Harry Accepts
"I hate to do this, Harry," she said, "but I was wondering if you would teach Defense Against the Dark Arts this year."
Me? A professor? I wasn't expecting this at all.
"Exceptions will be made of course," McGonagall said, "we would start you on a trial period of seven classes per week, one class for each year level, you, of course, would be exempt from attending your own Defense Against the Dark Arts class. The other professors have agreed that any unnecessary homework given out won't apply to you, unless it's something you need to know. Then comes the perks."
The perks?
"You will have your own office and own living quarters, it will be up to you whether you stay in the dorms or split your time between the two. You will also have access to the staff room, be in on all meetings, and be able to award detentions as well as give and take house points."
I liked the sound of that.
"Under any other circumstance, I wouldn't be asking," McGonagall said, "but you were already doing this role under Dumbledore's Army, so I know you're capable of it. It's all up to you whether or not it's something you want to do, Harry."
"What happens if I say no?" I asked.
"Well, for now, the students won't have that class," McGonagall said. "We will continue searching for someone, but I've been looking all summer and I've had no luck."
So, it was basically up to me. I knew how important Defense Against the Dark Arts was, and to have no homework and my own living quarters where I could get away from everyone sounded good, but what would the other students think? I was one of them, not a professor.
"I'm not really qualified, am I?" I asked. Surely you had to pass a test or something.
"None of us are," McGonagall said, "think of your past Defense Against the Dark Arts professors, Lockhart, Lupin, Umbridge. It's not about what you know academically, it's about how you teach it. We already know that you're capable and we have no expectations. All of your professors were different to each other, they played to their strengths. If in doubt, just follow the same things you learned in your previous years."
Could I do this? I'd enjoyed teaching Dumbledore's Army once I got comfortable, but teaching wasn't something I desired.
"Okay," I said, seeing no way out of it, "for a trial period and then we reassess."
"Whatever you want, Professor Potter," McGonagall said.
I did not like the sound of that at all. I would have to come up with a different name before I started.
"I'll let you get settled into your own timetable this week," McGonagall said, "and you can start teaching from week two."
I nodded my head, I was glad I had time to process it all.
All of the other teachers came forward and congratulated me, shaking my hand. Once it was Hagrid's turn, he brought me into a bearhug, making sure not to disturb Reggie.
"Well done, Harry," he said.
"Thanks, Hagrid."
I managed to get away and I made my way to Gryffindor Tower. The Fat Lady was there and I had no idea what the password was.
"Just let me in," I said, she refused. "You know me." Still nothing. "I'm a Professor, you know."
"And I'm the Minister of Magic," she shot back.
"Umm, hi," someone said from behind me, "it's, umm, Flobberworm. …What's your owl's name?" The young boy asked.
He reminded me of Colin Creevey, but I didn't want to think about him, he was yet another person I'd lost.
The portrait swung open.
"His name's Reggie," I said as I stepped inside.
"Cool, can I pet him?" the boy asked.
"Ask him, not me," I said, stopping just inside the portrait hole. "What's your name?"
"Christian," the young boy said.
That was a very muggle name.
"Are you a muggle-born?" I asked as Christian slowly reached towards Reggie.
"Half and half," he said, "my dad's a no-maj and my mom's a wizard."
Reggie turned his head away from the boy, but Christian didn't give up trying to pet him.
"A no-maj?" I asked confused.
"Ah, sorry, that's the American term for muggle. My mom met my dad in America, but we moved back here because Mom said Hogwarts was the best wizarding school. She was in Ravenclaw. I wanted to be in Ravenclaw too, but now I'm in the same house as Harry Potter so it's okay. What you did was amazing," Christian said, "Mom kept us far away, she was afraid of Voldemort, he killed her sister, you know, but now that he's dead she feels safe enough to come back. A lot of wizards are doing that, coming back. Thank you, Harry," he said, "my Mom's happier now that we're back here."
Reggie continued to turn away from the boy.
"Maybe next time he'll let you pat him," I told Christian, "please excuse me."
I stepped into the common room and spotted Ginny sitting on an armchair by the fire. I went straight over to her and sat on her lap, sighing.
