Ménage à Quatre

by Methos2523

Hogwarts is reopening after a year of rebuilding and fixing the damages from the war, but in that year a lot has changed for everyone. Now with some going back for their final year, and others moving on with their lives. Harry, Ginny and Hermione are looking to the future, discovering new relationships, and learning that the future might be far more open than they had believed...

15. Chapter 15

TITLE: Ménage à Quatre

DISCLAIMER: All things Harry Potter belong to J K Rowling... basically, if you recognise it, it isn't mine... Please don't sic the Aurors on me, I'm just here for the fun.

---

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Hogsmeade
Scotland

Friday 2nd October, 1999

"How bad is it?" Ginny asked, grimacing as she read the headline of the paper again, seeing Hermione's pained expression as she read through the article inside.

'Horror at Hogwarts!' painted the picture clearly enough, and 'Mastermind of Manipulations! Murder and Mayhem Maliciously Manufactured!' was emblazoned across the front picture, showing Albus Dumbledore standing front and center in the great hall, his eyes twinkling maliciously behind his glasses.

"Our first year, mine and Harry's," Hermione sighed. "The troll breaking in, Voldemort possessing Professor Quirrell..." She explained. "Professor McGonagall admitting that she'd been asked by Dumbledore not to do anything about the bullying or anything, and to treat us even harsher to try and separate Harry from making too many friends." She said with a pained expression.

Right now Ginny was glad she'd come out into the library instead of sitting in The Great Hall with everyone eating breakfast, while she hadn't been at Hogwarts for the year the newspaper was specifically talking about, she could well imagine how everyone in The Great Hall would have been staring at them and whispering to each other, talking about everything that was in this morning's issue of The Daily Prophet.

"Bad then?" Ginny asked with a slight grimace as Hermione frowned and stared at the paper again.

"I mean... it's bad, but..." Hermione shook her head, folding up the newspaper for now. "There's not much in it we didn't know, or hadn't suspected anyway." She explained. "Dumbledore setting the trap for Voldemort we already knew about, the paper says they think Dumbledore was trying to get Harry and Voldemort to fight when Harry was in his first year, but McGonagall's answers don't say anything about that."

"So it's just the newspaper people adding in what they think?" Ginny asked, making sure she understood what Hermione was saying.

"Yes, basically their outside perspective. This is how it looks to me, that sort of thing." Hermione nodded in agreement. "Some of their thoughts... like why Dumbledore was missing that night, how he'd flown on a broom to The Ministry for some mysterious emergency... it does sound frightfully out of place when you think about it now."

"Like why didn't he just floo? Or apparate?" Ginny asked.

"Exactly, and why he was going to The Ministry late at night when everyone else had already gone home for the day?" Hermione added her own thoughts in. "A lot of it is just suggestive though, there isn't any direct proof that Dumbledore was setting Voldemort up to kill Harry in his first year... but..."

"But it's enough to make you think it might be true," Ginny frowned, knowing Hermione's thoughtful expressions all too well by now.

"Maybe," Hermione sighed. "With everything we know now, how Dumbledore was setting Harry up to be killed, to commit suicide by Voldemort..." She frowned, shaking her head. "I don't like saying it, but honestly... I think the paper might actually be right." She admitted.

"It does sound dodgy," Ginny admitted. "Like Dumbledore just mysteriously decided to move the Philosopher's Stone to the school right at the start of Harry's first year. Like he didn't just leave it under a fidelius or something, or tell the Flamels to take it around the world to somewhere Voldemort would never find it... but he brought it to the school where tons of kids would be."

"Exactly," Hermione nodded in agreement. "There's so much that doesn't make sense about that year. I should have realised it at the time, but I was still so enamoured with magic and... and I believed Dumbledore was the greatest wizard ever. So stupid of me." She frowned, berating herself for her youthful naivety.

"Hey, at least you weren't stupid enough to read a horcrux book and end up getting possessed by Voldemort." Ginny explained with a shiver, this whole thing now bringing up memories she would definitely have preferred stayed buried deep in the past, and she really wasn't looking forwards to what McGonagall had to say everything that happened during her first year. "There's nothing really bad in it though?" She asked, looking to Hermione hopefully now.

"Not really," Hermione sighed. "Explanations from McGonagall about Dumbledore telling her to treat Harry and his friends stricter than normal. Deduct double the normal points for things, bits like that." She frowned. "McGonagall explaining that Dumbledore expressly told her to ignore any complaints about Snape's teaching or behaviour." She explained, shaking her head in disappointment of the teacher she'd used to look up to only a few years ago. "Then bits about how Dumbledore and McGonagall sent him back home to his awful relatives only a few days after facing Voldemort and Quirrell again, not caring about how it affected him or anything."

