Chapter 4
Chapter 4:
It’s silly to be this nervous, surely, a grown man should be more in command of his feelings. But try as he might, Draco couldn’t shake the nerves of his first day. He forgot to pack half his essentials in his hurry to leave the Manor and spent half the night collecting the various items he needed in Hogsmeade. He felt like a chicken running around with no head and deeply regretted freeing his elves at that moment. He ran the small village end to end at least 5 times each time forgetting something else to only remember upon entering the door to his hotel room for the night. In the morning, he oversaw his things get sent up to the school and he checked himself in the mirror no less than a dozen times to ensure he looked perfect, not a single hair out of place, not a single wrinkle in sight. Draco was a lot of things, but sloppy wasn’t one, and first impressions matter, people always talked and already had preconceived notions of him and his family name, and he wouldn’t give them one more thing to talk about.
He’s been so focused on how he was to present himself to his former teacher that he forgot that he also had to meet students and other professors, he scolded himself for not researching the faculty list or keeping up with Hogwarts news. Fuck his reckless lack of forward planning. It’s the worst habit he picked up after the war, all he wanted was to live in the moment and this is where it landed him, an impulsive idiot who is about to walk into his first day of work with zero preparations or research.
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Sitting in the headmaster’s office awaiting her arrival from a meeting was not easy. He can see Snape’s portrait looking down his nose at him, watched Dumbledore’s quite but amused expression, and couldn’t get his Slytherin forefathers to shut the fuck up about how proud there were that a teacher of quality was coming to Hogwarts at least.
McGonagall walked into the office a few minutes later looking down her nose at Draco per usual, he didn’t expect a warm welcome, but he at least expected a little of warmth, after all she did decide to hire him. The Headmistress was never one for mincing words and got right into it.
“Mr. Malfoy, I’m pleased to see you again.”
“Thank you and likewise professor, it’s been a very long time.”
“Indeed it has been, I must admit I never thought I would see you within these hall again.”
“That makes two of us.” Draco said with a smirk
McGonagall cracked a small smile at that and started opening a rather large ledger in front of her pulling out a few letters within.
“Mr. Malfoy, I must admit you were not my first choice for this post, when I saw your application I was rather sure it was in jest, but I have to say, these letters from your higher education professors abroad really were impeccable. Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t have my doubts about your ability to fit into the Hogwarts faculty and to follow our rules, I know you are not your father”
At that, Draco couldn’t help but wince a bit at the mention of his father. The one rotting away in Azkaban.
“I know you’ve changed a lot of and have grown since we last met during that dreadful time, I’m hoping you’ll prove me right in this decision, but know that I will be keeping a close eye on you. Some of the parents will surely not be pleased about my choice, but my duty is to ensure these students receive the best education possible, and I do believe you are the most qualified for this Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal, professor, I will do my best to not disappoint you” I’ve disappointed enough people he finished the thought in his head.
With a few more minutes to go over logistics and class schedule and then Draco was getting up and fixing his robes to leave. As he as heading to the door McGonagall said in farewell “and Mr. Malfoy, I’ll trust that you will respect ALL faculty at this school, including those whom you may not have been fond of in the past.”
“Of course, Professor” Draco left a bit confused about that parting shot, none of the old professors were here last he heard, they all left or were lost to the war, she as the only one left, so he had no idea why she’d day that. He went down the staircase and at the landing heard a familiar voice call over.
“Oi Malfoy, what are you doing here?”
Draco had to do a double take, surely his eyes are deceiving him, but there he was as tall and lanky as the day he died, was Fred motherfucking Weasley. PERFECT.
“Weasle” was all Draco said in response.
“I asked you what are you doing back here ferret” chuckled Fred.
“Haven’t you heard then, I’m the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.”
The sentence was barely out before Fred was rolling on the floor, ceiling, and walls laughing himself into a fit, other ghosts began filling the hall to check out the commotion he was causing and Draco felt the heat flush his cheeks and at the blatant disrespect. Draco was glad apparating was allowed for professors inside the school, he apparated away immediately to his quarters. Landing in his rooms Draco felt cowardly from running away from the ghost of a fucking weasel, but time and place, everything had a time and place, he would have the last laugh!