Chapter 11
The first thing I noticed when I faded into the graveyard was that there appeared to be about thirty death eaters awaiting the tri-wizard cup's arrival.
Immediately the first of thirty curses were sent and aimed at Dumbledore as the tri-wizard cup arrived with its two passengers. Dumbledore pulled a couple of tombstones into the killing curses paths and then erected his silver shield to deflect the other mundane curses. But he was being diverted away from clone Harry. My clone had no wand or magic to defend himself. Evelyn's clone was the one that could do magic, mine was just a fill-in when I needed to be elsewhere.
I will admit that I was frozen in place for a second as Wormtail rushed forward and drove a knife into clone Harry's arm. Apparently I missed the clone being stunned with all the spells flying around. I sent a Ennervate spell at clone Harry who shook his head and rolled behind one of the tombstones.
I had my invisibility spell on and had sent off a Bombarda at Wormtail and several more into the crowd of Death Eaters at a Voldemort power level or maybe a tad more. Wormtail had apparently dodged my spell, taken the clone's blood, and had return to baby Voldemort who I now realized was laying by a bubbling cauldron.
The next Bombarda I sent at baby Voldemort currently in Wormtail's arms. Unfortunately the curse found empty air as Voldemort and his party left with a resounding series of pops. The only thing left in the graveyard was some bodies and a fairly large and very dead snake. I dropped my invisibility spell and watched Dumbledore hobbled towards the snake. After turning the snake into ashes he turned to me.
"Harry My Boy might I offer you a lift back to Hogwarts?"
"For that I would thank you headmaster as I have no idea where I am presently." Again playing dumb never normally hurt.
"Harry please retrieve the tri-wizard cup as I believe I have overextended myself this evening."
Manipulated again! When I touched the cup the port key transported me back to Hogwarts where I was rousingly and noisily acclaimed the tri-wizard champion. Next time I saw Dumbledore all I got was a twinkly grin from the manipulating bastard. He had stuck me with all of the glory, interviews from the annoying press and of course my adoring public, Aaugh!
/Scene Break/
"So Harry, being the number one hot item in the magical community what are your future plans?" Ava giggled.
"Well if things were normal and safe you would make the second hottest item as my girlfriend. But as you know the minute we become public you have an excellent chance of becoming dead. Believe me when I say that I would propose to you and marry you in a second if there was a way of keeping it quiet. Our marriage here in England would be recorded at the ministry and would be public within days. I will not put you that kind of danger."
"Is that a proposal Mr. Potter? If it is, I might ask if you have forgotten about the colonies."
"Ava my love I had indeed forgotten about the colonies. Just as a thought, might I suggest that you and your family accompany me to said colonies? I believe there is a ceremony you would like to attend."
"I do believe that could be arranged Mr. Potter, perhaps this weekend."
The goblins were happy to set off a representative to arrange all accommodations and ceremonies for a price. I chuckled to myself over the goblins and their charges for services. Their handling of my vaults investments and the resulting interest more than covered their charges. My Muggle investments in the colonies overshadowed all my other incomes. If things continued in this theme I would very shortly be able to buy my own country just using my interest income alone. That is if Ava didn't bankrupt me with her shopping for the wedding.
/Scene Break/
Our honeymoon turned into a worldwide travel adventure. My long-haired beautiful strawberry blonde wife was turning into an adventuress who made my life more than interesting.
Our last adventure before returning to England was an Egyptian tomb tour. Bill Weasley got some private employment as he led the way to an accursed tomb which had all kinds of magical curses and traps. This tour brought up questions. Neither Ava nor I had our glamour charms in place and we had run into a Weasley. While I was hiding incognito in the village I wore no glamour charm nor did Ava. Everywhere else I needed to wear a Harry Potter clone glamour. I had again updated my glamour charms to appear a bit older but it was nowhere close to my real image. Now it was Eva's turn to start wear glamour charms if she was with the Harry Potter clone glamoured me, she needed to be kept safe. However...
"Harry I don't like black hair it doesn't match my skin tone."
"Harry does this glamour charm make my face look fat?"
All I can say is that I never thought establishing a glamour for her could be so much work.
/Scene Break/
Unfortunately our return to England ran smack into our manipulating headmaster who apparently had been busy during our absence. This came about by a letter from Madame Bones requesting a meeting at the ministry with a request that Lady Potter also attend. So much for keeping our private lives private. So after both of us were wearing our individual glamour charms we headed off.
We arrived at the ministry at the appointed time...
"Yes Miss, Lord and Lady Potter presenting themselves for their appointment with Madame Bones."
"Right, you're expected, head right in."
I opened the door and stepped inside the office only to find the place full of people.
