CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE

It seemed like no time had passed before Hermione found herself standing in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom smoothing over her new purple dress suit.

"You look perfect Hermione stop fussing." Sarah said wrapping her arms around her.

"You're not even dressed yet!" Hermione said picking up Sarah's pale blue dress for the day.

Sarah took it off her and through it on the bed, "Hermione it's only just three o'clock, we have hours. It's going to be fine."

"What if something goes wrong? What if the spell fails?" Hermione said smoothing her hair again.

"Which spell?" Sarah asked pulling the dress of the coat hanger.

"The one that changes the size of the hall, they wont be able to fit everyone in." Hermione said panicked.

Sarah put the dress down and rubbed Hermione's shoulders, "You know it's going to be OK right? I promise. And I'm going to be with you every step of the way." She kissed Hermione's neck, "I'm going to get dressed and then we can head off, be there nice and early."

Sarah quickly slipped the dress on and took Hermione's hand.

They weren't the first ones there by a long way. They moved to the great hall and found April. She was wearing a long black organza dress with flowers embroidered over the bodice and hem, the skirt flared slightly with silver silk under skirt showing through the organza.

"You OK?" she asked Hermione.

"Yeah I'm just a bit nervous." Hermione tried to smile.

"Well Harry and Ron are just over there also being 'just a bit nervous'." April smiled and pointed her over to the corner of the great hall, "The train is due in at six. I'm going to be in my office but you know where I am."

Hermione smiled at her gratefully, "Where's Lilly?"

"Getting ready, she's having a bit of a freak out of her own." April smiled and floated off to greet other arrivals.

Hermione wandered over to where Harry and Ron were sitting with Louise and Aria. Ron was pulling funny faces to make her laugh.

Hermione sat down with them and smiled.

"Do you want me to go?" Louise asked them.

"No it's OK." Hermione smiled as Sarah also sat down.

"Is Lacy coming?" Harry asked, putting Aria's shoe back on from where she'd kicked it off yet again.

"Yeah she gets out of work at 5 and is coming straight here. Hey Draco, over here." Ron called as Draco walked into the hall with Zoe and the children. They came over and sat down. Harry picked Aria's shoe up yet again.

"Don't suppose anyone has any supper glue on them?" Louise asked half jokingly.

Draco smirked, "We learnt quickly that even super glue wouldn't work,."

"We ended up going with pretty tights if we wanted them not to have bare feet. It was very cute, made Jacob look like a little Tudor." Zoe said.

Natasha pulled on her fathers sleeve.

"What is it sweetie?" Draco asked.

"Can I hold?" She asked nicely pointing at Aria.

Harry felt his chest tighten, this was the child of Draco Malfoy, her grandfather was a Death Eater in both wars. Louise looked at Harry for permission. He looked down at Natasha's chubby smiling face and took a deep breath.

"Of course you can." He said standing up.

Draco sat Natasha straight on the bench and double checked she was sitting properly. Harry put a rather wriggly Aria into Natasha's arms.

His heart melted, "Hold her tightly, that's it. You don't need to support her head."

"Is you sure?" Natasha asked, "Mummy and Daddy say you should always hold a baby's head." She said proud of her knowledge.

Harry smiled, "You do when they're little but she's older now."

Natasha nodded understandingly. Lilly walked over and sat with them.

"I think a lot of people never thought they'd see the day." She smiled, "The great Harry Potter's oldest and the youngest Malfoy. They'll be in Hogwarts together, at least for a couple of years."

Harry smiled, he hadn't thought of that. He liked the idea of Aria having friends before she went to Hogwarts rather than standing alone on the platform hoping she'd make some without weeks alone.

"I love your dress." Mary said to Lilly stroking the soft satin.

"Thank you." Lilly smiled, she was wearing a long green and silver dress that wouldn't look out of place in a princess story. Her hair fell in ringlets around her shoulders, caught up in a silver and emerald tiara. She looked every inch the Slytherin princess.

"You do look amazing." Zoe said.

"What house do you think you're going to be in next year?" Lilly asked Mary showing her her headdress.

"Don't know." Mary shrugged.

"We want to be together but at the same time if we're in different ones we can sneak into each others dorms." Jacob grinned.

