Part Nine

Harry had been looking forward to be going back to Hogwarts all summer. He hated leaving. It was the only place that had ever felt like home to him. Being at the Burrow with the Weasleys was great and he was always made to feel like one off the family, but it didn't feel it wasn't his home, the only place that could feel like that was Hogwarts. They were all at Kings Cross station now, and once again were running slightly late. They passed through the magical barrier onto platform nine and three quarters, boarded the train and started to look for an empty compartment. Amazingly they found one, loaded their trunks and belongings into it and said goodbye to Mrs. Weasley. Finally the train pulled away from the station and all Harry could think of was that they were finally on their way back home.

"Hermione, you have already done enough reading and work for the next twelve years and more, so please tell. What are you doing?" Ron said looking at Hermione who was bent over a book.

"I'm reading" She replied not looking up from her book, and not dignifying Ron with a proper answer.

"Big surprise there" Ron muttered under his breath.

"Excuse Me," She said looking towards Ron who suddenly paled under the intense glare of Hermione, Harry struggled to not laugh.

"Umm... I said... what are you reading?" He said quickly. Hermione didn't believe him but went back to her book.

"I'm reading one of the new text books that was assigned, I want to be ready for questions." She said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Why?" Harry said coming out of his thoughts and listening to his two best friends.

"Because I like to know what we will be studying" She replied through gritted teeth "and anyway this book is really interesting,"

"Really interesting?" Ron asked looking at the title of the book "'All you need to know about Demons' sounds long."

"Well just because the last book you read was mostly pictures I don't expect you to understand." Hermione snapped back at Ron. "Anyway you should have read at least some, this is the book for a new subject 'Demonology', we are going to learn about all types of demons and there are some really interesting ones, like Succubae, fear demons, warlocks."


"Cool" Ron replied showing the first hint of true interest "So are you going to read to other new text book as well before we start lessons?"

"I have already read it, it was good but not as good as this one." She replied not looking up from her book.


"I don't get you sometimes" Ron said, just then the old lady with the food cart pulled up. "But food is here so I am going to eat."

They all bought some food and ate, Hermione finally putting her book down, while talking about anything that they thought of. After they had finished Hermione went back to reading her book and Harry and Ron played exploding snap the rest of the way there. They arrived at Hogwarts at normal time and they were all hungry for the welcoming feast. They took the normal carriages up to the castle and entered the great hall. As they entered they saw all their teachers up at the head table, but there, as they expected, were five new teachers that they had seen in Madame Malkins almost a week ago, sitting at the table. Harry also noticed that most of the male population in the school was staring at them intently. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table and started talking to their friends.

"God, they are so gorgeous" George stated once again looking up at the head table.

"Yeah I know, I like the one sitting next to Professor Snape" Lee Jordan, the twin's friend, announced meaning Piper.

"Nah, I like the one with the ginger hair" Fred said motioning towards Paige.

They were about to continue when Dumbledore stood up. The hall silenced immediately. Professor McGonagall walked in as well as the first years behind her. The sorting hat was brought in and placed on a stool. When it started its annual song Harry noticed that the new teachers looked rather shocked and started whispering to each other. Once the song had finished the sorting took place and there were many new students in Gryffindor as well as in the other houses. Dumbledore stood up once again to make his welcoming speech.

"Welcome new and old students to another year at Hogwarts. Before the feast starts I have a few start of term announcements. As always the forbidden forest is forbidden to all students. Mr. Filch has put up a list outside of his office of items that are not supposed to be used in the hallways. Now that those official things are out of the way it is time for me to say that as we welcome new students, we also welcome new teachers. So it is my pleasure to introduce our new DADA teachers Professor Halliwell-Wyatt and Professor Wyatt." Piper and Leo stood up and were met with applause they then sat back down. "Professor Halliwell-Turner and Professor Turner, the new Demonology teachers" They did the same as Piper and Leo had done minutes earlier. "And Professor Matthews our Wicca and Wiccan magic teacher" Paige stood on her own and was met with the same applause. "As you read on your letters, Professor Halliwell- Turner will also be teaching the fifth years and above, with Professor Snape, about different types of potions." That was met with the loudest applause so far and Snape's scowl deepened. "Now that that is out of the way. Eat!" He finished his speech and the tables were magically filled with food.

Everyone began to eat and chat animatedly. Everyone was glad to be back at Hogwarts, and everyone was wondering how good the new teachers would be, especially the DADA teachers, as they had never had much luck with those before, they hadn't seemed to able to last more than a year.

"I wonder if we will have any of the new teachers tomorrow." Harry said to his best friends.

"I hope so; I want to know how good they are teaching." Hermione said worried about her learning.

"Yeah, I hope the DADA professors are good, because we are behind on that subject" Seamus added listening to their conversation.

"Yeah, well everyone apart from Hermione." Ron muttered to Harry who snorted into his pumpkin juice which he turned into a cough when Hermione turned to glare at them.

The feast ended and everyone was full to the brim and feeling rather sleepy. Dumbledore told them to go to bed as learning started tomorrow. Everyone headed of to his or her dormitories. Once they reached the Gryffindor common room Harry and Ron said their goodnights to Hermione and headed up to their rooms with Seamus, Dean and Neville. Harry climbed into his four-poster bed and fell into a peaceful sleep wondering how good the teachers would prove to be.