The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships
A Correspondence
I'm starting this story five months after Dumbledore's funeral. Harry has found all the horcruxes with the help of Ron and Hermione. Plus the whole entire Order of the Phoenix, not including Snape. I should probably also mention that Harry already defeated Voldemort. Though in the end, Harry wasn't the one to kill him. Neville was. I guess the prophecy was wrong. I won't go into detail on that because it will probably be brought up again in the story. What's currently happening, or going to happen once the plot comes in, is that Harry, along with the others, is trying to protect Malfoy of all people. The job begins to turn harder than it should. Not only are Slytherins angry with Malfoy, but so are the Deatheaters. Harry has to gather thousands of aurors, Order members, ministry officials, and of course, DA members. This is the reason behind the title; because of Malfoy, thousands of people come forward to protect him. Major conflicts between those against Voldemort and those who support him arose. That wasn't the original plan but I didn't change the title 'cause it still fit.
Before that happens though, I have a whole story to create. Knowing me, I might not even get to that plot; it could very easily be changed to something else. But for now, I'm keeping that plot. Some characters that will be in this story are: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Charlie and the rest of the Weasleys, Neville, and a lot of DA and Order members. Oh, and Malfoy obviously. Now on with the story.
Harry sat down, still holding the same letter in his hands. It was from Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He already knew that he, Ron, and Hermione had missed their seventh year. What he hadn't considered was that they could retake it.
Harry and Hermione had been invited to spend the summer with the Weasley's in their home. They had accepted, wanting to be around the people they loved the very most. Harry was sitting in the kitchen of the Burrow and was the only one in the room. Everyone else was upstairs cleaning. He had just come down for a quick break when he spotted an owl on the table. The parchment she was holding in her claws, the same that was now in Harry's hands, was addressed to him and his two best friends. He had read it over completely three times and was still amazed by the news it held. The possibility of taking his final year at school a year late was, although preposterous, absolutely wonderful. It would be embarrassing to do that, but Harry was used to hearing whispers in the halls. If he could take that year of schooling, he would have a chance at being an auror. He was ready to reply to Headmistress McGonagall right away, telling her to expect them back. But there was one thing holding him back: he hadn't told Ron or Hermione about the letter yet.
He knew he should; it was addressed to the three of them. However, he was worried that they wouldn't want to go back. Well, actually no, he wasn't worried about Hermione. Just Ron. After all, Ginny was in her seventh year this coming September as well. It would take an extreme lot of adjustment for Ron to be able to agree with that. And that was the exact reason that Harry was nervous to show him the letter; if Ron didn't want to go, Harry wouldn't go either. It would be being disloyal to his best friend. So he waited. He would let them come to him, and if they asked him about the letter he would show it to them.
Harry was rather happy with that idea until Ron and Hermione came looking for him a minute later.
"There you are, Harry. Mrs. Weasley sent us looking for you," Hermione informed him.
"Oh, sorry. I was just about to come up."
"What's that in your hand mate? Who's it from?" Ron asked. Harry winced inwardly. So much for his genius plan.
"Oh er, well, it's actually for you also. Both of you," he said. Hermione held her hand out for it, expectantly. Harry handed it to her, dejected.
Hermione gave him an odd, questioning look before looking down at the parchment. "It's from McGonagall?" she asked curiously. Now Ron looked up at her with interest. Hermione continued reading the following:
Dear Harry, Ron, and Hermione,
I would first like to congratulate you once again on your amazing feat. It truly saved the lives of many. With that said I would like to inform you, on behalf of Hogwarts, that you would be welcomed back with open arms. It would, under normal circumstance, be frowned upon deeply for students to leave school before having completed their education. However, we have all agreed that the three of you deserve a chance to take your seventh year, a year late. This has been decided after taking into account that you didn't attend last year to perform a task that would benefit the entire Wizarding community. It is up to you to decide whether or not you will attend this year. Just keep in mind that this will be your last chance. Please send a reply as soon as you decide. Thank you.
Sincerely yours,
Minerva McGonagall
When Hermione finished reading no one spoke. Harry sat perfectly still, feeling uncomfortable. Ron on the other hand stood up and paced, fidgeting with the letter, which Hermione had just handed to him. He read it over once then looked up and caught Harry's attention. They wordlessly agreed. Ron spoke up first. "Okay. I'll go back if you two do. I've been thinking about this a lot lately and really want to finish up school."
