Word Count - 1841
Going Home
Chapter 2
Smalling was waiting on the lawn in front of the castle when Harry and the crowd of Professors arrived, his wand already in hand as Harry floated softly down the steps.
"Are you wanting to duel by the usual terms, Professor?" Harry asked, seemingly unconcerned.
"If you know them?" Smalling sneered, and Harry chuckled.
"As the Defence Professor, I think it rather a good thing that I do know them, don't you?"
"If you're ready then?"
"Certainly. Professor Flitwick, would you care to referee?"
Harry laughed again as the tiny Professor almost toppled over in his excitement.
"Since you can't take the usual ten steps, how far apart should we be?" Smalling asked, a grim smile marring his features.
"Actually, Smalling, I can travel the same amount as whatever equates to your ten steps. Do stop trying to be a smart arse and get on with it," Harry snapped, losing patience.
When they were ready, Flitwick raised his wand, shooting off two red sparks, followed by a green one, telling them to start. Smalling started as soon as the sparks left Filius' wand, shooting a stunner at Harry. Harry drifted to the side, and waved his hand lazily. Smalling found himself on the floor, bound in rope with his wand ten feet away from him. Harry moved toward him, leaning over the side of his chair.
"Dear me, Smalling, I thought you said you wanted to challenge me?" He snarked, a smirk on his face as he unbound the red faced History Professor.
Harry summoned the wand, handing it back.
"I thought we were to duel by standard rules?" The man raged, leaning over Harry, in an attempt to intimidate him. Harry stared back, blank faced and clearly unimpressed.
"What rule did I break?"
"Using wandless magic in a duel is unheard of!"
"But not against the rules. The reason it's unheard of is most people don't have the power to use it. Nicely done, Harry," Filius replied with a small smile. Harry smiled back, before returning his attention to Smalling.
"Are you convinced of my ability to teach our students to protect themselves?" Smalling didn't reply, rather he stormed away with his nose in the air, muttering darkly to himself.
"Really, Harry, you do realise he's going to be in an enormous snit for weeks over this," Dumbledore said with a chuckle, the other teachers laughing with him even as most of them nodded in agreement.
"He asked, I delivered. I'll be truthful, I'm rather baffled by the man's attitude toward me. I've never even met him before."
"He was rather disappointed before you arrived when he asked for the Defence position and I told him no. You see, he's very sure of his own abilities, and feels himself much better suited to almost every position in the school. It can be a chore to deal with him at times, but, alas, the man know's his wizarding history."
Harry scoffed. "So he's another Lockhart? Bloody wonderful."
"Hmm. We seem to have attracted a few of those over the passed few years," Dumbledore replied as they all made their way back to the staff room. Surprisingly, Smalling was there waiting for them.
"Shall we finish off the meeting then?" Dumbledore asked cheerfully, as everyone retook their seats. "We'll be enjoying our usual three balls this year, and I need to know who is willing to supervise what?"
"Three balls, Albus?" Harry asked, frowning. The only ball he had ever had at school was when the Tournament was being held at Hogwarts.
"Ah, of course, Harry, you won't be aware. We have a ball on Halloween, one on New Years Eve and one for Valentines day. As it is your first year, you can choose which one you would like to supervise first."
"I'll take New Year," Harry replied quickly, making some of the other Professors snort in amusement.
"As will I, Albus," Snape said quietly.
Harry glanced at him, surprised to see the onyx eyes boring into him. Harry smiled, before looking away. He refused to allow himself to be intimidated as he was when he was a student.
"Me too," Minerva spoke up, smiling at Harry.
The others soon decided among themselves who would be left with the other two, and Albus moved on to the last item on his agenda. He passed around Hogsmead schedules, each having three Professors against them, to show when they would be supervising. Harry was releived to know his first wasn't until January.
With the meeting drawing to a close, Harry left the staff room, aiming towards his office to wait for the files Albus promised him. He really wanted to get his lesson plans out of the way, because he knew it wouldn't be long until news got around of his return. Ron and Hermione would be the first to arrive, Harry imagined. While he had kept up with owling them on a regular basis, they weren't as close as they once had been. Their friendship was still fairly strong, though of course, they all had different commitments these days.
Harry was lost in his thoughts as he levitated down the corridor, and he didn't notice Snape until he was walking beside him.
"Potter."
"Snape."
"How did you happen to have so much control on your magic?"
