Act XVIII
Into a Brave, New World
The work of returning things to their former state was a major undertaking for the magical world. Crews were working around the clock repairing damage to Hogwarts. The Ministry, for all that had occurred there, was relatively unscathed. Diagon Alley saw the renovation start on Ollivander's Wand Shop. Businesses that had been shuttered during the reign of the Death Eaters began reopening. All across the UK people were emerging from hiding as families were being reunited.
Harry and Hermione moved into The Burrow for the time being. Ultimately, Harry wanted to clean up Number Twelve Grimmauld Place and make it his residence. Kreacher, who had now come to have great respect for Harry, wanted to aid in the conversion.
As the days passed, Hermione suddenly remembered what she had done to her parents. Arthur Weasley used his contacts and called in a few favors to create a plan through the Ministry. A team was quickly dispatched to search them out in Australia and try to remove the hexes Hermione had used on them in her moments of desperation.
Lavender, who had matured a lot during her separation from Ron, decided to move back into her parent's home. Ron, who definitely loved her, but wanted more space than he was given by the old Lavender, supported her decision. She hoped Hogwarts would be repaired enough to restart classes in the fall. Until then, it was best she was home with her family.
Harry and Hermione spent a lot of time walking and talking. Now that they were back to a more stable and sedate setting, it was time for them to reassess their relationship.
"What do you see in our future?" asked Hermione as they walked hand-in-hand along the edge of the marsh making up about a quarter of the Weasley property. Being spring, the marsh was abuzz with activity. The air was filled with birds flying all over in search of nesting materials and squawking as they fought over prime nesting sites. The frogs and toads were croaking in hopes of finding mates. Insects, some of them less than welcome, were buzzing about.
"What do you mean?" replied Harry as he swatted at a particularly tenacious fly that had taken to circling his head.
"Are you going back to school this fall?" said Hermione, fully expecting him to say yes, as she helped Harry chase away the fly. "I am going back so I can get my full set of O. ."
"Well...ummmm...Ron and I have both been talking about that, actually," he started, the fly now gone. This caused Hermione to raise an eyebrow and perk up her ears. "We are thinking of leaving school and going into the auror training program at the Ministry."
"No...uh...you should come back to school...uh...both of you" blurted out Hermione. "There is still a lot for both of you to learn."
"Ron thinks, and I agree with him," countered Harry as he swatted at the fly as it returned for a second attack. "There is a real future in being an auror. We want to be part of rebuilding a better, safer magical world, and to prevent another someone like Voldemort from threatening it."
"I disagree. You both need to finish school. Then you can start a career."
Harry looked at her. He knew he was not going to win this conversation. Hermione loved school and school loved her. She had a hard time rationalizing the leaving of Fred and George to have opened their albeit very successful joke shop. She was going to have no easier time understanding Harry and Ron's choice of not returning to school for their final year.
"I love you, Hermie," said Harry, causing her to stall and step back. "Us not returning is not going to change that. I know how you feel about school. But some of us aren't cut out for academic achievement the way you are."
"If you don't go back to school, how will we see each other?" said Hermione, suddenly sounding like she might get weepy.
"We'll figure it out. I think we have a bright future in front of us with Voldemort gone."
Harry hugged Hermione and pressed his lips to hers. He could feel her tremble a little as she returned his kiss and wrapped her arms around him. He knew she was still worried about her parents and getting over the war. She had never faced life alone in the ways he had. Her biggest isolation trauma was during her first year. She was a too-smart, muggle girl in a school full of students from magical families. Once she got a handle on her over-compensation and made a few friends, her life became much more normal and comfortable. Harry never seemed to enjoy that luxury for any kind of extended period. It was always one thing after another for him year after year.
They kissed and caressed each other for several minutes. The place they were in was a long way from The Burrow and the others. It had been several weeks since they last made love. They were tempted to do it now. However, just as they started to disrobe, they heard the voices of Ron and Ginny calling to them. It would have to wait until another time as the fruit on the Tree of Love started to show signs of ripening.
Harry and Hermione quickly redressed and started off in the direction of the voices.
"Harry! Hermione!" called Ron and Ginny once again.
"We're over here," shouted Harry as they rounded a tall section of marsh grasses that remained from last year.
"What are you doing?" asked Ron as they walked up to each other. "Ginny thought you might be...uh...well she didn't want to bother you."