"They didn't care about him at all," Ginny frowned angrily at that.

"No, they really didn't." Hermione sighed. "Aside from McGonagall's answers and bits about what Dumbledore told her to do, which all really reads like excuses and her saying she was just doing what Dumbledore told her to... there isn't really anything we didn't know about."

"That's good then right?" Ginny asked. "I mean, it's nothing that's going to surprise Harry or get him angry again?"

"I don't think so?" Hermione asked, mostly to herself as she worried on her bottom lip in thought. "He might be angry about the idea that Dumbledore was setting him up for Voldemort to kill back in his first year... but I don't think that'll really surprise him, not really." She said, shaking her head. "Voldemort and Quirrell already tried to kill him twice in first year. Them doing it on their own, or Dumbledore setting them all up for it, I don't think it will make that much of a difference to Harry now, not really."

"Probably not." Ginny said after a moment of thinking about it. "They're all dead now anyway, so it doesn't really matter right?"

"That's true, still..." Hermione frowned. "It just feels terrible, I know... I mean, I knew Dumbledore was horrible, really horrible, setting Harry up to die like that... but... it's different, setting him up to die when he was seventeen or eighteen... but setting things up so Voldemort would be able to kill him when he was only eleven?"

"It's definitely worse." Ginny confirmed with a nod.

"I think it makes sense, with what we all know now." Hermione said thoughtfully. "With how obsessed Dumbledore was with The Prophecy, he must have thought that if Voldemort killed Harry in his first year, then the prophecy would be over, and then Voldemort could be defeated by anyone else."

"It still sounds stupid, and evil." Ginny muttered.

"Evil, dark... definitely dark." Hermione nodded in agreement. "Only a dark wizard would set an eleven year old boy up to be killed by Voldemort... I can't... I can't explain it any other way."

"Me neither," Ginny said softly, setting her shoulders to voice what they were both thinking. "Dumbledore was dark, wasn't he?" She asked quietly.

"Yes... I think... no, I know he was." Hermione admitted in a quiet voice. "It's the only explanation."

"I thought so." Ginny sighed. "Do you think everyone else will realise it now too?" She asked.

"Maybe, I hope so." Hermione nodded. "Hopefully people will stop writing about him as some sort of great saviour now, and actually write the truth for once." She said with a huff. "I've read enough books filled with lies now, just once... just once I'd like to know something in the wizarding world was actually telling the truth for once."

"Me too." Ginny admitted, standing up from the library table. "Come on, we should at least try and get some breakfast before our first lesson. Something is better than nothing."

Hermione stared at her for a moment before she nodded, standing up herself and putting the folded up copy of The Daily Prophet into her bag for now. Breakfast would definitely be good, but she just wasn't looking forward to another day of whispers, questioning glances, and odd comments about her first year, a year she definitely would like to leave buried in the past right now.

---

Holyhead Harpies Stadium
Holyhead
Holy Island
Anglesey
Wales

Swooping down from the sky, Katie lead the formation of chasers as they came down from their target practice and landed on the grass of the pitch.

Honestly she was pretty pleased with their practice today so far, all three of them had managed respectable scores at throwing the quaffles at the targets, even when flying past at good speeds. It wasn't the same as throwing through one of the professional rings, but in most cases using a target was actually better for practice, as it got their minds and arms used to aiming for one specific target, and not just 'through that big ring'.

"What's up with coach?" Katie asked as they landed, slipping her broom aside and leading Charlotte and Lindsey, the other two Holyhead Chasers, to the side of the pitch where there was a big barrel of ice cold water for them to drink and refresh themselves.

"Just stressed about Temps," Charlotte explained as they walked over.

Katie turned at that, watching as the coach walked around the pitch, talking with Nancy Templeton, their team seeker, their only seeker right now since Sarah, the bench seeker, had been injured in the match against Puddlemere at the start of the season.

"We still haven't got a new bench then?" Katie asked, dipping a tankard into the barrel and taking a deep drink of the cold water inside, feeling it refresh her aching body almost instantly. "I thought coach had feelers out for someone?"

"Yeah, heard there was a few hopefuls, but no one that was up to standard." Charlotte explained as she moved to the barrel when Katie stepped aside.

