Author's Note: I stopped writing fanfiction almost ten years ago and mostly due to the fact that the HP book series ended for me. Now as an adult, I look back fondly at my younger days and decided maybe its time to go back to fanfic writing. I am super rusty so do forgive grammar mistakes. This is a story based on an idea of mind while I was reading HP and the DH this year after nearly a decade of not touching the book and how Harry and Ron would feel after nearly twenty years of the events of DH.
P.S. On a side note, I started writing this on 1st of March so shoutout to Ron Weasley! Happy 38th birthday!
Disclaimer: This is all JKR. Except the plot
CHAPTER ONE
2018
"Can't believe you're turning 38, Ron."
Harry looked up to see Ron giving Neville a scowl. Smiling to himself, he recalled how Ron had spent the whole of last night in a drunken stupor screaming at everyone in Hogsmeade that he was not old. Despite his boyish looks and blazing crimson hair, Harry could not stop to notice how lines and wrinkles were starting to appear on Ron's forehead. Of course it could have been to the many years he and Harry had become Aurors but even so, it was strange to think of Ron as old. Yet here he was, two years from forty.
"Blimey, Neville. Don't test me. Can't believe I drank that much Firewhisky! Why didn't anyone of you stop me?" yelled Ron as he sunk deeper into the purple couches of the Gryffindor common room.
"Err... we all did? Plus there were other reasons for you drinking besides growing older, Ron." Harry replied calmly as he did a take of yesterday's events. Ron stared at him blankly before realization settled in.
Ron wanted a boy's day out prior to his birthday so the three of them had decided to come back to Hogwarts not only because it was a short walk to Hogsmeade but also out of nostalgia. Harry and Ron had been reminiscing about their adventures and how Hogwarts was, despite the efforts of many life threatening situations ranging from a three-headed dog to Voldemort himself, was indeed the best times of their lives. Both Ginny and Hermione, Harry's and Ron's spouses soon grew tired of their constant depressive states and decided they wanted to put on a grand party for Ron. Needing both of their Auror husbands to be out of the way, Ron's suggestion of Hogwarts wasn't a bad idea at all. Plus, with Neville as a professor, there were other benefits to coming back.
However, coming back to Hogwarts not only brought back good memories but also tragic ones as well. There was a field inside the Forbidden Forest that had been cleared to make way for a cemetery. Those who died at the Battle of Hogwarts and others who died in the wizarding war who wished to be located there had been buried at that field for about twenty years now. As Harry walked past Lupin's and Tonk's graves, he saw Ron crafting a wreath to be placed on Fred's tomb. Each grave was beautifully decorated, with flowers and gifts all around its sides to remind that the sacrifices made by these wizards and witches were never to be forgotten. After paying their respects, the three of them had called upon Neville, basically dragging him away from class to enjoy a round of Butterbeer at Madam Rosmerta's pub.
"So this is what your common room looks like? Never thought I see the day I would enter here."
"Never thought you ever be here too, mate." replied Ron to the slender figure crouched next to the fireplace trying to light up a cigarette he has stashed upon the room. Draco Malfoy turned around and gave the group a beaming smile.
"Yep. Tell me again how this all happen. Malfoy in Gryffindor? HAH!" cried Neville.
"Sod off, Longbottom!"
"You sod off! I am a professor here."
"A professor who's joining us to smoke and drink in the common room while the students are in their classes. Never thought you be a bad boy, Neville!"
"What can I say, Malfoy? We've come a long way." grinned Neville as he and Draco shared a laugh.
They had both come a long way, especially Malfoy thought Harry. He recalled how after the fall of Voldemort, both he and Ron had found Malfoy and his family. Malfoy's mother had passed away due to dragonpox and Lucius was sent to Azkaban. On behest of Harry, Malfoy used his connections to the Death Eaters to provide information as to their whereabouts, those on the run from the Ministry. After many years of bickering and mistrust, Harry, Ron and their friends began to warm up to Draco and vice versa. When Harry turned twenty five and married Ginny, Draco came to the wedding. When Ron and Hermione got married a year later, Draco became one of the groomsmen. Ultimately, the most incredible moment came when Draco introduced Sarah Biggins as his fiancée and asked both Harry and Ron to be his best friends. Needless to say what became more shocking was that Sarah was a Muggle. Soon Draco joined Harry and Ron in becoming an Auror and now the three of them were Captains of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad with Percy Weasley as the Head seeing how all three of them preferred to take action rather than give instructions.
"Fuck! Neville, doesn't Hogwarts have wefe?" cried Ron
"The heck is wefe?"
"You know! Wefe. My pad isn't working and I need to rewatch Game of Thrones again."
"It's Wi-Fi, Ron!"
"That's what I said!"
