Harry poked Hermione and Ron as they entered the Great Hall to begin another year at Hogwarts.
"Is that who I think it is? Why is she sitting at the staff table?" He asked them.
All of the Gryffindors were starting to point and whisper excitedly towards the front of the Hall. There were two new additions to the staff table - one they'd never seen, and one who looked decidedly familiar. The familiar face grinned and waved to her old House table before Professor Dumbledore stood up to begin the feast.
"Before we begin the sorting for this year, I have a few faculty announcements to make. Madame Hooch, our flying instructor and Quidditch coach, is taking some time off from her post to raise a new daughter that she is expecting in January." A hushed but excited whisper ran through the student table, "I am sure that she would appreciate owls of congratulations from her former students. Her address can be obtained from your Heads of House. In her place, we have hired two new staff members - Sir Alfred Swoop will be taking over basic flying lessons, and our own recent graduate Miss Angelina Johnson will be overseeing the Quidditch program this year."
Angelina beamed as she and Sir Swoop stood and bowed to the students. A cheer went up from the Gryffindor table, while mutters of discontent could be heard from the other houses.
"Miss Johnson has assured me," Dumbledore continued in a somewhat sharp tone, "That her old House loyalties will in no way impede her ability to run the Quidditch tournament in a completely fair and equitable manner." Angelina nodded humbly, and the muttering subsided.
"In addition," Dumbledore continued, "I am sure that you will all join me in welcoming back our former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin. Sadly, Professor Lupin could not join us tonight due to his unfortunate health condition, but will be in top shape to teach in time for the first Defense Against the Dark Arts classes this Tuesday. Now, let us bring in the first years and begin the sorting!"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione grinned at each other. Of course, they'd known for several weeks that Lupin was coming back to his teaching post - now that Voldemort was on the loose, it seemed most parents would rather their children get a solid Defense education from a werewolf than be left to face the Dark Lord unprepared.
Ron leaned over and whispered to the other two over the sounds of the Sorting Hat singing his new song, "I can't believe Angelina didn't tell me! She sent me a dozen owls this summer, and wouldn't say a word about the new job she had lined up for this fall."
Harry looked at him quizzically, "Since when are you and Angelina trading owls all the time?"
Ron blushed and shrugged, "Well, I mean, after I joined the team last year we spent a lot of time together. She spent some time coaching me privately to get me over my 'stage fright.' We just became pretty good friends I guess."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, "Pretty good friends, huh?" She looked minorly annoyed.
Ron frowned at her, "Yes, pretty good friends. And it's not like you've got any say in it anyhow."
"You're right, I don't." She focused her attention on the first year who had just been sorted into Gryffindor. Harry gave Ron an odd look, and Ron just shook his head and rolled his eyes. Harry shrugged and turned to the sorting.