Chapter Ten

The New Castle

Ginny woke up in the girls' dormitory in Gryffindor Tower. She stumbled out of bed while reading the 7:30 time. Ginny resisted the urge to lay back down then went downstairs to the upper landing of the Gryffindor Common Room. She nearly fell when she tried to navigate them in a sleepy state. He was in the common room on the couch nearest the fireplace.

"Happy Birthday Ginny!" said Harry.

Ginny's eyes widened as she nearly forgot that today, August 11, was her birthday.

"HARRY!" she screamed as she leapt into his embrace. Moments later, Molly, Arthur, George, Percy, Bill, Ron, Hermione, and Fleur walked through the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Happy Seventeenth Birthday Ginny!" squealed Mrs. Weasley as she strangled Ginny with a motherly hug. "McGonagall let us all be here. You didn't expect we'd miss our daughter's seventeenth birthday did you?"

Ginny smiled as she hugged everyone. She began opening her gifts.

Mrs. Weasley bought Ginny a gold necklace and a watch, George and Percy gave her a box of goodies from the joke shop, Bill and Fleur gave her a gold bracelet with quidditch charms, and Ron and Hermione gave her tickets for the quidditch match when the Holyhead Harpies play the Chudley Cannons next year. When the game would be near, Ron and Ginny would assuredly bicker back and forth over their favorite teams. Ginny would definitely win as much as the Harpies were guaranteed to win.

Harry did well to hide his gift under one of the chairs next to the fireplace. He brought it out when Ginny was distracted. She froze when she noticed the broomstick shape of the wrapping.

"Is that for me?" She asked with childlike curiosity. Harry smiled when he handed her the package.

She opened the package to reveal a firebolt broomstick.

"Happy Birthday Ginny!" said Harry.

Ginny could not form any words. She held onto her new firebolt with teary eyes. She wrapped Harry in a hug knowing she could never thank him properly.

"Thank you Harry, you really shouldn't have," she said as she gave Harry a kiss.

"Don't worry about it," said Harry. "Just be careful now, the first time on it will get you by surprise."

Ginny nodded. She wanted to try it out more than ever but had to wait until later. She wanted to spend as much time as possible with her family before the morning classes.

They all walked down from Gryffindor Tower to the Great Hall for breakfast. The remodeled castle almost neared completion. The castle didn't look like a battle ever took place here. The stone floor and walls had been replaced where fragments and chunks were missing. New suits of armor replaced the old ones that were destroyed defending Hogwarts.

The Great Hall was one of the most destroyed rooms at Hogwarts. By the time the battle was over, the ceiling was completely demolished along with half of the Great Hall. The hall now looked astonishing. Harry couldn't tell that a battle took place here at all. The ceiling showed its usual sky enchantment with candles just under the ceiling. The four long house tables were replaced with thick brown mahogany, along with the staff table. Harry noticed considerable gaps at the staff table, his stomach wrenching when he remembered the teachers that died trying to protect Hogwarts.

"Professors have been teaching more than one subject until they can find new teachers," said Ginny in a grim tone.

Hermione already started complaining about Ron's eating pattern.

"Ronald for goodness sake can you at least try to eat without making a mess?" She grabbed a tablecloth to wipe a smudge of food off Ron's chin. Ron smiled at her.

Before long, Ginny had to run off for Herbology class. Harry walked Ginny hand in hand. They arrived at the Greenhouse with just a few minutes to spare.

"Happy Birthday Ginny," said Harry.

"I can't thank you enough Harry," Ginny replied while giving Harry a kiss.

"Don't mention it," replied Harry as he kissed Ginny again. The bell rang warning students to get to class. Ginny walked towards the greenhouse as she waved at Harry before she turned the corner and entered the class.

Harry stood rooted to the ground before turning around to find her standing just a few meters away from him.

"Enjoying ourselves are we Potter?" McGonagall asked.

"Yes Professor," replied Harry.

"Good. Might I have a word for a few moments?"

"Yes Professor."

"Good. Let us walk."

Harry and Professor McGonagall began walking around the outside of the castle.

"Harry, I need not to remind you that with the Triwizard Quidditch Cup coming to Hogwarts this year we will have a lot of eyes on us from the magical world, visiting dignitaries, as well as the other schools. I want you and Ms. Weasley to be on your best behavior. That counts towards Ms. Granger and Ronald as well."

"Yes Professor, I'll be sure to behave."

McGonagall smiled. "Good. I want you to have a quiet year Potter. No foolishness. I don't want you wandering around the castle looking for a stone, I don't want you opening up the Chamber of Secrets, I don't want you to mess with a time turner again, get in a fight with another Slytherin, suspecting a student of murder and then viscously hexing them in the bathroom..." McGonagall went on with Harry's accolades for five minutes. "and being out of the castle after hours!" McGonagall finished. "Most importantly, I don't want to find you and Ms. Weasley snogging each other in public."

"Yes Professor."

