Harry gasped in the chilly air as he landed in front of Hogwarts. He had just apparated and felt as though his organs were about to burst. Harry put his hand up to cover his eyes, squinting in the sun. So much so that he didn't see Filch in front of him until the grumpy caretaker growled at him. "Coming in?!" Harry jumped, slipping through to opened crack in the iron rod gates that guarded the gravel drive to Hogwarts castle. Harry could feel Filch's eyes on him as they made their way to the front doors.

"Eh, had a nice summer?" Harry started politely.

Filched grunted, hobbling up the path in front of Harry. An awkward ten minutes later and they had reached the doors. Filch accompanied Harry to the entrance hall where he then fled to the dungeons. Harry sighed, he knew Filch had lost Mrs. Norris after the battle and assumed this was the reasoning behind his pleasant silence.

Harry routinely made his way to the headmast – headmistress's office. He had been right in his assumption that most students were in their common rooms. He didn't run into a single person until he arrived in front of the gargoyle staircase that led to Professor McGonagall's office.

"Erm, I don't know the password, I am just here to see Professor McGonagall."

At this the gargoyle swung open. Harry stepped on the first step and allowed the spiraling staircase to deliver him to the office door. He knocked lightly, awaiting a welcome.

"Come in."

"Hi, Professor." Harry grinned. It was a comforting sight seeing Professor McGonagall in Dumbledore's old office. She had kept almost everything the same except he noticed a couple of family photographs on her desk, including one of the Gryffindor Quidditch team after they had won the Quidditch cup Harry's third year at Hogwarts. Dumbledore's old trinkets had not moved from the last time Harry stood in the office. His eyes flew to a cabinet on his right in which a large silver basin was housed. Harry's heart ached as he remembered spending the last of his favored Professor's days in Voldemort's memories.

"Mr. Potter, how good it is to see you." Professor McGonagall embraced Harry. "You must be wondering why I've asked for a meeting with you." She stated, beckoning for Harry to take a seat in front of her desk.

"I'm curious." Harry answered.

"I will be frank, and ask this outright. As I'm sure you know our Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor has been let go – "

"Yea Hermione, Ron and I were wondering about that. What happened?" Harry interrupted.

Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows.

"Oh, sorry, continue."

"Mr. Scrimage was a Ministry suggestion. To keep on good terms I permitted Mr. Scrimage to come in for a test month. In which he would teach Defense classes under my strict supervision. This did not work out as he was a complete dimwit and knew absolutely nothing about the Dark Arts." McGonagall's eyes twinkled, "He never tried to teach first years unforgiveable curses."

Harry grinned, "That's the Daily Prophet news for you."

"Agreed. Anyways, we are currently looking to fill the position. After talking with the Hogwart's board of education we decided to extend the job opening to you Mr. Potter."

Harry felt the color drain from his face. "Me?"

Professor McGonagall nodded, studying him carefully.

"I can't teach Professor."

"Why is that?"

"I know nothing! I barely finished my seventh year!"

"But you did, and you walked away with all of your N.E.W.T's. Besides that this position isn't being offered to you because of your test scores. This position is being offered to you because of your life experiences."

"So you are giving me a teaching job because I defeated Voldemort?"

"No, we are offering you a teaching position because you have been battling the dark arts for seventeen years and successfully managed to defeat and destroy the darkest wizard of our age and his entire following without ever losing who you are as a person. Harry, this decision was not brought about lightly, I hope you understand. It is not with ease that I hand over an entire subject of my school to an eighteen year old wizard."

Harry stared, open-mouthed at her.

"It's a proposition, and I expect an answer within a week. We will need to fill the position as quickly as possible and if you decline we will need to begin searching for other candidates. Mr. Potter, this would be a year-round position with housing, a yearly salary and benefits. This is what we are prepared to offer," Professor McGonagall handed him a wax-sealed envelope, "Please send word by owl if you intend to accept. You will sign paperwork when you return to Hogwarts."

She stood, following her lead Harry did as well, still unable to speak. She led him to the door and shook his hand. "Safe travels home."

Harry opened the door and went to step on the staircase that was already spiraling down to deliver him safely to the floor below.

"Oh and Mr. Potter. I do hope that emotions and hurt friendships will not affect your ability to see the benefits of taking this position. I look forward to your answer." And with that she shut the door and Harry was left staring at the sealed envelope in his hand.

Harry's feet carried him back to the entrance hall but his mind was elsewhere. He was being offered a position at Hogwarts to teach. To teach his favorite subject. He couldn't teach here, could he? He could barely walk through the front doors without his heart hurting. But then again, would time fix that? Would people respect him? He would only be a year older than the seventh years he would be teaching. As he ran through the possibilities in his mind he hardly noticed running into a small-framed girl at the bottom of the grand staircase.

"Oh sor –" He stopped, straightening up slowly. Ginny.

"What are you doing here?" She hissed. Snatching up the bag Harry had knocked off her shoulder when he collided with her.

"I had a meeting with Professor McGonagall."

Ginny's face softened, he could tell she wanted to ask more.

"She wants to offer me the Defense position."

At this Ginny's face hardened again. "You're saying no, right?"

"Erm, I don't know what I'm going to say yet."

"I thought you had to 'move on', I thought you couldn't stand to be around me and your previous life. You do realize that coming back to Hogwarts would…" Ginny stopped, she let out a small gasp as though just realizing something. "You said that to leave me. Oh, how could I be so stupid?" She tried to push past Harry and he grabbed her elbow.

"Ginny, no. You can't believe that."

She turned back to him, her eyes welled with tears.

"Harry, I've been holding onto anger this whole time because it's the only thing that let me hate you. I had to be able to hate you because if I didn't I would miss you, and if I missed you I would fall apart."

Harry let go of her elbow. "I'm sorry." He muttered, turning to leave. He walked slowly back down the staircase until he couldn't hear Ginny's hurried footsteps anymore. He made his way back to the iron gates without Filch, pushing them open he slipped through a small crack again and with a last longing glance at the castle, he apparated back home to London.