Harry Potter and the new lease of life
Chapter1 a new beginning
Gryffindor Tower was awfully quiet, then again it was only just past sunrise. In the Seventh year boy's dormitory there was a variety of noises coming from various sources. Ron was snoring so loudly, it was a surprise that the windows didn't shatter. Neville seemed to be humming a tune, you could tell he was asleep due to the fact every few minutes he gave a loud snore. Seamus seemed to fighting with his covers, from the sound of it, the covers were winning. Dean, never in 7 years had woken up to the sounds of sleep in the boy's dorm, seemed to sleep like a log. There was one person awake in the boy's dorm though. His name was known throughout the wizarding world. For nearly eighteen years of this lad's life, everybody referred to him as The-Boy-Who-Lived, now for the rest of his life, he was probably be going to known as The-Man-Who-Conquered.
Great, thought Harry Potter, Just bloody great.
Harry had been awake all night, he had been like this ever since he defeated the darkest wizard ever known, Lord Voldemort, just a few weeks ago. He and his friends stayed behind at Hogwarts to repair the damage that the castle had sustained in the Final Battle. Harry thought about the those who died in both wars often. His Parents, Cedric, Sirius, Dumbledore, Hedwig, Mad-Eye, Fred, Tonks, Lupin and Colin. He even thought of Severus Snape, the potions master who Harry had hated with a passion ever since he had laid eyes on him. The feeling was mutual. Though Snape had murdered Dumbledore, it was pre-planned, Harry was adamant that Snape was Voldemort's through and through. Then when he saw his memories, of how he had loved Lily ever since they were children, Harry knew he had been the bravest man he had ever met.
Harry looked at his watch, 6.45AM. Breakfast would be served in 15 minutes. Harry got dressed and set off to the Great Hall. As Harry meandered down towards the Great Hall, He thought of the Weasleys, due to the fact the whole clan stayed behind to help with renovating the castle, they still hadn't had the chance to have Fred's funeral. He truly thought it was his fault. But a reprimand from not Mrs Weasley, but George had made Harry feel better. Thinking of Fred's funeral, Harry thought back to the double funeral of Mr and Mrs Lupin, or Tonks and Moony as their friends knew them. It was a solemn affair. Harry was sure that if an aching heart could kill, he would have died that day. When he saw little Teddy Tonks in the arms of his Grandmother, his hair continuously changing from the mousy brown of his fathers' and the bubblegum pink that his mother frequently wore, Harry's heart had ached if not bled for him. He decided there and then, he would do his best to help Andromeda to raise little Teddy, he would be the best Godfather he could be.
Harry arrived at the Great Hall just after seven o'clock and was glad to see it empty. He sat down in his usual seat at the Gryffindor table and grabbed a few pieces of toast that had just appeared. He was thinking about his meeting with McGonagall, no doubt it was about returning next year. Harry weighed up the pros and cons of coming back next year. More time to spend with my friends, he thought, with Ginny.
It was there where Harry smacked himself on the forehead. He had not spoken to Ginny since the day of the battle, it was obvious she was avoiding him. Maybe because he ran off with Ron and Hermione looking for the horcruxes and Harry had told her she couldn't come, or be his girlfriend because she too would be in danger. Harry should have known she would have been in danger anyway because her whole family where in the Order. Harry had not taken the time to speak to Ginny yet, he would speak to her tonight before they left tomorrow on the Hogwarts Express.
As Harry left the Great Hall, he saw Ron and Hermione coming down the marble saircase holding hands, as if they would lose each other if they didn't. It was Ron who spoke first.
"Where you off mate? He asked.
"Meeting with McGonagall" replied Harry
"What for…?" started Hermione but it was Ron who had cut across her "Leave it Hermione, if Harry wanted us to know what is was about he would have told us. I'm sure he'll tell us everything afterwards, won't you Harry?
Harry nodded and said his goodbyes to them and set off towards McGongall's office. As he arrived at the stone gargoyle that protected the office, Harry muttered the password,
"Victorious" and the gargoyle hopped aside and showed the revolving staircase which Harry followed up.
