It's My Life
After Harry and Minerva finished talking, she took him through the school to show him the staff room and other notable places too. Minerva took Harry to the Defense classroom and keyed his signature to the classroom, office, and showed him how to get into his personal chambers. Harry learned that it was a hidden door behind a painting of, unironically, a snake guardian. Harry had to laugh when Minerva told him that it was a lot like the common room entrances and needed a password to get through.
Harry was able to choose his own password and said he'd set it later tonight. Minerva left and Harry began to get himself settled in, starting with his room. It was similar to Severus's with having some lounge area and a fireplace, then farther back was the bed, two nightstands. There was a dresser for clothes, then a wardrobe for more formal things.
Harry located the bathroom as the only other door in the room. Basic shower and tub, separated, then toilet and sink. Harry unpacked quickly and checked the time. It was already 7:00 pm. Students would be arriving soon and Harry had from now til the feast to get his nerves under control.
Harry worked the protections on his bed chambers, deciding to keep it to just the password required to pass the portrait. The classroom would be open during class times, or through detentions and the door would always lock when Harry left the room. Same with his office space. It was an automatic lock, unaffected by the basic unlocking charms.
Harry got unpacked for his office, then began working on the classroom set up, which he'd been told he could alter to work for him. Harry didn't change it much, but rearranged things to let them be in a place that wouldn't be blocked by another in front of them. Harry was now standing on the small ledge of his office and looking down at the classroom, just leaning over the railing to take it all in.
Harry was thinking of how he always sat down there as a student and was now looking down at it as a teacher. It was surreal. There were so many emotions as he settled with the news that he was a Professor at Hogwarts.
"Harry?" Severus's voice pulled Harry from his thoughts as he looked at the door to the room and saw his father coming in, then the other teachers. Well, all of them this time.
"Hi, Dad." Harry greeted. "Hope I can still call you that even though I'm a teacher too now."
"Dad, Severus, Sev…Whatever you want. Except Sevvie. So help me, Harry…If you ever, I'll ground your ass. Adult and teacher regardless." Harry snorted at the face his father made. "I believe our lovely Headmistress told you just to mind what you use with who is around." Severus stated. "At the end of the day, Harry…You might be a teacher, but you're still my son."
"I know." Harry nodded. "And hi everyone else too." He smiled.
"'Arry!" Hagrid beamed.
"Hey, Hagrid," Harry gave the man a warm smile. "Why are you all here?"
"Just making sure you're settling in okay." Minerva chuckled. "We walked in three minutes ago and you never noticed."
"Sorry," Harry shrugged. "Yes, all unpacked and settled in. I adjust pretty quickly to change, as it seems to happen all the time."
"What were you thinking about?" Pamona asked. "You were in your own little world."
"Perspective." Harry responded. "Took this class for five years. Three out of five of them, the teacher wanted me dead and actively tried to kill me. One teacher was just an idiot who had no business being here. And then one was a werewolf, but that wasn't so bad in my eyes," He revealed. "I've spent classes here. Detentions here. Five years being down there as the student anxious to learn. And now I'm the one up here. I'm the teacher." Harry chuckled. "I don't think I have the word for how it feels."
"I bet it's quite the feeling to take in and get used to. Anyway…The train will be arriving in fifteen minutes, and the students will be here by 7:30 pm. I'm sure you recall all that from your own time as a student." Minerva reminded.
"Headmistress, I was a student here not more than two months ago. I assure you my memory isn't that bad." Harry walked down the steps to meet them on the main level of the room.
"I know, Harry. Now…Would you like to be announced while already in the hall and at the table, or would you like to just walk in and right to the table. I'm sure that should get everyone quiet enough for me to make the announcement." Minerva asked.
"Doesn't matter either way. It's getting announced one way or another." Harry stated. "All my friends knew what was happening, that I'd be here with my dad ahead of them. I'm sure that's circulated the train by now that I didn't ride in with them because I was sick."
"Severus, are you alright with that?" Minerva questioned.
"As Harry said, Minerva. It doesn't matter either way. If Harry and I walk in late, it would probably be assumed I'm dropping him off with the snakes and then the shock of him following me up to the head table and sitting down. However, you should factor in the sorting ceremony of the first years into all this." Severus said.
"I feel it would be better if we go through as normal and then when you make announcements, Harry could be your last. Let him walk into the hall late and go right to the head table and then announce it. No matter what, when Harry walks into the hall, he's not going to be in student robes. They'll know right away something is up, doubled by when he also walks by his former house table." He remarked.
"That is true. Is that alright with you, Harry?" Minerva hoped.
