I'm back for another chapter! I can't believe that I'm actually getting reviews! I was so excited that people were finding this funny and good. I just want to make something a little clearer because I think I gave the wrong idea last chapter about Phoebe and Draco. She doesn't really like him (although she does think he's cute, but who doesn't), it's just that her power just like Piper's has been magically magnified, so she felt what Draco was felling but times ten. It's kind of like an episode where she was trying to talk to Jason but she could feel what he was feeling towards her and she couldn't keep her hands off of him. But do not worry…I know that there is a major age difference between the two and I have no intention of anything serious happening between them, even though Draco will try his best to ?seduce Phoebe. Don't worry, she'll regain her composure and get a grip long enough to put him in his place. I forgot to put this in the other chapters: There are most likely going to be Ootp spoilers in here so you have been forewarned.
Disclaimer: Can you imagine how rich I would be if I owned Charmed and HP…I would be positively rolling in doe. Too bad I don't own diddely squat.
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Chapter 4
As the train slowed to a stop, the sisters stared in awe at the gigantic castle that was before them.
"We have to go but I hope we see you later," said Hermione getting up.
Harry and Ron followed suit and left the girls quite alone and not knowing what to do. Just then an elder looking witch with glasses and a tight bun looked inside the compartment. "I have been looking all over for you," she said in a stern voice. "My name is Minerva McGonagall and I am the Transfiguration professor up at the school."
"Transfigure-whaty?" asked Paige before McGonagall could speak again.
A small smile might have twitched across McGonagall's lips but it was gone in a flash. "Transfiguration," she said in a business-like tone. "Come now, the headmaster reserved a carriage for you and he is waiting to speak to you just outside."
The girls left the compartment and followed McGonagall off of the train. They were almost to the carriage when they heard a booming voice call, "Firs years, over this way, don' be shy now, come on."
Piper saw that the voice belonged to a man who was, well, enormous. She thought if he had just a bit more hair he could pass for Bigfoot. "Holy shi-," she began but was cut off by a stern look from McGonagall and instead said, "Who is that?"
"That is Hagrid, our game keeper. Now come along."
She led them to the very front of the line of carriages. Phoebe nearly had a heart attack when she saw the thestrals that were pulling the carriages. McGonagall had to assure her that they were not dangerous before she would get on. Once inside, Dumbledore greeted them cheerfully. He explained to them that they would be staying in a room on the fourth floor; it was across from a portrait of Barnubus the Weird. He told them that the room could be whatever they wanted it to be. All they had to do was walk by the door three times thinking about what they wanted in the room and it would be there when they opened the door. (A/N: yes that's the room of requirement. I couldn't remember the exact location that's in the book so I just made one up.) The girls found this very enticing.
The carriages stopped in front of the school and Dumbledore and the girls were the first to get out. He led them up the path, through the gates, and into the main entrance. He told them that they could eat dinner then go and settle themselves in their room or they could go to their room now and worry about dinner later. They chose to eat dinner now because they did not like the idea of walking into a hall full of people and having everyone stare at them.
As they were walking into the hall, Dumbledore explained to them about the four houses and about how all of the students get sorted and sit at a certain table. The girls reached the teachers table and sat down on Dumbledore's right. Paige sat directly next to him, and then came Phoebe, then Piper. Pretty soon other professors started entering the hall. Unfortunately for Piper, she was stuck sitting next to Snape. He eyed her curiously through his curtain of greasy black hair before looking at Dumbledore questioningly. When Dumbledore nodded, Snape knew these were the witches he had been talking about, the ones who were supposed to help them defeat the Dark Lord. Dumbledore took this time to explain to the rest of the professors that the girls were writers from the Daily Prophet who were going to do an article about a typical year at Hogwarts. Only McGonagall and Snape knew the truth because they were Order Members.
A few minutes later the doors opened again and the students started pouring in. (From the perspective of sitting at the teachers table). Piper saw Harry enter with Ron and Hermione and sit at the second table from her left. Paige saw Draco entering with two rather beefy boys that she thought looked like body guards, and sit at the table to her far right, and she warned Phoebe to get a grip of herself. After all of the students had settled down, McGonagall came walking into the hall with two lines of students behind her. They looked much younger than the students already seated so the girls guessed that these were the first years that Dumbledore had told them about. McGonagall disappeared into a side chamber and reemerged from the room with a three legged stool and a very worn and tattered-looking sorting hat. One by one she called the students up to the front and had them sit on the chair. Piper nearly fell off of her chair the first time that the hat had yelled out the name of a house. Luckily for her no one saw because the students had erupted into cheers to welcome their new house member. Once the sorting was over, Dumbledore told the rest of the school about the article that the girls were supposedly writing. He also told them that they would be attending classes to see what the life of a student is really like. To this statement he received a "We are?" from Piper before she was elbowed by Phoebe. After this the feast began. Paige gasped as the food magically appeared on her plate. There was everything they could have asked for: chicken, mashed potatoes, bread rolls, pasta and salad.
