At the next fifth year Charms lesson, Flitwick announced that his lessons would be either entirely theory or entirely practical from then on. He mentioned to the class that since Harry had such a unique grasp of magic, they had made other arrangements and he would self-study during the practical periods. If anybody else wished to self study, he would be happy to allow this to anyone who could mark the board in stripy paint, wandlessly.

It seemed most in the class took this with bad grace and the first lesson afterwards Harry could feel the glares boring into his back. When Flitwick asked with a sigh if Harry could prove himself, the boy turned the board into a checkerboard of different colours whilst his back was turned, with no obvious movement and whilst counting the number of words on the page of a textbook. When he could recite the page from memory as well as give the correct figure of words, the class backed down.

Harry found that he loved teaching. The first and second year timetables had had to be altered slightly but this was passed off as "to accommodate Professor Gritson's other commitments". Surprisingly, to Harry, no one questioned the change.

By the end of his second week teaching, all of his classes had achieved a shield charm capable of withstanding both light projectiles and light stinging hexes. The rest of the faculty were amazed.

"There have been many fewer incidents in the corridor since the first and second years have become proficient with the shield spell," McGonagall commented one day in the staff room. "Do you think he would teach the older years too?"

"I'm afraid not Minerva," Flitwick replied. "He said he was appalled at the sort of defence teachers we had had here, but he would only teach those under thirteen. He said that his style of teaching did not work for older students, only younger ones."

"But surely we could-"

"But nothing Minerva. He has already relented in agreeing to teach the second years. He says he had to reorganise a lot of other things in order to do this and I for one would like to keep him. He seems to be doing a good job."

"There are definitely fewer students being admitted to the Hospital Wing than there were before" added in Poppy. "If he can ground the first and second years this well then by the time someone else gets to them in third year that behaviour should be ingrained."

"Have you ever met him outside of his classroom?" McGonagall asked.

"Oh many times. But he is a very private fellow, he has only a small number of friends. He requested that he did not have to stay in the castle when he was not teaching. I don't even think he has his own quarters here. Sometimes I think he even goes as far as glamouring himself. Don't ask me why. He volunteered to come and teach the students of his own free will, even knowing the position was cursed. I don't think we are in a position to be scathing of his eccentricities."

"I mean, yes, that's all well and good, but how are we meant to work with him if we never meet him?" McGonagall blustered. "He doesn't stay here, eat here or attend any of the staff meetings! How are we supposed to get to know him? He hasn't even introduced himself for Merlin's sake, just waltzed in and started teaching lessons!"

"He asked me to pass on his apologies for that. He was running late the first day and thought it best to get straight to teaching the students rather than getting even more lost in the castle. He is used to goblins I'm afraid, they work in different ways. He will be in Thursday morning first thing, I can ask him if he is willing to meet with you then?"

Given that today was Tuesday, Flitwick thought he'd best tell Harry to get started on his cover story now. There was no way around it, common politeness dictated that he should have met the Headmaster and Deputy as soon as he arrived. If that was not possible then he should have sent apologies and gone to them once he could. At least Goblins were not known for their good manners, but they were damn efficient at getting the job done. That was a line they could play.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Harry thought that teachers could be blind sometimes. It appeared that Flitwick's comment about how his friend Gritson glamoured himself was taken at entirely face value by everyone. All he had to do was be a grumpy sod and answer questions as shortly as possible. It caused all of the staff to back away from trying any kind of cordial relationship with him.

After that one meeting with McGonagall and Dumbledore, they had never requested a second.

Harry chuckled as he remembered one of the conversations he had with the Charms Master the day beforehand.

"Be short, grumpy and rude to them when they speak to you" Flitwick had said.

"I can't do that!" he gasped back in shock.

"You can, and it will explain away many of your absences. You have worked with the goblins, they are blunt to the point of rudeness and they most certainly do not do smalltalk. Smalltalk to a goblin is paramount to treason, they expect it to be used as a diversionary tactic only and will react accordingly. Time is money to a goblin, not even words are wasted. Of course, you understand that it is does not work like that when working with wizards, but it is a habit that you are not able to break."

Harry had looked on in open mouthed astonishment. "But..."

"You are teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts Harry. A subject that the Headmaster did not get any applicants for this year. He can't lose you and he knows it. Especially since the rest of the staff are singing your praises about what you have achieved. You can be as grumpy, rude and damned awkward as you like. Demand whatever, as long as you have a reason for it, he'll cave in. You hold all the cards, all you need to do is mention leaving and everyone will be fawning over you to get you to stay."

"I...l..." Harry stuttered.

Flitwick let out a hearty chuckle. "Oh it'll come out eventually. But we'll have had a good laugh before that happens!"

Harry had had to join in the laughter at that point. Flitwick was using him to prank the Headmaster!

