Warning: Mature-ish scene ahead!
To Howl in Harmony
Chapter 3:Assisstant Professors"That man is off his bloody rocker," Ron moaned later that night, in their new quarters.
Their "quarters" consisted of a common room with 8 doors leading off into bedrooms ('though the Pack knew that only four of them would be used.). There was also a small kitchen and dining space.
Their common room was much like the House common room, only without as much furniture. There were 2 couches and 4 armchairs, situated around the fireplace, with a few coffee tables. While originally done in the four Hogwarts colours the girls had changed it to neutral blues and blacks.
The kitchen was all modern and done in white. There was a stove, refrigerator, dishwasher and a small pantry.
The dining room had a table set always for 8, but that would expand for guests. It was done in soft, warm reds that made the room look and feel quite comfortable.
Since the Pack knew that they didn't need all 8 bedrooms, they changed four of them. The first room was changed into a war room, with a small table overflowing with diagrams of possible attack and defense plans. The next was changed into a small lab, so Neville wouldn't bother them with the fumes of the needed potions. The third was changed into a mini-infirmary with already-brewed Healing potions as well as medicinal herbs. The fourth they left unchanged as a guestroom.
"Oh, c'mon, Ron, it's not that bad!" Ginny teased, having settled herself in Harry's lap on one of the couches.
"Shut up, you," Ron laughed, throwing a cushion at her.
"Maybe we should study," Hermione said nervously, biting at her bottom lip.
Harry laughed softly and shook his head at her, "Hermione, you know it all. By heart. We don't have to study."
"But, Harry-" she protested.
Harry shook his head again and then said calmly, "Hermione, you are the smartest witch of our age. You will pass these tests and you will do so with flying colours."
"But what if I don't?"
"You will," Harry said in a firm, confident voice that raised her own confidence. As the clock suddenly struck 10 o'clock, Harry said, "Alright, kiddies, time for bed. We've got us a helluva day tomorrow."
The Pack gave their goodnights and each separated off to their own rooms. Harry and Ginny slipped off to their own room after everyone else had and finally got a good look at their new room.
In one corner was a King-sized canopy bed, covered with a down comforter and plump looking pillows. A black nightstand stood beside the bed with a matching dresser to one side. A large, walk-in closet dominated one wall, filled with their clothes(which had been brought in by the house elves). Another door led to an adjacent bathroom.
Ginny changed in the bathroom while Harry undressed to his boxers and a white T-shirt. Laying back on the edge of the bed, he let his mind wander back over the days events.
XoXoFLASHBACKXoXoXo"What do you mean, sir?" Hermione asked curiously, "Only Hogwarts' student, staff and staff's families are allowed to stay at Hogwarts."
"Well," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes, "it would seem, that I have 8 students who, in their spare time, have managed to complete their Hogwarts education. It would also seem that they all wish to become teachers and would like to be apprenticed here at Hogwarts instead of going onto University."
"But we haven't gotten our O.W.Ls or our N.E.W.Ts," Ginny said in confusion.
"Well,
we'll just have to set that up then, won't
we?"
XoXoENDXoXoXoXoFLASHBACKXoXoXo
From there, they'd mapped out the next few days to take their exams. The next week was booked solid for each of them, but it was worse for Ginny and Luna, who had to take their O.W.Ls as well.
A soft weight on the bed caused Harry's eyes to flutter open. Turning his head, emerald green met chocolate brown.
"'Lo, honeylove," he greeted sleepily.
"Hi, Sparky," Ginny returned simply.
Harry frowned softly up at her, asking, "What's wrong, Ginny?"
"Are you alright?" Ginny asked, pulling her knees up to her chest and resting her chin atop them.
"What? What on earth do you mean, Cannon?" Harry asked in confusion, pulling himself into a cross-legged position across from her.
"Well," Ginny bit at her lip, "All the shit that happened today. Hell, Harry, your parents…" she shook her head dismissively, "And Sirius. Thank God he's alright!"
Harry nodded softly, reaching over and gently poking at her mouth, softly admonishing, "Stop that or you'll hurt yourself." Ginny obediently stopped biting her lip and he gave a soft sigh, running a hand threw his hair, "Honestly, Gin, I've got no damn clue if I'm alright. I mean, I pretty much hero-worshipped my 'rents all my life and then is turns out that they're a pair of cowardly bastards!"
Ginny slid herself into his lap, wrapping gentle arms around his neck in comfort. Harry gave a little moan and pulled her head towards his, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. Their tongues tangled and danced, but not for dominance or submission, rather for just the sheer simple pleasure of it.
