On Punching Gods and Absentee Dads

Enigmaris

Chapter 50: Career Services

Summary:

Minerva calls Harry into her office at the beginning of spring. It's time for plan for that young man's future after all.

Notes:

As you all can tell it's nearly time for the big fight! I promise to write beyond the final battle (and not just an epilogue 19 years later lol) so the story isn't totally finished, even after the main plot is completed.

Chapter Text

"Mr. Potter. A word if you will."

"Of course, Professor."

Harry Potter had returned to Hogwarts with slightly chubby cheeks. The kind of chub that came after a long winter of far too much food and a lot of rest. It was a look Minera had never seen on the boy and it suited him. Even if the chub had disappeared within days of being back at Hogwarts and having to walk up and down 7 flights of stairs twice a day just to get to the Gryffindor dorms.

Still the look had been gratifying while it lasted.

James had looked quite pleased with himself for successfully fattening up his son over winter break. A true accomplishment if the amount the demi-god ate was any indication. Minerva had mentioned it to the man and he had preened in the staff room. James had told her that he'd been slowly, ever so slowly, increasing his son's portions so that they better matched what he needed and over Winter Break they'd finally reached their goal. Harry was now eating enough at each meal and asking for snack breaks when he needed them.

Harry could now out eat an entire quidditch team, and most people had noticed. Harry explained it away as a symptom of his increased magical power, after all that much magic needed to be powered by something. And it was a reasonable enough explanation that no one questioned it too much, it also helped confirm for the more suspicious Slytherins that Harry was as powerful as he appeared to be.

The rest of winter had passed the school by with little to no chaos. The lack of the Weasley Twins was felt, even if their products were invading the castle at an unnerving rate. Since winter was over, the Quidditch cup was set to start up again that next weekend with a game between Hufflepuff and Slytherin. It would be the first game in centuries perhaps where the Hufflepuff and Slytherin teams were friends off the field and was bound to be quite interesting as a result.

Minerva led Harry back to her office, the boy walking confidently by her side. When they got to her office, she motioned for Harry to take a seat and flicked her wrist to open her biscuit tin for the boy. Harry dutifully took a biscuit to eat while Minerva sat down.

"Now." She said. "Last year we had a meeting about your future plans."

"Yeah. With Umbridge."

Minerva shuddered a little at that and didn't correct the boy's tone. She had after all cursed the woman quite effectively. Last, she had heard the woman had had to be confined to St. Mungo's until the curses could be removed.

"Yes. Be that as it may, in that meeting we spoke about your desire to be an Auror, which is a fine career choice. But…"

"But I was supposed to take Potions." Harry finished. "And I didn't qualify."

"You don't sound too upset by that."

"Well I'm not honestly sorry to be away from Professor Snape." Minerva gave the boy a look but he merely munched on the rest of his biscuit.

"Be that as it may." She said. "This still leaves you at loose ends as to what to do now. I don't like to have my students graduate without any solid plans."

"Erm Professor."

"Yes?"

"Well, I don't know if you know this, but there's a war on."

"I am aware."

"Yeah and well…I'm sort of a big part of it."

"Yes, the Chosen One I believe the news is calling you." She said. "But that is not a career, nor should it be. The war will end and when it does, you will still need something to fill your time with."

"I've an apprenticeship." Harry said. "With Lord Tyr in Asgard."

"And Tyr is?" She asked suspiciously.

"He's a warrior, professor."

"Mr. Potter, do you want to be a warrior in Asgard?"

"Uhm."

"That's what I thought." She said primly. "So if not an auror, and not a warrior, then what?"

"I…don't know?" He said, as if asking her to tell him the answer. It wasn't an uncommon response, most students weren't exactly sure what they wanted to be. Of course, Harry had it much more difficult than most. Most students didn't have prophecies telling them they were meant to save the world. Minerva was certain Harry should think about it though. Mostly because once he saved the world, he was going to have to live in it.

"You are an incredibly talented young man, if there is something you wish to do, I've no doubt you could succeed in doing it, even being an auror, your experience would probably qualify you for the job even without the Potions NEWT." Minerva told him. "Is there anything at all that's interested you in your classes? Anything at all and I can help you find good options."

