Hogwarts has always been like a second home to me given how much time I enjoyed exploring the castle as a little girl during summer vacation when all the students were gone. One of the advantages of having your Grandpa as Headmaster. Many people consider Albus Dumbledore to be their idol given he is such a great wizard, but he was my childhood hero. To me he was the greatest wizard of all time who could do no wrong, and when he came for a visit you always hugged him then searched his pockets for the candy he brought for you – candy that was always better then anything your parents ever gave you. That's why he could get me to do what no one else could, obey instructions.
Just before I left for Hogwarts for the first time he drew me aside and told me that I was not to tell anyone that I was his granddaughter because he had many enemies who would try to hurt me just for that reason. I'd replied; "because you're such a great wizard?" and he'd smiled and said, "yes, and it would hurt me greatly if anything ever happened to you".
So I never told anybody and no one ever suspected, after all I don't look like him. I have my father's straight, fine dark brown hair, which I keep chin length, his solid build, and my mother's gentle, rounder features, but I have Grandpa's blue eyes. McGonagall once told me in privet that because I had Grandpa's eye's she could almost give me a detention in advance of me doing anything because my eyes would twinkle when I was up to something mischievous. I'd replied straight face that she couldn't give Grandpa a detention because he was her boss.
My ability to get detentions had only been exceeded by James Potter and Sirius Black, which was why I now found it ironic that I was in charge of handing out detentions to students. I had a sneaking suspicion that I might end up turning a blind eye to many of the mischief-makers that roam Hogwarts halls. Feeling restless I decided not to unpack right away, but to take a stroll around the grounds that I hadn't seen in years.
It was a nice day out, and I often found myself lingering around the spots that held many memories for me; the whomping willow where I'd won the competition by getting the closest to it, the lake where we'd seen who could dive closest to the giant squid before it threw you out of the water, and last of all, the Quidditch pitch.
"Adrian Whitsun," a voice rang out across the grounds, "Is it really you?"
I turned to see Madam Hooch, my old flying instructor, striding across the grass towards me.
"It's me for sure."
"I thought so. Albus must be getting desperate if he's called you in for the Defence Against the Dark Arts job. I didn't think he'd want to put his granddaughter in danger given it's cursed."
I gave her my typical cocky half-grin. "Well I'll just have to un-curse it then."
She shook her head. "Still the same after all these years I see. It's a pity you never decided to lend your skills to professional Quidditch, England could have used a keeper like you."
When I had first started flying and Quidditch lessons at school I'd been determined to be a seeker but was told I was too big for that and too small for a beater so I'd ended up as a chaser like everyone else. I'd been an average chaser, which hadn't earned the interest of the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team who had been recruiting for the next season given he was to loose two chasers and a seeker and had only seen potential in James Potter and Sirius Black. I'd been more then a little discouraged, then by fluke during one first year Quidditch session I'd agreed to fill in for our sick keeper – Remus Lupin – and had done so well that Madam Hooch moved me to the position permanently. The following year I'd won the position of keeper from a sixth year who had been playing for the house team for two years. By seventh year there were more then a few teams looking at me with curiosity, but I had turned them down since my real interests lay elsewhere.
"Yeah, well, I felt I was destined for other things. I still enjoy flying though."
Hooch sighed. "Too much of your Grandfather in you I suppose. Though between you and me I'm surprised he decided to give you the Defence Against the Dark Arts job when there's someone else who wants it so much."
I shot her a puzzled look. "Who?"
"Not for me to say. Anyway, Adrian, it's been nice talking to you but I have things to take care of so I'll see you at dinner."
As I watched her hustling back in the direction of the supply sheds I wondered who would possibly want a supposedly cursed job, and why she didn't want to tell me. Shaking it off as paranoia I headed back to the castle and the great hall where dinner was going to be served soon enough, and if I wanted to eat it was best I said my hello's before the meal was served.
I'd barely taken two steps into the great hall when a familiar voice cried "Adrain!" and I was enveloped in a crushing hug by Minerva McGonagall. It was a rare show of affection by the Transfiguration Professor and one that I had a sneaking suspicion partially stemmed from the fact that I'm Dumbledore's granddaughter.
Immediately I was surrounded by my past Professors, Professor Flitwick inquired how I was and was almost overridden by Hagrid who wanted to know where I'd been all these years. Professor Sprout butted in to tell me all about the venomous plants she'd been breading that she was sure I'll be interested in. As I answered everyone's questions I wondered how many of them genuinely think I'm of great importance and how many treat me more importantly because of Grandpa.
I was rather shocked to be introduced to a Centaur – Firenze – who apparently is one of two divination teachers, the other wasn't there because all the commotion "clouds her inner eye". The only other Professor I recognised was Professor Vector who was appointed when I was in my final year but never taught me. The other Professors who I don't know seemed to assume that the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is simply a much-loved former student and give me a warm, friendly welcome.
Dumbledore entered after all Professors but the Potions Professor had arrived, and enveloped me in a hug – I still only come up to his chin.
"It is good to see you, child."
"I'm not much of a child anymore, Grandpa."
He chuckled as he held me at arms length and looks me up and down. "You will always be a child to me."
Firenze was the first of the new teachers to recover their voice. "A foal from your line, Dumbledore?"
Before he could reply the doors to the Great Hall swung open and I turned to face the Potions Professor and froze in shock as I met eyes with Severus Snape. We stared at each other for a long moment and all I could think was 'he hasn't changed one bit'.
A/N: cookies for whoever can tell me where the title of this chapter is from