Harry Potter and the Angel of Justice

Chapter Eleven -

The New Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher

Illustration URL:

[url]http://hpbook6.freewebpage.org/art/nomarks/Burning_Umbridge.jpg [/url]

Harry approached the Great Hall looking forward to the feast like never before. He couldn't remember ever being this hungry. As they neared the Great Hall, they saw Professor Sinistra talking to an attractive middle-aged blond witch wearing an elegant sky-blue robe.

"The witch that's talking to Professor Sinistra there, isn't that Jo Anne Lennon?" Ginny pointed.

"It is her!" replied Ron. "What's she doing here?"

"Oh, please, no. Oh, please, don't let it be her!" said Hermione desperately.

"What do you mean?" asked Harry.

"I mean, please don't let her be the new Defense Against Dark Arts Teacher."

Harry, Ron and Ginny all flinched.

"No! Dumbledore wouldn't allow it, would he?" asked Harry.

Before anyone could answer, Professor Sinistra and Jo Anne Lennon noticed Harry and walked towards him, smiling. Harry had a very bad feeling about the situation.

"Harry, how lovely to finally meet you in person," said Lennon, beaming down at Harry as she held out her hand.

Harry nervously reached out and shook it.

Professor Sinistra was also beaming at Harry. She said glowingly, "Harry and Ron Weasley here are my best students, Jo Anne. They were the only ones to get Outstanding on their OWLs last term, and they did it under very difficult circumstances."

Ron smiled; Hermione looked very cross indeed.

"Well, I'm not surprised that Harry is such an outstanding student, and of course any Weasley is bound to excel," added Lennon as she shook Ron and Ginny's hands. She sighed happily and looked around the room. "It's so nice to be back at Hogwarts, and it's been so so long. I had some great memories as a girl here. Obviously my favorite teacher was Dumbledore; his transfiguration classes were simply superb. Oh, I see Professor McGonagall coming with the first years. Lovely, lovely, I do look forward to witnessing a sorting again, I was so nervous when I was sorted. Well, see you all in the Great Hall." Lennon said this as light- heartedly as a young girl starting a new year at Hogwarts. She and Professor Sinistra headed into the hall.

"She's certainly a lot better than Umbridge, don't you think?" asked Ron, grinning.

Hermione sighed loudly and pushed past everyone, marching into the Hall. Professor McGonagall was approaching with the first years and Harry, remembering how irritable Peeves had made her, hurried in himself, gently pushing the Weasleys in front of him.

They took their seats at the Gryffindor table: Harry sat next to Ron, while Hermione and Ginny sat opposite them. Harry noticed that Hagrid was already at the staff table; Lennon was sitting next to Dumbledore, the two of them chatting amicably. Hermione sighed deeply. Harry glanced at her and saw that she also was looking at Lennon.

Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but just then the doors to the Great Hall opened and Professor McGonagall entered, leading the line of first years. Silence fell as the chatting students turned their attention to the frightened-looking new arrivals. When McGonagall reached the front of the Hall, she placed a three-legged stool before the first years, and put an extremely old, dirty patched wizard's hat on top of it. The first years gawked at the hat in mingled apprehension and confusion. After a few seconds of near silence in the Hall, a long tear near the bottom of the hat opened wide like a mouth, and it broke into song:

For centuries I've sorted wizards;

I've seen the great ones rise and fall.

They began their studies just like you

Before me in this very Hall.

To help them on their way to greatness,

I carried out my sacred task:

To place each in a Hogwarts House.

What is the good of that, you ask?

Well, over a thousand years ago,

Hogwarts began with founders four:

The sterling wizards of their age,

Who longed to pass on their great lore.

Each valued one trait above the rest;

The students were split into four parts

Based on what they revered the most:

In Gryffindor went the bravest hearts;

To Ravenclaw the wisest went;

In Hufflepuff, hard work was prized;

For Slytherins, ambition ruled.

This way was best, the four surmised.

How would we sort when the four were gone?

Gryffindor knew, and whipped off his hat.

He and the others threw in some brains,

And so upon this stool I'm sat.

Now please don't fear to try me on,

I was not put here to sing this song,

But to place you in the perfect house;

Trust me, I've not yet been wrong!

The hat fell silent when it finished its song, and the students at the tables all clapped and cheered loudly. Professor McGonagall raised her hand for silence.

"When I call out your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool," she told the first years. "When the hat announces your House, you will go and sit at the appropriate table."

"Allen, Renee!"

"SLYTHERIN!!!"

"That was a lot cheerier song than last year," said Harry, who wasn't very interested in the sorting any more.

"Yes, it was; the whole staff seems to be in a better mood. I'm not sure how they can be, with Voldemort gathering strength and that CADS woman being forced upon them," replied Hermione darkly.

"Right little ray of sunshine, aren't you?" Ron taunted.

"Evans, Mark!"

"Mark Evans?" Harry exclaimed, startled.

"That's what she said, Harry. Do you know him or something?" asked Ron.

"Yeah, he's a muggle--well, I thought he was--from Little Whinging," answered Harry.

All of his friends stared along with Harry at a boy with dark red hair who was now walking nervously up to the stool. His brilliant green eyes were fearful as he put on the sorting hat.

"That's him, all right. I don't think Dudley will be beating him up again," said Harry with a slight smile.

The hat thought for a bit and then yelled clearly "GRYFFINDOR!!!"

Harry clapped loudly along with the other Gryffindors as Mark Evans came over to the Gryffindor table and sat at the first available seat. He looked relieved to be out of the limelight.

"Did you know him very well?" Hermione asked Harry.

"Not really, no. All of the muggles in the neighborhood avoided me," answered Harry.

"Harrick, Sarah!"

"SLYTHERIN!!!"

"Get on with it!" grumbled Ron, along with his stomach.

"King, Nathan!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!!!"

"Cheer up, Ron. We'll eat soon. Look, Hagrid's waving at us," said Ginny, waving back at the teacher's table.

"Lovel, Gary!"

"SLYTHERIN!!!"

"Midgaard, John!"

"RAVENCLAW!!!"

"Look at that guy. He doesn't look like a wizard, he probably just pretends he's one," said Ron quietly to Harry. Harry agreed.

They paid little more attention to the sorting until Heather Parkinson's name was called. She was a cute blond girl with a friendly face, and seemed to have nothing in common with her older sister Pansy except hair color. However, when she was sorted into Slytherin, Pansy and her gang of girls all screamed loudly and hugged her when she ran over to their table.

"Great, just what we needed, another Parkinson cow around here," complained Hermione loudly. Ginny and Ron nodded in agreement.

"Sladen, Mary Sue!"

"GRYFFINDOR!!!"

Harry and the others applauded loudly along with the rest of their table.

"Smythe, Robert!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!!!"

"Robert Smith? Isn't he in The Cure?" asked Dean Thomas.

"That's what I thought," Harry grinned.

"What's The Cure?" asked Ginny.

"Just a bunch of whiners with guitars," Dean snorted.

Ginny and Ron exchanged confused looks.

When the sorting was finally finished, Dumbledore stood up to address his pupils.

"There is a time for speeches," said Dumbledore, and paused. "And that time is after we eat. Tuck in!" He then threw his beard over his shoulder, sat down, and started to shovel food onto his plate from the magically-filled platters in front of him.

