Summary:
Two days after the battle of Hogwarts, Harry Ron, and Hermione are wondering what is going to happen? The wizarding world is being rebuilt and so are relationships...Ginny had not seen Harry for almost a year and now they have all the time in the world to spend with one another. Can they just pick up where they left off? Will all be forgiven and forgotten, or will the trio go their separate ways?
-Chapter 10-
Old Friends and New Teachers
Part 1: Back to the Future
George Weasley was depressed. He knew he was, and he knew why, but that didn't change anything. Ever since Fred had been killed, George was a different person. He kept almost completely silent and when he did talk he was moody and surly with everyone. George could tell that his family was worried about him so he tried to be good when he was around them.
"Won't you come home tonight Georgie?" Mrs. Weasley asked, following George around while he stacked merchandise on the shelves. "Ginny and Ron left this morning and your father won't be home till midnight. I swear they're working him too hard. You too," she added as an afterthought.
"Mum, I like working at the shop. 'Bout the only useful thing I can do these days."
Molly pursed her lips and frowned at George. "George I really think you would do well taking a day or two off. Get out and have some fun."
Fun? George thought, staring at his mother with a slightly indignant expression on his face. "I don't want to have fun. I want to work."
"Nonsense," Mrs. Weasley said sternly. "You're young, go and see some of the world, outside of this place."
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" George asked with a fraction of his old wicked grin.
"No, but I can't bear to see you moping around anymore."
Now George was angry. Moping around am I? "Thanks for all your help today mum. I'll see if I can make it tonight, but don't count on it. Lots of inventory to do."
"George-" Mrs. Weasley started, but George cut her off.
"Look mum I really need to get back to work. I'll stop by tomorrow if I can't make it up tonight." He walked into the back room of the shop and leaned against the door, trying to keep himself together.
George thought he heard a small sniff from the front room before Mrs. Weasley left with a tinkle from the bell on the door. George sighed. He knew his mother was just worried about him, and secretly afraid that he was going to get so depressed that he might do something detrimental. But if there was one thing George wasn't, it was suicidal. He knew that if something had happened to himself and Fred were the one alive he would have been furious if Fred had done anything out of angst. George was determined to live a good long life, for the both of them. Or, at the very least, a long life.
A few minutes later George heard the bell ring again and a women calling his name.
"I'm FINE mum!" George yelled and pushed back through the door and into the shop. "I don't need to be checked up on every second of the day and-" but George cut off at the sight of who was in the shop.
"Well, it's a good thing I wasn't coming to check up on you then huh?" said the blond haired girl with a slight smirk.
"Katie Bell?" George mouthed, "Is that you?"
"In the flesh." replied Katie still smirking at George's stunned expression.
"What are you doing here?" George asked.
Katie raised her eyebrows. "Am I not allowed here?"
"That's not- what I meant was-not that I'm not glad to see you just- I thought you were in Ireland with your parents?" George stuttered blushing. Look at you, one summer on your own, and you get flustered at anything. Have you lost all you're nerve! Pull yourself together!
"Well, I was in Ireland, but I got a call from McGonagall the other day asking me if I wanted to come back to Hogwarts for a while and help teach Transfiguration part-time, since she's a bit busy being the headmistress and all."
"Oh, well...that sounds nice." George frowned. It was nice seeing Katie, now that she was back and he didn't want her to leave so soon. It was good having someone his age around, who wouldn't treat him like a mental case.
"Anyway, that's not why I'm here in your shop right now." Katie said, "Though I'm glad I came, I haven't been here since the grand opening two years ago...it looks nice by the way."
"Yeah, not a lot of business right now, what with everyone back at school...parents seeing their children off..." George trailed off. "But you never did say why you were here of all places, if not to see my beautiful face." George grinned.
"Ah your beautiful face. Yes, that is a sight for tired eyes." Katie rolled her eyes. "Actually I came by with a message from McGonagall. She could have asked you herself, but she thought you were more likely to listen to me since we are, you know 'old Quidditch buddies'"
"This sounds bad," George noted. "Should I be scared?"
