The Unseen

I know, I know....so soon? But this just came to me, and I thought you guys would enjoy it. I only have two reviews to reply to, so I'll go ahead and do that.

distinctlyME - We'll see more of Draco develop. I promise you he hasn't gone Marshmallow soft. He's still a Malfoy, after all...he just felt a bit awkward giving solace to Hermione. But I see this as the beginning of a friendship. Yay! Yeah...the last two bits were a bit of filler. I wanted to show instead of tell a bit of how James and Harry react to each other. Harry tries...a little...then he just says something out of the way, and even in jest it was taken out of context. And there isn't much said about the Unseen, but there will be a meeting next chapter, and we'll get into them some more.

smurphy - Yes, Hermione told Harry about what was happening, and she really felt a weight lifted off of her when he gave her comfort. Harry did still have this image of Ron that had to be torn down. Yes...even though Harry tried to make nice there's still too much unsaid between them that Harry had to go ruin it with his little jest. And yes...Draco and Hermione have started to make a connection. It's a small one, but I'm sure it will grow. Yeah...I just wanted to throw a bit of random goodness into the mix with the Phelan and Romulus bit. I figured if Hagrid knew who they were, he would just pet them like some big furry puppy. That's just Hagrid. Oh yeah...shit will start hitting the fan VERY soon!!!

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James stood in the shadows, watching as the children bounded up to the carriages. He had been assigned to follow the carriages to make sure everything went smoothly. It was a relatively easy job. He padded up behind them, watching and listening as the students caught up with their carriage-mates.

Everything went smoothly as they arrived at the castle. James watched as the students filed into the Great Hall, still eager and chatting. When the others had entered and the doors had been closed again, James guarded the doors until he heard the quiet chirrupy talking of the first years approaching. Hagrid led the way, with Phelan beside him, holding a smaller girl in his arms as she clung to him for dear life. Both were soaking wet, and Phelan didn’t look happy at all.

James stepped from the shadows, and met them at the door, ignoring the gasps and stares of the eleven year olds.

“Have an interesting ride up here?” James asked. Phelan frowned.

“This one had a little fall into the water.” Phelan said, and finally set the little girl on the ground. James ran his hands over both of them, drying them wandlessly. James grinned at the awestruck look on the youngsters’ faces. Then he started when he saw Phelan’s smile.

“Your teeth…” he said. Phelan’s grin widened to show his perfectly straight teeth, only the canines elongated.

“I got some little Muggle insert thingies. Father would have cubs if he knew, but I figured it would be better than giving the kids coronaries…” he said. James nodded, impressed. Magic wouldn't cover up his friend’s teeth because the spell that had sealed them once sharpened was laced with Fenrir’s personal magical signature. Muggle inserts would still allow him to keep up appearances with his father, and appearances with the students.

“All right, all right…enough cavorting with the children.”

James and Phelan turned to see McGonagall and Hermione coming towards them. McGonagall was in a severe high-necked red ensemble with matching robes and a coordinated black pointed witch’s hat. A few of the students gasped at her appearance. Probably Muggleborns.

Hermione was in a soft red sweater with a stylish curved neckline and flowing knee-length black skirt. She was wearing her teaching robes over her outfit, with only one of the fasteners done. She also had on a pointed witch’s hat, but it was tilted to the side, and much more flattering than McGonagall’s.

“They’re all yers.” Hagrid said cheerfully. James and Phelan stepped out of the way as McGonagall led the first years into the Great Hall. She had decided to stay until the opening ceremony where Hermione would be formally announced as her replacement, and then she would disappear. The Sorting would be Hermione’s job in the next year, if she so chose to stay.

Hermione stayed back with Phelan and James, and was soon joined by Tobias, Orion, Romulus, Draco and Draca, who would be introduced to the students after the Sorting. James pressed a pointed ear to the now-closed Great Hall doors so that he could hear what was going on. He could just make out the Sorting Hat starting its song.

Created long ago, I was,
By four of great renown.
The founders of this noble school
Gave me sight and sound.
I choose the house you’re sorted to
So please don’t fear my call.
I’m the Hogwarts Sorting hat,
And I will sort you all.

You may be put with Gryffindor,
Where chivalry resides.
Dear Godric loved his bravest cubs,
And taught them all with pride.
Hufflepuff my be your home,
Where loyalty is key.
Helga was a kindly soul
And took the rest, you see.
Ravenclaw is for the ones
Whose wit is quick indeed.
Rowena’s flock was apt with books,
Their knowledge set them free.
Or perhaps in Slytherin
Where friends are tight and vicious,
Salazar will see you placed,
If you are quite ambitious.

