A/N Harry Potter and all related characters, places and terms belong to JK Rowling and/or (not sure which) Warner Brothers.

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Chapter 2: Back to School

Professor Minerva McGonagall gazed outside, taking a break from the work she was doing. It wasn't easy trying to figure out how to prepare a group of Seventh year Slytherins - who didn't listen to her - for their NEWTs. Just about to turn back to her work, she was suddenly startled by dark-haired man apparating just outside the gates. Squinting her eyes, she realised who it was, and a small smile appeared on her face. Contrary to popular belief, Minerva McGonagall hadn't actually forgotten how to smile.

James Potter walked up the long drive that led to the entry of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was the beginning of Spring and the first shoots of grass were starting to poke out from beneath the rapidly melting snow.
James hadn't been back to his old school since he graduated six years ago. But as he approached the entrance to the castle, he realised that some things never changed. The place was exactly the same as he remembered it, welcoming and friendly. Even though, he couldn't help feeling apprehensive as he knocked on the oak door.

No one was answering. As James raised his hand to knock again on the door, it was opened by Minerva McGonagall. She stared at him with an intensity that James had forgotten was possible. He felt like he was in third year again, after he had pulled the stunt with the pixies and the Professor's dress robes, and nearly quailed under her glare.

"James Potter! What are you doing here? Don't you know that once you leave here, you aren't supposed to come back? Hmm?"

James had never heard anything like this before.

"Sorry Professor, I… um…"

Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes and sighed.

"For Merlin's sake, James, am I really that intimidating? You're a grown man. I can't do anything to you and you're standing in front of me practically quivering in your boots!"

James' face broke into a relaxed smile, and, after a moment's hesitation, so did Minerva's.

"It's great to see you again Professor! For a moment there you had me worried. I thought you were going to kick me out."

"What are you talking about James?" She beckoned him in to the castle. "Come in, don't stand out in the cold. Anyway, what are you here for?"

James showed her the letter from Dumbledore that he had brought with him.

"I don't think it's good news, Professor. Otherwise why would he call me up so urgently?"

"Of course, of course. Well James, I'm sorry but I've got to run - I have a class. Don't worry, just go straight through to Albus' office. I presume you know where it is?" she said, looking over her glasses.

James gave a small chuckle.

"Absolutely. I've been up there enough, and it never really has been good news, has it? "

It was McGonagall's turn to laugh.

"Oh no, James, not often. All your 'harmless fun' through the years did send you up there a lot, didn't it? Anyway, it's in the same place. The password's Sugar Quill." James looked puzzled at this. "Really James, when were you last up at Hogsmede? They're Honeyduke's latest invention. Albus is hooked on them." Minerva looked down at her watch. "Oh my, I really do have to go. Come in before you leave, won't you?"

"Sure Professor" James said to her retreating back. "I'll see you later".

James walked through the well-worn halls of Hogwarts, towards the Headmaster's office. Preoccupied with his thoughts and staring down at his shoes, he bumped straight into someone carrying a large stack of parchments. Apologising frantically, James managed to pick up the papers. Standing up to give the stack back to its' owner, James nearly dropped it again in surprise.

"Snape!" he said with dislike. "What are you doing here?"

Severus Snape had not had a good morning. Some of the children had gotten into the student store-cupboard and mixed all the labels up. Dumbledore had asked him to take care of it, and it wasn't hard, but extremely time-consuming. If that wasn't enough one of his first-year Hufflepuffs had managed to melt her cauldron, sending an acidic green potion spilling across the floor and eating into the legs of all the desks and chairs. It had taken half of his free lesson to clean it up, and now he was hurrying off to try and talk to Filch about stopping his idiot cat sneaking into his office. Snape really didn't like cats.

And now this. The one person that could make Snape's day take another definite downturn was standing in front of him, holding a pile of reports that he was about to return to their owners.

He sneered at James.

"For your information Potter, I work here."

James let out a snort of disbelief.

"You work here?"

"Yes. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a class to attend to." Snape snatched the reports off James and hurried off.

James shook his head, and, with the occasional disbelieving look over his shoulder, he continued to walk towards Dumbledore's office.

Several moving staircases and trick floorboards later, James found himself in front of the stone gargoyle that was the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

"Sugar Quill"

At once, the gargoyle sprang to life and jumped aside. The wall behind it split in two, and James stepped onto the staircase that was slowly spiraling up.

At the top, James knocked on the gleaming oak door, which was immediately opened by Albus Dumbledore.

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