For what had almost become ten years, the Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was to raise many a brow. What had raised many whispers was that not one teacher had spent more than a year holding down that position in nearly a decade. The longest applicant, one Mr. Remus Lupin, had remained up to the second-to-last week of term. The others, a string of dark minions, celebrities, and paranoid wizards in disguise lasted just shy of that, as did the others in the three years prior to and following Harry Potter's graduation. Certainly was it no wonder how the rumour of the job being cursed developed. That's how the twenty-year-old wizard found himself on the Hogwart's Express, making its way across the plains of England to the school.
Ron would laugh at me for being nostalgic, Harry thought to himself with a smirk as he watched the miles of countryside fly by under the darkened sky. He had chosen the students' means of travel for no reason better than to ride the old express engine another time. Memories of many greetings and quite unceremonious duels made fleeting trips through Harry's mind. The full weight of the three years certainly made their mark now.
"Blimey, I saw him! He's right in the compartment behind us. I saw him board the train and go to the back. He's got the scar and ev'rything so it's gotta be him!" an excited voice chirped from the compartment ahead of Harry. "I wonder if he's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Don't be a bloody fool," retorted a much deeper voice. "Even if he was gonna teach at Hogwarts, he'd have taken the teachers train."
A third voice, this one female, scolded the other two for talking so loudly about Harry (in a much louder voice than the others, too) and added if they wanted to see whether or not the rumour was true, they could simply throw open the door and look. The zoo-like reaction Harry received from others hadn't changed in years, so it was quite used to, even if it wasn't welcome.
The compartment's door slid open, revealing the faces of three owl-eyed children - second-years, by the looks of them. Judging by the yellow on their robes, they were each Hufflepuffs.
"It's you," one curly-haired student said, awe-struck, his voice easily identifying him as the chirping one.
Before Harry could get out his 'Yes, me' response, a cascade of questions hit him, each as excited and redundant as the rest. Thankfully, a voice magically sounded through the train, informing the passengers of their arrival.
"Come on, we don't have to stare at him. We'll have plenty of time to ask him questions all year," the girl said, taking steps to the front, though her eyes remained glued on Harry.
Damn, would Apparation come in handy now, Harry thought. Her certainly didn't relish the task of having to make his way up to the castle amongst a throng of gawking first-years. Alas, Apparation, one of a wizard's most powerful tools, was prohibited in Hogwarts, and a powerful enchantment enforced that rule. Despite this, Harry shut his eyes tight and made an attempt, only to open his eyes again and sigh. So close.
As he stepped down from the train into the icy fingers of the night, he was met by hundreds of stares. Whispers coursed through the crowd, and many even pointed right at him. Harry could feel his face redden. He opened his mouth and made for speech, but was cut off by a rather boisterous voice.
"All right you lot, c'mon. Nuttin' to see 'ere." The rather large figure of Hagrid, Keeper of the Keys and Care for Magical Creatures teacher at Hogwarts, stomped into the clearing. The train began to gain motion and continue down the tracks as Hagrid hustled the first years away from the older students. "Firs' years this way, all firs' years. You thir' years, onto the carriages you go!" Hagrid, clutching an oil lamp in his rather stubby fingers, stepped up to Harry. Clasping a hand tight around his should, Hagrid said, "Yer trip good, Harry?"
"Oh, yes," Harry said, watching as dozens of winged thestrals pulled the carriages away. The rusty creaks of moans the wheels were only outdone by the un-stemmed whispers of the first-years. "It was great."
"You lot, stop yer whisperin'. You'll want to save yer energy fer the Sortin' ceremony. You'll need it," Hagrid said, emphasizing the last sentence, soon cutting the whispers short. Casting a wink to Harry, the two made their way through the undergrowth, followed by a trembling queue.
The thickets grew sparse, soon disappearing as the trail spiraled out of the wood. Overlooking a vast lake, Hogwarts stood atop a rocky peak, its many turrets and spires hidden amongst the darkness. The distant windows shone with light, adding light to the cloud-strewn sky. The grounds were adorned with shrubbery and rolling hills, while the distant silhouettes of goal-rings and coloured towers marked the Quidditch pitch. It was Hogwarts as Harry left it, and Hogwarts as he hoped it'd stay.
Rowboats lined the shore, ready for their departure across the lake. Amidst the yells of "Four ter one boat!", the students boarded. Holding the lantern, Harry watched as Hagrid crawled into one of the boats, vainly attempting not to trip over the hem of his jacket. Harry climbed in after him, suddenly realizing their small size. They seemed so large when he was paddling them across the lake with Ron, Hermione, and Neville, yet the boats appeared to have shrunk now that he was alongside Hagrid.
