Chapter eighteen

'Ron worked out that Trelawney seemed to like to hear about danger. He suggested we make up the most gruesome ways to die and pretend to see it in the tea leaves or crystal ball. Hermione gave up that class halfway through that year. I realised how hopeless it was and figured I would drop that class and take something else. I went to McGonagall, she said I couldn't, it was too late. Charlie also told me we can have tutors, yet McGonagall told me only Hogwarts students can take their NEWTS. She lied twice, again, I have no idea why.'

'It sounds to me like they were deliberately making sure you did not learn more than was necessary,' Molly said, 'I know Ron is lazy, which is why I get him working in the garden a lot, or helping in the kitchen. It's more than laziness. He made sure Harry didn't learn, but he also wrecked any chance he had by taking classes that will not help him get a decent job. He only got three owls, yet all of them were A's. He did not get one e or o. I know Fred and George fooled us so we would believe they were not as smart as they really were. That is my fault as I always pushed for them to get a good job in the ministry. They wanted their shop, so they fooled us so we would believe they would never get a job anywhere else. They showed just how smart they really are. Almost all their products are potion based, or based around charms. What could make Ron ruin any chances he has of getting a decent job?'

'Dumbledore might have helped him get the job he wanted, if he hadn't died. I mean if they was spying on Harry, then he had to offer them something,' Ginny said.

'For Ron, it would have to be either a quidditch career or working in the department of magical games and sports,' Charlie said.

'He told me an auror sounded interesting when the fake Moody said I would make a good auror. If he knew his marks weren't good, then auror was out, so why say that?' Harry asked.

'I don't think we will work it out, not until I talk to him. But to your idea, I believe its for the best. Having tutors mean's Ginny will probably be able to take her NEWTS when Harry does.'

'I'm hoping, but I won't know until we begin. Connie and Charlie are going to access me. They know I'm up to seventh year with defence, thanks to Harry. Charms has always come easy for me. It's just the rest.'

'Even though it's the holidays, you could practice your transfiguration and potions. Amelia removed the trace Gin, take advantage of it. Mum is brilliant at potions, dad and mum are both good at transfiguration and charms,' Charlie said.

'I suppose it would help. How are you going to teach us about creatures though?' Ginny asked.

'Amelia got permission from the governors for me to take my students into the forbidden forest to study the unicorns, centaurs, thestrals, bowtruckles, kneazles and the other odd creature. But there will not be any blast ended skrewts or acromantula. I might be able to work on a portkey to the local dragon reserve.'

'I'll skip the dragons,' Harry said making Charlie and Ginny laugh.

The following day, Harry finished his first lot of mirrors for the auror office so he took them straight to the ministry. He had a hat on, and since he didn't wear glasses anymore, he hoped no one would recognise him.

'Harry, what are you doing here?' Connie smiled.

'Came to deliver the first lot of communication mirrors. There's ten sets of two. I'm working on the charms my dad did in the hope I can make them all connect with the others. But I've only just began to look through my dad's notes.'

'These are going to help a lot. Did you give Madam Bones any?'

'Saw her first before coming here, so she has a few sets now. One is for the head auror so she can contact him straight away. The rest are for you lot. Where should I put them?'

'Just on the desk here is fine. I hope you've been paid already.'

'Yep, Amelia saw to that as well. The minister has ordered a few as well. He wants to be able to talk to the heads of each department without having to use the floo or call them into his office. Since you know how they work, can I leave you to explain to the others and your boss?'

'No problem Harry, and thanks. These will really help.'

The moment Harry left the other aurors all stared at Connie. All she did was smile. She knew why they were staring, she was friendly with Harry Potter, and on first name basis as well.

Arthur did call one last meeting of the order of the phoenix. He had Charlie explain everything about why Harry did not trust them all because of what Dumbledore did, or didn't do, which included things Minerva did not do. She huffed and went to argue but Molly ended up yelling at the woman. Molly really let go, first she yelled about leaving poor little baby Harry on a doorstep on a cold night, right after his parents were murdered. Molly called her a cruel woman which shocked not just Minerva, but everyone. Then Molly even told Minerva that Harry and Ginny were not returning to Hogwarts, they were hiring tutor, which was set up by Madam Amelia Bones. Minerva paled. She realised that when everyone found out that two of the people who saved their world refused to return to Hogwarts and she was one of the reasons, she will not stay as headmistress. She also realised that someone had told Harry the truth about how he could finish his education by hiring tutors. She knew it must have been Molly and Arthur. Minerva didn't say anything, just go up and left the house.

'Are you telling me that Albus did not have a healer examine Harry after he survived the killing curse?' Remus growled.

