New Teachers

By Sunday at lunch, the heirs were able to check almost everything off of Hermione's list for their first week back.

They had, accompanied by the other ghosts, met with Binns. They thanked him for his service and offered him the chance to retire. He could either move on, help out around the castle like the other ghosts, or simply chose a room to rest in where the heirs would ensure he was undisturbed.

To their surprise, Binns was quite relieved to be done with teaching, and eagerly offered to join the other ghosts.

Their other teachers had all been hired, classrooms, offices, and personal rooms had all been arranged for them, and they were ready to begin teaching. The new advisory suites and smaller upper year Houses had been created, and the last of the students moved by Friday night.

Only a dozen students had resigned from Hogwarts - all of whom had been suspended during the initial trials. The rest of the students seemed willing to take the 'wait and see' approach and give the Heirs a chance.

On the grounds, all of the new structures outside would soon be completed and ready for classes, as would the lake. The forest would take another week or two, but the heirs were confident it would be at least partly useable by the end of September.

It would take a few weeks for Hogwarts to run out of pre-purchased food, but they should be able to start eating self-sufficiently by the end of the month. Both Harry and Neville were confident that their new livestock and gardens would be up for the task.

Hermione was also pleased to note that, thanks to the reparations from Dumbledore and the Ministry, their vault was now overflowing, despite the unexpected expenses they had encountered.

Harry and Neville had also both spent time at St. Mungo's that weekend, despite their hectic schedules, catching up with their lost family.

Finally, though, it was Sunday night, the last of the new faculty had been confirmed, and the students had been asked to come to dinner early. As the students entered the Great Hall that night, they found the formation changed. Instead of the old formation, consisting of a Head table, four House Tables, and the recently added Heir's table, the room was full of a variety of round tables that sat six to twelve people.

"There is plenty of room for everyone!" Harry called out. "Pick any table you want, but please leave one seat empty per table! Thank you!"

The students followed his instructions, whispering amongst themselves about this latest change. Once they were all seated with the required empty space, Harry nodded to Neville. The other heir opened the side door and called in the waiting faculty.

"I know that some of these folks are familiar to the older students, and some have become familiar over the last few days, but we're going to introduce everyone!" Harry declared. A wave of his hand made bright yellow sheets of paper and a box of biros appear on every table. "Those of you who met with Headmaster Flitwick over the past week to rethink your electives should be fairly clear on what you are taking, and everyone else should know what classes you are taking. So grab a pen and follow along, filling in your Professors as you go!"

"First," Hermione took over, "The Creatures Studies teachers; for first and second years, Professor Kettleburn, third and fourth years have Professor Yarrow, and the upper years have Professor Wiggleswade!" All three professors stepped forward as their names were called, waving to the students, who applauded politely in return.

"Next is Herbology," Neville said, gesturing for those three teachers to step forward. "Beginners will have Professor Bell, cousin of Gryffindors Marcus and Katie Bell. Third and fourth years will have Professor Acacia, who most of you have already met while working in our gardens this week, and the Fifth years and NEWT students will still have Professor Sprout."

"We have some extraordinary defence professors," Harry said in turn. "First and second years will have Professor Marchbanks, who has spent the last few years studying in the Amazon. Next we have Professor Lupin, a werewolf and expert in both defense and transfiguration, and finally retired Master Auror Moody will take on our NEWT students." McGonagall and some of the others had been against revealing Lupin's status, but Harry believed in being upfront with the students. After all, they would have merfolk, goblins, a siren, a part-veela and a centaur teaching them; why hide the fact that one professor was a werewolf?

"Magical History classes will be divided along the same lines," Hermione said, "And-

"Basically all of your core class teachers will be divided into first and second, third and fourth, and fifth and NEWT," Harry interjected.

"Yes," Hermione frowned at the interruption. "Magical History and Literature will be taught by Professor Tonks--,"

"The first!" Harry interrupted again.

