A/N: Sorry I wasn't able to update for a week. Holidays, and then a big trip. But not as though anyone really cares.  I mean, you care (right? Just say right), but it's not a huge deal. Oh, I'm just blabbering. You're thinking "get on with it already!" You are, right? If not, think it. Think "get on with it already." Ok? Ok.

Disclaimer: I own Harry Potter. I own everything in this story. I am JK Rowling. If you believe me, you are an idiot. 

Once upon a time there was a princess named Snow White, who had seven dwarves who were real idiots, just like the people who believed the disclaimer- Wait, wrong story. Here's the REAL story. 

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Harry checked his reflection nervously.  Robes were in perfect position, looking pressed and clean.  His face was clean, and for once his hair was not sticking up all over the place. Dobby had promised him a potion to flatten his hair, and though it wasn't perfectly pressed down, it looked much better then normal. Perfect to start the new year off.  Actually, he had Dobby to thank for his cleanliness.  Dobby had practically become Harry's personal slave ever since he had got the job.  Before, even.

Harry laughed as Dobby popped into his room. Perfect timing.

"Does the great Professor Potter need Dobby to perfect his professor-ness, sir?" Dobby squeaked anxiously?

"No, I'm fine, thank you."

"Harry Potter will tell Dobby if he needs something, right Professor sir?"

"Yes, Dobby, I will."

"Oh! Dobby must be going to help the kitchens sir! Good bye Professor Harry!"

"Good bye, Dobby," said the exasperated Harry.  This was the third time in five minutes that Dobby had popped in and popped out.  Harry liked Dobby, but just as much as he liked pickles. Both were weird at the beginning, good for a while, and just plain annoying after a little while.

Dobby popped out again, and Harry turned back to the mirror.  He actually looked OK, for once.  Not as proper as some of the other teachers, but enough for now.  He had purchased new robes for the occasion, and Hermione had showed him a spell that made his greasy wand shiny and new.  He smoothened his hair again, still unused to the flatness of it.

"Stop it with the hair, Harry!" his reflection yelled back at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked Harry.

"Keep touching your hair and it'll be all greasy and nasty." Harry told Harry.

Harry shuddered, thinking of the grease pot upon Snape's head.  "Good point."

"What are you doing, talking to yourself?" Hermione's pleasant voice asked as she peeked into his room.

"Well, as a matter of fact, I am," Harry said good-naturedly.

Hermione gave him an odd look, then walked in. "What do you think?" she asked as she twirled around, her new robes floating daintily as she spun gracefully.

He shrugged.  "Alright, I suppose.  Too bad Ron isn't here right now."

"What is that supposed to mean?" she snapped.

"Nothing, nothing."

She sighed. "Men," she muttered quietly.  "Well, come on. We ought to be down in the Great Hall.  We want to look good for the first years.  And everyone else."

"Yeah yeah, I'm coming."  And with a quick glance in the mirror to make sure his hair was still flat, he left with Hermione to the Great Hall.

"I still can't believe that the term is starting today!" Hermione said excitedly.  "This is going to be so exciting!  Teaching students everything they know, bringing them into our fascinating world of magic-"

"Being the reason that the student fails," Harry interrupted.

"Oh, Harry, you are not going to be the reason anyone fails! You'll be a great teacher, I know it! You were great for the D.A., remember?"

"Yeah, but this is for so many more people.  So much more to teach, and it'll really matter if they learn it or not."

"Harry," Hermione said quietly. "You're going to do fine.  You got the job, didn't you?  Dumbledore believes in you."

"Yeah, well he believed in Lockhart, didn't he?"

She laughed. "He was the only person for the job! I doubt Dumbledore wanted Lockhart.  He took him because there was no other choice."  Harry wasn't convinced.  Hermione stopped in their tracks and held his soldiers.  "Sirius would have been proud of you."

Harry glanced away. It was the first time they had spoken of him in the past six months. 

After a moment, Hermione sighed.  "Harry, c'mon.  Let's get down there. Hagrid will cheer you up."  And with that, they continued to walk down to the feast.

The walk down to the hall was quiet.  Harry couldn't stop thinking about what Hermione had said.  Not the part about Hagrid- the part about Sirius.  Would Sirius have been proud of him?

Yes, he realized.  Sirius had always been excited for a challenge.  Even when it involved danger, he had rose up to the occasion.  And he had loved it when Harry did the same.

Feeling inspired by the realization, Harry's step grew springier and his attitude became much cheerier.

---

            "Hello Hagrid!" Harry and Hermione said at the same time. Hagrid was sitting in his seat at the edge of the table- it was the only place he could fit. 

            "'Ello 'Arry! 'Ello 'Ermione!" he said cheerfully.  "'Ow are yeh?"

            "We're fine," said Harry, answering for the both of them.

