Welcome back everyone, thanks for reading and for all the nice reviews! I hope you'll like this one too!
The second seventh year - Part I
Even though it was a very warm and clear day it was already dark when they arrived at Hogsmead rail station.
They weren't yet outside when they heard Hagrid's loud voice clanging over the platform, calling the first years to his side. When Harry got out the train he could see a very puzzled Hagrid because there was more than twice the number of students than usually. After a short discussion the repeat-first-years agreed to use the carriage this time, too.
Harry made his way through the crowd towards Ron and Hermione who were waiting for him already. When he arrived by his friends, Ron gasped. A carriage had just stopped in front of them and it was obvious that Ron, as well as Hermione was able to see the Thestrales now.
'Uuhg, I rode on one of those?' Ron asked a bit sick.
Harry just smiled and got into the carriage, followed by Ginny, Ron, Neville, Luna and Hermione. It took her a little more time because she wanted to study the Thestrale closer, now she was able to see it. She gave up when Ron hissed at her that he was god damn hungry.
She sat next to him, apologized and started snogging with him. Neville and Luna turned bright red and decided that the landscape was much more interesting than usually.
Harry looked down on Ginny. He gave her a gentle kiss on her cheek which made her smile. Oddly enough but since their first kiss after the Quidditch match, more than a year ago, he never had the urge to make out with her. Coming to think of it he suddenly recognizes that they hardly did anything else but holding hands and talking vary much. Ron and Hermione instead were spending every free second showing their love to each other (and everyone else, too…).
The carriage stopped and everyone got out, pushed by Ron who was always very impatient when it came to food. Harry was wondering whether Hermione was no longer annoyed by this. He just wanted to ask her about that when he saw Draco Malfoy stepping out of the carriage behind them. He was followed by two Slytherin girls, obviously the only Slytherins of the seventh year besides Malfoy. Suddenly Harry had an image of the blond in his mind, all alone in his dormitory because all of his classmates were killed or imprisoned. In some way he felt sorry for Malfoy. He still couldn't make out why the Slytherin had come back.
Harry turned around to follow his friends into the great hall when someone called his name. It was, who else, Draco Malfoy.
'What is it?' Harry wanted to know. He waited for Draco to come closer.
'I was just wondering…how are you?' he asked insecure.
'Malfoy, what do you want?' the black-haired boy said disbelieving. He looked over to the two Slytherin girls who were waiting for Draco. They appeared pretty unconfident, maybe because after the last year they had to fear the hatred of the other houses more than ever.
'Well, I already said. I wanted to know…'
'How I am? Look, you are not the type of asking me such questions. So what? '
'You think you know what type I am?' Draco asked with slight harm in his voice.
'Did you expect me to come back?'
'Well…' Harry replied slowly.
'You see, don't try to tell me you know about me!' Draco said low but sharp. Then he passed Harry and quickly entered the castle door. Harry was starring on Draco's back. Was there a chance that Malfoy had changed since the last year? That he really just wanted to talk to Harry? Unlikely, but not impossible…
Harry followed the other students on their way into the great hall and searched for his friends at the Gryffindor table. He took a seat between Neville and Ginny and greeted all the other Gryffindors around him.
When he looked up to the teachers table he saw Professor McGonagall in the middle of the table in a fashionable deep purple robe. It kind of hurt not to see Professor Dumbledore up there, but McGonagall sure was the best person for the position of the headmaster. There were a couple of new faces while some old were missing. Especially that Professor Flitwick wasn't in his place surprised Harry.
At the very same moment the doors of the great hall opened and the new first years were coming in, led by the little Professor Flitwick. The new students were standing in a row in front of the high table and the Sorting Hat was placed ahead. Everyone in the hall was looking at it when it finally opened its mouth.
I'm old Hogwarts' sorting hat
Well known in all the lands
I put you where you fit the best
So lay it in my hands.
Perhaps you are a Gryffindor
Means brave and plucky as a lion
Or you are a Ravenclaw
Where it all comes up to your brain.
Maybe you are a Hufflepuff
And with that a real good friend
Or perhaps you are a Slytherin
Who knows how to reach the right end.
Whatever I will see in you
It's your will that counts
Try me on, that's what to do
But please just follow your souls!
Everyone in the great hall was cheering and clapping, even though both students and teachers were changing surprised looks. The hat had never asked the students to choose their houses on their own!
