AN: So.. updating took far longer than expected - I apologize profoundly for that! Funny enough though, it's been exactly a month since I posted the story =P
Anyway, this chapter caused me a bit of grief, but I felt that it had to be there, or something would be missing, especially as there's actually quite a bit of info popped into this one - hard to believe, seeing as it's so short, I know..
But don't fret; I'm very nearly done with chapter 2 (I've been writing them at the same time :P) and it's gonna be longer than this one (at the moment it's 700 words longer, and it's not done yet, so.. fingers crossed)

Anything else? Hmm.. oh, yeah - thank you so much to those of you who followed the story, added to fave or reviewed! You make me want to continue with the story! =D

Sooo... here we go:

~ Chapter One ~

Returning

Friday, August 17th, 1990

Penelope Alisdair, now thirty years old, was pacing in her hotel room. After years of travelling the world and being a journalist for the Sunday Prophet, she had agreed to settle down – at least for the next year – as she had said yes to the position of Muggle Studies Professor at Hogwarts. She'd never imagined herself being a teacher, but after the last teacher of the subject, Quirinus Quirrell, had chosen to take a year off to go travel himself, Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster at Hogwarts, had asked her to take on the job and after a lot of negotiation, Dumbledore had finally managed to persuade her.

Now however she was pacing her room having second thoughts on the decision. She was not a teacher. She feared she wouldn't have the patience to deal with children. She feared she wouldn't be good at her job, but most of all she feared that she would let Albus down. Penelope had always valued his opinion, ever since her own school days and she still talked to him regularly, and the thought of letting him down was making her heart ache.

Taking a deep breath she tried to pull herself together and continue with the last of her packing. She tried to think about the positive things she could look forward to due to her new job; she would get to spend more time with several people she really cared about: Albus, of course. Minerva McGonagall, who had been her favourite teacher during her time at Hogwarts and whom she had stayed in touch with after leaving the school. Severus.. Oh, Severus, she didn't know what to expect, when it came to seeing him again, so she tried her best to not worry about it now. Then of course there was the fact that she would simply be physically closer to everyone she cared about, which brought here a great amount of comfort as well.

Finally she looked around the empty room, to make sure she hadn't forgotten something, before she drew her wand and disapparated with her trunk.

~oOoOo~

Moments later she stood in front of the main gates of Hogwarts. She marvelled over the size of it – years of separation from the school, had rendered it much smaller in her memory. She took a deep breath before she began to walk up the pathway towards the doors.

As she got closer to the school, she noticed someone was stood at the doors – it didn't take her long to realize that it was the headmaster himself standing there and waiting for her to arrive.

When she reached him, he gave her a warm smile and opened his arms wide to embrace her – an embrace she was happy to return. Then he put a hand on her lower back and led her through the castle towards his office.

"Tell me, my dear," the Headmaster started, as they kept walking through the halls, "how have you been since the last time we spoke? Any changes in your life?"

"No, not really.." She replied. "Though, I've been offered this potion as a teacher." She informed in jokingly.

"Oh, I think you will make a wonderful teacher, dear." Albus chuckled and indulged her further; "I do hope you said yes to the job."

"Yes." Was her simple reply before she sighed, "though I'm starting to fear I will not be very good at it."

"On the contrary, dear; I think you will do an excellent job." Albus assured her, "I'm sure you'll find that you are a natural at teaching."

Penelope looked up him, "please don't mock me, Albus," she told him quietly.

"I would never dare to mock your fears, my dear. I am merely trying to console you by telling you my thoughts on the matter." He told her as he looked down into her eyes over his half-moon glasses.

Her cheeks flushed a bit with embarrassment, "then I appreciate it." She told him and offered a crooked smile.

They walked the rest of the short way to the Headmaster's office in a comfortable silence. Once they had arrived Albus went to sit by his desk, whilst Penelope sat her trunk by the door and went to take a seat in one of the chairs standing on the opposite site of Albus' large desk. The headmaster folded his hands on the desk in front of him and looked at Penelope over the edge of his glasses.

"Now, my dear, there has been a slight change of plans, I'm afraid," he told her.

"Oh? What kind of change?" She asked with a risen brow.

"I have found someone else to take on the position of Muggle Studies Professor." He answered. "Charity Burbage, her name is – lovely woman. She will take the position permanently, rather than the one year you were to stay here."

"So.. you don't need me after all?" She asked uncertainly, a feeling of disappointment making its way into the pit of her stomach – much to her own surprise and slight cofusion.

The Headmaster's eyes gleamed over the top of his half-moon glasses, "on the contrary, dear, I need you to take the position as Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor in stead." He informed her.

"Defence Against the Dark Arts?" Penelope gaped at him; she didn't know how to react to this unexpected turn of events. "Forgive me, Albus, but.. rumour has it that the position is jinxed. As much as I would like to help you out, I don't feel comfortable having to risk my life or health for a job."

"Of course not and I would never ask this of you, if I thought you would be in the least bit of danger," he reassured her. "I have hired people for the position previously, under the condition that it be for one year only, and nothing have happened to any of them. And as you were always suppose to only stay here for a year, no harm should befall you."

"I'm not sure.." she hesitated.

"Nel," Albus said her nickname softly and took hold of her hand across the table, "I swear to you, I would never let any harm come to you. If there's even the slightest hint that something may happen, I won't hesitate in sending you away."

Penelope merely nodded and gave Albus a weak smile. He let go of her hand and went to a nearby cabinet to retrieve a bottle of wine and two glasses, before he returned to his seat again. Once the Headmaster had handed her the now full glass of wine, she leaned back in her chair and took a sip of it – many things could be said of Albus Dumbledore's taste in foods and drinks – not to mention sweets – but his taste in wine was impeccable.

For the next 30 minutes or so, the Headmaster informed her of the few changes that had been made to the rules, since her own time at the school, as well as letting her know which particularly troublesome students to look out for; namely a pair of twins in Gryffindor house, who had spend their first year causing the caretaker, Mr. Filch, quite a bit of trouble.

They were interrupted by a knock on the door, and the Headmaster asked whomever it was to enter:

"I apologize for the lateness, Headmaster, but I only just arrived and came as soon as I saw your message." Came a deep velvety voice from the doors. Penelope recognized it immediately.

"Don't fret, Severus, I managed to work out the problem myself." Said the Headmaster, "however seeing as you're here anyway; may I introduce you to our new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor?" Albus gave Penelope a kind smile before he mused; "I believe the two of you are already acquainted."

Penelope drew in a deep breath before she rose from her chair and turned around to face the Potions Master. She could see the surprise in his face as soon as he recognized her.

"Hello Severus."

AN: Soooo, they meet again. I wonder how that will go.. no, wait, I don't; I already know what will happen! ;) eheheheh...
Not the most exciting of chapters I know, but I felt that it would be strange if she just popped in and became a teacher at Hogwarts without any story of how that came to be... so there you have (had?) it.. next chapter will be a bit of re-introduction between Penelope and Severus as well as a flashback that I actually rather like!

Let's make a deal; if I get more than one review I promise to upload chapter 2 within a few days (I'll try to make it before the weekend is over!) ... deal? =D