When the kiss ended, several breathless moments later, Harry carefully lay her back on the bed. Leaning over her, he placed a gentle, searing kisses all along her face and neck, Ginny's hands raking up his sculpted back.
The two met in another kiss, and their hands traveled. Ginny gave a small moan of pleasure as one of Harry's hands cupped a perky breast before moving on down her side. Her small, pale hands clenched his shirt.
Wrenching himself away with effort, Harry dropped himself onto the bed beside her. Both lovers were panting violently.
Harry gave a frustrated little groan but said, "We shouldn't. We need rest."
Ginny made a noise of agreement, but couldn't stop her lips from making their way down his neck. With a muffled little oath, Harry pulled her up to him, meeting her with a fiery kiss while his hands traveled along her back, cupping her backside before retracing their path. Ginny moaned into the kiss, and they were both lost.
They shouldn't, but they did.
XoXoXoXoThe next week was hard, the exams taking more out of them than they originally thought they would have. After the first day, Harry had adamantly put his foot down, refusing to make Luna and Ginny do both testing and demanding they only have to do the N.E.W.Ts. After a lot of angry cursing and threats, the examiners and Dumbledore finally conceded.
Each night, the Pack fell into bed, mentally exhausted. Reluctantly and protesting, they pulled themselves out of bed at 5:30 for their customary hour-long run, physical workouts for half an hour and then an hour was spent on the Muggle forms of self-defense. From there, they went for a shower, had breakfast and then settled into the routine of studying for an exam, doing siad exam and then studying for the next one.
When that Friday-their last day of exams-finally came, the Pack threw themselves a giant party. Conjured balloons and streamers littered the floor alongside the candy wrappers and empty bottles of Firewhiskey by the end of the night.
Drunk beyond belief, the Pack had dropped themselves about the room on the furniture. They giggled hysterically over nonsensical things, not really aware of what they were doing.
For
now, they were reveling in the blankness.
XoXoXoXo
Because of extreme hangovers- and plain laziness- the 8 teenagers never left their rooms that weekend. Sirius and Remus visited briefly, but were quickly driven away but the Pack's grumpy attitude.
When Dumbledore summoned them to the Great Hall on Monday, however, they appeared fresh and stylish.
Harry wore a pair of tan slacks with a black belt and the silver wolf as a buckle, as did all the boys. They each wore a dressy shirt-buttons undone, untucked, and sleeves rolled up slightly so as not to look too formal-overtop a white undershirt. Harry's dress shirt was a dark pink, Ron's a dark purple, Neville's a blood red and Draco's a light blue.
Ginny and Rose wore dresses the same colour as their respective mate's shirts. Ginny's pink dress was floor-length, with full-length balloon sleeves and a V-neck, that formed to her body to her waist before loosening slightly to fall in small waves. Rose's dress was done in the same floor-length, full-sleeve, tight-to-waist fashion as Ginny's, however, her sleeves were off the shoulder and the dress was blue in colour. Luna was dressed in a knee-length blood red skirt and a long-sleeved black scoop-neck sweater. Hermione wore a deep purple skirt that fell gracefully to her ankles and a silky white shirt that was tight ¾'s of the way down before ballooning out gracefully.
The teacher's table had been removed from the dais and the Hogwarts Professors, N.E.W.Ts examiners, and Remus stood in a line in the place where it usually stood. The students sat in bewildered confusion as they watched the tableau unfolding before their eyes.
The Pack walked confidently forward, and each bowed before the dais. Returning themselves to their upright positions, the Pack relaxed themselves, waiting patiently for Dumbledore to begin the ceremony.
Eyes twinkling, Dumbledore said, "I'd like to congratulate the 8 of you, for being the first students, ever in Hogwarts history, to graduate 2 and 3 years early. And with almost perfect N.E.W.Ts."
The Pack grinned madly, but remained silent as Harry nodded his head, saying 'solemnly', "On behalf of this group of 8, hereafter referred to as the Pack, I would like to accept your congratulations and thank you for them."
Dumbledore grinned before addressing the assembled students before him, saying seriously, "You have been brought here today to witness the official Apprenticeship for each teen of the Pack.
"Draco Malfoy, please step forward."
Draco stepped forward obediently, kneeling on one knee as Dumbledore as Dumbledore said, "I, Albus, Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, do declare you, Draconius Lucius Malfoy, accepted into Apprenticeship at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As you requested, you shall be placed with Rubeus Hagrid, Professor for the Care of Magical Creatures. Welcome to the staff, Assistant-Professor Malfoy."
