Professor Cross

Sal made his way up the winding path to the Burrow, the warm and slightly chaotic home of the Weasley family standing tall in the distance. He had meant to check on Ginny much sooner, but between his responsibilities at Hogwarts and his own personal projects, time had slipped away from him. Now, with the new school year approaching, he wanted to make sure she was doing alright after everything that had happened in the Chamber of Secrets.

Knocking on the door, he was quickly greeted by Molly Weasley, who gave him a surprised but pleased smile.

"Sal, what a pleasant surprise! Had I known you were coming, I'd have tidied up a bit."

"Nonsense, Mrs. Weasley. You should see my place—it drives the house-elves crazy when I tell them it's an 'ordered mess,'" Sal said with a grin. "But I'm afraid this isn't just a social visit. Is Ginny home?"

Molly's warm expression shifted slightly to one of understanding. "Yes, of course. I'll go fetch her. Come in, dear."

Sal stepped inside the Burrow, taking in the cozy, homey feel of the place. It was filled with the scent of fresh bread and the lingering hum of a magical household in motion. Before he could get too lost in the comfort of it all, Ginny's voice called out from the stairs.

"Mom, did you want something?"

Molly gestured to Sal. "Lord Cross wants to speak with you, sweetheart."

Ginny raised an eyebrow as she stepped into the room. "What about?"

Sal sighed, leaning against the wall. "I should've checked on you a long time ago, Ginny, but I wanted to see how you were doing after… everything with the Chamber."

Ginny hesitated for a moment before crossing her arms. "I'm fine," she said, though there was something in her voice that suggested she wasn't used to people asking.

Sal gave her a knowing look. "Ginny, I've been through my fair share of encounters with dark magic. I know it's not always as simple as 'I'm fine.'"

Molly added softly, "Saint Mungo's said there was no permanent damage, but…"

"But dark magic leaves scars we can't always see," Sal finished. "Look, I just wanted to let you know that if you ever need to talk, or if you have nightmares or anything feels off, my door is always open. You don't have to go through this alone."

Ginny studied him for a moment before her posture relaxed slightly. "Thanks, Sal. I mean it. It's good to know someone's looking out for me."

"You have a whole family looking out for you," Sal pointed out with a small smile. "But yeah, I'll be around."

Molly beamed. "You really are a good young man, Sal."

"I try," Sal said with a chuckle. "Oh, and before I go, Ginny—I know you're going into your second year, but I wanted to let you know that Hogwarts is adding an official dueling program alongside Quidditch. If you're interested, you should consider trying out."

Ginny's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? Can first-years—er, I mean, second-years join?"

"They can try out. You'll be at a disadvantage at first, but knowing your brothers, you're probably used to holding your own."

Ginny smiled. "Oh, they won't know what hit them."

"That's the spirit," Sal said, stepping back toward the door. "Alright, I should get going. I'll see you both soon."

Molly waved him off, and Ginny watched him go with a thoughtful expression.

As the door closed, Molly nudged her daughter playfully. "He's quite something, isn't he?"

Ginny rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, he is."

The train ride to Hogwarts passed without incident, and for the first time in years, Sal dared to hope that this school year might actually be normal. But as he sat at the Hufflepuff table, watching the golden plates fill with food and listening to the lively chatter around him, he knew better than to get too comfortable. Hogwarts had a way of making sure peace was always short-lived.

The Great Hall gradually quieted as Albus Dumbledore rose from his seat, his twinkling gaze sweeping over the assembled students.

"Welcome, everyone, to another year at Hogwarts!" the headmaster began. "I would like to introduce two new additions to our faculty. Professor Remus Lupin will be taking over Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Rubeus Hagrid has officially stepped into the role of Care of Magical Creatures professor."

There was polite applause—though Sal noticed a few students murmuring at the mention of Lupin. He'd have to keep an eye on that.

"But that is not all," Dumbledore continued, his tone shifting to something grander. "Thanks to a most generous donation, our Quidditch teams will be outfitted with the latest Nimbus 2001 broomsticks."

A ripple of excited whispers spread through the room, particularly at the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables. Fred and George Weasley nudged each other, eyes gleaming with interest.

"And," Dumbledore added, his voice carrying easily over the murmurs, "alongside Quidditch, I am pleased to announce the official addition of dueling as a competitive sport at Hogwarts. This new program will be taught by none other than our own dueling champion, Salazar Cross."

All at once, the attention of the Great Hall seemed to turn toward Sal. He could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on him. There were mixed reactions—some impressed, some skeptical, some curious. The Slytherins exchanged glances, no doubt wondering why a high-born heir like Sal would be wasting his time teaching. The Hufflepuffs around him beamed with pride, while the Gryffindor table buzzed with speculation.

At the Gryffindor table, Fred whistled. "New brooms and dueling? What's next, free Butterbeer in the common rooms?"

"Not just any brooms, 2001s," George pointed out. "This year just got a whole lot more interesting."

"I wonder where the donation came from," Ron mused, examining the gleaming broom on the staff table.

"If only we knew someone with more Galleons than he could ever spend in a lifetime," Fred said dramatically.

"And who conveniently owns a certain magical castle," George added with a grin.

Ron blinked. "Bloody hell, Sal did this, didn't he?"

"If I were you, I'd start practicing, Ron," Fred smirked. "Those 2001s might just give Slytherin the edge."

Ron straightened his shoulders. "I was going to try out for the team anyway—but now I have to."

Across the hall, Hermione was deep in thought. "I wonder how Sal is planning to teach dueling," she mused aloud.

At the Hufflepuff table, Cedric Diggory turned toward Sal, grinning. "So, how exactly did you land yourself the title of Professor Cross?"

