"Oh?" said Harry.
"Yes," said Dumbledore. "It is a delicate matter. I have no wish to cause you embarrassment or shame, nor do I wish you to think that I am your enemy. However, I fear that I have no choice in the matter."
Suddenly, Harry was very concerned. "What is it, headmaster?"
Dumbledore sighed quietly. "Please let me explain the facts and my reasoning before you interrupt me. I assure you that I will give you a chance to respond."
Feeling very confused, Harry nodded, having no choice.
"Harry," Dumbledore said, "as you know, prefects are assigned to patrol the school corridors at night. Last night, Bellatrix Black was observed departing from your living quarters."
Harry winced and leaned forward to explain, but Dumbledore held up his hand, reminding Harry that he wanted to get to the end before being interrupted.
"It is not appropriate for relationships like that to exist between students and teachers," Dumbledore continued. "I do acknowledge that there are extenuating circumstances, however. First, Bellatrix is of age in the magical world. Second, you are a close family friend. And third, the family last night experienced a horrible tragedy. There is also the truth that Bellatrix Black is an extremely forward young lady. However, the fact remains that there is a boundary between students and teachers that must be maintained."
Harry felt like he'd been punched in the gut. He should have been more careful.
"Now," said Dumbledore, "there is also the fact that you were hired on a temporary basis because Professor Slughorn had become ill. He has now recovered. Given that my permanent potions master is now able to resume work, and given that the temporary potions master has landed in a bad light owing to certain circumstances, it would be irresponsible of me to retain you on the Hogwarts staff. Harry, I'm going to have to let you go."
Dumbledore held up his hand again, anticipating that Harry was about to retort. "I don't do this with malice, Harry. I'll provide you good references for any job to which you choose to apply. You'll have your pay through the end of the term. There's also one happy result that will come of this. You can freely court Bellatrix even though she is still in school."
Harry was too surprised to make a proper response for a moment or two. Finally, he brought out his only defense. "Headmaster, I can prove that nothing happened between us last night. We didn't…"
Dumbledore shook his head. "It doesn't matter one way or the other, Harry. Her being in your apartments, dressed in such a manner, is the boundary. I'm not interested in knowing what happened behind the closed doors."
Desperately, Harry cast about his mind searching for a possible defense, but he could find none. "When do I leave?" he finally said.
"Before lunch," Dumbledore said. "I'm sorry that it's so quick, but Professor Slughorn will arrive in less than an hour to assume your teaching load. He'll want to have a chance to settle in to his quarters and office before tomorrow."
"I guess I'd better get started," Harry sighed.
"Yes," said Dumbledore. "Really, Harry, I'm sorry that it has to be this way. Perhaps after Miss Black leaves Hogwarts and if there is an opening on the staff, we could hire you again on a more permanent basis, though not as potions master, I think."
Harry stood and turned to leave, though he glanced back. "Defense Against the Dark Arts was always my stronger area," he said.
Dumbledore quirked a smile, and his eyes even twinkled slightly. "I'm glad to hear that, Harry, for more reasons than you know."
Harry shut the door on the headmaster. "I think I could make a few good guesses," he muttered.
.....
It took Harry relatively little time to pack. He didn't have very many possessions, what with only having arrived in the past a few months prior. In the end, the thing that consumed the most time was making sure his student files were in order for Professor Slughorn, who, as Harry understood it, was already in the potions classroom teaching classes.
....
Join my P@treon and get 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/0LordSilvere0 (Remove the *)
Free members get 5 chapters free.
Join Right Now