12.28.2021

"STOP LAUGHING!" I lunged across the Gryffindor common room to quickly soften a cat's descent from midair, wincing as the claws dug into my arm

Three pairs of eyes staring wide at me.

"Umm hi?" I asked, "I was looking for Miner- I mean Professor McGonagall?" I said waving the luckily unshredded piece of paper in my free hand

"I'll show you the way," Hermione offered standing up.

"Wait- what's going on?" I asked looking between the three of them. They looked away from me,

"Look you're a great teacher and all, and we love you but, Professor Umbridge is severely holding you back, we barely have time to practice before the bell rings and I know that's not your fault, you're a bloody good teacher- it's just-,"

I looked at the three of them, puzzled before it clicked. Why else would Harry be mad? Saying that he, essentially, is better than all his previous defense against the dark arts teachers is a big setup, not to mention he's nowhere ready to be full-time teaching the subject.

"You think Harry would be better." I summed up, pissing Harry off more- gods it was like talking to one of Aries' kids, I sighed, pushing Harry back into the seat and putting the cat back into his lap causing him to look at me with a 'really human' face.

"Just listen to your friends Harry, they mean well," I said turning to the other pair, "And you need to listen to him too- alright?" I asked. They nodded and I stood up again,

"I've got to get this to Min-Professor McGonagall, Oh! And I did not hear any of what you just told me." I said ducking out again. Wondering the halls, a bit before finding her office.

"Ah. Percy! What do I owe this pleaser to?" I held up the sheet

"Got a delivery from Umbridge," I said placing it on her desk, "She wasn't very happy, but I've got to say you did a great job," Minerva smiled and nodded,

"If I got your approval, I doubt I'm going anywhere," she said glancing over the sheet before tossing it in a waste bin. I shrugged, shoving my hands in my pockets.

"What do you think of Harry's situation?" I asked, causing Minerva to stiffen,

"I think that he is an extremely brave boy who had been through things he should not have had to at his age." I looked at her for a moment before nodding and leaving, saying my goodbyes.

I don't know what to make of Harry, it's not like I was spending every second with the boy, but I could tell that he was going through some stuff, and based on what Dumbledore told me of his situation, Harry's experiences with pain was not limited to Hogwarts. He was an angry one, but a tough one.

"Percy- I'd just thought I'd inform you that I am shutting down all student lead activities, and having them reform through me," Dolores said as I re-entered our classroom. I paused,

"Why?" I asked carefully,

"To receive proper documentation for all student organization," She replied still not looking up, I shrugged,

"Just require students to submit the proper documentation, less work that way," I said coolly walking up the stairs to my office.

I cursed as I raced through the halls- I was late to the class evaluation with Severus, bursting through the doors just after I saw him go in, he sent me a look- but otherwise stayed silent about my tardiness.

"We are continuing with our Strengthening Solutions today-," I can't believe Dolores actively chose to go to these classes, I mean being a student was one thing- watching another teacher teach... sure it was fascinating to see all the methods they used, but having seen Snape teach the younger generation at New Rome... well it wasn't anything new. I was just about to completely doze off when Dolores stood up. I inwardly groaned, standing up to follow her, not really paying much attention- just enough to look like I was

"You applied first for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?"

"Yes,"

"But you were unsuccessful?" This caught my attention, Severus was the head of Slytherin, it wasn't a far cry to say that he was ambitious, to say the least

"Obviously"

"And you have applied regularly for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post since you first joined the school, I believe"

"Yes,"

I whistled, "Tough break man," I said drawing his attention

"Your own to talk, Mr. Praetor," Severus sneered at me and I chuckled

"You know I didn't ask for that-," Dolores started coughing again. I handed her a cough drop and continued talking to Severus, "You know Frank has that position now,"

"Yes, and what a great job he's doing," Severus drawled, I tilted my head.

"I still can't tell whether you're being sarcastic- but I'll have you know that Frank is a great Praetor, although I must admit when both Jason and I pulled our rank to get Octavian to shut up... man that was great."

"What's with you and Octavian anyways?"

"Dude, he murdered my pillow pet." Severus raised an eyebrow and turned back to the students whose attention, I just noticed, was on us.

"And you say I need an evaluation," he said slinking away.

I did the mature thing.

I stuck my tongue out at him.

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