"No, no," said Harry in a quick attempt to quash the thought they were doing what they intended to be doing right now. "We were just talking. There's a lot to talk about...school...uh...stuff like that...
"...Lunch is ready," said Ron, unintentionally, but mercifully interrupting Harry who was nervously starting to diesel. "Then, Ginny and I are going to go into Diagon Alley...maybe hang out with George. We thought you might want to go, too."
"Oh, yeah...right," said Harry, still not fully unnerved from almost being caught in flagrante. "I am a bit hungry. And seeing George. Yeah, that could be fun."
"I might go into Flourish & Blott's," added Hermione. "I could use some new books to read."
"Okay, I'll tell them we found you," said the always hungry Ron as he looked at Ginny. "We'll meet you back there."
Ron and Ginny hurried off as Harry and Hermione continued walking at a more normal pace.
"What did you mean when you said you loved me and we had a bright future in front of us?" asked Hermione out of the blue as she picked up on Harry's earlier words.
"I meant ...uh...I meant I love you and we...uh…we have time to be together now. We can...uh..." stammered Harry, wishing all of a sudden that Ron had not deserted him.
"...Are you thinking we are going to get married and have a family one day?" cut in Hermione, who was already at the point in her thinking of considering names for their children.
"UH...maybe...yeah...I don't know. I was just...uh…" choked out Harry as he began looking around as if he were trying to decide which way to run. He had a tightness in his throat as if an invisible hand was clamping down its grip on it.
Fortunately, Hermione found his behavior amusing, perhaps even charming. She started to laugh at him and by the time she managed to stop, they were almost mercifully at the back of The Burrow.
"Ah, there you are," said Molly as they entered through the kitchen door. "Hurry over to the table before Ron eats everything.
Ron looked up long enough to scowl, but he quickly returned to the chicken leg he was holding in his hand. Ginny passed Harry a platter with several pieces of fried chicken on it as they sat down. Both Harry and Hermione loved Molly's cooking.
Once everyone seemed finished with the chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans, she sat a raspberry pie down in the middle of the table. Ron immediately reached for it only to have his hand slapped. "Mind your manners, Ronald," said Molly as Ginny picked up the pie a handed it to Hermione. Hermione cut out a section equaling a third of the pie. She then cut it in half and put a piece on her plate and the other on Harry's. She then handed it back to Ginny, who took an appropriate-sized piece and passed it to Percy. That left Ron to divide the remaining third between himself and his mom. Wisely, he cut the section into two pieces and let his mom take the piece she wanted. Only then did he devour the final piece before almost cleaning the pie plate to the point of it not needing to be washed.
"That was truly delicious, Missus Weasley," said Harry as Hermione nodded in agreement, deciding not to speak with a mouthful of pie.
"Thank you, dears," said Molly.
Once everyone was finished and the table cleared and the dishes were being cleaned with the tergeo spell, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny prepared to leave for Diagon Alley by way of the Floo Network. Molly reminded Harry to speak very clearly so they would not have a repeat of the first time he used to Floo Network to go there clear back in his second year.
Harry laughed and thanked her for her concern. That first trip, with its landing in Borgin & Burke's, was an eye-opening and educational experience. Harry had been particularly careful with his pronunciation ever since that day.
A few moments later they were dusting each other off as they stood near the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron. Efficient as travel through the Floo Network was, it was always prone to leaving a person covered with fireplace soot.
Once they were sufficiently cleaned up, they headed straight into the alley. They agreed to meet at Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour for a treat before heading back home at six o'clock.
Ginny headed to Quality Quidditch Supplies. She wanted to look at the new equipment. She was beginning to dream of playing professional quidditch. Ron headed straight for Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. It was a chance to hang out with George.
Harry and Hermione started down the alley. He knew she was going to want to look at books. He wanted to visit Ollivander's before doing anything else.
"Would you care to visit Mister Ollivander before you go to the bookshop?" asked Harry as he took her hand.
"I think that might be nice," she replied. "We can see how he is doing and how the repairs to the shop are coming along."
"My thoughts, exactly," said Harry as he gave her hand a squeeze.
A couple of minutes later they pushed open the door to the shop. They were pleased to hear the familiar tinkle of the little bell over the door. Considering all of the damage done to the shop by the attack of the Death Eaters and subsequent opportunists, they were glad it survived.
