Chapter 2
"Um, this is so at the last second Professor Dumbledore. Did this just came in like this morning?." asked Randy when reading the sighed documents.
Dumbledore nodded, "Indeed it is Mr. Jackson. But knowing the two of you, you've prepared for this to happen and so no worries. Yes?."
Merula could only feel super excited within herself on thought of returning to Hogwarts again. Except this time around she is going to be a full time teacher.
"You'll see us at the table for the feast in the two days, Professor Dumbledore. We'll catch the train with the rest of the students. For old times sake of course." explained Merula.
Randy looked at his now smiling wife and see that she just gave their thought up plan to the headmaster without hesitation, and can only feel himself being absolutely happy on the great news of returning to Hogwarts.
"I'll see the two of you then." said Dumbledore before exiting out of their store.
With the help of her trusted wand, Merula locked the door and closed all the blinds including the display window. Next, she put her wand back into her pocket before swunging herself to her husband and planted a deep passionate kiss. Randy did not reject the kiss that his lovely wife was giving him, as he made it deeper when kissing back and thus caused the two to move their hands on all over each other. They wanted to kiss forever and stay like this and show each other that they can not function without the other but, they do needed air to continue breathing. They broke their lips apart and both holding, and looking each other happily without worry of losing each other.
"We did it." camed Randy.
Merula quickly kissed him on the nose and said, "Yes, we did. Now, we can finally continue our search for those other vaults."
Randy nodded in agreement before the two headed back home and close the store early, and then go get themselves ready to be teachers in the next two days. It did not take long for them to have everything pack for what they need such as the lesson plans that they took from the books that, they wanted to use for the classes since the school have confirmed it that the students are going to use them. But more importantly they packed up their written journals and notes of Hogwarts mystery vaults. Currently the two have owl messaged to both Rowan and Penny on the news and waited for the married couple to respond back to them,let alone set up the plan on the investigations for the unknown and undiscovered vaults.
"Now, you are going to take it easy with the kids right?." Randy asked while sitting down on the black couch, and begun reading the quidditch sports from the Daily Prophet.
Merula popped her head out from the kitchen after getting some fresh tea cooking.
"No promises. I'm gonna treat them the same as, I did in my years of Hogwarts. Of course I'll give all the houses except my own a hard time." said Merula grinning wickedly.
Randy rolled his eyes at his wife before going back into reading the paper. Merula walked over to her lover and rested herself on top of his head. Smiling to herself, Merula started reading over Randy's shoulder and read what the quidditch division is doing this season. She hold on to her smile when seeing her Randy begin to turn around to see her. He smiled a little and told himself on how lucky he was to have the self proclaim greatest witch in Hogwarts to become his wife.
"If it makes you feel any better I'll be fair with your house and the others. I'm doing it to protect and build my reputation like good old Professor Snape." explained Merula.
"Oh, hell.", Randy rolled eyes and sighed, "Now, I'm really gonna regret being a teacher."
Merula slapped her husbands chest playfully with a laugh. The memories of being in Snap's potions class was one of Randy's most least favorite class to be in, since Merula always causes him to lose house points for his house, and grin wickly both out of victory and enjoy torminting Randy. Even though it was all out of so called friendship and love.
"Hey, I'm just gonna act like an ass for show. Besides I have to remaintain my old school reputation." Merula explained.
Randy nodded before getting up on remembering something. "I forgot that we've got a fitting appointment with."
Forgetting the name of the customer, Merula went to go grab the book of listed customers that usually come by and ask for a fit appointments. A few were normal wizards and witches while the others were high class. Once flipping to the pages of the recent added update to the book, Merula looked down and see the requested customer with a surprise.
"Huh, I do not know how you forget that we have a requested fitting for Hermonie Grandger. She sent us a letter to ask for fitting for this school year. You better go to the shop and wait for that little bookworm of a witch." Merula said with honesty.
