Hey, Everyone! I'm opening this chapter with the Welcome Feast and Duncan's perspective of the events of that evening. LOL! Finally, he meets with the first of the factions of magical creatures around the school; the Merfolk of the Black Lake! Enjoy!

Chapter 6: Welcome to Hogwarts

Duncan had originally intended to ride the train with his cousin and his friends. However, between the sheer bulk of his luggage and materials, the last minute preparations, and the amount of unpacking he would need to do in his new quarters before the Welcome Feast, it just wasn't feasible. Dobby was able to take everything directly to the castle, but Duncan could port-key no closer than Hogsmeade Village that afternoon due to the wards around the school.

Hogsmeade was a charming old-world wizarding village, he determined to explore it more thoroughly when he could. But he found the thestral pulling the carriage he rode up to the school morbidly fascinating. He'd read that they could only be seen by those who have seen death. He pushed back the memory of the civilians and MEGTAF soldiers he'd seen killed by Abbadon and Astoroth when they attacked the Homecoming Dance in their attempt to kill him years ago. He'd been lucky to protect his mother and closest friends and defeat the rogues with the help of his father that night on the desert mountain years ago.

Duncan found Hogwarts Castle to be extremely impressive, but also a bundle of contradictions as Dobby helped him settle in to his new quarters and office, adjoined to his 'Non-Magical Studies' classroom. The elf assured him that his personal supplies of muggle foods, snacks, drinks, herbs, spices, and sauces were safely stored, along with his supply of coal and charcoal. Not that English food was as bad as he'd heard, but most was on the bland side for his palate, and no way was he drinking pumpkin juice! He just could not understand how popular it was; even his mom, who was born here in magical Britain, didn't like it! Butterbeer was tasty, though; kinda like butterscotch root-beer, but a bit too sweet to drink very often for his taste. So he brought a plentiful supply of his favorite sodas, Arizona Fruit Punch, pineapple juice, coffee and chocolate syrup.

Putting on a relatively nice shirt and jacket with his solid black cargo-pants and usual sandals, Duncan munched on a couple of charcoal briquettes as he headed down to the Great Hall for the Welcoming Feast. Harry and the other students would be arriving soon, and he was expected to be seated at the faculty table with the other teachers for the sorting of the first-years and feast. The moving staircases were annoying, so he simply jumped from one to another if they moved contrary to his destination. Many of the wizarding portraits gasped in surprise and admiration of his physical prowess.

When he reached the Great Hall, Dumbledore introduced him to the rest of the professors and Madam Pomphrey, the school's healer. Snape barely acknowledged him, which bothered him not at all. The 'greasy git' (as Harry and his friends accurrately called him) probably hated the fact he was there. He was as polite as he could manage with 'Professor' Umbridge, who was dressed head to toe in a sickening shade of pink and her customary fake smile and smug, superior air of condescending arrogance. He had a brief discussion with Madam Hooch about some of the various methods of magical flight, and asked Professor Sprout if the greenhouses might have any gilly-weed, as he would need some soon.

He took his seat as students began to file in and occupy their different house tables. Duncan smiled and nodded to Harry, Hermione and Ron as they took their seats with their year-mates at the Gryffindor table.

While the first-years were sorted, Duncan idly wondered which house he would have been sorted into; Gryffindor would be his guess from what Harry and Hermione told him about the four houses.

During the feast, Duncan added some fiery spices and sharp, aged white-cheddar cheese to his shepherd's pie and sipped ice-cold Cherry Coke from his goblet. He noticed that many of Harry's house-mates were not only keeping their distance from him and his best friends, but some were actually glaring at him. He'd have to look into this.

As the feast was winding down, Headmaster Dumbledore stood and walked up to the magical owl lectern that faced the students for his start-of-term announcements. He cleared his throat to speak.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, first-years. And to our returning students, welcome back. I must first announce a few changes in staff this year. Professor Burbage has taken an indefinite sabbatical to visit with family in the States. Professor Rosenblatt will be teaching updated classes in Non-Magical Studies(Duncan stood and nodded to the students with a half-smile before sitting back down). He will also be taking over Care of Magical Creatures while Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave. At his request, Non-Magical Studies is now a required course for all students who have been raised in all-magick families with little or no contact with the non-magical world."

