Chapter five

After their first date, Charlie and Harry went out a lot. There were some nights that Charlie stayed at Harry's place and some nights he didn't. They did talk a lot and realised they were very different men, but it seemed to be working and their feelings for each other were growing.

Two weeks after Harry and Charlie admitted they liked each, a large barn owl flew into Harry's while he was eating breakfast with Charlie. Harry took the letter, gave the owl a piece of his bacon then read.

'Dear Mr. Potter, in regards to your letter, we, the chief wizard of the wizard of the governors, the headmistress of Hogwarts, the minister for magic and the chief wizard of the Wizengamot have been discussing exactly how we will incorporate the older of aged students such as yourself. So I would like you to come speak with us at a time of your convenience, maybe between all of us we can work out what will happen when you return to Hogwarts. Could you please let us know when you could make it in to the ministry of magic? Yours sincerely, Arnold Preston, chief wizard of the governors.'

Harry looked up at Charlie, 'What do you think Charlie?'

'Seems they are trying to work things out, if they didn't, maybe some your age won't return.'

'I would like you, Hermione and Ron to be there, I think between the four of us we could work it out with them. We'd have to wait for them two to get back though. Hermione's smart and logical, she's with Ron and if I know them two at all, they are fully together now. You're my partner, so I would like them to hear your input as well.'

'Partner, blimey, mum and dad said you had something to tell us Harry,' Ron grinned hugely, 'You like to shock me, don't you?'

Harry got up and hugged his two friends, 'I'm glad you're back. But tell me, did you find them?'

'Yes, they are staying with my aunt until they buy another house. But they would like to meet you, so Mrs. Weasley is going to get everyone over for dinner soon,' Hermione beamed, 'So you and Charlie?' she raised her eyebrows.

'Yeah,' Harry smiled sheepishly, then they all sat down again.

'Now you have to get used to me snogging Harry, not to mention feeling him up,' Charlie chuckled.

'Charlie, will you stop that. You can't keep our personal life private can you?'

'Nope,' Charlie chuckled again then kissed Harry.

'Okay, stop that and tell me what you were talking about when we walked in but I'm glad you two weren't doing anything we shouldn't see,' Ron said but with humour in his voice.

'Oh okay,' Harry smiled, 'See, Charlie and I were talking about Hogwarts, if I go back to get my newt's, which I haven't decided one way or another, not yet. But I know I want to see Charlie, I'm not going to be stuck there for a year and only see him on the Hogsmeade weekends,' Harry looked at Charlie.

'I was telling Harry that I've heard how a lot of people have been rushing to get married or living together. So if they were like you lot, wanted to return to get their newt's, then how will that work at Hogwarts.'

'So I sent a letter to the governors and I mentioned that, how are we going to be treated, we're adults now and some are married, so they have to do something,' Harry picked up the letter and handed it to Hermione, he watched as Ron and Hermione read, 'So I was saying I would like Charlie and you two there as well. I think between the four of us and them, some arrangements could be made.'

'Actually Harry this is good. We've seen the papers, it seems the same thing happened after the first war, people running out to get married or living together. We are adults now, so even if we are students, I'm sure something could be done so we're not treated as children,' Hermione said.

Ron smiles, 'Yeah, we should have a bit more freedom, as long as we do our work and don't do anything we shouldn't in front of the younger kids, something should be worked out.'

Harry and Charlie glanced at each other, both smirked then looked back at Hermione and Ron.

'So if I write back, will you three come with me?'

'I'm in, I want to be able to see you as well, not to mention shag you as often as I can.'

Harry rolls his eyes, 'I might as well give up trying to get you to keep our lives private babe.'

'Yep, you will. See, you're finally getting to know me Potter.'

'So how many arguments have there been about that?' Hermione asked.

'Lots, so how about it?'

'We'll go with you mate, because it concerns us. But is that why you haven't decided yet?'

'One of the reasons, I'm still not sure what I want to do. I kept thinking about before, the last few years and an auror would have suited, but now, I just know I don't want to fight anymore, I'd like something a little calmer. So if I do go back, it'll only be to give me time to work out what I want to do and maybe I will need good newt grades for whatever I decide on.'

'You've still got time, just like us. I have no idea what I want to do.' Hermione said.

'Okay, let me write back, but which day so we can all go?'

Harry, Charlie, Hermione and Ron sat discussing days, they had to work around the days Charlie works especially since he just started, he couldn't just take a day off so soon. Harry was fine with any day, Hermione and Ron seemed the same. So they worked out which day, Harry replied to the letter than handed it to the owl that was still sitting on the table, blinking at them. They watched the owl fly away before the four of them went into the living room so Hermione and Ron could tell them about their trip to Australia, how her parents were when she told them and how did reversing the memory charm go. Hermione ended up having to get a healer to help her because reversing the memory charm was a lot harder than taking the memory. But all was good and the Granger's knew everything now, well, almost everything that Hermione and Ron could explain in the time they had before they returned to England.