"There's no need to make it extra." Harry informed. "There will be enough shock with the announcement alone and none of the other teachers for this post were announced that way. The only one who came in late was Moody, and that wasn't even really him. I'll be at the head table with everyone else when students file in." He stated.
"The quietness, staring, and whispering that goes on isn't exactly going to be new for me. Neither will any looks of shock, disbelief, or even jealousy. You and I know how they'll feel when it comes out. There's no point in trying to make it something huge. Most of them won't see it that way, so in the muggle terms…Rip the band-aid off. Just do it and let it go how it goes."
"He's right." Filius nodded.
"Very well then." Minerva agreed. "Come along everyone. Time to move out to begin another year."
"Dad? Can I have a moment?" Harry asked.
"Of course, son." Severus replied. The other adults left as Harry waved his hand to close the door. "What is it? Are you okay?"
"Aside the nervousness, just fine. I know what I said, but I'm not looking forward to the reactions." Harry admitted.
"Understandably so. What did you need me to stay back for?" Severus wondered lightly.
"How did you set up those wards around your room to know when people were there if you weren't? And who was there?" Harry inquired.
Severus chuckled a little. "Come on, I'll teach you."
Harry smiled and nodded. Harry might have passed his exams, but it didn't mean he knew everything there was to know about magic. His father had many more years on him and Harry also knew he could find out on his own, but the teenager knew it brought his father great joy to still be needed by him.
. . .
The time had come at last. Harry was making his way to the great hall and students were making their way from Hogsmead to Hogwarts. Severus had shown Harry how to set up the wards in his classroom and office, also how to manipulate them to get Harry getting some kind of feeling to know who was there if he was not. This also worked if the classroom was locked at night and he was in his office or bedroom. Harry reached the hall and walked in, finding all the teachers, except for those in charge of getting students to the school from Hogsmead. Hagrid, like always, was getting the first years into the boats to be taken across the great lake. Harry forgot who was in charge of the others coming in the carriages.
"Harry, there you are. Come right up," Minerva welcomed. "We left you a seat right next to Severus, so you can stay close to your Slytherin friends."
"Thank you," Harry smiled as he walked through the tables and finally up on that little ledge bit. Students were never allowed up here, so just before in the classroom; new perspective. Harry walked around the back of the table and took his place at the open seat between Severus and Minerva.
"Headmistress, the students are arriving." Argus Filch informed.
"Thank you, Mr. Filch." Minerva smiled.
"Harry, doing alright?" Severus asked his son. "I brought a calming draught if you need it, even a stomach soother if you're feeling nauseous. I know you do when you get anxious and nervous."
"I'm alright, Dad. Yes, I'm nervous, but I'm not scared. Like you said, those who support me will stay by me." Harry promised.
"That's my boy," Severus gave the teenager a quick hug and then sat straight.
Harry already knew that Minerva had selected Severus as her new deputy headmaster, to fill in for her if anything happened to her, so it made sense why Severus was sitting on Minerva's right hand side whereas he usually sat at the far right side where the Slytherin table was. Likewise, the other three heads of house sort of sat in close range to their respected table too.
Harry worked at relaxing himself and sitting up straight with his best professional and serious face as he could, but kept it light and inviting. When students arrived, Severus rose to stand at the doors and make sure they all went to their tables. It had been loud, filled with excitement to return for another year, but it did not go unnoticed at who they saw sitting at the head table and the sound died out, replaced with whispering and staring.
Exactly what Harry said would happen. Harry watched when his friends started to come inside, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were some who completely stopped and stared with surprise. When Harry saw his boyfriend and Slytherin friends, they looked shocked, but not anything more than that. It was more curiousness and Draco seemed to tell the others they'd get answers soon.
Draco must have remembered what Harry told him this morning, about the promised explanation tonight. Thank Merlin for that. Everything else, though; it wasn't a good feeling to Harry. All too familiar to fourth year and the announcement hadn't even been made yet. God, Harry hated the silence and all eyes on him. Severus had been outside the doors, explaining to the first years about the ceremony and more like Minerva had done with Harry's class five years ago.
Soon, the potions master led the first years inside the hall and the sorting ceremony began. It went on for about ten minutes, then Severus moved the stool and returned to his seat with the hat, which Minerva took from him before standing up to get everyone's attention. However, it didn't appear to be working as the witch was growing cross.
"Headmistress, if I can assist?" Harry offered Minerva.
