Aftermath - Chapter 20 - Professor Potter

Harry just sat there in the chair opposition McGonagall, not quite believing what he just heard.

"You're asking me….to be a professor? At Hogwarts?" he asked her in a disbelieving tone.

"Yes, I am," McGonagall replied evenly. "For a year at least. And I need an answer today."

A professor! At Hogwarts! It was something Harry had fleetingly thought of a few times, something for the future, after he had been an Auror for a number of years. But even as he felt a rush of joy at the thought of working at Hogwarts, of being close to Ginny and his friends every day, of being in the one place he felt was truly home, Harry's mind was suddenly flooded with a million doubts and a million reasons why he couldn't take the job.

"But…but…I never finished Hogwarts. How can I be a professor here?"

McGonagall seemed prepared for his doubts and later Harry guessed all the points he raised were also raised at the staff meeting.

"Neither has Hagrid," she said. "And he's done a fine job as Care of Magical Creatures professor. A bit unorthodox and maybe a bit too enthusiastic for what he calls 'interesting creatures', but none-the-less a fine job."

"Yeah, he's the best," said Harry quickly, his loyalty to Hagrid overcoming the knowledge that some of Hagrid's more 'interesting creatures' were just downright dangerous. Then Harry's mind raced to the next point. "But, I wouldn't know what to teach. Or how. I mean I've never..."

"Been a teacher before?" she asked, cutting him off in mid-sentence. "Really? Think about it."

Harry thought and he knew she was referring to the DA lessons. "Right. I taught a few students a few spells, but that doesn't qualify me to be a professor."

She almost smiled, but kept her eyes stern as usual. "More than a few students and more than a few spells. You taught them things that saved their lives when it mattered most, Potter. You taught them how to make a Patronus, for goodness sake!"

"Yeah, but that was easy…I mean, no, not easy, its just, we wanted to pass our O.W.L's and we were against Umbridge and we knew Voldemort was out there so we had a reason to learn."

"Yes," she said. "Incentive always helps one focus the mind and makes our burdens seem lighter. But can you not bring that same focus to a real classroom?"

"Maybe," said Harry. "I don't even know what books to use or what things to teach first years, let alone seventh years."

"All taken care of," McGonagall answered. "I've been in touch with Professor Lupin's mother and all his notes and study plans and books from when he taught here are safe at her house."

"Oh….that's good," Harry said in a hollow tone and strangely enough he felt like he was losing a battle he wasn't prepared for. He did want the job, didn't he? Then he suddenly thought of something else. "Sorry, Professor, but I have a job already. I'm in training to be an Auror."

"Yes, I thought you'd bring that up. I've had a word this morning with Kingsley about that," McGonagall said and Harry just sighed, knowing what was coming, and for some strange reason felt like he was cornered. "And I'm sure he's spoken to Charlie George already. I said that all your classes here can be in the morning and you can still do Auror training in the afternoons. It might take you a bit longer to finish the course, but Kingsley says Charlie George raves on about you and said you are already way far ahead of any student he ever had."

Harry grinned a bit. "He said that?"

McGonagall smiled briefly. "He did indeed."

Harry suddenly felt like he had no more excuses. Now he felt like he was grasping at straws just to see if there was no way out.

"Will I get paid?" He had forgotten to ask if Hermione ever found out about that point.

For the first time McGonagall's sureness faltered a bit. "Well, not by the Ministry of Magic. I received an owl this morning from the head accountant there, Melissa Welsh, and she said that under no circumstances will you or Miss Granger receive one Knut from the Ministry for working here until you've graduated. It seems like you've already trod on her toes once, said Kingsley."

"Yeah," said Harry. "I'm not Melissa Welsh's favorite person in the world."

"Not to worry, though," McGonagall replied. "Professor Dumbledore left a sizeable part of his estate to Hogwarts and we have sufficient funds to pay both you and Miss Granger."

"Oh," said Harry in a small voice. "Seems like you've thought of everything. I guess I really have no choice then." Soon as he said the words he wished he hadn't.