A wave of angry shouts and protests erupted at this, and none louder or more numerous than from the Slytherin tables. Snape glared at Duncan while Umbridge could barely hide her outrage. The rest of the teachers either approved or were indifferent.

"SILENCE!", Dumbledore commanded, using the sonorous charm to be heard over the din, shocking everyone to obedience. "Professor Rosenblatt made very logical and convincing arguments for this change; a change that I have been considering myself for many years. Those among you who had already signed up for the class as an elective subject, will have the opportunity to choose another elective of your choice. Good luck, Professor Rosenblatt.

"Moving on, we also wish to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Delores Umbridge. I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the professor good luck. Now, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you ….."

"Hup-hup!", Umbridge chirped like the pink toad she resembled, interrupting the Headmaster. She stood and walked around the table to stand a bit to the side of Dumbledore. "Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome. And how lovely to see all your bright, happy faces smiling up at me. I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends."

'Yeah, right', Duncan thought sarcastically. He wasn't Dumbledore's biggest fan right now; but even he had better manners than to interrupt the man like that! 'Only the first night, and I'm already starting to see why Dumbledore wanted me here. This bitch is gonna be trouble.'

"The Ministry of Magick has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance", she continued. "Although each headmaster has brought something new to this historic school,(she paused a moment to nod to Dumbledore, who politely nodded back), progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved, perfect what can be perfected, and prune practices that ought to be prohibited."

With another chirping giggle, Umbridge turned to retake her seat. Dumbledore started some polite applause, as was proper if not deserved.

"Thank you, Professor Umbridge. That really was most…illuminating", Albus said. "Now as I was saying, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that magick is forbidden in the corridors, and an updated list of prohibited items is now posted on his office door. I must also remind you all that the Dark Forest is forbidden to all students unless accompanied by a teacher. Now, pip-pip! Off to bed, all of you. Classes begin tomorrow after breakfast."

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Duncan decided to follow after all the students leaving the Great Hall for the dorms, intending to make his way to the Gryffindor Common Room before retiring to his own quarters. As he neared the main stairway, a small giggling figure phased out of a nearby wall and swiped a see-through hand across his face.

"Got yer conk!", an annoyingly snide voice chuckled.

"I haven't fallen for that lame joke since I was four years old", Duncan replied in a bored tone.

"Ah, yer no fun! What kinda first-year are you anyway?"

"I'm a new professor, not a student, you pea-brained poltergeist!", Duncan snapped at him.

"I'm no poltergeist! I'm Peeves!", the small spectre sniped.

"Yeah, I figured as much", Duncan smirked. "I've heard all about you…..and what a pathetically annoying pest you are; a stupid spook who thinks he's clever and funny. I'm not impressed."

"Oi! Watch yer mouth, fleshy!" Peeves hissed indignantly as students of all ages laughed at how thoroughly their new professor was putting the irritating spirit in his place. "My pranks are the best! And ta prove it, I'm gonna make you my special…. OW!", Peeves shrieked in pain, tumbling head-over-heels several times in mid-air when Duncan punched him in the nose! The gathered students and faculty gasped in surprise! Once Peeves righted himself, and pulled his hands away from his face to look at them, he realized to his further shock that he was bleeding ectoplasm profusely from his apparently broken nose!

"YOU HURT ME!", Peeves screamed. "HOW'D YOU DO THAT?! FLESHIES CAN'T TOUCH GHOSTS!"

"'How' doesn't matter, you brainless free-roaming vapor!", Duncan sneered. "What matters is that I can! So if you're smart, you'll stay the Hell out of my way! And just to let you know, I've given the same ability to a lot of others here; both students and teachers. So you might want to think twice about pranking anyone here from now on!"

"TH-TH-THAT'S NOT FAIR!", Peeves whined. "Pranks are what I do! If-if I can't prank I might fade away!"

"Well ok, we wouldn't want that, now would we? So I'll tell you this; the only members of Slytherin House I helped with this was four students", Duncan smirked. "The rest are fair game if you dare take the risk."

"SLYTHERIN HOUSE?! B-B-BUT THE BLOODY BARON PROTECTS THEM! HE'D…..!", Peeves screamed in frustration as he passed through the wall.

