Author's notes: I don't own any of the familiar characters. Those belong to JK Rowling. This story may contain some minor OotP spoilers, but nothing major to do with the plot, just some new people. If haven't read it yet, you won't know the difference, if you are reading it, it won't matter than.

Please read and review.



Chapter Two



For once in his life, Harry wasn't rushing around to get to Platform 9 ¾ on time. He rose out of bed quite unceremoniously to open his window for the owl outside. Crossing the room, he picked up Ron's shirt and threw it at him to wake him up as well. Harry pulled the small iron latch up and opened the door for the small tawny owl that hooted in relief and offered him her leg.

"Wha's tha your gettin' Harry?" Ron yawned.

"The Quibbler of course." He smiled, putting his payment in the small leather pouch and giving the owl a few treats before sending her back off to deliver her papers.

"Loony's paper?" Ron asked, sitting up and pulling the shirt over his head. It was slightly to shirt and when coupled with his brown corduroys, came right above the waist and pulled up with every movement he made. He stood up and ran his fingers through his hair, messing it up even more.
"When'd you start getting that?" He asked his best friend.

"After 5th year of course. It isn't that bad if you look between the lines. I think I'll always be wary the Daily Prophet now."

Ron nodded in agreement and looked down at his watch.

"What'd you wake me up so early for? I finally packed all I need so I could get a few minutes extra rest and you wake me up at 8 in the morning!"

"It's not that early Ron. You can take a nap on the train anyway. I guess I'm just anxious to get to Hogwarts and see about this new Professor."

"You mean Professors." Ron corrected. "We're due up for another Defense teacher."

"It's becoming tradition." Harry laughed from behind The Quibbler.

A light rumble echoed around the room and harry felt his stomach turn in reply.

"I'm starving." Ron announced, standing up after he put his shoes on. I'm going down for something to eat. Care to join me good sir?" He put on a posh accent and opened the door for Harry. The pair laughed as they made their way downstairs. Hermione was waiting at a table directly to the left, clutching her coffee cup and reading a new book she'd picked up. Ron sat down in front of her and picked up the book, reading the title out loud.

"'The Advanced Students Enchiridion to the Equidistants Between Astrology, Arithmancy and Alchemy*'. You pick this up for some light reading then?" He asked her with a large smile on his face. She returned the smile and closed her book.

"Good morning Ron, Harry. How did you sleep?"

"Fine thanks." Harry responded, but it was lost between the affections of Ron and Hermione, exchanging chaste good morning kisses.

'ah hem' Harry coughed into his fist and averted his eyes to Tom, as he brought out a large plate of eggs, muffins, breakfast biscuits*, fish and a pot of coffee and sat them on the wooden table. Hermione and Ron both blushed deeply.

"I'm starved." Ron said breaking the silence. He rubbed his hands together while he decided what he wanted to eat first.

Hermione's coffee was refilled and she spooned in a dollop of cream and honey to sweeten it up. Harry filled his plate with eggs, a potato, 2 breakfast biscuits and a chocolate chip muffin. Ron however, was already halfway to seconds with his mouth full of a little bit of everything.

"Ron, you're going to choke if you keep up at that rate!" Hermione scolded.

"Ewe sundlik my muhher." He told her. Hermione rolled her eyes and put the book into her black PUMA messenger bag that sat next to her on the bench.

"So." She looked at Harry.

"So what?" He looked back, raising an inquiring eyebrow.

"Well, this is our last year together. Aren't you going to say something?"

Harry looked at her for a moment, and then at Ron who had zoned them out while feeding himself. He didn't know what to say to her. Hermione was the type who had her entire life planned out, and had been nagging for both Ron and Harry to do the same thing, which they hadn't. Is this what she wanted to hear? His plans for the future? He didn't have any. Sure he wanted to be an Auror, but he wasn't sure if he was ready as of yet. He looked at Hermione, searching her for answers. Then he looked to Ron, then back to Hermione.

"Woo-hoo?"

"All you can say is woo-hoo? Harry I've been thinking. This year is going to be really different for us. We've spent the past seven years together, getting into trouble and fighting Voldemort. Well, you did that, but still! This year, there won't be any of that. Except maybe for getting into trouble, but it won't be the same. I don't know if i want to go back to Hogwarts."