McGonagall looked at him very sternly and even looked a little mad.

"You most certainly do have a choice," she said in a steely tone. "Potter, if you don't want the job, just say so. But really, what's bothering you? You seem of two minds about this."

He wanted it, badly, but there was a nagging doubt in the back of his head.

"I do want to take your offer," Harry said, speaking quietly, as if telling someone a deep secret. "Actually, it's what I would have liked to do later, after being an Auror for a bit. Just, I feel…I mean….I don't think I'm up to the job, that's all. I don't think I'm good enough. Not to teach here."

"Nonsense," said a new voice and with a start Harry looked up at Dumbledore's portrait. He wasn't sleeping at all and had been listening to them.

"Professor?"

"That's what I shall be calling you in the fall, Harry," said Dumbledore, with that old twinkle still in his eyes. "You are good enough, much better than some, whom I won't name, who have taught the subject before you. Hogwarts needs you, maybe for just a year or two, but the school calls on you for your services. Will you answer the call?"

Harry now felt a bit embarrassed. How could he say no? But he had one more doubt. "People think I'm this great wizard because I killed Voldemort. But that was a lot of luck and hard work and I didn't do it all by myself."

"Yes, very true," said Dumbledore. "But it's for this very reason you will make a great teacher. You have a wealth of experience, far more than most witches and wizards, in fighting the Dark Arts."

"What if the students give me a hard time?" Harry said and after he said it regretted it because he sounded like whiny little boy.

But they didn't seem to notice or care if they did. "Classroom management will be an issue, no doubt,' said McGonagall. "But that is what detention and house points are for. Apply punishment liberally and without favoritism your first week and no one will ever give you trouble again."

"I still think we should bring back the chains and whips," said another voice, a woman's, and Harry spun around and realized almost all the portraits were awake and listening.

"Yes, and I wish I could still taste lemon drops,' said Dumbledore to no one in particular. "But that is not going to happen, either. So, Harry, will you join the Hogwarts staff?"

Harry grinned and knew he couldn't say no, not when Dumbledore asked him to do something for Hogwarts and not when McGonagall had gone through so much trouble to arrange it.

"Yes," Harry said, feeling it was the right thing to do despite all his doubts.

McGonagall stood and stuck out her hand. As Harry shook it she said. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Professor Potter. Let me show you your office."

"My office?!?" sputtered Harry, a stunned look on his face.

"Of course," she answered. "You are a teacher here so you must have your own office." With that she started for the door and Harry just had time to say goodbye to Dumbledore and as he was leaving he could hear the ex-Headmasters and ex-Headmistresses start arguing over the merits of corporal punishment versus detention and taking away house points.

Harry felt as if he was walking on air as he followed McGonagall. After all his doubts he expressed he knew in his heart he wanted the job. Just….he was only 18! Some of the students would be the same age as him. He remembered how Dumbledore told him Tom Riddle was refused a teaching post after he finished Hogwarts because he was too young. Then he had another agonizing thought. Ginny and Hermione and Luna and Dean and Neville and Seamus were going to be in his class! Of course, maybe that wasn't too bad, since he had taught them before and at least they wouldn't give him a hard time. But then he would have to grade them and set exams and…bloody hell.

Soon they were in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, the same classroom Harry had sat in for six years of his life. His teachers had been Quirrell, Lockhart, Lupin, Moody, Umbridge, and Snape. Without a doubt Lupin was the best and Umbridge the worst. Quirrell hadn't really been bad, but not good either, and of course he wasn't really himself, not with Voldemort stuck on the back of his head. Lockhart had been more concerned with his image and his book sales than with teaching. Moody was also good, but that wasn't the real Moody, but Barty Crouch Junior. Come to think of, he wasn't a bad teacher for a raving lunatic Death Eater. Snape was very good, too, Harry had to admit to himself. Just, Harry found it was hard to judge the man fairly when he had bullied him so much for six years.

They entered the office and Filch was there with a bucket and mop and had obviously been cleaning. "Good afternoon, Headmistress. Got it all squared away. Still think you should reconsider…oh, it's you." He had seen Harry and his face took on its usual scowl.

