A New Friend or Foe
Chapter Ten
"So...what d'ya think the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will be like?" Ron asked Harry eagerly as they sat side by side in the classroom, waiting for their professor to enter the room.
"I hope he's like Lupin," Harry answered, still looking distracted, perhaps from his experience with Erica.
"Harry, are you okay?" Hermione asked, quirking an eyebrow. "You don't seem like yourself."
"I'm fine, really." He frowned. "Have you seen Erica?"
"She had this class with us...I don't know where she is. Is she skipping?"
"Surely she's not that upset," Harry muttered, more to himself than anybody else. "All I did was hug her. But she did seem kinda off this morning."
"Harry, don't worry," Hermione insisted. "She probably got lost. Remember how long it took us-well, you two, really-to find our classes our first year here?"
Before Harry could answer, the door opened, and Erica walked in, her eyes red and puffy, as if she had been crying. She walked straight past Harry and took a seat in the back of the room. The latter was about to get up and see if she was okay, when the new teacher came in.
He was short and squat, with a shiny bald head, small beady eyes, and an odd smile. He wore gray wizard's robes, and bustled into the room like a rush of wind.
"Hello, class," he said, in a voice that squeaked like a teenage boy's. "I am Professor Twitty-Twitch."
There was a chorus of hushed giggles and snickers, and the teacher's head snapped up. "Oh, you think that's funny, do you? See if you find this so hilarious." He drew himself up to his full height (which wasn't very tall) and scowled at them. The scowl then melted into a joking grin. "My first name is Chives Staples Marvin Jacob Daniels."
The class burst out laughing, and Twitty-Twitch smiled. "However, Chives Staples Marvin Jacob Daniels Twitty-Twitch isn't acceptable for you to call me, and Professor Twitty-Twitch sounds absolutely ridiculous, and you cannot call me Professor Twitch, because that is absurd. I know this is against school policy, but I want you to call me Mr. Twitch."
Murmurs broke out among the class. Harry and Ron glanced at each other. Never had they have a teacher her let students call them "Mr." It was always "Professor".
The rest of the class was very entertaining, and Mr. Twitch was instantly the favorite at Hogwarts.
After everyone had left, Erica came up to his desk. Mr. Twitch frowned. "Erica. How are you?"
"Fine."
"Did you check in with your father last night?"
"Yes."
"The plan is still on?"
"Of course."
"Good. I will be glad when all of this pretending is over. I hate being a good teacher...I will be glad when I can go back to my job as a cold blooded killer for Lord Voldemort, instead of babysitting you. Now leave, and I will see you later."
An evil smile spread on his face as he gathered his papers and left the room.
~Emachinescat ^..^