Chapter II:
Antien sat with his family for his first breakfast in Hogwarts. Their heads of house worked their way down the table handing out their timetables. Remus Lupin was the one that took over for Professor McGonagall as the Gryffindor head of house and smiled at young Antien as he made he made it to where they sat.
"I told professor McGonagall that I would take care of you because I knew I would find you sitting at my table." Antien smiled guiltily. Remus tapped his wand on the parchment and handed it to his honorary nephew. "Your other professors and I thought it wise that you take classes with all four houses, so here you are. If you need any help let me know."
"Thanks, Uncle Remus," he said and Remus smiled again before continuing onto Rose who was in Antien's year. As Antien waited to compare with Rose he looked his schedule, mentally placing the classrooms.
"Uhg!" Rose groaned slamming her head on the table. "I always have potions first!"
"I'm sorry but it is good for me because I have potions first as well."
"At least time around Professor Snape is halfway nice to the Potter name," James commented as he sat with his own schedule. "Weasley, too," he added at a glare from Rose. 'Though less so,' he whispered in Antien's ear, which laughed quietly.
"Uh, James? What's Ancient History and Practical Defense? I didn't see them in the brochure they forced me to read."
James looked over Antien's schedule then his own. "I don't know, but it seems that it's mandatory for all of us because I'm taking them, too."
At that moment Professor McGonagall stood, no doubt to address the growing confusion among her students. "The School Governors and I thought it best under the current circumstances that we enact certain classes. It took a little while but we managed to find the perfect Professors for such classes." She gestured to the newly occupied seats and the four teenagers groaned. "Students, please welcome Professor Elizabeth Wyatt who will be teaching Ancient History and her husband Liam Wyatt and their cousins Ewan and Edward Wyatt, who will be teaching Practical Defense." There was a polite scattering of applause as students strained to see their new Professors.
"How much you want to bet we'll see our parents by the end of the week?" Antien said as he eyed their elven family.
"Why do you even ask that? You know we won't bet against you," Hugo said.
"Not after we ended up owing you 200 galleons," Rose continued. "And then trying to explain to our parents why we needed the money." James barely hid the smirk that graced his face.
"Just as long as they don't live in the castle I'll be fine," Hugo added.
"Don't curse us yet, Hugo!" Rose exclaimed. James and Antien lost it then and burst out in hysterical laughter.
"What?!" the other two asked in unison.
Antien was then only one who could answer. "Nothing?" Rose huffed but didn't ask further.
"Its almost eight. We have to leave if we're going to get to class on time," Rose said instead. The other three agreed and Hugo shoveled in the rest of his breakfast before heading to class.
… … … … … …
Antien nearly spit his pumpkin juice across the table as he read the letter from his parents the next day.
"What?" James asked as he mock wiped the juice from his face.
Antien glared. "Ada and Naneth bought a house in Hogsmeade that they're going to share with Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione." Antien turned her glare at the parchment. "I can tell they know something they're not telling us."
"We may have to wait until they get here to see."
Antien moodily pulled his timetable out and looked over what he had that day. Vayna and Legolas' classes today. This should be fun, he thought.
He picked up his last piece of toast and bag and bid his family goodbye.
… … … … … …
He had to endure Care of Magical Creatures with a hardly component professor that didn't even warrant Antien remembering his name and Transfiguration with Anna Connors, McGonagall's young replacement before he got to Vayna's class and if he was expecting anything, it wasn't what he got.
He walked into the classroom only to stop dead in his tracks. It looked exactly like the library back in Imladris. Instead of the standard desks there were plush upholstered chairs and antique looking chaise lounges. Antien noticed that he cause a small traffic jam just as Vayna appeared to ushered them in. "Please take a seat quickly and quietly so we can begin." Antien felt his cheeks redden as he picked his favorite chair and waited for the explanation that he knew was coming.