Paige began having an animated conversation with Dumbledore about the different qualities of the houses and how the students get picked. Phoebe was eating quietly while trying to ignore all of the different emotions she was feeling from the students. Piper was feeling very awkward sitting next to Snape. She got the impression that he was a very unlikable person, but she wanted to see for herself so she attempted a conversation.
"Hi, I'm Piper Halliwell. It's nice to meet you," she said smiling.
At first, Snape didn't think she was talking to him but when he realized she was he turned his head and said, "Pleasure, Professor Severus Snape."
"What subject do you teach, professor?"
"Potions."
"Really? I'm quite into potions myself. Of course they're mostly to blow demons up but-," Piper caught herself before she said anything else. After all she didn't know who knew the truth and who didn't.
"It's quite alright, Ms. Halliwell, I know why you are really here."
"Oh, good. Well, like I was saying we mostly make potions for blowing up demons, you know…vanquishing potions. Sometimes we just use a spell."
Snape couldn't resist the urge to ask, "Do you have a book of spells?"
Piper noted the amusement in his voice and stated seriously, "Yes, as a matter of fact we do. And if it wasn't for that book we would probably be dead and you guys would probably be screwed now wouldn't you?"
Snape looked up at Piper surprised that she had taken that tone with him and merely said, "Do you really think you can defeat the most feared dark wizard for fifty years with potions and a silly rhyming spell?"
"Well, we've vanquished the source of all evil three times so we're sure as hell gonna try," she stated before going back to her dinner.
Snape thought that perhaps they could be of some help after all.
After dinner, Dumbledore showed the girls where their room was. They were amazed at how many stair cases, hallways and portraits there were.
"In Hogwarts, everything has a purpose and almost nothing is an accident." After this fortune cookie-like statement he explained to them how portraits have a password and that one must say that password to get past it. He also told them that he would be sealing off the corridor where their room was (for privacy) and that they were to choose a password. Dumbledore conjured a portrait of the Halliwell manor. It was so realistically painted that it almost looked like a picture. What was really amazing was that sitting on the front steps of the house were none other than…them. They were in the portrait. They (in the portrait) stood up and at the same time said "password?" The girls (not in the portrait) decided to make the password "book of shadows" because no one was likely to guess that. The only person other than them who knew the password was Dumbledore. He told them that he wouldn't give it to anyone without their permission, and also that they should only give it to those they trust. After this Dumbledore left.
The girls stood in front of their doorway trying to decide what each of them wanted in the room. Once they had made up their minds, they walked by the portrait hand in hand three times, each thinking about what they wanted. They then opened the door. They were surprised to see that they had walked into the Halliwell manor itself. It seemed like all three of them agreed that they place they most wanted to live in was their own home.
"Well, it's nice to see we agree on something," said Paige. "Didn't Dumbledore say that all we have to do is think about what we want and it will appear?"
"That's what he said," said Piper doubtingly. She decided to test it out. She thought to herself, I need some hot chocolate. Instantly, a mug of hot chocolate appeared on the floor next to her. "It works."
"Well, in that case the first thing I'm going to get is new robes," Paige said as she headed upstairs to her room.
Before they went to bed, each girl made minor changes to their room, perfecting their living environment. Then they settled down in their usual beds almost forgetting that they were thousands of miles away from home.
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No matter where they were, California or England, Piper was still always the first one up. She was in the kitchen making breakfast when Paige yawned and came downstairs, closely followed by Phoebe. Phoebe looked out the window and gasped.
"What happened to our front lawn?!"
"Nothing, it's still in San Francisco remember," said Paige.
"Oh, right, I forgot," said Phoebe slightly embarrassed.
Just then a large owl appeared outside of the 'kitchen' window holding a note in its beak. Piper opened the window and let the owl in.
