Strange Times Ahead (Harry Potter x Male Strange Reader)

Chapter 21

What flashed before (F/N), within the embrace of the cloak, was a vision. A memory. The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was different than what (F/N) was used to, there were students at desks, caged creatures around, and a somber expression on everyone's faces.

(F/N) was standing off to the side, looking at the students that were there. He approached them, examining their features with concern, until he saw all of them look up towards the office.

And there, the lady of the cloak, stood, looking out at all of them. She scanned her students, and noticed an empty desk. But instead of an expression, which would come from teachers who expected a late student, it was a somber expression as well. She looked down, depressed and disappointed in herself. She tried to put on a smile, starting class like any other. She pulled up a parchment, which had a list of the students' names. (F/N) walked up and stood next to her, examining her features, before looking at the list.

He followed along with her on the names of students there, watching as each reacted, until the lady reached one name on that list: Myrtle Warren. She had opened her mouth to say her name, only to stop herself. And the students couldn't believe it either, except for one student that was there as well. He didn't have that somber expression, and if he did he didn't hide it well. But none had observed him. (F/N) could see that the woman let out a shuddered breath, placing the parchment down and starting her class.

At the end of said class, the lady stood at the door, bidding each student a farewell for now. As she turned to prepare for the next class, she saw a different student sitting there, looking at her desk. (F/N) and the lady walked over, seeing that it was a Hufflepuff student, scared about what had happened.

"Are you okay?" The lady asked, placing a calming hand on their shoulder and rubbing it calmly. The student didn't answer, instead they quickly latched onto her with a scared hug.

"They got Myrtle," the student said, their voice slightly muffled by their face in her dress. "And the other Slytherins are saying that I'm next." They were sobbing and crying, refusing to let go of her. The teacher nodded her head, and returned the hug, patting their shoulder.

"It's going to be okay," she said. "I've heard from Professor Dumbledore that they have gotten the perpetrator. So this can be put behind us."

"The other Slytherins don't think so," the student continued. "I don't want to be next, Professor Levitate!" The woman, Professor Levitate, kneeled down and hugged them harder, placing their head on her shoulder.

"You won't be next," she calmly said. "I'll make sure of that. I swear. Come on, let's go have a talk with Professor Dumbledore? He's the one teacher who will listen to all of his students." Her and the student both stood up, with Professor Levitate guiding them out of the room.

The scene shifted again, this time to show Professor Levitate at her desk. She was reading the Daily Prophet, reading the headlines that spread the news of Myrtle's death. As she read it, a tear rolled down her cheek. That was when she started to sob uncontrollably, hanging her head and crushing the paper with her hands.

"It's all my fault," she muttered to herself. "I'm the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and yet one has died!" (F/N) walked over to where she was sitting and tried to comfort her, only for his hand to go through her body. "I should've been there for her. I shouldn't have left her alone." She continued to sob and cry, going over and over about how it was her fault. It continued, until she eventually fell asleep.

And once again, the scene around (F/N) changed. This time, it was for something he wasn't expecting to see; it was the inside of a smith's forge. In one of the rooms, there were four people gathered together, three older and mature adults, and one young boy.