AN: Hello everyone and welcome to another chapter of this story; I hope you are all well. My thanks to those of you who read and reviewed last time.
Bagel-chan – I'm glad you like it. Hermione is, I think, in a position of realising that she no longer has a home; her parents are abroad and her childhood home is being sold. I think she's upset and turning to someone who can relate to not having family around.
Agent-M – yes, plenty of tension and his disappointment at a lack of effort from Ron et al. Whether the tension increases or dissipates remains to be seen.
Ruinus – I think you need friendship before you can even think about exploring the possibility of anything else. We know they're very close friends, so it's a good start.
PsychoNinjaWolf – it was short; I'll try to do some longer ones later on but instead I got this one out earlier than usual. How's that?
Ok, let's get on with it!
"Potter! Granger!" Professor McGonagall called as Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny walked together towards the Great Hall. They turned in response to the Headmistress's call and the two dark-haired teenagers took a step towards her. "Come with me," she instructed before turning and walking away. They waved at the Weasleys and followed her into an empty classroom.
"Now, normally this would have been dealt with earlier," she began, "but, given… what happened last Spring," she continued delicately, "we teachers didn't have the time to discuss it and organise things before the letters went out, what with having to get the castle back into shape for the new school year. Anyway, we'll be announcing it officially after the sorting but you two are our new Head Boy and Girl for this year." Harry and Hermione looked to one another with expressions of surprise and delight. "I'll be calling you forward to receive your badges when we make the announcement," she concluded with a smile.
"This could be a new tradition," Harry noted returning her smile with one of his own.
"Maybe," the Headmistress commented.
"Professor," Hermione began thoughtfully, "will you still be teaching Transfiguration now that you're Headmistress?"
"No, Granger, I won't be," she conceded with more than a little regret, "That's another announcement we'll be making this evening."
"Along with another Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Harry asked with all the innocence he could muster.
"Yes Potter," Professor McGonagall sighed, "why? Do you want the job?" The corners of her mouth twitched slightly.
"Given what has happened to them all, I think I'll stay on the other side of the desk if you don't mind, Professor." They shared a smile. "Are you still Head of Gryffindor house or did you have to give that up too?" he asked as the thought suddenly occurred to him.
"No, the new Head of your house will be announced too," she admitted. "Now, we all need to get to the Great Hall. After you." She gestured to the door and followed the pair through it; they led the way to the Great Hall in silence.
The Headmistress left them to go to the staff table; they walked towards their House table.
"It's going to be an interesting year," Harry commented idly. Hermione nodded her agreement.
Scanning the table they saw that there was no space near where Ron and Ginny had positioned themselves; they were sat with some of Ginny's friends from her (and now their) year group. Ron cast a surly eye at the pair as some of the younger Gryffindors eagerly moved up to allow the celebrity pair to sit down. Harry looked towards the Weasleys and Ginny waved sadly in his direction; he returned the wave and glanced to Ron, who forced his face into an even expression before turning quickly to talk to his neighbours.
The older students sat through the sorting; they listened as the Sorting Hat talked of the proud traditions of the respective Houses and there was a general air of relief that it had stopped its dire warnings of what was to come. The new Gryffindors were all eager to sit as close to them as they could and the new Head Boy and Girl made an attempt to remember all the names as the first years approached them and shook their hands. When Harry chanced a look towards Ron he saw the ginger boy's jealous expression that so many had ignored him and headed straight for Harry.
"I feel like a bit of an afterthought," Hermione admitted to him in a whisper. He patted her hand and smiled at her; Ron's jealousy flared another notch and Ginny was starting to look rather upset too.
The attention of the student body was drawn to the front of the room as Professor McGonagall stood.
"New students, welcome to Hogwarts. Returning students, welcome back. In particular, welcome back to three of our Seventh Year Gryffindors. They need no introduction to you but I will do anyway; Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley."
Her speech was interrupted by tumultuous applause from three of the four tables; even the Slytherin table, particularly the new Slytherins, provided a smattering of applause for the trio.
"I would now like to call Mr Potter and Miss Granger to the front," she continued once the noise level had died down; the pair stood and walked to the front where they were officially unveiled as the school's new Head Boy and Girl and handed their badges to more huge applause from the students. Harry was also surprised when two familiar figures dashed up to him from behind the staff table; Doris Crockford and Daedalus Diggle. He didn't have time to speak to them before Professor McGonagall shooed them away. Back at the Gryffindor table Ginny had joined in the applause for the pair and nudged Ron when she saw that he didn't. Very unwillingly he finally began to clap as well.
As the pair returned to their places the tables were filled with the food magicked up from the kitchens below by the House Elves.
"I must remember to thank Kreacher and get him to pass my thanks on to the others," Harry mused as they tucked in.
"Kreacher's here?" Hermione raised her eyebrows at the news.
"I didn't want him to be stuck at Number 12 on his own all term while I was here," the boy shrugged. "So he's going to work here in term time, look in on the place every now and again and be home with me over the holidays."
"Oh ok," Hermione responded. She was privately pleased that Harry had thought to make arrangements for the elf as she was wondering what would happen to him while Harry was at school.
"May I have your attention please," the Headmistress called as the plates were cleared. All eyes turned to her as she continued, "I have a number of staffing announcements to make. Due to my… promotion, I am no longer Head of Gryffindor House. That position has been taken by Professor Hagrid, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher."
Harry and Hermione shared a stunned look before joining in the clapping and cheering from their table that greeted this news.
"I am also," Professor McGonagall continued when the noise level subsided, "no longer teaching transfiguration. Professor Crockford will be filling the post." More applause welcomed the announcement. "Finally, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is Professor Diggle." Again the students clapped their new teacher. The pair waved their acknowledgement.
With the feast over, the new Head Boy and Girl led the students out of the Great Hall. The prefects followed, guiding their houses, particularly the newcomers, towards their common room and dormitories. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny had had the opportunity to speak to Hagrid and congratulate him on his new position. He had given them the password to Gryffindor Tower ("Blast-Ended Skrewt") so, when they arrived in front of the Fat Lady's portrait (she greeted the trio like old friends and welcomed them back to the school) they were able to give the password and gain entry.
The boys made their way upstairs to what Harry noted was an unusually crowded dormitory; of course with him and Ron there the numbers were larger than normal, even with the sad loss of Colin Creevey during the battle. Harry also noted a rather surly attitude emanating from his best friend.
"Ok, what's upsetting you?" Harry snapped when he finally tired of Ron's attitude.
"Nothing's wrong; I'm going to bed," he shot back.
Harry shook his head but decided to just leave him to stew. He busied himself instead with unpacking and getting his portion of the room organised, figuring that Ron would talk when he was ready to.
AN: So that's the end of this chapter. Please let me know what you thought and come back for the next part soon. PD