A/N: Harry Potter Died, Remus and Tonks Live... Any deaths after Harry enter the forest do not happen. First couple chapters might have lots of traveling or info.. But i want to get straight onto the main story. Please Review after reading and I will post my next chapters! I have like the first 4 written. 3 and 4 are shorter though, as they don't need so much dialogue, as there is everything explained right then and there.
The sound of fire crackling came from the common room fireplace as three people sat there studying, while the constant sound of flipping was heard from the third. Ron Weasley was sitting in a chair, reading the newest Daily Prophet which finally seemed to have its facts straight.
"Neville, Hermione, have you looked at the Prophet? It seems that they are allowing the people to know what is going on!" Ron stated happily, before sighing, "To bad Harry wasn't around to see this though."
"Ron, if you haven't noticed, me and Neville are studying and so should you. I mean come on, we wasted a whole year of school up and we have only two weeks to catch up." Hermione replied.
"Wasted? Helping defeat Voldemort was wasting a year? Fine, go get your Dark Mark and go join the rest of them!" Ron shouted at Hermione.
Ron was clearly upset and as Hermione tried to explain what she meant, Neville slowly slid down in his chair, trying to focus on his book. "Ron, you know I meant that differently! Stop acting like a child and study! Harry would of wanted it!" Hermione cried.
"Yep, I know Harry would of just loved hearing a whole year spent with him to help save everyone was a waste too!" Ron exclaimed, "And I doubt Harry would of wanted to die either!"
Neville looked up from his book and quickly said, "What proof is there of his death?"
"Neville, face it, Harry is dead. As much as we don't want to believe it, he's died." Hermione replied.
Ron thought about what Neville said. Harry had entered the forest and never returned. The Aurors and Order seemed to capture all of the Death Eaters and found the body of Voldemort. Nothing else was there. "I think Neville is onto something! They presumed Harry was dead but found nothing." Ron said, supporting Neville.
"But clearly him and all his belongings were destroyed in some sort of blast?" Hermione said, trying to make them believe that Harry was dead.
"Until I see something that Harry had with him, I will not believe a word." Ron said.
"But Kingsley is the Mister for Magic, and I doubt he is holding anything back from us." Hermione stated in a tired tone. "But I'm tired and I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow morning Neville, Ron.
She seemed to delay when saying Ron's name and then quickly closed her books and stacked them up neatly, carrying them up the stairs into her dormitory. Ron watched her as she ran up the stairs and then turned to Neville who was half reading, and the other half in a stupor. "So, how about a game of chess?" Ron asked.
Neville kind of jumped, and turned to Ron. "Wha - Oh.. Sure!" Neville replied as he placed his book down.
Ron was sleeping in his four poster bed when suddenly he was falling, and found himself wrapped in blankets on the floor. "Wha' was that for?" Ron asked drowsily.
"We've been trying to wake you up for nearly ten minutes now Ronald! Get out of bed and into your robes! It's breakfast!" Hermione shouted, clearly annoyed at how hard it was to wake him up.
Ron jumped up and quickly got dressed and ran down the stairs. Neville laughed and looked, noticing that Ron forgot to grab his books and his wand. Suddenly, Ron burst back into the room to grab his things. "Forgot.. My wand and.. Books." Ron was gone in an instant.
"So you say breakfast and he is up and energetic? Seems like a neat trick." Neville said, still laughing.
"Yes, he's an odd one. He always expects a huge meal everyday. When him, Harry and I were out looking for Horcruxes, he got upset because we didn't have any real food. But Neville, you can't seriously believe that Harry is still alive?" Hermione asked, sounding like she almost wanted to laugh.
"Well Hermione, a part of me tells me that he is indeed alive, but then I face reality. He is gone. But I have a feeling there had to be something left behind.. Something of his in the forest." Neville replied.
The two of them discussed this as they entered the Great Hall and sat down next to Ron. Ron joined in the conversation which soon changed into discussion about N.E.W.Ts. "I want to be an Auror." Ron quickly said while piling food onto his plate.
The great hall was nearly empty. All the first to fourth years were sent home because their tests didn't really matter compared to the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh years. The sixth years had a choice whether to stay or not because they were studying for N.E.W.Ts which are taken in their seventh year. A tapping was heard from the Staff table, as Professor McGonagall tapped her spoon against a glass. Everyone stopped talking and looked at her.
