Categories > Books > Harry Potter
After what happened last spring, the students of Hogwarts weren't really sure what to expect for the upcoming school year. They weren't expecting the ministry to try to take over their education. T...
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I do own Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. All of the characters depicted in this fanfiction belong to J.K. Rowling or Rick Riordan.
As Professor Umbridge sat back down after her long-winded speech, the Great Hall doors burst open, unexpectedly breathing life back into the sleepy students. A lone figure ran down the path between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. Heads craned in the direction of the disturbance, trying to catch a glimpse of the whirlwind that had swept past them. Harry stretched his neck up, but he couldn’t see anything past the mass of students doing the same. As the whispers began to fly about, Professor Dumbledore’s voice boomed overhead.
“Everyone, settle down, settle down.” He moved his hands as though he was fanning the flames of gossip whisping about. “It seems our newest professor has finally arrived.”
As the newcomer opened his mouth to respond, a small “Hem, hem” broke through the renewed muttering around the hall.
“I wasn’t aware that there were any more positions left to fill, Headmaster.”
“Ah, of course,” Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled as he turned to answer Umbridge. “I’ve decided to add a new course this year.”
“Oh?” Umbridge looked like she had sucked a rather sour lemon. “And what exactly would that be?”
“Self Defence.”
“Excuse me? I am teaching Defense this year.”
“Of course.” If possible, it seemed that Dumbledore’s eyes began to twinkle even more. “Defense Against the Dark Arts. Self Defence will teach our students how to defend themselves in a non-magical environment.”
“Non-Magical? Are you saying you think that the students are going to learn to fight like some sort of barbarians?”
“I believe that one can never be too prepared to defend themselves against the many darknesses lingering in the world.”
“I hardly think-”
“No kidding.”
The first words spoken by the current topic of conversation seemed to have slipped past his lips without his approval, and his eyes went wide as every head in the hall turned to him. Now that everyone had finally settled back down, Harry was able to catch a glimpse of the figure. He looked to be about 185 cm tall and was wearing very clearly Muggle clothes. He had on a pair of blue jean trousers and a shirt so bright orange that Harry suspected it might have been at home in a young Dumbledore’s wardrobe. His face was still hidden as he spoke to the staff table, but the back of his head featured jet black hair messy enough to rival Harry’s own.
“Excuse me?” Umbridge simpered. “Did you say something?”
The unknown person quickly shook their head.
“Me? Nope. I mean, I was about to, but then you cut me off sooo…” He shrugged his shoulders. “I guess I’m just waiting for you to finish your conversation about me.”
“I see.” If Umbridge’s smile were to become any more strained, Harry thought, she might look more at home in a wax museum. “I was just querying the headmaster about what exactly your purpose here is.”
“Oh!” The exclamation rang clearly through the hall as everyone leaned in so as not to miss the excitement. “I didn’t know that was your job. I can show you if you want?”
“Show me?”
“What I’ll be teaching.”
Eyes flickered back and forth as the same thought went through the minds of all those present. Surely he didn’t mean…
“Ah, while I am looking forward to your teachings, Perseus-”
“Percy.”
“Perhaps it would be best to save it for the classroom, hm?” Dumbledore looked far too amused at the proceedings.
The newly dubbed Perseus or Percy shrugged again.
“Whatever.” He turned to give Umbridge a smirk. “ Feel free to stop by at any time.”
“Splendid,” Dumbledore cut across any response Ubridge may have been trying to form behind her livid face. “Well, you made it just in time for introductions. Our dear Professor Umbridge has just finished addressing the students. Perhaps you would like to do the same?”
The smirk fell right off the new professor's face.
“Oh. Uh…” He took something out of his pocket and began to fiddle with it. Many curious eyes followed the movement. The object seemed to be stick-like, but wasn’t quite long enough to be a wand. “I didn’t really know I was supposed to do a speech.”
“That’s quite all right.” Dumbledore encouraged as Umbridge began smirking. “A simple introduction is fine.”
