So I'm hoping you guys are enjoying the reboot. To be honest it just feels good writing in some way again. It kinda helps calm my nerves in honesty. Hope everyone has a great weekend and happy Easter to those that celebrate it! To those who don't still enjoy the weekend as best as you can!
Pounding could be heard echoing down the empty hall, it was so loud that even some of the resident ghosts turned their heads. It was coming from the DADA class room, where Link, who had transformed into a giant black wolf, continued to pound at the door, trying to escape. The thirst for blood was the only thing that the wolf could even think about and it needed it so badly. It attacked the door one last time before it gave up, starting to explore the room for any other exit. Realizing that the only way out was locked up thanks to that damn Hylian, the wolf just started to aimlessly roam around, nothing better he could do.
Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermione finally stopped running, out of breathe. They had sprinted out of the room as fast as they could and took a few moments to gather themselves.
"Bloody hell, what was all that about?!" Ron exclaimed, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.
"It must be the curse! There's no other explanation…" Harry responded, whipping his forehead to get rid of any sweat that had developed as they ran.
"We have to tell Dumbledore, he has to know that the charm isn't working." Hermione urged, concerned for the professor. Whatever was happening to him was scaring her; it wasn't something she had seen before.
Ron and Harry nodded in agreement and the three quickly made their way towards the headmaster's office. Once they got there, all three noticed that Professor McGonagall was already outside the office. They ran up to her, surprising the older professor.
"What are you three doing here? You know class starts in a minute." McGonagall asked, looking down at the three 3rd years.
"Something has happened professor and we need to speak to Dumbledore right away!" Hermione said urgently, catching the professor's attention.
"What has happened?" She asked, surprised by the young girl's reaction, out of the three of them Hermione was usually the calm one.
"Professor Link! We heard something from his class room and we came in and saw he was in a lot of pain. We think it's because of that curse he has." Harry explained quickly, once again surprising the professor.
"How do you three know about that!?" McGonagall asked, shocked that three knew about the professor condition. Then again, when it came to these three, they always seemed to find out secrets around the castle.
Hermione scratched her head a bit, finding a way to explain, "Well we kind of ease dropped on the Professor and Dumbledore at the begging of the year and heard about the whole thing…" She explained sheepishly, looking up at the professor.
McGonagall shook her head disappointedly but got back to the main subject, "Alright I'll tell Dumbledore what has happened but you three will go to your class and you won't tell anyone what has happened. Understood?" She said, giving each a stern look.
"Yes Professor." The three said in unison.
As the three students left McGonagall stayed where she was. She waited until the students were out of sight completely. When she was certain they couldn't hear she whispered the secret password to Dumbledore's office. The door opened and McGonagall swiftly ran up the stairs to the office.
When she reached the top she found Dumbledore sitting in his chair allowing his phoenix to nip his fingers. Without a proper invitation she interrupted the head master "Dumbledore! Please forgive my intrusions but something terrible has happened!" the professor said rushing over to the headmaster's side.
Dumbledore lazily turned to her "What terrible event has occurred that has you so riled up?" he said with a small grin as he played with the phoenix
McGonagall huffed slightly from the amount of stairs she ran up so quickly "Dumbledor please this is a serious issue that must be treated to" she said quickly between breathes
Dumbledore looked at McGonagall with a twinkle in his eye "I never said it wasn't important" he grinned slightly under his beard "I only asked what had you worried"
The professor sighed in defeat and quickly calmed herself. "Professor Link sir" she stood tall almost looking down at the headmaster "His curse has broken free as we feared."
The headmaster at Hogwarts typical happy demeanor suddenly turned serious. He stood up slowly from his desk "From where have you heard this from?" he asked coldly.
McGonagall simply looked down for a moment "I heard it from Harry Potter, Hermione…"
Dumbledore swiftly without warning walked by her. He quickly went down the stair case and in the hallways with McGonagall right behind him. Fortunately classes were in session so there were very little students. Dumbledore came to the room that Professor Link occupied. He slowly placed his ear to the door. Inside he could hear the sounds of some sort of beast. Dumbledore then tested the door to see if it would open. When it didn't he let out a sigh of relief.
