May 10, 1998
5:37pm
Diary,
I am quite new to the thought of keeping a journal. Harry bought this for me, so that I can chronicle my life post-war. He knows how much the war has affected me, with me having to erase my parent's memories and Ronald disappearing for weeks and weeks, not to mention the torture, witnessing death, and seeing my childhood wither away and die as adulthood hit the three of us in the face like a rogue bludger. But I don't really feel, like getting into that. Maybe that will be a separate entry. The most important thing I need to worry about is tracking my parents down and restoring their memories. It shouldn't be too hard to accomplish, how many Wendell and Monica Wilkins are there in Australia? My only true fear is that they will be furious with me. I don't see why they will, I mean, I did save their lives, but the fear is still there Ronald thinks I am just over-exaggerating. I just need to find them before school starts.
Ronald, Harry, and I all got our Hogwarts letters accepting us back for our last year. They came this morning. I cannot wait to complete my N.E.W.T.s so that I can get a comfortable job at the newly built Ministry of Magic. I wonder where they are going to place us, since the letter states that all have to repeat a year, so there will be eight classes; two first year classes, and then the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and us seventh years. Not to mention the fact that I sincerely doubt that Hogwarts has been rebuilt. I wonder who else is returning. I reread the letter countless times to attempt to find out more information, but this is all the letter says:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Minerva McGonagall
Dear Ms. Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been re-admitted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please be reminded that due to the events of the war, this last year is optional, you do not need to return if you do not wish, although it is recommended if you wish to complete your N.E.W.T.s. Please also take into account that your usual placement and housing may be altered if needed due to higher school populous and current construction of the castle. As always a list of all necessary books and equipment is enclosed.
Term begins August 30. We await your owl by no later than July 29th.
I looked at the list of uniform attire;
Three sets of plain black work robes (mine got lost in the Forest of Dean),
One pointed black hat for day wear (again, lost in the Forest of Dean),
One pair of protective gloves (I don't even remember where those went to),
One winter cloak (doesn't fit my torso anymore and I spilled potion on it, ruining it anyways).
So that means I need a new uniform completely. I also need new books; the total for my workload is 10 books, ranging from 10 to 50 galleons a piece. Not to mention my telescope, crystal phials, pewter cauldron, and brass scales were all confiscated by those bloody snatchers. All in all, the total for my school supplies comes to 1569 galleons. Luckily that is converted into 587 pounds and 32 pence, but this still leads to a problem, seeing as my bank account is zero. When I find my parents they should be more than willing to give me some money, but I still have worries about not finding them.
Ronald and Harry don't want to go with me, stating that finding my parents is a personal issue, and I whole-heartedly agree. I set off tomorrow. Since I cannot apparate too far, I'm going to take a muggle plane, and then when I find their location, which shouldn't take me long seeing as how I have a knack for researching things, I am going to apparate to their homes and restore their memory. I probably will not write in this until I am in Australia, but I feel this writing is helping, so will do my best to write when I find their location. Hopefully, if all goes to plan, they should still be in the little flat near Sydney that I bought for them.
Well, this entry was rather short, but I hear Molly calling everyone down for dinner. Perhaps I will write again after.
7:29pm
Well dinner was a travesty. Not that the food wasn't good, it was splendid, but, well, let me just write down the events as best as I can.
I was sitting at the table next to Ginny, Harry was next to her, Ronald next to me. On the other side sat Percy, Bill, Fleur, and George. Molly and Arthur sat on each end of the table. Molly, like always, cooked way too much food. Everyone was still down about the deaths of loved ones. Yesterday was Fred's funeral, and George was taking it harder than anybody else. He was just sniffing, starting down at his food, both hands in his lap. A few times I could have sworn I saw a tear hit his pot roast. Every time I took a bite, there was a sharp pang in my chest, and my stomach felt full, which made it nearly impossible for me to swallow. I decided to be the first to speak.
"So," I started, "It is so nice of McGonagall to let us back into Hogwarts to complete our education and earn our N.E.W.T.s. Don't you think, Ronald?" I turned towards Ronald, who turned pale and coughed into his pumpkin juice he had been drinking.
"I-well um, I-I," Ronald was stuttering up a storm as her turned to Harry, "Harry, what do you have to say on the manner?" I looked at Harry in time to see his face turn pale as well. He looked around with wide eyes before clearing his throat and speaking.
"W-Well, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," he looked at me, "Hermione. We-we being Ron and I, have been talking. We-well, we don't think⦠Ron?" Harry looked at Ronald when he said this. I turned to my red haired boyfriend and watched as he looked at me like I would kill him, then at his mother who looked like she would kill him. I glared at him.
"Go ahead, Ronald. What are you and Harry thinking?" I asked, trying to keep calm, but I felt my voice go shrill at the end.
Ron looked up at me before speaking. "Well. We were just thinking. With all of our experience- Well you know that Kinglsey Shacklebolt said that we- those who fought in the Battle of Hogwarts don't-well, we wouldn't need N.E.W.T.s and would be trained as Aurors without a second thought."
"So, you are saying," Molly started, her voice shrill, "That you and Harry are not to be returning to Hogwarts come fall?"
"Well, Mrs. Weasley," it was Harry's turn to speak, "Kingsley offered me the job of Head Auror and said I could start as soon as possible, so I-I'm taking the job. He offered Ron a job as an Auror as well."
The room went silent. George never looked up from his plate, while Fleur and Bill gave each other the same look, and then got up. "Well, I think it is time Fleur and I retire for the night." Bill stated before he and Fleur left the room Ginny got up, mumbling good night before kissing her mom on the head and left. Molly skipped the formalities of starting a rash conversation and went right into the screaming portion of the conversation.
"NOT GETTING YOUR N.E.W.T.S! HOW STUPID COULD YOU BE!"
"Mom, we've given this a lot of thought. We can get jobs as Aurors right now if we wanted!"
"BEING AN AUROR IS DANGEROUS! WHAT IF YOU GET KILLED?" Molly was beat red by this time.
"Mrs. Weasley, we could have been killed a lot in the past few years."
"EXACTLY! HAVEN'T YOU GONE THROUGH ENOUGH DANGER FOR YOUR LIVES!"
The fight went on like this for an hour! Arthur left the room, realizing this was Molly's fight and if he was needed, she would certainly call. I helped Molly by trying to speak calmly, but when they went off at me, I lost my temper. Finally they decided to sleep on it and give serious thought to completing their education. Hopefully the idiots see that they need their N.E.W.T.s. Anyways, I'm going to bed now. Big day ahead of me. Have to get up at 6am for my flight to Australia.