"What?" Harry and Ron stared at her.

"I think I may apply for an exchange. I don't think I can stay in that castle anymore. So much has happened there, and this is our most important year. It'd be a shame to just kind of fizzle out in our last year at Hogwarts. Don't you agree?"

"You can't leave us Hermione! You can't go." Ron began to protest and stopped when he saw his mother begin walking down the stairs.

"Who's leaving?" She asked as she sat down at the table.

"Oh, no one." Harry quickly covered up the conversation and smiled.

"Well in that case you may want to get your trunks down here quickly. Ron, your father is bringing the car around now and he'll need help from you too. Hermione and Ginny and I will make sure everything has been collected and what needs to be paid for is. Alright?"

Harry and Ron nodded and got up from the table. When they were out of the women's hearing range Ron asked,

"Do you think Hermione is serious?"

"I don't know. I hope not. I mean, I can understand her reasons, but it wouldn't be the same without her there."

"Yeah. I don't know what I'd do... I mean... It'd be..."

"It's alright mate. She's not going to go anywhere." Harry put a comforting hand on Ron's shoulder and felt him shudder. He really liked Hermione. That was one of the reasons he didn't want her to go. He didn't want to be alone.
"Come on, let's go help your dad."





Albus Dumbledore sat in his office, a cool end of summer breeze blowing in from the south ruffled his snowy white beard. The late morning sun poured through his windows and made each instrument glow. Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, gave a small cry letting Dumbledore know that he was settled now, in his tray of ash. The school term at Hogwarts would be starting the next day, but the students would be arriving that evening. Albus had let the staff known of the two new additions. Most of the staff anyway. He had called Severus Snape, the potions master and professor at Hogwarts to his office on this morning to break the news to him.

Albus rose from his chair ans walked slowly to his fireplace. Opening what looked like a golden snuff box, he grabbed a pinch of floo powder and stuck his head in the fireplace.

"Severus Snape!" he said in a clear voice, throwing the powder down with a crack, and his head was engulfed in green flame.

Severus was sitting at his table, eating a light breakfast of english muffins with marmalade and a large cup of strong coffee. He was going over his first year lesson plans in weak candle light. His hooked nose was just centimeters from the aged parchment, and dotted with ink marks from the speed and intensity of his writing. Dumbledore observed him in silence for a moment before he cleared his throat. Severus jumped from his seat, startled at the sight of the headmaster.

"Oh, it's just you Albus." he sighed to himself and stacked his papers up in the top right corner of his formidable oak desk.

"Sorry to have startled you Severus, but I need to speak with you for a moment."

"Well, I can't stop you now can I." It was more of a statement of fact than a question, and Albus took it as such.

"The Defense Against The Dark Arts position has been filled once again."

"I assumed as much since you didn't come to me earlier in the summer."

"Yes well, your work with the Order has no doubt unveiled who the returning Professor is." Albus smiled

"No, as a matter of fact it hasn't, so if you'd be so kind as to stop speaking in riddles and enlighten me as to whom the not-so-new professor is, I would be grateful." Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, feigning a headache.

"Ah of course. You'll be happy to know the position is being taken by Remus Lupin. I'm sorry I had not told you earlier since he does require certain services of yours, but he has told me he has enough Wolfsbane to last until Christmas."

"What about Muggle Studies?"

"That is what I have come to talk to you about, really. I have probably done this against my better judgment. Last January when Professor Rhian told me she wished to retire I immediately sent an owl to the Minister of Magic. You know how much Arthur keeps up with Muggles and those studying them. Anyway, he recommended me a very talented specialist, who has been living in New Orleans for some time now, though they graduated from Hogwarts themselves."

"It's not who I think it is, is it?" Severus asked rather bluntly.

"Razi is very experienced Severus."

"Maybe, but, I can't work with..."

"You can Severus. You will." looked over his half-moon glasses at the thirty-something Professor and shook his head.

"You need to bury old grudges. I hope this evening you will be more than your usual cordial self. But until then, I still have some arrangements to make. So I'll see you at the feast." Albus winked and was gone in a flash.





