Chapter 11

Back to Hogwarts

Okay, here's the next installment. See I told you I'd have it out in a few hours. :)

As always, sit back, relax, and enjoy. Oh, and have a happy Labor Day!!!!

"Inuai, I hope there are no ill feelings between us." Dumbledore began, his eyes twinkling like mad.

"Of course, there are ill feelings, Headmaster." Inuai replied sarcastically, smirking as the twinkling

dimmed. "But I won't let that interfere with this working relationship." Dumbledore visibly brightened

at that statement and beamed at the young woman.

"Good, good. Then I shall have Dobby show you to your rooms, so that you may rest."

"That stupid, dumb, betarded... bastard!!" Inuai grumbled as she made her way through the castle. She didn't see how he could still be in such positions of power when he was clearly senile. Maybe she should get him some adult diapers for Christmas. Or better yet, she thought to herself, some Viagra so he can finally make a move on Minerva. Kami knows the woman needs to get laid. She had become so focused on her thoughts that she didn't realize where she was going until she was stopped abruptly bay a wall. Which upon looking up, Inuai found it to be the Fat Lady guarding the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.

"And who is this? Out after curfew?" the Fat Lady asked coming back into her frame. "Oh, it's you." she said disdainfully.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." Inuai commented sheepishly.

"Well! Maybe next time you'll watch where you are going." the Fat Lady said looking highly affronted.

"Listen," Inuai growled. "I know I did some stupid things when I was younger, and I'm sorry. But that doesn't mean you can still treat me like the scum of the Earth!"

"Yes, well."

"Maybe we can come to a truce. You watch over my godson, and I won't do to you what I did to Dumbledore's gargoyle." The Fat Lady's eyes widened comically. "Ah, so I see you heard about that. So, do we have a deal?"

The Fat Lady visibly gulped before composing herself. "Who's your godson?"

"Harry Potter."

"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore's voice boomed out over the Great Hall. "I know you are all tired and want to head to your rooms after that delicious meal, but there are a few announcements to be made. First and foremost, the Forbidden Forest is exactly as it sounds, forbidden. Also, Mr. Filch has updated his list to include all items made by Fred and George Weasley. Who Argus is very happy to have back joining us this year." A round of cheers and applause rang out from the Gryffindor table as the twins stood up with triumphant smiles on their faces. As the cheering calmed down, Dumbledore continued. " We have a few changes and additions to the staff this year. Taking over the Defense position is our illustrious Potions Master, Professor Snape. Taking over Potions, is Professor Horace Slughorn, whom I ask that you treat with the utmost respect. Also this year, we will be offering a new class. It will be mandatory for fifth years and up. You will not need your wands as this is a Muggle Defense class, and teaching you will be a former student, Professor Inuai Grennleaf. Now, if the prefects would please lead the first years to their respective dorms, I bid you all a good night."

Harry looked at the Head Table where Professor Greenleaf sat. He had a vague inkling that he knew her from somewhere, but try as he might, he could not figure out why. As if knowing she was being watched, Inuai looked toward the Gryffindor table where gold meet vivid emerald green. She winked and had to stifle a laugh as she quickly made her way out of the Great Hall and to her room.

Harry sat in front of the fireplace, confusion clearly written on his face when Ron and Hermione made their way into the common room.

"Hey mate. What's up?" Ron asked breaking the raven-haired boy from his thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine." Harry replied half heartedly.

"Harry, did you have another vision?" Hermione asked worriedly. "Because if you did, you've got to tell Dumbledore!"

"What? No!" Harry exclaimed. "It's the new Professor."

"Yeah. She's a right looker, ain't she?" Ron asked grinning from ear to ear before he was cuffed upside the head by Hermione.

"Well, I guess." Harry replied.

"So, what is it then?" Hermione coaxed.

"I think I know her."

Harry was still stumped the next morning at breakfast. "You know, she doesn't look old enough to be a professor." Hermione mused somewhat to herself. "She only looks about sixteen or seventeen."

"Maybe that's how you know her!" Ron exclaimed around his mouthful of eggs.

"What are you on about?" Hermione grumbled , delicately flicking a piece of egg from her cheek.

"You said it yourself. She looks like she's our age." Ron said, oblivious to the looks of confusion on his friends faces. "Maybe you knew her from your old school."

"No." Harry said after a moment of thought. "Even if Dudley didn't drive everyone away from me, I think I'd remember somebody with silver hair."

"Oh, right." Ron said blushing slightly.

"Well, maybe you'll figure it out in class tonight." Hermione commented. "But for now, we need to get to Potions. Come on, Harry. See you later, Ron."

"Alright! Everyone needs to listen up!" Professor McGonagall called out over the Great Hall. "We're going to break this class up by years, but tonight is just an introduction to the course. They're all yours, Merry." she said as she left the room.

The room quieted almost instantly as the three demons stepped onto the stage at the top of the hall. Inuai looked about the room noticing the looks from the students. "Well, since we already have your attention," she began, "Let me just reiterate that this is just an introduction." Inuai continued as she began to walk back and forth across the stage. "First of all, my name is Inuai Greenleaf. You may call me Merry while in class. In the hallways, you will address me as Professor. Is that understood?" Inuai smiled as a large chorus of agreement met her ears. "Okay, because this is such a large class, I've brought my brothers along to assist me in teaching and keeping everyone in line. The young man standing to my right and is thus my second in command, is my older brother, Sesshomaru. Don't let his calm demeanor fool you. You get on his bad side, and you'll definitely see his temper. Mr. Pouty over here," Inuai said gesturing towards her left, "is my twin, Inuyasha. Before we start explaining what this class entails, does anyone have any questions?"