McGonagall glared at Filch. "Mr. Filch, Mr. Potter has accepted the position so you shall address him as Professor Potter, or Professor, and nothing else from now on."

Filch's face turned purple, but he nodded. "Of course, Headmistress. Your office is ready…Professor Potter." The last part almost stuck in his caw but he managed to say it without choking on the words.

With a look of deep loathing for Harry, Filch took his bucket and mop and left, mumbling to himself that the school was going to the dogs.

"Don't mind him," said McGonagall. "I don't think he's smiled once since Umbridge got the sack two years ago. So, here we are. All yours for the year, but, perhaps, if you don't mind, could you share it with Miss Granger?"

"Of course," Harry said with a smile. It would be good to have Hermione here to help him when he got stuck.

"Just, she will have only a few classes and you will most likely not be here in the afternoons and it seems such a bother to get another office ready."

"No," said Harry quickly. "It's no problem. In fact, I think it's a great idea."

McGonagall nodded. "Excellent." She waved her wand and a new desk and chair appeared in the corner. "Arrange the room as you see fit. Is there anything else you need?"

"Maybe some more bookcases?" Harry said, imagining Hermione would have half the library in here by years end.

"Yes, Miss Granger does have a love of books," said McGonagall and with another wave of her wand two new bookcases with four selves each appeared near the new desk. "That's all for now I guess…oh…just one more thing." She pulled a scroll of parchment out of her robes. She passed it to Harry. "Your contract, stipulating your term of service, one year for now, your duties and your pay. Please read it and sign both copies and give one to me."

"Now?"

"Yes," she said, a bit impatiently. "I have so many things to take care of before the term starts and I want this last staff position filled immediately."

Harry went to his desk and there was already ink and a quill there on top. He sat down and unrolled the scroll. There were two pieces of parchment rolled together, both exactly the same. At the top was the school emblem and name, the emblem of the Ministry of Magic, and then below was the contract.

Standard One Year Contract for Magical Instructor's Position

Name - Harry James Potter

Position – Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts

Term of Service – One Year

Dates - September 1, 1998 – August 31, 1999.

The term of service is to be renewed on a yearly basis if it is so desired by the Instructor and the school. After five years continuous service the Instructor may apply for tenure position as a permanent Instructor.

Duties: As listed below and whatever shall be asked of the Instructor by the Headmistress.

1. Prepare lessons and teach first to seventh year students. Number of hours and class times to be set by the Headmistress.

2. Prepare exams and practical tests for all students in all classes.

3. Grade all exams and practical tests and submit said grades to Headmistress in a timely manner.

4. Prepare 5th and 7th year students for O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams.

5. Maintain discipline and order both in classroom and on school grounds at all times.

6. Attend all staff meetings unless in ill health or otherwise indisposed.

Benefits

Salary – 300 Galleons per month, minus normal deductions

Office – Instructor shall be provided with a furnished office

Lodging - Instructor shall have furnished lodgings free of charge on school grounds for the term of the contract. Meals may be taken free of charge in the Great Hall with faculty and student body.

Vacation – 14 days Christmas and New Years, Easter weekend, 2 months summer vacation July/August (instructors must be available during summer vacation time for periodic staff meetings and preparation for new school term)

This contract is binding on both parties under the laws of the Ministry of Magic. Any disputes related to this contact shall be settled before a committee of arbitration.

Headmistress – Prof. Minerva McGonagall.

Instructor - _______________________ Harry James Potter

Harry signed both copies in the blank space next to his name, gave one to McGonagall, kept one for himself, and then realized something. "I get lodgings?"

She just sighed. "Oh, yes, I'd had completely forgotten about that. During the school year most professors stay here. I was thinking you could have Professor Snape's old lodgings."

Harry had an immediately feeling of distaste, that he wanted nothing to do with wherever Snape had lived in the school. "Oh…ah…sorry…but…"

"No? No, I suppose not. Not your favorite person, was he? Poor Severus, such a terrible burden he carried all those years, unable to tell anyone but Dumbledore."