These houses are, I say with pride
The best in all the land.
But heed, my friends, your classmates,
And don’t wait to give a hand.
Curses are as curses go,
And can be very bad….
But tame the beast that lives inside,
And peace is to be had.

The times are slowly changing
But the changes aren’t all clear.
It’s times like these we realize
Things aren’t as they appear.
If the darkness keeps its draw
Light must choose to rise.
Be as always vigilant,
Don’t see with just your eyes.

Enjoy the feast prepared for you,
Do not forget my call…
For I’m the Hogwarts Sorting Hat….
And I will sort you all!"

James had a bad feeling about what the Hat had said. That damn piece of cloth and magic was usually very perceptive to the things going on in and around the castle.

He listened as McGonagall called out the First Years’ names, and each was Sorted into their proper house. Then he heard the Headmaster make a short, traditional speech about the Forbidden Forest and its forbidden-ness, and about using certain items that were forbidden at the school period.

Ah! Here it went…he was starting the announcement about the Professors and staff members that would be resigning either before or by Christmas. According to what the Headmaster had told him and the others, the old Professors could leave whenever they thought that their trainees were properly trained to handle the classes.

The first name called was Hermione, who would be replacing Professor McGonagall. Hermione pushed open the doors and walked through, smiling as a lot of the students- especially the males- gave her a standing ovation.

Tobias was next, announced to be replacing Professor Tungsten. Then came Orion and Romulus, replacing one Irma Pince. There was a brief explanation that the woman worked so hard that it would take two people to fill her shoes. Then came Phelan. There were quite a few murmurs when his name came up. Everyone knew Fenrir Greyback. He was like the boogeyman…a story told to children by their mothers to keep them from misbehaving. But most of the students didn’t realize that he was a real creature, and very capable of doing the things their mothers threatened.

Draca was called next, and once again the male population went wild. James surmised that there would be quite a few sick boys at the beginning of the term. Draca would fix them right up. She had been Sorted into Gryffindor, but she was still a Malfoy, and Malfoys had ways of putting people in their places…

Draco was announced. There were quite a few cheers from the females this time. Draco flushed a bit as he heard a wolf whistle somewhere behind him. Good lord…these students were still little more than animals…oh to be young again…

James was announced last, and as he strode into the Great Hall, there was a lingering silence. James had made no attempt to hide his wings or tail. His robes fell perfectly around them, having been tailored to do so. His tail swished languidly as he walked, and his wings were at rest folded behind him. His ears twitched slightly when he heard a student whisper, but he couldn’t make out the words. A Slytherin student sneered at him as he walked through the center aisle towards the dais.

“Half-breed…” the boy whispered. James turned to him and snorted, a puff of smoke rising from his nostrils as he did so. The boy’s eyes widened a bit, and he was silent. He took his seat next to Professor Blackburn, who clapped him on the shoulder.

“What an entrance, my boy…” he said. James looked at his empty plate.

“Yeah…I think the only way I would have made a bigger impression was by swooping down and kidnapping the nearest virgin to take to my cave.” He said softly.

Headmaster Snape looked out over the students. “These newest Professors will be respected. You will treat them as you do the teachers who have been here for years. They will be the only ones in those positions after Christmas. They are entitled to take points, give detentions, and even report to me if there is an inkling of disrespect. Now that the pleasantries of this year are over…the feast may begin.”

With the appearance of the food the students began talking again, many of their eyes wandering up to the Head Table to take in the strange sight of their new teachers and old teachers sitting together.

James watched them warily. Their reaction had disheartened him a bit. He so wanted them to like him. Well…first impressions really weren’t all that…he could impress them when they came to the classroom. But until then…he needed to have a meeting with The Unseen about what the Hat had said, and it needed to take place soon. He looked over, and caught the black gaze of Tobias. James gave a small nod, and Tobias nodded back. Tobias was the second in command. Phelan had wanted to be, but Tobias pointed out that Panther beat Wolf any day. Phelan wasn’t happy.

James then began to work out in his head exactly when and where this meeting needed to take place, because it wouldn’t do to get caught by the Headmaster, or even another professor.
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Hmm....so alot of stuff happened in this chapter. They are finally at Hogwarts, and the students are a bit unsure of how they should react to James. But I'm sure he'll win them over in the classroom. Anyway...next there'll be a Meeting of the Unseen, and things will start to get down and dirty. ^_^

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