A/N: This is my first attempt at posting a HP fic. So hang in there and tell me if you like it. I already have five or six chapters written for this, so if I get enough feedback, I'll post more. (Say 5 reviews by Friday.)

italics represent Harry's inner voice. It tends to annoy him sometimes in the story...mainly for my own amusement.

Golden Boy's Return

Harry stood looking up at what had been his home for over five years, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He looked over the building with an appreciative glance before sighing and walking toward it.

He'd been away for over 9 months and it felt extremely strange to be walking through the doors again. Sure, the world was safer now that he defeated Voldermort the year prior but hadn't he taken to hiding afterward for a reason? He was still trying to comprehend why he was back at school for his final year when all he really wanted to do was stay underground.

Unfinished business? his inner voice questioned.

Maybe. He reasoned.

Old friends?

Possibly

New ones?

Surely, you jest.

One white-blonde, silver eyed, nasty tempered Slytherin prince with the body of a god?

Damn it, I hate it when you do that. I hate it when you're right. That would be the main reason. I miss the prat.

He,He,He…you want him…

I really wish there was a way to remove you.

Nope, sorry, you're stuck with me

Harry groaned as his inner voice continued to torment him but silenced as he ascended the great stone steps that led to the doors.

It was the day before the students were due to arrive at Hogwarts so the halls were empty, save the professors.

Harry went straight to Dumbledore's office and gave the gargoyle the password. Upon entering the round room, he saw Dumbledore stand.

"It is a pleasure to have you back with us for your final year, Mr. Potter."

"I just figured I should finish what I started seven years ago, sir." Harry replied with a shrug.

Dumbledore's eyes just twinkled even more, "If that is what it takes you to sleep at night, Mr. Potter, keep believing it." Before Harry could respond, Dumbledore continued, "I have arranged for new living quarters for you. Seeing as you have been alone for the past year, almost, I figure throwing back in with three other young men would just be cruel to both you and them."

Harry nodded, "Thank you, sir. I do appreciate the thoughtfulness."

"One more thing, thank you for agreeing to teach Dark Arts this year."

Harry just nodded as he followed Dumbledore out of the office.

Harry received the password for his new quarters and smiled slightly, "Professor, no offense but couldn't you try something a little more original?"

Dumbledore shrugged elegantly, "You are more than welcome to change it if you don't think 'victory' is appropriate. Just tell the devil."

Harry finally took notice of the painting guarding his door. He laughed aloud, "Dante's Inferno, really how obvious can you be, sir?"

Dumbledore just smiled as he ushered the young man into his rooms.

Harry looked around his sitting room and turned back to his headmaster, "Thank you again, sir."

"Well, we can't have our newest teacher sleeping with his students. Wait, that didn't sound right." Dumbledore fumbled.

Harry laughed, "I understand, sir." He turned to peruse the room once more when the older man spoke again.

"Harry?"

"Yes, sir?" he turned around to face the older man again. He couldn't recall ever being called by his given name by the professor before so it must be important.

"Have you told anyone about your return to Hogwarts?"

Harry cast his gaze downward before replying, "No sir. I haven't spoken to anyone, save the teachers and Remus since I left to fight last November."

Dumbledore nodded, "I just wanted to know what to expect when they see you again. One more thing, are you going to keep the glamour or show your true colors?"

Harry wasn't shocked that Dumbledore saw through his glamour. "I haven't decided yet. I'll decide tonight and however I start school tomorrow is how I shall remain."

The headmaster smiled, "Good thing, my boy. One more thing, seventh year students aren't required to wear robes to class anymore. Dress as you wish as long as it's not too scandalous."

Harry laughed as he looked down at his glamour wardrobe. "Yes, sir." Harry replied as Dumbledore exited his rooms.

Harry wandered his quarters before settling in to go over his lesson plan. Dumbledore had told him it was merely a guideline and he could add or drop what he wished. He started making notes right away.

Harry didn't realize how much time had passed until he was brought back to the present with a knock on his door.

He stood and stretched as he walked to the door. He pushed it open and was greeted by two of his professors.

"Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, what do I owe the honor?" Harry inquired as he stepped aside to allow them entrance.

"Mr. Potter, I believe we are the ones with the honor. I was wondering if you were going to return. And now teaching as well, I must admit, I am shocked." McGonagall gushed.

"Thank you professor. I just want to finish what I started. I didn't want to let anyone down." Harry said.

"Then I shall leave you to talk with Severus. He mentioned at dinner he wanted a word with you and I couldn't help but tag along." McGonagall said, she hugged him quickly before exiting his room.

