Aftermath – Chapter 21 – End of Summer
August dragged on and on and for Harry it seemed like it would last forever. That was good in a way, because he had precious little time to do the things he wanted to do, like be with Ginny in his home at Grimmauld Place. He was also glad it dragged on because he was dreading being a professor at Hogwarts. After all the excitement of the first few days, he was suddenly confronted with the image of him standing in front of a bunch of students and trying to teach them. It would not be the same as the DA. Everyone was excited and willing to learn there, well almost everyone if you didn't count Cho's friend who ended up with "SNEAK" across her face in angry red spots. But in a real class it would be different. Harry, like most students, had always viewed teachers as a sort of enemy, someone you had to please in order to pass, someone you had to get around to have some fun, and someone who could cause you untold amounts of misery if they caught you trying to have said fun.
The main reason the summer dragged though, when Harry looked back on it many months later, was because of Charlie George. He became obsessive about Harry's training, trying to squeeze as much in as he could before Harry's attention would be diverted by his teaching schedule. They dispensed with the morning classroom work and were off to the mock village and obstacle course in Scotland as often as possible. Harry was bruised, battered, and exhausted from all the training he did. Charlie George even insisted on doing some work on Saturdays and they started right away that first weekend after Harry learned he was to be a professor.
Ginny took pity on him after seeing him barely able to walk through the door of the Burrow when he came home late that afternoon. She cancelled a planned date and they just went to Grimmauld Place and she ran Harry a bath, which he crawled into and let the hot water seep through his body and bring him some measure of relief. Afterwards they just lay in bed and snuggled and Harry fell into a deep sleep which he did not awake from until noon on Sunday.
"I'm going to have a word with that Charlie George!" Ginny snarled as they sat for a late breakfast in the kitchen. Harry could barely lift a spoonful of oatmeal to his mouth. "This is too much!"
He shook his head. "No, please, it's all right. I'll stick it out. I asked for it after all."
She just glared off into space, seemed about to say something, then just shook her head and took a sip of tea, her eyes still full of anger. Then Kreacher walked into the kitchen and placed a small glass jar of something on the table. Inside was a gluttonous black substance.
"Ah…Kreacher. What's this? Elf jam?" Harry asked as he looked at the jar.
"Elf jam indeed," said Kreacher in a huff. "Master jokes with old Kreacher. House-elves eats same food as humans eats, not like disgusting goblins."
"Then what is it?" asked Ginny, sounding impatient at the old house-elf's self-pity.
"This is for Master's aches. Is used by all house-elves when we feels the pain of working too hard. Just rub some on Master's bruises and sore spots and Master will feel better."
"Thank you, Kreacher," Harry said as he took the top off of the jar. His face immediately screwed up in distaste and his eyes watered. "What a stench!"
"It's awful!" Ginny gasped as she got a whiff and she immediately clamped her hand to her nose and mouth. "Close it quick!" And Harry did so.
Kreacher did not seem to even notice the smell. "Medicine is not perfume," he said in a 'I know better than you tone'. Then he reached for the jar, seeming quite hurt. "If Master does not want or appreciate Kreacher's help…then by all means…"
"No," said Harry quickly, too exhausted for a scene with Kreacher. "I'll use it." He took the jar and Kreacher bowed and left the room.
Kreacher had been right, of course. Harry was in pain and needed something. After they ate they went to the upper bathroom that was rarely used to apply the paste. They chose this room so at least the stench would not get into places where they frequented. Ginny knew a spell her mother had taught her to reduce household stenches and she cast the spell, hoping it could cut down on the stench. The room seemed to be filled with fresh spring flowers. Harry opened the jar and the stench was still noticeable, but much less so. Ginny used a cloth to apply the black paste to Harry's bruises and almost instantly he found relief. The substance was warm and soothing and after not five minutes Harry felt like he had never been in pain at all.
"Elf magic," Ginny said in awe as she replaced the cover on the jar and held it up.
