Gilded Dragonflies

As the clock ticked by on August first, Jaelynn lay on her small sofa, fatigued. She had nothing yet to do for the day. It was a dreadfully dull Thursday, that is, until someone knocked on the door of her cottage. She sighed, stretching as she stood, before padding to the door. She answered, her eyes widened to see Professor Dumbledore standing before her. She hadn't seen him in nearly 10 years. "Professor?" Jaelynn asked, perplexed. 

"I recommend putting on a pot, Ms. Potter, we have a lot to discuss."

                                                                 ♡| Jaelynn Marie Potter |♡
                                                                                [Lily Collins]

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After having put the kettle on, she beckoned Dumbledore to sit down in her small living room, "Too what do I owe this visit, headmaster?" Jaelynn asked as she sat across from him, crossing her legs in her chair. "I come to offer you a position. Your nephew, Harry, just turned eleven. I sent over Hagrid yesterday to get him and his things and keep him in Diagon Alley. We need an Astronomy professor, it seems as professor Sinistra has decided to retire. Now, we would have to set up some boundaries, but I want you to come to Hogwarts as a professor." Dumbledore explained, looking at her, awaiting her answer.

"I would love to come back, Albus." Jaelynn smiled, "To see Harry, I mean, I would love to see Harry and I have always wanted to teach." She paused, "You also mentioned boundaries which leaves me to believe Harry might not know who I am."

Dumbledore sighed heavily, and nodded. "We would change your name, maybe some other things if you are comfortable with it." The kettle, somehow, was screeching, signaling the water was ready. Jaelynn got up, and put the water into two cups with two tea bags. She brought them out, handing one to Dumbledore before sitting back down, "You mentioned changes. Changes of what kind? Would I be dying my hair? Cutting it? Straightening it? And my name, would I be pretending to be married or just a change of last name?" Jaelynn paused, flushing as she realized how many questions she was asking. 

"I think changing your name and straightening your hair will do just fine, and we shall test it first to see if it needs anything else-" Dumbledore paused, "We will also get you contacts. Nobody has seen you without glasses since you were three. That should just about do it." He took the cup to his lips, sipping at the tea inside. "This is a good mix, what is it called?"

"It's a muggle brand called Lipton tea." Jaelynn answered, "And, with your changes to who I would be, I could do it. I have a straightener, and I could go to my doctor for contacts."

Dumbledore smiled, his wrinkles tightening towards his eyes and acknowledging the tea brand. "I believe we should change your last name to a muggle last name. One nobody would suspect that you would be a Potter. So, I say come up with a last name by a week, and I'll stop by again. Now, past the changes, we can discuss curriculum and boundaries with Harry."

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The next week, when Dumbledore came back, Jaelynn had straightened her hair. It was different, but a good kind of different. She liked it. She also had gotten her contacts just before he had gotten there. Dumbledore watched as she put them in, and she stepped back, blinking a few times before looking at him. "I think I look different." She said. 

"I think you're underestimating how different it truly is, Miss Potter." He chuckled lightly, "Speaking of surnames, have you come up with a new last name or anything you would like to change it to?"  

"I think Oakley. Jaelynn Oakley. Professor Oakley." Jaelynn smiled.

"You're hired then, professor Oakley." Dumbledore smiled, sticking out his hand to be shook. Jaelynn shook his hand with a smile, and the deal was sealed. She was now professor Jaelynn Oakley.

"I'll see you September first, professor." Dumbledore said, dropping her hand. He grabbed a binder thick with paper. "Here is the curriculum for each year of Astronomy. Have fun planning lessons." He chuckled, handing it to her.

Jaelynn groaned internally as she took the binder, but wore a smile on her face. "I just might."

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Over the next couple days, she came up with her lesson plans for first, second, and third years for the first month. She came up with fun days, lecture days, and project days. She also grabbed something she had made in her fourth year, a moon dial. She figured out the moon and constellation patterns for Astronomy until the year 2067. Using the moon dial, she planned evening lessons to look at the constellations and do the lectures about the constellations they are looking at.

Even with a half-empty wine glass in her hand, she felt productive, and good. She was excited, really excited to start. It was a new beginning in general. She was leaving her life in the muggle world behind. Her ex-fiancee, her friends, all of it. It was almost relieving. 

She remembered the day she had left her ex. He had cheated on her with his "work wife", as she called herself. She figured she knew why now. It was messy, and ultimately really hard on her, but she made it through.

The only thing she was nervous for, was to meet Harry. What if he ended up rude and a snob, or what if he was a sweetheart? Too many possibilities with who was raised with and not knowing. Maybe he was spoiled rotten or maybe he grew up poor. She didn't know, and it bothered her. It always had. Now, she could see him everyday. Hopefully, Harry is nice. She prayed, actually. Even as she packed the night before September first, her stomach churned as she waited to see what her nephew is like.