Chapter six

'No, I wouldn't.' Harry's face was calm but he knew something was going on and wondered what these men were up to.

'First, we might be able to bend that law on of aged students that live together outside of Hogwarts can share a room in the castle,' Arnold said, 'But Mr. Potter, if we thought there was danger from the ones that escaped would mean you couldn't see your partner apart from once a month, what would you do?'

'It's simple, I won't return. I want to see Charlie, he wants to be able to see me, we live together. But I haven't heard anything about any type of danger,' Harry looked at Kingsley, 'As the former head auror and member of the order of the phoenix, I figured you'd know and would have let the people know.'

'I would have Harry, you know that. There hasn't been any threats, they haven't done anything, but they are out there and for all we know they could be planning something.'

'Then I hope Harry is kept informed, he's the one they will go after, he did kill their boss,' Charlie put his arm back around Harry and pulled him closer.

'If they know about you Charlie, you could be in danger, maybe I should stay with you anyway. All of them know that Voldemort tricked me using Sirius to get me to the department of mysteries, they could use you for the same reason.'

'Harry, I can take care of myself, I did fight that night you know and against three death eaters at once. You don't have to protect me like you've done with everyone else.'

'That's just me, I've lost too many people, I won't lose you babe.'

'Let me make a suggestion that would make everyone feel better,' Arnold said.

'I'm not sure it'll change my mind, but I'm listening,' Harry said.

'We do need more teachers at Hogwarts, with the extra students, the staff will be overwhelmed. So maybe Mr. Weasley could take up a position as one of the part time teachers we need.'

Ron gaped at his brother, 'You, a teacher, you got into too much trouble as a student, almost as much as Fred and George did.'

'That's for sure, mainly being caught shagging some bloke by Dumbledore.'

'That won't happen because you only shag me,' Harry said stiffly.

'Don't get your undies in a twist babe.'

'How would that work with the rule regarding teacher/student relationships being forbidden?' Hermione asked.

'Good thinking Hermione, if Charlie was a teacher, then if we want to snog, we will,' Harry grinned.

'We would have to work around that rule for you two only as you were living together before either of you returned to Hogwarts,' Brian said.

'Okay, well I just started my job working with dragons, that is what I've always done and love doing. But I admit being a teacher at Hogwarts would be cool, depending on what it is. Now I did get decent grades in some subjects, good grades in defence and charms, hopeless at potions, okay in transfiguration, the rest, shit.'

'At the moment Mr. Weasley, we are thinking of each lesson will have two teachers, one for the younger years, first, second, third and fourth year, the other teacher will take the older students. So Filius Flitwick would take the older students and if we gave you the charms position, it would be for the younger students.'

'Oh okay then, I'll have to think about that. I want to be with Harry, this way we could be.'

'So what about the restrictions I mentioned in the letter?' Harry asked.

'There would not be a lot, you would not have a curfew as long as you aren't falling asleep in your classes. There's no time limit for you to be out of a night.' Brian said.

'We understand that because all of you are of age, we could not stop you wanting a drink if you went to Hogsmeade on the weekends. The only thing we wish is that you do not get drunk, the younger children do not need to see that,' Minerva said seriously.

'We wouldn't do that Professor,' Ron said.

'You three are looked upon as hero's, naturally Mr. Potter more so. It would not look good if the children saw you drunk. All we ask is that you act responsibly.'

'We could do that and none of us have been drunk, but Charlie and I do like a drink of a night, usually after dinner. But about that, Charlie and I, are we allowed to share quarters? We are living together and you said you might have to bend the rule regarding students that live together,' Harry said but again noticed the looks that went on between the other four people.

'I'm sure that can be arranged, as long as you do not bring your personal life out into the school for the younger students to see. That will go for all the couples, married or not. But if Mr. Weasley is a teacher, then he will need to act responsibly. We're not saying you could not kiss, but anything else is unacceptable,' Arnold said.

'There's one thing I would like to ask Professor McGonagall,' Harry said.

'Yes Mr. Potter, what would that be?'

'Well,' Harry shrugged, 'after my life, I'm sure you know why, but I don't trust a lot of people, you are one person I have always trusted and do trust implicitly. I've become a little paranoid you could say, I'm very cautious. Some things would make me think of Mad-eye, constant vigilance. So at the moment either Charlie and I cook, or we eat at the Burrow with Mrs. Weasley's cooking. If we go into the muggle world where people don't know me, then I might eat, but I don't in the magical world. Being at Hogwarts I do know the house elves are to obey the headmaster or headmistress, but my house elf is still at Hogwarts, as professor Dumbledore suggested. He knows I don't like the idea of owning them, but he is old. So would it be possible to have Kreacher cook for me, not the other house elves. I know for a fact that house elves can go against their owners wishes if they haven't been given a specific order. Someone could easily get a house elf to poison me.'

'I don't see that causing a problem Mr. Potter. You could call him, tell him what you wish, then he will make sure that the food sent up for where you are sitting will be made by him. You would have to sit in the same spot all the time so he would know.'

'That's fine, it would make me feel better as well.'

'You have always been someone that thinks of stuff like that, that's why we stayed alive mate, so good thinking,' Ron grinned.

'I've been betrayed before, I won't let it happen again and if anyone does, oh they will see who the real Harry Potter is, not who they think I am. I like honesty, trust and loyalty, anyone that betrays me or my friends will regret the day they tried to hurt me or my friends, my family.' Harry, Charlie, Hermione and Ron again saw the glances going on between the two men, not Kingsley or McGonagall and thought it was time that Harry shock these people to make them realise how serious he is.

