A/N: So I feel slightly bad. I went from daily updates for a week, and now I'm back to work and I haven't updated in 4 days. Well sad as it is, it's how it will likely be for awhile, only about two updates a week.

blueskiezrusty: I'm glad you found it funny. I try and make it entertaining to read. I'm quite sad the daily updates are gone as well.. but silly need to work and make money :)

Ythefrown2day: I shall try hard to update a lot.. but well... sorry in advance :)

Leelo77: Oh that makes me really happy that this is your favourite. Make sure you tell me what would make it EVEN better for you. I'm happy to have Snape in the story as well. He's one of my faves. Quite adorable (that sounds really odd doesn't it?)

Rheniel: Thank you again and again. As for Snape... Well tell me how to make Snape more... Snapeish... I know I'm not that good at writing him. (Him and Sirius tend to be immature together in my mind..) And Aine will be getting along with Snape. Just to throw a kink into everyone who thought i was putting her together with Sirius from the start. And isn't Slytherin just swell? As for Salem.. well it's unlikely that I can go simply because of the money. But if you go have fun for all of us!

Ah 20 chapters already! And I'm not even really nearly done... such a long story I love it! This chapter introduces the other teachers, most are familiar... Please read and enjoy, and of COURSE review :)

Chapter 20

My waking the next morning found me staring rather confused at some dark velvet curtains that were impeccable, and therefore certainly not to be found at 12 Grimmauld Place. Then I remembered where in fact I was, and what I was doing here. I was in my room at Hogwarts, where starting in just a few days I would be a teacher. It was a situation that even in my more fanciful moments I couldn't have come up with. And I wasn't even seriously there to be a teacher, instead I was there because Sirius had to locate a lost horcrux of Voldemort's so Harry could finally defeat the dark wizard. It all would make an interesting novel. Or a movie.

I started to debate with myself about who would be best to play me in this theoretical picture. As I silently worked this out, I made my way out of bed, and into the bathroom that was attached to my room. Good thing about that too. I didn't want to have to share bathrooms with any kids. The least teachers can get is their own bathrooms.

Once I was bathed and refreshed, and suitably clothed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, I had to think of what I needed to do first. And with most normal healthy people in the morning, breakfast was first on my mind. Of course I also had no idea where breakfast was going to be.

"Dobby!" I called out the only house elf name I knew. I couldn't be calling for him every single time I needed something though. I needed to either learn some other names, or more ideally learn to do things for myself.

A small popping sound proceeded the sudden appearance of Dobby in the middle of my living room. The rooms I had been given consisted of three rooms. My bathroom, my bedroom, and the other room. Which I had decided to call the living room, but which could also be called the study since it had a rather nice oak desk in the corner. No television though. I wasn't sure what a muggle at a Wizarding school was going to do for fun. Not that I would have time for any fun. Research, research, research. The connection had to be cut.

"Miss Aine Mackinnion is wanting something?"

I stood for a moment staring down into the house elves rather large green eyes, wondering once again how any of this was possible. The creature standing in front of me was just not supposed to exist. And yet there he stood, shifting nervously from foot to foot, waiting for me to speak.

"I'm sorry Dobby." I knelt down in front of him, going eye level with the short elf. I didn't think it was entirely fair to always stand towering above him. "I don't know any other house elves's names, and I don't know where I'm supposed to go for breakfast."

His face broke into a rather goofy looking grin, and he started to bounce excitedly. Clearly he was pleased to be of use to some one. The grin completed a rather clown like appearance that went well with the large green eyes, and pencil nose, not to mention the clothing he was wearing.

"Breakfast is in the Great Hall. Dobby will take you down. Don't worry about other names. Need anything, just call on Dobby."

It was rather hard not to smile back at his enthusiasm. It was really rather hard to not like the small house elf. He was really quite endearing. I quickly followed him out of my room, and down the dark hallways of the Dungeons, and up some stairs. I tried quite hard as we went to memorize where I was going. I was also trying quite hard to ignore the moving portraits on the walls. After all it's hard to concentrate on where you're going if you're gobsmacked over a walking talking portrait. Doubly hard when they start talking about you as you pass.

Finally Dobby stopped in front of some large doors, so I assumed this was the Great Hall.

"Thanks Dobby." I waved, and he mumbled a response before popping out quickly.

Behind the doors would be strangers who I was going to have to work with now. All wizards, and I wasn't sure how they would all respond to a muggle in their midst. But never one to take a step back from the unknown, I took a deep breath and pushed open the doors. It was quite the dramatic moment.

