Summary: (Harry Potter / Hetalia Axis Powers Crossover) England decides to teach at Hogwarts to keep an eye on the Boy Who Lived. But the famous Trio (Harry, Ron, Hermione) are becoming suspicious of their new professor... Can England keep his status as a country a secret? And what does Voldemort want with him?
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Hetalia belong to their rightful owners. I do not own either.
Harry
Halloween was coming swiftly, but not without its share of excitement. The day after Hedwig had been attacked had been rather eventful.
It was deduced by Hermione that Umbridge must have read Harry's mail and had been the one to assault Hedwig. It was the only explanation for why she had her hand in the right place at the right time last night, literally seconds before grabbing Sirius' head.
That day the Gryffindor Quidditch team finally got the permission they need to reform from Umbridge (waiting one whole day in comparison to the Slytherins who received permission almost immediately). This had relieved Harry, as he could finally get back into practising and enjoying his favourite sport. He had missed many practices so far from detentions from Umbridge, but Harry was determined to get back into shape and ready for an upcoming match with Slytherin in almost four weeks. Harry wouldn't have to wait long, as Angelina had scheduled a practice at seven pm shortly after she got consent from Umbridge to start up the team again.
Harry's scar had also acted up again that day... which had been unusual. What had been even more unusual was the emotions he had felt during the experience. Harry could feel that Voldemort had been upset about something at that moment... though Harry could only guess at why, and none of his guesses seemed very likely.
To top the day off, Dobby the House-elf had returned Hedwig that evening after Quidditch practice. Much to Harry's joy, the owl was perfectly healthy and happy. Harry supposed that is was foolish to doubt Kirkland in the first place with Hedwig's welfare, since Kirkland couldn't exactly harm her in the first place for risk that Harry or someone else would spread rumours of his cruelty around, therefore jeopardising his status as a Dark Wizard.
During his encounter with Dobby the free house-elf had let some interesting information slip about a secret room that would provide whoever entered and occupied it with what they required most. Harry had followed Dobby's directions of how to find and work this mysterious room, and after discovering it decided to make this the DA "classroom", and from that moment on the DA began to meet there.
The first "lesson" had gone rather well, and Harry had been impressed with how well the Room of Requirement had suited their purposes. There had been books about magical defence, soft cushions to sit on or use as targets, and lots of open space to practice. Harry had started everyone off by having them perfect "Expelliarmus", or the disarming spell. Although it was a basic spell and was scoffed at at first, Harry knew that he owed "Expelliarmus" his very life, and believed it was essential that everyone knew it.
Time had passed, but neither Harry, Ron, or Hermione had found any other signs or hints pertaining to Kirkland being a Dark Wizard, nor had Harry caught him in the act of using Dark Magic again. This made it difficult to find proof that what Harry had seen the other night was fact...
Soon, it was almost Halloween. But in the days leading up to it, all the Heads of Houses called their respective houses together for a special announcement. So on a late day of October, Harry and the other intrigued Gryffindors ended up in a large classroom with McGonagall.
"We're going to be doing something different this year," announced McGonagall to the amassed Gryffindors. "This Halloween we'll be having a dance-"
"Like last year?" spoke up a fourth year excitedly.
McGonagall narrowed her eyes in disaproval, but let the interruption slide this once. "Yes, sort of like last year's Yule Bal-"
"So what you're saying is we get to go to an epic party," cut in George, his brother Fred and his best friend Lee grinning alongside him.
"Yes," snapped Mcgonagall. "That's what I'm saying. Now will you let me finish?"
"Yes ma'am." George said solemnly, though his serious expression failed and cracked, revealing an unrepentant grin.
"No one will be required to bring a date, as this is not a formal dance, although you may accompany a lady if you wish. Everyone will gather in the Great Hall around six pm, Halloween night. Please, keep the rowdiness to a minimum." Professor McGonagall informed, her eyes flitting around to rest on certain people.
