Slytherin Head of House
The next day Harry was sitting at his desk reading the Quibbler and pretending the discussion he had with Hermione simply did not happen and Draco Malfoy is in fact not roaming the same halls as him. Harry was definitely not thinking about how a git like him even convinced the ministry to let him in, although Hogwarts does have an odd strategy when it comes to hiring teachers. Nevertheless, it didn’t matter because he wasn’t thinking about it, just then to pull him out of his none thoughts of the new teacher, was Hermione. Harry shoves the Quibbler into a different more professional book and acted like he was hard at work.
“Harry, are you busy?” She asked
“I’ll always have time for you, just so long as it’s not about lesson plans”
“Not this time” She chuckled and then sighed hinting that she wanted to be serious, “I’m meeting Ron in Hogsmeade for an afternoon together before the students arrive tomorrow, I was wondering if you’d like to join us?”
“Okay!’ Harry jumped, it’s been forever since the Golden Trio hangout.
“Yeah! Most of the staff are spending our last bits of free time over there” Hermione described this like it was a good thing but to Harry, this would mean more not thinking about a particular someone he was already busy not thinking about.
“Actually…I’m busy this afternoon” He lied “Sorry I can’t join”
Hermione sighed “Harry…”
“Hermione…” Harry mocked her whine
“You’re going to have to meet him eventually” She was right Harry was bound to see Malfoy eventually.
“I don't know what you’re talking about” Because he was not thinking about meeting, confronting, hell even seeing Malfoy.
“Yes, you do! C’mon Harry, you’ve been cooped up in your office since Malfoy arrived” Harry wished she hadn’t said his name, it was as if he was the new, you know, even if he wasn’t saying his name just meant it was harder to not think.
“Well…I’ve been…busy on my lesson plans” More lying, more deflecting, more not thinking, all of which are Harry’s specialties.
“All morning?” Hermione was always able to see through anything, although seeing through Harry was like looking at a window. “You haven’t even been eating in the hall”
“...Yeah?”
“You’re even reading The Quibbler!” Hermione ripped it out of the book Harry stuffed it under earlier.
Harry quickly grabs it back in embarrassment. “It’s for research, and to support Luna”
“Seriously” She quizzed.
“Plus I have a meeting with McGonagall anyways soon so I can’t come,” Finally something actually true and Hermonie did seem to let it go and instead asked what for to which Harry had no answer.
“Feels a bit like old times to be honest, just being called down for no reason, hell maybe I’ll get points for Gryffindor.”
“I highly doubt that” She rolled her eyes at Harry’s shug and coy face as knowing this school, they probably will.
As Hermonie leaves while lecturing Harry one last time about actually socializing and not avoiding a certain potions teacher, Harry starts to get ready to make his way to the Headmistresses office. While he walked around the halls he can’t help but reminisce over his time as a student, sure it was scary as hell and everyone tried to kill him, but the times where they weren’t will always be some of the happiest moments in Harry’s life. Although walking down to see McGonagall wasn’t exactly unlocking the good memories that he was hoping for, no more like the crushing anxiety of every wrong thing he has ever done in his life making him the scared 12 year old boy again.
When Harry finally arrived at the giant double doors that divided the Headmistress from the rest of Hogwarts, he nearly forgot how to breathe with the looming anticipation that awaits for him on the other side. What could Harry Potter have done this time? Was it the neglected lesson plans, the lack of public appearances to the rest of the staff, or maybe the several complaints about that stupid arrogant nepo blonde headed git of a potions teacher? Either way it’s usually never good news the McGonagall has for him so might as well bite the bullet and face it like the near 40 year man that he is, after wiping off the sweat from his palms of course.
With a deep breath Harry opens the door to a lavish office filled with lush green and purple decor, books upon books reaching the very high ornate ceilings. Different rugs and fabrics, blocking some of the natural light peering from the towering windows allowing a demuring amount of sun in just enough to make it inviting and almost comfortable. There sat McGonagall at her large semi-circular desk that surrounded a large plush velvet chair that just barely went past her ever so present pointed hat, she was reading over some papers that Harry couldn’t quite make out what they were but judging by the unruly wrinkle of her eyebrows, they weren’t exactly cheerful.
“Headmistress?” Harry knocked on the large door “you wanted to speak with me?”
“Ah yes Mr. Potter have a seat” She pointed to one of the two smaller, yet still very fancy chairs that sat in front of her desk. Harry studied her every move trying to decipher what was the reason for him being here. McGonagall set the papers down with disappointment and then started with a heavy sigh
“Now as you may know Hogwarts has had a..controversial past” She struggled trying to find the words which Harry couldn’t remember a time where she hadn’t known what to say “Many of those controversies have been of course surrounding our students put in the Slytherin house”
Harry held in everything to not chuckle at that remark, as he would say that would be a massive understatement. The whole reason he even was put into Gryffindor was because he met a Slytherin, and was also told that all evil wizards are Slytherins but it was mainly the meeting a certain Slytherin thing.
