Albus lay on his bed, arms behind his head. The maroon canopy above his bed a blur without his glasses on. Sleep was ever elusive as usual and he could hear his dorm-mates whispering to each other across the room.

"Since it appears nobody's gettin' to sleep anytime soon, why not play a rousin' game o' explodin' snap?" one student inquired.

Immediately a round of agreement went through the dorm and curtains pulled back. Albus pulled his glasses on and sat up, observing his dorm mates as they settled into a circle in the middle of the room. There was one head that looked very much out of place, a white blonde boy that was a stark contrast against the darker blonde and brown haired boys in the room. For the life of him, Albus couldn't remember why that head was familiar and why it seemed he would still be out of place even if there were other boys with closer colors. And then it hit him.

"Malfoy?" Albus exclaimed.

The boy turned, "Yeah?"

Bloody hell, Albus thought. "What are you doing in Gryffindor?"

"I got sorted here."

"But...you're a Malfoy...Slytherins, the lot of you," Albus stammered.

"Obviously not. I was just as shocked as you are. Frankly, I'm a little afraid of why my dad's going to say when he finds out."

"Can't be any worse than what my dad's likely going through right now."

"What do you mean?"

"My dad bought my sister a pony, and turned it pink. Mum's right pissed, and as my brother stated when he entered the common room, my dad's in deep shit. He adores her, all of us really, but he spoils her."

"Who's your dad?" an auburn haired boy asked.

The rest of the boys looked at him with shocked expressions.

"What?" the boy asked. "Is this one of those things that everybody but the Muggleborns know? Because I'm Muggleborn, so I don't know much about this world."

"My dad's Harry Potter," Albus stated. "Or if you want to go with his full title, which he hates and will probably hex you into next year if he hears you using it to address him, he's Lord-Baron Harry James Potter-Black, Order of Merlin First Class. Or you can call him the Chosen One, or The Savior of the Wizarding World, The-Boy-Who-Lived...twice. But he prefers Harry, or Mr. Potter."

The boy looked at Albus, shocked and a little scared. "I've heard stories about him. He survived the killing curse when he was a baby."

Albus nodded. "And again when he was seventeen. You'll hear about it in History of Magic, I'm sure. If Binns doesn't put you to sleep first."

"Sounds like a lot of pressure on you," the boy intoned.

Albus shrugged, "Not really. I get more pressure for my name."

The boy frowned, "Why?"

"I'm named after two headmaster's of this school, one of whom was considered a very wise man, if not the wisest. The other was the only man known to have successfully double crossed Tom Riddle without being found out. A very proud Legilimens."

"What's that?"

"A person who can basically read thoughts and see memories. Not everybody can do it, and it takes a lot of training to do it well. Then there's the art of Occlumency, which is the opposite or the defense against Legilimens. My dad can do both, though his Legilimency isn't nearly as good as Snape's. His Occlumency barrier is almost impenetrable by all but the very best Legilimens. You need to learn both to be an Auror."

"What's an Auror?"

"It's somewhere in between a muggle policeman and a soldier. The best of the best, and they fight the cases the Hit-Wizards can't handle. My dad's the head of the Auror department, my uncle is the assistant, and my grandfather runs the entire DMLE."

"Keeping it in the family?"

Albus grinned, "I suppose. Then again, my other uncle is a kind of weapons provider, he runs a joke shop, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Sometimes he comes up with things that aren't very appropriate for pranks and work better in the field. Of course, I've a multitude of uncles who do various jobs, none of which are in the least simple," he tapped his chin thoughtfully. "We have a curse-breaker for Gringotts, a Dragonmaster for the Ministry, Two Aurors-my dad being one-, the Minister's assistant, the DMLE head, a weapon's provider/joke shop owner...yup, that's it, for the men at least. My aunts are another story entirely."

"How big is your family?"

"Quite large, actually. And we're all Gryffindor's...well, except Uncle Nev's wife but they're sort of adopted."

"Ye don't want to cross the Potter-Weasley clan, lad. Ever." one of the other boys stated. Albus recognized him as their second cousin, Cian.

"You're one to talk since you're part of it, Cian." Albus stated.

"Never said I wasn't," Cian replied with a grin.

"Irish," Albus sighed.

"I'm only half Irish, Albie."

"You act like you're all Irish."

"And proud of it."

"As nice as the family banter is, could we get on with the game?"

