Chapter 2

Walking up to my supervisor, John Browning, he didn't look surprise to see me. He put down the clipboard he was looking at and sighed

"Dumbledore came to snatch you away?" He grinned and took his old glasses off. He was probably the oldest healer at St. Mungo's, if not one of the oldest. He had been my supervisor ever since I stepped foot into the ward on day one of my training.

"He asked me to come assist at Hogwarts," I partially leave out the part about teaching rather than healing, "I came to request a year's worth of leave from the clinic to help." I know that the hospital was on a high alert after the news of Sirius Black escaping came up, in case of an emergency where people would be reeled in with severe wounds. I knew that they would be able to function without me, but I would be leaving my work for someone else to complete.

Healer Browning sighed and smiled warmly, "I understand, Belle. You need to work around people your own age and live out your youth years before getting trapped here. I think that going to Hogwarts will help you a lot. Working with younger kids will give your more maturity and experienced than what you will get here at St. Mungo's. I'll guarantee you a spot when you return. Just go upstairs to the main office and submit a temporary leave of work and you can leave for today," He put his glasses back on an offered me his hand to shake. Taking his hand and shaking it gratefully I said,

"Thank you so much for teaching me, Healer Browning. I appreciate the guaranteed spot back as well. You couldn't have been more generous." I admitted.

"See you soon, Belle." He said turned around as I walked upstairs and gave him a farewell.

Filling out the forms with the nurses upstairs was probably the most unpleasant experience of today. As I began to sign my name and read the procedures the filing nurses wouldn't stop interrogating me.

"Are you getting married, Belle?"

"Did you get a better job?"

"Are you pregnant?"

I rolled my eyes and passed the forms back, "No ladies, I have in fact been offered to teach at Hogwarts for the upcoming school year unexpectedly. Dumbledore himself came up to me so I couldn't refuse. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go and prepare my things." I trudged back towards the apparition free wards and with a pop! I landed back into my dwelling place of my apartment, but not before hearing the words,

"What healer would leave her job to become a teacher?"

I sighed as I came back to quiet apartment and slipped of my shoes and peeled back my healer robes to plop on the couch in the corner. Pulling my hair out of it's ponytail, I rubbed my temples and leaning back into the soft cushions. A smile grazed my lips as I felt a fluffy tail brush against my legs and begin to purr.

"Come here, Hermes!" I clapped my hands and a fluffy orange cat jumped into my lap and meowed sweetly. I had gotten my cat Hermes for my first year in Hogwarts. Nearly 10 years later and we are still best friends and he had unwavering energy I liken to a puppy.

Standing up onto the wooden floor I said to him,

"Hermes, looks like we're going back to Hogwarts." As I tapped his nose. I received a meow in response and I laughed and headed to the bedroom to find my old trunk from school. Opening a closet door, I found the worn leather case at the bottom of my closet with the letters B. Loftman stamped onto it in gold lettering. With a groan I heaved it onto the bed and began to search for clothes that would be suitable for teaching.

"What did the professors ever wear at Hogwarts?" I said out loud. I cringed when an image of Snape's black robes and black clothes sneaked into my mind. No way was I going to class every day looking like him. McGonagall always had robes on over her clothes. I sighed and hopped to the bookcase in the corner of my bedroom which contained wizarding books about the muggle world. Once I located the section about schooling I looked at the pictures of teachers in their classrooms. The men were in nicely pressed suits as expected, but the women were wearing skirts and dresses and shoes of all kinds of heights. I brightened at the thought of not having a restricted wardrobe. At the hospital I was always in comfortable clothing and scrubs to help the patients as quickly as possible.

I fist pumped at opened the drawers containing my clothes. I threw my necessities of a well-worn pair of jeans, sneakers, and my favorite muggle band shirts. I then opened the next drawer with contained unworn clothes that my mother had given me which she had thought I would wear to the hospital before being switched from interning to emergency wizarding medicine. Yup, this witch before you has skipped a few years of interning and went straight to practicing magical healing. I like to thank the Ravenclaw genes that got passed down from my mother onto me.

In the drawer lay neatly folded skirts and dresses and blouses. Children pay attention better to teachers who look fun don't they? I yanked them out and muttered a quick charm so they would fold themselves and end up in the trunk without extra attention. As I opened the rest of the drawers and emptied out my closest I felt a small sense of nostalgia. For the first time in years I would be going back to the castle that taught me everything that I knew, to everyone who I became friends with.

Lastly, I pulled out a few pairs of heels and dress shoes to wear. I wasn't too tall, but having a few extra inches of height would probably make me feel more in charge around the students. Besides, a few heels never killed anyone!

By the time I was finished packing, Hermes had already situated himself in my luggage and rolling around in it. I sighed and picked him up and grabbed a few of toys to throw into my luggage too. At the corner of my eyes I saw my healer equipment and remembered the amount of quidditch injuries that happened while I was a student. I shrunk the whole thing into the size of my palm and carefully put it on top.

"You liked Hogwarts didn't you?" I playfully scratched Hermes behind the ears as I recalled how he would always manage to sneak into the kitchens and get the house elves to give him more fish.