Sal exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "To be fair, I'm more like what Madam Hooch is to Quidditch. The difference is that it was decided that integrating practical dueling training into Defense Against the Dark Arts made more sense than having it as a separate subject."

Cedric laughed. "Still, I'm looking forward to seeing how my fellow Hufflepuff handles being a teacher. No pressure, right?"

Sal rolled his eyes. "No pressure at all," he muttered, though he could already feel the weight of expectations settling on his shoulders.

As the feast continued, Sal couldn't shake the feeling that this year would be different. He had spent years being the heir to Hogwarts, the dueling champion, the student who always seemed to be at the center of something bigger. Now, he was officially a professor, in charge of shaping an entire new program at Hogwarts.

For the first time in a long time, it wasn't just about surviving the year—it was about proving that he could lead. And that, perhaps, was the most daunting challenge yet.

The next morning, the Great Hall was still buzzing with excitement over the changes announced the night before. Conversations about the new dueling program, the Nimbus 2001s, and the upcoming adjustments to schedules filled the air as students eagerly anticipated the year ahead.

Professor McGonagall strode purposefully through the hall, her sharp gaze scanning the students as she began handing out class schedules. "Now, I know many of you will want to make adjustments to accommodate the dueling program," she announced. "If you need to make changes, ensure your revised schedules are submitted by the end of the day so we have ample time to review them."

Sal took his schedule and gave it a quick glance before turning to Hermione, who was meticulously examining hers. "Hermione, can I see what you're taking this year?" he asked.

"Of course," she said, handing him the parchment.

Sal's eyes widened as he scanned the list. "Hermione… I think there's a problem. You've double-booked several subjects."

Hermione frowned. "No, I haven't."

Sal arched an eyebrow. "You have three classes scheduled at the same time on Tuesday alone. And—why on earth are you taking Muggle Studies?"

Hermione lifted her chin. "If I want to get ahead, I need it."

Sal shook his head. "No, you really don't. You're Muggle-born; you already know how Muggles live. That class is designed for wizards who have never set foot in the Muggle world."

Hermione hesitated but finally sighed. "Fine, let's take another look together."

With Sal's help, they carefully went through her schedule, rearranging and eliminating unnecessary courses. By the time they were done, Hermione's timetable was a third lighter.

"Thanks, Sal," she admitted, though her tone was begrudging. "I suppose I won't be needing this anymore."

Sal glanced at what she was holding, and his stomach dropped. "Is that what I think it is?"

Hermione hesitated before nodding. "Yes. I applied for a permit to use a Time-Turner. Professor McGonagall approved it so I could manage my course load."

Sal carefully took the slip from her hand, his expression unreadable. "Hermione, you have no idea how dangerous a Time-Turner can be," he said, his tone unusually serious. "Messing with time, even a little, is playing with fire."

Hermione looked uncertain now. "But I thought—"

"Trust me on this," Sal interrupted. "You're brilliant, but no amount of extra classes is worth the risk of breaking time itself. You're already ahead of nearly everyone in our year."

Hermione bit her lip, then slowly nodded. "Alright. I suppose it was a bit much."

Sal gave her a small, approving smile. "Good. Oh, and I added dueling tryouts to your schedule."

Hermione blinked. "You what?"

"I want you to at least try it," Sal said with a grin. "See if you like it. You never know—you might be a natural."

Hermione huffed but didn't argue. Sal knew her well enough to see that she was already considering it.

Sal made his way toward Hagrid's hut, eager to catch up before the half-giant's first official class as the new Care of Magical Creatures professor. The morning sun cast a golden glow over the grounds, and he spotted Hagrid tending to some crates near his pumpkin patch.

"Hey, Hagrid!" Sal called, approaching with a grin. "I'm glad I caught you before your first class. Are you excited?"

Hagrid beamed, his massive hands brushing off some dirt as he turned to face Sal. "Oh, absolutely! I got everythin' planned—gonna start with a hippogriff!"

Sal's smile faltered slightly. "A hippogriff? Don't you think that's a bit advanced for a first lesson? Especially for first-years?"

Hagrid frowned in thought. "Well, they're amazin' creatures, an' I want 'em to see the real magic in magical creatures, y'know? Thought it'd be a great way to start off!"

Sal nodded, understanding Hagrid's enthusiasm but still concerned. "I get that, but first-years—especially certain ones—aren't always the most… cautious. If you're really set on using a hippogriff, I'd save it for the fifth years. They're less likely to do something reckless and more capable of handling a challenge."

Hagrid stroked his beard, considering Sal's words. "Hmm… maybe yer right. What d'you think I should start with then?"

Sal grinned. "If you want something fun but safe, try puffskeins. They're adorable, easy to care for, and their fur is actually valuable in clothing production. Plus, they'll get the students engaged without risking a trip to the hospital wing."

Hagrid's eyes lit up. "Tha's a good idea! I hadn't thought about the crafting side of things. Unicorns, thestrals, even kneazles—lots o' creatures have useful parts we use in everyday life. Yeh got a book on that?"

Sal nodded, pulling a small leather-bound book from his bag and handing it to Hagrid. "This has a section on creatures whose byproducts are used for crafting—everything from unicorn hair to moke skins. It'll help you balance lessons between the fun and the practical side of magical creatures."

Hagrid took the book, flipping through it with interest. "This is brilliant, Sal. Thanks! I'll give it a read an' rethink my lesson plan."

Sal chuckled. "Anytime, Hagrid. Good luck with your first class!"

As he walked back toward the castle, Sal felt relieved. Hagrid had a heart of gold, but he sometimes forgot that not every student had his natural connection with magical creatures. With a little guidance, though, he was sure Hagrid would make a fantastic professor.