He stood before the gates of Hogwarts taking in a deep breath he knocked upon the brass knocker, the effect was immediate the large gates began to slowly open well this is a good a time as any taking a large confident step he enter the threshold of the school, after his experience with the gate as he called it he was more in tune with magic a shiver ran down his spine as he entered the wards of the school he had never realised how powerful the ancient wards had been until now.
He allowed himself to be taken in by the grandeur of the castle it ha d been so long since he▓d seen it at it▓s full glory, after Dumbledore▓s death the castle never returned to its former glory, no matter what the headmistress and the new teachers did Hogwarts ever return to it▓s true self perhaps the castle was still lamenting over the death of Dumbledore or perhaps because his killer still roamed free in the world.
A large ⌠THUD■ brought him out of his musings for before him stood Hagrid with what could only be described as a large beaters bat poised to attack.
⌠an who might you bee young man■ asked the wary half giant.
⌠my name is Alexander Moriarti I am here to apply for the post of the defence against the dark arts teacher.■ he bowed low smiling as he did. He watched as Hagrid scratched his head mumbling at how teachers were getting younger and younger. Moving aside he allowed Harry to pass he continued along the path that inevitably led to the school. As he carried on his stroll he noticed wizards were tending to the castle and it▓s grounds, perhaps like most school during the summer months maintenance went on.
Walking through the entrance hall of the school he began to tread the familiar path that led up to the headmasters office, ghosts floated around the castle peacefully perhaps there was hope for this world yet maybe he could have a normal life here, this could be his payment for his suffering. He stopped at the gargoyle that protected the entrance to Dumbledore▓s office it immediately sprang to life allowing himself to gain entry to the office of the headmaster. Knocking of the brass knocker three times he heard a voice say.
⌠enter.■ pushing the door open he steeled himself for what was to come entering the office he found it not to be completely empty there sat tow people that he had saw die professor Albus Dumbledore and professor Minerva McGonagall.
⌠Ahh Mr Moriarti it is a pleasure to meet you my fiend here has told quite a bit about you after you were accosted last night at the three broomsticks I believe, but this pertains to an altercation that occurred previously inside the hogshead.■
He nodded mutely still trying to disrepute the fact that Dumbledore was alive and well.
⌠she also expressed you desire to become a professor here at Hogwarts tell me at such a young age what do you feel that the students will benefit from your tutelage.■ he asked softly, staring dumbly at them for several seconds he replied.
⌠I have learnt many combat techniques and know how to teach students to apply them, but also I feel my understanding of magic is far deeper than perhaps yours or any other wizards, and I would gladly demonstrate it.■ he replied in an equally calm manner.
Dumbledore interlocked his own fingers and observed him from behind his desk.
⌠your tenacity, arrogance, no confidence have against my better judgement forced my hand, if you can prove to me by then end of the day that you are truly deserving of the title of the defence of the dark arts professor then the job is yours.■ he said in a neutral tone that suggested he had done one of the dumbest things in his life.
⌠well then headmaster what is the first task I must comp■ but he couldn▓t complete his sentence as spell whizzed over his shoulder.
⌠defend yourself■ roared Dumbledore, not needing to be told twice he withdrew his own wand, flicking his wand the spell that McGonagall was sitting up shot towards the headmaster with amazing speed, who casually flicked his wand banishing it towards Harry who had to move out of the way.
Jumping to his left he flicked his wand causing the door to be blasted off it▓s hinges, taking a running jump he flew through the door using a levitation charm to carry himself further. Waving the wand mid air he cast a cushioning charm on the floor, softening his landing. And then he appeared standing in the door frame, flicking his wand casually he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up yet again as the force of the spell would have been enough to destroy him had they connected, the gargoyle almost magically moved out of the way allowing the spell down the corridor, he scrambled through the doorway, hitting a moving target was far more difficult than a stationary one.
Regaining his composure he took a deep breath he had never expected Dumbledore to attack him but then he was odd and he wasn▓t exactly know for his teaching methods, clapping his hands together he felt the power rush through his fingertips, just as Dumbledore appeared he placed his hands to the floor.
The effect was instantaneous the ground sprang to life surging towards Dumbledore who▓s eye▓s widened but then his instincts took over, he waved his wand in an intricate manner and the ground that was surging towards him immediately came to a halt, using this opportunity harry waved his wand, a blinding flash of light escaped the tip of his wand causing Dumbledore to be hoisted from the ground by his ankle, the shock of being hoisted from the ground caused the headmaster to lose the grip he had on his wand, but harry kept his wand raised Dumbledore was the greatest sorcerer to grace the earth in the past 150 years.