Dumbledore looked towards McGonagall "The room is locked. I'll place a spell on it to mute any sound that monster makes." He pulled out his wand and did just as he said "Now please keep this quiet I don't want word of another failed Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I rather like Link apart from his…..unfortunate downsides"
The three then departed for their class, leaving the professor behind to deal with the problem. Throughout the class, the only thing thy could think of was Link and what had happened to him.
"What do you think the curse does?" Ron whispered to Harry as they sat through another boring History of Magic class.
"No clue… but there was no denying why the professor tried to keep the curse a secret." Harry whispered back, looking back to Binns when he looked up from his book.
The class finally ended and Hermione departed from the group, saying she had to get something from the library and would see them later. Harry and Ron went back to the common room and sat down, finally able to relax.
As they sat there, Harry looked over at Ron and whispered, "I do remember Snape saying the curse could slip every now and then…"
"Yeah well Snape also said it was very unlikely that it would happen, and look what happened. This must be a really powerful curse if a charm meant to seal it can't do its job." Ron whispered back.
"Must be more powerful then any magic in our country then." Harry mumbled to himself, gazing down to the floor.
"What do you mean by 'our country'?" Ron asked, looking curiously at him.
"Well the professor did say he was from another country from here. Don't you remember he explained there were differences from our magic and his? So it's probably the same with curses." Harry explained to him in a hushed tone, glancing around to see if anyone could over hear.
The two friends pondered the thought for rest of the evening and at dinner they met up with Hermione, who brought some new information to light.
"From what limited books on the professor's country I could find, there wasn't much except for a legend which talks about a hero who can travel through time and used the a sword known as 'Blade of Evils Bane' to defeat an evil tyrant." She explained to them as they ate their food, "This legend to me sounds very similar to what the professor told us in class." She added, surprising the two boys. "There's an evil King named Ganondorf, a young warrior who fought and defeated the evil king"
"So the professor is the hero the legend talks about?" Ron said, though it was hard to tell because he was stuffing food into his mouth.
"Yes, it's the most logical answer and Ron!" She exclaimed, turning to him and then looked at him in disgust "Please try to chew your food so you don't choke…"
The week pasted by with no sign of Link. His classes were told he had business to attend to and they got frees, which pleased most of the class but left our favorite trio concerned. No one had seen him throughout the castle, which also saddened Hagrid, he had yet to receive the Dongo Dongos he was promised a few months before.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were currently walking towards the Great Hall for breakfast, preparing for the classes of the day.
"So Hermione did we have any Divination homework?" Ron asked as the three of them sat down at the Gryffindor table.
A frown came to Hermione's face instantly at the mention of the class, "No, I don't even know what we learn in that class! She basically just goes crazy over some stupid crystal ball or blots of tea." Hermione said annoyed, the thought of that teacher just riled her up to no end.
"She is kind of weird." Harry added, grabbing some toast and butter for himself.
"Are you serious? 'Kind of' is totally not the right phrase, I think she's actual bonkers!" Hermione exclaimed, also grabbing something to eat.
Ron gave a bit of a shrug, "Well at least she's here teaching, Professor Link hasn't been seen for days and they keep using the same excuse." Ron said, a familiar figure stopping behind him as he overheard the trio's conversation.
"Yes I do apologize for my absence."
The trio turned around quickly to see Link, a small smirk on his face. From what Harry could see he look perfectly normal, not anything like the last image he saw of the professor.
"Professor! What happened to you and where have you been this entire week?" Harry asked, relived that he was ok.
Link's smirk faded as he gave Harry a pointed look, "It's been a long week Harry, I know what you three saw and…." He looked down apologetic for a moment "Just please forget what you saw." He whispered, not to be over heard at the number of students in the hall.
