Sorry this one took a little longer to get out. It was downright menace! I'm still not entirely satisfied with it, but I'm also sick of looking at it. So please excuse the choppiness. I read through this thing a dozen times and still probably missed some grammatical errors. However, I will go back in a few days and re-read it, just to double check. I found a few from chapter two, so sorry about those. They are fixed now. Now, onto the chapter! And a huge, huge thanks to Sara, 35Words, and -Scp- for reviewing!
Unintended
Ch. 2: The New Professor
Vast. Immense. Colossal. James Potters' ears pulsed with these words, and the first beads of sweat began to make an appearance on his hairline. He was seated at the High Table, waiting for the opening ceremony to begin. However, instead of eagerly awaiting the festivities, James was fishing into his memories trying to remember if the Great Hall had always been this large.
From his seat, James thought the two side walls of the Great hall traveled for eons. What was even more flabbergasting than the size of the Great Hall was the amount of students that were currently flooding in between its walls. James didn't think this many students had attended Hogwarts when he was in school. It was absolutely intimidating, not to mention frightening. And to think, the First Years hadn't even arrived yet.
They could take me down, he thought. They could instruct a mutiny and take over my fucking classroom or maybe even the entire school.
The students did share a resemblance to an army. Each student wore a uniform bearing the Hogwarts crest. And the First Years were walking—scratch that—marching towards the High Table where they would wait to be sorted.
James loosened the collar of his robe. This was getting ridiculous. He was acting as if he was on the verge of a panic attack.
"Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" Dumbledore's voice boomed throughout Great Hall.
James tried to pay attention to Dumbledore's speech, but his mind was distracted by his own nagging thoughts. He was soon to be introduced as Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Him! A Professor! He was not prepared for this in the slightest.
In theory, he had everything lined out. James had lesson plans to last him the rest of the week and had even gone as far as to pick up a book on how to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts to underage wizards.
However, mentally, James was stunted.
For the past three years, James had bounced from one job to another, purposely choosing jobs considered to be 'low-level.' His last job had been a bartender at some dingy joint south of Knockturn Alley. Once he had been offered this job, he had been more than thrilled to quit his bartender job. The bar had frequented Dark Wizards, and it had taken all of James' willpower not to beat them to death with a bottle of firewhiskey. Still, the job did have its advantages. For one, it was mindless work that didn't require much aptitude. Plus, he had been free to come and go as he pleased.
This job, however, was the complete opposite. He would be working with people that expected things from him, and he would have to answer to a higher authority than himself. He hoped he could make that kind of commitment, for he feared the consequences if he failed.
His mother had been more than thrilled about his new job. She had made a fuss planning a special dinner for James in celebration of his new position. Thankfully, he had been able to talk her out of it. His father, on the other hand, hadn't been as optimistic. Before he left for Hogwarts, his father had taken him aside for a little 'chat.'
***
In the living room of his parents' house, his father fixed them both a shot of firewhiskey before he preceded his father/son talk. His mother was upstairs resting, as she did most days now.
"Son."
"Father."
The senior Mr. Potter cleared his throat before sitting opposite of James. "I was trying to think of ways to approach this subject delicately. However, seeing as you are an adult, I don't think I should have to worry about hurting your feelings. Being blunt is the only way I can think of how to get through to you."
James clenched in jaw in response.
"I know your track record with employment has not been consecutive this past couple of years—"
James groaned and sat down his glass, attempting to walk out. He didn't have to subject himself to this kind of talk anymore.
"Let me finish, James. As your father, you owe me this."
James obediently sat back down but made sure his displeasure showed on his face.
"You can't deny what I am saying is fact," Charlus Potter began. "We know you've had a rough couple of years, but you are running out of excuses. Now you are just treading into laziness and your mother and I are not going to tolerate it anymore."
"What are you getting at, Dad?" He couldn't help but ask with a hint of spite.
