Snafu

Snafu - Chapter 1

It was the beginning of another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the Great Hall was bustling with excited students. High above the excitement, the bewitched ceiling of the Great Hall mirrored a thick storm that was taking place outdoors, complete with heavy rain, thunder and the occasional bright flash of lightning.

The first-year students had been sorted and Headmaster Albus Dumbledore was just finishing his annual welcoming speech along with a long list of Rules and Regulations for the new term.

Harry Potter, who was beginning his fifth year at Hogwarts, was normally excited to be back in the place that felt most like home to him. After another seemingly endless summer with his Muggle relatives, the Dursleys, he welcomed the chance to get back to the things he enjoyed most: magic, and especially the game of Quidditch.

Last year's Triwizard Tournament had definitely changed Harry. He found himself second-guessing everything around him and everyone's intentions. Having been fooled by a former Death Eater posing as a teacher in order to kill him had left some deep-rooted marks on Harry's persona.

Harry glanced around at the other students in the Great Hall that evening, and felt a slight pang of jealousy. They all seemed so normal compared to Harry. Granted, they did seem a tad more apprehensive then usual, seeing as Professor Dumbledore had announced, at the end of last term, that Voldemort had returned.

"But they don't lie in bed at night," Harry thought to himself as he watched them all having their animated discussions, "with the horrific images plaguing their dreams. They haven't witnessed the cruelty that I have."

There were a handful of people that Harry knew he could always count on, two of whom were sitting at the Gryffindor table with him: Ron Weasley, who was tapping on his empty plate impatiently, and Hermione Granger, who was staring attentively up at Dumbledore.

"You know, guys, it seems like that speech of Dumbledore's gets longer and longer every year," Ron said as the Headmaster finished talking, and the feast was laid before them. He quickly picked through the vast array of food, sampling a bit of everything within arms reach.

"Ron," Hermione stated in her usual all-knowing tone, while buttering her bread, "you really need to learn to be more patient. There are new students every year and it is important that they know how things work around here."

"What is important is that we growing students get fed within a reasonable time period," he replied, stuffing a sizeable portion of mashed potatoes in his mouth. "I mean, geez, we just spent how many hours cooped up on a train and..."

"And just how many cream pies and cakes did you eat while you were 'cooped up' on the train?" Hermione shot back quickly knowing he would not have a chance to answer with his mouth full of food.

"Hey, Harry," she said, moving her attention to Harry who was barely eating anything, "you feeling all right?"

"Yeah, just got a lot on my mind," he replied sulkily. He wasn't really in the mood to talk.

"I'm sure Sirius is fine, Harry," said Hermione, as if reading his mind, "What exactly did his letter say again?"

Harry hadn't seen Sirius since the end of the last school year, when Professor Dumbledore had sent him on a secret mission in preparation for fighting Voldemort, who had regained his power. Sirius had written to Harry though, about mid-July, but Harry was having a hard time understanding what exactly Sirius was up to.

Harry pulled the folded piece of parchment out of his pocket and handed it to Hermione.

"Go on and read it yourself. I don't think I can look at it again, it's driving my crazy."

Hermione unfolded the parchment, which had been folded and unfolded by Harry so many times over the last two months that it was becoming flimsy. Ron moved in closer to Hermione to hear the letter again.

"Dear Harry, I'm sorry I haven't been able to write to you until now. I hope you are well and that you are enjoying your summer holiday."

Harry grunted, thinking about how he never enjoyed his summer holidays with the Dursleys.

Hermione continued reading, " I know you may be anxious, seeing as we parted so quickly last year, but I want you to know that I am fine. Professor Dumbledore got word to me before I had arrived at Remus' place, saying he had a more pressing matter. When I arrived back at Hogwarts Dumbledore escorted me to the Ministry of Magic office, where I was granted a complete pardon. I don't know exactly how this all happened, but apparently there's someone in some kind of position of power who believed my story and, well to make a long story short, I'm free. I'm finally able to walk around without worrying about who sees me. I'm sure there are loads of people who will be very unhappy about this, and even Fudge seemed a bit shaky about giving me the pardon, but guess he didn't have a choice. Anyway, I'll be coming to see you as soon as I can. Dumbledore asked me to take one more trip for him and as soon as I'm finished I'll come to see you. Give my love to Ron and Hermione. I'll be seeing you soon. Love, Sirius."

Hermione stared at the parchment for a moment, then refolded it carefully and handed it to Harry. "What I find curious is, who would possibly be able to get Sirius pardoned? Ron, your father works at the Ministry, and he never said anything about who it was?"

