Returning was always going to be hard

Chapter 10: First classes

Rhiannon sat nervously in her classroom waiting for her first class to join her, it would of course be her 7th year Gryffindor's, she was looking forward to this class, she had met a few of them already and they we're a nice mannered bunch and of course she was their head of house so was looking forward to meeting the rest of them and getting to know them a bit better.

The school bell chimed and she watched her class filter in slowly, Harry, Ron, Neville and Hermione sat in the front row and smiled up at her, the rest of the class sat in the other row's. There was excited whispering all around the classroom as she turned her back and started writing on the board. “What do you suppose her real name is?, she must have a surname” One student said, Hermione turned round and glared at them before turning back to look at the board.

Advanced Dark Arts
Lesson 1
Introduction

She turned around and faced the room once more. “Now class, as you know from the feast last night, I'm Professor Rhiannon what you may also know is that there is a war approaching, and you'll need to know how to defend yourselves should you ever find yourselves in a dangerous and life threatening situation, that is why I'm here” All the students in the class were listening to her intently she smiled a little “It won't just be Dark wizards and witches, there are a great number of dark creatures in this world and most of the techniques and spells you will learn this year you will be able to use against those as well” she started to write down a list on the board behind her, a list of spells they should already know and those they will be learning “Copy these down please, I'll be asking you to research these and I'll be asking you questions on them in our next lesson”. There was an animated scuffle behind her as everyone grabbed for their quills and parchments out of their bags and started to copy from the board. “Over the course of the next year, in order to teach you to defend yourselves properly, you will be leaving how to use these spells in duels, and I'm sure you'll be glad to hear that Professor Remus Lupin will be joining us in these duelling lessons as well as Headmistress McGonagall” this brought smiles to the students faces “But that won't be for a few weeks yet, I need to know how much you do know first”

The rest of her morning classes passed without any problems, and the students seemed to enjoy them, Rhiannon however was slightly relieved it was over with once the students had left the room for the last time that day, she had no classes scheduled for that afternoon. She sat back at her desk and rested her head in her hands. All she could hear were the students voices in her head and all their whisperings “She sounds like Dumbledore, listen to her” “No she doesn't don't be silly” “Do you think that's why she was asked here, cos she reminds the staff of Dumbledore” “What do you suppose her real name is?, she must have a surname” This was how Minerva found her five minutes later as she passed the classroom on her way down the corridor, she knocked gently on the door. “Rhia love what the matter?” she asked Rhiannon raised her head as Minerva walked further into the room and knelt down in front of her “What's upset you?”
“Its nothing I'm just being silly, the students where whispering said I sounded like Dumbledore, of course I do he taught me his teaching methods, he taught me some of the most advanced magic out there.” she was getting a little worked up and emotional “But to hear it from the students, I never knew I could come across like that it wasn't meant at all Min really it wasn't”

Minerva smiled at her “So what if you remind them of Dumbledore, you’re his daughter, there are bound to be some similarities between you.” Rhiannon hung her head avoiding Minerva's eyes “Rhia I know its upsetting to hear, and it always will be but you are most definitely your fathers daughter and we are privileged to have you here.” she placed her finger under Rhiannon's chin and lifted her head a little “Now my dear how about you join me for a coffee or tea in the kitchens and a Ginger Newt, and tell me all about your day full of classes” she kissed the end of Rhiannon's nose as she stood up

“Ok Min, I'm sorry for over reacting” she said quietly

“Don't you dare be sorry, besides they are only kids, you wouldn't be normal if they didn't get to you even just a little bit” she smiled. They walked through the corridors towards the kitchens, they were to busy wrapped in each other, and their conversation to notice the students moving around them to and from classes and common rooms.

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Hermione was walking with Ginny down to the library when they almost bumped into Rhiannon and Minerva as they turned a corner.

“Min don't be silly, I don't think the rest of the staff would approve, that sounds like something my father would come up with, besides why not at the end of the school term? I think it would be better then” Rhiannon said

“What are they talking about?” Ginny whispered to Hermione “And who's her father?”

“Not now Ginny I'm trying to listen” Hermione said

“Don't you think they're walking very close as well, I mean the corridors are almost empty now”

“Ginny please”

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“Rhiannon, it might be something he would do, but this needs to be taught, and your one of the few here with enough experience” Minerva answered “Lets not discuss this any further out in the corridors, we don't know who could be listening”

“But Min why him” Rhiannon said

“Listen love not now, I need my cup of tea” was all Minerva replied, Rhia sighed ready to say something but changed her mind, not wanting to upset her. Rhia slowed down a little.

Ginny looked at Hermione, and they quickly turned the next corner so that they weren't seen.

It took Minerva a few minutes to realise Rhiannon was no longer keeping up pace with her so she turned and stopped “Rhia what's the matter?”