"It's from Dumbledore," she read. "It's a schedule. Let's see, breakfast starts at eight, classes at nine. He gave us a list of classes and what time they start at so we could look in on them if we want. It even has the name of the professor. Hmm, that's weird."
"What," asked Paige and Phoebe together.
"For Defense Against the Dark Arts it says to be announced where the professor's name should be."
"Oh, yeah. Dumbledore told me last night that he needed to find a teacher for that class. Apparently the position is like cursed or something."
"That sounds interesting," said Phoebe. "We should teach it."
"Hello? Phoebe are you there? Did you just not hear me say the position was cursed," said Paige.
"Paige is right, Phoebe, I don't think that's such a good idea."
"Piper, think about it. You could teach them defense potions, Paige can teach them how to write an effective spell, and I can't teach them how to fight."
"But they already have a potions class. But they don't really do the types of potions that we normally do…" Piper began.
"Piper," said Paige warningly.
"Ah, what the hell. Let's just go for it. Who knows, maybe Dumbledore won't want us to."
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Piper was regretting her carpe diem attitude when they told the headmaster their idea half an hour later at breakfast and he told them they had the job.
"I'll admit that muggle dueling is not something that I would have wanted my students to learn, but these are dark times, indeed. I'll have you teach the older students, the sixth and seventh years, while the younger students can have that as a free period. You first class starts at nine thirty and will be with the Gryffindors and the Slytherins. You should leave now if you want to get there in time. Be sure to pick up any supplies you need, you know where to get them," he said with a wink.
The girls ran back to their room while listening to Paige talk about how much the Slytherins and the Gryffindors hated each other. Phoebe quickly thought of some supplies she might need, padding so that they don't get hurt when we are sparring. Instantly a pile of protective gear appeared on the couch along with a large duffel bag to carry it in. All Paige needed was an example of a good spell so that she could take it apart and show the class how to write an effective one. Piper thought and thought of what she might need. Well, I'm going to be teaching them potions, so what do I need? Duh! The book of Shadows." Just as she finished thinking it, the book materialized in her hands.
Once they had all grabbed what they needed they made their way to their class room. It was five minutes before they realized that they had no idea where they were going. They turned a corner and almost collided with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"We certainly have a knack for running into each other don't we," said Phoebe struggling with the large duffle bag.
"Let me help you with that," said Harry. "Winguardium Leviosa." The duffle bag floated out of Phoebe's arm and remained stationary in the air.
"Thanks."
"Where are you headed?" asked Hermione.
"To the DADA class room. We're supposed to teach the class," said Paige.
"Really?" replied Hermione eagerly. "That's our first class. It's this way."
While they were walking, the sisters learned that the trio was in Gryffindor. They reached the classroom in no time. When they entered, the class broke out into an excited murmur. The girls walked over to the desk to find a sheet of parchment with the students' names on it. Phoebe had put the duffle bag next to the desk, Piper had put the book on the desk and Paige had put herself on the desk.
"Well, um, I guess you're wondering why we're here. We are going to be teaching this class. Where come from, witches are a little different and we're going to teach you defense as we know it. It's probably going to seem primitive to you, what with your spells and wands and all, but trust me…this stuff has saved our asses more times than we can count." When Piper finished, everyone was looking rather excited. "This," she said holding up the book, "is the Book of Shadows. No one touches this but us. Understand?" Everyone nodded half heartedly. "I didn't hear anyone." The class answered with, "Yes, Professor Halliwell." "That's more like it. Phoebe take attendance."
Phoebe grabbed the list and started reading off the names. After each name the person raised their hand. "It would help if it was in some sort of order. Um, Parvati Patil? Ok, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, I saw you." Phoebe's eyes widened slightly when she saw the next name. No one noticed…no one except him. "Draco Malfoy?" Phoebe called and her voice shook slightly.
"Over here, Professor." Draco leaned in out of the shadows in the back of the classroom with a smirk on his face and made a mental note to sit in the front of the class room next time.
Paige didn't know what it was about Draco, but she didn't like him. All she could think was, I'd like to smack that smirk right off his face."
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Well, how was that? Good I hope. I love your input so please give me some and I'll be sure to send you virtual cookies! I am definitely going to have fun with the whole 'charmed ones teaching DADA' thing. If you have any ideas that you might think are particularly funny or you might like to see, or whatever…do tell. I really like to know what's going on in the reader's head. Thanks for reading and please review!!! ;)
