Chapter 3

Hello Ducklings! So here we have chapter 3, enjoy!

Edit 11/26/17: I wrote this chapter years ago. Suddenly however I've been getting a bunch of comments saying that the classes are too short. I know. The classes are literally 30 seconds and it was a huge mistake I made while first writing this story. But, if you keep reading I made an announcement around...chapter 20 or 21 I think? That once I finish the entire story it will be rewritten. I realize that the beginning of this story can be way too fast paced and hard to read but please if you enjoy the concept just stick with it and it will get much better, I promise. Thank you for taking the time to read my writing and I hope you enjoy my story.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Merlin do not belong to me, the only thing I own is the plot.

The fifth year class was dismissed and the Gryffindors poured from the Transfiguration classroom. Although warm sunlight poured through the many windows adorning the Hogwarts castle the students all seemed rather depressed and sluggish. Even if it had been their first lesson of the day, everyone had already used up every inch of their brainpower trying to keep up with the complex information that had just been thrown at them. Harry and Ron shuffled down the hall, still in a partial coma and Hermione was sorting the many pages of notes she had taken.

"Bloody hell, who would have known OWLS were gonna be so hard" moaned Ron.

Hermione sighed, "well what were you expecting Ronald? Although I will admit that it will be a bit...horrible" she finished with a small smile that made Ron and Harry laugh.

"I don't think I can take a year of this" said Harry rubbing his face and Ron nodded in agreement.

"What've we got next?" Ron asked.

"Defence I think" Hermione answered. Ron stretched his back and winced at the pop he felt.

"Don't tell me we've gotta break in the new teacher" he whined. Harry shrugged and adjusted his bag.

"I'm sure it won't be that bad" said Hermione rolling her eyes, but still not looking too excited.

The fifth year Gryffindors all staggered down the hallway towards the defence classroom. The older students looked at them in pity as they remembered the ungodly amount of work that their fifth year had contained. Two dozen feet shuffled and scraped against the worn stone floor of the castle. Harry glanced out one of the large windows lining the cool walls. He sighed in longing as he watched the early morning sun stream across the emerald grass and mossy stone that coated the Hogwarts grounds.

He jumped as Ron grabbed his arm and pulled his arm towards the defence classroom, "c'mon mate, you're gonna have to be on your toes today. No more daydreaming."

Harry yawned once again, "got it."

"God damned snakes" Ron muttered under his breath. He glared at the small group of Slytherins that were already in the classroom. The three young Hufflepuffs remaining in the classroom glanced at the golden trio, then to the group of Slytherins before rushing from the room in fear. Harry sighed and took a seat near the middle of the room and soon every chair around him was filled with his fellow Gryffindors. He glanced up and saw the teacher sitting cross legged on top of his desk surveying the classroom as they all chose a seat. He looked around the classroom and was unable to keep the small smile from his face as he saw all the diverse objects decorating the classroom. Piles of books in dozens of languages lie in haphazard piles, talismans, decaying tapestries, and beautiful paintings both moving and still adorned the walls. It was extremely obvious that their new professor was better traveled than anyone he'd ever met.

As soon as the last students took their seats, their professor hopped off his desk and smiled warmly at them all.

"Hello everyone!" he greeted, his smile widening more than Harry thought possible. The entire class seemed a bit taken aback by their teacher's clothing. Harry vaguely recognised the large sweatshirt he wore. It somehow didn't surprise him that their professor had been to an American muggle college.

"Alright so today we start with something that you all should know, Conflict avoidance" he started but was almost immediately interrupted by a loud groan from the class, even Hermione rolled her eyes.

Their teacher smiled good naturedly, "wait, wait let me finish. I know that most of you must know this lecture by heart by now. That conflict avoidance is being nice to everyone and solving things with your words instead of your fists and wands. But there's more to it then that. I feel that this class should know this more than anyone else from what I've been hearing about the Gryffindors and Slytherins." Harry could swear he saw a look of sad disappointment cross their professor's face, but it was replaced with a cheerful smile only a moment later.