"I'm sorry Madame Bones, the receptionist said to come straight in, we didn't mean to interrupt your meeting."
"Not all Harry, My Boy."
Apparently I'd been set up again! Now I had to find out why this esteemed group was here. "I've told you before headmaster I am not your boy!"
"As Minister of Magic I should be heading this meeting! I asked Madame Bones to assemble this group to convince you..."
"I'm sorry to interrupt you minister but would not proper protocol to insist on proper introductions before business is commenced."
"If you insist, Potter. You course you know Madame Bones, Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall. Members of the Hogwarts Board of Governors are Lord Malfoy and Dowager Longbottom."
"In turn I would like to introduce Lady Potter/Slytherin, my wife." That got the questions flowing nonstop.
"Harry, My Boy, when did all this happen?"
"How could you be the head of the house of Slytherin? Lucius sneered.
"When have I given you or the Minister permission to address me informally Mr. Dumbledore? My wife and I will accept being addressed as Lord or Lady Potter, nothing less. As for your question Lord Malfoy, and as this ring indicates, I am the Head of House Slytherin. Thomas M Riddle a.k.a. Lord Voldemort has been thrown out of House Slytherin for disgracing the Noble House of Slytherin." That caused Malfoy to stomp out of the room presumably heading toward Gringotts or to report to Voldemort.
"Harry my boy such formalities are not necessary as we're here to offer you a prestigious position considering your age. I have come across your NEWT scores and I assist that you assume an assistant professorship at Hogwarts as the DADA instructor. The Board of Governors as well as the Ministry of Magic heartily endorse my recommendation in fact they all insist upon it." Apparently he was not going to give up on trying control me. The meeting dragged on.
I had not expressed my desire to finish my Master's degree. I knew that Dumbledore did not want me out of Hogwarts nor did Evelyn. For me the next step after school was the Master's degree; this could be done through apprenticeship under a qualified Master. The I.C.W., took the authority in awarding the title of Master after I completed their apprenticeship requirements. Professors McGonagall, Flitwick and Slughorn were all Masters in their respective fields and were well-known and acceptable Masters. This left a compelling reason to remain at Hogwarts.
"I will take your kind offer under advisement and let you know by this weekend." That was as far as I got as an Auror burst into the room and handed a note to Madame Bones.
Madame Bones scan the note, looked up, and announced…"Xenophilius Lovegood informed us that he has found a body outside his house. He actually heard the AK curse and went out to investigate. It was Ginny Weasley's body that he found."
"Molly Weasley's howler! " Dumbledore continued, "Her howler effectively said that Ginny Weasley was closer to Harry Potter than just a school friend."
/Scene Break/
Unfortunately with a serious issue to discuss between Ava and myself we failed to remove our glamour charms as we appeared in Hogsmeade Village. We were discussing the job, the inherent dangers and today's revelations as we were passing HoneyDukes.
"Harry you do realize we still have on glamour charms in place?"
"Let's find an alley so we can drop these glamour charms before anybody can recognize the boy who lived strolling along with his gorgeous wife."
POP, POP, POP, POP,POP, POP, POP, POP. POP, CRACK!
"Harry I think it's a bit too late for that."
"Ava get behind this wall and get up your shield." Ava momentarily looked confused but within a moment I had transfigured a portion of the cobblestone street into a three foot thick wall which Ava immediately dived behind. Luckily Voldemort had only brought eight Death Eaters with him but they were all standing in front of me. I slowly moved to the right and away from the wall. I wasn't about to wait around for a chat so I started...
I sent a plethora of curses, and a ball of flame, which sped toward the group. The Death Eaters managed to dive in all directions to avoid the oncoming destruction, Voldemort just shielded. I then took the opportunity to respond with a series of banishing, Bombarda Maxima, and bone shattering hexes, the first curses were avoided, while several of the latter found their marks. Two of the Death Eaters dropped screaming, again Voldemort just shielded. Unfortunately the Avada Kedavra from Voldemort made me leap out of the way of the green curse and towards spme of the now spread out Death Eaters. Voldemort apparently didn't care much for his troops as he continued to follow my path sending AK curses. My wand was of no use as I was too busy ducking and rolling so I dropped it as I roll out of another AK's path and pulled out my staff, I had a plan. Dodging closer to a Death Eater nearest me I extended my staff and got in a good whack to the side of the Death Eater's head as I rolled closer to Voldemort. While I was not able to keep track of where everybody was or what they were doing but I did keep my eyes on Voldemort and his AK curses. I also heard Ava yelling Alea, Dono Satiasti, Efferbuit Coctio as well as a shielding charm. Whatever she was hurling made Voldemort move and luckily more towards me in an attempt to miss the unfamiliar spells from Ava. Unfortunately he was not close enough for me to use my sword, which was my intent. But I did get my arm up up in time to fire a wand-less spell while he was occupied with dodging Ava's spells which he apparently didn't recognize either. My wandless Diffindo cut off a good portion of his jaw and face. I got to see a good amount of blood before he and his still standing Death Eaters disappeared.
