Returning was always going to be hard

Chapter 9: Welcoming feast

“Who’s the new teacher?” it was Neville who dunted Harry on the arm
“What makes you think I know?” he asked stuffing his face with food
“Oh really, all we know is all you know, she’s called Rhiannon and she’ll be teaching us Defence against the Dark Arts. Didn’t you hear what Professor McGonagall just said?” Hermione said matter of factly “I don’t see why you boys don’t just Listen”
“Lighten up Mione’” Ron started “Its not everyday we get a female Defence teacher, he was only asking if we knew anything different… which of course we don’t” the trio did of course know more than they were letting on and each of them had wondered why she didn’t want anyone knowing who her father was.

----------Flashback----------
Once Harry, Ron and Hermione had returned to headquarters that evening after the meeting Rhiannon Dumbledore the three of them sat in Ron and Harry's room, trying to work a few things out.
“Of course if the students knew, then the more unruly ones would maybe have given her more respect. there might be less trouble in class, not that I'm saying there will be” Hermione said
“Yeh out of fear of how powerful she would be with Albus Dumbledore as a father” Ron smirked "Could you just imagine what she could do, I mean we only saw half of what Dumbledore was capable of"
They talked about this several times over the course of a few days, and everytime Hermione came up with the same theory, for she could think of no other, and it was beginning to annoy Harry and Ron.
“And well the Slytherin’s, that is her reason for keeping quiet” this was Hermione’s theory on it anyway, “we didn’t know which were in league with Voldemort and which ones aren‘t, and many of them have death eaters for parents so coming out as Dumbledores daughter would cause her major problems.” Hermione said
Harry and Ron rolled their eyes
“Come off it Hermione, can’t you give it a rest for one night please, we’re tired and going to bed” they said trailing off up the stairs
“Well fine then” Hermione said in a huff, opening one of her new textbooks and began to read.
----------End Flashback----------

“Hey maybe hiring her wasn’t such a good idea” It was Ginny who spoke this time.
“What makes you say that?” Harry asked
“Well apart from you two and a few others every male student in this hall can’t keep their eyes off Professor Rhiannon, look at them” she giggled, the three of them glanced around the room and sure enough many of the male student population was more intent on staring towards the staff table than concentration on their own dinner, Hermione laughed with Ginny.
“Looks like Defence lessons will be fun and interesting this year” Ginny smiled
“Professor McGonagall wouldn’t have hired her if she didn’t think we would benefit, would she, and well she has made her head of Gryffindor house, so well she must by ok." Neville said “Wait till my gran finds out we got a female defence teacher she’d be well chuffed. She kept telling me Dumbledore should hire a woman and might be able to keep the position filled” he laughed
“I can’t believe she let him back in the school tho” Ron said with a mouthful
“Oh Ron do you have to talk like that, that’s disgusting” Ginny said
“Who?” Hermione asked
“Him” Ron said nodding towards the Slytherin table, where Malfoy was sat alone.
“She would have had her reasons, she might not have had any choice” Hermione replied
They drifted back into a normal conversation after that but they occasionally glanced at the head table once in a while, each of them wondering a different thing. Hermione - what would she learn from this woman, and why do all the other professors seem more at ease than they did last year especially Professor McGonagall? was it because of her? Ron - I’m never going to learn anything this year, she’s hot. Harry - she must be here for a reason, maybe Dumbledore requested she come to the school when he was gone, he mentioned something to him last year in one of their lessons about a Dumbledore needing to be at the school, maybe that’s why she was here. Ginny - she seems awfully friendly with McGonagall, mum said she was a nice woman, in the same class as Harry’s mum and dad, she can’t be all that bad. Each of them knowing that they’d just have to wait and see, they still had the school year ahead.
Rhiannon looked down at the sea of faces before her - ‘God how am I ever going to cope with this lot’ she thought to herself.
“What’s wrong dear?” Minerva asked sensing her apprehension.
“I don’t think this first few weeks is going to go well at all Min, I mean look at them. Is It just cos I’m the newbie?” she asked
“I think they all have an eye for the new Professor” Slughorn piped up from beside her a smug smile on his face "I told you Minerva, a young female teacher isn't the way to go if you want them to learn anything"
Minerva glared at him "Don't be Ridiculous"
“Don’t be silly” Rhiannon said “I’m way older than them, that’s just a silly idea”
“Oh is it, then why have most the boys in the room, sat staring up in this direction since they sat down then?” he asked smirking a little - now that was enough to scare anyone Rhiannon thought to herself.
“I think your wrong” Rhiannon said curtly
“He maybe right you know” Minerva leaned closer and whispered in her ear “I for one would be doing the same, a new attractive Professor, I wonder how far we could push her? That'll be what they are thinking” Rhiannon gave her a slight smile when she moved away and looked back down at the students, namely and the Gryffindor table.
“There not that bad are they?” she asked nodding in their direction.
“Who, them no” Minerva smiled “Sure like any other young adolescents they can get a bit unruly at times but its nothing you can’t handle”
“Who’s that talking with Hermione, she looks familiar” Rhiannon asked nodding towards the young girl with the flame red hair.
“Oh that, that’s Miss Weasley, Molly and Arthur’s youngest and only daughter.” Minerva replied
“She looks a lot like Molly when she was younger” Rhiannon smiled “And by the looks of it my father was right, she does have a soft spot for Harry, and vice versa” she smiled watching the two exchange sideways glances “Reminds me of James and Lily”
Minerva smiled “I suppose your right, there is a lot of his father in him by the way, and teamed with Mr Weasley the two of them can be quite mischievous”
“Ah ok, I’ll be on my guard then, but there’s nothing that they could do, or have done that could match what we did before them” Rhiannon laughed, and Minerva joined her in remembering what the six of them used to do when they were at the school (herself, lily and the Marauders that is).
“Min can I ask something” Rhiannon asked
“Sure Rhia” Minerva replied turning to face her
“How come Mr Malfoy is back at the school, after the impression I got, and what I heard of the events last year, I didn’t think he would be allowed to return to the school?” Minerva didn’t reply she just looked in the young boys direction “is that why you spent those days in meetings at the ministry?”
“Yes the minister and his mother pleaded his case, his fathers been locked away in Azkaban, his mother thinks it would be safer for him here a the school”
“I don’t see why that could be, there’s going to be a lot bad blood with this, can’t you see the looks some of the students are giving him Min, its not safe”
“I know but his mother insisted, and once the minister was out of earshot" Minerva said "She just wouldn't let me say no, but I trust the staff will keep an eye on him, I’ve told them all to be on the look out. I know this will cause some problems initially but I trust they will subside after a while"
"Your far too trusting Min, you know that" Rhiannon looked at her "I know I’m here to look after Harry, but for you I’ll keep an eye on him too, by the looks of the other students he'll need protecting too, but I’m not doing it for him" she said turning back to her meal.
"Thank you" Minerva said quietly, placing her hand on top of Rhiannon’s before returning to her own plate.
And that’s how the rest of the welcoming feast past, everyone in little groups, each in their own conversations oblivious to that of anyone else’s, and each with their own thought about what this coming year would bring.