Chapter 7
They continued from the second floor up to the fifth, ignoring students that snuck around trying to get a look at the Headmaster’s guest. He’d be introducing her at dinner, the students could wait.
Snape left her at the door to her suite, with a nod and reiterated his intention to send Dumbledore to the picture of an armchair in front of a fire, that hung between the windows of her office.
~~~~
She closed the door to her suite behind her and with a sigh, called her elves. It was time to set up house.
Teddy was laid on a rug in the middle of the room that would be his nursery, while Polly whisked his furniture, clothes, books and other possessions, around the room, slotting them into place, before moving them multiple times, before she was happy with their location.
Candi took Ophelia’s trunks and vanished into the room that would be Ophelia’s, declaring that she’d ‘have Mistress Ophelia’s room sorted out, faster without Mistress’ interference’.
That left Ophelia to see to her office.
The bare empty room felt cold and forbidding, when she first entered it, but once a rug was down and her big desk situated in the middle of the room, the feel of the room softened. The whitewashed walls were bare of artwork, excluding the fireside painting, and while Ophelia had photos of her family and friends, they would stay in her private suite, not in the office where students could see them. In here, she’d settle for a couple of pretty landscapes.
The bookshelves were unshrunk and filled with books, folders and a set of filing cabinets tucked up against them. The inserts went in, labelled by year and house, just waiting for students’ names to be added to the tags.
By the time she finished, both Polly and Candi had been in and stated that they’d finished setting up the family rooms and Polly added that Teddy was down for a nap, now both elves were going to see to their own rooms, although Polly would be listening for Teddy. This left Ophelia blinking.
Merlin elves worked fast...
A few minutes before half-five, the fireside picture showed movement, causing Ophelia of suck in a sharp breath and raise her head quickly, her wand flying into her hand and pointing un-erringly at the old man that had entered the picture.
“Good afternoon, Professor.” He nodded to her, not even lifting an eyebrow at her actions.
“Good afternoon, Headmaster Dumbledore.” She nodded back.
“Oh, you know who I am?” He seemed pleased.
“Who doesn’t?” she snorted. “You are rather well known.”
“Yes, I suppose I am.” He agreed. “Headmaster Snape asked me to inform you that he will arrive shortly, to escort you to dinner.”
“Much appreciated, Headmaster.” She smiled and placed her quill in the little stand in the middle of the desk set and spun her chair slightly, to face him.
“You’re quite young, my dear.” Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling in the firelight. “Are you sure teaching is something you wish to do?”
“Certainly.” Ophelia replied. “If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have signed a contract here at Hogwarts, for the next ten years.”
“A ten-year contract?” Dumbledore’s brows rose. “That a significant timeframe. What of family? Will you not want a husband and child?”
“I already have a child.” Ophelia smirked. “I adopted my godson, last week.”
“What of his parents? Did they not object?”
“They died fighting the war you insisted we have.” Ophelia’s jaw tightened.
“War? That I insisted…?” The painted wizard blinked. “I never insisted on a war.”
“Oh, but you did.” Ophelia’s smirk grew teeth. “You were the one to push a separation between Gryffindor and Slytherin and that’s where the war started.”
“No, I-”
“You favoured Gryffindor, House points were given for any little thing.” She spoke over him. “But when they pulled pranks or got into fights with Slytherin? Who was it that started it? More often than not, it was the lions. And who was punished? If a lion started it, the snake was punished. If the snake started it, they got away scot-free.”
“I was trying to lead them back to the Light.” Dumbledore objected.
“By telling them that actions have no consequences? By letting them get away with murder? How many children have to die before you wake up and understand, Headmaster?”
“I-”
“Children need boundaries.” She didn’t let him speak. “Without boundaries they become outlaws, like Bellatrix Lestrange, Bartemius Crouch jnr… or Tom Riddle.”
Dumbledore frowned, straightening up and nearly glaring at her. “How do you know that name?”
“If you went looking, you’d find that I was raised by Saul Croaker.” On paper, that is.
“The Head Unspeakable?”
“He was my mother’s mentor.” She answered. “And my father is Sirius Black.”
“Oh, my…” Dumbledore gasped.
