Random Fact of the Week #52
After Ginny’s death, Harry wasn’t sure if he would ever return to the Aurors. Not only because of his grief which seemed to make even the smallest things feel a hundred times more difficult, but also because of a newfound, earth-shattering fear that his children would be orphaned. That he would die too, and leave them all alone in the world.
And no matter how many people tried talking him out of the thought, none of them could admit that it wasn’t irrational.
Quite the opposite. It was very, very rational. Perhaps the most rational he’d been since he saw Ginny’s lifeless form being taken away.
He wouldn’t risk it. No matter how much it pained him, he would never risk it again.
“I can’t just give you a desk-job, you know that Potter,” Robards said, leaning back in his chair with a sigh. “Not only is it a bloody waste of your skills, but I’ve already got people for that. You’d be redundant.”
Harry nodded. “I understand.”
Robards eyed him for a moment, his face set in a frown. “I can put you on simple jobs,” he said. “Raids, transports, security. No captures, no missions, nothing high-risk. What do you think?”
"There's always a risk when it comes to me," Harry said, rubbing his face before letting out a sigh. "I suppose I'll just have to..."
"To what? Quit?" Robards said. "Don't be such a drama queen, Potter."
He paused for a moment then, taking a few seconds to think, his forehead etched with deep wrinkles. "Listen," he said finally, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers. "It's no secret around here that I'll be retiring soon--"
"No," Harry said at once. "I don't want your pity--"
"Would you bloody shut up, and let me speak?" Robards said vehemently.
"Right. Sorry."
"You've been my choice for a while, and it's got nothing to do with pity," Robards said. "Nor fame, for that matter as you should well know by now."
Harry forced himself to stay quiet.
"Now, in the meantime, I do have a job for you," he said, rifling through a drawer in his desk and pulling out a few files before tossing them to Harry.
"What are these?" Harry said.
"Your new students."
"Pardon?"
"Auror recruits," Robards said. "Five of 'em. You'll put them through training. At least two will drop out before the end. Try to get one good one out of the lot if you can. You know our numbers are shit."
"But I--"
"You'll be involved in investigations and interviews. You'll help with research. You'll train these recruits. And when the time comes, you'll take over my position as Head Auror."
Harry swallowed, not knowing what to say. He thought for sure he'd be sacked. He'd walked in expecting it.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Robards brushed it off. "Like I'd ever get rid of you, you arse," he said with annoyance. "I didn't much like you at first, Potter. But you grow on people like a fungus, don't you?"
Harry cracked a small smile despite himself.
And in a rare moment of warmth, Robards smiled back.
Only just.
His smile quickly dropped, however, as he addressed Harry again. "It's a shame what happened to you and those kids, you know," he said gruffly. "Wouldn't wish it on anyone."
Harry nodded for lack of anything better to say.
"But if anyone could get through it, I'd put my galleons on you, Potter."
It was an odd thing to say.
But he found he liked it much better than the hundred or more "I'm sorrys" he'd had to endure for the last several weeks.
Coming from Gawain Robards, one of the hardest arseholes to please, it meant something.
It gave him hope.
