"You're a Malfoy. You already have the job." Lucius informed his son. "This interview is a formality, take my word for it."

Draco took a deep breath in as his father fiddled with the tie. He heard how breathing exercises could calm the body, but in that moment the extra oxygen did nothing to steady his nerves.

That morning he had barely been able to eat his breakfast, and while drinking a half-glass of pumpkin juice he had a mistakenly tipped his hand too far and watched with terror as the contents dripped on his shirt. Upon inspection it was just a few drops on the sleeve, probably no one would have noticed, but the thought of walking into a Hogwarts interview with a soiled shirt filled him with horror. Within a moment he was running to his room and stripping his shirt off to change it- that was when his father decided to step-in and give him some moral support. He was in obvious desperate need of it.

"I don't think the family name is going to hold much weight with Granger." Draco bitterly informed his father.

Lucius huffed through his nostrils as he re-clipped Draco's tie-bar.

"You know if you don't get hired Severus and I will raise hell." Lucius mumbled. "And surely the Granger girl knows a real wizard when she sees one. You'll be a jewel amongst garbage- Severus excluded of course."

"She's not a girl anymore, father, she's Headmistress ...She punched me once." Draco said, tight-lipped.

Lucius looked slightly taken aback.

"She punched you?" He repeated, scandalized.

"Yes. We weren't exactly friends."

"Well now she's got to hire you." Lucius hissed, helping Draco into his robe-jacket a little too roughly. "If she doesn't I'll ruin her- The Daily Prophet would go troll-frenzy! 'Headmistress of Hogwarts Assaults Prized Student'!"

"She was a student at the time too, dad." Draco said.

"No one has to know that…" Lucius mumbled.

Draco supposed his father was trying to be encouraging (in his own misguided way), but drudging up how odious Hermione Granger had once found him made him break into a sweat in his clothes.

"You'll get the job on looks alone if her snatch isn't as musty as her office." Lucius remarked with pride.

"Thanks father." Draco replied, deadpan.

"I've asked Severus to meet with you before your interview," Lucius informed him. He handed Draco a dragon-skinned briefcase. "I've made arrangements for all of us to have dinner tonight, so don't change out of your clothes when you come home."

"Alright, thank you." Draco replied. He was eager to get the morning interview over with but was slightly comforted to know his mentor, Snape, would meet with him. "I'll see you tonight."

And with a nod of his father's head, Draco apparated.

Draco never found the silly rule of not being able to apparate to Hogwarts more irritating than when he climbed into the boat overlooking the lake. Snape had been waiting for him outside of the school grounds and was sitting on the opposite end. He graciously took Draco's briefcase in his lap as Draco carefully climbed aboard.

Snape was wearing his usual black and looking as thin, dark, and gloomy as ever. Draco thought it odd his appearance never reflected the lavishness that his father pressed upon them both; even after his father's marriage to his mentor, Snape remained consistently vampire-esque. He was unchanged from Draco's childhood memory.

Well, that wasn't entirely true. His hygiene habits were a bit better. A bit.

"I better not get pond scum on my clothes." Draco hissed as he stood in the boat. "Or Granger will owe me a new set of robes."

Snape didn't reply as the boat disembarked magically. Draco remained standing, he didn't trust the seat of his pants touching the worn, wooden slat. (What if something stained his rear? He'd never be rid of his embarrassment.) They drifted toward the school at a steady pace and Draco adopted a wide stance that edged into Snape's foot-space.

"How are you, Draco?" Snape asked, his lip twitching in a suppressed smile as Draco wobbled.

"Fine." Draco replied. Truthfully, his nervousness was transfiguring into irritation as he tried to remain balanced. The idea of falling into the lake was worse than a few drips of pumpkin juice on his robes.

"Your father mentioned you seemed out-of-sorts this morning." Snape said. "You needn't worry. The other candidates for the position are, frankly, abysmal excuses for witches and wizards. Headmaster Granger is desperate to fill the position, I wouldn't be surprised if she asked you start tomorrow." He said folding his hands and resting them on his briefcase.

"We'll see." Draco replied. The knot in his stomach unclenched a little as he mulled over Snape's words. So Granger was desperate. He liked the sound of that.

"If you don't mind me asking, what influenced you to seek out this position?" Snape asked him.