Ron looked over at Harry and rolled his eyes. Harry sighed in agreement, both would rather avoid hearing the annual lecture on not fighting with the Slytherins for the fifth year in a row.

"I'm not going to tell you that because it's a lie" this got everyone's attention, "I've never understood why people won't just tell teenagers the truth. Of course you're going to meet people where being nice just isn't going to work. I mean come on you're all what...fourteen, fifteen? You know that sometimes being nice to someone doesn't always pay off. Sometimes you're going to just have to deal with them. I don't care if they piss you off, or egg you on, be the better person and just stay above it. You're all going to have to figure this out sooner or later because if you don't you'll end up just like all the witches and wizards we have today. You'll have people losing their lives over someone else's fight" their teacher took a big breath and looked at the class unblinkingly. The Gryffindors stared at their professor in silent astonishment, while most of the Slytherins fidgeted uncomfortably. Most of them looked to Draco for reassurance.

Taking this cue Draco smirked and quietly muttered, "oh come on, he must be, what? Twenty? He talks big but what does he really know? He must have still been a student when we were first years! He must be a Hufflepuff, a big wimp trying to impress the students " Most the Slytherins snickered at this and regained their normal mean natured aura.

"Alright I have one more thing to teach you today " started Professor Emrys darkly, "never make assumptions." Draco tensed at this but maintained his composure, glaring at the teacher.

"Well to address your first complaint, my age. I am much older than I look, and I am much, much stronger than you. If you wish to duel me than I will happily oblige, but I advise against it. To address your second complaint, my house. I hope one day you will understand that your house does not define who you are. Not all Gryffindors are stupidly brave, not all Hufflepuffs are the loyal softies you seem to want to make them out to be, in fact none of them are. Almost none of the Ravenclaws are robotically studious and smart, they just enjoy learning, and I hope you know that not all Slytherins are evil Death Eaters" the professor said calmly.

"He's only defending the Hufflepuffs because he is one" Malfoy muttered to Crabe, although a bit of red tinted his normally pale cheeks.

"Again , assumptions. I am in fact not a Hufflepuff, although I do find the company of that house the most enjoyable" Professor Emrys answered calmly. Utter silence swept throughout the class. One half of the students looked as if christmas had come early, while the other sat in an embarrassed and tense silence. Just as quickly as the dark expression appeared on their professor's face it faded into an aloof smile, "well as I was saying class..."

The bell suddenly sounded throughout the school cutting him off. The professor glared at the clock and pouted.

"Alright, you all seem to have escaped homework" Professor Emrys said and every student looked extremely relieved, "but , I would like to see you for detention tonight and I'd say twenty points from Slytherin for complete disrespect." The professor gave them one last smile and went back to his desk.

The students filed out of the classroom, everyone talking.

"Best. Teacher. Ever." said Ron happily.

"You're just happy that he didn't give us homework" said Hermione, rolling her eyes, but she had a small smile on her face as well.

"He kinda reminds me of Lupin" Ron said, shrugging as they walked towards the great hall.

"Oi! Did you see the way Emrys shut Malfoy down?" asked Seamus loudly as he and Dean ran towards the trio.

"I think he's the best teacher we've got this year" added Dean with a good-natured laugh. Harry and Ron nodded in agreement.

"Oh come on, he hasn't even taught us anything yet...but he did hand Malfoy's ass to him on a silver platter" said Hermione with a small smirk. Ron snorted and smiled at his friend.

"The little weasel deserved it" muttered Harry.

Dean smiled, "I think you mean ferret." The group burst out laughing, Ron had to grab the banister to keep himself upright.

Hermione elbowed Harry and pointed to a group of Slytherin fifth years who were shooting glares at them and the two rolled their eyes.

