The Syndicate

Hermione Granger woke several minutes later after receiving a glass full of water in her face. "What did you do that for?" she sputtered to Ginny, who was still holding the cup in her hand and had a large grin plastered on her face. It was then that the young witch decided to take a look at the other occupants of the table. Sitting in one seat was Headmaster Dumbledore, who had a twinkle of mirth in his eyes, and sitting in the other seat was Vicious Bromista ... Bromista ... Professor Bromista! A blush made it's way to her face as she mumbled "I remember now."

Ginny was positively in stitches and she had to grab her side she was laughing so hard. She was a girl, and as any other girl, she had spotted that the new professor was a looker. Hermione had to have spotted this as well, and seemed to have fell in love (or should I say lust) at first site. To make matters worse, she had made a complete ass in front of him by passing out. Oh, the blackmail material that she had now.

"Don't worry Ms. Granger. I do not hold it against you that you called me by my first name. At the time, you had no idea that you were talking to your new professor, so I can hardly blame you. As for that passing out bit, that was totally unnecessary. I would have been shocked if I was to be in your place, but I don't think that I would go that far." Hermione was sending a death glare at the red head that Dumbledore could have sworn would turn any muggle into ice. This just made her laugh even harder, and she would have fallen out of her seat if she didn't have the sense to grab on to the table. Vicious noticed these peculiar actions as well. Hermione sending him her prettiest smile when they had met, fainting when she had found out that he was going to be her teacher, blushing when she realized what she had did in front of him, and now staring daggers at Ginny; it just didn't add up. He almost believed that Hermione Granger, one of his best friends in the whole world, felt something more than normal for him. It was almost as if she were attracted to him. That was impossible, wasn't it?

"Why did you let us go on believing that you were really a transfer student from the states when all along you knew that you were really going to be our new teacher?" Hermione asked as she had finally given up on Ginny, who was starting to calm down at last. "It would have been simpler to just tell us that from the beginning."

"It would have been simpler, wouldn't it? Still, the expression on your face when you found out was priceless. I could have told you from the beginning, but where would be the fun in that?" His voice, which usually did not portray emotion, sounded full of cheer and mischief. The fact that he was a professor and the headmaster being there prevented her from smacking him on the side of his head. As quickly as she thought this it left again when she saw the gorgeous half smile that shone on his face. She couldn't help but smile too when she got past his mask of indifference. This could very well be an interesting year.

The Burrow was the regular pandemonium that came with it being the first of September. Fred and George had graduated so they wouldn't be returning, but there were still three people there right now that had to go. With Voldemort back safety was a dream and not a reality. There was something about it though that made the Weasley family as jumpy as they could possibly get; everything was quiet, too quiet. Nothing had been heard of the Dark Lord. There had been no attacks on muggles and the muggle-born, no infiltration of Hogwarts, and no proof that he had returned. Harry wasn't there to testify, and they knew for a fact that if he didn't disappear the Ministry would have used a Dementor's Kiss first and asked questions later. They missed him greatly, but were glad that he wasn't just a shell. Fudge was getting more people to believe every day that Dumbledore was just an old fool and Harry Potter a.k.a. The-Boy-Who-Lived was a demented child as nothing had happened yet. People were falling into a false sense of security that this was just all some sort of fabrication, and they would pay in blood for their foolishness, as Voldemort would use their stupidity against them.

The Hogwarts Express was as beautiful as it had ever been. She looked at the awe filled expressions on the faces of the first years, and couldn't help but remember when she was in their place. After using her magic to load the trunks onto the train, she got back on the platform and exchanged farewells with her family. They rushed onto the train as it began to move, and she waved at them with silent tears running down her face until they were out of sight and had gone around the bend. She would miss them, oh god how she would miss them. They were nearly grown up now and would soon be leaving the house. Wiping the tears off of her face as she turned around to apparate, Mrs. Weasley couldn't help but think that she wasn't too old yet, and that she could still have another baby.

