Disclaimer: Full credit to JKR, HP/SS,

Stumbling Uncertainty

Chapter 2 …And If you Hesitate

By WittchWay

"Harry Potter?" he smiled extending his hand, "I am Mister Quality from Quality Quidditch Supplies."

Harry took his hand automatically, his breath catching in his chest, remembering the summer before his third year when he had lived at the Leaky Cauldron, he had visited Quality Quidditch supply store everyday, touching the brooms, asking question after question. Harry grinned, the man had the patience of a saint, every question was answered, every tip on flying given freely.

Harry inspired to run his own shop in such a way. In a carefree manner, encouraging children to ask questions, to speak freely. Not to mention that Quality always appeared happy, calm, peaceful. All things Harry inspired to be not only in his life but in career as well.

"Um," was all Harry got out before the wizard started pumping his hand excitedly, jerking his whole body in the process.

"I was quite impressed with the broom you presented today. I don't usually come to the seventh year projects but my nieces daughter was presenting… Susan Bones. Lovely girl? Do you know her? Well anyways…" he gulped, "Have you tested the broom out with a real family and children?"

Harry gapped at the man, he talked blindingly fast, "Just my dorm mates."

"You designed it yourself? Charms and all?"

"Yes, developed and improved up old charms and safety charms…"

"But the design of the broom, you carved it? Is that right?"

"Oh yes," Harry gave a small bashful smile, pleased someone had actually heard what he had been saying during his presentation about the shape of the handle being important, not to mention the type of woods used.

"I'd be most interested in testing the broom…"

Dumbledore's office door opened suddenly, like a dark cloud the old wizard stuck his head out, "Harry Potter if you would join us…" the headmaster stopped suddenly, straightening his stance once realizing another man was waiting in the small sitting room as well, "Mister Quality is it?" The tone of Dumbledore's voice dropped to a hard irritable baritone, Harry could tell Dumbledore was not happy to see his fellow wizard, "Was there something I could help you with?"

Mister Quality either didn't hear the starkness of Dumbledore's tone or didn't care, "Headmaster, I was just talking to young Potter here about his broom… I'd be most interested in testing it and perhaps having it sold exclusively in my shop," he turned and wink at Harry, "Perhaps Mister Potter, if his time permits, might come into the store a couple of times a week to test the broom for those interested parties?"

Harry smiled he wanted to hug the little man, spin him around the room with joy. Harry opened his mouth to accept, glad the opportunity had presented it's self.

"Perhaps Mister Quality." Dumbledore clapped Harry on the shoulder, gripping him tightly, quieting his acceptance, Dumbledore looked angry all of a sudden, "I do believe young Potter will be quite busy with Auror training and other responsibilities. If you could excuse us we must talk of Mister Potter's grade, we shouldn't be but a few moments." He said rather curtly steering Harry into his office.

Harry looked to Mister Quality who looked uncomfortable, as he was finally picking up on the mood of the evening, he nodded and gave a small smile to Harry.

Dumbledore shut the door with a noticeable click, giving Harry a small push toward his seat, he was never more aware of its placement in the center of the room. McGonagall was back in her seat, her cheeks a little pink as if she had been yelling while he was gone. Which Harry didn't doubt

Flitwick and Sprout both looked indifferent. Shacklebolt stood against the fireplace, Snape had moved to stand by the window, his face turned toward the nights sky.

Dumbledore stood behind his desk, his long fingers griping the pushed in chair behind it.

"Sit, Mister Potter," Dumbledore hissed, "We have come to, what you will see as a reasonable decision. We shall give you a passing grade as long as you continue on with the other obligations you set forth before the seventh year projects, namely entering the Aurors training program per the contract you signed with them…"

Harry gritted his teeth, "I signed the contract when Voldemort was still alive and killing everyone. I had to join…the prophecy…. Things have changed... He's dead."

Harry toed the rug beneath his feet irritably, gathering his strength, his inner Gryffindor courage, "I shouldn't be forced to follow through on a decision I made two years ago. Life changes, I've changed and its not like I'm off to do nothing with my time Mister Quality said I could help out at his shop and see to the brooms design and all… I want to work there. I don't want to be an Auror."

"When did you speak to Quality," McGonagall snapped her neck around, the bun on the back of her head shaking violently.

"Mister Quality is in the waiting room Minerva." Dumbledore said calmly.

"That rotten old goat," She muttered standing so fast the chair she had been sitting in fell back, nearly missing the toe of Snape's boot.

McGonagall stalked to the door, ready to fling it open and yell at the man on the other side.

"Minerva," the headmaster barked, "If you please, I would like to get this over and done with. Its nearly midnight as it is."

She stopped, moving to stand next to Shacklebolt, crossing her arms against her chest, her lips pressed so tightly together it was as if they weren't on her face anymore. The Auror rested his hand on the small of her back to calm her.

"Now Auror Shacklebolt has been kind enough to produce the contract which you signed." Dumbledore dropped the contract in front of him, "As you were over the age of majority when you signed it at the beginning of the year, I'm sure I don't need to remind you the contract is binding."