Draco could be anything he wanted, really; his name alone gave him amazing prospects. It proved true since in a six years time he had worked in a variety of professions.

After graduation he had a lengthy internship in a spell-smithing research facility. Although interesting, he didn't quite have the creative talent to match the demands of the job, and he eventually became discouraged as his colleagues demonstrated their aptitude far beyond his own skills.

He switched into something more engaging and physical- within a few short months his father had pulled strings to get him into refereeing national Quidditch Matches. He had excelled and there was a certain prestige that came with the job; but he quickly found out that refereeing a game was nothing like watching a game. He enjoyed Quidditch too much to not participate in the joy of watching it.

He worked with dragons for a while, until an attractive woman laughed herself into tears at the mention of "Draco the Dragon-Tamer".

Then he became unemployed for a span of time. (He didn't really need to work), but the purposeless days did wear on him after a while. He was becoming dangerously bored with leisure. He was feeling more and more like a loser when people asked him what he was doing with himself and he couldn't fake a halfway creative answer. He needed a job.

Snape had come to the Malfoy Manor on the weekend coinciding Draco's visit and brought a story that the Hogwarts Charms teacher had a family emergency and would not be coming back to finish the year. Draco was just passing through the kitchen as his father and Snape, still in their pajamas, gossiped about the affairs surrounding the Hogwarts school.

A surge of belonging overtook Draco, and he knew in that moment that nothing would ever quite compare to Hogwarts. And so, he contacted the school and spoke with the Headmaster's assistant- Luna Lovegood (who was now Luna Longbottom! How shameful Draco should be single and Longbottom have a wife) and set up an interview.

Snape's eyebrows were creeping steadily up as Draco's silence grew.

"I'm not sure." Draco replied.

"Perhaps you should come up with a good reason, that is a common question for an interview." Snape said evenly. "What is your particular interest in charms?"

"...What should I say?" Draco asked.

"Did you want this job?" Snape asked him, an undertone of exasperation seeping through his voice. "You sound like you've just been obliviated."

"I'm not good at speaking about myself." Draco snapped. The boat rocked in a jolt as it began to drag onto the shore. Draco bent over and gripped one of the sides to steady himself.

"If you don't like speaking about yourself or what you know and think, you are seeking the wrong profession." Snape drawled. "You have to be comfortable speaking to people."

"Are you saying I can't do it?" Draco accused him.

"No, I didn't say that." Snape replied. But Draco could sense his doubt mounting behind his cold, black eyes.

"And if I don't get the job you'll think I'm an abysmal wizard." Draco said.

Snape opened his mouth to reply, but Draco had placed his foot on the edge of the boat and jumped to the shore nimbly before hearing his retort. He set off for the castle at a brisk walk, leaving Snape behind.

"Draco, stop!" Snape snapped.

Perhaps he'd been Snape's student too long, but he was unable to deny a direct order. Snape caught up to him and was walking with him towards the main entrance to the castle.

"You are a very competent wizard, you don't have anything to prove." Snape told him. Draco didn't look at him in the face but instead focused on the door to the entrance hall in the distance. "And if you don't get the job it is not a reflection on you but on Granger's questionable taste. We both know her history..."

Draco shrugged, but he admittedly felt better. Snape was walking side by side with him and thankfully his pep-talk was over.

The Hogwarts grounds was both familiar and alien and there was a charged air that he hadn't noticed while a student.

He didn't recognize the faces of the students that were occupying the hallways, but everyone seemed to take notice of him. A group of Ravenclaw girls stared at him before a disgusted look from Snape caused them to gasp, giggle, and look away.

"I feel like a zoo animal." Draco mumbled.

"Ah, how nice to be validated- I was told my concerns were ill-founded." Snape said, his lip curling into a sneer. His eyes were glazed over as they descended the long stairway to the Headmaster's office. "I've spoken to the Headmistress about the shameless amount of gawking this year. It's become quite a problem and is escalating to uncomfortable levels...I believe that certain staff members are encouraging it."

Draco doubted that a lot of students were ogling Snape. (Though he supposed it could be true given his own father had fallen hard for the man.) But the particular way Snape had mentioned 'certain staff members' had tipped him off that Harry Potter was somehow involved.