"Most definitely." Katie replied. "I was sent here to ask if you would 'please, please, please' return to Hogwarts for a few months, and complete your 7th year." Katie finished with a look on her face that clearly showed that she thought McGonagall was fighting a losing battle.
George stared at Katie unconvinced. "McGonagall wants me back. At school? After all the trouble I caused while I was there?"
Katie shrugged. "Guess so."
"And what do you think I should do?" George questioned. He raised his eyebrows while Katie thought it over.
"I would go back." Katie said finally. "I mean, I know you need to work at the shop, but I think it would mean a lot to Fred if you graduated properly."
George smiled sadly. "You're probably right."
"And besides," Katie continued, "your mum will be happy that you are doing something besides hanging out in a shop all day."
"Heard that did you?" George asked.
"Yeah, just a little bit." Katie smiled, and George smiled back.
"Well I'd better go, McGonagall's expecting me." Katie said to break the silence. "I'll see you if you decide to come back."
"Yeah" George replied slightly glumly. "Maybe."
With one last look Katie turned and left the shop, the bell tinkling a few times after she had gone.
George sighed, what was he supposed to do now? Just pack everything up and head back to school? Leave the shop with Lee? Well now, that doesn't seem like suck a bad idea come to think of it. And it would be nice to get out of Diagon Ally for a little while.
It's not like I have to stay there for a whole year, right? Just the last few months that I missed the first time around... George reasoned with himself. "Yeah, all right I think I'll do it!"
"What are you planning to do?" Someone asked and George jumped.
"Blimey Lee! Scare a man half to death!"
"HA! George Weasley scared, that's a good one," Lee chuckled, "but seriously, what have you decided to do?"
"Oh, I've just-I think I'm going back to Hogwarts, that's all."
Lee's face perked up at once. "That's great George! So Katie managed to convince you eh?"
"So everyone's been talking 'bout me behind my back. I see how it is." George teased.
"Yep. That's about right!" Lee grinned, then saw George's grimace and added, "We've all just been worried about you mate, I know you don't like to hear it, but it's true."
"There's nothing to worry about!" George fumed glaring at Lee, his good humor vanishing as soon as it had come, "why can't everyone just quit the protection act and leave me alone?"
"Hey, I'm sorry mate, but-"
"I don't want you to be sorry." George sighed, calm again. "I-just-just-"
"I know," Lee said, "I miss him too."
"Yeah well-I'd better go and uh...pack..." George mumbled.
"Well, have fun." Lee started to turn around.
George thought for a second and then remembered something. "Lee! Hey, wait!"
Lee turned back, almost at the door. "Yeah?"
"You want to uh- help me at this shop while I'm away?" George asked.
"Help?" Lee raised his eyebrows.
George rephrased his question. "I mean, you want to sort of take over the shop for a while?"
Lee looked stunned. "You mean it! You would let me work here on my own just like that?"
"Sure," George pretended to look offended, "Who else would I trust to watch Fred's and my pride and joy?"
Lee smiled sadly, "Of course I'll help you out! You know you can always count on me." Lee looked around and then added, "When should I start?"
George grinned hugely, "In an hour? Is that good?"
"That's great, I'll just apparate back to my flat and pick up some things."
George waited until Lee left before he resigned and headed upstairs to get ready. It would be a shame to leave his solitary life here in Diagon Ally. Leave his shop and merchandise that reminded him of Fred. Then again, George thought, there will be plenty of reminders of Fred at Hogwarts. He froze in the act of folding pair of pants, I wonder if I will be able to stand that, all the signs of Fred. There wasn't a single place in all of Hogwarts, or even Hogsmeade for that matter, that George hadn't been to with Fred.
"I'm not going to worry about that!" George told himself firmly, stuffing the pants into his trunk, "I need to get out of here, and maybe being around all those reminders will make things easier in the long run."
He slammed his trunk shut and grabbed his broomstick absentmindedly, forgetting for a second that it had been over three years since he had last played Quidditch. He picked up his trunk and trouped back downstairs. It had taken George barely fifteen minutes to pack so he decided to take inventory for the day before he headed off.