Randy nodded before using a quick trick to head back to thier store with just a snap of his fingers, and vanished to thin air in front of his wife who was about to go gather her favorite books to read during the ride over to Hogwarts. That is until a familiar house elf appeared in front Merula after turning around to reach the area location of where her favorite collective books were. The house elf that stood in front of her wearing torn and worn out clothing that all normal slave elves wear since no elf has ever been freed from their enslavement. This house elf is someone that Merula herself and Randy knew during their time as students in Hogwarts, especially for Randy who is the only person to befriended the poor elf during the time his master came to visit their school to do an inspection. All thanks to Hogwarts board of governors of course. The wizard family that owened the elf is none other than the pure blooded Malfoy family but, mainly the soul master is Lucius Malfoy.
"Oh, good evening, Dobby." begin Merula with a polite nod. "Are you here for a social or urgent business with myself and Randy?."
Dobby smiled before making the move to bow at Merula. "Good evening to you too, Mistress Jackson. I'm here both social and urgent business. Is Master Jackson here with you?."
Merula shook her head with her smile still in her face. "No, you just miss him. His back at the shop to do a custom fitting for that Gryffindor student. You want something to snack on?."
Dobby nodded before Merula kindly asked him to sit down on the soft comfortable chair and responded back by crying, due to the fact that he never been treated with kindness nor be treated like a Wizard World citizen. Most house elves never get treated well and a rare few witches and wizards show equalness to them, and Merula and Randy were one of the rares. After Merula had set down a tray of her secret recipe of fresh delicious baked peanut butter cookies with crunchy peanuts in it, with a warm cup of fresh hot chocolate in which it is one of Dobby's favourite. Merula sat down on the couch and looked at the house elf with a friendly look while wondering what made Dobby to come see them at short notice.
"So, tell me what brings you here?." Merula ask.
Dobby finished munching his first big cookie and spoke. "I have heard through my master and mistress that you and Randy are returning to Hogwarts, and be teachers this time around. I already know that your friends Rowan and Penny are working at Hogwarts from a few elves who work their part time. But, anyways my master know why you two are going back to Hogwarts and not just to teach but, to continue your endless quests on finding those hidden vaults. But, you and Randy have picked the wrong time to return to Hogwarts."
Merula looked confused at what Dobby is telling her. "Why?. What is going on at Hogwarts that myself and Randy have yet know?."
Dobby hesitated to say it but have to in order to protect his only friends that truly care about him. "Hogwarts is dangerous this year. And it has to do with one of the secret hidden vaults that has a tie connections to your former house."
"My former house?." Merula thought for a brief moment until her eyes lit up. "You mean that someone have founded The Chamber Of Secrets?!."
"Shhhhhh!." Dobby shushed Merula. "Don't say it out loud Merula. But, I do not know who nor have any knowledge of it if the chamber has been found or being opened. One things for sure is that my master and the mistress are loyal followers to none other than 'You Know Who', and needed young Harry Potter to both find and open the chamber so he can die. In order for The Dark Lord to return to the living by taking the life energy from Potter. And I do not how he can do so if no one knows where the chamber is."
"But why is it dangerous for us to return?." Merula asked with strong concern while crossing her legs.
"Simply because of the reputation that Randy has through his brother and the endless search for the vaults. In which means that they want you and your friends dead if ya dare to go searching for it, let alone getting involved with young Harry Potter's affairs. Especially if you and Randy get in the way of bringing back The Dark Lord. The two of you and your friends have already started that fire years ago in school when dealing with Patricia Rakepick, who was an undercover Death Eater in searching for the vaults for 'You Know Who'." said Dobby, grabbing another cookie to munch on.
This new information that was given to the former Slytherin just only motivated her to push herself more and continue to search for the vaults with her husband. In truth she owes everything to Randy who wanted to know more about her and wanted to be in her life, and filled her with such happiness and peace that she would do anything to keep it going. And plus, she wanted to search for the vaults and the unknown in order to stop Voldemort's return, and loved to do what she does. Merula looked at Dobby and said with deep honesty.
