Hey there again, you must have like my Prologue if you are actually going to read this. This may be crappy so I am apologizing ahead. Hope that this keeps up with your standards. Read and Review!

Disclaimer: No matter how many times I've begged her, JK still won't give me the rights to own the HP series. Woe is me for my patethicness.

Chapter One: Her Return

(Ron's POV)

The sorting had just finished and I along with the other Hogwarts student were impatiently waiting for Dumbledore to spout his customary nonsense and start the Welcoming Feast

As he was walking towards the front I heard another giggle directed towards the seat to the right of me.

I turned my head and looked and as expected my best friend, Harry Potter, was yet again, flirting with a younger student that was sitting at another table. The fifth year Ravenclaw was trying to look as sexy as possible and though she wasn't doing a very good job Harry was going along with their little love fest.

Ughh! I can't believe my best mate turned into… into this playboy.

I miss the days when there were still three of us. Back when we were younger, before Sirius died, and before Harry did the ultimate betrayal.

Sometimes I still can't believe that the Golden Trio separated. That the Dream Team split up and the only girl in the group left the school.

But then again, what Harry did was unforgivable. Even I haven't fully forgiven him yet and I know for certain that Ginny would forever hold a grudge against him. I mean, Hermione was her best friend too.

The Gryffindors who found out- mostly the ones in our year- didn't say anything and just viewed from the sidelines. They joined the other students and watched in awe- in my case disbelief while Ginny watched in disgust- as Harry Potter, the hero of the school, changed into a Romeo.

Finally, he's starting. Dumbledore must be getting older 'cause he's getting slower.

He was stopped in his humorous rambles because of a resounding crash. I, out of instinct, took out my wand like the other older students and teachers.

My wand was poised and I looked towards Harry. He was ready to cast a spell as well.

That's Harry for you, if there's any sign of trouble he'll go to serious mode immediately and forget about everything else.

The window to the right nearest to the staff table was broken and because of that, the thunderstorm outside echoed throughout the Great Hall. A hooded figure emerged from the darkness and started walking towards Dumbledore but before whoever it was reached him he or she stopped.

I figure he was going to start aiming spells at Harry so I stand up and pointed my wand towards the stranger. I can hear other students doing the same.

But what the mysterious person did next came out as a surprise.

He raised his hand yes, but there was no wand. But though he wasn't holding any sort of device to cast a spell with, the window magically put itself back together.

And as I look at Dumbledore from the corner of my eye I saw him smile.

What the hell?

I turn all my attention to Dumbledore, he was grinning this time. He suddenly raised his hand and signaled for us to lower our wands.

You know, I think Dumbledore is losing it. Even so, I do what he commands.

But his less than cautious order doesn't make me reduce my suspicion of this stranger. I mean only evil people make dramatic entrances, right? Except maybe that Batman guy Harry use to talk about.

Okay, I don't really have proof of that but take He-who-Must-Not-Be-Named for example, dramatic entrances are his forte.

Anyway, I can see the stranger walking towards Dumbledore now. Wonder what he's gonna do.

(Dumbledore's POV)

I can see her in front of me now.

"Hello my dear, long time no see. Was it three months already since I last saw you?" I ask good-naturedly.

Even though her face was hidden because of the shadow her hood cast I can still see her smile.

"Three months for you maybe but it's already been a year for me."

I smile back at her. She was right, as always, the place I sent her to train, where I myself trained as a young man, had a different time zone than here. The year and a half she's been gone qualified roughly as a little over six years for her.

"I forgot, I presume. Nevertheless, you should have sent word that you already arrived. I thought that you wouldn't be here till tomorrow. I would have come pick you up."

She shook her head.

"I wouldn't want to bother you. Besides, I arrived just a few minutes ago, outside in the rain, sorry about the window by the way."

I grin at her proudly. She is such a considerate person. I look over her shoulder and saw that everyone was waiting for me to do something.

She must have known what I was thinking for she suggested that she should be introduced to the students and teachers.

Before I can even utter a word though,

"By the way, before you tell everyone it's me I need to tell you that the cleansing ceremony happened right after you informed me of the news and now I look exactly as I should look if you hadn't placed a concealment charm on me."

That left me grinning again.

I turn to the students again and she moved slightly so she could face the students as well.

"I assume you would all like to know who our mysterious visitor is. If she had not arrived a day early you would have already known who she is. Everyone, I would like you all to meet your new DADA teacher."