Duncan chuckled as he continued on his way to the Gryffindor Common Room, mentally going over the list of people he planning to give Nth-metal rings to. He and Harry had already given them to his mom, Sirius, Remus, Hermione, and the Weasley siblings.

He entered the Common Room just as a tense comversation was escalating….

"Don't ya dare talk about me mother that way!", Seamus Finnegan barked.

"I'll have a go at anyone that calls me a liar!", Harry said firmly, standing his ground.

"Can ya believe the rubbish he's comin' out with about You-Know-Who?", Seamus asked the room at large.

"Yeah", Ron replied firmly, stepping up beside Harry. "I do."

"So do I", Hermione added from his other side, along with Neville.

"And so do I", Duncan growled, causing Seamus and the others to jump in surprise, turning to see their newest professor. He nodded to Harry and the others, and they turned and headed up toward the dorms. "This is a very devisive situation, I get that. But all of you have known my cousin for four years now; known him for his honesty, courage, loyalty and integrity. Even the Ministry and the Prophet lauded him for those qualities until now. So ask yourselves this; why did this change? Why now? Harry has always hated his fame, so the claim that he just wants the attention is ludicrous! So what would he have to gain by lying? He has offered to take veritaserum and submit his memory of the night of the Third Task as evidence, but the Minister himself has refused to even entertain the notion of any evidence, let alone allow it to be made public! Why? Because he'd rather vilify Harry than even consider the terrifying possibility that Voldemort is back."

A number of Harry's housemates now looked sheepish and ashamed, but some were undeterred.

"Cornelius Fudge is the bloody Minister of Magick, Professor!", Seamus snapped. "Why would he lie ta the wizarding public that trusts him? And why would the Daily Prophet just let 'im get away with it if he was? That don't make a lick o' sense!"

"Because he is the Minister of Magick, Mr. Finnegan!", Duncan emphasized, rolling his eyes. "Voldemort's return would be politically inconvenient for him, and would cause mass panic in the Wizarding World. How long do you think he'd stay Minister if it came out that the Dark Lord really had returned, and he denied it out of fear? And are you really naïve enough to believe that he doesn't use his influence with the media to his own benefit? Think about it, and think about it logically before you dismiss Harry's account of what happened that night. And one more thing to think about before you go to bed; the American Congress of Magick and the Global Federation of Magical Creatures have both acknowledged the possibility of Voldemort's return, and are developing precautionary measures in the event his play for power extends beyond Britain. I know, because I was there when they made those decisions. Good night."

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(London)

Gabriel Delacour knocked and entered her sister's room in the French Magical Embassy. She saw her sister sitting in her nightgown on her queen-sized canopy-bed, staring out the window with a whistful look on her face. The younger girl had not been allowed to stay for most of the urgent conversation her older sister had with their parents recently, but she heard enough to know it was about a boy Fleur had met at some kind of gathering.

"Fleur?", Gabriel spoke up, getting her sister's attention. "What's going on? And don't tell me I'm too young to understand! You are my sister, and I am worried about you."

"Merci, Gabby", Fleur smiled at her little sister. "Non, nuhsing is wrong, per se."

"What does that mean? Is zis about that boy you met?"

"Oui, Gabriel", Fleur sighed. "He is my perfect match."

"Sacre bleu! Is he really?! You are so lucky, Sister! Eet is so rare for veela to actually find zheir perfect match!"

"Oui, I know", Fleur giggled, then turned more serious. "But eet is….complicated. His name is Duncan, and 'e is 'Arry's American cousin. Zo 'e may not understand, and I am unsure of 'ow to explain zhis without scaring him off."

"Fleur, you silly girl!", Gabriel rolled her eyes, pushing on Fleur's shoulder. "You are a beautiful girl! 'E vould 'ave to be a fool to run away from you! So just tell 'im already!"

"Zhank you, Gabby", Fleur giggled. "You are right. I am just being silly. He vill be at zhe next meeting in a few days."

"Well then, Sister, as zhe Americans say; Go get your man!"

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The next morning, Duncan met Professor Sprout in the school greenhouses shortly after dawn, two hours before breakfast would begin. She showed him the section for marsh and swamp plants and gave him a dose of gillyweed and permission to pick more if he needed it later. Thanking her, he went to the Black Lake.