Harry rubbed his left arm a bit awkwardly and leaned back in his chair. It was obvious the boy hadn't given much thought to life after the war and no wonder, he was so young, it was impossible for him to envision a world not consumed by it. Even Minerva had a hard time seeing it, she'd lived through two wizarding wars after all. She gave the boy a few moments to think over her question before speaking again.

"How is your tutoring club going?"

"What? Oh it's going great. Everyone did real well on their exams." Harry said, something Minerva knew to be true, she hadn't seen a first year class this successful in decades. "I think most people are starting to get along well too. The dueling club stuff is good, most people've mastered the shield charm now and we're starting to practice variations of it."

"That's impressive." Minerva complimented. "Do you like running it?"

"Yeah I guess." Harry shrugged. "The first years are nice and all, it's good to know everyone can defend themselves now too. After all the attacks that've happened here I don't want any other students getting hurt."

"That's admirable." Minerva said. "But the tutoring, do you like that?"

"Yes?"

"It's not a complicated question, Mr. Potter."

"Sorry." He said. "I think I do? I mean it's fun, not like quidditch fun but I wouldn't have done it if I hated it. Why?"

"Have you ever considered being a teacher?"

If the stunned look on his face was any indication, he clearly had not. Minerva hid her smirk behind a sip of her always warm tea and waited for him to respond.

"I could teach?"

"You have a natural inclination for it." She said. "All you'd need to do is get a mastery in whatever subject you wished to teach and then look for open positions, there are many other schools other than Hogwarts and with your talent Mr. Potter you could teach anywhere, even at the master level if you wished."

"The Master level?"

"We've schools that are similar to muggle universities." Minerva explained. "And that is where some magic users gain their masteries in magic, if they choose to not go the traditional apprentice route. I gained one at a Mastery School in London as a young witch decades ago. Teaching there is considered one of the greatest honors in the wizarding world. Some of the greatest strides in magical research are done in mastery schools, you'd never be without challenging magic to learn and study and you'd be able to guide others."

"That sounds like something Hermione would like."

"Trust me, she is very much aware of that option."

Harry smiled and snatched another biscuit.

"I don't think I'd want to teach on that level." He said. "I like the first years."

"I like them too." She said. "That's why I'm teaching here instead."

Harry smiled at that and bit into his second biscuit.

"It's an option." She said. "And one you should consider on your own time. If you want to teach, then I can help you prepare to find a Master to work under or a Mastery school to apply to, to get your mastery."

"And I could get my mastery in anything? Like defense?"

"If you wanted." She said. "You could also do it in charms or transfigurations, you work quite well in both."

The boy nodded thoughtfully and then spoke up.

"Are there…other things you think I could do?"

"There is one other idea I had." She said smiling a little.

"Really?"

"Yes." She said. "You recall Viktor Krum?"

Harry's eyes widened and her smile did the same.

"What? You…No." He said. "Me?"

"Mr. Potter, if you wanted to play Quidditch for a living, I can't think of anyone more suited."

"Really?"

"Mr. Potter, the first time you flew on a broom you managed a perfect wronksi feint with my office window." She said causing the boy to laugh a little. "If you wanted it, you could have it. Quidditch teams generally hold open tryouts every few years, depending on the strength of their teams and current win streaks. You would need to do research on when and where these tryouts are being held but you could, as you are right now, fly well enough to qualify."

Minerva would never admit to having done research into this. She would never tell anyone about the quidditch magazines that now littered her room and the letters she'd written to professional players about just such a topic. No one needed to know that at all.

No one needed to know because the boy was brightening up at the very thought of playing Quidditch full time.

It was not the sort of career that she normally would suggest for a student, for most it was unlikely to work out and dangerous to boot. She wasn't lying when she thought Harry could manage it, besides that he was a demi-god and she doubted a bludger could do him much harm anymore. If he wanted to fly on his broom and have fun for years and years playing professional quidditch once the war was done, who was Minerva to tell him no?