Harry and Ron cheered and started digging in. Hermione looked appalled at the exuberance Harry and Ron displayed as they attacked their meal. Harry ignored her distasteful looks; he was far too famished and the food was too excellent to care. Ron was paying his roast beef too much attention to even notice Hermione's disapproval.

A few minutes after the feast had started, Katie Bell returned from the baths with her hair still wet, smelling a lot better. She sat down next to Hermione and started filling her plate. Once Katie had settled down and was eating happily, Hermione asked her a question.

"Katie, did you noticed any differences when you first started your NEWT level classes last year?"

Katie swallowed her food and answered, "Oh yes. Because you take fewer courses, some classes are smaller. Some subjects have so few students all four Houses are in a single class."

"That's what we wanted, more classes with Slytherins. Just great," interjected Ron mournfully.

Harry sighed in disgust as he looked at the Slytherin table and saw Malfoy pompously gesturing to some of his fellow Slytherins. He looked away and glanced straight at Ginny, who smiled warmly at him.

"Cassiopeia," she said.

"Huh?"

"Cassiopeia, that's the new Gryffindor password. The Head Boy gave us a sealed envelope that contained it."

"Okay, thanks Ginny." Harry smiled back at her.

"That reminds me," said Ron around a mouthful of food. "I know I've heard that word before, but I can't place it."

"Cassiopeia? Of course you've heard it before. It's a famous constellation in the Milky Way!" snapped Hermione. "Honestly! ..." Hermione seemed to cut herself short with an effort.

Harry was relieved. He was quite sure that she had been about to say something nasty about Ron beating her on the Astronomy OWL and Harry didn't want to listen to her and Ron squabble with each other all night.

When the desserts were finished the familiar post-feast sleepy feeling came over Harry. He yawned quietly and looked up at Dumbledore to see if he, too, was done eating. Harry's timing was excellent, as Dumbledore was now standing up to address the students again.

"Now that our stomachs are full, I have a few announcements to make. Our first year students should know that the forest is forbidden to all students unless accompanied by a Teacher. For some reason I need to keep reminding our older students of this every year." He smiled at the Gryffindor table; Harry and his chums exchanged guilty grins.

"The school caretaker, Argus Filch, would like me to remind all students that magic in the halls between classes is not permitted. Also of note, twenty-seven new things have been added to the list of banned items at Hogwarts. To see the list in its entirety, please stop by Mr. Filch's office.

"Quidditch trials for the House teams will be held during the second week of classes. Please see Madam Hooch if you wish to try out for your team.

"I think that is all we have for the evening. Sleep well, so that you get off to a great start for the new school year!"

Dumbledore then sat back down and started chatting with Jo Anne Lennon.

"He didn't introduce her as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," exclaimed Ron.

"Maybe he wanted to avoid another long boring speech like Umbridge's," suggested Harry.

The students started departing the Great Hall amid chatter and yawns. Ron jumped up next to the Gryffindor House table and barked loudly.

"All right, Gryffindor first years, queue up right here, right now!"

The first years all scrambled quickly to line up in front of him.

"This badge," said Ron, tapping the scarlet-and-gold piece of metal on his chest, "means that I am a prefect. Make very sure that you listen to and obey any requests that any of us give. Have you lot got that?"

"Yes!" they answered in unison. Harry thought they looked a bit intimidated.

"Now, you will be following me to the Gryffindor common room. It's in a secret location only Gryffindors know, and the route isn't easy, so pay attention! No straying off either. See those two girls there?" Ron pointed to Hermione and Ginny; all the terrified first years looked at the two girls. "They'll be following us to the common room, so don't even think about skiving off anywhere. I can assure you that they have a nasty temper when it comes to dealing with disobedient little first years! Go on out to the entrance hall and wait for us."

The first years immediately scrambled out through the doors.

Ron grinned evilly. "Hermione told me to take my prefect duties more seriously this year, so I figured to have fun doing it."

Harry smiled back and cuffed him on the shoulder.

"Well, Ron, you were a bit harsh, but I guess that was a good start," said Hermione.

The three prefects followed the first years into the entrance hall. Harry trailed along behind them, along with Dean and Seamus, looking forward to a nice comfy bed. Once upstairs, he quickly fell fast asleep, dreaming something about Cho, Quidditch, and then something about a tall blond woman with steel gray eyes, but he couldn't remember what.

The next morning Harry awoke with Ron and they walked down for breakfast together. Hermione and Ginny were already at the Gryffindor table and were half finished with their meals.

"Why are you two so late?" demanded Ginny.

"I'm surprised they made it down here at all after how they pigged out last night," snapped Hermione.

"It is a feast, you know, Hermione. You're supposed to eat a lot and enjoy yourself, I mean otherwise what's the difference between a feast and this breakfast?" replied Ron as he sat down next to Harry.

"There's a difference between feasting and making a pig of yourself."

"One day, Hermione, you might actually relax and enjoy yourself, you know? We'd probably have to have you committed to St Mungo's, though, I don't know if your brain could handle not being neurotic."

Hermione looked insulted and the two began bickering at full steam.

Harry sighed and reached for the bacon and toast. He had experienced enough of Ron and Hermione's arguments to know they would be sniping at least until break.

After a few minutes, Ginny interrupted their argument. "Ron, if you don't quit bickering soon, you'll miss breakfast altogether. You two have all year to squabble, you know. You don't have to get it completely out of the way on the first day."

Both Ron and Hermione turned a bit pink and started eating again.

Professor McGonagall came by, handing out the course schedules. "Don't think it is easier just because you have fewer subjects in your sixth year. The work will be much harder." She passed them and continued down the Gryffindor table.

All the sixth years except Hermione groaned in unison.

"Much harder than last year? They nearly killed us!" whimpered Parvati Patil.

"What a way to start the week, Double Defense Against the Dark Arts with that Lennon woman!" snarled Ginny.

"How can you have that class this morning, Ginny? Harry and I have it too!" asked Ron.

"Maybe there's a mistake on one of the schedules?" added Hermione, puzzled.

"Professor McGonagall!" called Ginny, waving at her.

McGonagall approached and stood between Ginny and Hermione. "Yes?"

"There must be a mistake with the schedules. Ginny is in the same Defense Against the Dark Arts class as Harry, Ron and I," stated Hermione.

"Of course there hasn't been a mistake, Miss Granger. Now you lot best get moving before you are late for class. That would make a terrible first impression with your new Teacher," she replied. Her mouth twitched as though stifling a laugh as she turned towards the entrance hall.

"What gives?" muttered Ron.

Harry shrugged at him, grabbed his bag and stood up. Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Seamus, Dean, Neville, Lavender and Parvati all followed Harry to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

Harry noticed that Ginny wasn't the only fifth year in his class; Colin Creevey was also entering the door a few feet in front of him. When Harry got inside he saw Katie Bell talking to Cho Chang; that meant seventh years were also in the class. Luna Lovegood was sitting near the front, and Ginny took a seat next to her.

Harry thought that they must be paired with the Ravenclaws, but then Hannah Abbout, Ernie McMillan, Susan Bones and Justin Finch-Fletchley from Hufflepuff all walked in. Harry turned to Hermione and said, "An odd assortment, wouldn't you say?"

Marietta Edgecombe then walked by Harry, smiling at him, and sat next to Cho.

"You know what I think, Harry?" said Hermione, her face glowing. "I think this class is all of the returning students that were in Dumbledore's Army last year."

