Another time

He made it to the class with a minute to spare. 

It turned out there was no point in rushing, everyone was standing outside and the door was shut. 

"Harry! You were almost late." He was starting to get tired of her telling him off in every sentence. 

"Even if he was Mione, there's no professor." Ron was looking a lot less pale, but a lot more tired. He was probably hoping no one would show so he could sleep until lunch. 

"I'll give it a little longer then I'll inform Headmistress McGonagall." She said loudly enough that there were several groans from behind her. 

Harry looked up to see Malfoy already staring at him. They shared a smile before looking back to their friends. Another few minutes passed, filled with Hermione tapping her foot and looking down the hallway. She was becoming more and more irritable as time ticked by. Harry and Ron shared a look as she huffed in annoyance. 

"I'll be back." She quickly walked down the corridor, her intention clear.

"Are you friends with that lot then?" Ron nodded towards the Slytherins, who had also watched Hermione walk off.

"More like, we're being civil." Harry smiled. 

"Right." Ron shrugged. "Guess there's no harm in it. We've all been through a lot." 

Harry turned to his best friend.

"When did you get so mature?"

"The same time you did apparently." 

They laughed quietly. 

"I think she's just stressed. The thought of the exams being so close, what we've gone through being less than a year ago, you not taking care of yourself, me and her not being able to- I don't know. She's just got a lot going around her head." Ron sighed.

"I have to give her credit. She's lasted this long without having some sort of a breakdown. We lasted two minutes."

"No, you lasted two minutes. I made at least four." 

They both laughed again. It felt nice to talk to Ron again, without ignoring the things they went through, but also not being weighed down by them.

"Is this the eighth year Defence class?" An old, hunched over woman stood in front of the small group.

A Hufflepuff girl nodded. 

"Perfect! Apologies for being slightly late." She croaked, fumbling with her keys. 

Ron and Harry shared a look. 'Slightly late', try thirty minutes late. The class may as well be over. 
Hermione still hadn't returned, leaving Ron to carry her bag into class once the door was finally unlocked. 

"Ah, I didn't say you could come in." The batty woman closed the door in Zabini's face. 

"That's what you get for wanting to learn." Pansy giggled at he rolled his eyes. 

The students all looked around, some chose to leave, likely to independently study, or to sleep. 

"Mate I might-" 

The door swung open. 

"Now. Who is ready to learn some defensive spells!" The woman smiled wickedly, moving out of the way of the door. 

Blaise shoved Pansy in front of him, into the class room. She entered easily and stuck her tongue out at him in return. 
Each student was wary about entering, but did so anyway. 

The desks had been moved to the sides of the room and a long duelling platform sat in the middle. A purple sheet with silver runes covered it. 

"This feels familiar." Harry whispered to nobody in particular.

"I hope there's no snakes this time." Malfoy whispered back, now beside him. 

They shared a smile before directing their attention to the new professor. 

"I have heard of the past professors' failings. You have not had a proper Defence against the Dark Arts education. I am here to change that." She squinted at the small class. "Now, how many of you are there."

She pointed to each student, muttering numbers until she shook her head and started again. 

"Eight professor, currently." A student called to her, who took no notice and restarted her counting. The student sighed and left the class room, muttering something about old people. It led to the professor restarting her counting. 

"You know what I said about a competent teacher? I should have kept my mouth shut." Draco sighed, shutting his eyes.

"Hey Ron, now might be your chance to sleep." Harry whispered to his friend. 

It felt like days had passed before she gave up counting, and clapped her hands together. 

"I would like you to gather round the platform. An even amount on both sides, if possible please." 

They did as she asked. Ron was dragged to a side, as he had fallen asleep. Harry was impressed with his ability to sleep standing up. 

"Raise your hand if you want to duel." 

A few did. Pansy, Blaise, Theo and Ernie. 

"Wonderful! Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, if you would come up." 