            "Excited 'bout yer firs' day of bein' a teacha'?"

            "I am," Hermione said excitedly.  "I've been waiting for this day all summer!"

            Harry shrugged. "I'm a bit nervous," he admitted.

            "Aw, 'Arry, don't be nervous!" Hagrid said with a smile.  "Yer gonna be a great teacha'!"

            Harry shrugged, but not without a smile.

            "C'mon yer two, sit down." With that, the young new teachers sat down in their assigned seats.  Dumbledore had assigned them seats for the year, and kindly had put Harry next to Hermione. Hagrid sat at the very end of the table, farther away, but close enough so they could speak in a quiet voice and still be heard.  Harry also sat next to Professor Flitwick, which made it quiet awkward for Harry- Flitwick was quite small, meaning any conversation with the tiny professor was pointed downwards. 

            Just as Harry had sat down, Dumbledore, followed closely by Professor McGonagall, ran into the hall.  Dumbledore faced the long table and counted off the teachers.  "Binns, Firenze, Flitwick, Granger, Hagrid, Hooch, McGonagall, Potter, Snape- Snape? Where is Professor Snape?"

            McGonagall suddenly looked worried. "I'm not sure, sir."

            He sighed and pointed his wand to his throat.   "Sonorus," he said, and a small flash of light came from his want. "Ahem, ahem." The teachers jumped at the noise.  "Sorry," he said softly- although with the spell it was still loud to the ear.  "Severus? Severus Snape? Where are you?"

            Snape came running down the halls, looking pale. "I'm sorry, Professor. I got caught up in my potion."  He looked so flushed and nervous that Harry wanted to crack up. For once, Snape had lost his cool.

            "Quite alright," McGonagall said for the head professor.  Dumbledore nodded in agreement. 

"Quietus," Dumbledore whispered, and the loud spell went away.  He smiled at the unkempt professor. "That's fine. Please, sit down."

Snape sat down quickly.

Flitwick chuckled.  "Every year, he does this."

Harry turned to look (down) at the professor.  "Always does what?" 

"This routine of his. He's always is in the middle of making a potion, always doing something vital that takes up all day.  And always on the day the school starts." He chuckled.  "That's what puts him in a bad mood, you know."

"What do you mean?" This time, it was Hermione who butted in.

"Well," said Flitwick, looking somewhat flustered.  "He's in a bad mood all year because he's late for this meeting.  One year he wasn't in the middle of anything on the first day.  Was his best year yet." He sighed.  "I always offer to give him a Cheering Charm, but he doesn't ever take up my offer. Silly man."

"Huh," said Harry.  "I always thought he was in a bad mood because I was in his class."

"Snape," Dumbledore said, obviously continuing his role-call of the teachers.   "Sprout, Trelawney, and Wackenbotts. Is that everyone?"

McGonagall nodded.

"Filch?" Dumbledore asked the nasty school caretaker.  "I assume all staff members are here?"

"Down to the last house elf," he said quickly.  Harry was not surprised to see Hermione clench her fists at his response.  She still hadn't given up S.P.E.W. 

"Alright, good," Dumbledore said.  "Before Minerva and Rubeus go to get the students, I would like to have a quick little pep talk.  I doubt we'll have such a ripe opportunity after the students come in.  Even after hours, I know some students are- and have been- prone to listen in on private staff conversations."  He glanced at Harry with a twinkle in his eye. "I know we discussed rules and guidelines at our meeting a couple weeks ago, but I'd like to go over a few things again."

"Like what, Professa'?" Hagrid interrupted.  The teachers turned to him, and the large man turned a bit pink. "Just 'cause I oughtta get the firs' yeas, sir," he added quickly.

"Well," Dumbledore said, not at all angry at the interruption, "We have a few new members of the staff here.  This is our first year with them, and I'm sure they're a bit nervous."

Harry could feel himself turn red. Why, Dumbledore, why? Harry wondered. 

"First, I'd like to say this.  They are young and inexperienced, but that does not allow anyone to take advantage of their youth.  We shall treat them fairly and as equals, as I'm sure they will do for you."  He glanced at Harry, then to Snape.  Hermione sat up straighter, biting her lip nervously.

"Would anyone like to give any advice to our new teachers?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes," Snape's voice rang out.  Harry sat up with shock.  Why would Snape, of all people, want to give them advice? Had he taken Dumbledore's words to heart? Harry doubted it.

Snape sneered.  "If we are expecting to treat them as equals, why are they being babied and cared for? What is this little 'discussion' for, truly?"

"We are doing this because they are new.  They are not being babied, Severus, they are just getting advice for a new job." Dumbledore looked stern and cold.  McGonagall glanced up, looking stressed.