"She's just stressed because Temps is slacking off," Lindsey explained, leaning against the barrel and looking up above the pitch where Gwenog was still leading the beaters through an intense practice session with multiple bludgers. "She hasn't got the mindset right yet, and we still don't know what the fuck's going on with Sarah, she's the only one we're all counting on."

"What's her problem?" Katie asked curiously, focusing back on where the coach was now walking Sarah out onto the pitch and pointing around to the obstacle course set up with hoops, barricades and padded bars that were constantly moving around.

"She hasn't got the drive for it," Charlotte shrugged. "You know it's true." She rolled her eyes when Lindsey looked at her. "She's been playing casual ever since Sarah hit the pitch, even practice she's not pushing herself anymore."

"She flies alright, can't say she doesn't." Lindsey nodded in agreement. "But without Sarah around to fly against her, she's just going through the motions and not pushing herself or anything."

"She needs a challenge to get her blood pumping," Charlotte said after downing half a tankard of water in one go. "The sooner we get another seeker, the better."

"I might know someone..." Katie trailed off thoughtfully. "Actually... yeah, if it's just for practice and not for games..." She said with a grin before putting her tankard down on the table and jogging onto the pitch again, this time heading over to where coach was still talking to Nancy.

"Bell, good formation, tight, good on the targets." The coach shouted out as she approached the pair. "Take ten, then start taking on the moving rings."

"Actually coach, I wanted to ask..." Katie trailed off as she came to join the coach and Nancy. "You need a challenge right? Someone to fly against? Get competitive for the snitch and the courses right?" She asked, looking to Nancy now.

"Unless you can fly seeker and been holdin' out on us Bell, ain't a lick of spit we can do about it now." Coach shrugged, rolling her eyes at the interruption.

"I can't, but I know someone that can." Katie answered, leaning her broom over her shoulder casually as both the coach and Nancy looked at her curiously. "He doesn't play for any team, but he's good coach, really good."

"Hnh," The coach frowned for a second before tilting her head and looking at Katie curiously. "Might help, get some proper competition in her." He said, nodding to Nancy. "You up for it Temps? Flying against a stranger?"

"You think they can really fly against a professional seeker?" Nancy asked, a small scoff on her lips at she looked up at Katie, who practically towered over the petite blonde.

"I'd bet on it," Katie grinned down at her. "Just because he doesn't play professional, doesn't mean that he couldn't." She pointed out. "You want coach, I'll go grab him right now and set him up for a proper course challenge." She said with a challenging smirk.

"You've got balls Bell," The coach snorted. "Swear he's not playing for another team or rooting for anyone else?"

"Swear on my broom coach, he wouldn't dare." Katie said with a laugh, knowing full well that Harry wouldn't dare root for anyone but the Harpies unless he wanted to face Ginny's wrath at full force.

"You know what, go ahead." The coach nodded after a beat, staring into Katie's eyes and firmly indicating that she better not let her down with this. "He'd better be as good as you say Bell, I'll set up the course, hardest we've got." She smirked, looking to Nancy now. "What you say Temps? Up for showing a casual how a real Harpy plays?"

"Always," Nancy smirked, her eyes glinting with the idea of a proper challenge now.

"Go get your flyboy then, best tell him he's going to be up against a proper challenge today." The coach grinned at her.

"Oh he'll love it," Katie laughed back. "Just... actually, I'll let it be a surprise." She smirked, back in a bit.

With that said she turned and jogged back off the pitch, dropping her broom off to the side stands before she ran into the dugout and through to the changing rooms, ignoring the shouts from Charlotte and Lindsey behind her as she ran through and out the other side, dodging around the various corridors and through to the main players doors on the side of the pitch before she got outside and apparated away.

---

Holy House
Holyhead
Holy Island
Anglesey
Wales

Outside in the garden, Harry was quite casually practising the various spells in his NEWT books. Most of them he already knew and was pretty good at, but there were definitely a few that he hadn't heard of before and would have been a god send during the war.

He was concentrating on the Fulmus Curse mostly, and had a good target already set up at the other side of his garden. After this he was planning on properly focusing on the Imperturbable Charm, he remembered that one from sixth year but Snape had never really taught in properly, and he'd never really got the hang of it, so now he had the time he was going to focus on getting it right.

He'd already transfigured a pair of sunglasses after his first couple of successful casts of the Fulmus Curse, nearly blinding himself in the process when he'd first cast it properly and the bright lightning bolt had shot out of his wand and destroyed his target in one go.

It was definitely a powerful curse, and a deadly one at that. It was just tricky to focus on and aim properly, but he was dead set on mastering every curse and charm in the NEWT books before the end of the year so that he didn't let Professor Flitwick down.