"What did the headmaster want?" Ginny asked, not even caring that I was squashing her. She'd grown up with five brothers, so she was used to it.
"McGonagall wants me to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts," I said.
"What?" Ginny exclaimed and everyone turned to look at us.
"Maybe we can take this somewhere more private," I suggested, standing up.
"Umm, yeah," Ginny said.
I led her to my dorm. Dean and Seamus were in there, but I just pulled Ginny over to my bed and shut the curtains, casting a silencing charm. We sat across from each other.
"So?" Ginny said.
"Well, it was a shock," I told her, "McGonagall explained it all and I agreed, on a trial basis."
"Wow," Ginny said. "…Wow."
She stayed silent for a moment, clearly thinking this through. I waited impatiently for her to speak.
Ginny smiled seductively at me and I knew it well, but then her eyes went to Reggie on my shoulder.
"Is he always going to be there?" she asked.
"I don't know," I said, "but if you can hold that thought I'll coax him elsewhere."
"Sure," Ginny said, "but hurry."
The smile Ginny had given me was the one she usually gave me right before she kissed me. I didn't know what was eliciting this feeling from her, but I was determined to find out.
I left my bed and pulled Reggie off my shoulder, he protested, digging in his claws, but I didn't care.
"Behave," I whispered to him. "Do you want to go outside or do you just want to perch somewhere?"
Reggie stared at me, owl, right.
I set him down by the window, but he was having none of that. Reggie flew up to the top of my bed and perched himself on one of the supports. He was facing away from the bed, so that was good enough for me. I needed to get back to my girl.
I rejoined Ginny and made sure the curtains were closed behind me. She was laying back against my pillows looking sinful.
"Where were we?" I asked. "Oh yeah," I hovered my face near hers, "you were about to tell me something and then undoubtedly kiss me."
"How did you know that?" she asked.
"Ginny, baby," I said, "you get this predatory look in your eyes, it's hot. …So, we were talking about me teaching."
"Yes," she said, the look overtaking her face again. "Professor," she said.
That was it?
Ginny grabbed my arms and pulled me on top of her. She kissed me urgently at first before she slowed down. I guess this was another bonus to teaching, Ginny clearly thought that professor me was hot, I'd take it. Ginny ran her tongue along my bottom lip and I didn't hesitate to welcome her tongue into my mouth.
I groaned, crushing my chest against hers. At the Burrow, we were always surrounded by her family. We got in a few kisses here and there, but nothing more. Even now, we were exposed. I had the silencing charm in place, but anyone could discover us. I knew I should stop before Ron came in, but I couldn't, not yet.
I ran my hand down her side to her hip, not stopping our kissing. When I got to where I wanted, I shifted her leg, so that I could settle down in between her legs. Ginny groaned as I settled my weight, lining up my hips with hers. I was starting to run out of breath, so I pulled back and kissed her neck instead.
"Oh, Professor," Ginny groaned. I wasn't sure I liked her calling me that, but I figured I'd only be a professor for a year, so I may as well use it to my advantage, especially if it had this effect on Ginny. "Oh, Merlin," she cried out.
We needed to stop. I lifted my hips off hers as I moved my lips back to her mouth. I kissed her one final time before pulling back.
"Why'd you stop for?" she asked, glaring at me.
I laughed and leaned forward to peck her lips.
"Keep going," Ginny said, wrapping her legs around me and trying to get me to drop my hips again.
"Guess what?" I said.
"I don't care." Ginny groaned.
"But you will," I said, "unless you don't want to know."
"Harry, you know what I want." I stayed silent and Ginny's frustration grew. "Fine," she snapped, "what is it?"
"So, becoming a professor has a lot of perks, which I'll tell you all about later," I said, "but there's one I know you'll enjoy. …I get my own personal quarters."
"Are you serious?" Ginny asked. "Your own place, away from here?"
"Yep." I smirked.
"And you'll let me bunk with you?"
"Of course," I said, "I'm not sure McGonagall will agree to it, but she doesn't have to know. So, this," I motioned towards our hips, "can wait. I don't really want to be disturbed by your brother, or Dean for that matter."
