I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

Extended Family

Chapter 56 – Professor Potter

Takes place a year after chapter 19.

"One could say you owe me."

Harry's eyebrows went up. "And how did you come to that conclusion?"

"I have given you a quality mastery experience and been flexible with your training, taking your Quidditch duties into account," McGonagall sniffed.

"You knew I was joining the League before you took me on as an apprentice," he argued.

"I was also the major reason you became Head Boy and Prefect."

"You were my Head of House! Of course you were!"

"I have overlooked considerable instances of Hedwig acting without…express authority."

Harry snorted. "I'll call her here and you can tell her that."

"Never mind that," McGonagall said, knowing when her bluff was called. She settled back into the bed. "I am injured you know."

Harry gave her a look. "Guilt is unbecoming, Mistress. Besides, it's not like I caused the accident. You still haven't told me how it happened by the way."

Harry had been alarmed when he got a message from Andromeda while she was at St Mungo's. McGonagall had been admitted and had requested seeing him. Fearing the worst, Harry had gone there immediately and felt immense relief when he saw her chatting amiably with Andromeda. Shortly right after, the relief became trepidation.

"Guilt is a valuable tool in my arsenal. I just do not use it on students because most do not feel it towards their instructors." She smiled at his huff. "Fine, this goes no further, but the cause of the accident was…well silly." She flushed at his look. "Filius brought a new object to the staff room and was demonstrating it. It got out of control and well," she gestured to the hospital room, "here I am."

"That...okay that's better than what I thought but I'm still confused. What did he bring?"

She sighed. "It was an orb that responds to magic. You can store a spell in it and you banish it at an opponent. If they are struck by it they receive the effects of the spell. The goal is to block the orb, replace the spell, then send it back."

Harry blinked. "You were injured in a game of magical dodgeball?! With the professors?!"

"Succinctly summarized."

Harry howled with laughter.

"Oh yes, antagonize your Mistress, that is very intelligent of you," she huffed, face red.

"Why are you hospitalized from that?" Harry said, trying to bring his laughter under control.

"Because I did not undo the charms Filius put in and layered mine on top and I missed and received them all and they had some odd results."

Harry laughed harder. "Why didn't Madam Pomfrey fix it immediately?"

"Because she was caught in the ricochet. Serves her right for laughing at me," McGonagall growled.

"Well I'm glad it wasn't anything terrible or serious," Harry snorted, wiping tears from his eyes. "That doesn't explain why I'm here though."

"Because I need someone to cover for me for a few weeks as the instructor for Transfiguration."

"But, I'm just an apprentice! I thought you had to be a full master before you can teach."

"You should be one but allowances can be made that you do not have to be a full one. Besides, that is moot." She rolled her eyes at his narrowed look. "You are a master, Harry. A junior one, but one nonetheless."

"That feels like something you should've told me," he said, blinking at her.

"Must have slipped my mind," she demurred. "You will be following my lesson plan for the rest of the term so you simply have to teach and grade and I will help you with the grading. I cannot actively teach in class while I heal, but will do the rest."

Harry rubbed his neck. "I mean, I know I taught a few classes here and there for you, but that's not the same. Just because you say I'm a master, doesn't mean I am."

"That is literally how it works," she sniffed.

"You know what I mean. And, I mean, I know I am in my off-season for Quidditch so I do have the time." Harry looked down at his hands before he looked at her. "Why me? I'm sure there are other qualified teachers and masters. I know I'm your only apprentice right now, but still."

"Because I trust you," she said simply.

He sat back in his chair, touched. "You do?"

"I do. I trust you over any other despite their years of experience in the craft and in teaching. You care, Harry. You will do right by the students and by me. I would trust no other."

"Oh. Well, I guess when you put it that way…" His voice trailed off. "I'll do it then. Not permanently mind you."

McGonagall snorted and gave him a look but her smile shone brighter than the sun. "Mister Potter, I have many years left yet and I fully intend to spend most of them terrorizing students who think they know better and firmly planting them in their places." She joined his laughter. "Besides, I need to stick around for your children."

"You do?" he asked softly, eyes wet.

Her eyes glittered. "Of course. I fully intend on embarrassing you to them."

"That sounds nice," he said and fully meant the words.

