Nightmares Interrupted

Chapter 1

Author's note: Hey guys! I have decided to continue this story as I have so many ideas for it. I know this may not be quite what you wanted, but hopefully as the story goes on you will appreciate it as I do!

"Well Miss. Potter, I am sure you are wondering why I have asked you here today." Professor McGonagall peered at Harri over the top of her glasses, a slight frown marring her face as she saw the dark circles and sunken cheeks that were now prominent of her former students' pale face. The war had taken a toll on all of them, but it seemed like it had a bigger affect on Harriet Potter than anyone else, which made perfect sense as the girl had lost more than anyone else in this war. Harri shook her head and spoke, bringing the now Headmistress out of her internal musings. "I must say that I was a little surprised when you said you had something to ask me Headmistress, but then again I'm also always happy to see my favorite professor again, even though I haven't been the best at teaching in touch. I won't lie, it was a little hard to make myself come here again after everything that has happened."

Hogwarts was the source of her own personal nightmares and stepping through those doors had been one of the hardest things she had ever done. Everywhere she looked she saw pain, blood destruction. Even now, sitting in the Headmaster's, now Headmistress McGonagall's office, her hands were clenched so tight that if she hadn't bit them down to the nub they would have been cutting into her palms. "Please, call me Minerva. Merlin knows you've earned it. I can understand the hesitation to be here again, Miss. Potter, and for that I'm sorry. I did not wish to bring up bad memories by inviting you here, though that was inevitable I am afraid." The headmistress suddenly looked every bit of her age, and Harri felt bad for making her look that way. "Well Minerva, if you insist, then I insist that you call me Harri. And there is no need to apologize, it was something that needed to be faced eventually. Now what is it that you needed to ask me?" Harri asked, not unkindly.

The headmistress suddenly looked nervous. "Well Harri, as you know I have been working tirelessly with the ministry to get Hogwarts as least somewhat back to its former glory so we can start back in October, even if it is later than normal. I think leaving the future wizards and witches without an education is not something that should be done, especially after what the Wizarding World just went through. However, as you know from the last year we are in need of some new staff. Which is why I am offering you a job as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Now before you ask, I believe you are 100% qualified to take this position. Besides the experience you have gained from the last year you spent trying to defeat Voldemort, I also happen to know of your little defense group 5th year, and many of the professors were rather impressed with you for that. While I know you had hopes of being an Auror, I do hope you would consider the offer I have just made you. Now of course, you will get room and board as well as ample pay. And as you have gained custody of young Mr. Lupin, he will of course have a home here as well, so you mustn't worry about that. I know this is a lot to consider Harri. I am sorry for springing it on you." Minerva had started to ramble, Harri realized as she sat shocked at the request.

A large part of her was screaming to say no, to leave and never step foot into this place that had brought her so much pain, seen so much horror in the past year. Harri could still see the bodies, see the wall collapse on Fred, Remus pushing her out of the way and taking a killing curse for her, Lavender with her unseeing eyes and her throat ripped out. The images were always there and being here had made them all come to mind. And yet, another, larger part of her was begging her to say yes, and it was all due to George Weasley. It had been a mere 3 weeks since that night at the burrow, and she had felt empty ever since. He had moved back to the flat that was supposed to be theirs over Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and she hadn't heard from him since, though she knew he was still alive at least from Mrs. Weasley forcing him to write once a week. Harri hadn't really had time to feel the pain, as the exhaustion that came with being a young guardian to a newborn as well as her nightmares getting worse had taken their toll on her. She reckoned she hadn't gotten more than 30 hours of sleep in those three weeks, and it was starting to show. A fresh start was something that she had been needing, but she hadn't wanted to return to Grimmauld, and house hunting was just too much for her to even think about right now.

"What about my N.E. ? I didn't get to take them last year. I didn't graduate from Hogwarts. Don't I need further education for the job?" Harri was surprised that she didn't stutter, but the question came out perfectly. "Well, for the DADA position, you do need to get your N.E. in DADA, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, and Potions. If you are interested in this job, I can set it up for you to take them at the end of this month. As we will not be starting until October, you can take the exams this month and then have the whole of September to prepare your lessons and other such things. I have full confidence that you can and will pass them with flying colors. As for not finishing your 7th year, the experience you gained from fighting the war as well as doing your N.E. will be adequate in place of your 7th year. Again, I understand if you do not wish to take this position, so do not feel as if you have to. I just think that of all the people that I had in mind for this position, you are the most qualified for the job." Minerva looked proud as she said the last bit, and Harri got a warm feeling in her chest.