Hermione frowned at that answer; he always had something to hide! "Professor I'm sorry but you can't hide things forever! How can we trust you when you can't even tell us something as simple as a legend?" She asked, earning a somewhat surprised look from the Hylian.
His full focus was on Hermione, giving her a curious look. "What do you mean Ms. Granger?" He asked, irritation dripping from his voice.
She didn't back down, even though the look he was giving her freighted her slightly. "I did some research about Hyrule and read about a hero who overthrew a tyrant just like the one that shadow creature talked about…" As Hermione spoke she could see the usual calm polite demeanor of Link was fading. Instead his eyes became cold as daggers staring right at her. " Uh…uh ..you…you're the the that hero aren't you professor?" She asked stuttering in-between words, the glare that Link gave her was one of the most horrifying things she ever saw. Almost like looking into the eyes of a murderer.
Link kneeled down to her eye level and his glare only got worse as he looked over the trio. He then looked directly at Hermione as he whispered in a harsh tone.
"You three listen and listen well. This investigating is to stop now. What I choose to tell my students about my life is my concerns, not yours. Continue to investigate your 'lead' and you will find that I will be the least of your worries. Is that understood Ms. Granger?"
Hermione's eyes widen slightly and nodded quickly, "Ye-yes sir…" she whispered, her gaze now anywhere but at Link.
He nodded slightly and stood back up to his proper height. He turned to leave but stopped, glancing over his shoulder to look at the trio.
"And to answer your question, yes I am that hero in the legend. But I'm here now to teach and protect my students, nothing more nothing less." And with that he turned on his heel and walked out of the hall, leaving the three students to watch him as he left.
The three sat there for a moment in silence when Ron chuckled nervously, trying to brighten the mood.
"I don't think he likes us anymore…" Ron said, scratching the back of his head.
Harry nodded and pushed his food away, suddenly not very hungry. "I have to admit I would be pretty mad to if, people kept bothering me about my past….which they usually do." Harry said, feeling guilty now. If he hated having people ask him about his past, he was sure the professor hated it even more, since he had probably been asked numerous times before.
Soon the three left the hall, going up to the first class of the day. Meanwhile, Link was walking down one of the many halls in Hogwarts when he heard someone yelling his name. Confused, he stopped and looked behind him as he saw a figure running towards him.
"Professor! Hold on one moment please!" the figure yelled, running closer to reveal it to be Hagrid.
Link nodded at the giant as he caught up to him and gave him a minute to catch his breath.
"Professor I'm sorry to bother you but it's been a few months and you haven't told anything on those Dongo Dongos that are supposed to be coming" Hagrid said, standing up at his full height as he caught his breath.
Link looked up at the giant with an apologetic expression, "Yes I did forget to tell you, a supplier said it would take about 3 months and I placed the order 2 months ago. So don't worry they are coming." He reassured.
Hagrid smiled. "Alright thank you professor. I was just worried that you forgot," he said, and turned to walk away, "Well have a nice day professor!" He gave a friendly wave and went back down the hall he had come from.
Link continued down the hall, quickly making his way back to his office when he was met with Dumbledore just outside his classroom. Dumbledore, seeing him, gave him a faint wave and motioned him over to him.
"Professor, how are you feeling?" He asked, looking Link up and down.
Link shrugged a bit, "Better than I was that's for sure." He said, reassuring the headmaster.
"Well that is good to hear," Dumbledore said, smiling, "I also hear that Mr. Potter and his friends know about your situation."
A frustrated sigh escaped him as Link crossed his arms, "Yes they do and they seem to know a few other things." He said, still somewhat irritated at the trio.
Though Dumbledore already knew what Link was going to say, he too looked a bit on the professors past, he played along. "Hm? Like what professor?" He asked.
"They know about my past and who I am," He explained, frowning, "I usual like keeping that a secret."
Trying not to smile, Dumbledore kept a composed face, "Well I'm sure a few people knowing won't hurt, but that's not what I'm here for." He said, surprising Link slightly.
