Chapter 5

In the last couple of hours of being on the train while remembering the good old days of being students at Hogwarts they finally arrived at their destination. It became nightfall under the full moon as always when arrived at one of the top best wizarding schools in the Wizard World. Randy and Merula looked through the window to see the castle in its full glory and beauty as it sparked their hearts of seeing their beloved school once again. The sight of it all just put smiles on their adult faces.

"We're home, Randy." Merula looked at her husband with glee. "We're back to where it all started."

Randy nodded in agreement while eyeing the view. "We sure are Merula. Damn it is good to be back."

Once the train had pulled to its stop the two exited the train while magically unloading their luggage. Knowing full well that they need to get off first before being overcrowded by students wanting to ask multiple questions and autographs from them. Heck, Randy and Merula easily noticed the students of all years were watching them through the window while talking amongst themselves in deep excitement.

"I'm not catering to those kids on the first day of teaching." Merula looked at her husband after loading the last luggage onto the luggage cart. "But I bet you will."

Randy pulled his wand out and cast a spell to make the luggage cart move and follow on its own. "It is better to entertain the kids and answer their questions instead of doing it on the last day of school. I am going to be giving them their day and the next day will be teaching."

Merula rolled her eyes. "Oh, get real Randy. Like I said Randy, I'm still not going to give them the satisfaction."

"I see." Randy put his wand back inside from where he got it from. "Well, let's head on over to the castle. Rowan and Penny are waiting for us by the gate."

It did not take long for the two former students of Hogwarts to reach the gate of the school and saw two people by the gate. Once getting in perfect view both Randy and Merula recognized their best friends. Penny and Rowan Khanna were grinning with the joy of seeing their best friends here and joining the ranks being part of the teacher and staff of Hogwarts like themselves. Penny who is married to Rowan is currently the head librarian of the school since the day she graduated, and successfully became the sole successor to the former and retired head librarian witch, Irma Pince. As for Rowan he successfully succeeded in his dream of being a teacher at Hogwarts and being the only teacher in the castle to have a spell pronunciation class for all years, but mostly for first years.

Penny had her hair in a french braided bun chignon wearing a Hufflepuff-themed one-piece outfit with shiny glitter and flat shoes. As for Rowan, he had his regular hairstyle as he wore a thick black short sleeve shirt with a pair of long khaki pants with matching boots. Randy and Merula were so glad to see them on Hogwart grounds. The four have not been on the grounds of Hogwarts together in years. Let alone going to have their school reunion in the same year which makes this year very special.

"I seriously thought this day will never come!." Penny spoke with enthusiasm as she hugged Merula.

"I feel the same way, Penny." Merula hugged her back and smiled.

Rowan hugged Randy and adjusted his glasses. "Man, I was starting to think that working on this investigation of the next vault will happen without you both. You know how I myself and Penny do not have that team leader mindset and think calmly throughout things hitting the breaking point or situation."

"Indeed, I know." Randy smiled at his best friend. "You three along with Jae and Tulip tried investigating The Cabal back when we were in our sixth year while I was back home recovering my seriously injured right ankle, after me, my mom, and dad got into a nasty car accident on the highway."

"Boy what a memory to remember," commented Penny as she is not kidding.

"Right." Merula nodded. "To think you guys thought that I was secretly working with 'R' after I have been acting weird amongst you guys."

Rowan crossed his arms with an eyebrow raised. "Well, we would not have known if you and Randy had filled us in on your plan then we would not have been trying our best to spy and follow you that time."

"Well, that is old and fun history." Randy guided Rowan and Penny back inside the castle. "Now, let's go inside and show me and Merula where we are sleeping and get us set up for tomorrow."

Penny nodded to this as she and her husband guided Randy and Merula to the upper-level hallway chambers where the teachers and staff lived for the school year, excluding Hagrid since he has a hut. Upon entering the assigned chamber both Randy and Merula were in awe of grey-stoned walls and floors with live artwork of a giant Phoenix flying inside. They were in the living room of their chamber as Rowan informed Randy and Merula about the chamber being similar to the personal dorm they used when they were Head Boy and Head Girl, only except that instead of entering the common room they will be in the teacher and staff lounge. Penny added that every backdoor of everyone's chamber connects to the lounge. So once done gaining the information, Randy and Merula magically had their things unpacked and put away while switching their clothes out to wear their official clothes for teaching.