Taking a deep breath he readied his wand again, staring down the garden at the stump of a log that he'd been using for a target, it was already scorched and burnt in several areas now, and was proving to be a very good target for this specific curse.

Setting his stance firmly he flicked his wand towards the log, silently casting the curse and squinting a bit as the lightning bolt flashed out from his wand again, leaving dancing lights in front of his eyes as the log took the full brunt of the curse once more.

"Bloody hell, warn a girl next time will you?"

Harry span around at the voice, holding his wand up in surprise and then lowering it again when he saw Katie coming out of the house with a grin on her lips.

"Thought you were at practice all day?" Harry asked with a smile, nodding to where Katie was still in her official Holyhead Harpies uniform. "Did it get cut short?" He asked as Katie walked over to him.

"Nope, need to borrow you for a bit," Katie said with a grin as she came over. "Our seeker's not pushing herself properly, she needs a decent challenger... thought I'd volunteer you." She said with a smirk.

"Me?" Harry asked, staring at Katie in surprise. "Um... aren't the Harpies... a girls team?" He asked dubiously.

"Just for practice, I don't want you playing matches," Katie laughed. "Come on, thought it'd be some good fun. Get you out on a pitch again? Flying properly and not just lounging around on that fancy broom of yours?" She explained.

Harry frowned as he considered that, he'd read the newspaper this morning and simply resigned himself to staying at home right now. He didn't really want to head out to Diagon Alley or anywhere where he would have to put up with everything going on right now. Most of all he didn't want people bugging him with questions or seeing their pitying glances, and he had absolutely no urge to put up with people bothering him with questions about things that happened nearly ten years ago now.

"Come on, it'll be fun," Katie prompted him with a grin.

"Katie... I haven't played properly since... god... sixth year?" Harry laughed, combing his hand through his messy hair as he thought about it. God, nearly three years, had it really only been three years? Sixth year felt like a lifetime ago now with everything that had happened.

"Ugh, don't even remind me of that year." Katie grimaced, shaking her head. She remembered that year all too well, being given a cursed necklace by Malfoy and spending more than half the year in St Mungo's spell damage ward to recover from it. "It'd be good for you. Getting up on a broom again, flying properly and not just blowing about in the air like a casual." She said with a smirk.

"Casual?" Harry stared at her, putting his hand over his heart with a mock offended gasp.

"Come on," Katie laughed at his expression. "It'll be fun. Get you out of the house for a bit, can have a laugh and meet my team." She explained with a smile. "We haven't got a bench seeker at the moment, so Temps doesn't have anyone to fly against."

"Temps?" Harry asked curiously, mulling the idea over in his head.

"Nancy Templeton, our seeker." Katie explained. "Though if she keeps playing like this, I don't think she'll be our seeker for long after this season." She said with a grimace. "Coach is already starting to question if she's got the drive for it, but trying to recruit two seekers at once? Professional players? I don't like the chances of that happening any time soon."

"Huh," Harry nodded absently as he thought about that, and made a mental note to tell Ginny about that. He knew Ginny could play both seeker and chaser, she preferred chaser, but if the Harpies were looking for new seekers, then he knew outright that Ginny would start pushing her seeker training harder and harder to stand out to the Harpies scouts. "Alright, I guess getting out of the house for a bit would be good..." He offered with a small smile towards Katie.

"Great!" Katie smiled widely at him. "Grab your broom, I'll grab some bits from inside." She said, pulling him in for a quick kiss before she dashed back into the house, her emerald and gold uniform vanishing back through the back door and leaving Harry watching in amusement.

"Crazy witch." Harry chuckled to himself as he casually walked over to the garage, putting his wand in his jeans pocket for now as he pushed the door open and moved to grab his Lightning Bolt broom from the stands on the side wall where they all stored their brooms currently.

The garage was sort of their storeroom style area of the house right now, while he'd parked Sirius' flying motorbike here as well, there wasn't much else that he'd really had planned for it, since neither him or Hermione drove cars, or had any real interest in buying a car, the double garage was just a lot of empty space that wasn't really being used for anything.

Off to one side Hermione had set up a small potions workstation on one of the worktops, reasoning that it was better to keep the potions mixing out here so that the smells and fumes didn't stick around the actual house, and keeping all their potions ingredients out here kept them cool and dry, and away from sunlight as well, which was needed for quite a few of the more delicate ingredients.

