Partial credit for the opening scene to xaktarsonis from Reddit. I'm writing after Skin Game / Fantastic Beasts, so some parts might be incorrect after Peace Talks / Crimes of Grindelwald come out. The story's written as though Dresden has already reconciled with the Council.

EARLY JULY

"Me? Teach a class? You really want me to teach kids? Uh, you remember what happened with my last apprentice, The Lady of Winter? And with the newbies at Captain Lucio's training camp?"

"Yes, Hoss, I remember, Warden Ramirez gave us a briefing about it afterwards," said my old mentor Ebenezar, his gruff voice speaking over the small black rock I had in front of me. "I also remember that the Grey Council had to pull your ass out of the fire that was Chichen Itza, so consider this repayment. Now, the school is over in England, and the Gatekeeper requested you specifically, something about how you know Defense Against the Dark Arts or some nonsense. I told him he was a fool, but he insisted. Arranged everything with the headmistress there, full pay and a chance to finish sorting out some of that paperwork you left when you took some time off."

"Damn," I did owe the Gatekeeper and this might be a way for me to clear my debts. Wait, clear my debts… when I start thinking like a checkbook. "Fine, I'll do it, but what kind of class is that, Sir? Defense Against the Dark Arts? I just shoot the bastards still they stop moving. That's my defense, plain and simple."

"Hoss," I could hear the frustration starting to build in his voice, "Just keep these kids out of trouble and teach them a thing or two about magic. Focus on shields, the Laws, you know what to do."

"Yes, Sir," I sighed in resignation, "When do I start?"

"The kids get there September 1st. You need to already be there and ready to go. And don't advertise it, you know how some on the Council feel about the Ministries."

"So I'll have to dodge thinly veiled attacks of jealousy too?" yeah, this will be my dream job. And I'm not even remotely sarcastic. "Anything else?" I asked, really hoping that I could get going and figure out what I was going to teach these kids. I mean, really, who wants Harry Dresden as their teacher? I killed the previous Winter and Summer Ladies, my apprentice and my physical therapist were now in their roles. Destroyed the Red Court, and became the Winter Knight.

Oh, and I kind of died, and came back. OK, maybe I was the kind of teacher I would want.

"Jealousy won't be your biggest problem" Ebenezar smirked. "Come to Edinburgh first, there are a few things I'd rather discuss in person. Just keep your head about and don't do anything stupid." His voice backed off with that last statement and suddenly, I was back in my apprentice's apartment, sitting on the floor. Doing anything stupid, me? Never.

I stood up. If I can't get out of it, let's get over with it is my policy, though my old mentor's words bothered me. Jealousy won't be my biggest problem? Somehow, I never like a job if it starts like this. I grabbed my leather duster, blasting rod and staff and threw a simple carved skull into a bag which I wore slung around my chest, muttered "Apparturum" and stepped through the opening I had just created.

One Professor Dresden coming up …

-O-

I arrived in Edinburgh without accidents. Chandler let me in with only a nod, and I found my way to Ebenezar's office. I hesitated a bit before knocking (I still wasn't sure I wanted to do this) but I overcame my fear.

"Yes?" my mentor's voice came through the door.

"It's me" I answered, then realized this might not be enough and added, "Dresden."

The door opened and Ebenezar ushered me in. I took in the office while he returned to his desk. It hasn't changed much, the walls were still lined with bookshelves, although more books sat on chairs, tables and the floor than the last time.

"Things getting a bit out of hand?" I smirked, gesturing around the room, but Ebenezar just glared at me.

"Sit down, Hoss" he said.

"Where? You see…" I started, still smirking (I have a bad habit of getting smartass when I don't like how things are going), but Ebenezar cut in.

"Just put some books on the floor. We have to talk." He stopped talking, and it took me a moment to realize he was waiting for me to sit down – this really must be serious – so I carefully placed a stack of 300-something-year-old manuscripts on the floor and sat down.

"Everything I say to you is unofficial" my mentor stared off, staring intently at me. "Rashid got knowledge of a warlock hiding in Scotland. Now" he raised a hand, stopping me before I had a chance to interrupt, "the case is far from simple. The warlock's hiding in a school, if I remember correctly, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

"This is the school I'll be working in?" I cut in, holding back on the sarcasm for once. See, who says I'm not sensible.

