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.

A/N: I hope you forgive the lack of the sorting hat song, but alas I am a writer definitely not a poet and it seemed entirely wrong to plagiarize the illustrious JKR.

Reviewers: fhippogriff: Remus told Harry the line of succession for his guardianship. Dumbledore testified against him receiving guardianship. (See chapter 7)

Dedication: To Illusia, who made my night and made me work twice as hard to get this out today.

Chapter 36

Welcome Back

By the time Harry arrived in the Great Hall for the Welcoming Feast he had missed the Sorting Ceremony and in fact there was already a huge variety of foods on the table. He was happy to see that Ron and Hermione had left a space for him at the table. He nodded to them, not yet trusting himself to speak and quickly began filling his plate. Sensing his mood, they filled the silence with all the important issues, such as who was, and was not dating who. Harry realized he was suddenly ravenous and began to eat. The excellent meal beggar to temper his mood and he soon joined in the conversation.

Suddenly all the sounds in the hall ground to a halt. When Harry turned around he saw Dumbledore and McGonagall entering the Hall, apparently their whereabouts must have been the topic of many conversations. After all, it was quite unusual for them both to be absent from the feast. In short order the hall again echoed with talk, laughter, and the clatter of knives and forks. McGonagall rested her hand briefly on Harry's shoulder as she passed as if offering her silent support.

As Harry refocused his attention back to the conversation, it turned to the extra people sitting at the staff table. Harry scanned the head table. Professor Flitwick, was sitting beside Professor Sprout, whose brow had a streak of dirt. Hagrid and Professor Sinistra were also present. On Professor Sinistra's left side was a dark haired, broad shouldered man talking animatedly with her. Next, came the pale, hook-nosed, greasy-haired Potions master. Harry quelled some of the anger still swirling within him that rose at this man's presence and forced himself to continue on. McGonagall and Dumbledore were now in their positions. On Dumbledore's other side sat a fair haired, wiry sort of fellow, more interested in his plate them any of the going-ons at the table. Finally next to him sat a brunette woman whose intense stare caught Harry's eye. She was dressed in majestic purple robes embroidered with many little moons embroidered on them. He figured the men were the new DADA teacher and potions tutor, but he could not help but wonder whom the woman might be. She gave him a smirk and winked at him. Shocked, Harry looked about but no, she was looking right at him. Harry took another look but still did not recognize her. He steeled himself and nudged Ron.

"Ron, do you know who that woman is?" he whispered without taking his eyes off the unfamiliar woman.

Ron shrugged. "The new DADA teacher maybe?"

"No, his name is Roarke." Harry answered snappishly. "And, er, she, she winked at me!"

Ron chuckled loudly. "She did, huh? Don't know how anyone would know who you are." He answered sarcastically. His smile widened, "Maybe she's a fan!" he said teasingly.

Harry groaned. Just what he needed, he thought. He tore his eyes from the strange woman, not wanting to encourage her and turned back to the conversation.

"So how you know who the DADA teacher is anyways?" Ron asked.

"Dumbledore told me. We'll cover it later," Harry responded, not wishing to mention the topic further in such a place.

When everyone had eaten their full, and the conversations rose to an ear shattering pitch, Dumbledore rose. The plates and food vanished as he began.

"So" said Dumbledore, glancing around at them all. "Now that we have eaten our fill, I must ask for your attention, while I give out a few start of term notices…"

"First, Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include various items including all items sold at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. The full list can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it."

He continued"As ever, I would like to remind you all that the Forbidden Forest remains forbidden and is out-of-bounds to students. The centaurs continue to be restless and may not stop to hear excuses first. Moreover, there are other less savory creatures that call the forest home."

Harry and Ron both shivered remembering Aragog and the spiders.

"Also, there have been several staff changes this year. Mr. Liam Roarke had kindly agreed to fill the DADA post which was once again left vacant this year." The entire hall, including Peeeves, who had somehow snuck into the dining hall, burst into applause. Even McGonagall was seen smothering a grin.

"We are also fortunate to have with us this year, several assistants who's contribution is sure to aid our professors. Professor Amon will be assisting in DADA, she has several years of experience within the Ministry. Also, Professor Sychak will be assisting Professor Snape with Potions. He has spent many years at an apothecary in London. I trust you will make all our new staff members feel welcome."

"It is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be sentient for your lessons tomorrow," he concluded.

Dumbledore sat down again and turned to talk to Professor McGonagall. The noise in the hall rose up as conversations rose up along with the scuffing and banging as the students got to their feet and began to exit the hall.

Ginny left to escort the first year students to the common room, as the others continued their leisurely pace. As they arrived at the staircase they found Ginny trying to extricate a first year from one of the trick stairs. To make matters worse, the student had panicked and now had his entire right leg caught in the step. Trying desperately not to laugh, Harry and Ron each grabbed a hand and pulled him out.

They kept on their way and soon arrived at the fat lady. "Password?"

"Alihotsy leaves," Hermione said authoritatively.

The portrait opened and the first year gasped. They all chuckled. Ron rustled his hair. "You'll get use to it. You'll remember the password?"

The first year nodded.

