Disclaimer: All thigns belong to either Joss Whedon or J.K. Rowling.

Ch. 2: The Offer

The door to Number twelve Grimauld Place hadn't been opened for some time. The house had been in use through the second war and year after while the Order cleaned up diplomatic relations in the magical world. But it's been 7 years since the war ended and after that year of working with the ministry the Order went dormant again and Grimauld Place abandoned.

Harry gave a sigh and pulled out an old key from with in his robes. He stuck in the lock and took a deep breath. "I guess this is it, I'm home." He then turned the key and pushed the door, it gave a loud creak as it swung open. He stepped in and turned to close the door. He gave a last glance at the outside world before he closed the door and locked it.

He only had a small bag with all his belongings hanging from his shoulder and Hedwig's cage in his hand. He looked around and waved his wand to light the candles in the entrance and the stairway.

He walked up the stairs and straight to the room where he and Ron spent the summers in. He looked in the room once her got there and it looked dusty but other wise just the same. He waved his wand again and it the dust was gone. He dropped his bag by his bed, walked to the window and cracked it open. He stuck his head out and took a deep breath. Then he walked back to the bed and flopped on it to think.

How long has it been? 7 years since I've been here? Not since the summer after we graduated from Hogwarts. Not since after the war. Harry stared at the ceiling while he continued to think over the past 7 years. I would have come back. But with auror training and then the constant flow of cases and missions, I never had the time. Where is Hedwig anyway?

Just as he thought it Hedwig came flying through the open window. She settled on Harry's chest, waiting for him to take the parchment tied to her leg and for her treat. Harry picked up his head and took the letter, gave Hedwig a pat on the head and fished a treat out of his pocket for her. Harry then held the letter over his head staring at the scrawling on the parchment.

Dear Harry,

I realize this is your first day off in, what is it? Seven years? Well I hope you're all relaxed because mom insisted that you come over tomorrow. No excuses! We'll see you tomorrow at 7 for supper.

Ron

Harry turned the parchment over to see if there was more, but there wasn't. He was feeling exhausted. His whole body in pain from all the knots gathered in his body from all the years of tension and stress of constantly being on guard. He gave a heavy sigh and decided he'll move once he had the energy.

He was startled awake by as Hedwig nipped at his fingertips. He groaned as he realized he had fallen asleep the night before without changing his clothes or eating supper. He gave Hedwig a pat on the head and sat up. "Good morning." Hedwig then flew to her cage to sleep for the day. "We're suppose to be at the Burrow at 7," he said to his owl. "Don't go out."

Hedwig had been his only constant companion over the years. She accompanied Harry on all his mission and criminal hunts and now she accompanied him everywhere. The Weasleys will want to see her anyway.

Harry got himself up, out the room, down the stairs and into the kitchen. He looked around and it felt lonely. The times before when he had stayed there the Weasleys had been there as well. It was always full of noise and people walking around doing their own thing. Now it was just him. He couldn't understand how Sirius had managed to stay in that house alone with only Buckbeak for company. There was a small pang in his heart at that thought.

He sighed and sat at the table just as he waved his wand to clean the kitchen of all the years of dust. He waved his wand in front of himself again to conjure up some food. He ate the meal in silence, his heart not really in it. Consuming to survive. He went up stairs to take a bath to unwind and decided he'd go to Diagon Alley for some new robes afterwards.

All those years as an auror had worn his robes thin and ragged, he wouldn't want the Weasleys to see him like that. He stopped at Madame… Robes for all Occasions, picked some plain black robes and decided on a bottle green dress robe. He'd wear the dress robes tonight, he wanted to look good for the Weasleys.

Harry stepped out of the shower and toweled himself up and wrapped the towel around his waist. He walked up to the sink and looked at himself in the mirror. His face has lost all traces of innocence. His green eyes were darker and harder, the angles of his face sharp, and his hair just as uncontrollable. He had a five-a-clock shadow showing, which he shaved off. And then he got dressed. Putting on some black slacks and a black T-shirt under his dress robes.

He went down stairs to make sure that the door was locked and then apparated to the Weasleys kitchen. There waiting for him around the table were all the Weasleys, Hermione, Neville, and Luna. Mrs. Weasley looked up at the loud crack and hurried over to him.

"Oh Harry dear," she squeezed him. "It's so wonderful to see you. It's been so long."

He squeezed back. "It's nice to see you too."

"Happy Birthday dear."

This took him by surprise and his face showed it. He had forgotten all about it. In the past years, he had constantly been on mission, birthdays went unrecognized except for the short birthday greetings from Hermione and Ron.

Following Mrs. Weasley was Hermione and Ron waiting to greet him. Hermione's hair had calmed over the years and settled into a brown curly mass on her shoulders. She had a grace about her, a womanly grace. The years had been kind to her, the loss of innocence did not show on her face. Hermione gave harry a tight embrace and held him for a second before letting go. Ron stood head taller than her. His form filled out with muscles. His face showed that same weariness Harry had but his eyes were happier, he suspected this was due to Hermione.

When Hermione let go of Harry, Ron laid his hands on her shoulders and moved her to the side. And then he too embraced Harry. "It's been too long mate," he whispered into Harry's ear and clapped him on the back. Then he stood back holding harry by the shoulders and looked him over. "You don't look that great, something wrong?"

To this Harry smiled, lines creasing around his eyes and lips. Ron smiled back, then turned and led him back to the table.

Harry sat next to Ron at the edge of the table. Supper was filled with talk and laughter. Everyone discussing their lives and curious about the other's.

"Luna," Hermoine began. "How's the job at the Quibbler?"