"There's no need to think on it Professor. I've been needing a change, something to keep me busy. I would be honored to take this position." Harri wondered if she would regret this but pushed that feeling down as she stuck her hand out to shake the Headmistress' hand. Their hands glowed gold as a swirl of magic rustled the papers under them. "Well, Harri, Hogwarts seems to agree with your decision. I must confess, I was slightly worried you would say no. I'm glad you did not." Minerva smiled at her, and Harri couldn't help but smile back. "I think turning down such a good deal would be wrong of me, though it will be different working with my professors and being the youngest on staff." Harri smirked slightly, already imagining how staff meals would go. "Actually, that was something else that I wanted to discuss with you. I have offered a position to Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Malfoy. I know that you do not get along with the latter, especially with everything that has happened. However, I wanted to give him a way to redeem himself, and he really is quite brilliant at potions. Horace has decided that a war was plenty enough excitement for him and has retired from the position. Likewise, Ponoma has been thinking about retiring as well and has requested Mr, Longbottom to replace her, and will take the year to teach the 'ins and outs' of the position." Harri was excited at the prospect of working with her godbrother and was surprised to hear that Malfoy had been hired at Hogwarts, but she found that she was not upset about it at all. She was almost excited for Malfoy to get this chance. "Well, as his sister I can tell you that Neville will be the perfect addition to the staff. I'm excited to work with him. As for Malfoy, I am glad he is getting this chance and I hope we can use this to get over our petty childhood rivalries. I'm tired of the fighting honestly." The sentiment of calling Neville her brother was not lost on Minerva, and the witch let out a large, genuine smile.

"I had hoped that would be the response. I am also looking to fill the Transfiguration position, as well as the Muggle Studies position, so if you have any suggestions for that, I would greatly appreciate it. I must say, getting Hogwarts running is taking more effort than I could have ever imagined, though I am glad that many of the staff were up to the task." Minerva sighed, taking a drink of her tea she had made a few minutes before. "Well, if I may suggest it, Percy Weasley is brilliant at Transfiguration, as I am sure you remember, and since the events of the war he is looking for new employment outside of the ministry. I think he would be a good fit." Harri hoped she would offer him the job. She had found an unlikely friend in Percy and wanted him to maybe find a little bit of happiness after the war.

"Well, I think that is a wonderful idea Miss. Potter. I will send for him promptly. Now before we end this meeting, I have something for you. It was left to me to give to someone I deemed capable of being a great Defense Professor. I had been planning on giving it to you anyways, I just hadn't found the right time. The fact that you are to be my new Defense Professor makes it all the better." With those words Minerva reached into her desk and pulled out a brown leather planbook, and Harri's eyes pricked with tears as she read the name on the cover. "Remus gave me his curriculum because he thought that it would be of use to someone. I know the two of you were close Harri, and you must know that he thought of you as his own daughter. He loved you so, and I know he would be proud to have this passed on to you." Harri's chest felt tight and her hand trembled as she reached out to grab the planner.

She knew that a few tears had escaped, but she could not seem to care. The fact that she had something so precious from Remus, her Moony, the man who had all but been a father to her since 3rd year, taken her in to live with him after Sirius died and she couldn't handle the Dursley's anymore, the man who had taken a killing curse not even 4 months before in this courtyard of this very same castle. The ache of grief was still there, still fresh and Harri hugged the planner to her chest, using one hand to wipe the tears that tracked down her cheeks. She pushed the grief down, as she had been doing for three months. "Thank you, Professor. You-You don't know what this means to me. Truly." Her voice was slightly wobbly, and Minerva gave a sad smile, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"As I said, he would be proud to have it in your hands. I imagine it will be of great use to you, and combined with some of the stuff you taught in your little defense group, you will have the makings of a great Professor. Now, I will let you get home as I know you have Teddy to think of. I will get your N.E. set up, and believe me when I say this Miss. Potter, I truly look forward to working with you." Harri felt a small surge of hope for the first time in months as she grasped her new Colleague's hand before turning and flooing back to the Burrow.