The shop appeared to be about two-thirds repaired. The most obvious issue was the less than ample supply of wands on the shelves. Thieves had picked the shelves clean during his absence. He had a lot of work in front of him to restock his wares.
A few seconds later, they heard footsteps and Mister Ollivander came out from the back of the shop.
"Harry, my boy," he exclaimed in his raspy voice as his face lit up. "And Hermione Granger. It is wonderful to see you. What brings you here?"
"We came to see how you and the shop are getting on, sir," replied Harry.
"I'm doing fine. The Ministry has provided people to do the repairs. As you can see, the shelves are fairly empty, but I am building new wands with the help of my son as quickly as possible. The thieves took all of my store of wands, but they had no use for my supplies, so I have plenty of material to work with."
"Excellent. That's wonderful," said Harry.
"I saw your friend, Luna, just yesterday," exclaimed Mister Ollivander as if it had just popped into his mind.
"How is she?" asked Hermione.
"She's fine. Just fine," came the answer. "I made her a new wand as a present...silver lime with unicorn hair. The Death Eaters took her wand while we were prisoners at Malfoy Manor. She was very sad about the loss. I daresay I would probably have died there if not for her. She cared for me even though she was clearly suffering as well. Giving her a new wand was the least I could do."
"I have a question, sir," said Harry.
"Yes. Of course. Ask away."
"My wand was broken during an incident in Godric's Hollow…"
"...That's terrible," said Mister Ollivander. "That was a very unique wand."
"Yes. I used the Elder Wand to repair it, sir. Here. Take a look," said Harry as he pulled it out and offered it up."
Mister Ollivander took the wand and gave it a quick examination. "It seems fine. Good as new. Just out of curiosity, where is the Elder Wand? Do you still have it? Why don't you just use it?"
I destroyed it," lied Harry, knowing full well where it was and what he was going to do with it. "It always felt dangerous...uh, too powerful to control. And it didn't like doing simple things like filling a glass with water or retrieving a book from a shelf. It was as if I was insulting it by using it like a common wand."
"How did you destroy it?" asked Mister Ollivander, trying to withhold a shocked expression at the notion of such a sacred object being destroyed. "What did you do?"
"I broke it into three pieces and tossed them into the pen with Hagrid's pair of erumpents," said Harry as Mister Ollivander winced. "I imagine they have trampled it into splinters by now."
That's a pity," sighed the aged wandmaker. "Dumbledore had it all of those years without me knowing its true identity. I would have loved to have examined it before you destroyed it. Anyway...what is your question?"
"My wand doesn't feel the same as before. It is almost like it is someone else's wand. It feels like the blackthorn wand I was using for quite some time after mine was broken."
"Well, you had a piece of Voldemort living in you when you were chosen by your wand. It is quite possible that you are a different person. You may require a new wand."
Hermione looked at Harry, and then at Mister Ollivander. "So, you are saying Harry should be refitted just like when he was eleven."
"Exactly. I think we should try a few wands and see if we can see if one of them likes you."
Mister Ollivander started gathering boxes from his shelves. He was fortunate his son was already well-trained when he was abducted and the shop was ransacked. He had a reasonable assortment to work from.
"You don't have to stay if you don't want to," said Harry to Hermione. "I know you want to shop for some new books and this may take a while."
"No, I actually want to stay. This is quite fascinating. I want to know who my boyfriend really is," she said with a bit of a smirk.
All Harry could do was roll his eyes. "I guess. If that is what you really think is going on here," he said.
Before long, Mister Ollivander had handed Harry several wands to try. The results were quite mixed, but none of them offered any real matches.
"From what I can see," said Mister Ollivander, "you are still looking like your wand will have another phoenix feather for a core. The phoenix feather core wands you have tried seem to work better than the others. I think it is just a case of finding the wood. We need to find the right wood."
Harry and Hermione watched as the elderly wizard pondered the situation. He reached out and then pulled back his hand multiple times. Finally, he pulled out a box and opened it. Inside was a wand with a rich, golden color. He picked it up and felt it, then handed it to Harry.
Harry swished it and it seemed to respond to him. "I like this one," said Harry as Hermione observed him with a curious look. "It feels better than anything we have tried so far."
"Yes. Yes. We are close. Very close," said Mister Olivander. "I wonder. I wonder if it is possible."
"If what is possible, sir?" asked Harry.
"Wait just a minute. I need to go in the back," replied Mister Ollivander as he turned and walked in the direction he had originally come from quite some time ago.