"Right," Ginny said, suddenly realizing how unprotected we currently were. "When do you get your quarters?" she asked, letting me pull away from her.
I laid beside her, propping my head up on my elbow. "Not sure," I said, "I'm sure I can get McGonagall to give them to me sooner, but I don't start teaching until next week."
"I find that so hot," Ginny said. "Professor," she purred, running her hand down my chest.
"I can tell, but I do hope you'll be able to restrain yourself in class."
"You're going to be teaching me, oh Merlin, I didn't even think about that. What are you going to teach us?"
"No idea," I said, "I should probably figure that out."
"You're going to do so great, Harry."
"What? No more professor?" I teased.
"No, I'm not getting wound up again," she said, "I can wait. You are going to follow through though, aren't you, Harry?"
"Don't know," I said, "maybe not the whole way, but I'm willing to have some fun."
"Good enough for me," Ginny said.
I pulled her to me and hugged her.
Someone pulled the curtains back and I glared at them. It was Hermione. I picked up my wand and got rid of the silencing charm.
"Hermione," I said, unwilling to let Ginny go, "how have you been?"
"Good," she said. "Ron forced me to come up here and get you, he didn't want to walk in on anything."
I laughed, I knew it. "Are you in the common room?" I asked.
Hermione nodded her head.
"We'll be there in a minute," I promised. "See," I said to Ginny once Hermione was gone, "once we're in my private quarters."
"Hmm," she said, squeezing me tightly before letting go and getting up. I stayed laying down, just watching her.
"Hey," Ginny said, "can you give detentions?"
"I can."
"Good." She smiled.
"Just what kind of fantasies do you have up in that head of yours?" I asked, standing up.
"Oh, you'll see, Harry." Ginny took my hand and pulled me from the room.
My eyes met Dean's on the way out and I felt a little bit guilty, but then again, Ginny had told me that it hadn't been that serious with him and they'd only kissed. I didn't like it, but then again Ginny didn't like that I'd kissed Cho, so we were even.
We entered the common room and sat across from Hermione and Ron.
"Fill us in on your parents, Hermione," Ginny said.
I noticed that there was a foot in between Ron and Hermione and I frowned. Ginny was basically sitting on my lap we were that close.
"It didn't work," Hermione said, "yet," she added. "They're happy though, so I figured I'd come back to school and work on some new plans to get their memories back. I'll fix it, even if it takes me my whole life. I still think it was for the best, they're still living and that's something. I just wished they remembered me."
Ron took Hermione's hand.
"They will," I told her, "you can figure anything out, Hermione, just give it some time, and we will help in any way that we can."
Hermione nodded.
"Harry has some great news," Ginny said and I looked at her. "What?" she said, "they're going to find out eventually."
She was right.
"What is it?" Ron asked.
"Harry's our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Ginny blurted out before I had the chance.
"What Ginny said." I smiled.
"Are you serious?" Ron asked.
"Congratulations, Harry," Hermione said.
"Yeah, McGonagall asked me," I shrugged, "I'm not sure it's for me, but I'll give it a go. Either way, it's only for a year."
"I bet it's a smart move to get you into the Auror Program at the Ministry," Ginny said.
"I'm pretty sure he's already got a place," Ron said, "I mean, they'd be stupid not to take Harry on, he only defeated the most powerful and most dangerous wizard of all time on several occasions."
"Don't count your chickens before they're hatched," Hermione said and I nodded my head in agreement.
"What?" Ron and Ginny asked.
"Muggle-raised," Ginny added, shaking her head.
"Hey," I said. I wrapped my arms around Ginny and whispered in her ear, "watch what you say, Miss Weasley."
"Harry," she groaned in frustration and I smirked.
I knew how to get to her now.
"Can you not do, whatever that is, in front of me?" Ron asked.
"Sure," Ginny smiled and Ron was relieved for a whole second, "Harry's new job gives him private quarters, so you won't have to see us at all."
"I know that's supposed to upset me," Ron said, "but I actually like that idea. I don't want to be anywhere near your love, it's sickening."
"You're just jealous," Ginny said.
Not this again. I was glad I took the teaching position, it'd give me some time away from their sibling bickering, among other things.
