Chapter 2 – Go Ask Alivia

"Of course it is, darlin'," Oliver Wood said into the darkness. "What are you doing sittin' in the dark, though? Lumos!" he exclaimed as he raised his wand in front of his face. The entire room was bathed in soft yellow light. "There, that's better," Wood decided.

Alivia was surprised to see her friend, but truthfully, she had hoped someone from the wizarding world would come along eventually. She was lonely and torn. She couldn't imagine being with someone other than Mark, but Rick was kind and patient with her. Yet, beginning a relationship with him meant she would be essentially giving up the world of magic. And if she went back she would be somehow going against Mark's wishes for their life together. It was a decision that she had put off making for a long time, and she wasn't sure if she could make it alone. She smiled at him. "I'm glad you're here."

Alivia got up from the couch and turned on the lights. She told Oliver to take a seat and asked if he wanted a drink. He mused that she probably didn't have any pumpkin juice. She was sorry to say that she didn't, so he declined anything else. It was running through her mind to ask him why he had come, but she didn't know if she actually wanted to know why he was here. She only wanted her to tell him everything that had been going with all of their friends since she had been gone. She turned to him and began firing questions quickly before he had a chance to speak.

"Tell me everything! I've missed talking to everyone for so long. I mean, Hermione called a few times after we had first come, and my parents stay in touch regularly, but I haven't heard anything from anyone for almost three years. I'm dying to know what's going on!"

Oliver leaned back on the couch and rubbed his eyes, hesitantly. "Well, things are still a little touchy in our world. People remember before when they thought Voldemort was gone for good and the disappearances and tortures started again. Everyone is cautiously optimistic, but still cautious. We lost so many people, you know? It's really a time to rebuild the entire society.

"New people have taken places of importance. Arthur Weasley is now Deputy Minister of Magic. He mainly handles Muggle-Magic Relations and all the underlying departments. Hermione and Ron are working in the Ministry, too. Bill and Fleur are working in International Relations. They took over for Percy, who wound up in St. Mungo's from his own doing. Worked himself into a tizzy, he did. Who else? Ah, Fred and George married Angelina and Alicia. The girls are playing Quidditch in the reserve leagues now while the guys are really sitting on an empire with the joke shops. I think they have almost ten of them by now. It's amazing.

"Oh, Professor McGonagall is the Headmistress at Hogwarts. She's recruited a whole new generation of Professors to help her out. She plans to reinvent the education system. That's what she has been saying, anyway. Harry's been teaching Dark Arts since last year, after he finished formal Auror training. He's head of Gryffindor, too. Willis Davies, Roger's older brother from Bill's year is teaching Potions. Professor Sprout is still head of Hufflepuff as well as teaching Herbology. Professors Binns, Flitwick, Trelawney, Sinistra, and Madame Hooch and Pomfrey have all stayed, too. Finola Abbott has taken Arithmancy, and Hermione has agreed to teach Muggle Studies until they can get someone permanent. There's a new guy teaching Ancient Runes, too. I don't know his name, but he's the new head of Slytherin although it's rumored he didn't go to Hogwarts."

Alivia's eyebrows rose. "That's quite a crew. What about Hagrid? Is he still around?"

Oliver shook his head. "No, he and Madame Maxime are still touring Europe working with the newly established giant communities. That's their cover at least," he said through a smile.

"Well, now I'm confused. Who's teaching Care of Magical Creatures and keeping all the grounds and game? Not that Grubby-Plank woman is it?"

Again Oliver negated Alivia's response. "No. They're getting someone new. Still hadn't been wrapped up as of last evening, though."

Alivia tilted her head to the left and looked at him questionably. "So that pretty much covers all the subjects then?"

Oliver took a deep breath. "Not exactly. There's one position remaining, and Professor McGonagall sent me to ask you if you would consider filling it."

"Well, what's left? I thought we covered mostly everything. You said there were no changes in Divination and Astronomy and I didn't do N.E.W.T.s in them, so there's nothing left that I could teach."

Oliver nodded back at her. "Yes there is. You think McGonagall is going to teach Transfiguration and run the school at the same time? She's good, but she's not that good. She wants you to take over for her. Apparently you're the only person she feels is worthy of the task. And I quote: 'Alivia Morgan was the best student I ever had the pleasure of instructing in the art of transfiguration. She amazed me at times with her skill and understanding of what I had placed before her to learn. Did you know that she was a registered Animagus by the time she was fourteen? We don't even teach complete transfiguration until sixth year. Amazing!'"

Alivia blushed and Oliver continued. "Yes, Alivia Morgan. She thinks that highly of you and will be utterly devastated if you let her down, as will I."