Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.

DADA teacher and midnight surprise

Harry could see his friends as they slowly entered the castle. He wasn't sure if he should stay in the common room or join them in the great hall for dinner. Neither Albus or Severus told him what to do. Maybe it was time to make a decision wether to tell everyone the truth or keep silent about it. After all, Severus told him to do what he feels right. He was thinking about that for days and decided to leave the thing as they were. He will stay Harry Potter for everyone. No one must know with what the boy-who-lived has to deal with, at least for now. He hurried down and entered the great hall among the last ones. Everyone already settled down at their tables. He saw how his red haired friend nervously shooed Dean Thomas when he tried to sit next to him by telling him that the seat is taken. Lavender Brown was walking next to Harry and he could hear her telling Parvati that she is the new Gryffindor Prefect much to her surprise. Ron looked rather disturbed, so Harry hurried and took a seat next to him.

''Harry! Where the hell were you!'' Ron shouted angrily, a few pupils turned to see what's going on.

Before Harry could respond, the hall went silent and the Sorting hat started to sing a song that was very familiar to the one he sang last year. Ron was nervously bitting his lips looking at Harry accusingly. Harry glanced at the professors table but didn't see any new Professor. When the had finished with singing, the sorting began. Harry noticed that of all four houses, Gryffindors got the most new students. Professor McGonagall took the Sorting hat and carried it out of the great hall. The first years sat over their tables and just when Ron was about to demand an explanation, Albus stood up

''Welcome all to another year at Hogwarts. I have a few anouncemments to make before the feast. First of all, I wish to inform you that one of our students and Prefects won't be going to Hogwarts anymore. Due to that, we have a new Gryffindor Prefect, Lavender Brown.'' Albus said

The Gryffindors turned to Lavender who was slightly blushing with everyone staring at her. They aplauded confusedly whispering among themselves. Over the Slytherin table Harry could hear Malfoy laughing loudly. Harry threw him a poisonous glare.

''What is he on about?'' Ron asked Harry in disbelief discretely gesturing towards Albus.

''Ron, Hermione won't go to Hogwarts anymore.'' Harry whispered thinking it will be less painfull that way. It wasn't.

''WHAT!'' Ron yelled jumping on his feet. Now everyone stared at him.

''Mister Weasley, if you don't mind, I would like to continue.'' Albus said with a smile. Few students laughed, Harry saw Professor McGonagall shaking her head. After Harry pulled Ron to sit down, Albus continued ''Further more, this year was no volunteers for the Defence Against the Dark Arts job.'' Albus said, Harry turned to his father expecting to see an angry face, he assumed that Severus asked for the job. ''I can't say that I'm surprised considering what happened to the ones past years. So until someone asks for the job, the DADA teacher will be me.'' Albus said with a smile. ''About the school rules...'' Albus continued his speech but Harry doubted anyone listened anymore. The whispering was getting louder every second until Albus stopped talking and threw a stern look over the geat hall. Once again, the great hall went silent, but you could feel the growing tension among the confused and surprised students. The headmaster reminded everyone about the school rules and sat down, food immediately appeared on the tables.

''How could you do this to me?'' Ron accused Harry as soon as Albus sat on his chair.

''What did I do?'' Harry asked offended grabing a piece of bread.

''Oh, come on! You knew all about this and didn't bother to tell me. And how the bloody hell did you come here?'' Ron asked as an afterthought.

''I...um... I came here by Knight bus.'' Harry lied.

''Well, that's just bloody great. I felt like an idiot waiting for you and Hermione on the train station. I even saved your seats in the compartment...'' Ron said glaring fiercely at his friend.

''I'm sorry, but... The Order thought it was safer for me to go by Knight bus rather than with Hogwarts Express.'' Harry was ashamed of the lies he had to say to his friend. He was surprised at how quick he can think of them.

''And you couldn't let me know? And where is Hermione? Did she come with you too?'' Ron asked glaring at Harry.

''No, I told you that she won't go to school here anymore.'' Harry said quietly afraid to look at Ron.

''I know what you said, but I don't believe it. It's not funny you know...'' Ron said distractedly drinking his pumpkin juice.

''Ron...'' Harry started slowly. Ron looked up and faced Harry.

''You and Dumbleodore are really serious...'' Ron muttered puting his glass slowly on the table.

Harry thanked God that he finally got it. They ate their dinner without a word. Soon Lavender came with a smile on hs face to inform Ron about their duties. Ron reluctantly left the table and joined her. After they left Harry gave the old headmaster curious look. Albus didn't look back, he was talking to his deputy headmistress. On his way out Harry ran into Draco Malfoy who was grinning viciously.

''Well, well Potter, your little friend finally figured that muggles don't belong here.'' Draco said causing Crabbe and Goyle to laugh.

''Whatever, Malfoy. Get out of my way.'' Harry said walking out of the great hall. Draco followed him.

''Or what?'' Draco stood in front of Harry and crossed his arms on his chest.

''Look Malfoy, I'm not in the mood to listen to your meeningless rambling. Just move aside.'' Harry said rolling his eyes tiredly.

''And why should I do that?'' Draco muttered tauntingly.

