Hi, everybody, it's me Michael, here! My "true" fics are now out of their hiatus though I will have no definite update schedule. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO IS STILL READING, FAVORING, AND FOLLOWING THESE STORIES AFTER SUCH A LONG DELAY! MUCH LOVE FROM ARIZONA TO ALL OF YOU!
On Monday, May 4th, 1992, as Harry, Amy, Susan, Hannah, Sirius, Remus, Amelia, and Heather were enjoying a dinner spicy white chicken strips, fries, Texas toast, and Budweiser, Heather looked at Sirius.
"Sirius?" said Heather seriously, "I've been doing some thinking recently and I think there is a good job opportunity for you at Skyward School of Practical Sorcery."
Sirius's head perked up and his eyes met Heather's.
"What might that job opportunity be?" asked Sirius curiously.
"Sirius, " said Heather kindly, "I know you love brooms and flying."
"True! grinned Sirius.
"Now," said Heather clearly, "Under NO circumstances will Quidditch or any other dangerous broom games such as Shuntbumps be played at Skyward School of Practical Sorcery."
Sirius nodded in understanding
"However, " continued Heather, "Students at Skyward School of Practical Sorcery will still be given Flying Lessons. Only to learn how to fly, mind you."
"Does that mean?" piped up Sirius excitedly, "That I am being offered the position of Flying teacher at Skyward School of Practical Sorcery?"
"Yes, " replied Heather warmly, "You told me that you wanted a job at Skyward School of Practical Sorcery, and I gave some thought to see if an opportunity was available. This is just about perfect. Part of my problem with staffing the position of Flying teacher is that it's a post that I would have a hard time trusting many people in or with. I'm much more comfortable entrusting the position to someone I already know and know well."
"Thanks, Heather!" grinned Sirius.
"Sirius being our Flying teacher will be super cool!" beamed Harry.
"It's going to be awesome!" said Amy eagerly.
"I'm not going to let you goof off though," said Sirius clearly, "I am going to be a seriously Sirius teacher!"
"As it should be," nodded Susan, "I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job teaching us!"
"Yeah, I'm sure you'll be a great teacher!" added Hannah.
"No doubt," agreed Amy, "Sirius will successfully teach every student at Skyward School of Practical Sorcery to fly extremely well. I KNOW that!"
"He'll be brilliant, and his students will take to him well!" piped up Harry confidently.
Harry now turned to Heather and said, "Thank you for looking after the safety of the students in your care by NOT allowing Quidditch or Shuntbumps to be played at Skyward School of Practical Sorcery."
Heather smiled at Harry and said, "That's a big part of my job as a responsible Headmistress is to NOT permit ultra-dangerous activities at my school."
"I can tell already that Heather is doing an amazing job of building her school from the start, " said Remus respectfully.
"My biggest challenge now, " piped up Heather in a wearier voice, "Is finding a Potions Master for Skyward School of Practical Sorcery!"
"Why is that such a particular challenge?" asked Amy curiously.
"Because!" spat Heather angrily, "There are VERY few people qualified for such a position!"
"Very few?" said Harry briskly.
"Yep, very few," said Heather, sounding very tired now, "Snape's many years of non-teaching really caused a serious shortage of qualified Potion Makers."
"Heather, " said Amelia clearly, "You're going to have to think outside the box a bit here. You're going to have to go down a non-traditional route to find the right Potions Master."
"How?" Heather asked Amelia in a confused voice, "If you're suggesting that I take on the role of Potions Master along with being the Headmistress of Skyward School of Practical Sorcery and have a dual role, the answer is no. Honestly, with being Headmistress, that's all I can handle."
"That's true, " agreed Amelia, "You can't bite off more than you can chew. You have a couple of options, but you're going to have to go down a non-traditional route here. Personally, the option I would recommend is to expand your search for a Potions Master beyond the U.K. Snape's non-teaching has depleted the supply of up and coming Potion Makers in the U.K. However, many other schools of magic throughout the world have given their young witches and wizards MUCH better education in the art and science of Potion Making in recent years. My advice to you is to expand your horizon beyond the U.K. in the search for a Potions Master. There may well be someone who can't find a job in his or her native country who would be well qualified to become the Potions Master at Skyward School of Practical Sorcery."
Heather gave Amelia of a thoughtful look and said, "I will look into that, Amelia."
"Smart thinking Auntie!" smiled Susan.
"Having to search outside the country is going to create a lot of extra work for poor Heather though, " said Amy sympathetically.
"Heather is brilliant, " said Harry radiantly, "Not only can she handle it, but she will make the PERFECT selection. I KNOW she will."
"Mom knew when she made the decision to found her own school that there would be challenges involved in the process, " said Hannah respectfully.
"Inevitably so, " said Heather clearly, "But I'm up to them."