"Potter's part of the staff?" Draco asked, his own voice growing cold with disgust.

"Defense Against Dark Arts." Snape spat. There was an untapped layer of malice that shown in Snape's eyes as they stood outside the office door. "Apparently, working as a double-agent to the Dark Lord for years is only Potions Master worthy, whereas a few chance encounters in battle with the Dark Lord qualifies a Defense Against Dark Arts teaching position for life."

The jealousy and bitterness emulating from Snape wasn't lost on Draco, but he had his own feelings to deal with. To a lesser man the news of his archrival being on staff would put immense pressure to succeed on the upcoming interview- but to Draco it pushed him to elation.

"If Potter can be a teacher then I know I can be one." Draco huffed. He shot Snape a confident smile. All of his nervousness melted away and he stood taller. "Thank you."

Snape didn't smile, most likely the residue of 'Harry Potter' was still bouncing in his mind, but he did muster up a pleased hum for Draco as he handed his briefcase over. In Snape fashion, he slipped away with his black robes trailing behind him.

Draco licked his lips and lifted his hand to knock on the door, but as his fist came down the door was opened so quickly and violently that he stumbled.

"Oopsie, sorry about that."

Draco recovered and smoothed his robes under steady palms as Luna beamed at him with an innocent smile.

During school Luna had the reputation of being spacey and weird, and it looked like she, while residing at the school, remained connected to that impression. She was wearing what looked like two skirts with a pair of leggings and chucks, but he couldn't say she was entirely mis-matched. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail that showed off her signature beet earrings.

"I'm here for the interview." Draco informed her, his chin held high.

"Please sit down, would you like some tea? Or some whiskey?" She asked him. "Sometimes whiskey is the better choice." She told him as she shuffled towards a desk and pulled out a half-empty bottle out of a trashcan.

"No, I don't want any whiskey or tea- especially not one you've pulled out of a trashcan." Draco hissed. He didn't sit down, and he was getting impatient with this creature. "The Headmaster is expecting me."

"She's expecting a lot of people, and some people show up who are unexpected." Luna said, unapologetically. "It's a big mess really."

"And she hired you to... organize her schedule?" Draco asked her coldly.

"Moral support." Luna smiled. "But usually she asks me to handle parents. They never seem so upset after you give them the option to shout. People get angry because they're frightened you won't take them seriously."

"I can't imagine why." Draco mumbled, her beet earrings swinging as she poured a small slip of whiskey into a cup of tea.

"Are you sure you don't want any?" She asked him. "You always look so dehydrated."

Before Draco had any time to mull over what that meant, the door to the Headmistress's office swung open. Draco stood as stiff and tall as he could as Harry Potter walked out.

Snape had mentioned there was a "gawking" issue at Hogwarts, and Draco now knew why. The only physical imperfection Draco could see was Harry was short, but his good-looks made up for that; coupled with his celebrity status and he was pubescent girl's dream. Gone was the wild, unruly hair, geeky glasses, and teenage awkwardness.

Harry had a five o'clock shadow on his face that would have looked sloppy on anyone else, but on him managed to look charming. His hair was tidy, and his clothes were casual yet stylish, and as usual he held an air of confidence.

Draco looked down his nose at him and didn't offer a greeting as they paused briefly, sizing each other up. Their rivalry clearly had not ended.

"The Headmistress is ready to see you, now." Luna said. Out of the corner of Draco's eye he saw her trot across the floor and hold open the door for him.

He broke his attention off of Harry and slowly walked through the door.

The office was decorated in red-and-gold, and if he expected to find a 'woman's touch', he'd be disappointed because none could be found. Draco figured half the library had been moved in and was doubling as supports for the walls. Any area that wasn't covered in books had the portraits of the previous Headmasters, including Dumbledore who looked more pleased to see him than the current Headmistress.

Hermione Granger, like Harry Potter, had blossomed out of teenage awkwardness. The transformation between teen-Granger and Headmaster Granger was nothing short of magic. She was dressed professionally in a pencil skirt and a tasteful, but modern, blouse. The bushiness of her hair had been tamed to be full and wavy. She was beautiful- not 'buy this hand cream from our catalog' beautiful, but stunningly, classically, womanly beautiful.

