"Well. That could have gone better," Harry remarked to the footsteps he heard approaching him from behind as he sat on the beach and looked out over the water. He knew it was Hermione just by the sound and rhythm of her feet on the sand.
"You too?" She asked as she sat beside him. Both of them had red, tear-filled eyes and sniffled as they spoke.
"Yeah. Ginny just left, she wants to sit out this year and do the pro tryouts. Same as Ron, she says she can't see Hogwarts without seeing Freddie. I think she can't see me without seeing Freddie either."
"Ron says George really needs him, but I think he feels the same, we… well as you said, it didn't go well. We had words." Hermione replied. "So, are you going to follow Ginny to tryouts? Everyone thinks you're the best seeker in a long time."
"I don't think so. I mean, I'm good, but I'm not Viktor, and there has never been a pro seeker in the UK without 6 years as an amateur. I have 6 years, but one really doesn't count. Honestly, my hearts not in it, I didn't know anything about Quidditch as a kid before school and… it was never really my dream."
"Well none of the pro teams seem to need a seeker this year anyway, no one has retired in so far as I can tell. So, school then? You could pick up another year."
"I guess, I am curious about the changes, and I, well I feel I owe it something you know? If I can encourage others to come back then it would be worth it. I'm not putting up with any nonsense though. First instructor that treats us like crap I'm out. I guess I should tell Chase that. I doubt she knows the full story of Snape and Umbridge."
"Send her an owl, she seems, well, very approachable and down to earth. I don't think we will have to figure out the riddles of what she is saying like we had to with Dumbledore, very straight forward I think. Plus, she needs you. You have a little clout and can make things better."
"Whatever, they aren't going to listen to me." Harry laughed.
"Well, I think you made it clear, and so did the Minister, that they need you more than you need them. Harry, there is something else, and its probably not a good time to bring it up, but, well there probably isn't a good time and I'll just say it. Remember when we were on the run, when it all seemed hopeless and we were at our wits end, that song came on and we danced?"
"Rather hard to forget."
"Well, there are bound to be social occasions at school and… Oh! Its stupid of me to bring this up now," Hermione gasped.
"What is it Hermione?" Harry asked, slightly annoyed at the conversation.
"Well, remember at Slughorn's party, you went with Luna, as friends, and I went with Cormac, just to piss Ronald off?"
"Yeah, I was going to ask you but you had already accepted his invite."
"Right, well if we're both going to be single, can we just agree right now to do that sort of stuff together so we don't have to worry about finding a date or having a date? I don't want to go through all that again," Hermione explained.
"Really? That's what worries you about 7th year?" Harry laughed.
"It… terrifies me Harry! A woman doesn't want to be the one that can't get a date and… well I don't think I'm the most approachable person. I don't want someone that is all hands like Viktor or Cormac. I had intended to be paired with Ronald so… yes. It is a concern to me and you're the only one I can see myself doing anything with and… like I said, its stupid of me to bring this up now of all times!" she said, exasperated.
"Yes," Harry smiled.
"Yes? It is stupid of me or"
"Yes, but we have to dance if there is an occasion to, I have very fond memories of that time too. You know, of all the scenarios I came up with to dance with you again, I never thought you would ask me out."
"Well its not like I'm asking you out on a…"
"Date. You asked me on a date." Harry grinned.
"I wouldn't say I asked you on a date actually…"
"For the whole year!" Harry openly laughed now.
Hermione could only smile. 'Why is it Harry can always make me smile?" she wondered.
"Thank you Harry, that is one less thing to worry about, and I have fond memories of our dance too," Hermione replied.
They sat and watched the waves in the moonlight for several minutes, each getting over their weepiness, until Harry decided to lighten the mood by asking;
"So… no hands?"
"What?"
"You said you didn't want anyone like Viktor or Cormac that was all hands" Harry replied.
"Oh no. No hands, I mean, you know what I mean!" she giggled.
Minutes passed in silence, both now smiling, sometimes at each other.
"I have no idea what you mean," Harry said, finally breaking the silence.
"Well, no inappropriate hands anyway. A woman has needs after all." Hermione deadpanned, before bursting out in laughter. "I should go get some sleep, want to hit Diagon Alley tomorrow?"
"Sure, sounds good." Harry smiled. Their letters had arrived with the list of school supplies, sent on the hope that they would return. A day trip to Diagon Alley did sound good to him. Hermione had grown over the years from an irritating know-it-all to a seriously attractive woman and intelligent person that was both endearing and fun to be around. That she was such a wonderful friend made her almost perfect.