Carrying his broom he walked through the side door that led through to the conservatory / swimming pool area and headed back through to the kitchen. Katie was definitely right, it would be nice to actually get flying again and see if his seeker instincts had rusted at all during the war.

Flying properly to play quidditch was very different from flying casually like most people did anyway, and it was only really dedicated quidditch players who understood the difference between a 'casual' and a proper flyer.

He was amused to walk into the kitchen to see Katie waiting for him, his deep emerald dragon-skin trench-coat thrown over the kitchen table along with Ginny's Holyhead Harpies scarf. It was somewhat fitting how well the greens matched, and he'd never really thought about that before when he'd been wearing the coat.

"Show your team spirit," Katie explained with a grin when she saw him eyeing the scarf curiously.

"Alright," Harry nodded dubiously as he placed his broom on the table and pulled his coat on and hung the scarf around the collar lazily so that it was pinned in place under the collar and lapels of the coat.

"Now you look the part," Katie laughed, beckoning him to follow her. "Come on, coach is going to be waiting for me to get back anyway, she'll go spare if I miss too much of today's practice."

"I'm coming," Harry chuckled, shaking his head as he grabbed his broom and followed Katie through the house to the front door, heading outside to follow her down the gravel path to outside of the anti-apparition jinx. "You know Ginny's going to be mad at you right?" He said with a smirk. "Inviting me to play with the Harpies while she's stuck at school?" He clarified when Katie turned to look at him.

"I'll make it up to her tonight," Katie smirked with a wink as they reached the boarder of the property where the gravel drive led down through the forest and onto the main road towards Holyhead. "Hold on tight." She said with a smile, wrapping one arm around Harry before quickly apparating away with a pop.

---

Ministry of Magic
Whitehall
London

At exactly one o'clock, the emergency sitting of The Wizengamot ended and the doors opened, most Warlocks flooding out in droves while talking amongst themselves in heated discussions about today's sitting, talking and arguing points about the controversial proclamation that had been made today.

Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt sat alone at his seat, watching everyone head towards the main doors. Not knowing if it was in his imagination or not, but it certainly felt like more than a few of the sitting Warlocks had been giving him dubious glances since the proclamation, and he definitely felt like they'd all been watching him wearily as they walked past and left the chambers.

"It's official then,"

Kingsley looked up from where he was simply staring at the tiled floor underfoot, trying to gather his thoughts as the weight of today's sitting was forced upon him.

"Yes," Kingsley sighed, looking up to see Director Hammer standing on the chamber floor looking up at him. "I know there was warning of it coming for the last few months... It just happened so quickly." He said, feeling very weary now as the official proclamation and all of the consequences that came with it rattled around in his brain.

"People are angry, a lot of them." Director Hammer mused, leaning down on the barrier that separated the main floor of the chambers from the sitting area where The Minister and his aids normally had their place. "More than half the sitting Warlocks had children at Hogwarts during Dumbledore's reign, you can't believe that they wouldn't be furious at everything he did?" She asked.

"No, no, I'm not." Kingsley shook his head. "It's just... I can't believe that I misjudged the man so badly." He explained with a sigh.

"We all did," Director Hammer shrugged. "You should know, just in confidence." She started, making sure Kingsley was paying full attention to her before she continued. "I'm opening a full investigation into Dark Lord Dumbledore's actions regarding Harry Potter."

Kingsley nodded, fighting back the grimace that he felt shudder through his body at Director Hammer voicing Albus' new title aloud. It felt wrong, twisted somehow, but it was official now. The Wizengamot had officially proclaimed Albus Dumbledore as a Dark Lord posthumously. It had been recorded, and he would now go down in history as a hidden Dark Lord than had manipulated the very fabric of British society for Merlin only knew how many years.

It had been nearly unanimous as well, only two votes against it from two of Albus' staunch supporters that refused to believe anything bad about the man, and himself, and since he'd voted to abstain during the vote, the only sensible choice he could really have made, it had fallen to the rest of The Wizengamot, and dark, neutral or light alike, they had all been appalled by Albus' manipulations at the school.

"I'd assumed you would." Kingsley nodded.

"Then you know I'm going to have to talk to you officially, on record, sooner or later." Director Hammer pointed out. "I don't have a list yet, but you can bet galleons to knuts that I'll have one in a few days. And everyone knew how close you were to Dark Lord Dumbledore."

Kingsley nodded again, the weight of Albus' new title settling around The Wizengamot chambers like a thick smoke that made it hard to breathe.