England
It took England by surprise when he heard his first name called by someone from behind him on his way to his office. But it proved to be no more than McGonagall, walking up behind him.
England turned around and smiled. "Minerva," he greeted pleasantly.
"Good day, Arthur," greeted Minerva, stopping next to England and facing him. "I just wanted to let you know that you'll be chaperoning the Halloween Dance that's coming up, as is your duty as an Assistant Professor. I, of course, will be present and helping with you, as well as the other Heads of Houses."
England nodded in understanding before a sly twinkle entered his lime green eyes. "How is Severus feeling about this?"
McGonagall rolled her eyes in an uncharacteristic urge of impudence. Arthur felt lucky that she considered him her equal enough that he was able to see this other side of her, concealed beneath her strictness. "He's not very... enthusiastic about the prospect. But he'll have to suffer through it with the rest of us."
England laughed, a chiming sound that seemed to cause McGonagall to smile. He also felt comfortable enough around Minerva that he could be more of himself and "let loose" with her. "Speak for yourself. I don't know about you, but I'm going to enjoy this. Just because I'm chaperoning, doesn't mean I can't do a bit of dancing myself, as long as I don't get too distracted."
"I'm sure you will," said Minerva, sighing helplessly but smiling all the same.
Harry
Care for Magical Creatures class was made awkward for the trio by the knowledge that their teacher was actually a Dark Wizard planning to do who-knows-what in disguise. Still, Harry and his friends couldn't help but enjoy it a bit, as well as History of Magic, which was becoming increasingly interesting as they moved through the events of World War 1 and even began to touch a bit on World War II.
Kirkland was standing in his usual place near the edge of the forest, surveying his class of Slytherins and Gryffindors.
"Today," he started. "You are all in for a real treat. I'm going to show you something new; something few witches or wizards are privileged enough to see in a lifetime." He paused, then called out into empty air, "Come on out, sweetie!"
Intrigued, the class leaned forward, scanning around for any movement.
Above Kirkland's head a cloud of light green, mint-smelling vapour began to form. The class immediately zeroed in on this, focusing intensely on whatever was to appear. To say the least, many were disappointed when out of thin-air popped a light green bunny with dainty, feathery wings.
"...I expected something... a little... cooler," muttered a student reproachfully. "It's just a dumb rodent-"
Hermione, having overheard this, cut him off. "That's a Flying Mint Bunny! They're extremely rare, and almost no one ever sees them because they're usually shy and selective of the people they appear to. Sightings are so uncommon some people aren't even sure they exist!"
"Miss Granger is right," affirmed Kirkland. "Take five points for Gryffindor my dear."
The male student was humbled by Hermione's words, and the class looked on in awe at the strange, unassuming little creature. It was a shock when it opened its mouth and suddenly spoke. "Eng-"
Kirkland abruptly coughed, and the bunny stopped speaking.
"Arthur!" it squeaked, zooming down and landing on Kirkland's mop of sunny-coloured hair. It, or rather she (if the pitch of its voice was anything to go by), had a sweet voice that felt like it was tickling Harry's ears with a feather, giving him a random urge to giggle in a very embarrassing, un-manly way. The bunny had a similar effect on the other students, but some of them garnered less self-control and had a few scattered giggles escape their lips.
With a smile Kirkland lifted a hand and tickled the Flying Mint Bunny's cheek fondly. "Hullo, Mint. It's nice to see you again," he greeted.
One thing that Harry could never comprehend was how the creatures Kirkland showed in class always seemed to like him so much if he was an evil wizard. It made no sense. ...But then again, nearly the entire Hogwarts population had been deceived into liking Kirkland, so it didn't seem so far-fetched that he could get some animals to love him as well. Come to think about it, Voldemort had had a similar charismatic effect on people when he was a student in Hogwarts, back when he had openly been known as "Tom Riddle".