Several minutes passed as Harry and Hermione chatted while waiting patiently. Eventually, they heard some footsteps and Mister Ollivander reappeared carrying a very old-looking box that he sat down on the counter and opened. Inside was an unfinished, creamy yellow piece of wand wood that was accented with threads of blues, purples, greens, and pinks. He picked it up and offered it to Harry.
"What is it, sir?"
"Poplar, my boy. Rainbow Poplar to be precise."
"It's beautiful," gushed Hermione as Harry looked at it.
"Poplar is the rarest of wand woods. There are billions of poplar trees in Europe, Asia, and North America. It is one of the most common trees there are. However, finding one with wand-grade wood is exceedingly rare, It is also very difficult to match with a wizard. My father and grandfather only made a total of three in all of their years. I have never made one. This piece of wood is far older than I am."
Harry took the piece of wood and moved it around in his hand. He smiled as he felt its soft, smooth surface.
"It feels nice, kind of warm, sir. Is that normal?" asked Harry.
"Not at all if the wood likes you," responded Mister Ollivander as Hermione reached out and took it from Harry. "Let me get a phoenix feather."
"It doesn't feel warm to me," remarked Hermione as she looked at it almost like she was mesmerized by its grain. "But it is the most beautiful piece of wood I have ever seen."
Mister Ollivander stood back up from where he was digging around under the counter and handed Harry a red feather. "Take the piece of wood and hold them together," he said. "Tell me what you feel."
Hermione handed back the piece of wood to Harry. He pressed them together. "They feel warm, and...and...well, I can't explain it, but it feels good."
"Excellent. Excellent," said Mister Ollivander as he took the feather and piece of wood from Harry. "Come back in two days. We'll see what we have, then."
"OH MY!" exclaimed Hermione as Harry turned and looked at her. "It's way past five, We have to go. Ron and Ginny will be waiting for us."
"We have to go, sir," said Harry.
"Fine. I will see you in two days then," said Mister Ollivander.
"Goodbye, sir," said both Harry and Hermione as they turned and hurried out the door causing the little bell to tinkle furiously.
They burst into Fortescue's a couple of minutes later. Ron practically had his face buried in an Erumpent Horn Banana Split. Ginny, who was eating in a more proper manner, saw them and looked up from a sundae covered with strawberries, nuts, and whipped cream. "Where have you been?" she asked with a whipped cream-covered smirk as if to imply they may have been engaged in some sort of illicit activity.
"Ollivanders" answered Hermione in a hasty attempt to deflect Ginny's apparent accusation. "Harry was getting fitted with a new wand."
"Let's see it, then," said Ginny. "Why does he need a new wand?"
"I'll get it in two days," replied Harry. "Let us order and I'll explain it."
A few moments later, Harry was digging into a bowl of chocolate ice cream covered with butterscotch, marshmallows, and candied pecans. Hermione had a bowl of vanilla ice cream mixed with several kinds of tropical fruits.
As they ate, Harry explained the situation with his old wand. Once they finished, they hurried off to the Leaky Cauldron so they could make it home on time, lest they incur the wrath of Missus Weasley for holding up dinner.
Act XIX
Presently Living in the Past
Two days later, Harry and Hermione walked into Ollivanders to the tinkling of the bell. Mister Ollivander was fitting a precocious-acting, young girl with straight, blonde hair with just the slightest hint of red in it. Mister Ollivander was matching her with a wand. They stepped back out of the way and allowed the girl and her parents to enjoy the moment.
She was finally matched with a fairly bendy, ten-inch, beech wand with a unicorn hair core. As she waved the distinctive, pale-yellow wand in the air, the joy around her warmed all of the hearts in the room.
Strangely, after a couple of minutes, the family turned to leave without purchasing the wand. "Thanks for being patient," said the mother of the girl as they left. The girl's giddy grin had turned somber to one reflecting dolor.
As the family left, Mister Ollivander greeted Harry and Hermione. "I suppose you are here to try this," he said with his raspy voice and a smile as he placed a box on the counter. "Let's get it out and give it a try."
Harry and Hermione watched as he opened the box to reveal the most beautiful wand either of them had ever seen. It was long and tapered much like Hermione's. However, instead of a vine pattern, it had an intricate phoenix carved on the handle with a long tail that spiraled most of the way down its length. The colors of the wood nearly vibrated against the shiny, oil finish.