The Great Hall was just that. A great big hall. Huge in fact. Hanging from the ceiling were large banners all in shades of green and grey, thereby indicating that Slytherin had won the cup the last year. I could just imagine Sirius's face when he had seen that. There were four large tables going down the length of the hall, but at the very end, on a dais was one large table where all the teachers sat. All staring at me as I made my entrance. And of course I was the last to arrive. It's really saying something when even Sirius manages to get there before you.

I tried not to run to the table, managing to keep at least an iota of decorum. I saw Sirius, and he smiled rather encouragingly at me, and motioned me over to him, where he had saved a seat. Nice that.

Quietly, and somewhat subdued for me, I made my way over to where he was and took a seat.

"We'll forgive the slight tardiness Miss Mackinnion, simply since you didn't know what time we have breakfast." The Headmistress sat a few seats down from me, and I leaned forward to nod my head at her. "This will be the best time to introduce you to the other teachers at Hogwarts."

She skipped over Sirius and Severus, and quickly said the names and positions of everyone at the table. Some I knew as teachers from the books, some were new to me.

There was matronly Professor Sprout, still in charge of Herbology, as if her name would make it acceptable for her to teach anything else. She smiled at me, and I knew I wasn't going to have a problem with her at least. Then there was Professor Flitwick, so small one could have missed the man. Charms was still his domain, and like Sprout, there was no animosity in his gaze. Though he looked perplexed enough.

Then there was Professor Sinistra, who I didn't know too well from the books. I vaguely remembered a mention or two of the woman, but she never played a large part. She was the teacher for Astronomy and her look matched her position. She wore black robes, and her face was dark. My educated guess would say she was from India, or Pakistan. And the look she was giving me wasn't pleasant. I might have some problems with her.

Someone else who was new to me was Professor Vector. As bluntly as was possible, she was rather nerdy. She looked like every single stereotype I had ever seen of a math teacher. Her gray hair was in a tight bun, wire rim glasses set on her pointed nose. Without even telling me, just from her appearance, I knew she was the arithmancy teacher. That was a class I certainly never wanted to take. She didn't really look at me, so I wasn't worth her concern. Which was good enough for me. I'd rather be ignored.

Two women I certainly remembered from the books were Madam Pomfrey and Madam Pince. The school nurse and librarian respectfully. They seemed quite the polar opposites. Pomfrey was rather large, and seemed to just set people at ease. Pince on other hand was cold, and sort of like a human crab. It was hard to explain her. Their reactions to me seemed the opposite as well. Madam Pomfry warmly said hello as she was introduced, Pince barely even nodded. It was a relationship I was certainly going to have to work on though. I needed to spend a lot of time in the library.

Hagrid was a large presence at the end of the table. His eyes were black and warm, seeming to accept me as an outsider much like himself. Being a muggle didn't really help me here, but then I guess a half giant flunk out didn't have much chance of being too well liked at first either. He was still groundskeeper and Care of Magical Creatures teacher, but recalling his fondness for painful creatures in the books, I thought I might stay away from his classes. Or at least any that involved things that could bite, claw or blast anything nasty at me.

A completely new face to me was the Ancient Runes teacher. The subject had been mentioned in the books, but the teacher had remained a mystery, never being seen at all. Professor Futhark was in what I would have assumed in muggle terms was his late forties, his hair graying, at least what was left of it. The top of his plate was shiny, only the sides of his head holding valiantly onto the remaining hair he had left. He had a sort of jovial look, except for the dark look in his eyes. It was hard to tell whether the look was directed at me, or at the empty plate in front of him.

Madam Hooch, looked like quite a tough woman. Her yellow eyes didn't look like they would miss anything, which I guess would be quite helpful when dealing with Quidditch games. Those I was looking forward to seeing. I expected from her rather stern expression to have some problems with her, but she said hello quite pleasantly.

The last teacher I was introduced to was a bit of surprise to me. I knew who she was, just not in regards to being a teacher. This placement had certainly happened after the books. Her hair was a rather normal tawny color, and she had dark eyes that were twinkling, though I was quick to notice their direction. Straight at Sirius. She was a pretty young witch. One Nymphadora Tonks was now the Transfiguration teacher. I was surprised at her being here, since the book had made her near inconsolable after Remus's death, since they had been quite involved at that point. With her appearance I was certainly going to have to explain that to Sirius. He wouldn't know that his cousin had a relationship with his old friend. If I had expected a pleasant welcome from anyone it would have been her, but she looked a little wary, her eyes darting back and forth between Sirius and me.

"Professor Binns teaches History of Magic, but being a ghost he doesn't really eat with us often. And Firenze is our Divination teacher, but he is also a centaur, and not really comfortable eating with so many of us." McGonagall explained. "Now everyone please welcome our new Defense against the Dark Arts and Muggle Studies teachers." A polite round of clapping started, and ended quick enough. "Miss Mackinnion, you might want to start to wear robes when the students get here."