"Yes Potter it is such a pleasure to have you back here again." Snape sneered.

"I'm sure you had a great deal to say on the subject of my return, sir."

"Oh, indeed I did." Snape started but halted as the door clicked firmly shut. "This is going to help settle the rumors of what happened to you, Harry."
Harry laughed, "Yes, I'm not dead, demented…well, no more than usual, or gods forbid, a pile of brain mush at St. Mungo's."

Severus smiled, "What's with the glamour?"

Harry grinned, "Thanks for the new piercing and tattoo for my birthday, Sev. Wanna see them?"

Snape looked skeptical, "Are they somewhere I should be looking?"

Harry smirked, "They are in very innocent places, this time." Harry removed his glamour and stood before Snape.

"Ah, there's the Harry I've become fond of recently." Snape noted the appearance of three new piercings and two tattoos, "So which ones did I buy?"

Harry pointed to his lip ring, then turned his back on Snape, and lifted his shirt to reveal a snake gracing his lower back.

"How appropriate. Why did I buy those?" Snape asked sarcastically.

Harry grinned evilly as he answered, "I know you think lip rings are damn sexy and well, the snake should be self explanatory."

Snape actually laughed at Harry's logic, "So, the fuck me here tattoo. Are you ready to come out then?"

Harry shrugged, "Only if asked about it. So, Dumbledore asked if I was going to use the glamour, what do you think?"

Snape looked at him, "You are you, Harry, why hide it? I think you look great."

Harry smiled, "Thanks, no glam it is then. They will see the real me tomorrow night then."

Snape laughed, "I can't wait to see their reactions to the new Harry Potter."

Harry grinned and noticed that his friends smile faltered, "What's wrong, Sev?"

"How's Remus?"

"He's holding in there. He misses you when you leave."

"I miss him, too." Snape said with his eyes downcast.

Harry approached the older man and wrapped his arms around his waist. He tucked his head under the taller man's chin and just comforted him, "I know it sucks. At least you know love and what it feels like to have it returned. No one knows I'm gay and I don't know if anyone ever will like me for me and not as the boy-who-lived, or whatever they are dubbing me this week."

Snape relished the comfort the young man was providing. He ran a hand up and down the other one's spine, "You will find someone, dear. I must be off to set up the potions room for this year's sniveling little prats. Oh, did I say that out loud?" Snape feigned innocence on letting his feelings for the students out.

"Hey, I'm still in your class, well sort of." Harry said trying to sound offended.

"We'll talk soon, okay, Harry?" inquired Snape.

"Sure, Sev. You know where to find me if you need anything." Harry offered. He'd found a great friend and a borderline father figure in the potions master. In fact, he was the only breathing person to know about his relationship with Remus.

Snape exited Harry's room with a curt nod.

The next day, September 1st was the longest day of Harry's life. He readied his classroom for the beginning of class the next day, and rearranged his room about six times before the students arrived.

It was Dumbledore's idea to have Harry sit at the head table for the start of year feast. He needed to be announced as the newest teacher of the Dark Arts.

Harry stood in the side room with all his professors before the students entered the Great Hall. He was nervous and felt slightly ill.

Snape noticed the green tint of his friend, "You okay?"

Harry closed his eyes, "No."

"I see you dropped the glamour."

"Yes, was it a mistake?"

"Nope, you look hot," said Madame Pomphrey.

Harry turned scarlet at the woman's compliment. "Thank you. So you don't think I will be sending anyone to the hospital wing out of shock?"

Snape shook his head, "No. I think you'll do just fine."

The teachers and Harry took their places at the table and waited for the students to begin pouring in.

Snape rested a friendly hand on Harry's thigh. He was trying to reassure the young man that he had made the right choice.

Harry spotted the 7th year Gryffindors as they made their way to the table. He also saw a certain blonde halt his progress and stare at the head table.

Harry dropped his head and looked at Snape sideways, "This is what I was afraid of. The look on Malfoy's face. Sev, why am I here?"

"You said yes."

"Call it sheer stupidity then. I won't be attending classes, yet doing all the work, again. I'll be teaching people that were my peers just last year. Who am I to believe that I can do this? What makes me better than them?" Harry asked, suddenly panicking.

Snape grabbed Harry by the arm and pulled him to the door. He shoved him through and followed right behind. He placed a silencing charm on the room before turning to the younger man.

"Harry, calm down. Breathe, inhale, exhale. Okay. You can do this. You know everything about the Dark Arts, even more than I do…which is frightening by the way. These students haven't seen nor done an eighth of what you endured these last 9 months, not to mention prior years. Harry, look at me. This is your subject. It's your best subject, which once again, frightens me. Now, pull yourself together and let's enter the hall together. Just don't make eye contact with anyone right now or this will be all for naught." Snape warned.

