Editor's Note & Disclaimer: Here's the beginning of the sequel to Harry's New Guardian. It can be read independently but certain aspects might make more sense if you are at least a bit familiar with Harry's New Guardian. Enjoy!

Harry Potter characters and locations belong to the brilliant J.K. Rowling, no copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 1: New Job

Harry looked into the sitting room, spying his three children standing in various positions, all clutching different balls. Andrew, aged eight, held a racquetball, James, aged ten, a basketball, and Lily, aged five, a practice snitch.

"What is going on here?" Harry asked.

"Playing catch!" Lily cried, throwing the snitch to James, who easily caught it.

"How many times have I told you not to stand on the furniture? Feet on the floor, and all ball-playing should be done outside, if you please." Harry continued once the children complied. "Be good for your mother today, I start my new job at the Ministry and will be gone until the evening."

"Okay daddy," agreed Lily.

"I don't want to stay with mum, I want to go see Papa," whined James, pouting.

"Papa is busy today with Hogwarts business, perhaps we'll arrange a visit for another day," said Harry before hugging each child and exiting the house.

In the years after their marriage, Harry worked part time as a bartender at the Three Broomsticks but he and Ginny mostly relied on the Potter family inheritance to support themselves. Harry preferred being a stay-at-home-dad to the prospect of working a more stable job. It took Ginny months to convince him to even consider applying for a Ministry position.

"Hello Harry," said a familiar voice. He turned around and saw Hermione hurrying towards him.

"It is great to have you working in the Auror office!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah," Harry said. "Someone's got to keep Moody in line."

He and Hermione laughed.

"All right Harry, you better go. If you want to keep Mad-Eye in line, you first have to show up on time," Hermione waved as Harry headed for the lifts.

Harry took the lift to the floor containing the Auror Headquarters and weaved through cubicles until he located Alastor Moody.

"Welcome to your first day of a three-year training program to become an Auror. If you're talented, it might only be two years," said Moody's gruff voice. "Here are the training manuals, read them, memorize them, and be able to apply them to real-life situations."

Harry nodded and listened as Moody went through the other rules with him.

As he took a lift back to the Atrium after a tiring first day, he spotted Lucius Malfoy attempting to intimidate Hermione.

"Ah, the Famous Harry Potter, what brings you here?" drawled Mr. Malfoy.

"I work here," Harry said coolly.

"You do not belong here," said Mr. Malfoy with a sneer. "You should be home with your family. They could be in danger."

"Goodbye Lucius," Harry said, pushing past the older man and entering the Floo.

"How was your first day?" Ginny asked the moment he tumbled out of the fireplace.

"It went well, orientation mostly and what to expect during the next two to three years," Harry said. "Did the kids behave?"

"James begged to go to Hogwarts, and pouted for most of the day when I told him that we could not go today. Lily and Andrew were as happy as ever to work through their reading and maths lessons and spent the afternoon playing in the garden," Ginny said. "James wants only you or Albus, perhaps it's a phase."

"He inherited a stubborn streak from both sides of the family and is very set in how he thinks his daily schedule should be. I admit, I'm a pushover in terms of discipline with the kids and tend to bribe them with sweeties in order to get them to behave. It is a bad habit that I will try changing," said Harry as he drew Ginny into a hug. "You are an awesome mum and the kids absolutely adore you. They will have to adjust to having me around less during the day. Should we consider sending them to muggle primary school? Not James since he will start Hogwarts next year but Andrew and Lily might have fun."

"Are muggle primary schools, safe? My mother tutored all of us until Hogwarts but I was always a bit jealous of the other village kids and of the muggleborns at Hogwarts. They seemed better prepared for the homework in first year," said Ginny.

"The schools are perfectly safe. We'll look at them for the autumn. I'll call the kids for dinner, we'll talk with them then," said Harry as he pressed a kiss to Ginny's forehead before releasing her to finish dinner.

To Ginny's surprise, Andrew and Lily were really excited at the prospect of attending primary school. Their excitement carried through bedtime. Harry spoke with James as Ginny was helping Lily with her bedtime routine.

"What's wrong, James?"

"I don't want to stay here with mum, I want you to stay home or I want to go to Hogwarts and spend time with Papa. Mum won't allow us any sweeties, she says they're bad for our teeth, she even threatened to take us to Aunt Hermione's mum and dad for a dental cleaning," whined James.

"Your mother loves you and cares about your health. She's right, too much candy is bad for not just your teeth but for your health. I love candy but I have a limit per day. We'll be discussing a limit for you and your siblings too. Tomorrow, after I get home from work, we will go for a short visit with Papa. Perhaps we can speak with him about setting up some tutoring for the home lessons before Hogwarts. Those are not optional. Because you refused to complete them, you will need to write six inches for me about how to set a good example for Andrew and Lily. You will present it to me tomorrow, along with your completed lessons, before we go to Hogwarts. Am I clear?" Harry held his son's gaze until the boy nodded. "Now, lights out in 20 minutes. Good night son."