As with the finality of all things, the day sped by quickly and soon Harry, Ron and Hermione were off on their last trip to Hogwarts as students. A thoughtful mood had descended upon them, and they watched most of the scenery go by, without speaking or looking up at one another, just being in the same cabin as they had always been, together. The day was still and the sky wasn't quite overcast, just a somber light gray, as if even the clouds felt that all the happiness and innocence of youth was being drained out and replaced with a much more dingy reality. Harry sighed to himself and looked at the books in his lap. His new Defense Against the Dark Arts books. He leafed through the pages, touching each one long enough to feel the varying textures of the parchment. Harry dropped his hand to the seat on which he sat. He allowed his fingertips to move in slow circles on the upholstery, trying to remember everything about this moment.

'Maybe Hermione is right' He thought to himself. 'Maybe it won't be the same.'

"Time to get into your robes guys. We're pulling in now." Ginny had opened the door to let the three know that it was time to move on, so to speak. Her long red hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and it made her brown eyes stand out even more against her pale skin.

"Thanks Ginny." Hermione smiled. As Ginny left for the next cabin, Hermione looked up at Harry, and at Ron, who was squeezing her hand tight. Harry pulled his robe onto his shoulders and stood up, opening the door onto the platform. Ron and Hermione followed and were greeted by the yearly commotion of first years franticly running about, looking for their belongings, old friends greeting one another once again.

"Firs' years over here!" Hagrid could be heard, towering over the frightened looking first years, who took the boats across the lake to Hogwarts.

"Maybe it won't be so different after all, Hermione." Harry told her, as he took his seat in the Thestral led carriage.

"I wonder what the first years are like this year." Ron wondered out loud.

"We don't have long to find out." Hermione answered as they stopped in front of the main entrance hall. "Ready?"

The three stepped out of the carriage and nearly ran up the stairs and into the hallway. They looked around as if it was their first time in the castle before continuing up the stairs into the Great Hall. Each of the four house tables in the Great Hall was decorated in it's own house colors. Hermione, Harry and Ron found seats at the Gryffindor table, decked in a long scarlet and gold runner and emitting a large amount of the noise that bounced off the walls and enchanted ceiling.

"Hello Harry, Hermione, Ron, how's your summer been?" Seamus Finnigan was the first to acknowledge the trio's arrival.

"Hey Harry!" Called a very tall, but familiar looking 6th year.

"Hi Colin." Hermione waved at him.

"Oh wow, hey Colin. How was your summer?" Harry answered on Hermione's que.

"Ron! Harry! Hermione!" Neville came running up to them, Trevor in hand.

"Hello Neville." Ron nodded at him.

"Wow Hermione, like your hair. Did you hear about my parents Harry?" Neville continued.

"What? What about them?" Harry turned and faced him but Professor McGonagall, the Transfiguration Professor and Head of Gryffindor House swept in, followed by a rather small group of first year students. Harry took his seat next to Neville and looked at him.

"Beaker, Avak!" The sorting had begun.

"Ravenclaw!" The Sorting Hat cried. Harry's eyes widened at Neville, who cautiously looked over his shoulder at McGonagall.

"My parents Harry, they're..." Neville began, as Emilie Dietrich was sorted into Hufflepuff.

"They're what Neville?"

"They're going to be ok. Two weeks ago, my mum looked at me and said my name! She really did Harry!" Neville nearly fell off his seat with excitement. Harry put a hand on his shoulder.

"That's great Neville!" Harry was near tears with the good news. This is what Neville needed. He had seen the state of his parents during holiday in his fifth year, and had never imagined that it would be so bad. But this, was good news.

"Murad, Nika"

"Slytherin!"

'And so begins our 7th year.' Harry thought to himself while Devi Pudna made her way to Gryffindor's table. A new beginning for everyone it seemed.

