EDITED on July 2013: Re-wrote a few lines, nothing too alarming.
AN: Well this is late, very late. Sorry to those who waited. And thank you to those who've recently favorited this and all.
This chapter might be confusing. And I chose 'Peregrine' traveler apparently. Why I chose it, it goes well with 'Ignotus' when you look up it's meaning. But that's my opinion.
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Classes were in session, not that the students were happy about it.
Particularly a fifteen year old Harry Potter and his friends that have the same class as he did that afternoon: History. It's not that Professor Binns was a bad teacher…he was horrible! Always droning on and on and on about the same things over and over again! Year after year it was the same garbage that Harry and his friends heard. Usually, they'd use Prof. Binns time to either sleep or eat or skip class altogether since the professor never checks the attendance and—"I heard," Draco Malfoy, who was sitting beside Harry on the third row, whispered to them, "from my father that Prof. Binns finally kicked the sack just a week before school starts and that the principal was in a frenzy trying to find a replacement in such short notice." Draco's dad was on the school board so it wouldn't be surprising if he knew something like that happening
He spoke in a unique accent; at least it was to Harry. Harry's known Draco since both of them went to Hogwarts Primary. Draco's family was originally from England (well his father was an Englishman, his mother grew in France), so since he grew up here in America he had a weird mixed accent. He and Ron Weasley (Harry's friend since before Hogwarts Primary) would often have little fights about Draco's accent amongst other things, but having long since gotten over the hostility the treated each other with as children, mostly.
Snorting before he turned and replied to Draco, Harry said, "Professor Dumbledore should have started looking for a new teacher years ago…I mean, he knew that Professor Binns was old, older than he certainly was even. If I were the school's principal, I would have fired Binns as my first form of action." Don't get Harry wrong he admired the old man but sometimes he thinks that his old age is finally getting to him. "Or maybe have him retire, since Hermione might kill me if I fire him. But was he able to find a new teacher or do we have to deal with a new Prof. Binns? 'Cause if they did I'm outta here"
"I agree with you on that one. Especiall—" But Draco was cut off as the door suddenly opened and then Dumbledore walked to the front of the class.
"Now my dear students," The Hogwarts' Principal standing in front of the class and began his little speech, "you may have heard", here he looked at Draco for a brief second before continuing, "about Professor Binns' unfortunate demise just last week." There was a brief, solemn, silence.
Coughing, Dumbledore continued, "Initially I asked my good friend, a Doctor Nicolas Flamel, to temporarily take over. Unfortunately he has a prior long-term engagement that he cannot cancel." Professor Dumbledore seemed a little sad about this for a moment before brightening up again, "But he was able to refer a family friend of his to take the position. He just got here to Hogwarts today and I was only able to meet him last week and finalized everything just this morning but I assure you my dear students that Mr. Peverell is quiet capable, if I do say so myself. So without further ado Mr. Peverell," Turning to the man at the door, just out of the classroom unseen by all except Dumbledore, "I shall take my leave so that you may get yourself acquainted with your classes."
And then he turned leave.
There was a beat of silence before finally the door opens more fully and in comes a male of about 5' 8" in height, with a slight built dressed in a navy sweater over a white button-up shirt and a pair of brown pants and black dress shoes, carrying a drawstring bag and a thick stack of papers in one hand and thermos in another. His back was turned to the class as he fixed his desk; the entire class was holding their breath. Then the teacher, Mr. (or was it Professor?) Peverell moved with his back still turned to the class wrote his name on the blackboard in clear and neat looking script saying 'Mr. Ignotus Peregrine Peverell'
"What a girly middle name." Draco leaning whisper to Harry, he was given a look that said 'like you're one to talk' by Harry. Draco was about to retort when Mr. Peverell finally turned to face the class. And when he did everyone sat there frozen.
"My name is," Mr. Peverell said finally facing the class, his bright acid-like green eyes sweeping over the entire class, his soft British accented voice clearly heard in the spacious room, "Ignotus Peregrine Peverell. You may call me Mr. Peverell or Sir. Peverell, never," His eyes taking a harder edge, as if daring them to go against what he was saying, he continued "Mr. P, Sir Iggy, Sir Perry or Mr. Peregrine, if any of you do dare to call me any names that I've listed or any other demeaning variant...expect detentions."
"I for some, plausible, reason was recommended andwas able to acquire this post…without my knowledge or bloody consent might I add. So PLEASE pardon my…ah, brusqueness this morning as I still have to a lot to set up and adjustments to make so I. Do. Not. Want. Any. Codswallop!"
The class was still silent, especially with Mr. Peverell so boldly making an open threat. And on the first day of all days!
But what really had the class so quiet was Mr. Peverell's unerring resemblance to one Harry James Potter.
They had the same face shape; the same eyebrows; not exactly the same wild hair as Mr. Peverell was miraculously tamer, having been gelled slightly back; the same distinctive eye color, although Mr. Peverell's eyes had a more knowing and tired light and they were also chilling to a degree compared to Harry's warm emerald pools filled with mischief. Harry's also held more a carefree quality.
"No questions," Mr. Peverell gave the class another once over to check for reactions, "None? Good, I'll start with a roll call then I'll begin with a short refresher quiz to see how well all of you will do then I'll get started on discussing this year's syllabus schedule before I dismiss all of you. Is that clear?"
He didn't receive any sort of response from the class so he asked again. "Is. That. Clear. Class?"
A chorus of: 'Yes, Mr. Peverell' was finally heard.
"Good, everybody pens out! I'm only giving you lot fifteen minutes to answer."
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The moment Mr. Peverell had turned to face the class Harry, Draco, like the rest of the class froze; when he started speaking Draco broke out of his stupor and he quickly started a whispered conversation with Harry.
"Harry!"
"What?"
"The new teacher...he…he looks...!"
"I know, Dray. I know!"
"Do you think you're related?"
"NO!" Luckily for Harry, Mr. Peverell was still busy speaking to the entire class to notice his little outburst and continued, "Look sorry Dray," Here he sent an apologetic glance to Draco, "but I dunno….Mom and dad would've mentioned something about a relative beginning to work here to me! Or to Tom at least!"
"Maybe they did tell your cousin but he didn't tell you. You know for pay back from pranking him the last time, ya know?"
"No way! That doesn't seem like Tom's style and besides that was ages ago!"
"Well he—"No questions," Their teacher asked them loudly, looking over the entire class with his sharp eyes, making the two boys end their conversation and pay attention, "None? Good, I'll start with a roll call then I'll begin with a short refresher quiz to see how well all of you will do then I'll get started on discussing this year's syllabus schedule before I dismiss all of you. Is that clear?"
"What!—"Shh he'll hear you Dray."
"But it's only the first day of classes!"
Their teacher seemed to be unsatisfied with their non-answers and asked again, "Is. That. Clear. Class?" This time the class answered, along with Harry and Draco, although Draco seemed to sulk more as he answered.
"Good, everybody pens out! I'm only giving you lot fifteen minutes to answer."
When everyone in class received the papers, they were all shocked to see that they were supposed to answer fifty questions under fifteen minutes!
beta'd by: toady28
AN: Confusing as it is, Ignotus Peverell is only an alias Harry happens to be using.
I would've uploaded this a few days ago but I've re-wrote and added a few lines.
I admit I'm not particularly busy now with school, in truth I'm on vacation already but I'm catching up on my reading, among other things.
I still type it's just that not as fast as I would want to, as most of my ideas tend to come when it's nearing midnight, though now that's school's out I'm rarely awake by 11 because my parents don't want me up too late.
Anyone up for suggesting a schedule/classes for Harry and the others for this?