"Thanks for this interesting information Dobby." Merula took a bite of her cookie and continue. "Randy did have a theory of The Malfoys being Death Eaters and let alone being 'You Know Who's' top pure bloods, in which I will have to inform him once he comes back. As for the warning of not returning to Hogwarts this year. This only makes us want to go and do what we got to do. The Chamber of Secrets will be our first hunt to find let alone the object of the vault and what creature connects with it. Sorry."
"I know but it was worth a shot." begin Dobby. "At least I can say that Harry Potter will be safe this year."
"What?. Why?. What the hell did you do to the boy?." Merula asked with concern.
While Dobby slowly begin telling his tale to Merula on the time he visited young Harry Potter at his aunt and uncles house, meanwhile Randy was in his and his wife's store sitting behind the table of the glass display of the recent made shoes, and continued to wait for Hermione to get here for her custom made fitting. Apparently she was running it real close to being late and was about miss her schedule time appointment. Now, usually Randy would just magically send a letter to his customers to inform them that they missed their appointment and, give them the new time and date to come and get their fitting. But his young customer is a friend of Harry Potter and has a soft spot for his fellow Gryffindors all thanks to being a Prefect at his time in Hogwarts, and was not ashamed of it since his wife had the same feeling and continue to do so once they return to Hogwarts. Currently Randy was still sitting down and took the time to read a few muggle sports magazines that he picked up from his American relatives to pass the time, while being patient on waiting for the young girls arrival.
"What I want to know is how the hell is she going to pay for the custom fitting?. Boy, I'm about to head on home and get my things ready for my class and vault hunting." Randy said to himself when looking at the NFL magazine.
Little did he know that the young Granger was just close to his store if it was not for herself and her secret best friend who also happens to be her boyfriend, taking the chance to visit the ice cream shoppy and ordered themselves a share medium bowl of butterscotch butterbeer ice cream with a big surrounding puddle of butterbeer surprise with the young Malfoy himself. It was Draco who set up the appointment for Hermione since she herself and her parents can not afford something too nice. It was strange for them being friends let alone being girlfriend and boyfriend despite them being in different houses, and certainly show dislike towards one another since meeting each other in their first year. But little did anyone know is that both Draco and Hermonie had officially met on the train to Hogwarts last year and got affectionate between the two, by having the same love interest in learning, reading, and even solving mysterious. Of course the two know their family status in which Hermione knows that Draco's family has high expectations when it comes down to blood status and put down the people whose blood not pure. The two planned to pretend they hate each other and show zero knowledge of any friendship towards each other for everyone, but behind close doors or sneaking out to meet each other they will show their true feelings.
How they became lovers was just right in the middle of Christmas. Draco and Hermione decided to play valentine with each other and did not expect their gifts being simplyly, telling each other that they wanted to be their soul mate as a Valentine's Day present. It is strange for these two young kids to fall in love and meet in just one year at Hogwarts let alone helping each other give information on the vault of what the three headed dogs were guarding. Currently, Hermione was trying hard to eat up the ice cream and get her feet fitted for this school year, and certainly wanted to meet her new teachers who one them happens to be the sibling of the infamous former Gryffindor.
"You should slow low down Hermione." said Draco, while grabbing another spoonful of ice cream. "You don't want to get a brainfreeze."
Hermione swallowed of what she has in her mouth and said, "Sorry Draco Bear, I just have to finish our meal before meeting our brand new professors. And I truly wanted to meet Mr. Jackson and asked that if me, Ron, Harry and yourself could join his team to find those undiscovered vaults. Would it be down right awesome if we were working with two legendary former students from our houses?."
"Well, that does sound good and all but, how do we know for sure that Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are going after those vaults again and not just returning to Hogwarts, and teach their lessons to us on both mystery and dueling?." question Draco before taking another bite of the ice cream.