Hermione beamed. "Really? I have been thinking about it too." She paused for a moment and looked at Harry. "What about you Harry? Do you want to go to Hogwarts again?"
Harry simply nodded. He would have asked Ron how he felt about being the same year as his sister, but Harry kept quiet. He could always talk to Ron later.
Silently, Harry got up and found a piece of parchment. He began writing their reply.
Dear Professor McGonagall,
Hermione, Ron, and I have been discussing your offer. We would all like to thank you for giving us this chance. I accept it on behalf of all of us. You can expect to see us again next year. Also I was curious to know whether or not the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher has been filled. If not I may know someone who would be good for the job. Again, thank you for giving us this opportunity.
Your students,
Harry Potter
Ron Weasley
Hermione Granger
When Harry finished they each read it over and signed it. The owl that had delivered McGonagall's letter hadn't left yet so they just used her. Once the bird was simply a speck in the sky, the three friends made their way back upstairs to resume cleaning.
They went about the rest of the day as if it were just as normal as the next. They told no one about their owl from McGonagall in case something happened, and they weren't allowed to attend their seventh year at Hogwarts. So they waited. The next morning when everyone was finished with breakfast, the owl returned. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were standing in the kitchen, washing, drying, and putting away the dishes. The owl, which flew in through the open window, landed on the counter that Ron was using to set his dry plates on. He was in the process of doing just that when it collided with the stack of plates. Luckily Ron caught them before they fell. He scowled at the owl for disrupting his work.
When he realized what the bird had tied to its leg, all irritation was forgotten for the moment. "Harry, McGonagall has sent a reply," he said over his shoulder. Harry hurried over and untied the parchment from the owl's leg. He scanned over it before reading it aloud.
Dear Harry, Ron, and Hermione,
I'm glad to hear from you again. I'll be happy to have you in my class again next year. As for your question Mr. Potter, my answer is no. We have not replaced Severus Snape's job yet. Any suggestions would be welcomed. Just know that they must be certified by the Ministry before I can even consider offering a position on Hogwart's staff. May I ask who it is you recommend?
Be expecting school letters to be coming in soon with your needed supplies listed, as well as anything else you may need to know before term starts.
Sincerely yours,
Minerva McGonagall
"Harry I was wondering the same thing as Professor McGonagall. Who is it that you're going to recommend?" Hermione asked him. Ron looked at him questioningly as well.
Harry shook his head. "I'd rather not say just yet. I'll reply to McGonagall right now. Wait till she sends a letter back. Then I'll explain." Harry started making his way up to Ron's bedroom, which Ron had shared with Harry this summer.
The truth was Harry did want to tell them. But he would wait until McGonagall gave her opinion on it. Harry knew that Ron and Hermione would love this person to be their teacher and that they would be disappointed if it didn't happen. It would be better to wait.
He began writing, once again, to McGonagall.
Dear Professor,
You asked me in your last letter who it was I thought would make a good teacher. The person I had in mind is Charlie Weasley. He mentioned to me a few days ago that his job in Romania isn't as good as it had been before the war. Apparently Voldemort killed off a lot of dragons so we couldn't use them as weapons against him. Now there are very few left in the area Charlie works. He was saying that he'd have to get another job soon because this one just isn't paying well enough. I know that he could get approval from the Ministry since he trained in Dark Animals and Arts when he got his job working with dragons. With that training he must be qualified to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. I hope you will at least consider him while searching for a new teacher.
Your student,
Harry Potter
Harry saw that the owl had followed him upstairs. He tied the letter to her and opened the window. With that done he headed off to find Mrs. Weasley, who, he was sure, would have another job for him to do.
AN: So, what do you think? Should I continue? I think I'll wait till I get five reviews, at least, before I keep going. If I don't get that many, this will simply become a oneshot, lost in the pages and pages of Harry Potter fanfics. So I really hope you review, even if you hate the story. It's obviously going to get better; it won't all be so boring. I just had to get in a beginning. I plan on updating in about a week at the VERY MOST. But first I need those reviews. Thanks.