Harry had nearly forgotten about the promise. Remus and Sirius had taken him away to Ireland for the summer. Sirius was a free man and he would go back to being an auror in the fall but for the summer they thought Harry needed some time away. The Blacks had a home in Ireland and knowing Harry had never traveled they had taken him there. He was the hero of the wizarding world in the UK and he was never able to leave the house without being mobbed. They returned two days before the school year had started and took Harry to purchase his school supplies on Diagon Alley.
They were coming out of the book shop when they saw Severus and Lucius coming out of the apothecary. Harry had received high enough marks to continue with potions, an O in potions, charms, DADA and magical creatures, D in divination and history and E in the rest. He was not sure he would be an auror now the war was over but he planned on his original five choices of classes still. He knew they had to head that way.
Severus smirked when he saw them. "I see you have returned from exile in time for school. I have heard you have the marks possible for you to go on with potions."
Harry knew the man had been hoping he would not. "I guess you're stuck with me for another two years."
Severus had an odd look in his eyes and Harry was reminded of the promise he had made the two men. "Indeed. Lucius and I will be nice and close."
The two men left and he was wondering what he was referring to. Lucius was at school to see his son from time to time. The promise he had made to them came flooding back to him. He tried to hide a shudder as he wondered what they had in mind. He was not sure which man scared him more.
Remus led him towards the door. "Lucius has been asked to teach DADA this year at the school cub. You will have to get used to seeing them both."
Sirius saw his surprise. "He has been called a hero for standing with us in the end. He is quite popular. And since Remus turned down a job...."
Though he had never been able to get a job in the ministry before Remus had now. He had been brought into the unspeakable. Of course Harry had no idea what he would be doing but they had been anxious for him to work for them. He had known even with the fame of what he did in the war there would still be parents who were scared of his wolf form. Harry had understood and knew he would be happier in London then under constant suspicion. What ever he had been asked to do had the man excited to start the work.
Harry sighed. "You know I have been happy for your new job but I suddenly wish you had decided to teach instead. Both of them as teachers will definitely be fun."
Remus hugged him. "You have faced worse cub. You know that you will be fine at school with them both. Now just focus on two years of being a normal student."
They had been reminding him since the end of the school year that this mean the could be a normal teen. Not just the summer when he got to live with them. He was no longer a prisoner to some prophecy. He no longer had to worry about someone coming after him. He could focus on his studies and on quidditch. He could look at careers other then being an auror for there was no longer a war that was looming over his head either.
Sirius laughed. "Come on and let us get this shopping done and then we can hit the quidditch shop. You know we promised you a new broom for your birthday."
Harry beamed but he shook his head. "You guys do not need to buy me an expensive new broom. I already have my firebolt."
Remus shook his head. "You received incredible marks on your OWLS and what you have faced. You deserve a special treat as well as your birthday. No protests."
Laughing harry allowed himself o focus on his shopping and once again when he was in the quidditch shop and Sirius was buying him a thunder bolt, the top broom on the market, he let all worries about the promise he had made the two men, slip from his mind all together. But in two days he knew it would not be possible.
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He was shocked when a bird arrived at his window the morning of the first with a simple note. 'You will meet us in the DADA room at 9pm tonight.'
There was no signature but of course he knew who it was from. He had shivers running up his spine. He could not escape this. He had taken an oath on his magic. As they got to the train station he was reminded why he had. He had worked to protect those he loved, his friend and his family. It had been needed but he was scared.
Hermione came to hug him and laughed. "How is it that you faced Voldemort but you look petrified to start school this year? You look as white as a ghost."
Harry tried to shake off the thoughts. "I am excited. I did not get much sleep last night."
He wished that she could understand or anyone else. He prayed to Merlin what ever this little favour he could live with it. He knew he could not break his word. He had taken an oath and he could not break it. All he was assured by was the fact that he could not die because of it. He could barely talk during the ride or eat during the feast and his friends were worried. When he slipped away thanks to his cloak and headed for the DADA classroom his heart was racing through his chest.
He held his breath as he walked into the classroom. 'You have faced Voldemort you can face those two.'
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