"Sorry…just, I know he was brave and all, and he did a lot for us, but, well, he was kind of hard on me. Sorry, I guess I shouldn't speak ill of the dead."

"Not to worry, Potter, we all had many harsh things to say about him, especially in the last year," McGonagall said with a touch of sadness. "Well, I'll see what we can come up with for lodgings for you before September comes. Oh, and by the way, I know there is nothing in the contract, but Hogwarts has a strict policy on teacher-student…ah.. relationships."

"Sorry?"

"You and Miss Weasley…you are in a relationship, yes?"

Harry felt his face grow all hot. "Yes…I guess we are."

She smiled slightly. "Good. But seeing as you are now a professor and she is still a student, you need to maintain a sense of decorum. So there shall be no…contact…between the two of you on school grounds. Do I make myself clear?"

Now Harry knew his cheeks were red. "Yes, Professor. Very clear."

"Good," she said and Harry felt that she was relieved, as if she had just finished a rather unpleasant duty. "There is a meeting on August 12 at 2 PM in the staff room and I expect you and Miss Granger to be there. Again, thank you for doing this. I'm sure you'll do fine, Professor Potter."

With that she made her goodbyes and then Harry just sat down at his desk again and marveled at what a strange day it was. Him, a Hogwarts Professor!

"Congratulations!" said a voice and Harry nearly jumped out of his skin as the ghostly form of Nearly Headless Nick shot up out of the middle of Harry's desk. "The youngest professor in Hogwarts' history, I believe."

"Really?" said Harry after his heart stopped hammering. "Imagine that."

"Yes, yes, quite an honor," said Nick. "All the ghosts and paintings are talking about it all over the school. Very impressed they are and well they should be. But I'd still be careful of Peeves. He's already making plans to disrupt your first class."

"Peeves isn't allowed in classrooms during teaching hours. He knows he'll be banished if he does so."

"True," Nick said. "But he thinks he might be able to bend the rules a bit with you. Best put him in his place before school begins. I'd threatened to tell the Bloody Baron what he is planning and that should put an end to it." Then with a goodbye and a tilt of his head, which flopped grotesquely, Nearly Headless Nick floated through a wall and was gone.

Peeves was just one more thing to think about, Harry thought glumly. He had a thousand things to do. First, get Lupin's stuff, then sort through it, and make a plan for each class. He was going to teach at least seven classes, one for each year, and maybe more if there were a lot of students. He'd need lots of help and he was sure McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout and Slughorn would do their best to advise him. Still, it was going to be tough.

Worst of all was no contact with Ginny on school grounds. No holding hands, no snogging in the corners, no inviting her to his quarters…and she couldn't leave school on weekends to go to Grimmauld Place. The last two months had been like a dream and in another month the dream would end. Harry was determined to make the best of the remainder of the summer. Soon he was outside again and walking down the slope toward Hagrid's cabin.

"So, its Professor Potter now is it?" asked Hagrid as soon as he opened the door to his cabin for Harry.

"Yeah, thanks to you," Harry said with a big grin. He spent the next hour with Hagrid, drinking tea and telling him all that happened.

"Blimey, Harry," said Hagrid, his voice full of emotion. "You and me, teachin' together. Who'd have guess it, what?"

"Not me, that's for sure," said Harry, still a bit stunned. He knew it was all thanks to his big friend. "Hagrid, thanks for all you've done over the years. I…I don't think I could have done it all without you."

Hagrid's eyes filled with tears and he took Harry in a big crushing bear hug. "Yeh and Ron and Hermione is me best pals in the whole world. And don't yeh ever ferget it!"

"We won't," Harry managed to say, barely able to breathe. After Hagrid let him go and wiped his eyes, Harry felt a bit like crying too, from the pain of the hug, not from emotion. After a few more minutes he said he had to be on his way and tell everyone else the news.

