A/N. Another chapter up tonight! All Hermione, but don't worry, there is lots of Severus in the next chapter, and after that Harry makes an appearance. I would adore a review, they are all greatly appreciated! Enjoy.

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

Hermione waited in her classroom for the first class to arrive. First year Hufflepuffs and Slytherins. She grinned as she imagined their faces at her introduction. Yes, they will be surprised, indeed. She paused as she heard the sound of many footsteps coming closer. It was time. She backed into a shadowy corner, and disillusioned herself. She waited as she watched the students file in, both Houses studiously ignoring the other. They sat down and pulled out their wands, looking expectantly around for their new teacher. Confusion arose on many of their faces as they noticed their professor was no where to be found. Hermione smiled to herself. Exactly what she wanted.

She stepped forward, still disillusioned, and shouted "Expelliarmus!" She charmed her voice to sound as if it came from the back of the classroom. The students gasped and whipped around, not noticing as their wands flew to the front of the class. Hermione deftly caught them, and ended her invisibility spell.
"Welcome," she said briskly, "to Defense Against the Dark arts. I am your teacher, Professor Granger." Many students showed recognition at her name, as she was a part of the famed Golden Trio, and she helped defeat Lord Voldemort. Hermione expected as much though, and sat patiently as she waited for the whispers to die down.

Once she had their attention, she made each wand go back to their respective owners. "The first thing you should know is to never release your hold on your wand," Hermione looked around, pleased at how the attentive the students were. "Anything could happen, and your wand is your greatest weapon. How many of you have heard of the Disillusionment charm?"

Again, she was pleased to see quite a few hands shoot up. "Yes, Miss Devert?" She pointed to a curly haired brunette. A Slytherin, she noted. Of course it would be a Slytherin who knew about an invisibility charm.

"Professor, it is a charm to invoke the illusion of becoming invisible," Devert said eagerly.

"Very good. Five points to Slytherin! Now, invisibility is one of the most useful tools when you are wanting to escape something without entering actual combat..." the lesson continued on, and by the end of it Hermione was sure that she had captivated the interests of her student, and felt quite pleased with herself. Everyone appeared to enjoy the lesson, and Hermione taught with enthusiasm. She assigned them all one and a half feet of parchment on the practical uses of disillusionment charms and invisibility. She wanted to instill the idea that you don't always have to burst right into fighting, there were other safer ways to deal with a dangerous situation. She watched the students file out, and few students hung back to ask her some questions, which she answered heartily.

Hermione settled back into her chair, enjoying the brief respite before the first year classes began. She checked the schedule to find that the next class was to be fourth year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws. She smiled to herself as she busily readied the classroom for the next bunch of students.

After enjoying dinner and a nice conversation with the headmistress, Hermione started heading towards the Forbidden forest. She figured it was time for a visit to her old friend, Hagrid. It had been almost a year since she had last seen him, as he had visited last year at the Burrow for Christmas. Walking quickly, she arrived at his cabin and was happy to note the light was in inside, showing that he was home.

She knocked loudly, and shouted out, "Hagrid! It's Hermione, open up would you?" She heard a shuffling inside and a gruff voice shouted "Oi! Fang get down yeh mangy dog," and the door opened.
Hermione grinned up at the smiling face of her old friend, Rubeus Hagrid.

"Hagrid!" She squealed happily as she rushed forwards to give him a hug.

Hagrid chuckled and returned the hug, nearly breaking her ribs. Hermione wheezed but otherwise didn't mention it. She had been expecting it, so she was able to tense at the right moment to avoid any real pain.

"Hello Hermione! How've yeh been?" he said as he ushered her inside and shut the door. He bustled to the fire to set a pot of tea on.

Hermione smiled as she took a seat by the fire. "I've been well, and I am quite happy to be back at Hogwarts!" She grimaced slightly as she watched Hagrid go to a cupboard and take out a plate of his fabled rock cakes.

"I've heard yeh've been going ter Unversity, eh?" the half-giant asked as he set down two massive tankards along with the plate of cakes on the rickety wooden table.

"Yes, that would be right. I've finished now though. It was loads of fun!" Hermione said eagerly as she grabbed her mug and filled it with tea.

Hagrid let out a booming laugh. "On'y our Hermione would think of classes as bein' fun."

Hermione blushed, but joined in the laughter. "What about you, Hagrid? Have you been well?"

He nodded. "Oh yea, I've been real good. Been plannin' the lessons for the firs' years tonigh' and I think I'll 'ave them on their toes. It's real interestin' stuff!" he said excitedly.

Hermione let out a shaky laugh, remembering all too well what Hagrid's idea of interesting was. If it didn't have fangs, or the potential to cause severe harm to someone, he didn't pay any attention to it. "Nothing that would leave anyone seriously injured, I hope?"

"Nah, nothin' like tha'," Hagrid said. "Though I did try ter get a Boomslang fer the third years. Didn't have any luck though."

Hermione inwardly sighed in relief. Boomslangs weren't something that a first year would be prepared to undertake, must less a fully grown wizard.

The rest of the evening passed in with amiable conversation, with both Hermione and Hagrid enjoying each others company, as well as catching up with all that had happened during the four years Hermione was away at school. Losing track of the time, Hermione hadn't noticed the time until Hagrid mentioned it was getting quite late. They shared a quick joke about how she wouldn't be need a Harry's old invisibility cloak in order to sneak back into the castle, as she was a teacher now. Hagrid expressed great pride at her accomplishments, and said he firmly believe she would be a very successful teacher.

"Well, I wish I could stay longer, but I have to get back and get some sleep. I have a full schedule tomorrow," Hermione said as she stood up. "But I'll be back this Saturday! And hopefully Harry and Luna will be with me, as well," she said excitedly.

Hagrid's eyes lit up. " A visit from Harry and Luna! I'll look forward ter tha'!" he said as he got up to open the door for Hermione.

"Yes, I will too," she replied brightly as she walked out. "Good night Hagrid!"

Hagrid waved as she walked away, and then shut his door. Hermione enjoyed the walk up to the castle, it looked so pretty under a blanket of stars. She smiled to herself again. This would be a great year, she thought.