Surely she was subjected to the gawking-issue? Draco didn't want to reenact the Ravenclaw girls he had met that morning, so he looked away from her and pretended to be interested in a owl sculpture doubling as a paperweight.

She moved a stack of papers off her desk and onto the floor before she waved him over to the chair in front of her desk.

"Please sit, Mr. Malfoy." She told him.

He had the distinct impression that even though their meeting was scheduled she was preoccupied with something else- as if he was interrupting her. She let out a little grunt of distress, as if she'd forgotten something, and he watched her rush to the left book-wall and pull a folder out. He smiled as her heels hit the floor in quick-clacks and she took her place behind her desk. She was back to looking official and very headmistress-like as she crossed her hands on the cluttered desk. Finally, he sat.

That was when she finally met his eyes and got a good look at him. She thrust out her hand for him to shake, and he shook it gently, taking note of her pink-painted nails.

"Headmistress at 29 years-old, that's impressive." Draco said.

"I looked at your resume and there wasn't any teaching experience." Hermione replied matter-of-factly, ignoring his compliment.

Of course flattery won't work on you. Draco thought bitterly.

"I see you did work at London's Institute of Spellmaking, which translates into an advanced understanding of charms- however, that wasn't your last job and your job history since then has been erratic." She said, looking over a copy of his resume.

"I've been trying to find a job that appreciates my skills." Draco said.

"What skills do you have that would qualify you for the Charms position?" Hermione asked him.

"I'm a people-person, if you recall." Draco teased.

She didn't smile back. The memory of her punching him in the face drifted into his mind and she looked tired by his answer. Perhaps making the joke was a mistake.

"Okay, let us assume you have the job already, as you undoubtedly have been assured from Professor Snape." She sighed. "I need someone capable and dependable to teach this subject. You have to be available until the end of the school year, which means sometimes you're working nights and weekends, and you're living here and engaging with students in a positive way. I'm trusting you not to walk-out in the middle of the year."

"I understand." Draco replied.

"Can you teach?" Hermione asked seriously.

"Yes." Draco said. "Maybe." He thought. "Probably with a little help from Snape."

"What's the earliest you can start?" Hermione asked, turning to the stack of folders on her desk.

"Monday next week." Draco said.

Slips of her long hair fell over her face as she shuffled a few papers and handed him a handful.

"That is a list of different clubs. We're always looking for teachers to encourage after-school activities. Although it's not a rule, usually the staff helps out with at least one thing off the list." Hermione told him. "As you know, Snape is head of Slytherin House but he can delegate some of those responsibilities to you."

He had the job after two questions in the interview. Relief flooded his insides and he smiled.

"Oh, and we're also introducing Sex Ed this year." Hermione mentioned.

His smile faded like she'd punched it off his face.

"Who's teaching that?" Draco asked, scanning the club-list.

"Well...that remains to be seen." Hermione said thoughtfully. "There were no volunteers..." She said, her eyes boring into his. He didn't dare blink least she interpret it as a gesture to volunteer. "The staff came to a compromise."

"What sort of compromise?" Draco asked. He was already forming plans to make excuses.

"Whichever house loses next weeks Quidditch game teaches the class... because that's how we're solving problems now." she trailed off. She cleared her throat. "Gryffindor versus Slytherin- so either you and Professor Snape are teaching sex-ed, or Harry and Professor McGonagall."

Draco hated the idea of teaching kids about sex, and he was doubly sure Snape would make it a horrible experience for everyone on principle.

"Go Slytherin." Draco said, pushing back his dread. "So I officially have the job?"

"Yes." Hermione replied. She locked eyes with him and folded her manicured hands together. "I know what you're thinking- you think you got this job because of your father's and Professor Snape's influence. Let me make it clear that you're getting this job on my generosity."

He raised his eyebrows but didn't interrupt as she leaned forward. He was trying very hard not to look down her blouse.

"I'm Headmistress of this school." She told him. "Being a Malfoy doesn't exempt you from my authority- if I tell you to do something I expect you to do it. Your father has a difficult time understanding that, but I expect full compliance from you."

"I'm not interested in undermining you, I just want to teach." Draco informed her. That answer seemed to please her and she seemed to relax a little in her seat.

