All stories need a beginning. All stories need an event. All stories need characters. So, without any further ado, these are the characters. There is Harry Potter, who is one of the main focuses. He was the Boy-Who-Lived. He still is the Boy-That-Lived, but the story is not happening now, it happened then. So he was the Boy-That-Lived. Hermione Granger. She was one of Harry's best friends, a Muggle-born witch and was the best witch in the year, possibly one of the best in the school. Ron Weasley was another one of Harry's friends, a veritable fountain of firstly, information, since his dad works in the Ministry for Magic, and secondly, fun, just because he's Ron. Albus Dumbledore plays a small but vital part, as the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And of course, one person has to be a secret (A.N. Guess who it is. You'll probably be right). That is one of the other main characters. Now, if you have gotten the main characters down, let's move onto the beginning…
"Who do you reckon's gonna be the Defence against Dark Arts teacher this year?" Hermione asked.
Ron shrugged. "Dunno." His face changed a little, like he remembered something. "I do know there's going to be a new subject," he told them.
Harry looked interested. "New subject? There's no time in the day for a new subject!"
"Unless you want Hermione's Time Turner," Ron muttered. As Hermione glared he moved back on to the partially different subject. "Dad's pretty sure it's a compulsory one, but he said something about Dumbledore making it one of those classes where there's a couple of set times, and you can go any one of those, or go more than once a week." Ron shrugged. "Complicated."
"You're telling me," Harry agreed.
"Albus, do you think it's wise?" Professor Minerva McGonagall asked worriedly. Albus Dumbledore chuckled.
"For all your experience and wisdom, Minerva, you are such a…what is the Muggle word?…worrywart."
"I do not worry," she said huffily. "I am just…concerned over the teachers that come to this school for the Defense job," she finished.
"I am certain," Albus began, his eyes twinkling, "I am certain that neither one of the teachers here for either of the newly available jobs will pose a threat or will harm any of the students."
"Even so, Albus," she hissed. "Rehiring him won't get you any points with the Ministry, and creating a new subject will just add to the children's workload!"
"As I have told you, Minerva, there is little to no work involved with the introduced curriculum." Dumbledore paused at the door to the Great Hall. "I trust you have no other complaints?"
Professor McGonagall sighed. "Not at this point," she said over her shoulder as she started towards the entryway for the first years.
Blue (A.N. Are his eyes blue?) eyes appraised the students and teachers flooding into the Great Hall. Familiarity filled him as he saw old faces, both friendly and…reserved. The eyes skimmed particularly over the Gryffindors, some of whom were looking towards the High Table. He heard little whispers, low mutterings, and a few light undertones, most of which seemed directed towards him.
" 'Ow are yeh doin', Professor Lupin?" a voice asked from next to him. He turned to see Rubeus Hagrid, the Care of Magical Creatures teacher grinning at him. "Was right glad to hear yeh were comin' back to 'Ogwarts."
"Thank you, Hagrid," he smiled, lowering his voice slightly through Dumbledore's speech. "I was glad to hear I was coming back, too."
They fell silent as the first years filed up to the Sorting Hat, and as the first witch, 'Analay, Matilda,' became a Hufflepuff. Lupin's eyes wandered, over Gryffindors, noting Harry, Ron and Hermione especially, over Ravenclaw, who were cheering as 'Chaney, Micheal,' joined them, Hufflepuff, who were smiling politely at the noise from the other table, and Slytherin, who were whispering to each other, especially Draco Malfoy.
As the Sorting ended, Dumbledore stood. "I welcome you all back to Hogwarts, and hope your holidays were not as boring as school." Muffled giggles followed this statement. "Now, onto the start-of-term announcements. Mister Filch, our caretaker, would like to inform you that Canary Creams, no matter how delightful…" His gaze snaked over to the Gryffindor table, which shifted in their chairs uncomfortably. "Are now banned, due to the fact that the feathers scattered over the castle are in no state to be stuffed into cushions. A Quidditch meeting, for each house, shall be held several weeks into term, regarding the fact that quite a number of team members graduated last year. And finally, it is my great pleasure to re-introduce to you Professor Lupin, who has decided to be re-employed as our Defense against Dark Arts teacher…" Lupin gave a small smile as Harry clapped Ron on the back. "And finally, all fifth years will have a new subject, of which there are four set times per week. You can go to one, two, three or all of those times a week, although you must have gone at least twice in a fortnight."
Dumbledore clapped his hands. "But now, there are only two words for me to tell you now. Eat up!" There was a loud round of applause as the plates and cups filled with food and drink.
"Yes, Rock, I'm sure…" a voice said impatiently as a voice from the other end of the mobile phone asked something for the six hundred and fifty-eighth time. "This place is as safe as you can get…" Dark eyes rolled towards the ceiling as the mind behind them wondered why he had gotten Dumbledore to help enchant a way for wizard/Muggle communication. "Yes, I know the Command Centre was probably safer, but this is second…well duh, Rock, the Command Centre is now a pile of you!…yes, I know it's funny and yes I have been practicing…is that Kim I hear?" A thankful smile crossed the tan face. "Go get your lover-girl. Yes, I will call…" He lowered his voice. "Or send a Howler. Yes, now bye!" He hung up the phone with a great deal of relief. The tan faced smoothed, and a lithe body started an elaborate kata, a lot of the times the force of a kick sending him into the air.
"You have to be the Physical Defense teacher," a voice said warmly from the doorway. The figure didn't stop moving; in fact, the speed increasing, as if the extra momentum was going to go into a fight.
"Who wants to know?" the figure asked, the speed staying at the same fast level.
"Professor Remus Lupin, Defense against Dark Arts," Lupin introduced himself. "And you are?"
The moving body slowed down steadily, so by the time he spoke again he had almost stopped. "My name is Adam Park, but I suppose most of the staff will be calling me either Professor Park or Adam." The spinning finally stopped, and Professor Lupin got his first look at the teacher. First thing he noticed was that this boy was young. When Professor Lupin had been here two years ago, he had been tied with Snape for the youngest, and he was no spring chicken, crossing the wrong side of thirty a few good years ago. The man in front of him was barely older than the oldest student in the school, hitting twenty if that. He had tan features, Korean or Asian mainly, and had dark hair and eyes.
Lupin held out is hand. "Well, nice to meet you," he said warmly. They shook, but Lupin didn't let go. "Did you go to Hogwarts?" he asked inquiringly.
Adam shook his head. "No. I lived in America until I was asked to come to Hogwarts to teach." He caught the look the Professor had and he shook his head. "I'm not a Muggle; just didn't come to Hogwarts. Was taught by correspondence. My parents didn't want me flying to England every year."
Lupin shook his hand once again. "Well, it was nice meeting you, and I suppose we'll be seeing a lot of each other in the following year?"
Adam nodded. "I believe so."