They sat together in comfortable soft silence.

"So, if I'm a master-" he said.

"Junior master," she corrected.

"Junior master, what have we been doing since?"

"Your mastery, obviously. There are different levels of mastery after all. I was not content at leaving you a junior master. You are far too talented to remain there."

"What's the highest level of mastery?"

"Accomplished."

"That's what you are?"

"Of course."

Harry sighed. "Am I doing the accomplished mastery track then?"

"Of course," she repeated.

"When were you going to tell me?"

"You were going to figure it out eventually," she said, waving her hand.

-0-

Harry nervously went through his bag one more time, making sure he had all his notes and books ready.

"Harry, calm down," Katie laughed. "It'll be okay."

"I know," he said with a weak smile. "I'm just super nervous. Big shoes to fill you know?"

"I do. But you've taught the firsties ages ago and others in Practical Defense. And you did some classes last year. Lyla said you're a great teacher and she would know. And you also know she won't suck up to you or say stuff like that if it wasn't true."

He took a deep breath. "Thanks, that means a lot. And it helps." He looked at her pleadingly. "Want to come with me and tell me stuff like that all day?"

She snorted. "You don't need it. If you do though, call me on the mirror in between classes."

"I always need you," he said, wrapping her in his arms and kissing her on the lips.

She kissed him back. "I'm always here for you," she whispered huskily. "You got this. You'll be brilliant."

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Thank you. I feel loads better."

"Good!" She smoothed out the lapels on his tweed jacket. "You know, I thought this jacket Hermione got for you would be a little weird but seeing you wear it, it's really nice."

"Apparently it's something Muggle professors wear," Harry smiled.

"It's very classy." She adjusted his tie. "I never thought I'd say this, but I'm a bit hot for teacher."

Harry's grin spread from ear to ear. "Yeah?"

She kissed him again. "Yup! Now go be the best professor you can be. Love you!"

"Love you more," he said before Flooing away.

-0-

He walked out of the hearth in the office and felt a tiny pang not seeing McGonagall at her desk. It was his for the duration and it did not feel quite right to him. He had spent hours upon hours here and knew where things were, but it felt like her office and he felt vaguely like an intruder or imposter.

He shook the thoughts away and started organizing his things, arranging his notes and books out and going through her lesson plans. They were just like her, clearly laid out and in-depth in detail. It was easy to follow along, especially with how familiar he was with her teaching style.

He looked up at a knock on the door. "Come in!"

Dumbledore walked through, a smile on his lips. "Good morning, Professor Potter."

"Oh, good morning, Headmaster." Harry grinned and his cheeks were pink. "Feels odd hearing you call me that."

"It feels right to me," he replied warmly. "I was most pleased to hear you would be helping Minerva while she recovers. She raves about your skills and I can think of none finer to be her substitute."

"Thank you, Sir. Only temporary though. I don't think I could ever replace her really."

"I doubt any could," he chuckled. He admired Harry's coat. "You look the part of a professor as well."

"A gift from Hermione. Something about 'scholastic gravitas'."

Dumbledore chuckled. "It certainly does have that. I wonder if it comes in purple."

"I can look for you," Harry smiled.

"Thank you. If you need any assistance, do let me know. I used to teach the class myself, a long time ago."

"Thank you, I appreciate that."

Dumbledore nodded companionably. "Well then, I see you have things in hand. I would wish you luck but you are more than prepared for your duties Professor." He left and Harry felt just a little bit better for the trials to come.

-0-

"Harry!"

Harry smiled and hugged Lyla back. "Hiya Lyla!"

"Oh my goodness, are you our teacher for a while?!"

"Don't I look the part?"

Lyla looked at his jacket. "I was wondering why you were wearing a weird jacket."

"I think it looks great," Mirabelle said, shoving Lyla away and hugging Harry. "Very professional looking."

"Aww thanks Mirabelle," Harry said warmly as he hugged her.

"Now we can call you Professor Potter and you can't get mad at us," Lyla said impishly.

"Yeah yeah, laugh it up," Harry sighed. "Oh, hello Miss Tennley, good to see you."

Tiffany smiled. "Good to see you too, Professor. I'm happy to see you."

"Same here." He lowered his voice, "How are things?"

