Disclaimer: After being MIA I'm still not J.K. Rowling.

Sorry this took so long. I just finished my junior year and I took all NEWT level classes - I mean, all advanced placement/honors classes. It didn't help that this chapter was hard to write (due to Hagrid's accent)

Chapter 10

The Biggest Surprise

Down at the Great Hall for breakfast, Harry continually counted out the other students. He simply refused to believe that so few of his peers had wanted to return to Hogwarts. It had always been a haven, but the events just prior to summer holiday had no doubt changed many parents minds.

His gaze occasionally turned to Neville and Ginny, who were reading Daily Prophet articles. Ron and Hermione were no where to be seen: McGonagall had to assign them their new duties as Head Boy and Girl. Turning back to his soggy cornflakes, Harry spied Luna showing the new students of her house the now infamous Quidditch hat she had made, complete with a roaring lion's head. Judging from the confused looks she was getting, the first years didn't know why she had Gryffindor's mascot and not her own Ravenclaw's.

"Harry, I talked to Professor Sprout about reforming the DA," Neville said. Noticing Harry and Ginny's surprised looks, he quickly added, "I don't know who the actual Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is this year, and Professor McGonagall is really busy, so I figured it would be easier to ask a different teacher. She said it would be alright, and we could even practice in the greenhouses."

"But the Room of Requirement is just fine Neville," Ginny said. "Why would we go to the greenhouses?"

"Well, there are plenty of interesting plants out there," he started, and Harry sensed his aptitude for Herbology hadn't faded over the summer. "And they have healing properties too. It might help to know the defensive and offensive value of a few good plants."

"What if you're attacked in, I dunno, a concrete room, with no plants? What then?"

Neville looked slightly flustered, yet continued. "They don't have to be fresh! I just think that we should know what flora to bring along. I mean, Harry, you know the benefits of gillyweed if you find yourself in a watery situation?"

"Oh, yeah, that helped during the second task," Harry nodded in agreement, but Ginny wasn't done.

"The Bubblehead Charm is much more effective and can last longer!" Before the argument could continue some loud screeches filled the Hall. Several owls were swooping in, dropping off letters and parcels. All of the first years watched in awe and laughed when an unfortunate Hufflepuff third year was nearly knocked over by a barn owl.

Towards the entrance, Ron and Hermione finally appeared, carrying several stacks of paper. The two began scurrying around the Hall, placing piles of paper into the waiting arms of prefects. When they finally sat down at the Gryffindor table they appeared very flustered as they passed around class schedules.

"McGonagall just finished these last night, when she knew officially how many students were enrolled in each grade," Ron said in a wheezing voice as he helped himself to some pumpkin juice.

"Nearly all the classes have doubled up, can you believe it?" Hermione muttered, scanning the parchment before her properly. "Most of our lessons will now be with the Hufflepuffs."

"My year is stuck with the Slytherins," Ginny grumbled as she glanced over at the offending table.

"Hermione," Harry said quietly, glancing up at the Teacher's Table. "do you know who-"

"Is teaching this year? That was the first thing I asked Headmistress. To be frank, she doesn't know yet either."

"What?" Ron and Ginny had stopped making fun of Slytherin and Neville looked up from his paper.

"Slughorn had said he'd return and be Head of Slytherin, but he didn't turn up, so McGonagall has been trying to track him down. Didn't you listen last night?" Harry and Ron exchanged guilty looks. They had stopped listening as McGonagall had gone through the usual rules, thinking there was nothing important left to say.

"Honestly Ron, you're the Head Boy. You should be setting an example," Hermione hissed.

"He is," Ginny giggled. "An example of what not to do."

"Shut up," Ron muttered, used to this kind of treatment ever since becoming a prefect. "But, Hermione, what did she say last night?"

"She said all new teachers would be formally introduced tonight and that's why we don't have classes today," the Head Girl huffed. "Surely you heard that part?" She raised an eyebrow as the students around her hid their bags and books. "I see. At least Neville was paying attention."

"Actually, I forgot my bag back up in the dormitory," he said feebly. While Hermione rolled her eyes the other laughed.

"Good te see yer all in good spirits," a rough voice said from behind Harry.

"Hagrid!"

"You decided to come back after all!"

"'Course I did. Need yer Care 'o Magical Creatures teacher, don' ye?" Hagrid was grinning down at them, casting a shadow over the whole group.

"You said there was a post for you at Beauxbaton in your letter," Ron said, grinning.

"Well, there was. But I already had a fine one 'ere," Hagrid chuckled. "'Tween you an' me, I think I made a great choice, eh? Ain't no such creatures at Maxime's, there ain't. 'Ere we got the 'ole Forbidden Forest!"

"But 'Agrid, at Beauxbaton we had many more tame creaturez," a new figure, equally large, said. Ron's eyes grew wide and even Hermione couldn't hide the shock on her face as she blinked up at Madame Maxime. Each was wondering the same thing as Harry: what was she doing at Hogwarts?

Hagrid was positively beaming now as Maxime studied the students below her.

"Zees are your best students?"

"Yep. Harry here was able to approach a hippogriff on 'is firs' go!" Hagrid boomed proudly.

"Zat is quite an accomplishment," Maxime nodded, although she was looking to the groundskeeper rather than at Harry.

"It was nothing," he responded, feeling as though he was intruding on the two half-giants.

"Of course, with a teacher like 'Agrid, I'm sure it was very easy," Madame Maxime said as if she hadn't heard Harry's remark. The two wandered up the Hall and sat down at the end of the Teacher's Table. Hagrid held her hand as food magically appeared before them. Professor Flitwick looked even smaller than ever sitting next to the couple. Indeed, all the teachers were dwarfed by the new additions.

"Oh my…"Hermione whispered, putting her hand over her mouth.

"What?" Ron asked, taking the Prophet from Neville, who was still staring at Madame Maxime.

"You don't think…You don't think she's a new professor, do you?"

"Hermione there's no way," Harry said. "She has her own school to look after."

"Why else would she come here then? Asides from Hagrid?"

Ron shrugged. "Could be that Beauxbaton term hasn't started yet and she's just visiting."

"Besides," Ginny joined in, "what on earth would she teach? All our positions are full."

"No, we don't have a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and there's no sign of Slughorn!" Hermione seemed to be getting worked up, not knowing who would be finishing her magical education. "We don't even know if McGonagall will continue to teach Transfiguration or if we'll have another new teacher and there might even be a new Head of Gryffindor and they might need someone to replace Slughorn for Slytherin Head as well and -"

"Hermione," Ron stammered, looking alarmed. "Calm down! Everything will be sorted out by tonight! It'll be okay. Just relax." Hermione took several deep breathes as Ron patted her on the back. "Since you pointed out that we have the day off, why not practice Quidditch or" seeing Hermione's look, "read our textbooks."

Still, Harry knew from experience that she wouldn't calm down until she knew exactly who was teaching each class.

Again, sorry for taking so long. My school year was rough (aka hard) along with academic decathlon (my team went to State and I'm already preparing for next year). I really want to finish this story, even if I don't get reviews. Sorry for the wait and I hope it will be worth it!