On the train, she explained it to me. You know that kid I'd met in the woods? His name was Albus Dumbledore. Apparently, He'd gone on to become the Headmaster of the freaking school, and somehow figured he was going to die soon. Seeing as he didn't really have an heir, and his mind wasn't working, he decided on me. Apparently, he remembered how powerful I was, and thought, "Hey, he'd make a great Headmaster!" Especially because I've never even attended the freaking SCHOOL!
The plan was to have me attend the school this year, as some sort of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and take it over the next year, when he either retired or died.
It was the suckiest thing that had happened to me since my friends died. So why did I agree to it? Simple. Meeting him had turned my life from crap to greatness. I felt I owed him this one favor.
But I couldn't take being in a cabin with the stuffy old lady very long. After she explained everything, I walked out of the cabin, and picked some random kids to sit with. Of course, I didn't just sit in a random compartment. I picked two kids I thought were pretty cool, and had them sit with me.
The first was tall, blonde, with an arrogant manner. He was wearing green, which meant he was in Slytherin. He struck me as someone who was one the precipice. He could either become the greatest wizard alive, or the most evil. It intrigued me, so I popped my head in his cabin, saying, "Yo! I'm your new Defense Against The Dark arts Teacher! Meet me in Cabin 31E."
The second was vastly different. He was average height, with unruly black hair and unstylish glasses. He was quiet for a Gryffindor, with a tendency to pull his hair over his eyes, like he wanted to hide from the world. That said, he definitely had a hero streak. I could tell that just by looking at him. A strong sense of nobility, too. He seemed very strong willed as far as right and wrong went; just not about people. I said the same thing to him, and made my ways to the cabin.
The blonde one was already there when I got there, and glasses had just followed me in. I sat down, shaking both their hands.
"Hey, there, My name's Inuyasha Matsuhara. I'll be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but I already told you that, didn't I? Well, besides that, I'm about 20."I lied. That's what I appeared to be; luckily I had aged at least a little over the last five hundred years. Wait, 1996, that was one year before Kagome fell down the well. Wow. Time flies. "I'm an old friend of Al's, so that's basically how I got the job. I've never really been to Hogwarts before, except once, and that was a long time ago. I specialize in wandless magic, and my favorite thing to do is listening to people, so if you ever need to talk, my door is wide open. Now, how about you guys? Who are you?"
The blonde spoke first. "My name is Draco Malfoy, heir to one of the most prestigious lines of wizarding families in the world. I am a sixth year, and a Slytherin. I have had a record of excellence in my studies, and I am a prefect this year. I hope this is the start of a…profitable relationship, Professor."
I smiled. Exactly what I expected, cold, businesslike, and self-promoting. My brother would be proud. I turned to the other boy.
"Um, My name is Harry Potter. I'm a Gryffindor, and a sixth year, too. I'm not too great at my studies, but I do really like DADA. Um, who is Al?" He nervously combed his fingers through his bangs again, definitely wanting to disappear into the seat.
"Oh, Well, your Headmaster of course! Albus Dumbledore. Man, but you need some self-confidence. You could probably learn some stuff from Draco, here." If that didn't cause a reaction, I don't know what did. They both started visible in their chairs, and Draco smiled like it was Christmas Day. Harry looked like he had been slapped in the face. "Not that you don't have your own good qualities. Draco could probably learn some stuff from you, too." I jumped with a sudden realization. "YES! That's perfect! Hey, from now on, you guys will be partners."
"WHAT?!"They both yelled at me in unison.
"You don't understand!" Harry pleaded in a rare show of earnestness. "He's evil!"
"I loathe him! How can I be his partner?! What does that even mean, anyways?!" Draco added at the same time. I laughed to myself.
"Well, let's see. Well, you'll have to be roomies, you know? And eat together, and I'll have you do some sort of cool project that'll be great for bonding and stuff! This is so great! This is one of my best ideas yet." I smirked, playing it out in my mind.
"You can't do this! You're not Headmaster." Draco snarled.
"Naw, I can basically do whatever I want. Al and I are tight, man." I answered, still feeling pretty accomplished. "Oh, but I also called you here for another reason."
"What?" Draco snarled. "Want to ruin my life some other way?"
"Oh, hop off it. I called you here because I want you guys to be part of my club."
