The Leakey Cauldron looked much the same as it always had, and attracted the same varied clientele. Tom behind the bar gave Harry a little nod when he came in, then went back to pouring drinks. Harry had fond memories of the Leakey Cauldron and Diagon Alley in general. In third year when Sirius Black had escaped Azakaban supposedly to kill Harry, the, then, Minister Fudge had hidden Harry at the Leakey Cauldron after he had accidentally, but unregretably almost blown up his horrible Aunt. The weeks he spent there had been his first taste of freedom. Even at Hogwarts their lives were scheduled. Classes, Hogsmeade visits, homework, sports. His weeks staying in Diagon Alley had been peaceful, the Monster Book of Monsters notwithstanding. Seeing that Neville had already gotten them a table in a corner he headed over.

"Hey Neville" Harry says, sitting down and ordering a Firewhiskey.

"Firewhiskey already? I haven't even said anything yet" Neville watches him with concern, sitting back in his chair with a cool confidence that Neville in school hadn't possessed. Between his going to war against the Carrows, the evil Death Eater siblings that had taken over Hogwarts after Voldemort's return, and everything he had done in the war, the once shy Neville had grown into himself. He was taller now, with an easy smile, and handsome features. He'd grown closer to Neville since the war. The man who could, if not for Voldemort's prejudices, have ended up the one destined to destroy Voldemort. They shared a similar upbringing too, no parents, being raised by relatives who, at best, didn't understand them. Harry wasn't sure whether he or Neville had it worse. In all honesty, he couldn't imagine the unbearable sadness Neville must feel when he sees his parents in St. Mungos. Once they had gotten closer Neville had brought Harry along with him to visit them. Instead of being sad or bitter, Neville was incredibly thoughtful and kind. He'd prospered since the war too. No one had been surprised when Neville had replaced Professor Sprout when she'd decided to retire after the war. He was young for a teacher but like Ron's advancement to Auror, Headmaster McGonagall needed qualified teachers despite their age.

"It's been a long week" Harry says, sipping the drink.

"Oh yeah...Ginny moved her stuff out today didn't she? How did that go?"

"It was alright. It was sort of surreal actually, it should have been bad. It should have been awkward, maybe hurled insults or yelling. But really it was fine, we even laughed a little. I helped her floo her stuff to her new place. A wizzarding building on 10th. We're going to have lunch on Friday."

"Lunch? Harry you just broke up"

"I know Nev, but she wants to stay friends and honestly so do I. Ginny is great, she's family...and this has been coming for a while"

"I'm sorry Harry, but I'm glad you're not broken up about it" Neville shifts in his seat looking like he wants to say something but he's unsure, for a second he looks reminiscent of the old Neville.

"Spit it out Neville" Harry takes another sip of his drink and sets it down.

"Well I...or rather Hogwarts really is in a bit of a bind. Term starts tomorrow and the Defense teacher we had lined up landed in St. Mungo's indefinitely. Bar fight went terribly wrong, you don't want to know, they're still rebuilding the Hogs Head," Neville pauses and shudders, "anyway Headmaster McGonagall's asked me to talk to you about taking the job, just for the year you know." Neville smiles, a nod to the mythical curse that keeps Hogwarts from keeping a Defense teacher for more than a school year.

"You want me to teach at Hogwarts?" Asked Harry, a little surprised. He had never thought of teaching as a career. The DA had been Hermione's idea, and teaching students his age was different than teaching as an adult...he remembered being a student, it was only a few years ago after all. He knows what he put his teachers through. Professor McGonagall especially had always gotten a pained expression on her face when she'd seen Harry, Ron and Hermione in the same room, likely wondering what they were up to. What if he had students like them, or like Fred and George? His thoughts froze, no he was unlikely to ever have students like Fred and George. He looked down at his drink, contemplating. Ginny would be pleased if he took the job. She always said he spent too much time at home "moping" what he called avoiding reporters. At Hogwarts reporters were less likely to get in. Hogwarts, as a teacher...and it was only for a year. If he didn't like it then he wouldn't be expected to stay. It would give him something to do at least.

"Yeah, all right. Tell her I'll do it."

"Really?!" Asks Neville. "Perfect, we were getting rather desperate. I guess I'll see you tomorrow at the staff table. This'll be great, almost like old times. Except we'll have our own rooms. The staff suites are rather nice. Of course you can always head home to Grimauld Place on weekends and holidays if you want."

"Yeah it shouldn't be too bad. Might even be fun. I haven't seen Hogwarts since I helped with the reconstruction."

"I think you'd like the way things are run now. Students don't get sorted now till third year. The first and second years have their own communal areas."

Harry leans forward, interested "Dumbledore always wondered if the sorting happened too soon, not giving students enough time to figure out who they were, creating enmity between houses."

"McGonagall's made a few changes like that since the war. Part of it being the stigma against Slytherin now. She wants the students to have a few years to make friends and learn the basics before they're sorted. After that they're sorted and eligible for Quidditch tryouts and other interhouse related activities"

"Now that McGonagall's Headmaster who heads Griffendor House?"

"Well that's another change she made. The teachers, they take turns. It changes once a year. Last hear I was. This year it'll... Well it'll be you actually. Professor Vector is head of Ravenclaw this year. Hagrid is head of Hufflepuff this Term. And whoever McGonagall has hired for potions are handling the Slytherins this year."

"What happened to Slughorn?" Asks Harry, curious.

"Retired again, now that Death Eaters aren't after him for his potions skills he went back home"

"Who's the replacement?"

"No idea, she said she'd found someone though so all positions are covered. None of us teachers were looking forward to doubling up. It's hard enough to lesson plan for one class and I've always been horrid at potions."

"Lesson plan! I haven't planned anything!" Realizes Harry with a start.

"The professor you're replacing already submitted his plans for the first few weeks of term, just follow those for now then you can work out where to go from there."

Harry lets out a breath of relief and finishes his glass.

"Don't worry Harry, you'll be fine. You we're a wonderful teacher in DA. You're the only reason I passed my OWL's and you know it."

Harry looks a little embarrassed but smiles "thanks Neville. I'd better get back home, I'll need to pack. S'later" Harry heads home, staying up half the night working on lesson plans, and then getting the first decent sleep he's had in months.