Astoria
When I was young, my mum told me I have three choices in life.
Number one: If you marry money, you let him or her know up front, be clear. Draw solid contract with lawyers before marriage.
Number two: If you marry love, you make sure you are willing to die for each other. For rich or for poor you must stay together.
Number three: If you marry career, you better be the best. People will look down on you because of your gender. You must earn the respect of your colleagues.
I didn't choose option number one because I'm not materialistic. I didn't choose option number two because I have not found the great love of my life yet. Therefore, I chose option number three. I married my career and I swear I will be the best History of Magic teacher. I am going to start by planning a special event in Hogwarts to raise school spirits. As spirits I mean their hopes not the actual spirits that float about the school. I contacted sponsors, donators, and made payments. All I need are participants to sweeten the deal. One of them was Harry Potter.
I sent Harry an owl, asking for him to meet with me. I was elastic when he agreed. I couldn't sleep for days, anticipating when I was going to see him again. When the date arrived I woke up extra early to prepare. I did my hair and spent hours choosing my outfit. I sat down in my office, staring at the clock, waiting for him to arrive. Professor Binns sat with me to keep me company. We were talking about what I have planned for the students when they arrive but somehow the conversation turned sideways. I find myself spilling my feelings about Harry to him, again.
"I accept that he is Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived. Harry Potter, the Savior. Harry Potter, war hero. I completely accept it."
"If you said so." said Binns. He glanced at the clock. "He will be arriving soon. I must be going."
"We'll talk later, sir."
He nodded and disappeared through a wall.
The clock chimed, signaling it was time for our meeting to start. I stared at the door Harry was going to walk though it any moment now. Nothing happened. Maybe he was running late? I looked at the clock. Its fifteen minutes pass the time we agreed on. Maybe he is running really, really late. I should give him more time. Harry must be busy with all the Auror stuff he has to do. I glanced at the clock again and saw that another ten minutes has passed. I glanced back at the door. Still no Harry. Did he forget? It happened before. He once stood me up in my fourth year. He owled me to meet him. I waited hours for him until I got tired and left. I found out later that he took Katie Bell to the hospital wing because she caught a really nasty hex. At least he had a reasonable explanation. It is in Harry's nature to help others. I wonder if something bad happened. I should owl him that it's okay. We can reschedule. It's fine that he didn't come. I guess I'm not important enough for him to keep an appointment with me. Why does this fact make me cry? It not like I don't already know it.
Suddenly the doors burst open and Harry walked in, "Sorry, I'm late!" he said and took my hands.
Is he really here or was I imagining him?
"Harry?" I said.
"Sorry, I'm late!" he shouted so loud I covered my ears.
"S-so-sorry," he said in a lower tone.
I removed my hands from my ears and looked him over. "Harry? You came?"
"Yes, your eyes -"
I covered my eyes and turned around so he wouldn't see them. They are probably red from all my crying.
"I have allergies!" I explained. I don't have allergies.
"Really? You should see Madam Pomfrey for that."
"I will." I'm not going to.
I turned back around to face and noticed a red mark on his cheek. "What happened to your face?"
"I…I have allergies too."
Wow! Really?
"You should see Madam Pomfrey for that." I repeated what he just told me.
"I will." he said.
We smiled at each other. I'm happy he's here.
I took a deep breath. "Thank you for coming." I waved toward my desk, "Won't you sit down?"
We went to sit across from each other. My hands were shaking like crazy. Lucky my desk was blocking them from his view.
"You look good." he said.
"Thank you. You look…good too." I said with a nod.
He nodded back. "How have you been?"
"Good. You?" I asked him back.
"Good. You?" He said.
I smiled. Was he as nervous as I was? "I already answered you."
"How did you get Binns to retire?" he asked me.
"Oh, that? We figure out he never died."
His jaws dropped. "But I heard he fell asleep and died naturally?"
I shook my head and explained what I discovered about Binns. It was really fun mystery to solve now that I think back on it. When it started I tried to tell Harry about so we could solve it together but he wasn't listening to me. Besides, I could tell he was suffering over Cedric Diggery's death. It must have been awful to witness your friend die.
"That's brilliant. I've heard of astral projection and that's a rare ability."