The next morning was a flurry of activity at the office of the headmistress. It began with a meeting with Minerva to review the schools remaining needs to reopen. It was decided quickly that if the endowment Hazel had brought was as large as believed that the modest requests from the staff could all be fulfilled. The largest was for more brooms for the flying class while the biggest single expenditure was potion supplies. McGonagall explained this was always a large budget item.
"We have one position that still needs to be filled, and Irma makes the same request for an assistant every year. Provided Mr. Jackson accepts the defense instructor position we should be ready to open," McGonagall said.
"What position is that?" Annabeth asked.
"Muggle relations, its quite easy to fill, just about any one who works with muggles is qualified."
"Oh, I filled that. An old friend is perfect for it and needs something to do for a year."
What would have been seen as patronage or nepotism anywhere else didn't raise an eyebrow with McGonagall. Both herself and Professor Slughorn had originally been hired due to their friendship with Dumbledore and she saw Muggle Relations as not particularly important anyway. It certainly wasn't a job coveted in the world of magic.
"Who is it?" Minerva asked.
"Oh I can't say. They would also be here as an agent. When the ICW offers employment to anyone already under contract, we have a rule that we can't identify him or her, ever, for any reason. It is to keep qualified candidates from using us to get their current boss to offer more to keep them. I'm not sure I like that rule, but I have to live with it. You'll like them though, just tons of fun." Annabeth grinned.
"Well then, we're good to go. Irma can get by without an assistant, she has for years," the Deputy Headmistress said. "While we are talking about this, one of last year's graduates, Neville Longbotton, has requested an internship in Herbology. Professor Sprout would love to have him, and he would be an excellent addition to the staff. He led the resistance among the students inside the school last year and is beloved by all who know him. It would have been difficult if not impossible to win the war without him."
"Kid that blew up the wooden bridge and killed the snake, right?" Annabeth asked.
"That's the one." McGonagall answered.
"Hire him, no problems. If we have the money to open at all, his salary won't be an issue I'm sure."
"When do you expect to hear about Mr. Jackson and his sister?"
"Well he left for New York at dawn, of course that is the middle of the night there, and Estelle should get home in their afternoon. Maybe tonight, probably in the morning at best."
It was just then that Annabeth's electronic wand went off. This is a device ICW agents carry for long-range communication, to use as an emergency wand in case their own gets damaged, and for use as a Taser. To muggles, and witches for that matter, it looked like an iPhone.
"Be advised principal one and two on the move. Now sited Diagon Alley. Protection team moving to reestablish security. Agents Chase and Jackson recall to London to intercept."
Annabeth read the screen and responded.
"Jackson in NYC and unavailable. Will arrive 1 minute with available school staff."
"You have your wand?" Annabeth asked McGonagall.
"Of course, is something wrong?"
"Probably not, but Mr. Potter and Miss Granger just decided to leave the security of the Shell Cottage and pop out to do some shopping among those 400 or so dark artisans still on the loose. We've had a security team discreetly protecting them all summer and now it's all hands on deck to keep them safe. Let's go." Annabeth said as she took McGonagall's hand, put on her shades just as the clock hit 9:00 a.m. and took off to Diagon Alley.
On arrival, landing just outside Gringotts, Chase received a second message on her E-wand.
"Principals located. Outdoor café near northern end of street. Moving to intercept now"
"Hold that" Annabeth responded. "We are near there and will intercept in a few moments. Set up perimeter and wait for further instructions."
"Okay Minerva, the trick here is to walk by as if we are going somewhere, then act as though we just noticed them, with luck they will see us and it will seem perfectly natural," Chase said. They immediately spotted the café as well as Harry and Hermione. The ICW agents were also seen but were quite good at blending in. McGonagall didn't notice them at all, but Annabeth knew them all, knew their training and their techniques so it was obvious to her.
At the café was a paper stand that had both the Quibbler and Prophet, each carrying stories about the previous day's arrests at Greengrass, so feigning interest about a story she already knew about, Chase walked over and paid for one of each. In her peripheral vision she saw Hermione grinning and laughing at something Harry said. It seemed to be flirtatious to Annabeth, but she had been told that Hermione and Ronald were a couple so she didn't have a good read on this.
She glanced at the story and chuckled at the look on Greengrass's face as she was marched toward the camera, when Hermione finally spotted her.
"Professor Chase? Professor McGonagall?" Hermione said as she looked up.