"The Charms curriculum has already been drawn up for this year." She said handing him a thick folder. "Here is your schedule, the only thing that hasn't been created is your tests and your end of the year exams."

"Not a problem." Draco told her, shrugging.

"I'm counting on that." Hermione replied pointedly.

Merlin, lighten up already. He was in danger of rolling his eyes, but was saved by a knock on the door. Luna's head popped in.

"Headmistress," she sang, her eyes resting on Draco. "...That person you asked for arrived to do that thing you requested."

Hermione rose from her seat abruptly and grabbed Draco's hand, shaking it once more.

"Thank you for coming into today." She said hastily. He thought she looked stressed out as she swiped a strand of hair out of her face.

Snape and his father met him inside the steakhouse at their reserved table. Lucius hadn't held back on the festivities and had ordered two very expensive bottles of wine which resisted in a chilled stand next to their table. He had the waiter pour a generous glass as Draco pulled out his chair and joined them.

"You look pleased." Lucius told him.

"I got the job." Draco told him, flipping through the menu. He ordered the steak and the waiter cleared the menu's off the table.

"Granger might be a fool, but she's not an idiot." Lucius remarked with a smug smirk. "...Tell us about your interview."

"I'm not sure you could call it that. She asked me two questions, and I don't think she even cared what my answers were." Draco said. "Although she did mention you."

"Oh?" Lucius said, his eyes flashing. "What did she say?"

"She said you think being a Malfoy means you don't have to listen to her, and she expects me to do what she says." Draco replied.

Lucius clicked his tongue angrily and scowled.

"Tell her I donate enough money to that school to visit my husband whenever I please." He hissed. "He's a teacher not a criminal- visiting hours are for Azkaban."

Snape looked up at the ceiling as he drained the rest of his wine in one gulp; it was possible that this conversation had come up before.

"I'm not arguing for you, father. Especially not to my new boss." Draco sighed.

"It's not as if the students know I'm sleeping over!" Lucius seethed. Draco shook his head; once his father started on a complaining rant he rarely focused or heard anyone else. "She acts as if I'm waltzing into classrooms and causing a scene."

"...Which is precisely what you've done." Snape replied.

"What?"

"She asked you to leave, and you interrupted my lesson in protest to being sent away 'like a whore who'd just been paid'." Snape said with a small smirk.

"That was a year ago." Lucius said. "And it was barely an incident."

"You cursed Mrs. Norris when Filch tried to force you away and he went into a hysterical, sobbing fit." Snape informed him.

"Yes, it's all coming back to me." Lucius said with a disapproving glare. "Although I don't recall you stepping in to defend me against Granger's bad temper. Did you?"

"No, I was too busy trying to wrangle a panicked cat that was bouncing off the walls in a classroom full of highly unbalanced potions made by adolescent idiots." Snape drawled. "And you might recall telling Granger you 'refuse to listen to a lecture from a muggle your son's age', while vehemently denying her claim of being the hheadmistress. Amusing, but perhaps not prudent in hindsight."

"She was dressed like a muggle- I was throwing out a subtle hint that a proper headmistress of a wizarding school would aspire to looking the part. Merlin knows I have to be subtle, she's been over-sensitive to every criticism I've made." Lucius said, lifting his glass of wine.

"Is Granger always that uptight?" Draco asked Snape.

"She's in over her head." He replied softly with a note of pleasure.

"It's been delightful to watch her slowly crack." Lucius laughed.

"She's not as likable as Dumbledore was, and her ambition is outstripping the board's tolerance. Parents hate her." Snape smirked. "That's what happens when you think you know what's best for everyone and make no secret of it. She can't help herself, of course..."

"I suppose Sex Ed is one of her ambitious projects." Draco asked.

Snape's smirk soured and he spun his empty glass with two fingers.

"Yes." Snape glowered. "And despite all efforts, the Slytherin quidditch team this year has been mediocre at best."

"Granger can fire me if she wants, I'm not teaching a Sex Ed." Draco said firmly.

"Everyone expressed their malcontent through your words verbatim, she will deliver on that threat if you challenge her." Snape said. "However, there's no need to resort to that..." he trailed off and leaning in. "We're Slytherins. What we lack in skill we make up in cunning."

"...Go on..." Draco urged him as he leaned in.

