Nightbirds

And when the wind draws strong

Across the cypress trees

The Nightbirds cease their songs

So gathers memories.

- Loreena McKennitt, "Courtyard Lullaby"

The summer holidays were over before Harry had truly had a chance to relax and forget about life for even a moment.  Despite the weeks spent with the Weasley family, he was still haunted by memories of the previous term and very rarely knew complete peace from it.  In what seemed like no time at all, the changing seasons found Harry leaving the Hogwarts Express, flanked by Ron and Hermione.


"Firs' years!" they heard Hagrid roar over the nervous chatters.  "Firs' years over here!" 

"Hagrid!" Hermione called, waving to their giant friend.  Hagrid grinned and winked back at them.  Harry felt his heart lighten slightly.

"See you at the feast!" Ron called to him as all the older students began to swarm towards the castle while the First Years embarked upon the traditional trip across the lake.

"I wonder if we have any new teachers this year," Hermione mused as they walked to the castle.  "We should, because Defense Against the Dark Arts is open again."

"They should just stop trying to teach us that," Ron commented.  "We haven't had a teacher for more than one year in a row.  I wish they'd bring Lupin back."

"Maybe this one will last longer," she said.  She pulled out her Prefect badge.  Ron winced.

"Please promise me you won't act like Percy," he pleaded with her as they reached the castle.

Within minutes, Harry was seated between Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall.  He looked around the familiar setting contentedly, feeling happier at that moment than he had for two months.  Now that he was actually back at Hogwarts, he felt as though things could be right again.

He felt a sharp pain in his side as Hermione dug her elbow into him.  "What?" he asked.

She pointed.  "Look."

Harry followed her finger to the table for the professors.  He looked at each adult seated, finding nothing to give him pause until he reached Professor Snape.   Harry remembered what Dumbledore had rather cryptically him to do told the previous term.  Snape looked as thoroughly unpleasant as usual, but Harry directed his attention to the rather young witch seated beside him. She was looking in Harry's direction with an odd look in her eyes, as if she were not even aware she was staring at him.   Harry returned the gaze uneasily.  She gave a small smile and inclined her head slightly to acknowledge that she saw him.  Then she looked away and turned to speak to Snape.

"She looks nice," Hermione observed.

"D'you think she's our Defense Against Dark Arts professor?" Ron asked.


"I suppose so, because she's the only new one that I see," she answered. 

"She is," Harry said suddenly.  For some reason, he knew that she was their new instructor.  He looked at her shrewdly.  Her face was strangely familiar, but he did not say so to the others.

The doors to the Great Hall opened and the First Years came shuffling in, awe etched on their faces as they took in the vast room and it's inhabitants.  They looked so young.  Harry could hardly believe he, too, had once been in their place, even though it had only been four years earlier.    He felt so much older than they.

Professor McGonagell placed the Sorting Hat and stool in front of the teachers' table.  The Hat seemed to pull up and began to sing.

A bit odd I look, a little worn,

Yet half a moment,

You'll know how I was born.

Four wizards great and proud,

Hufflepuff the loyal

Ravenclaw the sage

Slytherin the sly

And Gryffindor the noble

- the four greatest of the mage,

Built this school from the very earth and stone

Then gave parts of their minds in me a home.


The song went on, but Harry found his attention drifting back to the witch who was apparently their new professor.   Something was also achingly familiar about her, but Harry couldn't place her.


Dumbledore stood up after all the First years were Sorted.  "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," he said.  "I trust that you will learn as much as you can and enjoy yourselves."  His eyes twinkled.  "And behave yourselves." He took a long glance at Fred and George, who both wore suspiciously innocent expressions on their faces.


"As you may or may not have noticed, we have had an addition to our faculty," he continued.  "May I present your new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor, Professor Tinuvial Elarith."  The witch smiled at the students.  Some of the older students (led by Fred and George) began to cheer.

"A few words before we get on with the feast," Dumbledore said as the applause died away.  "There have been a few changes to our school this year, but nothing horrible, I can assure you."

"In the first place, visits to Hogsmeade will be monitored a bit closer."  There were several moans and groans, mainly from the twins, but Dumbledore waved them off. 

"Quidditch matches will resume this year."  The moaning was swiftly overtaken by loud cheers, which Harry joined in on whole-heartedly.  He glanced over at the Slytherin table and saw Malfoy looking at him coldly. 

"And, one other thing," Dumbledore added.  "Because of its popularity last year, we shall have another Christmas dance on your last day of terms."  Everyone roared their approval this time. 

"And now…the feast!"  With that, the tables were filled from one end to the other with the most delicious food many had ever tasted.

The food was wonderful as usual, but the moods of the older students were a bit more subdued than usual.  More than once, eyes would flick over to the Hufflepuff table and only once or twice were the words "Triwizard Tournament" mentioned, but only in low murmurs and whispers.  Still, it was a rather festive spirit, despite the memories of last term, and it was with some regrets that the students all left the feast and headed to their towers.


Unfortunately, Harry's good mood was dampened by the arrival of one of his least favorite people. 

"Hello Potter, Weasley," Malfoy said in his cold, drawling voice.  "So, Weasley, your father's Minister now, isn't he?  Just goes to show how downhill the Ministry has gone."

Ron's face went scarlet.  "Bugger off, Malfoy," he said from behind clenched teeth.

Malfoy smiled thinly. "Does this mean you'll be able to afford to have second-hand robes instead of third-hand?"  he continued to barb at him.

Ron clenched his teeth, but before anything else could be said, a new voice was heard.  At some point, Professor Elarith had come up behind them.

"Problems, gentlemen?" she asked mildly, one eyebrow raised as she stared sharply at them.

Malfoy smirked.  "Nothing at all…professor."  He stormed off and joined his Slytherin cronies.  She paid no attention to his insolence, but turned her attention back to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.  Up close, they could see that Professor Elarith while young and very pretty, with her black hair and fair features, she looked quite tired.  Her eyes more than anything spoke most eloquently on how much she'd seen in her life.

"Er…thanks," Ron said awkwardly.  "But it wasn't anything."

"Yeah," Harry added.  "Malfoy's a git, that's all."

"Malfoy?" she asked rather sharply.  She seemed to think for a few minutes.  "Yes," she murmured to herself.  "Yes, he would be about the right age."  She shook her head as if to clear it and smiled at them.

"You might want to get to your tower now," she suggested.  "I'll see the three of you Wednesday in class."  And she walked away from them, joining the throng of teachers.


Hermione frowned.  "How did she know that we had her class Wednesday?" she asked.  "We didn't tell her our year."

Ron's eyes flicked over to Harry. "Maybe she recognized us from somewhere." What he meant was, maybe she recognized Harry.

"She seems nice," Hermione said, changing the subject hurriedly.  "Even Snape looked like he got on with her."

Ron snorted.  "That might not be a good thing."

"No," Harry said.  "I think Hermione's right."  Somehow, he knew instinctively that this woman, Tinuvial Elarith, was someone they could all trust.  Maybe it was something in her quiet smile or her wise, calm eyes, but Harry felt completely at ease with her.

The Gryffindors reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.  "Willowisp!" Hermione called to her and the portrait swung open.

At the staircase, Hermione parted ways with Harry and Ron as she headed up to the girl's dormitory.  Harry was elated when he reached their familiar dormitory.  Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Neville Longbottom joined the two as they all unpacked.  After talking and catching up with the others for a bit, Harry finally fell asleep, relieved to be home at last.