He couldn't be dead.

He couldn't, right?

I have visions about the future and if I saw him, that meant I would meet him in my future. And he has to be alive for that, right? 

Unless... Unless I die too somehow and meet him in the afterlife.

I shook all those thoughts away as it didn't make any sense to me at the moment. I could hear Mum calling me so I composed myself and then went downstairs to get dinner.

Seeing the unexpected guest dining with us, I felt thankful for my decision to freshen up and change out of my pajamas before coming out of my room.

Professor Dumbledore was there sitting at the table with the rest of my family, excluding Perce and Charlie.

"Good day, Sir," I greeted him politely as I took my seat.

"Katerina, child, good day to you too," he replied with his characteristic wise smile, blue eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles.

Dinner passed as usual with only the difference of Professor Dumbledore lightening up the mood with his witty remarks. However, after we had all finished eating, he got down to the reason he had paid us a visit.

"I came to officially deliver your NEWTs result," he handed me the sealed envelope, "and also because I had to talk to you about something important."

Oh... I know the Headmaster doesn't personally deliver NEWTs results otherwise. And I could already guess what he had to talk about with me, much to my dread.

I took that envelope, not wanting to open it right then in front of everyone. Thankfully, the twins didn't snatch it out of my hands as they were surprisingly being behaved due to Dumbledore's presence.

I wonder how long their act would last.

"I'll open it later, thank you," I spoke up, seeing all of them look at me expectantly, "Professor Dumbledore, you said you had to discuss something."

He nodded, that expression on his face turning slightly somber and his mild look of concern didn't escape my notice because I had gotten too accustomed to seeing it from others around me.

"If you had opened your result, you would see that you did remarkably well in your NEWTs," he began and I listened closely, "you can apply for any job you wish to either as an Auror, a Healer, or a Ministry employee. However, I believe you shouldn't rush into things and take some time to readjust."

He had paused and at that, I saw the rest of my family take the cue as they picked up their dishes and began to leave. 

Okay...

Dumbledore also happens to be one of the very few people who know about the whole time travel incident. So of course, he is saying that considering he knew the real reason why I had been so affected.

"I'm fine, Professor. I think I can manage much well by now," I replied when they had all left although I knew Fred and George were probably listening in.

"I just want you to consider it," he suggested in his polite manner that he knew was impossible to say no to. Sometimes, Dumbledore does use his persuasiveness to his advantage. "Madam Hooch has been asking me for a leave for this term and I can only do so if I have a Flying and Quidditch Instructor filling in her place."

Oh, I see...

"I see you as the most fitting candidate. You're good at flying and you played as a chaser for the Gryffindor quidditch team. But there is no pressure. You can take your time and write back to me with your answer." 

I considered his suggestion right then and there but the thought of returning to the school where I already had so many memories associated with the Marauders just didn't feel like the right way to readjust.

"I will think about it," I replied as I couldn't straight up reject him.

I would also have to discuss it with Mum and the others first. A job at Hogwarts in other circumstances sounds great and I love flying as well as Quidditch. But I can't say for certain that I would be able to go back to Hogwarts and get better.

"Very well then. I shall take my leave," he stood up from his seat and I did the same, "farewell, child. Take care of yourself."

"Thank you. You too, Professor."

After he had gone, Fred and George turned up from their hiding place.

"Blimey, Kat, flying and quidditch instructor? That's awesome!"

"Yeah, if you tell Mum she'll be delighted that we'll have someone from the family teaching at Hogwarts too."

"But it's not actually teaching, is it?"

"Also where's that envelope..."

But I quickly pocketed the envelope before they could snatch it out of my hands. "No, I'll open it by myself."

"Who said that? Katerina, you're not opening that by yourself."

I turned around in surprise to see Percy unexpectedly coming to the dining table. When did he come here?

"Bighead Perce!" The twins cheered as if they were quite delighted to see him.

I saw Perce roll his eyes at their unnecessarily dramatic cheering before coming up to me.

"I came as soon as I heard your result had arrived. Now don't keep us waiting and open the envelope."

He took the seat in front of me as if there was nothing more important than to see my NEWTs result. I bet he is only interested in seeing whether I topped his record or not.

But still, it's kinda sweet. And ridiculous at the same time considering that it's Perce we're talking about.

Percy is the sort of person who would miss out on family dinners and trips due to work and ministry-related stuff. But he totally showed up unannounced just to see me open my result card...

Ridiculous but sweet as I said earlier.

"And do you know, Dumbledore offered her the post of Flying and Quidditch instructor already!" Fred nudged Perce.

"Really? That's absolutely splendid," Percy too looked quite happy to hear that, "a job offer on the day of your result delivery? And that too at Hogwarts? You're very lucky, I must say."

Lucky.

I know he wanted to say that in an encouraging sense but it only made me think that luck had nothing to do with it.

But seeing how happy they all were at the moment, I decided not to ruin it.

"And we are lucky too, you know," George added, "our shop's going on a record profit even though it's just been a few months since we started. Don't you think that's splendid too, Perce?"

"Yes very," he shooed them off as his attention was all on the envelope, "tell me how many Os you got?"

"Here, see for yourself." I handed him my result because his excitement was just otherworldly and it felt like a crime to keep him waiting.

"Just one E and all Os... That's bloody brilliant!"

Percy looked genuinely happy and that made me crack a smile as well. His announcement had reached the others too as soon I was surrounded by people congratulating me on my result.

At that moment, I could see that all those people around me cared for me. And if anything happened to me, they would get hurt too. Sometimes it was better to accept what others thought was right.

They all wanted my best after all and a job at Hogwarts was a perfect opportunity.

So I decided to write back to Dumbledore that night with my answer to his offer.

I would join that term as the flying and quidditch instructor in place of Madam Hooch.

***