Hermione continued as though he hadn't spoken. "--who comes to us from St. Mungo's Hospital and is the mother of Hufflepuff Prefect Nymphadora Tonks, Professor Greengrass, mother of Slytherin Daphne Greengrass, and Professor Peasegood, formerly of Glyndwrdref School in Wales." The Professors stepped forward in turn and then moved to the far side of the dais, while the students continued to applaud politely.

"Muggle History and Literature will be taught by some familiar names," Neville warned. "First we have Professor Tonks--,"

"The second!" Harry added.

Neville just shook his head at his fellow heir. "Husband of the other Professor Tonks. Next is Professor Clearwater, mother of Ravenclaw Prefect Penelope Clearwater, and finally Professor Fawcett, mother of Hufflepuff Anna Fawcett."

"Transfiguration teachers are Professor MacMillian, Aunt of Hufflepuffs Ernie and Emily, Professor Wetherby, and of course Professor McGonagall," Harry rattled off.

Hermione gave him a look, but continued. "In charms we welcome Professor Burbage, who many of you already know, Professor Diggory, mother of Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory, and Professor Su, cousin of Ravenclaw Su Li."

"Science will be started by Professor Abercrombie, Aunt to Ravenclaw Sally-Anne Perks and mother of future student Euan Abercrombie," Neville said. "Third year science and potions and fourth year potions will be taken on by Professor O'Dowd, while OWL and NEWT potions will be taught by Professor Spudgeon."

"Incidentally, we thank you all for reaching out to your families," Harry added. "We were quite happy with the response, and as you can see, we have invited many of your family members to join the Hogwarts family. Now, Professor Granger, yes, as in grandmother to Lady Ravenclaw here, will be teaching beginner maths."

Hermione stuck her tongue out at her fellow heir, who simply laughed and continued. "Third year maths and beginning arithmancy and fourth year arithmancy will be taught by Professor Spencer-Moon, mother of Slytherin Lillian Moon, and the latter years, of course, will continue with our own Professor Vector. And I think that's the core classes done!"

"Now for the electives," Hermione confirmed. "OWL and NEWT Astronomy and Astrology will be taught by Professor Sinistra, assisted by Professor Firenze, of our centaur herd. OWL and NEWT Ancient Runes will still be taught by Professor Babbling."

"As we mentioned before," Neville continued, "we will be introducing several OWL and NEWT foreign language classes. Students now have the option of Spanish, with Professor Reyes-Applebee, Latin with Professor Tintwistle, Chinese with Professor Zhang, and Hindi with Professor Patil. You might recognize her daughters in Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, Parvati and Padma."

Harry picked up the narrative. "Other language courses offered to those Fourth year and above are German with Professor Ziegenbart, or Greek with Professor Hopkirk, who it so happens is a Siren. Also French with Professor Vane, a quarter-veela and Aunt of future student Romilda Vane, Mermish in the lake with Professor Kesa, or Goblin with one of our Gringotts contingent, Professor Blightarm. How cool are those options!"

Hermione did not appear to share his enthusiasm, though from the expressions of many of the students, she was the only one. "Finally, the NEWT electives. Professor MacDougal, Grandfather of Ravenclaw Morag and Slytherins Camden and Lachlan, will teach Alchemy and Potion Creation. Professor Kettletoft will take on the Government elective, while Professor Lovegood, uncle of future student Luna, teaches Philosophy. Spell Creation will be taught by Professor Nettlebed."

"Battlemagic will be taught by Professor Buttermere," Neville continued. "Weaponry will be taught by Professor McTighe, and Dueling will be taught by Headmaster Flitwick! Healer Pomfrey will also be teaching the Healing elective."

"Finally," Harry said, "the rest of our Gringotts contingent. Professor Hordesruin will be teaching Warding, Professor Rageblade will be teaching Curse Breaking, and Professor Dragonsear will be teaching finances. And I think that's the lot!"