"Club?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, well, it'll basically be the best and brightest Hogwarts has to offer, and I'll teach them some advanced magic, and we'll have some parties and stuff."
"What kind of advanced magic?" Draco asked suspiciously, but I saw excitement dancing in his eyes.
I smiled, and spoke to the wind. It swirled around, cooling the hot cabin, then I ordered it again, and it made a little cloud over the table, and snowed on the table.
"Maybe it'll be something like that." I smirked, and I could see both of their minds churning. They would agree. I knew that. So, I said, "Think it over," and left the cabin to see about getting some food for myself. Meanwhile, I told the wind to let me hear everything they said.
"There you have it Harry, finally a teacher that has some sense." Draco's voice was arrogant and self-important. "they see me to be the great wizard I am.
"Sense?! He wants to make us roommates! Maybe if you weren't so arrogant, you'd see how crazy that is!"
"Calm down, Potter. There's no way Dumbledore will let that happen. The teacher is obviously just ignorant to how Hogwarts works. It is to be expected. They never went to Hogwarts before."
"Oh. I wonder where they went to school."
"Does it matter? They obviously received an above-par education."
"Yes, it does. I don't trust him." Aw, man, Harry! I'm hurt!
"I don't believe you. Paranoid wretch. Just because he doesn't worship you, you automatically think he's a dark wizard." Draco scoffed.
"No, that's not it!" Harry was undoubtedly pulling his hair in front of his eyes again. My suspicion was confirmed when I heard Draco's annoyed voice.
"What are you doing?"
"What? What do you mean?"
"You keep making that awful hair of yours even worse. Quit pulling it in front of your eyes like that! It's annoying!"
"I'm not—"
"There! You're doing it again! Merlin, you are so annoying."
"Says you." Harry answered, standing his ground. "Honestly, I can't believe how you worship every teacher that shows you a little attention. It's called being pathetic, Malfoy!"
"I do not! And you're calling me pathetic? You, who can't even pass a basic Potions class! Honestly, the Weasel is a Prefect, and you are not!"
"At least my dad's not a Death Eater!"
"At least mine's not dead!"
I chose that moment to walk back into the cabin. "It's good to hear you two getting along so well." I managed to say it with only a hint of irony in my voice. "So, did you come to a decision about my club?"
"We'll do it." Draco answered for the both of them.
"Good! So, Draco, your father was a Death Eater? How is that?" I asked.
"Brilliant." He said shortly. "You know, just because my father is a Death Eater means nothing of me. So, you can stop worrying. That's why I got put in your club, isn't it? To keep an eye on the Death Eater's son! I should have known." He moved to go, but I stopped him.
"No, no, Seriously man, my brother is a serial killer!" Kind of. "I'm not one to judge people based on their family. If you really want to know why I chose you, here it is: I think you can become one of the greatest wizards of all time. There. That's it."
"Ha. Nice try." Draco scoffed.
"No, man, I'm serious here. I've got a knack for stuff like this. You've got a lot of potential." I looked into his eye, to make sure he knew I was serious. He pulled away, walking out.
"Is that really why?" Harry asked, amazed.
"Yes. The only question is whether for good or for evil. He's on a precipice right now. It could go either way. This year will definitely be hard for him." I looked after him.
"And you picked me because I'm the Boy Who Lived, right?" He gave a depreciating laugh. I reminded myself to ask McGonagall about this. I hadn't checked up on the wizarding world in twenty years, at least.
"Nope. I picked you because you look like a hero to me." I stood up to leave. I'm going to go back to my original seat. You can do the same. Thanks for your time." With that I left the cabin.
It was weird seeing Albus after more than a century. He was old, but that was to be expected. He was much more at peace with himself, though, and more wise. I was looking at a man who had lived his life to the fullest.
"Hello there, Inuyasha." He said, eyes twinkling. "Lemon drop?"
"Sure." I answered, taking a seat in front of his desk.
"I was expecting you to be older, you know, if you were still alive at all." Dumbledore popped a lemon drop into his mouth, "But you never cease to surprise me, do you?"
"Probably not. I'm seven hundred years old."
"That is quite old, for only being twenty. Did you know that I'm a war hero?"
"Yes, Just like you wanted, right? How does it feel?"
"Many things have changed since I was a whimsical young first year. I no longer think it is such an attractive title. Headmaster, however, that I like."