“And I’m not the only one who thinks that the prejudice against Slytherins is unfair especially since they are given that stereotype when they are but small children, which one can only imagine what that does to a poor kid”
What’s that, a child being labeled as an evil monster freak yeah Harry could sort of relate, but guess what he never thought about wiping out an entire race just because of some stupid name calling, but no kid should feel like he did so I guess he’ll hear the Headmistress out.
“This house rivalry has to end,” She thumped her fist on top of the papers she was reading confirming Harry’s thought that they weren’t good ones, “not only does it affect the school but Hogwarts is an important part of our society that it has consequences long after people have left” McGonagall continued, “That’s why I have proposed a solution” She paused the look Harry straight in the eye, “I would like to offer you the post of Slytherin head of house.”
Those words struck Harry like a bad hex. Head of Slytherin? Him? What was she thinking? He was Harry freaking Potter the golden boy of Gryffindor, the star quidditch player for TEAM GRYFFINDOR there was no way he would ever be in the same room as Slytherin let alone lead them!
McGonagall must have seen the absolute shock on Harry’s face because she immediately start to explain her completely maddened plan
“Listen if anything can drag the Slytherin name out of the mud, it’s you” She then kept explaining how the so called ‘rebranding’ could be good and bring some solidarity between the houses but Harry just kept sitting there like a deer in headlights. The Headmistress said she’ll give him some time to think about it but will need an answer before the term starts, he was excused and left without a word.
He walked the halls like the ghost amongst him just replaying her words over and over again like some hexed record. Head of Slytherin, yeah right she must be off her damn rocker! I mean what in Merlin's baggy pants was she thinking! Harry the boy who lived? Beloved Harry the apple of Hogwarts eye! The almost very much could’ve been Slytherin if not for his pleading to the sorting hat, can literally speak to snakes, and defeated the biggest threat to the reputation of Slytherins HARRY?! Ok I guess it makes a little sense but still!
“Fuck!” Harry blurted out realizing what most likely needs to be done.
“Articulate as always Potter” A sudden posh voice startled Harry to turn and spot a slender man leaning against the wall of the corridor reading a book, not bothering to even move his eyes to meet his
Draco Malfoy. Perfect timing as usual
“What are you doing here?” He scoffed at the walking skeleton that is Draco Malfoy
“I work here, haven’t you heard? I assumed you knew” Ok yeah I guess that was a dumb question on Harry’s part “But maybe your snooping days are finally behind you” Malfor quipped with the closing of his book and a crooked grin.
“Ha snooping was more your thing, Malfoy” Good one “What I mean is, what are you doing in school I thought you would be at Hogsmeade”
“And why would I be?” Draco seemed genuinely puzzled by Harry’s assumption.
“I thought Hermione said all the teachers were spending the last days before term there?”
“Precisely” Draco remarked “Why aren’t you there?”
“I…Had a meeting with the Headmistress if you must know” Wasn’t a lie exactly. “Why do you care”
“I don’t, I’m just surprised that the famous Professor Potter became such a shut-in in his later days” He made sure to make professor potter seem like a fairytale prince in his retort.
“I have plenty of lesson plans that I need to work on” Harry crossed his arms as if he won when in fact he had no lesson plans and was indeed a shut-in.
“Must be quite the task now since you can’t copy off of..Professor Granger, any more” The professor part seemed to struggler coming out of Draco’s mouth but if there’s one good thing to come out of Malfoy’s upbringing it would be knowing to respect people in power, and it was hilarious to watch him struggle to accept Hermione is now that power.
“I happen to manage just fine thank you, let see how you manage once terms actually start”
“I guess we will”
And so the rivalry between Potter and Malfoy has begun once again. Merlin between getting called down to McGonagall’s and now this, it’s like nothing has changed. Speaking of McGonagall’s HOW THE FUCK IS HE GOING TO RESPOND TO HER OFFER?!?!
He guessed he should probably get advice from the head of Gryffindor, at least Neville is also a major shut in so he can still avoid Hogsmeade for a while. Harry made the journey to the garden where Neville’s office resides per his own request, you get some pretty good perks when you pull the sword of Gryffindor out of a hat. He gently tapped on the door as he opened it.
“Ahem Neville you got a sec” Harry asked
“Of course” Neville answered wearing a brightly colored jumper, “I just put on some tea”
Well here goes nothing, Harry thought as he took a seat.
“Head of Slytherin!?!” Neville understandably exclaimed as he handed Harry a cup of tea. “Did you accept?”
“Well, I said I’ll think about it” He took a sip of his tea as Neville took his time sitting down to process everything.