In a flash he saw the wand jump back into the headmasters outstretched arm, and in one fluid motion he dispelled the curse and cushioned his fall, but they weren▓t done quite yet the both jabbed there wands forwards releasing similar orange jets of light that collided mid air exploding in a shower of sparks, flicking his wand hary conjured up a large puddle of water causing Dumbledore to slip but the headmaster wasn▓t done brandishing his wand like a whip he lashed out towards harry who▓s faced widened in fear as the lash caught him in the stomach knocking the wind out of him.
Rolling over he dodged another flogging from the whip coughing and slputtering he conjured up a silver shield, rasing it in the nick of time as another violet attack from the whip came down, but the shield remained undamaged pulling himself to his feet he raised his wand in the air the adrenalin had finally set in he levelled his wand on Dumbledore and the water sprang to life forming a suffocating bubble around Dumbledore, it lasted for several seconds but the whip finally managed to break through the bubble, but these precious seconds had given harry the time to complete the incantation, it was a long one but it had it▓s uses. voco of torva extraho, it was a summoning spell, it allowed him to summon up a pack of wild dogs.
Snarling the dogs pounced with slavia dropping from their mouths Dumbledore was quick to react gone was the whip and he unleashed a bright flash, yelping the dogs disappeared in a puff of smoke.
He waved his wand twice swishing it up and down whispering. ⌠umbraduplica■ suddenly by magic numerous duplicates of himself began appearing each of them was corporeal and they could all attack, Dumbledore soon realised what he had done before the clones charged Dumbledore initially attacked the clones as each curse struck another clone disappeared in a puff of white smoke.
This continued until he was eventually overwhelmed by the sheer number of clones that he continued to conjure, one pinned Dumbledore down while the other lucked his wand from his grasp while a third towered above the tangle of bodies menacingly.
⌠I submit■ and with these words the clones vanished and Dumbledore▓s floor fell to the floor uselessly.
⌠I see that I wrong about you i mistook your confidence for arrogance, I had a person in mind for the defence against the dark arts role but I feel they would be best suited in another position.■ smiling he returned to his feet and adjusted his robes
⌠term begins on the first of September professor Moriarti do not be late.■ and he strode away without another word. Silently he turned on his heel massaging his shoulder, wincing slightly as a sharp pain shot straight through it.
Harry sat on his windowsill he could feel the danger coming something was wrong and it had something to do with whatever his parents were hiding they had been working later and talking in whispers, even after they had administered the kiss to Voldemort he knew it wasn▓t over, in the prophet those cold dark eyes continued to bore into him, despite everything he didn▓t seem broken like ever other wizard. It was unnerving.
The door slammed shut the sound of two people arguing echoed through the house.
⌠YOU SAID THIS WOULD BE YOUR FINAL TOUR WITH THE HIT WIZARD UNIT-■ screamed his mother so dad had gone back on his word instead of retiring and taking up the teaching job at Hogwarts he was going to carry on.
⌠but lily Dumbledore has already found someone to teach there I▓d have been unemployed had I quit, who would have put food on the table■ his mother made A tchh, he found this funny, he had known for quite some time that they were well off, not swimming in galleons like the Malfoy▓s or uncle Sirius but comfortable. Sighing he knew this was going to go on for hours, picking up his firebolt he released the latch on the window, straddling his broom he kicked off the feeling of being in the air was a welcomed one he missed it sorely.
Completing a couple more laps of the ground he finished off with a gentle barrel roll before landing back inside his window, stowing the broom beneath his bed he could still hear his mother going at it, ever since his first year he had always been the one everyone had turned to, son of the famous James and lily potter, professor Dumbledore had said it himself that he expected great things of him but what he was just your average kid
He remembered back in his second year when Dumbledore gazed on him expectantly as he was removed from his position as headmaster thinking he would do something to stop it, but it had been Hermione granger that had alerted the teachers of the whereabouts of the chamber and how to get in, he had stood in the shadows like he always did watching for he was never smart enough nor powerful enough to help.
He heard footsteps thundering up the stairs, it had to be his mother whoever it was rapped on his door three times.
⌠dinner will be ready in half an hour Harry■ it was his mother he could tell because it was straining her to speak so calmly, she wasn▓t angry at him but just angry in general, she tended to be like this a lot, but over time he▓d gotten used to it and learnt how to deal with it.
Smiling he picked of his potions book of the desk and continued where he▓d been before he▓d gotten so distracted.
He now sat at his new desk, the kids weren▓t scheduled to arrive for another couple of hours, he had finally managed to form together a rough teaching plan, he would taught them just as he had taught the DA, he would give them the necessary skills to survive should the dark lord return. Closing his eyes he resigned himself to do the best he could, interlocking his fingers he began to pray that he would have the strength to fight in this world and win, he had fought once before and lost, this was a second chance which he wasn▓t about to let slip from his grasp.
Harry sat at one of the very end carriages his face resting upon his palm as the countryside streaked by, suddenly the door to the compartment opened and he glanced across to see a familiar face take the seat opposite him.