Kreacher's elf magic cure helped ease Harry's ache and pains, but not his work load. The following Wednesday was August 12 and his first big Hogwarts staff meeting. In the afternoon Harry was excused Auror training and headed to Hogwarts. With a certain sense of nervousness he found himself sitting next to an also nervous Hermione. They were in the teacher's staff room, a place Harry and Hermione had only been in a few times, and all were sitting in a circle in big soft armchairs with small tables next to each chair. Hagrid, of course, had his own sofa to himself, which threatened to break at any moment as it sagged under his weight. Harry quickly noted that only the professors were here, and that the non-teaching staff, like Filch and Madam Pomfrey, were not in attendance.
Harry said hello to all he knew, getting a big welcome from Professor Slughorn, who raved on once more about Harry's potion making ability, which caused Hermione to make a small disgruntled sound which Slughorn missed or chose to ignore. Harry was also introduced to some professors he had never met, including an aged man with graying hair, Professor Septima Vector, who taught Arithmancy, and praised Hermione's skills at this very difficult magic skill. There was also a middle aged woman with brown hair name Professor Bathsheda Babbling, who taught Ancient Runes and was also well-acquainted with Hermione and her abilities. When Hermione told her that she used the lessons learned in her class while searching for the Horcruxes, Professor Babbling beamed with pride and said she was happy to have done her small part in stopping the evil of Voldemort. The only professor missing was Binns, the History of Magic teacher, who was a ghost. Harry soon learned that he never attended meetings, that his schedule was always the same, and that no one saw much of him during the vacation time. But he always showed up at the beginning of September to teach, to the dread of all Hogwarts students since he was the most boring professor in the whole school.
Tea and snacks were served by some house elves, and their appearance drew a sharp look of disapproval from Hermione, but she held her tongue. Once all were settled McGonagall began the meeting.
"As I see everyone knows or at least has met our two new instructors, let's get down to business. First, your schedules."
She waved her wand and out of thin air popped a scroll next to each professor on their small tables. All took and opened them as did Harry and Hermione.
It was what he expected. He had seven classes, one for each year. Each class was 45 minutes with a 15 minute break between classes. On Monday, he had the 1st years at 9 AM, 2nd years at 10 AM, 3rd years at 11 AM. On Tuesday it was the same except he had the 4th, 5th, and 6th years. On Wednesday morning he had a double period with the 7th years, from 10 AM to 11:30 AM. Then his Monday schedule repeated on Thursday and his Tuesday schedule repeated on Friday.
Harry knew that all 1st to 5th year students had to take his class and most 6th and 7th years also selected it so that's why his schedule was so full. From his own experience he knew that there was set of core classes that all students had to take from 1st to 5th years. These included History of Magic, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, Astronomy, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. While 1st and 2nd year students had no choice in their classes, 3rd years and above had some choice and flexibility. They could take other classes like Care of Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes, Divination, and so on. Then after 5th year, the courses taken depended on one's chosen career path and on how well one did with the 5th year O.W.L. exams.
As Harry was thinking on this he saw Hermione's hand shoot up in the air.
"Professor Granger, there is no need for that," said McGonagall politely. "Just ask a question if you wish."
Hermione turned slightly pink and dropped her hand immediately. "I was just wondering when we will know how many students we will have in each class."
"You will receive final class lists before classes begin,' she said. "Now are there anymore questions?"
At once several people raised problems with their schedules and soon there was a jockeying for favorite time slots. Some didn't want morning classes and some didn't want later afternoons. McGonagall tried to accommodate them as well as she could and after almost an hour of this, everyone seemed satisfied. More than once Harry's schedule came up in this discussion as people tried to trade him time slots, but McGonagall had to say more than once that Harry's schedule was set and would not be changed. As they sat and listened, Harry and Hermione traded schedules and he saw that she had only four classes, all of them in the afternoon, two on Tuesday and two on Thursday.
