Eupraxia was perfectly brimming with excitement, as she walked through the large wooden doors into Hogwarts proper and sat down her duffel bag on the floor. She had, of course, visited from time to time, and she always felt at home in its corridors, brimming with magic. But this was different. She could almost liken it to the first time she had ever been to the castle, to when she got sorted. For the first time in over sixty years she would once again call Hogwarts home.

Today was the day she started her job teaching Charms.

Or, well, even though practically this was the day she started, Eupraxia was late. It had been stated that she was to start on Monday the nineteenth of March, and here she was. Most people would've assumed (and rightfully so) that they should’ve arrived the day before, to be ready to commence class on the Monday morning, but Eupraxia had committed to arriving on the set date. Time didn’t really matter. Plus, one of her cats, Greedigut, had decided to get lost in the field behind her house, and it had taken her a great deal of effort to get him back. In her mind, she was perfectly on time.

Teaching was something she had never in her thought she would be doing, but when everything had fallen into place, and it had clicked in her head, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world. So natural that she had wondered why she hadn’t thought of it earlier. She was happy that Professor Greyfriar had accepted her application, even though she lacked any real teaching experience. But that was about to change now.

She came to a halt in the great entrance hall, and a smile spread over her lips. It was all so familiar; the grand staircase right in front of her, leading to all the false doors and missing steps; the giant hourglasses measuring how well the students were doing; and the warmth and laughter now streaming out of the Great Hall to her right. It was dinnertime, and she could see the heads of the students and the lights floating in the air above them, and the bewitched sealing beyond that.

Of course the memories of the Battle flooded back to her. That was inevitable. The rage, the horror, and the bloodshed would never truly leave her mind. And the fact that her own son had perished by the hands of those horrid followers of You-Know-Who. But she only let the memory be there for a second, before she shook it off herself and replaced it with happier thoughts. After the War she had decided that the only way to look was forward, that dwelling on the past wouldn’t get her anywhere. And it wouldn’t do any good if she wished to excel in her new position. After all, she couldn’t imagine students learning much if all she did was mope around.

Eupraxia’s knitted scarf had fallen off her shoulders when she stopped, and she threw it back around her neck, scratched her cat Pyewacket (currently half asleep on her shoulder), and picked up the tattered mended duffel bag off the floor. She took a deep breath, and, slightly lopsided because of the weight, she marched into the Great Hall with a beaming smile on her face.

“Eupraxia Wandsworth,” she said in a loud excited voice that she hoped carried across the house tables and all the way to the staff table. “Reporting for duty!”

Monday dinner was in full flow. The bewitched ceiling showed the last of the March daylight passing. The days were getting longer little by little. The door from the entrance hall. Ravindar saw a figure he did not recognize at a distance. It was a witch with a great scarf and cat perched upon her shoulder. She shouted out a greeting. Marched towards them. Ravindar set down his cutlery in surprise. He looked from the guest(?) to the Headmaster and the other staff and back again. Wandsworth was smiling. She looked friendly enough. The students were staring up at her. Gawping.

"Welcome." Professor Singh stood and said. Politely. He smiled underneath his long beard. Studied the newcomer.

“Eupraxia Wandsworth reporting for duty!”

Camille nearly spat out her wine into her goblet at the sight of the woman. White hair on end, scarf dragging from her shoulders, complete with cat, Wandsworth was making her way up between the tables in the great hall, midway through their evening meal. It wasn’t the woman’s appearance that had caused the wine to catch in Camille’s throat, but the hour of the arrival.

Professor Singh got to his feet promptly, like a proper gentleman. Camille couldn’t resist uttering
“Better late than never,” behind a hand, perfectly audible to colleagues. She had covered second year charms after lunch[1] that day. As she only taught third years and above, the younger students weren’t as familiar with her, but she was capable of filling in. She’d got the impression that their new colleague had better have a good excuse when they did turn up.