After about ten minutes however, George caught himself day dreaming about Hogwarts and some of the pranks he had pulled during his time there. One in particular floated to the front of George's musings, the first prank he and Fred had ever pulled at Hogwarts, in their first year. Something involving Snape and a rather large wooden cow.
0~0~0~0~0
"I still don't understand why you both are doing this." Angelina scolded the two identical red-heads that were sitting across the table from her.
"Because if one of us did this then the other would feel left out." Fred replied smartly.
Angelina rolled her eyes and turned back to Alicia Spinet, with whom she had been talking before the twins had arrived.
It was lunch time on what seemed to be a perfectly normal Tuesday. All students had finished with their morning classes and the teachers were just beginning to file into the hall for the noon meal. None of the teacher, and most of the students, had any clue of what entertainment was in store for them today.
Snape entered the hall last and took his seat next to Professor McGonagall, precisely in front of the door on the back wall.
"Ready Fred?"
"Ready George?"
With a flick of his wand the back door fell open revealing a large shadowy...something in the door way. George made a pulling motion with his wand and the something began to glide forward. The noise was getting steadily quieter in the hall as students noticed the figure moving slowly behind Snape.
Fred flicked his wand once more and two red lights popped on behind the figures eyes. From this added brightness the shadow was shown to be a hulking cow with horns as thick as tree branches. A bull made of what appeared to be wood, was now only a few inches away from the unsuspecting potions master.
The hall had become almost completely silent, apart from the chattering teachers, the tension in the air was almost palpable.
"Don't do it George!" Angelina warned as George raised his wand one last time. But it was too late, the twins had no choice now but to finish with the procedure. George struck the table top with his wand and a great MOOO issued from the beast behind the teachers table.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Snape screamed, having turned around in search of the noise and finding himself face to face with a mighty animal with horns and glowing red eyes. He jumped up at once and fled from the room to tumultuous cheering and clapping.
0~0~0~0~0
George sighed and closed his eyes. He would never forget the crowds of students applauding him and Fred as they made their way to their common room that night. He could remember the one question that they kept being asked all that week: "Why did you chose a cow?" The answer was that they had overheard Snape talking to filch the day before about his detest of all four legged farm animals, especially cows, and the twins had decided that a nice visit from an angry bull would be the perfect gift to a very giving teacher.
Of course Fred and George had received a very nasty detention from Snape the next day just for 'forgetting' their homework, but the gratitude of the students was worth the punishment.
That first prank had been the start of the Weasley Twin reputation, one that both Fred and George prided beyond all other awards that could be received at Hogwarts.
"Course, a diploma will be nice all the same." George said aloud just as Lee came back into the shop.
"Ready to leave?" Lee asked. George nodded and picked up his trunk and broom again.
"Thanks Lee, a lot." George said, "I mean it, I don't know what I would do without you."
Lee waved off the praise and stepped forward to clasp George in a one-armed hug. With that last gesture George opened the door. He took a few steps outside the shop and then twisted once and vanished from sight.
0~0~0~0~0
Part 2: Homecoming Surprises
"What are those?!"
The question was bouncing around everywhere as students disembarked from the train and gathered around the school carriages that were trundling swiftly up the rocky drive to the school. Only a few students, Harry, Neville, and Luna among them didn't see anything unusual about the scene and were therefor quite confused about the question.
"What are WHAT!?" Harry thundered at Ron's gaping face after Ron had repeated the question five times without a pause.
"Those things!" Ron gestured to the carriages staring wide eyed at Harry's uncomprehending expression.
Harry squinted again at the carriages and then it clicked.
"Oooh! You must be talking about the Thestrals!" Harry said looking around at his friends faces.
"The-the what?" Ginny asked.
"You know, Thestrals, skeletal winged horses." Harry said, "The ones you can't see unless...you've witnessed death."
Ginny looked back at the Thestrals and Ron's finally stopped oggling. But to Harry's surprise Hermione's eyes filled with tears at Harry's words.
"Come on," Harry said, staring at Hermione, "We'd better get up to the school."