His father, in similar fashion, leaned in. The three of them were nearly nose-to-nose with their elbows resting heavily on the table.

"The Gryffindors have a habit of keeping their broomsticks in their locker room." Snape said softly, his eyes flashing. "The locker room is protected by a padlock, but with the right incantation opening it would be childs-play."

"So if someone were to tamper with the team's broomsticks…" Draco began.

"A quick jolt to the left or right now and then could tip the fate of the game." Lucius said, grinning.

"Um…"

The three plotting Slytherins snapped their head at the waitress who was carrying a heavy tray with their dinner plates stacked on it.

"I can come back if I'm interrupting..." She said.

"That won't be necessary." Snape said, slipping back into his seat. The three of them grinned at each other knowingly.

Being a teacher was much more difficult than Draco imagined.

He thanked all the gods that his coursework had been planned by the previous Charms instructor; preparing for classes felt a lot like a mountain of homework that never gets done until the teaching day arrives. After he reviewed the content for the week, Snape was kind enough to give him pointers and sit through a few mock lessons.

By Monday morning Draco was exhausted. He ignored his fatigue as he pulled on his best robes and grabbed his suitcase. A stab of regret was growing in his mind- perhaps being a teacher was too ambitious? What did he know about teaching anyway? Simultaneously, he couldn't get Granger's voice out of his head demanding that he finish out the year. He also couldn't get her hair, nails, and the way she brushed her hair out of her face out of his head.

"Shut up, brain!" Draco snarled, pushing the thought away. He was sick of thinking about Granger.

The Great Hall was filling up with students and all the staff members except him were sitting at the High Table. He vaguely remembered that teachers had to be there before breakfast started, and if that was correct then he was late. Still, no one seemed upset by his late arrival and it made it easy for Draco to figure out which seat was his. He was seated next to Snape near the Slytherin table, but his irritation grew as he spotted Harry Potter assigned to his left followed by McGonagall and Hagrid.

Draco put on an air of indifference as he strolled towards his spot. He purposely knocked into Harry's chair as he walked by, which caused Harry to spill the contents of his glass all over himself.

"Sorry Potter, I didn't see you there." Draco apologized with false sincerity. Harry was dabbing the front of his robe with a napkin roughly to soak up the spill. "You're so small."

"You did that on purpose." Harry seethed.

"Alright, you got me," Draco said sitting in his seat. "I was thinking maybe if I watered you a bit, you'd grow."

"You want to fight, Malfoy?!" Harry growled. He pushed himself away from the table violently.

"Gentlemen! A bit of decorum!" McGonagall hissed in her most dangerous voice.

There was an excited buzzing in the air as students strained in their seats to see the commotion. Granger was looking just as vexed as McGonagall, and while she hadn't spoken to him, Draco felt the weight over her condemnation.

Draco cowered slightly under her stern gaze. McGonagall's rebuke had a similar effect on Harry; he remained seated but his hands were clenched into fists. Draco was sure Harry wanted to throttle him with them.

"Sorry, Professor." Harry apologized. His jaw was clenched as he pushed in his seat and rejoined the table.

The tension defused when Draco set his mind to ignoring Harry and began to fill his plate with bacon. The Great Hall was noisy but quieted down once Hermione rose from her seat stiffly and approached the podium to begin that morning's announcements.

"Did you thank your daddies for getting you this job?" Harry goaded Draco in a whisper.

"Could it be more obvious you suffer from parent-envy, Potter?" Draco whispered back.

"That's not a real thing." Harry replied.

"Yes it is- you're quaking with jealousy." Draco whispered back.

"No, that's anticipation." Harry replied. "Gryffindor is going to sweep the floor with the Slytherin team in today's match."

"That'll be all your broomsticks are worth once I've hexed them." Draco thought.

A fantasy of the Gryffindor team bucking wildly on their broomsticks as Slytherin scored caused a smirk to come to Draco's lips, he hid it by drinking deeply from his tea as the announcements droned on. All of the students were eating breakfast and showed no indication of interest until the Quidditch game was announced. A few hollers from the Slytherin and Gryffindor table permeated the air in team spirit.

