Chapter 1

A Return to Normalcy

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The train pulled into Hogsmeade Station just after dark. Harry, Ron, and Ginny joined the crowds of students heading towards the carriages that would take them to the castle, leaving Hermione behind to see to her Head Girl duties. Charlie, who had sat with them on the train, had disappeared, leaving the students behind.

Over the heads of the students, Hagrid could be heard calling for the first years. It was a calming sound for Harry, one he recognized, bringing him memories of his very first time on the platform, before he was aware of everything that was to come. He could feel hundreds of eyes staring at him but he tried to ignore it. He had been getting stares since that very first day and Harry didn't see it getting better anytime soon.

As the crowd of students came upon the carriages, Harry heard gasps and a few yells all around him. Beside him, he felt Ginny pause, a whispered "Wow" just barely audible. He knew from personal experience how strange it was to suddenly see the threstrals pulling the carriages. With the amount of death Voldemort had unleashed over the past years and with the amount of death Hogwarts had seen only a few short months ago, more students than ever before were able to see the strange creatures. As Harry climbed into his carriage behind his girlfriend, he heard whispered explanations surround him, as those students who had been in Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class several years ago explained what the creatures were to those who didn't know.

As the carriage pulled away from the station, the three friends all leaned out the window, watching as the castle came into view.

"Blimey," Ron said, eyes wide. "You'd never know that half the castle was destroyed in the battle." Harry silently agreed. He couldn't believe how quickly Hogwarts had been repaired. It looked just like it looked when he had first seen it, eight years ago.

"Strange, though," Ginny added, leaning into Harry, "knowing all the horrible things that we have seen here but not seeing any evidence of it."

They were quiet as the carriage pulled up to the castle doors and let them out. They walked into the Great Hall, slowly observing all the repairs that had been done over the summer. Everywhere they looked, there were memories, flashes of the good and the bad threatening to overwhelm them. In the Great Hall, Harry spotted Neville and slipped into a seat across from him, pulling Ginny with him.

As Ron clambered over the bench next to Neville, he asked "So, you decided to come back, then?"

Before Neville could answer, Hermione slid onto the bench next to Ron. Ginny looked over and asked, "All the firsties make it to the boats?"

"Oh, yeah. They were so excited," Hermione answered, beaming. "But they are so little. I don't think we were ever that little!"

"Speak for yourself," Ron said as he pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arm around her waist. "We both know Harry there was a scrawny git." He smiled innocently at his best friend, oblivious to the glare he was receiving. "Still is."

"Bloody git. Your brother is a bloody git," Harry told the red head next to him in a tone of mock severity.

"You know it!" Ron said happily. Turning back to Neville, he asked again, "So, you came back?"

Neville smiled wryly at his fellow Gryffindors. "Yeah. Considering how much time I spent in the Room of Requirement last year, I didn't really learn much."

"Well, this year will be better," Ginny said, reaching over and placing her hand over Neville's as they both remembered their previous year at Hogwarts. Shaking herself out of it, she asked, "I didn't see you and Luna on the train?"

"Oh, I was already here," Neville said with a genuine smile. "Professor Sprout asked me to help with some special projects this year. I came up a few weeks ago and have been staying in Hogsmeade."

"And Luna?"

"She wrote me last week. Apparently McGonagall gave her permission to show up a few days late. She was travelling with her father."

"I hope he's doing better."

"Sounded like it in the letter but I think she wanted a little more time."

Their conversation was interrupted by a bang sounding from the back of the room. Many of the elder students jumped to their feet at the sound, wands out. The five Gryffindors all pulled their wands, eyes searching for the source of the sound. They visibly relaxed as they spotted Professor Flitwick and the group of first years standing in the newly opened doorway to the Great Hall.

Once everyone had calmed down and retaken their seats, Flitwick advanced to the front of the hall, pulling out the sorting hat. The sorting ceremony took longer than usual, given the abnormally large incoming class. Harry watched as the sorting hat sent each of the new withes and wizards, both true first years and the muggleborns who had been unable to attend the year before, to their houses.

After a delicious feast that had the friends laughing as Hermione scolded Ron, leaving Harry in no doubt that, no matter what, his friends would never change, McGonagall stood and quieted the hall.

"Welcome to what will undoubtedly be a wonderful year at Hogwarts. I trust you all will be an asset to your Houses and your School. I want to introduce Professor Weasley who will be helping Professor Hagrid with the Care of Magical Creatures classes. I would like to also introduce Professor Rodgers, who will be taking over Transfiguration classes. I trust you will show both what excellent students you are. You will notice we are missing a professor. The Defense Against the Dark Arts post has not yet been filled and, as such, there will be no Defense classes until further notice." McGonagall ignored the whispers that had broken out at her news. "I assure you, we are working quickly to remedy this situation. Meanwhile, I expect our returning students to excel and to help our newest arrivals adjust to life at Hogwarts.

"However, it would be remiss of all of us to start a new year without first acknowledging and remembering what we have gone through as a school and as a society over the past year. Our world faced a terrible challenge as Tom Riddle tore us apart. But in the end, it was our unity that allowed us to prevail. It was only with the aid of our brave Gryffindors, our loyal Hufflepuffs, our brilliant Ravenclaws, and yes, even our cunning Slytherins that allowed us to prevail against evil. And so, while I love to see everyone's House pride, I also urge you to remember you are all students at the same great school and are part of the same world. We have each lost much in the battle over prejudice and I trust that we will never forget what was given so that we might enjoy this future." McGonagall paused, looking around at the solemn students before her.

"On that note, I look forward to a brilliant year and suggest you all head to bed so that you are bright eyed for your classes tomorrow."

