Request
The war had been over for 5 years, and Harry was stuck. Sure, he had tried the Auror thing for a little while, but all it did was bring back trauma from his schooling days.
He may be The Boy Who Lived Twice, The Chosen One and all those other names the wizarding world had elected to give him. But even he couldn’t just do anything without the proper credentials. And because he had never done his seventh year or his NEWTS, he was stuck.
He’d permanently moved into Grimmauld Place about a year after all the fighting was over. He stayed there most of the time only going out to get groceries and to meet with the Weasley’s every weekend for their weekly time all together whenever they could. Teddy was around whenever he wanted as neither himself nor Andromeda could say no to him very often. Even the occasional letter to Narcissa Malfoy as she had thanked me for saving her son, both from the fire and from a stay in Azkaban.
For the first year of his solitary living, he had stripped the place clean and removed all the dark artefacts or just removed the curses on anything he wanted to keep or sell. The house no longer looked horribly depressing, but was now muted blues and greens. He wanted to keep some of it looking like what it used to.
So here Harry was, sitting in one of the drawing rooms, lamenting about all those lost or just not thinking about anything. He didn’t need to worry about funds, so he never got another job.
---
He was reading one of the more tame books from the Black Library when Kreacher popped into the room saying that he had a floo call. Wondering what Hermione or Ron wanted now, he leisurely made his way down. But it wasn’t any of the Weasley’s, it wasn’t even Teddy saying hello. It was Minerva McGonagall.
Blinking owlishly for a moment, he addressed his old house mistress. “Hi Professor, what are you doing here?”
“May I come through Mr. Potter?” She asked me with an eyebrow raised. I quickly gave my acceptance, and she appeared through the flames moments later. She brushed the soot out of her robes, and we sat at the dining table together. “As you may or not be aware Potter, even though the curse on the Defence position is no more, many are still afraid of strange happenstance and do not stay in the position for more than a year.”
I nodded at her, “I was aware, but why does that concern me?”
“Well Potter, I have been hearing recently from some of your old classmates that were a part of your army.” Another nod. “Many of them believe that it was the best education they had ever received, even with you being younger that a fair few of them.”
I had started to connect the dots and stared at her in disbelief. “Are you telling me you want me to teach? Teach Defence?” I let out in a yelp.
She gave me one of her stern stares that I remember. “Why yes, that was my thoughts. I’m sure you recall that at all your years at school, the Defence classes were disjointed every year, as there was never a permanent teacher. I was hoping you would change that.” She gestured to me as she said these last words and became silent, letting me work out my thoughts. “Of course, you need not give me your answer right away, the school year is not yet over, but I would like an answer by the end of the month.”
I sat there connecting my thoughts for a few seconds. If I took the job, then I would finally be doing something, then again I wouldn’t see Teddy or the Weasley’s as much, but I could help the students, but would they want to be taught by me? Hogwarts was the first home I ever had, though the war had tainted that memory a tad.
I thought for a moment more before replying, “If I do take up the Defence position, and that’s an If right now, wouldn’t I need some sort of teaching licence? I don’t know how you are accepting teachers and I’m not sure if I’m qualified.” I trailed off at her raised eyebrow. “Okay that’s fair not many of the Professors had a licence either.” We both let out little chuckles at this.
“I will leave you to think it over some more Mr. Potter.” She stood, “If I may suggest?” I nodded for her to continue. “I would recommend asking your friends and family if you need a little more persuasion.” Of course, Ron and Hermione would help me decide. “I shall see you by the end of the month Mr. Potter.” And she was gone as quickly as she had come.
---
I agonised about whether I should teach for 3 days before the Weasley get together. I tried not to show much confliction when Teddy was over as I wanted to spend time with my godson having fun.
As soon as we stepped through the floo to the Burrow, Teddy ran off to find Victorie, I let out a smile at the hyperactive child.
Greetings were passed around and we were told that a large lunch was out the back as most of the family was here. Molly gave me one of her hugs, a heavily pregnant Fleur kissed my cheeks, Bill, Charlie, and George all gave me pats on the back, Arthur gave me a wave from across the yard and Percy nodded in my direction. Ron and Hermione arrived about halfway through lunch with apologies on their lips.
This was one of my favourite times of each week, it was always a jovial affair.
At the end of lunch my two best friends gave an announcement that had everyone cheering. “If we could have all of your attention.” Hermione raised her voice, and everyone quietened down. She raised her left hand. Sitting there was a ring!
Molly let out a squeal and ran to hug the two. “When did this happen? How did he ask? When’s the wedding? Are you going to have children?” All this was said very quickly.
“Woah Mum, calm down a bit. We haven’t finalised anything yet.” Molly backed down from Ron and waited to hear all the details. “I made her favourite dinner and asked.” It was about an hour later when all the congratulations had finished when Hermione made her way up to me.
“I’m happy for you two.” I told her with a rib cracking hug. She wiped away a few tears and thanked me.
Ron came up to us and put an arm on my shoulder, “Course’ you’re gonna play a part. What do you say, Best Man?”
A large smile was my answer before I remembered, and it dimmed slightly. “What’s going on mate?”
“Not much, just wondering if you guys are gonna schedule the date around the Hogwarts term?”
Hermione narrowed her eyes, “Why would that be important?” I looked at her before her eyes widened. “You got a teaching position?” She yelled out loudly, startling everyone gathered.
“WHAT?”
I stopped everyone before they all bombarded me with questions. “I haven’t got a teaching position. McGonagall offered me the Defence job and I’ve got till’ the end of the month to give her my reply.”
More congratulations were passed around until a small voice piped up. “Uncle Harry, if you go to school, then I won’t get to see you.” A small sniffle made its way to me.
I felt my heart break a little bit. I crouched down to his level. “Teddy look at me.” He raised his head. “I haven’t said yes yet, but if I do then I will see you every holiday, I’ll try to see you every Hogsmeade weekend, and we’ll still call each other on the floo when we can. It’s not as much as I’d like to see you, but we will see each other still.”
He rubbed his red eyes and gave a tiny nod. “And when I go to Hogwarts, I can see you every day.” He thought it over. “I guess that’s okay then.”
Ron gave me a smirk. “I guess you’re gonna be a professor then, mate.”