Mister Ollivander took it out of the box and reached out to hand it to Harry. "Give it a couple of swishes, my boy. It's thirteen inches, but I may have to adjust the length. I think its slightly yielding flexibility will serve it well."
Harry took the wand with the gentle caution one might use in being handed a priceless piece of art or a baby animal. You could immediately feel the connection between Harry and the wand pulse through the room.
Harry gave it a couple of swishes that caused everything around them to vibrate. Mister Ollivander asked for it back and said, "Just as I suspected...a little long, I believe."
He carefully trimmed off a bit, sanded and oiled the tip before returning it to Harry. Harry gave it a couple of waves, then handed it back.
"I think it needs a tiny bit more trimming," said Mister Ollivander as he picked up his ancient cutting tool. After another cut, a bit more of light sanding, and the application of some more oil, he returned it to Harry. This time the feeling in the air as he swished it around was comfortable and smooth, like the feeling you get when you pet a happy, purring cat. Harry's eyes glowed with the joy of feeling a perfectly matching wand.
"Excellent," said Mister Ollivander. "Eleven and three-quarter inches. I believe you have my finest creation."
"I like it a lot, now," replied Harry with a huge smile. "Thank you."
"It is so beautiful." gushed Hermione as she put an arm around Harry. "A wand such as this deserves a name."
Harry looked at her and then the wand, then he looked at Mister Ollivander. "Should I name it, sir? What do you suggest?"
"It's your wand, now, Mister Potter. It is up to you to choose a name."
Harry began idly looking at the wand as his mind seemed wrapt in thought. After several moments, he stopped and looked up. "From now on," announced Harry in a firm voice as red and gold sparks poured out of the want, "This will be known as The Phoenix Wand."
"Wonderful choice," said Mister Ollivander as Hermione smiled in agreement.
"Why do you suppose that family didn't purchase that other wand, sir," asked Hermione, suddenly changing the subject. "It seemed to have chosen her and she loved it a lot."
"Her family has a lot of young children and not a lot of money," replied Mister Ollivander. "She will probably have to use a hand-me-down wand until they can afford it.
"That's horrible," said Harry as he placed the standard wand price of seven galleons on the counter. "Is this a frequent occurrence?"
Harry was remembering seeing the pain in the eyes of Ron on many occasions over the years when the tightness of the Weasley family's finances was confronted with the affluence of Harry and others while he had to accept Scabbers, tattered textbooks, his brother Charlie's old wand, ancient dress robes.
"It's not common, but it does happen once or twice every month or so."
"May I have a piece of paper, sir," asked Harry as he placed a second pile of seven galleons on the counter.
Mister Ollivander reached under the counter and pulled out a small sheet of parchment. Harry took the quill from its holder on the counter and dipped it in the inkwell. He wrote the words 'Use it well' on the parchment and gave it to Mister Ollivander. "Can you have this note and the wand delivered to the girl, sir?"
"Of course, my boy. Of course. That is very generous of you."
Harry put the Phoenix Wand into his wand pocket as he said, "I guess we'll be going, sir. Thank you."
"Always wonderful to see you," replied Mister Ollivander as they turned to head for the door. "Enjoy your new wand."
As they exited the shop, Hermione said, "I want to go to Flourish and Blotts."
"Go ahead. I'll meet you there. I have something else I want to do."
Hermione kissed him on the cheek. "That was a wonderful thing you did for that girl," she said as she turned to go.
"I'm a wonderful person," he replied with a chuckle. He was not sure, but he was pretty certain he heard the sound of Hermione laughing as she walked away.
Harry made his way down the street as Hermione walked into the bookshop. He nervously entered Gringott's for the first time since they had broken into it to recover and destroy the Hufflepuff Cup horcrux. For all he knew, they might attack him or have him arrested.
Fortunately, he was either never identified as one of the robbers because of the death of Bogrod and Griphook, or some type of charm had been used to erase his presence from the situation. None of the guards paid him any special attention.
The bank lobby looked good considering it had been practically demolished by a dragon. He walked up to the desk outside the entrance to the vaults and presented his key. It was accepted without question. Moments later, he was descending into the vaults on the tramway that had been destroyed during the trio's escape on the back of the dragon. Again, the speed of the restoration was impressive.
They soon arrived at vault number six-eighty-seven. It was quickly opened by Kargor, the attending goblin for his visit, and he stepped inside. He was surprised to see the mounds of gold galleons had grown considerably since he was last there. It made him feel even better about the reason for his visit.
