"It was probably a stray," Hermione sensibly said as stubbornly ate her pumpkin pastry.

"I think I know my own godfather when I see him, Hermione," Harry shot back, slightly ruffled.

"You saw that dog at a distance-what are the chances that dog was Sirius? Strays tend to be more common than on the run godfathers."

"Hermione-what are the chances that a random large black dog would walk through the portal at 9 ¾? And someone would have started screaming bloody murder about it being a Grim," Harry replied.

Hermione humped as she pulled out a book from her bag. A silence filled the compartment.

"So Hermione," Ron finally, slyly said. "How's Krum again?"

Hermione shot him a look. "I'm not going to answer that," she coolly said as she looked back at her book.

Ron smirked at Harry-Harry returned a disapproving look. Hermione and Krum had broken up early August, but Ron was still gloating over it. Harry wondered if Ron didn't quite grasp that it was a sensitive subject.

Harry was about to ask if Ron wanted to play a round of Exploding Snap but decided against it. At that moment, all he wanted was a nap.

Slouching in his seat, he closed his eyes.

db

"Harry-Harry wake up! We're here!" Hermione's voice broke through the silence of dreamlessness. Groggily, Harry obediently woke up-and yawning-got out of his seat. He followed them blindly down the train and past all the empty compartments. They were obviously the last to get off the Hogwarts Express.

Well, second to last.

The train was as silent as a tomb when the compartment door all the way in the back of the train opened up. The women in plum-red peered out of the compartment, and checked down the hall.

"Coast is clear," she said as she stepped out into the hallway. "Come out Snuggles. I need to have a word with you."

The large black dog should have stepped out of the compartment, but the dog had disappeared, and Sirius Black stood in his place. "It's Snuffles-NOT Snuggles," he sourly growled.

Arabella Figg smirked impishly. "But I like Snuggles better. It suits you."

Sirius rolled his eyes in disgust.

Arabella's face hardened into an emotionless façade as she walked down the aisle. "We're going to take a boat across instead of the stagecoach."

"Why? It's not like we have to sneak into Hogwarts," he replied.

"I do-I'll have more control over the boat than the stagecoach. Consider it Auror practice," she wryly said. "Once we get inside, we go straight to Dumbledore. I don't want to run into anyone else beforehand."

Sirius didn't understand his friend's need for secrecy. Then again, she hadn't seen any of the people in Hogwarts in the last 15 years.

"Exactly-you know how much I loathe awkward situations," she said, once again reading his mind. "And to show up suddenly after a 15 years self exile is a ten on the awkwardness scale."

"But they've missed you Ink. They want to see you so badly." 'Especially Moony,' he thought.

"They haven't seen me in 15 years Padfoot. They can wait a few more minutes," she retorted. They came to the train exit, and Arabella glanced at Sirius.

He nodded, and in a blink, Arabella was once again accompanied by a large black dog.

"Snuggles," she taunted.

The dog nipped at the hem of her robe.

db

"Where is she?" McGonagall hissed to Dumbledore.

"She'll be here," he reassured her as he calmly sipped his pumpkin juice.

"She wasn't in the stagecoaches," she continued.

Moody shifted his weight as he glared at the feasting students. "Leave it to Figg to take the long way."

Mundungus Fletcher chuckled as he filled his goblet again. "She's probably rappelling down the wall of one of the towers."

"Could something of happened to her?" McGonagall nervously asked.

"Minerva! She's a full grown Auror! She can take care of herself," Dumbledore scolded. "I'm not worried. Are you, Moody?"

"I've never worried about that girl," he growled.

"You, Mundungus?"

"She's probably tipping back a butterbeer in Hogsmeade."

"What do you think Remus?" Dumbledore asked as he looked down the table.

Remus Lupin swallowed the lump of food in his mouth. "She's never done anything that's caused me to doubt her proficiency to protect herself," he hesitantly replied.

"But she was traveling with Sir…"

"Minerva! Arabella and Sirius will be fine! She'll probably be here any moment."

db

"Hermione-what are you looking at?" Ron asked once he had finally stopped shoving food in his mouth.

Her forehead wrinkled in befuddlement . "There's an extra spot set next to Professor Lupin."

Harry glanced at the head table. Hermione was right-next to Remus was an extra chair and dishware.

"Wonder who it's for," Ron said.

Ron got his answer as the Great Hall doors suddenly flung open.

A figure stormed into the hall. It was a woman in a plum-red cloak. She was sopping wet. Her brown shoulder long hair resembled a wet mop-her bangs were plastered over her dark green-blue eyes, which dangerously sparkled. A puddle was already forming around her feet.

"The mutt tipped the boat," she sneered. An equally saturated dog walked sheepishly into the Hall. Harry, Hermione and Ron gasped in recognition. The dog was Sirius!

"Did you know those boats sink when they tip?" she asked as she approached the Head Table. Students shrunk in they're seats-the steel in her voice sent chills down Harry's spine. Though she was of average size and looks, her presence and fury was larger than life –it seemed to stretch throughout the massive Hall, bouncing back of the walls.

"Well they do," she continues. "I had to swim."

Sirius gave a small whimper. The woman glared at him. "Did I ever tell you that I like cats better," she threatened.

Dumbledore stood-a smile seemed to play at his lips. "Arabella-how good of you to come."

Arabella whipped out her wand. Several teachers and students gasped. She glared at them. "I'm only drying my clothes," she sneered at him. Harry didn't catch the spell she used, but in a blink both her and Sirius were dry.

"Attention!" Dumbledore said. He didn't need to-the attention of the crowd was riveted to the center of the hall.

"I wish to present you to Arabella Figg." A fire of whispering spread throughout the Hall. Ron looked shunned.

"No way! Not Arabella Figg!" he whispered, a mix of awe and fear in his voice.

"Arabella Figg was a great service in the fight against Voldemort. Now, at this dark hour in which Voldemort has returned, we need her services all the more.

"In this dark time, the need for skilled Aurors is great. While Miss Figg is not assisting us in the fight against the Dark Lord, she will be assisting Professor Remus Lupin in teaching Defense Against Dark Arts-a very important thing to learn if Voldemort is to be defeated."

"Two Dark Arts teachers? Snape must be steaming!" Ron whispered.

Harry nodded in agreement, but stopped when he saw the look on Snape's face. It wasn't one of hate.

"Does Snape look, happy?" Hermione asked in shock.

"If you'll please take a seat, Arabella," Dumbledore invited her. "Join us in the feast."

Arabella nodded, and made her way towards the empty seat. She shot Remus a sideways glance, and Harry could swear he saw her smile at him.

Lupin shyly smiled back.

Harry had a funny feeling that this was going to be a interesting year.