“I don't care where we discuss this, and I don't really care who over hears m, but I'd rather teach a toad than that Malfoy boy how to defend himself. I know I shouldn't feel like that but I do, after what he did last year, and all the pain he helped cause I.....” Minerva was now face to face with her, her finger to her lips

“Not another word Rhia, this is not the place” she sounded slightly angry

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Neither Ginny nor Hermione had every really heard their Professor sound so annoyed, this was new to them and not something they wanted to hear again. Ron, Harry and Neville were walking up the corridor with Luna when they saw Ginny and Hermione huddled at the end of the corridor. “What you two up to?” Ron asked

“Shhhh McGonagall's throwing a hissy fit at the new Professor” Ginny smiled “Its great”

“Ginny Shhhh” Hermione said

“What they arguing about?” Neville asked

“Malfoy I think” Ginny asked

“Oh interesting?” Luna said dreamily

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Rhia took Minerva's hand down from her face, “Don't start with me McGonagall you don't intimidate me you never did, and I'm not fighting you over this, I'm just giving you my opinion. You haven't even let any of the staff know why you chose to let him return to the school, you must have a reason”

“I'm not talking about this here” Minerva said “I'll tell you but not here”

“I find that a little hard to believe” Rhia retorted

“What's that supposed to mean”

“You'll not tell me, you say you will but you won't”

“You don't trust me, is that it, after all these years you still don't trust me” Minerva stormed off in the direction of her office

“Min wait!” Rhia called after her but she did not respond “Well done Rhia, you've done it again, bloody brill”
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The kids round the corner just looked at each other with confused looks on their faces

“What was that about?” Ron asked

“I don't know, but its obvious they have a past” Ginny said

“I think it’s wonderful” Luna said quietly, causing the others to turn and look at her “What it is, I think they are sweethearts”

Harry chuckled a little, “You can't be serious”

“What's wrong with the idea?” Hermione asked

“Nothing Mione, just a bit weird, that's all” he replied “Come on lets get back to the common room before we're caught see you at dinner Luna” Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville all sped down the corridor.

Luna waved a little and smiled skipping around the corridor, “Hi Professor, great class today by the way”

“Thank you, Luna isn't it?” Rhia asked

“Oh yes, that's me” she smiled “Why are you crying? She does not hate you”

“You heard that?”

“No not all of it, only the last, she does not hate you, she just worries” Luna said before skipping off again

'that girl is seriously strange' Rhiannon thought before making her way to her chambers, she would have to talk to Minerva but needed time to compose herself.

As she entered her office, she smiled thinking of the expression on Minerva's face “God she looks beautiful when she's angry” she said to herself as she went through the door to living room, only to find Minerva sitting waiting on her.

“How did you get in?” she said trying not to laugh

“You gave me your password, same time I gave you mine remember?” Minerva said still looking slightly annoyed with her

“Ah, yes so I did” Rhia smiled her hands behind her back “So what do I owe the pleasure?”

“We need to talk about what just happened” Minerva said “It can't happen again, staff can't be seen arguing with each other in the corridors in front of students, we were lucky this time but..” Rhia chuckled a little “This is no laughing matter Rhiannon if we were seen”

“Min, we were over heard a little, Luna Lovegood came round the corner shortly after you stormed off, and I might be right in assuming she wasn't alone either as I heard some hurried footsteps go the other direction” Rhia smiled “Not that is bothers me, and Luna seemed to think that you were not mad at me just worried”

“I......well I”

“At a loss for words? Now I never thought I'd see that” Rhia smiled “But your right, I shouldn't have acted like that I’m sorry. I will teach the boy, but only if you tell me why he is here”

Minerva didn't seem too surprised at this comment “I thought that you'd say that”

“Well?”

“Rhia it’s not that simple” Minerva said sadly “Its going to be hard for you to hear”

“I don't care, just tell me”

“At the start of last year, Snape came to Dumbledore and told him about the vow he had made with Mr Malfoy's mother, Draco had been asked to kill Dumbledore to show his loyalty as a Death eater or he would be killed as a traitor, his mother had requested that Snape make an unbreakable vow, that if Draco couldn't do it he would. Snape of course went straight to your father afterwards for advice, your father told him, he had done the right thing, and if it came to it then he should uphold the vow”

“So my father knew he was going to die?”

“In a way yes, just listen to me. Over the year, your father asked me to keep an eye on both Snape and Malfoy, on several occasions I found Draco at the top of the astronomy tower in tears, he never saw me though. He didn't want to be a Death Eater it was a choice his father made for him, it wasn't a life he wanted to follow and still doesn't. After Dumbledores death, he ran off. When the order found him he asked to join us, he didn't want to be like his father.”

“And the ministry believed him?”

“He is here under the ministers orders. Also your father requested that we save Draco from that life, teach him in the way of the light not the dark”

“My father wanted this?” Rhia asked, Minerva nodded, “Why didn't you just say that then Min? Instead of being stubborn about it”

“I was not being Stubborn”

Rhia just smiled at her

“What's that look for?” Minerva asked

“Your cute when you’re angry, did you know that?” Rhia smiled, Minerva had now stopped pacing the floor and was standing in front of her. “Ah ha is that a blush I see” Rhiannon teased

“Stop it Rhia, its not funny” Minerva couldn't help but smile, hard as she tried to be annoyed at the woman in front of her, she was never able to be how could be angry at some one you loved so dearly. “And I'm not angry, I couldn't be angry at you, you just feel strongly about it, I know that, having to protect someone who had a hand in your fathers death will be difficult for you, but I'll be there to support you.”

Rhia smiled “Thank you Min, you don't know how much that means to me”

Minerva pulled her into a hug, “Not at all there is no need to thank me Rhia, I love you and there's nothing I would not do for you” Rhia gave her a smile “I care about you Rhia” Minerva whispered pulling her a little closer, before Rhia could respond she felt Minerva's lips pressed up against hers gently. She responded, leaning into the kiss, feeling shivers shoot up and down her spine.

Minerva pulled away when she felt Rhiannon respond “Min what's wrong?”

“Nothing” she said pulling her into another heated kiss, as she steered her in the direction of her own bedroom. Rhia giggled a little

“Planning on staying a while?” She teased a little removing both their robes

“Looks like it” Minerva smiled they had a few hours before dinner, and no one would miss them.