As if to quell any doubts Harry might have about Hermione's theory, Michael Corner, Terry Boot, Anthony Goldstein and Zacharias Smith all walked in, looking timid. They were followed by Padma Patil, who went and sat beside her twin and Lavender Brown.

"Oh Harry, this is wonderful," Hermione beamed.

"Yeah, mate, you must have made some impression on Dumbledore!" added Ron.

"I wonder why that Lennon woman is so late to her first class? She struck me as a very punctual type of person," said Ginny, loudly enough for everyone to hear.

Most of the class nodded or murmured in agreement.

Harry then heard a song in the air - a beautiful song he had heard once before, while he was at 4 Privet Drive. It can't be, he thought, and then he saw a small bird fly into the room and land on Ginny's arm. Ginny gasped.

"Lily! What are you doing here?" she stammered, stroking the downy woodpecker. Luna reached over and petted Lily also.

"Do you think this means Mars is keeping an eye on you while you're here, Harry?" asked Hermione.

"Could be. He was really furious that Voldemort had managed to attack me so many times while he was stuck in Texas," answered Harry. He felt a little miffed that Mars worried about him even at Hogwarts, but it was nice to hear Lily's wonderful song again.

Suddenly a loud explosion came from the back of the classroom and shook the desks. Most of the girls screamed and everyone covered their ears and turned. The large ornamental plates on the wall that Delores Umbridge had loved so much, decorated with those foul kittens, had all exploded, and their pieces were now smoldering into dust on the floor.

"Sorry to shock y'all like that, but I just cleaned out my office and if I had to look at those stupid kittens one more time I think I would've been ill," a deep voice said from the front of the classroom.

Everyone's heads whipped around to see the owner of the voice. Harry, Ron and Hermione all gasped in surprise. Lavender and the Patil twins said "Oooh", and Luna and Marietta shrieked in delight. The two girls leaped out of their desks and sprinted toward the tall figure now standing in front of the class. He was wearing expensive-looking, blood-red robes.

"Mars!" squealed Luna and Marietta, hugging him.

"Merlin's Beard! If I'd known I would get a greeting like this on my return to Hogwarts, I'd have come back a lot sooner!" said Mars, beaming around at the students.

"Mars, what are you doing here?" cried Ron. Hermione and Harry nodded, looking up at the American.

"I'm here to make the tea, doofus. What do you think I'm here for, Ron? I'm your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," replied Mars.

"No!" Hermione and Harry exclaimed together.

"What? Would you rather have Umbridge back? I guess I could fetch her out of Azkaban," Mars teased. Luna and Marietta giggled.

"Of course not!" squeaked Hermione indignantly. "We were just surprised."

"Happily surprised, Mars," added Harry, whose face had lit up.

"Excellent. Girls, go ahead and take your seats," said Mars, gently pushing Luna and Marietta towards the desks. "For those of you who don't know me, my name is Mars. Simply Mars. There's no need to call me professor; I hope a title isn't necessary for you all to respect me. As you can tell from my accent, I'm from Texas; and oh, yes, I finished my seventh year at Hogwarts twelve years ago.

"I'll warn you up front, do not be taken in by my familiarity with several of your fellow students. I will not play favorites with marks, and I can guarantee you that my class will easily take more work than any three of your other courses combined."

Everyone except Hermione murmured at this pronouncement; she only sat up straighter and prepared herself to take notes.

"I've only had a little time to look over the subjects that your previous teachers have covered, but I must say that you've only had two worthy teachers, Remus Lupin and Harry here," said Mars, pointing at Harry.

Harry blushed, while Hermione and Ron beamed at him.

"I'm sure y'all have deduced that this class is based on the group you formed last year, Dumbledore's Army. It was my idea to have this advanced class; it seemed silly to put the fifth years through the normal course when Harry has already taught them everything." Mars again grinned at Harry.

"Now, put those books away. Who ever heard of learning Defense Against the Dark Arts by reading? Please, there's no book in the world that can teach you the things that I can. You'll be studying those tables enough out of class; just leave them in your dorms."

The students all happily stowed the books in their bags. Harry was excited; he couldn't think of someone that was more of an opposite to Umbridge.

"Today, I will give a demonstration of the class aims; then there is a simple but exotic spell that I want to teach you because of something Minerva said to me this morning."

He waved his wand and cried, "Elicio!" The torso of a large mannequin atop a three-foot pole appeared around the midpoint of the classroom's outside wall.

"We call this a tackling dummy in America, but it will do nicely as a target for practicing our combat spells. Everyone on that side of the room please squeeze in over here."

After the students had shuffled over to the far side of the room, Mars waved his wand and the desks near the target disappeared, making a nice clear space around it.

"Harry, I've never seen your Stunning Charm, but I've heard it was very good. Go ahead and give that dummy a wallop for me, would you?" asked Mars.

Harry nodded and stepped out of the crowd. He rolled up the sleeves of his robe, waved his wand and shouted "Stupefy!" A red ray shot out of his wand and hit the dummy dead on. The stunner knocked the dummy into the wall; it bounced off and landed on the the floor with a thud.

"Excellent!" said Mars as the rest of the class applauded politely.

"Harry's Stunner is as good as any adult wizard's you'll find. A spell that good will get full marks on your NEWTs, but this class isn't really about passing exams. It's about defending yourself from the Dark Arts.

"Now then, who can tell me why Hogwarts is the best magic school in the world?" Mars asked the class.

Hermione, as usual, raised her hand immediately and, to Harry's surprise, so did most of the Ravenclaw students.

Mars pointed to Anthony Goldstein and said, "What's your name, son?"

Anthony looked surprised at this informal address, but he quickly replied, "Anthony Goldstein, sir."

"What's your answer, Anthony?"

"It has the best professors."

"While Hogwarts has had great teachers, Anthony, so do many of the other schools. Not a bad try, though," said Mars, then he pointed to Hermione. "Yes, Hermione?"

"Dumbledore. He is the greatest wizard of our time. He sets the tone for the rest of the staff," answered Hermione confidently.

"Well, those two things are certainly true, but they are not the answer to my question. Hogwarts was the best wizarding school in the world centuries before our Headmaster was born." Mars then pointed at Padma. "Let's have your name and answer, darlin'."

She blushed a bit and said, "Padma Patil. The Hogwarts curriculum is what makes it so good. It covers the most important subjects and sets the proper priorities." She sat down, trying not to giggle along with Parvati and Lavender.

"Excellent, Padma; not exactly what I was looking for, but very close. Take five points for Ravenclaw."

Mars waved his wand and on the board behind him three large letters appeared.

"LCD," he said. "Least Common Denominator. That is the key to Hogwarts' success in teaching young witches and wizards." He glanced around the room and surveyed the confused looks on the students' faces, then smiled and continued. "Hogwarts has the highest level of competency among its former students of any wizarding school in the world. We have achieved this by zeroing in on the easiest way to cast the most effective spells. How well a spell works depends on many variables: Magical talent, motion of the wand, pronunciation of the incantation, time of day, time of year, the weather, and, when needed, the quality of the material components. The closer the caster gets to the optimum combination, the better the spell's result.

