Title: Legacy of the Father (7/?)

Spoilers: First four books; contains some elements introduced in the 5th book, but is set during Harry's 5th year.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Chapter Seven - The New Staff

The train was slowing into the station at Hogsmeade as Harry was finishing his first victory against Ron in Exploding Snaps. Hermione was already up and about. As prefect, she had a responsibility to make it to the castle quickly.

"Come on. Our carriage is about to leave."

Their trunks were loaded unto the third carriage from the front.

"So who do think will the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher?"

"Every year has brought a new surprise to that class."

"Quirrell, Lockhart, Lupin, Moody. Who's left who's crazy enough to try?"

"Moody wasn't the real Moody, remember? Maybe the real Moody will be the new teacher."

"I don't know, but maybe this teacher will be like Lupin and the fake Moody and teach us stuff we'll actually use in the real world."

"Lockhart and Quirrell taught us 'stuff', too."

"Lockhart was a conceited moron that didn't even have the sense to keep the Cornish Pixies in their cage, and Quirrell studdered so much that he was lucky if we understood the words, let alone the concepts he was teaching."

"Besides, Quirrell was Voldemort's man, remember?"

The carriages started off. Harry could just see Hagrid leading the first years to the boats that took them across the lake, but his mind wasn't concentrating on the first years, the Sorting that would take place in a little less then an hour or anything else but what Remus and Sirius had told him. Harry was more than ready at that moment to forego the whole First Day Feast and Sorting. At least while the feast was going on, he would have time to sit alone and sort his thoughts.

"Harry, Ron, did either of you see the front page of today's Daily Prophet?"

"I didn't. You, Ron?"

"Nope. Percy and Mom were fighting over it while you two were upstairs packing. I wasn't going to get involved. Why do ask, Hermione?"

She picked up the paper she had bought from the tolley witch and showed the front page to Harry and Ron. Written in large, black letters, the headline read: "The Search is On!"

"The search for what?" Harry asked as he stared at the headline.

"Or who?" Hermione added, eyebrows raised informatively.

"You think...Sirius?" Harry's eyes grew wide as his own guess sunk in.

"Not just him. It says here: 'Ministry officials have made a preliminary list of 30 names of people wanted for questioning. Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, stated that everything is being and will be done to reveal the truth surrounding the events that led to the deadly outcome of the recent Triwizard Tournament.'"

"Did they print any names in the paper?" Ron asked.

"No, but Sirius' name is most certainly on that list."

"Does it say anything else that might be of interest?" Harry reached for the paper.

"Nope, basically, that's it. Harry, I think that, for a little while, you should refrain from sending letters to Sirius."

"Yeah. Besides, what could possibly happen now that I'm here at Hogwarts?"

"Very funny, Harry. Very funny."

When the procession of carriages stopped, Ron was first out.

"Hey, Hermione, I forgot to ask, but how did the Daily Prophet know all about the end of the Tournament and the Ministry investigation. I thought that Fudge wasn't allowing any information out."

"I had help from an old friend. Remember my beetle from last term?"

"Rita Skeeter?"

"Yeah. I told her that she could be human if she would help us. I put a Reminder Charm on her. If she pulls out of our bargain, she turns back into a beetle and returns to my jar."

"Clever. So, she's been leaking the information she gathers as a beetle to various sources and they've been writing about it?"

"Exactly. All the information that the Ministry wants quieted that could help us to fight Voldemort is being leaked through Rita Skeeter to the various sources that the Daily Prophet has."

"Has she been writing at all?"

"Occasionally. Not like she used to, but I think I had something to do with that."

"Oh, just forcing her to remain a beetle for a while in an unbreakable jar. It worked, though."

"Come on, the first years are right there. We need to hurry."

Running up the steps and towards the Great Hall, Harry, Hermione, and Ron stopped suddenly when they saw Professor McGonagall.

"Miss Granger, a prefect, I'm shocked."

"Sorry, Professor. I just lost all track of time."

"Proceed. You have plenty of time to get to your seats in the Hall."

Continuing onward, Harry, Hermione, and Ron soon found themselves in the Great Hall. They made their way to their seats at the Gryffindor table and waited for the Sorting to begin.

