Tears of Loss, Joy of Gain

*At Hogsmeade Station*

The Hogwarts Express pulled up into the station, and the seven people whom we left off with stepped off to hear a very familiar voice.

"Firs' years this way!" Hagrid exclaimed, and Gabrielle left the group, looking about as scared as a person could possibly be.

Rich got into a horseless carriage, even though he knew it wasn't really horseless but had thestrals pulling it, with Jim, Patrick, Luke and Linda. They sat quietly discussing Quidditch the entire way to the castle.

When they got into the Great Hall, Patrick pointed to the three new adults sitting at the table and Rich figured that they must be the new professors.

Of these new adults, one had short brown hair and brown eyes, and he was talking to the woman next to him, and all of the guys were staring at her. She had strawberry blond hair and gorgeous blue eyes. Farther down the table, talking to Professor Snape, was the other professor, who had sandy blond hair and a rather bored expression.

Soon enough, it was time for the sorting. The rip in the Sorting Hat opened and it sang its song and everybody was sorted into their new houses rather normally until it came to the last name.

"Weasley, Gabrielle," Professor McGonagall called out. Gabrielle stepped forward, blond hair reflecting the light from the hanging candles.

Rich had noticed the new professors' reactions. At the name of Weasley, the man with brown hair and the woman next to him had jerked as if there were electrodes on their chairs, and the other man had smirked at seeing this. Rich wondered why they had had that reaction.

Gabrielle was sorted into Gryffindor and Professor Dumbledore stood up to make his customary short speech. He looked around, smiling. "Dig in!" he said.

Finally, the meal was over and Dumbledore stood again. "I'd like to welcome you to another year at Hogwarts," he said. "As usual, the Forbidden Forest is just that-forbidden. Also, Mr. Filch has a list of all magical items banned in the corridors, and they now include both Marauder and Weasley Wicked Maps."

The brown-haired professor and the woman again jerked at hearing this, and Professor Dumbledore looked amused. "Also," he said, "I would like to welcome three new professors."

"Henry James has stepped forward to take the once-again vacant position of Defense Against the Dark Arts," he said, and the brown-haired man stood to polite applause.

"Professor Parker has stepped forward to take Muggle Studies," and he stood, only to get booed by the people who had heard of him being conceited in school from their parents. He scowled, looking remarkably like Professor Snape. The other two new teachers smirked now.

"Lastly, Professor Green has taken over for Professor Vector in Arithmancy," and her getting up caused a great cheer to come up from the guys.

"Now," Professor Dumbledore said. "Time for bed."

Prefect Mike ushered the first years towards him so that they could go up to the dormitory, and after they left, so did Rich, Linda, Luke, Jim and Patrick, and they discussed the new teachers while heading up to the dormitory.

"Why was that one teacher booed?" Linda asked.

"Didn't your father tell you about him? He's Josh Parker, the most conceited person to ever go to Hogwarts, or at least that's what my dad said," Jim said.

"Oh well. What about the other two?" Rich asked.

"Well, I don't know about you guys, but that woman was hot," Patrick said.

"Oh yeah."

"Definitely."

"Without a doubt."

Linda just made a face, thinking that boys would be boys. "Well, the other man teacher, Professor James, was hot too."

"Was he?"

"I didn't notice."

"Neither did I."

"He wasn't that good-looking."

When they got to the common room, they said good night, looking forward to the next day to see their schedule.

The next morning, they did get their schedule. That day, the four boys had Potions, double Defense Against the Dark Arts, Muggle Studies and History of Magic, while Linda had Arithmancy instead of Muggle Studies.

Second period came, and the third years went to Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Hello class," Professor James said. They mumbled, "Hello," back to him, the Gryffindors exhausted after Potions class, when about 30 points had been taken away from them.

"That wasn't very good, but I suppose I'll let you off this time if you tell me what class made you lumps like this," Professor James said, a small smile on his face.

Rich raised his hand and was called on. "Potions," he said.

"Ah, Potions," Harry said. "I remember that class very well, he wasn't exactly the nicest person to us Gryffindors."

Patrick raised his hand. "You were a Gryffindor?"

Harry looked taken aback. "What? Oh yes, I was. I think that's enough information about me, as I am not Gilderoy Lockhart."

"You know Gilderoy Lockhart?" Linda asked.

Once again, Harry looked taken aback. "What? Oh yes, I knew him. Not know, I knew him. Anyway, back to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Follow me," he said, and left the room, moving at a brisk walk to the teacher's lounge. Peeves was bouncing along the corridor, but stopped when he saw the professor.

"Well well well, if it isn't Potty wee-" he began, but Professor James made a jabbing motion with his wand, saying, "Silencio!" and Peeves was quiet. Rich wondered what Peeves was going to say before Professor James had silenced him. Finally, they reached the teachers' lounge.

Professor Snape was in there, marking summer essays when they saw the group of students following Professor James. His eyes narrowed and he looked menacingly at Professor James.

"Look at who just arrived," he said. "Your first lesson?"

"Indeed Snape," Harry said.

"Now what kind of respect is that to show to your fellow professor, Henry?" Professor Snape asked, putting the emphasis on Henry. Now it was Harry's eyes who narrowed.

"I'll show you respect when you show it to me," he said, then gestured to the cabinet at the end of the room. "Now, our first lesson. Do you wish to stay, Severus?" he said, putting the emphasis on the last word.

"Do you think I have nothing better to do then to watch some third years dispel a boggart?" he said. "You must remember that I had no interest in it when you were a third year."

"Well, I'd suggest you leave then, because I'm going to release the boggart soon enough," Harry said. Professor Snape did just that, throwing a malicious glare over his shoulder.

"Now," Harry said. "Boggarts. They show you your greatest fear, so I'll take a volunteer from somebody who wishes to go first." He called upon Patrick. "Let's see what you can do, Mister Finnegan, and remember, the spell to get rid of it is Riddikulus," he said.

Patrick stepped forward, breathing carefully. The boggart was released, and Patrick found himself staring, horrified at several large sphinxes heading towards him. "Riddikulus!" he squeaked, and the sphinxes turned on one another. "Mister Boot!" he called.

Jim stepped forward, and the sphinxes turned into several large bludgers flying at him, and he stood there, watching as the bludgers zoomed ever closer towards him. Professor James dived and knocked him out of the way of the bludgers, and now the bludgers turned into-

A coldness streamed throughout the room. Harry stood up, swallowing hard, and faced the dementors, only, it wasn't just dementors. Egging them on were several people with red hair-the Weasley family.

Harry stood there, horrified.