"That was another one of your goals, I think."
"Yes. But on to business—"
"I want you to make Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy roommates." I said, before he could start. "I think they could both benefit from being partners, eating together, working together, whatnot. Draco can become even more powerful than you, if he is given the right guidance. I think time with someone as good as Harry will do him well. And I think being around Draco will improve Harry's self-confidence, and also encourage him to improve his studies.
"Also, I want to make a club for future elite wizards. I'll pick them out, and I can teach them some extra stuff, like my kind of magic, if it's possible. I also think students should be required to attend for eight years. Seven years is simply not enough time to make them good witches and wizards. Muggles attend school until they are 24, sometimes. Also, I believe we should institute a Muggle Studies class, where they can learn about the non-wizarding world. That's important, too. I also want to teach beyond the book in my class. I feel hands-on learning is best for that kind of class.
"So, those are the reforms I want to make. Still want me for Headmaster?" I challenged.
"Absolutely. I see no problems with your changes, though many of them I will request for you to make next year. I think you are wonderful. You will be given your own room, and office. Meals will be provided, as well as whatever materials you might need for your class. It is nice to know you're on board."
"Oh, you know me." I said. "I never refuse a favor."
I looked around, shifting in my uncomfortable, large robes. Over the last few years, I had gotten used to wearing jeans and a T-Shirt. It was hard to switch to breeches and robes from that. On the bright side, though, the food was good. I was a bit nervous, so I was eating more than usual. It had been a while since I'd been expected to do any sort of public speaking. Actually, come to think of it, I had never been forced to do any kind of public speaking. There. I just managed to get ten times more nervous. Go me.
"Welcome, Everybody to a new year at Hogwarts! This year, we hope you can all learn a lot, and grow as individuals. This year, we have a few changes. First of all, we would like to give a warm welcome to our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Mr. Inuyasha Matsuhara!" There was some polite clapping and whispers. Come to think of it, whatever happened to the last DADA teacher? Was he well liked? Maybe I'm going to have to try to fill some huge shoes. I shuddered. I didn't even think of that. "Also, there will be a slight change in some room assignments. Mr. Draco Malfoy and Mr. Harry Potter will from henceforth be roommates, and be expected to spend time together, eating, learning and growing to be good wizards. Also, Professor Matsuhara will give the both of you a private group project. That doesn't affect most of you, so do not fret. In other news, there will be a new club instituted by the new teacher. He will let you know if you are invited to attend. Speaking of which, we will have the pleasure of hearing from him now."
This was it. Show time. "All right guys, I'm Professor Matsuhara. Nice to meet all of you. I hope we'll have an awesome year together. Um, that's it. Thanks." I sat back down hurriedly, hoping I didn't look like a complete fool.
"Wait. Stand back up, Professor. I'm sure the students have a lot they want to ask you. I believe that now would be a perfect time to have a question and answer session." Stupid, stupid, Dumbledore!
"First question:" Dumbledore looked out into the crowd, picking a random kid. "Ginny."
"Um, like, are you a werewolf or Death Eater or something? I mean, like some sort of weird thing that means you probs shouldn't be teaching kids?"
"I've got some quirks, but nothing that affects my teaching." I answered honestly.
"Like what?" Another kid asked.
Like being an immortal 700 year old half demon that can speak any language, and control the wind, water, and earth.
"Like I never went to Hogwarts, and I like to hang out with muggles."
"Where did you go to school?" Another kid asked. What was this, the Spanish Inquisition?
"Oxford." I answered shortly.
"Muggle School? Did you have no wizarding education?" Another asked.
"I was privately taught." I answered.
"What is your position on You-Know-Who?"
"Um, He's evil? Probably should be stopped? He needs professional help?"
"What are your punishment techniques?"
"I don't know!" I answered. "Detention? If you don't respect me, expect to be mocked in front of the class until you cry. But besides that, just…standard?"
"What is your experience with the Dark Arts?"
"Um…Just stopping dark wizards and stuff." Naraku came to mind.
"How did you get the job? And why did you want it?"
"I'm friends with Dumbledore. He asked me to, and I didn't feel like turning him down."
"Even though the position is cursed?"
"Cursed?" I laughed. "So that's what this is all about. Trust me, kid, Curses don't bother me. I've been eaten before. Not much scares you after that. I will be answering no more questions for now. Good Day."