awkward as she said, "You know that students gossip. You have known that fact since the first moment you stepped foot in Hogwarts, you know that it continues today. People will say things such as, you give favours to your friends, you exchange good marks for a days worth of homework in another class. Students will approach you on the subject; I suggest you turn them down because I do not want my decision to make you a professor to be a bad one. You above all people here know how important this class is for their survival. Their 'cheating the system' will get them nowhere if it does not lead them to the grave. That is why you will teach them everything you know and more."
Harry only nodded. He had not really considered exchanging favours for grades himself but talking about it made him think of ways to handle it.
"Now, next Tuesday, don't be nervous. Open the door with confidence, introduce yourself and begin teaching. Do not give them time to chatter about you. Settle them down and begin teaching."
There was a short pause before a loud knock came from the door. Minerva looked to Harry, "Well, this is your classroom, are you going to let them enter?"
"Come in," Harry announced timidly.
Hagrid entered the classroom, "How're you doin' Harry?"
"Good I suppose," he answered, wondering if he should be treating Hagrid differently now that he was a teacher and Hagrid was not.
"Are you here because of an emergency, Rubeus? If you are not, I must politely ask you to leave because we are in the middle of something," Minerva said, slightly exacerbated.
"Oh no, Professor, I'm here just givin' Harry support."
"Well, you can give him your support when we are finished; he is learning how to properly teach a class."
Hagrid nodded proudly, "Just like me eh Harry?"
Harry smiled; he appreciated Hagrid's support. However, now that he had spoken to Minerva, he knew why he never could gain the respect of the students.
Hagrid quietly shut the door behind him and Minerva let out a sigh. "I think I know what you're going to say," began Harry, "don't take any advice from Hagrid." Minerva only smiled.
After that days 'lesson' Harry, and Minerva, came out of the classroom feeling much surer of him. Minerva taught him how to organize his subject and promised him that in the following two days before class, they would discuss the lessons he would prepare to teach.
Harry told Ron and Hermione everything that was happening and they, like Hagrid, were extremely proud of him.
"Does this mean that you'll have to call me 'Mr. Weasley' in class?" Ron asked with an upturned nose.
Harry nodded the affirmative, with a slight grin on his face he added, "And Miss Granger to Hermione."
Ron groaned, "It's not going to be fun without you sitting next to us."
"Oh, it will too, Ron. Harry I think you're going to be an amazing teacher," Hermione praised.
Ron began asking the same questions that Harry had confronted Minerva about. He wanted to know whether he had additional teaching responsibilities like sleeping outside of Gryffindor, supervising the hallways and eating at the staff table in the Great Hall. Harry told him that he was still a student and had responsibilities as one too. He turned down Ron's offer of a weeks worth of potions for a good grade on his first DA paper.
"Oh, come on!" Ron pushed.
Harry ignored him, sighing he said, "I honestly don't know when I'm going to have time for all of this. I have to organize lessons for the three classes that I teach, and attend three other classes for my own benefit. I have no time for homework," he sighed, lowering his voice a little more so that it was but a strained whisper, "on top of all that, what am I going to do about Voldemort? Nothing has been done all summer because I had to stay holed up at the Dursley's, as Dumbledore had wanted. He is still on a maniacal killing rampage, even muggles are afraid now. You should have seen my aunt and uncle; they were going berserk and calling me every five minutes for 'magic'! It was just weird."
"Well, I can't say that change has been for the worse then," Hermione's lips turned gently up and she said, "Just take everything one day at a time, Harry. Besides, we'll help you, right Ron?"
"Why do you always volunteer me for stuff? You act as if we're bloody well married," Ron replied. When Hermione's face turned a deep crimson, he turned to Harry and said, "Of course I'll be there for you mate." He paused for a moment, contemplating his next question with a silly grin, "By the way, are you getting paid for any of this?"
AN: How are you liking it so far? I am glad for the comments I have received, it seems like most people find it different and likeable!