"Lacy's here." Hermione said nudging Ron and pointing over to where Lacy had just walked in. Sarah waved her over and she sat down next to Ron with a thump.

"Today has been exhausting." She smiled, "I'm so glad I made it on time." She ran her fingers through her hair in an attempt to tame it a little, it was mostly dark purple now with only the tips it's original blue from when Ron first met her.

"Ladies and Gentleman, it is now ten to six and the students will be arriving shortly." April announced from the stage, "If everyone could take their seats I would be very grateful, Hagrid has already made his way down to Hogsmead to welcome the first years and escort them across the lake. Teachers and speech makers you're place is at this long table on the stage. Everyone is welcome to sit at their house tables or at the joint one in the middle or with their family, it is entirely up to you. I hope you all have a wonderful evening."

Everyone clapped and April made her way off the stage, she spotted Teddy sitting on the middle table with his family.

"Hello Teddy," She smiled, "I was wondering if I could have a word?"

Teddy nodded and stood up, "I'll meet you at the Slytherin table." He said to his family who nodded and waved Draco, Zoe and the children over.

"Teddy I wanted to check, your name wasn't on the list to be resorted and I wanted to check, I know you were very unhappy when you got sorted." April said quietly, "I just wanted to check that your name hadn't been missed."

"It hasn't, thank you April." Teddy smiled, "I thought a lot about it but Grandmama was a Slytherin and Aunty Cissy and Uncle Lucius. I thought about what Harry said about making a Slytherin house to be proud of and I want to be a part of that. I'm hoping that Mary and Jacob will be in Slytherin next year as well but don't tell them."

April smiled, "I think that's brilliant and I for one am very proud of you." She ruffled his hair which he smirked at and tried to flatten back down.

April went back up to the stage, all the teachers had already taken their seats. She took her seat between Lilly and Damien. Harry, Ron and Hermione were clutching at each other on the other side of Damien.

"Are you sure you guys are going to be OK?" She asked them.

"I think so." Hermione said.

Louise waved at them from the middle table and got Aria to wave as well. It made them smile even if it didn't dispel the nerves.

Narcissa came and sat in the middle of the table, "You know when I was in school there was a rumour that anyone who sat in this chair couldn't get back up for a hundred years unless they were the true head teacher." She stood up again briefly, "Just checking."

The large door to the great hall creaked open and about three hundred nervous students gazed around the room.

Narcissa stood up, "Welcome all of you, please find your seats, you may sit anywhere on your house tables. Anyone who wants to be resorted you may sit on the middle table for now." She smiled warmly.

The students slowly shuffled to the correct tables, about 20-30 students went and sat on the middle table. Professor McGonagall slipped out to greet the first years. Once all the older students were seated the large doors once again swung open and around 50 nervous and young looking first years walked in.

They gazed up at the ceiling and the painted walls in awe.

Professor McGonagall placed the three legged stool topped with the sorting hat at the front of the stage.

The hat moved slightly and yawned, "This year I have thought hard and long, and this year, there will be no song. In the memory of all those who can not be here, from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Hufflepuff. We live in their memory."

There was a moment of silence before the hall erupted into cheers and the hat took a small bow, "Fear not though, there will be a song next year, and all the years after that!"

Professor McGonagall smiled and took out her scroll of names, "We will start with those who are first year students."

Everyone clapped and cheered as every student was sorted flawlessly. The tables slowly filled up and as each student took their seats their house's crest appeared on their uniforms.

Then came the ones who were to be resorted. Nearly all were sorted into new houses.

"Parker, April." Professor McGonagall called clearly

"I can't believe you put your name on that list," Lilly whispered to her smiling. April grinned and walked as quickly as she could on her crutches down to the sorting hat, she sat down on the stool and let the sorting hat fall down over her eyes.

"Hmmm very interesting, intelligent for sure and cunning mixed in there yes...very brave..."

"I want to be a Hufflepuff." April thought.

"Really? You are loyal to your own for sure but..."

"I want to be close to the kitchens"

"Really?! That's your reason? Need I tell you that's Slytherin cunning and Ravenclaw intelligence."

"Yeah I know."

The minutes ticked on to the people watching April sit on the stool. It was over five minutes before the sorting hat sighed,

"Oh for goodness sake! HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat shouted and everyone clapped and cheered. April stood up and handed the hat back to Professor McGonagall.