Ron, Ginny, and Hermione made their way to the back of the train to find an empty compartment. Along the way, they ran into some of their friends and eventually Neville joined them. It was weird to see him and Ginny getting along so well, but it was understandable. Hermione and Ron were no longer an item, and Ron was never in a real relationship. He had dated several people during the summer, but each one wasn't the one for him. Either they were too smart, too ditzy, too short, or too tall; he could never be satisfied. Mr. Weasley was beginning to think that his son was becoming a womanizer, but after they had sat down and had a talk, everything was settled. Finally grabbing the last compartment on the train, they had a hard time to stop the flow of memories that came along with it. This was the compartment where they had first met Harry, had sat in this compartment every year since their first year, both the good times and the bad times. Every now and then they wondered where he was at, why he hadn't returned to them, and if he still cared about them. It was because that he cared for them and loved them that he had left. Even though he had said things like he was weak before he left, he left for them. At the rate that his life was going, there was no way he could have protected them. The best way to protect them was to run and hide, hoping the psycho would leave them alone. They didn't understand this, and probably never would, but when you love someone enough then you will let them go if it is for their own good.

The train ride was going well. That is, until the usual arrival of Draco Malfoy and his goons. "Potter's not here again this year, is he? Probably lying dead somewhere, thanks to my master. Then again, he was always trash, wasn't he? A piece of shit with a lightning bolt on it." Ron sprang from his seat, only to get held back by the others. "Or maybe, just maybe, he's still alive. He won't be for long. The Dark Lord always gets what he wants, and he wants Potty dead." The words that he spoke were now hitting close to home. After a year, the - boy - who - lived still had never been seen or heard from. "Excuse me, what is going on here?" A voice carried in from the door. Everyone turned to see a man in his late teens with silver hair and a black wizards robe. Malfoy gave a smirk thinking that he would finally get to pound him into the ground, and Ginny and Hermione smiled knowing that he was their new teacher, while the others were thoroughly confused.

"It's nice to see you again. I've been looking for you. I still remember what you said in Diagon Alley; don't you remember Crabbe, Goyle?"

"Uhm." They both answered at the same time. Obviously they were too stupid to comprehend what people were trying to say.

"Just get him you fools." Malfoy sneered. In seconds both of the boys were laying on the ground, unconscious thinks to the pair of well-aimed Stupefies and Draco was pinned against the wall with the teacher's arm across his throat. "Let go of me or my father will get you kicked out of the school." Malfoy said with a grin on his face.

"I would like to see the death eater scum try. He holds no affiliation with the school board now; you have me to thank for that. I had him booted off, and if he does try something then he will meet his end, and you will have no daddy to hide behind any more. I have met people like you before Draco Malfoy. I have no respect for either you or your father. One Hundred points from Slytherin for the disrespect and attempted maiming of a teacher. Now get out of here, before I hit you where it hurts."

The blonde headed teenager's grin quickly turned into a frown and then into a scowl that showed barely suppressed rage. "How dare you talk to me like that? Who do you think that you are to take points away from me? What's this about disrespect and tempted maiming of a teacher? All that you are is a low-life transfer student. When we are done with you, you will be nothing. WE will hit YOU where it hurts." Ginny couldn't help it and burst into laughter, with Hermione following her shortly after. "Why are you laughing?" Draco shouted in outrage

"Ma - Malfoy, this is our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Bromista." Ginny said and seeing the shocked expressions on the faces of the one's who didn't know decided to continue. "We found out from Professor Dumbledore that day, but didn't say anything. You have just insulted your new teacher." Draco's face now bore an expression of horror.

"I will have a little talk with the headmaster about the Slytherin house. If Snape can't handle his students any better, then I will personally see him stripped of the title of your Head of House." Malfoy actually paled at this. Either way, he was a goner. If Snape was no longer his head of house, then more than likely it would be Bromista and he would make his life torture. If Snape were to be put on parole because of him, then his life would be torture, any way it goes he was going to be in deep. After being set free, the blond haired Slytherin ran out of there as though his life depended on it. Vicious kicked Crabbe and Goyle out into the hallway. Malfoy had made a mistake, one that was even bigger than he had realized, and Vicious knew that Malfoy would never be the same after he was finished with him. He would hit where it hurt, but not just yet.

