Harry never knew what trouble he was in for this year at Hogwarts. All Hell would break loose, and no one would be there to help him put it back together except for Hermione and Ron. As he walked through the doors to the Great Hall for the opening feast he could feel an unusual vibe reverberating around the entire room. The first years were even quieter than usual, and everyone else barely spoke. It could have been that every once in a while the man at the staff table sitting next to Professor McGonnagal would lean over and say something to her and she would laugh a hearty bell-like laugh, one that no one had heard her use before.
"Who is he?" Ron asked to no one in particular, but meaning it to be for either Hermione or Harry. "He can't be our new Defense teacher can he?"
"I don't know and I hope not," Hermione said as Harry just walked to a seat and sat down, the others in tow. "He doesn't look like he knows too much about magic, looks more like a brute to me." Hermione sat down and looked across the table at a second year and smiled, the kid looked away from her smile and whispered something to Neville who then moved down a seat.
After all of the first years, who still looked frightened, Professor Dumbledore stood up and the entire Hall fell even more silent than it had been. "This year, should hopefully be a better year than last." He smiled and looked at the second year across from Hermione and gave ever the slightest nod. "We have had the unfortunate luck in that we will not be able to have a new Defense Against the Darks Arts teacher for two more weeks, but all will be explained in time." He moved away from the staff table, walking around it to the front, closer to the students, lowering his voice for a dramatic flair he continued. "The man we have coming in to replace the teacher we had last year, will, undoubtedly, be far better, and far more lenient, this I know for sure." Raising his voice, and filling the entire hall, echoing off of the gleaming walls, he added; "For the mean time, we have the pleasure of inviting to our school a man whom has seen his fair share of trials and tribulations, which I'm sure he will tell you all about. His name is Theoden Tonks," Harry's eyes popped open and he looked from Ron to Hermione who had had the same reaction. "He is not the greatest of wizards, but his expertise in the art of defense is far greater than the greatest wizard. It has come to my attention that no matter how powerful anyone of you is, you will need to know how to defend yourself without a wand, I only wish that he needn't leave to accommodate the other teacher, of whom I will speak of when he arrives. But that's enough of me introducing people to you, who you will end up spending more time with than I myself will. For now, let us eat and be merry."
No one needed a second word, as the food appeared on the table, everyone filled their plates and ate to the brim. Soon, the swell of talking filled the room and the uneasy vibe was forgotten, and the New Year at Hogwarts had begun, begun to what was the question though.