Shadow Play

Chapter 7: New Teacher

Harry stretched as he walked into the Great Hall at breakfast. The visit from Mary and Jamie at Halloween had been wonderful. It had been a long time since he had seen them. Jamie couldn’t get over the wizard games or candy and Mary was half worried about Jamie hurting himself, but everything turned out fine, till he wanted to play Exploding Snap. Mary refused and Jamie wasn’t allowed to participate, but he had fun watching.

Malfoy had been different since his return over the weekend. There was a slight stiffness to his walk and a snap in his voice. At first Harry thought he had gotten into another wizard/Muggle cultural argument with Hermione but she said it had nothing to do with her. Harry was half tempted to ask Pansy what was wrong with him.

Harry yawned as he walked into the Great Hall and headed toward the teacher’s table. A few students greeted him and he nodded back. Everyone knew Harry didn’t speak till he had his first cup of coffee.

Harry reached the table and stopped. Sitting in Katie’s chair was a tall handsome man with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He was talking politely to Hermione softly and she had a silly look on her face as she talked to him, reminding Harry of the Yule Ball fourth year when she was with Krum. He looked up at Harry and gave him a smile that sent a shiver down Harry’s spine.

“Black?”

Malfoy’s voice made Harry jump and he looked over at the Potions professor. Malfoy had a curious face as he looked at Harry.

“Black, are you all right,” asked Malfoy and Harry nodded.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” said Harry with a smile. “I just had a late night grading papers.”

“Are yous sure? You look like you just saw a boggart.”

Harry chuckled. “Usually Muggle would say “You look like you had seen a ghost” but since we see ghosts around corner, you have to say something.” Harry sat next to Hermione and picked up his cup of coffee. Malfoy smiled back as he sat on Harry other side.

“Wow, Professor James Black already speaking and he hadn’t even had his first cup of coffee, and on a Muggle saying to boot. Is there anything you don’t know?”

“Yeah, how to keep a date,” said Harry and both chuckled. Hermione looked over at her friend and smiled.

“James, you’re early today,” she said.

“After that storm last night who could sleep,” said Harry taking a sip from his coffee. He looked over at the man sitting on her other side. “Who’s the new guy?”

“This is Lee Harding, Katie’s substitute.” She turned to her neighbor. “Lee, this is James Black, our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and the man next to him is Draco Malfoy, our Potion professor.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” said Harding holding out his hand to Harry. Harry looked at the man for a moment before firmly taking his hand, shook it once, and returned to his breakfast.

“Where are you from,” asked Malfoy.

“America,” said Harding. “New York, to be exact. I sang on Broadway a few times.”

“Har-hey, James, you are into musicals theatre, right?” asked Hermione looking over at Harry.

“Something like that,” said Harry. “Excuse me, I have to get to my class.”

And he got up and left. Hermione and Malfoy watched after him with perplexed faces.

“What’s up with him,” asked Malfoy.

“I don’t know,” said Hermione. “I’ve never seen him like this.”

“He’s angry about something,” said Harding. “You don’t think it’s me, do you?”

“Of course not,” said Hermione smiling at him. “How can it be you? You got here last night.”

“You’re right,” said Harding smiling back. “He doesn’t know me, and I’ll make sure he does.”

Malfoy looked after Harry as the man walked out of the Great Hall.

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Hours later Harry was teaching his third year class on Dark creatures. A picture of a vampire flashed on a white screen in front of the room.

“Vampire, Latin name Nosferatu, are the blood drinking species of our world. A pure-blooded vampire, born to two vampire parents, can live without blood for the first eighteen years of their live, however a person turned has have blood immediately upon awakening. They can eat large amounts of food to compensate for their caloric intact.” He quickly checked to see if the class was taking notes and noticed them writing furiously to catch up. “For a pure-blood vampire on their eighteenth year they find a partner to give them blood so they can continue living. This is known as Bonding. The partner has to be willing or the bond will never be completed, but the partner gets something out of it through. In exchange for giving their blood, they get to live a thousand years. at that time, both the Bondmate and vampire die. That is equivalent exchange.”

A knock sounded and Harry went to open it. Standing in front of the door was Lee Harding wearing a smile that put shivers down Harry’s spine again.

“Hi, James,” said Harding. “I hope I’m not interrupting….”

“Actually, you are,” said Harry crossing his arms. “I’ve in the middle of a class.”

“I just want some advice,” said Harding. “I’ve never taught before and was wondering if you could help. You just came in this year as well and I thought you might have picked something up.”

