A/N - So here's another chapter! It's a shortish one, but never fear. I'll be up with more tomorrow! The chapters lengthen as the story goes on (I wasn't sure where I was going with it at first), so for the first ten or so they're mostly short, which is why I will be uploading two a day until they start lengthening. Thank you to those who have reviewed so far! Even though they were just a few words, it really boosted my confidence. Thank you, and enjoy!

I do not own the characters, J.K. Rowling does.

It was late afternoon, and Hermione was preparing her classroom. She placed the huge plush cushions in one of the closets, as those would come in handy for the second year classes. She spent most of the summer planning class schedules for the year, so she didn't have to worry about that. She placed the cage containing a single Cornish Pixie in the corner behind her desk. She planned to make quite the entrance with the first years. Excitement, she found, was usually a great incentive to do homework.

There was a knock on the door, and she allowed her wards to drop (she tended to like working without interruption).

"Professor Granger! How lovely it is to see you back!" A cheerful voice said. She turned around to see Professor Flitwick standing before her.

"Ah! Professor how lovely to see you!" she said happily, as she stepped forward to shake his hand. "I see Minerva warned you of my arrival and the position I will be holding?"

Flitwick grinned. "No, actually. The headmistress told me at breakfast in fact, after I expressed surprise at seeing you at the table."

Hermione groaned. "It seemed she did not deign to let anyone know about my arrival," she smiled, and continued. "I took four years of advanced classes so I could come back to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"You setting up the DADA classroom was no indication at all" Flitwick replied with a wink.

Hermione blushed. "Still not missing a thing, I see. How have you been, Professor?"

"Oh, come now. Stop with the professor thing. We're colleagues now, and I would like to think that merits a first-name basis," Flitwick said jovially.

Hermione grinned, pleased to see how well she was getting along with the Charms teacher. "Why yes, I suppose it would. Well, Filius, it was great to see you again!"

"I say the same for you, Hermione. Welcome to Hogwarts!" Filius said. He looked around with a disappointed expression. "I'm afraid I must leave now, I have my own classroom to prepare," he said as he turned to leave.

Hermione smiled, and thanked him. She watched as he walked out, and she waved the door shut with her wand, throwing her wards back up. She realized it was a bit over the top to ward the door in the most magically protected building in Scotland, but it was a hard habit to let go of. For a moment she got lost in memories, recalling Mad-Eye Moody and his reminder of "constant vigilance!". She grinned, knowing he would approve of her overly cautious protections.

She glanced at the pocket watch she carried, and swore. It was almost time for the Welcoming Feast. The students would be arriving soon! Her excitement grew as she quickly arranged the healing potions on a shelf (for emergencies). She pulled her robes on, and hurried out of the room and up to the Great Hall. When she entered the hall, she gasped. It looked magnificent! The candles sparkled with a new brightness, and the stars above them twinkled merrily. The ghosts were all at one table, conversing in hushed tones. The place had been cleaned well, she must remember to thank the house elves for their amazing job. She continued to look around, amazed to truly see how well the castle had recovered in the four years since the war.

"Professor Granger. I would advise you to close your mouth, and stop looking like an awestruck first year, before you get mistaken for one," Snape said irritably as he swept past her and towards the staff table.

Hermione didn't respond, but she closed her mouth, her good mood only slightly dampened. She took her seat next to Snape, acknowledging him but did not attempt to strike up a conversation. She figured it was best. She heard the big wooden doors to the castle shut, and she grinned. It was almost time for the Sorting to begin!

She watched as the older students filed in, taking seats at their respective tables.

The dull roar of many conversations grew as old friends greeted one another, and students shouted greetings across ables. Professor Sprout walked in, effectively silencing the students. Behind her trailed a long line of nervous looking first years, the astonishment at the Great Hall plain on their faces.

She reached the stool, upon which sat the Sorting Hat, and turned to face the students. The Sorting Hat bust into song, stringing a tale of the four houses and how they built the school based on trust, and friendship.

Sprout spoke out after the hat had finished. "New students, when I call your name please come up to the stool and place the hat upon your head."

She looked down at her list, and called out "Arlington, David!"

Hermione leaned forward, looking for the first student to be sorted. He was way in the back, and he shoved his way forward, looking quite fearful.

"Come now, Mr. Arlington. Quickly, take the hat," Pomona said briskly as the boy walked to the stool. He placed the hat on his head, and the hall was silent until a voice rang out.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the Hat shouted, much to the Hufflepuff students happiness. Cheers and clapping commenced, and Hermione joined in enthusiastically as David Arlington walked to Hufflepuff table with a grin on his face.

She turned to see Snape glaring at her, and she quickly quieted her clapping. Of course she would be sitting next to the teacher with the perpetual bad mood. He'll just have to get over it, she thought. She was here for the whole year, after all. Hermione watched happily as the Sorting commenced, clapping with much enthusiasm when a new student was sorted into Gryffindor. She grinned when the Sorting ended. Classes would be quite fun tomorrow!