"I could play quidditch." He breathed.

"You could even make the Chudley Cannons win the World Cup if you wanted."

Harry laughed at that, everyone knew that team hadn't won since 1892.

"That'd make Ron happy."

"But would it make you happy?"

"You know professor." He said, a slightly stunned look on his face. "I think it might."

"Then that is something to keep in mind." She said. "Take another biscuit, Mr. Potter."

Harry smiled and did exactly what he was told.

Minerva let him go with a few more words of encouragement and a plan to meet again in a month and discuss any new ideas Harry had about what he wanted to do.

"And Mr. Potter? Being a Prince of Asgard is not an acceptable answer."

"I'll keep that in mind Professor."

"See that you do."

Minerva felt quite pleased with herself and that good mood buoyed her through the seventh year NEWT lecture she had after that and the third year hufflepuff-ravenclaw class she had right before dinner. She made her way to the feasting hall, with a barely noticeable spring in her step.

"What's gotten into you?" Pomona asked. "You were practically dancing to your seat."

"Oh hush." Minerva said. "I'm entirely composed."

"Sure you are." Filius muttered.

She gave the man a side eye for his tone but didn't deny it.

"I had a meeting with Mr. Potter about potential career options that he might find interesting. It was productive." She answered.

"You did what?" James hissed, leaning over his plate of food to give her a look.

"Calm down, professor. It's my job as his head of house to offer career support."

"Well yes but the war."

"Will not last forever and Mr. Potter, like all my students, should plan for the future."

James paused, glanced over at his son, who was talking to his friends about quidditch and grinning brightly.

"Of course." He said. "You're right, of course."

"Well what sort of careers is he looking into?" Pomona asked. "I know you said he considered being an auror, right?"

"We've decided against that option." Minerva answered. "Currently I believe the top choice is professional quidditch."

There was a pause as the three other teachers listening to her considered that. James looked like he was fit to burst with pride at the idea.

"Oh Minerva." Filius said. "That's delightful."

"I thought so." Minerva said. "After all, if the boy wins the war and then goes on to play professional quidditch, within a decade most people will only know him for his snitch catching record. I can't think of a more fitting ending for the Dark Lord than for the person who defeated him being famous for something else."

And that made James giggle, high enough in pitch that he had to magically silence himself so that he didn't draw attention to their group.

"Professional Quidditch." He whispered. "That's wonderful."

"I also mentioned that he could teach, and he seemed intrigued." Minerva said. "He likes tutoring the first years, I think he could find a career in that fulfilling."

That made James smile quite softly, a tender thing towards his wonderful son. Slowly the conversation continued forward after that, this was not the place for James to discuss Harry. So they waited till the evening and retired to Filius' chambers to drink wine and gossip about students. James took this opportunity to grill Minerva on everything his son had said about his future career and Minerva was in a forgiving enough mood to allow it.

It also might have been Filius' excellent wine.

Minerva went to bed feeling quite accomplished with herself overall.

The next morning they had a staff meeting, something that was always very entertaining. Especially this year since James and Severus were being forced to interact in ways that were incredibly cringeworthy. According to James, Severus had to try to attempt to 'befriend' Loki and sway him to the Dark Lord's side. He had to do this in view of the Slytherins as well as in private, in order to be convincing.

This meant that every staff meeting was filled with Severus gritting his teeth and trying to be nice to James while James just smiled at him.

Minerva had a lot of things she wouldn't admit to, and enjoying staff meetings was one of them.

Sure enough, James took a seat right next to Severus a grin on his face.

"Good morning Severus." James purred. "How was your week?"

"It was pleasant." Snape drawled, his teeth gritted.

"You know I absolutely have to know, how did you deal with Potter for five years? The boy is a bit much isn't he? Running around the castle with a sword of all things, who does he think he is?"

One of the wonderful things about this was that Severus knew exactly who was talking to him, who was repeating words Severus had spat for years with an ironic lilt. Minerva might think of the man before her as James, might even treat him like she had when he was her very human student. But it was in these times that Minerva could see the god in him. The way he sat next to Severus, every line of his body placed carefully, every muscle in his face lined up just so.