Ron was startled at hearing his name, shaking himself to wake up. Harry sighed and made his way up.

"I, as well as many others, saw some very good duelling from Mr. Potter in his fight against Voldemort." Half of the Slytherins flinched at his name. "However, Mr Weasley, I know duelling is not your or your family's strong suit." 

"Wait what?" She tutted at Harry.

"Do not interrupt me. I would like you to duel each other, using any spells. It is over when one of you either tap out or are forced to end it. Everyone else, watch and learn." She stepped off of the podium, stumbling slightly on the last step. 

The two boys shrugged at each other before bowing and readying their wands. 

"Begin!" 

Ron cast the first spell, a simple jinx, which Harry easily deflected with Protego. Harry threw the next, Incendio, which he knew Ron could easily deflect. However, the other boy was not fully awake, casting his Protego a second too late. His cloak went up in flames. 

"Auguamenti!" Harry doused Ron in water, putting out the fire. 

"Thanks mate." He blew a piece of wet hair out of his face.

"This is a duel boys! Out on the battle field, if you acted like this, you would be dead!" 

Harry turned to face the professor. 

"With all due respect, Professor, we have all been on the battle field. We have all faced real and terrifying duels. I apologise for the fact that I do not want to recreate that." 

"Whilst I appreciate your apology Mr. Potter, you are not taking this class seriously enough. It is to prepare you for the real world. The only spell you seemed capable of using back then was the disarming spell. You can not fight successfully without branching out and practicing." 

"I really don't think you're listening to me. I fought against Voldemort with Expelliarmus and won. I have seen the real world and all the horrors it has to offer and I can tell you, this is not going to prepare you for it. No amount of lectures or practice will." Harry scoffed when the woman turned her back on him. 

"Mr. Potter, you say you won." She turned her head to face him. "How can you say that when so many have died? They died fighting for you. They died because of you. How do you feel about that?" 

Harry felt extremely small. He stumbled over his words under her cruel gaze.

"The people who died are not his responsibility. The only death in the entire war that was Harry Potter's fault is Lord Voldemort's. Everyone else died at the hands of death eaters and the Dark Lord himself. He saved the Wizarding world from that cruel being and from itself. No matter how many times it turned on him, he still saved it. So take your media reporting accusations and shove them up you arse. You are no professor of ours." Draco stood in front of the podium, in front of Harry.

"A death eater defending the 'Saviour'. How sweet. Is he paying you? Or perhaps you're under his protection as long as you say kind things about him? Hm, which is it?" The old toad croaked. 

"First of all, a former death eater. One that was forced into that position. Secondly, no one has to pay or protect anyone here. We're all capable people who respect each other." Nott tightened the hold on his wand as he spoke.

"Well isn't this nice. All of you coming together to-"

"Enough. You are not welcome here. I believe I made that clear before the year began." McGonagall stood at the door with Hermione and a younger woman behind her. 

"Minerva. All I asked for was an interview with the saviour. Look what I had to do to get in here. Although, I suppose I should thank you. I now have an amazing story about how easy it was to infiltrate Hogwarts just to be cornered by death eaters who are under Harry Potter's wing. I'll never have to work again after the pay out from this!" She cackled, walking towards the door. 

"I believe you are mistaken Mertha. You will not be leaving here with any story to tell." She pointed her wand at the woman's head. "Obliviate." 

A few moments later, the headmistress was floating an unconscious woman out of the room.

"That was definitely an unexpected start to the year." Ernie snorted. 

"Indeed it was." The woman next to Hermione said. "I am your actual DADA professor. However, I believe you would all benefit from the rest of the morning off. So we will start afresh on Wednesday. I apologise for what you had to deal with." 

Harry darted out of the room as soon as she had finished speaking. The familiar burn in his throat had appeared since the reporter had began asking him questions. He needed air, he needed silence, he needed a new life. 

"Harry wait!" 

He needed to escape.