AN: Realized that I forgot to say this last time, so: I don't own this, JK Rowling does.
Parts of this chapter have been quoted from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. There is also one line that I took from Ranger's Apprentice.

Harry walked into the Great Hall for breakfast. His confident walk didn't show it, but he was a bundle of nerves. He was going to meet his former (future?) teachers, and they didn't even know him. As he headed towards the Head table, he saw the other professors watching him. They seemed to be evaluating him, to see if this year's DADA teacher was any good. The looks felt very judgmental, but he realised that even at this time, they had already had a lot of terrible idiots like Quirrell (minus Voldemort stuck to the back of his head) and Lockhart. Then he remembered that Lockhart was one of his students now, a third year Ravenclaw. Well that was just weird.

He reached the table, and Professor D –Albus he corrected himself– stood up and introduced him. "This is Harry Privet, the new Defense teacher. He will be joining our staff this year." The other members of the staff applauded politely. Harry muttered a "Thank you." and sat down, between Minerva and a tall blond witch who cheerfully introduced herself as Catherine Caelum, the Astronomy teacher. Minerva then introduced herself, "Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher, Deputy Headmistress, and Head of Gryffindor." Harry smiled, and said "Wow, that's a lot of jobs, you must have a lot of work. I'm Harry Privet, though of course you already know that. Also, I was wondering, are all professors' names alliterative? Should I be named Harry Hamilton?" The two witches laughed, and it broke the ice.

They chatted as they ate; Minerva and Catherine pointed out the other teachers. (That's Filius Flitwick, Charms and Head of Ravenclaw. You know, I think you're right about the whole alliterative thing.) Catherine then started telling them about 'The Butterfly Fiasco', an incident that happened last year in her class, involving a teacup, a pineapple and purple butterflies. "Really, I don't even know how he managed to conjure the butterflies, but we couldn't vanish them and we had to go fetch Minerva to get rid of them."

When breakfast was over, he excused himself to go plan his lessons. Minerva wished him luck, and Catherine sympathised over having to create lesson plans from scratch. As he headed to his rooms, he wondered if Professor Caelum had survived the war with Voldemort; in his time the Astronomy teacher was Professor Sinistra.

"Hello Harry! How are you on this very fine day?" Harry started. He had forgotten Russell, the painting that guarded his door. "Hi Russell, I'm doing good. I met two of the teachers, Minerva McGonagall and Catherine Caelum. How are you?" Russell looked ecstatic that someone was speaking to him. "I'm having a marvellous day."

"That's great!" Harry smiled and said the password. "Hope is the only thing stronger than fear." The portrait swung open and he entered his rooms. He sat down at his desk, pulled out a piece of parchment and started the long and arduous task that was planning lessons.

A tall man with round glasses and black hair, so much like his own, making puffs of smoke with his wand. A beautiful woman holding him, with red hair and green eyes. His mother's eyes… A door burst open. "Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off–" A flash of green light, the man falls to the ground like a marionette whose strings were cut. "Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"
"Stand aside, you silly girl … stand aside, now …"
"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead –" Tears falling from those eyes, so much like his own.
"This is my last warning –"
"Not Harry! Please … have mercy … have mercy … Not Harry! Not Harry! Please – I'll do anything –"
"Stand aside – stand aside, girl –" Another green flash of light, the woman drops. Red eyes looking into his own.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Harry Potter woke up with a start, drenched in sweat. He sat there for a moment, calming down. He hadn't had a nightmare that bad in two years. He sat up, put on his glasses and reached for his wand. He cast a charm, and groaned when he saw the glowing writing. September 1st, 4:07 am. He knew he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep, so he got out of bed and went to get something to eat. As he munched on a piece of toast, he thought about his dream. He had a lot of nightmares about the war, about Voldemort, but he still dreamed about the night his parents died the most.

Today he was going to see his parents alive, for the first time in twenty years. Not people telling him stories about them, or saying he looked like his father and had his mother's eyes. Not memories, or the mirror of Erised. Real flesh and blood, walking people. His parents. Even if he was three years older than them and teaching them DADA. And they weren't even dating yet. Sirius and Remus would be alive too. He chuckled, as he thought that now it was his turn to teach Remus Defence Against the Dark Arts. Oh Remus, how the tables turn.
And Pettigrew. Wormtail. He had mixed feelings about him. Of course he hated the rat, but he hadn't done anything yet. At this point in time, he was just Peter– the fourth Marauder, 17 year-old Gryffindor.

He also knew that, still united, the Marauders would likely try to prank him. Well they'd be hard-pressed to prank him, paranoid auror that he was! He made a mental note to always check his food for tampering and his classroom for spells.

Honestly, Harry didn't know what he'd do the entire day until the Welcoming Feast. His stomach already had butterflies fluttering about in it. He wondered wryly if they were purple.

As Harry sat at dinner, half-listening to Catherine as she talked to him, putting in a 'Hmm' and a 'Uh-huh' when needed. He was more focused on watching the Gryffindor table. He watched the Marauders laughing and joking, and he watched his mother (Miss Evans he reminded himself; it wouldn't do to call on her in class and call her Mum) talking with her friends. Dorcas Meadowes, Emmeline Vance and Marlene McKinnon, he recognized from old photos, as well as Alice Smith and Frank Longbottom, Neville's parents. All of the people he could see were either dead or worse.

