Passionate Professors || Sebastian Sallow

Part 1 | Ch. 1 - The Letter

The summer air began to cool as the sun set, throwing shades of blue, orange, and pink on the horizon of the countryside. A breeze flew through my long brown hair and I smoothed it out behind my ear. The beauty of our back garden was typical but tonight, the air felt charged, like something wild might happen at any time.

My father placed a crystal glass filled halfway with firewhisky in front of me. I sipped it gingerly, careful not to wince at the harsh cinnamon flavor. He loved sharing his newest brews with me, a harmless hobby that he picked up to occupy his mind when my mother passed away a year ago. One of these days he'd get the ratio right and until then, I'd keep testing each one for him.

The view from our patio was truly serene. Tall, shady trees filled in the spaces between our weathered wooden fence, colorful wildflowers bursting past the threshold. Our vegetable garden sprawled across the middle of the backyard. Ripe tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and squash were ready for our nightly picking.

The sudden flapping of wings startled me when a snowy white owl flew overhead, holding a rolled piece of parchment with its foot. It squawked as it dipped lower, barreling towards me. Both my father and I watched as it dropped a mystery note into my lap and perched on my shoulder, waiting for a payment. I picked up a piece of cheese from our platter and held it up to its beak, which it gratefully ate, nipping my finger in the process, before flying away into the sunset.

"Haven't seen one of those beauties in quite some time," my father raised his eyebrows at me. And it's true, it had been a while since I received any form of communication via owl. Most people gave up trying to reach me because I hardly answered anymore. Besides, the one person I'd have done anything to hear from again hadn't sent a single letter to me in over ten years. I put the past behind me as best as I could.

I turned the scroll over in my hand and noticed it was sealed in wax with a distinct crest. No, it couldn't be. My heart rate quickened as my hands started to shake.

I unrolled the parchment, quickly scanning the letter. It read:

"Dear Miss Gianna Eversley,

We are pleased to invite you to apply for the vacant Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With your recent departure at the Ministry of Magic, your candidacy and consideration would be greatly appreciated. If you are interested, please attend the already scheduled meeting at the following time – Monday, 1st of August, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. If you cannot be present, please send an owl with your regrets.

Should you be awarded the role, you will begin immediately and are expected to stay at Hogwarts for the remainder of the school year.

Sincerely,
Headmaster Weasley"

"Well, what does it say?" My father asked excitedly. The wizarding world continued to fascinate him even after all these years. I used to receive bills via owl and he'd jump for joy at the magic of it all. Magic that I wanted desperately to leave behind.

I read the letter again and again, making sure I hadn't misinterpreted the words. "It's from the Headmaster at Hogwarts, she wants me to apply to be the next Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." I said, rereading the letter one more time, questions fogging my mind. Did Professor Hecat retire? Who else was being interviewed? Why would the Headmaster want me to be considered, especially after the way I abruptly left the Ministry recently?

"You should do it, you're so great at magic!" He beamed, "at least, what I know about magic."

With my parents being non-magic, or muggles as we say, my father knew very little other than what I chose to tell him. He's seen me cast some simple conjuration spells but that's about it. Despite his fascination with the world I found myself enveloped in so suddenly, he never pried, never pressed.