'You should know that the staff of Hogwarts are trustworthy Harry,' Minerva gave Harry a look, 'Remember what happened when you spoke to me up in Ravenclaw tower that night, it's the same now,' again Minerva gave Harry a look but to anyone else she was a little stiff, stern, more than her usual self. But Harry caught on instantly and felt Hermione's leg nudge his so she caught on as well.

'That's good to know Professor and I do trust the staff, they supported me that night. Some were seriously hurt but they kept fighting, that to me said more than words could. But there is something I should tell you because I've become very good at reading people. Now I know you're keeping something from us, I know you are allowing things that normally you wouldn't. It seems you want us to return to Hogwarts. Fine, I don't need to know, I do know that sometimes it's better to keep certain facts between the least amount of people as possible. One thing though, if I feel that I have been used or my friends put in any type of situation that could be dangerous, then we'll be gone from Hogwarts and nothing anyone does could stop us. I know the enchantments around the school prevents anyone getting in or leaving. Well,' Harry stood up, 'like in here, no one can apparate inside the minister's office,' Harry turned and disapparated, within seconds he was back, 'I can take people as well.'

'That is impossible, how did you do that Mr. Potter?' Arnold asked looking completely shocked, but so did Brian and even Kingsley looked surprised where Minerva gave the tiniest nod.

'I can't tell you why, just something that Professor Dumbledore said to me once. One thing I can tell you is that right now, the power I have, I could have beaten Professor Dumbledore in a duel. Before that night I could not have, now I could probably take the four of you on and have you all disarmed and bound within seconds.' Harry was so fast that no one saw him pull his wand until Harry was holding the wands that belonged to Brian, Arnold and Kingsley.

'I think we need an explanation about this Harry, because apparating into or out of the minister's office is not something that anyone should be able to do,' Kingsley said.

'I can't tell you minister, sorry. Only four people know why apart from me naturally and that's how it's going to stay. It's all to do with some very old and rare magic, again something only six people know about, two are dead,' Harry handed the wands back then sat down before facing McGonagall, 'I don't mean to sound harsh Professor and I'm sorry if I did. If you need to keep things quiet, I get that. I just want them to realise that I mean what I say about protecting my family. I couldn't save Sirius or Remus, but I won't let that happen again.'

'You don't have to apologise Harry, I do understand,' Minerva said but her voice held warmth and not stern like she always sounded.

'So even though we don't get to know what's going on, we can still discuss things that concern the returning eighth years,' Harry said.

So the group of eight started talking, Harry, Charlie, Hermione and Ron noticed that the two men they didn't know before today seemed to glance at each other and Harry a lot. Which told them it definitely had something to do with Harry. They would keep their eyes open and listen out for anything out of the ordinary, but they also had a few more friends they could count on to also keep their eyes open.

After a long couple of hours, everyone shook hands. Minerva giving Harry a look, he nodded back but it would have been hard to notice. Then the four friends left the office, left the ministry and headed straight back to Harry's house.

'Okay, McGonagall will let us know but we have to keep it quiet,' Harry said.

'How do you know that?' Charlie asked.

'We have this thing between us, a look she gives me tells me to trust her, that she won't hide anything from me. She is the only other person that knows everything apart from you three. She also looked a little put out with those two men. I think she wants them to tell me something but they won't and she can't pressure them too, she could lose her job if she did.'

'Exactly Harry,' Minerva said as she stepped into the living room, 'I'm glad you could still read me.'

'I can and thanks Professor. But I did want to say that if I don't really need to know, I'm fine, but if it's dangerous for us, then I think we should be told.'

'There is danger, more towards you than the others. Now there hasn't been any actual threats, someone, I don't know who, they have let Mr. Steel and Mr. Preston know that Umbridge is up to something. Again she hasn't been seen or heard from, so we're not sure if they are just being cautious, a bit over cautious if you ask me. But there is something else, in regards with why they were so accommodating to your requests. Right now the minister receives a lot of letters from parents of students that might be returning. Because of what took place last year, they are concerned, which is expected. So those two spoke with the minister, then me about how to get those parents to allow their children to return, how to make them believe it's safe.'

'They want Harry there, don't they Professor?' Hermione asked.

'Yes, they do, they want all of you there, but Harry more so. They believe that if Harry does not return, then half the students will not return and that would not look good for those that are trying to make everyone believe there is no danger. We all know there is, a lot of death eaters escaped, a lot of snatchers escaped and a lot of supporters are still around, some inside the ministry. They might not have ever done anything like kill or torture, but they did believe in him and what he wanted for our world. So you can understand their thinking, Harry Potter is the saviour, you three are known as the golden trio. You did things that were impossible especially for your age and not fully trained at the time. So they want all of you to return to Hogwarts and are willing to give you anything you want to achieve that. Even if I'm not in agreement with some of the arrangements, I will go along with it because I do not want our world to suffer and if young students don't return or those Slytherin's that want to return but don't, they could get manipulated by others. Young minds are easily tricked and manipulated, it would be better if they were at Hogwarts than out there for those to get to.'

Harry, Charlie, Hermione and Ron looked at each other than at McGonagall, but they agreed with her, so they nodded. They sat down together, had a cup of tea and some lunch and kept discussing everything, but one thing they agreed upon, no one would know that Professor McGonagall and Harry were more than just student and pupil. No one could know they were very good friends that spoke quite a lot or that she often visited Harry at his home. It would be dangerous for her if the wrong people found out.