"I have somethin' to say," Hagrid said cheerfully.  Of course, Harry thought, Hagrid would have something to say.  He looked at Hagrid with a smile.  "Dun' let any of the students get ter yeh.  They're students, yeh know.  Yer betteh then them now." 

Hagrid had a point, Harry realized.  The students would be lower then him.  He could take off points from Slytherin!  He was quite pleased at the thought.

"Professor?" McGonagall said nervously.  "I think they're here, sir."

"They've been here for two minutes," Dumbledore said patiently.  "It's a nice night tonight.  Fresh air is a good thing, especially after a long train ride. Go ahead Minerva, Rubeus."  Leaving the other teachers somewhat puzzled, the two ran off to collect the students.

"Anything else?" Dumbledore asked.  There was no response.  "Ok then, we'll have to wait until they come with the students." He smiled.  "Good luck."  And with that, he sat down at his chair.

Harry sat still a moment before whispering to Hermione, "Well. That was interesting."

She shrugged.  "I knew all that before."

"I guess I did too, but just didn't realize it."

"Actually-" But before she could continue, the students had entered.  They walked it, chattering non-stop, and Harry could hear traces of random conversations.  "Hiya McBeanin," "Omigod I love your haircut!" and "This is so exciting," as well as others, could be heard across the room.

They got themselves seated and waited patiently for the first years to enter.  Professor Hooch said a quick spell – Accio Sorting Hat– and the Sorting Hat zoomed in. She grabbed a stool and placed it in the middle of the room.  Then she back down.

Hagrid ran in, looking excited. "They'eh here!" he whispered excitedly.

Hermione starting shaking excitedly. 

Harry shook too, only out of nerves- not excitement.

Suddenly, the doors burst open (with Hermione out of her seat jumping a mile high), with McGonagall walking briskly in.  A hoard of nervous-looking first years followed her. ("They look so small," Hermione said."

She walked up to the Sorting Hat, while the first years filed in. They stood near the front of the large hall.  Everyone turned to the hat, Harry included. He could feel the nervousness from his first year.  It began to sing:

You may think that I'm just a hat

But I am so much more then that

For I can see your mind, you see

No hat can do any more then me!

I'll look inside your brain and find

In which house you ought to reside

Perhaps you are brave and full of nerve

Then off to Gryffindor you go, with lots of verve

Or maybe you are just and true

Then Hufflepuff's the place for you!

Or are you clever and awful smart?

If so, then Ravenclaw's the place to start

Are you cunning and willing to do what you must to win?

Then if that's true, then Slytherin is the place that you'll be in!

And so you know

Where you might go

I've never been wrong about a student

My knowledge is wise and very prudent

So sit right down, I know my stuff, I'm not one just to poke at

So don't you worry, don't you fret, 'cause I'm the Sorting Hat!

Harry clapped along with everyone as the hat finished its song.  "Not up to it's usual top notch, is it," he whispered to Hermione.

She laughed. "Well, it's had a lot to do lately, with the war ending and everything. Probably didn't have a lot of time to create a great song!"

McGonagall cleared her throat; the clapping died down.  She held a list in front of her and read off the first name.  "Athens, Gary!"

A scared looking first year walked up to the stool and sat down. He tenderly placed the hat upon his head.  The entire school held its breath: which would be the lucky house to get the first student of the year?

"RAVENCLAW!"

Harry clapped enthusiastically as the scared Gary accidentally ran off into the Hufflepuff table.  "Too bad he wasn't a Gryffindor."

"Oh, there'll be plenty of Gryffindors, I bet," Hermione said back.

And sure enough, the second, third, and fourth students were all Gryffindors.  "I bet the entire school is going to be in Gryffindor this year," Harry joked.

Everything went well as the students came, one at a time, to the hat.  As "Fabbot, Christy" went down to sit at the Gryffindor table, Harry spotted Ginny Weasley, who was clapping enthusiastically.  She waved to him; he waved back.

After "MacAndrews, Smith" went over to Hufflepuff, McGonagall cleared her throat.  She obviously had a severe dislike of the name she was about to read. "Malfoy, Malheur."

Harry gasped. "Malfoy?"

Even Hermione looked shocked.  "There's another one??"

They watched him go up to the Sorting Hat.  Almost immediately after he placed it on his head it yelled "Slytherin!"

"No surprise there." Harry looked at the new Slytherin. He could see the resemblance to Draco Malfoy almost immediately.  They both had the same hair and eyes, but while Draco had always had a nasty sneer on his face, Malheur looked like he had a more pleasant nature. He talked to other students at the table and looked friendly; however, Harry had a suspicion that if he heard what Malheur was saying then his friendly appearance would be gone with the wind.

After "Yammins, Sarah," had been sorted, Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and went back to her seat.  Professor Dumbledore then stood up.  It was time for his famous speech.