As I am NOT the original author of the Harry Potter series, who as anyone should know is the wonderful JKR who lets us play with her world. I don't own a darn thing here. On with the story.
Chapter 26 Another Year Starts
The next morning Harry was holding Hermione hand and hair as she released the contents of her stomach yet again. "I will be so glad when this morning sickness is over." She sputtered but pleased she'd managed to avoid getting anything on the new robes that had been waiting for them this morning.
"Sounds like a good idea let me brush my teeth and I'll be ready to go."
Ten minutes later they were leaving when the painting called out, "New password?"
Harry turned and smiled, "Five iron," He said laughter filling his voice.
"I knew it! A bloodily golf reference." Hermione said mock glaring at him.
"Hey I won the coin toss. You get to choose the next one. Besides can you imagine anyone saying that by accident?" Harry replied noting that now she was married Hermione was slightly more liberal with her use of language.
"Well Professor Potter shall we go find our seats at the head table?" Hermione asked once they were in the castle's corridors.
"You are enjoying this entirely too much for some reason." Harry said with a smile.
Hermione nodded before saying, "Just wondering how far Draco will go expressing his displeasure at seeing you and I at the head table."
"I suppose we should time it so we are there with Dumbledore in case something does happen."
"I think Dumbledore will be doing the timing to insure he is there when we are but if you want to check…" Hermione replied leaving the ending open.
"Nah, let's just go eat."
As they suspected it was only moments after they entered the great hall from one end that Dumbledore emerged from the other end subtly motioning them to join him and Bill, who had just emerged from the same doorway, at the head table. "Oh he's ready and here comes Snape and Draco entering together. Wonder what they've been up to?" Hermione said.
"Whatever it is you can bet it's not good for the side of the light. I don't trust either of those two any further than I can throw this castle." Harry replied earning a pat on the arm and a caution to 'behave' from Hermione.
Hermione could feel the eyes on her as she walked with Harry down the side of the great hall. She wondered if this was what it felt like to be Harry Potter to have the pressure of other people's eyes on you constantly. She knew the pressure would only increase once word got out about her pregnancy. As she turned to sit after climbing on to the platform the head table sat upon her eyes for the first time fell on the students arrayed before her at their house tables eating their breakfast. 'And they expect me to eat three meals a day up here being watched by all those students?' Hermione thought catching an echo of the same thoughts emanating from Harry. Scanning their faces she was shocked at the look of utter hatred on not only Draco's face but those of his girlfriend Pansy as they looked back at her and Harry. He remained silent whatever Professor Snape had done or said in response to his outburst when Dumbledore announced Harry's appointment had worked.
"Harry sorry to put you in the hot seat like this but Dumbledore only approached me last week about teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. Ragnok was only willing to let me do this part time. You were the first person I thought of to help out." Bill said sitting down beside Harry.
"I admit it was a shock but I did enjoy teaching the D.A. last year. I just wish we didn't have to eat up here in front of everyone." Harry replied.
"How are you Hermione? Fleur wants to know if married life is agreeing with you?" Bill asked looking over as she sat on the other side of Harry.
"I agree with Harry eating up here is very nerve racking. You can tell Fleur that except for feeling slightly sick married life is great."
"I'm sorry to hear you're sick, have you checked with Madam Pomfrey?"
"I will later but it's just a minor thing that has to run its course."
"I'll let Fleur know she might know something you can take." Bill asked confused by Harry's amused face.
"No that's alright. How is Fleur by the way? I'm sorry my aunt made her feel uncomfortable at the wedding," Hermione replied.
Bill Weasley chuckled thinking, 'Uncomfortable would not have been the word he'd chosen to describe Fleur's condition that day, mad as a wet cat, a wand flick away from a hex, anything along those lines yes but uncomfortable it just didn't describe the state of a veela who has been asked which particular hair dye she used to get that specific shade of silvery-blonde hair.' "She's calmed down but I wouldn't suggest leaving her in a room with your aunt anytime soon." Bill finally said.
"My mother wanted me to make sure Fleur knows she is on Fleur's side. In fact Mum has been rather cold towards her sister in law since that happened. Hopefully she will learn her lesson before the next get together or she might not be invited back." Hermione said glad Bill was distracting her from all the gazes.
"Yes you should have heard her uncle after you four left, "Dear, I don't mind defending your honor but next time could you please insult someone who doesn't have such a large boyfriend." Alan and I were about ready to roll on the floor laughing." Harry said the memory still bringing a smile to his face.
"If I had done anything it would have been to protect everyone from Fleur. I've managed to get her mad, not quite that mad mind you, and her temper is something I try to avoid seeing." Bill responded.
"And just what did you say to get her so mad pray tell us." Hermione teased.
Bill looked between Hermione and Harry before he countered, "As if I'd tell anyone, anything I say might get back to someone named Weasley."
"But."
"He's right Hermione, let the man have some secrets." Harry said.
