She's Thunderstorms
Being Harry Potter was all fun and games until he was divorcing his wife amicably and splitting custody 50/50. The papers had a field day spinning tales of his infidelity, secret homosexual lifestyle, or unresolved trauma that ended a lovely family dynamic. Though, the paparazzi that loved to ambush him from the bushes thankfully couldn't breach the walls of grimmauld place, now renovated and free of screaming paintings (mostly). He sat in the kitchen, reading the newest issue of The Daily Prophet. His soon-to-be ex wife came down the stairs as he got to the juicy details of his apparent affair with a handsome looking woman who worked as an auror. "Ah, what affair are you hiding from me today, Harry?" She asked casually, coming to a gentle stop in front of him. She leaned over to read the paper upside down, as he shook his head. "This time it's an auror about twenty years my senior that I've met once." Ginny laughed, ruffling his hair with her hand. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I would actually be impressed if you had managed an affair at all. You're quite obvious." She teased, seemingly taking the whole thing quite well. They had spoken about the rumors many times over the last few months, it had become practically an inside joke between them. Harry grimaced, half disgusted by the idea of cheating on his wife, half insulted by his ex wife. "I'm Harry Potter, I can have whoever I want." He said sarcastically, doing a poor impersonation of the bastards writing this trash. He crumpled the paper up, tossed it across the room to the waste basket, and missed. Harry and Ginny watched it fall to the floor, making a hollow sound as it hit the ground. Ginny snickered and clapped him on the back. "Well apparently you can't have whatever shot you want, eh golden boy?" He rolled his eyes and gave a hesitant half smile. She said nothing else as she crossed the kitchen, climbed up the stairs, and disappeared out of sight. Outside, the summer air had begun to cool, signaling the beginning of autumn and a new school year. He thought often of his school days, full of danger and excitement. The very thought of some of his more impractical stunts made his back ache. It would be his thirty-fourth birthday at the end of the week and he'd be celebrating his first birthday in fifteen years as a single parent. Well, sort of. Ginny stayed in the house as quidditch season didn't begin until the middle of August and she would go back to traveling with the other harpies, undoubtedly going another year as the undefeated female quidditch team. He enjoyed having her around, despite their split. She had always been a joy. It was comforting to know that she wouldn't be leaving his life, though it was hard not to be at least a little sorrowful at the loss of her as his wife. He supposed he enjoyed the routine, and the loss of that contributed. Once she left for the season and his boys went off to school, it would be him and Lily for half the time, and just him the other half. Molly took Lily for Ginny's half while she was away, though that didn't mean Harry was forbidden from seeing her then. It just still felt a little awkward seeing the Weasleys after his separation from Ginny. He really ought to know better, seeing as Molly and Arthur treated him no differently. They assured him he would still be welcome round for Christmas and every other subsequent holiday. He stood from his chair, figuring he had dawdled long enough. He ran a hand through his hair and with a Crack, materialized on the front steps of the glamoured ministry of Magic. The same old route, same old office, same old paperwork. He was becoming bored of it. He had been restless since the end of the war, and he thought that a quiet ministry job would suit him well. Yet another thing "The Chosen One" couldn't foresee. He surprisingly hadn't passed the Auror exam, according to "conflict of interest" and other frilly bullshit he didn't bother to think about too hard. Though he supposed it was better this way, no more death, no more brute force to get his way. He had three lovely kids and a soon-to-be ex-wife that didn't make him feel like shit for every reason under the sun. She grew up with him for Merlins sake. It made sense that she'd want more than The Boy Who Survived and Is Now Learning How To Live. Turns out, years of trauma and death doesn't do well for your pysche and/or your love life. Ginny was bloody lovely and perfect for all she tried. Harry simply didn't know who he was outside of the legend of him. He liked Chinese food and bad muggle TV and his children. He preferred dogs over cats and cooking with his hands over cooking with magic. He swore it tasted better when he made it the old fashioned way. He searched for more answers across his cluttered desk, the pictures of his family: Ron and Hermione's wedding, family pictures that Molly insisted they get with all the grandkids and whatnot, His happy face smiling back with Ginny showing off her brand new engagement ring. He might have been imagining it, but his smile now looked dull in all the moving pictures, like he was trying to look happy. The mail had come for him by the time he wrenched his sight away from the photos, and he was surprised to see the Hogwart's Crest looking back at him. It puzzled him, as McGonagall typically only wrote him twice a month. He tore the letter open, expecting her usual pleasantries and perhaps some thoughts she hadn't had time to share in her last letter. Instead, he was greeted with a far more formal greeting.
Mr. Harry Potter, On behalf of the Hogwart's faculty and staff, as headmistress of the institution, we would be honored to offer you the position of Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor for the upcoming school year. As you are aware, the position requires room and board at Hogwart's for the entire school year. The position requirements include: extensive knowledge of dark magic and those who use it, technique in combatting the aforementioned situations and wizards, and ability to accurately and effectively transmit knowledge to students. We at Hogwart's believe that you fit these requirements and hope you consider. I anxiously await your response. Sincerely, Minerva McGonagall Headmistress at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Harry chuckled, feeling as if he could hear Minnie in his head.
P.S. Mr. Potter, I hope you'll excuse my excessive post for the month and allow me to dock it from next months correspondence.
He rolled his eyes affectionately, ever appreciating her sass and sarcasm. He turned the letter over and over in his hands, contemplating. It would be a nice change of pace, but he had so much to think about. Lily wasn't in school yet and would have to stay with Molly since Ginny would be on the road. What use would his house be if no one was ever in it? His plants would surely die, though that was the least of his worries. Maybe then, Neville would stop sending him seeds. It sent a warm feeling out from his chest to the tips of his fingers and toes to return to his first real home, but he couldn't find it in him to give up time with his daughter or the home he'd spent so long trying to build at Grimmauld Place. He wished desperately for some magical Chosen One advice, but he was pretty sure that was all behind him now. These days, he was just Harry Potter, ministry employee and single father with no idea what's ever going on. He picked up the envelope with the Hogwart's Crest in red wax, very much the same as the one he recieved more than two decades ago. He ran his finger over it, somehow feeling both like he needed more time and also that life wasn't going fast enough anymore. He only knew that something had to give, he couldn't keep doing the same things he'd been doing for fifteen years and expect something different. He had the chance to change the same old routine, the same old destiny, and he stuttered, again thinking of everyone but himself. He procured a piece of parchment, writing two letters to two women, asking for advice.
I've just recieved a letter from Minnie asking me to teach DADA and I am considering it rather seriously. Thoughts? Prayers? Advice? I'm quite out of sorts these days and need help from a smart woman.
Cheers,
Harry
He had no sooner come to a decision than he reached the owlry, sending a letter to Hermione, and to Ginny. She may not be his wife for much longer but she did know him better and closer than many people had the last decade and a half. She was the mother of his children for Gods sake. And Hermione needed no introduction, she was the brightest witch of the age and shaping up to be the first female Minister of Magic. If anyone could tell him the right move, it would be these two. He loved Ron to death but there was nothing that man could tell him about how to find his future. He may be helpful in polishing off a few pints after work though. He figured that wouldn't need much convincing. He began the long walk back to his same old office, hoping for the best. Perhaps he could find new purpose in the mundane.