"Determining the optimum method for casting a spell is immensely complex, much more complex than anything you've studied before. This is the reason LCD has been so important to Hogwarts: You have all been taught the easiest way to cast the most effective spells. You could cast more powerful spells than you do, but they would be harder to cast correctly, and without careful training you might fail at a crucial moment. Yes, Ginny?"

"Why would we want to risk messing up the spell, then?" she asked. Many of the students nodded, but Padma and Hermione both looked at Ginny scornfully.

"An excellent point, Ginny. Let me demonstrate," answered Mars. "Displacio!"

Hundreds of tiny red orbs flew from Mars' wand and glided over to the dummy. They surrounded it and stood the dummy gently up again. Hermione gasped.

"Now remember this: Harry's stunner was perfectly cast using the LCD method. I would say very few wizards in Britain could have cast a better Stunning Spell," said Mars and then he waved his wand, with a slightly exaggerated curl, and cried "Stupefy!" An enormous red column shot out the end of his wand - it was at least six times wider than Harry's. The stunner slammed into the center of the dummy; its edges trailed out past the dummy's sides and these parts of the ray hit the outside wall. The spell exploded as it hit the wall, and the room shook again.

The dummy ricocheted across the room, its midsection crushed. There were two holes in the wall where the edges of the stunner had made impact with it, and shafts of sunlight gleamed through each of them. The class sat silently in awe.

"Now who wants to learn to toss spells like that, eh? Hands up if you are for it!" exclaimed Mars, smiling brightly.

Hermione's and Padma's hands shot into the air. As the rest of the class recovered from their shock, their hands followed likewise.

"Good, good," said Mars. "Now, I -"

"Mars! What's going on in here? It sounds like a war zone!" barked Professor McGonagall, hurrying into the classroom.

"Well, I was a little exuberant with a Stunning Charm, Minerva, but the students needed to see something impressive if I'm to convince them that all the hard work I'll be assigning is worth it," said Mars, his eyes twinkling.

"That I can understand, but you can't just knock holes in the walls of the castle," she said.

"Oh, no problem," said Mars, waving his wand. "Reparo!" he barked, and the dust and bricks reintegrated back into the wall neatly.

"See, all fixed," he said.

"Well, just be a bit more careful, Mars. And I think your Repairing Charm is a bit out of practice. Good day." McGonagall turned and left the room.

"Out of practice? Hmph. She needs to look closer," Mars muttered.

Harry looked over at the mended wall and thought Professor McGonagall had a point. The areas of the wall that Mars had repaired were a slightly different color from the rest.

"Okay, where were we? Oh yes, that was the demonstration of the course aims. Now we will have today's lesson. Which of you is Katie Bell?" asked Mars.

Katie shyly raised her hand. "I am, Professor," she said.

"Just Mars will do, Katie. Minerva told me that Peeves has been rather horrible to you lately; is that true?" asked Mars kindly.

"Too right he has," Katie agreed, nodding.

"Well let me show you all a spell we often use in America to deal with minor annoying spirits like poltergeists. First we will need a victim, ooops, I mean a volunteer." Mars grinned evilly.

"Accio poltergeist!" he said, stabbing his wand forward.

For several seconds nothing happened, and then a faint screaming sounded from outside the classroom. The screaming grew in volume, and then Peeves shot through the wall and stopped right in front of Mars.

Peeves had his back to Mars and looked very cross. He spun around angrily, looking violent, until his eyes met Mars'. A look of complete panic spread across his face.

"Oh, it-it's you Mars. Y-You're back at Hogwarts? How, how lovely. Yes, lovely that you're back," said Peeves nervously.

"Thank you, Peeves. I really appreciate you volunteering to help us with this spell," replied Mars, still grinning.

Harry and many of his classmates were chuckling.

"What? No, no. Peevesy stays out of the way of students learning. Oh yes, I promised the Headmaster," said Peeves, slowly floating towards to door.

"No, I insist. Stay and help out for once. Simulacrumi Manus!" said Mars, thrusting his wand down. A large misty hand formed behind Peeves and grabbed him firmly.

Peeves screamed in surprise, and many of the students gasped.

"Now first, you move your wand like this," said Mars who raised his wand up, looped it and then thrust it forward. "As you jab, say the incantation 'Multo Phasma'." Mars demonstrated the spell against the board. An odd springing sound accompanied by a faint pink mist was all the students saw. "Okay, everyone stand and practice the spell a bit. Just aim the spell at the wall or into the air; it can only affect spirits, so we're all quite safe."

Peeves was now whimpering as the whole class jabbed their wands and practiced the incantation. Hermione was thrilled when on her third try she managed to have a bit of mist come out. Padma Patil seemed to be having similar success. Mars was working with Katie, Ginny and Luna at the front of the class. Everyone seemed to be having fun except Cho. While Marietta, who was right next to her, was smiling brightly as she waved her wand, Cho seemed to be brooding and barely moving her wand at all. Harry stared at her, wondering what was wrong, when something suddenly stung his hand.

"Ouch!" he yelped, jumping back a step. Everyone was staring at him, including Mars, who had his wand pointed at him.

"No loafing, Harry," said Mars, winking. He then went back to working with the three girls.

Harry shook his hand and tried to ignore the snickers of Ron, Hermione and Neville. He turned so he couldn't be distracted by Cho anymore, and after a few corrections from Hermione, he and Ron both managed to have the mist and a bit of noise issue from their wands.

"Okay, I think we're ready to try the spell on our volunteer. Katie, come on up here, if you please," said Mars as he motioned Katie to approach. When she reached him, Mars told her, "Let 'im have it!"

"Multo Phasma," she said loudly. A springing sound rang out and a pink mist issued from her wand toward Peeves. The poltergeist shrieked in pain and was knocked back about ten feet, taking along the spectral hand that held him.

Katie grinned from ear to ear as she watched Peeves cursing her. Mars put his hand on her shoulder.

"Excellent, Katie," said Mars. "As you can see, it does hurt him when it knocks him back, but the pain goes right away. It isn't much good against a really nasty spirit, but for nuisances like Peeves here it's excellent. I think he could use one more dose before we're through. Ginny, go ahead and take a shot."

Ginny quickly moved to the front of the classroom and glared at Peeves in a way that made her highly resemble her twin brothers. She rolled up her robe sleeves, waved her wand, and cried, "Multo Phasma!"

Peeves screamed again, but this time he and the spectral hand that held him flew right through the wall and presumably into the corridor. Students in the class stood up and applauded Ginny's excellent spellwork - and of course Peeves getting some of his own medicine. Ginny curtsied for the class, blushing. Mars waved his wand at the wall and Harry heard Peeves' cursing trailing off; Mars must have freed the poltergeist.

"Very good, Ginny and Katie! Take five points each for Gryffindor. Go ahead and return to your seats." Mars used his wand to bring the vanished desks back into the classroom. He then pointed his wand at the board and a long explanation of the Spirit Slap Charm appeared.

"Copy this down and practice the spell so y'all know it well for the next session. Please note, this will hurt the castle's ghosts, so do not cast it on them, not even on old Moaning Myrtle. I will be very annoyed if I hear about any misuse of this or any spell I teach you. This advanced class will learn spells never taught at Hogwarts before, and I expect you all to be responsible with this knowledge. You are also not to teach your friends who are not in this class anything you learn here. This is a special class; any breaking of my rules and I'll chuck you in with the normal groups. Everybody with me on the rules?"

The students nodded and started copiously copying the notes on the board.

