The next day Link went downstairs, with all the Weasley children, Harry and Hermione right behind him, and heard all about the talk of Mad-Eye Moody, who Link knew was to be the substitute teacher for Defense Against The Dark Arts.
Once they were downstairs the group got into a discussion with Mr. Weasley asking about who Mad-Eye Moody was exactly and Link decided to intervene.
"-trust anyone anymore. Sees Dark wizards everywhere." Charlie said.
" Dumbledore also hired him as the second Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher." Link said casually. They all looked at him as if he voted that they all should start using magic in front of muggles.
" Dumbledore did what?" Hermione asked incredulously.
" Inviting a loon like him into being a teacher to students?" Ron asked.
" It's not my decision. Dumbledore originally planned for Moody to be your Professor full time, until I came along. He couldn't just fire the guy now, so instead he made me the actually Professor, and Moody just helps out and fills in if I can't teach. I can't say I've met him, but from what I know is that he can be a little paranoid at times, but he is a respected wizard." Link answered.
After that speech, it was decided that Bill and Charlie were going to King's Cross station with them to see everyone off, but Percy wasn't going because of work.
Mr. Weasley called for three muggle taxi's and when they arrived everyone brought out their luggage to put in the cars. Link could tell the drivers weren't at all happy about taking the strange trunks into their cars. The Crookshanks incident, the sparks from Fred and George's trunks, and then the loud cawing from Pigwidgeon seemed to make the drivers a little more irritated too.
The journey was uncomfortable for everyone except the drivers possibly as they had the front mainly to themselves.
Finally they got to King's Cross, but sadly they had to pull their luggage in the rain. Well, it wasn't too bad for Link.
You see, Nirus didn't like a cage (he had bit anyone that tried to put him in one, even Link on occasion), so the Hylian didn't have to worry about an owl cage, and his trunk barely weighed anything to him so he got undercover pretty quickly.. He did collect some water though, and was whipping his sleeves and arms off with his trunk next to him as the others tried to run to him as fast as they could through the rain. The muggle girls were glancing at him as he waited for the others. A lot of them were.
'After the multiple incidents in Castle Town and Ordon Village, I should know to wear a cloak or something to cover what I look like,' Link thought bitterly as he pointedly ignored them.
He wore a muggle hat to hide his ears, so they defiantly weren't staring at him for that.
They got all of their trunks onto rollers and went to the platform nine and three-quarters. Link allowed everyone else to go first, before he himself went through when he was sure no one was looking.
He immediately spotted them and the Hogwarts express, soon also heard a familiar cluck. He looked up to see that Nirus had followed them through and was diving towards the his trunk. The barn owl landed on the trunk neatly, and Link lightly petted a bit before joining the others.
They, being Link, Harry, Hermione, and Ron, were sharing a single compartment and helped each other take care of their luggage. Nirus just flew and sat next to Hedwig's cage.
They went back out to the platform to say good-bye to the others afterwards, dodging the other boarding students to do so.
" I might be seeing you all sooner than you think." Charlie said grinning as he hugged Ginny goodbye.
" I hope so as well Charlie." Link said.
Charlie winked in approval but Fred asked," Why?"
" You'll see." They both answered.
" Just don't tell Percy I mentioned it… its 'classified information, until such time as the Ministry sees fit to release it,' after all." Charlie added.
" Yeah, I sort of wish I were back at Hogwarts this year," said Bill.
"Why?" George asked impatiently.
" You're going to have an interesting year. I might even get time off to come an watch a bit of it." Bill said. Link winked to Mrs. Weasley as he got on the train's entrance way, knowing it was about to leave while the others just stood on the platform, demanding to know what was going on. She smiled to him.
" A bit of what?" Ron said. Suddenly the train whistled, signifying the fact it was ready to depart the platform. Hermione thanked Mrs. Weasley as the others hurried onto the train just before it began moving.
" Oh it was my pleasure, dears. I'd invite you for Christmas, but…well, I expect you're all going to want to stay at Hogwarts, what with…one thing and another." Mrs. Weasley spoke, still smiling.
" Mum! What'd you three know that we don't?!" Ron asked irritably.
" You'll find out this evening, I expect. It's going to be very exciting-mind you, I'm very glad they've changed the rules-"
" What rules?" Harry, Ron, Fred, and George asked together.
" I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will tell you…Now, behave, won't you? Won't you, Fred? And you, George?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
The train began to move as Fred bellowed out the window," Tell us what's happening at Hogwarts! What rules are they changing?!"
Mrs. Weasley only smiled and waved before all three of them disappearated as the train turned the corner and the platform disappeared out of sight. Link sat on the left corner window seat, and Hermione sat opposite him. Harry sat next to him by the door on the bench, and Ron across from Harry.
