Chapter 21: The Aftermath

When Harry and Ginny got closer to the NEWTs, Harry was really starting to get rattled by all the pressure.

Not only did he have school to worry about, but he and Ginny were expected their first child, and to top it off, reporters hounded him whenever he left the castle for even an evening walk.

The reporters had been banned from Hogwarts' property since Harry was getting so frustrated with them. He was even more frustrated because he didn't get a good night's sleep. But that wasn't the major problem. He enjoyed Ginny's company, and he willingly got up to go get her something to eat in the middle of the night when she was craving it.

He and Ginny had been relieved of teaching duties after Professor McGonagall found out Ginny was pregnant. They had enough on their hands as it was.

At night, when he was getting Ginny's food, or on his rounds, he often caught a lot of people out after curfew. He got tired of warning them and started taking points away from the houses, sometimes numbering over fifty points, with five points per infraction.

And if they didn't immediately return to the common rooms, which he saw from the Marauders' Map, he deducted another five points when he caught them again, after their warning and the first five points.

He got fed up with this, and talked to Professor McGonagall about it. She agreed that something had to be done, so she would call the entire school in for an assembly in the morning.

When that occurred, she let Harry speak after admonishing the students.

"I'm getting tired of everyone being up at night," Harry said. "I've taken over two hundred points in total last night, and that's five points per person I've seen up. Here's what's going to happen from now on. I have a map that will allow me to see who is out in the castle at any time.

"Each time I see your name, and someone will check the map at different times after curfew, I will start to deduct ten points from the houses, and then your name will be put on a list. After three violations, you will lose fifty points for your house."

"And I have cleared this," Professor McGonagall said. "You think that Voldemort is dead that you don't have to listen to curfew. It's getting frustrating when I have to see how far the points have dropped each night. If this continues, there will be no house cup awarded this year and there will be a one week Quidditch practice suspension if there are more than twenty students from a house caught out at night. And if there is a game the week of the suspension, then your house will forfeit the game."

After letting that sink in, McGonagall continued.

"I am disappointed in each of you. I hope you will no longer violate the rules. And now, if I see fifty people's names get listed between now and our next Hogsmeade weekend, then the entire school will not have the weekend and will spend it on Saturday morning in a detention in the Great Hall. Each person whose name appears on the list of those caught out of bed after hours will be denied Hogsmeade privileges the next weekend and on top of that, if they are Quidditch players, they will be given a one week suspension from their teams."

After that sank in, the students mumbled about it and headed for classes.

"Harry, can I talk to you?"

Harry nodded.

When they got to the office, Professor McGonagall spoke to him.

"I know you're getting frustrated. You walk a lot at night, don't you?"

"I have to clear my head. And walking at night is the only way I can have some peace and quiet."

"I understand. I've seen you head to the kitchen."

"Ginny," Harry said. "We'll reimburse…"

"You already donated a lot of money to the school. And speaking of that, is there any particular way you want to see it spent?"

Harry thought a moment.

"I think it's best if you choose how it's spent. I don't know what the school needs. You know that better than I do."

The woman nodded.

"I appreciate your generosity. Not everyone would give up five million galleons."

"I know," Harry said. "And Ginny and I donated the other half of our share of the pot for Voldemort to St. Mungos. I know I've been there enough."

McGonagall smiled.

"Harry, I think it's a good thing for you to do. It shows that the reason you were able to defeat Voldemort is your love for others. Everyone who came to fight him that night volunteered to do so."

Harry nodded.

"I've thought about that and it gives me some peace at their deaths. Just like mum and dad."

"I know it's hard for you. But you have to make sure you can get control of things before your child comes."

Harry nodded.

"That's the plan, Professor."

"What about your life after Hogwarts? I know you only have about a month and a half left."

"I don't know. I think we're going to take some time off to figure out what we need to do. Then I can decide. Neither Ginny nor myself have to go to work straight away. We want to find the right jobs for us."

McGonagall nodded.

"I understand. And I think it would be wise if you could take some time off and relax. I hate to see how much stress you're under, and Voldemort is dead."

"I think the reporters put me over the edge. I can't even enjoy a Hogsmeade weekend with Ginny or my friends without reporters mobbing me. Ginny said the same thing when we tried to split so she could spend some time with Hermione and Luna and her other friends."

"I know. I've owled Kingsley. He's going to ban reporters from Hogsmeade on our weekends for the rest of the year. Well, of course, unless the school is on detention."

Harry nodded.

"I'd hate that."

"I know you would. Why don't you take Ginny to your house this weekend? It'll give you some time off and a much needed break from the press."

"You'd allow that, Professor?"

"I know you get asked by students about the things you did. It must be frustrating."

"They're much better than the reporters," Harry said. "But yes, it would be good to have some private time."

"I've taken the liberty to arrange for other prefects to take your rounds and Ginny's rounds. She won't be doing them much longer because I don't want her up without someone else."

"I understand," Harry said. "I've been walking with her. We've enjoyed the privacy and the peace we've gotten on those walks."

"I think so too. That's all."

"Thank you, Professor."

"No, thank you, Harry. If it wasn't for you coming back, or for you defeating Voldemort, then we wouldn't be able to have school right now."

Harry smiled.

"Professor, I had a lot of great help. You can't forget that."

The woman smiled as Harry walked out of the office.

Several weeks later, Harry walked across the stage to get his diploma from Hogwarts. He was pleased to get it, and now, he and Ginny were going to relax and enjoy their time with friends and family.

Since Ron and Hermione were engaged, they decided on a wedding the next summer, after Harry and Ginny had their child. Then, Harry knew, life would begin for them all.

And with Voldemort gone, he had a lot to look forward to in his life.