“Besides which…” She was hesitant to broach the subject but a decision needed to be made. “Harry Potter made no secret of who Riddle was.”
“I see…”
“Do you?” She demanded. “Tell me something Dumbledore. Tell me… Would you do it again? Knowing what you know now, would you make the same decisions again?”
“I would.” Dumbledore nodded.
“Even knowing the cost? The lives lost? Even then?”
“Yes. Defeating Voldemort was worth my life.”
“I don’t care about your life!” Ophelia snarled. “What about the children that died? Lavender Brown, Colin Creevey, Fred Weasley? Your precious order? Alastor Moody, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Theodore Tonks, Sirius Black, Emmeline Vance. And those that grew up, or will grow up, without parents? Neville Longbottom, Edward Lupin, Susan Bones. What of those that were tortured? Alice Longbottom, Frank Longbottom, Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Garrick Ollivander? And the other deaths? Florien Fortsecue, Amelia Bones, Bathilda Bagshot? Do you really think it’s worth the lives of the thousands of people Voldemort and his DeathEaters killed? Truly?”
“I…” The painting didn’t seem to know how to respond.
“And what of your… protégés?” She demanded. “James Potter, Lily Potter, Severus Snape, Harry Potter? Was it really worth their lives?”
“Yes…” Dumbledore sighed. “Defeating Voldemort was necessary or we’d never have peace, again. I knew the first time I laid eyes on Tom, that he was dark. That he’d turn to the Dark Arts, one day.”
“Then why didn’t you AK the little bastard?!” She screamed, leaping to her feet. “Why didn’t you deal with it, before it became a war?!”
“I wanted to give him a chance to turn to the Light.” Dumbledore whispered.
“And how did that turn out? Huh? How?” She slammed a hand down on her desk, ignoring the sting of her palm. “I’ll tell you how… Three thousand, two hundred and eleven muggles dead. And another two thousand, one hundred and three magical creatures, slaughtered. Not to mention the four thousand, one hundred and twenty-eight magicals that died under his reign.” She slumped back into her seat. “Nearly ten thousand sentient beings dead, because you gave him too many chances, knowing that he wasn’t going to change, no matter how many chances you offered.”
“My dear…”
“Shut up, Albus.” Ophelia’s voice was flat and tired. “You may return to the Headmaster’s Office and inform Headmaster Snape, that I will be ready for his arrival and am grateful for his offer of an escort to the Great Hall, but that you will never be welcomed in my office again.”
“Of course, my dear.” He stood and started to leave the painting, before pausing. “I never meant anyone to be harmed.”
“Tell that to my father, who you had locked away in Azkaban for twelve years.” She replied. “Tell that to Harry Potter, who’s had his magic bound and been banished to the muggle world for a decade. Tell that to Neville Longbottom who will never hear his mother say his name, even when he’s holding her hand. Tell that to Severus Snape, whose hands constantly tremble, due to the damage from the cruciatus curse. Tell that to Hermione Granger, whose parents will never recognise her, even if she stands in front of them. Tell that to the Wizengamot and the wizarding public, who had to bury so many innocent people.” She sighed. “You words mean nothing to us, because we know how little our lives mean to you.” She nodded. “Please leave, Headmaster. And don’t return.”
Five minutes later, there came a quiet knock at the door from the classroom.
“Enter.” She called out.
The door opened and Snape walked in, he looked around the large square room. “Very nice, Professor Black.” He crossed the room, his feet barely denting the pile of the heavy carpet rug. Taking a seat opposite her he laid his hands on the armrests of the bridge-chair. “Albus returned to my office stating that you wished to bar him from your office. I assume that means that he wasn’t brought into your confidence?”
“No, he was not.” Ophelia slumped back in her seat, rubbing her hand across her forehead. “We spoke for a few minutes, but… When I asked if he’d do it again, even knowing what he knows now… and he said that he would? I barely managed to keep my temper. I yelled at him. But I managed to withhold that one piece of information. If only just...”