"It was a smart idea on our part to where the same exact matching attire that we wore on our date for the Festival Fun in our fifth year, Randy," said Merula while sitting on the dresser bench while putting on her matching boots.

Randy came out with his jacket in hand before putting it on and checking himself out in the mirror. "Yeah, it sure is, Merula. I have always known that Andre designed our attire to be both for special events and for teaching purposes."

"So true." Merula tied her left boot before doing the same with the right one. "I can not wait for him and Chiara to be here for the class reunion."

"Yeah, those two married couples were a match. I literally have to give Andre some confidence potion that I brewed up to help him make Chiara his girlfriend back in the day.", Randy put his jacket on and walked away from the mirror. "To his approach, he made her a very beautiful dress that matches her color while setting up the mood in the process."

"And to this day they own a clothing and custom clothing store. Chiara being the cashier and Andre being both the designer and price man," added Merula, with a light chuckle.

"Can you blame Andre?." Randy followed his wife to the short hallway to the back door that leads to the teacher and staff lounge. "His mom owns a clothing store in the muggle world and makes him work there both designing and setting up the prices of the clothes, based on the materials, time, and days that were made. And his old man is a mailman."

Merula rolled her eyes in disgust at the odd job that Andre's muggle father does. "The Muggle World is one strange fucked up place. I'm so glad I was born and raised in the Wizarding World."

Randy did not have the time to do a comeback say once they entered the beautiful fancy lounge. There were all the teachers and staff of Hogwarts waited patiently for the two to arrive before starting their shirt brief meeting. That is until Dumbledore shows up that is. Both Randy and Merula were welcomed by their former teachers. Congratulating them for joining their circle and being part of the workers of Hogwarts.

"It is indeed nice to have you two back in Hogwarts again. Hopefully, you two are just here to give your fair share of teaching and not out here hunting and solving mysteries." McGonagall looked at Randy, Merula, Rowan, and Penny with a smirk. "If so then you and the others are going to make this school season and moving forward will be very boring."

Randy, Merula, Rowan, and Penny chuckled at what Professor McGonagall just said as she knows them all too well, especially Randy in particular.

"If that is the case then it would be pointless to have Randy and Merula Jackson be only here to teach. I would love to see the great Jacob's sibling do his magic. No pun intended."

Randy looked at Professor Snape who had a plain facial expression as always. Unlike Randy, Merula knows that Snape is in fact overjoyed about having them back and seeing Randy again. Yes, sir, to this very day, Merula believed she had seen Snape smile for a short second and then went back to his usual blank facial expression, right after Randy had easily beaten two dual rounds of against Lockhart during the Festival Fun.

"Hey, Professor Snape." Randy smiled at his former potions teacher. "It is nice to see you again this time me and Merula being teachers."

"Likewise." Snape grabbed two small glasses filled with butter beer from the table and handed one to Randy. "I've heard that you, Merula, Rowan, and Penny were in Lardwood, Curse last summer hunting the legendary original werewolf. The Grey Werewolf."

"Ah, Professor Snape please don't get us started," said Penny, a little bit disappointed in the aftermath of the hunt.

"That is one of the wildest and on the tip of your toes hunts we have ever been on," admitted Rowan, grabbing himself and Penny a glass of butter beer.

Merula grabbed her cup off the table. "Let alone being after to chase and attempt to push the bloody beast into Penny's magic trap."

The creature that they were talking about is the original head werewolf. Based on story and folklore, the werewolf is a full-fledged wolf that has no human form. Never be so active during the day but both be active and roaming about under the full moon. Proving fact about the Grey Werewolf Lardwood, Curse is that if you kill the original werewolf then the curse will be lifted to all who are cursed to turn into a werewolf by the full moon. Once Rowan gathered the deep research it is said that the curse of the werewolf can only be lifted by killing the head and original werewolf. Let alone mention that they need to keep their distance when dealing with the Grey Werewolf since you can be affected by the curse if the beast scratch or bite you.