"So I'll see yeh on August 12 fer the big meetin'. And tell the others not ter be such strangers," Hagrid said as he waved goodbye to Harry.

The first place he went to was the joke shop in Hogsmeade and he told Ron right away.

Ron's mouth just opened and he gaped at Harry. "Unbelievable," he finally said and then sat down on a box, a stunned look on his face.

"Yeah," said Harry. "I guess that's how I looked when McGonagall told me."

"But what about being an Auror?" Ron asked suddenly.

"Reckon I can do both," Harry replied and explained the plan. "Be a bit tough, but I'm sure I can manage."

"Yeah," said Ron in awe. "Professor Potter. Wait till Ginny and Hermione hear about this!"

Ginny heard about it as soon as Harry got back to the Burrow around 5 PM. As they were sitting in the kitchen Harry explained it to her and her mother. In stunned disbelief, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley just stared at him. Then they were just shrieking and hugging and kissing him and he was all flustered and overwhelmed.

"Now don't you be going playing favorites for Ginny and Hermione and the rest of your friends," said Mrs. Weasley in a stern tone. "Make sure they behave and give them lots of homework, every night!"

"Mum!" Ginny said with a glare. "Give him a break, already! He's just found out. I'm sure he'll be a great professor, won't you Harry?"

"Ah, yeah," he said and then he started talking about his doubts and they listened and encouraged him and Ginny said if anyone got out of line she'd give them a Bat-Bogey Hex that would last a week. Harry had a good chuckle and felt much better after that.

After a bit, Harry changed his clothes and he and Ginny went for a walk. They stopped at their favorite snogging place and sat down. Harry knew he'd have to tell her eventually so just came out with it. "You know, McGonagall said that Hogwarts has a strict policy on student-teacher relationships."

She looked at him strangely. "What…oh. OH!"

"Yeah," he said quietly.

"You mean she knows about us?"

'Yeah, she does. Reckon a lot of people do by now."

"What did she say exactly?" Ginny asked and Harry told her.

"No contact," said Ginny. "Meaning no…holding hands?"

"Or snogging or…you know, anything, not on school grounds at least," Harry said glumly. 'Maybe not even in Hogsmeade. Too many students could see us."

"They're such prudes," Ginny said in a grumpy tone. "As if no one ever had sex at Hogwarts! What rubbish! The stories I've heard about the fourth floor broom closet. And the prefect's bathroom!"

"What?" Harry had never heard any of these stories.

"Oh, just rumors, I guess,' said Ginny. "But most rumors have some truth to them. But, bloody hell, all the older students are always looking for a place to snog. It's natural! Why can't we?"

"But I won't be a student," said Harry. "I'll be a professor."

"Oh, right," she said quietly, and then suddenly turned to him with a grin. "So, Professor Potter, if I'm a bad student, what will you do to me?"

Harry gulped. She was such a tease it drove him wild. "Might have to ask you to come to my office for detention."

"And what would my detention be?" she purred as she ran her hand along his thigh.

"Ah…write lines?"

She laughed a bit. "That's not very sexy."

"While wearing that outfit Fleur gave you?" he ventured.

"Better," she said. "And what would my lines be?"

"Ah…er….I won't show my knickers in class anymore?"

She just looked at him in astonishment and then they both cracked up in gales of laughter.

"So," Ginny said after they both caught their breath. "We have only one month left. What would you like to do with that time?"

"Spend as much of it with you as I can."

"Good," she said and then she kissed him and they lay down in the deep grass and for a few moments they were lost to the world. Then they heard Mrs. Weasley shouting for them that it was supper time. Reluctantly, they got up and started back toward the Burrow. Ginny just spotted and managed to pull a piece of grass out of Harry's hair before they got to the house.

The talk that night was all about Harry's surprise and by next morning the news of Harry's appointment as Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts was known throughout the wizarding world of Britain. It was headline news in the Daily Prophet on Tuesday morning, Harry's picture on the front page again. How they found out, Harry didn't know or care. The long article was critical of McGonagall for appointing someone so young, but it did state that not many people wanted the job, believing it was jinxed, and with Harry's experience he was sure to do a decent job. Harry was just about to Apparate off to work with Mr. Weasley, soon after George and Ron had already left, when Hermione suddenly appeared outside the Burrow clutching the Daily Prophet in her hand. She saw Harry, shrieked, and ran right into his arms.

