It was the 1st of September and the start of yet another new term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A very solemn air hung about the station as the rumors of You-Know-Who's return were circulating and had been proved right after the mayhem at the Ministry.

The Order of the Phoenix was on high alert too and as I had joined the Order too, I knew their main priority was to keep Harry safe. Two members were supposed to be on guard without letting Harry know and as I would be joining the school, I was suggested to ride the Express instead of using Floo powder to get there.

Ron and Hermione were with Harry and they found themselves a compartment while I shared a compartment with Ginny, Neville, and Luna again.

"Kat? Didn't you pass all the NEWTs?" Neville asked, quite shocked to see me there.

"Yes, I did."

"Then why are you...?"

"She's joining as the Flying and Quidditch Instructor," Ginny told him with a proud smile on her face.

To be honest, I like this side of Ginny very much. Seeing her smile in such genuine appreciation made me smile a little too.

"Really? That's so cool!"

Luna, who was surprisingly reading the Daily Prophet instead of the Quibbler, looked up as well, "that's good news. I heard there's a new teacher but didn't think it would be you."

"Well, I think there will be a new Defense teacher," I remarked, shuddering as I recalled what had happened to Umbridge, "so I am not the only addition."

"Oh yeah, the Defense Professor..." Ginny shrugged, putting her trunk carefully under the seat, "if the post really is jinxed, why doesn't Dumbledore do anything to fix it?"

She has a point.

It's almost like dooming one teacher to death or severe circumstances every year just by selecting them to be the Defense Professor.

Nevertheless, I want to see who the poor new teacher is. Harry was telling Ron and Hermione about someone called Slughorn but I heard that only in passing.

The rest of the train ride passed without any mishap and soon the magnificent Hogwarts castle loomed into view. Many students had gone off to change into their school robes while I stayed in the compartment, waiting for Ginny and the others to come back.

All of a sudden, the door opened and I caught sight of a now familiar shade of platinum blonde hair.

"Katerina?" Draco Malfoy halted in his tracks and it seemed like he was looking for someone.

"It's Miss Weasley to you," I remarked, observing the look of shock on his face.

A slight frown crossed his features as if he didn't like to hear that one bit but then he schooled his expression back to neutral. It looked like he was counting off the reasons I could be there on the train in his head and seemed to have settled on one assumption that he didn't want to turn out true.

"Please tell me you're not our new Defense Professor," he remarked, his eyes cautiously lingering around me as if to make sure that I was alright.

I knew that look all too well that I might just get accustomed to it...

"Of course not, I am not that stupid to take up a jinxed post," since he had put it somewhat lightly, I tried to brush it off too. "And I might be good in the subject but not even a stellar student can teach Defense with no practical experience."

"Good," he mumbled.

It was clear he wanted to say something probably related to how he had found me in the Room of Requirement in the previous term. That could be why he hadn't just left and was looking at me as if trying to rephrase a question in his head so that he could ask it without the chance of getting hexed.

But as he was there, leaning against the door slightly, I noticed that something about him felt off. He looked paler than usual and the dark rings around his eyes showed that he was tired and not having enough rest.

"Are you alright?" I asked albeit reluctantly and saw him stiffen at that question.

His lips parted to say something but he stopped himself just in time as Ginny had returned. Seeing her there, he scoffed, stepped back, and left without another word.

"What was Malfoy doing here?" She asked, taking her seat next to me.

"Nothing," I replied nonchalantly. She didn't look too convinced so I added, "he might have forgotten his compartment, and seeing me here, he too would have thought I failed and am repeating my seventh year."

Gin shook her head, "oh you know Neville didn't mean that. We all know you were a brilliant student who couldn't possibly fail. Prof- I mean Lupin was quite impressed by your skill in Defense."

Yeah, almost everyone thinks I am Remus Lupin's favorite student but that has nothing to do with my grades. It's just that we were friends in the past but that's something not many people know.

The Hogsmeade station arrived and one by one we left the train to go to the place where the thestral carriages were awaiting us. My eyes dashed around to look for Harry amid the crowd of students but failed to see him.

But then I caught sight of Ron and if he was there, that meant Harry would be somewhere with him too.

As I was still not able to see him, I sent a message to Tonks to check the train, using the Order's mode of communication through galleons (yup, we took that idea on board and suggested it as it worked so well with the D.A.)

Hagrid was leading the first years to the lake so I followed Ginny and Luna to the thestral carriages. Those towering creatures flapped their wings majestically and in a short while, they took off, taking us all to the school.

When we landed on the castle grounds and left the carriages, I saw Professor McGonagall standing there as if waiting for someone.

Seeing me, she dipped her head in a nod, beckoning me to follow her.

Oh right. I was no longer there as a student so of course, I shouldn't be going to castle with the students.

"I think Professor McGonagall is calling me," I told Ginny, "I'll see you at the feast then."

"Sure," she nodded.

I took in a deep breath as I left the group.

Here's to a new beginning at Hogwarts under a completely different position... I just hope things turn out to be better than last year.

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