The Other Hale.

Chapter Six: And The Truth Is Out

I smiled to myself as I walked back from the Station. Memories of last night kept resurfacing. Paul.

That one name made me feel stuff I hadn't felt since my very early years of immortal. He renders me speechless and I don't know why.

My happy thoughts about Paul kept being intruding on by thoughts of my new job proposition. As the matron's assistant at Hogwarts. How I longed to accept it, walk the corridors of the stone castle once more. But then there is Paul, I wouldn't see him, unless I apparated, but that would drain me of all my energy. Decisions. Decisions.

I pondered my decisions as I walked up my so called street. There was a light on in my house. I smelled the disturbed air as I approached my front door. It had a hint of spice in the air. The same spice that came with witches and wizards. I drew my wand as I opened the door and tiptoed in.

I could hear someone breathing in my sitting room. Holding the wand out in front of me, I swung the door open and approached my intruder.

"Miss Hale. I have been waiting for you." Spoke a middle aged woman with a slight Scottish accent, who was standing by the window.

"Professor. I don't recall giving you permission to enter my house." I snarled at her as I lowered my wand and pocketed it.

"It looked as if it was going to rain." She smiled at me as she took a seat.

"I'm guessing you're here about the job?" I asked her, changing the subject, as I too sat down.

"That I am Miss Hale. What do you think?" She asked me, with curiosity.

"I don't understand why you want me. Why now?" I asked her in reply.

"You always showed signs for being a healer, and you are a natural people person. We waited to make sure you could handle your "situation" before asking you." She explained.

"You know I've been handling my thirst for years now." I informed her.

"Yes, well now Harry Potter is in more trouble than ever." She said in a low voice.

"How? And is that the only reason I'm coming?" I snapped.

"He needs a bodyguard! And Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban" She raised her voice a little.

"Who?" I shouted back at her.

"A mass murderer, and Harry will be in grave danger. It would be your duty to be there for him while having a job." She told me.

"When would I start?" I asked, in a whisper.

"Term begins on the 1st of September as usual. You would be required to be present at the feast." She informed, a smile beginning to form on her lips.

"Where would I sleep?" I asked, thinking back on my years there where I had never found out where any of the staff slept.

"Your sleeping quarters would be attached to the hospital wing." She replied, her smile getting bigger.

I pondered the idea for a bit. I would be a personal bodyguard, a friend when needed, but I'd also be the matron's assistant. I had grown up wanting to be a healer, and this is probably the closest I would get, concerning my "situation". Finally, I sighed as I nodded my head.

"I'm in." I mumbled.

"Great." She exclaimed as she stood up and clasped her hands together. "I'll see you on the 1st." She half shouted as she disapparated

I groaned. I was going to regret this. Very much. I ran my hands through my hair and went to run myself a bath.

I saw Paul already at our clearing. Well, it wasn't really our clearing, but it's where he told me what he was. I asked him to meet me here. I had to tell him about my new job.