Professor Potter

Chapter 39

Chapter 39 

It was early in the afternoon of the first Sunday in November. It was cool but not uncomfortably so and the majority of the Potter family was out in the front garden enjoying the sun. Missing were Albus, who was taking his nap and Ginny who was catching a bit of sleep herself. Harry was outside with James, Abagail and Snuffles along with Angus and Teddy. Abagail and Ted were helping Angus with his research on the movements of a snitch. Abagail figured it would be easier to help with the work than trying to convince Angus to take a break now and then. They were using a children's practice snitch to test the basis of his theory and the two fliers were helping him. 

Harry was splitting his time between watching the trio of researchers and helping James as he made his way at low speed around the grounds. They were having a bit of an issue with the boy making turns. Apparently he was hesitant about leaning into the turn and therefore was too upright resulting in a tendency to tip over towards the outside of the turn. Fortunately, after the first few times Snuffles took to pacing along underneath the young flier and James would wind up half on his broom and half on the dogs broad back. Considering how much laughing the boy would do with it happened, Harry had to wonder if he wasn't doing it on purpose. 

After a while Angus and his assistants finished their work and came to join Harry, James and Snuffles who were now playing fetch and tug-o-war. Or in the case of James and Snuffles alone, a game of drag-the-boy since the big dog would give a quick jerk of his massive head as he gripped the pull toy in his mouth. This usually pulled the boy off his feet and then Snuffles would proceed to drag James across the grass while he shouted, 'Nuffles, stop,' in between fits of giggles. 

It was during just such an episode when the researchers walked up and Angus came to James' rescue. He grabbed the dog by the collar with one hand and hauled the boy to his feet with the other. Once upright, James looked at the Snuffles, pointing his finger at him and said, 

"Bad, 'Nuffles." 

"Nay, he's a guit dahg," Angus said, "he jist doesn't knoo his own strength yet." 

This little tableau was interrupted by the appearance of Ginny on the front portico. She had a well bundled Albus cradled in one arm and a roll of parchment held in her free hand. Seeing his mother, James yelled, 

"Mum!" and dashed off with Snuffles trotting after. 

Despite both of them trying to get her attention, Ginny was able to safely make her way to where Harry and the others were sitting and held out the parchment roll to her husband. 

"This arrived a little while ago, Harry. Kreacher said it was brought by a large and very tired owl." 

"Hmm, it must have been a long flight. I wonder if it's from Viktor." 

"One way to find out," she replied. 

Harry nodded as he broke the simple wax seal and unrolled the sheet. He looked at it for a moment then said, 

"Ah, it's from Professor Dragonova," as his eyes skimmed over the neat elegant writing. 

"And?" Ginny prompted. 

"And she apologizes for taking so long to write but it was a very hectic summer trying to get ready for the first day at Black Sea. Um, she says she had intended to write earlier but I can imagine what it must have been like," he said looking up at Ginny. "I sure can. We're always dealing with last minute stuff and Hogwarts has been around for centuries." 

Ginny looked at him with raised eyebrows. 

"Oh, sorry. Let's see. She says if I hadn't already been told by Professor McGonagall, it was going to be strongly suggested that I be offered the job of Headmaster at the new school. I still think this was a pretty silly idea."