Chapter Text
Harry and Albus Potter were walking away from the cemetery when someone Aparated nearby with a crack, drawing their attention and causing them to stop in their tracks.
“I thought- But everyone says you can’t Aparate or Disaparate at Hogwarts.” Albus said, his eyes wide.
“You can’t, normally. But I believe he has permission.” Harry said, recognizing the man that was now standing some ways away, waiting. “Go on. I’ll catch up.” Albus nodded and walked off, gazing curiously at the newcomer as he went back toward the castle and his father made his way to him.
“I never liked coming here.” England admitted. “Death is always such a sad and dreadful thing, even for us immortals.”
“We were visiting Cedric.”
“Introducing them properly this time, did you?” Harry was about to say something when England held up a hand, telling him to stop. “The Minister told me. She seemed very animated when she was relaying the last adventure you all were on when I visited her office yesterday. I would’ve come by to help sooner if that World Conference didn’t run so long…”
“How is everyone?”
“Oh, the same as usual,” England let out in a huff that Harry could almost mistake for him trying to hide a laugh. “America is just as annoying as ever, Canada is still sneaking up on people, the Frog is just as perverted as ever, and Sweden still intimidates the best of us. Oh, and Sealand kept trying to sneak into the meeting hall with Prussia even helping him at one point thinking it was a game. Pure madness, I tell you, did not help with the headaches I’d been getting, no doubt because of what you lot went through.”
“I have to apologize for the actions my son and his friend took-”
“Nonsense, Harry, he’s a child and he thought he was doing the right thing while being tricked. Besides, it could’ve been worse and my condition was proof of that.”
“I… what?”
“When Voldemort was trying to come back all those times when you went to school here, I felt bloody awful; I couldn’t keep down food at times, I was always tired, it felt like I was suffering at some points… This time it was the equivalent to a head cold with symptoms over the counter medications could remedy, and do you know why that is?”
“Why?”
“Because for every wrong that happened, someone was able to set it right. This involved time travel, and time is always in flux; so long as there is someone with the means and willpower to set it right, there is hope. Granted, I did give Hermione an ear-full about how she didn’t destroy that prototype time-turner. Draco, too, considering he had one all this time, but it did come in handy. However, I did make him hand it over to me, and I will be keeping it secure in my sanctum. This whole fiasco only showed that one should be kept in the event some other bloody idiot tries to make a time-turner from the ground up again, but it’ll be safer to keep it in a place where I never allow most to go into without permission.”
“That’s good. I think I’ve had enough of time travel for a while.”
“That makes two of us, lad.”
“I look older than you now, calling me ‘lad’ is a little weird now, isn’t it?”
“The keyword is ‘look’. You’re still a child compared to me.”
Harry hesitated, then asked, “Headmistress McGonagall has asked me if I would like to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts next year; apparently the current Professor is considering retiring soon.”
“Considering your current position as the Head of Magical Law Enforcement and your past experience, it’s something to think about.”
“I would be leaving a role that was shown to be needed this past year-”
“You wouldn’t be leaving them with an unqualified leader, I was told Draco was considered a candidate for the position before it was given to you, and he has more experience now than he did before. Others would probably support him if the Minister and you gave him support, especially now that those dreadful rumors of his son’s parentage have been cleared up.”
“It would be a big change at home- I’d have to talk with Ginny-”
“Who, I’m sure, would agree in that you’re qualified and it would probably be a relief for her considering you won’t be risking your neck every time you leave for work… At least once you’ve survived the first year anyway.”
“I- I-”
“Mr. Potter, spit it out.”
“I’d be teaching my children.” Harry blurted out. “I’d be here – at Hogwarts – teaching them.”
“Harry, based on your letters, you said you were having a hard time connecting with Albus since he went off to school. I think the main reason for that is that you didn’t see him as much and didn’t see how he felt or what he went through. If you take this job, you’ll see him just about daily. You’ll see him interact with Scorpius and Rose in an environment that is generally considered freer than when he’s at home. But you might be able to see things through his eyes and connect with him better. It’s something I, myself, learned with my colonies. It took many of them rebelling against me or seeing how they held their own during wars, but the message eventually got through.”
“So, what do I do?”
“Gather your family and talk with them; see how they feel about the changes that will occur and go from there.” Harry could only nod as he processed this information. England gave him a small smile. “Teaching isn’t going to be easy if they’re anything like how you and your friends were, but I feel like you’ll pull through.”
“Thank you.” Harry said, his thoughts feeling a little lighter now.
“Now then, if that is all, I believe it’s time I meet young Scorpius. I hear it’s thanks to him that I’m not in chains in one of Hogwarts’s chambers.”