Now, Randy and the crew went after the beast to trap and kill it for the sake of both Chiara and Remus. They wanted them to be free from carrying the burden werewolf curse after they were once bitten by two different werewolves. In order to do so they had to find, trap and kill the original head werewolf. Which they, unfortunately, failed to trap it that is.

"Right you are, Merula." Rawan took a sip of his drink. "We managed to find its bone pile of the animals that he killed and ate. We found footprints."

"Let alone found its ground cave. And man, how deep that hole was," said Merula, taking another sip of her drink.

Randy set his empty cup down on the table upside down. "Professor Snape, The Grey Werewolf is 7'0 tall, weighing 520 pounds. The fastest thing you will ever let alone hearing its powerful howl that echoes through the woods. That is one impressive son of a bitch."

"That is if the thing has a mother, Randy," said Merula.

"So how did you four fail to capture the beast?." McGonagall asked as she is very interested and excited about their adventures.

"Ok, so we chased the creature in an open area of woods where I set my four-wall trap. Once the Grey Werewolf steps foot in the middle it will magically close itself into a shaped pyramid," explained Penny making a clicking noise in her chick. "My trap would have worked if the bloody thing had not run right past it."

"Ah, man we were all disappointed about that," Rowan spoke with slight disappointment. "As soon we reached the trap we found his footprints six feet right beside Penny's trap."

"I'm sure your four were most disappointed," said Snape, showing interest but keeping his blank expression.

"Yeah, we may not be able to trap it but we sure have it on the run," Randy spoke with seriousness. "The Grey Werewolf never had anyone chasing after it before must less fight him. But do not worry because one day we will come back chasing the Grey Werewolf and can kill that damn thing."

"Hell yeah," said Merula, Penny, and Rowan with enthusiasm.

"Well, I am delighted to hear it."

Everyone broke their attention to see Dumbledore come through the back door. He approached his teachers and staff.

"My friends it is indeed to see all of you in outstanding health." Dumbledore smiled at all of them. "Tonight and moving forward this school season and so on is going to be a special one. We have two brand-new classes and two new teachers that we all know too well and personally."

Everyone clapped their hands for Merula and Randy who nodded and smiled in response.

"Not only that but after having some considerations and high recommendations must less get convinced. I would like for all of you to welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. You know him based on his quite heroic experiences throughout the years and his recent book. Please welcome, Gilderoy Lockhart."

At the mention of the man's name, he came in from the same door that Dumbledore had used and had a cocky smile on his face. Randy and Merula were in utter disbelief to see this man again in Hogwarts. They had their history with Lockhart. But what stood out like a sore thumb to them was that they had a feeling, strong suspension, and big doubt about everything that Lockhart claims he did must less perform any spells that he knows. For one, Randy beat him in a friendly dual at the Festival Fun. Secondly, Merula had to cast a spell to get rid of the wild strong rainy windy storm that Lockhart had conjured up in his demonstration of portions to Snape. At that time Hogwarts was having a drought and Hagrid needed his garden to be watered for the school.

"Why, thank you, Professor Dumbledore," Lockhart spoke with so confidence. "It is indeed an honor and a privilege to have me here being the new teacher of the Defense Against the Dark Arts. After all who can be the most qualified to be the professor of this particular subject?."

"That would be me of course." Snape leans to Randy and whispered it into his ear.

Randy whispered back. "I have you any day than to have him."

"You are not wrong, Randy. I hate Lockhart," whispered Merula with a bit of irritation.

"Fantastic," Dumbledore spoke with a smile. "Now then let us not keep our students waiting. I do not know about you but I am quite famished. Oh, and Randy. Merula. Please approach the house ball and press your finger on the slightly sharp needle so you can be able to take or give points to any house based on the actions of the students."

After the meeting had ended both Randy and Merula approached the golden four-legged sphere with a long gold thin needle. Inside the sphere is a small tornado of blood indicating that it is the blood of every teacher and staff for the house point system can indicate who has given or taken points based on what Rowan had told them a long time ago. The two took turns pressing their index finger and drew blood and watch it slide inside the sphere and into the small tornado. Once finish they rejoined the others in the Great Hall and set at the teacher's table. From there they watched the second through seven-year students come in and sat at the assigned table of their house. Then they watched a group of first-years come in and stood together in the center as McGonagall had the sorting hat on standby and the list of the students in random order.