Soon the sorting was over. Gryffindor had only 7 first years, while Hufflepuff had the most, at 31. Then Ravenclaw at 19 and thankfully Slytherin had only 3. Dumbledore stood up and tapped on his glass with the end of his knife. The hall fell into silence. Harry looked up at the head table and for the first time realized that Remus Lupin, friend of both his Father and Godfather, was sitting next to Hagrid. He winked at Harry, whose jaw fell, but heart lightened with happiness. This year's Defense Against the Dark Arts class was going to be a breeze. Like it had been in his third year, when He found out about the Marauders, which included James Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew, the traitor who may as well have murdered Harry's Parents himself. But now, now it didn't matter. Lupin was back, and Harry felt the whole in his heart fill up a little bit more.

"As you may have noticed, you 5th through 7th years, that we have an old face returning to the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. Professor Lupin has agreed to teach here for good."

Cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table, and Harry through he would fly away. Ron looked back at him with a grin like a Cheshire Cat. Dumbledore smiled and cleared his throat to continue.

"We also have a new addition to our staff, Professor Razi Snape, but it appears that..." as if on cue, the doors to the Great Hall opened and the young witch Harry recognized only as Sara walked in.

"I'm sorry Professor Dumbledore!" She apologized as she walked up to the front of the room.

"It appears as if she is here!"

An eerie silence fell onto all four tables, as a collective breath was drawn at the realization that there would now be more than one Snape in the castle. The first years looked around, wondering what everyone else seemed to be in on. Harry watched her as she took a seat next to an empty chair, one normally occupied by Professor Snape, Potions Master. His head was swimming. Hadn't Dumbledore just introduced Razi Snape? Not Sara Snape? He looked back at her. She smiled down the table at Lupin who gave her a thumbs up. Even today, in front of the staff and students at Hogwarts, she wasn't in the traditional witch garb of robes over long skirts and high buttoning shirts. Instead she opted for a long gauzy brown skirt, thong sandals and a deep, blood red with gold paisley choli. She had a large, patchwork bag thrown over her shoulder, and her long black hair was worn loose and in her face, nearly concealing the golden hoop in her nostril.

The rest of the evening, the entire student body had to keep their eyes to their plates to keep from looking up and staring the their new teacher, who seemed unaware of the stir she was causing. As desert was finished and the students' eyes grew heavy Lupin stood up and moved to sit in Severus' chair, next to Sara.

"Hey Raz. Or do you go by something else now?" He asked.

"It's Sara." She smiled at him.

"Where have you been all my life?" he laughed.

"My Father's House, Gryffindor House, a house in New Orleans. I've been on the move since graduation. What about you old timer?"

"Old timer?" Lupin pretended to be taken aback. "I've been neither here nor there. Working at small things, before I was hired here for the first time a few years ago. Then I left, joined the Order and now I'm back."

"So, what's become of Sirius? I haven't really had the time to get into the swing of things, just returning and all." Remus's face grew strained. Albus dismissed the hall, and the students filed out to their dormitories. Remus and Sara stood up and followed out the straggling students, who really wanted a last look at her before the next day.

"Sara, I know you and Sirius were really close." Remus started. Sara looked at the floor and snorted. "He's gone. He passed through the veil 2 years ago."

"Do you jest?" she asked, not taking her eyes up from the floor.

"I'm serious."

"Sirius would have said 'I jest not.'" She laughed. "We were best friends you know. Almost secretly. James... James hated me. He hated me for who my brother was. And I guess you could say Peter was always a rat. Times change, people die. Shit happens eh?" She came to a stop at the main staircase. "I go left from here. I'll see you tomorrow. We have a big day." She smiled and stood on her tippy toes to kiss him on his cheek.

"Yeah, I guess we do." He turned and headed to his room. Once he was out of earshot, and before she even turned around, Sara called out,

"You can stop lurking now."

"Who said I was lurking?" Severus stepped out from the shadows.

"Hey there big brother." She turned around and gave him a small hug, before stepping back to look at him. "You haven't changed a bit."

"Wish I could say the same for you. Still running around with that..."

"What? Lycan the word you're looking for? I never used to 'run around' with Remus anyway."

"What was all that then?"

"All of what?" Sara asked. Severus looked at her. She knew what he was talking about. He knew she knew. "Oh. You're so immature."

"Immature!" He called after her after as she began walking down the west hall to her rooms. "Well, you're such a Gryffindor."

Sara shook her head as she opened the door. Maybe some things didn't change.