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Hidden Family	By : vinsmouse Category: Harry Potter Crossovers > General - Misc Views: 17507 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Biggles, not making any money, just cheap thrills.

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Chapter XXVIII

1st September, 1992

Hogwarts Great Hall

Harry watched as McGonagall led the first years into the hall for their sorting. A few were clearly members of certain families. There was a red haired girl who could only be a Weasley for instance, but most he couldn’t place with any one family. He had noticed that most in the Wizarding world had only one or at most two children; the Weasley’s being an exception. Even amongst muggleborns there rarely occurred more than two magical children within a family. He watched the sorting with some interest, giving each new Ravenclaw a welcoming smile.

“Well that is a surprise,” Draco commented.
“What is?” Harry asked as he clapped for their newest house member.
“Weasley’s are always sorted into Gryffindor. Honestly I’m surprised any of them are smart enough to be chosen for our house,” Draco smirked.
“Be nice Draco,” Hermione admonished as the youngest Weasley reached the table. Fortunately she was seated far enough from them that she hadn’t heard Draco’s comment.
Harry chuckled. “Aren’t Malfoys always sorted into Slytherin?” he slyly asked.
“Touché,” Draco bowed his head.
With the sorting ended Dumbledore stood, welcoming the students new and old and making a few announcements. “And now I would like to introduce our two newest staff members. In the post of Defence Against The Dark Arts please welcome Professor Gilderoy Lockhart.” Dumbledore paused while the students applauded. “And in the post of Potions Master please welcome Professor Damocles Belby.” There was another pause after which the headmaster announced the appointment of Professor Sinistra as the new head of Slytherin house. The announcements concluded Dumbledore clapped his hands twice and the feast began.
“Belby? That name sounds familiar,” Hermione mused. She was sure she’d seen it in one of her books, if only she could remember. “Oh I remember,” she grinned, “he’s famous as the inventor of the Wolfsbane potion.”
“The Wolfsbane potion?” Harry asked.
“Really Harry, are you sure you belong in Ravenclaw?” Hermione teased. She giggled when Harry only responded by pushing his tongue out at her. “It’s a potion given to werewolves, it allows them to keep their mind during the transformation.”
“Wonder why he’d take on teaching?” Harry mused.
Hermione scrunched her face in thought. It did seem strange that someone so accomplished and famous would choose to teach. But then again Snape had been the youngest potion’s master in history and Dumbledore was arguably the most famous wizard in the world. “I only hope he is better than Snape.”
Harry chuckled. “I suspect anybody would be an improvement over Snape.”
“Even Lockhart?” Draco smirked. He knew, as did Hermione, Harry’s views on the pompous defence teacher.
Harry shuddered. “Let me rephrase that, nearly anybody would be an improvement.”

3rd September, 1992

Hogwarts Potions Classroom

“Good morning children,” the professor greeted the class of second year Ravenclaws and Gryffindors.
Already Harry could see a change from Snape. Unlike the previous teacher Professor Belby was smiling and friendly.
“I am Professor Belby and I will, I’m sure, in due time learn your names as well. I must ask your forbearance in the meantime for any mistakes I might make when calling upon you. Now then we will begin the year with a test.”
This announcement, as can be imagined, was greeted with loud groans of dismay. Even the Ravenclaws were unprepared for a test on the first day of class.
“Now children none of that,” the professor admonished. “This test will not affect your grades in any way.”
“Then why bother,” Ron Weasley muttered, though not as quietly as he might have imagined.
“A good question Mr...?”
Ron swallowed, he hadn’t expected to be heard. “Um, Weasley,” he finally supplied.
“Mr. Weasley,” Belby nodded, making a note in his class roll. “I will not take points this time but in future please raise your hand and wait to be called upon before speaking, alright?”
Ron nodded. “Yes sir.”
“Although I must remind all of you that in the event of an emergency you should of course call out immediately rather than taking the time for proper procedures,” the professor told them with a smile. “Now, to answer your question, the purpose of this test is quite important. You see with this test I will have a much better idea as to what my students know about potions. I do not wish to disparage your former professor but I don’t believe his teaching methods were the best for imparting the art of potion making.”
There were nods all around the room. None of the students would argue with the wisdom of that statement. Papers were distributed and soon the room was filled with the scratching of quills on parchment as the students did their best to answer the test questions.
“He’s much better than Snape,” Harry commented as the three Ravenclaws left the Potions classroom.
“I think we might actually learn something this year,” Hermione commented. Even she had found it difficult to learn anything in Potions the previous year. That she had done well on the end of year exams had been only due to her penchant for studying ahead. The same could be said for Harry and the two of them had brought Draco along with them.
“It was certainly better than yesterdays Defence class,” Draco commented.
The day before they had endured their first class with Lockhart. He had begun the class with a small lecture and a pop quiz consisting of nothing more than questions about the pompous git. The Ravenclaw trio had great fun in finding creative answers for the questions.
The ending of the class had proven no better than the beginning as Lockhart attempted to provide a practical demonstration. Much to the chagrin of the trio the majority of the students were still in awe of the idiot. This in spite of seeing him running from the Cornish Pixies he had foolishly released on the class. Had it not been for Harry, Hermione, Draco and a couple of others the pixies would have escaped into the school. There was no calculating the amount of damage they could have caused had that occurred.