"You can leave when you have the notes jotted down." Mars sat behind his desk and looked around at the students.

The faster writers in the class finished first, and it seemed everyone said goodbye to Mars as they left, except Cho. She walked past him quickly as Katie and Anthony approached Mars with a question.

"What's up with Cho?" asked Ron, who was standing next to Harry.

"I don't know, but she doesn't seem to like Mars much, does she?" answered Harry.

"Yeah, I wonder why," replied Ron.

Harry and Hermione got up and the three of them headed towards Mars, who was chatting with Ginny and Luna. Halfway to the front, Hermione veered off towards the outside wall. Harry and Ron kept walking.

"Mars, that lesson was brilliant! It's about time someone put Peeves in line," Ron enthused. The others nodded.

"I certainly had a few tussles with Peeves when I was a student here. I figured it was about time the students were on a level playing field with him again," answered Mars.

"Why did you zap me, anyway?" asked Harry.

"Well Harry, I have no problems with you ogling a pretty girl like Cho, but not while you're supposed to be practicing one of my lessons."

Harry tried hard not to go pink, but he was positive he was failing.

"Mars, why didn't you aim your demonstration spell at Peeves when you cast it?" asked Ginny, who was the only one not chuckling at Mars' last remark.

"You saw what Mars' stunner was like, Ginny," interjecting Hermione, joining them. "I don't think Peeves would have been in much shape for you and Katie to practice on if Mars had zapped him first."

"My reasoning exactly, Hermione," agreed Mars.

"We're very, very happy to have you as our professor! When we saw that Lennon woman at the feast last night, we were terrified she was to be the new teacher," said Ginny.

"I don't blame you for being scared, Ginny. But don't worry, Professor Dumbledore won't make that kind of mistake again," said Mars.

"Why was she here, anyway?" asked Ron.

"One last-ditch effort to convince us to support her to replace Fudge as the Minister of Magic. While I agree that she's very intelligent and charming, I don't trust her a lick," answered Mars.

"More vapid than charming if you ask me," said Hermione snidely.

"Well, y'all need to get moving. Harry, I'll need you to stop by my office at six tonight after dinner. You're not in trouble or anything, just a few things to discuss. It's just school work; don't look so alarmed. Get going, go on," said Mars, shooing them out the door.

In the hallway, Ginny and Luna said goodbye as they sped up to catch to some other fifth years who were headed outside for break. The three sixth years followed them at a slower pace.

"What were you looking at along the wall, Hermione?" asked Ron.

"I wanted to see the repair job Mars did up close. He seemed pretty annoyed that Professor McGonagall sneered at it. Since he suggested she take a closer look, I decided to myself," answered Hermione.

"Well, she was right about that. The parts he repaired were a different color from the rest," added Harry.

"If you had looked at it closely like I did, Harry, you would have noticed the repaired bits looked different because those parts of the wall weren't faded and worn. Those bricks appeared brand new," said Hermione in a superior tone.

"You mean he made the wall better than it was before?" asked Ron. "That's pretty impressive."

Hermione nodded and then said, "It's supposed to be impossible." The three of them left the building and admired the beautiful fall day that was developing.

Chapter Twelve - A New Kind of Assignment

Illustration link:

[url]http://hpbook6.freewebpage.org/art/nomarks/Heather_Mary_Mark_Harry.jpg[/url]

After break, Ron, Harry and Hermione had Charms with the Ravenclaws. The class included all the sixth year Gryffindors except Seamus, and every Ravenclaw in Harry's year. The three of them sat in the middle of the room and listened to tiny Professor Flitwick outline what they would be doing for the year. Normally Charms was the most fun class Harry had, but compared to today's first lesson with Mars, it seemed dull.

When Flitwick finished his outline, he asked if there were any questions. Terry Boot raised his hand and Flitwick called on him.

"Professor, will we be learning the Displacement Charm this year?" he asked.

"Oh no, no, we wouldn't teach that at Hogwarts. It is a very unwieldy spell, really useful only for moving large objects haphazardly out of your way, Mr. Boot," answered Flitwik.

"But in our Defense Against the Dark Arts class today, Mars moved things around very nimbly with it," Padma spoke up. Parvati and Lavender both nodded agreement.

"My dear Miss Patil, I think you will find that Professor Mars' use of spells is often unorthodox. He's quite unique. There's really no need to learn that charm, yes, we have plenty of lessons for the year." Flitwick then dismissed them without assigning homework, so everyone was happy as they made their way to lunch.

Ginny was already at the Gryffindor table, looked cross. Once they were seated, Hermione asked her what was wrong.

"I just had Potions with Snape. He heard Colin and I talking about what a great class we had with Mars, and I thought he was going to hit me right there," answered Ginny.

"He threatened you?" asked Ron angrily.

"No, he just gave me this murderous look. I really thought he was going to curse me. Then he kept muttering horrible things about Mars every time he walked by me and Colin while we were mixing our potions," said Ginny.

"Still don't think he's the spy, Hermione?" Ron asked nastily.

"Mars told us that they've always disliked each other. Plus, you now have to add in the fact that Mars was hired for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position - something that Snape has wanted for 6 years! It's hardly surprising that he's mad at Mars," Hermione said stuffily.

"It looked a lot worse that just being mad to me, Hermione," replied Ginny.

Harry had Double Care of Magical creatures after lunch; he noticed six Gryffindors and four Hufflepuffs in the class, and also two Slytherin sixth years: Sally-Anne Perks and Blaise Zambini. He saw no Ravenclaws. "Are there just three Houses in this class?" he wondered aloud.

"Nah, this is all the houses," said Hagrid sadly, walking up to the group of students. "Just no Ravenclaws signed up for the NEWT level classes this year, Harry. None of 'em like me classes, they said."

"That's a bit rude," said Hermione.

"Rubbish sense of humor, Hagrid; pay them no mind," suggested Harry.

"We've seen too much of those bookworms already, Hagrid. We're glad they're not in the class," added Ron; this remark earned him a nasty look from Hermione.

The three of them had no time to chat with Hagrid after class, because Harry had to meet Mars at six, so all three rushed to the Hall for dinner.

When Harry had finished his dinner, he said goodbye to his friends and headed for Mars' office. He knocked lightly on the door and heard a deep voice bark, "Come in." Harry opened the door and walked in.

He had been in this office while it was occupied by the previous four teachers, so he was quite familiar with it, or at least he thought he was. Harry's jaw dropped as he gaped around the room. The office was at least four times bigger than he remembered, and had two doors on one of the side walls that he knew had not been there just last year.

The back wall was covered in crossed spears with a shield beneath each set. The front wall had alternating pairs of crossed staffs and swords. All of the weapons looked well crafted and very expensive. The floor had an enormous Santa Fe rug in the middle, and the left back corner of the room sported a marble fountain of a wolf with water pouring out of its mouth.

"You trying to catch flies, Harry?" asked Mars, looking at Harry's open mouth.

Harry closed his jaws and recovered himself enough to speak. "You did a lot of redecorating, I see."

"I had to, bud. Umbridge's decorations were uglier than she was; plus, I need a lot of room. Who ever heard of a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher without a separate lab in his office?" answered Mars. "Come on over and sit at the desk; we have some very important matters to discuss."