He'd known in his heart that as soon as the vote had been called, it would pass without anyone speaking up against it. It the years since Albus' death, he'd lost followers and friends at a staggering rate as more and more of his secrets came to light, and from the way the vote fell, he knew that Albus didn't have a single friend or ally left in The Wizengamot now, and likely had less than a handful within The Ministry itself.

He'd had to abstain from voting because of how close everyone knew he was with Albus. His friendship with the man had been a matter of record for several years now, so voting against the proclamation would be seen as The Minister officially voting in The Wizengamot to protect his friends, rather than his vote being due to the subject matter and proof of wrong doing being debated.

But likewise he just couldn't vote for the proclamation, while there was more and more evidence to support it, he had trusted Albus for too many years now, and supported him for twice that long. He might not know if Albus still deserved that support or not, and the doubts in his heart were growing larger day by day, but actually voting to name Albus as a recognised Dark Lord, even posthumously, was an act too far that he could not drive himself to take even now.

"I'll start interviewing Dark Lord Dumbledore's followers on Monday, I just thought you should know." Director Hammer offered, meeting Kingsley's eyes before giving him a respectful nod and walking away, leaving him sat in the empty chambers alone as the silence settled around him.

That was going to be his legacy now. He wouldn't be remembered as Minister Shacklebolt or Auror Shacklebolt, he would only be known as one of Dark Lord Dumbledore's followers now, like Minerva, Severus, and the rest.

It was the beginning of the end, the ringing death knell of his time as Minister.

Tomorrow morning, people around the country, likely around the world, would wake up to their Saturday editions of their newspaper, and he knew without question that the front page headline would be the decrying of Dark Lord Albus Dumbledore. There had been enough journalists in the visitors gallery to ensure that The Daily Prophet and The Wizarding Wireless would have the story, and more than likely there were a few international journalists there as well, who would spread the word back to their own countries where it would spread from there.

He was well known as a close confidant of Albus', and even he could see that by Monday there would be calls for his resignation flooding in, either by howler, or in person, or by someone raising the issue in The Daily Prophet. It was a certainty that by the middle of next week, he would be ousted from The Ministry and his career would never recover.

Standing up from his seat he took one last look around The Wizengamot, knowing that he would very likely never see these chambers again.

Today would be his last day as Minister, with most in The Ministry being away for the weekend it gave him two days breathing room, but on Monday he would hand in his resignation so he could walk away from the position with his head held as high as possible, rather than being ousted and his tenure forever being linked as a follower of Dark Lord Dumbledore.

He knew in his heart he had done his best for the country, he had fought The Dark with everything he had, and his legacy would show the end of Knockturn Ally and the arrest and imprisonment of the remaining Death Eaters, but all of that would now be tarnished by his involvement and association with Albus Dumbledore.

He was angry, frustrated, horrified and saddened at the same time, a boiling cauldron of emotions that all seemed to conflict with each other, but there was little he could do now that it had been made official, and fighting it would be a hopeless cause as he knew that most of the country had already decried Albus Dumbledore and any who were associated with his crimes, these newest revaluations by Minerva were just the final straw that ended any surviving allies that thought of Albus Dumbledore as a good man.

At the end of the day, he would visit Hogwarts personally to move Albus' tomb. Whether the man deserved it or not, he wouldn't stand by and let Albus' tomb be desecrated by mobs and people who needed a target for their anger. He would find a nice muggle cemetery somewhere, maybe somewhere close to Godric's Hollow.

As fitting as moving Albus' tomb to Godric's Hollow would be, he knew outright that if he did and Mr Potter found out about it, not to mention the public at large, the outcry would be far and wide, and would probably leave both him, and Albus' tomb, in an even worse position than it was right now.

No, moving the tomb and leaving Albus buried in an unmarked grave in a muggle cemetery was for the best. That would ensure that his grave remained a secret and was kept from being defiled, it was the least he could do for his old friend.

---

Holyhead Harpies Stadium
Holyhead
Holy Island
Anglesey
Wales

Harry smiled to himself as he followed Katie through the stadium doors, looking around curiously as Katie led him through the players entrance and around what looked to be a maze of corridors that led down and around to the pitch itself.

It was a small but comfortable stadium, smaller than the Ballycastle stadium, and far smaller than the huge and expansive one that The Ministry had set up for the world cup so many years ago now.

The emerald and gold Harpies colours were definitely in abundance through the stadium, with even the doors being coloured the deep emerald green with gold handles on, making it clear that this was The Harpies home turf and they were definitely proud of it.