“You won’t some advice? Here’s one: They’re kids. A lot of the, not really caring to learn. They won’t respect you, because they don’t care to. Don’t bother to help the reluctant ones. If they don’t ant to learn, that’s their problem.”

Harding gave Harry a surprised look. “That’s kinda harsh.”

“Life is harsh,” said Harry. “Better to learn it now then later.” There was a bang, a shriek and boys laughter. Harry sighed. “Excuse me, Professor Harding.”

“Please, James, call me Lee,” said Harding with a smile. Harry glared at him.

“Then you can call me Black,” he said and turned back to the class room. “Mr. McDonald?”

McDonald groaned and lowered his wand. Across from him stood William Benson with pock marks all over his face and was attempting to hide it wit his robes.

“What happened,” asked Harry closing the door. McDonald glared at him and Benson hiccupped to keep from crying. “McDonald, you will tell me what happened.”

“Benson attacked me, sir,” said McDonald with a shrug. Benson shook his head vigorously. Harry didn’t need to hear Benson’s side to know what really happened.

“McDonald, I hate lying and I hate liars,” he said crossing his arms. “If you don’t tell the truth then you’ll be doing detention with Filch for the next two weeks.”

McDonald gulped but didn’t say anything.

“Professor James,” said a Hufflepuff girl raising her hand. Harry turned to her. Lucy Louise was a smart girl that kept to herself. “Professor, McDonald wanted to try a new spell on Celia, but she Shielded herself and it backfired onto Billy.”

Harry looked over at Celia Dennis, a pretty Gryffindor Muggle-born. She held her wand at her side and was looking away from him nervously.

“Ms. Dennis, good job,” he said. Celia smiled and sat back down. Harry turned to Lucy. “Next time, Ms. Louise, don’t take the wrap for your work. If Mr. McDonald had something to say he will say it.” Lucy nodded and sat back in her seat. “And you Mr. McDonald, will be doing detention with Filch for the next two weeks.”

“What?!” shrieked McDonald.

Harry didn’t say anymore as he Summoned McDonald’s wand and pocketed it.

“Vampires are highly sensitive to garlic and sunlight….”

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“He felt angry around him,” asked Pansy. “That doesn’t sound like Black.”

“I’m telling you, Pansy. Black was seriously freaking out,” said Draco. It was lunch hour and both had a glass of champagne and were sitting in Draco’s sitting room. “It was like something about him Black didn’t like.”

“But Black likes everybody, even the Slytherins. Why would he single out one guy?”

Draco thought for a moment, running a finger over the rim of his champagne glass. “Pansy, do you remember the story of my third great grandmother, your great aunt?” he asked.

“Oh, Draco, not that old story. Seeing trouble in the back of a thestral. Come on.”

“But it was true,” he said. “The guy was swindling great cousin Erasmus and she proved it.”

“So you think Black has the same thing?” asked Pansy. “You think he has some kind of sense that tells him there’s trouble?”

“I think so.”

Pansy set down her glass. “Well, now would be a great time to talk to Black about it. Ask him why he thinks Harding’s trouble.” Pansy paused for a moment thoughtfully. “What do we know about Black anyway?”

“He said he was an orphan and was raised by relatives. When he spoke about them the tone of his voice changed, like he didn’t like the idea of thinking about them. But when he spoke about his family….”

“There is a difference in the term family for everyone,” said Pansy. “For instance, Emanuel Parkinson is my father by blood, and I hate the bastard. You and Blaise are my family by choice and I would die for you guys.”

Draco smiled, took Pansy’s hand and squeezed it gently. “Thank, Pansy, that means a lot,” he said. “I’ll talk to him. I could use another friend.”

Pansy smiled at him. “That’s a smart thing to do, Draco,” she said. “You go talk to him and I’ll go talk to Blaise.”

Draco laughed, drained his champagne and stood. “All right, I can take a hint. I’m leaving. How is it coming anyway?”

Pansy laughed and pushed him out the door. “Just get to your class!” she laughed and closed the door. Draco laughed as well and went to his classroom.

Hours later Draco walked out of his classroom after lecturing a fourth year on the importance of correct measuring. The student had not only blown up his potion but melted his cauldron and now several of the students had boils. Right then he wanted to take a headache potion and some fresh air. He had already taken the potion and was now heading to the garden to get the air.

Opening the door Draco took a deep breathe and saw a figure leaning against a statue. His arms were crossed and he had an angry look.

“Black,” called out Draco. Black looked up at Draco in surprise but quickly put on a relieved smile. “Are you feeling well?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” said Black with a smile, scratching his hair uneasily. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, for one, you haven’t flirted with me all day,” said Draco crossing his arms. Black’s mouth open in shock, but closed his mouth, put his hand s in his pockets and shrugged.

