Hogwarts~ 1974

Cherry walked nervously into Professor McGonagall's office for her 5th year review. Normally she wasn't nervous around Professor McGonagall but she hadn't caught up with her classes as fast as she should have.

"Miss Potter, right on time," McGonagall said. "Have a seat. Let's get started."

Cherry sat down in the chair opposite the desk and waited as McGonagall looked through her file. Then McGonagall looked up at her over her glasses. "Tell me, Miss Potter, what is it that you would like to do with your life after Hogwarts?"

Cherry shifted in her chair uneasily. The thing was she really hadn't decided that. Or even thought about it, really. "Um…, be a rock star," she smiled trying to joke.

"I see," McGonagall said, leaning back in her chair, without a trace of humor. "Since that is an increasingly hard career field to break into, what would you like to do to actually pay the bills while you wait?"

"I think I'd like to teach."

"Oh? And what subject would you like to teach?"

"Well, you see, the thing is, I don't know that it has name yet," Cherry replied.

"Would you care to explain what you mean?"

"Ok, so I'm friends with some of the muggle kids in Godric's Hallow, as seen by my recent absence, and all the girls talk about a class they have to take called Home Ec. They say it teaches them how to be a good housekeeper, watch kids, everyday stuff like that. They all seem to hate it, but I think that's just because the boys don't have to take it, so they're all caught up on it being sexist. But, I think it's a great ideal and it would help with magical kids too. Cause see," Cherry paused to sneak a peek at McGonagall. She was happy to see that McGonagall actually looked interested. "Like, at our house, when it is just family or magical folks around, we use magic for almost everything. Mum cooks with magic, cleans with magic, and well, everything. And I noticed that when Lily comes around, even though she knows pretty much everything we're doing, she really doesn't know when to use spells or grab a potion or whatever. I do because I've been watching my Mum do it all my life, but her Mum's a muggle, so she's only been around magic at school. So, I was thinking I could start a school, or class really that teaches you how to use magic in everyday things. I think Muggleborns would like it, as would kids who grew up with house elves, or Mum, doing everything for them. I mean, James can't even wash his own clothes."

"So, you want to start a wizard finishing school?" McGonagall smirked, but not unkindly.

"Well, yes ma'am." Cherry's nervousness was creeping back.

"I think that ideal has some merit," McGonagall said after a few moments. "However, to do that, you'd have to be able to take NEWTS in most all the subjects. I don't think you'd need say, Divinations, or Ancient Ruins, to do that, but you'd most certainly need Transfiguration, Charms, Defense against Dark Arts, and Potions. Which, Professor Slughorn says you're not doing too well in."

"I know Professor, and I'm trying to catch up, I really am, but it just seems like the more I try to get ahead, the more I fall behind," she looked glumly down at her hands.

"Tell you what, Potter, I'll ask Professor Slughorn to get you a tutor," McGonagall offered. "How does that sound?"

"Oh yes, ma'am. Thank you," she smiled. "I won't let you down."

"Good. Now, you may return to your class." McGonagall dismissed her. "Send in my next student please."

Hogsmeade~1979

"Severus, I can apperate myself you know," Cherry replied, untangling herself from him.

"Did you know where we were headed?" He smirked. In truth, he thought she might be too upset to apperate properly and not splinch herself.

"Well, now that you bring it up, I am kinda wondering why we're in Hogsmeade," she said, looking around.

"Didn't I tell you? Dumbledore wants to see you," Snape said, taking her hand and walking towards the school looming in the distance.

"I guess you left that out," she said, allowing herself to lead.

"Miss Potter, hello," Professor Dumbledore said warmly, standing up behind his desk as they entered his office. The new term would be beginning in a week and almost all of the teacher had reported back to Hogwarts.

"Hi, Professor, Severus said you wanted to see me," she said, shyly. She had been out of Hogwarts for three years, but the Headmaster still had a way of unnerving her.

"Yes, indeed. Have a seat, have a seat. Lemon sherbet?" He held a tin out to her.

"No thank you," she smiled nervously.

"Now, I sure you're curious about why I called you here," he said.

"Kinda."

"A few years ago, you mentioned wanting to start a class to Professor McGonagall. 'Home Ec' I believe you called it. One that would teach student when and how to use magic for 'everyday' stuff."

"Yes sir." Cherry vaguely remembered that from her 5th year counseling.

"Well, we think it's a wonderful idea and would be a great addition to the classes here. We were wondering though, if you would help us by doing some research on it and writing a proposal for the board of Governors. If we are successful at instating this class, I hope you will be willing to take over teaching it. At least for a while," he said. "Miss Potter?"

She was looking at her hands, her mind still in her parents' kitchen in Godric's Hallow. She realized he had stopped speaking. She jerked her head up quickly. "What?" She shook her head as if to clear it. "Oh, yes. Yes, of course."

"Miss Potter, I feel as though I don't have your full attention at the moment. I just offered you a job. Care to talk about it?" He leaned forward and looked at her as if he could read her mind. That was one of the things she found most unnerving about him.

She sighed and looked over her shoulder to see that, at some point, Severus had abandoned her, slipping silently out the door. "Traitor," she whispered. She looked back at the Headmaster. "Severus and I are getting married."

"Congratulations," he smiled, warmly. If the announcement was a surprise to him, he didn't show it. "That's wonderful news."

"My parents didn't think so. Or at least not once James and Sirius got involved." Despite herself, the whole story of the dinner disaster came pouring out. "So, it's probably a good thing you've offered me a job, since I'm probably not welcome back there. Not with Severus, at least, and that is the same thing. Sorry. I probably shouldn't have dumped all that here."

He smiled again. "On the contrary, I'm quite pleased that you would share this with me. Why don't we ask Severus back in here and see if anything can be done to change their minds?"

Cherry sighed with relief as Dumbledore summoned Snape to his office.