Ron shook his head, wiping some mashed potatoes off his chin. "He doesn't know. Just came home one day and said that Sirius had been granted a full pardon. It had to have been Dumbledore..."

Harry let out a long sigh, clearly becoming frustrated, "No, Ron, it can't have been. The last time I saw Fudge and Professor Dumbledore together they clearly weren't seeing eye to eye on anything. I highly doubt they'd agree on what color the sky is let alone Sirius' guilt or innocence."

Hermione knew this conversation was not helping Harry's mood and quickly changed the subject. "Well, what about the new teachers?" she asked, motioning towards the table where the Professors were dining.

Harry and Ron looked up at the Head Table and, for the first time since their arrival, noticed the two empty seats. One seat was positioned between Madam Hooch, the Flying Instructor, and Professor Snape, the Potions Master and Harry's least favorite teacher at Hogwarts. Professor Severus Snape had tried to make Harry's life at Hogwarts miserable from day one. He was the Head of Slytherin House and was notorious for favoring his own students while needlessly punishing students in Gryffindor. The other empty chair was on Snape's other side, between him and Professor Dumbledore.

"Well, one of them will be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher obviously," Hermione continued, "but who's the other chair for?"

Ron replied, with a rather sarcastic tone in his voice, "Perhaps Dumbledore has finally caught on to the fact that none of the Dark Arts Professors last longer than a year, so he's got two of them coming in this year. You know, a back up one already in place so he doesn't have to go through the whole interviewing process again next summer."

Harry couldn't help but laugh at Ron's remark, which, while he knew it to be completely in jest, did make sense in an odd sort of way.

"Well, that gives us two mysteries to sort out now, doesn't it? 'What's going on with Sirius?' and 'Who'll fill the empty chairs?'" Harry did not think he could take another puzzle to sort out. His brain already felt like it was going to explode.

"It looks," Hermione started slowly, her mouth gaped open in disbelief, "like we may be able to answer both of those questions at the same time."

Harry and Ron both looked around to see who had caught her attention. They clearly weren't the only ones with a sudden interest in who was standing at the door. The Great Hall, which moments before had been ringing with the sound of students laughing and talking, was suddenly silent except for the sound of the dying rain from the ceiling above.

Harry immediately jumped from his seat when he saw Sirius Black standing in the doorway. He was much more handsome than when Harry last saw him. Clearly, freedom from being on the run from the law suited him well.

Sirius seemed to be hurrying someone along from the hallway outside with the wave of his hand. And moments later, there was another surprise in the doorway. It was a rather petite woman who clearly had not had anything to shield her from the rain, as she was completely drenched from head to toe. More peculiar however, was the fact that this woman was not wearing the usual cloak or robe worn by a witches and wizards, but rather she was dressed in ordinary Muggle clothing.

Sirius whispered something in her ear and the woman shook her head vehemently. He then put his arm out to her and helped her along the marble floor towards the Head Table. As they passed Harry, Sirius winked and mouthed a hello to him. Harry nodded back, as he sat back down in his chair. He looked as stunned as every other student as the odd-looking pair passed by.

Albus welcomed them both as Mr. Filch, the caretaker, handed the lady a towel, which she graciously accepted. After dabbing herself quickly with the towel, she laid it on the chair between the completely bewildered looking Professor Snape and the Headmaster and sat down. Sirius took his place on the other side of Snape and looked out over the crowd of students, who were now quietly whispering amongst themselves.

"If I may have your attention for one more moment," Professor Dumbledore called to the students, "I would like to welcome our two newest teachers, Professors Black and Kidrin. Professor Black will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Professor Kidrin will be instructing the Muggle Studies classes, which, as I mentioned earlier are required classes this year." He paused a moment letting the students take in the information, then continued, "I trust that all the students here at Hogwarts will make them feel welcome."

Both of the new teachers nodded slightly as the students politely clapped. The Hall slowly filled with the sound of students talking.

Hermione was the first of the three to speak. "You had no idea he was coming?"

Harry was staring at the Head Table as if in a trance, "No idea. I don't believe this, Sirius teaching here... at Hogwarts..."

"Well let's hope he's got more luck than the others," Ron chimed in.

But Harry wasn't listening to anything. His attention was focused on Madam Kidrin, who was talking very enthusiastically with Professor Dumbledore.

"So then I said, 'I will not use any magic, Sirius; I'm the dim one who forgot to pack an umbrella so I've got to live with the consequences.'" She laughed and took a sip of her Butterbeer, shaking her head.

