Chapter twelve

'We knew Hermione would be angry she didn't get head girl, but really, Ginny deserved it,' Harry said putting his arm around his wife.

'We know, she just can't let it go.'

'It's something she has been striving towards since she began at Hogwarts,' Luna said.

'Head girl is also be someone that all students feel comfortable approaching and many do not like Hermione's attitude,' Harry said.

'We always believed you should have been Gryffindor prefect in our fifth year. But we were shocked they gave it to Ron,' Neville said.

'Dumbledore,' Ginny said, 'he's excuse was Harry had too much on his mind. We don't believe that. But we do believe it should have gone to you over Ron and the other two. You had less detentions than any of the boys and you had better marks than Ron and Seamus. If not you then it should have gone to Dean. But really, it should have gone to Harry since he did save my life and stopped Hogwarts closing, not to mention the tournament.'

'Yes, Harry deserved it. But you got to be head boy and quidditch captain,' Luna said.

'Ginny is basically my co-captain. She's a great chaser and deserves to be captain. If I finished when I normally would have, she would have been. If Ron can put his jealously aside, then he will be back as keeper. It will depend on his attitude at our first meeting. But off that and onto another subject. Have either of you decided what you want to do after you finish?'

'I'm going to work for daddy as a reporter, at least for a while. I do a lot of stories for daddy now, so my life won't change much apart from having more time to write and draw.'

'Then you will be perfect to do our interview,' Harry grinned at his blond friend.

'Professor Sprout wants to take me on as her apprentice. She got approval from McGonagall and the governors. All the staff can now take on an apprentice from the sixth or seventh years. It was something that Hogwarts used to offer but it was cancelled a long time ago. What about you two?' Neville asked.

'Since Ginny's got picked by the Holyhead Harpies.' Harry looked at Ginny who nodded, 'and I've decided to try and get on a team as well. I figured quidditch careers aren't that long and it's something I've always felt was right. I did consider being an auror at one time, but I realised I don't want to spend my life fighting dark wizards and witches. I will always help, if it's needed but I don't want it for my life.'

'You'll also get picked and both have long careers,' Luna said making Harry and Ginny smile. They knew Luna had many gifts and one was, she just seemed to know things about people. Neville grinned at Luna, who had become one of his best friends. He was like Harry and Ginny who knew Luna was special. Most people might think she's loony, but that was just the part of her that knew things no one else knew, or saw things no one else could see. So Neville knew, thanks to Luna's ability, that Harry and Ginny would end up playing professional quidditch for a long time. He knew they would play until they were ready to have children. There was a chance that Harry could continue to play after Ginny retires. He knew what he was going to do, now he would just have to wait and see what his friends would do.

Harry and Ginny ignored all the stares and talk as they helped the younger years off the train and over to Hagrid. When the half giant saw Harry and Ginny, he wrapped his big arms around them making the couple laugh.

Harry finally told all the scared first years that Hagrid was a great person, kind, gentle and one of Harry and Ginny's best friends. He would always be on hand to help if they needed it. The first years finally relaxed as Hagrid wiped the tears from his eyes.

They got onto the last carriage with Neville and Luna who had waited for them and made their way up to Hogwarts.

'I had a dream about Hogwarts being destroyed, due to Voldemort and fighting. I'm pleased that was just a bad dream and not a vision,' Luna said.

'So am I luna. I called Hogwarts my first real home, so I would be devastated if Hogwarts was gone.' Harry said giving the blond a smile.

As they made their way up the stairs, Remus smiled at the group, 'You four are the last until the first years arrive.'

'We made sure the first years knew Hagrid was harmless,' Harry shrugged making Remus laugh.

'Yes, I'm sure to the little firsties, he would look frightening. Go and find yourselves a seat.'

Harry, Ginny followed Neville and Luna into the great hall. The talk instantly stopped and everyone stared at Harry and Ginny. They realised everyone had been waiting for them to walk in. Harry groaned softly before he gave Luna a hug, then Ginny and Neville hugged the blond before they all found their seats. The talk didn't start until Harry and Ginny sat, but the talk they did hear was mainly about how good looking Harry Potter was. Some boys even went on about Ginny's good looks.

Harry kept his arm around his wife until Remus lead the first years into the great hall. Harry made sure to smile at them so they would feel comfortable and not scared. He knew they would still be nervous, all first years were when they arrived at Hogwarts.

As soon as the first years were sorted, Minerva stood, the students instantly fell silent.

'Welcome everyone. Most of the announcements will be after the feast, but there is something I wish to say before we eat,' Minerva glanced around before her eyes landed on Harry and Ginny, 'I want to thank Mr and Mrs Harry and Ginny Potter for saving our world,' Minerva began to clap, the staff stood and joined her, then all the students applauded as well.

