5. Rebuilding Hogwarts

As Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys made their way into the Great Hall Harry noticed that repair work had already commenced on some areas of the castle. Some of the burnt tapestries had been removed or repaired and the hallways appeared to have been swept in some parts and rubble pushed to the side. Charlie must have noticed his keen gaze.

“We’ve been cleaning up a bit today,” he explained. “Even Filch picked up a mop earlier with something resembling enthusiasm.”

“Yeah some of us were drafted,” added Ron. “Unlike some I could mention who were off who knows where, doing who knows what all day, the lazy sods.” Hermione elbowed him sharply in the side and Harry stifled a laugh.

“Yes well, be that as it may,” said Mrs Weasley giving Ginny a questioning look, “Kingsley sent word that he intends to have Hogwarts open again in September and if we want that we need to get a move on. No one was able to get into some parts of the castle above the Third Floor to see how much damage is up there and the Grand Staircase is a mess.”

“Trelawney’s crystal balls didn’t do it any favours,” chimed Geroge. “Bloody good shot she is though. Best use I ever saw for the wretched things.” Harry silently agreed with that assessment.

“Neville spent all day in the greenhouses,” added Hermione. “Professor Sprout’s been busy in the Hufflepuff Common Room so he volunteered to check on the plants. I can’t wait until we can get through to the Library. Oh I hope it didn’t get too much damage.” They were approaching the Great Hall now and Harry saw that it was almost completely dark outside now the first stars beginning to twinkle low on the horizon. The quiet hum emanating from the Great Hall made him slow his feet. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to see all those people. He didn’t know if he had the strength to face them. The Weasleys and Hermione all went ahead of him, Ron pushing the doors open muttering something about unnatural starvation but Harry found himself rooted to the spot, just outside the Great Hall. Only Ginny noticed he had stopped. During the conversation about repairing the castle she had been walking with her father and she ducked out from under his arm to approach Harry. Mr Weasley stayed where she had left him by the doors to the Great Hall.

“Are you alright, Harry?” Ginny asked. Harry shrugged as he looked down at her.

“I don’t think I can go in there,” he stated quietly. “All the people… I don’t like being stared at and, well I… feel a bit silly really. I don’t even really know why I can’t go in there.” He looked at her hopelessly. Was his Gryffindor bravery failing him after everything he’d been through, so much so that he couldn’t face a few people eating dinner? Ginny reached out and took his hand in hers.

“It’ll be okay, I’ll come in with you,” she smiled. “Besides, Bill scared them all off earlier and I think Neville was minutes away from getting the sword out again and threatening to lop off people’s heads if they didn’t give you space.”

“Ready Harry?” asked Mr Weasley. “If we don’t get you in there soon Molly will have our heads. You know how she gets when you look a bit peaky.” Harry took a deep breath, squeezed Ginny’s hand and stepped forward. The doors creaked open and the three of them slipped through, Mr Weasley heading for the knot of readheads currently seating themselves at the Gryffindor table where Fleur and Mrs Tonks were already eating, Teddy in a pram nearby. A few people looked up at Harry and waved and Luna turned her head the Lion hat on her head roaring a greeting. Harry briefly wondered where on earth it had come from and why she was wearing it but mentally shrugged and figured he’d probably never know the answer, or understand it if she told him. Harry and Ginny made their way to their family and Harry pulled out a chair for Ginny next to Ron.

“Stop being all noble and chivalrous and making the rest of us look bad,” groused Ron and Harry and Hermione simultaneously slapped him on the back of the head.

“Shut up Ron,” said Ginny. “Besides, I thought you all agreed not to pick on Harry?”

“Wasn’t me who agreed to that,” grumbled Ron. “It only starts with pulling chairs out and opening doors. Soon I’ll have to watch all the lovey dovey rubbish and the snogging. If George wants to defer to Harry’s paltry escaping death feats he’s welcome to, me, I’m not putting up with that sort of behaviour. Blokes get all soppy when they fall for girls. It’s unnatural.” He pulled a face.

“You can’t talk Mr Snogged In Every Corner Of The Common Room!” retorted Ginny. Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry behind their heads.

“That was different!” Ron protested. “That was – that was … your fault!”

“Oh don’t start that with me,” Ginny hissed. “I didn’t make you do it!”

“I suppose you are going to tell me snogging Dean in the middle of a public thoroughfare isn’t inappropriate public displays of affection?” Ron retorted. Dean, hearing his name, looked up. As the look on Ron’s face most closely resembled apoplectic Dean stayed silent, wisely choosing not to get involved.