“I can’t say I’m disappointed.” Snape replied quietly. “Because there’s a part of me, that’s quite pleased that you’re no longer blind to his manipulations. He played with our lives, with little consideration for those lives. And none whatsoever for our emotions. I’ve had his portrait moved to one of the few places in the Headmaster’s office that can’t be seen from the Headmaster’s desk. And asked the castle to lock him in his frame, if I’m in the office. Otherwise he has freedom to wander the office paintings, but not those in the rest of the castle. Not after a fourth year Hufflepuff lass, threatened to knife whatever canvas he visited.”
Ophelia imagined the sight and snorted. “The expression on his face must have been hilarious.”
“Oh, it was…” Snape smirked. “She called him ‘the other Dark Lord’. Said it would be only fair to destroy his paintings, as he destroyed so many lives.”
Ophelia snickered. “Oh, that’s gold, that is.”
“Indeed.” Snape’s lips twitched. “Most of the students should be in the Hall by now. Shall we join them?”
“We shall.” She stood and stretched her arms over her head, letting the tension in her shoulders fall away. “Polly?” A quiet ‘pop’ echoed her calling the elf’s name. “Is Teddy still asleep?”
“Yes, Mistress Ophelia.” The elf nodded. “I expect him wake, sometime in the next hour, though. I’ll give him dinner and put him through a bath, then let him play on the mats until you return, Mistress.”
“Excellent, thank you, Polly.” Ophelia smiled at the little being and turned back to Snape, once the elf popped away.
“Your elves are well dressed.” Snape commented.
“They represent the House of Black, they should be.” She smiled to soften what could be seen as harsh words. The pair left her office and walked down the spiral stairs into her classroom.
“Hmm…” Snape nodded, slowly. “They do, indeed.” They exited the classroom and entered the third-floor corridor, walking calmly in the direction of the Great Tower and the its massive staircase.
They continued to talk about inconsequential things, until they reached the doors of the Great Hall.
“Ready?” Snape asked.
“Ready.” Ophelia smirked.
The two walked up the central aisle of the Hall, between the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables. Both ignored the students that looked at them, Snape striding calmly, his robes flaring only slightly, while Ophelia glided alongside him, like she was walking on air, not a flagstone floor. McGonagall gave them both a nod and Flitwick stood and gave them a head-and-shoulders bow. Ophelia paused and gave the pair a slight curtsy, before allowing Snape to seat her, between them.
He took the three steps needed to bring him to the Headmaster’s chair and instead of sitting, he cleared his throat.
“Ahem. Good evening.” A few brave students, mostly from the older years or Slytherins, greeted him, in return. “Thank you. Before we eat, I have an announcement to make. Finally, we have a decently qualified Professor for our History of Magic class. Since 1900 there has been only one student to achieve an O+ in their History NEWTs, Miss Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. For those muggle-raised, Miss Bowes-Lyon married a quiet man, who had the misfortune to be thrust into a position he didn’t want. That position would grant her the current title of ‘Queen Mother’. She was a Ravenclaw and awarded the post of Head Girl in September 1918. Besides Her Majesty, there have been only two people to receive O’s in History, only one of them was a student of this school. Mr Newt Scamander. And we all know what he went on to do. The other is the young lady that is seated between Professors McGonagall and Flitwick. Not only did she achieve an O on her History NEWT, she also received an O+ on her DADA NEWT. Professor McGonagall is commended for securing her for us, before the DoM and Auror Shacklebolt could tempt her in either of their departments. She will be starting her first class, tomorrow, with the accelerated NEWT class, followed by other classes, as per the current schedule, in the current location. Please join me in welcoming Professor Ophelia Black, to Hogwarts.”
~~~
Hermione was the first to enter Ophelia’s classroom, closely followed by Fay Dunbar, Alice Tolipan and Neville. Hermione gave Ophelia a bright smile, which for some reason made Neville stop and stare.
“Take a seat anywhere.” Ophelia waved at hand at the desks.
Nearly a minute passed before Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis strolled in, with Padma Patil close behind them. When the bell rang to indicate the start of the first class of the day, Stephen Cornfoot, Dean Thomas, Susan Bones and Sue Li had joined them, rounding out the class to eleven, all those doing the accelerated NEWT program.