"You may be a superstar but I want you to understand that the attention you will receive during this will be a bit ridiculous."

"I know Professor, I remember from the last time."

"No Potter, you will have a lot more to worry about than that hag Rita Skeeter this time," McGonagall put emphasis on hag when she talked about Rita Skeeter. "There is a lot more attention this time around. This is one of the first times that people can freely go out without being afraid of being attacked by Voldemort or the Death Eaters. People will line up for days just for a chance to get tickets. All eyes will be on you Harry so I hope you can handle the pressure."

Harry laughed. "All the time since I was eleven everyone's eyes have been on me. I defeated the greatest dark wizard in history, if I can handle that pressure then I can handle anything."

McGonagall smiled. "Good, I'm glad to hear it. Once again if i catch you fooling around the castle you will have feared Voldemort less than you will fear me. Anyway, onto my next point. Have you thought about what you want to do after you finish at Hogwarts?"

Harry froze in his track. Now with Voldemort gone, this was the first time he thought about want he wants to do with his future.

"I... ugh... have no idea."

Mcgonagall smiled. "It's quite natural to feel that way, especially with your experiences. Some students know exactly what they want to do by the time they leave while others don't. I wouldn't worry at all. You are free to do what you so desire. If you want to become an Auror, you can do that. You can become a teacher here at Hogwarts. If you want, you can even become a professional quidditch player."

They stopped as they reached the new quidditch pitch that was under construction. Harry looked up and was taken in awe at this new quidditch pitch.

"I thought you'd quite like to see this," said McGonagall.

The new quidditch pitch was nothing like Harry had seen before, except during the 1994 Quidditch World Cup Final. This new stadium at Hogwarts looked like a miniature version of the 1994 stadium. It had a thick white enchanted sheet to cover the entire stadium that can be removed if the weather is nice enough or covered to keep the players dry during rain or storms. The exterior was built with maroon colored bricks and curved in an oval shape around the perimeter. The Hogwarts emblem with all four houses was imprinted on the sides. The highest points of the exterior wall displayed the name of the stadium.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Albus Dumbledore Quidditch Stadium

Harry smiled when he read the name of the stadium.

"Very fitting Professor."

"I knew you'd approve," replied McGonagall as she smiled. "Viktor Krum will be coaching the Durmstrang team."

Harry became disgruntled.

"Great," replied Harry sarcastically.

"I request that you hold tryouts for the team on the first Saturday after the term starts, September 5th. Hogwarts' first game will be at Durmstrang on Saturday, October 17th. You will not have long to practice with the team after term starts. Use your practices well Harry. I want you to select the best but make sure you get students from the other houses and not all from Gryffindor. I even want Slytherins on the team. I've already spoken with Ms. Weasley about all this. I also want at least eight reserves for injured starters. The officials will give you more information later."

They walked back up to the castle discussing potential players for the Quidditch team. McGonagall had already been scouting for players.

"Come to my office when you are ready to go back to the Burrow," McGonagall turned and left for her office.

Harry walked back into the Great Hall. The room was completely deserted except for Ron and Hermione. Much to Harry's surprise, Ron was still not eating breakfast. Harry sat down next to them.

"Mum and Dad already went off to the Burrow. George and Percy went to Hogsmeade. Bill and Fleur left as well."

"It's not going to be the same this year is it?" Hermione asked Harry.

Harry's heart sank suspecting she knew about the cup.

"A lot of our old teachers and friends are dead. It just doesn't feel the same." Hermione sniffed while Ron wiped a tear from her eyes.

"It will be exciting. Trust me," Harry couldn't resist hinting about the cup.

"I guess we'll just have to see," Hermione replied. Hermione will be fine when she starts to study. She'll feel right at home when she is in the library.

"C'mon, let's go back to the Burrow," Ron replied.

The trio walked back to the Headmistress' Office.

"Albus," Harry said to the stone gargoyle, revealing the staircase to McGonagall's office.

He knocked on the door.

"Enter!" McGonagall shouted.

The trio walked through the door and into McGonagall's office.

"Ah Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley, good to see you again."

Hermione and Ron smiled.

"I'll be looking for your best Quidditch game this year Ronald," McGonagall winked at Harry. "Gryffindor needs you as their keeper if we're going to beat Slytherin."

Harry tried his hardest not to laugh at Ron thinking his toughest opponent will be Slytherin.

"You two go on through the fireplace, I'd like a word with Ms. Granger if you don't mind."

Ron and Harry nodded as they walked towards the fireplace.

They arrived back at the Burrow.

"What does she want with Hermione?" Harry asked.

"I'dunno," said Ron.

Hermione arrived back at the Burrow several minutes later. Her face was flush red like she was embarrassed.

"What she want then?" Ron asked Hermione.

"Nothing," Hermione replied.

"Oh C'mon 'Mione tell me."

"I said nothing Ronald!" She snapped. Ron backed off.

"Fine."

Harry smiled as Ron and Hermione bickered for the next hour before he fell asleep on the couch.