I glanced round the table, and sure enough everyone was wearing nice looking robes. I glanced down at my shirt and jeans. It certainly placed me in a different sphere.

"Actually Headmistress, I plan on wearing my normal muggle clothes." Eyes widened behind their spectacles as I spoke. "I'm the muggle studies teacher, and a muggle. There's no reason for me to change my clothes. And frankly I think it would be advantageous for the children to see how muggles actually dress. I've seen some of the clothes a wizard has come up with to look 'normal' in muggle society." A quick image of Cairn wearing his trenchcoat and overalls, flowery shirt underneathe, came into my head, making me smile. "You can all use some real lessons in muggle fashion."

Breakfast appeared before us all, like magic. I berated myself quietly, knowing quite well that it was magic. McGonagall seemed a little thrown off by my refusal to wear robes, but she kept quiet. I could only hope that she understood my reasoning, either that or she was going to wait until later to have a talk with me about it.

British breakfast can take some getting used to, especially if you're used to nice wholesome meals of cereal and toast. A good British meal though consists largely of meats and fats. Plenty of good bangers, rashers, eggs, mushrooms and beans. It was certainly not the sort of meal one has when they're watching their figure. I though was starving. Dinner had consisted of a small sandwich and some crisps. I quickly ate more then any one should have.

When i finished my meal I tried to get Professor Snape to speak to me but it was a task I was doomed to fail. Since he was sitting a few chairs down from me the logistics just weren't there. Of course I could blame it on that, but the truth of the matter was that the man just did NOT want to speak to me. If the dark looks he was giving me were any indication.

As people finished they quietly left, and soon it was just Sirius, Nymphadora and me left at the table, Severus had made sure he was not left alone with the three people who he would least want to be around. I had been far too eager to eat to actually pay attention to anyone else really. That might have been a little rude, but my appetite was not to be taken lightly. Sirius though was happily catching up with his cousin, who was still staring at him strangely. I wasn't sure if it was because she found him attractive, or because he was alive. I rather hoped it was the later, since the former was a little icky for me. They were cousins. And despite rumours about the British family, I was fairly certain that was a no no in this country as well.

"So should I call you professor, Nymphadora, what?" I sipped my glass of water, eyeing the young witch over the rim.

Apparently her conversation with Sirius over breakfast had dimmed her attitude toward me. A large smile lighted up her face, and her hair had suddenly turned a shocking pink colour.

"Tonks will be good enough. I try and make everyone forget my first name, but Professor McGonagall just keeps reminding people."

"But it's such a beautiful name cousin." Sirius had moved his chair back to avoid the expected mock punch the pink haired girl directed toward him. "Brings to mind all sorts of Greek nymphs bathing nude."

"And Sirius brings to mind a large, drooling dog." I said innocently, beating Tonks to the reprimand of his mocking of her name. The statement certainly amused Tonks, who now had her hand covering her face, laughing quietly into the palm.

"Oh poor boy... and you're attached to her as well!"

Apparently Sirius didn't feel any need to keep quiet on that score. My eyes must have been hot on him, wondering the extent of the information he had unloaded on the young witch. His steely eyes on me though indicated with force that he wasn't going to be that stupid. It was the same story that Snape and McGonagall had heard. A spell had backfired. That was the official explanation for something that we could have problems hiding.

"So why exactly is a muggle teaching here?"

It was the question that I didn't doubt all of the teachers were asking themselves, some probably were asking the Headmistress and probably not in dulcet tones. It was a question that I was certainly going to have to deal a lot with, especially when the students arrived back at the school to find a muggle in residence, and teaching them.

"Well I'm friends with Harry. And since we have this connection and Sirius had a job here, I accepted one as well. It's just temporary of course." My fingers were tracing the patterns in the wood as I considered what I was doing in the school, and how long I would be there. I would be home soon if I could cut the side effect, and even if not we would likely leave once Sirius discovered where his brother would have hidden a dark lord's secret object. "It's an interesting opportunity for a muggle like me as well."

"Certainly." Tonks tilted her head and regarded me with great seriousness. I expected some dark and painful question to cross her lips. Perhaps something to do with why her long since dead cousin was sitting there, munching on a banger. "Have you ever seen someone change their nose?"

A/N: The Ancient Runes teacher was never given a name, so I made up one. But since Rowling tends to like giving names that reflect who the person is and what they do, the name Futhark is from the fact that the first six runes of the alphabet spell that word out. So the old German Runic alphabet is referred to as the Elder Futhark. See I look into these things. :)