My apologies for the delay with the third chapter. If it happens a second time without warning, I give you full permission to take my life. Or flame me on the reviews board.

Preferrably the second one. Enjoy.

As Harry walked in from the Entrance Hall, a familiar sight, something that no time away from Hogwarts could erase, met him. Four house tables, each with chattering students sitting alongside them, spanned the Great Hall. Banners adorned the wall, each portraying a different creature with different colours surrounding them. At the far back was a fifth table, this one seating the teachers. Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for many years (and many more years to come, surely), sat at the center, flanked by the rest of the Hogwarts staff, including a hooked-nose, oily-haired man, a rather unkempt witch with flyaway hair, and a brown-haired woman, seated on the far left. Harry also took notice of the three vacant seats. One was on Dumbledore's left, which undoubtedly belonged to McGonagall, who would probably be addressing the first-years at that moment. Another empty chair sat on the far right, which Harry knew belonged to Hagrid, and a third, which was located right between Professors Sinistra and Vector. Knowing that it must belong to him, Harry made his way to it, past the stares of many fixed eyes.

Whispers coursed through the crowd, each of which about the reason for his presence. As Harry rounded the staff table and took his seat, it seemed the students seemed to have pieced it together. The faces at the tables beamed with joy and surprise (particularly the second and third- years, who hadn't attended Hogwarts at the time Harry had), though the same couldn't have been said about the Slytherin table. It seemed that no time could affect the relationship between the Gryffindor and Slytherin houses, and having one of Gryffindor's most celebrated members would most certainly not help.

It'll be a joy teaching that lot, Harry thought, watching the glowers on the Slytherins' faces. Too clearly could he remember the kind of trouble they caused during Hagrid's classes. He certainly hoped he'd be better without Malfoy leading them into trouble.

At that moment, the din of the Great Hall was silenced, for Professor McGonagall was striding through the tall doors, followed by the queue of terrified first-years. Hagrid marched in from the Entrance Hall, squeezing between the Hufflepuff table and the new students, carrying a rather scrubby stool. He placed it at the front of the line before hastily stepping up to his seat. With a high-pitched call, a blur of flaming orange glided in from another door. The fowl was holding what would appear to be a common hat, complete with elaborate patches and threads poking out every which way. Harry smirked. The first-years stared. The phoenix dropped the hat on its stool, where it soon erupted in song.

"Before the days of Hogwarts school,
The land was growing fickle.
Wizards grew and then dyed out,
Thus we were in a pickle.
For without our sorcerers,
Magic would be forgotten.
So four enchanters worked abreast,
And Hogwarts was begotten.
Their attributes divided them,
Their traits drove them apart.
Combining all their differences,
The houses had their start.
If you a mind of cleverness,
Ravenclaw is your host.
If tenets fit you like a glove,
Hufflepuff suits you most.
Godric Gryffindor, so brave,
Made his house fit his traits.
While Salazar Slytherin made his,
Match his want to be great.
Now tuck me snug around your head,
I've done this for quite some years.
I'll choose which house fits you the most,
You have no need to fear!"

The room burst into applause, and a couple of the first-years even clapped a mite, too. Many just stared blankly, trying to work out the Sorting Hat's song – and get over the shock of seeing a piece of talking clothing. McGonagall cut off the applause with naught but a glance, unearthing a roll of parchment from her robes. Clearing her throat, she called out, "Atwood, Katrina."

At that, a young girl with shortly cropped hair stepped out from the middle of the line, walking briskly to the hat. She lifted the hat with shaking hands, nearly letting it drop, before hoisting it over her head.

Harry could remember all three times he had worn the frayed hat upon his head. The first, back during his own Sorting, was where the hat had placed him in Gryffindor – not before seriously considering Slytherin, though. A second time had he worn the hat was in his second year. Harry had inquired of the hat about the reasoning for him being considered for Slytherin, but the hat simply repeated himself: "You could've been great in Slytherin." The third time occurred miles below the school, in the Chamber of Secrets. The blade of Godric Gryffindor, founder of Gryffindor house, came from the hat, and saved Harry from the Basilisk.

"Winter, Emerson."

Harry jerked his head up, realizing that he hadn't been paying any attention to the ceremony. He clapped twice as hard as the boy was sorted into Gryffindor, though. Two more students were sorted (another Gryffindor and a Slytherin) before Dumbledore stood, hushing the crowd.