The first few pupils followed the reference of the hat. They all seemed to be too afraid of doing anything else while the whole school was watching them. A very little girl with red hair (it could have been a Weasley…) was chosen as a Gryffindor but decided to go over to the Slytherins table.
That was so brave of her that she indeed must have been a real Gryffindor. He wouldn't be surprised if the Slytherins didn't want to have a Gryffindor chosen, but to his astonishment they were clapping and greeting her friendly.
After her a few Hufflepuff chosen decided to go to other houses and, which was very interesting, a Slytherin chosen wanted to be a Hufflepuff.
After the students took their seats at the house tables, the feast began and everyone, in particular Ron started to eat like they were starving. Even Hermione wasn't as reserved as usual. Harry enjoyed his roast beef, bacon and boiled potatoes and simply was overjoyed by the fact of being home again.
When everyone was satisfied the plates became empty again and Professor McGonagall stood up. She was smiling down at the students and the hall fell silent.
'Welcome!' she said.
'Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! I'm afraid I have to say a few things before all of you can go to sleep. The first-years, especially the new ones, should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. You also should be reminded that you must not use magic between classes in the corridors.
You will notice that some of the corridors that were damaged last year aren't accessible yet and I ask you to stay away from there. I'm sure everything will be fixed soon.
Furthermore there are some new teachers I would like to introduce.
At first, Professor Ben Hughes. He will be your new transformation teacher.'
Professor Hughes got up and the students were clapping. He was a tall thin man with short brown hair. He was dressed in dark blue robes and smiled slightly. Harry expected him to be a bit younger than James, Remus and Sirius have been.
When he sat down again, Professor McGonagall went on.
'Your new Muggle Studies Professor is Mrs. Elizabeth Morelock.'
A woman, maybe fifty years old, with a quit kindly face stud up. To Harry's surprise she wore muggle cloths. She waved to the students and smiled brightly. The pupils were clapping and grinning, probably because of her clothing.
'Your new teacher for Defense against the Dark Arts will be Anna Shelton, a young Auror. Unfortunately she won't be able to be here until Christmas. That's the reason why you will have a four-month deputyship. Your teacher will be…Harry Potter.'
Harry smiled stupidly down to his plate and felt his cheeks getting red while the whole hall was clapping and laughing loudly.
'Why didn't you say anything?' Ron screamed and slammed Harry on the back, like all the other Gryffindors around him, too. Bashful he looked up and mumbled something about a surprise and his grin grew wider. He tried to sneak a peek of Malfoy. Actually Harry was afraid of teaching the Slytherins. But when he saw Malfoy he was rather surprised. He didn't seem angry at all. In fact he looked at Harry and was clapping with a thin smile. When he noticed Harry's glance he blushed slightly and looked down.
It seemed that he did change, Harry thought.
Professor McGonagall had to clear her throat a few times until the hall fell silent again.
'Well, nice to see that all of you are supporting Mr. Potter. I hope he can handle this task.
Just one last thing I want you note. The new head boy is Terry Boot, a Ravenclaw and the new head girl is Hermione Granger, a Gryffindor.' The students applauded again.
Harry hadn't noticed the new emblem on Hermione's robe until now. He was thinking about congratulate her. He decided it would be better not to say anything because otherwise it would be obvious that he hadn't noticed yet. When he looked up he was surprised that everyone was about to leave. Harry must have missed the end of McGonagall's speech.
He got up when he heard her voice.
'Mr. Potter, I'd like to have a word with you.'
'Of cause Professor.'
'Well, I'm glad you agreed to carry over the lessons until Professor Shelton will be here. But please let me know if it's too much for you or if you can't handle it anymore, no matter why. I do not want your education to be harmed by too much work.'
'Thank you very much, but I think I can coup with this. I worked through the curriculum this summer. I'm just a bit nervous.' Harry said truthfully.
'Good to hear that! Here are the time tables and lists of the students in the different classes. Good luck!' she said with a smile and turned away.
Harry was starring at the time table. It seemed that he would have to give two lessons every day. On Mondays there were the first and the seventh years. So right the next day he had to proof to his classmates what he was worth. The thought of teaching Draco Malfoy DatDA gave him a nervous feeling in his stomach.
He decided to deal with that the next day and hurried to make his way to the Gryffindor common room.
End Part I
Key guys, see you at the next chapter, hope it won't take to long.