A/N: Okay, I wrote this story a little while ago and now looking back over the plot I think it's not that bad. I've written quite a lot of it actually, and I'm thinking about continuing with it. Problem is, you get to that stage sometimes where you can't sit down to something unless you know it's worth it. Now I've got lots of chapters to come, but for now I just want to know from you people if you like it, because then I can get on with writing for you lot. So please, if you like this chapters and chapters to come, review so I know and then I'll continue. If you think it's utter rubbish, just say, because then I won't bother. So just read the story, and I hope you enjoy it!

As the students of Hogwarts settled down in the Great Hall, some of them had noticed that an extra chair had been put out along the teacher's table at the front, and the table had been lengthened. The sea of black sat down at the tables, and a murmur of mutterings began all across the houses- it seemed apparent that everyone had noticed. It was now obvious why extra books had been added to the list that the students always received- the two physics books had been a subject of confusion before, and only the muggle-borns or those who had grown up from a muggle school were quite aware what the lessons were about. They seemed to be about almost no magic whatsoever, and the author was not of anyone known in the wizard world. Those who had read the books had acquired knowledge about science and even some maths, but not of spells and magical beasts.

The seat remained empty throughout the sorting, and once each new little black hat had bobbed to a place on one of the four tables, and Professor McGonagall had carried away a certain battered hat and stool away, most students were thoroughly mystified. Hermione Granger had already started a anxious whispered conversation with a new student Ginny Weasley, though unlike all other conversations in the hall, hers contained more worry about her friends than the new teacher, perhaps because they had not yet turned up for the feast.

Once the new students had settled down at the tables, Professor Dumbledore stood up, automatically expecting silence. The students obliged, albeit slightly slower than they would have normally. Dumbledore smiled knowingly at the confusion and the suspense echoed around the hall.

"Welcome to new students, welcome back to old. Welcome to yet another year at Hogwarts, a place where we dish out brooms for all that cotton wool you've collected during the holidays. I've got a few things to say to you, and I better be quick before you all resort to eating the tables." He tittered slightly at his own joke, though his audience was too curious to pay much attention. Thus he continued. "First I welcome to our ranks the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lockhart, who has rather kindly accepted to teach with us his skills." There was a rather large applause, a great percentage girls looking to be almost swooning as Lockhart smiled an award-winning smile. It was amazing how many perfectly straight teeth Lockhart could fit into the smile, and the celebrity waved extravagantly at his fans. "And also a guest to the wizarding world has come to teach a new lesson that I have added for extra knowledge about the world. Doctor Smith will be teaching Physics this year."

As if waiting for the words, a door opened at the side of the room to reveal a skinny, smiling man in a pinstriped suit and brown jacket, his hands deep in his pockets and red converse peeking out from under his trousers. All heads turned towards him, expressions a mixture of curiosity and surprise. Messy, spiky hair stood tall on the man's head in brown and the man's smile had turned from simply a mouth with turned up corners to a full out grin.

"Now that wasn't the welcome I was expecting." He remarked, one eye brow flying up his forehead. He looked around at the sea of faces glimmering in the light of the thousands of candles above them. He waved slightly and a couple of people on the front row closed their mouths.

"Welcome Doctor." Dumbledore's voice interrupted the silence and heads turned again towards him. A few were whispering to their friends, confused at why Dumbledore had simply called him 'Doctor'. Doctor Smith simply nodded at Dumbledore, and made his way towards his empty seat. He sat down and put his elbows on the table, his head in his hands and looking towards Dumbledore, ready to listen to what he was to say. Many of the students had now recovered from the shock and were whispering with their class mates, occasionally glancing at Doctor Smith. He seemed undisturbed at being the point of interest, and was staring curiously up at the floating candles and, furthermore the fantastic ceiling above, which was dark and glistening with stars.

"Before you actually do start eating the tables," The chatting stopped and heads turned once more to Dumbledore. "I'll finish, I think that is everything necessary talking about. Tuck in!" And with that the golden plates and goblets filled with food and drink, and the Hall was suddenly filled with clinking and clattering of various cutleries as students began to grab things to eat. Doctor Smith was picking up things and staring at them with fascination, wondering how they had managed to make the food appear in such a fashion. A certain girl on the Gryffindor table was watching him carefully, and then elbowed her younger friend next to her.

"Ginny!" She said, as the other girl rubbed her arm with a hurt expression. "The boys haven't turned up yet! Where could they be?"

"Calm down Hermione." A redheaded boy leaned towards her with a grinning face. The identical twin next to him was also smiling. "I've heard they took the car."