“Ok…” The unknown finally turned around, allowing the students to catch their first look at his toned face and striking sea-green eyes. Harry swore he caught Hermione blushing, but she quickly turned her head so that he couldn’t see her face anymore. “Uhhh.. well, my name is Percy Jackson, and I guess I’ll be teaching you guys Self Defense this year… Ummmm… My favorite color is blue, and I like swimming?”
The unsure teen turned his head questioningly back towards the Headmaster, who smiled encouragingly and began to clap as if this was the best thing he had heard all year. Students began to clap as well, and Harry could hear Fred and George shouting somewhere off to his side.
“Bravo!”
“Well said!”
“Couldn’ta put it in better words meself!”
Their new professor’s face just looked resigned to all of it as he waited for the applause to die down.
“Well, then.” Dumbledore took back control of the room. “I have just a few more announcements before you all totter off to bed. Minerva, if you wouldn’t mind transfiguring a chair for our new arrival?”
“Of course,” McGonagall replied as she did just that. The extra napkin that had been sitting crumpled on the table began to darken and stretch before settling into a matching wooden chair next to the Tranfiguration Professor. The dark-haired teen across the table seemed relieved to finally be out of the spotlight as he walked swiftly to his new seat.
“Wonderful. Now, as I was saying earlier, Quidditch tryouts will be held-”
Harry tuned out as Dumbledore continued giving his announcements. He couldn’t decide what to think of the new Professor. He looked barely older than Harry himself. Could he really be qualified to teach them Self Defense? Then again, he thought, what makes someone qualified to teach something like that? Surely after all these years, he might be qualified to teach a few beginner’s lessons himself.
“Well. That was … something.” Ron’s voice cut through Harry’s thoughts. The ginger turned to look at his friends as if they had the words to describe what had just happened that he lacked. Unfortunately for his friend, Harry was at just as much of a loss for words as he was. He turned to look at the last member of their group. Hermione, of course, came to their rescue.
“Yes. It was very… illuminating,” she said.
“Illuminating?” Ron echoed. “Wha’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means we’ve got to read between the lines. Look underneath the underneath.”
Harry glanced at Ron from the corner of his eye and noted that he looked just as confused as Harry felt. It must have shown on his face as well because Hermione slumped and rolled her eyes at them.
“Obviously, Umbridge is Fudge’s latest attempt to control you, Harry, and by extension, Dumbledore. What did you say she did again?”
“Oh uh…” Harry racked his brain trying to remember if the toad-like woman’s title was ever mentioned at his hearing. “I think she was some sort of secretary for Fudge.”
“An Undersecretary?”
“Yeah, that’s it. The Senior Undersecretary.”
“Well, that’s hardly a prerequisite to teaching DADA. I’d bet anything that Fudge pushed her through here so that he could spy on you and Dumbledore!” Hermione spoke in a quick but hushed voice. “And Dumbledore must have known what Fudge was doing, so he created a new position as a countermeasure!”
“Alright,” Harry allowed. “Say that’s true. Where does this Percy bloke come in then? He can’t be more than a couple of years older than us! How’s he supposed to tip the balance for us?”
“I-I’m not sure yet,” Hermione admitted. “There must be something about him that we just don’t know yet.”
“Or not.” Ron shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time Dumbledore scraped the bottom of the barrel for a new teacher!”
“No,” Hermione disagreed. “Did you see the look on Dumbledore’s face when he came in? He looked happy to see him. I doubt he would look like that if he were just some random wizard off the street.”
“I dunno,” Ron said. “I’m pretty sure I saw him making that same face when his latest order of Lemon Drops came in last year.”
Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron again.
“I’m serious!”
“So am I!”
Harry tuned out again as Rona and Hermione began their usual bickering. He saw Ron’s point, but couldn’t help but agree with Hermione. There was obviously something they were missing with this new professor. Some sort of plan that Dumbledore had cooked up as he had every year. A plan that he hadn’t shared with Harry. Again.
This was going to be a frustrating year, wasn’t it?
