Chapter 1
Dumbledore's Office, August 1998
Professor McGonagall, now Headmistress, called the war heroes up to her office on a fine Saturday morning in August.
"What can we do for you, Headmistress?"
Just then, a portrait came panting into his frame. "Minevra! Horace and Filius need help on the seventh floor repairing a bit of ceiling!"
"Tell them I'm on my way," she said. "I'm sorry but as you can see, we are still repairing the castle as a matter of haste, for the first – years next year. I was going to ask if you would like to come back for your missed Seventh year or Sixth year. Please think on it, and inform me of your decision." With that, she rushed out.
The young adults looked at each other. The eight friends had developed a strong friendship during the months after the war and wanted to stick together. "I think we should all finish our schooling and get N.E.W.T.s," Hermione stated.
"Well, of course you would want to do that." Draco drawled. "Whilst some people have other things to do."
"Like... snog Gin-Gin?" asked Harry cheekily.
Draco turned pink. "Shut up!"
"Oooh, Yes please," said Ginny, and started to passionately snog Draco.
Everyone looked away, except Harry who took out a Wizarding camera and snapped a photo.
The flash made the couple stop in surprise. "Gimme that!" squeaked Ginny.
"Come get it!" laughed Harry.
In being chased around the room, Harry knocked three of Dumbledore's spindly silver instruments off a shelf. They smashed together, emitting a cloud of multicoloured smoke.
"Uh – oh..." chorused everyone in the room except for Harry.
"Oooh," said Harry. "I wonder what's going to happen now..."
This was bad news. Harry seemed to be a magnet for trouble, and when he got excited... trouble was sure to follow closely.