Chapter 10 – New Year's

Ok, let's start up again.

At this point I'm sure you're getting the impression that I'm telling you about Harry and I more than what was happening in the world outside of the castle. Well I am… because I feel that it's important for you to know that. What I'm feeling towards Harry becomes more important later.

Now, with that said…

Rita Skeeter had written her article for The Daily Prophet and every printing immediately sold out. The wizarding world was shocked at the attack and as a result their fears increased. The Minister was not helpful in quelling those fears either. I dug up the article and re-read it a few minutes ago and I'd like to quote a certain section that always gets me angry. I'm also going to add my comments in rebuttal.

"The attack on Hogwarts was another in a series of desperate attempts (hardly desperate based on what I saw) by You-Know-Who to gain a foothold against The Ministry (he's already had had a foothold against The Ministry for years) and the wizarding world as a whole." (Because we let him!)

"His use of fear and terror is his only resource to fight us with" (It's all he ever needed!) "and must end." (No kidding!)

"It was because of the brave teachers and their leader, Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, that the attack failed and he was driven away" (Well we all know that's rubbish! Harry and the rest of us helped!) "and they deserve full credit for their actions."

(Now for the part which really pissed me off) "As for Harry Potter. He was no where to be found in defending the castle" (I nearly had a stroke when I first read that part.) "Which further places doubts in my mind about his ability to face You-Know-Who in the future" (See what I mean?! So much for trying to reassure the general population!) "and puts more pressure on The Ministry, especially myself" (It's always about him) "to bring You-Know-Who down." (What an egotistical ass!)

Needless to say there were very few people who believed that hogwash he was spewing, especially those of us that were there. The rest of the article said nothing about what The Minister was planning to do or the fact of what was being done to repair the castle. He didn't even mention Seamus! This Minister was following in the footsteps of his predecessor and trying to cover up his inadequacies.

Headmistress McGonagall brought us together a day after the article was run and was very upset about The Minister's comments. At my suggestion, she had owled Miss. Skeeter, who ran an updated tell-all version in The Quibbler shortly after. Miss. Skeeter, I should mention, was a real slanderous reporter until she ran across me, then she became a born-again journalist. Since her encounter with me, she has become an asset to Harry and The Order. Needless to say her article in The Quibbler was not well received by The Minister.

Of course we had sad moments as well. Seamus' parents came to the school the day after the attack to retrieve him. All of us were there and they thanked us for our thoughts and wishes of sympathy. Out of that experience it was Mrs. Finnegan who surprised me. She was not one of Harry's biggest supporters before then. She had even tried to get Seamus to sever his friendship with Harry in our fifth year.

"Harry Potter?" she asked as she approached him. At his nod she continued, "I want to thank you. I know I wasn't one of your biggest supporters when You-Know-Who returned and I said things about you to Seamus, which really hit him hard. I tried to get him to leave this place, but he was adamant about returning and I believe it's out of loyalty for you and his friends," she said indicating all of us standing there.

She quickly wiped away a tear before continuing, "I was impressed and surprised about his loyalty to you even then. I know you two had slight falling out then and that was my fault. I was trying to push him to end something he couldn't and wouldn't," she paused, "Over the last couple of years he has shown a tremendous surge of confidence in himself and in his magical powers and I attribute that to your help. I want to thank you."

She put out her hand and Harry shook it, "You're welcome. I'm sorry about Seamus, Mrs. Finnegan. He was a great friend."

I and several others were crying at that point. Never had I witnessed one of Harry's non-believers ever apologize to him.

With a sad smile she nodded, "Please stop him and if you need any help, please let us know," she finished and then with a smile to all of us turned and left.

That was very difficult to hear and I'm sure even more difficult for her to say. Even to this day it chokes me up a bit when I remember that. Harry of course appeared to take it in stride and accepted her apology, but I knew that what she had said meant a lot to him.

There was another event, small really in the grand scheme of things, that was an important event in my and a few others lives. McGonagall called myself, Harry, Dean, Ron, Ginny, Luna and Neville into her office. After complimenting us on our actions during the attack she had decided to award to us special services to the school awards and made us Order members.

We were excited to say the least until McGonagall gave us such a stern look as I thought we may have been in trouble.

"I pleased you all have consented to accept this offer," she said, "However, you must truly understand that this honor is not to be taken lightly nor frivolously."

I remember we were so quiet when she spoke that you could have heard a pin drop on the other side of the castle.

Looking at each of us in turn she continued, "You will be asked to do things that will not be easy and may be dangerous. Have no doubts that this will not be easy. However, each of you has shown the courage that I know you have."

High praise from her and we knew it. We each received the green cloaks with The Order logo on them and instructions that they could not be worn while school was in session.

Now I'm going to tell the three things that happened between the first battle and the resuming of school.

The first – Harry began disappearing at night or during the day. I knew he was in The Room of Requirements training. Ron, Ginny, Luna, myself and the others who knew him, knew he was trying to get to the point where he could face Voldemort and no one else around him would be hurt or killed. Remember what I said earlier… Harry's biggest fear was that we, his real family, would be put in the middle and hurt.

Second – Voldemort's attack was classified as a defeat, for the evil wizard that is after The Quibbler's article from Rita Skeeter, and most importantly his attacks on the wizarding world pretty well stopped.

Third – Rufus Scrimegeour's popularity went crashing down after the article was run, so by the New Year there were rumors of people asking for his resignation.

