Chapter 1: A Hogwarts Welcome
It was strange to travel to Hogwarts without a train. Fay had never done it before. But still every step of her journey was filled with fond memories of her school time. Peering over her map while steering, she tried not to hit a tree with her old car. It had taken Headmaster Dumbledore and possibly professor McGonagall every combined effort to draw out a map to the castle for someone travelling by car. She was the first to do it. She had been the first to do a lot of things. But hardly anyone remembered, for she didn't stand out in the crowd.
Lost in thought because of the view of the castle appearing on the horizon, her car bumped over a particularly big tree root, causing her to hit her head against the ceiling of her car. "crap" she grumbled, rubbing her sore head.
She had missed Hogwarts every day since she had left. Her graduation year had been full of unexplainable events. It had been Harry Potter's first year and she had briefly met the young boy. Mostly thanks to the Weasley twins, with whom she always had had a great bond.
She remembered her tearful goodbye to her head of house professor Sprout and she felt tears sting in her eyes at the prospect of facing the same but now older kind woman who had taught her so much and had treated her like a daughter. She remembered the warm hand she had received from professor McGonagall and her wishes of best of luck.
Laughing through her tears, she recalled headmaster Dumbledore's jokes about her finally being able to hang professor Snape's photo on a dart board. Despite the very man standing right next to him with a sour expression on his face. Growing calm again while still staring at the castle getting closer and closer she remembered the hand professor Snape had given her and the polite nod. For a moment she had wanted to hug him, but thankfully she had resisted that urge. She had been a disaster at potions and she shook her head laughing when she tried counting the times her cauldron had exploded. Poor professor Snape had never been able to teach her much more but the most important lesson of all. To be kind to everyone, even if they themselves weren't always kind.
And that is exactly why the sorting hat had put her in Hufflepuff. She was exceptionally kind and possessed a good heart and gentle soul. It had been embarrassing during the sorting ceremony. To have an old leather hat yell out how sweet and cute she was in front of 300 other students. But now that she thought back on it, it had been very funny. She could only imagine how she had looked. Terrified and slightly embarrassed.
She stuck her head out of the car window and peered up at the Astronomy tower. The place where she would teach this year. She hadn't even be that good at Astronomy and she had been surprised when she received the invitation from headmaster Dumbledore. Professor Sinistra had taken a year off to take care of her ill mother and thus the position was open. And Fay had been his first choice according to himself.
The idea that she would now be one of the teachers instead of a student struck her as the most odd. It would be hard to keep herself from addressing the other teachers with professor. But she was a full blown member of the staff as of today and she would do her best to act accordingly. The stack of books in the back of her car was enough proof she took her new job very serious.
When she had decided to take the position, she had spent the next three days digging through her old stuff to find her Astronomy books. Covered in dust and her hair a mess she had read them all in one day.
Dumbledore told her not to worry about her lack of experience. Astronomy was a science that didn't really require preparation. Since every night sky looked different. Her stars and planets would align with time he had joked quietly. As usual, hiding his secret agenda.
She pulled up close to Hagrid's cabin and got out of her car. The half giant was guiding the first year's over the lake right now, but there was another face that came to greet her. And even this face she had missed. With a bright smile she ignored Filch's question if she had anything she wanted him to carry to her quarters and wrapped her arms around his neck. Causing the man to stand there rigid like a stone in utter shock.
"Thank Merlin you're still here! I missed you" she said happily and let the shocked man go. Filch had nothing to say, just stared at her like she had lost her mind, grabbed her suitcase and walked off. She gathered the stack of books and followed him into the castle.
Nothing had changed in the five years of her absence and she twirled around happily, peering up at the familiar ceiling. The warm glow of the torches that illuminated the path to the Great Hall seemed to be there just for her. No one else used this entrance at this hour. She followed the sounds of the bustling of arriving students and the smell of well prepared food. Appetizers had probably been already served to appease the students before the real ceremony would begin.
"Fay?! Fay Safferey? Is that really you?" she turned to face the speaker and smiled. Nearly Headless Nick came floating down from a chandelier and stopped in front of her. "Sir Nicolas! By golly am I happy to see you. I wish I could properly embrace you but.. I'm afraid that won't do" she said cheerfully.
