Wrong Place, Wrong Time || Harry Potter Fanfiction

August 1991-June 1992

a/n: this fic has 7 chapters currently posted on my ao3 (sssrha) and ffn (SSSRHA) accounts so if you want more, feel free to go check those out lol. this chapter was originally posted to ao3 on jan 21, 2023. the author's notes at the end are the original ones this chapter was posted with. hope you enjoy!

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IT STARTS WITH three people waiting outside an interview room at the Hog's Head. Aberforth, bless him, takes one look at them all, shakes his head, and slides Albus some brandy. Even after all these years of animosity, he still has the capability to pity his older brother.

Albus waves for the first person to enter. Severus Snape steps in. Before he can even open his mouth, Albus says, "No."

"But I—"

"No."

"You haven't even—"

"Get out."

Severus deflates. "Every year, it's the same thing. Why won't you give me a chance?"

"Because if I give it to you, you'll either be dead or halfway to Azkaban by the time the year is over and, as surprising as this might be, I genuinely like you, Severus." The young man is also one of two people who keep Hogwarts running when Albus is called away to deal with The Ministry's Shit. The other is, of course, Minerva, who is the light of Albus's life and the main reason for Albus's continued sanity.

"You don't know that," Severus protests weakly. It's more a token protest than anything.

"Just send the next applicant in."

Severus sulks all the way out.

The next person to walk through the door is famed celebrity Gilderoy Lockhart. He is also a recent applicant for the position, showing up last year as well. The man flashes a smile and says, "It's wonderful to see you again, Albus!"

Albus wants to bash his head against a wall. Five minutes later, he finally manages to convince the man to leave ("Yes, yes, of course, Gilderoy. We'll be in touch! Watch your head on the way out!") and takes a drink directly from the bottle. Merlin, he just wants to sleep. He's too old for this.

The final person to walk into the room is Quirinus Quirrell, the previous Muggle Studies teacher, who has recently returned from a trip to Albania. He's twitching and stuttering so severely that Albus can barely make out what he's saying. At random moments, his sentences break off and he stares into the distance. Sometimes, he mutters to himself, or to someone else who is not there.

Albus considers him critically. "Well," he says slowly, "your NEWT scores speak for themselves and your recommendations are impeccable, not to mention your new experience in the field." Quirinus nods to himself, fingers twitching violently.

Albus thinks, Well, if he can write legibly then it doesn't matter.

Quirinus can, in fact, write legibly. Success. "You've got the job."

Quirinus smiles an ugly smile. Albus just takes another gulp of brandy.

"WHY?" ALBUS DEMANDS, incredulous.

Nicolas rolls his eyes. "There is nowhere safer than Hogwarts, Albus, and you know it."

"Why does the stone need to be safe? Surely a high security vault in Gringotts is enough..."

"Someone's been trying to steal it," Nicolas says with a sigh. He takes a deep draw from his cigar, letting the smoke out gently. "Someone powerful. I can't keep it with myself, Albus, not anymore." Then, quieter, "I'm thinking of destroying it, you know? Finally getting it over with. Journeying to the Great Beyond and whatnot...the next great adventure."