⌠hey Harry, how are you.■ it was Neville, ever since he▓d stopped malfoy from bullying him he had followed him around like a lost puppy while he was flattered, it wasn▓t the most pleasant thing. Smiling he opened his bag and dug out a book, it wasn▓t a particular one but something that would keep him occupied on the rather long and boring trip to Hogwarts.
It was entitled ⌠the dark arts a practical and proactive defence■ by the look of the book it was a fairly old publication, his hunch was confirmed when he looked in the back, it said
circa 1923
Skimming over the pages he began to realise some of the stuff was pretty advanced, stunners, freezing spells was far beyond anyone in his years capabilities.
The door to the compartment slid open once again and two more familiar faces settled down beside him, glancing over his eyes caught those of his two best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
⌠it▓s great to see you mate, I was really worried after we got separated, and then you being accused of being a death eater, had to be the funniest thing ever.■ he chortled
⌠Ron an accusation as serious as that isn▓t the sort of thing that can be considered funny■ she scolded slapping on the arm.
⌠it▓s ok Hermione they soon dropped the accusation when they realised who I was I mean even deputy minister crouch felt bad.■ he smiled at his friends, returning his attention to the book, he noticed that Hermione brought out her own book and Ron and Neville began a game of exploding snap.
Harry found himself at the staff table just moments before the older students burst into the great hall, earning himself an appraising smile from the headmaster and a patronising glare from Snape, the slimy git some things would never change.
Looking across at the see of smiling faces he managed to pick out some famliar ones, and some not so familiar ones, next to Ron sat two boys both of whom he▓d never seen, and there were far less slytherins on the table that he▓d expected. But what shocked him the most was a certain green eyed boy with messy black hair.
Did I really slouch like that the thought as he casually observed him he was hunched over his food a look of pure boredom plastered across, the door swung open and professor McGonagall entered the ahll with a group of first years in tow, so looking terrified others impressed, and then it begun it was the first sorting he▓d attended in over three years, and god had he missed it.
⌠claydon Mortimer■ a short dark haired boy was called up, ⌠RAVENCLAW■ roared the hat.
⌠Dreycour Alexander■ A tall lanky boy with blonde hair approached the hat and after a few moments it announced ⌠HUFFLPUFF■, this continued until the final student Manuel Xavier was sorted into Slytherin. At a signal McGonagall took her seat at the head table and Dumbledore stood up to address the students.
⌠now without a further ado please enjoy the feast.■ smiling the plates immediately filled with food. Looking across he could see that every teacher apart from himself and Snape had begun helping themselves to the delicious meal prepared by the houseelves
He found himself picking at his meal, the hunger which he had at the beginning of the feast had least him replaced with a boiling sensation within his stomach, how would he react when he came face to face with them but he would cross that bridge when he came to it now all he had to do was survive this feast with his mind intact.
As the chatter died down and the last of the food vanished Dumbledore rose once again, silecnce ensuing as he waved his hand.
⌠now I have some notices to hand out, the list of forbidden objects has been extended to over 742,it now includes fanged Frisbee▓s and electroshock bouncy balls. If you require a full list the I believe it can be located on the front door our Mr Filch▒s office.■ he paused.
⌠also I would like to regrettably announce that the quidditch cup shall not■ cries of outrage escaped the students, ⌠ BECAUSE WE SHALL BE HOLDING THE TRI WIZARD TOURNAMENT■
⌠your joking■ Fred Weasley cried out loudly.
⌠No Mr Weasley I am not but now that you mention it I did hear a good one about a troll a hag and -■ McGonagall cleared her throat loudly, bringing the headmasters attention back.
⌠students for Beauxbatons and Dumstrang will be arriving during October with a small delegation of potential candidates for the tournament, we here at Hogwarts feel that over the years the death toll of the tournament reached an unprecedented amount, therefore I have decided to impose an age restriction of say those that are of age, perhaps seventeen years and above may enter the tournament.■ he didn▓t even bother continuing as some of the older students began to protest.
⌠silence■ he roared, slincing them all, they all seemed to be transfixed by him a teacher had never spoken partway through a speech made by the headmaster, even if it were to asit him. ⌠the headmaster has not finished speaking, it does you no favours by doing this.■
Dumbledore smiled at him, nodding he retook his seat.
⌠well students it appears you have met out new defence against the dark arts teacher professor Moriarti■ harry mentally sighed as every student in the hall begun to stare at him, staring at the entire school he began mentally picking out who he knew would be trouble, Nott, Zabini, Crabbe, Goyle, Malfoy the usual idiots were there accompanied by some new faces, but he would set it right everything had gone wrong Dumbledore▓s plan had failed, but this time it wouldn▓t Voldemort would pay and he would see I through right till the end or he would die trying.
⌠and now children off to bed chop chop.■ the sound of chatter began to fill the hall as children began to filter out slowly pulling himself to his feet he to made his way out following the not so familiar route to his office his small sanctuary.