“Welcome to History of Magic.” Ophelia said, sitting on the corner of the teacher’s desk. “First off, let me just say… You’re in the accelerated program, so I’m going to push you. To get you through your NEWTs with decent marks, I’m going to have to push you… hard. I’ve been through what the WEA expect from you in your exams and… well… Binns was a long way off the mark. So… put your History of Magic textbooks away, they’re practically useless at the NEWT level.” She paused while all eleven students gasped in dismay. “Not to worry, too much. I’ve spent a bit of time going through the books on the subject and I’ve narrowed the requirements down, somewhat.” A sigh of relief went around the room. “Just so you know, you’re going to need two new books. ‘The Highs and Lows of Magic: A History in Brief’ by Heracles Poindexter and ‘History; The Truth Behind the Legends' by Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.”
Hermione’s hand went up.
“Hang on a minute and maybe I’ll answer your question before you ask it.” Hermione huffed, but lowered her hand. “Yes, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon is the Queen Mum. Yes, she was a witch. Yes, she wrote more than just the one book. Yes, I’ll give you the details, before you leave.”
Hermione smiled. Her question was answered.
“I’m going to take the next two weeks to finalise the goblin wars.” She held up a hand. “There’s a lot Binns didn’t tell you. Vargot is a prime example. Once we’re done with that, and yes, I’m only allocating two weeks, there’s not that much goblin orientated in the NEWT exam. After that, we’ll spend until winter holidays working our way through ‘Highs and Lows’. It’s got some good stuff, that you’ll probably need to be aware of.”
Hermione wasn’t the only one scribbling down what Ophelia was saying.
“In January, we’ll dive into ‘The Truth Behind the Legends’. That has more NEWT stuff in it than both the other books, combined.” As Ophelia spoke, she flicked her wand and a piece of chalk rose, it wrote the book titles and authors' names, on the blackboard. “For now, let’s get the goblins out of the way. So… Vargot? Who knows who he was?”
For a change, Hermione’s hand hadn’t gone up. No-one’s had.
“Vargot was a member of the goblin army in the 1762 rebellion.” Ophelia saw all her students sigh. “He was also a house-elf. Or rather… She was a House-elf.” Suddenly she had her students complete attention. “Didn’t know that, did you?” All of them shook their heads. “It’s rumoured, but not proven, by anyone… that the rebellion that Vargot joined, was more to do with the British Ministry of Magic outlawing Creaothceann than a fight for freedom or any other reason.”
“Creo… what…?” Dean Thomas asked.
“Creaothceann.” Ophelia replied. “A Scottish game played on brooms. Equipment consists of one hundred rocks, twenty cauldrons and twenty brooms. Two teams of ten players per team, have cauldrons strapped to their heads and the whole idea is to catch as many falling rocks, as possible, before they hit the ground. The Ministry banned it, in May of 1762 and the goblins lost a massive amount of money, because they ran the gambling rings, didn’t they?”
“Oh, Merlin…” Tracy Davis whispered, absolutely entranced at what Ophelia was saying.
“Yes.” Ophelia nodded. “Vargot was a disgraced elf, she’d gambled her owner’s money on a match and when the Ministry banned the game, she lost a lot of money. Hence her joining goblin rebellion.” She levitated a book to each student. “These books are mine, you will be able to use them here, in my classroom, whenever you like, but they don’t leave the room. This weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend, Flourish and Blotts will have copies of this book and ‘Truth Behind the Legends’, you can buy your own. I have no idea if there’s any in the school library, but I will have a dozen in that bookcase.” She nodded to a tall mahogany bookcase, beside the door. “Open up to page thirty-two, and let’s get to know what really led to most of the goblins’ rebellions…”
The quiet tapping at Ophelia’s classroom door, had her looking up.
“Professor McGonagall. Come in, welcome to the History classroom.” Ophelia grinned, tiredly.
“Thank you, Ophelia.” McGonagall entered and with a flick of her wand, conjured a chair at one side of Ophelia’s desk. “How did you survive the day? Any problems?”
“Not so far.” Ophelia grinned. “But is only day one.”
