Title: Hogwarts, Class of 2024: Year One
Setting: Hogwarts; September 2017 to June 2018
Summary: Albus Potter and Rose Weasley find their own way in the world during their seven years at Hogwarts, taught by Professors Neville Longbottom, Gabrielle Delacour, and Teddy Lupin.

Hogwarts, Class of 2024
Year One

Chapter Nine

"On this morning, the Governors of Hogwarts School," Draco Malfoy said, reading from a very official-looking piece of parchment, "after enjoying tea at the home of Professor Rubeus Hagrid, caught Professor Theodore Remus Lupin in a compromising situation with a student, in an open place–on the lawn a hundred meters away from Professor Hagrid's home–and is now being evaluated for the termination of his job as teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts." He motioned towards the Governors behind him, put down the piece of parchment, and continued, "We all know what we saw. So this shouldn't take long. We have only one witness, for the accused. Headmaster of Hogwarts, Charles Arthur Weasley."

Charlie stood up, looking far more serious than Teddy had ever seen him before.

"When I hired Professor Lupin," Charlie told the board of governors–who seemed suddenly to be hanging on every word he said, "I did so knowing about his disdain for authority and recklessness; he takes after his godfather in that way. But he takes after Harry Potter in a number of other ways, as well. He has the makings to be the most powerful wizard of his age–the Albus Dumbledore of the millennial generation, if you will–and he's terribly trustworthy–I've seen countless students single him out to talk to, because he's the only member on the staff that any of them can relate to. He understands them–he's young, after all, and was a student himself just ten months ago. That enhances his role as a professor, if anything. He's the first step in a newer, better Hogwarts–and he's doing a damned good job at it, too; according to the OWL and NEWT committees, he has had more students pass than any Defense Against the Dark Arts professor since his father. If the board of governors would be so kind as to give him simply a year of probation, I will make it my responsibility to keep the young Lupin in line."

"If there are no more witnesses on behalf of Professor Lupin," Draco Malfoy said, "then we shall retire to the voting chamber to decide his fate."

"If I may say something," Teddy said, standing up.

"You're actually not allowed to speak at this hearing."

"Well, I'm going to," he said. "I'm sorry. I'm stupid–I'm young and stupid. And I messed up; I did probably the worst thing I could've done, which is to betray the trust of the board, and betray the trust of Headmaster Weasley. But this job means more to me than anything else–and I'm willing to do anything to keep it."

Teddy studied the Governors for a moment; they were all scowling, with the notable exception of George Weasley, and that was probably only because Teddy was like family. But, still, Teddy thought, it doesn't hurt to have one ally.

"Thank you, Mr. Lupin," Malfoy said. "And now, we adjourn for the time being. Professor, we shall send you our decision tomorrow by owl. You are all dismissed."

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Harry Potter was sitting in his study at the Grimmauld Place house, nursing a cup of lukewarm tea that Kreacher had brought him about an hour ago. He wasn't doing anything in particular tonight; there wasn't much to do, after all, since he had just returned from a trip to Azkaban, where he was meeting with a Ministry committee to strengthen defenses, a last ditch effort to ward off the rising sentiment for the return of the dementors–something Harry simply couldn't allow.

Yes, he wasn't doing anything when a Hogwarts owl flew threw the open window, dropped a piece of parchment on Harry's lap, and flew back out again.

He held up the parchment to the light, squinted at it, and read:

Carrow and Greyback are in the Forest–a thousand feet from Hagrid's hut.

"Ginny!" Harry called. "I have to go into work for a moment."

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Albus didn't say anything that whole night–and Oliver, Brendan, and Rose seemed a bit nervous about that. Granted, Albus was always a shy boy, and had never been the most talkative of the bunch–but, still; he was just sitting in the common room with them, staring into the fire.

"Where'd you go today?" Rose asked. "With Katie, I mean; one minute, you were talking to her, and the next minute you were gone."

"Just for a walk," he replied. "How was flying?"

"We could've played two-on-two," Oliver said, "if you would just get on a broomstick."

"I won't," Albus snapped. "I already told you that, Oliver–could you just drop it?"