Harry counted out seventy galleons and put them into a velvet bag that was conveniently enough sitting on one of the tables.
"I'm finished," he said to the goblin as he exited the vault. The vault was resealed and they started their ascent back up the tramway. Once they reached the top, he retrieved his key and exited in the direction of the bookshop.
He found Hermione at a table covered with several books. She stood up as he approached and said, "Back so soon?" In reality, Harry had been gone for over an hour. However, time flew by Hermione when she was surrounded by books.
"Yeah, I guess, I see you have found a couple of books," he said with a smile as he examined the prodigious assortment on the table.
"I have," she replied, knowing from experience he was being a smart aleck in the tradition of Ron...in effect, exercising one of the behaviors she wished he had not so readily adapted to from their friendship. "Did you take care of whatever it was you had to take care of?"
"Yes, I did. What would you say to a little stop at Fortescue's before we return to The Burrow?
Hermione gathered the books she intended to purchase and put the others on the return rack so they could be placed back on the shelves. She ended up purchasing four books, two of average size, one a ponderous tome, and the other even thicker. She paid three galleons, ten sickles and four knuts for the books to a tired, overworked-looking man at the counter and they departed for the promised sweet stop.
I want to stop back at Ollivanders for a minute before we get our ice creams. Is that alright?" asked Harry, hoping she did not give him 'the look' and spoil the points he was expecting to get for the surprise treat.
"Okay, I guess," she replied. "As long as it is quick. You have me thinking about ice cream. It's not fair to interrupt that, you know," she said with a giggle that eased his mind about the request.
They entered Ollivanders a minute later. Mister Ollivander and his son were both in the front placing wands on the shelves. Although neither of them had a clue as to it, there seemed to be a definite system to where the wands were placed, much like that of books in a library or bookstore.
"Harry! Hermione! Back so soon," rasped the elder wizard. "Did you forget something?"
"No," replied Harry as he pulled the bag full of galleons out of his cloak pocket. "I have something for you. The situation with that young girl got me thinking. I have a considerable amount of gold doing nothing in Gringotts. I want to put it to work."
"That sounds admirable, my boy," responded Mister Ollivander in a confused voice as Hermione gave Harry an equally confused look. "How can I assist you?"
"You said before that you occasionally get a family in here who cannot afford a new wand for their child. I want those kids to experience the same joy I got when I received my wand back when I was eleven. Here are seventy galleons for The Phoenix Wand Fund to provide ten kids with a new wand for the first year at Hogwarts. I suspect you and your wands are good judges of character and you will not give a wand to the wrong person."
"That is a truly amazing gesture, Mister Potter…and incredibly generous," gushed a dumbfounded Mister Ollivander. "I will donate to it as well so that it provides fifteen wands."
"Thank you, sir," said Harry with a smile. "Now, I have to take Hermione to Fortescue's before she uses her wand on me."
Hermione, who was glowing with admiration for what Harry had just done, hit Harry on the shoulder in response to his remark. However, she was laughing when she did it.
Once they were outside, Hermione stopped and looked at Harry.
"I was wrong to have laughed earlier," she said as she pulled Harry into a tight hug and kissed him on the cheek. "You truly are a wonderful person."
Harry hugged her back and kissed her. "So are you," he said as he kissed her back. "So are you."
Full of ice cream, they made it back to The Burrow a short while later. Harry almost tipped over the chair Percy was sitting in as he shot out of the fireplace and hit the table where he was playing a game of wizard's chess with Ron. "Bloody hell!" exclaimed Ron as a couple of chess pieces were knocked over in the process.
Molly poked her head into the room to see what was causing the commotion. Seeing Harry and Hermione dusting themselves off, she said, "Clean yourselves up, dears. Dinner will be ready shortly. They hurried off into the bathroom to wash the soot off from their faces and hands.
Just as they sat down at the table a few minutes later, the backdoor swung open. "Hello, Weasleys, Harry," said Arthur in his customary, cheerful voice. "AH! Hermione. I have news for you."
The entire table stopped and looked at him. Even Ron put down the roll he had grabbed. They all wanted to hear his news. From the tone of his voice, it had to be good.
"We received a communication from our people in Australia," he said. "They have found your parents."