" Bagman wanted to tell us what's happening at Hogwarts. At the world cup remember? But my own mother won't say. Wonder what-" Ron started, but was cut off by Hermione who told them to listen. Link already knew Draco was in the compartment next door, but he had hoped the conversation would distract him from not going over there and beating the kid's rudeness out of him.
"… Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore-the man's such a Mudblood-lover-and Durmstrang doesn't admit that sort of riffraff. But Mother didn't like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line then Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them, not just the defense rubbish we do. Father also says that they don't hire fourth year looking students as Professors for the Dark Arts studies either…" Draco's voice said.
" A sixteen year old is our Professor?" One of his friends, Crabbe possibly, asked as if he couldn't believe it.
" The worst part is that he has some sort of ear spell on him that makes them look like an elf's. He says it's permanent. He's completely mental." Draco answered. Hermione closed the door at that time. It went on to where Harry asked about what Durmstrang was and Hermione explained that it was a wizarding school.
They went on talking and Ron said," Come off it. Durmstrang's got to be about the same size as Hogwarts-how are you going to hide a great big castle?"
" If you read your school books like I am sure Ms. Granger has, you would find that Hogwarts is indeed hidden Mr. Weasley. There are enchantments placed upon it to make muggles who stumble across it not go inside and so on." Link told him.
" That's correct." Hermione agreed." There's even one that makes the castle look old and abandon." The conversation went on, and the rain became heavier and heavier as the afternoon continued. There was a knock on the door, and three of the other three's friends, at least by what Link gathered from how relaxed they seemed, came around.
" Hey Ron, Harry, Hermione." The three boys said as they came in and the others scooted over to make room.
" Hey Seamus, Dean, Neville." The trio answered.
" Who's this?" Dean asked about Link as they sat.
" Link." Said person answered.
" I'm Seamus Finnegan. That's Dean Thomas, and he's Neville Longbottom." Seamus greeted.
" Are you new to Hogwarts?" Neville asked.
" Yes." Link answered.
" Do you know your house? What year are you in?" Seamus asked.
" Actually I am not in any house nor am I in a year." Link answered.
The three boys were clearly confused.
" Seamus, Dean, Neville, meet Link, our Professor for Defense Against The Dark Art's class at Hogwarts." Hermione said with a smile. Only Link could detect the slight hint of admiration in her voice he had never detected before. The three Gryffindor boys literally dropped their mouths open in surprise.
" But you look like you're a student-umm-Professor." Seamus said confusedly.
" I am sixteen but have been through enough things to be hired for this position Mr. Finnegan. And Link for now is fine. At least until we get to Hogwarts." Link answered calmly.
" But-your-how-?" Dean stuttered.
" If it makes you feel better Mr. Thomas, then I will tell you that Dumbledore first hired Mad-eye Moody for the position. However he considers me the better choice a better choice for certain reasons then Mad-eye, but he couldn't just fire an old friend. So instead I am the main Defense Against The Dark Art's teacher and Moody will be the substitute whenever I am out." Link told them.
" Mad-eye Moody? Isn't he supposed to be demented?" Neville asked.
" Quiet right actually, but after what's he's been through, I don't blame the poor fellow." Link answered casually.
A conversation about the Quidditch match started, which Neville was sad about because he hadn't been able to go to it. Then Malfoy came. Link had already sensed him coming, and was looking at the door as it opened quietly while they were talking about Victor Krum.
" For the first and last time in your life, Weasley." Draco said Crabbe and Goyle standing behind him like large goons.
" Hello Professor." Malfoy said as he looked to Link with a certain coldness. The other two looked at Link too, sizing him up.
" Mr. Malfoy. A pleasure to see you again. A feeling you return, I'm sure." Link spoke calmly.
" Quite." Malfoy said as if it didn't matter to him.
" Don't remember asking you to join us Malfoy." Harry spoke.
" Weasley… what is that?" Malfoy asked pointing to the small owl named Pigwidgeon in the cage under the dress robes.
" It's an owl cage with an owl in it Mr. Malfoy. Or do you need to check your eye sight?" Link asked. There were suppressed smiles and grins. Ron tried to hide the dress robes but Malfoy was quicker, grabbing them and holding them up.
" These are very fashionable indeed, aren't they boys?" Malfoy asked in a slightly taunting voice. Crabbe and Goyle snickered.
" They are indeed Mr. Malfoy. I assume you're holding them to decide whether they match your hair or not so that you can steal them to wear in the near future. Am I right Mr. Malfoy?" Link asked with an arched eyebrow.
Malfoy smiled falsely at Link.
" I was wondering if they were made from drape curtain's Professor." He said with a tales tone of respect as he threw them back at Ron.