"Nothing like dismissing the small talk. I've had a long time to learn."
"That isn't a real answer, Potter."
"Perhaps I don't want to answer the question. Have you thought that it might not be any of your business?" Harry replied, raising an eyebrow at Snape.
"Very well. Why didn't you inform Albus of your... condition? I... he... Someone might have been able to help."
"Thank you for the offer, Professor, but there was nothing to be done. I am content as I am."
"We'll never know if I could have helped, Potter, because you didn't give us a chance to."
"No I didn't."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want anyone coddling me, Snape."
"When have I ever coddled anyone?" Snape scoffed in reply, and Harry smiled despite himself.
"You haven't, but the others... Like I said, I'm content as I am. I don't want nor need anyone's pity."
"Touche."
Harry nodded at the Potions Master, before he stopped outside his office door. Snape continued walking, heading in the direction of the Dungeons, and Harry chuckled. Entering his office, he was surprised when Snape called his name.
"Potter."
"Yes?"
"Welcome back."
The influx of Weasley's arrived sooner than Harry had anticipated. As he sat with Minerva, enjoying a glass of wine and chatting about the places he had visited in the years he had been away, he had been surprised by the floo flaring to reveal Albus' head.
"Ah, there you are Harry. I checked your own quarters before remembering you would be visiting with Minerva. It seem's some people are very eager to see you, dear boy, if you'd care to join us in my office?"
"Who's there?" Harry asked warily.
"Come up and see, why don't you?" was the cheerful reply, before the Headmasters head disappeared from the fireplace.
"Would you care to join me, Minerva?" Harry asked, and she agreed quickly, seeing the trepidation in his eyes. They left her sitting room and headed for the Headmaster's office.
"I imagine it is Mr and Mrs Weasley," Minerva said softly when Harry paused to brace himself at the entrance to the office. Harry nodded silently in agreement, though he wasn't sure how he felt about seeing them so soon.
"It sound's strange, hearing them called that," he replied with a smile, as he floated his chair up the spiral staircase. Minerva chuckled before she knocked on the door.
"Come on in," Dumbledore called, and Harry and Minerva entered the office.
Harry found himself assaulted almost as soon as the door opened, as Hermione pulled him into a hug. Albus had obviously warned them of his chair. He patted her on the back awkwardly, feeling touched that she cared so much and uncomfortable as the tightness of the embrace. When she released him, Harry caught Ron's eye. The red head grinned but came no closer, and Harry could see the sadness in his eyes as he looked at his best friend.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Hermione asked tearfully as she stood back up, moving further into the room so Harry and Minerva could settle themselves comfortably.
"There's nothing you could have done. I didn't want you to worry."
"Oh, Harry..."
"Really, Hermione, I'm fine. This chair is great, and I don't have any pain in my legs anymore, nor am I missing out on anything. I promise. I'm fine."
Harry turned back to Ron and grinned.
"Alright, mate?"
"Yeah, I'm good. We... erm... I... I've missed you."
"I missed you too, both of you. I'm sorry it took me so long to come home."
"Don't worry about it, mate, we understand. You're home now."
Harry nodded, sighing with relief that neither of them seemed to care about his chair. He had half expected an argument, or lots of tears, or... well, something more than this. The easy feeling he had always enjoyed with them seemed to come back automatically.
"So... You were levitating when you came in?"
"Yup. It's cool, right?" Harry replied with a chuckle.
"Can it, can you fly?"
"I can, in a fashion, though of course it's nothing like being on a broom. I've got an adapted broom though, so like I said, I'm not missing out on anything."
"You can still play quidditch?" Ron asked.
Harry sniggered when he saw Hermione roll her eyes.
"Too rough now mate, but I enjoy a seeker's game from time to time. We'll go flying one day soon."
That was obviously the right thing to say, as Ron soon took over the conversation, talking about flying, asking about the modified broom, and of course, telling Harry all about what he had missed with the Cannons. They stayed about an hour before leaving with a promise of another visit soon. Harry also asked them to arrange a get together with the rest of the family before term began, so he could see them all at didn't really enjoy surprises, having had one to many bad ones over the years.
With their agreement, Harry thanked the Headmaster for the use of his office and left with Minerva, escorting her back to her quarters before he retired to his own. Levitating himself into bed, Harry sighed. It had been a long day, too long if the pains in his back were anything to go by. Summoning a pain potion, he downed it in one, grimacing at the taste.