Prologue

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice, Lord Potter."

Harry startles, and then lets out a little laugh.

"Oh c'mon. You of all people don't have to call me that, Andromeda. Besides, I really don't feel like I've earned it yet. Let's save the Lord stuff for when I'm older and have actually done anything worthy of being called a Lord."

He knows immediately what she's going to say in response the moment the words unthinkingly leave his mouth, but it's too late to take them back. Giving him a small, knowing smirk, Andromeda Tonks simply shakes her head at that.

"When you've done something worthy, Harry? Perhaps something like defeating the same Dark Lord twice, hm?"

Flushing a little under his collar, the young Lord Potter shifts in his seat. He doesn't quite squirm, but his discomfort is noticeable all the same. Honestly, even after outright beating Voldemort in that duel, he wasn't used to the praise. They'd won, they'd defeated the bastard who'd killed his parents and his followers too, but it was still hard for Harry to accept praise.

After a brief pause, Andromeda lets out a low sigh, turning more serious.

"And besides, it seems fitting to address you properly, given I'm coming to you today as the newly minted Hogwarts Headmistress, not as family."

Harry's eyes widen at that, and for a moment he's floored.

"Wait… seriously? When did this happen?"

Not that he expected to be told everything, but it's still an unpleasant surprise to get caught so flat-footed. Still, even if he is the Savior of the Wizarding World, he's also just a seventeen year old wizard who never even finished his final year of schooling OR his NEWTS. It shouldn't be THAT surprising that he's not kept in all the loops all the time.

"Just yesterday, as a matter of fact. You're one of the first outside of the Board to know, actually."

… Or maybe he was being kept in the loop. Blinking owlishly, Harry says the first thing that comes to mind.

"It's not that I don't think you're fit for the role, Andy… I just guess I always thought McGonagall would be taking up the position, being Dumbledore's protégé and all."

Giving Harry an appreciative nod to make it clear she's not insulted; Andromeda nevertheless adopts a thin smile in reference to the other witch.

"You would think so, wouldn't you? But ultimately, it was decided by both the Board and Deputy Headmistress McGonagall that she wasn't the best fit for the position. Namely because of those connections to Dumbledore, in fact."

At that, Harry furrows his brow, honestly confused. Before he can ask for an explanation, Andromeda gives him one, albeit hesitantly.

"I think… no one can deny that Albus Dumbledore was an amazing man, Harry. He was one of the greats, a name that will be talked about for generations. But he was not infallible. He made mistakes, and in the wake of his death, even Minerva was shocked to find out how deep those mistakes ran. She knew about some things, such as his frequent missteps with you, but it goes… deeper than that. All the way back to Voldemort's time at Hogwarts as Tom Riddle, in fact."

Harry can't help but lean forward, a little engrossed at this point. He could name a few missteps Dumbledore had made concerning him over the years. He could acknowledge that the aged wizard hadn't been perfect by any means. But still… what was Andy talking about? For a moment, she pauses, as if thinking better of something. Finally though, she speaks, her voice strong and concise.

"Upon having his application for the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professorship rejected not once, but twice, Tom Marvolo Riddle put a curse on the position."

He thought he remembered Dumbledore saying something about that. Maybe? It'd been a hectic time, to be sure.

"As a result, no one lasted more than a year in the position in the last several decades. Obviously, Albus quickly discovered what was going on, and even wrote down in his notes that he believed the nascent Dark Lord to be behind it. He called in a few Curse Breakers, and they all worked together to try to discern what was happening, but in the end, the Headmaster did the unforgivable. He gave up."

Harry winces at that. Because… yeah, in hindsight, it was pretty fucked, wasn't it? If Dumbledore knew the entire time, if he understood that the DADA Position was cursed, then why didn't he see that it was dealt with permanently? Though it did leave Harry wondering just what sort of magic Tom had found to make such a curse a reality. After all, before he came along, Albus Dumbledore was the wizard Voldemort feared the most. So how had he managed to set a curse that stumped even Albus, before even properly becoming the Dark Lord?

"Now, when this was uncovered in the wake of Voldemort's demise, we had other Curse Breakers brought in. There wasn't much hope of managing to unravel something that even the great Dumbledore himself couldn't, but it couldn't be said that we'd done nothing, now could it? All in all, though, Harry… there's really only one option left, it seems."

Blinking, Harry cocks his head to the side. In response, Andromeda smiles an apologetic smile.

"Why exactly do you think I'm meeting with you here, Harry?"

He'd thought he knew already. But now he's not so certain. Still…

"Well, after you told me about your new position, I thought you wanted to make sure I was attending Hogwarts this year."

It'd been decided that given the fact that Hogwarts had been overrun by Death Eaters the year previously, the entire thing would be considered a wash. Everyone was effectively redoing the last year of Hogwarts. The First Year Class would be double the size as a result but given the losses the Wizarding World had accrued during the War; Hogwarts would still have less students in it than usual.

Regardless, his Year would be repeating Seventh Year… something that Harry knew Hermione was very relieved about, all things considered. His bookish friend really was such an academic sometimes, but Harry didn't consider that a bad thing. Not at all.

When Andromeda doesn't immediately answer him, he quirks an eyebrow.

"Did you… were you planning on offering me the Head Boy position, perhaps? I don't know what to say, if that's the case…"

"No, Harry. That is not what I'm here to offer you. And in fact, it would be more accurate to say I'm here to ask something of you. To beg something of you, even."