Sirius poked his head around Professor Snape as if he wasn't even in the chair next to him. "I even offered to dry her off once she got inside, but she'd have nothing to do with it. Never seen anyone take their job so seriously." He turned his attention back to his plate of food.

Albus chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles. "Yes, I seem to have a knack for acquiring the most dedicated teachers. Professor Snape here is the same way." His eyes now rested on the raven-haired professor between the two newest additions; he clearly did not look at all pleased to be seated where he was.

Professor Kidrin looked over at Professor Snape as if noticing him for the first time. "Professor Snape? Jena Kidrin. Pleased to meet you at last," she said with her hand outstretched. "I've heard you are quite the Potions guru."

Snape glanced at her hand as if repulsed at the thought of touching it.

"I've heard you are quite the Potions guru." Her voice played back mockingly in his head. What the hell is that supposed to mean? If you think for a moment that I am going to cave into your little girlish giggling and silly stories you have another thing coming. How dare you come traipsing into this school, this Wizarding school mind you, refusing to do magic, wearing those ridiculous Muggle clothes, on the arm of that infernal Sirius Black no less... Mark my words Madam, if you so much as look at me the wrong way I will knock that pretty little smile right off your face.

The thought of spiking her Pumpkin juice the next morning with some poisonous concoction put a glint in his beady black eyes.

He abruptly shook her hand. "Pleasure," the words were almost forced from his lips. He immediately went back to his meal in front of him and his thoughts of torture.

Sirius leaned behind Snape and addressed Jena calmly, "You'll have to excuse Severus, he spends way too much time in the dungeons. Forgets how to interact in social situations. That's been a problem of his since I can remember. Never was much of a social butterfly were ya', Sev."

Severus tried to ignore Black's remarks, looking out over the ocean of students in the Hall. Jena noticed, though, a slight twitch in Snape's forehead and knew Sirius' comments were hitting a nerve.

She shook her head at Black, "Sirius, really I don't think..." she started, but was cut off by Albus who had risen from his chair.

"I would now like to ask that all students please follow your House Prefects to your dormitories. I trust you will all get rested tonight and be ready for your classes tomorrow morning. Goodnight." Albus sat back down and watched as the students began filing slowly out of the Great Hall.

Severus took the opportunity to escape from the table and stood up to leave.

"Where you off to so quickly, Snape?" Sirius asked accusingly.

"Some of us Professors," Snape hissed giving Sirius the once over, "and I use that term loosely, like to be prepared for classes. Besides, I prefer to make myself scarce when the 'Sirius Black Freedom Fighters' come around."

Jena followed Snape's glare and noticed three students, making their way towards the Head Table. She did not recognize the lanky, red-haired boy or the girl accompanying him. She did however, know the boy in front of them, the one smiling at Sirius as he pushed his way through the crowd of students leaving the Hall. This, she knew immediately, was Harry Potter.

Snape had already left the table and made his way through door without so much as a second glance back.

Jena turned to Dumbledore, "I should really get to my quarters and get out of these wet clothes. I've got to get ready for lessons tomorrow myself."

Sirius looked up at her, "Hang on, I'll walk with you."

"No really, Sirius," looking back and seeing Harry getting closer, "stay and visit awhile, I'll find my way just fine."

Sirius looked puzzled at her sudden interest in departing. Albus motioned for Filch, and asked him if he could show Jena to her quarters.

"Be happy to, Professor," Filch said, although he didn't look like he was really ever happy about anything.

Jena wished Professor Dumbledore and Sirius goodnight and followed Filch out the same door through which Professor Snape had gone moments before.

Most everyone had cleared the Great Hall, leaving only the trio, Sirius, and Professor Minerva McGonagall.

"I trust that you will make sure these students are in the dormitories shortly, Professor Black," she said warningly, glaring at them through her wire-rimmed glasses.

Sirius nodded and watched Minerva exit the Great Hall, leaving the four of them alone at last.

As it was indeed getting late, Harry didn't have time to ask Sirius much. Sirius assured Harry that everything was fine and promised he would fill them in on the details of the last few months when time permitted. After saying their goodnights, the three Gryffindors made their way to their dormitories and settled in for the night.

Harry lay in his four-poster bed that night thinking about the events of the last few hours.

He had so many questions for Sirius and desperately wished they could have had more time together. What little information he had gotten from his godfather had only brought up more questions.

Who had gotten Sirius pardoned? Where had he been between the time he was freed and his arrival at Hogwarts? What was the deal with the new Muggle Studies teacher?

Harry finally drifted off to a peaceful sleep knowing that now that Sirius was back, he would never have to spend another miserable minute with the Dursleys again.