"Good. Off with you then." Ron ushered him through the hole. They all followed and soon took up their usual position in the common room. Harry looked about and shook his head. He had completely forgotten, somehow, that Luna was a Ravenclaw and thus not in the common room. He heard his name and could hear the first year that had come in with them whispering excitedly to the other first years. Harry ignored it and refocused on those around him. He filled his friends in on his confrontation with Fudge, but asked that they wait until after classes tomorrow so that Luna could hear the exploits of his summer. They agreed to meet in the Room of Requirement, so that they could ensure privacy.

After catching up a bit, Harry, Ron, and Neville climbed up the spiral staircase until they reached their dormitory. It looked the same as always. Five four-poster beds with crimson hangings, each with a trunk at the foot of the bed. Dean had tacked up his poster of the West Ham football team. They all hurried into their pajamas and finally to bed. Harry sighed in contentment. His bed was warmed as always, and the quiet of the tower was reminiscent of the Cabin. He was exhausted from the long day and soon drifted asleep.

Vernon Dursley was livid. He heard that miserable red headed hag, hustle the children off to the train for school. The boy would obviously be returning to that school of his as well. This meant their sentence should be over. Yet here they were still imprisoned in this strange place. Ever since Dudley had ventured out into the house and returned refusing to speak for two hours, and even the refusing to divulge what had bothered him so. They had not ventured out of their suite at all. The meals simply appeared in their room at the appropriate time. Fortunately, this meant they did not need to socialize with all the freaks that seemed to occupy the home. There were so many, Vernon believed it was some sort of sick commune.

The Dursleys had been missing from Privet Drive for a month and a half now. Vernon was sure he had lost his job already. Though of more importance to him at the moment, was if they would ever get out of this freak world they had been thrust into. He had been banging on the door and demanding to the white bearded freak for over an hour now to no avail. If only he had known what a silencing charm was.

The next morning the sun shone bright in the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall handed out the schedules to the Gryffindors. When she reached Harry, she handed him his schedule and said, "Professor Dumbledore would like to see you this morning, first thing, Potter. You will be excused from your first period. Go up right after breakfast." She leaned over and whispered, "The password is 'Butterfinger'."

Harry nodded curtly. He looked over his schedule and noted several study periods. He assumed this was when he would study potions. It also seemed what he was going to missing first thing this morning. They compared schedules. Ron had Advanced Divination and Hermione had Arithmancy. Later, they would meet up for Transfiguration.

There was a whishing sound overhead and a hundred or so owls flowed into the hall. Dropping letters and packages for the students. A lumpy package arrived in front of Neville. Harry was surprised when the most nondescript owl landed in front of him. He handed it a bit of bacon which it took gladly. He opened the letter and a puff of smoke arose turning his hand red.

"Fred and George?" Ron asked.

Harry shook his head distractedly. "Mad Eye."

Mr. Potter,

I understand you have asked for advanced defensive training. I have agreed to provide this. I have spoken with your minders and will arrive on Wednesday at 7pm for your first lesson. By the way, I will be checking to see if that hand of yours is red. Don't bother if it is, it will not wash off. Constant Vigilance.

Alastor Moody.

Harry ate very slowly, putting this conversation off as long as possible. When everyone was getting ready for classes he realized he could put it off no longer and trudged up to Dumbledore's office. Hopefully, it would be more pleasant then last evening.

Harry wondered briefly why the password was changed, but dismissed it as another one of Dumbledore's idiosyncrasies. Perhaps, the minister had something against muggle sweets. He told the password to the gargoyle and watched it spring aside. Well no screaming, I guess that's an improvement, he thought. As he reached the top of the staircase, he rapped once.

"Come in, Harry."

Dumbledore was sitting in the high-backed chair behind his desk. He was leaning forward over the papers laid out on it. His penetrating blue eyes fixed intently upon Harry. "Come in, come in. Have a seat."

Harry sat and return the gaze with intensity. He stared at Dumbledore, blank-faced waiting for him to speak.

After a few moments, Dumbledore began. "Alas Harry, it seems we are at an impasse. I see little else I can do but apologize once again for my mistakes in regards to you, Harry. Surely, you understand I had your best interest in mind…"

"No."

"I feel this animosity between us… I'm sorry? What?"

"No." Harry repeated a little louder.

The headmaster seemed taken aback. "No, what?"

"No. You did not have my best interest in mind. You had the best interest of the Wizarding World in mind." Harry retorted.

"Alas, one affects the other does it not. If there is no wizarding world…" Dumbledore trailed off. "As I was saying, this animosity between us needs to come to an end. Surely there is something to be done here…" Dumbledore continued as his eyes twinkled.

Harry felt a prickling in his mind and reinforced the Occlumency shields he had in place. "Please stop that, sir." Harry spat.

"Ah, my dear boy," Dumbledore smiled brightly. "You have been practicing."

"Alas, I wanted to inform you that all the agreements we came to during the summer are in place. I believe your meetings with Alastor start on Wednesday?"

Harry nodded.

"Also, the room of requirement is yours to use as you see fit. Please do not abuse the privilege. Thank you, Harry."