"The car?!" Hermione yelped in shock, staring at the boy with wide eyes. "You mean…the flying car?"

"What else would I mean? I say good on them, ain't that right George?" He turned to his twin.

"Hell yeah. Fred! How come we never thought of that?"

"Because you would have got yourself killed!" Hermione cried, shoving George's shoulder.

"By our mother probably." Ginny piped up. The twins grinned at her.

"Oh God, I hope they're alright."

"'Mione, you worry too much. You've got an amazing feast in front of you, why aren't you stuffing your gob?" All those listening laughed whilst Hermione gave Fred a stern look. She sighed, put off her food from worry. Ginny sensed her discomfort and tried to change the subject to distract her.

"So what do you think of this new teacher then?" She asked, motioning towards Doctor Smith.

"I hope he's good." Hermione murmured. "I did Physics in Primary School. I would like to do it again.

"I wonder if he's a muggle…"

"He can't be. If muggles look at this place, all they would see is ruins, but he seems to be able to see it perfectly well." This was evident, from the fact Smith was looking around himself quite curiously, observing the candles and pointing a strange contraption that they couldn't quite see at the ceiling. "Honestly, have you ever read a page of Hogwarts: A History?"

"I don't need to; I've got you who read it for me."

Conversation was scarce from then on and Hermione spent a lot of the time staring at Smith. She found strange that, unlike every other teacher, Smith wasn't in robes, but instead a suit. He obviously wasn't used to being in the vicinity of so much magic, and he looked almost worried at the fact that he didn't know so much about this place. She sighed and looked back down at her plate, picking at now bits of pudding that lay there. She glanced up again and noticed that both Snape and McGonagall were missing, and that Dumbledore was now leaving, with a strange look of disappointment on his face. "I wonder where they're going…" She muttered to herself softly.

"What?" Ginny turned her head towards Hermione, a questioning look upon her face.

"I just noticed that some of the teachers were gone. I wonder if it's something to do with Harry and Ron…"

"Hmm…maybe."

"What's up with you? Usually when I mention Harry you immediately start going on about him!"

Ginny blushed and suddenly became very interested with what was on her plate, which happened to be at the time strawberry cheesecake. "No I don't…" She said, embarrassed. "I've just got stuff on my mind." Hermione smiled and remained silent.

The Doctor had also noticed that some of the teachers had left, though he didn't say anything and continued to eat his treacle tart. He had to admit, everything had been very weird since he landed 4 weeks ago. The TARDIS had gone out control, and once it landed it refused to budge. Albus later explained that this was because of the amount of magic in the air and the electronics had gone haywire- he said it happened to all electric gadgets that reached the general vicinity of Hogwarts. And so, until he could get the TARDIS fixed, he would have to stay here, and luckily Albus kindly offered him a place a teacher. He explained that somehow because the Doctor was a Timelord, he had slight magical blood in his veins. He had given the Doctor a wand and a few books and he set about learning a bit magic. Luckily, as usual, the Doctor was quite a natural.

But even after all this complicated explaining; he was still not used to strange surroundings that he had found himself into. Everything around him looked wrong, not unlike it does when he was with Jack, though not as much so, so he spent a lot of time in the TARDIS, fixing up the old girl. It brought him down to think that his spaceship had so many injuries, and so he also was there to, well, make her feel better.

He knew many of the students in the Hall were staring at him, but he simply ignored them. He was quite used to being stared at, so let them stare, one of the greatest things about humans were their curiosity anyway. He had been told that the four tables each represented four houses, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slytherin apparently. All very interesting, but the Doctor thought it was really separating the school, from what he gathered from the guarded looks the students sometimes sent each other. He had been getting some very threatening and almost loathing looks from the Slytherin bunch which he couldn't quite figure out, though then again, he was wearing rather different clothing to everyone else. Albus had suggested for him to wear robes but he had refused, being too much in love with his beautiful suit and jacket.

He looked down the table at the other teachers. From the beginning he couldn't help but be amused by the way Professor Lockhart acted. According to Albus he was apparently some kind of celebrity in the wizarding world, and he certainly acted like it. He seemed to be trying to gain a bit of attention back from the Doctor, and was showing off to some 4th year girls at the front of the Hall by smiling and simpering, waving in a sort of sickly way. From the way he acted the Doctor could tell Lockhart thought himself better than the rest of the staff, and every now and then he would say a remark like "Severus, I have to tell you about the fantastically advanced potions I have invented!" or "I heard you'll be teaching Mandrakes this year! Did you know, I could take care of a Mandrake with my hands tied behind my back!" much to the annoyance of the other teachers.

