What Voldemort Left Behind

Chapter 2- Back to Hogwarts

Chapter 2

Harry had began his adult life as an auror after the war, determined to round up the last of Voldemort's supporters, most of whom had fled the country before the final battle had ended as Harry's return from death had caused them to save their own skins rather than fight for the losing side. Some refused to go without a fight, Fenrir Greyback ended up dead which sparked a new beginning for innocent werewolves bitten before they could defend themselves.

Teddy Remus had grown up with stories of his father's brilliant ability to teach and his mother's ability to make others laugh. Teddy's grandmother barely saw him as he was practically adopted into the Weasley-Potter family and he had a particularly close relationship with Charlie and Bill who much to Harry's surprise had been in Tonks' gang in school and spent hours with Teddy, recounting stories of Emily, a Gryffindor girl in Charlie and Tonks' year who was the link between them, and their quest to break curses in the school. Harry had wondered if they could contact her for another connection to Tonks but sadly she was one of the fifty killed in the Battle of Hogwarts fighting as part of the Order. Harry and the remaining Order were the only links to Remus as far as he could tell, and he felt a surge of gratitude to his parents and Sirius for giving the outcast werewolf a chance. Teddy, a mixture of both his parents in personality, was now an adult who would shortly be marrying Victoire, the oldest Weasley child, fully joining their family.

Harry's mind often strayed to thoughts of his family and friends who were the reason he had fought and even died to save the world. During his darkest times he hadn't expected to live to see an "after the war", he survived by the thought of giving the others, friends, family and strangers, a chance to live in peace.

Harry had recently taken a break with his work as an Auror, Ginny and Kingsley had forced him to slow down, however he found it difficult to relax knowing his successor was asking for Harry's help. His life had become busy and scattered with the wizarding world desperate for his opinion on everything. He didn't mind because he was long used to it, after he won the war he was immediately the wizarding world's source of knowledge and the right thing to do, to more of an extent than even Dumbledore himself had been. He'd declined the post of Minister more times than he could count but he was obliged to to register his opinions on candidates, the world had realized that during the war everyone who Harry had no faith in failed them through incompetence or else outright support for Voldemort. Harry knew that at least this method prevented someone like Fudge from taking charge and Harry would never become obsessed with power, he sought to avoid it as much as he could. Harry also had the opportunity to do something he found that he loved, teach at Hogwarts. Harry was not a full time teacher but he would come in on occasion and teach Defense to anyone who wanted to learn, and every time he left he was desperate to get back to his first home, the place where most of his significant life events had happened. Today was one of those days and he was very impatient to get there.

Harry apparated to the massive gates through which he could see the castle sparkling slightly in the sunlight. He arrived late on Saturday morning, keen to avoid the inevitable stares and whispers from the students.
Harry was so lost in his thoughts that before he knew it he had arrived, and then it occurred to him that he didn't know the password. He decided to just punch the gargoyle as he was feeling a bit stupid and miraculously it worked, the staircase began to twist upwards towards the door. He grasped the knocker but before he knocked it the door opened. "Potter" McGonagall shook her head "How have you never learned to behave yourself?" Harry grinned as Minerva's face split into a smile "Sorry Professor"

"You are so like your father. How is the Ministry?" Minerva inquired, her voice now serious.

"Fine I guess, but like I said last month I'm on a break and I don't think it's right for me. I'm not a politician." Harry moved towards the comfortable seat opposite the Headmistress' desk and sat down. "There's no reason that I would have to go back apart from meetings, I've had enough of being an auror, technically that's been my life since I was eleven. I don't need the money and I have enough to keep me busy."
Minerva smiled, thinking for a second. "Harry, why don't you go back to Quidditch? You could have flown circles around Ginny when she was playing professionally and by some miracle, you haven't lost a step since. You are truly an exceptional seeker and somehow your years haven't weakened you like the rest of us." Harry shrugged, he worked hard to avoid letting anyone see him weak.
Minerva looked at him sympathetically, she had her suspicions about why he had retired so early. She knew the war had been very hard on him, having witnessed much more than most aurors, and having a direct connection into Voldemort's mind. The hopes for the future had all been pinned on a seventeen year old wizard and she wished it hadn't been this way but like Albus, she had been helpless and it was just a miracle that Harry had survived. She glanced across the table, seeing his eyes glazed over.
"Harry," He looked up in surprise, he'd obviously forgotten he wasn't alone. "I think we should hurry and call Jamie, Al and Lily up. Take the day with them to help take your mind off things."
She rummaged under her desk and placed a tartan patterned tin of Ginger Newts and a large jar of lemon sherbets on the table, the Headmistress always kept a jar of the muggle sweets, her way of keeping Albus' legacy alive.