"Go for it." Minerva nodded. Harry stood up and put his fingers to the corners of his mouth and let out a loud whistle that got everyone quiet. "Thank you, Harry." She smiled as Harry just sat back down with a nod. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I'm sure that with certain problems taken care of, we can get back to normal and have a wonderful school year. Now, before the feast…I just have one announcement to make." She paused. "And before I make it, I want it perfectly well understood that you will be behaved and respectful or face the consequences."
Minerva looked out to them all before motioning her hand over to Harry, who understood the queue and stood up, hands at his sides. "Many or all of you are wondering, surely, why Mr. Potter is sitting with us and the simple fact is he is now one of us. A teacher. A professor here at the school. Back to my announcement…I ask you all to give a warm welcome to the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher…Mr. Harry James Potter. Good luck, Professor."
The room was silent, exactly what Harry expected. What he didn't, though, was for one set of clapping to begin and Harry located it over at the Slytherin table. It was Draco, bless his boyfriend to bits that the teenager stood so proudly with a smile on his face, clapping. And like a chain reaction, Pansy, Blaise, Theodore, Vincent, and Gregory stood and clapped too. Pansy even cheered. It wasn't long after when the rest of Slytherin did the same and then Harry took notice of some of the Gryffindors doing the same, Neville leading the charge there.
And then there was Luna at Ravenclaw doing it too. It wasn't the entire school, but Harry just saw who was on his side. Despite not knowing everything, despite having been kept in the dark for months; they stood with him. Eventually, everyone settled down and Harry took his seat. Minerva held out her hands as the food appeared before everyone; dinner began. Harry mostly kept to himself, eating his food and trying to not think about the looks of confusion or even annoyance he had seen. Hopefully, with time, the awkwardness would fade.
. . .
When dinner ended about 8:30 pm, Harry left through the side door to get some air away from the room. An hour of the feeling he felt was too much to deal with and that nausea was worse than before. Harry, thankfully, had asked Minerva and Severus to get messages to who he wanted to see tonight and that moment was approaching fast. Harry went off to get to his classroom and prepare for the encounter with his friends and boyfriend.
Severus stood outside of the hall to catch those Harry wanted to talk to, so when Minerva dismissed everyone to their dorms, Severus was waiting for the group he wanted to collect. Severus would tap the shoulders of Hermione, Ron, Luna, Neville, then Draco, Pansy, Theodore, Vincent, Blaise, and Gregory; then have them wait against the wall. When all the other students were cleared away, Severus motioned them to come forward.
"Uncle Sev, what's going on?" Draco asked.
"Professor Potter would like to speak to you all in his classroom." Severus stated. "Follow me." Severus led the way for them to the third floor, and to Harry's classroom. Reaching the door, Severus was able to open it easily and found Harry leaning against his desk on the main classroom level, arms folded over one another. "Here you go, son."
"Thanks, Dad." Harry said.
"I'll see you in the morning, my boy. Goodnight." Severus informed.
"Goodnight, Dad. Love you." Harry watched his father leave the classroom before Harry waved his hand to shut the door and stood up straight before his friends and boyfriend. "I'm sure you're all quite confused about things. I brought you here to explain."
"No, the whole thing is a joke. One big prank." Ron stated firmly. "Harry can't be a teacher! Come on, guys…Wake up." He glared. "Harry's only sixteen, not even an adult yet. He still has two years of school to finish!"
"I don't think he's lying, Ron. Much less getting the entire Hogwarts staff on board to pull this off if it were a prank." Pansy rolled her eyes.
"Not only that, but Harry's also not one for lying." Blaise added.
"Tell us, Harry…This doesn't make sense. I mean…Ron's got a point. You're not even of age yet, still have a wand trace, and two years of school to complete…" Hermione mentioned.
"There's two versions of this explanation, which do you prefer? Long or short?" Harry inquired.
"Short. I just want to go back to my dorm…" Ron scoffed.
"I took my NEWTs last week and passed, now recognized as a graduate from school, of legal adult age, full wizard." Harry told them. "That's the short."
"Okay, long please?" Hermione questioned.
"At the end of last term, Minerva and the rest of the teachers were trying to work out who would take the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts like end of every year because no teacher lasts a year in this position due to the curse Voldemort placed on it years ago when he applied for it and was denied." Harry began.
"It was suggested they bring back the potions teacher who taught before Professor Snape, Horace Slughorn. And then Snape would take over this post. There was some debate on that because no one wanted anything to end up happening to Severus. But then Minerva suggested another course of action, if Severus and the Board of Governors allowed it, for me to teach the class."
"But obviously, you were still a student yourself and underage?" Theodore asked.
