Disclaimer: Belongs To JK Rowling
The Homecoming - Part Two
-Some may call him a little crazy, flying in the depths of winter? Well it was just madness, but with the students to arrive back for the new term in a few days, and life returning to it's standard level of hectic, it was going to be one of the last chances he had to enjoy the skies about Hogwarts by himself. Tales of his feats as Seeker for the House team had become legend, never mind that he didn't go on to play professionally, what he had done still brought looks of awe to the students faces. A chance to fly with the Harry Potter, legendary Gryffindor Seeker. He'd be swamped, so he flew early in the morning, just as the sun set over the lake. Since the Castle was relatively empty of students at the moment, he was loving the opportunity to fly at a reasonable hour. Ignoring the dark clouds coming closer with every minute, the wind that could blow him off his broom if he didn't have a death grip on the handle, it was wonderful.
He never thought he would have ended up back at Hogwarts, leaving with Ron and Hermione at the end of his sixth year he had imagined that would be it. Never to return, fate however had other plans. He had managed to defeat Voldemort, and remain relatively unscathed. It was his career that had done the damage. While Ron had pursued a career playing Quidditch, Hermione and himself had decided to try their luck as Aurors. Hermione it seems had more like than he did, while on a raid in Muggle London with his partner, checking out a place that was emitting magic of the darker variety, he had taken a hit by a stray curse. It had hit him in the leg, tearing the muscle and making it near impossible to walk. If it had received treatment sooner, there may have been a chance of fixing it, as it were they were too late. The leg wasn't useless, he could walk, he could fly, there was just no strength, no speed to it any more. Making him redundant at the ripe old age of 22.
He had spent more time than was necessary feeling sorry for himself, then came the news that Hogwarts was reopening and he was offered the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. It hadn't taken him long to accept, what else was there for him? There were a few things he was good at, Quidditch, although he could still fly for recreations sake, there wasn't a chance he could play professionally. A career as an Auror had been snuffed out, it was the only thing that made sense, returning to Hogwarts to teach the one class that he had truly excelled in.
Luck was finally on his side, he'd manage to break the curse that seemed to hang over the position. He'd been there for three years, and at the moment he couldn't imagine doing anything else. The majority of the professors were a good deal older than him, most of them had taught him while he was at Hogwarts, he was the youngest by a good fifteen years. With the inclusion of the new Charms professor that was soon to change. Cho Chang.
He hadn't told any of his friends over the Christmas break that she would be coming to teach at Hogwarts, he didn't to answer all their questions that he was sure that they would have. Hermione had said something about first crushes in regards to Ginny after he broke up with her at the end of his sixth year. How first crushes never really faded, there was always something that kept you feeling for them long after the glow was gone. He wasn't sure if she was right or not when it came to him. Cho had left England not that long after the war had ended, and he hadn't seen her for a good while before that.
Well he'd know soon enough if he left all those feelings for his first crush in the past, the Professors who hadn't stayed over Christmas break were returning tomorrow and with them will come the new Professor.
So far so good, she thought as she walked through the halls. There had been no unpleasant surprises to mark her return to Hogwarts, Peeves had yet to make an appearance, the portraits had been helpful, and all the Professors she had encountered had been lovely. Her quarters overlooked the grounds, and she could see the Quidditch Pitch in the distance. All the hesitation she had felt at the thought of returning here had faded, it was like coming home again. Her other home. Everything was where it used to be, just how it should be.
It would be time for dinner in a little while, so she realised that now was the time to owl her parents, and let her know that she had arrived safely. She didn't have an owl of her own, in the rush before coming to Hogwarts, she had forgotten that she would need one. A school owl would do the job in the meantime. Snow was falling softly as she crossed the grounds to the owlery.
Stepping up the steps slowly, careful of the icy sheen the stone had, she reached the top of the owlery, taking a moment to savour the outlook. The Castle in the foreground, the lake just beyond that, it was a beautiful sight.
Definitely like coming home.
Cho turned to enter the owlery, and very nearly walked into someone exiting.
"Oh sorry," she exclaimed, as she regained her footing, she looked up and was unable to hold in her gasp of surprise.
"Hello Cho."
"Harry," she said softly.
"How are you?" He asked politely, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"I'm fine, how are you?"
"Good," he smiled slightly, "Well I have to get going, dinner soon."
"Right," she shook her head, "Wait, what are you doing here?"
"Defence Against The Dark Arts," he said, "I teach it."
"Ah, well I'll see you at dinner," she smiled.
He just smiled in return, and walked around her, and out of the owlery.
She swore softly under her breath. It had been perfect.
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