"Oh it's wonderful." Luna was sitting next to Neville across from Harry, they were holding hand under the table. Her eyes were just as mysterious as the first day they met, her face giving a hint of a smile, her beauty had not faded over the years. "I'm now the editor-in-chief of the Quibbler. Dad retired a year ago and went looking for the …."

Neville kept his eyes on her as she spoke. His eyes gave the same glow Ron's did and probably for the same reasons. Luna and Neville were strangely comfortable with each other.

"Ron I heard you were the Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts," Neville began. "Never took you for the teaching type. You must have been the laziest student our year." This got a grin from Ron. Harry had heard about Ron being a professor. Ron had been through the same auror training that Harry had, but walked away three years earlier after he almost died.

"Took the job two years ago," Ron responded. "Took it because I needed to do something but I think I might be a lifer. Muggles are really very fascinating. Really surprised Hermione when I took the job." He then looked over at her, his arm was draped across her shoulder holding her close to him, and then he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. Hermione momentarily closed her eyes and a gentle smile appeared on her face.

"So Harry," Ron started nervously, wondering if this was a dangerous subject to approach. "We haven't heard from you the longest. Why the sudden leave of absence?"

"Oh no reason, was tired was all. They've had me on cases and mission back to back for over a year now. Thought I'd take a break and you know relax."

Then suddenly Mrs. Weasley cleared her throat. Everyone looked at her, she was hold a large cake in her hands with 'Happy Birthday Harry' scrolling around the sides and on the surface was a picture of Harry battling an ogre. There were, he assumed 25 candles stuck around the cake and then they all began singing, the twins the loudest. Mrs. Weasley walked the cake over to his side of the table and by the time she got there, they were done singing and Harry blew out the candles.

"Hope you didn't waste your wish mate." Ron commented after.

The night passed as they sat around talking, drinking butter beers (Mrs. Weasley didn't approve of fire whiskey), and looking through old pictures, some of then by the Creevy Brothers.

The night wore down and slowly people began leaving. Neville and Luna walked out hand in hand, the twins left saying they had to have an early start, Bill and Charlie had to work the next day, and Mrs. Weasley retreated into her room, leaving the trio alone together.

"Want more butterbeer, Harry?" Hermione asked politely as she got up and took Ron's bottle as well.

"Yeah, sure." Harry handed her his empty bottle. And then He and Ron watched as she walked out of the room.

"Ok mate, what is it?" Ron gave harry the 'I know something is wrong' look.

Harry sighed and looked Ron in the eyes. "I took a year off," he shook his head. "But I think I might have been rash. I don't think I can stay at Grimauld Place for a year, that place is empty and depressing."

"Is that it?" Ron laughed. "The way you were looking I thought the world was about to end."

Harry tried out a death glare on Ron but that only made Ron laugh harder.

"What are you laughing about Ronald Weasley?" Hermione was back in the room with three fresh butterbeer bottles. She handed one to Harry and one to Ron and sat next to Ron.

"You know the look he has had on his face all night?" Hermione nodded. "Mr. Big-time-auror made a rash decision and took a year off, but now he doesn't know what to do with himself. He doesn't want to spend a year at Grimauld Place.

"Well then Harry why won't you get a job at Hogwarts teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Hermione casually suggested.

This stunned both the men.

"Are they still having a problem filling in that position?" Harry asked.

"The last one stayed two years," Ron considered this. "I'll write to McGonagall if you'd like."

"I'm not sure Ron." Harry looked uncertain.

"If I remember right you taught us all how to curse the hell out of death eaters out 5th year. We all passed our Defense Against the Dark Arts OWLs because of you." Ron looked at him hopefully. "It'll be great, like old times without the danger and curfews, unfortunately Snape is still there."

Harry smiled at this and nodded. "Okay."

The next day he woke up to Hedwig on his chest pecking at him. Harry shooed her away but she was persistent. "Okay, okay. I'll get up." Harry said and made a final shooing motion to get Hedwig off his chest. Then he rolled over, eyes still closed, and fell on the floor.

He sat up leaning his back against the bed, his hand to his head rubbing at his eyes. Hedwig came around again and settled on his shoulder. Harry then noticed a letter on the floor beside him. He thought he recognized the neat handwriting. He opened it and realized who's handwriting it was.

Dear Mr. Potter,

I'm glad to have heard you were inquiring about the Defense Against the Dark Arts post at Hogwarts, we have had some difficulty locating a professor. You came highly recommended by Professor Weasley not only as a friend but also as one of your students, from your days of rule breaking. We would be happy to have you here at Hogwarts, if you would like to join us. I'll be looking forward to your decision.

Headmistress Minerva McGonagall.

Wow, Harry thought to himself. Ron sure works fast. Then he looked at his watch on his wrist and realized it was past noon. He then got himself up and walked over to the small desk in the corner. Sat himself down and composed a letter accepting the position. Then he wrote Ron and Hermione thanking them.

Then Harry went back to his bed flopping down staring again at the ceiling. He thought about all the things he learned about his old friends last night.

Luna and Neville had been going out for 2 years now, before that they were good friends. Neville worked as a magical plant research and developer at St. Mungo's. Luna was the editor-in-chief of the Quibbler. Ron and Hermione are living together in London, at least during the holidays. They had an expensive apartment that honestly doesn't get used all that much because Ron was at Hogwarts during the school year and Hermione was constantly traveling on business. Hermione worked for a private company in the muggle relations department. The twin's business was booming as usual and they also worked for the ministry developing magical weapons (Ron described their reaction to the offer as 'kids in a candy store' look). Charlie and Bill were now married and each had a child and Charlie's wife is pregnant.

Everyone seemed to be happy; they had all moved on from the occurrences of 7 years ago. Now he was going back to where it all started, back to Hogwarts… to be a professor. This made Harry smile.