"They all think I'm crazy," Harry said, glowering miserably down at the table. "Completely barmy. No one believes that Voldemort's really come back."
"We believe you mate," Ron said, patting his friend on the shoulder. "And my family, and the rest of the guys in the Order."
"Ron, shh!" Hermione hissed, narrowing her eyes. "We aren't supposed to mention it!" Shooting a glance at Harry, she added in a softer tone; "Besides, you don't know that Harry. I'm sure there are plenty of people who are supportive of you."
"Yeah," Harry muttered. "I just don't understand how everyone could be so set on denying it -"
"Hey," Ron leaned forward, squinting at the end of the hall. "Whose that guy?"
"Hmm." Hermione observed the figure in question. "A new student, maybe? Although he does look too old...perhaps a teacher? No, no...he's much to young for that..." She gazed at him for a moment. "He's rather attractive, isn't he?" she murmured, before blushing bright red.
"Oh there she goes again!" groaned Ron. "Are you ever not chasing after some bloke?"
"I don't chase!" Hermione snapped, defensively. "I was just...stating a fact. He is attractive. Although, he could do without those ink smudges on his face..."
"Uh..." Harry frowned. "Hermione, I think those are his eyebrows."
Ron snorted. "No way, mate," he laughed. "No set of eyebrows could possibly be that big."
"I have to agree with Ron on this one," Hermione said. "I don't think its physically possible."
"I'm telling you those are eyebrows," Harry said. "They don't look anything like ink smudges."
"Hey look at that old Toad over there." Ron pointed to a woman dressed in bright pink. "Strange batch of people this year, huh?"
Dumbledore waved his arm for quiet and the hall became silent. Harry, Hermione and Ron listed intently to what their headmaster had to say.
"I would like to welcome you all to a brand new year," he said. "Before we begin, I'd like to introduce our two new professors to you all. Professor Umbridge -" He waved a hand towards the woman. "And Professor Kirkland."
The man - Professor Kirkland - smiled slightly.
"He's a professor?" Hermione looked visibly surprised. "But he's so young!"
"Maybe not." Harry shrugged. "I mean there are people who look younger than they really are, right?"
"Professor Umbridge will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts," Dumbledore said. "Professor Kirkland will be taking over Professor Bins roll as professor of History of Magic for the rest of this year."
"Seriously?" Ron exclaimed. "How the hell did that guy manage that? He must be some sort of miracle worker! I always thought that is was physically impossible to get Bins to leave."
"Ron!" Hermione admonished. "Professor Bins isn't gone. Professor Kirkland will only be teaching us for this year."
"Kind of weird though, don't you think?" Harry frowned. "I claim Voldemort's real, no one believes me and then suddenly, we have a new teacher for History of Magic? I mean, I'd understand DADA - we have a new teacher for that every year. But History of Magic?"
"Hey, I'm not complaining if it gets rid of Bins," Ron replied.
"You're being too paranoid," Hermione said. "He looks harmless!"
"He could be working for Voldemort," Harry murmured. "Or maybe the Ministry. Who knows?"
"Yeah and besides - Mione's only saying he's harmless because she likes him!"
"Oh shut up Ron!" Hermione snapped, glaring at her friend.
Harry rolled his eyes at his friends antics. "Either way," he said. "I'm going to be keeping an eye on that guy."
...
Arthur walked into the room that had been assigned to him for the rest of his stay at Hogwarts. It was familiar to him; this was not his first time at the school and each time, he had stayed in this very room.
He remembered the time when he had brought America and Canada along with him. The two had been young then, and still his colonies. Canada had practically clung to him the entire time, barely saying a word to those around him. He had always been shy. America on the other hand had created a ruckus, driving all the teachers insane. England sighed at the memories.
He dumped his bags on the floor and settled himself onto the bed. Teaching at Hogwarts...well he had always enjoyed it. It was nice to get away from all his responsibilities as a nation...and while Hogwarts wasn't exactly relaxing it gave him more of a break that he ever got.
England thought about the Potter boy, who he had caught staring at him before dinner had begun. The boy looked just like his father, England thought. He had met the Potter's shortly during the war, on the few visits he had made to the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Of course the boy had his mother's eyes.
The prophecy really did amaze him. After all, how could a boy defeat one of the most powerful wizards of all time? Dumbledore may have believed it but England wasn't ready to put the fate of his country at risk if the prophecy turned out to be false. Maybe Harry Potter truly was the chosen one; or maybe it was all a load of crock. Either way, now that he was here, he would be keeping a very close eye over the war.
...
The next day, as Harry stepped entered his History of Magic class, he felt apprehensive. What would the new teacher be like? Harry didn't know why but he got an odd feeling about his new teacher...the man wasn't quite right. But then again, when were any of the teachers at Hogwarts?
Professor Kirkland sat behind his desk, his eyes narrowed as he shuffled through a stack of paper. Harry watched him out of the corner of his eye as he walked over and sat down inbetween Ron and Hermione.
"Hopefully the bloke'll be better than Professor Bins," Ron whispered.
Hermione glared at him. "Oh, for Merlin's sake Ron! Professor Bins wasn't that bad!"
"Of course you'd say that," Ron replied, rolling his eyes.
"Alright then." The trio - along with the rest of the class - fell silent as Professor Kirkland stood up, staring at the students with a critical eye. "Welcome to History of Magic. Before we begin - yes?"
Professor Kirkland raised one eyebrow at Neville, who had nervously lifted his arm in the air.
"Um..." Neville glanced around awkwardly, avoiding the professors eye. "You...you have something on your face, sir." He gestured towards the professors forehead, his cheeks burning bright red.
Professor Kirkland stared at him.
"Yes" he said, after a moment, his voice expressionless. "My eyebrows."
Someone snickered.
Harry felt embarrassed on behalf of his friend; Neville looked like he wanted to die.
"S-s-sorry" the boy stuttered. "I didn't mean to -"
"Anyway," Professor Kirkland cut him off. "Would anyone like to tell me what you have been doing up until this point?"
Hermione lifted her hand.
"Yes, Ms -" the Professor gazed at her expectantly.
"Granger. Hermione Granger," Hermione replied, beaming. "And well...we've been learning about the Goblin Rebellions."
Professor Kirkland nodded his head. "Alright. And the previous year -"
"The Goblin Rebellions."
Silence. "Yes, well - the years before that?"
"Um..." Hermione looked slightly embarrassed. "The Goblin Rebellions."
Professor Kirkland stared at her. "You...you've learned about nothing but the Goblin Rebellions up until now? For the past four years you've been here...that's all you've learnt?"
The entire class nodded.
Professor Kirkland's shoulders slumped and he sighed. "Very well then," he said. "Class - forget everything you've learned about those...rebellions. We'll start from the very beginning."
Harry shared a look with Ron. No more Goblin Rebellions? This year suddenly seemed much more promising.