The Adventure Continued
Chapter 4: You May Call Me 'Minerva' Now
A/N: I absolutely love it! I'm getting zip review, but I'm on 3 favorites lists and 3 story alerts! Wow, I hope this isn't a record or something…crazy, though. Hope you are still enjoying this as much as I am!
-Will take Offers for a Beta-Reader. Can you tell I need one?
"I-I'm sorry, Professor!" Harry mumbled in astonishment at the one and only Professor McGonagall, her jet black hair still in a tight bun and glasses hanging askew on her face. "I guess I didn't see you there."
"You certainly guessed right. You can call me 'Minerva' now, Harry. I am no longer your teacher," McGonagall answered with a small smile. "I suppose you're here to see Tonks?"
Harry looked wide-eyed. "How did you know?" Was there something Harry was missing? Everyone seemed to know exactly what he was doing at every moment of the day. Really, there must be spies around the ministry or something.
"Oh really, Potter, don't look shocked. I am here to meet with her as well," McGonagall picked up the papers that had fallen out of her hands, leaving Harry to stand confused by the elevator, and headed towards the auror office. It took a moment for Harry to realize what he was doing and to unglue his feet from the floor. What did McGonagall want with Harry?
Tonks peered outside the nearest door to find Harry walking slowly towards the office. "Harry, come on! We're waiting for you!"
Turning into the office, Harry not only found Tonks and McGonagall, but Kingsley, Mr. Weasley, and a blonde-haired girl that Harry didn't seem to recognize at first. When she turned to wave at him, he realized that it was Hannah Abbott, a girl in his year, but different house. All were sitting in comfortable chairs around Tonks desk, except Kingsley who sat in a corner to the left of Tonks.
"Thanks for showing up, Harry," Tonks teased, but immediately regaining her composure, trying to give off a professional impression. It didn't help that her hair glowed lime green and her normally brown eyes changed color every few seconds (must be a nervous habit). "Alright, we have a new assignment for Mr. Potter and Ms. Abbott. Harry, we have decided to give you the post as 'Defense Against the Dark Arts' teacher at Hogwarts-"
"What?"
"-and Hannah will be taking over Charms. Have you found anyone to cover History of Magic, Minerva?" Tonks added, looking at McGonagall, who sat looking rather bored.
"Where did Professor Binns go?" Harry blurted out, receiving an annoyed look from Tonks and McGonagall.
"Professor Binns left Hogwarts when the castle was destroyed. Many of the ghosts did- except Peeves," McGonagall added disappointedly. "But I believe I have found a good replacement-- for Professor Binns, I mean"
"Tonks? Why are we being assigned as teachers?" Hannah asked, confused. "How will our auror training help at Hogwarts?"
Kingsley beamed at the crowd as if they were finally getting somewhere. For some time, he and Mr. Weasley seemed to be occupied with staring at the walls during the conversation. "Yes, I would like to know, Minerva. It isn't like you to ask assistance from the Ministry."
McGonagall grimaced. "I believe some temporary protection should be granted until the school is entirely back together again. It will also do the public good to know that their children will be under watch of the greatest wizard alive."
"But Dumbledore's gone, Professor-" Harry began.
"No, Harry, I mean you. Parents will send their children to school, but only if they can be assured that their children are safe. Just some 'auror' won't do much good, but if the famous Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived was-"
"But what good am I going to do?" Harry still felt exasperated at the idea. "I'm not even great! I just did what I had to do. I don't know as much as Dumbledore or as you or-"
McGonagall attempted to hold back a smile, but no one seemed to notice. "That's not the idea, Harry," she returned in a stern tone of voice that Harry was very familiar with. "The public doesn't care if you killed You-Know-Who with a rubber chicken blindfolded, entirely by accident. The point is, you are considered the most powerful wizard of the age and hold the highest place in society. No one will ever think twice about you."
Harry smiled, but his red face showed that he was completely baffled. "Well…err…ok. How long will it be for?" he turned to Tonks and Kingsley.
"As of now, you will only be there for a year. It depends after that. If something happens; if death eaters storm the castle, then perhaps longer, but it probably won't happen," Tonks added quickly, seeing the worried looks on Harry and Hannah's faces. "Any other questions?" she added more brightly. Both shook heads and stood up.
"Well, then, I will send you an owl shortly stating your responsibilities and the paperwork that needs to be filled out prior to your arrival. Hannah, you may use the books that Professor Flitwick had been using, but Harry, I'm afraid, you will have to search for some suitable material," McGonagall added. "I expect to hear from you both soon. Good-bye." The Headmistress disapparated and, with a last smile, Tonks dismissed both Harry and Hannah out of her office.
"Now, then, Kinglsey, let's get to business on this issue," Mr. Weasley whispered before the door shut completely. Hannah didn't seem to hear it, but Harry paused a moment before walking away. It really did him no good to listen at doors…well, maybe it did.
Harry retraced his steps back to the door and, taking out some Extendable Ears, tried to listen in on the conversation. To his disappointment, the door had been charmed and not a vibration hit his ear drum.
"If only I had my invisibility cloak…argh," he muttered before walking away. It wasn't like Harry to give up so easily. Perhaps at a different time he would have made more of an effort to find out what was going on, but the conversation he had just had with McGonagall was still in his mind. "Next time…"
At his desk, Harry found Ernie Macmillan sitting in a chair across from his, reading the Daily Prophet. A few memos were flying around his chair, knocking over quills and ink bottles until the desk was dripping in ink.
"I saw McGonagall enter Tonks office. What did she want?" Ernie asked casually, although the curiosity was still burning in his eyes.
Harry sat in his chair and leaned back. A few drops of ink splattered his robes, but with a swish of his wand, the ink vanished and the quills were put away in their rightful places. "I'm going to be working at Hogwarts now- the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Harry groaned as he pulled out a new bottle of ink and a piece of parchment. He had more paperwork to fill out, but that was the least of his worries. Right now, he needed to talk to someone; someone who could understand him.
Hey Hermione,
Remember the D.A.? I need to find those books we used, do you remember them? I'll tell you about it when I go to the burrow at the end of the week.
Harry
"That sure clears it up, mate," Ernie laughed, reading over his shoulder. Little did Harry know that his friends would be learning about his new job sooner than he thought…