As if sensing the arrival of another hungry staff mouth to feed, Professor Kesali’s old chair drew back, awaiting its new occupant.
“Have you had a dreadful journey, Professor Wandsworth?” Professor Duerr asked, extending a metaphorical olive branch to the newcomer. Because surely, the woman wouldn’t have the gaul to show up now in such a fashion, knowing she was many hours late?

1.	Charms timetable

If the students gawking faces and sniggers bothered Eupraxia, she didn’t show it. Instead she smiled and waved back at them as she made her way between the tables. In front, by the teachers table, a tall man dressed neatly and wearing a turban stood up and greeted her welcome. Eupraxia’s smile broadened even further, and she gave a bow as she reached the table, causing her cat to yelp and jump off her shoulder.

“Thank you, Professor,” she said, as she straightened up. “You can’t understand how excited I’ve been to get here.”

A chair pulled back by itself, and Eupraxia accepted its invitation, making her way around the table. She let her duffel bag fall with a thump which sounded heavier than could be expected, and sat down, unravelling her scarf. The thousands of faces from the House tables were still staring at her, and an ever increasing murmur had arisen from the students as they were pointing at her and whispering between themselves.

     ”Have you had a dreadful journey, Professor Wandsworth?”

A poised woman with a lovely set of dark curls, and blue eyes that rivalled Eupraxia, had asked the question. Of course, Eupraxia didn’t know who she was yet, but she was one of the first to talk to her, and Eupraxia had a feeling the two of them would get along like a house on fire.

“Dreadful? Oh, no, dear,” she replied and waved the pine wand she had produced from inside her cloaks, making the goblet in front of her fill up with sherry. “I find the walk from Hogsmeade quite refreshing. I haven’t brought everything from my old cottage yet. As you can imagine, it’s a bit much for an old witch like me to carry. But walking through those gates always gives me a sense of belonging, you know?”

She smiled at the witch, and waved her wand again, making a piece of shepherd’s pie appear on her plate.

“So what’s your subject of choice?” she asked the two Professors as she started digging in at the plate in front of her. “Must be so exciting, sharing that knowledge, isn’t it dear?”

The newcomer seemed immediately at home. With a taste for sherry. And a great hunger from her... short... journey. Did Professor Greyfriar or Professor Storm say to expect someone today? Mondays were always busiest.

"Ravindar Singh." He introduced himself. Polite. "Head of Gryffindor and Transfiguration. Pleasure to meet you. Would you be Professor Kesali's replacement to teach Charms?"

Tim Pepper, living up to the Sorting Hat’s assignment, had been looking forward to charms first thing that morning. He’d got along alright with Professor Kesali, finding his eccentricities let no lesson become dull in his first stint, and had appreciated the much more grounded version who had returned September last. It was with mixed feelings that the fourth year had received Kesali’s departure, and he had hopes for a decent replacement… but one could never guarantee such at Hogwarts. The revolving door was spun by fate and fate alone.

The arrival of a witch at dinner did not take much to draw a conclusion that this was the new charms professor. Making an entrance? Check. Old? Check. Cats… check…. Where was Aki?

Tim found himself distracted from dinner along with the others, all intrigued at the disturbance.
“Wonder if she’ll give passes for late homework since she’s late to her job…” One of the more cynical Ravenclaws muttered.

“She’s probably got a good reason. Unless she’s … another Kesali…” Tim remarked, worried. It wasn’t good to judge an appearance, but… “Did anyone predict correctly then?” He asked, referring to the informal speculation competition which had taken place earlier as to what had become of their new teacher. “Are we predicting how long she lasts now?”

“… I find the walk from Hogsmeade quite refreshing…”

Camille wasn’t sure she was hearing correctly. Her eyes widened and and she blinked several times in quick succession, maintaining an otherwise friendly but inquisitive expression for the newcomer.

As if Camille’s silence was no issue to her, Eupraxia posed a question.
“So what’s your subject of choice? Must be so exciting, sharing that knowledge, isn’t it dear?”

Ravindar introduced himself, politely seeking to confirm this woman was indeed the Charms professor they had expected that morning.

“Arithmancy,” Camille replied to the earlier question, “Camille, Camille Duerr, enchanted to meet you.” So nearly charmed but that would be cliché.