"I would like to bid welcome to the new Ravenclaws, Slytherins, Gryffindors, and Hufflepuffs. I'm afraid I will have to bore you with the yearly announcements, but until that time comes, tuck in! We won't have another feast like this for quite some time."

At that moment, the plates appeared brimming with food, and dishes with almost every Harry had ever had tried materialized, too. The Great Hall was alive with chatter, though many took the headmaster's words to heart and didn't bother to look up, let alone chew. The staff table was not left out; several covered dishes filled enough to satisfy twice their number were laid out before them.

What Harry found most interesting during the feast was the conversation around him. Aside from the casual comment from Professor Vector about the array of food in front of them and the assuring wink from Hagrid, nobody took much of a notice of Harry, so he was free to listen in on the teacher's conversations. These people had taught him for years, and hearing about Professor Sinistra's accident while charming a wart off and the wizard Professor Sprout met through the Witch Weekly's personals intrigued Harry a mite.

After the passing of quite some time, when the students and staff had been fed to their stomach's content, Dumbledore arose from his seat. As he rose, the tip of his silver beard could be seen. It was a bright with orange; the professor had lent too close to his pumpkin juice, clearly. Harry couldn't help but grin.

"And now that we have all have eaten to the stretching of our robes, it's time for me to make a small few notices before bed. Firstly, you are to be reminded that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds. All students and staff know this by now." Harry could have sworn Dumbledore just shot him a wink out of the corner of his eye. "Furthermore, nobody is to take a step out of the grounds, including the far side of the lake. Hogsmeade is off limits for first and second-years and for those who have yet to return the signed form, too. Finally, I must remind you that the Whomping Willow, the temperate tree on the east side of the ground is to not be approached - lest you wish to see what it looks one hundred feet above the lake, only to fall down in it afterward." Many of the students laughed, though some of the younger ones didn't share that humour. They exchanged frightened glances. "Now, before I must send you along, I must remind you of the two changes to the staff. We are honoured to say that the Defense Against the Dark Arts position has been filled again. Students, I am honoured to present to you, Professor Potter." Dumbledore motioned for Harry to stand, which he did, to the cheers of the hall. "Professor Potter has returned to Hogwarts to educate you all in that subject. We all wish him good luck in his first class, tomorrow. Secondly, as you remember from last year, we had to bid farewell to Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, who is undoubtedly sitting on a beach in Bermuda this very moment. Another round of applause to our newest Charms teacher, Professor Granger!"

Harry's heart stopped dead. His mind shook with the applause, though he couldn't register those words. Remembering the brown-haired woman he had seen upon his entrance, Harry learned forward to see the other side of the table. Sure enough, sitting at the far side of the table, beaming, was Hermione. How could I have not recognized her? Harry thought incredulously.

"And now, I'm afraid I must send you up to your dormitories with your prefects. Good night," Dumbledore bid.

As the students roamed off towards the Entrance Hall, Harry bounded to his feet, making his way between the wall and the teachers' chairs.

"Hello, Harry," Hermione said with a broad smile and a laugh. She seemed to find Harry's expression funny.

"I... Hermione, why... er..."

"Didn't I tell you?" she supplied. "Well, if you remember, you had just graduated Auror Training and were nervous about being a teacher, not to mention that big trip with Ron coming up. I didn't think you needed more to think about."

"Does Ron know?" Harry asked.

"I think I did mention it in passing. Harry, don't look at me like that. Yes, that. I wanted it to be a surprise for you. Now, forget these silly questions. I have an idea for your first class tomorrow. Who are you going to be teaching?"

As the shock of seeing Hermione was quieted, Harry felt a nervous pang as he remembered tomorrow's classes. He didn't have anything prepared, either. "I'll be with the fifth-years from Ravenclaw for the first half of the day, and then I think it's the third years from that same house after that. The schedule is supposed to be in my office, I think."

Hermione nodded. "Fifth-years? That's perfect. I've been thinking, and since I'm supposed to be with Gryffindor's sixth-years at that time, there's a way we can combine our classes that period. What do you say?"

Harry nodded. "I'm okay with that. I don't have anything planned, actually."

She laughed. "Oh, Harry, I already assumed that. Here, I'll explain to you the entire thing."