"Not much interest in Muggle Studies," she whispered, obviously disappointed.
"Remember you still have to study for your own classes," Harry whispered back and she just nodded. He knew she would have no problems, having lots of experience juggling schedules. He, however, looked like he was never going to have a moments peace between teaching and training.
The next point McGonagall brought up was about stay-at-home students. "This year we return to our policy of helping parents with stay-at-home students," she began. Harry wondered why she had said "return" and then remembered that last year all wizarding family children had been forced to attend Hogwarts by the new regime.
"As some of them will be preparing for O.W.L's and N.E.W.T's ," McGonagall continued. "We will be having them come to the school for pre-examinations. For our new professors," she looked at Harry and Hermione when she said this. "This means we test them and if they are not up to doing their exams we recommend extra study."
McGonagall went on about this for a short time and then moved onto the next item. "I think we are all in agreement that the Quidditch Cup will be contested once more this year. Contested fairly, I mean. The captains have already been picked and Madam Hooch will set the schedule very soon."
All quickly agreed, with Slughorn promising that Slytherin would take the trophy fairly this year. Harry had learned that only one game of Quidditch had been played last year between Gryffindor and Slytherin. The two Carrows had decided to be referees and were so blatantly and unfairly for Slytherin, their old house, that Ginny and the other Gryffindor players left the pitch after only 15 minutes and refused to play the rest of the game. Slytherin was winning just by a bit and no one had caught the Snitch, but every move a Gryffindor player had made had resulted in a penalty shot while the two referees had ignored the most obvious fouls by the Slytherin team. When both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw refused to play if the Carrows were referring, the Carrows decided that since all teams forfeited, Slytherin was the Quidditch Cup winner.
"And not to worry Headmistress," Slughorn said. "I've already erased my house's name from the cup for last year. It is now in the trophy room where it shall stay until a new winner is decided."
"Thank you Professor Slughorn," McGonagall said. "Now, it has come to mine and Mr. Filch's attention that the Weasley brothers joke shop is operating a branch in Hogsmeade."
As she said this, she looked over her glasses at both Hermione and Harry, who both wished they could Apparate away from her glare.
"Now while we cannot ban the students from their shop, under no circumstances will any of their so called 'joke' products be allowed on school grounds," McGonagall continued and then looked back at Harry and Hermione. "I would appreciate if you pass that message on to Misters George and Ronald Weasley."
"Yes, Professor," said Harry right away as Hermione just quickly said yes also.
"Good," McGonagall said. "Now, is there anything we've missed?"
A few more minor points were brought up and then McGonagall called the meeting to a close and asked everyone to make sure they were here and ready for the first day of school. As Harry and Hermione were about to leave with the rest, having already promised to visit Hagrid's place afterwards, McGonagall asked them to follow her to her office. They told Hagrid they would be down soon as they could and then followed the headmistress to her office, where Harry immediately looked at Dumbledore's portrait but he was sleeping. McGonagall conjured chairs for them and as soon as all three had sat down she looked at them very seriously.
"I must explain a few school rules to you," she said and Harry had a feeling this was going to be more about student-teacher relationships and no contact. He was right, but in a much different way than he had expected.
"First, in the Great Hall, students and teachers take meals together," she began. "But not at the same tables."
Harry was puzzled, not understanding what she was getting at. But as usual Hermione knew what she meant.
"You mean we have to eat at the staff table?" Hermione guessed.
"Not always for you Miss…sorry, Professor Granger," McGonagall replied. "But for the opening day feast, for Halloween, the end of year feast and such you must be present at the staff table in your best dress robes. All other times you may take your meals with the Gryffindor students."
"What about me, Professor?" Harry asked.
She looked a little sad as she spoke. "I am afraid Professor Potter, that as a full time teacher you must take all your meals at the staff table."
