" Not HPB & GH complient. Five years have gone by since the Dark Lord was defeated, and peace once again reigns over the Hogwarts school of witchcraft and Wizardry. A new school year begins, and Severus thinks it'll be another normal year... Until a new teacher arrives."

Disclaimer : I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies, nor do I make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter 1

The Potions master scowled as he walked briskly towards the Great Hall. Another year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Another year of suffering being surrounded by wild, overly cheerful dunderheads. He grimaced. In all his years teaching as a Potions master, very few students had ever shown real interest in his domain, let alone talent. Few managed, and then... There were those like Neville Longbottom ; walking disasters.

He knew better than to get his hopes up. This year would be no better. The last promising student he had taught was, he regretted having to admit it, Hermione Granger. It had already been five years since the golden trio had graduated and moved on with their lives. Severus couldn't say he missed Potter and Weasley, but Miss Granger... She was the one of the brightest witches he ever had in his classroom. Her thirst for knowledge was something that, deep inside, he admired.

But now she was gone, replaced by dozens of hopeless cases blowing up his cauldrons, year after year. He sighed. That wasn't the only thing bothering him. Once again, the Headmaster had found a new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. One would've guessed that with the Dark Lord gone, Hogwarts would be able to keep his DADA teachers for longer than a year, but for an unknown reason, they kept leaving. Some had even left in the middle of the year, if not sooner. Sometimes he wondered just how Dumbledore kept finding new teachers seemingly out of nowhere. Why doesn't he let ME teach that class?, he wondered for the hundredth time in less than a day.

Severus stopped when he came to the doors leading to the Great Hall. Well. Scowling at the door isn't going to make them disappear. Might as well get this over with, he thought. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open...

Only to have his ears assaulted by all the noise of hundreds of students chatting cheerfully to each other, some screaming over other people's heads to be heard, or to talk to a friend sitting at another table. Insults were shouted over one table to the next. Paper notes and planes flying across the hall, some students attempting to bring them down with all sorts of objects ranging from quills to... Severus blinked. Was that a SHOE?

He quickly made his way towards the staff table, avoiding a few students running between tables. His scowl deepened. Back in the days, the students stayed at their respective tables, at least. And they certainly did NOT throw objects around.

Arriving safely at the table, he sat down in his chair, vaguely registering the empty chair next to him. So the new teacher was late already? What a nice way to begin the school year, he thought sarcastically.

"Why, Severus! How kind of you to join us on this glorious evening!"

The Potions master groaned inwardly before turning his head to face the Headmaster. He forced himself to stop scowling and nodded a greeting, hoping it would be enough to be left alone. But it wasn't.

"Quite cheerful, aren't they?", Albus asked, beaming brightly as he looked over at the students crowding the Great Hall. "Another year, and new students just yearning to learn!"

"Quite.", Severus mumbled, rubbing his aching temples with his fingers. Another year, and another half a dozen cauldrons blown up, and my ingredients wasted away by idiotic students who can't even read right, more precisely, he thought.

He lost his train of thoughts as the doors opened, revealing a stern looking professor McGonagall herding a group of first years in. He suppressed a grimace as he saw most of them gaping at the enchanted ceiling. Dunderheads, the lot of them. He watched as they were left standing while Minerva walked to the Sorting Hat and explained the procedure. One by one they went and were sorted. In the end, seven more students joined the House of Slytherin. And not one of them looked smarter than a troll. At least they don't have the smell that goes with it, he thought absently.

Dumbledore stood up once the new students were settled in at their respective tables. "Your attention, please! Thank you." He grinned, his eyes twinkling as he looked down a the students. "Welcome, and welcome back, to Hogwarts! Another year has begun, and I am pleased to see so many familiar faces, and it is as wonderful to see new ones!"

The students broke into applause, making Severus groan. Albus went on with his speech as the students became quiet once more. "I have a few announces and a few rules I would like to go over before we eat. So the first years know, and to remind a few of you, magic is not allowed in the corridors between classes. Secondly, the Forbidden forest is, as it's name implies, forbidden to all students. Also, only third year students and up are allowed outside the grounds and for organized trips, with signed permissions of course."

Nodding his head briefly, he went on. "On another note, as some of the older students may remember, our last Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Kristoph, has left us at the end of last year. And so, once again, we will have a new teacher." He waited a few moments for the whispers to die out. Even if the older students were used to that announcement, they couldn't help but wonder year after year who would teach them.

To Severus' surprise, most of the teachers seemed as eager to know as the students. Hadn't Albus told them who would be their newest colleague? Come to think of it, he had no idea either. No one had mentioned anything to him. He frowned. Was this another one of Albus' surprises? Severus sneered down at his still empty plate. Why all the fuss, really? No professors had stayed for more than a year so far. Why would this one be any different?

"Your new teacher come back to us after having graduated from this school a few years ago, and is more than eager to teach a new generation of witches and wizards. Kindly meet your new teacher!"

Severus looked up, unable to resist his curiosity and nearly choked as he took in the young witch who walked in the room. Not in his wildest dreams would he have thought to see her again, let alone in this school. His mind raced as he attempted to understand what was going on. Dumbledore's voice suddenly confirmed his worst fears, and hopes.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts, Professor Granger!"

Thanks for reading. Hope you liked. There's more to come!