''Because then I won't have to hex you like I hexed your father.'' Harry spat. Now he was the one who was grinning. Malfoy suddenly turned pale and pulled out his wand. Harry quickly glanced over his shoulder but didn't move, not even to get his wand out.

''Potter...'' Malfoy hissed.

''Draco, what do you think you're doing?'' a cold voice broke the tension between the boys. Harry raised his eyebrow at Malfoy.

''Oh, Potter and I were just chatting, Professor.'' Draco muttered glaring fiercely at Harry as he put his wand in his robe.

''Chatting? I wouldn't want anyone to end up in the hospital wing the first day of school for chatting.'' Severus replied in a silky tone. His gaze formaly flew from Harry to Draco. ''You can go.'' He added coldly waiting for them to head upstairs.

Harry went to the common room and decided to wait for Ron. He sat in the sofa and opened a book ignoring the two first years who were looked at him intently and whispering among themselves. After 20 minutes they finally got bored noticing that Harry wasn't paying any attention to them. Hours passed and Harry was now alone in the common room in front of the fireplace. The painting moved aside to let someone in. By the look on his face when he came back, Ron didn't expect to find anyone awake.

''You're still here?'' Ron asked surprised.

''Where were you? Lavender came back an hour ago.'' Harry said.

''Oh, I was... I wanted to be alone.'' Ron answered quietly.

''In that case, I'm going to bed.'' Harry said coldly as he got up.

''No, wait! We have to talk.'' Ron muttered shakily.

''I thought you wanted to be alone.'' Harry sneered. He sat back aswell as Ron.

''It's just... She...'' Ron bowed his head.

''Did you forget that she was my friend too? I know it's hard to believe that we probably won't see her for some time, but in the letter...'' Harry started.

''What letter? She wrote you a letter?'' Ron asked offended glaring at Harry.

''Well, yes.'' Harry nodded. ''She wanted to write to you too but wasn't allowed.'' He added quickly when he saw the look on his freind's face.

''Oh... What did she write? Why won't she go to school here?'' Ron asked in a whisper.

''Her family doesn't want her to have anything with Hogwarts and magic anymore. She will have go to a muggle school.''

''That's stupid! Her parents seemed to be smart people when I saw them, guess I was wrong...'' Ron said bitterly.

For a while Ron and Harry sat without a word glaring blankly at the fireplace. Ron rubbed his eyes.

''I should go to sleep, I'm starting to see things.'' Ron spoke.

''You're right, we should go to sleep.'' Harry said as he got up.

''Wait for me, I'm going too.'' Ron said and they both started to walk upstairs to the dormitory.

''Hey, you guys!'' They heard a familiar feminine voice calling them. Both of them abruptly turned around only to find an empty common room. They looked at each other perplexed until the voice spoke again

''Over here!'' Ron figured what was going on and ran as fast as he could to the fireplace. Harry followed him with a big smile on his face.

''Hermione! When are you coming back? Why did your parents did that for? I was so worried...'' Ron started to talk as he sat on the floor.

''Hello to you too, Ron.'' Hermione smiled softly to her friend from the fire.

''Sorry.'' Ron blushed.

''Harry, did you get my letter?''

''Yes, I got it. When are you coming back?'' Harry repeated Ron's question while Ron nodded speachless.

''I don't know, but I WILL come back. That muggle school is horrible and I absolutely refuse to attend it.'' She pursed her lips together in protest.

''What do your parents think about it?'' Harry asked.

''They are still convinced that it's for the best, but the will get to know my dark side if they don't change their mind soon.'' Hermione's eyes twinkled.

''What are you going to do?'' Ron joined the conversation.

''Oh, I will think of something, don't you worry. For now, I won't go to that boring classes.'' She answered with a wicked smile.

''Are you sure that's the right thing? I mean, you won't learn anything.'' Ron said a bit shocked.

''Look who's talking. Beside, that muggle books are piece of cake, already read most of them.'' She shrugged her shoulders

''How come your parents allowed you to use the fireplace to contact us?'' Harry asked.

''Who said they did? I waited until they were asleep. I don't think they know about this type of communication. Oh, I almost forgot to ask you who's the new DADA teacher?'' She asked.

Harry and Ron looked at each other; they didn't have the time to think about it.

''Believe it or not...'' Harry said.

''...Albus Dumbledore'' Ron finished.

''What? That's not possible, I mean, he's too old...and...'' She spoke in disbelief.

''No one else wanted the job.'' Harry said to his friend.

''What about Snape? I thought he always wanted to be a DADA teacher.'' She asked confused.

''Maybe he was too embarrased to volunteer for the job again with Dumbledore cuting him off every year.'' Ron scoffed.

''Or maybe he just has enough work as it is without that.'' Harry found himself subconciously defening his father. The other two looked at him strangely.

''Whatever, look, I have to go now. I think I heard my dad going downstairs. You will tell me what happens tomorrow, okay? Bye.'' Before Harry and Ron could respond, she was gone.

''At least we know she will fight her way back, I doubt her mum and dad will be happy when they find out that she's cutting classes.'' Ron was now in a much better mood.

''Yea, we should go to sleep, tomorrow we have our first class with Dumbledore.'' Harry said tiredly.

''I wonder what will he show us.'' Ron replied dreamily as they both went to their dormitory.


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