"what brings you back to our humble school, my dear?" he asked curiously. "surely nothing developed after that situation in your last year?"
She blushed and cleared her throat, knowing exactly what he referred to. "No, of course not" she mumbled and looked down at her feet. "Oh come now! I meant nothing by it! I'm sure he'll be just as happy to see you again! Or atleast.. surprised.. like me" he chuckled. They said their goodbyes and she entered the Great Hall where thankfully no one really noticed her slipping past students that were trying to find a seat or greet classmates. "excuse me.. pardon.. excuse me.. Oh I'm sorry"
She reached the teachers table without much effort and sat down at the far end of it, placing her stack of books next to her on the table. She grabbed one of them, pulled a bowl of crackers towards her and decided to prepare her first class for tomorrow before the other teachers would arrive.
The first one that arrived was Professor McGonagall and before the older witch sat down she strolled up to where Fay was seated and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Good to see you, Fay. Headmaster Dumbledore told me he assigned you to substitute for Sinistra this year. Good to see you"
"I'm so nervous. Astronomy wasn't really my best subject" Fay said, chuckling apologetically. McGonagall pursed her lips and cleared her throat, sitting down at her usual spot at the table. "so I've heard" she said. "well you know Albus and his reasons for assigning teachers. They never make sense to the common soul and are hardly ever based on their excessive talents"
Fay felt herself shrink a little and decided not to continue the conversation. Other teachers arrived and all of them seemed to remember Fay and greeted her kindly. Her former head of house, Pomona Sprout had tears in her eyes and hugged her firmly. And thankfully, she also sat down next to Fay, making the girl feel a little more at home. When Dumbledore arrived he gave her a kind nod. The only person who ignored her was Severus Snape. He seemed less than pleased to see her again.
Professor Flitwick leaned over as far as he could when he saw Fay gaze at the one member at the table she didn't recognize. A woman dressed in pink. "That's Dolores Umbridge, she's here on behalf of Fudge. She's the new defence against the dark arts teachers. Or atleast.. for this year" he chuckled.
The sorting ceremony started shortly after and she made sure to clap extra hard and smile the brightest when a new member of Hufflepuff was added. The new students seemed so small. Still so much like children with their eleven years. Hardly the proper age to send them away from home to a place where they didn't know anyone or anything. She remembered she had done nothing but crying the first four days of her school career. She missed her parents, her older brother and her dog.
Then Dumbledore stood up and gave his welcome speech. Welcoming the new students and introducing Umbridge and herself as the new teachers for this year. Fay received a great applause from students that recognized her and the Weasley twins cheered enthusiastically.
During dinner she thankfully had the chance to ask a few Astronomy related questions to Trelawney, who as usual made a mess of her plate, and McGonagall. It ended up in a heated discussion about what kind of planet Pluto was between the two teachers and Fay decided to stop talking altogether and concentrate on her food.
After the feast, she told everyone goodnight and headed for her living quarters. She rounded the corner and tripped over something that resembled two creatures holding a rope between the two of them. They giggled at her stumbling and vanished in smoke. She recognized the spell immediately.
"Alright you two rascals. Come out.." she said with a smile and got to her feet. Fred and George emerged from behind a pillar and each took a place at her side. "You didn't think we'd let you sneak off to your bed without saying anything to us, did you Fay?" Fred said smugly. "don't think we're ever going to call you professor" George laughed.
She rolled her eyes and giggled. "You guys don't even have Astronomy anymore, unfortunately. Cheating me out of a chance to give you both detention" she said. Fred grabbed a book from her arms and opened it. "Astronomy? Merlin's hairy arse, Fay! That subject is worse than Divination!"
"Or History of Magic"
"Or Herbology"
"Or anything, really"
She laughed and fished the book out of Fred's hands. "Thank you! I need that if I'm going to act like I know what I'm doing tomorrow" she said. "and you should both be in your dormitories. It's past your curfew..this could cost you points.. already..I'll do it"
They both started protesting loudly and halted in their steps, she laughed and turned to face them as she walked backwards. "You're boring now, Fay!" George called after her. "we're going to disrupt ever class you have!" Fred said.
"I'm looking forward to it!" she chuckled and made her way down the hall to her living quarters. Feeling finally at home.
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R&R please! A/N: not a native speaker of English, so forgive me for the errors.
