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Harry Potter was on his train back to London from Hogwarts. The war was over and so was his last year at his favorite place on Earth. After the war Harry, Ron and Hermione had gone back to complete their seventh year.
It was their N.E.W.T year and only Hermione was excited about it. And as expected she had gotten N.E. in all her subjects. Harry and Ron had managed enough to get the Auror department in the Ministry.
They had had a brilliant year. Professor McGonangall had become the headmaster replacing Severus Snape, and Hagrid had taken over as the Head of Gryffindor house, much to the delight of the Gryffindor students. There was no Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher appointed yet. McGonagall had told that she had found no one worthy or willing to take the post. So, Harry, Ron and Hermione had divided the classes among themselves to teach the students what they knew. This move proved to be an instant success as everyone wanted to learn from the Golden Trio, especially Harry Potter.
Harry had particularly enjoyed his last year at school. That one dungbomb he put ion Trelawney's class when he thought it was going too good for his liking, everyone knew that he was a kid too and not some super-human they thought he was. And most of his classes were with Ginny, now that they were in the same year, which was really nice because Ginny seemed to get suspicious about every girl who talked to Harry and wanted to keep him out of 'trouble'.
Even Draco Malfoy had eased up around the three Gryffindors. Once in a while, he addressed Harry by first name or smiled at Hermione. But he still kept his guard up. He had a reputation to maintain - the bad boy of Hogwarts.
Ron and Hermione were officially together, but it hardly felt like that. They always argued among themselves, bickering the corridors. This had even earned her a detention, for the first time. Their fights lasted forever. A few times, they sat on either sides of Harry in the Great Hall, not wanting to talk to each other. This almost always ended with Ron flinching under the deadly glares Ginny gave him for taking her spot next to Harry.
Now, on the train too, Ron and Hermione kept shouting at each other. Fortunately, they had the entire cabin to themselves, So Harry was the only one who got the full blast of it.
"Anything from the trolley, dear?" the plump woman asked knocking on the door.
"Um, no thanks", muttered Ron holding up his sandwich for the lady to see.
"We'll buy the lot", said Harry, taking galleons from his pockets.
A few minutes later, Ron was digging into whatever he could lay his hands on while Hermione looked at her boyfriend with pure disgust.
"Look, I got Dumbledore on my chocolate car again!" Harry exclaimed. "This was my first card, remember Ron?" he asked rhetorically. Ron just nodded for his mouth was too full to open which caused Hermione to roll her eyes.
Harry read his card:
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore: 1881-1997
Order of Merlin, First class, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and former head master of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Considered by many the greatest wizard of the modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark Wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for his discovery of twelve uses of dragon's blood and his works on alchemy with his partner Nicolas Flamel. He is also known for guiding Harry Potter, the Chosen One, in defeating the most dangerous dark wizard of all time, Lord Voldemort.
Prof. Dumbledore enjoyed Chamber music and ten pin bowling.
There was a picture of Dumbledore smiling and holding his goblet up in the card.
This was almost the exact thing that had happened on his way to Hogwarts for the first time. This thought initiated a train of thoughts and nostalgia. It had been great in the magical world and although he could have lived without any adventures, those were the very things that made him Harry Potter.
He remembered, to this day, his first day at Hogwarts and reflecting back on that, things would have been very different if he was sorted into Slytherin, which the Sorting hat did consider. But that had been because of the tiny part of Voldemort that had latched inside Harry. Now he was entirely him, entirely and truly Gryffindor. The Sorting hat could not go wrong.
Hogwarts was his home.
Only more than a year back Voldemort threatened to destroy it and Harry stood against him, along with Ron, Hermione and the entire school. It was a relatively short war. Not even lasting one entire day, which ended when Harry survived the Killing curse the second time, and Voldemort died again because of his curse backfiring. But the thoughts of those people who had laid their lives down for the Chosen One to fulfill his destiny. Albus, Severus, Mad-Eye, Fred, Remus, Tonks and young Colin Creevy had all been killed by Voldemort and his followers; all because one boy stood in his way.
