coincidence? I think not!
Twas a crisp night, and Dumbledore was strolling in the late darkness.
It was still summer and the end of the holidays were itching closer and closer. The ministry had been hou ending in on the school, likely due to Fudge’s paranoia that Dumbldore was vying to steal his job.
It wasn't like he was ever that interested in ruling wizarding Britain - well not after the mess of his youth, even being a headmaster had left a sour taste in his mouth in the first few years but he had pushed back the bile refusing to disappoint those who had been left among the close few he dared not disappoint.
Being minister after taking too many years to finally get comfortable as headmaster of Britain's only wizarding school was a step too far - even if the country would fare better under his regime it would mean to be a step too close to his old dream.
Grindelwald would be shaking in disappointment at the wizard’s lack of movement to grab the position but Albus had long stopped thinking about what his old friend would prefer - especially after he received a humbling wake up call.
The people may choose a fool, or fools may be made from people who could be competent but were too foolish to try properly - but he would leave the role alone.
And yet Fudge didn't seem to grasp that.
In return the school was hounded by the government in hopes to find some weakness without realisering or caring that they may cripple the future of the young witches and wizards in the coming future.
The board had made it clear that if Dumbledore didn't find an adequate replacement for the defence post they would have the ministry place their own people.
He would have been all for it if not for having seen the candidate list.
Having a death eater - not a double spy like Snape but an actual death eater - may have been a better bet with how poor the credentials, priorities and people were.
One Dolores Umbridge stood out with her recent maneuvers of date.
He wouldn't be surprised if she decided to do something drastic soon either.
St Mungo’s came into view as he wandered into a park, perhaps a stroke of luck could be upon them. An old writing friend that he knew through Flannel had recently come back into contact with him and of recent - suggested a solution to his teacher issue, upon hearing of Albus’ grievances.
One of his sponsors of recent had been caught in an accident - although his colleague straight up wrote to Albus that he was certain that sabotage had been involved - and was soon to be released from St Mungo’s within the week.
Further messaging had revealed that his pen pal would be refusing his sponsee’s attempt to return to his project and would be forcing them to break away from said project until the perpetrators involved had been caught.
Unfortley they would still be in need of a source of income during this period as his colleague needed the perpetrators to think the two had cut contact so they could see who was the original target.
Albus was happy to offer refuge to the witch/wizard regardless at this point as the school’s magic would ensure that the students were safe regardless.
With further inquiry on both ends Albus found himself looking at the first applicant for the defense role that year.
However that was a thought for tomorrow, for now he was here as an excuse to clear his thoughts outside his office.
He stared at the Hospital as thoughts of those he failed came to mind.
Wondering if there was perhaps anyone he knew in particular behind certain windows.
“Come here often?”
A curt voice cut through the silence and Dumbledore found himself facing a young man with a strange shawl to shield against the cool evening sitting on the bench.
“Not often - i would say, no” Dumbledore gave a soft smile at the figure.
He was likely a patient at the hospital given half his face was bandged and the hospital gown under the shawl.
The stranger hummed before shuffling down the bench and motion for Dumbledor to take a seat, “might as well give your bones a rest old man”
“How kind”, Dumbledore sat down as the silence between the two grew.
Eventually the man spoke, “so what brings you here? You don't seem to inclined to go inside”
“I supposed you could say I’m technically scouting for someone in advance - an old contact of mine recommended them to me and suggested I visit”, the old wizard hummed as if making it seem like a small joke.
“Scouting ? May I ask what role?”
“Why a teacher, I run a school for children you see. And I seem to be lacking applicants this year - not that I would blame many”
“A school? I’m guessing Hogwarts? One of my ward-mates mentioned having children there, she’s okay by the way - apparently she’ll be out by the end of the week”
“You would be correct my dear, and I’m glad to hear the child would be able to spend some happy memories with their parents before the year starts.”
—----------------------
Dumbledor was not a man who believed in coincenes.
At some point it seemed the longer you lived the more the universe was willing to show you - he would admit some of those silent prophecies he thought he found may have only come to fruition because of his own actions rather than fate.
But such is the actions of Oedipus in his own myth that the muggles share and sometimes those myths share valuable advice.
Regardless, Dumbledore found himself facing the young man from the night before - using a cane to support him as he walked, while grumbling about how he would carve his own better one at some point.
The two locked eyes before Heathers - his writing colleague - introduced them and shared a moment of surprise before allowing their shared friend the honor of introductions.
—-------------------
“Fancy us meeting like this of all things”, Dumbledore started the conversation after the silence between them had gone on for a bit,
“Heathers said you needed a teacher for a year - Defence Against the Dark Arts?”
“You would be correct”
“Let's talk contract then”
Nathan Brown, as Heathers had introduced the young man, was quick to accept and discuss the job opportunity, leaving little for small talk but very much similar to the previous night.
Nate, as he offered, focused on what Dumbledore would expect, where he could expect to find in-job support as well as what other responsibilities he would be taking on.
Despite his preference, a medi-witch who had been in charge of his recovery had piped in here and there to share what physical accommodations would be required as well as what his limits were and hence should or shouldn't be excluded from certain expectations until a certain time.
Examples such as patrolling at night were considered a no no until winter in her words.
Albus had been clear with the two that Nate would be likely to receive the job as the only one who applied and the Medi-witch had mentioned Lockhart as a reason Nathan shouldn't worry anyway.
Albus feared that his credibility had decreased in the man’s mind as Lockheart’s feats were described - none too good.
At the end of it, the headmaster had left the hospital with an additional member of staff added to the school.