"Then what are you here for?" he asked, looking down at the headmaster.
"I'm here to tell you that I'm bringing in a specialist to help Harry fight the Dementors, for some reason they have found an interest in him" Dumbledore explain, getting a slight reaction out of Link.
"When will this specialist be coming?" Link asked, raising an eye-brow slightly. Were there such specialists in this land?
"A month, no later." Dumbledore answered.
Link nodded in understanding as he bid a farewell to the headmaster, entering his classroom while Dumbledore left in the opposite direction to his own office.
Meanwhile, Divination had just let out and with it a frustrated Hermione stormed out of that classroom. Harry and Ron followed behind, trying to calm their friend down to no avail.
"First she doesn't teach us anything then she gives us a test on subjects we haven't even heard of! This is beyond ridiculous!" Hermione screamed, clenching her fist in frustration.
Ron, again trying to calm her down, reassured her. "Hermione calm down, one bad test grade won't fail you."
Hermione sighed as she tried to calm herself down, "It's not that, it's the fact she is a teacher. She shouldn't even be anywhere near a classroom!" She complained, sighing again to ease her soul.
Finally calm Hermione down, the three walked down the stairs and out to the courtyard where it was a brisk, but beautiful, fall day. They sat down to the side of the courtyard and pulled out some books to study, Harry tried to do the same but could never be as concentrated like Hermione, while Ron sat there enjoying the mild weather. They had not noticed that Malfoy had entered the courtyard with two of his "friends" and walked over to the trio, sneering at them. He had overheard Hermione's outburst and just had to tease her about it, it was what he did best after all.
"Look at that! Granger fails one little test and she goes ballistic! And to top that then she studies even more!" Malfoy taunted, hands on his hips as Hermione glared up at the blonde.
"Shut it Malfoy. Why don't you and your lackeys go back to the dungeons where you belong?" Hermione snapped back, not falling for the boys obvious taunting.
Malfoy sneer turned into a deep frown, enraged at her attitude. How dare she treat him like that!? "How dare you say that to me you dirty little mud blood!" He exclaimed.
Ron quickly stood up and pushed Malfoy back a bit, anger surging through him. "You listen here Malfoy; you don't ever say that again got it?" Ron yelled, stepping forward in a defensive like state.
Malfoy looked at this and tilted his head to the side, smirking. "And what are you going to do Wesley?" Malfoy taunted, stepping closer.
Ron quickly wiped out his wand, Malfoy following in suit, and both pointed it at the other, glaring at each other.
Hermione went to Ron's side and shook her head rapidly "Put it down Ron, he's not worth the trouble." She said, concerned for her friend. If he was to get into trouble or even get himself hurt because of her she wouldn't forgive herself.
He turned his head and looked at her. "Hermione, I'm not just going to stand by and let him call you that!" Ron retorted, turning to glare back at Malfoy.
"How honorably Wesley but you're outnumbered." Malfoy said motioning his friends to come over.
Harry then stepped up and pulled out his wand, also pointing it at Malfoy while Hermione protested the action.
"Let's be honest Malfoy, Ron and I are ten times better than you, so just leave." Harry warned, trying to the two from fighting one another.
Not taking the threat, Malfoy smirked and lifted his arm to cast a spell. With great surprise the young wizards felt an un-normally strong wind come from nowhere. The wind was so powerful it forced them to let go of their wands. The wands flew into the air for a moment before landing a few feet away. Surprised, the boys looked up to see Professor Link walking up to them and he didn't look like a happy camper.
He stopped in front of the group of students and glared first at Draco. "Draco I hope you weren't about to cast a spell on another student or you'd have to consider yourself expelled," He said, and then turned his glare to Harry and Ron, "Potter, Wesley, the same goes with you. Now all you come with me now, we can discuss this with Dumbledore."
He motioned for the three boys to follow him, leaving Hermione there to worry about her friends. They walked quickly down the hall and ended up at the entrance of Dumbledore's office. Link whispered the secret word and the statue moved to reveal stairs. When they got to the office, Link explained the whole situation to Dumbledore, who did not look pleased.
