professor? ( ✓ )

prologue

Sunshine shone through the stained glass windows of the Gryffindor Tower, startling the now nineteen year old Harry Potter awake. He fumbled for his rounded glasses for a moment, and once his fingers touched them, he slid them onto his face and noticed that just about every other trunk in the room had already been packed up and was sitting on its respected four-poster bed.

He winced, realizing only then that he'd just slept for a final time in the Boys' Dormitory of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Later that day, he would be on the Hogwarts Express, on his way to London, and then what? He hadn't the slightest clue where he'd go from there.

All year, the professors had been asking the eighth year students -those select few that had come back to retake their final year at Hogwarts- just what they would do when their time to leave came. During those times, Harry would brush it aside, believing he wouldn't have to worry about that until later into the year. But even after Easter Holiday had come and passed, Harry had given this predicament no thought.

He hurried into a comfortable outfit and rushed to the Great Hall, where a bunch of nostalgic seventh and eighth years sat eating their last meals as students. Soon enough, the crowd would be parting ways: some permanently, others only for a little while.

Harry took a seat beside his longtime best friend Ron Weasley, and smiled across the table at Hermione Granger, who had proven to be another amazing best friend during their time at Hogwarts. He knew he'd see them again. Eight years would not go to waste. He smiled affectionately at the pair as they subtly flirted across the table, and bit into a piece of treacle tart.

"I'm gonna miss this place a lot." He claimed, allowing his gaze to wander across the Great Hall. He remembered the first time he'd stepped into the room, and willed himself to be sorted into the Gryffindor House. It had been in this room that Harry Potter's adventures had begun.

"We all will." Hermione stated, frowning as she too took a trip down memory lane.

"I just can't believe we've graduated. Hermione, you're the top of our class." Harry explained, grinning at his friend.

"As if that's a shocker. She's brilliant, I tell ya." Ron stated, winking at the brown haired girl. She blushed, and took a bite of toast.

"You guys are packed up, aren't you?" She asked, eyes suddenly wary.

"Course we are, 'Mione."

"Good. It'd be awful if you were to forget anything. It's almost time to catch the train, so I think I'm gonna go find Crookshanks." She stated and stood swiftly, heading for the doors. Ron nodded his head towards Harry, and then followed after his girlfriend.

The dark haired wizard sat alone at the long table, taking small sips of pumpkin juice and munching on treacle tarts. When he turned around, he found Professor McGonagall, who had taken up the position as the new Headmistress after Professor Dumbledore's demise, to be eyeing him.

"Good morning, professor." He smiled at her, bowing his head respectfully.

"Good morning to you, Mr. Potter. As I'm sure you're aware, these are your final hours at Hogwarts." She claimed, staring at him with a look that Harry knew held deeper meaning, but didn't want to elaborate. "And I'm sure you've given some thought as to what you'll do now: seeing as Mr. and Mrs. Dursley would never welcome you back."

"If I'm honest, Professor, I never did give it much thought. I know I should've, but I didn't. I think I'll just stay at the Leaky Cauldron for a while whilst I figure it out." He claimed, a red tint of embarrassment crossing his cheeks.

"I'm sure you will find your calling soon enough, Mr. Potter. And just so you know, it has been a pleasure to have you here at Hogwarts." Then, she moved on to talk to another student and Harry frowned, feeling reality hit him with full force then.