But as it always is, good triumphs over evil. No matter how high Evil seems to scale up, it will be brought down. All Good needs is a leader with courage and an army, however small, with faith on their leader. Just hoping doesn't work. Hope walks through fire while faith leaps over it. (A/N: The last line is a line by Jim Carrey. So thanks to him. True inspiration.)
Harry was brought back to reality by raising levels of voices of Ron and Hermione. This pointless argument irritated Harry.
"I've always told Ronald, you have an emotional range of a tea-spoon. You won't understand how I feel." Hermione shouted at Ron.
"I don't want to." Ron shouted back.
"Will both of you knock it off?" Harry raised his voice so high that even he was surprised. "No point in both of you dating if you keep screaming your heads off at each other." Harry said and breathed heavily.
"Yes, Ron. That's a brilliant idea. Let's break up." Hermione said, looking at Ron expectantly.
Harry was shocked. "Blimey, Hermione! That's not what I meant".
"No, mate", Ron spoke up. "She's right. It's really not working out for us. The relationship has to end. We can still be best friends." he added the last part looking at Hermione.
"That's right, Harry. We are just not good enough for each other. But honestly, this changes nothing. Thanks for being so mature Ron." Hermione was almost jumping.
"See, my emotional range is bigger than a tea-spoon" Ron grinned.
"Um, still no." Hermione giggled and then they both started quarreling again. Harry did not bother listening to them. He was waiting for Ginny who was with Luna and her other classmates.
"So, Harry?" Ron asked, "What are you going to do now?"
"We've talked about this, Ron" Harry sighed. "I'll play Quidditch for a while. The Canons have already sent me an offer and a contract for three years. And after that I will probably join the ministry, you now, as an Auror." he had everything planned.
"Not that. I meant now, after getting off the Hogwarts Express. Where will you stay? You know you are always welcome at the Burrow. Mum will be more than happy. And Ginny too."
"Thanks, mate. I have that sorted out too. I'll stay in the Grimmauld Place from now on. I'll just drop by Gringotts and see how I can make Sirius' home livable". Harry laughed softly.
"Oh, alright" said Ron. "What about you Hermione?'
"I have to find my parents, haven't I?" Hermione let out a deep breath. "I have to restore their memory, if I can" she sounded like she was about to cry.
"We'll help you, 'Mione," Harry said, taking her arm to assure her.
"Sure, Hermione," Ron took her other hand.
She pulled her hands back and laughed loudly. "Boys" she said rolling her eyes. "Did you honestly think I wouldn't have figured out my parents' location in the past yer? I know where they are and I know the very spell to restore their memory. So, I am going on my own. I don't want you to spoil the little family reunion. I was talking to you Ron", she grinned.
The boys looked like they were about to argue, probably telling her that even if she knew where they were, it was too dangerous to go alone. But they did not say anything.
The train finally whistled yo a halt on platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station. The three helped each other bringing their trunks down. As soon as they got down, they were engulfed in a hug by Mrs. Weasley. She finally pulled back and said, Nice ride, dears?"
"Yes, Mrs Weasley" Harry and Hermione answered together.
"Molly will do" said Molly, giving a warm smile.
Together, the three came back into the muggle world.
"Oye! You never said the Dursleys were back" whispered Ron into Harry ears. Harry just grinned and said, "A small detour before going back to the magical world."
"Travel alright, Harry?" said Uncle Vernon, picking up his nephew's trunks to put into the car. Well, things do change.
"See you over the summer, Ron," Harry waved them good-bye as he got into the car.
I have a felling I have let down the readers with this chapter. I'm so sorry if I have. It was necessary. The chapter, I mean. Not letting you guys down. This chapter is in an insight how the wizarding world is now and how our heroes will live further. As you've noticed from the last two chapters, Percy and the Golden Trio are of same age: nearing 19.
The next chapter, Camp Half-Blood.
Please review. I want to improve.
:D
One question. Do you guys want Annabeth back? Please answer me, not emotionally and after considering my perspective.