"This is a complete outrage, a dual in the courtyard during the day," the headmaster said, disapprovingly looking over the three students, "Draco you calling Ms. Granger a mud-blood was uncalled for, but that gives you boys no right to try to fight each other.
"Now Draco, you and your friends will serve detention with Hagrid." A quite groan came from Draco at the mention of the giant's name, and Dumbledore took his focus to the other two boys, "Harry and Ron you will serve detention with Professor Link. You are all dismissed, and if this ever happened again you will all be suspended. Do I make myself clear?" He asked.
The three boys nodded and left the office, Link and Dumbledore watching them leave. The two boys quickly split from Draco as soon as they got into the hall and headed for their next class.
After that class Harry began to think what time would this detention start? "So when is our detention anyways?" Harry asked Ron asked at lunch, the memory slipping from his mind.
"After DADA so we don't have far to go!" Ron joked, trying to lighten up the mood, though slightly failing.
"I don't understand why you two had to do that, I mean it's just Malfoy" Hermione said, feeling bad they got a detention because of her.
"Hermione we can't just let him get away with everything, and now he knows that. So he won't come near us or you again." Ron explained, reassuring Hermione about the whole situation.
The three left for DADA and class past by pretty quickly, nothing to eventful going on. Before class started, Link had reminded the boys to stay after class, which they reluctantly nodded to. The bell for the end of class rang and students started to gather their things, excited to leave.
"Remember to read pages 160-170 for homework, take notes, and I will check on Monday. Enjoy your weekend and see you all at dinner." Link called to his departing class, getting some groans and "oks" from the students.
Hermione bid farewell to Harry and Ron and left the room. As soon as she did, Link shut the doors and walked to the front of the class room where Harry and Ron were waiting for him.
"So what are you going to have us do? Paper work? An essay on something?" Ron asked in a disgruntled tone, not happy to stay after class.
"All in good time Mr. Weasley, follow me." Link said and walked by the boys, motioning them to follow him, which they did.
Link opened the door to his office, the boys following in after him. Harry noted that the room had an adjoin door to it, probably the professors quarters. The room itself, like the class room, was very bland; no real decorations in site aside from yet again that shield that Harry took note of. Harry also observed a few photographs his desk and the wall; one looked like a younger version of the professor with a brown horse with a girl on the other side of it. He seemed happy in it, a small smile on his face. The professor walked over to his window and opened it, then sat down in his desk chair, motioning for the boys to sit in the two chairs in front of it.
Link gave them an annoyed look, shaking his head slightly "What were you two thinking? Fighting in the courtyard…" he said is a disapproving tone.
"Draco called Hermione a mud blood." Ron retorted, trying to explain their actions.
Link's attention went straight at Ron, frowning. "That is no excuse, what he said was terrible but fighting in broad day light in the courtyard was stupid." Link shot back, opening a draw in his desk. He pulled out a carton of cigarettes and pulled one out.
That wasn't something Harry was expecting and he frowned at the action.
"Professor… I don't think you're allowed to smoke on campus or even in the castle." Harry noted, earning a look from the professor.
Link sighed and leaned forward on his desk, his cigarette in between his fingers. "How about this…if you don't tell anyone I smoked this," lifting up the cigarette a bit, "I'll answer any question you have." Link said with a small smile on his face.
"Any question?" Ron asked in an excited tone.
"Anything Mr. Weasley."
Ron and Harry looked at each other and then back to the professor, nodding in agreement. Link grinned a bit more and pulled out a lighter, put the cigarette in his mouth and lighting it.
"Alright what is it you want to know? Be wise though you only get one question." Link said blowing smoke out of his mouth.
"What does that curse do you?" Harry asked immediately, the one question that had been on his mind for days.
Link sighed, leaning back in his chair a bit.