5th September, 1992

Mount Street Flat

Ginger looked up as Hedwig winged her way into the parlour. This was the first letter from Harry since the first short note on the Tuesday. Eagerly he removed the letter from the snowy owl. Content to let Bertie see to a treat for Hedwig, he opened the letter and began to read aloud.
Dear Grandfather and Co.
The school year has got off to an interesting start. As one might expect Lockhart is an atrocious teacher. We attended his class on the first day. It was a horrendous joke. I dare say more would have been learned from a secretary at the ministry than was learned from our present defence teacher. Unless one counts learning the man’s favourite colour as useful information. A short lecture or should I say brag was followed by a test. Said test consisted of nothing more than questions concerning the aforementioned teacher.
The class ended with the release of a group of Cornish Pixies that Lockhart could neither control nor defend against. Had it not been for a small number of students the pixies would surely have escaped into the school proper wreaking untold havoc.
“I dare say we can guess the names of two of the students, by jove!” Bertie grinned.
“I imagine so,” Biggles concurred.
Ginger smiled proudly. Turning his attention to the letter he continued.
Potions class was, by contrast, a stellar experience. Our new professor, a man by the name of Damocles Belby, is brilliant. I mean that in every possible sense of the word. He is famous in our world as the inventor of the Wolfsbane potion which did so much to improve the lives of those afflicted with Lycanthropy. He too gave a test on the first day of classes. His test, however, was meant to gauge our knowledge of potions so that he might know where to begin.
The rest of our classes are proceeding as might be expected. None of the other professors have been replaced and are as competent as in the previous year. Professor Sinistra was appointed as the new head of Slytherin house. You will be happy to know she is much fairer concerning points. Already this week she has awarded points to houses other than Slytherin, taken a few points from her own house and most amazing of all assigned detention to a group of second year Slytherins who were accosting a first year Gryffindor. I only hope the rest of the year will live up to the promise of the beginning, excluding DADA of course.
Your affectionate grandson,

Harry
“Well it sounds as if things at the school have improved,” Algy commented. “Except the defence class, as Harry says.”
“Yes and I for one am quite glad to hear it,” Bertie said.
“This defence teacher concerns me,” Biggles put in.
Ginger nodded. “I agree. Defence is a very important skill it shouldn’t be left to an incompetent teacher.”
“Exactly.”
“I wonder if there’s anything we can do?”
“I wouldn’t think so laddie,” Biggles replied. “Not yet anyway.”
“Why ever not?” Algy asked. “Doesn’t Ginger have as much right as any parent to complain about an incompetent teacher?”
“He does,” Biggles agreed. He turned to Ginger. “But you complained last year as well laddie. With good reason of course, however, we are all aware of how the Wizarding world views squibs.”
“Little better than house elves,” Ginger nodded. “You think if I complain again it will be seen as unimportant or perhaps even grousing?”
“I do,” Biggles answered. “I think the better course would be to advise Harry to learn as much as he can through self-study until Lockhart does something to attract the objections of a larger number of parents.”
Ginger nodded. “Maybe Amelia could provide some instruction during breaks,” he suggested.
“An excellent idea laddie,” Biggles agreed.
“I suppose I have some letters to write then.”
TBC...
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Hidden Family