A New Subject (Nico di Agelo and Harry Potter)

Angelina's Fury

Or maybe Professor di Angelo is that bad, Harry thought.

"But Professor! My quidditch captain will be furious for missing her practice! Please could we move detention to tomorrow?"

The professor merely scowled at him while pushing open his classroom door.

"As much as I appreciate you arriving early for class to discuss this with me, I believe Angelina can do one practice without her prized seeker."

Harry sighed, kicking the spotless floor with his toes. He opened his mouth to beg but Professor di Angelo cut him off.

"Mr. Potter why don't you sit down and stay quiet until everyone else arrives? You wouldn't want me in a bad mood before class, would you?" Harry jumped at the sharpness of his professor's voice. Deciding it would be best to follow his orders Harry slumped into the first row, knowing Hermione would sit nowhere else but in front.

The professor was placing stacks of scrolls and books on his desk when Harry let his curiosity get the best of him.

"Why do we have desks now?"

"Albus said I cannot be too harsh with my students and I guess forcing everyone to stand all class is considered harsh."

He nodded even though Professor di Angelo had not looked at him since they first entered the classroom. He wanted to ask more questions, but snapped his mouth closed in panic as his eyes landed on his professor's left arm-where his sleeve had ridden up to reveal the beginning of a tattoo.

Frozen in shock, Harry could hardly register the students slowly filing in, nor could he hear the quiet mummer of their voices accompanying them.

Then, in an instant, everything was too loud. As if someone had suddenly turned a speaker to the highest volume.

His peers' whispers pounded at his forehead like a drum, his lightning bolt scar itched, his hands shook, his legs began a restless bounce and his vision became blurry.

No no no no no!

Harry always had a sense of distrust about the professor. But it was the same kind of doubt that he had for all the other Slytherin. The 'yes, I am weary of the possibility that you may be Death Eater but there was no proof that you are indeed a Death Eater' suspicion. It had always been just that.

Just a suspicion.

Nothing more but now there was proof that Professor di Angelo was a Death Eater.

His stomach churned. There was proof that his home was no longer safe.

"Harry?"

Snapping his head to the side he saw Hermione frowning at him worriedly.

"Are you okay?" Flicking his eyes at the professor to make sure he wasn't looking, Harry shook his head.

"We need to talk after class," he whispered, unable to detach his eyes from the professor's sleeved arm.

***

After the double defense against the dark arts class, the Golden Trio scurried to the library. They sat in a corner, far away from the librarian so they could talk without being hushed by her.

After telling them what he had seen before class his best friends grimaced.

"Knew it," Ron muttered darkly. "Git looked creepy from the start."

"But... Dumbledore trusts him," Hermione counters, fiddling with the corner of the book she was holding, "he gave di Angelo the address to Sirius' home. The address to the Order of the Phoenix. Maybe he's a double agent like Snape?"

A weight lifted off his shoulders as he listened to Hermione. He was glad Hermione was one of his closest friends.

What would we do without you there to put some common sense into our brains? Harry felt like voicing his praise but kept quiet when he saw Hermione's furrowed eyebrows and pursed lips.

Suddenly, Hermione slapped the table with a grin making Harry's heart race in surprise.

"He probably isn't a bad guy! What kind of villain teaches his master's sworn enemy how to defend himself against the dark arts? If he was evil he'd be teaching the useless stuff like Umbridge!"

Harry nibbled at his lip nervously. It did sound very convincing but there was still doubt pressing into his spine like he was leaning on an uncomfortable chair. He felt his voice quiver as he asked if detention could be dangerous.

"Well, he's probably not evil, he hasn't done anything yet and has no reason to suspect we know about the death mark so probably not,' she answered.

Slightly more relieved, Harry deflated; his back no longer rigid with fear.

Hermione's eyes twinkled mischievously as she rushed out of the library saying "Just in case something happens, I have an idea!"

The two boys glanced at each other, shrugging at their best friend's antiques.

Just as he was about to start his homework he saw Angelina storming towards him. He groaned, face hitting the table in an attempt to hide from his terrifying captain.

"I guess that's all I need to know about that," she said bitterly. "People who want to stay on the team should probably try to find a way to make it to practices." With a glare she stormed off, her ponytail bouncing up and down in time with her angry stomps.

"We should check with Puddlemere United and see if Oliver is still alive because Angelina seems to be channelling his spirit right now," Harry muttered to Ron who snorted in a laugh.

//////

Yay! Another chapter done. (Sorry for the wait, I was in Spain for vacation so I had no time to write anything.) Also yay comic relief ending! Laughing is fun!

-ErinRain