"The curse," he started, taking the cigarette from his mouth, "Well it transforms my body into a wolf like creature. I completely lose all control over my mind and body and go on a total rampage, killing anything I see." He stopped and tapped his chest, continuing "The curse's energy comes from a crystal imbedded in my chest."
"Who put the curse on you?" Ron asked, thoroughly interested for once in a story.
Link smirked and wagged his finger. "No Mr. Wesley, the rules were one question. Remember?" Link said.
"Right…" Ron responded disappointed, slouching a bit.
Link put out his cigarette and looked back at the boys, his own questions forming in his mind.
"Now I have a question for you Mr. Potter…" Link said, again leaning forward on the desk.
Harry nodded, but then took the open chance the professor gave him. "I'll answer if we get a question in return." He responded, earning a grin from Ron.
Link chuckled a bit and nodded. "You guys are more clever than I thought, fine we got deal." He said in an impressed fashion.
"Ok so what's your question?" Harry asked.
"What's that scar on your forehead?" Link asked, now his tone more curious than anything.
Harry paused, slightly surprised at the question. It didn't occur to him, but since the professor was from a different land, he must have not heard the story of his encounter with Voldemort.
"When I was a baby, an evil wizard killed my parents and tried to kill me. But for some reason I lived and he died… but this scar was left on forehead." Harry explained, lightly touching said scar on his forehead.
Link stared at him, sympathetic look on his face and lite another cigarette, once again blowing the smoke out of his mouth.
"How terrible, I'm sorry to hear that. I myself never knew my mother or my father, just the friends around me." He replied, his gaze turning distant as he looked down at one of the photographs he had on his desk.
"Hey professor." Ron's voice breaking Link's concentrations, making him look up. "our early agreement still stands." Ron said with a wide grin across his face.
Link looked down for a moment realizing he had started a second cigarette! "Hahaha Well I guess you two have another question then!" He said happily scratching the back of his head. Link then let out a quick drag from the smoking stick.
Link then ashed half the cigarette and looked up at the boys "So what's next question?"
"Alright who's Ganondorf? We want the full explanation." Ron demanded, looking the professor in the eye.
Link nodded to the question and went on to explain. "In my country there is a tribe of all women called the Gerudo. Every 100 years a male is born and he becomes king. You can guess that was Ganon, he ruled the Gerudo and tricked the Hyrule Royal Family into believing he was good and peaceful. Then when no one expected he attacked the capital city and killed the Royal Family except for the princess. He claimed the Triforce of Power and ruled the land for about 7 years, until I came and ended his life and sent his soul into another realm" Link explained calmly, gazing down at his own hand for a moment but then back to the boys.
"He did all that, how is that even possible?" Ron mumbled to himself.
Link glared at Ron, the student thought he was going too deep into his questioning when the professor pulled out a third cigarette. Link gave the boy a wide grin "Well allow me to explain to you…" The professor lite his cigarette and looked out towards the lake.
"Well in my country we believe the world was created by 3 goddesses, Din, Farore, and Nayru." This got the boys eye brows raised, interested and surprised, "When they left, they left behind the Triforce, made out of 3 golden triangles each holding the power of the Gods in them. The Triforce chooses a bearer whose soul resides with the gods, Power which is Din, Wisdom which is Nayru and Courage is Farore." Link explained thoroughly, unwrapping his left hand and brought it up for the boys to see a faint gray triangle on it.
"I hold the Triforce of Courage; the Princess of Hyrule holds the Triforce of Wisdom and Ganon held the Triforce of Power. So to answer your question he was able to do so much because he had the power of the gods with him" Link explained, rewrapping his hand, ending his explanation.
He smiled a bit at the boys who seemed to be in a bit of awe. "I think you both have learned your lesson, having to hear a babbling old man talk about his past. You both are dismissed." Link said motioning them out.
Harry and Ron both got up, thanking the professor and left through the office door, and then running out of the classroom. With all these new developments, they had to let Hermione know what they had learned from their mysterious new professor.