“Fates be, I’m sure there has been quite the misunderstanding, as we were quite expecting you first thing this morning!” It wasn’t rude to point out such a thing if she phrased it in this manner, was it?

Akira popped up next to Tim, having been on an adventure of her own along the table, but a new teacher? That she couldn't miss, and Tim seemed to be in the right area for her to eves drop, along with knowing he won't mind if she had to sit at his lap.

She had only been a few seats on the opposite row to Tim, but nevertheless she thought it was a better idea to stalk along behind a few students then crawl under the table to pop up by him. Besides she saw some grapes next to him and she rather fancied some right now, more then enough reason for diving under the table.

"Mine was wrong." She pulled a drawing from her bag, then placed it onto the table, a lovely and crude drawing of Mary Poppins. "I will get it one day." She sighed, truly sounding like her heart was into meeting her one day, regardless of it being just a story. She will one day find her...maybe if she tries to fly up any chimneys in the castles...she is small enough to fit up them still, as long as they aren't those weirdly shaped ones.

"She seems somewhat mad, somewhat old crazy cat lady. I'd give her..." She hhhhhmed. "Ten years." She nodded proudly, her math was good, if Professor Binns had lasted until Knox, and Professor Trelawney had lasted that long. Then what is to say she couldn't last that long here? Or Madam Hooch she had read lasted for ages, it always struck her oddly that there was a separate teacher just for Quidditch and Brooms.

Either way, Akira was rather smug and proud of herself. And eager to listen to teach drama! Who knew they real people? She surely didn't.

Frank was holding a textbook open with one hand and slowly shoveled mashed potatoes into his mouth as another. His schoolwork was technically done, but he enjoyed reading ahead or getting a jump on extra credit. And then, something new. The Great Hall bubbled over with hushed chatter (then much louder) and some people even stood up from their seats. Frank craned his neck to see one of the most witchy witches he'd ever seen.

"Who's that?" he asked, a question that was quickly answered. It was Kesali's replacement. Frank couldn't help but be relieved along with curiosity. He had Professor Duerr for Arithmancy and that was quite enough. (All due respect.)

"She's got a cat...!" Frank said, beginning to smile. He quite liked cats. "Maybe he'll come to class."

Then he overheard Aki and Tim making wagers on how long the new professor - Wandsworth - would remain in the post. "Depends if she likes kids. I'd like us. Do you think she'll be Head of Hufflepuff? They're sorely in need of adult supervision."

They meant well, but they found trouble nonetheless.

“One day,” Tim agreed, smiling gently. “Ten years!” He echoed a moment later at her suggestion.

“Depends if she likes kids…” Frank suggested. “Do you think she’ll be Head of Hufflepuff…?” Tim shook his head and shrugged.

“Don’t think anyone up there’s been there that long. There’s a curse on the school, didn’t you hear?” He suggested to his housemates. “My dad’s a governor and swears there must be,” Tim added for extra gravitas, even though Francis Pepper had probably only meant it in remark to the revolving door of staff who didn’t suit.

“So more like ten days… ten months tops,” he re-estimated. “And if she is Head of Puff, probably the ten days.” He winked at Frank.

For once. Thought Meredith. Could their Charms teacher be ordinary? Another professor had taught her charms lesson before dinner. A professor who normally taught a different subject. All these changes were no good for their NEWTS. They were fifteen months away. Charms was very important to Meredith. She was good at them. If they had a bad teacher she would not stay good. The Slytherin table laughed at the Professor's arrival. Not nicely either.

She still had her charms books with her. A nagging through struck her. Wandsworth. That name was familiar! As an excellent charms student Meredith did extra reading. She got Challenges in Charming by owl. She had the latest edition in her bag. Opened it over the last of her shepherd's pie.

"Oh My Charms!" Meredith said. "Holy Harpies! It is her! We might have a decent teacher at last!" She shoved aside two empty dishes. "There. Page seven." She showed the other Slytherins. On her feet. "She writes in Challenges in Charming. That means she is legit!"

