AN: I am so so so sorry. I was going to try to get this done before Otakon and then last minute cosplay things got in the way. Ugh, this is such a bad chapter to beg for forgiveness with. This one's a bit dry, things should start to get interesting towards the end of next chapter and from then on hopefully it'll be slice of life awesome hijinks all the way. Thank you to everyone who reviewed and to everyone who added this story to your alerts! I hope to have Chapter three up within the next seven days. Please enjoy!

When Arthur arrived outside the gates of Hogwarts he couldn't quite keep the grin off his face as he gazed up at the castle. It seemed to be the same as always and, forcing his attention back to the present, he walked through the gateway and started on the trek up to the castle.

The door to the headmaster's office opened to him immediately and, stepping inside, Arthur took in the changes present. The room was more sparsely decorated than it had been on his last visit to the office; but then again, the headmaster was quite different from his predecessor.

"Sir Kirkland, please, come in." As a professor the headmaster had taught transfiguration, and that had been the man's position the last time Arthur had seen him. Gesturing to a chair the man sat at his desk smiling slightly, although the expression didn't seem to reach his eyes. "Would you care for a drink? Water? Tea? Perhaps some pumpkin juice? No? Very well then." The two sat, studying each other, until the headmaster once more spoke. "I suppose you know what I called you here for, but allow me to make the offer official. There has been an opening in the staff. The previous Care of Magical Creatures professor has decided to go on an expedition in search of yeti." He paused here and Arthur vaguely wondered if the headmaster was sharing his thoughts on just how ill thought out such an expedition was. "I would like to extend the offer of the post to you. You would be an excellent addition to the staff, as I mentioned in the letter I sent you." Again the headmaster paused, this time studying Arthur intently with his dark eyes, clearly trying to gauge his reaction.

"I see… well headmaster, you flatter me. I would not have thought my experience has leant me any suitable disposition for teaching. I have been relatively alone for the past several years." Arthur was studying the headmaster as closely as the man had been observing him not a moment before; now, however, the man's attention seemed to have wandered.

Raising his head the man popped an odd candy into his mouth before speaking around the sweet obstruction.

"Nonsense, even as a student you showed great aptitude and willingness to help your fellow classmates. Even if you do not come to be known as an overly friendly or open teacher, I have no doubt you will do an admirable job. Unless, of course, I have misjudged and you have no interest in the position?" At the headmaster's questioning tone Arthur shook his head. He had thought there was something less pleasant attached to the offer. There had been no hint of anything of the sort throughout their conversation though. Perhaps he was being overly cautious, it was a trait he had always seemed to have possessed and his travels had only served to intensify the characteristic.

"No, you did not misjudge. It is… an appealing offer." Again, the two men sat in silence for a moment, studying each other, trying to work out what the next move would be. The man had always been hard, no, impossible to read. Even now, Arthur wasn't sure if the headmaster was bored or amused with the proceedings.

"Appealing enough to accept?" The headmaster turned his gaze from Arthur and once more popped one of the odd candies into his mouth. It was pale brown, but it didn't look like any sort of toffee Arthur had seen before, and the shape was irregular as well. Odd angles and, Arthur shook himself mentally; what should it matter was type of candy the headmaster chose to eat.

"Yes, I believe it just may be. There are of course a few details I would like to go over before I officially accept though, you understand." It was not a question and with a soft crumbling, crunching noise the headmaster destroyed what was left of the candy in his mouth and nodded.

"Of course."

Negotiations for the terms of employment went rather smoothly until the end when Arthur remembered what had been bothering him.

"There have been several changes in staff you mentioned, you yourself could even be considered part of that." A bow of the head was all the response he received. "Who is head of Ravenclaw house?" A pause, 'Ah' Arthur thought, 'there it is.'

The headmaster eyed him silently before answering.

"Yes… Bruce was the head of Ravenclaw house. If you accept the position as professor here, you will be taken into consideration for the position as well."

Head of Ravenclaw house as well? Arthur weighed the pros and cons quickly in his head. It wouldn't be that bad really, if he was elected to the position, and there was always the chance he wouldn't be chosen. After several long moments of deliberating silence Arthur nodded once.

"That isn't a completely negative outcome; I suppose I was expecting something much worse. I will accept the position as professor of Care of Magical Creatures, and I'd like to thank you for this opportunity."

The headmaster smiled then, slightly, as if more pleased with himself than happy of Arthur's statement.

"Wonderful, would you mind returning next week? We can sort out this head of house business then, and you can begin to move your belongings into your quarters."

"Yes, that sounds like a solid plan." A week, he had a week to figure out what to do about his 'Souvenirs', plenty of time. Standing from his chair Arthur nodded and received a hand held up in farewell, which he returned before walking to the door and leaving, he had a lot to do in the next week.

Hope you enjoyed, reviews make my day and keep me writing! No matter how small or Anonymous they may be!

(PS. chapters should slowly be getting longer as I get used to posting a chapter fic and as we get further along in things.)