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

ORDER ONLY

[alt_alice]

...Oh dear.

I really do not like this at all.

Re: ORDER ONLY

[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.

Re: ORDER ONLY

[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?

Re: ORDER ONLY

[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.

Re: ORDER ONLY

[alt_alice]

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

Re: ORDER ONLY

[alt_frank]

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

still are, too.

Re: ORDER ONLY

[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?

Re: ORDER ONLY

[alt_mcgonagall]

Of course.

Re: ORDER ONLY

[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.

Re: ORDER ONLY

[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.)

Re: ORDER ONLY

[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.

Re: ORDER ONLY

[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.

Re: ORDER ONLY

[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.

Re: ORDER ONLY

[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.

Re: ORDER ONLY

[alt_kingsley]

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