September First seemed to arrive faster
than normal that year. Scott Peck made his way through King's Cross, getting
looks for passerby because of his choice of clothing: his traditional blue
Ravenclaw robes. He had spent the last nineteen years serving as the Defense
Agaisnt the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts and had been Deputy Headmaster under
Professor Minerva McGonagall for the past ten. When he reached the barrier
between platforms nine and ten, he casually leaned against it, appearing almost
instantly on Platform 9 ¾.
Scott looked to his left and saw the
familiar red train he had first boarded 25 years earlier. As he made his way
along the station platform, he saw three familiar faces standing with their
children. He approached them and they smiled at him when they recognized him.
"Scott! Long time no see!" said
Harry, shaking hands with Scott and giving him a one-armed hug. "How have
you been?"
"Been doing good. Defense Agaisnt the
Dark Arts is one fun subject to teach!"
Harry and Ginny laughed. Their oldest son
James rolled his eyes and walked away, looking for something more interesting
to him.
"Sorry about James there, Scott,"
Ginny said, hugging him. "You know what he's like."
"Reminds me of his uncle Ron,"
Scott replied, grinning at him.
"Don't know what you're talking
about," Ron said, shaking hands with Scott.
"Oh of course you don't, Ron,"
Hermione said, hugging Scott. "But you would know exactly what Scott was
talking about if he were saying something about your Auror career," she
added, grinning at her husband.
"Well yeah..." replied Ron
sheepishly, grinning.
They all laughed before Harry spoke again
to Scott.
"So, is it true that McGonagall
retired?" he asked.
"Yes, she decided to retire last week.
She seems to be getting on a bit," Scott replied. "Dear woman, been
teaching nearly sixty years at the school and still going strong. She decided
to step down and asked me to take over for her."
"She did?" exclaimed Hermione.
"And have you decided yet?"
"I accepted right away. You are
looking at the new Headmaster of Hogwarts."
"Congratulations Scott!" Ginny
said and the rest of them followed.
"Thanks! She called me into her office
the day she decided to retire and asked me to take over as Headmaster. I
accepted right away and the decision was made last night!"
"So who is going to be teaching
Defense Agaisnt the Dark Arts?" Ron asked.
"You all remember our old friend
Nigel?" Scott asked.
They all nodded; it was hard to forget
someone who thought of them all as heroes.
"He's going to be taking over as
Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Scott replied. "I contacted
him after my appointment and he accepted gratefully. He has at the school now
preparing for his new job. I decided to take the train to the school so I can
meet some of the new students before I take over as Headmaster."
"Well, you can meet one of them
now," Harry said. He gestured to his younger son, who stepped forward,
looking extremely nervous. "Scott, this is my son Albus Potter,"
"Pleasure to meet you Albus,"
Scott said, shaking his hand.
"Thanks, it's nice to meet you
too," Albus replied. "My parents have told me lots about you."
"Nothing too bad I hope," Scott
said, grinning at Harry and Ginny. "You know something Albus? You have
your father's and grandmother's eyes. They stuck out to me right away. They are
very distinct and make you a unique person. Are you ready to start your time at
Hogwarts?"
"I think so," Albus said.
"I'm just a little worried that I'll be put in Slytherin."
"Well, I don't think you have anything
to worry about there, Albus. You come from a long line of Gryffindor students
and I can see you are a brave person just by talking to you."
Albus's face brightened and he grinned.
Scott smiled back as the conductor blew his whistle.
"Looks like it's time to go,"
Scott said. "It was wonderful seeing all of you again!"
They all said their goodbyes to Scott
before turning to their children and seeing them to the train. When the
conductor blew his whistle a second time, Scott boarded the train with a final
wave to Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione. Once on board, he found a compartment
with some first year students and asked to be invited in. They did so and Scott
introduced himself to them. As the train pulled off, Scott knew he was ready to
take on his new role as the Headmaster of Hogwarts. All was well.
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