"Sure, Logan." Cian replied as he started dealing out the cards.

The boys played until well past midnight and finally had to stop when almost half had laid down and fallen asleep in the middle of the room. Albus crawled back into bed, deposited his glasses on the bedside table, and tugged the curtain closed before letting his head fall onto the pillow where he promptly fell into a deep sleep.

Harry ran a hand through his black hair and sighed heavily. "Ruddy lesson plans. It's like homework but somehow worse."

Ron chuckled, "Sounds about right, though Hermione has a different opinion, claiming their loads of fun to organize. I'm sure her students get loads of homework."

Harry smiled, "No doubt. Which is exactly why I intend to avoid excessive paperwork outside of class. The problem is trying to fit all the theory bits in without assigning loads of essays."

"Maybe Hermione will help," Ron suggested as he bounced a color changing tennis ball off the wall.

Harry snorted, "Right. Just like she helped us when we were in school. We're adults, Ron. I'm afraid she'll tell us we ought to be able to do these things on our own."

"I'll ask if you don't want to. She likes me better anyways."

Harry rolled his eyes, "She married you, Ron, that doesn't mean she'll do everything you ask."

"Maybe not," Ron replied with a shrug. "But the worst that'll happen is a row and considering how well those end up I've got no qualms."

"You're mad, you know that."

"Mmm. Damn right."

Harry shook his head, "Fine. Ask your wife if she wants to help, but don't say I didn't warn you."

"Will do, brother, will do."

Harry watched his brother-in-law leave the office and turned back to his plans. It was mostly the later years' theory that was tripping him up, fitting in the Ministry requirements as well as the ones he feels are important. His eyes were beginning to droop and his head was lolling forward when the fire flared green and Ginny's face appeared.

"Harry," she cooed.

He jerked his head up and looked towards the fireplace, "Hello, love. How's Lily-bean?"

"Sound asleep, just like you left her. I was calling to see when you'd be home tonight?"

Harry pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes before replacing them, "I honestly don't know. I have to finish these lesson plans and get them in to McGonagall before tomorrow and right now I just can't figure out where to put some of the theory bits, mostly for the sixth and seventh years."

"Maybe you should take out some of the not required bits."

Harry shook his head, "I've already taken out quite a few, and the ones that are left are rather important, to me at least."

"Well...you could always open the DA again. Put the more advanced of the not-required spells into that curriculum, and that way if people actually want to learn additional defense they can. It could sort of be like pre-Auror training."

Harry brightened, "Ginny, you're a genius! I knew there was a reason I married you."

"What, it wasn't 'cause you love me to pieces?"

Harry grinned, "That too. I'll Floo McGonagall to get permission. I should be home soon, love."

"Love you."

"Love you too."

The fire returned to normal when Ginny's face disappeared and Harry threw a pinch of green powder into the fire, "Headmistress' office!"

"Harry! What can I do for you? Lesson plans coming along?"

Harry smiled, "They're coming fine, Minerva. I've hit a bit of a snag though. I was wondering if it would be possible to open the DA again. It'd be more of a pre-Auror training with more advanced defensive spells that aren't required in the basic curriculum. I wanted to add some spells to the original class but I can't fit them without bumping Ministry requirements."

"I was wondering when you'd ask," McGonagall replied with a smile. "Of course. I suggest it starts no sooner than two weeks after regular classes so the students have time to situate themselves with their schedules."

"I was thinking it'd be more for sixth and seventh years with testing for fifth years who want to join. It might open up in later years but for now I want to sort of run a trial period and see how that goes."

McGonagall nodded her understanding, "That sounds reasonable. I'll need a full summary before I can officially approve it."

"How does the end of the week sound?"

"That should be fine, Harry."

Harry smiled gratefully, "Perfect. Lesson plans should be ready soon now that that's all sorted. Good night, Minerva."

McGonagall smiled, "Good night, Harry. Give your wife my regards, she's made Gryffindor proud, you all have."

Harry chuckled, "After all those rules we broke and rooms we destroyed, somehow we manage to make something of ourselves. And create another generation to wreak havoc on this school. Guaranteed you'll find my sons in the Hospital Wing nearly as often as I was if not more so."

McGonagall shook her head, "Let us hope they end up there with less severe injuries than you ever received."

"One can hope," Harry replied with a chuckle as he withdrew from the fire.