"What I am saying is that this job had better work out because if it fails, you will no longer have the support of your mother and me."
"What are you saying?" James asked, startled. "Are you going to disown me if this job doesn't work out?"
Charlus Potter set down his glass. Despite his age, James had always been able to see some youth in his father's face. Now, there was none of it, only lines traced in burdens and exhaustion
"James, there's no need for dramatics. You are our son, and you will always be our son, even in the bad times. But something has to change, James. You can't continue on this path you are walking. You're mother and I have tried to be patient, but we are tired of making ourselves sick worrying about you. And Lord knows your mother is already sick enough."
James' cheeks burned with his shame and a little anger at his father for bringing up his mother's illness as a way to make him feel guilty. But it worked. James downed the rest of his firewhiskey as he realized this professor job was going to come with more effects than a paycheck
***
In all, James had no choice. If he ever hoped to set things right again, this was his only chance. His parents were right; he couldn't continue this path of instability. He just hoped he possessed the heart to try and change his life.
Thankfully, his friends had been more supportive than his father. They had even tried to help him prepare to become a professor.
"Don't berate any of the students." Peter had suggested.
"Be a mentor to them." Remus had suggested, predictably.
"Just be fucking calm and suave." Sirius had suggested, earning an eye roll from Remus.
James had pondered Sirius suggestion and decided it was his best bet in winning over his students. He remembered what it was like being a student and thinking all the professors were too stuffy for their own good. He wasn't going to be one of those professors he hated. In fact, he was going to be everything he always wanted in a professor: fun, amusing, and laid-back.
I can do this, James assured himself.
He listened to the last part of Dumbledore's speech, waiting for his cue to be introduced. James cleared off the last bit of sweat that had accumulated on the base of his neck and lifted his head higher in the air. The confidence that had somehow left him ever since he boarded the Hogwarts Express began to reappear.
While listening to the last part of Dumbledore's speech, James' face slid into his trademark cocky grin. He was back, and he was going to dominate.
"You're going to end up in Slytherin. You're going to end up in Slytherin," Connie singed to the passing First Years.
Most of them stared at Connie completely petrified before briskly walking past her. One brave First Year yelled, "Sod off!"
"Oh," Connie cooed. "A feisty one! They should end up in our House."
"Connie!" Lily whispered fed-up with her teasing. "Knock it off!"
Connie scoffed, turning around to face Lily from across the table. "Merlin Lily, take a chill pill! Just because you're Head Girl now doesn't mean you have to be even more of a killjoy than you already are."
June groaned. "Guys, please don't start."
Lily and Connie silently called a truce but not before sneaking one more glare at each other. Meanwhile, June gave an exasperated sigh.
"You alright, June?" Connie asked.
"Oh I dunno," June responded, moving her bangs out of her eyes. "It feels tense in here, does it not? This year just doesn't feel the same as the others for some reason."
"Well obviously!" Connie responded swiveling back around in her chair to face the incoming First Years. "This is our last year! Then, its good bye teachers and books and hello reality."
June sighed again and tucked a strand of mousey brown hair behind her ear. "I guess you're right."
As June settled on this solution to her worries, Lily silently observed her friends. For the first time since meeting them on the Hogwarts Express, Lily noticed how much they had changed over the summer. While they all should have been excited to be starting their final year at Hogwarts, excited could not describe any of them. Connie, who used to be buoyant and loud, had muted over the summer. Sure, she still had her occasional outbursts, but Lily noticed the freedom Connie once exulted in all aspects of life had become more cautionary. June, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had changed but was physically showing the signs. Where her elongated face and neck had once made her look comparable to a gazelle, now just made her appear gaunt and sullen. In fact, every face Lily inspected in the Great Hall seemed to share this burden that her friends were conveying. This tenseness that June had spoken of could only be explained by the beginning stages of war.
