Chapter 4
It was Thursday night before Harry was suppose to arrive at Hogwarts. Harry was very nervous. Other than leading the DA, he never really imagined himself as a teacher. He had gone over Tonks' lesson plans. It seemed easy enough. The first to fifth years were to read in their books and write essays, nothing too harsh. However, for the sixth and seventh years, with McGonagall's permission, he was to work on things he had taught while he was leading the DA. Harry was okay with this, some of the seventh years had been in DA and they could help too. Mainly Harry was just thinking about what it will be like to see Ginny again. He could not wait, less than twenty four hours and he would be seeing her.
Harry arrived on Friday while classes were still in session. He found Professor McGonagall at the entrance of the grounds. "Good to see you Mr. Potter," she said, "if you'll come with me we have a few things we need to discuss before you get settled." Harry nodded, "Yes ma'am." and followed her to her office. When they arrived, she motioned to a chair and Harry took a seat and said, 'It is an honor to be asked to stand in for Professor Tonks, while she is away." McGonagall smiled and said, "Well Harry, so many of the professors here feel it is an honor to have you here. Even if most of us did teach you such a short time ago." Harry didn't expect that.
"Well let us get to business, shall we?" she asked. Harry nodded. McGonagall looked at Harry and said, "First of all while you are here to need to behave as a Professor, and this includes a certain Miss. Weasley." Harry looked at her. What was she saying, he couldn't spend time with her? "I know that the two of you are a couple, but while you are here I need for you to see her as a student." she grinned and continued, "I understand this will be hard for the both of you, so I have set aside some time for you and her to spend alone, away from students. However you must behave yourselves during this time you understand me?" Harry was smiling "Yes ma'am."
McGonagall nodded, "Okay moving on. I assume you have received the lesson plan that Professor Tonks sent to you." Harry nodded, "I have it right here." "Very well. Now I will be sitting in on some of your classes, but not all of them. I understand the Professor has most of her classes reading." Harry nodded. "Okay, I would like for you to make a minor change to her plans. I believe we should utilize your talents. I would like for the first half of your classes to be practical. All expect first years. You could do several things with them during this time. I would like for you to think about what you might do and let me know after dinner please." Harry nodded.
"At meals you will eat with the rest of the Professors. Tonight I will introduce you to all the students, who of course all know you in one way or another. But I will introduce you as Professor Potter. Everyone of our students are expected to call you this while you are here. Please remind anyone who forgets. As far as points go, you have the authority to take away and give points if you feel the need should arise. However I would like to remind you of how you felt when points were given and taken unfairly, please keep this in mind." Harry nodded, "Of course ma'am."
Professor McGonagall frowned, "I also have some bad news I am afraid." Harry didn't know what was coming but he was almost positive nothing could be worse than what happened his sixth year, "What is it?" "Well Harry, Hagrid has taken a leave. Nobody is sure when he will return. All we know is that he is physically okay. I told him that one of the conditions of his leave was that he had to owl me at least once a week or I would send a search party after him." "Do you know where he is? Does he know that I was coming this week?" He asked rather stunned. Hagrid was the first friend he made in the wizard world. "No, I do not know where he is. He said he didn't want anybody to find him until he was ready to be found. And I sent him a reply to one of his letters, telling him you were coming to teach for a week." "And" Harry asked. Professor McGonagall pulled a letter form her desk and gave it to him, "He asked me to give this to you and ask that you wait until you are alone to read it." Harry took the letter and said, "Thank you." McGonagall said, "Well I believe we are done here. Hagrid said that if you would like you could stay in his cabin while he is away." Harry looked at her and said, "That will be fine." "Very well, you know the way. We shall see you at dinner then." McGonagall said. Harry nodded as he stood and left her office.