Hermione started to respond but stopped for a moment before saying, "That's alright I'll just ask Fleur next time we get together."
"I'm so dead." Bill said not used to being teased in a playful way that often.
Dumbledore rose and sparks flew from his wand quickly quieting down the hall as all attention turned to him, "I have noticed that the presence of Professor Potter at this table has generated a lot of comment. I wish it to be known that Professor Potter is required to eat at this table. Just as you do not normally see the other professors eating with the various houses the same separation rules apply to Professor Potter."
"What about Granger?" a disguised voice called out from the area of the Slytherin table.
Dumbledore looked over at the two of them the question obvious by his facial expression. Harry looked at Hermione who sighed and nodded her permission to Dumbledore. "The young lady you are referring to prefers to be called Mrs. Potter."
The noise in the great hall returned with several very disparaging comments reaching the stage before going suddenly silent as Harry Potter stood with waves of magical energy rolling off him. If anyone had looked at the rest of the table they would have seen a group of suddenly nervous professors including a Headmaster who had his wand out but hidden by the head table, but no one did. Harry had every eye in the hall on him. "Miss Granger and I were married over the summer. As my wife she must abide by the same rules I do." Harry said slowly looking over the hall appearing to each and every student to have looked him or her in the eye. He finished with the Slytherins, Draco Malfoy in particular, before abruptly sitting down.
Draco sat in his seat realization slowly coming to him that the only time previous he'd seen that much raw magical power was when he'd first appeared before the Dark Lord this summer and managed to annoy him. The troubling thought nagging at the back of his mind was Potter had never shown this level of power before. The thought about switching loyalties lasted for all of five seconds ending when he recalled spending two days on the floor of his aunt's room while she re-educated him as to proper conduct when one was in the presence of the Dark Lord. His dead mate Crabbe lying by his side as a constant reminder of what would happen if he failed to learn his lessons.
"Draco stop shivering." Pansy Parkinson said quietly from his right side snapping Draco out of the recollection.
"What are you talking about Pansy?" Draco asked coldly. Doing his best to follow his father's example of never admitting weakness in front of others.
"Draco as our parents had discussions over the summer about our betrothal I think it is time you were a little more open with me."
"Nothing has been agreed to Pansy, at least not yet. When you have the Malfoy diamond on your hand then it will be time for you to be a little more open." Draco replied harshly glancing towards her lap. 'It is time to re-emphasis who is the Malfoy in this relationship' He thought before turning his attention back to the going on in the hall.
At the head table Deputy Headmistress McGonagall looked up from the bowl of porridge she was toying with and turned to the headmaster asking, "Were you aware of Professor's Potter's new power levels?"
"No Minerva, I believe Professor Potter is currently being informed about it if I am reading the discussion between him and Mrs. Potter correctly. He is not the teenager who left us last spring. I am concerned about the ease with which he received the news of the Dursley's passing."
"I wouldn't worry about that from what was said when I showed them their rooms I suspect Harry had all ready resigned himself to their deaths. I must admit I am impressed by the effect Hermione has had on Mr. Potter." Minerva McGonagall replied.
"Not just her although she was probably the catalyst. I believe her family's complete acceptance of Harry has grounded him better than he has ever been. They are becoming his family not just hers. That was a role I had initially hoped the Weasleys would fill but that was not to be. I am unsure as to the reason it did not happen. It might be a number of little things; Molly's ignoring him until she had checked out her own two children completely at the end of second year, Arthur's less than complete disclosure about Sirius at the start of third year. I am sure however one major contribution that I regret was my refusal to allow him to go to the Burrow for a complete summer, That refusal, more that anything, emphasized that he was not a Weasley."
"You seem sad."
"Just an old man's foolishness." Dumbledore replied before changing the topic.
Down the head table where Hermione sat with Harry on her left and the end of the table on her right she was busy talking with her husband. "Harry they are going to say those things regardless of what you say. You should just ignore them."
"What they say out of my presence I can't control but they will not say such things with impunity around me." Harry replied.
"Harry you are a professor now and you need to show restraint." Hermione argued.
"I was your husband before I became a professor I'll be your husband when I am no longer a professor. Nothing would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life known to the world as Hermione Potter's husband. Relax I've watched the Weasley twins for the last five years, I know what I can get away with and what I can't. Scaring them and having a little extra fun during Defense Against the Dark Arts is allowed. Hexing them into next week is only allowed if they start it." Harry responded a smile on his face. He waited until Hermione smiled back before asking, "Do we need to go back to our rooms for anything?"
"Yes, nice attempt at changing the subject by the way. What's your class schedule like?"
"I've got it easy, first years first thing on Monday and Thursday with second years first thing and third years right after them on Tuesday and Friday."
Hermione thought for a moment wondering how many classes she would have with Harry while listening to him describe just what he and Bill had planned for their first classes. Finishing up quickly Harry held out his hand and helped Hermione up saying, "I want to get to my classroom early."