“Inappropriate! You want inappropriate public displays of affection?” snorted Harry. He affected a soppy tone, “Oh Hermione, let’s not worry about poor Harry and his little saving the world quest, let’s have a big snog in the middle of a battle … I had to watch that you know!”

“Quidditch Cup, Common Room!” Ron said without missing a beat. “Even!” Harry considered that for a moment.

“Okay, consider the subject closed.” Harry pulled out his own chair and sat down, heaping some chicken on his plate. Mrs Weasley studied the four of them for a moment and shook her head resignedly before turning back to her plate. Harry began to eat with relish listening with half an ear to the conversations around him.

“- Flitwick levitating a block of stone bigger than he was, thought he was gunna drop it on his own head!”

“I shall seek an application to the Ministry as soon as possible Father, I did after all enjoy my work there. I’m not sure my resignation will be valid anyway mind you, after all-”

“Do you reckon they’ll cancel NEWTS? How anyone could sit exams after-”

“No! I swear last night I heard a rumbling sound and flashing lights coming from the Forest. Downright creepy – “

“-goblins are missing a dragon-“

“-waiting for Kingsley to ask me to help capture it.”

“Hey Lee! Did you ever go back and get those fireworks we hid in the boathouse from Filch and Umbridge? You reckon they’re still there?”

“Your attention please!” Professor McGonagall’s magically amplified voice rang out through the Great Hall. “Now that we are all here there are a few notices which I wish to make you aware of before we tuck into pudding. The Minister for Magic has sent word that Hogwarts is to reopen on September first. In the interim I have been appointed to oversee the rebuilding and administration of the new school year as Headmistress. There will be special considerations surrounding NEWTS and opportunities offered for the completion of studies for those students who were unable to attend this past year.” Here she paused and her gaze rested on Harry, Ron and Hermione.

“There’s a lot to rebuild but if you wish to volunteer to help here at Hogwarts, please see me,” the Professor continued. “You are all welcome to stay here over the next few days as we prepare for the memorial service to be held in three days time. The following day, school will be officially dismissed for the year. I would like to remind the remaining students that the Forbidden Forest remains forbidden and don’t let me catch you with anything from the list of banned items that can be found hanging outside Mr Filch’s office.” She turned her steely gaze on George.

“The House Cup needs awarding and as such I have a few last minute points to award. Mr Longbottom, I suspect that you and Misters Weasley and Potter and Ms Granger have no doubt, once again, earned enough points between you to award the Cup to Gryffindor. I don’t think we need to go into specifics.” The Great Hall erupted into cheers as the four Gryffindors looked sheepishly at each other, reminded of their first year.

“Cheer up Neville!” shouted Ron. “At least Hermione didn’t have to knock you out this time!”

“No,” said Neville wryly, “being attacked by a flaming hat and nearly knocked out with a massive sword is so much better than that!” Harry looked at Neville thoughtfully.

“I reckon that’s not necessarily what earned you points mate. First year it was for standing up to your friends. I reckon this year it was definitely for standing up for your friends. Thanks Neville,” he said. Neville inclined his head in a gesture that Harry took to mean ‘no problem’ and the two of them reached for treacle tart and dug in.

Harry ignored the whisperings of the five Weasley brothers as he absently listened to Hermione talk excitedly with Neville about being able to finish her magical education.

“I don’t know how I’ll go with a year off and everything,” said Hermione. “All the things you learned last year I’ll be behind and have to catch up. It is such a disadvantage.”

“Don’t worry,” Neville reassured her. “You couldn’t possibly have missed out on anything this year as I haven’t learned much more than how to duck Unforgivables.” Harry and Hermione winced but Neville unconcernedly continued eating his treacle tart. Harry pushed his away. He was only dimly aware of Professor McGonagall stepping down from the head table and heading his way and of Fleur holding little Teddy and gushing over his chubby cheeks. He was, however, fully aware of Ginny’s thigh pressed against his, her foot hooked around his ankle and her shoulder and upper arm brushing against his as she ate. She was listening to her mother make plans for returning to Auntie Muriel’s to pick up their things before heading to the Burrow and settling back in. Just as Professor McGonagall reached their location Bill, Charlie, Ron and George stood up.

“Come on,” George was saying. “We don’t even have to leave the castle, there’s a secret passage.” Mrs Weasley looked up sharply and Professor McGonagall fixed him with a stare.

“I do hope, Mr Weasley, that you are not planning anything nefarious,” she said drily. George fixed his face into a picture of innocence and merely shrugged as if to say he was incapable of nefarious deeds or indeed anything less than the most studious and strict intentions. Professor McGonagall’s face softened as she looked at her former student. “Just don’t damage anything, Mr Weasley. We have quite enough to be fixing as it is.”

