Charm Master:

Harry stumbled out of class grinning ear to ear as Ginny ruffled his hair. "What can I say," he defended, "I've just always been a charming person." Derisive snort. "The charms they come easy!"

"In your dreams liar," Ginny stated. "Hermione basically just coached both you and Ron through that whole class. Is that how all your classes were?!"

"Excuse me! Dumbledore's Army!? You can thank me for your patronus again if you feel the urge! Ok or not," Harry laughed, as Ginny retracted her elbow from his ribs. "But yeah, Hermione pretty much held our hands though charms," grinned Harry.

A blur caught Harry's peripheral vision and he stopped mid hall.

"OOF Harry!" exclaimed Hermione as she adjusted herself off Harry.

"What's up mate?" tensed Ron.

Harry quickly stalked around the corner in response, hand hovering over his stowed wand. A foreign, even, metallic clicking could just be heard on entering the deserted corridor.

"Harry!" protectively whispered Hermione, as the group scurried to follow, wands now at the ready. Bursting through a door, to a quiet courtyard, the group suddenly ground to a halt.

"What the?" queried Ron.

A group of young students were sitting out on the small lawn. Utterly engrossed as they were, by the hog snuffing the grass around their circle, they failed to notice the new arrivals.

"Oh," whined Hermione affectionately.

"Hermione?" asked Harry.

"It's the brass hog I was telling you both about remember," explained Hermione turning to Ron.

Ron looked like he couldn't even remember what he had for breakfast but quickly answered, "Oh yeah," while darting a puzzled look at Harry.

Hermione rolled hers eyes but continued undeterred, "Professor McGonagall sent an owl for me over the summer requesting my help with the finishing touches on a magical statue that would be patrolling Hogwarts this year, and any to come when needed."

After a moments silence, "I think it's perfect!" gushed Hermione.

"Only you would get excited about coming into school on your holidays Hermione," chuckled Ron.

Harry snorted.

Hermione gave them both a withering look.

"Patrolling?" queried Harry.

"Yes," Hermione answered. "The battle last year exposed the very foundations of the castle. In order to eradicate the chances of lasting curses inferring with the schools delicate rebuilding stage, the staff thought it wise to devise a creature that could both strengthen and monitor the castle. Honestly if we'd had this little guy back when the chamber of secrets was rearing its ugly head, Dumbledore could have sorted that mess out overnight. No offence Ginny," added Hermione.

"Argh, none taken," moaned Ginny.

"A great number of the professors had a part in its creation but Professor McGonagall had the greatest I believe," reverently added Hermione. "She charmed into it's being an ability to seek out those who need its happiness and comfort most. That's why it will most likely be spending a fair amount of time around the younger years."

"What, cause they're home sick?" quipped Ron.

"No," calmly entered Ginny, "it's because Hogwarts was a place of fear and terror to them. Especially last year under the Carrows, warmth and beauty seemed to cease to exist under their rule."

"It's like a little Professor Dumbledore don't you think," grinned Hermione, "giving help to those who ask for it, or not in many cases."

The brass hog suddenly waged its tail furiously in delight, as one of the students took out a sweet from his pocket. The small group squealed in delight as the hogs brass coat shimmered into undulating rainbow colours, as it munched down on its sweet.

"Sherbet lemons are its favourite," sniffed Hermione.