01.19.2022

We were back in Severus' office and Harry was once again on his behind,

"That last memory- What was it?" Severus asked drawing my attention,

"I don't know," Harry said, "You mean the one where my cousin tried to make me stand in the toilet?"

I snorted drawing their attention, I looked up, seeing Severus' amused face and Harry's horrified one,

"Oh! No! I'm not laughing at you Harry, my- er- one of my titles- nicknames, is 'Supreme Lord of the Bathroom' because when someone tried to shove my face inside a toilet, I might have exploded them," Harry stared at me opening and closing his mouth like a fish, and Severus snorted,

"Let me guess, it got over everyone but you?" he asked eyes dancing, and I snorted rolling my eyes,

"Yeah, Clarissa was not a happy camper that day," I said, lips twitching, "Annabeth seemed impressed though," Severus groaned,

"Not this again!' He cried, "All I hear from you is Annabeth this- Annabeth that! We get it you have a girlfriend,"

Harry let out a strangled cry interrupting our bickering. Severus and I looked at each other,

"You broke him," Severus accused and I gaped at Severus,

"Me? You're one to talk Mr. I must not let my students see my human side suddenly having a normal conversation,"

"Yeah? Well-," Severus said opening his mouth, there was a thud on the ground and we both looked down towards Harry,

"Did he just-,"

"I believe so,"

"Was it really that shocking?"

"That is why he is on the floor,"

"We should take him to Poppy,"

"I suppose,"

In the end, Harry was laying on the bed, Ron and Hermione next to him as Poppy lectured us about not stunning the students with an overload of information.

A shrill scream came out of Trelawney's throat as Dolores approached her, I grimaced and put a hand on Dolores' shoulder holding her back,

"No! This cannot be happening! It cannot! I refuse to accept it!"

"You didn't realize this was coming?" Dolores crooned, "Incapable though you are of predicting even tomorrow's weather, you must surely have realized that your pitiful performance during our inspections and lack of any improvement, would make it inevitable you would be sacked?"

"You c-can't! You c-can't sack me!" Big tears were now running down her face and I grimaced, "I've been here sixteen years! H-Hogwarts is m-my h-home!"

"It was your-,"

"Wait," I cut in, having enough, "I can't stop you from sacking her, but if this is her home, and she has nowhere to go, shouldn't we allow her to stay, and maybe mentor some students?" Dolores frowned but conceded, slinking back into the crowd of students,

"Then I believe I will leave her to you," she said and Trelawney dramatically threw herself at my feet, sobbing and begging. I grimaced looking around for help, finding it in Minerva,

"There, there, Sibyll- calm down now- blow your nose on this. It's not as bad as you think- you are not going to have to leave Hogwarts. Percy here won't let that happen- oh no don't do that Sibyll, get a hold of yourself," Slowly Minerva pulled her away I grimaced at the puddle of snot and tears below me, man that woman could cry.

I quickly stepped away from it but Dolores was already walking up to me with Dumbledore in tow,

"As I've stated, Dumbledore, it has been taken care of, no need to get involved," she said, he gave me a nod which I did not return, before turning towards Dolores,

"Good, then I have the new Divination Teacher," Dumbledore said briskly a centaur walking through the halls, pushing his way through the students. The words faded out as he suddenly bowed towards me,

"I am Firenze, my lord, and I find it with great honor that I shall accompany you in helping Hogwarts," my frowned deepened,

"No need to Firenze, I am sorry Dumb ol' door dragged you into his mess," That last part turning into a growl as I turned to glare at the man-child in question, the ground starting to shake slightly,

"Dumbledore." I said, his smile finally slipping off his face, "My office. Now." I brushed past him, through the students who parted for me. It was one thing to accept a quest, it was another to force it upon someone else, through my name, who I didn't even know! He was using me and that needed to stop before I did something about it. I heard Dolores giggle but I would deal with her later.

There was no way I was playing into jackass' hands!

🦇

"I don't think I've seen Professor Jackson that angry," Hermione said settling into the common room, opening books to study. Ron and Harry glanced at each other before nodding,

"And what was it with Firenze bowing to him?" Ron scrunched his nose, "I knew he must've been special for Umbridge to listen to him, but isn't this a little... I dunno weird?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed, falling into a chair, "But I don't think he's working for Voldemort if he's keeping that old bat in check- he's even managed to make Snape bearable in our session!" Harry continued, "Let's worry about Voldemort, then we can figure him out,"