Disclaimer: I won no one. Except for Ramot Moddlo, but only half. :D
Summary: While every has to cope with the tragic deaht of Dumbledore, they have to get ready for the War. Who will make it? Who won't? Ron and Hermione finally make a move while Harry tries to make himself believe that he's doing right by staying away from Ginny, but is that the case? Did James stay away from Lily? No. There is a new DADA teacher? Who is he and what does he want? There is something very strange about him. Story may move to R for context.
Prologue:
Hogwarts Is Open
Minerva McGonagall sat at her desk in the Headmistresses office, nervously waiting for the person who was being interviewed for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. The Minister had ordered that Hogwarts stay open. He had come to talk to her about it after the funeral and she had agreed. Then later that week he had made an announcement to the public. She had read it in The Prophet. She glanced down to where it was open and the headline was glaring out at her.
Hogwarts Attack
But first let me say this. Those who attacked were beat by children. They attacked children, innocent children. This is because they cannot face to hurt someone their own size. Among these brave children are, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginevra Weasley, and Harry Potter. These six teens have gone against Death Eater's these past two years. Once at the Ministry of Magic itself and then at Hogwarts. My deepest regrets go out to the Weasley family whose eldest son, Bill Weasley, was attacked by Fenrir Greyback. Although Fenrir wasn't a werewolf at the time Mr. Weasley will have a few wolfish qualities, but that should not effect his job in any way.
Now again, back to the future of Hogwarts. Minerva and I have decided it is best to keep Hogwarts open and to go on. We will not let this stop us. We are a great people and we will not let this attack bring us down. We will bring down this terror and destroy it once and for all. We have found a replacement for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts and we hope to have him for a long time. That is all I have to say."
The Minister wouldn't take questions, but it seems that he will not be backing down from his decision, which is highly surprising, seeing as how it was only opened because Dumbledore had it in control. But if the Minister…
The rest of the article was obscured from other papers on her desk. A knock on the door made her heart go into overdrive. Never once had she had to do this. This had always been Dumbledore's field. She stood nervously, spreading her hands down the front of her robes.
"Come in," she said. The door opened and a tall handsome man with strawberry blonde hair walked in smiling warmly. He came to stand before her and took her hand in his and shook with a light grip. "Is it a pleasure to meet you Mr. Moddlo." He shook his head smiling still.
"Oh no, the pleasure is all mine," he said, his voice deep and without an English accent. "I have heard of the death of Albus Dumbledore, I'm very sorry." His eyes were a deep green and they portrayed none of his emotions.
"Please sit," she said waving her hand towards the chair behind him. He took it and looked around the room. His eyes landed on the sleeping Dumbledore but looked away after a moment. She picked up a piece oh parchment, her eyes scanning it. "It says here that you have worked for the American Order and for their Ministry, is that correct?" At his nod of affirmation she continued. "And it says that you are extra good at Occlumency, is that so?"
"Yes. I was the only one at school who mastered it. I can block and see into other's minds," he said eagerly. She smiled.
"We have a student here who needs… help… with Occlumency and I have a feeling that you are just the person for it," she said carefully. He seemed to sit up straighter and listen.
"And who might this student be, if you don't mind my asking that is?" She looked away, wondering if she should tell him or not. Yes, he was going to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but she wasn't sure if Harry would even come back. She knew that he only kept coming back was because of Dumbledore and now he wasn't… she didn't know. She hoped Harry would come back, but she knew him too well to know that he might. It just wasn't Harry.
"Harry Potter," she stated. The man, Ramot, whistled. He tilted his head to look at her.
"The Harry Potter? The-Boy-Who-Lived? That surprises me a lot," he said, clearly looking surprised. She nodded and licked her lips.
"Yes, he-that is one thing that he cannot accomplish. But the person teaching him was Severus Snape and he hated Harry and then to find out he was working for Voldemort the entire time!" McGonagall looked down, tears in her eyes. She took a deep breath and calmed herself. Ramot watched her, giving no outward signs as to what he was feeling.
"I heard," he said, his American accent different from what she was used too. "I'm sorry, I know how that sounds, but I truly am. I had always wanted to meet him, such a great man." She looked at him, wondering if she had heard sarcasm, but pushed it away.
"Yes, well that isn't what we're here for," she glanced at the parchment again. "It says you went to Salem's Witches' Institute. A fine school, the best in America." He nodded, smiling. She sighed and looked at his resume again, for about the hundredth time that morning. "You are highly qualified."
"But?" he asked giving a small smile.
"No buts. You're hired. You start on the first of September," she said, pushing away all of her concerns. He seemed like the perfect teacher, she thought. Yes, but remember Moody? A voice in the back of her mind asked. She tried to push that thought away, seeing as how he had no drinking canister and they had been here talking for over an hour.
"I am?" He was clearly surprised. She smiled and nodded.
"Yes, Mr. Moddlo you are." He stood up happily and shook her hand.
"Thank you. I have always wanted to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. It's a pleasure," he said, walking towards the door. "I will see you on the first." He turned around, pausing to look at her. "You have my word that I will teach Harry Potter all he needs to know about Occlumency. He will most definitely need it." And with that he turned swiftly and left, closing the door behind him deftly.
Minerva leaned back in her chair and drew in a shaky breath, glancing up at the door. What if she had made a mistake? What if she had done something wrong? There were so many questions, but no answers. She looked up at Dumbledore's portrait to see that he had gone to go socialize with someone else. She wondered how long he had been gone.
She closed her eyes and tried to make the tears go away, but they kept coming back. Dumbledore was gone. Another million thoughts were going through her mind. Could Harry defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? Would he survive? How many people could live? How many could he save from the horrific deaths? She opened her eyes to look at the ceiling.
Too close, it's all too close. People had survived the first one, but Voldemort was back again and stronger than ever. Now that Dumbledore was out of the way he could get to Harry. Harry and anyone around him are in danger. The rumor was that he and Ginny Weasley weren't together anymore, but they were so like James and Lily that is would be ridiculous if it were true. James and Lily didn't let Voldemort stand in their way for happiness and they knew that they were on the list.
She couldn't stop the tears anymore. Students that she was teaching would be dying. People she knew, loved and cared about were going to die. She was closest to the Weasley's. Bill had already been injured, would any of them live? She tried to shake that thought away. They were strong. Very strong. The whole family was comprised of love. They, most likely, would make it. Not all, she conceded, but most would.
She couldn't help the onslaught of sobs that consumed her as she laid her arms and head down on the desk in front of her. It was so hard acknowledging what was going to happen. To acknowledge fate. It took skill. The wall she had built up around her was crumbling and it wasn't doing it slowly either. No, more like it was falling apart. She wouldn't last much longer. If Dumbledore was still alive she could make it, but not by herself. She had known Dumbledore her entire life. He was a teacher, mentor and in many ways much more but they never talked about those feelings.
She drew in a shaky breath and stood up, preparing herself for the fight ahead. She has to keep strong. If not for herself, but for the children. It was all about the children now.
All of them.