"Now, Flying Mint Bunnies are primarily native to the forests in England and extensive parts of Wales and Ire-" suddenly Kirkland broke off. His green eyes were wide, and his mouth open slightly.
The class waited with confusion for Kirkland to pick up his sentence again, wondering what had caused him to stop in the first place.
"...Sir?" asked Hermione, concern lacing her voice despite herself. "What's the matter?"
Kirkland looked at Hermione, but he didn't act like he could actually see her. It was like he was seeing through her to something beyond and far off...
Harry's scar prickled a bit, and Harry absently scratched at it. Ron and Hermione saw the movement and looked at Harry worriedly. Ron opened his mouth as if he wanted to ask something, but closed it since they were with other people.
"Professor?" said Draco, the distress in his voice surprising Harry.
Kirkland seemed to snap out of some trance and shook his head slightly, running a hand through his hair and causing the Flying Mint Bunny to jump into the air with a squeak, hovering over him with a disturbed expression.
"...Class is dismissed," he muttered in a hoarse voice.
The class looked around at each other uneasily, wondering if they had heard him wrong.
"B-but, class just started-" argued a girl from Slytherin.
"You can all... go," said Kirkland before lifting his head towards the Flying Mint Bunny. "You too sweetie..."
With a sad and reluctant peep the Flying Mint Bunny vanished in a poof of green smoke, which quickly dissipated leaving nothing behind.
Kirkland swayed on his feet. "Why are you all still here?" he demanded of the class, causing some people to flinch at his harsh tone of voice. "Didn't I say that-" Kirkland stopped and put a hand to his mouth, further adding to the confusion of the class. Suddenly a rattling cough pushed its way through Kirkland's throat, though to Harry it looked like the Dark-Wizard was fighting it all the way. Then, to their horror, blood started to seep out from under Kirkland's hand, leaving trails of red on his chin.
Pansy Parkinson let out a shriek of alarm and even disgust, taking a step back. Everyone else had similar reactions, though far more subdued and less dramatic.
Kirkland doubled over and coughed, more blood erupting from his lips. His hand was stained red. With a groan he fell forward, and without thinking Harry took a step forward as if to catch him, but Kirkland's hands caught himself on the ground. Kirkland trembled on his hands and knees as blood trickled onto the grass.
"Someone get help!" yelled Neville.
Harry was conflicted. He knew this man was bad news, but he couldn't just stand there and do nothing. Automatically he darted forward and grabbed one of Kirkland's arms. Ron came to Harry's aid, grabbing Kirkland's other arm, though he seemed less sure than Harry.
"No," rasped Kirkland as Ron and Harry slung his arms over their shoulders and began to strain to lift him into a standing position.
"We need to get you to Madam Pomfrey," grunted Ron.
A student began to sprint back to the castle, but Kirkland managed to lift up his head and yelled after him. "Stop! I'm fine. There's no need for this." The student stopped and looked back and forth from the castle to Kirkland, not knowing whether to follow his instincts or listen to his Professor.
"Professor!" said Parvati in exasperation. "You're bleeding from the mouth! You need help," she explained fearfully. As if to testify of Parvati's words, Kirkland coughed again, blood raining down on the ground in spots.
"You are all being completely ridiculous!" yelled Kirkland, straightening up and shoving away Harry and Ron impatiently. "I just need some rest! And don't any of you dare go and tell Poppy(1, because it isn't necessary!"
The class blinked at the anger Kirkland was displaying. With a warning glare the suddenly sullen teacher tramped off and sat in a chair near Hagrid's hut, placing his head in one hand and with the other hand withdrawing a white handkerchief from a pocket. His eyes met those of his dumb-struck students.
With a scowl he called out, "All of you, go write some notes or read or something. Run around like a bunch of dolts for all I care, just leave me be for a minute."
No one moved right away, but eventually they all obeyed and drifted off, doing their own thing and waiting for the class to end. Still, everyone continued to give Kirkland discreet and quick glances to check up on him, afraid he would have another... fit, again.