Harry slumped in his seat, shutting his eyes remember just months ago when he had been called to McGonagall's office to sign the documents. Three fully qualified Aurors had stood as witnesses as he signed the papers. McGonagall as his personal witness, as they read the rules, regulations, terms and then the agreement. He sworn an oath, he had repeated the words happily…that was then and this was now.

Now he was a different person, he finally had a chance to think beyond Voldemort and his followers. This contract wasn't who he was anymore and truthfully he wasn't sure it was who he had been then….

If Voldemort was alive he would have joined the Aurors team, he would have had to, to honor his parents and their sacrifice. To honor his godfather and his fall through the veil and his death.

He had felt an immense relief when Lord Voldemort had died. He felt as if he could breathe again, live again. It wasn't till months after Voldemort's death that he began to think of living his life…really living. It was only then he had felt alive.

"…Well Mister Potter, what is your decision Auror training or failing this school year."

"I don't need to see the contract… I know what it states."

"I'm sure you do. In light of things we are willing to over look the fact that you presented a project that was not related to your career path, even though that was part of the project. More so we are prepared to over look the fact that the broom was adequate at best. We are of course in agreement you have not been the best student this year. Cutting class, late assignments, lacking in your prefect duties… we will over look your year of teenage rebellion and pass you anyways if you hereby agree to follow through with the initial course of Auror training. It is of course your decision."

"So technically I could fail… is that right?"

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes, "That is your decision…"

"His decision?" McGonagall cut in, "Merlin, James and Lily must turning in their graves, Potter at their ungrateful son. Your mothers sacrifice was her life and this is how you repay her by what running off to become a broom maker. Is this some sort of elaborate Prank cause it isn't funny." McGonagall began her pacing again, grinding her teeth as she went.

Harry slumped back in his seat, "um…yeah" he muttered.

Dumbledore shook his head, "What does that mean, 'um yeah' … ? Is that a yes I agree to join the Aurors or yes I decided to take the failing grade."

"Great Merlin Potter, sit up," McGonagall huffed, "You act as if we are sending you to your death. Being an Auror is an honorable job, it can lead to great things and a nice a career in the Ministry if one desires. Several of the Ministers of Magic have been Aurors. A most noble profession. Your parents would be well proud of you for that career choice."

His parents, he wondered when they would be remarked upon. He did want them to be proud, the way everyone talked about his father made it sound as if he to had been an Auror. He heard nothing more than how great they were, how they were the best of students, best at Quidditch, his mother the best at charms, his father the handsomest man around, his mother the most beautiful… and he did want nothing more to make them proud. To make them happy.

"Yes I agree to join the Aurors," he muttered.

The head of Gryffindor smiled, reached over and straightened Harry's collar as he sat up in his seat, "Now go and send in Mister Quality I have a few words for him." there was an evil glint in McGonagall's eyes, an almost vicious look with cat like glowing quality.

Harry got up as Flitwick, Sprout and Snape turned to leave as well. Shacklebolt nodded to McGonagall as he took his leave.

They had made their decision and now it was settled, and like a fool he agreed, he had let them control him again, guilt him into a life he was beginning to care less and less about.

Dumbledore and McGonagall would take care of Quality and his shop. They would crush his dream together, at least he wouldn't have to witness it.

He moved aside to let the professors go first, Mister Quality stood as they exited the door, swiping his wizarding hat from his head.

Harry waited till the professors moved onto the revolving stairs and midway to the exit before he spoke, "The Headmaster wants to see you." he said softly not meeting the mans eyes.

"I see," Mister Quality said moving toward the office door sullenly, "You won't be joining me at the shop will you Mister Potter?"

Harry looked down at his feet, licked his lips, "No… I-I've already signed up to be an Auror…. Long before this."

"Wizards live a long time mister Potter, perhaps another time." and with that Quality entered the office of the Headmaster.

Harry stood there a moment as the door closed with a resounding click.

He had to return to the common room, his friends would be waiting up for him he was sure. None of the seventh years had been sleeping much, from nerves of graduation in a weeks time or from what lay after he wasn't sure.

Harry stepped onto the revolving stairs and began the descent down. As he neared the bottom Snape was just exiting the door even though he should be long gone be now. Harry cringed what was the man waiting for.

Harry exited the door as Snape neatly tucked his hands in the fold of his robes.

Harry ignored him turning toward Gryffindor tower.

"Not much of a fight Potter," Snape sneered, "Sorely lacking in the courage you Gryffindor pride yourself so much on."

Harry turned, Snape stood looming over him but not by much. They were nearly equal in height. Each had the same intensity in their eyes, Potter turned ready to fight, "Must be my Slytherin weakness, you know that's were the sorting hat originally wanted to put me."

"It wouldn't have suited you, I'm sure that's why the sorting hat choose otherwise… Slytherins have a backbone."

Harry opened his mouth to scream at the man but he was already walking away, the flow of billowing robes became part of the darkness that surrounded them in the corridor of Hogwarts.

Harry seethed, he was half tempted to run after the man but he hadn't the energy, he simply turned and headed toward Gryffindor.

TBC

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