"Thanks, Sev. I'm okay now." Harry said as he stepped through the door. Harry kept his head down and refused to look at anyone else in the hall. He could feel the eyes of his former classmates upon him though as the hat sorted the new first years.

Hermione, Ron and Ginny were stunned speechless at the sight of Harry sitting at the head table.

"Did you know he was coming back?" inquired Hermione.

Both Weasleys shook their heads no. The trio sat in silence unable to believe their friend had returned without a word. He wasn't even acknowledging them now.

A similar thought was going through Draco's head. Except he included his godfather in his mind. He couldn't believe he wasn't told that Potter would be returning to the school. And it appeared that he returned as a teacher if placement was to be believed.

Dumbledore stood up to do his beginning speech. He was winding down when he decided to announce the newest teacher to Hogwarts. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to bring attention to the new Darks Arts teacher. I know all but maybe the second and first years know him but let me reintroduce, Harry Potter."

Snape jabbed Harry in the ribs, "Stand up and try to smile a little," he murmured.

Harry stood and looked over the deathly quiet hall. He quickly sat back down and continued to stare into his lap.

"Tuck in, then" Dumbledore concluded.

Harry made it through dinner without getting sick, even though he felt like it. The dishes were cleared and Harry just sat at the table while the hall emptied. He kept his gaze focused on his lap and his head in his hands. He felt Snape pat him on the back and whisper good luck into his ear before he moved away to corral his Slytherins.

Three shadows fell across the table in front of Harry. He just closed his eyes for a minute before looking up. He knew who was standing there and yet he just couldn't face it.

"Harry, why didn't you write?" Ginny asked, her voice strained with unshed tears.

"Mate, we were all so worried about you. What happened?" inquired Ron.

Hermione waited before she spoke, "Do you know what we thought after that last owl you sent?"

Harry had to almost strain his hearing because she was whispering. He felt the familiar sting of tears welling behind his eyes. "I wish I had an answer for you but I don't. I couldn't come back here last year. I couldn't face the aftermath of killing Voldermort…he's dead Ron, grow up."

Hermione reached out and smacked him, hard, across the face, "But an owl with a note that said, 'I'm fine. No need to worry about me. I'll see you when I can.' That was cruel. We had no idea where you were or what really happened. No one knows but you what happened that night."

Harry stood up and met the gaze of his three friends for the first time in nine months, "Don't you think that I am aware of that? Do you think that that could be why I chose not to return last year? Do you have any idea how messed up I was after that final battle?"

Hermione hung her head in shame, "I can't answer those questions because you never let us know."

"That's my point. What I had to face is something I wouldn't wish on anyone. I didn't want to have to relive it for you so you could have nightmares as well. But look, I'm fine. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. You will see me on a daily basis again. I just won't be in your house anymore." Harry said, his tone sounded flat, almost defeated.

"Why aren't you in the house?" inquired Ron.

"I'm a teacher now, Ron. I only have two classes to take this year and I'm done. I've already taken my NEWTS in everything else but potions and Transfiguration. I'll be doing independent study between my classes." Harry explained.

The three left Harry to sit back down in his chair and drop his head onto the table.

"That had to hurt." A voice said from his right.

Harry didn't pick up his head, only turned it toward the voice. "Malfoy, what can I do for you?"

"What happened to you?" inquired Draco.

"If this is about the battle, I won't tell you," Harry started.

"I don't give a damn about the battle. All that I care about that is the fact you defeated the insane moron trying to run my family into the ground. I want to know physically, what did you do?"

Harry shrugged, "Let my hair grow, ran every day, lifted weights, flew, got some tattoos, a few piercings, and bought my own clothes."

Draco shook his head, "This is only for you to hear so I'd appreciate if you didn't repeat it to anyone. You look damn hot this year, Potter."

Harry looked up and couldn't say anything. He looked into Malfoy's expressive silver eyes in disbelief, "Come again?"

Malfoy couldn't help it, he sneered, "Can't do again until it happens first but it was close when I saw you."

"Are you trying to tell me that I almost made you come just by you looking at me?"

"For a new teacher, you are a little slow. Yes. You are absolutely gorgeous." Draco stated. He turned to walk away before tossing over his shoulder, "See you in class tomorrow, Professor Potter."

Harry groaned and let his head fall to hit the table again.

Please review. Let me know if I should continue this or let the Golden Boy die. I know this isn't an original story line but I'm hoping you'll like my take on it.