Lily's stomach tightened and she sat down her fork no longer feeling hungry. She caught sight of Jonathan staring at her from the Ravenclaw table. Once he had her gaze, he gave her smile that Lily could only return half-heartedly.
"Have you noticed," Lily began, leaning forward to keep from being overheard by others, "there are quit a few people missing. I haven't seen either Wilson or Donovan."
"I know why you haven't seen Wilson." Connie began, but paused to cheer for a First Year who had been inducted into Gryffindor. "Well my Aunt Gertrude is friends with—"
Lily sighed, "This isn't beauty parlor gossip, is it?"
"Ugh, will you let me finish! Nor do I have any idea what a beauty parlor is," Connie remarked annoyed with being interrupted.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Continue with what you heard about Petra Wilson."
"Thank you," Connie smiled, triumphantly. "As I was saying, my Aunt Gertrude heard from her friend, Nikki, who is friends with Petra's sister-in-law, Meredith, that they found Petra's father dead."
"Dead?!" June exclaimed.
"Yep. His body was shoved in some broom closest apparently."
Lily hung her head, too disgusted to speak. June tried to speak but was in disbelief.
"That—that's just awful! Oh poor Petra."
"Yeah well, what do you expect," Connie said, apparently leaving her sympathy checked at the door. "I mean her dad vocally opposed You-Know-Who. Not to mention that he wrote a number of well-publicized Letters to the Editor bashing the Ministry for being too lenient with the Death Eaters and the rest of their lot."
"Yeah," Lily's stomach clenched at the mention of the Ministry. "Well someone should be giving the Ministry hell." Lily remarked bitterly.
June and Connie paused momentarily, taking the hint by the bitterness in Lily's tone.
"So, I take it you saw the Daily Prophet." Connie asked bluntly.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, I saw it."
June gave Lily's arm a comforting squeeze. "I'm sure it's only temporary, Lily. I mean in the article they even stated it was for the protection of muggle-borns."
Lily could only muster a nod in response. June's attempts at comforting her were worthless. Lily could sense Death Eater influence a mile away. They all clapped again for another inductee as Marcus Henderson, a fellow seventh year Gryffindor, leaned towards their circle.
"Did you notice Monroe is missing, too?"
Connie glared at him, pointedly. "Were eavesdropping Marcus?"
Marcus put up his hands defensively. "Do you want to know what I have to say about Irving Monroe or not?"
"Why?" Connie asked steadily gaining interest. "Do you know something?"
"Well," Marcus began, "there are some pretty strong rumors that he became a Death Eater over the summer."
Connie and June gasped, as Lily clung to her stomach thinking she was going to be sick.
"Irving Monroe? But he's so little!" Connie commented disbelieving Marcus. "I give him six months before he's killed."
Marcus snorted. "You're being too generous, Con. I give him two."
"Enough!" Lily was fed-up and sickened by their talk. "That's somebody's life you two are gambling over. He's so young. I bet he doesn't even know what he's fighting for."
"Lily," Connie said all traces of jokes leaving her face, "Monroe doesn't deserve your defenses. He knows what he got himself into and if he gets himself killed then it's his own damn fault. He doesn't even deserve your sympathy, he's..."
But Connie didn't finish her sentence. Instead, her jaw dropped and she became slightly bug-eyed. "Gulping gargoyles! Are you all seeing what I am seeing?"
June, Lily, and Marcus glanced at each, all utterly clueless as to what Connie was referring. They followed Connie's gaze to the High Table where Dumbledore was finishing up his speech.
"And now, I would like to introduce your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
He is a former pupil here and we're grateful for him to take the position on such short notice. I am pleased to introduce to you Professor James Potter!"
From the High Table, a tall, thin man in his early twenties with untidy black hair stood up to greet the student body. His cocky grin radiated a confidence that seemed to make every single girl in the Great Hall swoon. A great chatter, mostly among the seventh year female population, broke out around the Great Hall.