Harry and Ginny stared around at the attention they were getting. They weren't sure what they should do, so all they did was give everyone a smile and a nod. It took a while before everyone settled down and the food arrived.

'So it's true?'

Harry turned to the small voice on his other side, 'Is what true?' He asked the little red headed first year girl.

'You're married to Ginny?'

'Yes, we're married.'

'Oh damn, I always dreamed of marrying Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived,' she pouted making Ginny giggle and Harry's eyes widen in surprise.

'Well, you can't be my wife, but you can be my friend, if you want?'

'Really,' the little girl said excitedly, then she threw her arms around Harry giving him a hug.

Harry hugged the girl but all he could do was look at Ginny, 'You've made a new friend love.'

'Yes, I have,' Harry said then slowly released the girl, 'What's your name?'

'Sally.'

'Hello Sally, I'm Harry and this beautiful young woman is my wife, Ginny Potter. That boy right there is Neville. Dean and Seamus are beside him,' Harry introduced Sally to all the ones sitting near him. Slowly all the other first year Gryffindor's all said hello to Harry and Ginny before they finally began to eat.

Even though Harry did introduce Hermione and Ron, they didn't acknowledge the first years, just acted like they didn't hear Harry.

'Yep, it's going to be one of those years,' Harry sighed.

'Forget them Harry. They are acting like spoiled children who missed out on going to the party. One day they will understand how wrong they were, not to mention, how ridiculous they look to everyone.'

'I just know that sooner or later Ron will say something and he could end up being shunned. Right now everyone is supporting us, so if he does say anything about us or to us that isn't nice, I can see what will happen. I don't want his life ruined because he couldn't keep his mouth shut.'

'You're too good Harry, he's not worth your time right now. He's proven time and again that he's never been a really good friend, not one you deserve. So let's just forget both of them and if they cause any problems, we'll deal with them and then this so call friendship will be done, for good.'

Harry and Ginny kept talking to friends right through dinner. When the last of the plates disappeared the headmistress stood. She made the normal announcements about the forbidden forest, about no magic between classes and about quidditch. When she announced how the point system was now different that got everyone's attention.

'I can't believe she actually used my idea,' Harry said.

'She knew it made more sense. It was just tradition before. We still have the house cup at the end of the year. It just gets decided on who the top points winners are along with the points for quidditch,' Ginny said.

'So if I win ten points in herbology, I won't lose those points if…another Gryffindor gets into trouble?' Neville asked.

'Yeah. See, I always thought it was unfair on those students who win points. Like you, Percy and Hermione who won more points for Gryffindor than any others. I was one of the people who lost a lot of points, which punished all the others that won points. I just didn't think it was right.'

'Not all of that was your fault though, we all knew that,' Dean said, 'Snape took points from all of us for ridiculous reasons, but you more than most.'

'Right so we don't have to worry about bias teachers anymore,' Harry said.

'I think all the heads still favour their own house but they were always fairer than Snape,' Ginny said.

'I like the fact that you can exchange your points at the end of the year for gifts, which include brooms and tickets to quidditch games, but also things like books,' Seamus said.

'It sounded like the staff worked out a wide range of gifts so it would cover everyone. Harry and I don't need new brooms, we both have Firebolts, but tickets would be good,' Ginny said.

'So two of the team are going to be flying Firebolts,' Dean said, 'I hope I make the team this time.'

'But I never saw you try out,' Harry said.

'With Oliver, then Ron, I knew I wouldn't stand a chance.'

'I'm holding full try outs, except for seeker and one chaser,' Harry smiled at his wife, 'Ginny is co-captain, but the rest of the spots are up for grabs. But Ginny and I were talking, we're putting some strict rules in place. More than four detentions a term and you're off the team. We don't want to find ourselves without a player because they couldn't stay out of trouble. But I want to have a full reserve side, not sure if that's possible, but the try outs will let me know who might be good enough to fill in if someone can't play.'

'All the professional teams have a reserve. I mean Gryffindor would have won every game since you started Harry if it wasn't for how often you ended up in the hospital,' Seamus said.

'Yeah, that's what Ginny and I were talking about. It was just lucky that Ginny could take seeker or we would have lost the cup. Which is what Snape was expecting.'

'He never focused on anyone but you,' Neville said.

Once dinner was over, Harry and Ginny made sure all the prefects from every house were doing their duties and gathering the first years to show them where their house rooms are. Once they were all lead away they were ready to ask a teacher where their rooms where, when Remus walked up to Harry and Ginny, ready to do his duty as head of house.