The Doctor's eyes moved to Severus Snape. He had finally returned as had Minerva and Albus, and had now continued his meal. He looked to be a man with quite an unpleasant character, and was now looking at Lockhart with severe hatred and every now and then jealousy flashed in the man's black eyes. The Doctor raised his eye brows, slightly surprised. Then again, it was only natural for someone to be jealous of quite a famous celebrity.

By now, most people had finished, and were chatting with their friends and classmates. Many were stretching and yawning, evidently tired after the large feast. Albus suddenly stood up, and the Doctor directed his attention to the old, tall man. He waved his hands and the last morsels of food faded away from each student's plate, leaving them spotless. Albus congratulated them all for eating such a large feast before dismissing them for bed. The students began to file out and the teachers were standing up and leaving for bed. The Doctor said his 'Goodnights' and made his way back to the TARDIS.

Hermione watched Doctor Smith go before standing up and leaving herself. A majority of the mass had left and she walked up the well-trodden route to the Gryffindor tower, thinking. She had almost reached the top when she spotted Harry and Ron outside the secret entrance to the common room looking nervous. They turned as she dashed towards them, their facial expression turning to relief.

"There you are! Where have you been?" She was half angry, half relieved that they were here and alright. "The most ridiculous rumours- someone said you'd been expelled for crashing a flying car." They looked nervous.

"Well, we haven't been expelled." Harry assured her. Hermione's eyes widened in shock.

"You're not telling me you did fly here?" Hermione said severely, angry that they'd put themselves so much in danger. She began to start to tell them off, but Ron cut across her.

"Skip the lecture," He sighed, looking as though he had had enough of lectures and was thoroughly tired. Serves them right, the amount of worry she had been through. "And tell us the new password."

"It's 'wattlebird'," She muttered angrily, "but that's not the point-"

She was going to go on at them for worrying her so, but the portrait door swung open and clapping ensued. She sighed. She should have expected this really. She gave up and left the boys being praised and walked up to her dormitory. When she reached it, she realised she was alone- they were all downstairs, praising those irritating boys. She sat on her bed and reached out for one of the Physics books Doctor Smith had set. Though she found it rather fascinating, she couldn't concentrate properly. Noise was coming from downstairs and anyway, her mind was on other things.

She changed into her pyjamas and settled onto her bed. Who was Smith? There had been many reports about how Lockhart was becoming DADA teacher, but nothing about Smith. He obviously looked unsure about his surroundings, like he wasn't used to it, though he definitely wasn't a muggle. And why had Dumbledore suddenly appointed him as a teacher? That had never happened before. It was all very strange…she had a nagging feeling there was something wrong about Smith. Something not quite right. And this worried her- especially after what happened with Quirrill. What if Smith was connected to You-Know-Who?

She turned over. But that couldn't be right. After all the business with Lord Voldemort Dumbledore would be extra careful about whom he appointed teacher, surely? She couldn't get these thoughts off her mind, and slowly she fell into a confused, fitful sleep.

The next morning was, to say the least, quite eventful, and it certainly took Hermione's mind off things. She was still annoyed at the boys for worrying her so; when they finally turned up to breakfast her 'Morning' was far from friendly. She was reading the Physics book again and now she was getting into it she had to say, it was fascinating. How come they didn't normally learn stuff like this? All the spells and enchantments were useful and interesting, but this was how the world went round and why, how every little thing happened and what is going on that is more than meets the naked eye. She was sat next to Neville Longbottom, who was cheerful as usual and was still impressed about what Harry and Ron did last night.

She glanced up and noticed Doctor Smith had sat down. Harry was looking in the same direction. "Who's that?" He murmured, gesturing towards Smith. "I thought Lockhart was teaching us Defence Against the Dark Arts?"

"He is." Hermione said, much to Harry's disappointment. "He's the new Physics teacher, Doctor Smith."

"Physics? Isn't that a muggle subject?"

Hermione raised an eye brow. "Physics is great; I don't see why Hogwarts don't teach it. You should trying reading the books he set us."

"No thank you. Everything you find fascinating never seems too, well, live up to expectations." Both of Hermione's eye brows shot up but she said nothing more. "I hope he's a good teacher though." She nodded, biting her lip, and returned to her book.

A/N: Okay so the cliffhanger isn't great or...in fact, none exsistant, but ah well. Anyway, more chapters to come, but for now, review!