"That concludes our sorting ceremony." Professor McGonagall announced, she moved the stool and the hat back to the side of the room and took her seat again at the table.

"Now I would like us all to give a big round of applause for the team of house elves that have made the amazing meal we are about to eat," Narcissa said as the feast appeared in front of them. There was a large round of applause, "And now everyone, dig in and enjoy!"

Harry smiled down at the plates filled with food in front of him, "Do you remember our first feast?" He asked Hermione and Ron.

Ron grinned, "Oh yeah, I ate enough for twenty!" he laughed.

"I'd never seen anything as beautiful as Hogwarts. The Australian school is nothing like this. It's all gleaming white and modern. It's wonderful but no where near as simply beautiful." Hermione smiled and gazed around her.

"Do you think they'll move?" Harry asked her, putting a few more chips on his plate.

"I don't think so. Mark wants to, he wants to go to a school with more history although he'll miss his friends but I don't think my parents ever will. They haven't entirely forgiven me I think, I'm not sure they ever will."

Ron squeezed her hand, "I'm sorry. You can always have my parents" he grinned.

Hermione laughed, "Thanks. I have a family, a brilliant family that I made myself, you guys are going to have to put up with me forever."

They finished the feast, everyone to full to move comfortably. Harry had managed to eat nearly a whole treacle tart to himself. After everyone had finished and the plates were cleared away Narcissa stood up and straightened her robes.

"Now we have a few things to do before we can all retire to our beds, as I'm sure you all know, tonight is a special night, the opening of the new Hogwarts."

Everyone cheered loudly.

"We have with us today some very special guests. The three people who were heralded as the 'golden trio'. Hermione Granger is to be one of the new teachers here but we also welcome today, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley and they are here to say a few words"

There was a large round of applause as Narcissa sat down and Harry, Ron and Hermione slowly stood up and made their way to the front of the stage.

Hermione stepped forward first, "We are over joyed to be here, if I'm honest there were moments when I never thought we'd get this far, there is nothing like looking at a pile of bricks to make building a castle feel impossible. We certainly wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all the amazing people who have helped us along the way." She clapped as the hall joined in.

Ron stepped forward, "I think there is unlikely to be a single person in this room who hasn't been effected by the war or the effects it caused. It broke a lot of people and there is no family that didn't loose someone. I want to thank April Parker, she has helped so many people and never asks for anything in return. The Japanese have an old custom, they call it kintsukuroi; when a pot or plate is broken they repair it using gold as the glue. When they end up with is different than what was broken but still usable and many say, more beautiful. I know I for one can relate to that idea as I'm sure many of you can as well. I hope that this new Hogwarts, a new home for hopefully generations to come, with be able to fix the broken and help so many as it has helped us."

Harry cleared his throat, he could feel his hands shaking, "I am very pleased to be here with you all. I am pleased that students will have, as Ron said, a home here. As I'm sure all of you who attended the old Hogwarts will realise that there is something missing in the hall. There are nno candles. I remember when I first arrived here that the candles seemed incredible to me. Forever floating, never burning down, always giving light in the darkness."

Narcissa stood up as did the rest of the teachers, "If everyone would kindly stand up."

Everyone did so and Narcissa clapped her hands, all the tables chairs and benches vanished, a dozen or more house elves appeared with boxes filled with candles.

"Everyone who wishes may take a candle. Each one has a name carved onto it. A name of someone died during or because of the wars on either side. Take a candle and give it to the person who you feel would be best placed to let them into the sky, it light our way forever more. If they already have a candle stand by them." Hermione smiled.

All the teachers apart from the heads of house moved off the stage and took a candle. Ron looked down at his candle, 'Colin Creevey'. He spotted Dennis standing next to his wife across the room. He went over and gave them the candle.

Dennis looked down and ran his fingers over the words.

"Thank you." his wife smiled and laid a hand on her swollen stomach.

Ron nodded and walked away to leave them in peace. A young girl in Ravenclaw robes came over to him and handed him her candle wordlessly.

'Fred Weasley' Ron felt his throat tighten.

He felt a tap on his arm and spun round, April stood behind him balancing on one crutch, "I think they should be together. Should we go find your family?"