"Better. Still not great but, better," she said with a small sigh. "I appreciate what you said and did last year."

"Happy to help, and now I'll undo any positive feelings you have for me by being a rubbish instructor." He grinned at her laugh.

Eventually the classroom filled with the seventh year N.E.W.T.s students and Harry felt incredibly nervous, watching them look at him expectantly. For some reason, being stared at by thousands of Quidditch fans was something he could handle easily. A little under a score of students looking at him in a classroom made him feel incredibly nervous.

"I know some of you still remember me so hopefully you don't hold that against me," he joked feebly, feeling better at their laughs. "I'll be subbing in for Professor McGonagall while she recovers. Keep that in mind when you complain about homework and tests, I'm only following her lesson plan."

They all laughed at that and some groaned.

"If you have questions or anything, I'll do my best to answer them. If I can't, I'll get an answer for you as soon as possible. Otherwise, we can do our best and hopefully we'll get you all to where you want to be before the tests. I did just fine on my N.E.W.T.s with Professor McGonagall and there's no reason you lot won't be just as good if not better. Any questions?"

"Do we have to hug you like they do?" a Ravenclaw girl asked, pointing at Lyla and Mirabelle.

"No, not at all," Harry laughed. "They have the misfortune of being familiar with me."

"Can we if we want to?" a Slytherin girl asked.

Harry pulled on his shirt collar while the class roared with laughter. "Okay, let me rephrase my statement, any questions regarding transfiguration?"

By the end of the double period, Harry felt much better. The class seemed to listen to him attentively and he was happy to hear that some had said he helped them a lot to understand a few things. His demonstrations had gone as intended and although he was tired by the end of the class, he was satisfied with how it went.

"I'm telling Katie," Lyla said when the class emptied. "Not even a day and you're being hit on."

"It's not my fault," Harry protested.

"Didn't say it was, just saying it's hilarious," Lyla giggled, giggling harder at Harry's look.

"I can give you extra homework," he said with narrowed eyes.

"You wouldn't," she said, batting her eyelashes at him.

"Please do," Mirabelle begged.

"Whose side are you on?" Lyla cried out.

"Harry's of course," Mirabelle said, sticking her tongue out. "We were friends before you and I were."

"By a night!"

"I've missed you two," Harry chuckled.

-0-

"Hey Harry!"

"Hey Neville! How's it going?"

"Going great," Neville said enthusiastically. "Heard from some of the students that they like your class."

"That's a relief," Harry said with feeling. "I'm still nervous most of the time."

"You don't have to tell me, I've been teaching a fair bit now and I'm still nervous," Neville laughed. "Herbology is a bit easier to teach without having to worry about active spells flying about too."

"No one's shot an errant pruning charm around?"

"No and thank goodness for that. Imagine that bouncing off the glasshouse walls. Come on, it's lunch time."

They chatted as they walked into the great hall together. Harry moved towards the Gryffindor tables out of habit, despite not being there everyday for the last two years, but Neville took his elbow. "We sit at the staff tables, remember?"

"Oh, right." Harry followed him. "I still don't think myself as staff."

"Me neither some days," Neville laughed.

It felt very odd to sit with the professors. Sitting up there, in full view of the House tables made him very self-conscious, especially sitting alongside the other professors.

"Harry! I mean, Professor Potter, good to see you!" Babbling said with a broad smile.

"Good to see you too, Professor!" Harry said back enthusiastically.

"Please, you can call me Bathsheda."

"I…don't know if I can," he said weakly.

"Well, whatever makes you comfortable," she laughed.

"Oh, I've been meaning to tell you. I went to Rome on an international game trip and found some books on Roman runes. I got you a copy." He and Babbling spoke while they ate and he recounted his trip and seeing the runes.

"Hello Professor Potter!"

"Hi Professor Flitwick!"

Flitwick smiled brightly at him. "You fit the role very well I must say. My House is glowing about you and it's not easy to do that."

"You haven't been talking to Mistress about trying to get me to teach more," Harry accused.

"Not at all! Just making an objective observation as well as sharing some subjective ones." He looked left and right and lowered his voice. "And, uh, well, speaking of Minerva, how is she?"

