19 Chapter 19 - The Teachers Meeting
Inside the staff meeting room, Albus Dumbledore was rubbing his splitting headache. The backlash from attempting to show Lockhart as a fraud was very slow moving. He was so sure he could have handled the man, but barely into the school year and he was already regretting it. How in the world has this man not exposed himself as a fraud?
They were in their first staff meeting of the new school year that has been postponed the last two times due to Lockhart. The first time was him unable to get away from his fans and students, while the second time he couldn't come because his 'battle scars' were acting up. Which was just a lie as he spent the whole hour doing his hair before his next class.
"Let's get this long overdue meeting started." Dumbledore said much to his staff grumbling in agreement. They too were tired and shot glares towards the cause who pretended not to see them. "Shall we start from first year or seventh years?"
"Since we started from seventh year last time, let's begin with first years this time." Professor McGonagall suggested with the others in agreement.
"Well it's a bit late but are they settling in ok." Dumbledore asked.
"For the most part since it's basically the same every year." Professor Sprout answered with the other three heads of house nodding in agreement.
"That good. Now do any particular students stand out this year?"
"Not this time which is slightly disappointing. However I did find out that most of the years aren't as bad as I was told at brewing." Slughorn groans sadly at the loss of teaching Harry Potter.
"Besides a bit of trouble and getting into fights. Most of my first years don't really stand out much." Sprout answered.
"Luna Lovegood in Ravenclaw does stand out just not in a way most assumed. Due to her spacy look and telling of mystical or fantasy creatures. She hasn't made any friends in or out of the house yet." Flitwick sighed.
"For my house I would say Colin Creevy. The boy is a ball of energy and loves taking pictures." Professor Vector sighed as she pinched her nose. "I had to sit the boy down and explain he can't run up to a student and snap their photo randomly. It is expressially bad when it involves Harry Potter."
"Please like we need Potter to get a bigger ego." Snape snapped. "He would probably allow him to snap photos at any given time."
"Now Severus, we have been over this. Young Harry doesn't have that big of ego that you claim he does." Dumbledore said much to the annoyance of the potion master. "Anyways, we have digressed from the main topic. Now are there any concerns I should be aware of?"
"Many have approached me about their Defense Against the Dark Arts class. They felt like they weren't getting anything out of the class." Sprout said with the other three heads nodding.
"Hey, I have you know that by the end of the year they will be masters in the class." Lockhart boasted.
Ignoring the man, Dumbledore nodded as he leaned back in his chair a bit thinking. This could be a good chance for Harry since he can cast fifth year spells without tiring fairly quickly. It would also serve to help those in OWL and NEWT exams. Even if he has to spare some of his already tight schedule to sit in while Harry teaches.
"Young Harry is starting a study group and while his other classes need a bit of work. He is a prodigy in Defense Against the Dark Arts." Dumbledore spoke as he tapped his finger on the desk. The DADA portion of the test he had Harry do appeared allowing him to pass it around.
"I can confidently say he is good enough to help them study. If you agree I think I can work something out with him."
"Albus, are you sure this is Harry's work. Some of these things are above NEWT level. So how can you expect us to believe a twelve year old who proved to be average took this."
"I can show you the memory, take a vow, or have him take it in front of you all. The only problem I see with this arrangement is the sixth and seventh year practical portion. While he can cast the spells they leave him drained after a few casts." Dumbledore answered, making most blink stupidly at him.
Not liking how the others were considering this, Lockhart had to brag and whine. "Why would they go to him when they can be taught by me? The Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defence League, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award."
"Albus, who is going to sit in. I am afraid that there will be accidents." Professor McGonagall asked.
"I should be able to fit it into my schedule if it's an hour or two every week for the older students. Harry should be able to handle first through fifth pretty easily, but feel free to stop by for those." Dumbledore said. "Now shall we get on with this meeting. I say we got a bit sidetracked."
Mummering in agreement the rest of the meeting went smoothly with Lockhart silently fuming. How dare Harry steal his spotlight and time to shine among the students.
--
Inside the classroom which Harry and Daphne chose to hold their study group. As they finished up their charm work with Penelope helping the two time travelers. They managed to cover most of the second year's spells or third year's in Katie and first in Luna cases. Now it was time for the patronus charm which got Harry excited.
"With charms taken care of let's move onto our next topic. The patronus charm."
"Very funny Potter. I have done my research on it and even most can't cast it. So what makes you, a twelve year old, think he can." Tracey asked rudely and sarcastically.
"Expecto Patronum," Harry said as a thick white smoke formed in the shape of a shield on the tip of his wand.
"Never mind." Was all Tracey could say as this was a better result than when she tried to cast it herself. She only got a sliver of smoke before she felt drained.
After explaining the basics and offering his own tips he remembers from the time he learned it. Harry smiled as Luna, Susan, Tracey and Penelope mist had some remnant of a shield. Hannah on the other hand only had a small stream of mist that quickly faded. The most surprising was Katie's who nearly became corporal on her first cast. She just lost her concentration due to the excitement and failed to finish.
"Amazing girls." Harry praised.
"But I barely got the mist." Hannah said lamely with pure disappointment in her voice.
"Hannah, you need to pick a powerful memory, one that fills you with love, joy or something positive everytime you remember. It could even be a collection of memories that makes you smile."
She smiled at the advice as Harry went back to talking. "Now while many consider this charm difficult is mainly due to the lack of advice in the books that mention them. It also takes a few tries and time for your magic to adjust to the required amount."
"How do you know this Harry?" Penelope asked.
"Research and chats with Dumbledore over it." Harry waved it off while throwing Dumbledore's name in there. He will be sure to make it up to the aged wizard some time in the future with a favor or bags of candy.
While doubt still filled the sixth year perfect, most of the younger girls bought it. Luna, who has been studying him since she walked in, just slowly blinked her eyes at him. Which he learned in the future means she doesn't believe him but will let it slide for now. Since it won't hurt her or others.
"Shall we do this again?" Daphne asked as she pulled out a clock.
"I'm game," Katie quickly agreed.
"This is fun so I can't wait." Luna agreed. "It's like our own secret club."
"It is not really a secret, but we would like to keep it small for the time being." Daphne explained to the young Ravenlaw.
"This definitely helped me. What about you Hannah?"
"Yeah. Are we meeting here again in a week?"
Harry looked over to Daphne who held her chin for a moment before nodding back. "I think that can be arranged. How about you Penelope?"
"I have a perfects meeting next week so I will be late by an hour at most, but I will be here."
After a few more details were set and Tracey agreeing to come again, the room was soon empty. From around the corner a slicked back blonde hair boy frowned as he watched everyone leaving. He wondered what they were all doing and with Potter much less for the last few hours. However his hormonal and puberty mind soon putting guesses together making him grumpy with each new one.
"How dare the Gryffindor half blood sink his claws into the Slytherin house."