"Oh! Good morning Miss Granger, Mr. Potter," Annabeth replied, feigning surprise. "How are you today? Have you seen the news?" She asked, holding up the papers.
"Yes! Its all we've heard about since we got here… was that what you told us was coming?" Harry asked.
"I can neither confirm nor deny that" Chase smiled, "May we join you?"
"Of course!" Hermione replied as the professors joined them at the table. It was a beautiful day in London, warm, but not overly hot, and a bit sunny for the climate, just a perfect day for brunch at an outdoor café.
"So, I haven't read the stories yet, but I don't want you two worrying, we are pretty sure we have a handle on the funding situation. I'm confident we will open on time, and I hope to know something firm on that by late tomorrow. Don't let that sway your decision. Okay?" Annabeth said in an effort to assure them.
"About that, we've decided," Harry replied.
"Oh? And what did you decide Harry?" McGonagall asked with concern.
"We're going, Harry and I anyway. Ronald is going to work with George," Hermione replied, then added, "but we do have some reservations."
"Tell me," Annabeth said.
"Well…" and then both Harry and Hermione gave Chase a history of the instructors they had suffered through, often pointing out how Dumbledore and McGonagall had shielded the students from them. They focused on Lockhart, who both agreed was incompetent, Umbridge, who both agreed was pure evil, with Professor McGonagall confirming, and Snape, who treated them like crap for six years for no reason really.
"The thing is, if we have to put up with anything like that again, well, I can't speak for Hermione, but I will just leave."
"Harry you know I can't guarantee that every instructor is going to be perfect. What I can tell you is that you know all the returning ones and the new ones that we are bringing in I have known most of my life, and I think they will be great, I think you will really enjoy them and learn a lot. What I can guarantee you that my door, and Professor McGonagall's door, will always be open and you can always discuss any concerns you have. We may not agree with your view, but we can look at it together and make whatever accommodations are appropriate. I won't put up with professors abusing students. I've had some tough instructors that I have learned a lot from, and some useless ones. I never had to put up with the sort of crap you went through and I won't put up with in moving forward," Chase replied.
"That's reassuring," Hermione said after some thought.
"I'm glad you feel that way, that was my intent. Now, I should warn you, Defense Against the Dark Arts is going to probably be the toughest training you have ever had. As much as you have learned in the last 6 years, expect to triple that. It's not for the meek. You are going to get frustrated, angry even, but that isn't going to be a reason to complain about the instructor. I will be there to help every step of the way, and its not so much the difficulty of the material it's the volume. It is going to be as easy as drinking from a soda straw. That is attached to a fire hydrant. In perdition. I'm telling you this to set your expectations, not to discourage you." The Headmistress added.
"That is if Mr. Jackson agrees to teach," McGonagall said.
"Well. That's the best plan we have right now," Chase laughed, "but I'm feeling okay about that, and if he doesn't the fall back plan is for me to take over the class, so it would probably be more difficult."
A waiter brought the tea Hermione and Harry had ordered before the professors arrived, as well as tea for McGonagall and coffee for Chase as the group sat silently for a moment.
"Professor Chase, may I ask something?"
"Of course Harry," she replied.
"You're being here today, that's not by accident is it?"
"What do you mean?" She smiled as she sipped the coffee the waiter brought moments before.
"You never ordered coffee, or anything else, neither did Professor McGonagall, and I've seen that waiter before, he was surf casting on the beach outside the cottage two days ago. I'm pretty sure that guy in the cap over there, the one reading the paper, he collects seashells. Are you following us? Me?" Harry asked.
Chase looked around, picked up the E- wand and spoke into it; "Chadwick and Barnes, come to the table please," she said before smiling at Harry.
"No Harry, we are not following you. You were assigned a protection detail as the surviving Death Eaters put a premium on revenge. Taking you out would show the world that the blood purity movement, or as I call it, fascism, is alive and well in Great Britain. You've gone nowhere and done nothing all summer, but this morning out of the blue you decided to come here. That panicked everyone at HQ. Before you ask, we didn't tell you about the protection detail as we, in particular I, didn't want you to have anything but a normal summer of a normal 18 year old, a summer where you weren't looking over your shoulder all the time. After all you've been through, you deserve it. Ah! Agent Chadwick, Agent Barnes, you'll be interested to know Mr. Potter has done the impossible, he has discovered two ICW agents acting undercover."
"Sorry mam, with the bank investigation we've been short handed and had to go with the beach crew. I should have been more cautious," one of the men said.