“I’m all right, Draco,” he said. “My head playing tricks on me.”

“Does it have something to do with Lee Harding,” asked Draco. Black’s eyes flashed for a moment.

“You may have noticed I tried to obscure my part a bit,” said Black. Draco chuckled.

“It may have come up,” he said. “Look, Black, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

Black shook his head. “No, it’s all right,” he said. “Years ago when I lived America, I hung out with the wrong crowd. Harding reminds me of someone from back then.”

Draco was silent before he smiled. “No more,” he asked not really needing an answer. Black smiled back.

“No more,” Black agreed. He looked at his watch and grimaced. “God, I’m late.”

Draco’s face fell. You have a date?” he asked and for some reason it made his chest tighten. Black chuckled.

“No, I’m just going to have a couple beers with an old friend,” he said. “You can join if you like?”

“Your old friend got a name?”

“Hermione’s husband, Ron.”

Draco grimaced. “Me having a civilized drink with Weasley? That’ll be a cold day in hell.”

“Michigan or Arizona,” asked Black and Draco gave him a confused look. “Sorry, American joke.”

Draco shrugged. “All the same, I’ll stay here.”

“All right. See you tomorrow.”

“Good night, Black.”

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Harry smiled as he watched Malfoy walk out of the garden and headed out of the school. When he was beyond on the wards he Disapparated and Apparated in the alley a block from the bar he was meeting Ron. He found his friend easily even in the dim lights and crowded room, Ron towering a head above everyone else and his red hair standing out in the light above the bar. Ron spotted Harry walking in and waved Harry to a seat against the far wall. Harry nodded and went to the table.

Ron returned a minute later with two mugs of beer. He wore a blue t-shirt and black jeans. Harry had to thank Hermione on teaching Ron how to dress like a Muggle. He remembered the wizards at his first Quidditch World Cup and the wizards wearing pajama pants with a gold shirt and a nightdress was still unsettling to remember.

“Hermione finally let you out for a beer,” asked Harry taking the glass and took a sip. Ron smiled.

“With how long she stays at Hogwarts I could get out every night, but then Rose would tattle on me,” he said and both laughed. “Harry, we could go to another club if you want. I mean if you’re not comfortable here….”

“Ron, even if we changed clubs, you would be uncomfortable. Besides, I’m fine right here. I came to talk to my best friend, not get laid.”

Ron smiled at his friend. “Speaking of, have you found anyone yet?”

Harry laughed. “Ron, I’m living in a school. There’s Hagrid, Firenze, Hermione, our old teachers, married couples and Malfoy. Where am I going to find someone to date?”

“Hermione did say you were getting chummy with Malfoy.” Ron took a sip of beer.

“It’s a cover, Ron,” said Harry. “It’s so he won’t know who I really am.”

“And a good payback for all the crap he gave us,” said Ron with a smirk.

“That’s just a bonus. Draco and I have a good working relationship.”

At Malfoy’s name Ron choked on his beer and sputtered his beer as he coughed. Harry jumped back in his seat and quickly cleaned the spill with a wave of his wand before anyone saw.

“’Draco and I’?” said Ron when he could speak again in surprise. “Geez, Harry, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were starting to fancy the guy.” Ron gave Harry and inquiring look. “You’re not, are you?”

Harry opened his mouth to answer, but couldn’t find anything to say. The last couple months Harry had spent with Malfoy had been the most fun he had in a long time. Since Harry had started hiding. He had actually stopped thinking of Malfoy as the school yard bully he was a long time ago. Since he saw Malfoy through Voldemort’s eyes when the blonde was forced to torture Dolohov.

Ron sighed. “You know, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”

“I’m sorry, Ron,” said Harry. “It’s just, I’ve gotten to know him, and he’s not that bad.”

“He’s a git.”

“He’s changed. He’s not a bully anymore. Times changed him, like it’s changed us.”

Ron lower lip trembled for a moment, but he drank his beer and sighed. The war was one of the few things they tried to avoid but there were times it did come up, and talking about it still wasn’t easy.

“How’s teaching,” asked Ron. Harry shrugged.

“Same shit, different day,” he said. “Got anything planned with Hermione?”

“Yeah, I’m planning on taking her to an Italian restaurant that opened recently.

Harry nodded. “That’s a good idea. She needs to relax.”

“Yeah,” agreed Ron and both spent the rest of the day talking about recent news.

TBC

-Fun Fact: For anyone who didn’t know there are two towns, both in Michigan and Arizona, called “Hell.” I looked it up on the map.