With a mock salute George turned and headed out of the Great Hall, Bill, Charlie and Ron following him. Percy waited for only a moment before turning to Harry.

“You coming?”

“Actually Mr Weasley, I need to speak to Mr Potter,” Professor McGonagall said, “if you can spare me a moment Harry?”

“Er, sure, Professor,” Harry replied. Ginny jumped to her feet calling to her brothers to wait for her.

“I’ll be back,” she grinned wickedly. “But I must know what they are up to!” She hurried off, Mrs Weasley watching her retreating offspring worriedly. Mr Weasley patted her arm comfortingly.

“Now, Mr Potter, Ms Granger,” began Professor McGonagall, “there are a few matters to which we must attend. First of all, as you heard me announce there will be a memorial service here at Hogwarts in three days, at which time we will be carving the names of those who gave their lives onto a monument that Hagrid is currently fashioning. Loved ones of those who gave their lives have been invited to carve the names of their dear ones into the monument during the service. We need someone, Mr Potter, to do Remus Lupin this service.”

Professor McGonagall paused and looked at Harry sorrowfully. Harry tried to swallow but there was a lump in his throat and he wished suddenly that Ginny had not left. Hermione reached over and took his hand and he grabbed onto her as if he were drowning. Taking a deep breath and blinking back the tears that suddenly sprang to his eyes he nodded before looking down at the table.

“Thankyou, Harry,” said Professor McGonagall, squeezing his shoulder. “I could not think of anyone better to do this for him. Secondly, Kingsley Shacklebolt has asked me if I could possibly find out if you know anything about Gringotts’ missing dragon.” She pursed her lips and Harry could not tell if she were suppressing a laugh or was showing extreme displeasure.

“Well,” said Harry, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, “I reckon he could try looking north. Er, Hagrid once told me that dragons like to head north.” He looked at Hermione who was as busy avoiding McGonagall’s gaze as he was.

“I shall tell him that, thank you. Now one final thing for now, I presume you also heard that Hogwarts will be reopening and those who missed attending this year would have that opportunity this September first,” Professor McGonagall paused and turned to look at Dean Thomas pointedly. “I should like to make good my promise to see you become an Auror, Mr Potter. For this you will need NEWTS and though you are a truly wonderful a young man, I should think you might need to study for those. As magnificent as your defensive spells are I think your charm work could do with a little sprucing up.” Professor McGonagall looked pointedly at his rumpled and rather stained robes which had not seen a particularly good laundering charm that morning.

“I would like to entreat you to return for the next academic year, Mr Potter,” she continued. “Not the least of which reasons is a desire to see the Quidditch Cup in Gryffindor one more time under your Captaincy.” She pulled a shiny badge from an inside pocket in her robes.

“Can I tempt you Mr Potter?”

Harry stared at the badge and what it represented, at what he was being offered. Ginny’s words echoed in his head. Let the adults make the decisions, he might have turned seventeen and be legally an adult but this was probably his last chance to reclaim a portion of his lost childhood. It would be his last chance to roam Hogwarts as his home; spending evenings in Gryffindor tower and having afternoon tea with Hagrid. His last chance to explore hidden passageways, captain the Quidditch team and eat until he was bursting at the Halloween feast. If he didn’t go back to Hogwarts what would he do? Could he waltz into an Auror position without sitting his NEWTS? Did he want to even if he could?

Harry looked up at Hermione who was watching him, her eyes shining. She looked excited and he knew what she was going to do. Hermione would be here with him, perhaps they could convince Ron and this, this is where Ginny would be. He looked at the shiny Gryffindor Captain badge and reached out a finger to touch it reverently.

“I haven’t got a broom,” he said and then felt rather absurd for saying it.

“Oh for heaven’s sake Harry!” burst out Hermione, clearly unable to hold it in any longer. “We can get you another broom!” Harry, jolted out of his contemplation, turned to Hermione, smiled and said,

“Yes, I’ll get a broom. I’ll be here Professor. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Hermione squealed and threw her arms around his neck babbling something about how great it would be and that they had to go to Diagon Alley and get their books and they should go together and it would be just like old times, only safe.

“I’ll send your letter on to the Burrow then,” Professor McGonagall said and handed him the badge. “And make sure you get yourself a new uniform, Potter.” With that she swept away, possibly to persuade more students to return, or perhaps tell Kingsley where he might begin looking for his missing dragon.