Chapter 5

Chapter 5

MINERVA MCGONAGALL

"How could this happen? Two years in a row! For the castle to be infiltrated for two years, how could this happen?" She had been distraught when Dumbledore had called the emergency staff meeting. For an imposter to take the place of Alastor and for every one of them to not notice anything was mind-boggling.

She just shook her head and could see the worried expression on the rest of the staff as well. Dumbledore himself was quite furious and worried, a very rare sight from the usually always calm and benevolent behavior he usually shows.

"I could look over the wards if you permit it, Albus?" Flitwick said from the side. The aged charms master had a mastery of wards, and his input could be valuable. She looked at Albus who replied while nodding his head.

"Well, I checked everything myself, but if you deem it necessary, you could have a look at them yourself Filius," Filius just nodded his head at that. If Dumbledore had not found any discrepancy, then there was little chance they could find any. She just leaned back in her chair and thanked that the issue was noticed as early as it was. If the other schools had arrived for the tournament, this would have been a huge disaster.

"Well, it seems you were right in naming Mr. Wright as Headboy. I worry if the situation had not been reported as early as it was, this could have turned intoquite a catastrophe," the Hufflepuff head supplied her own input. Pomona had wished for Cedric to become Headboy though Dumbledore had made a firm decision and had not been swayed.

Thank the gods, she thought.

"We can discuss the 'what ifs?' and 'whatnots?' but we have a whole new issue about the DADA classes. We need someone to fill in at that position now that Moody is at St. Mungo's."

))

Well, his concern was valid. For students taking their OWLs and NEWTs this year, time was crucial. They could not afford another debacle like Gilderoy.

"We could try and fill in for Alastor, if he takes the post after his return from St.Mungo's?" She said to Dumbledore.

"I don't think that is possible, it will take significant time for Alastor to heal and he has refused to take the post after his recovery. I am afraid we will have to arrange a replacement," he said while shaking his head.

"I have good news regarding that, despite the short notice I was able to arrange a replacement. They may lack experience as a teacher, but their skills and knowledge should not be an issue," a bit of mirth escaping into his tone.

"That is quite a relief," her colleague said from her side. And she nodded at that. The staff could assist them with the lessons if they lacked experience as an educator, that is if they were willing to listen. She just shook her head remembering a certain golden-haired buffoon.

"Yes. They come highly recommended by Alastor and were an Auror trainee recently." Albus told them. Auror trainee, she thought. That meant the person was young. She might even have taught them.

"Oh, how were you able to convince them to come and teach here then?" the charms master asked in his usually high-pitched voice. And he was right; if the person was an Auror trainee, then there was little chance that they would want to become a teacher. For them to leave their training could be detrimental to their career.

"Well, even in my old age I believe there are several people willing to listen to the words coming out of this old man's mouth," she could hear a faint chuckle from their young runes professor, at those words, not minding the smirk spreading across her lips as well, "I just promised them I would mention them in some exemplary words, to some of my friends at a later time."

She just shook her head at that. Bribery. Albus could be quite cunning it seems when he wishes to be.

"Well, I believe that this is everything we needed to cover. The new teacher will join us tomorrow. I believe we must all wrap this up," Albus said while leaning back into his chair, taking off his half-moon glasses and placing them on the table.

All of them started getting up and vacating the office. All of them except, Severus.

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ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

Dumbledore could feel the stiffness in his joints. He could feel his age catching up to him. He had just wanted to be an educator, yet it seems that the world was not quite done with him just yet.

All of the staff left his office, and now only Severus and he remained.The young potion master sitting in his chair, his face devoid of all emotion. Many times Dumbledore had contemplated using legilimency on him, to know what went behind those emotionless eyes. Yet he just couldn't bring himself to do it, for he had a small suspicion that it would be like looking at a mirror. Ariana, he lamented for the millionth time.

"So, how is it that two people,both imprisoned in Azkaban were able to escape and there has been no action from the ministry?" Severus asked him. And wasn't the answer disappointing? The level of corruption and deceit had shocked him. Disappointing.

"According to our esteemed minister, it was probably a small mix up and we should not make a fuss about it with the incoming competition,"Albus answered, and Severus scoffed at that.

"Then how is it that Bart Crouch Jr, a person who is supposed to be dead, showed up at Hogwarts, just after we saw the debacle at the World Cup?" the young man continued, "You can see the pattern, Albus, this is him."