"Healing well and hasn't gotten bored yet," Harry said. "I should warn you that I saw her looking through a Weasley catalogue though."

Flitwick winced. "Oh dear, I should renew the protections around my office then. Thank you for the warning." He walked to his place at the table.

"Has she really?" Babbling asked softly.

"Nope. She said she's more than capable of getting her revenge without using Wheezes. She just wanted me to tell him that."

Babbling covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. "Oh that's wonderful!"

"Though I did leave her one," Harry smiled. "And it was open the last time I visited her so who knows?"

-0-

Harry froze for a moment, seeing the boy walk into the class. He recognized him despite the passing of years. Physically the boy was different from when Harry first met him. He was taller, walked with shoulders square and back straight. Yet Harry still saw the poor boy that had screamed in fear and anticipated pain when they met for the first time.

I wonder if the others see me like that, he thought sadly to himself.

He tried to make sure his expression betrayed nothing and he was reasonably sure that he succeeded. Though he saw the boy recognize him later and the boy had stiffened ever so slightly. Harry tried not to call attention to it and just rolled straight into teaching.

He dismissed the class and smiled lightly as they thanked him as he passed. He snorted to himself as he turned to his desk, thinking that the Slytherins this year were much more pleasant than when he was in that year.

"Sir?"

Harry turned and smiled at Nicholas Morris. "Hello Mister Morris, and please, don't call me Sir. It feels weird."

Nicholas smiled awkwardly. "Does Professor work?"

"I'm still not used to that but I'm more used to it," Harry said genially. "How have you been?"

"Better." Nicholas's jaw worked a few times. "I…never properly thanked you."

Harry shook his head. "You…no need to thank me. Really."

"Things got a lot better," Nicholas said softly. "Everything practically changed after that night. Only because of you. I really do need to thank you. I tried to for a long time now. I knew some of the Gryffindors were still friends with you and I knew you were still here every now and then. I…"

He coughed. "I sometimes try to pretend none of the stuff…ever happened. I think that's why I was always reluctant to try and thank you properly. I'm sorry. I owe you a lot and that's very rude of me to think that way."

"No, I can understand it," Harry said softly. "And remember you took that step too, in accepting the help. It took a long time for me to, to think I deserved it."

"It's hard," Nicholas said.

"It sure is," Harry agreed.

"Does…does it get easier?" the boy asked.

Harry smiled sadly, remembering when he asked a grizzled older man the same question. "It gets easier. Some days it's harder, some days it's easier. The only thing is, it never gets easy. But if you have good friends and people you think of as family, it gets easier and easier."

The silence around them was soft and knowing.

"I…I do have that now, I think," Nicholas said.

"Good, I'm glad," Harry said sincerely. "Keep them close. Fight for them. People like that are worth more than gold."

"I will. Thank you, Professor. Are you still friends with the Senior Prefects from that year?"

"Daphne is one of my closest and I speak with her almost every day. Blaise I'm friendly with still."

"Could you send them my thanks too?"

"I will."

"Thank you." Nicholas looked exhausted and relieved. "You're a really good Professor."

"Thanks! It's growing on me, don't tell Professor McGonagall though." They laughed together. "You look really good, Mister Morris. Keep it up."

"Thank you, Professor. For everything."

"Anytime." Harry's smile was sad but sincere. "We have to stick together. People like us."

-0-

That night, after Daphne walked out of the Floo at Harry and Katie's flat, she whooped with surprise when Harry hugged her tightly. "I'm still covered in soot," she laughed as she hugged him back.

"I don't care," Harry smiled.

"What brought this about?" she asked when they finally broke apart and she banished the soot off of them. "Not that I ever not enjoy your hugs, of course."

"I saw Nicholas today."

"Oh. How is he?"

"He's really good. He wanted me to send you his thanks."

"That is very sweet," Daphne said softly. "I am glad he is doing well."

"It was a little odd, like, he looks a lot better than that night of course but for a moment that's all I could see." Harry shook his head. "Am I like that for you?"

Daphne sniffled slightly and hugged Harry tight. "Sometimes," she whispered. "And I never saw you like the others did. Yet, I still remember seeing you as you were when you faced the Boggart our sixth year and whenever I do, my heart aches."

"I'm sorry."