Harry felt his heart sink. "But…Gryffindor is my house and all my friends are…"
"I'm sorry," said McGonagall. "I know it will be hard, but you must not see them as your friends. They are your students now. There is an old tradition here that staff and students do not mix outside of classroom. It helps to maintain discipline and to maintain the expected high standards parents have of Hogwarts. Of course, there are those like Professor Slughorn who bend this rule a bit, and many professors have had their favorite students over the years. But the rules about the Great Hall and meal times are never broken and have not as long as I can remember."
Harry knew there was one excepted to that rule, the feast they had at the end of the Battle of Hogwarts where everyone had sat everywhere and did as they pleased. But he knew she was right. Not once did Hagrid ever sit at the Gryffindor table even though most of the students there were very friendly with him. Nor had Snape ever sat at Slytherin's table or any professor ever taken a meal other than at the staff table.
"I understand," Harry said and could not hide the disappointment in his voice.
McGonagall looked at him with a slightly pitying look. "I'm sorry, Potter, but these are the rules and there are no exceptions."
"It's fine, Professor, just…unexpected," Harry said calmly.
McGonagall nodded. "Understandable. Now, the second thing is about discipline. We expect students to misbehave, but minor infractions are to be dealt with by warning students the first time. If students continue in this behavior or there is a major infraction, then you will assign detentions and may take away house points. As of September 1 the both of you will have this ability. Now I trust that both of you will not show any favoritism towards your own house and friends. Punishment given out fairly will earn you the respect of the students. Punishment handed out indiscriminately and mean-spiritedly will earn you their mistrust and anger."
Harry knew that all too well, having stored up a lifetimes worth of anger and mistrust for Snape after just his first year at Hogwarts.
McGonagall continued. "Now, let's turn to the academic side of things." She then looked at Harry. "Professor Granger has already assigned her textbook for the coming year but since you were hired late, Professor Potter, I took the step of using Professor Lupin's chosen textbooks and so informed the students in their Hogwarts letters. Copies of all seven books are in your office now as are the rest of Professor Lupin's things. I suggest you read ahead so as to be prepared as possible."
"I will,' said Harry, with a reassuring nod. Inside however, his stomach was feeling very cramp. Read seven books! On top of everything else!
"Professor," said Hermione. "What about marking and grading? Is there a special system the school uses. I mean, I've always been marked fairly I believe, but I what to make sure I am prepared and do it right."
"There is no set standard," McGonagall replied. "Each professor decides in his or her own way. Now with Muggle Studies, since there is no practical magic to learn, I suggest a chapter by chapter quiz or a monthly quiz at least, plus a Christmas and final written exam. You may also assign reports as written homework."
"What about field trips?" Hermione asked with a hopeful look.
McGonagall was taken aback. "Whatever do you mean?"
"I mean I could take the class out, to a Muggle place, like a shopping center or museum or…"
But her voice fell away as she saw the look of worry on McGonagall's face. "I'm afraid Professor Granger, that that is out of the question. The only authorized trips outside of Hogwarts are to Hogsmeade. We cannot have a class full of young witches and wizards in a shopping center. How would you control them, stop them from exposing themselves and our world?"
Hermione now looked a bit embarrassed. "Hadn't thought of that."
"Indeed," McGonagall said. "I do not wish to damper your enthusiasm for being a teacher. But please remember, the both of you, that we have duties to perform and rules to follow."
Harry and Hermione quickly agreed with her. McGonagall then spent some time explaining different methods for grading and how much weight should be given to quizzes, Christmas and final exams, and practical tests.
After that McGonagall took them to see Harry's quarters. It was a small set of three rooms on the fourth floor on the far side of the castle away from Gryffindor Tower and from almost anywhere students normally would be. In fact, Harry was sure he never been in this part of the castle before. There was a small sitting room with a sofa, desk and chair and bookcase, with a small fireplace, a small bedroom with a single bed and nightstand, and a small bathroom with toilet sink and bathtub. There was a window in the sitting room from which Harry could see the Quidditch pitch.