“I’ve heard a few of the seventh years talking.” McGonagall snickered. “Six years of Binns has left most them disillusioned with History. But you arrive and only one day later, they’re quite enthused on the subject. There’s been a dozen or more owls sent to Flourish and Blotts to order your textbooks, and not just by students. Filius and Irma both sent orders out. Filius wants one of each for his private library and a half-dozen of each, for the House library. While Irma wants a full dozen, for the School Library.”
“I did warn Mr Blotts that she’d want copies.” Ophelia laughed. “I had no idea about Professor Flitwick, but I'd guess the Head of House for Ravenclaw would have his own library.”
“Of course, I have my own library, Ophelia.” Flitwick said, as he and Snape joined them, each conjuring their own chairs. “And please, my dear, call me Filius.”
“And I am Minerva.” McGonagall added.
“I would be pleased if you would call me Severus.” Snape agreed.
“Oh, this is nice…” Pomona Sprout and Rolanda Hooch stuck their heads around the door and when Ophelia waved them in, they joined the other staff in conjuring seats. “I do like the posters.” Sprout continued, as she looked around the room.
Ophelia had given Sirius the task of making the posters for her. Each of them two-by-three feet, with a year date in large text, across the top of the poster and under it, a list of all the things that happened that year, with a short description of the events.
“Thanks, I had to give dad something to do, he was getting annoying.” Ophelia replied. It was not secret who her father was, the secret was that he hadn’t always been her father.
“Oh, I can imagine.” Sprout laughed. “He was quite good at getting into things he shouldn’t have.”
“He still is.” Snape snorted.
“He’s never gonna grow up.” Ophelia laughed. “You should have seen him, yesterday. You’d have thought I was moving halfway around the world, with how upset he was.”
“Crying?” McGonagall asked.
“And sniffling.” Ophelia agreed.
“Yes, that’s fake.” McGonagall shook her head. “He’s been able to cry at will, since before he started here.”
“Really?” Ophelia smirked. “Now that’s interesting…”
“Oh, dear.” Sprout sighed. “Don’t look now, Minerva, but I think she could be as bad as her father.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that.” McGonagall was suddenly reminded, of who Ophelia had been and what Harry and his friends had been involved in, during their school years. Not to mention, who Harry's parents were and what they got up to. The Battle of Jinxes between Lily and James, in their sixth year, lasted for three months.
“So, you survived your first day, then?” Snape asked.
“I did.” Ophelia nodded, a wide smile on her face.
“I’ve already received an order for books at Flourish and Blotts.” Snape went on. “Thirty books. Twelve copies of Heracles Poindexter’s book, twelve of the Queen Mother’s History book, and two each of “Returning to the Muggle World; Lewis Carroll’, ‘A Foot in Both Worlds’ and ‘A Wand or A Pen?’. Although, I have no idea why. Care to elucidate?”
“Those last three books are written, either by or about muggleborn or muggle-raised, that returned to the muggle world and became famous for something. ‘Returning to the Muggle World; Lewis Carroll’ was written by Anna Worsley. Lewis Carroll became an author, he wrote books that came within a hair’s breadth of breaching the Statute. Stories about magical places, people and creatures, and the only reason he didn’t breach the Statute was because he altered the names and descriptions of places and animals. Instead of butterflies, he had bread-and-butterflies, instead of horse-flies, he had rocking-horse-flies. Hs Bandersnatch is probably a nundu and his Jabberwocky is more than likely an occamy. Close, but not quite enough to cause a breach.”
“I see… And the other two?”
“The last one is ‘A Wand or A Pen?’ by JRR Tolkien.” Ophelia answered. “He was another Ravenclaw. Sorted in 1903. Beat Dumbledore’s DADA NEWT scores by eleven points. But he was a muggleborn. When World War I was announced, he tried to stay on the magical side of things but by 1915, he’d had realised how little muggleborns are valued by the magical world and enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers. He was removed from active service in 1919 and entered the muggle academic world. He went on to write four of the most famous muggle fantasy books ever written. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.” She paused. “Although, it must be said, that he had actually intended the Lord of the Rings to be a seven-part series, until his publishers had other ideas.”
“Oh, oh, I’ve read those.” Hooch gasped. “Oh, my, I never knew he was a wizard.”
“His wargs are canine versions of nundus and Smaug is clearly an oversized Hungarian Horntail.”
