This is the next chapter. This story is not going to be cannon so please don't read it expecting that. Please read and review, love Moon x
As talk moved on from Dumbledore's replacement and how good he or she would be Harry and Susan made their way over to the great lake. It was Saturday and Hermione of course was in the library trying really hard not to judge everyone she knew for not being there with her. Thankfully she was great friends with Susan whom Harry had informed should ignore Hermione when she gets like this. Susan had initially laughed thinking he was joking but soon saw he wasn't. Harry currently felt very guilty. Susan was furious with him because he'd ended up in the hospital wing and not told her about it or even explained why he was there. She'd stopped talking to him for a while but was giving him a chance today.
"Susan I'm so sorry I didn't tell you. To be honest waking up in the hospital wing was the very last thing I expected to happen to me. I was stunned in the back by Albus Dumbledore who did something he thought would help me out but he didn't think to ask my permission first. You saw his hand and I'll tell you now Hermione is responsible for it!" he said as she suddenly jumped into his arms crying.
"Harry I'm so sorry I was so stubborn. I don't want to lose you. I couldn't stand to lose you after only getting you in my life. What did he try to do to help you out? I need to know please just tell me!" she said desperately as he rubbed soothing circles on her back. He was way more clued in than he had been last time. Last time if a girl had cried around him he'd have had a panic attack or something like that himself. He was learning to calm down and see why someone felt the way they did first before flying off the deep end himself like he usually would have.
"Basically the long and short of it is I have some memories of my parents and indeed their deaths which he didn't feel I should have any longer because he told me it was damaging to my mental health to have those negative thoughts in my head. Not all of them were negative and most were wonderful. Dad was a great man but did have some serious flaws as well I won't lie to you. When he stunned me he tried to forcefully enter my head and erase those memories but Hermione's magic attacked him before he could succeed. Madam Pomfrey said he deserved it!" he responded awkwardly. Talking about what had happened to him in exact detail was still tough. Susan clung to him carding her fingers through his hair in a soothing fashion. He wasn't sure if it was to soothe him or her that she was doing it but either way it felt lovely. This time around he felt such love for her and from her too. He was so complete feeling inside that he had a sister to love and protect. Susan was well able to protect herself and he knew this but he did love making her feel safe too.
They spent hours talking about their favourite classes and giggling lots. It was such fun to just let go and not need to think any longer. Sometimes being a child and just laughing at funny things was all the medicine one needed. Harry vowed to always tell Susan everything which happened to him whenever he could. He had already decided to try out for his quidditch team next year. If he got a spot he knew he would only get it through sheer talent and not for any other reason. He loved how fair Ravenclaw was. He giggled as Susan told him to prepare for the tickle monster. He laughed his head off and tickled her back however none of them were aware of how close to the water they really were and they both tumbled into the black lake. Before either of them had the opportunity to process what was happening to them something was slapped on both of their faces which was not uncomfortable and they were pulled deeper into the water. They were both too shocked at being able to breathe that they forgot to freak out. They looked around and saw they were in the Mer Village with the king Aberforth and the Queen Adella greeting them with a bow.
"We have heard what you have done for our world Harry Potter and we wish to honour you with a feast in your name. Your sister is welcome to join us. Your bonded was not with you so she may not join you at this time but you and your bonded will always be welcome here at any time. This is not an honour we bestow lightly on others. Thank you for ridding the world of the foul Tom Riddle!" they said in unison as Harry and Susan who were truly stunned bowed in return. They were led into a kind of underwater great hall which was designed with thousands of gleaming shells and gems and had stunning stained glass windows. They were genuinely in awe of the situation they found themselves in. Harry had never experienced such kindness the last time he'd been down here but then again he'd been a competing champion at that time and they had a job to do so it was no surprise it was different now.
They floated in and to the seats assigned for them beside the king and queen as stunned merfolk filtered in gradually. The table before them was laden with fifty different types of jelly which wobbled comically every time someone jostled the table as they sat down. There was also jugs of refreshing cool water and various pies and sandwiches. It was gorgeous looking. As they ate Harry told them about his life and how much he adored his sister Susan. The merfolk were furious to learn James had cheated but happy Harry had Susan none the less. In fact Aberforth was so pleased with how Susan got on so well with everyone that he asked Harry if he might consider allowing her to marry one of his sons. Susan was furious that he spoke about her as though she wasn't even there and as though Harry would be the one deciding anything about her life like that.
Harry kindly informed the king that Susan made her own choices and he would not stand in her way if she wished to marry a merman but he was concerned about how it would work if she was to do it. Would she need to live in the sea or the lake all the time? This would be a disaster for sure. Aberforth laughed when he told him of his concerns and said they had special jewellery they could wear which meant they could be outside of the water and live a perfectly normal life so long as they spent twenty four hours a week in the water with their family which he was stunned to learn was a thing which could be done. Dumbledore had not known this last time and had failed miserably with them. They were left less than impressed with him after that fiasco. They had been so furious as Krum had gone rogue in his shark form and killed many merfolk just to get to Hermione. After a gorgeous meal and some traditional merfolk dancing it was time to go back home. They were stunned as the sun was setting as they came up to the surface of the water.
The king's son Aryan who really liked Susan and her vibrant red hair gave her a special shell necklace which would enable her to visit him freely at any time she chose. She was honoured by the offer of the prince if not highly intimidated. She'd need to talk to Hermione and her aunt about this to see what they advised her to do next. Harry was given a special rune sticker which was permanent and would stick to the skin much like the one he was currently wearing. He was instructed to give this to Hermione which he would be doing later. It would leave a small mark of a shell on her wrist but would enable her to go down to the bottom of the lake to visit the merfolk at any time. Elsewhere Dumbledore's actions had forced the hand of the Wizengamot and several laws had been passed quickly with little or no objection. The main law being that you couldn't work in any ministerial department if you'd not gotten good or appropriate grades for the type of position you were trying to obtain. This law was clever because it skirted over totally the whole issue of blood status by saying that if someone had the grades it didn't matter what blood status they were, they were to get the job at once.
It was decided that the best people to run the department of the misuse of Muggle Artefacts would be muggleborns and so it was decided to fire Arthur Weasley. Initially he was stunned, very outraged and outspoken but soon shut up when Amelia told him she had other plans for him anyway so he needn't worry. He wondered what he'd tell Molly. He was getting better where she was concerned. He no longer hated her he only slightly disliked her now which was a slight improvement. Actually he still very much loved her he was just disgusted with her actions. Considering the vow she'd given him though he was getting over it. She had even agreed that maybe Ronald living away from home with his brothers might be for the best. She didn't want him to be terrified of her and that did break her heart. As of now he still had no idea what his new role would be but he was thoroughly stunned when they told him.
He was selected by both Amelia and the Board to be the new headmaster of Hogwarts. It was such an honour. He'd cared so much about what happened in the school and with such passion for all the children's safety they knew he was the perfect choice for headmaster. As the new headmaster he was expected to instigate any changes he wished to see. He just made a rule that all teachers had to teach their classes fairly and without favouritism. His other rule was that all bullying was forbidden and anyone caught doing it would get two weeks of detention at once. He would be moving into his new office in a few days and Molly and Ginny were free to move in with him if they wanted to but he didn't want that so he was leaving them at home. Besides which Molly wasn't permitted to leave the house too much so it was better to keep her there. He'd buy her various crafts to keep her occupied. When he got home that evening they celebrated all night and felt a lot better in the morning. Hogwarts would be changing from the top down and he'd see to it at once.