"Do not be," she murmured. "I can only hope one day you will cave into our demands and allow us to have our vengeance."

He smiled. "Not yet, but I will take dessert instead for now."

"I suppose that will have to suffice for now," she laughed wetly.

The Floo flared again and Tracy came through. She took one look at Daphne and Harry hugging and she put on a mock frown. "Hey! That's my girl you're hanging off of!"

"Your girl?" Daphne asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Yeah! My girl!" She hip-checked Daphne and hugged Harry who started laughing loudly.

"Well I never!" Daphne snorted; her smile bright. "Katie, Tracy is making claims on Harry."

"What?" Katie came out of the kitchen and narrowed an eye at Tracy. "What claims?!"

"I'm apparently her girl," Harry said.

Katie chortled. "I'll allow it. You're my boy so that's fine."

"Ridiculous," Daphne laughed and the others joined. "Besides, the hug was from someone else."

"What?! Who am I needing to Curse?" Tracy exclaimed.

"A kid at Hogwarts," Harry smiled.

"Oh easier target then," Tracy said before yelping when Daphne pinched her.

-0-

"I must say, this little vacation has been delightful. I should extend it."

Harry snorted. "I'm not buying that. I know you're a little bored."

McGonagall laughed lightly. "Perhaps a little. But it has been nice relaxing like this. It has been sometime since I had the opportunity."

"Well, maybe we can work something out every once in a while coming up." He rolled his eyes at her smug look. "Okay, yeah yeah, I guess you can say I'm enjoying teaching some."

"I always knew you had the ability and inclination," McGonagall said, looking quite pleased with herself. "You just needed the confidence and the push."

"You do scholastically shove me about," Harry said.

"Someone has to," McGonagall retorted. "At least I do not tut at you like Miss Granger used to."

"Still does here and there," Harry grinned.

"But in all seriousness, you are a fine teacher. The quality of the homework and papers has not degraded at all with my time away," McGonagall praised.

Harry flushed happily. "That's good. I'd feel terrible if I messed up the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s students." He raised an eyebrow when McGonagall pushed a small pouch towards him. "What's this?"

"Substitute instructor pay. Surely you did not think all your work would go unrewarded?"

"I thought it was a part of my mastery duties. I was never paid before."

"Well you took on more and you are being compensated a bit less for a full substitute but I maintain your work exceeds any I have had in the past." She smiled gently. "Go on, you deserve it."

"Thanks." He took the pouch. "I'll do something silly and unprofessional with it."

She snorted richly. "You are a bit too mature and responsible to do that."

"Are you sure about that?" he asked with a sly look.

"What have you done, Mister Potter?" she asked severely, all of a sudden worried.

"Nothing really," Harry demurred.

-0-

A few nights later, Hedwig came flying into the flat and flew around Harry and Katie lying on the couch together. She dropped down and settled on Harry's stomach, hooting in greeting.

"A bit late for post," Katie remarked.

Harry undid the tie on the envelope and took one look at the letter within and started laughing hysterically.

"What's so funny?" Katie asked eagerly. She took the parchment slip from him. "'I will get you back for this, Professor Potter," she read. She blanched a little. "Normally, I'd be wetting myself if I was threatened by Professor McGonagall."

Harry kept laughing and pointed at the toothpick stuck to the parchment. "Undo the transfiguration," he gasped.

Katie did and she saw the toothpick elongate and turn into a long whippy stick with a string attached to one end and a toy mouse dangling off the other end. "Oh my goodness!" She started laughing hysterically as well. "You didn't!"

"I taught the N.E.W.T.s students how to transfigure different objects and soft charm lock it to look like one thing, and dispelling reveals things in stages," Harry laughed. "That'll teach her to put me on the hardest mastery track and not tell me when I attain junior status!"

"She's going to kill you for this," Katie gasped, wiping tears of merriment away.

"Yeah but it'll be worth it," he wheezed.

-0-0-0-

diffident-serpiente - That is the highest praise I've ever received. Thank you so much for your kindness, it has been a huge help lately. You know I like my call backs and it felt nice to reference one of the first few chapters of this fic. Glad you contionue to enjoy.

Mattyb4678 - Officially just Hadley and Hailey but he adores all of them.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - I will see what I think of. Thank you.