"OHMIGAWD! OHMIGAWD! OHMIGAWD!" screeched Hermione as she jumped up out of her chair, spilling her glass of juice into her salad, and started dancing around in a circle until Harry made it to his feet and managed to corral her a hug.
"From their first examination," continued Mister Weasley once Hermione regained a semblance of her composure, "they are confident they will be able to dehex them. Thornbush says that he believes the conflict in your mind when you cast the spell weakened it. It will take a bit of time, but he has high hopes of success."
"This calls for a bit of celebration," said Molly as she looked at Ginny. The two of them went into the kitchen. A few moments later, everyone could hear the distinct sounds of cooking in progress.
The men, as it were, retired to the front room as Hermione took a chair in the corner of the room to calm her mind by starting to read one of her new books. Ron and Percy resumed their game of wizard's chess. Harry and Mister Weasley chatted about entry into the auror program. Mister Weasley told Harry that between his contacts and their friendship within the Order with Kingsley Shacklebolt, the presumed next Minister for Magic, he and Ron should be shoe-ins for getting into the program.
A little while later, Molly and Ginny came out of the kitchen with a cake covered in pink frosting. Everyone had a piece of what turned out to be a ginger cake to celebrate Hermione's good news.
After finishing the cake, Harry and Hermione said they felt like a little walk. As they stood up and headed for the door, Ron got up to join them. He was, however, intercepted by Ginny. "They've only got a few days left before Leaving Day, '' she said with a look that even Ron could understand.
"Yeah. Right," he said as he returned to his seat to start a new game of chess with Percy as Harry and Hermione went out through the front door.
Sometime later, Harry and Hermione returned. Hermione had a bit of a glow to her cheeks and a somewhat glassy look in her eyes. Harry also seemed more relaxed than he had earlier.
"Did you have a nice walk?" asked Ginny with a subtle grin.
"Uh...yes. Thank you. Very nice, replied Hermione as the color of impending ripeness started to appear on the fruit on the Tree of Love.
Act XX
Inching Toward the Present
Leaving Day came as Hermione had to finally accept the reality that Harry really was not going to be returning with her to Hogwarts for their seventh year. She knew Ron was fully committed to leaving Hogwarts for the auror program. However, she was convinced right up to the last moment that Harry was going to 'come to his senses' as she kept telling Ginny and herself.
Harry and Hermione hugged and kissed at the steps of the train car. Hermione was fully immersed in tears as she stepped up alone into the train car and went to join Ginny, Neville, and Lavender in a compartment. Harry stood outside the window with tears in his eyes as the train started to pull out. It was one of the toughest decisions of his life. He wished he had Dumbledore, Remus, Sirius, and his parents there to help him make the choice. But now that it was done and he had to live with the consequences.
"I understand how you feel," said Lavender in an attempt to console the person she once saw as an adversary. "Ron has told me how Harry feels about you. Everything will work itself out. He loves you very much."
Hermione wiped her eyes as she looked up at Lavender. "Thanks, Lav," she said as she turned to look at Ginny who was nodding in agreement.
"He almost didn't follow his dream of being an auror because he was so concerned about how you felt and was worried about hurting you," said Ginny in a serious voice. "Ron and I told him how tough and smart you are, and that in the end, you would want him to be happy instead of regretful. I guess if you want to be mad at someone, you can be mad at us."
I'm not mad at anyone," replied Hermione as she tried to dry her cheeks. "I'm just sad. I thought we'd have the whole school year together. And I know you are right but the right thing hurts a lot."
"How are you remaining so calm, Lav?" asked Ginny as she had flashes of her from her epic drama queen days. I thought you would be more upset about Ron not coming back to school with us."
"Ron and I talked about it for several days," she replied. "I agreed with him that becoming an auror was a great choice. He already has all of the O. he needs, so he may as well get started. I foresee a great future for him."
"Maybe it will work out for the best," said Hermione, now at the rationalizing things level of the situation. "I really want to concentrate on getting my full set of O. with Outstanding or Exceeds Expectations grades. I got special permission to study for the final two because of last year. This will give me more time to focus on my studies. I am especially interested in going after the History of Magic one I had previously ignored. I have a new respect for history after seeing how much not knowing it led to Voldemort's defeat."
"That is amazing," said Lavender. "I never heard of anyone getting all twelve of them."
"Actually," said Ginny as she turned back from looking at the scenery whizzing by the window. "My brothers Bill and Percy both passed all twelve. Bill got Outstandings on all of them. Percy got a couple of Exceeds Expectations and an Acceptable on one."
