Author's Note: Let your OC's run free challenge! Round 1!

Hope you like it!

Prompts:

Turquoise: Having an interview with Dumbledore for DADA professor.

Word: Exhilarating

Quote: "The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler, is to look at the men he has around him." Niccolo Machiavelli

Word: Charming

Sentence: The snow covered grounds made the whole scene look like something right out of a Fairy Tale.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything, nothing at all!

Coming Home

Kitty didn't realise what a weird feeling it would be returning to Hogwarts but as she sat in the office of Headmaster Dumbledore she couldn't help but feel like a teenager again. She felt guilty, sitting in this big chair in front of the ornate and intimidating desk, even though she hadn't done anything wrong.

Dumbledore was smiling benignly at her over the rim of his half-moon spectacles, his fingers steepled together under his chin. She thought that interview was going well, and that she had a chance of getting, and holding down, the job as the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor; but no one had spoken for a long time.

She took a deep breath, intending to start a conversation, but Dumbledore spoke up before she got the chance.

"A wise man, a wise muggle, once said that 'the first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him'" he began examining her closely.

"Niccolo Machiavelli" Kitty supplied, although she was trembling in her seat. She wasn't sure that this line of conversation was going the way she wanted it to.

"Exactly, so you know that the wizarding world will judge me by the teachers that I appoint to this school," Kitty sighed, waiting for the rejection, "so I expect you to be on your best behaviour whilst you work here. It is very important that you present a composed image to the world. However I am sure that if you are just as charming as you have been here today then we will have no problems at all."

"Really?" Kitty asked, more than a little gobsmacked.

Dumbledore tried, and failed, to hide an indulgent smile as he nodded at her. "Yes my dear Professor Rosewood. Welcome back to the school."

Kitty grinned, suddenly exhilarated. She really hadn't expected to be successful when she applied for this job, she had been planning to simply use the experience to help with her interview technique. She had never once thought that Albus Dumbledore would be crazy enough to employ her, especially not after the way she ran wild with James Potter and Sirius Black back in their school days. It seemed that time had worn away the old man's wisdom, that or she had matured in the last 5 years and no one had told her.

"Thank you, oh thank you so much sir. You really wont regret it I will do my very best for these children and this school."

"I know you will Kitty, and of course you must call me Albus now."

"Oh no sir, I couldn't call you A-Albus. It would be far too weird! If anything I will call you Professor Dumbledore, at least until I get used to being in charge!" she laughed and the older man chuckled along with her. He was thoroughly amused at the way she was acting, it was like she'd been told she'd won the lottery.

Kitty thanked her old head teacher again smiling widely at him before she turned on her hell and left the big office. She grinned at the gargoyles that stood guarding his door before bouncing off down the corridor.

It struck her again at this point just how strange it was to be back here, it really was like coming home after a long trip. All the corridors and classrooms, the paintings and some of the people were still just the same. Even some of the students, the seventh years here now would have only been little second years when she left the school. Everyone and everything changed so fast! But still, remained just enough the same to be familiar and welcoming.

It was the Christmas holidays and so the school was a lot quieter than she ever remembered it but Kitty was glad of that, it gave her the opportunity to explore a little before she had to leave. She stopped at one of the windows on the third floor and looked out past the greenhouses towards the lake and the ominous edge of the forbidden forest. The snow covered grounds made the whole scene look like something right out of a fairy tale, she felt that she could nearly see Little Red Riding Hood skipping through the trees or hear the bells on Santa's sleigh.

She pushed away from the window and kept walking; a few small students passed her in the corridor and immediately stopped talking. This was what it was going to be like, she realised as the little third year students scurried past before resuming their conversation in more hushed tones. She was going to be an authority figure and would therefore command a little bit of fear, especially from the younger ones.

She really wasn't sure how she felt about that.

Kitty shook her head and brushed off the feeling of uncertainty, puffing as she climbed the many staircases that would take her to the Gryffindor common room. She paused to have a small, reminiscent conversation with the portrait of the fat lady before reluctantly leaving the school. She could smell the roast cooking as she walked past the great hall and her stomach grumbled with longing.

Kitty traipsed her way down the long drive until she reached the gates where she turned around. The big castle was mostly dark but candles shone in a few windows making them look like floating lights. It was magical, and it was home. She couldn't wait to go back.

It was very strange writing about someone who doesn't already have a story in the Potter universe. I hope you enjoyed it anyway and please do leave a review!

Much Love, MaryandMerlin x