Chapter 2

"And these will be your living quarters."

Harry followed behind Minerva McGonagall in her tour of Hogwarts. Of course he remembered the layout from his days as a student but approaching it from the lens of a teacher was a whole other matter. The living quarters for professors, tucked away in a broad turret, were new to him.

Thinking back, Harry wondered where all of the professors had stayed. The headmaster had informed him that professors had their choice, either live on the grounds in the living quarters or floo in each morning. Owing to his immense dislike of the floo network to this day, Harry chose the former.

"How had I never noticed these rooms before, professor," Harry asked.

"Once more, I will remind you that you may in fact call me Minerva. And it's a simple matter of a very low-grade notice-me-not ward on the area to keep students and prying eyes from noticing. The new defense against the dark arts professor should know these things, Harry," McGonagall responded.

Harry smiled, finding it difficult to separate himself from his established and preconceived notions of the Scottish teacher. He turned away and looked around the space. The door to the living quarters opened to a sitting room with a window overlooking the grounds. It had four doors from there: one lead to a master bedroom, one to a bathroom, one to a study, and one to a kitchen. Following his true love, he made his way to the kitchen first.

"Rather sparse, huh," he remarked.

"The kitchen elves take offense to others cooking in the castle. That said, we recognize that not all teachers want to spend every meal in the great hall. This allows for a modicum of privacy at the least."

Already going through spells to enlarge counter tops in his head, Harry turned from the kitchen to continue his exploration. The bathroom was as to be expected as was the master bedroom. The study was lined with bookshelves and a desk that sat at a window.

"I don't have much use for the study," Harry noted. "Would it be alright to consider using it for something else?"

"What did you have in mind," McGonagall asked.

Harry hummed to himself. Thinking to the last few years at Grimmauld, he thought fondly of entertaining his friends. Though it may be a bit more difficult to entertain at Hogwarts, there was always the matter of his most important guest.

"Err, Professor. Would it be alright to turn it into a guest room?"

His question was met with an arched brow.

"And just whom would you be having stay over, Harry?"

""Oh, it wouldn't be for some wild party," Harry backtracked. "I was thinking of my godson, Teddy."

McGonagall relinquished a smile. "Of course, Harry. Teddy is always welcome in these halls. You may have to make a few adjustments to the room and, what do muggles call it? Child-proof it?"

"Oh no, Professor. Teddy's nearly six now. There isn't much that will stop him from getting into mischief." Harry smiled at memories of finding his godson in precarious situations throughout Grimmauld Place. He had a bit of Marauder in him, to say the least.

"Takes after his parents, I see," McGonagall noted. "And his godfather."

"Why, I was nothing but a paragon of virtue in my time here. I can't even think of one moment that I stepped out of line." A smirk played at Harry's lips.

"Yes, yes. How forgetful of me. Now, Harry, I must be off. There are still schedules and plans to be made. And someone has to keep Hagrid in line. Can you find your way out?"

"Of course, Professor. And again, thank you for this opportunity. I won't let you down," Harry called to the retreating back of the headmaster.

"See that you don't, Harry," McGonagall called over her shoulder. "And for the last time, it's Minerva!"

Chuckling, Harry returned his attention back to the room. It was spartan but he could certainly add a few touches to the scene. His eye for interior design certainly wasn't on par with whomever was decorating Buckingham Castle, but he did just fine, thank you very much. Grimmauld turned out well and that was with minimal help from his then-girlfriend, Ginny. She didn't have Molly's touch for homemaking but she was helpful.

Ginny had exited his life much as she came into it: quietly. The shy girl who had longed over the boy-who-lived had turned into a partner that Harry enjoyed. Athletic, vibrant, and curious, she fulfilled what Ron noted as "Harry's Manic Pixie Quidditch Dreamgirl" type. But a career focused on Quidditch laid waste to any plans they might have had at a future. Ginny found herself with an offer to play internationally and Harry found himself not objecting to her leaving. They parted ways amicably two years ago and still enjoyed each other's company at every Weasley event, even so far as sharing a bed when the need was there.

Thinking of beds, Harry wandered back to the study-cum-guest room. It was bright, with ample light provided by the window. The desk could stay, he thought to himself, and he'd still have room for a double bed.

Noting to himself to ask about acquiring a bed in the castle, he frowned at the bare walls. The living room had a mirror and simple painting of the Great Lake at Hogwarts hung to add some decoration. Harry had taken to hanging pictures of his parents and his friends about Grimmauld. There was something about the motion of the magical images that kept him company. They functioned as surrogates of the loved ones in his life for when they weren't there.

A photo of Remus and Tonks would be nice. A bit underwhelming, but nice. Harry scratched at the stubble on his chin, thinking about what was best for Teddy. Teddy was raised in a loving home with Andromeda Tonks, never wanting for anything. Harry made sure of that. But he wanted this to be special, something the boy could cherish. This could be his second home. He would need to think on that.

Harry finished his survey of his new living space and closed the door behind him. He stepped out into the hall. Not being terribly familiar with the hall the living space was in, he decided to wander and take in the area. He went down the steps of the turret and came to a landing with what appeared to be a staff lounge. The space was dotted with leather chairs, study tables, and bookshelves. A large fireplace dominated the center of the room and, above it, hung a magical portrait he had never seen. He approached it and read the small plaque that was nailed to the bottom of the frame:

Eustice the Galant

Protector of Muggles

1805-1911

Harry peered up at the portrait and found a sleeping man, a neat mustache on his lip, and a sleeping cat in his lap. He made a mental note to talk to and find out more about the subject of the painting and turned to leave. He made his way to the entrance of the castle and set his path towards Hogsmeade. A nice walk would do him some good before returning to pack at Grimmauld.

It wasn't long into his walk when a thought sprang to mind. Why hadn't he thought of it before? He arrived at the Hog's Head Inn and took a seat at the bar. The inn was his drinking spot of choice in Hogsmeade as he could often sit unbothered. He ordered a fire whiskey and water from Aberforth. Looking up at the inn-keeper as he was served his drink, Harry asked a question.

"Abe, do you know who I could talk to about having a magical portrait made?"