They walked to a huge, simple-looking wooden desk near the back wall, close to the greatly-enlarged fireplace. Harry looked into the fireplace as he sat down, but jumped up in surprise when he saw two eyes staring at him from the middle of the flames.

"Mars! I saw eyes in the fireplace!" exclaimed Harry, pointing.

"Oh, don't concern yourself, Harry. It's just a Heliopath I use to guard my fireplace. I have it sealed off from the regular Floo network, of course, but you can never be too careful. He'll let people leave from this fireplace, but not arrive."

"Hermione said they don't exist."

"Who you gonna believe? Your eyes or some book she's read?"

The eyes in the fire blinked and Harry was positive he wasn't hallucinating, so he decided that Hermione must have been misinformed.

"The reason I asked you here tonight, Harry, is to discuss your assignments in my class. You have great raw talent, but it needs refining. From what I've seen during your Occlumency lessons and what I hear from others, you really progressed in your control from the teachings you gave the other students in your DA club."

"Yeah, it made me think hard about the spells I was showing them. I wanted to make sure I presented the best example. I mean, otherwise, I'd look like a prat, right?"

"Exactly, and that's why I'm going to separate you from all the others in my class. Even though your class is the most advanced one, you're even further ahead. Defense Against the Darks Arts, for you, Harry, is not a matter of marks or certificates, but a life and death struggle. I'll have a different curriculum for you, and I want you to do something very special."

"What?"

"I have two first year classes and I want you to teach one of them each week in my place."

"What? Be a real teacher? Mars, that's a lot different than being the leader of a club. I mean, I don't think I could manage," replied Harry in a panicky voice.

"Come off it, Harry. Do you really think for a second you're not better than Quirrel, Lockheart or Umbridge?"

"Of course I am!" answered Harry automatically.

"Then there's no reason to be scared. I already have the lesson plans drawn out; if you think we should cover anything else, just let me know and we can add it to both classes. We'll have you start next week. You'll have a double period Wednesday morning, and then a single on Friday after break."

Mars was again using that tone that suggested he expected obedience, but Harry still wasn't sure he was hearing correctly. Mars wanted him to teach a real class? He was still in school, for heavens sake! Would the parents complain? "Mars, are you sure this is allowed?"

"Relax, Harry. You've survived four separate attacks from Voldemort, for Pete's sake; even I haven't done that." Mars picked up a notebook from his desk and handed it to Harry. "This is your lesson plan. Go ahead and study it so you're prepared for next week. I will be working you very hard this year, but it's necessary; you must believe me."

Harry was too stunned to say anything; he simply shook Mars' outstretched hand and headed back for the Gryffindor common room. He was now a teacher, he thought; but it still hadn't sunk in. Would he make his students call him Professor Potter? He thought that had a nice ring to it.

His friends were surprised when he told them the news. They were also quite proud of him, though Ron worried that the extra workload would distract him from Quidditch practice. Hermione immediately wanted to look through his new lesson plan, and Ginny simply beamed at him, full of pride. Buoyed by the confidence his friends showed in him, Harry began to think that he could pull off teaching a class. For now, however, they had other work to do.

Hermione couldn't wait to begin practicing the Spirit Slap jinx. By the time they all had mastered the spell, everyone was quite tired, and they bid each other good night.

Harry's second day of class also had a couple of surprises, but neither were good ones. In Astronomy lecture, all four houses were in the class, and that included Malfoy. To make matters worse, Crabbe and Goyle had somehow managed to get into the Astronomy NEWT program with him.

"How did those two idiots pass their OWLs? That is definitely dodgey," snarled Hermione.

Her mood turned even more sour when the class began and Professor Sinistra again singled out Harry and Ron for praise about their Outstanding OWL results. The lecture on Astronomy, however, was so boring that by the the time it ended, Harry and Ron were both sore at Mars for talking them into keeping the subject. They ended up with a lot of star-charting homework, but that actually cheered them up, as they now had an excuse to use Harry's Galaxy Globe.

They got out of Astronomy a little early and waited outside the Transfiguration classroom. After a few minutes they saw Ginny and Luna leaving. Ginny warned them that one of the students had really riled up McGonagall and that they had all received a lot of homework because of this. Apparently McGonagall was still in a foul mood, as she snapped at them to hurry to their seats, even though they had just been allowed into the room.

"Now that you are finally ready, I will start with an admonition. We will be doing some very serious magic this year, and any fooling around in my class will not be tolerated. You have been warned."

McGonagall outlined what they would be doing for the year, just as Flitwick had. The serious magic she had referred to was the human transfiguration lessons that were planned near the term's end. Apparently things could go disastrously wrong. McGonagall did not, however, follow Flitwick's lead on homework; she assigned them many pages to read.

After break, the trio had their first Potions lesson of the year. Harry had been prepared to deal with Snape's normal loathing, but it seemed that Snape now hated Harry and Ron ten times more than before.

"I have no idea how you and your sidekick Weasley got into this class, Potter, but rest assured I will find out what you did," Snape sneered at the three of them. He spoke loudly enough for the whole class to hear his taunt.

"They're in the NEWT program for the same reason the rest us of are, Professor," said Hermione in their defense. "They earned an Outstanding on their Potions OWLs."

"No one asked you to speak, Miss Granger. Take your seat! Not you two. I'm not finished with you," hissed Snape through his yellow teeth.

Hermione stomped off to a free table.

"Professor, we couldn't have cheated on the exams. They were -" Ron started.

"Silence, Weasley!" Snape interrupted. "I was willing to let our problems fade into the past, to try and forget all of your transgressions, but no, that's not good enough for the dynamic duo, is it? The famous Potter now wants to follow in the footsteps of his new-found renegade friend Mars by disrupting my classes, along with his own set of Weasley sycophants," said Snape venomously. Ron and Harry both glared at him. "Any distractions from the two of you will not be tolerated. I'll be keeping a very close eye on you. It will be surprising indeed if either of you managed to stay in this class, or even Hogwarts itself. Now take your seats."

Harry was fuming as he sat down beside Hermione. Snape was telling him off for doing well on his exam? What was he supposed to do, fail it? Probably, thought Harry. Snape had been trying to get Ron and him expelled for years.

Through the entire class Harry fought to contain his anger. Malfoy made faces at him, and Snape flashed him deadly looks. By the end of the class, Harry was ready to burst; he rushed out of the classroom as fast as he could. Ron and Hermione didn't catch up to him until the Entrance Hall.

"I can't believe Snape said those things to you. Accusing you of cheating when he knows that's impossible on the OWLs, and then he insulted Ron and his family. That was vile and despicable! You should tell Dumbledore straight away; I swear he was threatening to purposely get you expelled," fumed Hermione.

"No, Hermione, we should tell Mars straight away," Ron said darkly. "He might actually do something. Snape has been treating us like that ever since we got here."

Harry was about to voice his agreement when he heard a nasal female voice behind them.

"Running down Professors in front of other students, are you, Granger?" asked a tall, mean-looking, red-headed Slytherin girl whom Harry at once recognized as the Head Girl, Ester Spikes.

"What do you mean, Ester?" Hermione challenged.

"I heard what you called Professor Snape. 'Vile and despicable,' you said he was. Hardly the way you'd expect a prefect to act, is it? No, this will not do, Granger. I think three days of detention might teach you some respect. I'll also be reporting your insults to Professor McGonagall. See me after dinner for the details of your detention. Good day," replied Ester, and she walked into the Great Hall with the other students headed for lunch.

