Author's note: Happy Christmas in July everyone! It is stupid hot here and I spent the afternoon outside for work so I, for one, am ready for some snow. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the canon, world, and characters portrayed below and you can tell I'm not J.K. Rowling because #transrights

Hogwarts: Assignment #1, Muggle Music Task #1: Write about a character over 50.

Content Warnings: NA

An Excellent Recommendation

"I'm surprised you didn't want to spend your last Christmas at Hogwarts in the castle," Harry said when he and Remus happened to find themselves in the same corner of the Burrow's living room. It was otherwise full of family members, blue balloons, and the smell of buttercream from the cake that three-year-old Margo had demolished with her chubby little hands, screech-giggling the entire time.

"Oh, I am," Remus said—snapping out of his thoughts. He'd been standing by the window and looking at the snow fluttering outside, building up in the Weasleys' backyard. "I just snuck away to come to my granddaughter's birthday party."

"Does McGonagall know about this?"

"Possibly," he said. Harry grinned.

The Hogwarts professors all took turns staying in the castle for the holidays, but it was hard to get time off—hence why Teddy and Dora had spent so many Christmases in the castle when he'd still been little. But Remus had excellent memories of Christmas at Hogwarts from when he'd been a student himself—even before he'd had a chance to hold up a kindergarten-age Teddy to the bright lights decking the Great Hall or watched him unwrap presents in the little apartment behind his office that he'd called home. Of course, the Christmas he'd spent in the infirmary in third year, thanks to the full moon, had been less than excellent—but Madam Pomfrey had kept him well-fed in chocolate the next day, and she'd saved him a plate of Christmas dinner for the next day when his stomach was strong enough to handle it. But after that, they'd spent most of their Christmases in the castle so that Sirius wouldn't have to go home to Grimmauld Place. If the Marauders had been menaces on their best days, they were thrice as troublesome and chaotic when the castle was virtually empty and tinsel was so accessible.

But that had been long ago; now he liked spending time watching students throw snowballs at each other from his office window, breaking Christmas crackers with Hagrid, and giving the house elves plenty of chocolate frogs to leave in the Common Rooms for the students who stayed behind. It made him nostalgic, as almost everything did now that he was about to retire, even if he knew that it was time. The Wolfsbane was no longer guaranteeing safe, comfortable transformations and he was starting to feel as old and tired as he had always looked. He knew that he should bow out gracefully, while he was still the professor that his students deserved.

"You know," Remus said as he looked at the snow piling up outside. "McGonagall is asking me to recommend somebody to take my place when I retire."

"Is that how that works?" Harry asked.

"She's the one who makes the final call and handles the hiring process, and the school board must approve of course, but an outgoing professor's recommendation usually carries quite a bit of weight," Remus said.

"So who are you going to recommend?" Harry asked.

"I was hoping to put your name forward," Remus said.

Harry's eyes widened.

"I… really?" Harry asked. "Why?"

"Because I think you would be a brilliant teacher," Remus said. "I believe that Dumbledore's Army was a sign of that, and you've only become stronger and more patient and more knowledgeable since. Don't think I didn't notice how much your three children knew before they even stepped foot in my classroom."

"That's… that's a generous offer," Harry said.

"I would only do it if you were interested," Remus said. "But I know that your work in the Auror Department has shifted significantly, now that the Death Eaters are almost entirely gone."

"It took us long enough," Harry grumbled.

"It did," Remus said. "But you've done what you joined the Auror Department to do, if you don't mind me saying. I have no idea if you had considered leaving the department. But if you're looking for a new adventure, so to speak, I really believe that the next few generations of witches and wizards would be lucky to have you on their side."

Harry looked at the snow as it fell to the ground outside. Remus recognized the light in those emerald green eyes from late night study sessions and long conversations by the fire with Lily: it was excitement.

"I'd have to talk to Ginny," he said.

"Of course," Remus said.

"And the kids, to make sure they'd be okay with having their dad as a teacher—hypothetically, I mean."

"Of course," Remus said, biting back a smile. "I have until the New Year to give McGonagall my recommendation. Take your time to think it through."

Harry nodded and took a sip of his drink.

"You were the best teacher I ever had," Harry said. "Do you really think I could do it?"

Remus smiled.

"I think you would be exceptional," Remus said.

WC: 812