He cast his eyes towards the Slytherin table, and there too he recognised students: Severus Snape, his old (future?) Potions professor and Regulus Black, Sirius' younger brother. A few other faces looked familiar, he supposed they were future Death Eaters.
As his eyes continued to wander, he spotted a blond third-year Ravenclaw. Gilderoy Lockhart, the fraud from his second year! His lips twitched, remembering the Cornish Pixies. He vowed to himself that he would be a better teacher than him. That wasn't setting the bar too low though.

He turned his thoughts back to Catherine, and started chatting to her again.

Sirius sat at the Gryffindor table, enjoying the wonderful Hogwarts Welcoming Feast. His friends were seated around him, and as he ate, he watched them. He knew all their little eating habits, like how James just shoved everything into his mouth, not even paying attention to what was on his plate. Peter ate with little bites, picking out things like onions because he hated them. Remus always put food on his plate, and then separated the best bit, saving it for last so that he would have the best taste left in his mouth at the end.

"Hey Padfoot, you okay? You're pretty quiet tonight." That was Remus. Sirius grinned. "I'm fine, mate. Just thinking." Remus feigned a gasp and surprised face. "And here I am without pen and paper to record this momentous occasion." Sirius smacked his arm. "Prat!" James chuckled, finishing off the last of his food. Sirius glared at him. "I was thinking about a prank." Peter nodded. "Ah, that explains it." Sirius threw his arms into the air, looking outraged. "Is no one on my side? What is it, pick on Padfoot day?" The other three Marauders laughed, while James patted his head patronizingly.

"So anyway, I was thinking of a prank to play on the new Defence teacher." Peter looked at him, slightly surprised. "There's a new Defence teacher? Dumbledore managed to find one?" Remus jerked his head towards the staff table. "Yep, sitting next to Professor Caelum, dark hair, glasses. Looks kind of like Prongs actually. I bet Dumbledore will introduce him after the feast." Sirius looked where Remus had indicated. The professor was talking amiably with the Astronomy professor. He did sort of look like James, with scars and longer hair. And older, obviously.

James looked too, and commented "He is wearing Auror robes though. He might be a little hard to prank."
"Not backing away from a challenge, are you?"
"Don't be thick Padfoot, of course not. Besides, there's not a soul the Marauders can't prank."

The chatter around the Great Hall subsided as the Headmaster stood up and cleared his throat.
"Thank you. Now that your hunger has abated, I have a few start-of-term notices for you. First years students, and a few of our older students-" Here he paused and looked at the Marauders, who assumed looks of innocence. "-should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all students. Mr Filch has also asked me to remind you all that magic between classes, in the corridors, is not allowed. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone who wants to play for their house team should contact Madam Hooch.
Finally, this is our new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor: Harry Privet!" There was some applause, and the new teacher grinned at the students.

"And now, time to sing the school song! Everyone pick a tune, and off we go!"

'Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees.
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.'

Sirius leaned towards James and muttered "I swear the founders were drunk when they wrote that." James looked at him seriously. "Padfoot mate, I reckon you've hit the nail on the head."

Harry laughed after the song was sung. Some things never changed.

Peter grinned as he made his way to Gryffindor Tower, with his friends around him. He was glad to be back at Hogwarts, with Moony, Padfoot and Prongs. He really was lucky to have them.

As Head Girl, Lily Evans was leading the first years to the tower. She said the password, "Paper Tiger" and turned to the first years, who looked amazed at the portrait swinging open. She smiled softly at their faces, remembering her own amazement when she was that age. "That was the password that you will need to remember to be able to get into the Gryffindor Tower. I'm Lily Evans, the Head Girl of the school. If you are ever lost, have questions, or need help, don't hesitate to ask a prefect, myself, or my colleague James Potter, the Head Boy."

She glared at him, and he suddenly remembered he was supposed to help her lead the firsties, and he should be talking with her right now. He blushed a bit. "Ah err yes, don't hesitate to ask us anything, um yeah. And don't do anything stupid." Lily glared at him. He supposed he hadn't done a stellar job of being Head Boy today. But he did have an entire year to impress her with how seriously he was taking his job! He drew himself up slightly. "Follow me. This is the Gryffindor common room, dormitories are upstairs, boys on the left and girls on the right."

He looked to Lily, the love of his life, to see if she approved. She looked slightly surprised, and studied him for a moment before turning away. At least she didn't glare at him. Sirius patted his back. "Still hung up on Evans? It's only been, what, six years?" James sighed, and dragged Sirius to their dorm by his arm, as Remus and Peter followed. The flopped on their beds, exhausted.

Lily was brushing her hair before bed, ignoring her roommates. Just because that utter blockhead actually acted his age didn't mean he was changing! Marlene whined. "But Lilyyyyyyyy! He was so cute, he looked at you after doing his job, like he was looking for your approval! Maybe he's going to change, become more mature, and become someone you like!" The redhead turned to face her friend. "Yeah Marlene, dream on! I'll never like that tosser. I'm going to bed."

Harry grinned in the darkness, lying on his bed. He had memorized his schedule, and he would have 7th year Gryffindors and Slytherins tomorrow, ehich was Friday. He couldn't wait.

Tell me what you think of it so far! Sorry that I waited so long to post this chapter!