A/N: I’m alive! I’m so sorry that I haven’t updated my other stories… I probably won’t for a while still. I just don’t have the drive to write them anymore. I started them in middle school and have now graduated with my Master’s. I do have more plans for this one and a couple of weeks off coming up, so stay tuned!
As Professor Umbridge sat back down after her long-winded speech, the Great Hall doors burst open, unexpectedly breathing life back into the sleepy students. A lone figure ran down the path between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. Heads craned in the direction of the disturbance, trying to catch a glimpse of the whirlwind that had swept past them. Harry stretched his neck up, but he couldn’t see anything past the mass of students doing the same. As the whispers began to fly about, Professor Dumbledore’s voice boomed overhead.
“Everyone, settle down, settle down.” He moved his hands as though he was fanning the flames of gossip whisping about. “It seems our newest professor has finally arrived.”
As the newcomer opened his mouth to respond, a small “Hem, hem” broke through the renewed muttering around the hall.
“I wasn’t aware that there were any more positions left to fill, Headmaster.”
“Ah, of course,” Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled as he turned to answer Umbridge. “I’ve decided to add a new course this year.”
“Oh?” Umbridge looked like she had sucked a rather sour lemon. “And what exactly would that be?”
“Self Defence.”
“Excuse me? I am teaching Defense this year.”
“Of course.” If possible, it seemed that Dumbledore’s eyes began to twinkle even more. “Defense Against the Dark Arts. Self Defence will teach our students how to defend themselves in a non-magical environment.”
“Non-Magical? Are you saying you think that the students are going to learn to fight like some sort of barbarians?”
“I believe that one can never be too prepared to defend themselves against the many darknesses lingering in the world.”
“I hardly think-”
“No kidding.”
The first words spoken by the current topic of conversation seemed to have slipped past his lips without his approval, and his eyes went wide as every head in the hall turned to him. Now that everyone had finally settled back down, Harry was able to catch a glimpse of the figure. He looked to be about 185 cm tall and was wearing very clearly Muggle clothes. He had on a pair of blue jean trousers and a shirt so bright orange that Harry suspected it might have been at home in a young Dumbledore’s wardrobe. His face was still hidden as he spoke to the staff table, but the back of his head featured jet black hair messy enough to rival Harry’s own.
“Excuse me?” Umbridge simpered. “Did you say something?”
The unknown person quickly shook their head.
“Me? Nope. I mean, I was about to, but then you cut me off sooo…” He shrugged his shoulders. “I guess I’m just waiting for you to finish your conversation about me.”
“I see.” If Umbridge’s smile were to become any more strained, Harry thought, she might look more at home in a wax museum. “I was just querying the headmaster about what exactly your purpose here is.”
“Oh!” The exclamation rang clearly through the hall as everyone leaned in so as not to miss the excitement. “I didn’t know that was your job. I can show you if you want?”
“Show me?”
“What I’ll be teaching.”
Eyes flickered back and forth as the same thought went through the minds of all those present. Surely he didn’t mean…
“Ah, while I am looking forward to your teachings, Perseus-”
“Percy.”
“Perhaps it would be best to save it for the classroom, hm?” Dumbledore looked far too amused at the proceedings.
The newly dubbed Perseus or Percy shrugged again.
“Whatever.” He turned to give Umbridge a smirk. “ Feel free to stop by at any time.”
“Splendid,” Dumbledore cut across any response Ubridge may have been trying to form behind her livid face. “Well, you made it just in time for introductions. Our dear Professor Umbridge has just finished addressing the students. Perhaps you would like to do the same?”
The smirk fell right off the new professor's face.
“Oh. Uh…” He took something out of his pocket and began to fiddle with it. Many curious eyes followed the movement. The object seemed to be stick-like, but wasn’t quite long enough to be a wand. “I didn’t really know I was supposed to do a speech.”
“That’s quite all right.” Dumbledore encouraged as Umbridge began smirking. “A simple introduction is fine.”
“Ok…” The unknown finally turned around, allowing the students to catch their first look at his toned face and striking sea-green eyes. Harry swore he caught Hermione blushing, but she quickly turned her head so that he couldn’t see her face anymore. “Uhhh.. well, my name is Percy Jackson, and I guess I’ll be teaching you guys Self Defense this year… Ummmm… My favorite color is blue, and I like swimming?”