"I don't know what you're pissed about," Oliver said, "but don't take it out on me, all right?"

"You don't know what you're talking about. Just stop." Albus stood up, brushed himself off, and said, "I'm going to bed. I'll see you all in the morning."

It seemed that, the next morning at breakfast, everyone was waiting for the mail to arrive–Albus sure was, at least. He nervously chewed on his fingernails, as he awaited the imminent headline of the Daily Prophet. Oliver sat next to him, unsure of what was making his friend so worried–but, based on the events of last night, he didn't say anything. No one else seemed at all concerned; Rose, Brendan, and Katie were all in a deep conversation about their Charms homework, and seemed to be happily eating their breakfast without noticing Albus.

The sky opened up to a sea of owls, and Albus stood up, ready to grab his copy of the Daily Prophet as it dropped onto the table.

Thomas Carrow Recaptured
by Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent

HOGSMEADE–A group of aurors recaptured Thomas Carrow late last night, after the Ministry received an anonymous tip of his whereabouts. Carrow was suspected to be living with known werewolf and fugitive Fenrir Greyback, whose personal effects were found with Carrow. Greyback was not captured last night, and his location is currently unknown.

Carrow has been brought back to Azkaban, which is awaiting the return of the dementors at the order of Minister of Magic Percy Weasley, and has been scheduled to receive a kiss tomorrow afternoon, which will necessitate his permanent relocation to St. Mungo's.

Albus set down the paper, and looked back to Katie, who was laughing at some joke that Brendan told her. But he didn't say anything–and, for the first time since he sent that owl last night, he felt guilty.

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Up at the high table, Teddy received his own letter–but he couldn't bring himself to open it.

"It'll be okay," Gabrielle whispered, as she took his arm gently. "You have to open it, Teddy."

Teddy took the letter in his hands, his heart beating strongly now, and he slowly ripped the top of the envelope.

Dear Mr. Lupin,
On behalf of the Hogwarts Board of School Governors, I am pleased to announce that you have been placed on a temporary probation, the period of which shall not exceed one year. In light of that decision, it is my further pleasure to offer you the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor again for the 2018-2019 school year.
Sincerely,
Draco Malfoy,
Hogwarts Board of School Governors, Chairman

"You did it!" Neville gasped. "I told you everything would be fine, didn't I, Teddy? Didn't I?"

Teddy grinned at him, then looked over at Charlie, who exchanged a knowing smile, then to the Gryffindor table; Victoire was running up to the high table. Teddy quickly got up, and disappeared into the foyer. Victoire followed.

"You're staying," she said, with a smile. "I'm so glad." She leaned in, ready to kiss him–but he stepped back.

"I can't," he said. "I'm sorry."

"That's all right," she said. "Shall I meet you in your room in ten minutes?"

"No," he replied. "I can't–I can't do any of it. Victoire, I think we need to break up."

"Break up!" she gasped. "Why?"

"It's not because I've stopped loving you," he said. "I haven't, Victoire–but my job is everything to me, and I can't jeopardize it again. And I can't date you until you graduate. If I'm caught with you again, I could lose everything."

"So it's over?"

"No," he said. "Not over. I just need to take a break–just for a year. When you graduate, we can get back together; I promise."

She frowned a bit, but nodded. "I understand, Teddy–I really do. I'm just going to miss you."

"I'll miss you, too," he said. "Terribly. But it has to be done." He reached for her hand, shook it–rather professionally–and then said, "All right, I think we're done here, Miss Weasley."

"Thank you, Professor Lupin," she whispered–and then she ran up the stairs back to Gryffindor tower.

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"Did you do this?" Katie hissed, as she set down the Daily Prophet. "Answer me, Albus!"

"No–no, I didn't!" Albus gasped. "I wouldn't. I promised you, didn't I?"

She seemed to accept that answer, but that didn't make her any happier; she simply wiped her eyes, and then said, "I can't believe this. He's the only parent I have left. My mother's dead, my grandmother's dead, my grandfather's dead–and now, my dad is going to–" She stopped. She couldn't bring herself to say it.

Albus said nothing; he put his arm around her neck, pulled her to his shoulder, and let her tears run down all over his robes.