The whole family ended up heading to Hogwarts so James and Lily could talk about job possibilities. They entered the conference room with everyone smiling benevolently, Miles recognized some of the teachers but there were a few obvious new ones who would most likely find themselves replaced by the time Harry began attending school, though other ones looked fresh out of school. Alice and Frank were there too with a young Neville. The most noticeable presence, however, was Snape. Miles was in shock, how could he still be here? Miles wondered, for he had made sure that his parents had sent a letter to Dumbledore discussing how he could have been killed. Snape sneered at the Potters while they entered, but otherwise held his tongue.
"Ah, Lily, James it's a pleasure to have you here, once a few more of our guests arrive we'll get this meeting underway." Dumbledore said, and then added, as if as an afterthought, "Lemondrop?" This was kindly dismissed by everyone except Miles, who realized that in all his years of knowing and loving Dumbledore he had never once accepted the small candy. Popping it into his mouth he found himself in love with it.
"This is excellent, Professor," he said in a small voice, befitting his small body.
"I'm glad you like it my boy." Miles smiled and took the seat James pulled out for him next to his Mum who was holding little Harry.
"The miniature brats must be multiplying," Snape sneered, "I could have sworn there was only one spoiled Potter child before."
"Snape, that is quite enough, James sit down." Dumbledore said, defusing the situation before it could get seriously out of hand. James sat down slowly, deliberately, while Snape continued to sneer at him from below his oily locks. Miles' heart thumped in his chest, if I had a wand that Bastard wouldn't be sneering right now, he thought. Lily, seeming to know what must be going through her son's mind, reached out and grabbed his hand, squeezing it softly. He looked up at her and once again thanked his lucky stars that he was growing up as her son. She was a great mom.
The large double doors burst open and Sirius, holding Melody around her waist, waltzed in with Remus on his other side.
"Lemondrop?" Dumbledore inquired, it was again declined by all, "Very well," he said sadly, "They're really quite good you know, but I suppose we had better get this meeting underway." He cleared his throat and looked at everyone in turn, "I have called you here today to offer you all a chance to help make Hogwarts bigger and better than ever. With Voldemort," there was a collective cringe at his name, all except Miles, who as usually stood through his name with out response, "finally dead, for sure this time, and so many young witches and wizards now spared from his evil tyranny I believe we need a larger school to begin accommodating them. Thus I have considered getting two teachers for each subject."
"Melody, I hope you will be able to teach potions, you always had a natural aptitude for it at school. Snape will also be teaching it, as before, and I hope you two will find a way to get along," Dumbledore continued, Miles found himself nearly wetting himself with a new found hope that he would never have to deal with Snape again. "Sirius, Remus," Both men looked on at Dumbledore, "With the position of a DADA teacher vacant, once again, I was hoping you would take up that job." Both of them let out a whoop of joy at this, "And you can rest assured that, with Tom finally dead, the curse on the position should be broken."
"So there really was a curse? And what do you mean 'should be broken'?" Sirius asked
"Alas there really was a curse, and, as it started when I denied young Voldemort the job it should be broken now."
"Again with this should stuff," Sirius tried to get in again but Dumbledore had already moved on.
"James, I was hoping that you could help Minerva with Transfiguration."
"I would be honored," he said, "But one quick clarification of the rules, we're aloud to prank students and other teachers, right?"
"James," Lily scolded, "That would be just like you too, scarring poor first years to death on their first day."
"Well, maybe not their first day, well unless they started it. But I have this great idea for one that Sirius and I never got to try in school," He slowed down at the end under the glare of his wife. "Just saying," he muttered. A few of the new teachers, the ones who hadn't had him as their student during his years at Hogwarts, laughed or chuckled, while the other ones looked on in fear.
"Lily, I hope you'll become our sub, you never know when one might be needed, and with another little one on his or her way maybe a full time job will be better put off for a year or so."
"Well that makes a lot of sense, thank you, Professor."
"It will be a girl, who will meet an early and tragic death," Trelawney said, mystically.
"Well at least we know that our child won't die young," James muttered to his wife.
"Alice, I hope you'll accept the job as the Herbology teacher. Frank, I know you already have a job but I also now that, with a child, you have began to think about another line of work, hopefully you'll accept the position as our Care of Magical teachers position."
"I'm not sure that this is much safer but I agree, though we'll need a way to keep track of Neville."
"I wouldn't worry too much about that. He will be free to join you at Hogwarts here and I'm sure everyone will pitch in to make this all possible."
Dumbledore than continued to assign positions to other young, soon to be teachers. All were eager to become teachers. The new History of Magic was a tall and excitable man with blonde hair in a military cut and blue eyes, that'll be a pleasant change, Miles found himself thinking. A young and attractive woman, the mans sister if her blue eyes and blonde hair were any indication, instantly caught the blushing attention of Lupin, as she was given the position of Occlems teacher, a new class only open to a select few. The rest of the positions were handed out to other promising new teachers and everyone was about to leave when Professor Trelawney decided to speak. She spoke a real prophesy once again.
Again Our Hero Shall Arise
He Who Slew the Oppressor Shall Come Again
A New Enemy Comes
As the Age the Chosen One Properly Is
Comes Again
He Shall Rise Once More
Another Battle for the Future
Of Both Worlds
Miles instantly knew what this had to mean. Calling upon the calm that had gotten him through so many hardships and so many battles he forced his emotions down. Rising up slightly in his chair he whispered into his Mum's ear, "Stupify and obliviate Snape."
Lily looked at him quickly, and then saw the logic in his choice. She took her wand and did as she was asked. If Dumbledore objected to this he made no mention, only asked, "James, Lily, Minnie, perhaps you will join me in my office."