~ Home for the Summer~
A/N: And yet, another special thank-you to LilFlyerGirl for all her extraordinary help. Flu Powder in the bedroom, right?
Chapter Fifteen- Two Professors, a Headmaster, and a Little Girl
The seventh floor corridor was emerged in silence. It was the birth of a new year. September second, that day easily remembered from the former students. Harry Potter being one himself. He had graduated from Hogwarts with honors and then realized that he never wanted to leave the place that truly was his home. Along with his best friend and fiancé, they didn't want to leave. With that, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was made their permanent home.
The scattering class of first years went entirely quiet upon Harry's entrance. Twenty pairs of eyes watched him walk to the front of the classroom.
" What?" he looked up from his bag on the desktop, completely innocent. Several students snickered, a girl in one of the front rows raised her hand. " Yes, Miss Daniels?".
She lowered her hand, smiling, " forgive me professor, but, aren't you a little-young to be teaching?".
Harry walked around the desk, leaning against the front, arms folded across his chest, focusing on young Olivia Daniels, " no, not necessarily. I've had more experience in Defense Against the Dark Arts than a good amount of wizards". Without knowing, he brushed part of his hair from his eyes, revealing a very good conversation piece.
There was a roar of gasps from every student, except Olivia, she just lokst control of her jaw.
" Good gods, you're Harry Potter!" one boy snapped. Harry could have sworn his students knew already.
" Shut up Longbottom!".
Harry followed the voices to a familiar looking resemblance in the back row. " Longbottom?".
" Alistair Longbottom, sir" he seemed scared of the gaze he was under.
" Neville's brother?". The boy nodded. " Oh this class is going to be fun" he muttered mostly to himself.
Harry turned around to walk forward again, Olivia's arm was mid-air again. " Yes?".
" Sir, or should I say Professor Potter" she had a spunky grin to his name, " by any chance are you going to teach us defense methods against you-know-who?" she hesitated on the name.
They all stared, desperately waiting an answer.
" Why would you need such a thing? The chances of you encountering he who should not be named" as a professor, he had to learn no to say the name like he was use too, " on Hogwarts grounds are slim to none".
Olivia still seemed in hesitation, " what about outside of school? Like when we're at home".
" Well, you're not suppose to use magic outside of the school" he himself had broken that rule several times, which is why he never enforced it as a concrete law, " but, the chances don't even exist. No student has encountered Lord you-know-who, ever".
" You have" Alistair commented.
Harry shrugged, " I wasn't a student at the time, heck, I wasn't even potty trained".
The class burst into laughter.
" The point is" he focused on the girl in the front row, " you're safe, you're at a big school with protective teachers, and a very well trained headmaster".
Alistair, once again, interrupted Harry's assurance for Olivia. " Ron Weasley!" he cracked, " I've heard horror stories about that guy, can't believe he's our headmaster!".
" Your brother has more ' horror stories' than the Forbidden Forest ever will" the students cooed, " Headmaster Weasley is the second best in the league after Dumbledore himself".
Longbottom broke the serious tone Harry had. " Is it true he ate slugs as a prank to get out of an exam?".
" No!" he snapped, shocking the students to think he was angry. Harry turned to get a book from his desk, looking over his shoulder with a blissful grin.
" It was a spell that backfired".
Hermoine dropped her boulder-weighted bag to the floor of their room. It hadn't gotten any lighter for being a teacher. She was beyond exhaustion. Harry had only been there for a minute or so before her.
" First day rough?" he saw her expression.
Hermoine walked like a zombie to the window where he was standing. " You have no idea" she collapsed into him" giving freedom of experimenting was a nightmare", he wrapped his arms around her, " two kids ended up in the hospital wing with tails".
He couldn't help but laugh, " still up for going to the feast?".
" Of course" she raised her head, " it's Ron's first welcoming feast as Headmaster, I wouldn't miss it".
" In that case, I better go get the rugrat" he started towards the door.
" The what?".
He grinned right before leaving, " your daughter".
During the days when Harry and Hermoine had classes, Hagrid was more than happy to look after the four-year-old. And she was just as ecstatic about her visits. Learning about fascinating creatures, older tales of when Hagrid was a boy (ignoring those that involved the Chamber of Secrets), and his specialty, stories of when her parents and godfather (which is Ron) were first students at Hogwarts. Those, she happened to use in the best ways possible.
On her part that is.
Hagrid slowly opened the door after Harry knocked. He motioned for Harry to be silent, then pointing across the cabin to the couch where the little girl was sleeping soundly under an old, wool blanket.
" She hasn't had supper" Hagrid informed him of the day as he walked closer to his sleeping daughter, " went right to playing with Fang. Who knew that old brut had that kind of energy left in him. Both passed out within quarter of an hour" Harry saw the old, wrinkled dog asleep by the fire.
" Thanks Hagrid" Harry said after lifting Ella, her head resting on his shoulder.
" No problem, no problem at all. How's the teaching going?".
" Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day" he said before leaving the house.
Surely Ella would want to go to the feast, despite an empty stomach, she gained every opportunity to do something with her father in Hogwarts. Over the years, Ella developed into an adorable toddler. She had Hermoine's hair, which was obvious, and still kept the heritage of her father's eyes, and facial expressions.
Olivia Daniels was walking up to the castle just as he was, they were the only ones out there. Normally, students weren't outside past the hour of four.
" Hello Olivia" he greeted smiling.
She tried to get a closer look at Ella's face, " she looks rather young to be first year. What house is she in?".
Harry laughed, " she's not a student, she's my daughter, she's too young to be a student yet".
Olivia looked surprised, " you have a daughter?". He nodded. " I heard that you were engaged to Professor Granger".
The idea that she knew random, somewhat personal, facts about him after her second day at the school, kind of worried. " You might want to hurry up, the feast is starting soon".
By the time Hermoine met up with Harry at the entrance to the great hall, Ella was awake and ready for whatever it was they'd be doing. She never cared about details.
Plates were still empty as the three walked to the front of the hall, to be seated next to Ron, just has he had ordered. Ron wore the same colored and fancy robes as Dumbledore did, same hat as well. He looked very serious, when those who knew him, knew better. The hall tables went silent, waiting for the usual announcement given at the beginning of each year before the feast.
Ron stood swiftly, everyone watching him. He loudly cleared his throat.
" Nothing to say, everyone start eating".
Hermoine and Harry laughed, it was very well expected from someone like Ron.
A/N: Alright, this is getting long and its going nowhere. It's a chapter that just has to be here, but has no meaning. Don't worry, I have a great plot in mind. So keep reviewing and stay tuned for less corny chapters.