The Offer
The past hadn't been kind to you. Being declared a blood traitor by your pureblood family for not following in their dark and demented footsteps. Being sorted into Ravenclaw was just the first part of your apparent betrayal, but leaving your family home a few years after school was over was the icing on the cake. They could just about tolerate your school house due to your intelligence, but it was the final straw after you openly (and proudly) declared you no longer wanted anything to do with your blood-crazed family. You could not tolerate them anymore, but it did not stop you lifting the spirits of others around you. You did not wallow, or become miserable. You simply chose to accept the past and move on. You had to, you were too smart to let things get you down.
Being an outcast, Albus Dumbledore approached you after you had finally found your footing in the wizarding world. You'd taken to helping out at Slug & Jiggers Apothecary to ensure future students at Hogwarts got the right potions ingredients for their school years, which in turn made you quite well known to the young witches and wizards who flocked to you during the holidays. To the shop owners delight, sales rose yearly as you mesmerised children and adults alike with your unlimited knowledge about potions.
Albus had just been listening to you tell a group of fresh students, due to start this coming September, your usual story for bright beginners. He waited patiently, his eyes sparkling behind his half moon glasses as he saw that the students were in complete awe at your tale.
"And so, we witches and wizards can brew a potion for anything you can imagine! All from the ingredients you see here today. Let's say, for example, you have some nasty weeds in your garden. With exactly four lionfish spines, two measures of horklump juice and a couple of blobs of flobberworm mucus they would be gone!" You see their blank expressions and laugh, "I see. Not exciting enough for you, weeds, are they? How about... yes, of course! How would you like to make your friends head turn into a pumpkin?"
The children surrounding you were quick to nod in interest, whispering among themselves in excitement, "Please tell us, miss [last name]!"
You finally noticed Dumbledore standing nearby and straightened up, giving him a small nod of greeting. Turning back to the ambitious little ones in front of you, you smiled, "Well let's just hope that you get the chance to make it at school."
You leaned in closer to them, whispering cheekily, "But if you don't, I happen to know that the main ingredient is the flitterby moth. Don't tell anyone I told you. Now go on, you've got school supplies to be buying, haven't you?"
With massive grins on their faces, they each raced over to their parents to continue their shopping. Probably begging for a flitterby moth to be added to their ingredients with high hopes for their future potions classes. Little did they know, that the headmaster of their new school would be asking you to meet them there.
"Professor Dumbledore, nice to see you," You smiled eagerly, shaking his outstretched hand.
"Likewise, miss [last name]. Enchanting the eager first years as usual, I often hear your name whispered in the corridors," He was clearly amused, "One student successfully turned their best friend into a pumpkin last year. Not just their head mind you, it took Madam Pomfrey a long week to get his body back."
"Oh," You managed to stifle your laugh, "I think they may have added one too many moths. Maybe I should think of a new story for the little ones. I'm very sorry."
"No need for apologies, it was rather a humorous ordeal for all involved after the seriousness died down." Dumbledore assured you.
Your cheeks reddened, "Kids will be kids."
"But, that is not what I came here for," He spoke, ushering you towards the corner of the old shop, "I am looking for someone with your expertise to join our staff. I'm sure even the students will approve should they see you helping out our Potions Master in class. You are very talented and I believe you to be a very good teacher."
"I'm very flattered, professor, but-" Dumbledore cut you off in a friendly tone.
"Alas, I have already spoken with your colleagues here and they were very encouraging. Sad, however, to see you go but they are also in agreement that your flair for potions would be excellent for our school."
"Do you really think so?" You asked, hopeful.
"I would not be here if I did not believe it," He mused, "and I should hope that your intelligent mind believe it too."
"Well then of course, professor!" You beamed at him, "I'd be happy to take your offer."
Dumbledore nodded with a smile, explaining that you should be at Hogwarts on the 31st of August to help you settle in before the students arrive the following day. He let you know that a letter will be sent to your home following your verbal acceptance, and then he left with a hearty smile.
You felt on top of the world as your colleagues were quick to flock to you after the wise man had left. Congratulations ensued, cheers and gushes of amazement being thrown at you from every angle. Never in a million years did you believe that you'd ever be asked of such an honour, you'd never even thought about teaching. The embarrassment from hearing about the poor pumpkin student disappeared quickly as you helped close the shop for the day. Your mind was elsewhere, dreaming about what Hogwarts was going to be like as a teacher instead of a pupil.