Draco stood from his kneeling position and bowed to Dumbledore. Then, with a jovial, impish grin, he walked over to Hagrid, bowing before taking his place beside the half-giant."
"Rose Richards, please step forward."
Ro stepped forward, but Dumbledore placed a small cushion down, where she then kneeled on both knees. Dumbledore grinned before speaking again in his serious voice.
"I, Albus, Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, do declare you, Rosemary Elleanore Richards, accepted into Apprenticeship at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As you requested, you shall be placed with Filius Flitwick, Professor of Charms. Welcome to the staff, Assistant-Professor Richards." He said.
Rose regained her upright position, bowing to Dumbledore with a grin on her face. Walking to tiny Professor Flitwick with barely concealed excitement Rose curtsied again before taking her place at his side.
"Neville Longbottom."
Neville knelt on one knee as Draco had, holding Dumbledore's gaze levelly. A proud smile tugged at the Headmaster's lips at the change in his young charge.
"I, Albus, Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, do declare you, Neville Francis Longbottom, accepted into Apprenticeship at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As per your request, you shall join Severus Snape, Professor of Potions and Potions Master. Welcome to the staff, Assistant-Professor Longbottom."
Neville stood and bowed deeply and respectfully to the Headmaster. With a confident stride, he walked to Professor Snape, giving him a slight bow and taking his place beside the Potion's Master.
"Luna Lovegood."
Luna went forward in that floaty-walk that no even Voldemort could extinguish. Kneeling on the pillow, she waited.
"I, Albus, Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, do declare you, Luna Selene Lovegood…" Luna went with a smile to Pomfrey's side after the appropriate formalities. After her, Ron took his place beside a beaming Minerva McGonagall, and then Hermione reluctantly beside Lily Potter, the new Ancient Runes. Then…
"Ginny Weasley."
Ginny knelt on the pillow with a grace that none of the other 3 girls of the Pack could accomplish. However, she ignored the envious mutterings coming from the female population of the Hogwarts students in favour of the ceremony.
"I, Albus, Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, do declare you, Ginevra Molly Weasley, accepted into Apprenticeship at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As per your skills, you shall be placed with James Potter, Professor of Arithmancy. Welcome to the staff, Assistant-Professor Weasley."
Ginny's eyes flashed slightly, but she stood and curtsied to Dumbledore. Her walk to James Potter's side was stiff and she only gave him the slightest of curtsies.
"Harry Potter."
Harry walked forward confidently, kneeling at Dumbledore's feet. In a sign of trust, his head bowed slightly.
In an emotion-suppressed 'serious' voice, Dumbledore said, "I, Albus, Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, do declare you, Harry James Potter, accepted into Apprenticeship at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As per your request and skills, you shall join Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, co-professors of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Welcome to the staff, Assistant-Professor Potter."
Harry stood and bowed respectfully to the aged Headmaster. Turning, he walked down the line, giving his friends jovial grins until he reached his 'uncles. Giving, what looked like, a respectful bow, Harry kept the elder men's gaze, telling them that the bow wasn't. With mock-admonishing looks that lasted but a second, before being replaced by grins, Remus and Sirius pulled him between them, ruffling his hair playfully. Harry's scowl lasted only a moment before he, too, was grinning, Sirius and Remus' grins having been infectious.
Dumbledore's voice, still in that tone that was mockingly-serious, interrupted the 3 men's silently playful banter, saying, "Thank you, everyone, for all your patience in this ceremony and for not interrupting us. Now," with a twinkle full-blast and the jovial tone returned, "please. Let's give our new assistant-professors a real Hogwarts welcome!"
¾'s of the student population broke into raucous cheering for their former classmates. Most of the Slytherin's remained stoically silent, but the one boy-Blaise Zambini, Harry recalled, a 6th year Slytherin- let out a loud whoop. Soon enough, about half of the table was joining him, the other half sneering and glaring at their cheering housemates.
The Pack threw each other rakish grins and stepped, simultaneously out of the line. Over-exaggeratedly. The group bowed/curtsied, earning themselves laughingly performed catcalls and wolf-whistles.
From the corner of his eye, Harry saw Lily and James- he just couldn't bring himself to refer to them as his mum and dad- laughing gaily at the Pack's antics. His jaw tightened and his whole body stiffened, unwilling to be any cause for their happiness.
A soft hand on his forearm brought his gaze down to his mate's face. Smiling, he said softly, "I love you, Cannon."
Grinning
impishly, Ginny replied, "I know."
XoXoXoXo