Ron nodded and they walked towards the gathering of Weasleys. Ron saw his mother holding tightly to Ginny's hand. Charlie wrapped his arm around April and she handed over the candle.

Hermione slowly, scared, put her hand in the box and pulled out a candle. She blinked tears away. 'Bellatrix Lestrange'

"They did say they wanted to do both sides." Sarah said carefully.

"I know." Hermione nodded, "I find myself wanting to know what she was like before. Narcissa and Andromeda are so different."

"Should we give it over?" Sarah asked, she'd already given her candle to Susan.

Hermione nodded and they made their way through the crowd to Andromeda, she was with the Malfoys. She already held a candle, Teddy held another. Hermione didn't have to ask to know it was 'Remus Lupin' and 'Nymphadora Tonks Lupin'. Teddy subtlety wiped tears away from his eyes.

Hermione cleared her throat, "I wasn't sure...umm..." she handed the candle over to Narcissa.

"Thank you, Hermione. Getting this candle cannot have been easy for you." Narcissa smiled.

Harry took a candle and looked it over. 'Edward Tonks'. He could see Andromeda Teddy already had two candles, it brought it home just how much Andromeda had lost in that year.

He walked over but didn't get even half way before an old gentlemen tapped him on the arm, "I believe this is yours Mr Potter." He said and handed over the candle. 'Lily Potter." Harry nodded thanks.

Louise met him carrying Aria who was carrying a candle, "I already found my one's owner, Aria picked up one that I think is yours."

Harry turned it over slightly so he could read the words, 'Dobby'

"Who did you get?" Louise asked.

"Ned Tonks, I was just heading over to them." Harry replied.

"Harry I think we should stay with them. There is some over lap between the two of you." Louise said gently, she could see that Harry was struggling.

Harry nodded. They walked over together and Harry handed over the candle.

"I want to hold this one." Andromeda said a tear dropping onto her husbands candle.

"I hold!" Natasha said reaching out for Remus's candle. Andromeda smiled and handed it over willingly. Lucius put Natasha down and she went and stood next to Teddy, holding his hand.

Over the next few minutes Harry was given several more candles. James, Severus and Sirius.

Lucius took Severus's, giving the Lestrange brothers' ones to the twins. Louise held James' while helping Aria to hold Dobby's up. April came over and took Sirius's for them as they'd run out of hands.

Lilly stepped forward on the stage, the four founders holding no candles, "I see there are some candles that have no one. I don't know whether this is because they have no family here or because their memories are to painful but I would ask everyone who doesn't have a candle to take one. The war is over and hate only brings hate."

A group of people made their way forward and took the candles until there were none left.

Everyone gathered forward and looked up at the stage. Lilly took a few deep breaths and the four founders stepped forward.

"The spell to make the candles float has already been cast, all that is needed is for you to blow the candle alight. Pour every feeling for that person and everyone else you lost into that breath." Lilly said clearly.

Hermione took a deep breath, she'd ended up with 'Lavender Brown' on her candle, it was almost ironic but she could feel nothing but pity for her. She remembered seeing her long blonde hair laying bloodstained around her shredded face. Hermione thought she should feel glad she hadn't lost anyone closer to her but she couldn't.

Sarah had ended up 'Mary Wick' she remembered her as a bright and happy black haired Slytherin fourth year who had helped her sneak back to the battle. She poured her thanks and sorrow in to the breath.

Bill Weasley stood on the stage looking down at candles slowly spring to life below him. He felt Lilly reach for his hand and saw that she'd reached for Jesse's on the other side. Bill reached for Susan's hand and the moment he reached it he felt a burning heat rush through him from Lilly out.

It didn't hurt but he thought if he hadn't been holding onto the hands either side he would have passed out. The heat grew and grew as more candles were lit.

His vision began to blur at the feeling sweeping it's way through the line. He could just see the first candle began to lift into the air when for a second there was a blindingly bright light. He blinked to try and make his eyes work again. Slowly the light seemed to fade.

Bill looked again and saw it wasn't fading but forming into human shapes in between the groups of people. He gasped as he saw familiar faces materialise from the light. It was everyone, everyone they'd lost and missed. He knew they'd only be there for a few minutes, as the candles slowly floated into there places.