"It's fantastic!" she said, her face all aglow. "When did you find out?"

"Just yesterday," he said and then felt a twinge of guilt. "Was going to send you an owl this morning."

"No need now," she replied, still full of excitement. "So, me and you…professors at Hogwarts!"

"And we get to share an office," Harry said and he explained what had happened.

"Excellent!" Hermione said. "I was wondering if they would give me an office. I'll head up there today and arrange the office…well, I mean, it's really your office, so…can I?"

Harry grinned. "Of course. Just leave a bit of space for me, okay?"

"Harry," said Mr. Weasley, who had been standing there the whole time. "Time we were off."

"Right," said Harry.

"Let the men get to work now and come in and have some tea," said Mrs. Weasley to Hermione from the kitchen doorway and after quick goodbyes, in a flash Harry and Mr. Weasley were at the Ministry of Magic.

Harry was dreading this morning, the look on Charlie George's face especially. He didn't even have to wait to get to the Auror office before getting some distinctively surly stares from people. He was used to it by now, his years of enduring disgruntled looks and whispering behind his back at Hogwarts had given him a thick skin. As Harry waited for the elevator, he heard one old witch, the same one he was sure who had commented on him being an Auror, say to another witch. "Potter…a Hogwarts professor? Preposterous! He's too young!"

Harry would have laughed if he wasn't so worried about Charlie George's reaction to the news. But Harry needn't have worried as Charlie George greeted him with a big smile and an outstretched hand, which Harry shook, as soon as he entered the Auror office.

"Congratulations, Harry! Well done! Youngest ever Hogwart's professor!"

Harry was surprised. "You're not mad?"

"Of course not," said Charlie George. "As a matter of fact, it's great training for the future, being a teacher."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," he said in a kind of conspiratorial tone. "I'm sort of looking for a protégée, so to speak. Someone to take over for me in five or ten years time."

"Oh…you mean me? Teach other Aurors?"

"Yes, I do mean you."

"But…are you going to retire?"

"No, no," he said and then whispered very low. "Might be in charge here someday."

"Oh, that's fantastic!" said Harry with a big smile.

"Yes, yes, nothing set in stone mind you, so mum's the word, but the head of the Auror office and Kingsley have already mentioned it and seems like it could happen. So, as you can imagine, I'd need someone to replace me. And it is a good stepping stone to some day being head of office."

Harry was flabbergasted. "Charlie, I haven't even finished three months training and you've already got my career planned for me."

Charlie George just grinned. "Bit much to take in, isn't it? Well, better to have a plan then none at all, like most of this lot around here. Half of them end up retiring early, strain is too much, and then they have no plan. Some go to other offices, but that's a bit of a boring life after what we've been doing for a living. Some end up like old Mad-Eye, seeing plots to kill them everywhere. And a few, like Kingsley, well, they go right to the top."

"I guess it makes sense to have a plan," Harry said feebly, not sure his mind could take in any more surprises today.

"Quite right. So," said Charlie George. "Off to class we go. Oh, and Harry, one more thing. Once you get your schedule from McGonagall, we'll have to work out how we'll fit your Auror training in. Might even have to do it on weekends."

Harry's heart sank. Weekends were for fun and spending time with Ginny. He didn't relish the idea of spending a freezing cold winter Saturday working his way through knee deep snow on the obstacle course in Scotland. But he knew he had to show Charlie George he was still dedicated to being an Auror. "Whatever it takes, I'm for it."

"That's the spirit!" said Charlie George as they headed to the classroom. As Harry sat and they talked about different protective detail scenarios that they would be practicing in Scotland soon, Harry's mind wandered a bit and he wondered if he had bitten off more than he could chew. One thing was for sure, the next year would be very interesting indeed.