Hermione shook with fury. She gripped her hands into fists so tight that her knuckles turned white. "She's not going to get away with this," Hermione hissed with hatred.

Ron nudged her forward. "C'mon, let's get moving."

Hermione reluctantly moved along with the boys to the Gryffindor table. Hermione was too upset to eat; she just sat at the table and fumed all through lunch.

Harry and Ron had the rest of the day off, so after lunch they went the library to do their Transfiguration and Potions homework, while Hermione went to Ancient Runes. Later that night, in the common room, Hermione told Ginny about her detention.

"I'll be mopping floors with Filch for three nights. Hardly pleasant, but it could have been much worse," she said, looking at the backs of Harry's hands.

"Ron was right, Hermione; we should tell Mars. I don't think Snape would be so arrogant and nasty to his face," suggested Ginny.

"Snape was pretty nasty to him at the Order's meeting, remember?" said Harry.

"I don't think Snape feels so confident without Kingsley around, but it doesn't matter. I'm not saying anything to Mars, and neither should any of you," said Hermione firmly.

"Why not?"

"Because I think Mars would take it badly and respond very forcefully."

"What's wrong with that?" asked Ron.

"Do you want him getting banished again? I certainly don't. He could be one of the best Teachers we've ever had," answered Hermione. She went back to reading her Runes book.

Harry went to bed that night thinking only of how much he hated Severus Snape.

The end of the first week was about the same as the beginning. Defense Against the Darks was the most enjoyable class, and Potions was the worst. The professors were piling the homework on them, and all the while Harry had to prepare for teaching the first years starting on Wednesday. He couldn't remember a previous first week with so little free time.

Hermione served her first detention Thursday night. By eight o'clock on the next night, Harry, Ron and Ginny had finished enough of their homework to stop for the evening and were thinking of playing exploding snap when Hermione unexpectedly joined them in the Common Room.

"I thought you were in detention?" asked Ron.

"Well, I was working with Filch in the Charms corridor when Mars came by and wanted to know why I was mopping when I had plenty of homework. I explained that I had detention and how I got it. He seemed amused," said Hermione with a slight frown. "But then he said that I didn't have to serve any more of the punishment and to enjoy the weekend."

"Wow," said Ron and Ginny.

"I bet that hacked off Filch," said Harry.

"He did look upset, but he also seemed terrified of Mars. So I decided to leave while I was ahead," she shrugged.

Hermione wasn't interested in any games, so she worked on her Runes and Arithmancy homework the rest of the night while the boys and Ginny played snaps.

When he awoke on Saturday morning, Harry had his plans for the day already in place. After breakfast he would finish his Astronomy homework using his globe; he and Ron had placed it in the Gryffindor common room for everyone to use. Afterward, he would get totally prepared for his first teaching assignment. Harry had promised himself not to get behind in his studies this year, and he didn't want to let down Mars by looking daft on his first day as a teacher.

When he arrived in the Great Hall, Ron, Hermione and Neville were having breakfast together while Ginny chatted with Katie Bell and Jack Sloper. Harry sat down next to Neville and grabbed some toast.

"You know what we've got to do today, mate?" asked Ron.

"Finish our mountain of Astronomy homework?" answered Harry.

Hermione nodded, but Ron wrinkled his nose. "Besides the ruddy homework, I mean! We have to arrange for the Qudditch team trials next week. And - um - pick a new captain," said Ron, averting his eyes.

"Oh, I'd forgotten about needing a new chaser and a captain," said Harry, embarrassed.

"Well, we haven't," said Ginny, standing behind Harry with Katie Bell. They both stared down at him.

Katie crossed her arms and looked across the table at Andrew Kirke, who had just walked up behind Ron and Hermione. Then she spoke. "Well, as the only seventh year on the team, I expect my opinion to be respected, and from talking to Ginny I have an opinion on who should be our new captain now that Angelina has left."

Everyone looked at Katie with bated breath.

"It seems that Ron here has drawn up many well-thought-out plays over the summer, and has become quite possessed, like Oliver and Angelina were, so I think that makes him the natural choice. Do you lot agree?" she asked.

Ron choked on his pumpkin juice, but Harry, Ginny and Jack agreed loudly and enthusiastically. Andrew looked at Ron and then nodded.

"Then it's decided. Congratulations, Ron!" said Katie, clapping politely with the others. "At three o'clock today, we meet in Madam Hooch's office with Professor McGonagall to discuss the trials and officially name our Captain."

Katie and the others left; Ginny sat down next to Harry. Harry and Ginny fussed over Ron throughout breakfast; Hermione, however, seemed rather subdued. After a few minutes, Ginny left to write a letter to their parents and the twins.

When they finished breakfast, the trio headed back to the Common Room to start their Astronomy homework. As they climbed the last staircase before the Fat Lady, Hermione turned to Ron and spoke.

"Ron, do you think it's a good idea for you to be the Quidditch Captain?"

Ron looked confused and then angry. "Are you saying I'm not good enough to be Captain?"

"No, I didn't say that!" she answered quickly.

"Then just what are you saying?"

"It's just that with all the NEWT level classes we have and your prefect duties, do you really think you have time to be captain?"

Ron looked furious. "Nothing I do is ever good enough for you, is it?" Hermione started to object, but Ron talked over her. "When I make prefect, you think it must be a mistake, then you're mad at me for doing well on my OWLs, and now I get offered the captaincy, something I've always dreamed of, and you want me to refuse it? What's the matter, Hermione, do you think if I stop being such a nobody I won't be as much fun to look down upon?"

Hermione looked hurt; her eyes swelled with tears. She managed to say, "Ron, I don't think you're a nobody. How -"

"Then why do you treat me like one?" yelled Ron. He stormed up the stairs and through the Fat Lady's painting.

Hermione wiped a few tears away from her eyes and looked at Harry. Sniffling, she asked, "Does he really think I look down upon him?"

"He didn't sound to me like he was joking," answered Harry cautiously.

"Ron must know that's not true!"

Harry knew what he should do and say, but he was scared to try. After a pause that seemed to last years, he pushed himself into action. He put his arm around Hermione and forced the words out of his mouth.

"Ron's just not sure that you like him, Hermione."

"What?" she snapped. "That's ridiculous, Harry. If I didn't like him why would I spend so much time around him?"

"No, Hermione, I mean," and now Harry had to struggle hard to make himself finish, "like him. Different than you like me or Neville. You know."

Harry could not believe how stupid he sounded; he was positive that Hermione going to laugh in his face. Instead, she gave him a puzzled look. "You mean like going out?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure he wants me to like him like that?" she asked.

"Of course."

"Then he's got a funny way of showing it. He didn't even notice that I was a girl for the first three and a half years he knew me. Even after this revelation, he never asked me out, or got me a Valentine's Day card, and he didn't want to dance with me at his own brother's wedding, even after all my hints!" Hermione began crying as she spoke. "He only did in the end b-because Tonks, Fleur and M-Mars tricked him!" She cried harder now and her face grew red.

This was not going at all the way Harry had planned. He needed to say something fast in Ron's defense, so Hermione would know Ron was just being daft and not purposely mean. Harry could only think of the way that he had felt at the wedding, how happy he was once he had been dancing with Ginny and how nervous he had been beforehand.

"Hermione, he didn't ask you to dance because he was nervous."