Moments later the Lone Ranger and the cavalry arrived. Dumbledore arriving on one side of the street and the Aurors on the other side of the street. As they converged on me I conjured a soft overstuffed chair, sat down and waved Ava over to sit upon my lap.
"Relax Ava this is going to be a long afternoon." Actually it was quite hilarious in its own way. The head Auror rushed up and started asking questions as Dumbledore strolled up to ask his questions. The remainder of the Aurors were on crowd control as the crowd was explaining what they saw or were trying to come close to shake my hand. The noise level was increasing. Meanwhile Dumbledore and the head Auror were in a heated discussion over who was going to ask what questions and when. Just about then the news media showed up with Rita Skeeter joining Dumbledore and the Head Auror in their discussion of questioning authority and there priority.
"By the way, what were those spells you are throwing around?" I whispered into Ava's ear.
"I told you before Harry I've always known I was destined to be a housewife so those were all cooking spell's like dice, purée, boil."
"So all we're missing is the Minister of Magic to make this circus complete."
"You had best look off to your right Harry. I do believe that is the Minister and his entourage." About then Ava slipped me my wand that I had dropped.
"Ava, did I ever told you, I would like to be elsewhere in this life?"
/Scene Break/
That night as we were cuddled together in bed, "Ava what am I going to do? Evelyn keeps insisting that I remain at Hogwarts but can I do all this?"
"The first thing you going to do is ensure that your quarters that McGonagall will show you tomorrow are sufficient for both of us. With you having to grade papers and being around to help students I'm not gonna sit here all by myself twiddling my thumbs. Daddy has already found a replacement for me at the shop."
"But I'm going to be an assistant professor!"
"Harry just sign the contract and get on with it!"
Apparently my decision as to whether I was going to take the teaching position had already been made by Ava. "You do realize that both of us will have to wear glamour charms while we're there at Hogwarts. Besides I will make a fool of myself in front of the students not to mention if I have to teach any of the older students, this is insanity."
"How will you know until you try? I have great faith in you and you should have faith in yourself. Take the damn job and do the best you can and if it doesn't work out we will find something else to do. Besides now that I am going to be at Hogwarts I just may sit in on your classes just to keep busy."
Man oh man, no pressure and now I will make a fool of myself in front of my wife as well. Oh joy!"
/Scene Break/
Rather than take Hogwarts express and to confuse people that mighy think we lived in Hogsmeade I transported Ava and myself directly to Hogwarts. Apparently our arrival did not go unnoticed because shortly Professor McGonagall arrived at our quarters. "The headmaster wishes you and the person that accompanied you in his office."
I didn't think that he could trace my comings and goings but he had noticed Ava's arrival through the school wards.
"So Professor McGonagall are you looking forward to another school year full of miscreants and rule breakers?"
"Mr. Potter! Well I guess I should be calling you Professor..."
"No Professor, Harry is just fine."
Of course when we entered the headmaster's office we got the standard, "Harry My Boy, I'm glad you could arrive early, and with the lovely young Lady Potter. Just sign on the dotted line and the position is yours." Well there was fine print and maybe I should have taken it to a lawyer for what the contract actually stated, but sign the contract I did.
It was a good week before the students would show up but it was time for another orientation meeting which was full of orientation, rules and squabbles. I also had a few words..."I seriously believe we need to clearly express the students that some words, names and attitudes are not acceptable here at Hogwarts. I think that the use of such language should accompany point deduction at a minimum." Of course rebuttal was then made by the one and only... Severus.
"You see headmaster he's already abusing his powers and I again stress that he should be removed from his position as my assistance. He is nothing but an attention seeking..."
"WHAT!" Was all that I could choke out. I should read the fine print in that contract.
"Yes Severus we've heard your opinion on Assistant Professor Potter and I shall take your suggestions under advisement."
I figured that it would not be the last I heard about that subject but I had a few more words to add, "An up-front warning Professor Snape. I am no longer your student and I expect, by words and actions, the proper respect from you for my position of assistant Professor that I currently hold. And as far as you headmaster, we shall be having words later after a review of that contract."
"You see headmaster now he's threatening a professor that has a long and a respected career here at Hogwarts."
I was not the only one that could be heard snickering.