"Professor Dumbledore said you went to school here." A Ravenclaw girl spoke up. "But you look like you're our age. How long ago did you graduate?"

"I'm sure many of you are wondering the same thing." Inuai smiled as many of the students nodded in response. "I won't tell you exactly when I graduated, but I will tell you that I did go to school with Professor Snape."

"Was he just as mean then?" asked a timid Hufflepuff.

"Actually, I was never around him much in school, so I couldn't tell you." she replied. He was actually a good, if somewhat soft-spoken, young man. He was also the top of his class in every subject, but his love for potions was obvious even then. "Right. Anymore questions?"

"Where are you from originally?" came a voice from the back. Inuai looked carefully at the bushy haired girl. That must be the witch Remus told me about.

"Both my brothers and I are from Japan. Although, I did a lot more traveling than they did." Inuai replied hoping that someone else would ask a question.

"Well, I've never seen a Japanese person with silver hair before. So, are you all using a glamour or some type of hair dye?" Hermione asked with a smug look on her face.

"Are you sure you want to know that?" Inuai asked. She smiled grimly as she got affirmative answers from everyone in the room, including the Slytherins. "Alright, our hair color is not a glamour nor is it from a dye. It is completely nature. Now, for your first assisngment. Next class, I want two feet on hanyous and youkais. I also want you to tell me about different fighting styles you are interested in."

"Harry, just go talk to her." Hermione coaxed. "The worst she can do is tell you no."

"I don't think I can." Harry said. "At least, not with her brothers up there."

"Mr. Potter. Please come see me after class."

"Well, that solves that. We'll see you back in the common room, mate." Ron said, clapping his friend on the back. Harry waited until the class had cleared out before making his way slowly to the front of the room.

"Hey, guys. Why don't you get lost for awhile. I want to talk to Harry alone."

"Feh! Whatever."

"Harry." Inuai smiled. "Walk with me, talk with me. So, tell me, Harry, what do you know about your parents."

"Not much, Professor." Harry replied. "Just what I've been told."

"We're still in the classroom, Harry. You can call me Merry." Inuai said gently. "Your mother did." Harry looked up sharply at that. She knew his mother? Maybe he did know her after all, he thought hopefully.

"You knew my mother?" he asked, hope shining brightly in his eyes. His eyes which reminded everyone so much of Lily.

"She and I were best friends." Inuai said, smiling in remembrance. "In fact, we were such good friends, that we even dated best friends."

"Really? So, then you knew my dad, too?"

"Like I said, young grasshopper. We dated best friends." Inuai said as she winked playfully at the Gryffindor. "While your mom and dad got together, I cozied up with your godfather."

"You and Sirius?" Harry asked disbelievingly. He had a hard time seeing his godfather getting serious with anyone.

"Believe it or not, pup, yes. Oh! Before I forget, did you perchance come into possession of a certain map?" Inuai asked grinning mischievously.

"You know about the Marauder's Map?" Harry's eyes were wide with disbelief. Maybe she knew more than he thought.

"Summon it, please." Inuai said simply as she twirled and skipped back towards the front of the room and her desk. Harry quickly summoned the map and made his way to where Inuai was leaning against the desk, twirling her wand between her fingers. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." she said as she tapped the parchment. Harry watched as the familiar names spread across the parchment, wondering what Merry could possibly want to do with the map. "What do you say about making a couple of changes to this?"

"Changes?" Harry asked. He didn't think you could change the Marauder's Map. If he would've known that, he would have taken that traitor's name off of it a long time ago. Not that he hadn't tried already.

"Yeah, I was thinking about putting the real Marauders on here." Inuai looked over at Harry trying to decide if he was ready for this.

"If it means not having that traitor on there, then I'm all for it." Harry said forcefully. He did not want to see Wormtail's name anywhere near his father's.

"You'd better believe he won't be on there anymore. He was never a Marauder to begin with." Inuai spat with venom in her voice. She started to incant in a language that Harry had never heard before. As the map started to glow, he saw Wormtail's name fade out and a new one take it's place.

"Pads?" Harry read. He had never heard mention of that name when talking of the Marauders.

"Yep. I was given that name by Padfoot himself." Inuai said with pride. "Crap! I've kept you too long. You'd better get back to Gryffindor Tower. On second thought," she said upon seeing the disappointment on Harry's face, " why don't I take you back myself so you won't get into trouble."

"I'd like that."

"Ah, here we are!" Inuai cheered as she and Harry finally made it back to Gryffindor. "Looks like the Fat Lady's out for the night."

"It's okay." Harry said. "She's bound to be back soon. I'll just wait for her."

"The hell you will! Now, where is it?" Inuai said as she started looking at the bricks around the portrait hole. "I know it's here somewhere."

"What are you doing?" Harry asked curiously still watching Inuai search the bricks and wondering if she was completely sane.

"The brick." she said as if that explained everything. "Ah! There it is!" she crowed triumphantly a few minutes later. She quickly looked at the young Gryffindor standing beside her before leaning down conspiratorially. "You didn't learn this from me." She pushed one of the bricks and the portrait popped open. "In you go. Oh, and Harry? That little trick is just between you and me." With a wink and a nod, Inuai turned and headed to her rooms, leaving a stunned Harry in the portrait hole.

Blanket Disclaimer for A Hanyou's Life:

I don't own anything you recognize. Otherwise, I'd be living with a very spoiled daughter.

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