7. New Staff
Harry had the best summer ever!
His godfather took him on vacation to France, and when they returned began coaching Harry in the basics of dueling.
Neville joined him for a few lessons, and they were both invited to Bones Manor several times.
Harry received a few letters from Daphne, but she was never available to meet. He was a bit disappointed, but was so busy he had little time to dwell on it.
September found him back on the train, and searching for his friends. He discovered Neville sitting with a small blonde girl who introduced herself as Luna Lovegood.
Next came Susan and Hannah, who greeted them warmly, causing Neville to blush.
Just as the train started to move, Daphne arrived.
"You made it!" Harry grinned.
She nodded, her quick, shy smile fleeting.
Susan leaned forward, eyes focused on Daphne's arm, which was scored by deep scratches. "Did your cat do that, Daphne?"
The blonde girl flushed, and adjusted her sleeve. "That's right."
Harry tensed; to his knowledge, Daphne did not own a cat.
Susan wasn't finished. "Your older brother is your Head of House, isn't he?"
Daphne nodded.
"He's married to Portia Parkinson?"
"Isn't he a lot older than you? At least ten years?" Neville asked.
"Yes." Her voice was a whisper. "More like twelve."
"I know your sister Astoria." That came from the dreamy Luna. "I asked her to sit with me, but she decided she'd…"
"Rather sit with Pansy Parkinson?" Daphne supplied. "I know."
"They both have so many wrackspurts," Luna said sadly. "I don't believe they can ever get rid of them."
Harry was quite curious about Astoria Greengrass. He did not think her nearly as pretty as Daphne, but she was far more outgoing. She was sorted into Slytherin, and promptly became one of the girls hanging around Pansy. Daphne seemed relieved.
But Harry was in for a surprise, as Dumbledore introduced two new staff members.
"As you know, it is rumored that no one can last more than a single year as Hogwarts' Defense Professor. I hope to circumvent that, by employing two alternating instructors: Remus Lupin, and Nymphadora Tonks."
Harry gasped aloud.
He stared, appalled, at the shabby greying man with the scarred face, and the woman with purple hair.
"She was fired from the Aurors," Neville murmured. "Guess Dumbledore gave her a job."
Immediately after dinner, Harry informed McGonagall that he was dropping Defense class.
"I'm afraid it's required, Mr. Potter."
"Black-Potter," he corrected. "That woman belongs in Azkaban!"
The professor eyed him sternly. "I know you resent that she almost injured your godfather…"
"Injured!? She tried to kill him!"
McGonagall drew herself up sternly. "There is no proof of that. And Professor Tonks was dismissed from the Aurors, which the Headmaster decided was sufficient punishment."
Harry scowled. "Not for me! I refuse to take any classes with her; I will withdraw from Hogwarts first! There are other schools."
She sighed in defeat. "I will speak to the Headmaster; perhaps something could be arranged."
The result was the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were assigned to Remus Lupin, and the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins to Nymphadora Tonks.
Harry reckoned that was the best he could hope for, and contented himself with glaring at Lupin as he called the role. That man had hurt Sirius, failed Harry, abandoned both of them.
The glare intensified when Lupin asked Harry to remain after class was dismissed.
"Mr. Potter…"
"Black-Potter!" Harry growled. "I've been adopted by Sirius Black!"
"I…yes, I've heard." Lupin was visibly ill-at-ease. "How is he?"
"Still recovering from his unjust imprisonment in Azkaban."
"You…are living with him, now?"
"Yes! And I'm still recovering from my time with my nasty abusive relatives! Too bad nobody ever bothered to check on conditions with either of us, isn't it?"
Lupin swallowed hard. "Harry, there are reasons…"
"It's Black-Potter! Is there anything else? I must get to class."
Without waiting, Harry turned his back and left. On the way out he passed the woman with the purple hair, and managed a wandless tripping jinx. She face-planted into the floor, and Harry, glancing back, made sure Lupin saw his smirk.
"You should never have done that, Harry." Padma was worried. "I know you blame her, but you don't want to get in trouble."
"How is she as a teacher?" Neville asked curiously.
Hannah shrugged. "Better than Quirrell, anyway."
Harry snorted. "That's a low bar."
"She was lucky Dumbledore hired her," Susan said. "Auntie fired her when she cast that curse at Sirius Black, but she said she thought he had a concealed wand, and no one could swear he didn't, so…"
"I know she tried to kill him." Harry was adamant.
"You'd better be careful," warned Neville. "Now you're the Black heir, she might try for you! The Tonks family hates the Blacks, for disowning Andromeda and her daughter."
"I don't intend to have anything to do with her," said Harry.
Of course, it was not that simple. Harry soon found himself sitting in the Headmaster's Office.
"You must learn to forgive, Harry," insisted Dumbledore.
"Why? And it's Black-Potter, sir."
Dumbledore frowned. "You don't believe in second chances, my boy?"
That form of address set Harry's teeth on edge.
"Black-Potter. Some things are unforgivable."
The old man looked disappointed, but Harry cared not. He refused to look at the other occupants in the office: Lupin, Tonks, Snape.
"Just like his father," growled the potions teacher.
Harry smirked. "Which one?"
"We've worked out a compromise," Remus said hastily. "I will be your instructor for Defense; is that acceptable?"
Harry nodded. "As long as we discuss only school matters, with no personal interaction."
Remus looked devastated. Harry kept his expression inscrutable, but inside, he was pleased. Sirius could not overlook Lupin's abandoning Harry, and Harry felt the same about the man abandoning Sirius.
Dumbledore had been studying Harry carefully. "I see your scar is very nearly faded, Harry."
"Black-Potter! It is. My muggle cousin cut into it with a piece of broken glass, shortly before I came to Hogwarts."
Harry could still feel Dudley's gang holding him down, with Piers Polkiss gripping his head so tightly he couldn't budge.
Piers had fallen sick and died shortly thereafter, and Harry couldn't find it in him to feel any sadness.
"That's terrible!" Remus gasped.
Harry gave him a dismissive glance. "I've had worse."
"There were reasons…"
"I suppose you're still whining about being a werewolf."
"Sirius told you?" Remus looked betrayed.
"He did. I hope the headmaster has taken sufficient precautions."
"Of course he has!" Nymphadora Tonks spoke for the first time. "Who are you to question him?"
"Oh, I don't know. A student whose life may be in danger, due to some unwise choices on behalf of Professor Dumbledore? But then, it wouldn't be the first time."