“Huh…” Hooch grunted. “Now that I think about it…” She trailed off.
“The other book ‘A Foot in Both Worlds’? That’s also written by the Queen Mum.”
“Ah…” Snape nodded.
“Yeah, I don’t need to explain, what she went on to become, after leaving the wizarding world.”
“No. No, you don’t.” Both Snape and McGonagall nodded, even if only Snape replied.
~~~
Saturday morning, Ophelia smiled as she sat on a window-seat looking out over the ground. She snorted as she heard the floo ignite and Teddy rolled out as he tried to see where the noise had come from.
“Teddy-bear!” Sirius whisper-yelled and Teddy squealed happily. Morning, Ophie.”
“Morning, dad. Don’t stir him up too much, he’s only just had breakfast.”
“Got it. Don’t want him sick all over me.”
“Nope.”
“How’d the first week go?”
“Not bad.” Ophelia huffed. “Got one seventh year eagle, that’s setting himself up for a hexing.”
“Trying to flirt with the pretty, young Professor?”
“Trying to do something, not sure what, yet. But if he doesn’t pull his head in soon, I’m going hex the little shit.”
“What does Minnie have to say about? And Snape?”
“He’s to be given a warning, the first time, detention the second, but if he tries a third time, I can hex, if I keep it to prank stuff.”
“Ooh…” Sirius grinned. “And what are you going to do to him?”
“Give him the ears and tail of an ass. A bright orange donkey.”
“Huh…” Sirius grunted and tickled Teddy’s foot, earning himself a kick in the chest. “Oof, steady on, cub.” He rubbed his chest before continuing the conversation with Ophelia. “And if he still doesn’t get the message?”
“Not good for him.” Ophelia answered. “A fourth attempt will see him on probation, restricted under a type of house-arrest. While a fifth will see him expelled and charged. He’s been warned of the course of events, if he continues. So, far he seems to think it’s a bluff. Given him time, he’ll figure out I don’t bluff.”
~~~
“Mr Weasley? A moment, please?”
“Of course, Professor, how can I help you?” Ron looked up as Ophelia came to a halt beside his seat at the Gryffindor table.
“I understand that you’re heading to Diagon and Gringotts?”
“Yes, Professor. And the twins’ shop.”
“Excellent.” Ophelia’s smile grew teeth. “Would you be so kind as to give your brother a message from me?”
“Er… which one?” Ron asked. Ophelia looked at him flatly and slowly raised one eyebrow. “Oh, right…” He grimaced. “Fred. Sure, I can do that.”
“Please tell him, that if he expects me to turn up to dinner, he’s either going to have to come and collect me himself, or provide me with a floo-address.”
“Oh…” Ron winced. “Um, right… I’ll um… I’ll pass that along, Professor.”
“Please do.” Ophelia withheld her smirk by the slimmest of margins. “Remind him also, that Headmaster Snape gave him floo access and that a true gentleman escorts a lady from her door, to dinner and back to her door, afterwards.”
“Yes, Professor.” Ron’s face was as red as his hair.
“And feel free to hex him for not offering, to start with.”
Ron blinked and started to laugh. “Y-yes, P-Professor.”
“Oh, dear…” Hermione shook her head. “Professor Black and Fred. That’s asking for trouble.”
“It most certainly is.” Snape agreed as he stalked out of the Hall.
At the far end of the hall, Taylor Bennet ducked his head. He was on probation and a single comment out of line could see him expelled. The Headmaster had not taken his attempts at flirting with the pretty History Professor well, and after a second warning, he’d contacted Taylor’s Father and informed the healer of his son’s behaviour. Michael Bennet hadn’t been pleased and now Taylor was under orders from his father to behave as member of his Family should. He wasn’t taking History as an elective and he wasn’t a prefect, so there was no reason for him to have any contact with Professor Black.
Hearing that the young Professor was possibly dating one of the Weasley twins was a warning, that he wasn’t going to ignore. He was very familiar with what a pissed off Weasley was capable of, he’d been on the receiving end of Ginny’s hexes a few times and had no desire to be on the receiving end of one of the twins’ wands.
~~~