" So… going to enter Weasley? Going to try and bring a bit of glory to the family name? There's money involved as well, you know…you'd be able to afford some decent robes if you won…" Malfoy added.
'He knows,' Link thought.
" What are you talking about?" snapped Ron.
" Are you going to enter? I suppose you will, Potter? You never miss a chance to show off, do you?" Malfoy asked.
" Either explain what you're going on about or go away Malfoy." Hermione said testily. A gleeful smile spread across Malfoy's pale face.
" Don't tell me you don't know? You've got a father and brother at the Ministry and you don't even know? I'm sure even the Professor here has been told about it. My god, my father told me about it ages ago… heard it from Cornelius Fudge. But then, Father's always associated with the top people at the Ministry… Maybe your father's too junior to know about it, Weasley…yes… they probably don't talk about important stuff in front of him…." Malfoy laughed before he beckoned to the others and disappeared.
Ron then got to his feet and slammed the door so hard the glass shattered.
" Ron!" Hermione snapped, pulling out her wand.
" Allow me Ms. Granger." Link said pulling out his wand." Reparo!" he cast and the glass fixed itself.
Ron snarled about Malfoy and Neville asked," Professor Link, do you really know what's happening at Hogwarts this year?" They all looked to the sand blond haired unknown Hero.
" Yes I do." He answered.
" Then you could tell us everything!" Dean said, excited.
" I could yes." Link answered casually. A beat of silence passed.
" Can you please tell us what is going on at Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
" There in lies the problem Mr. Potter. I would have no problem, but Dumbledore specifically told me not to speak of it as he wants to announce it when we arrive. And since I owe Dumbledore, in some sense, I'm afraid you all will have to learn of it at Hogwarts." Link answered. They were clearly upset, but reluctantly let it go. Ron's bad mood carried threw out the rest of the train ride however. That and the occasional girl who passed the door and glance at Link through the window for a few moments before blushing and hurrying away.
As they neared Hogwarts they started to change into school uniforms as they neared the school. Well, everyone but Link did.
The hero, on the other hand, changed into green (flattering and much like Goddess Farore color green) and black robes. He wore no hat though, for if it wasn't the hat to his Hero clothing, he didn't like it.
Finally the train stopped and the doors opened and the group stepped off onto the Hogwarts platform.
Link muttered a spell over him and Nirus, as the bird landed back on his shoulder so they wouldn't get wet since it was pouring rain outside. As he walked, the hero created an intimidating and dangerous air so that no one would get in his way too much. He headed over to location where Dumbledore had directed him to go to before when he saw the Grounds Keeper, Hagrid.
Dumbledore had introduced him to the half giant before taking him to the Weasley's and Hagrid had given the password of trust the Head Master had instructed him to give. He had also told Hagrid that Link should have his full support whenever he needed to go into the Dark Forest without question, but Dumbledore hadn't wanted to disclose exactly about whom Link was yet to the half-giant. They had met though, and hit it off pretty well.
" Hello Hagrid." Link said as he walked up to the large man. Said man turned around and grinned brightly when he spotted Link.
" Link! Welcome back! A pret'y owl ya got there!" Hagrid spoke.
" Discolored Barn Owl named Nirus. I suspect that it's not going to be an easy ride for first years." Link told him as he observed the harsh weather.
" No. Not for me either." Hagrid said, a little upset.
Then he glanced around and leaned in and whispered," Think you could help ou' a friend?" Link let out a soft chuckle and Nirus clicked his beak. Not answering, Link took out his wand and placed the spell on Hagrid. The Grounds Keeper smiled brightly.
" Much oblige Professor." He spoke.
" Link is fine for you Hagrid." Link told him. Hagrid's smile brightened and he saw something over his shoulder.
" 'ello Harry! Ron! Hermione!" Hagrid said with a wave. The three waved back to him and to the young Professor who lifted his hand slightly in return.
" I better get going Hagrid. I look forwards to talking with you again at Hogwarts." Link said to him with a smile.
" I'd sure like that 'ink. Be a great honor to have the, you know what, at me own home." Hagrid spoke. So Dumbledore had decided to tell him then.
" I'm nothing more then another living person Hagrid. But thank you for the invitation. I'll be sure to keep you to that. Don't drown." Link told him. Hagrid laughed as they both parted ways.
" Nirus, keep an eye on Harry for me." Link murmured to the barn owl.
Said owl nibbled his ear affectionately before flying off easily thanks to the spell keeping him dry. Link continued to the area Dumbledore had shown him before, away from the other students, and took a deep breath.
" I am never doing this again." He muttered, knowing it probably wouldn't be true as he turned on his heels, and apperated into Dumbledore's office.