"That's rubbish Harry," she said tearfully. "He's known me for years, he's -"

"He was nervous because, well, you know how clumsy he is. Plus, he doesn't know how to dance. He didn't want to embarrass himself in front of all those graceful French people and Ministry officials. And ... and he really wanted to make Mars think he was cool."

Harry stopped himself before he exposed too many of his own feelings. He remembered how happy Ron and Hermione looked as they danced, and knew exactly how to end his little white lie (if, in fact, it was a lie). He grabbed Hermione by the shoulders, and pulled her head up until she was looking at his face.

"Ron also told me that dancing with you was the best feeling he had ever had. Better than winning the Quidditch Cup, but he ... he," Harry instantly knew he had gone way overboard! He had to end this quick and cover his tracks. "Didn't know how to tell you. In fact, if he ever knew that I told you what he said, he'd never forgive me. You understand, don't you?" Harry crossed his fingers behind Hermione's back and hoped she'd say yes.

Hermione sniffled again and then smiled at Harry. "Yes, I understand. Thank you, Harry." She threw her arms around Harry and hugged him. "Oh Harry, thank you for telling me that. I won't let on, I promise." She let go of him. "I just wish boys weren't so stupid about their feelings."

"Like you lot are so easy to understand," retorted Harry.

She smiled at him again and they walked up to the Common Room together.

Fortunately Ron's sour mood passed quickly and the three of them worked on their Astronomy homework through lunch, up until Harry, Ginny and Ron had to leave for the quidditch meeting.

The meeting went well, although Ron seemed nervous about speaking to everyone in the role of leader. They were to have trials, similar to last year's, on Friday after class; they would decide on a practice schedule once they'd picked a new chaser.

When they got back to the Common Room, Harry had a difficult time getting away from Ron and his quidditch talk - he needed to prepare himself for his first teaching assignment. Eventually he got Ron to leave him alone to study properly.

The first lesson was to be about wand care and safety; Harry chuckled as he remembered hearing Mad-Eye complain that basic wand safety was never taught anymore. It would also cover proper stance when casting defensive spells and wand grip techniques.

Normally this would all have seemed boring to Harry, but he realized that he had learned these things on his own, through experience. It seemed like something that should have been taught him right away, and he looked forward to teaching it to the first years. He already had several snappy comebacks ready for when the students complained about not learning spells first. He suddenly realized that he was thinking like a teacher.

Harry was so busy that Wednesday morning was upon him before he knew it. He was nervous at breakfast, and it must have shown.

"Harry don't worry, you were brilliant teaching all of us last year. This should be easy," said Ginny.

"She's right, Harry; plus, you have a lesson plan to work with. Last year, you had to do it on your own," added Hermione.

"You're gonna do fine, mate!" said Ron brightly.

"I know it should be easier than last year, but now I have to worry about Mars being satisfied with how I do. You know how demanding he is," said Harry softly.

They all agreed with this. Mars had not been exaggerating when he claimed his class would be as hard as any other three combined. He expected perfect and speedy execution, and was not hesitant to call you out when he knew you weren't giving your best effort. Quite a few others had felt the jolt of Mars' Stinging Charm as Harry had on the first day. You had to be on your toes every minute in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The class was still, however, everyone's favorite by far.

After breakfast the four of them split up. Ron had the morning off, so he was going to catch up on his prefect duties. Ginny had Care of Magical Creatures, Hermione had Herbology, and Harry, of course, headed to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

When he reached the classroom the students were in two queues, one Gryffindor and one Slytherin. Harry sighed. Mars had, of course, told him which houses were going to be in his class, but it still didn't make it easy to be civil to Slytherins.

Harry walked by the lines and opened the door to the classroom. He saw Mars sitting on an edge of the desk, and smiled at him. He turned and told the pupils to come in and be seated; then he walked up to Mars.

"Well, everyone, as you know, Harry Potter will be your teacher for the remainder of the year. He will be the one handing out marks, so you better make sure you treat him just like any other Professor. I'll stop by to help him in some exercises from time to time, but otherwise you won't be seeing me in this class. You can always come by my office to visit me, though. Any questions before I leave?" Mars asked the class.

Heather Parkinson's hand shot up and Mars called on her.

"Mars, should we refer to him as Professor Potter?" she asked.

"Well, Heather, that's up to him," answered Mars, shifting his gaze to Harry.

Harry had quite liked the ring of Professor Potter, but then he realized that the first year Gryffindors already called him Harry. He couldn't have half the kids calling him by a different name.

"Harry will do, Heather. Hopefully I don't need a title to have your respect."

Mars patted him on the shoulder and left.

Harry tried to make sure his hands weren't shaking as he took out his register and called out the names of the students. Most of them looked eager as they answered the roll, especially Mark Evans and Heather Parkinson. One poor blond Gryffindor girl named Mary was so nervous that when Harry called her name she knocked two of her ink bottles crashing to the floor. Harry smiled and remembered Ginny acting the same when she was eleven.

As soon as Harry began actually instructing his pupils, his anxiety faded and his instincts took over. Only a few of the Slytherins complained when he explained that it would be a few lessons before they learned spells. Harry's own stance and grip were very close to the ones that Mars wanted taught to the first years, so everything felt very natural as he led the class through the motions.

All in all, Harry thought the first class came off quite well. The students seemed very interested, but a few looked bored when Harry lectured them on wand safety. He wasn't going to hold it against them, though; it was also pretty boring to him. When he dismissed the class he was surprised to see almost a quarter of the students approach him, half of them Slytherins.

"It's great having you as a teacher, Harry. How lucky are we to be learning from such a famous wizard!" Mark Evans blurted excitedly.

Mary, next to Mark, asked Harry to autograph her textbook.

Most of the crowd just wanted to shake his hand and say hi, but Heather Parkinson, along with two other Slytherin girls, Renee Allen and Sarah Harrick, and one Slytherin boy, Gary Lovel, hung around. After the other students had gone the four walked up to Harry.

"Harry." Heather paused and looked around the room nervously. "You were really good. The older Slytherins said you would be mean to us, and they said you were - well - they said some rather nasty things actually."

The others nodded nervously in agreement.

Harry was surprised--not that the Slytherins were libeling him, but that these four first years had not only told him about it, but seemed upset by it.

"Well I'm not very popular with your house, or its Head," replied Harry.

"A few of them even wanted us to disrupt your class," confessed Heather. "But how could we ever do that after Mars told us last week how important it is that we stick together?"

"Mars said that to your class?" asked Harry.

"Yes. He made us all, Gryffindors and Slytherins, promise to try and be friends and that if anyone gives us a hard time about it to see him," answered Heather.

"We're not all like that git Draco, Harry," insisted Gary.

"Or like Ester!" added Renee.

"Or even my sister Pansy, Harry," said Heather apologetically. "I can't believe how mean she is now. She was never like that at home."

Harry had always considered all Slytherin students to be pretty much clones of Malfoy or Pansy. He had never entertained the idea that some of them could be different, but just too afraid to speak up. This annoyed him, because he had always thought himself above that sort of bigotry.

"I promise to treat all my students fairly, Heather. There's no reason why we can't be friends," said Harry.

They all beamed at him and left his classroom. So this is what it's like to be a teacher, he thought. Not too bad, really. Then Harry left to meet his friends in the courtyard during break.