Very official announcement

[alt_rabastan]

Hallo, hallo boys and girls. And by boys and girls I mean of course the young men and women who will be attending Hogwarts this autumn.

Of late you may have caught a rumour on the wind and I'm here to tell you that it is absolutely true: I'm to be your new Professor of Defence for the coming school year, replacing the tragically absent-minded Mr Gilderoy Lockheart.

I hope no one expects me to regale them with stories of how I tracked down a vicious clan of Gipsy Vampires into deepest Romania and transfigured their eye-teeth into buttons for a waistcoat, because I really don't have those sort of fairy tales to share. I have, however, been Harry Marvolo's private defence instructor for these past few summer months, as well as having other experiences that I believe will make me reasonably suited to the task. So whatever you may have heard about the Razzer, I'm Professor Lestrange to you now, and I look forward to teaching you a thing or three. Hopefully even more than that.

Comments

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[alt_alice]

...Oh dear.

I really do not like this at all.

[alt_pansy]

That's just brilliant, Professor!

[alt_rabastan]

I'm glad to hear that you think so, Miss Parkinson.

[alt_sally_anne]

I only know you from stories don't know you very well, but I'm very much looking forward to having you as a teacher, Professor Lestrange.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

He's bound to be less useless than Lockhart was in the end. He told good stories but I don't know how I'd defend myself if attacked by a vampire if I ever had to. If they've the Razzer teaching Harry he must know something.

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[alt_frank]

we've crossed wands with a lot of the people they'd use for that sort of job, Al.

and he can't be as bad as the carrows.

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[alt_alice]

They've already got quite enough to handle this term already without facing an instructor who is carrying a personal grudge against their parents.

I know, I know it could be worse, but why did it have to be him? And Dark Arts... you know how many things could go wrong in that classroom?

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[alt_frank]

technically, if he's holding a grudge, I'm pretty sure it'd be you he'd hold it against.

we'll write them, tell them to watch their backs.

I don't like it much myself.

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[alt_alice]

That doesn't make me feel better in the slightest.

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[alt_frank]

it was a very fine bit of duelling, at least. you were pretty brilliant, you know.

still are, too.

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[alt_alice]

Pish-tush.

You're right, though. The best we can do is write them both a letter, and hope he's only around for the year.

Minerva, Poppy, you'll let us know if you notice anything out of sorts?

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[alt_mcgonagall]

Of course.

[alt_harry]

I've been waiting to say

Brilliant!!!!!

[alt_harry]

He's excellent!!

[alt_rabastan]

Well now, Harry, I very much appreciate the assessment. Only if I understand what you and Draco have told me about Professor Lockheart, he was well-liked by some students, particularly the female ones. Those who enjoyed his classes may find mine quite different, though hopefully not at all unpleasant.

[alt_rabastan]

Ah, one of Harry's housemate's, I presume? A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Perks.

[alt_rabastan]

Not sick of me yet?

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[alt_sirius]

It could be a deal worse, Allie. I'll say this much for him: He doesn't tend to believe that the sins of the father should be visited on the son. Or mothers and daughters for that matter.

(I'd've said so before but Frank was threatening to snap my wand if I changed back before he and Kingsley had set out fishing lines. Had to wait until they went to check them.)

[alt_harry]

No, you're the only sane one round here.

[alt_rabastan]

I'm absolutely offended!

Now, are you all set for tomorrow?

[alt_harry]

Yes sir, and Hermione is too. I told her that we'd get her some black robes like students. Only without house badges and things. Of course. So she is happy. She hates the livery. She promises to be extra good.

[alt_rabastan]

Right then! I'll be waking up early for a bit of a fly (you can join me if you'd like), and then we'll depart...at a time not to be so publicly disclosed. You know where to find me--lurking round the corner, per usual.

[alt_sally_anne]

Yes, sir. I was at Harry's birthday party, so I saw you from a distance though we weren't introduced.

[alt_narcissa]

Congratulations, dear Razzer. Though you realise that Hogwarts will be sadly devoid of dancing girls, swift pints and all manner of diversions.

(I'd accuse you of going to extremes just to avoid being introduced to eligible young ladies, but lucky for you I know better!)

[alt_percy]

I look forward to taking your classes, sir.

[alt_rabastan]

Happy to hear it, Mister Weasley.

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[alt_alice]

I wouldn't call it a sin, exactly.

But it's not like I walked away without a scratch either.

We'll just have to wait and see.

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[alt_sirius]

It was him or you, Allie - don't trouble about it. You definitely gave better than you got. But of all of them, he's the least likely to take it out on either Neville or Evelyn.

