Thanks for the reviews, um…let me see, I dedicate this chapter to Larna Mandrea because you're so nice:) Oh yeah I have to thank the phone book for randomly giving me a last name for the new DADA teacher, don't forget to review, ENJOY.
A week before the students were to arrive for the next term at Hogwarts, all the teachers and staff assembled. There was Mcgonagall, returning again, Snape, Binns, Firenze who took the Divination job permanently, Hagrid, Hooch, Sinistra, Pince, Pomfrey, Sprout, Vector, and Filch. It turned out that Flitwick retired two years before, and of course there was the cursed DADA, or Defense Against the Dark Arts position.
Of course there were the new teachers, for the second year, Professor Granger, and the newest member to the staff, Professor Josh Mirto.
Harry or Mirto had come a day earlier, and with some help from the head master put up a spell that changed his appearance and was completely undetectable. His messy jet black hair was a normal brown, his skin was not as pale, and his eyes changed from their deep green, to icy blue. He looked entirely different from when he got there.
As he stood amongst the other teachers, he almost slipped up and said something to Hermione but suddenly caught himself, remembering his Aurror undercover training.
As Dumbledore introduced all the teachers to Josh Mirto, and Mirto to them, the Harry Potter which was his mind and subconscious took note on all the teachers. They all looked older and more haggard than the last time he saw them at graduation, well excluding Binns who was a ghost and didn't really age in appearance.
"Everyone this is Professor Josh Mirto." Dumbledore introduced him to all the teachers personally, including Granger. Harry carefully chose his words, and acted out of his normal personality, so she wouldn't be able to connect Mirto to Potter.
"Hello it's nice to meet you Mr.Mirto." Hermione said cheerfully, "Welcome to Hogwarts, I'm sure you will enjoy it here."
"Ms.Granger, please, call me Josh." He smiled at her. "I'm sure it is going to be an interesting year." Harry's mind suddenly began screaming, 'WAS I JUST FLIRTING WITH HER?' Mirto walked away and sat down, remembering graduation day when Harry, Ron, and Hermione got into a huge fight, they hadn't spoken since. Harry was silently scolding himself for flirting with her like that when Dumbledore sat down on the chair next to him.
"So how do you like Hogwarts so far Mr.Mirto?" He asked with a laugh.
"Why didn't you tell me SHE was going to be here?" Harry emphasized the word she pointedly.
"Oh lighten up Professor; you still have a whole year ahead of you." Dumbledore smiled and quickly walked away, pretending the last question hadn't been said.
Mirto grumbled some obscene words to himself that he made sure no one else could hear.
After the staff ate dinner, they headed up to their respective rooms, since Harry/Mirto wasn't a head of a house; he just had a room leading out from one of the hallways. Hermione led him to his room, even though he already knew where he was going. Being around her was so….awkward. It was just too weird to put into words.
"Goodnight Josh." Hermione said before turning to leave.
"Goodnight Ms.Granger." Harry said before he could stop himself.
"Hermione will do just fine." She smiled at him and quickly walked away before he could say anything else.
Harry's jaw dropped, but he quickly recovered, 'was SHE just flirting with me?' he asked silently asked himself, even though he knew he couldn't answer that question.
As he said the password to get into his room, and the door/panel opened, Harry felt something that he hadn't felt in years; a smile crept onto his face as he entered the room. He felt like he was home again, right where he belonged. Everything was all right, he was safe.
After working on his lesson plans, Harry/Mirto finally decided to get some sleep. He flopped onto the large bed still fully dressed, and almost instantly fell asleep.
A cool wind blew through the trees, the night was inky black, there seemed to be no end to the darkness. Suddenly lights appeared, the light came from wands held by Deatheaters. He saw only flashes and caught bits of talk, but he got the picture. They were going to execute a fellow Deatheater. Harry's scream merged with the man's as they tortured and killed the man.
Mirto woke to someone shaking him. He opened his eyes and saw Hermione standing there, looking concerned.
"Josh are you alright?" She asked as she sat down next to him on the bed.
"Yeah Hermione, I'm fine, just a nightmare." He smiled reassuringly at her.
"If you're sure." She shrugged, and then frowned, staring off into space for a second or two.
"The question is, are you alright?" Mirto said to her.
Hermione blushed, "sorry you just reminded me of someone I once knew, with the nightmares and stuff."
"As long as he wasn't your boyfriend." He joked to lighten up the situation, it worked, and she smiled and caught herself before she laughed.
"Well Josh, I better be get back to bed, see you at breakfast." Hermione crossed the floor and exited.
Harry fell back down with oomph; damn he scolded himself that was close. In a way, it made him feel good that she still thought of him. "Oh well." He sighed, "Guess we'll see how it goes." He realized he was talking out loud to himself again. He smiled, just like old times. Sleep found him quickly again, and this time he dreamed of pleasant things.
Thanks again for the reviews, I need your advise, so don't be scared of telling me what you really think. For the record Hermione is the Charmes teacher and Mirto/Harry is the DADA teacher, because if your not the brighest crayon in the box like me you might not have figured that out.