To the casual observer, he looked friendly, intrigued. He looked as if he liked nothing more than to listen to whatever Severus had to say, agreeable and more than friendly. But just below the surface there was something sharp. Something in the line of his lips that said I know what you've said about my son Severus. There was a warning there, a promise rather. James knew what Severus had done, what he had failed to do, and he had no plans to forget it.

Every joke he told at Harry's expense in the name of keeping Harry's biology a secret for a few days longer was a promise. It was James' way of making it clear how much he hated what Severus had done in the last five years.

I know what you are.

I'll make you regret it.

And Severus had to pretend that he couldn't hear those threats while he tried to woo James to the Dark Lord's side. Normally Minerva wouldn't enjoy watching something like that, she didn't like threats. She liked promises and blunt actions, it was the Gryffindor in her. But she couldn't stop James from doing it. Severus had been lashing out at students for far too long and nothing Minerva had done had shaken the man out of it.

At least James could cow the man.

"Potter is young, shortsighted." Severus said. "He's not worth following, really, no matter what his ego suggests."

"Oh yes." James drawled. "His ego."

Severus flinched, just a bit.

"Gentlemen." Dumbledore said. "It's time we begin. Filius, if you would let us know how things are going in your house?"

"Of course, headmaster." Filius said. "I must admit it's been quite a long time since my house has had such a good start to a spring, my first and second years are doing far better than previous years. I've had a record number of points given out and the lowest amount of late homework turned in so far. My prefects tell me that there were hardly any problems studying for winter exams. Normally I have to bother Poppy or Severus for more calming potions since my students tend to…ah panic a bit come test time, especially the youngest ones. But I only had to help with three panics and that was for upper years studying for OWLS and NEWTs."

The ravenclaws were always so fragile around exam time.

Or at least they used to be.

"I do believe it was the Gryffindors that helped." Filius said looking over and smiling at Minerva. "Gave my students a bit of mettle."

"Well," Minerva said. "Your ravenclaws certainly gave my lions a bit of dedication and care to their essays."

Filius wiggled, pleased by the compliment.

"It is nice to see the students working together so well. Pomona? How are your badgers?"

"Oh, just wonderful." She enthused. "You know my firsties tend to be terribly homesick in the first few months, and when they come back from winter break its usually much the same, but oh, it's been much better this year. They've all settled in so nicely you know, I honestly think it's the Slytherin first years that helped, shored them up, gave them a bit of independence."

Severus lifted up one eyebrow at the compliment, it was a rare thing for his snakes to be complimented for anything. Dumbledore continued the conversation by asking Minerva for her update. Minerva was more than happy to report that her lions were actually all passing their classes, perhaps not with entirely flying colors, but they were passing and not getting into as many fights or causing problems on purpose as they were wont to do when they got bored. Discipline, something Gryffindors weren't generally known for, was being shared and it showed.

Before Dumbledore could ask Severus for an update on the 4th house, the man gasped in shock. Severus leaned forward, gripping at his arm in pain.

"Severus?" She asked as the man leaned forward as if he was under attack.

"The wards." Albus said, leaning forward to try and comfort Severus.

"Something's coming." James said. "I can feel it."

Then there was violent banging on the door.

"PROFESSORS!" Ron Weasley yelled from the other side of the door. "It's Voldemort! Harry's scar's on fire!"

"It's time." Minerva said. "Come on, we must protect the students."

Winter's rest was over and now spring had come, and it brought war with it. Minerva gripped her wand and opened the door to see Ron Weasley already in his armor and a well strung bow on his back with a full quiver of arrows.

"It's time." She repeated, feeling that knowledge settle in her bones. The war was here and it was careening towards an end no one could foresee. "You best get back to Mr. Potter, we'll handle the rest."

"Right." Ron said. "Good luck Professor."

"You had better survive this, Mr. Weasley." She said as the boy began to run away.

"That's the plan."

He had a plan?

That made one of them.

Although…perhaps she could finally try out that armor activation spell. She had always wanted to see what it would do.