"Astoria, look what I got you." I heard Daphne sang as she dramatically swung the door open, holding a colorful box. The smile dropped from her face when she saw Harry.
"Daphne!" I said and went to hug her. "You brought me sweets!" Yes!
Daphne hugged me back with her free arm. "Yes, little one. Go supervise a house elf while he gets this set up for us to eat will you?" she handed me the box and I went to get it ready. A few minutes later she joined me in the back.
"What is Potter doing here? You said you were over your crush?"
"I am over it." I said to her.
Is she ever going to let that go? After Harry stood me up in my forth year I went crying to my room. Daphne followed me and I accidentally let slip that I liked Harry. She, being an ever loving sister, was generous enough to share all of the names of the girls Harry was allegedly involved with and warned me against ever seeing him again.
"Then what is he doing here?"
"I am going ask Harry if he wants to participate in a special event I am organizing for the students. I managed to get sponsors on my own but with his help I know I'll get more free stuff for my students." I said, preparing the tray.
"Is that all?"
"That's all." I told her. We went back to Harry and I put the tray down.
"I'm organizing a special event for the students. They'd love it if you participated in it." I told Harry.
He was quiet for a moment before asking. "Is that the only subject you want to talk about?"
"I want to go over the specifics too."
"You shouldn't bother him, Astoria. A war hero like Potter is probably too busy to help you. You should pick someone else." Daphne said.
"No. It has to be Harry. The students are set on having him here."
I want him here.
"I'll do it." said Harry.
"Thank you, Harry. The students are going to be so happy." I gave him a parchment with important dates on it. "Please clear your calendar for these dates."
He looked the parchment over and I noticed him glancing up at me with a strange expression. Oh, no! Is he having second thought?
"If you can't make any of these date owl me ahead of time and we can reschedule."
He shook his head. "No, I can make them."
"Good."
"Is there anything... else." he asked.
"No. That's it."
He face is turning redder. Does he need to use the bathroom? Is his allergies getting worse?
"The bathroom is over there, Harry?" I pointed to the door.
He glanced at the door and back at me. "Thanks." he said and went inside.
"He clearly doesn't want to do it. Whatever you want Potter to do Ernie can do it instead." said Daphne, forever voluntary her husband for causes without telling him first. He'll agree too if it pleased her. Poor bloke. He's her eternal love slave.
"Thanks Daphne but it has to be Harry." I said firmly. "Also, where is my baby?" I had to change the subject to Daphne's three year old daughter, who I affectionately call my baby, since she resembled me more than both of her parents. I love my little baby. She looks like a small version of me so much that people often thought she was mines instead of Daphne's and Ernie.
"Mama took her to get pictures taken in all of her new dress. I'm going to make a huge collage of her face made entirely of pictures of her."
"I can't wait to see." I told her. "Let me see them first. I want copies to put in my desk."
Harry came out of the bathroom to say goodbye.
"See you later, Harry." I said. I waved to him as he left and shut the door behind him.
Daphne waved at him. She waited until he was gone to speak. "I read that he broke up with Ginny Weasley."
"You can't believe everything you read of tabloid."
"It's true. I also heard it from Hannah, who heard it from Padma, who heard it from Jean, who heard it from Lisa, who heard it from Angela."
Harry is single?!
"Those are hardly reliable sources." I said. I hope I don't sound too delighted.
"But Angela is in the family. She knows what's going on. I heard that Ginny confessed that she can't be with him because she can't live with constantly worrying about his safety. She said it was her or being an Auror. They broke up just like that!" Daphne finished with a snap of her fingers.
"That's awful."
"Can't blame her though. Aurors live dangerous lives and can be gone any moment on a mission. It takes a special kind of woman to stay with one. Remember that fact before you pursue a relationship with Potter."
"Harry will be a great Auror. Whatever happens he will always survive."
I knew Daphne was saying all of this because she loves me and doesn't want to see me hurt. I made peace with the Harry's dangerous lifestyle a long time ago. When he was gone in my fifth year, I prayed every night he would be safe. He didn't have to come back to Hogwarts. He can love whoever he wanted. I didn't mind. As long as he was safe it was all that mattered to me.