"As we all know, many things have happened to Hogwarts this year. Many students have died, and many people that sit in this room have lost someone they cared for or known. I would like to make an announcement though.. Because through all the bad things that have happened, we would like to help you still in whatever career you choose. It is the last week as we all know and OWL and NEWT testers will be arriving on Wednesday. As we all can see, we are left without a professor for Defense Against The Dark Arts, so I hope that Ms. Weasley, Ms. Lovegood and Mr. Longbottom's lessons throughout this year were benificial, as you really didn't get any Defense class. McGonagall paused, "We are saddened at all the deaths that have occured over this year. If you didn't know, once the war was to end, we intended to make contact with Remus Lupin and have him return to teach Defense Against The Dark Arts as he had always liked that class. And I was going to quit my job as Transfiguration as soon as possible to allow Nymphadora Lupin take my place while I take Professor Snape's place and become Headmistress."
She stopped talking and looked towards Professor Sprout, as if she was wishing to say something. Professor McGonagall nodded and Professor Sprout stood up.
"As you may know, I have teached here for nearly fifty years. Next year will by my fiftieth. So I'm letting all of you know next year will be different. I will only be teaching students in fifth year and up. We will have another Professor teach the other four years. Although we haven't located a teacher at this time, I assure you, it will happen. So all you Seventh Years, as well as the rest of you, if you can locate students that I taught over the years, give them the date of June 20th, 1999." Professor Sprout said cheerfully as she sat down and Professor McGonagall stood up again.
"Let us have a moment of silence for all of those who were lost, and then it is off to classes!" McGonagall said.
Everyone sat, eyes closed and then after a minute, McGonagall sent everyone on their way. After a long day of review, Ron, Hermione and Neville were joined by Ginny in the Gryffindor Common room. Ron and Hermione had got into another arguement revolving the Late Harry Potter, and then Ginny suddenly spoke up. "WHY DON'T YOU TWO STOP FIGHTING AND SHUT UP!"
Both Hermione and Ron became silent at once. "Well Ron, what do you say about getting to that Transfiguration homework?" asked Hermione.
"Sounds like a plan." Ron said quickly as the two of them quickly headed out.
The week quickly passed by and finally, the N.E.W.T examinations were in place. Ron did exceptionally well in Defense Against The Dark Arts, Transfiguration and Charms, while just getting Acceptable in Potions. From tutoring from Neville he believed he did good as well. Hogwarts staff would know the results almost two days after, and the students would have to wait until July to get their results.
"Wow, some testing.. I nearly lost it during Potions. I watched Harry make one of those potions last year but I couldn't remember exactly how he did it so I had to do it the normal way." Ron said.
"As you were intended to do!" retorted Hermione.
Neville suddenly bursted out of the great hall, catching up to Hermione and Ron. "Hey guys, how did it go?"
"Well I know I did good, and wait... Ron, what did you get for question thirty-three on the Transfiguration test! I think I should of marked B instead of D!" Hermione screamed.
Ron shook his head and kept walking, "Hermione, you worry to much. We all know you are going to be the top of the year." As Ron walked, they eventually ended up by Hagrid's hut, and then the three continued walking, straight into the forest.
"Ron, Hermione, what are we doing in the forest?" Neville asked, quickly, while looking around.
"Lumos." Flames came from Hermione's wand and they continued to walk in, "Well Neville, I think that Ronald here thinks he can find some proof of Harry being alive."
"Think? I know." Ron replied, walking deeper. Finally, they ended up in a patch of knocked down trees and almost a plain. They moved trees and finally, Ron noticed something. A string.. And something that was golden.
"A Snitch! And a Bag?" Neville asked.
Ron held up the Golden Snitch given to Harry by Professor Dumbledore and looked at it. It looked the same as it did when Harry tried to open it. And the bag, sealed and not able to open unless it was in the possession of who it belonged to, given to Harry by Hagrid.
"I guess you're right Hermione. Harry wouldn't of left these behind. There is no way he is alive." Ron said sadly as they began to exit. A clicking noise was heard and Ron turned around, only to see that they were being followed by spiders. More clicks were heard. "LETS GET OUT OF HERE! RUN!"