Kirkland coughed once more into his handkerchief, although this time it was not quite as violent as before. He wiped up the blood with his kerchief and the fine white material was stained red.
Harry sat down with his friends who were sitting on the grass not far off from Hagrid's house.
"What was that all about?" asked Hermione in a shaky voice.
Harry knew two things for certain: Something was awfully wrong with Kirkland, something he didn't want others to know about, and that Harry and his friends would most definitely not be forgetting about what they had just witnessed for some time.
/
To Ron's dismay, later in the day Hermione dragged them down to the Library... again. Harry knew that it was equivalent to pure torture for the red-haired freckled boy to sit for hours and watch Hermione flip through books like a whirl-wind; or worse, be forced to read himself.
"Are you still looking for things about Kirkland?" Ron groaned. "I should have known you wouldn't give up... even if its completely hopeless."
"As a matter of fact, I'm not," said Hermione stiffly. "I was just a moment ago, but I decided to... take a break, and come back to it tomorrow. Right now I'm just catching up on some History of Magic homework about World Wa-"
"Holy crap! I forgot about that! Its due soon!" yelled Ron in a panic, whipping out his much-abused and neglected notes, which mostly contained scribbles and completed games of hang-man.
Hermione rolled her eyes in disapproval. "Of course you did. You always leave these kinds of things until the last minute-"
"Lay off!" said Ron, blushing hotly and angrily.
"Both of you stop it, or Monster Pince is going to show her face in about two seconds to bite our heads off!" hushed Harry, always the mediator between the two.
With a shrug Hermione returned to her book. It was a grey book, not too old and not particularly new either. Harry couldn't see the cover, but when he put his head on an angle he could just barely make out the words on the spine. "A History of Muggle Activities, the 1900s. By Lewis Thompson."
Hermione's eyes were flitting across the page at a speed faster than a Firebolt broomstick. The pages were turning like a tornado was in the library, blowing the pages of her book aside. Harry saw her lift up the book and place her nose directly in it to look at some closer, and this caused Ron to snort in disgust at the obsessed way she was acting. Harry sent Ron a disapproving look, but didn't say anything, also secretly finding Hermione's behaviour odd. Hermione turned another page...
Out of the blue, Hermione gasped and dropped the book, letting it fall with a thud onto the table. Harry was sure that Pince would come and get them now, but they were lucky this time.
"What? What is it?" whispered Harry in alarm.
"I... no... Oh my gosh... it can't be." Hermione leaned forward and stared into the book again, her mouth open and her words incoherent.
"What. is. it?" growled Ron, not impressed by Hermione's vague response.
Both boys looked over Hermione's shoulder to see what she was reading, and almost at the exact same moment their faces froze like ice.
Right on the page was a printed black and white muggle picture. Its caption read A Group of Members of the Royal Air Force, 1920, in London. A group of men in uniforms were standing together, looking at the camera. Peeking out in the background was an unmistakable face that stood out against all the others.
It was perfectly identical to Arthur Kirkland.
Author's Note:
(1) For those who happen to not know by some chance, Poppy is Pomfrey's first name :D Most of you have probably read the books and KNOW this, but then, someone might not.
First of all, I know that the DA was officially named AFTER the first meeting in the Room of Requirement, and that was a mistake on my part, but remember that this is an adaption of book 5, not an exact copy. :D
England MAY seem a little OOC here in the beginning (when he's talking with McGonagall), but just remember that he has a punk and partier side to him *winks* ;)
Don't forget to review! It always gives me the added boost that I need to write quickly and/or well! :D SOWRITEONERIGHTNOW BECAUSE I love to hear what you have to say, and sometimes I even reply if I find it interesting enough! ((btw, a piece of advice... not many authors like reviews where people just say "Update!" ^^; Just letting y'all know... it doesn't really.. encourage me... :( ))
Luvyou :3