(Normal POV)

The hall flooded with murmurs but quieted down the moment the new DADA teacher reached up for her hood. White sleeves were revealed in the process. She was gradually lowering the cowl. Everyone waited in bated breath. Once it was finally down she looked up at everyone and in doing so an audible gasp was made.

The silence that overtook the hall was broken by the Headmaster's pleasant voice,

"Most of you may know her as Hermione Granger but since she has changed her name back to her birth name and the concealment charm I placed on her as baby has worn off, may I introduce Hermione Rayanna Dumbledore, my granddaughter."

Hermione smiled and her silver eyes scanned the Great Hall before stopping on two familiar red heads.

(Ginny's POV)

I can't believe it! The new DADA teacher is Hermione, my best friend. I mean, her hair has darkened considerably and-from what I can guess from the few strands that wasn't kept in her neat bun- straightened out to loose corkscrew curls. Her eyes weren't the recognizable warm chocolate brown eyes anymore but changed to… what is that? Is that silver? Nonetheless, you could still see that it was Hermione. Her face hasn't changed a bit; angelic features and a dazzling smile. I, of course, always knew- unlike my brother and Harry- that under all that bushy hair was a genuine beauty. When I was younger I use to envy her, but I grew out of that childish behavior.

Dumbledore's little introduction was surely unexpected. Who would've thought that Hermione Granger, the renowned muggleborn witch extraordinaire, was actually the granddaughter of the most powerful wizard in the world?

Quite a surprise isn't it.

Wait a minute, how can Hermione be a teacher? Isn't she sixteen?

"You might be wondering how Hermione became a teacher when she is supposed to be a seventh year right now." Dumbledore started.

Wow. Dumbledore really has good timing.

"Well that is because she graduated when she was only fifteen."

How can that be?

"All of you maybe wondering now on how she was even able to do that when it is written down in law that a witch or wizard cannot graduate and finish their formal education until he or she is 17."

Maybe Dumbledore can read minds.

"The Ministry though, made an exception for her. The grades she got when she was only a fifth year were enough to qualify her as a N.E.W.T student. We gave her the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s early and she passed with flying colors. The Ministry offered her, her diploma and permission to do magic while underage. She left during fifth year because of some personal reasons and traveled instead,"

His eyes looked at us for a moment before continuing with his explanation.

I, as well, looked at Harry for a millisecond before facing Dumbledore again. In that short amount of time I spent looking at Harry I had seen his troubled expression.

"I had asked her at the end of the last school year to be the new DADA teacher and she immediately accepted. So let us all welcome our new teacher."

Okay… my brain needs time to process what Dumbledore just said.

No one's doing anything.

Clap clap clap

Who's doing that?

Clap clap clap

It's Colin. Got the hand it to him.

I quickly join in his clapping. Soon the hall was filled with thunderous applaud. Almost all of the students, mostly the Gryffindors with me included, and teachers were giving her a standing ovation.

After all, everyone- even the first and second years- knew about Hermione. Those who weren't students yet when she was still here read about her and those who were here knew about her awe-inspiring intelligence and kindness, that and the fact that she was Harry Potter's girlfriend and before that his best friend.

Once the noise finally died down Dumbledore spoke again,

"Let the feast begin!"

I watch Hermione walk towards her seat between Dumbledore and McGonagall. Once she sat down she caught my gaze and I smile at her. She smiled back at me and because of that, I know for sure that this is going to be a good year, regardless of the war.

"Thank god, I was already starving here!" Ron said. I bet that because we can eat already isn't the real reason why there's an obviously large amount of excitement in his voice. Three guesses what is.

Now that wasn't so bad was it?

Anyway, you guys may be wondering why Ron was so OCC but that's just because he realized that now with Hermione gone, no ones going to be the mature level-headed person who'll keep him and Harry out of trouble. So he decided that he had to grow up coz Harry doesn't look like he's going to anytime soon. Don't worry though, the Ron we all know and love is gonna shine through the character I wrote but because I want him to be at least a tiny bit mature, my Ron character is gonna be a mix of both.

Now if any of you think Ginny is OOC too, I'll explain it to you. Ginny is Hermione's best friend and considering that Hermione is witty and funny albeit a little stuffy, Hermione's personality rubbed off on Ginny.

Read and Review please! Oh yeah, flames are accepted but I'd be eternally grateful if you could type in constructive criticism for me.