Hermione rolled her eyes while sipping the butterbeer from her straw. "Don't be fooled. I've went into deep research and found out that two of their friends works in Hogwarts. Married people at that."
Draco nodded while still eating the ice cream and listen on to what his bushy redheaded girlfriend is saying.
"Rowan and Penny Khanna. From what I believe that Mr. Rowan is Mr. Jackson's researcher while Penny is his potions expert." finished Hermione.
Just after finishing up the last bit of their ice cream the two paided and left to go to the shop since they are one minute late. The two holded hands while walking together and continuing the talk more on the recent professors, as Draco have believed to seen them every once in a while when walking through multiple hallways and sometimes spot them at quidditch games. Still he can not believe that his Hermione knows so much about Randy's school friends much less have a hunch on them looking for secret undiscovered vaults.
"So you mean Professor Rowan, who is teaching the majority of first years and some upper year students on how to pronounce spells the right way, without causing anyone to get hurt or themselves. While his wife, Penny is our head librarian woman in Hogwarts. Damn, Hermione you deserve a reward for using so much thinking with that egghead if yours." said Draco, receiving a slight smirk from the redhead.
"Well, you could maybe give me a nipple licking?. And maybe rub my feet?." asked Hermione with a devilish smirk that should have only be given to a girl from Slytherin and not from Gryffindor.
Draco smirked in return before leaning over to kiss her on the cheek. "I do it once we are completely alone and in Hogwarts. Deal?."
"Deal." Hermione said before opening the door to let herself and Draco inside the shop.
Once closing the door behind them the two looked at how nice the display shoes were before making their way towards the desk, in which where Randy was looking rather board to even bother to see who entered. He took the moment to glance up to see Draco and Hermione standing six feet in front of him before glancing back at his magazine, while the two young Gryffindor and Slytherin looked at one another in confusion before looking back at the black man. That is until Randy shoot his head back up and looked at the kids with shock on his face for two reasons. One, was finally having Hermione to arrive at his store. Two, was seeing the young Draco Malfoy with Hermione in which confused him to the point of asking. Randy blinked to see if his own eyes wasn't playing tricks when noticing the two holding hands, and had a feeling of this being oddly familiar as if he is going to relive his romance years in Hogwarts through Hermione and Draco.
"Uh, you're one minute late." that is all Randy could say when closing his magazine and put it to the side.
Hermione looked at her new teacher and hopefully her mentor with a weak smile and said, "Sorry, Professor Jackson, we were stuffing our faces at the ice cream shoppy and tried our best to finish. But we could not done so, since we don't want a brainfreeze."
"I do not see the issue here." begin Randy when moving away from the table. "It is nothing wrong for second years such as yourself to go and burn some time away, especially if you are doing it with a friend."
Draco smirk when placing his arm around Hermione before pulling her close to him in which made the brown headed girl blush. "Oh, we are not just friends sir, we are actually young lovers."
"Draco?!." Hermione broke away from Draco and slapped his arm to the boy.
"Ouch!." Draco rubbed his now sore arm. "Is it wrong to show someone that you belong to me?."
"Not quite but, not in front of our new teacher." Hermione warned before hearing Randy chuckle to her surprise.
Randy chuckle for just now confirming that he is indeed right on his feelings as he can not believe his reliving his childhood, all thanks to Hermione and specially Draco who his family have never date or marry a Gryffindor and him being the very first. He just can not wait to inform Merula about all this when he returns home. Randy thought Merula would pop up and asked why this was taking so long but, figured she might had her hands full back at the house. But he was gonna have to deal with this today and wait to see how Merula act both her reaction to the news and playing her old style sham as a teacher.
"No need to worry. I have been in your shoes before much less try everything to keep me and Merula's relationship in secret. Even though only my first best friend Rowan knows. Well, let us get this over with shall we?. I do need to finish up packing for this school year." said Randy, before motion and guiding them to the back.