Severus was right. Albus could see Tom's hand behind all the recent happenings. The show at the World Cup had been a call. A call to his followers, to remind them of their loyalty. But what was the purpose of sending Crouch Jr to Hogwarts? Alas, when Albus had tried to confront he had killed himself. Dumbledore had been unable to recover the body.

Dumbledore felt sad for the loss of a young boy, a young boy who had lost his way but had such huge potential. Lost to a heinous deception.

"Yes, I can see them, yet we are unable to do anything. Our enemy remains unseen while we are in the open. All we can do is wait." His words made the young head of the house react.

"We can prepare. You could teach Lil . ." but he was cut off by Albus.

"NO! No, I will not involve children in this. They are young, ambitious, and filled with so much potential. I will not have to burden them with the mistakes of the previous generation."

Severus was about to say something but Albus narrowed his gaze at him and spoke, his tone brokering no argument.

"Every year at this school, Harry has been forced to go above and beyond regular students' duties. He has been put in danger continuously at this school. He doesn't need us adding to his troubles."

Dumbledore finished and immediately, Fawkes appeared in a flash. Its warm song soothed his agitation. Albus closed his eyes and let himself soak in the pure magical tune reverberating across his office. After a while, the music stopped.

"Thank you," Dumbledore said to his cherished companion who took to the skies through his window. Vanishing into the starry night. He looked at his young colleague and could see the same blank irises staring at him. Though his shoulders seemed a little less tense.

At this, the young man nodded and got up to leave his office and made his way to his chambers.

Dumbledore turned his chair and looked out into the starry sky. Identifying a small star he chuckled, well it seems he forgot to tell them the name of the new DADA professor. Well, they are going to arrive tomorrow. Nothing wrong with a little bit of surprise.

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NYMPHADORA TONKS

She cursed herself once more for accepting this offer. Professor Dumbledore had convinced her that taking this job would be good for her resume, and Madam Bones had also accepted the offer from the Headmaster. And now here she was, back at the good old Hogwarts. She was quite nervous as she moved through the corridor.

Her mentor, Moody was at St. Mungo's and had told her everything. She was quite dumbfounded that someone had gotten the drop on him, many people called him paranoid but it seems that he was right this time around. She started going up the stairs, the castle was still quite familiar to her.

She spotted a couple of students moving in the corridor. One of the girls looked at her and narrowed her eyes.

"Tonks is that you?" a very familiar voice called out. She smiled and observed her black-haired junior. Ex-junior, to be more precise. She hugged her, both of them embracing each other.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out on the streets being a cool Auror and all that?" Amy Leighton, the black-haired junior asked her. It seems she was still a gossip.

"What can I say? I missed you lot so much that I decided to come back. After all, someone has to keep a look on you lot, lest you blow up the whole place," she teased her friend.

"Ha-ha. Very funny. But seriously, why are you here?" Amy pressed on. Well, she could be quite focused if she suspects a scoop. And it seems her scoop senses have only gotten sharper.

"Hmmm, let's just say soon, you are gonna want to kill me because the bitch assigned so much work?" Tonks said while trying to mimic a specific person's voice and tone.

She could see the realization dawn on Amy's face. "Damn, you are here to teach. So, the rumors were right, Dumbledore really killed that Moody guy!" Amy said in quite a loud voice.

Aha. So there were rumors that Dumbledore had killed Moody. They were quite imaginative. Now that she thought about it, Crouch Jr had killed himself after Dumbledore had confronted him and he was using Polyjuice to appear as Moody. So, they were quite accurate. Technically.

"Yes, I am your new DADA professor. So, I have to be responsible and not be late on my first day," she said looking at her watch. She had to meet Dumbledore and the rest of the staff in two minutes. Moody had given her all the lecture notes he had prepared, but she still had to go over them all.

"Wait wait. You have to tell me more than that. You can not leave me hanging . . . ." Amy started going off on her usual tangent. But Nymphadora started walking towards the seventh floor once more, hollering back at her future student.

"Gotta go. It was nice seeing you, Amy," she waved back. Her steps became faster as she rushed to the seventh floor. Well, she is here now. Let's see if teaching is everything Professor Dumbledore made it out to be.

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Hello. Welcome to one of my favorite characters. Nymphadora Tonks is the new DADA teacher. I had to decide between her and Kingsley. But I decided to add her because she is someone I could play around with, as a character. Plus, I never liked her pairing with Remus.

Thanks for the 'Fish Eating' person for beta reading

The story is going to continue moving.

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