Chapter three

Minerva and Kingsley sat staring at Harry who hadn't moved or spoken for fifteen minutes. Even though it was amusing to see Harry so shocked, they knew they had to do something to bring him back.

'This really shocked him; do you think we can bring him back, or do you think we broke him?' Kingsley chuckled.

'I expected him to be shocked but not like this,' Minerva knelt down in front of Harry then tapped his face, 'Harry Potter, snap out of it,' she used her no nonsense voice of Professor McGonagall, finally Harry blinked, 'Are you back with us?'

'Um, yeah, I must have dozed off and had the weirdest dream. I normally have terrible dreams but this one was strange and bizarre.'

Minerva sat back in her seat, but Kingsley was still chuckling, 'Let me see if I can guess what your dream was about. You were offered the job of headmaster.'

'Oh Kingsley, now you're being cheeky.'

'You're not bloody serious,' Harry shouted as he got up and started to pace, 'I'm eighteen years old. Bloody hell, I haven't even finished my education and what education I had was disrupted all the time. I don't know the first thing about being a teacher so how in the name of merlin can you say that.'

'Oh, he's really riled up,' Kingsley said then stood, took both of Harry's arms in his to stop his pacing, 'Calm down and listen to everything we have to say, but you will not be alone in this. Minerva is still going to be deputy head and help out wherever she can. This old school needs new bloods to run it. It needs someone that knows both worlds, someone that has everyone's best interest at heart. I know you could ask why you and not someone else, well to be honest it would need everyone to agree on the same person and that is you. You are respected and you are liked by most people in the wizarding world. You are also powerful. Harry listen, you admitted how you felt about Hogwarts, from the moment you stepped through those doors. This is your home, your family, now you've been given the chance to remain within that home and with that family. You have a calmness about you when it's needed, you have a reputation that makes everyone think twice before causing trouble. I doubt anyone would want to upset the saviour of the wizarding world. We know you're young and we also know there's a chance you want to go marry and have lots of kids, which you could do. But we want you to seriously consider this because all of us including Minerva want you to do this, for the sake of our world. If we don't bring in new young blood into the magical world fully then our world could eventually die out or just stagnate and end up being left centuries behind.'

'I do love Hogwarts, but I never want to marry, that never interested me. Being who I am, how I'm thought of, that some will always want to see if I'm any good. Because of all that I decided I probably won't have kids either. I would hate to put them directly in harm's way or to die and leave them behind to be raised by others. Over the last year I've done a lot of thinking and one thing I realised, I will always be a bachelor; it's me; that suits me. When I was a kid, I did hope that one day I could have my own family, but I grew up and I know my life with be one spent alone.

But I'm also a person that does not share my feelings or thoughts with people. A wife or partner would expect to share those types of things, especially feelings. I'm not one to demonstrate affection public, that's what used to annoy me with Ginny, she would constantly kiss me with others around. I always turned my head so she couldn't kiss me when others were around. Those times I would spend with Dumbledore and even though I knew he had a partner years ago I sort of realised I would be like him through my life, alone, mostly alone anyway, maybe the odd date, but not marriage. I always knew I would never marry because I wasn't going to belong to anyone and that's how I see marriage. I know couples will share and be equals, but it still feels like you own your partner and they own you. So, I'll always be single.'

'Then you are even more suited to this job than we thought.'

'But I'm too young, who's going to listen to me. You need someone older, wiser, worldly, powerful; like Dumbledore and Minerva. I've seen the total of Hogsmeade, Diagon alley, London and Little Whinging. The only time I had anything to do with the ministry was having to face the Wizengamot or almost dying in there. I don't have the experience or knowledge to even assist let alone run this place. I admit I would love to stay here, live here forever, I felt a connection to this place the moment I arrived. I tried to explain that to Ron and Hermione, they said they didn't feel anything and I figured it was just the fact they had homes and I didn't. But I knew that Hogwarts was special, it was my home and I've thought of it as my home since the first night here.'

'I believe I should explain something else to you Harry, about Hogwarts, the founders and the castle because what you said just then proves to me that you are meant to be here and be headmaster.'

'I really can't believe you're serious about this. I get all the modern stuff, it amazed me with how behind the magical world is to the muggle world. But also, how some of the muggle gadgets would benefit everyone, if we can get them to work around magic that is, or we could have our own made that would run without electricity.'

'That is what's been getting developed over the last ten years, we just never had a good enough government that would allow it. But I believe you should listen to Minerva which should explain why you felt connected to this place. Now I have to go and yes you can think about this, discuss it with Minerva and your friends if you want. All we asked is you really think about it and make sure no one mentions this. I'll either see you in a week or you can owl me and let me know, then we'll sit down and talk again,' Kingsley patted Harry's shoulder then walked off.

'Let's sit Harry so I can explain about Hogwarts.'

Harry sat against the tree, 'So there's a reason why I feel a connection to Hogwarts, am I related to a founder?'

'You would need to go through your family history to find that out, I cannot say. Now Hogwarts, or as some of us that have been here for a long time have called it, Lady Hogwarts. The four founders, Godric, Helga, Rowena and Salazar infused parts of their magic into the very foundation of the castle. With their magic it meant that Lady Hogwarts would always assist the rightful person who is supposed to run the school. The castle senses the person's very essence, your soul, you magic, your heart. It senses what type of person you are, what you believe in and how you would do right by everyone and not base anything on house loyalties or beliefs.

'Basically Harry, Lady Hogwarts helps the rightful head of Hogwarts, which has only happened three times since it was built, the last being Albus. As you know, the governors usually appoint the head even though they knew that Lady Hogwarts is supposed to choose who runs this school. You felt that connection because the founders felt the connection to you. Look at it this way Harry, you have suffered at Hogwarts, more than any other student that has walked these halls, yet your feelings for this place has never changed. You saved it from closing when you were only twelve, again it shows how you feel. Look at all your friends, yes they come and help occasionally, but you have been here every day, working, wearing yourself out to bring this castle back to the way it should be. The parts of the castle that you have been repairing have been done faster than any of the staff, because you are connected to it.

'The castle or Lady Hogwarts has been showing you for years that this is your home, that you belong here. Now I have a wonderful old book that goes into more detail about what the founders did to ensure this school will always have the right person to run it, I will get it to you. Those beliefs were ignored by our governing bodies for years and the students suffered because of it. Now before you say anything let me say this, we did discuss the fact you are only eighteen and you never had much of a life over the last few years. Even if you never want to marry you will want to have a relationship, it might be just dating or a bit more serious. As headmaster it does not stop that, there is just restrictions because as staff of Hogwarts, we are not permitted to have a wife or husband live with us. Yes a lot of us believe that should be changed and it can, but when children come into a family then they couple would need to leave. Albus' partner did teach at Hogwarts for a lot of years, so they were able to be like any couple, but they knew they would never have children. So even if you do take this job and I hope you do, it does not mean you have to be celibate.

'Most of us are alone as we grew older and had not met anyone we wanted to share our life with, so we dedicated our lives to teaching the magical world's children how to use their magic safely and the right way. I will leave the book for you in your room, now I will leave you to think about everything Kingsley and I said. Just remember, Hogwarts herself has picked you because you are the person who is supposed to look after her,' Minerva stood, smiled down at Harry who still looked stunned before she walked back into the castle.

'I hope you can make Harry understand Lady Hogwarts, maybe give him a sign that shows you will help and guide him along the way. Like you, I know Harry Potter is meant to be head of this ancient school.'