"Come on," Katie grinned back at him, speeding up so she was almost jogging as she led the way past the changing rooms and down the corridor that led down towards the dugout and onto the pitch itself.

He couldn't help the wide smile that spread over his face as he walked out onto the pitch, it looked and felt so different to all the times he'd walked out onto the Hogwarts pitch with the other Gryffindor players, but after so many years of walking onto a quidditch pitch alongside Katie, it felt almost natural to be walking onto a professional pitch alongside her right now.

"Bloody hell!"

"No fucking way!"

"Is that a bleedin' Lightning Bolt!"

"How the fuck does Bell know Harry Fucking Potter?"

The shouts and yelled gossip from her team mates almost made Katie grimace for a moment as the team flying around overhead spotted her and Harry walking onto the pitch, but she couldn't help the smile that came over her face as the coach spotted them and walked over.

"Fuck me sideways Bell, could'a given a witch a warnin'," The coach scoffed with a grin as she came over. "Nice to see you've got some taste in your team Mr Potter." She said with a laugh, offering her hand as she noted the Harpies scarf draped around his neck.

"Best team in the league," Harry said with a smile as he took the offered hand, shaking it awkwardly.

"Damn straight," The coach laughed, looking at Harry's Lightning Bolt broom with an appraising grin. "Saw you play for Gryffindor back in the day. Used to have a Firebolt right?" She asked.

"Yeah, before the war." Harry nodded. "Had this one since." He said, holding up his Lightning Bolt proudly.

"Well, you said you were bringing a proper challenge," The coach laughed, waving to Nancy and beckoning her over. "You think you're up for a proper training session to help our seeker out?"

"Katie said it'd be fun," Harry nodded, getting into the feel of things now and doing his best to ignore the way he could still hear the rest of the team gossiping in hushed whispers as they flew around on their brooms above them.

"Fun she says," The coach grinned as Nancy came over. "Temps, seems Bell here has actually brought you a decent challenge." She said with a wide smile. "Still like your chances?" She asked.

Harry smiled pleasantly as the Holyhead Seeker looked at him appraisingly, she was far shorter than him, shorter than Ginny or Hermione were as well. A slight and slim build with long flowing blonde hair that was pulled back in a tight ponytail definitely gave her the look of a seeker, and her Firebolt broom was nothing to scoff at.

"Hey, nice to meet you." Harry offered, holding out his hand.

"Same," Nancy grinned, shaking his hand with a grin. "You flown courses before?" She asked, nodding up to the side of the pitch where the seeker obstacle course was set up.

"Nothing like that," Harry shook his head. "We had basic training stuff at Hogwarts when I was playing seeker, but nothing professional."

"Pft, you'll fly through it," Katie smiled at him, nudging into his shoulder with her own. "Temps is from Spain, went to Beauxbatons, but she'd have definitely made the house team if she'd been a Gryff." She said proudly.

"You lot and your Hogwarts," Nancy shook her head with a grin. "Seen Hogwarts, draughty and musty old castle, don't know what you lot see in the place." She scoffed with a teasing glint in her eye.

"That's what my friend said," Harry smirked back at her. "She went to Beauxbatons too." He explained when Nancy looked at him curiously.

"Alright, enough chitter chatter." The coach interrupted. "Temps, run Potter through the basics of the course. You can have two fly throughs before, but I want to see your times on the board after that."

"Yes coach!" Nancy nodded eagerly.

"What's the course record?" Harry asked curiously.

"Twelve seconds." Nancy grinned. "Set by me." She said proudly, putting both her hands on her hips as she lent her Firebolt against her shoulder.

"If you beat twelve seconds, I'll give you an extra prize tonight." Katie smirked at him before pulling him in for a quick kiss. "Go on and show Temps how Hogwarts best flies." She said with a laugh, pushing Harry off and ignoring the open mouthed staring from both Nancy and the coach.

"What sort of prize?" Harry asked with a laugh as he gripped his Lightning Bolt broom and started really feeling like his old self had been before The War.

"You'll have to beat it to find out," Katie winked at him. "Have fun." She said, giving him a sultry wink before grabbing her own broom and taking off into the sky to join back up with Charlotte and Lindsey again, knowing that they would definitely be badgering her with questions for the rest of the practice now.

"Oh you're on Potter," Nancy laughed at him, mounting her Firebolt and slowly lifting off. "Come on, lets see if you're a casual poser or if you can really fly." She challenged with a smirk.

"I'll show you poser," Harry laughed back, mounting his Lightning Bolt and taking off as well, following Nancy up into the air and towards the obstacle course eagerly.

