Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling's characters, my plot.
The Perfect Opportunity
Dear Miss Granger,
Because of your exemplary conduct and great achievements, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry hopes that you will consider the following offer. We have had the misfortune of losing Professor Slughorn to retirement. It seems that this past year the children were too much for his old age and temperament. It seems we need someone innovative enough to keep the children's attention in Potions. You are our first choice, and I know that you would not disappoint us if you were to agree. Please consider this offer, and visit us at your convenience, whether the position is accepted or not. We are in need of a great deal of cheer around here.
Albus Dumbledore
My dream was about to come true. I would be able to return to the place of some of my best childhood memories, not for a visit, but to live there and impart knowledge to innocently naïve children!
I dropped the letter and grabbed the nearest bag, throwing stuff in it. I was going home!
I'd expect anyone to understand that an apartment that takes only five steps to pass from one room to the next would never be considered a home to anyone. I guess you could call it cozy, but only in the way that it takes only five minutes for the heater to make the place feel like a desert. It was only supposed to be temporary. I had gotten out of University three months ago, expecting to be bombarded by owls like the year after Hogwarts, all of them begging for me to take a job at their establishment. I had decided earlier on to go to University, and my full scholarship made it possible for me to not need a job and focus on my studies at school. I was out of there in no time with a major in Potions and a minor in Transfiguration. I rented the dinky apartment and sat back, waiting for the owls to flood in. None came. Well, except for the one from Harry asking if he could borrow some obscure book on reflecting jinxes. He chose to be an Auror right after Hogwarts, an ever-faithful Ron at his side and the youngest Weasley, who was his biggest fan, not to mention wife. I was so happy for them.
No more owls came. I thought maybe the public didn't realize that I was out of University yet. I did graduate half a year earlier than expected. Well, it turns out that the wizarding world was having a bit of a depression, and no one wanted to give up their job. I had to search in the muggle world, and ended up working at a hand-me-down bookstore, which was fun, but far different than what I had imagined my first real job to be. You see, I couldn't tell any muggle employer of my past schooling, as that would be against wizarding law. It seemed to them that I was an uneducated woman, which really infuriated me a bit. I had to get a job where they didn't dig too deep into your past. That's how I became an employee at Renold's Weathered Books.
Thinking of that, I might want to send in my letter of resignation while I'm at it. I type something up real quick and send it to my employer. Handy, that. I send an enthusiastic reply back to Dumbledore accepting his proposal and warning him that I'd be there this evening.
I stop my frantic packing and look at the shoe I have in my hand. Oh, yeah. I'm magical.
I pull out my wand and, with a quick wave, everything starts to pack itself neatly into a variety of bags and boxes. Once everything is in I swish my wand again and the various containers are shrunk so that I may shove them all into my pocket, which I do. I look around the now empty apartment with satisfaction. I notice that there's a bit more room than I had originally thought when all of my books are gone.
I trot down the apartment complex stairs and into the lobby, where I hastily tell the landlord that I'm moving out. He waves a careless hand, not even caring to look up from the television. I catch a glimpse of an old American show called Happy Days before turning and strolling out of the building that has been my prison for the past three months.
The sky is bright and birds are singing. Could the day get any better? I go down an abandoned alleyway and apparate to Harry and Ginny's flat. I can't wait to tell them the good news.
An hour later I'm walking out of the apartment, a big smile on my face. I'm positive they'll be sure to tell Ron, so I don't even bother. It's best I avoid him right now.
I think back on a few things Harry said to me before I left. 'Watch out for Snape. I heard he's as bad as ever.'
I stop in my tracks. My face goes pale as the bright smile slides off my face.
Snape.
What am I going to do about that? I think back on all my schemes to get him to respect me. We'll be colleagues now. It might be a bit easier.
I snort. Who am I kidding? The man will just think of me as he always has. A no good know-it-all with Gryffindor sensibilities. That's a real respect grabber. Oh well. I like a challenge. There's not likely anything harder than coaxing a bit of respect out of that man.
I check my watch and, seeing as it's six in the afternoon, I apparate to the gates of Hogwarts. Riding the train would be so much fun again, but it's hardly as convenient. Besides, it's not likely that the train is running during the summer months. School will be starting soon enough, and I'll be ready, for the kids and for Snape. He'd better watch out.
On second thought, I'd better watch out.