"Well, its is not as large as Professor Snape's old quarters, but it should do nicely," McGonagall said.
"Bit small," said Hermione, thinking of the grand rooms Slughorn had, and she then quickly added. "But cozy."
"It's brilliant," said Harry with a big grin. This far away from where students normally were at and he might just be able to sneak Ginny…he stopped that thought at once as he saw McGonagall looking at him with her stern stare as if she knew what hew as thinking. She then handed Harry a set of keys.
"For your quarters and office, please don't lose them. Now, I think the two of you should spend some time doing some preparation so as to not be too far behind come September. I am sure you know the way to your office. Of course, if there are any problems please send me an owl."
With that they said their goodbyes and thanked her for her help and then McGonagall was gone. Harry sat on the sofa in the sitting room and Hermione sat next to him.
"Sorry about the meal thing," she said right away.
"Not a worry," said Harry. "Just makes it harder to spend time with you guys. I can see why they usually don't hire professor as young as us though."
"Yes," agreed Hermione. "Makes it difficult when you have friends in class and around."
"Especially if one is your girlfriend," said Harry his voice a little sad now.
Hermione looked at him with a worried cast to her face. "You will follow the rules Harry, won't you? I mean…with Ginny?"
Harry just sighed. "Guess I have no choice or we'll both be in deep trouble. Come on, let's go to the office and see how much we've got to do before classes begin."
"One second," she said. "I want to send a message to Hagrid to say we'll be a little bit late."
She took out her wand and without saying a word she cast her silver otter Patronus which shot across the room through the wall and then Hermione spoke. "Hello, Hagrid it's Hermione. We'll be down in about an hour. Still things to do. See you soon."
As she finished and put away her wand Harry just looked at her in awe. "You've got to teach me how to do that."
"If you have time," she said and then looked worried again. "You are sure you can handle all of this, aren't you? It's such a heavy load maybe you should postpone Auror training till next year."
Harry shook his head. "No, if I drop anything it will be this teaching stuff. Being an Auror is what I really want."
"Okay, but just remember not to try to do all this on your own. If you ever need help…"
"I know where you are," he said and then Hermione smiled.
"Good, so…shall we?" she said heading to the door. Soon they were in their office and all of Lupin's stuff was there in several boxes. They spent an hour going through it and Hermione helped Harry figure out what to do for the first few classes but it still wasn't enough.
Hermione put down a quill she was using to make Harry's lesson plans and then seemed to decided something. "Look, I'm free all week so why don't I just plan your lessons for the first few weeks and then at least you'll have something ready."
Harry was thankful inside but didn't want her to do all of his work. "Thanks. Just…I'll have to learn to do this stuff by myself eventually."
"You will," Hermione said. "Come on, let's go see Hagrid for a bit."
They had tea with Hagrid and asked his advice on teaching. He was never the best teacher they had, even Harry had to admit that, but he had a few years experience now.
"Yeh got ter remember one thing," Hagrid said in a very serious tone. "Yer the boss in that classroom. Don't ever ferget it. Yeh let one little upstart tell you how to run things and yeh'll loss control of the lot of them. They may fear yeh or even hate yeh, but yeh got to learn that yeh can't please everyone in the world. And that goes double fer you two. Yer students will be yer friends and around the same age as yeh. But don't go playin' favorites. In fact, I think if yeh gave Neville and Ginny a detention the first week, it'll scare the rest to death and yeh'll have no trouble."
"Hagrid!" Hermione said in shock. "We couldn't give Neville and Ginny detention."
"I don't think he really means it. I think he means we have to make it look like we aren't playing favorites, right Hagrid?" Harry said.
"Well, yeah," Hagrid replied. "But if they steps out a line, yeh gotta do it or yeh'll lose all control fer sure."