"Yes, it is" Ebenezar said, sounding frustrated for some reason. "The problem is, the school belongs to the British Ministry of Magic, and they flat-out refused to let us even near it some time ago, but there's no reason to think they have changed position. We have been in a feud since 1707, as you surely know" he added with a smile. "And according to Rashid, this warlock is a powerful one, though he refuses to say who he is. The only information he gave is that the warlock's been there for one to three years."

"One to three? That's not very concrete." My bad feelings about the job grew, since I had an inkling my real job would be to get this warlock, and the back of my neck started itching.

"That's the best we have. You're the one who can capture him and won't mind doing it behind the back of the Council." Oh yeah, this is it. Sometimes I hate to be right. "The official reason is that you have money troubles. As long as no one digs deeper, it'll be fine."

"That's super" I muttered, then took a deep breath. Now it really looked like I had no choice. "Do they know about the mission? I mean, at the school."

Ebenezar shook his head. "I don't think so, but the Gatekeeper arranged it. I'd bet no."

I nodded. At least there's a chance the warlock won't know I'm coming. "And the Wardens, Sir? I can't just disappear."

"Again, the Gatekeeper talked with Lucio. I don't know what exactly he said but she let you go for a year. You won't get the paycheck, though."

"That's okay, I'll get paid by the school." I thought hard about what else I had to ask, but Ebenezar interrupted.

"I'd be more worried about Mab if I were you, Hoss." he looked genuinely worried, so I smiled to reassure him.

"She won't be a problem" I said, sounding confident – which I was, since it really sounded like this was it, so Mab would only be a problem if I refused. Still, my old mentor didn't look convinced, but he didn't press either.

"You should get there as soon as you can" he said. "Term starts in September but the sooner you're there, the more time you have. You're supposed to get a letter telling you everything you need to know about the school."

I nodded mutely, then after a moment voiced the only question in my head.

"How do I teach them anything, Sir?"

Ebenezar met my eyes. "You know everything that's worthy of being taught, Hoss. You'll be there for a year, you don't have to teach them everything. But you can tell them how to survive a real fight, and trust me because I see it in many a young Warden, you're someone people can look up to. And it may frighten you, but you have potential to become a great wizard, and teaching some kids a thing or two about fighting will help you too. Just don't let them frighten you. You've faced tougher enemies." My old mentor smiled and stood up. "Now go home and get ready. Tell those who are worthy of knowing it where you're going. You'll do great."

"Thank you" I said sincerely. Sometimes, you need a mentor even if you're an adult. Even if you're in way deeper shit than what your mentor is aware of.

-O-

JUNE

Yeah, I was in way too deep shit. It's been in June, I was walking Mouse for the Carpenters and for old times' sake when Mab appeared. I haven't seen her since she instructed me to help Nicodemus and I've been growing anxious. At first, I didn't even recognize her. She was standing in the park with her back to me, and I'd have simply passed her if she hadn't turned around. What surprised me even more was that even Mouse hadn't detected her, but maybe the Mantle changed his mind about her.

"My Knight" she smiled at me, but her eyes remained cold as ice. "So good to see you."

"My Queen." I came to a stop a few feet from her. "What do you want?"

"Straight to the point as ever, I see" Mab murmured, but she didn't seem irritated. "I came to tell you of your new mission." She paused but I didn't say anything. I learnt through hard mistakes that you wait for what Mab has to say and only then respond. She seemed satisfied by my silence and continued with a small smile. "Someone has wronged me. You don't need to know the specifics, though I am sure you will manage to find out. Your job is to find him and kill him."

Oh. So here comes my first real Winter Knight-y job. Kill a human person with who Mab is mad. I was expecting it, but I can't say I took it well. It's one thing to kill when your life is threatened and, maybe not that rationally, to kill a non-human. But this will be cold-hearted murder.

"Who is that?" I asked in what I hope was a calm manner. "It'll be hard to kill him if I can't find him."

"Oh, you will." Mab sent a cruel little smile my way. "Someone will ask you to find someone in the next few weeks. They don't know I have an interest in the proceedings and it will stay that way." Her eyes flashed cold. "You will accept their ask for help. They will tell you everything you need to know."

I swallowed. "Yes, my Queen."

She nodded and turned away from me. "See that you perform well, my Knight" she said, and disappeared.

Here it is. I'll try to update every one or two weeks, but if I have time, I won't hold back. I'm not yet sure how much time I'll have to write, so we'll see.