Harry looked up at the teachers' table. Dumbledore sat in the middle, as always. The seat to his right was empty, belonging to McGonagall, who would be bringing the first years in any minute to be Sorted. To the right of McGonagall's chair sat Professor Flitwick, the dwarven Charms teacher and head of Ravenclaw House. Next down the table was Professor Sprout, the Herbology teacher and head of Hufflepuff House. She had recently suffered a great loss in the death of Cedric Diggory, the best student in Hufflepuff.

Seated next to Sprout, Hermione whispered in his ear, was the Arithmancy teacher, Vector. Two empty chairs followed, saved for Snape, who must have been running uncharacteristically late, and the new Defense teacher. Almost as though Harry had made them come by thinking, two people appeared at the end of the teachers' table. Harry didn't recognize the man at all, but the woman looked familiar. He couldn't tell from this angle who it was exactly, but Harry was sure that he knew the woman who took the seat next to Professor Vector.

The large doors of the Great Hall suddenly opened and the room watched as McGonagall led the newest Hogwarts students towards the front table and the stool that had atop it the Sorting Hat. As usual, the Sorting Hat did a rhyme before settling into the task of Sorting the new students.

"When I call your name, you will come and sit and the Sorting Hat will call out your House," said McGonagall, unfurling the scroll containing a list of the new students.

But Harry wasn't listening. He wanted to be done with all this and to be able to think about everything that Remus and Sirius had told him. The Sorting continued, and the new students joined their respective House. Ron nudged him.

"Harry, there's a new teacher in Snape's place."

"Yeah, but who is she?"

McGonagall tapped her glass gently, and quiet was restored to the Hall. Dumbledore stood.

"Another year has come to Hogwarts and with it a new purpose. We have the honor of two new teachers this year. Professor Figg will be taking over the Defense against the Dark Arts vacancy, and Professor Fletcher will be the new Potions teacher."

The two new teachers stood to be recognized as their name was called then promptly sat back down.

"Also, on loan from the Ministry, we have a co-headmaster, Talio Dawlish. He is an excellent Auror who left Hogwarts after receiving 'Outstanding' on all of his N.E.W.T.s. He is here to help Hogwarts recover from the events of this last year. Please make him feel welcome."

"A second headmaster and Snape missing..."

"Wait a minute, Hermione."

"Until further notice, only fifth years and older, with signed permission slips, may visit Hogsmeade. Further, no one is allowed out of the castle unattended after dark. Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, and every teacher will be making sure that no student violates either of these rules. Prefects will also be on alert for any attempts to go against these safety precautions."

Dumbledore looked right at Hermione, Harry, and Ron. The last four years had seen them breaking just about every rule Hogwarts had, but they had yet to be expelled. Still, Harry thought, those rules are meant especially for me, and it would probably be smart to start following them.

"So, with that, let the feast begin."

Harry could just hear the first years gasp at the sudden appearance of food.

"Harry, what were you going to say?"

"Dumbledore sent Snape on a mission at the end of last term, remember? He must still be occupied with that. As for the headmaster, the Ministry must not trust Dumbledore. We know that Fudge doesn't, after that encounter in the hospital wing last year."

Hermione just nodded, but Ron was already eating heartily. Harry wasn't really hungry.

"Hermione, what's the new password?"

"Welsh Green."

"Like the dragon?"

"Precisely. Sir Cadogan suggested it from what I hear."

"Really? Can't imagine the Fat Lady listening to him for long."

"Nor I. Where you going?"

"My room. I'm not really hungry, just tired. Just don't want to end up asleep in my food is all."

"Right."

Harry walked out of the Great Hall and up to the Gryffindor door, hidden by the picture of the Fat Lady.

"Welsh Green."

"Welcome back. Where is everyone else?"

"Still in the Hall, eating."

"Why not you?"

"Not really hungry."

The door opened and Harry walked into the Gryffindor common room then to his bed. Hedwig's cage and his bags were already here, as usual. Hedwig was here, too. Harry was too tired to think. He had spent all his energy being excited about Remus and Sirius's information and about Fred and George's new inventions. Now, he was tired. Azrael squeaked softly, and Harry opened the cage Azrael and Hedwig shared. Hedwig flew out the window and promptly returned, while Azrael flew out in search of dinner. Harry watched the young bat, then turned his attention to Hedwig.

"Funny little thing, isn't he?"

Hedwig nibbled his finger in response.