The unsure teen turned his head questioningly back towards the Headmaster, who smiled encouragingly and began to clap as if this was the best thing he had heard all year. Students began to clap as well, and Harry could hear Fred and George shouting somewhere off to his side.
“Bravo!”
“Well said!”
“Couldn’ta put it in better words meself!”
Their new professor’s face just looked resigned to all of it as he waited for the applause to die down.
“Well, then.” Dumbledore took back control of the room. “I have just a few more announcements before you all totter off to bed. Minerva, if you wouldn’t mind transfiguring a chair for our new arrival?”
“Of course,” McGonagall replied as she did just that. The extra napkin that had been sitting crumpled on the table began to darken and stretch before settling into a matching wooden chair next to the Tranfiguration Professor. The dark-haired teen across the table seemed relieved to finally be out of the spotlight as he walked swiftly to his new seat.
“Wonderful. Now, as I was saying earlier, Quidditch tryouts will be held-”
Harry tuned out as Dumbledore continued giving his announcements. He couldn’t decide what to think of the new Professor. He looked barely older than Harry himself. Could he really be qualified to teach them Self Defense? Then again, he thought, what makes someone qualified to teach something like that? Surely after all these years, he might be qualified to teach a few beginner’s lessons himself.
“Well. That was … something.” Ron’s voice cut through Harry’s thoughts. The ginger turned to look at his friends as if they had the words to describe what had just happened that he lacked. Unfortunately for his friend, Harry was at just as much of a loss for words as he was. He turned to look at the last member of their group. Hermione, of course, came to their rescue.
“Yes. It was very… illuminating,” she said.
“Illuminating?” Ron echoed. “Wha’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means we’ve got to read between the lines. Look underneath the underneath.”
Harry glanced at Ron from the corner of his eye and noted that he looked just as confused as Harry felt. It must have shown on his face as well because Hermione slumped and rolled her eyes at them.
“Obviously, Umbridge is Fudge’s latest attempt to control you, Harry, and by extension, Dumbledore. What did you say she did again?”
“Oh uh…” Harry racked his brain trying to remember if the toad-like woman’s title was ever mentioned at his hearing. “I think she was some sort of secretary for Fudge.”
“An Undersecretary?”
“Yeah, that’s it. The Senior Undersecretary.”
“Well, that’s hardly a prerequisite to teaching DADA. I’d bet anything that Fudge pushed her through here so that he could spy on you and Dumbledore!” Hermione spoke in a quick but hushed voice. “And Dumbledore must have known what Fudge was doing, so he created a new position as a countermeasure!”
“Alright,” Harry allowed. “Say that’s true. Where does this Percy bloke come in then? He can’t be more than a couple of years older than us! How’s he supposed to tip the balance for us?”
“I-I’m not sure yet,” Hermione admitted. “There must be something about him that we just don’t know yet.”
“Or not.” Ron shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time Dumbledore scraped the bottom of the barrel for a new teacher!”
“No,” Hermione disagreed. “Did you see the look on Dumbledore’s face when he came in? He looked happy to see him. I doubt he would look like that if he were just some random wizard off the street.”
“I dunno,” Ron said. “I’m pretty sure I saw him making that same face when his latest order of Lemon Drops came in last year.”
Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron again.
“I’m serious!”
“So am I!”
Harry tuned out again as Rona and Hermione began their usual bickering. He saw Ron’s point, but couldn’t help but agree with Hermione. There was obviously something they were missing with this new professor. Some sort of plan that Dumbledore had cooked up as he had every year. A plan that he hadn’t shared with Harry. Again.
This was going to be a frustrating year, wasn’t it?
A/N: I’m alive! I’m so sorry that I haven’t updated my other stories… I probably won’t for a while still. I just don’t have the drive to write them anymore. I started them in middle school and have now graduated with my Master’s. I do have more plans for this one and a couple of weeks off coming up, so stay tuned!
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