Very few of the seventh years from the previous term had made the decision to come back to Hogwarts, but Professor McGonagall was delighted that Harry and Hermione were returning. She had devised many ideas to keep them happy and allow them their freedom as adults without affecting the other students. McGonagall had given them a list of classmates that would be joining them.
Neville Longbottom was to return, but only to study Herbology. He would be privately tutored by Professor Sprout, who hoped to use him as her teaching assistant if he passed his N.E.W.T. with a sufficient grade.
From Gryffindor, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnigan were set to attend on a part-time basis, all using the floo network to connect their homes with the school.
From Hufflepuff, Ernie Macmillan, Susan Bones, and Zacharias Smith were also sitting for their N.E.W.T.s.
From Ravenclaw, Terry Boot, Lisa Turpin, Padma Patil, and Michael Corner were to return.
From the house of Slytherin, not one had chosen to return.
The Headmistress said to Harry and Hermione that one or two students were taking their N.E.W.T.s using correspondence courses, particularly students already in work or suffering from posttraumatic stress. Unfortunately, a very small amount of those that had fought in the last battle, or were subjected to the Carrows' ministrations, had escaped without some mental scars, and some felt that they could not go back to Hogwarts.
Ron Weasley had also communicated with the school, asking to complete his N.E.W.T.s on a correspondence course.
McGonagall told them that Draco Malfoy had desperately wanted to return to the school, but it had been recommended that he took a correspondence course to avoid any unpleasant behaviour on the part of unforgiving students. He had agreed, and she was surprised at how penitent he was. The Slytherin even gained a trainee position at the Ministry helping with investigations of those who misused muggle artefacts, an occupation that Arthur Weasley had recently vacated.
What the professor hadn't told them was that the pale, haunted, young man had broken down in her office and cried like a small boy. He displayed complete remorse for what he and his family had done. Such matters should be private, and she felt sympathy for him. As she had mentioned to Dumbledore, his environment engendered his behaviour and fear for his life had made his self-preservation all the more apparent. Not all of his actions could be blamed on others, though, so she had told him to be diligent in his work to gain the trust of his peers. She also informed him that the Malfoy pride would not help him in that respect. He had said to her through his tears that pride was a luxury he no longer had. McGonagall had hugged the boy, who resisted at first, only to sink into the nonjudgmental arms of someone who cared. He went away determined to salvage whatever he could from his position.
The Headmistress had gone to a lot of trouble to accommodate the extra students. A new table was added in the Great Hall for all of those wishing to dine at school. They would not be sat with their house, and they would not be earning house points. They were adults and were to be treated as such. Many of the lessons would be private, or would be taught in a small group.
Hermione and Harry were given rooms; a sitting room, a restroom, and a separate small office with floor to ceiling bookcases and two leather armchairs set next to a large fireplace. The fire was opened up to the floo network and connected to Grimmauld Place, where they would still sleep. They could have meals brought to the sitting room or join the students in the Great Hall.
McGonagall was pleased with the arrangements she had made and she was looking forward to the school's new start.
Snape, on the other hand, was dreading it.
Harry and Hermione were ready for their brief return to Hogwarts Castle.
It felt strange to be arriving by a personal floo from Grimmauld Place. They missed that childish excitement and anticipation they always felt at the sight of the gleaming Hogwarts Express.
By mutual consent, they had chosen to miss the Sorting ceremony and the feast, to allow new students to enjoy the first evening at school without the distractions of war heroes sitting with them. Instead, the decision was made to have a small gathering in the Room of Requirement for those returning to Hogwarts as mature students.
They flooed into the handsome sitting room they had been given and looked around in appreciation. The square room was decorated in Gryffindor colours, and a large stone fireplace, magically charmed to crackle away, gave off a warm and inviting glow. Big squashy sofas were arranged around a walnut coffee table that was in front of the fire and adorned by a gold bowl full of fruit.
A little note propped up beside the bowl declared this to be a gift from Professor McGonagall. The note also expressed the wish to meet with them both in her office before breakfast.
Turning to take in the rest of the room, they saw a double desk situated to one side, with quills and parchment ready for use. Bookcases lined that side of the room, too. On the opposite wall, there were two doors; one to a bathroom containing an enormous bath with six taps, the other to a very small kitchen with a kettle and hot plate.
"Wow, that bath's massive," Hermione said, running her hands along the scalloped edges of the shell-shaped tub.
"It's not as big as the Prefects' bath, you can swim in that, but it's big enough for you to hog for hours," Harry grumbled.
"If I'm taking too long, you can always floo to Grimmauld Place and use the bathroom there. We will be sleeping there anyway. I doubt Ron will be using the bath."
"I doubt he will; that bath is rank! No matter how hard Kreature cleans it, it still looks like something's died in it, as well you know. That's why we always use the shower," Harry replied haughtily. "Well, shall we meet the gang?"