"Enter" came the response from Harry's knock on the door.
"Good Morning Harry" said Professor McGonagall brightly.
"Morning Professor" he replied, "I believe you wanted to see me"
"I did, and please call me Minerva whilst school is out, no need for formalities is there?"
"Ok Pro… Minerva" said Harry " What is it you wanted to see me about?"
"Firstly, to thank you, for all your help in rebuilding the castle, I know you feel as if it was your fault, I assure you that is not the case. And secondly, I wanted ask your opinion of asking your entire year to return to Hogwarts next year to finish your NEWTs, I would expect Miss Granger to be quite ecstatic about that."
"Yeah, Hermione would love that, and I think it's a great idea, I thought though you was only going to ask me, Ron and Hermione to come back?"
"No that be unfair of me, don't you think Harry?"
"Yeah I suppose, but what about the other year's and space for dormitory's and such?" asked Harry
"Harry, this is probably the most magical building in the world, in history when problems have occurred as such, the castle will expand to accommodate those who need it, you see it's happening right now with the people who have stayed behind to help rebuild." she stated matter-of-factly.
"oh, ok" said Harry "Is there anything else you wish to speak with me?"
"No Harry, but I will send your booklist to the Burrow I presume?" She asked
Harry had not thought about that, he didn't need to back to Privet Drive anymore, he didn't even know if the Dursley's were back there yet.
"Yeah I suppose that will be where I'll be staying Minerva" Said Harry finally "Thank you Minerva"
"No Harry, Thank you" she said with a smile Harry had never seen before, and with that Harry left. On his way back to his dormitory to pack his things, he cut through one his shortcuts behind a tapestry of dancing house elves, Harry stumbled over a mass of legs covering the tunnel.
"OI! WATCH WHERE YOUR GOING WILL YOU… oh it's you Harry" said a voice which when Harry looked up and saw belonged to Ron. It seemed Ron and Hermione where having a cosy time snuggled up in a hidden tunnel. He also noticed that Ron had gone red with embarrassment.
"What were you two doing hidden down here?" Asked Harry with a sly grin.
"Erm, we were… we… errr…" stuttered Ron until Hermione interrupted him
"We were down here kissing Ronald, there is no need be embarrassed about it," she snapped " You have gone passed your stage of thrashing about like a pack of eels" she added playfully.
"Ok" said Ron bashfully
"What did McGonagall want Harry?" asked Hermione
Harry told them that McGonagall had asked if it was a good idea to invite their year to come back to Hogwarts to finish their NEWTs.
"Really?" asked Hermione when he had finished and Harry nodded "That's Great" she whooped.
"I really can't wait to tell Ginny, I just hope she isn't angry with me for not speaking to her yet" said Harry
"I think she's more than angry mate" said Ron "You have seemed to have left it a little bit late, just don't make her more upset or you'll have me to deal with!"
"Yeah, I'll try not to"
With that the trio left the tunnel and headed to Gryffindor Tower to pack their things for tomorrow. After they had packed their things they went to the Great Hall for dinner. After a subdued dinner they returned to the Gryffindor Common room and Harry saw Ginny sat on her own on the sofa facing the fireplace. Ron and Hermione conveniently needed to go the library to check something out for which Harry was grateful. Harry walked over to the sofa and sat down.
After a few minutes silence it was Harry who spoke first.
"Hey Ginny, How are you?" he asked
"Finally remembered who I was then? She asked ignoring his first comment.
"Ginny I always remembered you, I'm really sorry"
"Funny way of showing it, ignoring me"
"Listen Gin, I'm really sorry, lets start over," he started "Hi, I'm Harry Potter, and you are?" he finished in a mocking tone.
She turned and looked at Harry and just smiled. The she let out a shrill giggle and ran off towards the girls dormitory.
"Women" breathed Harry to himself, and with that he got up and went to his dormitory for a well deserved sleep, he knew that his dreams will be disturbed by a certain red-haired witch he knew he could never forget.