Everyone watched the kids get called up and get sorted into the house that the sorting hat deemed they belong to based on their traits, and clapped their hands in response to it. This had taken Randy back to the time he was in his first year and had a different response. The memory is fresh in his mind as it never left him. Especially when formerly carrying the burden of his disgraced older brother.


*Flashback*

Randy and Rowan along with the other first years were guided in the hallway toward the Great Hall by McGonagall and were told by her to wait for her once she return from the inside to get things ready for them.

"Man, this is so exciting Randy," said Rowan, looking at his first and new friend that he made and met in Diagon Alley at the front of Ollivanders Wand Shop.

Randy smiled at his new and only friend. "I feel the same way, Rowan. Hogwarts. Wow, it is indeed amazing and beautiful as my older brother told me it was compared to what my mom and dad said. That is before brother got missing."

Rowan looked sad after hearing everything that Randy said about his older brother Jacob. "Well, I'm sure we will find out what happened to him."

Randy made a small chuckle. "I highly doubted that it had something to do with the so-called 'Cursed Vaults'. I still don't believe it exists."

Rowan shrugged his shoulders. "You never know, Randy."

Randy nodded at what Rowan just said before resuming sightseeing in his surroundings. During that moment, Randy once again felt a pair of eyes watching him the second time. He had that feeling the first time around when he was at Ollivanders Wand Shop. He felt that someone was watching him closely and trying not to be spotted. Of course, they got caught once Randy had found a pair of violet-colored eyes behind a wand shelf that had an open space. He did not know who it was until tonight. Randy turned to the front to see a girl his height.

Randy looked to see that the girl had the exact same violet-colored eyes. He looked at her appearance and see she has short messy dark brown hair with one area of orange color and thick furrowed brown eyebrows. She noticed that Randy was staring right back at her and quickly faced back to the front. This made Randy confirms it was her. Because at the wand shop once he made contact with her eyes she immediately ran away from her spot and ignored Randy's plea to come back, and was stopped when Mr. Ollivander welcomed him to his shop and started fitting him his wand.

Before Randy could go up to her and ask her why was she spying on him or staring at him, McGonagall came back to where they were and looked at them with seriousness.

"Alright, First Years the Great Hall is ready for you. Now, before you all take your seat you will have to be sorted first by the Sorting Hat." McGonagall looked at the kids who were listening to every word she says as she continues. "The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."

Once finished McGonagall guides the kids inside the Great Hall where everyone from each house is waiting patiently while Dumbledore and the others were doing the same. Randy and Rowan eyed their surroundings and see how cool the Great Hall was. They found themselves in the center of the Great Hall hunched up together with their group. McGonagall turned to face them with a big paper in hand.

"When I call your name, please have a seat in this chair and let the Sorting Hat sort you to your designated house." McGonagall looked at her list and called the first student. "Rowan Khanna."

Rowan got a little bit nervous but moved forward before saying to Randy in a whisper. "Hope you and I are going to be in the same house together."

As Rowan took a seat on the chair, McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head as the magical hat started to do its thing.

"Hmm, another Khanna." Sorting Hat amused himself. "Well, it looks like I'll have to put you in...Gryffindor!."

Everyone clapped as the students at the Gryffindor table cheered and welcomed him to their house. Rowan smiled big as he was given his Gryffindor symbol patch for his uniform and took his seat. Randy smiled at his friend as he is indeed brave since he was brave enough to ask him if he wants to be friends.

McGonagall looked back at her paper before speaking loud. "Merula Snyde."

Randy watched the girl that had eyed him twice come up and sat in the chair as McGonagall placed the talking hat on her head.

"Oooo, I have myself a Snyde." Sorting Hat was indeed intrigued by this. "It has been way too long since I sat on a Snyde. But just like all the other Snydes before you young witch. You are nothing more than a...Slytherin!."

Merula wickedly grinned at hearing this as she got up from the chair and headed to go to her table and enjoyed the applause and cheer she is given.

"Penny Haywood," McGonagall called.

Penny took her seat as the Sorting Hat examine her. "Hufflepuff!."