"Besides, you know that electricity doesn't work in Hogwarts, Weasley. You did learn something while you were in Hogwarts right?"
"Shut it, Malfoy! Twenty points from Slytherin!"
"Mate! You're not in Hogwarts anymore!"
"Quiet, Harry. You too! Twenty points from Gryffindor!"
All four men burst into laughter. Draco passed the cigarette around as they used their wands to conjured out smoke-like Nifflers and dragons. Harry sighed to himself. He did miss Hogwarts. A time when it was much more interesting. Auror cases were drying up and he had spent more time in the office with paperwork rather than on the field. He knew Ron was getting bored as well, having talked to Harry about how he was thinking of having a third child with Hermione. Harry looked out of the window. He recalled how he, Ron and Hermione had spent their Hogwarts years thwarting Voldemort's evil plans and despite him stating he had enough trouble for a lifetime, he could not help but miss the ol' days. He was seventeen when it all ended and now after twenty years, he had more than recovered from the scars of war although there were some that could never be forgotten like Sirius and Dumbledore and his parents. He turned to look at Neville who was holding a brown and battered hat in his hand. He recognised that artefact of course but was surprised that there were stitches made in the centre as if to keep a section from opening up.
"Neville, why do you have the Sorting Hat and why is it sewn shut?"
Ron and Draco who had been throwing Exploding Snap cards at each other turned to look at Neville who looked sheepish to say the least.
"Well, I didn't want to tell you this but next year, there won't be a Sorting. We are retiring the Sorting Hat. The Headmaster sewed its mouth shut to keep it from yelling out its displeasure."
"Wait, why are you retiring the Sorting Hat?" asked Ron.
"How do the students get sorted?" asked Draco.
"Well, they do those themselves you see. Times have changed and Headmaster Bones agrees that we should allow first years to decide for themselves the houses they join. It not only allows wizards to decide who they want to be but also takes away the prejudice that comes with joining certain houses."
"Blimey, Hugo can choose to be a Slytherin?"
"Lily can be a Hufflepuff?"
"I think it's a great idea." said Draco quietly while the other three turned to face him. Draco's face was solemn and it was plain to see that he was still struggling about his past.
"What do you mean, mate?"
"Well, Ron. Think about it. I was eleven when I went to Hogwarts having spent eleven years of my life being brought up by my Dad to hate everyone who wasn't a Pureblood and that Salazar Slytherin had the best path for me. If I was put in Gryffindor mind you, I could have been different having to socialise with you guys and who knows? Maybe I would be part of the Golden Trio? Thing is how you are brought up has a great deal of impact to deciding what you become. Take Harry for example. Imagine how the world would be different if Harry had decided to go to Slytherin."
Harry gave Draco a warm smile. It was true. He remembered how important Dumbledore's words were. It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
"So what you're saying is… I saved the world." said Ron. The other three gave him quizzical looks. "No really, think about it! If I hadn't met Harry all those years ago and convinced him to join Gryffindor on the Hogwarts Express, then the world would have suffered as Harry would be in Slytherin. I always knew I was the most important. Neville, please inform your History of Magic Professor about this important detail."
"Stop screwing around, Weasley!"
"Can't help it Malfoy. Hermione and I are about to make baby number three."
"Another Weasley? God maybe this is what ends us all!"
"Cram it, Longbottom!"
"Wait Neville, how does the Sorting go again?"
"Okay so… No Ron! I can't smoke anymore….So, the first years will pick the houses they feel are best suited for their needs. We introduce the houses each year at the feast and we change how they are presented so that no one thinks of Slytherin as evil or Hufflepuff as plain. After they've decided, we even it out so that each house gets an equal number of students. Now as there are four terms to each year, these students would be rotated to a different house every term and after a year at Hogwarts, the final decision would be made by both the students and their teachers who would decide which house would best suit them. We also have many inter-house activities to promote inter-house relations although the House and Qudditch cup are also still around. Speaking of which, since first years are basically undecided on their houses, they are not illegible to become members of House teams so your record of being the youngest seeker for Gryffindor still stands, Harry!"
Harry smiled. He was indeed very fond of Quidditch.
"Speaking of which, can I go see the new Slytherin common room? Since you guys basically destroyed our old common room to turn into a Hogwarts Museum!" cried Draco as he dragged both Neville and Ron to their feet.
"Sure, I can show you but we got to clean up! Students are almost done with classes and I need to avoid Bones after telling him I'm down with an illness!"
"You guys go ahead. Harry and I will clean up this mess after we seen our old bedrooms. We will bring the Hat with us! Go!" said Ron as he dragged Harry up the stairs.
"Ron! Don't mess around up there. No one can know we were here. I have to maintain the rules. I'm a professor!"
"Jeez. Sound like my wife, Longbottom!"
"Ron!"
"Okay!"