Disclaimer: See Part 1.

Part 4

Harry soon found that the students were too in awe of his presence, too filled with frantic questions to pay any attention to his lessons. He sighed; it was already third period. He had fifth year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. The room had filled up with giggling girls and slack mouthed boys nearly half an hour ago and had yet to get on to the lesson he'd been trying to give them.

"Enough!" he said sternly. Silence fell over the class. Harry stood in front of his desk looking at the now quiet class. "This is a classroom, not the Great Hall. This is an important class... Why you all insist on asking irrelevant questions is beyond my understanding!" he spoke. The students were clearly taken aback. One tall dark haired boy in the back put one hand into the air.

"But, Professor, we're all just curious about what happened so long ago. We were merely children, and the Dark Arts are all such a mystery to us. We just want to learn about he-who-wasn't-to-be-named..." he said. Harry felt his jaw clench.

"Voldemort..." he said the name with conviction and watched the entire room flinch before continuing. "Was not the only Dark Wizard in this world. Not all of his followers are in Azkaban. Many are still alive and walking free. Whether they will try and reclaim his former power is yet to be seen, but make no mistake... dark magic did not die with Voldemort. Darkness will never entirely leave this world, no matter how much any of us would wish it to. Defense Against the Dark Arts is the only protection any of us will ever have and even now we cannot skimp on the lessons and teaching we receive in schooling and afterward. To believe the world safe is a gross mistake on all of our parts. The world is not all goodness and light. You would do better to learn that lesson now rather then later..." Harry watched the fear fill their eyes. "If you do not learn these teachings now then how will you protect yourselves 20-30 years from now when some other psychotic old fool picks up where Voldemort left off?" he asked. The children all lowered their eyes back to the textbooks. Dumbledore had, had them delivered that morning, Harry had just recently passed them out. Harry took a calming breath. "I do not wish to scare you. But, I cannot allow you to walk around with any false sense of security. The world is a much safer place than it was when I was a student here, but many people fought and gave their lives to make it so. No one wishes that this class was unnecessary more then I do... but it is necessary and I have been asked to teach you what I feel you need to know. So please pay attention. The past is in the past, the future is yet to come, and you have time to prepare for it..." He looked each child in the eye before continuing. "So please, our time is almost up for the day. Next class I am giving you a quiz on the topics you have covered in the last five years as students here." there was a collective gasp from the students. "Don't panic. It won't be graded and I don't want you all up worrying about it for the next two nights. No studying, I'm sure you all have plenty of homework for your other classes. I just need to know what you have been taught and how well you have absorbed it. It is purely for my information so that I can teach you better." The buzz of a magical clock rang through out the classroom. Harry glanced as his watch, right on time. "Class dismissed. I'll see you all in two days.." the class was rather quiet as they walked solemnly from his classroom. Harry walked steadily around the desk before settling into his chair. He sighed, fighting back the hiss of pain. He produced a bottle of pills from his pocket and took one with the help of a glass of water.

He looked up as his door flew open to reveal one pissed off Charms professor. He mentally groaned; he'd been hoping to avoid this for a while yet, if ever.

"Harry Potter you've got some explaining to do!" she spat stomping closer. Harry took a second to look her over. She'd turned into a very beautiful young woman over the years. Her hair had tamed considerably and she had developed into a rather attractive, strong willed witch, who was.... hugging him? Wasn't she supposed to be mad and yelling at him like back in their school days? She sniffled into his shoulder. "We've been so worried about you, you stupid Git..." she whispered, clutching him tighter. He almost smiled. She pulled back and frowned at him. She smoothed a thumb over his bare fore head and offered him a smile. "Oh, Harry... I've missed you so much... Ron and Ginny too... you know she married Colin of all people. Ginny Creevey... they have two little red headed brats already... Can you believe it?"

"No... I can't... How are you Herm?... How's Ron? And the rest of the family?" he asked quietly.

"We can talk later, we're late for lunch as it is... you can come by tonight for a long chat... Ron and I have a house outside Hogsmeade... come over for a butterbeer and a long chat... He'll be so happy to see you." Harry smiled at her.

"I've already agreed to go see Hagrid tonight. I can come over tomorrow for a long talk, dinner maybe... owl Ron, maybe he can come over right after last class for a little time... I don't think he'd be to happy to be forced too wait any longer then he had to..." Harry reasoned. She nodded.

"Of course.... I bet Hagrid cried... didn't he? When he first saw you?" Harry laughed for the first time in what felt like ages.

"Yes... but only a little... come on then, Dobby probably made cherry pie for desert..." He stood up and started around the desk.

"How do you know that?" Hermione threaded an arm through his, falling into step beside him.

"Didn't you notice?... scrambled eggs, toast and sausages for breakfast, He's making all of my favorite foods, I found candy under my tea cup for Merlin's sakes... I never should have told the little guy I missed him..." Harry explained. Hermione laughed again, it was music to his ears. "Mione..." she stopped walking, and looked at him, startled by his seriousness. "I missed you, both you and Ron... and I'm sorry... for everything..." she smiled a small smile and nodded.

"You must have a reason for your actions, so no apologies are necessary until after we have heard the whole story, and only then if they are really justified... I can wait another day for your explanation..." she replied. He nodded in understanding and they started off to lunch together.

Tbc…