Chapter Two – Loose Cannon

Previously on All My Wizards, Season Two:
--Harry receives a letter threatening to expose his secret affair with Draco
--Ron gets a bit too jealous upon seeing Hermione at the Slytherin table talking with Theodore Nott
--Dolores Umbridge returns to Hogwarts as the school's psychologist

--AMW2--

Harry had to admit that Potions with Professor Slughorn wasn't nearly as torturous as Potions with Professor Snape. However, he still found it his toughest subject, and the bubbles in his pot never seemed to work in his favor. He prayed that he might receive some kind of favor from the Gods today, as it was the first day of the new semester and, of course, new partners. If Harry could sit beside Hermione or some other smart student, his Potions grade could easily increase. He knew that Draco was perhaps the second best in the class, but his blonde obsession was the last person he'd want to sit next to.

"New seats, new seats!" said Professor Slughorn in a jolly manner, entering the room. "Let's see…up front we'll have…Crabbe and Greengrass. And next to them, the lovely Miss Mona Lovegood and…how about Ron Weasley with her."

"Oh God, Hermione, I hope I'm next to you," murmured Harry.

"Hush, Harry, it could be good for you to meet someone new!"

"Let's continue in this row with…Potter and…Malfoy?" There was a sudden deadly silence in the room. Draco blushed and Harry turned pale, both hoping nobody would notice their lack of insult or sneer.

"Actually, wait. I forgot that you two were 'arch enemies'" Slughorn chucked to himself, not realizing that the situation was anything but funny. "Let's put Potter with…Nott and Malfoy you can sit next to Dean here. Okay, one desk left and it's going to be Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley."

Hermione gasped at a mix of shock and intrigue, before her expression changed to confusion. "Professor Slughorn, didn't you already give Ron a seat?"

"Oh, I didn't mean Ron Weasley, my dear," said Professor Slughorn with a smile. Just then, the door to the dungeons opened and there stood George Weasley, a Potions textbook in hand and some "Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes: HOGSMEADE" fliers!

"Bloody hell, what's he doing here?" asked Ron, laughing and getting up to greet his brother. Harry and Hermione approached George as well.

"Well I'm sure you remember that I never really finished studying here at Hogwarts thanks to that god-awful Um-bitch woman…by the way, rumor has it she's back!"



"Don't worry, George," said Hermione, smiling, "you probably won't have to meet with her. Are you staying here in the castle?"

"Nope, I'm living in a flat above the new store. I'll be commuting back and forth every day. Had to get special permission from McGonagall to do it."

"Well I personally think it's quite lovely that you're continuing your education," said Hermione, gesturing to the seat next to her.

"Good luck," whispered Ron.

"I heard that!" snapped Hermione resentfully, but sent Ron a smile anyway. Harry was happy to see that the two were back to their playful bickering again. George joined Hermione and the two resumed their chatting as Harry awkwardly made his way over to his table with Theodore Nott.

"Um," said Harry, "I'm just letting you know that Potions is…not my forte."

"Aw, the great Harry Potter not being perfect at something?" said Theodore sarcastically. However, it was in a more jocular tone, and Theodore gave Harry a friendly smile. Harry was a little surprised, but returned it. Had Hermione tamed his Slytherin fire? The two worked together peacefully and when Harry finished, he approached Ron at the front of the classroom.

"Just look at them," groaned Ron, staring at Hermione and George laughing and happily mixing Potions reagents. "They look like they're in some…robe advertisement or something!"

"A bit jealous there?"

"I wouldn't say jealous, just suspicious," responded Ron. "I saw George write something on a slip of paper and hand it to her. She nodded and put it in her pocket. I think we need to investigate."

"Please, Ron, this isn't like the Basilisk. I'm sure if it's something serious, we'll find out soon."

"Hmph," replied Ron, thoroughly perturbed. He paused and then remembered something else. "She's not the only one getting love notes. I was up in the dorm today grabbing a few things before class when I saw a stack of notes under Dean's bed. Someone's quite enamored with him."

"Secret admirer?"

"Naw, I think Dean knows who it is. But the who doesn't seem to want to be discovered. All the notes are just signed 'T.' Wouldn't that be nice if it were Theodore Nott? Then Hermione would only have to worry about one guy."

"You're unbelievable," laughed Harry. But he was a little interested in finding out that he wasn't the only Hogwarts student with a secret gay lover. He shot a look at Draco, bent over his cauldron. Draco sensed it and looked back, but by then, Harry had averted his eyes. It was the way they were.

