Hermione caught up with the boys in the living room where they were already setting up the chessboard.

''Well what did he say Harry?" she asked while picking up her book from the table.

"He asked me if I was serious in wanting the job." Harry answered as Ron made the first move of the game.

"Than what Harry," Hermione pressed.

"He offered me the job, said I was to be at Hogwarts on Aug. 1st to meet with him and my mentor to get ready for the school year." Harry answered as he made his opening move.

"Oh," was all Hermione could say. Ron hid a laugh behind his arm as he moved again.

The evening past quietly enough Ron beat Harry in both games of chess as Hermione finished her book. Not another word was said about future jobs or the fact that Harry now had one.


- As the Clock struck midnight the date changed to July 31st.

"I'll take a shot of whisky" Harry yelled to the bartender.

"How old are you?" The muggle man asked Harry.

"18 and 2 min," he said looking at the clock, than handing him his muggle ID.

"Ah so just today than, Happy Birthday first shot on the house," he said as he pored the amber liquor into the glass.

Taking the glass, Harry turned to his friends, ''Thank for a great party, but now the real fun is going to start." Downing the shot in one go, Harry had to close his eyes as the liquid burned down his throat.

"'Here Here" said Ron as he took his shot, followed by the rest.

For the next three hours the gang at the bar tossed back drinks trying to keep up with each other, or in Harry's case catch up with his friends.

"Good thin this place is n walkin distance" one of the Weasley twins slurred at the end of the night.

"Or we would have been screwed" Neville said back as he took another shot.

''Last Call!!" the bartender yelled

"One more round on me" Harry said to his friends, than turning to the bartender, "One more round of your best stuff in the place" Harry told him.

"That's gonna be expensive" he said as he started pouring the drinks.

"Here" Harry said, "put the whole tab, or what's left of it on here" he told him as he handed the man a little plastic rectangular card.

"What ever you say" the bartender said as he took the card

"What was that?" Ron asked as he watched the exchange.

"Later Ron, right now I have to remember how to spell my name," Harry signed the paper and took the last round of drinks, raising it high

"To the defeat of the bastard'' he said following it with the shot.

"To defeat" they all voiced, than finished their drinks.

Together the group left the pub and headed back to 12 Grimmauld Place,

As everyone entered the house, people just picked a room and crashed on the floor, not really caring where they where or who they where sleeping with, Harry passed out in the parlor with Ron and Hermione next to him,

"Have to say the best birthday yet." Harry said to himself as he passed out from al the alcohol.


"Sonorus," was said very quiet, than,

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!!" rang through the whole house.

People were falling off furniture, tripping over one another as they tried to make their fog covered brains process what was going.

"COME TO THE KITCHEN FOR TEA and BREAKFAST," was again shouted though out the house.

Gradually people started making their way from what ever room they had passed out in, meeting up with people, greeting each other with nothing more than a nod.

"And good morning to all," Remus said with a look of happiness on his face, "Come, Come have some breakfast, there is also coffee and tea, but sorry no hangover cure to be found." He said opening his arms wide showing all the food.

Harry's stomach did a flip when he saw all the table, looking around it seemed that he was not the only one. Slowly everyone sat they began by slow sips of the dark tea in front at them.

"Now, now perk up we have a special guest coming over," Remus said as he helped himself to the food.

Harry just glared at the man and he was not the only one.

"Wow Harry you got Snape's glare down." Seamus said from down the table before the glare turned onto him, the other boy for his just looked down into his tea when a bell went off signing someone arriving by floo.

Everyone turned towards the fireplace to see who just this special guest was.

Stepping out of the fire in deep purple robes with plants moving around them was Albus Dumbledore.

"Ah Harry glad to find you awake after last nights, celebrations, I was quite sure you all would have been still passed out." The Headmaster said as he helped himself to some of the food on the table.

"Didn't have much of a choice Sir," Harry replied with a glare at Remus.

"Be that as it may, Good morning Remus, Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Finnegan, Mr. Thomas, Fred, George. I take it that everyone had a good night,'' the Headmaster asked nodding to earn in turn.

Grumbling and mumbling was his only reply, but he paid no mind as he turned to face Harry again.

"Now Mr. Potter before the rest of celebration starts there are a few things you and I need to discuss. Please meet me in the library in 5 minutes."

Harry barely nodded as his former headmaster and new boss walked out of the kitchen.

Harry took another sip of tea before following the man.


Harry walked into the library just as Dumbledore started unrolling different scrawls. Harry took the seat across from the Headmaster sitting quietly waiting to be noticed.

After about 5 minutes the headmaster looked up,

"First I would like to wish you a Happy Birthday, today is a great day for you. Now are you sure Harry that you want to accept the position?"

Nothing like jumping right into it

"Yes sir, I have given it a lot of thought actually, out of all the positions offered to me, this is the only one that I feel I can do and still be able to fight in this war. Also, the feeling I get from teaching is a feeling of accomplishment. If I can help my peers and students protect themselves and understand that not everything is just black and white, than all the sacrifices and deaths will not just be a casualty war. Not really sure if that makes sense or not Sir, but its how I feel and this is the only thing I can see myself doing. I can't be a seeker all my life, I'm not good enough for the Pros and for being an Auror I don't want to be hunting evil after all this is done."

"Well than" the Headmaster started "This is your contract. For the most part it just says that you will be the DADA Professor, live at Hogwarts, and follow all rules within the school and rules for the professors. Since you are coming right out at Hogwarts you will have a mentor for the first 5 years of your teaching, although you can resign at any time after the first year."

As the Headmaster spoke Harry started reading over the paper. Twenty minutes later he locked up and nodded, "Seems straight forward enough; are there any surprises I need to know about?"

Harry asked as he quickly looked through the paper again,

''No Harry, I have not hidden anything from you this time." The Headmaster replied.

The two made eye contact again and Harry reached for the quill

Why does it feel like I am signing my life away?

He thought as he signed his name across the bottom.

"Very well, here is your copy Harry and now enjoy yourself today and I will see you tomorrow at 9am in my office. Good Day" he said, getting up and walking out of the room.

Harry didn't move until he felt the magic from the floo go as the Headmaster left the house, only than did Harry walk out of the library and to his room to place his contract in his truck.