Hermione begun to removing her shoes and left her socks on her feet, and stand up for Randy to measure her feet before starting his handy work. He showed her all different types of materials of her choice from canvas, fresh leather, national rubber, or his personal favorite, synthetic fiber. Draco sat down in a chair waiting and watching his girlfriend run her mouth about her research on the one and only 'Curse Breaker', and learned more about him and his unequal adventures from all the teachers. Randy can not prevent himself from smiling at the second year Gryffindor while making her synthetic sneakers, as he did made an unparalleled impact at Hogwarts and earned many titles during the years. Plus, seeing that Hermione is going to be his number one favorite student.
"Like I was telling Draco." begin Hermione when watching Randy add a few magic to her new left shoe to make the Gryffindor symbol graphic alive. "I wanted to ask you something Professor Jackson."
"Professor Jackson?. School has not been started yet and you are already calling me professor. You must be a true fan of me." said Randy, looking back at the bushy hair girl with a smile.
Hermione smiled back with a fast nod and spoke in happiness. "Yep!. So, can you allow myself, Draco, Harry, and Ron to come join you in your hunts for the vaults?."
Randy looked at his work to see if it was done how he wanted to be before getting up to grab his favorite snack. He grabbed a bag that had actual live sour crawler worms candy and stuck a few in his mouth before offering some to Hermione and Draco, who the two liked this kind of candy when it wriggles in your mouths before eating the thing. Now, Randy was thinking on whether if he should allow them to join the haunt or lie about not going after the cursed vaults. In truth he told himself that he did not want any kid to get hurt or killed in searching for the vaults, since he did not want that heavy feeling on his heart of causing a child to lose their lives. With quick thinking he answered the right call and hoped that the bright young gryffindor is gonna take the bait.
"Well, actually me and my wife are really just going to teach. We have decided that searching for the vaults is both dangerous and suicidal, and we are not going to bother it not one bit. Okay?." Randy smiled without forcing it.
Hermione was way too smart to fall to that trick. You could say that she is the Gryffindor version of Merula both sneaky and too cocky for her own good. And sometimes call herself the greatest witch of Hogwarts as a motivator when getting up in the morning for her classes. Draco did tell her that she has the perfect traits of being a Slytherin let alone looking good in green, which made Hermione smirk evilly at the thought of being on the same level as a snake. Either way, she, her boyfriend, and her friends will help Randy and Merula with finding all the vaults, whether they like it or not.
"Okay," said Hermione, having her arms behind her back.
Draco looked to see that Hermione had her fingers crossed in which made him sly smirk at this. He can not see her as a Gryffindor but, more of a Slytherin and can say that she is a great deceiver in her house. In fact makes him think that the sorting hat might have put Hermione in Gryffindor temporarily to help her reveal herself that, she belonged to the wicky house of Slytherin. However, he does not know for sure since he does not have that kind of knowledge to know, except ask a former Slytherin who knows a whole lot about these things.
"I guess that I will ask Professor Merula Jackson then. She is both a former Slytherin Prefect and Head Girl, along with the proven reputation of being a self proclaim the greatest witch of Hogwarts. This year and the future years are going to be interesting." Draco thought with a sly grin on his face.
"Alright that will be two hundred and fifty coins," said Randy, awaiting for his money.
"Why so expensive?." Hermione asked when watching Draco pay for it.
Randy shrugged when putting the money in the big register. "That is my wife's doing. I just make and customize shoes. She has the nose for business. Say, did you two purchased your books for myself and Merula's class?."
"Oh, carp I forgot!." said Hermione and Draco, but in different meanings.