"Stroke! Stroke!" With Hagrid's guidance, the first-years managed to guide their boats, for the most the most part, straightly. "So, Harry! Have a nice summer?"
Harry nodded, watching a dark shape beneath the water. It was most likely the squid; the merpeople didn't usually come this close to the surface. "It was great, Hagrid. Ah... After graduation, Ron and I went to Wales for a couple of weeks. Hermione was applying for some job. She didn't mention where, though."
Hagrid smiled broadly beyond his tufted beard. "Yeh never know what Hermione gets up to. I noticed yeh didn't come on the teacher's train. I s'posed you wanted ter ride the train again." Harry simply nodded. "Well, that's always good. Shame yeh couldn't have sooner, though it's pro'lly best it stays a surprise. Yeh'll see at the Sorting."
Before Harry could enquire further, he was cut off by Hagrid's booming yell of, "Stroke! Stroke!" The castle in the distance grew in size, until it could no longer be considered distant. The castle loomed down upon them as they climbed out from the boats. Returning to the ground on shaking legs out, the first-years made their way to the castle following Harry and Hagrid, soon resuming their whispering. This time, however, Harry wasn't the topic.
"My sister said we have to fight a baby Basilisk without our wands!" one girl told the others, the quaver in her voice audible.
Another boy gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I'd probably stand a better chance without my wand. I tried to do a Pinprick Charm on my grandfather's slug during the summer, and I think I got it to wince a little. That might've been the wand's sharp end, though."
At that moment, the tall double-doors opened, and the steely face of Professor McGonagall peered back. "Hagrid," she greeted with a slight not. Turning her head, the corners of her mouth turned up into a slight smile. "Mr. Potter." Her eyes tilted past them to the throng behind him. "I see you've brought the first-years. Students, your bags are being brought up to the castle and will then be taken to your respective dormitories after the Sorting. Now, follow closely." As students followed through the great oak doors, gasping at the sheer vastness of the chamber, from its flights of stairs to the giant empty hourglasses dictating the house points, McGonagall whispered into Harry's ear, "Your bags have already been taken to your office on the second floor. You can go up to the Great Hall when you're ready."
Nodding, Harry ambled across the highly polished floor, watching the beads of sweat form on his reflection's face. Remembering that only mirrors had autonomous reflections, Harry suddenly realized how nervous he really was. In only a few hours' time, he'd be teaching students. His training as an Auror really would help him – he had learned things that probably no Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher had ever known – yet he couldn't but feel a trembling sensation in the pit of his stomach.
Harry stepped up to the Great Halls entrance, and pushed hard on the doors, opening them. As they creaked open, Harry took in the familiar sight of the Great Hall of Hogwarts.
Ron would laugh at me for being nostalgic, Harry thought to himself with a smirk as he watched the miles of countryside fly by under the darkened sky. He had chosen the students' means of travel for no reason better than to ride the old express engine another time. Memories of many greetings and quite unceremonious duels made fleeting trips through Harry's mind. The full weight of the three years certainly made their mark now.
"Blimey, I saw him! He's right in the compartment behind us. I saw him board the train and go to the back. He's got the scar and ev'rything so it's gotta be him!" an excited voice chirped from the compartment ahead of Harry. "I wonder if he's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Don't be a bloody fool," retorted a much deeper voice. "Even if he was gonna teach at Hogwarts, he'd have taken the teachers train."
A third voice, this one female, scolded the other two for talking so loudly about Harry (in a much louder voice than the others, too) and added if they wanted to see whether or not the rumour was true, they could simply throw open the door and look. The zoo-like reaction Harry received from others hadn't changed in years, so it was quite used to, even if it wasn't welcome.
The compartment's door slid open, revealing the faces of three owl-eyed children - second-years, by the looks of them. Judging by the yellow on their robes, they were each Hufflepuffs.
"It's you," one curly-haired student said, awe-struck, his voice easily identifying him as the chirping one.
Before Harry could get out his 'Yes, me' response, a cascade of questions hit him, each as excited and redundant as the rest. Thankfully, a voice magically sounded through the train, informing the passengers of their arrival.
"Come on, we don't have to stare at him. We'll have plenty of time to ask him questions all year," the girl said, taking steps to the front, though her eyes remained glued on Harry.
Damn, would Apparation come in handy now, Harry thought. Her certainly didn't relish the task of having to make his way up to the castle amongst a throng of gawking first-years. Alas, Apparation, one of a wizard's most powerful tools, was prohibited in Hogwarts, and a powerful enchantment enforced that rule. Despite this, Harry shut his eyes tight and made an attempt, only to open his eyes again and sigh. So close.
As he stepped down from the train into the icy fingers of the night, he was met by hundreds of stares. Whispers coursed through the crowd, and many even pointed right at him. Harry could feel his face redden. He opened his mouth and made for speech, but was cut off by a rather boisterous voice.