The four walked to the nearest carriage and climbed up to sit on the moth bitten seats. Harry shut the door and the carriage began to move at once.
"Hermione?" Harry asked still watching his friend. "You alright?"
Hermione looked up and tried to smile at Harry's worried expression. "Oh, I'm alright. I guess just the idea of being able to see them caught me off guard. I suppose almost everyone can see them now. "
Ginny nodded and leaned her head against Harry's shoulder, her eyes red, but no tears falling. Ron rubbed Hermione's arm and she smiled sadly. Harry however was filled with a sudden anger.
"I wish none of you could see them." He fumed, "It's all my fault! If I had just gone to Voldemort sooner! The battle could have ended and no one would have had to die!"
Ginny's head snapped up and she slapped Harry across the face.
"Shut up!" She growled. "I don't want you ever blaming yourself for what Voldemort and his followers did! Shut up and stop feeling all guilty for things that were out of your control!"
Harry looked at her for a while, mouth slightly open, not able to say a word. He shut his mouth after a moment and turned his gaze to the night blackened window. He had come very close again to the topic of his "death" and that wasn't something he wanted to talk about just now.
"Hope there'll be some good pudding at the feast," Ron rubbed his stomach, "I'm starved!"
Hermione gave Ron a stern look. "That's so like you Ron, ruin the moment, bash through all the tension, to talk about how hungry you are!"
"What's that supposed to mean!" Ron grumbled angrily, straightening up and glaring at Hermione.
Harry just smiled and settled back into the seat, hand running over Ginny's shoulder. At least some things never changed.
0~0~0~0~0
Part 3: Familiar Faces
The great hall was crowded as ever, perhaps a bit more crowded than it had been the past few years. Parents seemed to think that there was little, if any, reason to keep their children away from Hogwarts this year. In addition to that, most students had returned to repeat their previous year of schooling. This meant that the first year class was nearly twice as big as usual, and that there were several eighteen year olds among the students.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny took seats at the Gryffindor table as usual, near Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown. Nick swept over for a minute to great them, and then glided off to chat with Neville about some stump or other that Neville had discovered over the summer. Everything seemed to be going as it always did. After a few minutes someone called Harry's name cheerfully and Harry looked up, expecting to see Colin Creevey waving at him. It took Harry only a second though to locate the caller and his pleasant smile slipped at once into a deadened look when he remembered that Colin would not be calling for him again.
It took only one more second however for Harry's grin to pop back into existence once his brain had comprehended that he was staring at Katie Bell.
"Katie!" Hermione and Ginny squealed before Harry could open his mouth to reply. Clearly they had also heard Katie call.
"What are you doing back here?" Ginny shouted before Katie had even reached their seats.
"I've come to teach." Katie replied cheerfully.
"Teach?" Ron sounded utterly confused.
"Yes Ron, that's what people do at a school" Ginny rolled her eyes.
"What are you teaching?" Harry asked before Ron could say anything back.
"Well, actually I'm co-teaching Transfiguration with McGonagall." Katie looked down at the Gryffindor table while she spoke. Harry couldn't help but notice that her eyes kept sweeping over the table, and squinting as if she was trying to find someone.
"That sounds wonderful!" Hermione gushed at Katie, "I can't wait for our first class tomorrow!"
"Uh huh." Katie definitely sounded distracted now. "Well, I better go back up to the staff table. It looks like McGonagall is about to start. I'll catch up with you all later!"
Harry watched Katie closely as she walked slowly to her seat, her eyes darting between the Gryffindor table and the door.
"Wonder what's up with her?" Harry muttered to Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.
"You noticed too, did you?" Hermione said. "Yeah, she seemed a bit off for some reason."
"Maybe she's just nervous to be teaching here so soon, you know she only finished two years ago." Ginny suggested.
"I don't think so-" Harry started, but he was cut off when McGonagall chose that time to stand up and address her students.
"Before we start our magnificent feast I would first like to quickly introduce a few new members of this year's staff." Titters filled the hall as students peered up at the teachers table. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny looked at one another, realizing for the first time that they did not know who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was. "As you all know," McGonagall continued once the noise had settled down, "Professor Snape was a victim of the battle last May, and as a spy for Dumbledore this comes as a great loss. I bid you all to not forget his teaching and all he did for this school. I am pleased to announce that Professor Slughorn is going to continue with his place as potions master this term. And now I would like to introduce you all to our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher!"