"Slytherin has only won only one match against Gryffindor, and that's because our seeker was getting over an injury." Harry told him. "I would-"

"Silence, Potter! I can hear your nasally bleating from here- ten points from Gryffindor." Snape hissed from across the table.

"I'm not a student, you can't take points away from me." Harry said in a harsh whisper.

"Can't I?" Snape challenged him softly.

"15 points from Slytherin." Harry snapped.

"Don't be absurd." Snape scoffed at Harry.

Draco laughed openly as Harry seethed. McGonagall was shooting them both a disapproving glare.

His joy, however, was short lived.

Draco felt panic, real panic, grip him as his first class arrived. It was a 4th year group of Ravenclaws and Gryffindors. He loosened his tie and tightened it three times as he went over his notes, his eyes darting to the clock every few seconds.

"Excuse me, sir?" A Ravenclaw girl spoke with her hand in the air. Draco nodded. "Do we have a seating chart?"

"No." Draco replied. "Sit wherever you please. Just pay attention."

As if he'd uttered an incantation, the room was instantly abuzz with shuffling bodies. He tried not to seem alarmed as students chatted loudly while pulling out chairs and dropping into them noisily. Draco noticed a lot of the girls had seated themselves in the front row, while most of the boys were lingering in the back.

"Let's get started." Draco announced. "My name is Professor Malfoy, and I'm your new Charms teacher."

Another hand was held up, only this time it was from a Gryffindor boy in the back.

"Yes?" Draco asked.

"Is Professor Snape your dad?" He asked, almost in a bored tone.

"What- no!" Draco huffed. "We don't even have the same last name, and I look nothing like him! Did Potter tell you that?"

The Gryffindor shrugged.

There was a pause as he looked at his notes, trying to gather his thoughts together. Another hand shot into the air, this time from a Ravenclaw girl.

"What is it?" Draco snapped.

"Are you married?" She asked him.

The group of girls in the front row burst into laughter and Draco's face felt hot.

"No more stupid questions!" Draco seethed. He flicked his wand and the word "Impedimenta" was written on the chalkboard behind him. "Who here knows what 'impedimenta' does?"

A few hands from the Ravenclaw side shot into the air.

"You with the hair ribbon." Draco said with a wave to a brown-haired girl.

"My name is Erica, sir." She said.

"Whatever." Draco replied dismissively. "What does 'impedimenta' do?"

"It stops or slows something down." She replied.

"Good job." Draco replied. A fluttering of giggles filled his ears and he suppressed his irritation. "Give me an example of when you'd use this spell?"

"To stop a bludger from hitting you in the face." Someone called out.

"Or a pixie from pulling your hair-"

"Or a bunch of girls swooning over you." A Ravenclaw boy snapped bitterly.

"That's stupid." Draco huffed.

Another wave of giggles erupted from the front row, disrupting his thoughts.

"Stop it- no laughing in my class." Draco said.

"Oi, what if I can't help myself?" A Gryffindor boy called.

"Then you're up shit-river, because I'm taking ten points off every laugh I hear." Draco threatened. "No more laughing."

There was a collective gasp.

"Uh...new rule," Draco started. He had forgotten how easily it came to him to swear. "If you hear me curse, don't tell anyone or I'll take off major house points."

Another hand shot up in the air.

"What now?" Draco sighed.

"Professor McGonagall takes off points for swearing."

"And I take points off for tattling." Draco snapped. "Enough of this, concentrate on the lesson."

Thankfully, the rest of the class period went smoothly. Draco was glad to be done with the group as the bell rang. He supposed that he hadn't done a bad job, per say, but he'd definitely need to meet up with Snape to get some pointers on running a classroom.

As the last student walked out he gathered his notes and went to wipe the blackboard. He A cluster of hearts drawn in chalk around "impedimenta".

"What the fuck?" He mumbled.

The memory of the giggling girls rushed back to him and he felt embarrassed. Were they trying to make a fool out of him? Surely his concerns were headmaster-worthy. He made the decision to bring it up at the teacher's meeting after dinner.

The bell rang and he snapped out of his thoughts. His next class started in two hours- he would be preoccupied with teaching until the Quidditch match.

If he was going to cripple the Gryffindor team's broomsticks now was the ideal time to do it. He slipped out of his classroom at a brisk walk keeping his expression neutral.