"Mae govannen, students, to Ancient History: Magical and Muggle. In this course we will study the history of the magical and muggle world and how they interacted, and no, we will not be studying the goblin rebellions. I will leave that for Professor Binns." The students laughed though Antien didn't quite understand why. "Also, in this class we will explore what is Myth and Legend and the facts behind them." She moved behind Antien to the main bookcase and took out a stack of newly printed books. These are your textbooks. Now mind you this is the abridged version and we will spend most of time filling in the banks. Thus you will have each chapter read before class." She slowly handed out the books and Antien snorted at the title: Earth's History From the Beginning to the Present. Vayna winked at him before continuing. "As you are probably wondering about this room, so let me explain." She took the chair next to the unlit fire. "When I took this job, I set the curriculum and the text, but I knew it wouldn't be enough. The library you see around you is the library I have at home. However these books are translations and copies. Translations because I know that you can't read the originals and copies because the books are far too old to be handled by teenagers." Antien wanted to add Elrohir and Elladan to that list but held his tongue. "You will use these books to further your regular reading because you're lucky if you find anything useful in the school library." A few students smiled Antien snorted and one girl looked outraged. "You're first assignment is to answer the questions in the board with what you know and we'll go from there."
The questions ranged from: What is the earliest recorded history: magical or muggle? Recount the story of king Arthur and Camelot. and: What do you know elves?
Antien had to bite back his laughter at that last question after envisioning the many answers she was going to get it.
"Time's up!" Vayna said with five minutes left in the class. "Make sure you name is one the top of your paper and leave the on desk near the door. Last minute information that I forgot to tell you earlier, these chairs are a privilege, if I hear that you are abusing that privilege then we will go back to desks and chairs and frankly I don't want that. For homework read the first chapter of your textbook. Dismissed."
Antien smiled at the collective groan and walked up to Vayna smirking slightly. He checked to see if they were alone before saying. 'You do realize how many answers you will get with that last question, right?'
Vayna laughed as she tidied up the room and gathered the papers. 'It's not totally morbid curiosity I really want to know.'
'Only you would.' He checked his watch. 'I better get down to the Great hall for lunch. Only two more hours until Legolas' class.'
Vayna smirked but didn't take the bait. Antien's smirk grew as he headed to lunch.
… … … … … …
James and Antien were not surprised to find the class standing in a clearing on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
They had their own weapons concealed by magic and their clothes. If all three of them were teaching the class James and Antien both had to expect anything. The class had all assembled and was waiting patiently when Antien noticed a slight movement to his left. Using the hand signals that only he and James knew he clued his brother to where they were.
Suddenly Elrohir jumped at him from his left and Elladan attacked James from the right. Antien blocked quickly and together with James moved around the field avoiding both live and innate obstacles. For a fierce 10 minutes the four went back and forth the rest watching with unadulterated amazement. Antien managed to disarm Elrohir and claim his victory but James was beat by Elladan though to Antien's eyes it was close.
"Welcome to Practical Defense." Most of the students jumped at the sound of Legolas' voice echoing across the yard. Antien helped Elrohir up and handed him his blade while Elladan did the same for James. "In this course you will learn how to defend yourself without magic. You will learn many different styles both past and present. Your final will consist of whether you were able to create your own style with what we have taught you." Legolas smiled encouragingly. "We will start from the beginning and go as slow as we need to. I know that are nowhere near Antien and James, but I will tell you now, they have been learning under me and the rest since they have been they were able to wield a sword safely. Any questions?"
One girl raised her hand. "Why do we need to learn this at all? We've never had to before."
"The true answer to that remains to be seen, but for now it will be this: Slowly this world is forgetting and we cannot let that happen. Any other questions?"
One eager boy raised his hand. "Will we get our own swords?"
Legolas laughed. "Eventually. All in good time." The boy looked disappointed. "If there is nothing else, then let us begin." The three disguised elves divided the group up as Antien and James watched. After the fight they rested and the three teachers let them, though the brothers were still on their guard.
Two hours later the bell rang in the distance signaling the end of class. They were able to get through the set of exercises and Antien knew the students were exhausted.
Antien went to his quarters to wash up before dinner, but the moment he walked in he knew someone had been there that shouldn't have been. He did a quick search and found nothing, but still couldn't shake the eerie feeling. He quickly took a shower and headed to dinner hoping the feeling would be gone by the time he went to bed that night.