For Hermione she forgot to go to the bookstore where her parents have agreed to meet up, after letting her go to be with her friend who they do not know is her boyfriend. Draco on the other hand was told by his father to stay at the bookstore and wait for him to be picked up after he was done doing his rounds but, instead he took the perfect opportunity to sneak off to be with his Hermione. Randy looked at the two for a short second before getting their attention after slamming the drawer of the register back.
"Well, I guess that you two should get going right?." asked Randy.
"Right!. Bye, Professor Jackson!." said Draco and Hermione, before busting out of the door with the quickness.
Randy blinked at how quick the two kids ran out of here so fast and had the feeling that he should go after them. For their safety of course. He locked everything up and closed the door behind him with the magical lock on the doornob before heading his way to the number one bookstore known as, Flourish and Blotts to see for himself. He waved and say hello to a few people when passing through the crowded area before taking the shortcut to the place in which was going through the slightly dark alley, and walk around big to reach the place. Once he made it he can see the whole building was packed with many people and wondered what was going on. He looked at the outside sign to read what it says before making the attempt to go inside.
"Come meet and have your book signed by none other than the famous Gilderoy Lockhart. Lockhart?. Oh, you have got to be blooded fucking kidding me." said Randy, looking rather unpleased and bitter.
Randy remembered Lockhart back when he was a teen during Valentine's Day, when seeing that man giving out invites to his Valentine's Day party to himself and the rest of the students. But only a hand full showed up for that man's party. And Randy only came to that sorry party was because he and Merula had a secret date that day. Without realizing that he was inside the store, Randy begin looking around to see fan girls fighting to get in line for book signing. He shook his head in disappointment at them for this guy who claims to did all of these things but, deep down he and Merula had a feeling that it was a sham or think it was done but, not by him in which they have yet to feel why they believed that Lockhart is a fake. And speaking of the man, Lockhart came in from the back of the room wearing his fancy golden robes and had on his cheesy smile when the Daily Prophet's photographer begin taking a few shots of him.
Lockhart took one shot from the photographer before taking another until he paused when looking at someone. "H...Harry Potter?."
Randy quickly looked at where Lockhart have spotted Harry and can not believe that the kid was here. He could tell that he was covered in ash dust from a fireplace before seeing him being pulled by the photographer, and placed him with Lockhart who put his arm around him and smiled.
"Oh, this is such an honor let alone the privilege to have young Harry Potter here today." said Lockhart, before glancing back to the audience of fans and customers.
"I'm glad he did not recognize me." Randy spoke under his breath.
Lockhart gasped when eyeing Randy at the back. "My, My, My this have to be my lucky day. Not only we have Harry Potter in the building but, also we have the famous Hogwarts Legend and the forever famous Triwizard Tournament champion of his house. Randy Jackson!."
With that name being thrown out everyone gasped in surprise when finding Randy in the store looking more embarrassed instead of being proud, when hearing applause from everyone as he truly was the greatest champion that all wizarding schools have every seen or witnessed.
"Oh, I am going to get my big raise for this." said the photographer, when moving through and grabbed the man out from the crowd.
Randy protested on being grabbed while people still cheering and clapping, and noticed Hermione doing the same to let him know she is a fan of his. When reaching to where both Lockhart and Harry is, the blond man pulled Randy to his right and had his arm around him as well.
"Two famous wizards of two different generations. The Boy Who Live and The Curse Breaker. God must be smiling upon me today." said Lockhart.
Randy blinked his eyes when the flash of lights from the photographers camera went off, before noticing that Harry is smiling right at him and not at the camera. He could easily tell that Harry is a fan of his as well, and tell he was going to tolerate the unwanted attention just for him and not for Lockhart. Still, Randy should have not stuck his nose in Hermione and Draco's business. Otherwise he would not be in his current situation and getting the die-hard attention that he never wanted from the start.
"I should have went back home to my Merula and not go following those two young lovers. Shit." thought Randy.
(A/N): I'm going to stop right here and bring the other half in the next chapter. Hope y'all enjoy this chapter. Until next time everyone.