"Not to worry, I suspect Mr. Potter's observation skills are honed better than most given his past. I am sorry Harry, but these men are not following you, they are escorting you. I told you I would keep you safe. I will. If I have to die, or more likely, if I have to kill, in order to keep you alive I will do so without hesitation. No harm is going to befall yourself or Miss Granger on my watch. Have either of you seen anything suspicious?" She asked the agents.
"Just some pretty boy Clark Kent checking you out when you picked up the papers" one of the agents responded.
"Was he cute?" Chase giggled.
"Not my place to say mam," Chadwick replied.
"The guy that was over there in the blue blazer?" Hermione asked Chadwick.
"Yes mam."
"He was cute. Really, really cute," Hermione grinned.
"Not to change the subject Professor, I'm sure that guy had his reasons for checking you out, I mean, I get that, but,"
"Why Mr. Potter, are you saying I'm worth checking out in this outfit?" Chase grinned; referring to the rather dull wizarding robes she was wearing over a business like A-line skirt and blouse ensemble.
"Uh, lets say yes, but that's not…"
"Yes! I still got it!" Chase exclaimed dramatically while pumping her fist, causing Granger and McGonagall to giggle. "You guys can get back to the perimeter, and Agent Barnes, if you would let the wait staff know we are ready to order brunch," Chase smiled.
Harry just stared and wondered if there was ever a time when the Headmistress wasn't attractive to men, and then composed himself before he continued.
"What you're doing with your agents, that's straight out of the Dumbledore playbook. You're keeping me in the dark about something I should know because you decided what I should or shouldn't know. What I can or can't be trusted with knowing about. Please don't do that. He kept me in the dark for 6 years. I have a right to know what is going on." Harry stated with determination in his eyes.
"Very well," Chase said after a long moment's thought. "The cat's out of the bag in any event. While at the cottage, there have always been two agents within visual range. They can summon six backups that would arrive in under a minute. There will continue to be until you leave for school. On the train there will be two or more agents under the current plan, and once at school of course there will be the magical protections of the school, which we've upgraded in places, as well as Professor McGonagall of course, myself and Professor Jackson and the rest of the staff. If you are ever concerned for your safety before then, tell Bill or Fleur, they are working with the aurors to protect you as well. I'm sorry Harry, but until we remove the rest of the Death Eaters and those that supported them, being threatened is part of your life. I will not let them hurt you. Oh and so you know, to my knowledge no one has ever made one of our protection agents, much less two. That really is impressive."
"I don't want anyone else dying for me," Harry said.
"Me either. That's why all your escorts are our drawn from our very top combat experts. We shouldn't have to die for you, but we are perfectly capable of killing for you. I will keep you safe."
"The killing curse if forbidden," Hermione said.
"Call the magic cops on me if you like," Chase grinned, while McGonagall seemed shocked and Harry snickered.
"All that is the long way of saying 'I'm sorry' Harry. Moving forward I will keep you better informed, at least as far as your safety goes. Please forgive my oversight, I really did just want you to have normal summer like every other 18 year old."
"Its okay, its just that Dumbledore, well, it was like he didn't trust me with information I needed to, uh, make decisions about myself. It made me feel…"
"Like your thoughts and opinions didn't matter?"
"Yes. Exactly," Harry replied.
"I'm a firm believer that no one knows your situation better than you Harry, so in the future, you will know what you need to know. I trust you to do the right thing; your record shows that you always have. Thanks for understanding."
"Uh Professor, he's back," Hermione said, looking past the Headmistress.
"Who's back?"
"Cute guy, he's walking this way."
Annabeth drew her wand and kept it hidden on her lap, while Harry, Hermione and Minerva saw several other people in the area drawing theirs as well. All of the agents' eyes were focused on the man walking up to the table.
"Annabeth? Annabeth Chase?" a soft-spoken male voice said behind her.
Annabeth turned suddenly, almost snapping around 180 degrees, startling those at the table with her, then gasped and stood up facing the intruder.
"Mitchell? Mitchell Laurens? Oh gods its good to see you! How have you been?" Annabeth said as she rose quickly and threw her arms around the man.
Tall, broad shouldered in a blue blazer, button down and khakis he had a devilish smile and just incredibly handsome face, topped with a mop of curly dark brunette hair that was tussled but still looked well groomed. His body was just perfectly amazing as was his face. He appeared to be late 20s, about the same age as Chase, but Mitchell Laurens' level of cuteness knew no age boundaries. Minerva hoped the headmistress would introduce them, as did Hermione.