“But Harry, you used to hate Slytherin” He nearly whispered.
“I never hated them- I just…hated gits from Slytherin” Harry corrected, “besides, Ron had me think that every evil witch or wizard that ever had been had come from Slytherin which of course now we know is not true”
“Of course but, but still it’s Slytherin!?” which went without saying. Harry knew what Slytherin kids were like; snoody, rich, stuck up pure bloods who really didn’t know any better and get stuck with that whole evil thing no matter how hard they try to avoid it. Maybe he could actually help. I mean he understands how they feel, being labeled as a monster.
“I could do a lot of good for them, I mean it’s mainly just their families pushing them down the wrong path.” The more he talked the more he thought, maybe this could work. “And I don’t think making them feel more alienated by ‘not wanting to teach Slytherin’s’ going to do them any good”
“Sounds like you’ve already got your mind made up then” Neville said with a soft smile, he knew Harry would come to that conclusion eventually, and Harry kinda thought that too.
“Well what does the Head of House even do?” Harry sighed.
“Did McGonagall not tell you?”
“I guess I sorta left before she did, or she did and I was still trying to process things, I can’t remember” Neville sighed at this, typical Harry.
“The Head of House is responsible for the house, of course, and normally you’d have to apply, and well also normally you-”
“You’d have to be from the house” Neville nodded at that in agreement, “Merlin! They’re all going to think that I applied!” Harry took a long drawl of tea as he sat back taking it all in. “I never asked, why did you apply?”
“They needed someone before the term started and well…I didn’t think I would actually get it!” Neville humbled himself “I mean, well anyways Hermione talked me into at least trying it, so yeah here we are” He started to nervously stir his tea looking down into it like it would give him a better way with words, “I guess a part of me wanted to, see if I was Gryffindor enough”
“Neville” Harry looked at him with a sad expression, still after all these years he’d guess he’d always had his doubts about his house.
“You know that I never really fit with the ‘typical Gryffindor’ type”
“You do remember about the whole sword out of the hat thing right?”
“Of course now I know what being a true Gryffindor means and maybe that’s the reason I applied, for those who are like me, not a typical one but a true Gryffindor!” Neville began to perk up, “and I really think feeling that way has helped me understand the students outside of my house a bit better ya know”
“Hm” Harry thought more and started to think about the amount of Slytherin students that may feel that way, “and..what other responsibilities does the Head of House have? I know they collect permission slips from 3rd years, and talk about career choices with 5th years”
“Uh-huh”
“Then talk about N.E.W.T.s with 6th years”
“Yeah I’d recommend reading up on those as soon as you can, just so you know what classes they need for what careers they want, helps the transition go smoother” Neville advised.
“Merlin! All I know is how to be an Auror”
“That’s still pretty popular, along with being a teacher of course”
“And based on our history, Head’s are meant to handle any crisis that happens, Merlin knows McGonagall did” Harry started to chuckle at some of the things they put that poor woman through.
Harry and Neville started talking about all their adventures and all of the absolutely insane things that happened. They sipped and talked about old times as if it wasn’t the most traumatizing experience a child could go through, Harry loved these moments with his friends. Normally, Hermione would bring up how awful it was and Ron would just pretend it never happened, but sometimes these rare moments would happen where he could just let go and reminisce.
After a while Neville started to clean up their teacups and return to the business at hand, head of house business. If Harry was going to do this he’s going to need all the help that he can get.
“So yeah keep your students safe and informed, which also means you can’t be very far from the castle or Hogsmeade except for breaks of course” Neville continued “And you might get..the offer to uhm move closer to your house’s common rooms”
“I have to move into the dungeons!?” Harry nearly yelled, he’d haven’t been anywhere near there since well, that one time that they do not discuss or Hermione will have their heads.
“It could be negotiable. I don't know this is slightly different territory” He tried to ease Harry but with more realizations hitting him about the job description it may be a bit harder to do so.
“I would hope so, I happen to like my office being by my classroom thank you very much” Harry crossed his arms like a child, “Plus Malfoy would probably want to be down there being the new potions teacher and all, and I am NOT rooming with Malfoy” He shivered at the sheer thought. Neville tried not to laugh at the sight of the two having bunk beds. “What else?” Harry asked.
“Well let’s see you will have to help your students during the apparitions course..and Professors will come to you if the students are acting out”
“I guess I’m lucky that I’m not head of ravenclaw what with Vicky giving Professors an earful every semester”
“Yeah definitely” Neville laughed but then his smile quickly disappeared when he remembered one more thing. “Oh…”
“What?”
“Well it’s pretty customary for the Head of house to…”
“What?” Harry started to fear the hesitation in his friend's voice.
“Encourage the house’s quidditch team to win” Neville braced himself for Harry’s reaction.
“No.” Harry went white, “No!”