At that last word from McGonagall, the door behind the staff table opened and a tall man with long red hair stepped out. He walked up to McGonagall and waved to a few of the students in the hall.
Ron and Ginny gasped and stared opened mouthed up at the young wizard now shaking hands with McGonagall.
"I would you to all give a warm welcome to Mr. William Weasley, who along with taking over the Defense Against the Dark Arts classes will also step in for me as the head of Gryffindor house!"
Applause erupted throughout the hall and almost all of the Gryffindor students jumped to their feet and cheered.
"Did you know anything about this?" Ron demanded of Ginny, still gaping at his eldest brother, who had taken a seat between Flitwick and Sprout at the top table.
"No," Ginny answered, shaking her head. "I can't believe he didn't tell us!"
Harry grinned at Hermione and gave Ron a mischievous grin. "Guess you'll have to pay attention in class now eh?"
"It is a bit odd, don't you think?" Hermione said, "I mean Katie, and Bill, all of these old students returning. It's like no one wants to be away from Hogwarts this year. Everyone is coming back. It will really be strange having teachers so young."
"It's not just teachers who have come back." Harry sneered, an ugly look on his face. The next table over Harry spotted Cho Chang and her blabbing friend Marietta Edgecombe. Ginny tensed next to Harry, and he took her hand firmly. "Don't worry, I've only got eyes for you Gin, there's no way that person will come anywhere near me this term."
Ginny smiled back, but she still noticed Cho glancing at Harry and swinging her shiny black hair around. She knew Harry cared about her, but that didn't stop Ginny from remembering that Cho had been Harry's first choice.
Hermione saw Ginny's glare and decided to lead the conversation away from the Ravenclaw table. "Yes I have noticed that many people have decided to return to make up for last year. Ramilda Vane has come back too."
Harry and Ron winced, remembering only too well the catastrophe that Ramilda and her spiked chocolate cauldrons had caused in their sixth year.
"Does she look... particularly angry to you?" Ron asked, staring at the harsh looking girl at the other end of the Gryffindor table.
"Oh she is usually put off about something or other" Ginny said dismissively. "She's in my year, and so dramatic, always going on about some boy who won't have her-" Ginny cut off and blushed, realizing that she had just described herself in her own Harry-hunting stage.
"Well it's a good thing I like more down to earth girls isn't it?" Harry smiled at Ginny again and she laughed.
"Ugh." Ron groaned now staring at the Slytherin table. "Looks like Goyle, Nott, and Zabini are all here too!"
Harry shook his head sadly. "And just when this year was looking good!"
"Hmm... notice they aren't sitting with Malfoy though. That's not normal." Ginny observed.
"Nothing too normal about a Slytherin is there?" Came a voice from behind the four.
They all looked up to find the last person they ever expected to see again at Hogwarts.
"Miss me?" George asked. And then took the seat next to Hermione.
End Notes:
So how was it? Terrible? Amazing? Meh? Write a review, brighten my day, add this story to your favorites, eat some pie. Well I liked it. That means nothing though, I wrote it, it could be 2 lines and I would still love it. OK bye.
OH! also, if for some reason some quotes do not make sense, for example it randomly cuts off who SAYS them, PLEASE tell me in a PM or review, I have found that likes to randomly delete every time it says "Mrs. Weasley". So please tell me and I will try and fix it!
*Notes – I have chosen to put Lavender Brown in this story. I know on some of the fan pages it says that she died or was "presumed dead" after the battle of Hogwarts, but in the book at least it never explicitly says one way or another. So there you go.
-Upcoming-
More Weasleys than there should be at school
AND THAT MEANS...
…
DANCE PARTIES!
…
jk
QUIDDITCH!
Yes
Hermione and Harry start teaching
and the first
Hogsmeade visit
of the year is a blessing to all
and maybe
a sign of hope for others