"That's correct. Mind you, I didn't know about any of this until the beginning of July when I made the choice to accept the offer." Harry informed. "There was a debate about my age and I had not graduated yet. Also the same worry that this post is cursed and no teacher lasts more than a year. Minerva's argument was that of recalling the good job I did teaching the Defense Army last year. I taught things successfully to other students that I shouldn't have even known as a fifth year student myself."
He paused then went on. "And also the fact I'm marked as Voldemort's equal, so Minerva and the others believe that if anyone has the capacity to counter or be immune to the curse over the job, it's me." He paused. "It was Professor Flitwick who brought up the idea of having me take my NEWT exams early, through the Ministry of Magic. Severus had told them he would leave the decision up to me if I wanted to spend the summer studying two years of school in two months."
"Obviously, you chose to do just that." Ron folded his arms.
"I didn't decide right away, Ron. I took several days, but yes…I chose to take the chance I was being given. If I'd failed, nothing would change. I'd have returned to school as a sixth year student." Harry said.
"But you are not…So you passed?" Luna smiled.
"I did." Harry nodded. "I studied all summer from the time I made the choice to just last week when I took the exams. Severus tutored me in Potions and Defense, I did the rest by reading and practicing in my room. Last week, on the 26th of August, Lucius and Severus brought me to the ministry to start testing. I took two exams a day until Saturday. Some were just written, some were written and physical. I can't go into details about those with you or it's an unfair advantage when you take your own, unfortunately."
"Hold on…Two exams a day for six days…That's twelve exams." Hermione realized.
"That's correct." Harry responded. "I got my results earlier today, that's why I didn't take the train in. I wasn't really sick, just exhausted from the week of testing and it had made me feel like hell. The deal had been that if I passed, I'd come with Severus and get settled in before you all arrived and then be announced as things went." Harry levitated over the sheet with his scores on them, letting it float by each of their faces.
"Holy Merlin, Harry…Two Exceeds Expectations and Ten Outstanding?" Neville and Hermione gasped.
"Evidence of hard work." Harry stated.
"You didn't even take Muggle Studies as a student, how'd you swing that?!" Ron snapped.
"That was more of a chance shot in the dark for me. I grew up Muggle, Ron. I didn't need to take a class on it when I lived it. Either way, again…It was just to see if I could." Harry remarked. "On top of that…I found out I earned two mastery of the arts too. Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions." He added.
"The potions were because I successfully separated ingredients for Amortentia and Wolfsbane that had been mixed up on the cabinet shelf, and bonus on doing all that, I managed to brew both perfectly on top of the four chosen potions I was tasked with brewing for the NEWT exam itself. I also impressed the examiner by healing him when he got hurt by creating a burn slave and pain relief potion out of extra ingredients."
"Wow, Harry…That's really good." Draco said. "But what about you being an adult, you mentioned?"
"Because I passed my NEWTs, I'm recognized as a full wizard who completed his schooling. That doubled to emancipate me as an adult early, so I'm considered an adult at sixteen instead of seventeen. The trace on my wand is gone." Harry explained as he showed them the ministry official letter explaining his new status.
"I promised Minerva I wouldn't keep you past curfew, so now that you know everything is legal…Allow me to make myself very clear with you all. Especially you, Ron…" Harry paused. "I'm a teacher of Hogwarts. I am teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts to you and every other student that passes those doors back there. I'm not a Prefect. I'm not Head Boy. A teacher and I have full privileges as one…"
"I can take away or give points. I can assign homework and detention. I can kick you out of class. I've been permitted to maintain my friendship with you all outside of this class and after school day hours have ended. In this class, though, I am your teacher and I will act as such. If you decide, hey we're friends, he won't get mad or let it slide; I will react accordingly without being biased." Harry stated firmly.
"You don't get a free pass in my class and in class, you treat me with the same respect you treat any other teacher here because I will certainly be treating you like any other student." Harry stated firmly. "Let that be your warning that beyond tonight with my casualness. Tomorrow, and any other time you have my class you will get Professor Potter, not Friend Harry. Have I made myself in any way, shape, or form, unclear?"
"No, sir," They all replied.
"Wonderful. Now, on your way then. I'll see you tomorrow." Harry informed. As everyone began to turn and leave the room. "Draco…Stay, if you don't mind. I need to talk to you." Draco stopped as the others left.
"This is where you have to break up with me, isn't it? Because you're a teacher and an adult?" Draco was looking down with his head lowered.
Harry approached his boyfriend, lifted his chin up with a finger, then he leaned in and gave his lover a passionate kiss. Draco was surprised, but he melted into it right away and kissed Harry back.