They thanked him for his advice, made more small talk and then it was time to go. Soon they were in Hogsmeade and met Ron at the joke shop. They told him what McGonagall said about banning the Weasley brothers' products at Hogwarts. This didn't seem to bother Ron one bit.
"As if that ever stopped a student before," he said with a grin and then pointed to a pamphlet on a rack. "Free for every student."
It was titled "Getting Things into Places Where You Aren't Allowed to Get Them."
"Nice title," Hermione said a bit sarcastically as she pick it up and quickly skimmed through it. "No mention of Hogwarts here, but there is a section on castles. Very subtle."
Again this was sarcastic in tone and Ron just shrugged. "George wrote it, not me. Anyways, he always said Filch was too stupid to worry about anyways. So, what else happened?"
Ron was a bit surprised to hear about some of the rules they would have to follow and also that Harry would be testing him to make sure he was ready for his N.E.W.T. in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"Well, I'm sure to get an 'O' if Harry helps me get ready," Ron said confidently.
Hermione just glared at him. "Harry's got enough to do as is. You best not depend on him having any free time to teach you."
"Yeah? All right then, no need to give me the evil eye," Ron said in a joking way and Hermione's face softened and she grinned. Then Ron looked at Harry. "Going to be a rough year, eh?"
"When hasn't it been," Harry said glumly.
The next few weeks were so busy Harry hardly remembered what happened later. He and Ginny had a very few precious Sundays together, made all the more special by the knowledge that soon they would have hardly any time together at all. Between Charlie George's relentless training schedule and Harry's need to prepare for Hogwarts, he thought his brain would explode. Only the help of Hermione, Mrs. Weasley's fine cooking, and the warm hugs of Ginny got him through it all.
Finally, the last day of August came. Hermione came up to the Burrow with her Hogwarts trunk and would spend the night, going to London and King's Cross station the next day to board the Hogwarts Express with Ginny and the rest of the students. Harry had also gotten permission to take the train, wanting to spend one last time on that magical ride. It wasn't usual for professors to do so, although Lupin and Slughorn had done so in the past.
Mrs. Weasley put on a fine feast the night before and Bill and Fleur arrived as did Percy. Half way through dinner Bill stood up.
"I…ah…I have an announcement to make," he said, looking a little nervous and also a little in shock. "I…I mean we…I…well..."
Fleur just shook her head. "What is so 'ard to say? We are 'aving a baby!"
No one said anything, just looked at them in wonder. Fleur and Bill looked at each other in surprise, wondering why no one said anything. Then Mr. Weasley spoke. "For real, this time?"
Fleur laughed. "Of course!" And then Mrs. Weasley let out a shriek and soon they were all babbling at once and Fleur and Bill were being hugged. Finally, someone asked the important question of when the baby was due.
"Around the end of April, begining of May next year," said Bill.
"Well," said Mr. Weasley. "I think this calls for a toast." He stood and went to a cabinet and pulled out a very dusty bottle of fire whiskey. Mrs. Weasley got glasses and soon all had a drink in their hand, except Fleur who had some juice.
"My father gave me this bottle years ago," Mr. Weasley began. "He said only open it for special occasions. I always thought that when I knew I would have a grandchild, that would be a special occasion. So, a toast to Bill and Fleur and their grand news."
They all clinked glasses and drank, Harry and a few others sputtering a bit at the strong taste of the whiskey. A long time later after everyone had said their good nights and Harry had kissed Ginny goodnight, he lay in bed in the room under the attic with just the sound of Ron's snores to keep him company. As he lay there, Harry knew that tomorrow was the beginning of something new and that his life would never be the same again. He felt that he was an adult, in many ways, and had done things and had experiences that most people would never have in a lifetime. But now he was really becoming an adult. It was like a threshold he had to cross. Once he entered Hogwarts and sat at that head table, in that one step all his childhood and teenage years would be left behind. He was afraid, but at the same time was excited. He just hoped all would turn out well.