"He's just as handsome as I remember," Connie said, echoing the same thought as almost every other seventh year female. Marcus rolled his eyes and returned back to his friends.
"Merlin's beard," June said. "Is that really James Potter, the Head Boy from our first year?"
"It sure is," Connie said, dreamily resting her head on June's shoulder. "He and my brother were mutual acquaintances when they were in school. I used to beg my brother to invite him home for the summer."
"Oh, I used to have such a crush on him," June said, mirroring Connie's dreamy expression. "Do you remember him, Lily?"
"Vaguely," Lily responded, uninterested.
"Oh well actually," June said, "I've heard he's actually been in a little bit of trouble since leaving here."
"Oh!" Connie said, her buoyancy returning after being absent for most of the evening. "Just what I like, a bad boy."
"I dunno if I would say he was a 'bad boy'" June said disbelieving. "I remember him being quite kind."
Connie waved off June's remark. "Regardless, I think it's safe to say that this year just got a lot more interesting."
The bell rang, signaling the end of yet another class period.
"Okay everyone, great job today," James said, dismissing his students.
It had been fourth years this time around and so far things were going relatively smoothly. There had been a couple of bumps along the way, as he knew there would be. He wasn't used to having to present in front of people for extended periods of time. When he was younger, he thrived on attention. But now, he found it a little exhausting. It was definitely more work than he had anticipated.
"Oh, I almost forgot," he said addressing his class before they all left. He heard a slight groan come from the students as they listened to what he was going to say. James smirked, knowing full-well what they thought.
"Just a reminder to you all, no homework."
There was a chorus of "All Right!" and even a few students high-fived each other.
James smiled, pleased with himself.
With a wave of his wand, he returned all the desk and chairs to their rightful positions, as well as picked-up any other stray materials the students might have left behind. The next class would be arriving soon. It was seventh years, the one class James felt the most excited about and the least unprepared for.
Returning to his desk James rustled through his stack of papers, trying to find the notes he had made for this class. Out of all the classes, he had spent the most time trying to prepare for this class. James believed any judgment made about him as a professor rested on this class' opinion of him. He knew it would be tough to impress them. He remembered when he was in his seventh year, he thought he had all the answers. And he sure as hell believed there was nothing left for this school to teach him.
With his other classes, it had been easy to impress them. Being the youngest teacher at Hogwarts had its advantages. James knew it naturally made him more sympathetic in his students' eyes. Therefore, James decided to not act so much as a teacher to his students but more as a "friend" to them. So far, the response he was getting was well-received.
While scanning threw his notes, James noticed the first students begin to arrive. They were two Ravenclaw females who, not to James' surprise, immediately sat down at their desk and shoved their nose in their textbooks. James made sure to greet them. And to his surprise, he saw the two girls blush. More students arrived and James noticed that each time he addressed one of the females, they became either slightly flustered or blushed. James smirked, flattered by the response he was receiving.
Then, three obnoxious Gryffindor boys, two obviously athletic and one slightly pudgy, bustled into the classroom.
"Hey Potter!"
James looked up from his notes rather taken aback by being addressed with such familiarity.
"It's glad to see you back!" One of them said, grabbing his hand and shaking it. "Do you remember me? Liam Wallis? I'm captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team now. We haven't had a decent Chaser since you left, mate."
"Hey!" One of the other boys shouted offensively.
"I meant no offense, Jamie," Liam responded.
The last of the musketeers greeted James excitedly. "Bet you never thought you'd be back here, eh Potter? It's Callum Townson, in case ye forgot. Your friend Sirius put a downright nasty hex me once, for fun I think. You helped me remove it. Do you remember?"
Oh bloody hell, James thought, momentarily stricken with fear. I went to school with these kids.
"Um...vaguely." It was the only response he was capable of making at the moment.