"All right you lot, c'mon. Nuttin' to see 'ere." The rather large figure of Hagrid, Keeper of the Keys and Care for Magical Creatures teacher at Hogwarts, stomped into the clearing. The train began to gain motion and continue down the tracks as Hagrid hustled the first years away from the older students. "Firs' years this way, all firs' years. You thir' years, onto the carriages you go!" Hagrid, clutching an oil lamp in his rather stubby fingers, stepped up to Harry. Clasping a hand tight around his should, Hagrid said, "Yer trip good, Harry?"
"Oh, yes," Harry said, watching as dozens of winged thestrals pulled the carriages away. The rusty creaks of moans the wheels were only outdone by the un-stemmed whispers of the first-years. "It was great."
"You lot, stop yer whisperin'. You'll want to save yer energy fer the Sortin' ceremony. You'll need it," Hagrid said, emphasizing the last sentence, soon cutting the whispers short. Casting a wink to Harry, the two made their way through the undergrowth, followed by a trembling queue.
The thickets grew sparse, soon disappearing as the trail spiraled out of the wood. Overlooking a vast lake, Hogwarts stood atop a rocky peak, its many turrets and spires hidden amongst the darkness. The distant windows shone with light, adding light to the cloud-strewn sky. The grounds were adorned with shrubbery and rolling hills, while the distant silhouettes of goal-rings and coloured towers marked the Quidditch pitch. It was Hogwarts as Harry left it, and Hogwarts as he hoped it'd stay.
Rowboats lined the shore, ready for their departure across the lake. Amidst the yells of "Four ter one boat!", the students boarded. Holding the lantern, Harry watched as Hagrid crawled into one of the boats, vainly attempting not to trip over the hem of his jacket. Harry climbed in after him, suddenly realizing their small size. They seemed so large when he was paddling them across the lake with Ron, Hermione, and Neville, yet the boats appeared to have shrunk now that he was alongside Hagrid.
"Stroke! Stroke!" With Hagrid's guidance, the first-years managed to guide their boats, for the most the most part, straightly. "So, Harry! Have a nice summer?"
Harry nodded, watching a dark shape beneath the water. It was most likely the squid; the merpeople didn't usually come this close to the surface. "It was great, Hagrid. Ah... After graduation, Ron and I went to Wales for a couple of weeks. Hermione was applying for some job. She didn't mention where, though."
Hagrid smiled broadly beyond his tufted beard. "Yeh never know what Hermione gets up to. I noticed yeh didn't come on the teacher's train. I s'posed you wanted ter ride the train again." Harry simply nodded. "Well, that's always good. Shame yeh couldn't have sooner, though it's pro'lly best it stays a surprise. Yeh'll see at the Sorting."
Before Harry could enquire further, he was cut off by Hagrid's booming yell of, "Stroke! Stroke!" The castle in the distance grew in size, until it could no longer be considered distant. The castle loomed down upon them as they climbed out from the boats. Returning to the ground on shaking legs out, the first-years made their way to the castle following Harry and Hagrid, soon resuming their whispering. This time, however, Harry wasn't the topic.
"My sister said we have to fight a baby Basilisk without our wands!" one girl told the others, the quaver in her voice audible.
Another boy gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I'd probably stand a better chance without my wand. I tried to do a Pinprick Charm on my grandfather's slug during the summer, and I think I got it to wince a little. That might've been the wand's sharp end, though."
At that moment, the tall double-doors opened, and the steely face of Professor McGonagall peered back. "Hagrid," she greeted with a slight not. Turning her head, the corners of her mouth turned up into a slight smile. "Mr. Potter." Her eyes tilted past them to the throng behind him. "I see you've brought the first-years. Students, your bags are being brought up to the castle and will then be taken to your respective dormitories after the Sorting. Now, follow closely." As students followed through the great oak doors, gasping at the sheer vastness of the chamber, from its flights of stairs to the giant empty hourglasses dictating the house points, McGonagall whispered into Harry's ear, "Your bags have already been taken to your office on the second floor. You can go up to the Great Hall when you're ready."
Nodding, Harry ambled across the highly polished floor, watching the beads of sweat form on his reflection's face. Remembering that only mirrors had autonomous reflections, Harry suddenly realized how nervous he really was. In only a few hours' time, he'd be teaching students. His training as an Auror really would help him – he had learned things that probably no Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher had ever known – yet he couldn't but feel a trembling sensation in the pit of his stomach.
Harry stepped up to the Great Halls entrance, and pushed hard on the doors, opening them. As they creaked open, Harry took in the familiar sight of the Great Hall of Hogwarts.