Another professor, excellent, yay, woohoo, most likely it would be another disappointment like several of the other teachers. Its not to say any are bad...well that's a lie, the school doesn't have the best reputation for competent teachers does it really? The fact that she was late reeked of arrogance to her, just what the school needed. This wouldn't be a problem in Durmstrang, if only she was sent to a proper school, this felt more like an explosion, always busy, always noisy, always messy. The fact that someone turned themselves into a newt in todays Transfiguration lesson, that wasn't even about that, just further illustrated her point.

While alot of her house were laughing she just rolled her eyes and sighed, yet another subject the books will do a better job of teaching then the professor. Of course the Ravenclaws will love that won't they, the Gryffindors won't care and the Hufflepuffs will probably be all over the idea of saving her cats or something.

What made it worse was one of her prefects was getting all excited, shoving aside plates, standing up and calling that its someone apparently important and legitimate. All their professors were, if anything its what it sadder. But she was excited nonetheless.

"Meredith, sweetie, don't get your knickers in a twist, sit down. Please." She sighed with a little tug at the girls shirt, as she tried to make sure that other houses didn't look onto them with prying eyes.

"Huh? Ohh." Meredith sat. This mattered to her. But sometimes she forgot she was a Slytherin. Slytherins were not meant to care. Only if the Professor was head of house. Maybe then. Her friends in Ravenclaw could get excited with her later.

"I forget you guys are beneath reading this stuff." She shrugged. Maybe that was a joke. Maybe not. Meredith lifted the copy. Shook crumbs off it. Gave one last look at the article. Corner of her mouth twisted. Slid it away.

"So you were saying. They turned into a newt? Did anyone like realize? Or did nobody care?"

“Ravindar, Transfiguration, and Camille, Arithmancy” Eupraxia’s face lit up as she repeated the other professors’ names. “So nice to meet you.” She had always made it a point of never forgetting someone’s face or name, and it was not something she would stop doing now. With a smile she took a swig of the glass of wine in front of her.

     ”...as we were quite expecting you first thing this morning!”

With the last comment Eupraxia looked up with a bewildered look on her face. This morning? That must be a misunderstanding. From their part of course, not hers, since Professor Greyfriar hadn’t given her a specific time for her to arrive. She remembered it clearly - Monday the nineteenth of March. No mention of a time. She cocked her head to the side, much like a cat, and peered back at Camille.

“This morning? That’s news to me,” she said, and then shrugged. “No bother, dear, I am here now, no need to dwell on the past. Could you pass me the gravy, Ravindar?”

She smiled at her two new colleagues, as the buzz of the students grew louder in the great all. Eupraxia, being who she was, didn’t notice that, nor that most of the students were staring at her and obviously discussing her sudden appearance. Those kinds of things rarely bothered her, and it seemed like it didn’t even register as something unusual. That was, until a girl at the Slytherin table stood up and exclaimed something loudly. Even that might have escaped Eupraxia’s notice, if it hadn’t been for the girl’s mention of Challenges in Charming.

A wide smile spread across Eupraxia’s face as she turned back to the professors.

“And who might that lovely young woman be?” she asked, still glancing over to the Slytherin table.

Rather than embarrassed, Professor Wandsworth shrugged off the suggestion she might be late for a whole day’s lessons. Camille blinked several times in quick succession while the newcomer spoke to the Transfiguration Professor about the food.

A sudden movement at the Slytherin table caught their attention as they were seated nearest that house table. One of the Prefects was on her feet, pointing something out, looking up at them and then was pulled to sit down again by her housemates. Camille wondered what the students had noticed, or decided. What had first impressions done?

“And who might that lovely young woman be?” Professor Wandsworth asked.
“Oh,” Camille snapped out of her stunned silence, “That’s, Meredith, Meredith Misslethorpe. She’s one of my arithmancy students. One of my good ones.” Camille only had a select few, especially those who went on to take their NEWT. She had been so very proud of the results from her first year’s teaching, even if she had only taught the third and final year of their OWL studies. “Gosh, you must have a lot of names to learn, like Ravindar.”