As McGonagall returned to her seat, a smattering of applause broke out which slowly grew until the whole hall was clapping, the emotional outlet drawing in even the professors. Once the applause had died down, the chaos erupted as the students all stood to leave the hall.

After reaching Gryffindor Tower, Harry, Ron, and Neville found Seamus and Dean already in their dormitory. The five boys – well, men now – stayed up talking and reminiscing as they began their truly final year of Hogwarts, a year late. Finally, with the moon high above, they drifted to sleep, Harry finding comfort in the familiar surroundings and company, ready to finally achieve a little sense of normalcy.

The first week of classes passed with relatively little excitement. There were still moments where loud noises set the older students into panics. A few of the female students seemed to have made themselves sick with the stress of returning to school after everything that had happened. Madam Pomfrey was kept busy as she administered calming draughts and stomach soothers to the troubled students. Luna returned on Friday, dreamily telling anyone who would listen (which often included the band of Gryffindors who considered her a sister no matter how loony she sounded) that her father was closer than ever to finally finding the Crumple Horned Snorkack.

As the friends sat eating breakfast on Saturday, House tables ignored so that Luna could join them, a flurry of owls flew into the Great Hall. Every morning, it seemed like there were more and more owls as families sought to keep tabs on each other, no one completely able to release the fears of the past few years.

A dark brown owl landed in front of Ginny. She quickly detached the letter from his leg and gave him a piece of toast. The owl hooted softly in thanks before flying off again. Ginny slit open the letter and disappeared behind the parchment.

Meanwhile, Ron was already doubting his decision to return to Hogwarts for his N.E.W.T. year. "I can't believe how much homework we have already," he exclaimed in exasperation. "I mean, we just saved the bloody world and now they are trying to kill us under a massive pile of homework. I swear, I could be buried alive in the workload!"

Hermione just rolled her eyes at her ginger boyfriend. "Honestly, Ronald. You didn't have to come back. You could have been an auror. Or I'm sure you could have found something else! You wanted to come back to Hogwarts so you can't complain when – "

"Eek!" Hermione's rant was interrupted by an excited squeal from Ginny. Harry unconsciously reached for his wand at the loud exclamation but before he could grasp the wooden stick or even process his own thoughts, Ginny had him wrapped up in a hug.

"Fleur is pregnant!" Ginny shrieked. "Bill and Fleur are going to have a baby!"

"Oooh. A baby!" Luna said dreamily.

Hermione reached across the table and grabbed the letter that Ginny had let drop while Harry and Ron looked on, dumbfounded. Her eyes scanned the words quickly. "It says she is due March 12. Oh, how exciting!" She slipped her hand into Ron's and leaned into him. "Finally something to celebrate."

"Hey!" Harry said in mock indignation. "What about my birthday? We celebrated that. And Ginny's birthday? She turned 17 last month. Finally had the trace lifted and everything. We celebrated that too!" He laughed when Ginny punched his arm. "Just kidding. That's great news."

Harry thought about his godson, Teddy. He and Andromeda had shared custody of the small boy but, while Harry was in school, his grandmother took care of the little metamorphagus. Harry was taking Teddy whenever he could to give Andromeda a break but right now, that was only during school holidays. Harry hoped those breaks would be enough. Andromeda Tonks loved the boy but, after everyone she had lost, he knew taking care of the infant was emotionally draining. Luckily, Mrs. Weasley was helping wherever possible. That little boy had provided both women with hope and every time Harry saw him, he couldn't help but smile. Another baby in the family might just be what everyone needed to move forward.

Their celebration was interrupted when Hagrid walked up. Their favorite gameskeeper was still teaching along with Charlie but they hadn't seen him much over the past week as he was being kept extremely busy trying to repair the damage the Death Eaters had done to the Forbidden Forest.

"I 'aven't seen ya six since the Welcomin' Feast!" he said, clapping Harry on the back, making Harry grateful his was already sitting as his knees would have surely given out. "Did ya hear? McGonagall finally figured out who's teachin' Defense."

"No! Who?" Neville asked. They were all eager to start that particular class, despite the end of the war.

"Yeah. They're hirin' Dedalus Diggle! Can ya believe it! Diggle, a professor at Hogwarts!" Hagrid began laughing at the thought.

"Really? Diggle? He was one of the advanced guard stationed with the Dursleys," Harry said, utterly surprised by the choice.

"He's always been a bit of a funny fellow," Ron added, laughing along with Hagrid.

"Is he qualified?" Hermioned asked, worried.

"Well," Hagrid finally pulled himself together to say, "he was part o' the Order durin' both the firs' and second war. Like ya said, Harry, he protected 'em Dursleys, the gits, while Ya-Know-Who was in power, not that they deserved it." Hagrid had never liked Harry's aunt and uncle. "So yeah, he's qualified. Plus, I 'eard they were goin' ter be invitin' people ter teach the class, like guest professors. Spend the year as a kind o' history lesson, using the war as a study in defense. I wouldn' be surprised if they asked you lot ter speak."

As Hagrid left the students to their meal, Harry found his celebratory mood dampened. He severely hoped Diggle didn't ask them to speak. He wasn't sure if he was ready to tell his story yet again.

That night, Harry couldn't sleep. The idea that they would all have to relive the events of the past few years had his stomach in knots. Around one in the morning, Harry finally gave up on sleep and went down to the common room. He plopped down onto the couch by the fire and stared, unseeingly, at the glowing ashes. Images of the battle flashed in front of his eyes. All the times he had faced Voldemort over the past eight years were burned in his mind. The faces of everyone who had died stared out at him from the embers. At some point, he finally fell into a fitful sleep on the couch.

A few hours later, Harry woke up screaming.