When he was sure he was not being observed, Duncan removed his long coat, shirt, and sandals. He swallowed the gillyweed—gagging on it slightly before getting it down!—and leaped high in the air to dive into the lake. Once the aquatic changes to his body were complete, he removed and pocketed his glamour-ring and went in search of the merfolk of the lake.

He encountered the lake's resident giant fresh-water squid before long. She regarded him for a few moments, taking in his scent. She seemed to bow in acknowledgement, the jetted on her way. As a relative of the Kraken, and essentially a lesser kaiju, her instincts 'knew' him.

He avoided the thick forest of water weeds, as Harry had warned him that this was the home of an alarming number of grindylows. Just past that, he found the ruins Harry told him about.

As he approached, some merfolk armed with tridents intercepted him. The males were fairly large and well muscled, yet they deffered to the females; who were lithe, athletic, buxom and possessed of a certain aquatic beauty. A matriarchal society. The females also possessed large, spike-like stingers centered between their tail-fins, a feature that the males lacked. One rather assertive female, who's sharp-toothed sneer did little to assuage her beauty, swam forward of the others.

"Who are you?", she challenged. "And why do you invade our home?"

"I am Duncan, Prince of the Kaiju and representative of the Global Federation of Magical Creatures", he replied, and a few of them exchanged glances of surprise. "I've come to speak with your Queen about many important things."

The leader conferred briefly with the others, then returned with two others who took positions behind him.

"Follow me. If you try anything, we will tear you into chum-bait, prince or not. Understood?"

"Lead the way", Duncan nodded.

"What's your name?", Duncan asked as they went deeper into the ruins. The leader looked sharply at him.

"Gena, daughter of Rynn", she replied stiffly. "Rynn is Queen. Wait here."

Gena swam through an archway, and Duncan heard her confer with someone briefly, then she returned.

"Come", she ordered. He followed her inside. At the far end of the 'room', he saw a slightly older version of Gena holding the most ornate trident he'd seen yet. There were several elders of the tribe alongside her.

"Prince Duncan, my Queen", Gena announced. Queen Rynn glided forward from her stone throne.

"Your Majesty", Duncan greeted, bowing his head.

"Prince Duncan", the mermaid replied. "Water is not your element. So what could be so important for you to risk so much to meet me and invoke the name of the GFMC?"

"I've come to tell you that the GFMC has finally been recognized and ratified", Duncan smiled as she arched an eyebrow. "Witches and wizards no longer control or dictate the lives and fates of magical creatures, including you."

"I have waited and hoped to hear that for decades", Rynn said with a smile.

"I have been appointed the GFMC liason with the British Ministry of Magick", he told her. "And I am also teaching classes at Hogwarts this year. So If you have any problems or concerns, you can contact me and I will help you."

"Thank you", she replied. "And should you need anything I can provide…."

"Actually, Queen Rynn, there is something", Duncan said. "I'm sure you've heard that the Dark Lord Voldemort has returned?"

"Yes, Dumbledore informed me of this troubling news months ago."

"It is possible that he or his allies could one day attack the school", Duncan said grimly. "I am asking if you and your people will defend Hogwarts if that happens, to foil any attempted attacks from the lake?"

Queen Rynn conferred with her elder council for a few moments.

"We will protect the school and the children", Rynn announced, to which Duncan smiled. "However, we need your help first."

"With what, Queen Rynn?", Duncan asked dubiously.

"Our savage enemies", she hissed. "The grindylows have multiplied to dangerous numbers. They have recently begun to leave the weed forest and encroach on our farms and hunting waters, even into these very ruins to attack us, causing all kinds of mayhem, even deaths among our tribe. Their small raiding parties always manage to escape back into the weed forest, where they are so many we dare not follow. Help us cull their numbers, and we will defend Hogwarts to the death against any invaders that dare approach from our waters!"

"Those things almost killed my cousin last year", Duncan growled. "Ok, but I need more gillyweed, so I can't do it today. Plus, I don't think I can do it alone. I'll need some of your bravest fighters to help me."

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Author's notes: So Duncan has met with the merfolk of the Black Lake. I have changed them to resemble those from the "Siren" TV series. Next chapter, classes begin, including Duncan teaching his first Non-Magical Studies class to the Fifth Year students, including Draco Malfoy and his cronies!

And let's not forget about about Care of Magical Creatures!

Long reviews and suggestions are always welcome! No flames, please.

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