As they moved on to find their seats, James took off his glasses and rubbed his temples, hoping he was daydreaming. How could he have missed this? James thought mentally scolding himself. He hadn't planned on any of the students actually knowing him from his Hogwarts days. They probably remembered him as the king of the school, being Head Boy and Quidditch captain. Suddenly, the blushing women began to make more sense to him now. James felt first shards of self-loathing begin to take place for the day. So much for starting fresh, he thought bitterly.
With blurred vision, he watched the class increase in size. As he scanned the classroom, a blur of crimson red had him quickly reaching for his glasses. He thought his eyes had been playing a trick on him, but he saw now that it was real; she was real.
To the rest of the students, he was sure it looked like he had been hit by a stupefying charm. She was very pretty, beautiful even. She was slender and of average height with unusual long, thick dark red hair and startling almond-shaped eyes that were the most brilliant green James had ever seen. But it wasn't so much her beauty than it was her very presence that was making James stare infatuated. In all, she was very intimidating, but it wasn't an intimidation born out of conceit. It was obvious she was self-assured and confident but it was not a result of her beauty. If James had to guess, she probably had no idea how beautiful she was. Instead, her confidence was born out of strength that had James struck in awe.
However, much to James' disappointment, out of all the females in the classroom she looked the least thrilled to be here. She hardly even glanced at him when she entered the room. Instead, she took a seat next to a boy from Ravenclaw. And unlike the other females in the room, her cheeks remained pale, unlike the other females in the room.
James shook his head, snapping out of his trance. He made a mental note to be weary of her. If there was any girl in this school who could get him into trouble, he could bet that it would be that red-headed beauty.
"Alright, if I could have everyone's attention," James yelled, causing the chattering to halt. "I am your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor James Potter. Many of you seem to remember me which is very flattering," James added with a chuckle. A number of the girls giggled to James' delight.
"Alright, let's get start—?" James paused as a female student with extremely curly blonde hair raised her hand. "What is your name?"
"Constance Gallemore, but you are more than welcome to call me Connie."
James smirked at her obvious flirtation. "Well Connie, did you have a question?"
"I think you know my brother, Simeon."
James was confused as to how this mattered at all. "Oh right, Simeon. How is he?"
"Married Francine McWhirt, poor fellow. You wouldn't happen to have made the same mistake as my brother and gotten married since leaving here, have you?"
Ah, now I see. "Fortunately Miss Gallemore, I've been able to escape that death trap. Narrowly, but still managed to escape."
A portion of the girls laughed, but James could have sworn he saw the red-head roll her eyes.
"Okay then, back—"He paused again as he noticed more hands up in the air.
"Yes?" He asked a female Hufflepuff.
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Nope, not at the moment," he replied with a wink. The girl's cheeks immediately turned pink. James shook his head. That was too easy. "Next?"
"Why did you decide to come back as a Professor?"
"Nothing better to do. Next?"
"Why did you almost end up in Azkaban?"
James glared at the Slytherin student. "Wrongful evidence, but thanks for asking."
He turned his back on the other hands, immediately ending his impromptu interview session. "We need to talk about this year and what you can expect. I'm, by nature, a very laid-back person, so I don't want to feel stressed in my own classroom. Therefore, I think it would benefit you, as well as me, if I rarely assign major assignments. After all, you are almost out of here and I'm sure you will be provided with plenty of homework from the other professors."
There was a slight cheer in the classroom. James couldn't help but steal a glance at the red-head, and to his delight, saw her hand was raised. He knew he shouldn't even be remotely attracted to a student, but he couldn't help his infatuation. He was completely mystified by her. She was a rarity, A beauty. A luminous creature who struck men dumb with just one glance from her exquisite emerald eyes.
And then, she opened her mouth.
A/N Sorry, I really did have to end it there. It would have proabably been another 4,000 words if I had went on. Anyways, I just want to discourage anyone who thinks James is acting too immature. I know it may appear this way, but his behavior will be explained as well as change in the future. And as always, I appreciate feedback!