The train ride to the castle was pretty slow after that. He made idle chitchat to the students and eventually Hermione asked the question that had been bothering her ever since he had made his first appearance on the train. "Why are you wearing your sunglasses when it is dark outside?"

The others nodded in agreement as they noticed that she was correct."I wear my sunglasses because I have an eye condition." He lied swiftly. There really wasn't any eye condition that required him to wear the glasses, but there would be a commotion if he took them off and they recognized his eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Ron noticed as she said this the way that her eyes got a glassy look to them and knew the reason why, she had feelings for him. He would have to talk to her about this later.

"Don't worry about it. It's nothing."Shortly thereafter it started to downpour. Vicious left the group before they were to reach Hogwarts, saying that he had something that he had to do. Pulling the hood up over his head, he made his way to the back of the train and jumped off the express, landing with a cat like grace and began to make his way into the forest beside the train track, the Forbidden Forest.

It was quiet, a little too quiet. The animals in the forest seemed to know that he was on his way and tried to hide not because they thought he was evil, because of the power that he wielded. Animals have the ability to tell if a person was powerful, and this was one of the few that they would never mess with. Aragog felt it as well, and he shuddered. For once the old spider was afraid for his children if any were fool enough to cross this wizard.

Vicious walked into the clearing that he had not visited since his second year. This was home and the lair of Aragog. Spiders scurried as far back to the walls of the surrounding cliffs that they could to get out of his way, and the decrepit spider was trembling. Whether from his massive size or from fear Vicious would never know.

"What is it that you seek here?" Aragog spoke, trying his best to keep his voice from shaking.

"I have come to deliver a warning. Do not ally yourself with anyone besides me, if not then you will pay the price."

"How dare you come into my home and boss me around. What price would be so great that I would bow down to you?" He was enraged at the gall of this human. Even Dumbledore would never make an offer like this and Aragog knew for a fact that he was not evil, so his threats might be empty.

"The price that you would have to pay would be the death of all of your children, the extinction of your species, and having to watch all of this before I am merciful and kill you as well."

Meanwhile, the Hogwarts Express had reached Hogsmeade and the students were hurrying into the horseless carriages to avoid the rain. As they were now alone, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and Ginny decided to share one that was close to the front. Several minutes later, they had made their way into the great hall and headed for the Gryffindor table. Ron was the first one to notice, and spoke to the rest of them. "Where's Professor Bromista? He was on the train with us; he should be here by now."

Bromista was absent, and the quartet couldn't figure out where he was exactly. Finally, Neville asked a question that was bothering him ever since he looked over to the Slytherin table during the sorting and noticed that Malfoy looked pleased with something. "You don't think that anything has happened to him, do you? I mean, look at Malfoy. He seems awfully happy about something."

Before anyone could reply to that, Dumbledore began his opening speech "Hello, I would like to welcome you all to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." There was a lot of applause by all of the students but it was cut short as the front doors of the school burst open and in stepped a hooded figure. "All right kids, settle down. I was just about to introduce this young man. He is our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year. Please lower your hood Professor Bromista and join us at the head table." At the mention of his name, there was some scattered applause but the quartet was clapping as though this man was their hero. After walking up to the head table, he lowered his hood and there were a lot of whistling and cat calls from the female gender of those present, but to the male populations disliking. Dumbledore continued his speech about how the Forbidden Forest was still forbidden. Bleh, bleh, bleh, yada, yada, yada.

The students from Gryffindor house couldn't wait for the next day of school as they made their way up to the tower. The boys at first disliked the new teacher that is until Ron told them what had taken place on the train and they took a liking to him. They could very well have Defense Against the Dark Arts, and they wanted to be rested for what was promising to be an interesting class.