Harry rears back at that, still confused. Luckily for his utterly befuddled state, the grandmother to his godson and the cousin of his dearly departed godfather doesn't beat around the bush for any longer.

"It's like this, Harry. Dumbledore left behind quite a lot of writings about all sorts of things. Including the curse that a young Dark Lord put on the DADA position. Within his more recent musings, as in the last ten years, your name consistently came up. It was his belief that, because you were the subject of a prophecy, because you were the one destined to defeat Voldemort… that you specifically were the only one who could break the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professorship."

Harry… gapes at that. It takes a moment to process, and he hates how much the idea makes sense on first pass. But then he thinks about it more, and there are just so many problems with the whole concept.

"I can't… I can't teach Defense!"

That seems like the most obvious problem, so that's what Harry starts with. Andromeda though, just raises an unimpressed eyebrow in his direction.

"Whyever not? Did you not do exactly that in your Fifth Year? I've spoken to several of your classmates, you know. Many of the people in your Year don't believe they would have gotten half the grade they got on their OWLS without your help."

Harry sputters at that, feeling distinctly hot in the cheeks as he tries to come up with a counterpoint.

"I-I'm too young! I never even finished my Seventh Year of Hogwarts! I haven't even sat my NEWTS! Surely I need to be at least somewhat qualified for the position, right?"

Smiling a sad little smile, Andromeda shakes her head.

"I think we both know that's not been the case, these last few decades. Even in your time at Hogwarts, just how many of your DADA Professors would you say were qualified? Admittedly, you would be the first person in modern history to become a Hogwarts Professor without having sat your NEWTS, but the Board has agreed with me that our need is great, and morally, we can't justify waiting any longer."

"M-Morally?"

Letting out a sigh, Andromeda looks off to the side.

"Harry… not all of the people who take up the position have survived. In fact, some have died incredibly gruesome deaths. Others have been reduced to fates worse than death. Some make it out, but is it right to risk it?"

Straightening her spine and squaring her shoulders, the gorgeous older witch looks Harry in the eye.

"That's why, as Headmistress of Hogwarts and with the full approval of the Board of Governors, I am offering you both the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professorship, as well as an apprenticeship with me. While teaching DADA, you would also be learning from me, effectively taking your Seventh Year at the exact same time. By the end of it, you would be ready to sit your NEWTS with the rest of your classmates, I assure you."

Harry's mouth opens and closes like a goldfish for a few moments as he stares at her, wide-eyed. Finally, he lowers his head and just thinks for a moment. He's never felt less like a 'Lord Potter' in that moment. But at the same time… there's a slowly growing certainty that she's right. And sure, one might be able to chalk it up to his 'Saving People' thing as Hermione liked to call it, but the fact of the matter was, Andromeda had a point.

If he said no and they found some other poor fool to take up the Professorship, even with full knowledge of what could happen to them, it would still be Harry's fault if the curse did decide to make them suffer for their presumption. And technically… technically, he was the only person who had managed to teach Defense and then come back to Hogwarts the next year. So, didn't that sort of prove them right?

… Ah heck, he was really going to do this, wasn't he? He was going to say yes. Harry opens his mouth to do exactly that and lifts his head back up at the same time, only for the words to die in his throat.

"Of course… I am more than willing to offer incentives, Lord Potter."

Having stood up while he was deep in thought, the new Headmistress of Hogwarts is suddenly, inexplicably naked. And honestly? For a grandmother, Andromeda Tonks looks incredibly fine. Her body has help up exceptionally well, and there's not a wrinkle in sight, despite her being the eldest of the Black Sisters. Having met both Bellatrix and Narcissa, Harry can say without a doubt that Andromeda has the best body of all three. Though in all fairness, Bellatrix had spent over a decade in Azkaban, and when Harry had finally met Narcissa Malfoy, the woman had been in quite the state of worry over her son.

Even still, he's suddenly got an absolutely gorgeous, utterly naked witch standing in front of him. Smirking a little at his silence, Andromeda saunters around the coffee table between them, and promptly proceeds to sit down in his lap, kneeling on either side of him as she plants her hands on the back of his couch.

"Like what you see, Lord Potter? You could have this and more, at Hogwarts. As both a Professor and my apprentice, you would have… unfettered access to me. I would always make time for the young wizard who's doing so much for our school, after all."

Oh fuck… this was… Harry's hands are twitching, ready to reach up and grab onto Andromeda's hips. He's well aware that Andromeda is a widow. Much like her daughter now, unfortunately. Both Ted Tonks and Remus Lupin had died far too soon. But at the same time, he wouldn't be insulting Ted's memory by… by doing anything with Andy, right?

Oh, but what would Tonks say, if she ever found out he banged her mother? Maybe… she wouldn't ever find out? Licking his lips, swallowing nervously, Harry finds himself rather mesmerized by the pair of gorgeous tits dangling right in front of his face. They were practically perfect, with just the tiniest bit of sag to them, but otherwise perky as can be.

… He was going to take the job for sure. That was already decided. And that would also make him Andromeda's apprentice too. But should he go any further than that? Should he let THIS go any further? Did he fuck the new Hogwarts Headmistress right here and now in the sitting room of his own freshly inherited manor, or did he reject her in the moment?

Fuck, give him a hundred Dark Lords and a thousand screaming horcruxes any day. This was so much harder.