Penny grinned and headed to the Hufflepuff table. From there it went from Tonks through Skyre and what is left was Randy.

McGonagall paused at the final student as she glanced at Randy for a short second and then lowered the list. Randy can tell she was not too pleased to have him here due to his brother's reputation.

"Randy Jackson," McGonagall called with no crack in her voice.

Everyone was shocked to hear his name being called as they all know about the whole 'Jackson Situation'. Randy slowly approached the seat as he felt everyone eyeing him the wrong way and could see the headmaster and all the teachers and staff had stood up watching him. Randy can see that Dumbledore was not showing any uneasiness or anxiety like all the others, much less sharing a whisper with the others like everyone else is doing. As Randy sat on the chair and McGonagall put the hat on top of his head, the Sorting Hat was taken in very slowly and hesitant in both a good and bad way.

"Ah, the little kid brother of Jacob Jackson." Sorting Hat hummed a little bit. "I have been waiting and expecting you will come to Hogwarts one of these days. And now the question is. Where should I put you?."

Randy felt nervous as he has no idea which house the Sorting Hat is placing him in.

"Ah, yes." Sorting Hat hummed some more in thought. "Hmm...very interesting. I have not seen one like this in a very long time. And what house are you hoping for, hm?."

"W...What do you mean?." asked Randy, a bit nervous and curious.

"Well, in honesty I have two houses that fit you but like I said you are interesting. You are in between these two houses based on your special traits. For one I'm sensing you are in fact brave, courageous, nerve, and chivalrous. As for the other traits, you are indeed ambitious, resourceful, determined, and best of all cunning. However, you only use them if necessary to achieve a selfless goal." explained the Sorting Hat.

Randy never thought he had any traits that were unlikable or even show signs of it. That was until he received his letter to Hogwarts and had to convince his mom to let him go since she refused to let him walk the same path as Jacob and go missing. It was too much for Randy's mother with the idea of losing another son. Sorting Hat could hear Randy's quiet answer and hear the house that his older brother once was in until being kicked out.

"Well, now let's not keep everyone waiting." Sorting Hat showed some body language in his talk. "The perfect house that you will succeed in without question or doubt will be...Gryffindor!."

Everyone faked cheered at the Gryffindor table while everyone else is relieved that Randy is going to the same house that his crazy brother was in.

*Flashback Ends*


"Ginny Weasley," McGonagall called out.

"Randy, Ginny is up next." Merula nudged her husband with excitement in her voice in a whisper.

Randy broke his train of memory lane and see Ginny grab a seat and had the hat do its thing.

"Ahhh, another Weasley. I just had one sorted last year. I get a back-to-back deal here." Sorting Hat chuckled to himself. "Well, young witch you are going straight to...Gryffindor!."

Everybody cheered as Ginny smiled happily as she joined her brothers at the table. She looked up to see Randy and Merula and waved at them. The two responded with smiles on their faces and waved at her. Ginny smiled big in response. Once the sorting hat ceremony had reached the conclusion, Dumbledore stood up from his seat and spoke with good volume.

"Before we began the wonderful feast I have three good news. Taking up the teaching role for the Defence Against the Dark Arts is none other than the wizarding hero, Gilderoy Lockhart."

Lockhart got up and received high applause from everyone and smiled and waved at his fangirls before seating back in his seat.

"We also have two new classes added here in Hogwarts. The study and solving mysterious and the arts and performance of dueling. Please welcome back the Curse Breaker and the Self-Proclaimed Powerful Witch of Hogwarts. Professor Randy and Professor Merula Jackson."

Every student from each house stood up and both applaud and cheered in response. Both Randy and Merula stood up and could hear the increased enthusiastic cheers and applauses. Hermione whistled which caught the attention of the two as it is loud enough to hear, while Draco just could not help to grin at his secret girlfriend. After seating back down, Dumbledore lifted his arms up with a pleased smile on his face.

"Without further ado everyone. Let the feast begin."


(A/N): Sorry for the long wait for this story. Been busy with life and such. But I'll keep going. Also, Rest in Pease to both Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) and Leslie Phillips (voice of Sorting Hat). Gone but never forgotten. Thanks for reading and looking forward to the next chapter. God bless everyone and your family in Jesus Christ's name.