I put Hermes down and changed into my pajamas. Today would be the last night that the two of us would be sleeping in this quiet little flat. I closed my eyes knowingly aware that from tomorrow onwards, I would be bustling around Hogwarts with countless students all over again.

When I opened my eyes the next morning I was a little bit excited to go back to Hogwarts. Was I even ready to teach all these students about history? My mind worked great with potions and charms which was why I wanted to become a healer. My brain wasn't wired for history or writing. It wasn't even my favorite subject back then. Sure, I tutored the Weasley boys but then again, anyone could do that.

I contemplated getting out of bed as well as Dumbledore and his decision to ask me. Then again, Dumbledore is the best wizards of all time if he was able to defeat Grindlewald. He asked me to help teach. That must mean something. I groaned as I forgot about the stomach butterflies that came with the first day of school. Grudgingly, I pulled myself out from under the warm blankets and into my bathroom.

The clothes I set out included a black pencil skirt that hugged my hips and ended above the knee and a lavender blouse that complimented my dark hair, which I pulled out of my face. I put on my cloak and walked to my kitchen to boil some tea and munch on an apple. While I waited, I got out a can of cat food for Hermes to eat. Glancing at the clock it was almost 1 p.m. After eating my apple and having a cup of hot tea, I decided that now was the time to go.

"It's either now or never, Hermes." I said cheerfully and picked him up as I walked towards the fireplace. If I leave now I can probably avoid the rush of students when the train arrives. My truck was shrunken to the size of a pea and I put that in my pockets. Grabbing a handful of floo powder, I shouted

"Headmaster Dumbledore's office, Hogwarts!" There was a tug on my navel and a nauseating spin. The next thing I knew, Hermes and I were flung into Dumbledore's office onto the floor.

"Ouch! Damn it!" I cursed as I fell headfirst to the marble floor of the room and Hermes screeched as he was flung against a wall. Using my hands to break my fall, I skidded my bare knees and palms the most. I looked up when I heard a soft chuckling and wanted to smack myself.

Before me was Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, and nearly every other professor that I had in class.

"Ah Belle, how good of you to join us. We were just talking about you," Dumbledore greeted. The other teachers looked a little bit surprised to see me. Why wouldn't they have been?

"You asked Loftman to come be your third new professor?" Snape ridiculed. I scowled back at him. I wasn't even a bad student and yet he still hated me. I noticed a new face among the crowd and saw that he was also staring at me. I don't think I've ever seen him before. He had faint scares running down his face and neck and he looked so worn and tired.

"Nonsense!" Dumbledore began, "I'm sure Belle is overqualified in teaching. She had the best marks of her entire class. She will most definitely be a favorite among the students after having Professor Binns the last few centuries. I straightened up at the compliment that Dumbledore gave me and gave a pointed look to Snape.

"I do like the sound of a being student favorite, Professor Dumbledore." I joked and dusted of my clothes as Dumbledore gestured toward the one empty seats

"Once again, feel free to call us by our first name. We are working together. It would appear odd to the students to still see us addressed by formalities by our fellow teachers." I nodded and sat down in the seat besides the unfamiliar face and politely nodded at him.

"You might already remember Rubeus Hagrid from your time, Belle. He'll be taking over Care of Magical Creatures" Dumbledore added. I turned and saw Hagrid was also among us and smiled at him. I remember that during my entire time at Hogwarts I would visit him and help take care of the numerous magical creatures that he had with him.

"…And right beside you would be Remus Lupin, Defense Against the Dark Arts" I smiled at Remus and realized that the scars that covered his face must've been from battling dark wizards and taking part in battles.

McGonagall stood up and began to talk for the first time since I arrived. She cleared her throat and said,

"Now the real reason that we wanted to have a meeting so early before the school year is to address the issue of Sirius Black. We all know that Black will surely target Potter and the safety of the students must be our number one priority. Therefore, we are asking all of you to cast protection charms around the castle this week before the welcome feast. If any issues come up, we will also need everyone on full alert and to be guarding the castle with the prefects at night as well."

There was a murmur of agreement until Snape began to talk again

"Albus, you can't expect us to sit around worrying about Black when a possible accomplice in his escape is sitting in this very room" he sneered.

"Severus please—"McGonagall began but was cut off by the headmaster

"Severus I can assure that Remus is here on behalf of the highest integrity and honor that I could've found in a professor. He is on our side. Anyhow, I think this meeting is over." I furrowed my eyebrows at Snape's comment. What did that mean?

"Oh and Belle, I think your cat might need some attending to" Dumbledore gestured towards Hermes who was currently trying to climb up the portraits in his office.

"OH right! Sorry about that Albus," I blushed and snatched Hermes from the top of Professor Dippet's painting and walked towards the exit.

Walking out I saw that my luggage was already carried out probably to the history classroom. I gently nudged Hermes on the head for making a scene and I accidentally slipped on the marble floor. Hermes squealed as I nearly dropped him, but someone caught me by the waist. I looked up and saw the same worn out face from the meeting.

"I don't think we've had a chance to properly be introduced. I'm Remus Lupin," Remus smiled and offered me his hand.