'No, he didn't. Just left him on the doorstep, and Minerva was with him.' Charlie said, 'But Harry and I had a good conversation about this. Why was it known that Harry had a scar, which identified him? Why was it known that Harry was the one that defeated Voldemort, which would send every death eater after him? Also, no one but Voldemort and Pettigrew was there, apart from James, Lily and Harry. How does anyone know what happened in that house? Because of the prophecy, Voldemort might not have used the killing curse on Harry, only on James and Lily. All this information was known by the morning, some that night, why?'

'That's a damn good question. Harry would be identified by the scar, and I know Bagnold, Crouch and others inside the ministry knew Albus placed Harry with Lily's family, who are muggles. They could not protect Harry if some of the death eaters turned up,' Kingsley said.

'He had halfbloods as death eaters who could have easily found out the information on Lily and her family. Snape could have as well since Snape knew Lily and Petunia. Since we know Harry never called that place home or them as family, the wards didn't work. Why was Harry left there, in danger from every one of Voldemort's supporters?' Tonks asked.

'Now you see some of the reasons Harry didn't trust Albus. But the worst is Snape,' Arthur sighed, 'A young Snape, who was a death eater at the time, overheard the first part of the prophecy. He went to Voldemort with that information.'

'So basically that snivelling bastard caused Voldemort to go after James, Lily and Harry,' Remus growled again, this time his eyes glowed gold, which was Moony trying to take over. Tonks wrapped her arms around her husband, hoping to calm him down.

'There are so many things like this, yet none of us knew, so we supported Albus. Harry saw that as betrayal. Also, we believe, but have no proof, that Ron and Hermione were spying on Harry for Albus, and trying to sabotage his education. Since I basically kicked them out, I can't get the answers. I also knew there would be no use speaking to Ron while he is so angry.'

Everyone wanted to know what Arthur meant by sabotaging Harry's education so Charlie, Molly and Arthur explained what Harry told them. By the end of the meeting, every one of the order members planned to write to Harry and apologise. They didn't expect him to forgive them, they just wanted Harry to know they were fooled, and lied to.

It only took a week before word leaked that Harry Potter and his girlfriend, Ginny Weasley, who both were involved in the death of Voldemort, would not be returning to Hogwarts, and the reasons why. Two days later the new governors had removed Minerva from the position as headmistress, but she would not be deputy head or head of Gryffindor. They had also placed all the staff on probation. There would be new rules they would have to follow. Hagrid was returned to the game's keeper. He would no longer be a teacher, but he could buy a new wand. He just wasn't right to teach students, mainly because of his fascination with large and dangerous creatures. The governors explained to the staff about how some students were badly bullied, and in some cases by member of their own houses. Apart from Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley, there were three other students who would be hiring tutors. Neville Longbottom, Susan Bones and Luna Lovegood. Neville and Luna weren't returning to Hogwarts due to bullying, Susan so she could pass her tests to be an auror. She knew she would never pass if she returned to Hogwarts.

After the governors left, Minerva McGonagall handed in her resignation. She decided to retire and go back to her old home. She knew there was no use staying at Hogwarts, not when the changes would be ones she would not like.

The governors had gone over all the student's files. They wanted to know which students would need to be watched and which ones might need a helping hand. One thing they did was basically sack all the prefects. Not one of them deserved to be prefect or head boy or girl. Some might have good marks, but they were not liked by most of the students so many would ignore them. Hermione was one of these. Ron was one because of his dismal scores and his bad behaviour. All the prefects had things against them so they should never have been given the badge in the first place.

Harry decided to do one interview, with Luna which would be published in the Quibbler. He started off by saying if anyone wanted to know the truth about Harry, it would always be in the Quibbler. The daily prophet proved to lie whenever they felt like it and they would be bribed by people like Fudge, not even caring the lies they printed was putting people in danger.

Harry went to Grimmauld place with Dobby to decide what needed to be done to make the house a place that felt comfortable, at least while they were learning. One of the portraits told Harry that a red headed boy and a girl had been staying there. Harry instantly removed the fidelius charm, then redid it. He sent a permission note to Ginny, Charlie, Connie, Amelia, Neville, Luna, Susan, along with Arthur, Molly, Bill, Fleur, Fred and George. He stressed that no one else could know or he would remove them as well. He found some of Ron and Hermione's things, he had Dobby drop them off at Hogsmeade, in the shrieking shack, than Dobby was to leave a note outside the charm of Grimmauld place for Ron and Hermione to find. The note basically told them to piss off, they were not welcome to use his home, not after betraying him. Harry didn't really care what happened to Ron and Hermione, nor where they would go. He forgave them too many times to do it again. They were out of his life, for good.