--AMW2--



"Professor McGonagall, I demand to know the meaning of this?"

"Potter? What—"

"Umbridge!? You hired Umbridge to serve as the psychologist? I don't think that mad old bat is going to help anyone, in fact you might have a few more suicides on your hands!"

"Enough, Potter!" Professor McGonagall shot him such a stern gaze that Harry backed down. He looked around; this was the first time he'd been in this office since McGonagall took over as headmistress. She hadn't changed much; she'd added a few more sculptures and pieces of artwork here and there, but Albus' shelf of knick-knacks remained in place. He looked around and gasped when he noticed that the chair in front of McGonagall's desk was occupied. It was Professor Stein, the young and vivacious new Transfiguration teacher and House Head of Gryffindor.

"Professor Stein, I'm sorry for interrupting—"

Stein simply laughed. "It's not a problem Harry. Frankly I was about to bring up the issue too." She turned to the headmistress and imitated Harry's tone. "Umbridge!? You hired Umbridge to serve as the—"

"Really, Victoria, you musn't behave this way in front of the students!"

"I wouldn't call Potter a student," she replied with her eyebrows raised. "I'd call him more of an…icon." Her last word had a histrionic emphasis that made Harry laugh, and she conjured up a chair next to her for Harry to sit in.

"Now, Potter, you listen to me," said McGonagall. "Hiring Professor Umbridge was certainly not my choice, as you are quite aware of the way I feel about her. However since the…incident…the ministry has again been calling for changes with the way Hogwarts is run. Now I doubt things will be as serious as they were during your fifth year, but the Governors believe that parents will be more pacified to have a familiar face back at Hogwarts to assist students in this time of crisis."

Harry sighed and stared up at the ceiling. Most of the former headmasters and headmistresses were asleep. "Whatever…but mandatory meetings?"

"Perhaps Harry would be more comfortable meeting with me instead," suggested Stein casually.

Harry's face lit up, but McGonagall's countenance strangely turned suspicious. "I don't know, I'm not sure whether Harry should be given more special treat—"

"Oh, Professor, please! I'd rather see a troll than Umbridge!"

"Enough!" Professor McGonagall paused. "I suppose if it's alright with both of you. Now, Victoria, you'd better get going and make those changes to your budget for the new term. Harry, you stay so we can work out some times."

"Shouldn't I—" Stein began but McGonagall cut her off.



"I'll send them to you later. Goodbye, Victoria."

Stein shrugged and made her way out the door to the turning staircase. Harry turned around quizzically. "I suppose there's a reason why you just got rid of her."

"You're an astute kid, Potter. Try to remain that way." Professor McGonagall stood up and made her way over to the circular window. "Professor Stein's is sort of a…loose cannon if you will. She was quite the smart girl, had many things on the horizon for her and, like many intelligent students, went straight to the Ministry after her Seventh Year. Apparently, she was quite the prodigy in the Department of Law Enforcement rising through the ranks faster than anyone in history."

"So why is she teaching Transfiguration now?"

"You remember how much chaos there was in the Ministry during the war? Well, when it finally ended and the dust cleared, there was a large scandal discovered where a group of Ministry workers had funneled money out of the Ministry's budget and straight into their pockets. These weren't Voldemort supporters, just normal, average people who wanted to make a galleon or two."

"Was she involved?"

"She was supposedly the mastermind. Now, she was never convicted of any of the charges, but the Ministry wanted her as far away as possible. They figured she wouldn't harm children, since she's sort of a kid-at-heart herself, so when the Transfiguration post opened, it was either that or unemployment for her."

Harry leaned forward and rested his head in his hands, trying to soak all of the information in. "You think it's possible that she'd betray me?"

"Not necessarily. But she is a woman motivated by…not so nice things. Be careful around her."

Harry sighed. The whole story had surprised him; he'd always thought of Professor Stein as this young, cool chick who wouldn't harm a fly. But maybe there was something more. "Okay, Professor."

"I'll schedule you a meeting with her for you Wednesday night." Harry got up to leave, but she interrupted his exit. "By the way, Potter, it's Headmistress, not Professor."

Harry smiled. And rightfully so.

--AMW2--

On the next episode of All My Wizards: Season 2
--What's a soap opera without a midnight rendezvous or two? However, the midnight coming next is one so dark that faces cannot be discerned, and as a reader, you won't be able to hear voices either. From this all-dialogue chapter, can you guess Dean's lover? Hermione's?