Seems like he's awfully chummy with Harry. I have to keep reminding myself that he's chummy with nearly everyone - until he kills them.

I've got your man right where I want him, by the bye. And Kingsley, too.

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[alt_alice]

Oh, I'm sure he's quite pleasant. And that's almost more dangerous. At least with someone like Carrow, you always know to be on your guard.

And you'd better make sure my man comes back in one piece with his dignity intact, love.

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[alt_sirius]

Dignity, check. How about his virtue?

But no, everything's fine, Allie. He and Kingsley didn't quite know what to do this morning when I'd had the last watch of the night, and come dawn the tea was brewed, the brekky in the frying pan and all as nice as you please.

They keep waiting for the other Quaffle to fall. It's brilliant.

I think we'll make it up to Davidson's camp by nightfall, though, so that'll be the end of it for the time being.

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[alt_kingsley]

I still say you smuggled a house elf into the camp somehow.

[alt_sinistra]

Welcome to the teaching staff - always nice to have a new face.

(And after last winter and spring, new stories will, I am sure, be as welcome at the faculty meal table as to students in the classroom: I think we've all heard all the tales any of us are willing to share a dozen times by now.)

My own classroom is in good order, so if you need a hand getting any material cleared out from your predecessor, I'd be glad to assist. (The Hogwarts house elves are most diligent and efficient, but they do occasionally miss something in the change from teacher to teacher, as we all have our own ways.)

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[alt_poppy]

Absolutely. But let's hope it never comes to my having to notify you about anything to do with your children and our latest Defence instructor.

[alt_rabastan]

Thank you for the warm welcome, Professor. Truthfully, my other duties will keep me away from Hogwarts for some time yet, so I might just have to take you up on your offer--and having said that, I'm sheepishly hoping that it wasn't made only for the sake of propriety, with me having got off on the wrong foot straight away. I do know that you yourself have had your hands full this week, so please don't trouble yourself if your schedule won't allow it.

[alt_ron]

Um.

It was interesting meeting you today, sir. And I'm totally looking forward to having you for lessons. You'll be loads better than LocProfessor Lockhart was. Anyone would, but Harry says you'll be brilliant, and you seemed like you would be. I mean, that thing you did to check whether anyone was around who oughtn't to have been whenever we went into another shop. That was dead cool.

Anywiz. I'm glad you're going to be teaching us.

[alt_sinistra]

Honestly offered - I remember what it was like my first year, and how a helping hand is never a bad thing.

I've obviously got my hands full this week, but as we've a few weeks yet before the start of classes, I'm sure I'll have time to see to whatever you prefer about arranging your room. If you'd send an owl for me early next week with what you'd like, I'll see what can be arranged. (And at least that way, if something needs further attention, you can have some warning...)

[alt_rabastan]

A simple catalogue of what has been left behind in the classroom (and the living quarters, if you're able to get access to them) would be most helpful indeed. I should be able to manage the rest myself. But yes, if I think of something else, I shall send off an owl. Really though, my needs are few...I would simply like to know what I'm walking into, beyond the expected desks and suchlike.

[alt_rabastan]

Pleasure was all mine, Mister Ron Weasley. And oh, is his name spelled Lockhart? I thought for certain it was Lockheart. My mistake.

You must mean the disillusionment detecting? I remember when Harry told me he'd never heard of it before--quite a surprise, that was. Knowing whether or not some odious sod (or even a Harry-smitten lass, like the one we discovered behind that stack of books) is hiding nearby is one of the most basic, yet fundamentally important, ways to defend oneself against a threat. Have to secure your surroundings before you can feel comfortable in them, eh?

[alt_draco]

Well I'm glad he's going to be teaching us, too.

[alt_ron]

Oh, I don't know really. About the spelling. I didn't pay a lot of attention to his books, y'know, or I guess I'd remember about his name. But that's the thing. See? He went on and on about himself and stuff he said he did, but he never showed us anything or taught us how to do anything or really explained it except to say whatever it was was brilliant and it'd got him out of some dead dangerous spot or other.

But you do stuff and then explain.

So that's loads better right there!

But, um. I guess you don't need me to tell you that.

I mean, I just meant I'm glad you'll be teaching us.

Erm. Yeah.

[alt_rabastan]

His books sell very well, I'm told. Nonetheless, I don't have plans for us to use them.

And I'm plenty glad myself. I hope that we can all learn from the experience.

[alt_sinistra]

I can most certainly manage that - most likely next week. I'll let you know as I make progress.