He had got really into character after that, and thoroughly enjoyed telling all the teachers exactly what he thought of them. He was invited to staff meetings, but he was reliably informed that Dumbledore preferred when he didn't turn up because it put the staff much less on edge. Personally Flitwick thought that the meetings with Harry in them were much more enjoyable and amusing to attend.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was well into February before their ruse was discovered by anyone else. Harry had been starting to teach the second years non-structured casting, allowing their magic to shape to their intent rather than be tied to specific spells. He had turned the classroom into a jungle, a ship and a replica of Hogsmeade without damaging or moving a single item or person. The sights, sounds and smells of each environment were obvious to anyone nearby.

The students were instructed to try to paint an item on the landscape. It could be anything on anywhere, but they weren't to use a specific spell. Harry was fairly sure that these kids didn't know the paint spell anyway.

Unbeknownst to Harry, Minerva McGonagall was watching from just inside the door. The sound of waves and seagulls had drawn her in, only to find the whole place changed to the outskirts of Hogsmeade within seconds of her arrival. It was impressive magic, she admitted, but what was he teaching the students?

A cry of triumph went up, and everyone turned to see. A streak of green marking one of the doors and a grinning Hufflepuff jumping wildly, led to congratulations and expressions of determination from the rest of the class.

A few minutes later and there were streaks of paint dotted all over. Then Harry saw a spell come towards his face. He dodged it on instinct, but forgot that he was standing at the edge of a raised rocky area. He lost his footing, tumbled down and landed on his side on the floor, hitting his shoulder heavily. He stayed there for a moment, a little dazed, and then he noticed the absence of noise.

"Sir? Are you ok?" One voice asked timidly.

Harry sat up and rubbed his shoulder. "Yes, thankyou Jason. That's a good lesson actually." He got up slowly. "Always pay attention to your surroundings. If you don't the fall might be a lot worse than just a sore shoulder."

Harry made his way back over to his desk shakily. Minerva decided she had seen enough.

"Class dismissed. Professor Gritson will see you in your next lesson."

Harry looked up sharply. Some students were packing their things, others were just looking at him.

"We'll practise more with that next week."

A very happy class soon departed, leaving Harry with the Deputy Head.

"Shall I accompany you to the Hospital Wing?" she enquired.

"That won't be necessary."

"It is my duty to see that all staff are adequately cared for. I must insist."

"Really Professor, it's nothing."

"If it's nothing then you won't mind Poppy having a look at it will you?" McGonagall sighed. "I know you can't show weakness, but I can tell it's hurting. Come on."

She led him through the corridors and into the Hospital Wing.

"Poppy?" McGonagall called out. Seeing the mediwitch come out of her office, she continued, "Professor Gritson has injured his shoulder during an incident in his classroom."

"Thankyou Minerva." Poppy gestured the man to a curtained off area in the corner of the wing and bade him sit.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Nothing. I was not paying enough attention."

"Will you consent to a diagnostic spell?"

Harry nodded once.

"I need to remove the glamour you wear. It's interfering with the spell."

"No."

"Nothing will be shared without your permission, but I cannot treat you without it."

"Then I shall be going" Harry said shortly.

Harry picked up his robe and started his way out when he met Flitwick coming in.

"Afternoon" Harry greeted him in a grunt.

"Harry, where are you going?" Flitwick hissed back.

"She said I had to remove my glamour."

"Well maybe it's time. You can't be running to Jeff in disguise you know, he's too well connected to you."

"I hate you sometimes."

"No, you hate it when I'm right and you would rather I wasn't. Come on, we'll swear Poppy to secrecy for now, that should bide us a bit more time."

Flitwick skilfully steered Harry back towards the mediwitch's office.

"Poppy?" he called. "My dear friend here has consented to you treating him on the condition that his identity remains a secret. I'm sure you'll understand why soon enough."

Poppy rolled her eyes at the pair and raised a privacy ward. Both males waited for the mediwitch to remove the glamour, but she just smirked at them.

"Really Filius, it wasn't that difficult to put two and two together! You haven't changed your teaching practices in thirty years and you have certainly never allowed a student complete independent study before. If you then compare the fifth year Gryffindor Charms timetable with that of your friend Gritson's availability, well..."

"You knew?" Harry gasped.

"Oh not until about one second ago..." Poppy winked. "Now, shall we get your shoulder sorted?"

"How long?" Harry blurted out. "Why didn't you say?"

"Why should I? Students were being taught what they needed to know, taught well and seemed to be enjoying it. The amount of injuries and fights in the hallways has gone down, and generally it's working for everyone." She shrugged before lifting Harry's glamour with a flick of her wand. "Now, please, can I fix your shoulder?"

Harry caught Flitwick's smirk and gave in with an exaggerated sigh.