Harry and Charlie had their arms around each other, but Harry also held Hermione's hand while Ron's arm was around Hermione. The four of them walked through the atrium to lots of stares, lots of people calling out to the golden trio and Harry Potter and lots of others coming up to them to shake their hands and thank them. It took the four of them over an hour to get to the lifts and to the minister's office. The older woman sitting behind the desk instantly showed them in.

'Sorry we're late, got surrounded in the atrium,' Harry said as he stared at the four people in the minister's office.

'Yeah, they wouldn't let us through,' Ron said.

'Understandable, it's the first time the golden trio has been seen. So let me make introductions, you know Professor McGonagall, this is Brian Steel, head wizard of the Wizengamot and Arnold Preston head wizard of the governors. This is Harry Potter, Charlie Weasley, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley,' Kingsley said then the four friends shook hands with the two men they didn't know and even shook McGonagall's hand before sitting down.

'If I could, Mr. Potter, I understand why you asked for Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley to be with you, they are you're best friends who could be returning to Hogwarts with you. But can you explain why you wanted the other Mr. Weasley with you for this meeting, he is over age to be a student at Hogwarts?' Arnold Preston asked.

'Charlie is my partner, it's to do with him why I thought about all this and sent you that letter. He left Hogwarts years ago, naturally, but as my partner I do not want to be apart from him for a whole year. We've just decided to live together, so we would like to work something out so we could see each other.'

'I see, that is news, the last we heard you were dating a Miss Ginevra Weasley.'

'I was, before Dumbledore died. But I only realised I was gay right after Voldemort died. Ginny actually had a suspicion before I did, we're just good friends now, like I am with all the Weasley family.'

'Very well, let's get started shall we. We have been meeting a lot trying to incorporate all the students that will be returning to Hogwarts. There will be two lots of first years, the ones that start this year and the muggleborns that could not go last year. The first years from last year will be second year and so forth, so the ones your age will be known as eighth years. It has never been done before, so this has needed a lot or organisation,' Arnold said.

'As you would know, there are only enough dorm rooms in each house to accommodate up to seventh year students. So the first thing is the eighth years will have their own separate dorm rooms. You three are in Gryffindor's, so you will still be part of Gryffindor, but you're rooms will be separate to the rest. You will have your own common room, bathrooms and dormitories. We've been working on how many of you will return, so at the moment you will either be two to a room or have your own room,' Minerva said.

'Actually I never thought of that, but yeah, first up to seventh years, there would be no room for the eighth years,' Harry looked at Hermione, 'You thought about it though, didn't you Hermione?'

'Naturally she did, that's just Hermione,' Ron smirked.

'Yes, I did, exactly like Professor McGonagall said, two lots of first years and all the rest. It would mean more students than Hogwarts has ever seen before.'

'It will Miss Granger,' Minerva gave her a smile, 'At the moment we have received letters from students from the four houses that are your age. After receiving your letter Mr. Potter, we sent our own letters to any student that wish to return. So far I'd say three quarters of your age will be returning, naturally a lot of the Slytherin students either died or were arrested, there are about fifteen that is your age that we know wanted nothing to do with them or showed proof that they were forced.'

'So like Malfoy, I know he didn't want to, he was threatened by Voldemort, so will he be returning?' Harry asked.

'Yes, he is one of the Slytherin's that wish to return.'

'I think he should, he deserves a second chance and he did help us. Harry also gave his statement about what happened the night Professor Dumbledore died,' Hermione said.

'Yes, that is why he is being allowed to return along with some of the others.' Brian said.

'Some letters we received were from students wishing to return that are now married and some are living together. They said they would only return if that could be taken into consideration. There is one that I will not name but he did help students that had been tortured last year, he is married now and wishes to share with his wife who is also one of the returning eighth year,' Kingsley said.

'Yes, so married couples will have a room to share,' Minerva said.

'So only married couples, not couples living together?' Ron asked but glanced at Hermione and Harry.

'No, legally they are not married, so they would not be able to share at Hogwarts.'

'Well it seems we won't be returning,' Harry said as he saw Ron and Hermione agree with him.

'I don't see why you would say that Mr. Potter, your partner won't be at Hogwarts.'

'No, but Hermione and Ron are together, living together and don't want to be separated. I get that because after all of us could have died over the last few years, we want to be with our loved ones. I was going to ask if it would be possible to stay outside Hogwarts, with Charlie, then come in to do my studies every day, go home every afternoon, but I thought that might be a bit hard to work around. As long as I can see him quite often, that would be fine, but I'd rather be living with him. If we're not, after a few weeks, I might realise I would rather leave than be apart.'

'So if Hermione and Ron can't share, you wouldn't return either Harry?' Kingsley said but glanced at the other two men in the office. That did not go unnoticed by Harry, Charlie, Hermione and Ron, they wondered what was going on and if it had something to do with them.