Hermione was looking at Ginny with her mouth open as she said that. "I...I had no idea," she stammered. "I knew they were smart, but wow."
"Ron's passed seven of them…" started Ginny, who was now beaming with enough pride to brighten her rosy cheeks to even redder levels contrasting with her hair.
"...Harry's got seven, too," said Hermione.
"I got seven, so far," said Ginny. "But I don't think I will get them all. I'll settle for a couple of more. I am going to concentrate on quidditch."
"I am going to concentrate on advanced herbology," said Neville, entering the conversation for the first time. "Professor Sprout has helped me apply for some advanced programs. She thinks I have a good chance at becoming a Herbology Professor."
"That's wonderful, Neville," said Hermione.
"Yeah. You'll be teaching all of our kids someday," added Ginny.
"Oh...uh...yeah," stammered Neville, reverting back to his less secure former self. "I hadn't thought of that."
"What about you, Lav? What are you thinking?" asked Ginny.
"I always thought I wanted to be a Divination Professor like Professor Trelawney," started Lavender. "But she said she doesn't see it in my future. So I started thinking I might open a shop doing things like reading tarot cards, tea leaves, and other things. I am pretty good at them. But now, after all of the time with your mom, I think I would like to open a shop that has tea and baked goods. It will also offer readings to people."
Ginny smiled at Lavender's kind words about her mom. She had gone over the course of months from calling her Flabender and worse to really starting to like her. The type of shop Lavender was describing would be a nice tribute of sorts.
They eventually arrived at the station in Hogsmeade and made the trip up to the castle on the carts. Sadly, all too many of the students could suddenly see the thestrals pulling the carts. A situation requiring them to have seen death.
It was a special, sentimental trip for the group. They were all seniors, even Ginny, who was credited ahead because of the time she had spent there during the previous year. Others, such as Neville and Seamus were taking the year over because they had never gotten to take the classes they wanted during the previous year under the leadership of Snape and the Carrows.
Once they arrived at the castle, they went inside and sat down as a group at the Gryffindor table. They were anxious for the sorting of the first years to take place and the Welcoming Feast to begin. The Welcoming Feast was always one of the grandest meals of the school year.
Hermione watched closely as the first-years were led in for their date with the Sorting Hat. Near the front of the group was a girl with vivid, blue eyes and long, straight, blonde hair. She was certain that she was the girl from that day in Ollivanders.
The girl's name turned out to be Opalina Groves. The hat sorted her into Ravenclaw. Once the girl was greeted and seated at the Ravenclaw table, Hermione continued to observe her. She was still curious as to whether or not she was the girl Harry had provided with a new wand.
After a few minutes of chatting with her new housemates, the girl pulled out a pale-yellow wand for the others to inspect. It was definitely the same wand from the day. Hermione's heart smiled as the fruit on the Tree of Love neared ripeness.
Meanwhile, as Hermione and the others were settling into the school year, Harry and Ron were enjoying the last of the freedom before the beginning of the three-year auror training program. They both had more than the necessary five O. with Exceeds Expectations scores, including the essential ones, according to Professor McGonagall, in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, and Potions. Many of the other preliminary requirements were being waived for them because of their work in defeating Voldemort.
"Are you excited, Harry?" asked Ron as they shot little fireballs at the frogs in the middle of the pond in the middle of the Weasley marsh
"Excited?" replied Harry as he launched a shot causing a large bullfrog to jump high into the air before landing with a splash.
"About becoming an auror," said Ron. "We're on our way in three days.
"Yeah. Sure. I guess. It's what I always saw as my future job."
"My dad says the program is very selective and stringent. It's almost impossible to get into it. We're the first new trainees to be accepted in over five years."
Really," said Harry, pausing his shooting. "I didn't realize it was so restrictive. I guess it is quite an honor to get accepted, then."
"Yeah, dad said the Ministry is impressed with how we defeated Voldemort on our own. Hermione could get accepted, too, if she applies. There are a lot of eyes at the Ministry on her according to dad, but don't tell her that. She is already too hard to deal with a lot of the time," said Ron, finishing with a laugh.
"Yeah," sighed Harry, not liking the shot at his love, but knowing there was a lot of truth in it that, in all honesty, he could not deny. "But, where would we have been with her?"
"I know," replied Ron, now in the same position Harry was in seconds earlier.