Disclaimer: See Part 1.

Part 3

Day two of Harry's employment at Hogwarts started off slowly. Harry eased his tired body out of bed and into the bathroom. Once dressed, he sat down to wait for the right time to go down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

The hall was as noisy and boisterous as ever before. It seemed like something that hadn't changed over the years, before or after Voldemort's demise. The children were still incredibly loud when packed into a single room together. It was a comforting and familiar sound to Harry as he paced restlessly outside the teachers side entrance. It was a shorter walk then the main entrance. Dumbledore had suggested it to him. He stopped to lean against the wall in the hallway beside the heavy wooden door, which was cracked open for him to hear his introduction.

He heard the tell tale sound of a gold plated knife clinking loudly against a crystal goblet. That was McGonagall, getting the students attention. He listened intently as Dumbledore rose from his seat, students shushing each other through out the hall as the Headmaster cleared his throat.

"As you have all undoubtedly noticed, we have spent the last three school days without a resident Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. That has been remedied and beginning with today's first lesson you will begin going to the classroom marked on your schedules. The time of study hall and free periods is now sadly over. Education must always come first." there was a resigned sigh from the student body; it made the corner of Harry's mouth twitch upward. "Now then, on with the introductions. This years D.A.D.A. teacher, I am proud to say is a former Hogwarts student. He is well versed in the art of defending ones self against the Darkness of the world, and it is needless to say that he is a welcome addition to our teaching staff. May I introduce, Professor Harry Potter..." A shocked ripple went through the students.

Harry pushed the door open and walked calmly through the door. He kept himself upright and sturdy as he walked around the table and to the seat positioned beside his old head of house. The hall had erupted in boisterous talking and clapping. Dumbledore smiled at him as he sat down. McGonagall patted his hand and smiled the tense reserved smile she had taken to giving to the Gryffindor trio at the end of their third year as students. Harry couldn't help but give a tentative smile in return. He pointedly tried to avoid looking anywhere in the vicinity of Hermionie's seat. They had yet to meet each other, and he wanted to delay the coming confrontation for as long as possible.

Dumbledore quieted before calling order back to the hall and retaking his seat. The food materialized before them all. Harry smiled as he noticed that Dobby had made all of his favorites for breakfast that morning. He even found a chocolate frog sitting under his down turned teacup. He hadn't had one since leaving Hogwarts. He pulled the tag letting it pop open. He caught the frog under his cup again and watched with mild amusement as his cup hopped on it's saucer before going dormant once again. Harry looked down at the wizard card with interest. He had successfully completed his set, much to Ron's displeasure mid-way through 6th year. He chalked it up to too many hospital stay gifts received from friends, classmates, and acquaintances. He'd eaten so many chocolate frogs between 5th and 6th grade that he hadn't really missed them that much in the years after graduation. But now he was kind of looking forward to it.

The card in his hand was colored differently then he remembered them being before. He turned it around and saw much to his surprise, his Godfather smiling back at him from the front of card #505. He stared at it in surprise. Sirius Black was on a wizard card. Minerva leaned over and smiled again.

"It happened a few months after the defeat. They came out with 15 new cards for the collection. They sent a set of the new additions to us to give to you when you resurfaced again. I can have them in your office by the end of the day. Would you like that Harry?" she asked softly. He nodded, brow furrowed. He looked at the card intently and smiled at the man looking up at him from the card. Sirius had died a few months before the final battle, while on a scouting mission. Unfortunately he had been caught and tortured to death by Voldemort's followers. Harry sighed and carefully slipped the card into an inner pocket of his robes. He pressed it against his heart, well aware of Minerva's gaze still fixed on him. He forced a smile and turned back to his breakfast, the chocolate frog forgotten.

Tbc…