Hermione closed the door to the bathroom. "I'm ready, let's go"
They left the sitting room and made their way to the Room of Requirement.
In front of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, Harry paced back and forth three times, thinking, 'We need a place to meet our friends, eat, and celebrate.'
Hermione opened the door that appeared on the wall and walked through. A roar of welcome arose from the occupants of the room, and a stampede of hugs, shoulder punches, and handshakes advanced on them.
The walls were decked in the house colours of each student present, a long table was set along the center of the room, candles floated in midair, and the ceiling reflected the late summer evening sky. It was a miniature Great Hall.
After all the greetings had been made, they took to their seats and watched the platters fill with food. Harry looked around the table while reaching out for a plate of sausages.
"Did Luna decide not to come back?" he asked Neville.
"No, she's here, but she's a year below us all, so she should be with Ginny in the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall told me they had given her a position as trainee Divination mistress. I think that is the position she wanted when she left school and it made sense to set her off along the way. Luna and Ginny have been given rooms to share, to protect them from too much scrutiny from their house members. It's a bit like me, really. Harry, I'm to be a Herbology master, me...Neville. Can you believe it?"
Harry laughed. "I can, Neville. You will be great; everyone's favourite teacher."
"Well, I don't know about that, Harry, but the best thing is I never have to have another lesson with Professor Snape," said Neville happily.
"You will have to sit in the staff room with him, you will have staff meetings with him, and you may have to do night patrol with him." Harry pointed out with a grin.
Neville's face sank like a stone.
"Didn't think about that," he admitted. "Still, I'll just picture him in a dress with my gran's Sunday-best hat on, and try not to wet myself every time he looks at me." He shrugged and took the plate of sausages off Harry.
Harry laughed again and then noticed that Hermione sat very still, staring into space.
"Hermione, what's up? Are you protesting about house-elves again?" Harry asked, lightly spraying the air with bits of sausage.
"Ergh, gross! Do you eat like that in front of Ginny? You're as bad as Ron. Chew, swallow, then talk, you troll," Hermione said, snapping out of it and reaching for a meat and potato pie that Zacaharias passed out to her.
Harry swallowed loudly. "All right, mother. Seriously, are you ok? You looked a bit like Luna for a second there."
Hermione paused to take a bite of the pie and chewed it thoroughly before responding.
"Neville has just reminded me about Professor Snape. I wonder if Professor McGonagall has given him my letter. I hope not because I've changed my mind. He will never understand that letter. How embarrassing! I wrote it in haste and I'm not even sure I constructed it that well. I also forgot I would have to see him again… This is mortifying!" Hermione groaned.
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure McGonagall didn't give it to him. You can just ask for it back. Now tuck in."
Harry turned away to watch all his old classmates happily chatting about this and that. The wounds of war were slowly healing in the face of friendship. Harry felt truly at home.
The next day, Harry and Hermione arrived early to their little sitting room at Hogwarts. Brushing the ash off their robes, they started to walk towards the Head's office.
Upon arriving, they saw Professor McGonagall outside her office talking to Professor Snape. The professors looked up when they heard the approaching footsteps, and then Snape slowly twisted his head back towards McGonagall.
"I will be leaving now, Headmistress. You have... heroes approaching," said Snape softly.
He turned on his heel and stalked past Hermione and Harry without a second glance.
"Good morning to you too, sir!" Harry shouted at the wizard's retreating back.
Snape paused mid-flight, his long black-robed frame spun round and he faced Potter. His dark eyes were alight with malice and they glinted through the curtain of his hair.
"How good of our hero to condescend to pass the time of day... to me." Snape's voice was full of scorn. He once again turned and disappeared down the corridor.
Hermione smiled slightly. "Welcome back, professor," she whispered to herself.
Professor McGonagall sighed. "That man drives me up the wall. If I could just take house points off him, it would make me feel better. Anyway, Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, thank you for being so punctual. Step up to my office. Unfortunately, Professor Dumbledore has charmed this office to only accept sweet names as passwords, so this week it's 'pepper imps'!" at the words, the staircase spiraled down to meet them.
Once they were in her office, the Headmistress sat behind her desk and motioned for the pair to be seated.
"We have a few things to discuss. I have your timetables here, so peruse them at your leisure. I also feel I need to tell you something else." She paused and looked towards Dumbledore's portrait. Satisfied that he was snoozing happily, she continued, "When Luna was here arranging her trainee position, she went into a trance and created a prophecy now housed at the Department of Mysteries."
Harry leaned forward slightly while Hermione simply waited.
"It concerned you both. I don't keep secrets, I am not Professor Dumbledore, and you have a right to know anything pertaining to yourselves."
She proceeded to recount the words of the prophecy.
Harry and Hermione stared at each other in shock.