Ron began running past Neville and Hermione, who had no idea what he was talking about. They turned around, Neville yelled while Hermione shrieked and they ran after Ron. Ron was nearly at the castle and turned around to see Neville and Hermione running, trying to catch up. Ron entered the castle and ventured up the tower, making it to the Fat Lady's Portrait.
"Password?" she asked. Ron said the password quickly and she let him in. He sat down, and then looked at his watch. It was 4:25 PM. Nearly dinner. Ron waited, but no one came, and then he fell asleep.
Ron was running. Running through the Forbidden Forest. A giant spider was chasing him and as he ran, he tripped. Ron quickly rolled over and The spider was blasted away. Standing before him was a person.. Or was it a dementor? No, it used a spell.. It had to be a person.. But this is a dream right? The person then turned its wand to Ron and a green light came out towards him, and he awoke. Ron was sweating and knew there was something not entirely right about that dream. He looked at his watch, realising that their last dinner at Hogwarts had started five minutes ago.
Ron entered the Great Hall, sitting down next to Neville and Hermione and began eating. Hermione looked at Ron and asked, "Why were you late?"
"Shwel Ashleep." Ron replied as he ate.
"Mind repeating that when you aren't stuffing your face Ron?" Hermione said, slightly annoyed.
"I fell asleep. Had a weird dream too. I was -"
Ron got cut off as Professor McGonagall began her speech. After her long speech, everyone was sent to bed. In the common room, Hermione, Neville, Ron and Ginny sat at the fire. Ron looked at Neville and Hermione and then asked, "Why didn't anyone wake me up? I mean, you were only behind me."
"About that.. Professor McGonagall called us to her office. She offered Neville the Herbology Job, and then asked me if I would like to be the Muggle Studies teacher. I accepted instantly!" Hermione explained enthusiastically.
"Congratulations!" shouted Ron and Ginny at the exact same time. Ron gave Hermione a kiss and she turned red.
"So Ron, what was it that you were talking about before Professor McGonagall interuppted you?" Hermione asked.
"Well Professor Granger let me remember. Don't give me that look! Thats the look mum and Ginny do, and I don't like it." Ron said, as he tried to recall his dream. Ginny laughed at his comment about the look Hermione gave him. Ron began to explain, including every detail.
"That almost sounds like the dreams Harry would have. I don't think this is good Ron," Hermione said. "Maybe you can talk to Professor Dumbledore's portrait about it?"
"It sounds like an idea, but I don't really want to bother him and it wasn't that big of a deal. Anyways, in Harry's dreams, he was in the point of view of someone or something else. I wasn't."
Neville seemed to be somewhat confused at all of this. He spoke up and then Ginny, Ron and Hermione explained to the best of their knowledge of what was going on.
"Well, I think I'm going to go pack.. Want to come Ginny?" asked Hermione.
"Okay. I need to pack my stuff anyways. I suggest you two go pack too." Ginny said while looking at Ron and Neville.
Ron and Neville went upstairs to their common room and began packing quickly, throwing whatever, where ever. Ron looked up at Neville. "Neville, I love her. I think I'm going to ask Hermione to marry me."
"Good luck Ron. I hope everything works out in the end." Neville repied, looking happy about what Ron said. "Here Ron, McGonagall told me to give this to you. You aren't supposed to get it until July. Your NEWT report."
Ron took the envelope from Neville and ripped it open, unfolding the page.
Ronald Bilius Weasley
Charms - E
Defense Against The Dark Arts - O
Herbology - A
Potions - A
Transfiguration - E
After Ron finished reading his marks he noticed a second page and flipped to it.
Ronald Weasley,
With these marks I recommend you find time this summer to come into the Auror's office and apply. Under normal circumstances you need Exceeds Expectations in 5 N.E.W.T Level courses but you are one of the reasons that this war came to an end and we can make exceptions.
Signed,
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Minister For Magic
Ron's jaw dropped when he read this form. An Auror! "Neville! I've been asked to apply to be an Auror! This is unbelievable.. This is amazing! This is.. What Harry wanted to do."
"Thats great Ron! You will be a great Auror. My parents were aurors, as I'm sure you knew. My Gran said that Aurors get paid more than almost everyone at the Ministry, and believe me, thats alot! But I think we should be getting to sleep. We will talk tomorrow morning on the train." Neville replied. "And don't worry about Harry. Honor his memory, don't grieve over it."
Ron climbed into his bed and fell into a deep sleep.