A little before eight the students started to arrive stopping only slightly at the door to insure they were in the right room before moving in and sitting each group slowly staking out there own area. Even though it was the first class on the first day of classes Harry noted they were all ready splitting up in to groups orientated by house. The more timid or uncertain ones relegated to locations where their housemates could protect them.
Promptly at eight Harry waved his wand swinging the door shut forcing the late arrivals to follow the instructions posted on the outside of the door. "Knock and wait for the door to be opened. Enter and sit quietly."
"Good morning I am Professor Potter, welcome to first year Defense Against the Dark Arts. For those of you who are nervous don't be. This course is about knowledge, not fighting, later on you might get to do some wand waving but for now we will concentrate on when to wave those wands. It is far better to avoid a fight than to win one can anyone tell me why that might be true?" Harry said starting his first class out consciously mimicking Professor Snape and his "no silly wand waving" comment he starts his class with. He recalled attending the local school with Dudley and the teachers spending the first part of every class taking attendance. At Hogwarts attendance was taken by a charm on the door registering who entered and exited the room and when they did. Harry found out that particular piece of information during his training with Bill Weasley but only after promising not to divulge it to the students. Harry had chuckled wondering what Parvati and Lavender would think if they knew a record was being kept of every time they entered what they thought was an empty classroom.
"If you win a fight there has to be a loser." The Slytherin boy Harry picked to call on out of those who raised their hands replied, drawing snickers from the Gryffindors.
"Mister Towler would you care to explain just why the fact there has to be a loser is a problem." Harry said turning to the Gryffindors and the ringleader of the snickering.
"No Professor." Towler replied trying to be smart.
"Humor me Mr. Towler as I recall your brother was a capable student surely this is not a difficult question."
"Because the loser might not be happy he lost and will be trying to get revenge?" Richard Towler said half asking half answering.
'Darn Hermione said all I had to do was remember Professor McGonagall in most situations and everything would work out.' Harry thought as he watched the student nervously answer. "Roughly right, you never want to have someone annoyed at you if you can help it." Harry explained knowing the next comment.
"What about you and Malfoy?" An anonymous Slytherin voice called out.
"Like I said, 'if you can help it.' The conflict that exists between Mr. Malfoy and myself is well known in this school. In fact I could probably write a book on how not to get along with people. That however is not the topic for today. This class is about defending yourself and others against the Dark Arts. I suspect your parents or guardians told most of you not to go out at night alone. That works against the Dark Arts also, there is safety in numbers. Now just to insure I am not misunderstood. When I say Dark Arts I am not only talking about our current problem. There have always been a few individuals who don't like the rules society imposes on all of us." Seeing a hand raised Harry stopped and looked directly at the individual asking, "Your question?"
"What rules are those?"
"It could be something simple. For an example say I am upset that Dumbledore has more colorful robes than I do, hopefully everyone realizes I can't just hit him with a curse and take his colorful robes. That would be against society's rules. The problems range from the simple ones like that up to about anything you can imagine. Additionally The Dark Arts have always been seen as a short cut to greater power. The thing everyone tends to forget is there is always a price to pay for taking short cuts. I'm going to boil today's lesson down to a few simple things; one never let yourself get into a bad situation if you can help it, two when in doubt leave, retreat is a time honored military tactic." Harry said watching the faces light up with understanding especially the boys when he put it in a military framework.
Hermione's Arithmancy class started off with a stutter when professor Vector, intent on insuring every student participated said, "Miss Granger I'm sure you studied during the summer so I'll allow you the first answer then you can relax and we will see if the rest of the class studied as well."
Hermione smiled saying, "That is kind of you but to clarify it is Mrs. Potter now," before she answered her teacher's question.
Professor Vector looked at her student knowing Hermione would never joke about something like that as she asked, "I take it you and Harry Potter?"
"Yes Professor three weeks ago." Hermione replied blushing like the new bride she was.
"Then I believe congratulations are in order. However knowing that I may call upon you more that I had initially betrothed. Just to assure myself that you didn't neglect your studies this summer."
"Yes Professor." Hermione replied catching the wink from her professor and realizing the woman was actually teasing her.
Harry's second class that morning with the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw first years was more of the same though there was less antagonism between the two houses. Harry quickly finished up with the class joining the students as they made their way out. "No Class next Professor Potter?" One of the boys from Ravenclaw asked when he noticed Harry beside him.
"Actually I need to get to the greenhouses I have a class with Professor Sprout next." Harry replied while noticing Hermione descending the stairs from her Arithmancy class. He slid up beside her asking, "Mrs. Potter may I escort you to your next class?"
"Of course but watch out for that new DADA Professor I hear he's a strict one." Hermione said chuckling When Harry's head snapped around to look at her. "Oh you are so easy." She added a lilt in her voice.
"At least my first class is out of the way. Classes this morning went like you expected. A couple of wise cracks from the Slytherins and some comments from the other houses but all in all a good start." Harry said as he ushered Hermione into the greenhouses.