The rest of the holidays went by uneventfully. Harry training and the rest of us helping McGonagall as best we could to try and get the castle back in order before the rest of the students returned. By New Year's Eve the castle was repaired, all the professors had returned and they spent the remainder of the time shoring up the castle's defenses.

New Year's Eve went by pretty uneventfully. We celebrated of course, but the celebration was subdued and understandably so. Harry and I spent sometime alone, but mostly we were with the others.

The day came for the students return. I stood with Hagrid as the train approached.

"Well," he said, shifting in his place, "Let's see 'ow many decided to return."

"I hope enough to continue," I replied, "Of course I can't say as I blame them if they don't comeback, but it would be a real shame."

"Don't you fret none, Hermione," he said trying to sound upbeat, "They'll comeback."

When the train slowed and stopped both of us were in for a surprise. The door opened and at least three-quarters of the students had returned. I looked up at him and he smiled and winked at me.

"Told ya' didn't I?"

I smiled and nodded then turned to the disembarking students, "All students proceed to the carriages!"

The trip to the castle and the few hours before the return feast was filled with its usual chaos. I was busy directing everyone where they needed to go, answering a hundred questions about what happened and trying to get the first years' to settle down. By the time the feast came I had almost decided not to go and go right to bed.

But of course I didn't.

The hall was brightly lit and the room was filled with noise. Out of respect for Seamus, the black Hogwarts banners were out and would stay out until the memorial tomorrow. By the end of the feast McGonagall stood and made a few announcements.

"Welcome back students!" she shouted to quiet them, "A few announcements if I may. A reminder that The Forbidden Forest and the third floor corridor are off limits to all students."

"Now I'm sure all of you know what transpired here over the holidays. Yes? Good, then I won't spend the time to repeat it," she paused and looked over the student populous, "The professors and I have spent the holidays fortifying the castle with many charms and spells, so please rest assured that this castle is very safe."

She paused again, "Now tomorrow morning there will be a memorial for Mr. Finnegan. All students who wish to attend are more than welcome," she adjusted her glasses, "Now I think we've all had a busy day and should be getting to bed."

The memorial the next morning was simple and dignified. I'm not going to go to far into it and I hope you'll understand. Seamus' parents both were in attendance as well as Mr. Weasley, who represented The Ministry. Professor McGonagall spoke as well as Mr. Weasley. Once it was over the students filed out to their classes.

The first few days were awkward with everyone getting back into the mindset of school and with what happened during the break. Now for the seventh years the NEWTS were coming fast and our workload doubled. It went from overloaded to mind-blowing. I of course was doing my best and stayed ahead of it, but everyone else was falling behind. And yes, they all they looked to me for help and yes I did help them.

Harry was hardly around for the first couple of weeks. I knew he was training, but he wasn't studying for his classes either. I was worried, as I knew he was doing his normal school work, but he wasn't studying for his NEWTS. So one night while on patrol I went to see him in The Room of Requirements.

I spent about ten seconds wondering again if I should even go in. In the end I took a quick breath, entered and immediately threw myself to the ground. The wall where my head would have been had a char mark in it.

"'Mione? Are you ok! I'm sorry I didn't know you were there!" Harry shouted and came running over to me.

I stood up and looked at the mark and dusted myself off, "Well hello to you too."

He let a small burst of laughter, "Hi. Look I'm sorry."

"That's ok," I said and rolled my eyes, "You're forgiven."

"That was easy," he said.

I gave him a sly smile, "Not really," and gave him a kiss then pulled back, "Hmmmm, now you're forgiven."

"Not a bad way to apologize," he said and cleared his throat, "Aren't you on rounds?"

I nodded, "I also wanted to talk to you."

He cocked an eyebrow and looked at me in confusion, "About what?" he asked cautiously.

I walked over the table full of books, "Why you haven't been studying for your NEWTS?"

He coughed and looked at his shoes, "I'm not taking the NEWTS."

There was a pause, "What?" I asked, "How can you not?"

"After what happened during the holiday, McGonagall talked with me and she said with what I had going on already that…," he took a breath and looked at me, "Well, as long as my training shows improvement then I'll pass."

I thought about that. Essentially, as long as he did well in his training he would graduate. I wish I could have done that route, but then I wasn't called The Girl Who Lived.

"Who's grading you?" I asked sitting on the edge of the dueling platform.

"Professors' Moody and McGonagall," he replied and joined me, "So far they're impressed."

"Well of course," I said with a smile.

"I need to get better," he said with all traces of humor gone, "This can't go on for much longer."

I didn't say anything but nodded instead. We sat in silence for a few moments.

"Well, can I help?" I asked climbing up on the dueling platform, "And before you say no, just remember I lo… care about you a lot and want to see you beat him."

"Sure," he said, "It'd better that you help me than someone else."

I almost said it again and this time I was sure he'd picked up on it.

"'Mione?"

I looked down at him and brushed aside my hair from my face, "Yes?"

He was suddenly the Harry Potter I remember that was shy, nervous and not sure of himself. He stood there and his eyes were everywhere but looking at me. He kept re-gripping his wand and twitching his hand.

After a moment he smiled and nodded his head, "Thanks."

I smiled at him knowing what he was trying to say. He climbed up on the far side of the platform from me. As we squared off, the hair stood up on the back of my neck and I knew that from this point forward that the ending was coming and it would not be good.

I'm sorry, I have to go for a moment. I'll be back.