"But what house do you really think he was from?" Hermione asked, bringing the carefree attitude down a bit.

"I dunno, he seems pretty loyal, but I think he's a Gryffindor" said Seamus.

"Well he said he wasn't a Hufflepuff, and the way he gave that speech makes him seem like a Ravenclaw" said Hermione thoughtfully.

"He's definitely not a Slytherin, no one would go that hard on their own house and he seems like he actually has half a soul" muttered Harry, smirking.

"Yeah Snape proves that theory" snorted Ron, earning a light smack on the arm from Hermione.

The group headed into the great hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table. From a glance, it seemed that the new hot topic was already the new defence teacher's house. Hermione frowned and glanced over at the Slytherin table.

"I hope Malfoy doesn't try to make the new professor's life horrible" she voiced.

"I think that may be quite the difficult task, even for Malfoy. He seemed pretty impenetrable" Ron spluttered through a mouthful of chicken. Hermione snorted but looked a bit disgusted and most of the table smiled and nodded in agreement.

"It's strange" said Seamus, his voice muffled from the rolls he had shoved in his mouth, "it's really hard to tell someone's house when they don't let their parents influence it...or like when you don't already know." The few people that were able to decode his words nodded in serious agreement along with some underclassmen that had been quietly listening.

Even as people began standing up from the table the conversation did not shift from the new teacher and it wouldn't for the rest of the day.

Merlin sat cross legged on his desk, munching on an apple he had nabbed from the great hall. He was reading a rather new book on how muggle activity had been influenced by wizarding conflicts. He sat completely absorbed with the new information he was receiving. He was oblivious to the figure that walked into his classroom and stood for several moments before interrupting him with a small, hem hem.

"Oh hello Professor Umbridge" Merlin said, with the kindest smile he could muster.

"Oh hello Professor Emrys" she greeted in a sickly sweet voice. Merlin's cheerful smile faltered a bit.

"What can I do for you?" he asked, wanting ever so desperately to return to his book.

"I was just wondering how your classes were going so far" she probed.

"Just splendid, may I ask why you're here?" Merlin said politely.

"Well it is my job to oversee the education of these students. Just to make sure that the information they are receiving is...appropriate" Umbridge answered with a vaguely threatening smile.

"Well ma'am may I inform you that my teaching methods are above standard unlike many of the teachers that have held this position in the past few years. I hope you realize that although I won't be molded into one of your ministry lackeys, these children's education is my top priority" Merlin said with an angry pride lacing his voice.

"Well Professor, I will be watching your classes and if I see anything I don't agree with, you will be dismissed immediately" with that Umbridge stormed from the room.

Merlin watched the plump lady waddle out of the room in her uncomfortable looking pink pumps. He had never understood high heels, they seemed much too painful to be worth the extra few inches. Although everything about that woman seemed uncomfortable to him. He signed and placed his book next to him on the desk. He pulled the sweatshirt sleeves over his bony hands and sighed. From the conversations he had heard today he was doing a rubbish job and laying low. Every student in the school seemed to be discussing his house or clothes or attitude, it was making it rather hard to blend in with the rest of the staff.

He glanced into the hallway and watched some Ravenclaw third years rush by on the way to their next class and smiled. No matter what happened, the kids would make it worth it.

Wow guys, the feedback for this story has been so positive so far it's really wonderful. So I've decided for at least the next few weeks that I will be uploading chapters early saturday mornings.

I have read the crossover 'not what you seem' and I love it a lot. I really don't want this story to relate to that story at all because that seems wrong and dishonest to me. Although it does help inspire me to write I want my story to be original and my own.

Just incase I was unclear last chapter Merlin was teaching FIRST year Hufflepuffs not fifth years. And there will be no pairings in this story. I mean many of these chapters will be overflowing with bromance but no non-canon romance. I'm not going to spoil the story when it comes to who will come back, so you'll all just have to wait and see how it goes.

See you all next chapter!