"What the fuck Bell?"

Katie grinned widely as she flew up alongside Charlotte and Lindsey, hearing Lindsey's demand as she flew into formation and took the center position between them. "What?" She shot back with a smirk, seeing Lindsey's demanding expression as her team mate narrowed her eyes at her before throwing the quaffle over to her.

"You know what!" Lindsey laughed at her as Katie caught the quaffle easily. "You and Potter? When the fuck did that happen?" She demanded. "Thought you were still hung up on that witch you were seeing over Christmas."

"Looks like she got over her just fine," Charlotte countered with a laugh.

"I did," Katie laughed back. "Hey, do me a favour alright?" She asked, looking between Charlotte and Lindsey. "Don't make a big thing out of it." She said, making sure both the other chasers were listening to her now. "Just treat him like... I don't know, like another team mate alright?"

"Come on Bell... it's Harry bleedin' Potter!" Lindsey demanded. "The Man Who Vanquished... how the hell are we supposed to think this isn't a big deal?" She asked, the surprise at seeing Harry Potter walking out onto the pitch with Katie still visible on her face.

"Come on, for me?" Katie asked hopefully. "He hates all that crap, just treat him like you'd treat me." She said firmly. "He'll like it a lot more than fawning and gossiping about him."

"I'm game," Charlotte shrugged, tussling her raven hair and pulling it back with one hand. "Whatever, come on, we've got training to do. Eyes on the quaffle Bell, not on your new boytoy." She yelled, holding out her hand in an invitation for Katie to toss the quaffle back to her.

"Jealous?" Katie laughed as she threw the quaffle back before she led the formation of chasers back over to the targets set up for them at the end of the pitch.

"Ain't had any in my bed in about a year now, so... yeah," Charlotte laughed back. "You going to share some stories then?" She asked with a wiggle of her eyebrows as they approached the targets.

"Maybe," Katie smirked. "If you beat my score today." She said with a wink.

"Oh it's on Bell!" Charlotte grinned, hefting the quaffle up and adjusting her grip on her broom. "Center target?"

"First to fifty," Katie nodded, gesturing for Charlotte to go first since she already had the quaffle in hand.

Charlotte simply laughed, lining herself up before she bolted forwards on her broom and started her run towards the targets, pushing as fast as she could fly before she hefted back her arm and threw the quaffle as hard as she could.

---

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Hogsmeade
Scotland

"You too?"

Hermione looked around curiously at hearing Ginny's voice, raising her eyebrows when she saw she was still kitted out in her quidditch uniform.

"Wonder what Professor Vector wants with both of us?" Hermione asked, frowning as she considered that.

When the head girl had interrupted their potions lesson this afternoon to inform Hermione that the Headmistress needed her, she hadn't really thought much about it, reasoning that there could be a dozen reasons why Professor Vector was calling her out of her lesson, but if she'd requested Ginny as well, then it narrowed those possibilities down quite drastically.

"Dunno," Ginny shrugged. "Better be good though, I was in the middle of setting up some new plays for the team." She explained with a huff as she fell into step alongside Hermione as they made their way down the corridor towards the Headmistresses Tower.

It still felt weird seeing the gargoyle automatically stand aside as they approached, both of them had heard Harry talk about Dumbledore using passwords for his tower so many times in the past, but apparently Professor Vector didn't do that at all, and kept her tower open for any students to come and see her whenever they wanted.

"It's probably about the newspaper articles," Hermione said quietly as they made their way up the spiral staircase. "I can't think of any other reason Professor Vector would want to see both of us."

"Right, yeah." Ginny sighed, nodding in agreement with that. It was either that or something to do with Harry, that much was for sure.

As they got to the top of the spiral staircase, Hermione walked forwards curiously as she saw the door to the Headmistresses Office was already open, and was greeted by the sight of Professor Vector sat at her desk pensively, talking quietly to a middle aged witch with glasses and straw blonde hair that was hanging loose over her shoulders.

"Professor?" Hermione asked aloud, standing awkwardly in the doorway and looking into the office curiously.

"Ah, Miss Granger and Miss Weasley, come in." Professor Vector said, beckoning them forwards with one hand, her usual scarlet robes looking rumpled and heavily worn today, like she had been rushing around and a far cry from their usual pristine and flowing style. "This is Director Constance Hammer of the DMLE." She explained, gesturing to the blonde woman who was sat opposite her desk, both the witches standing up as Hermione and Ginny cautiously walked into the office.

"Nice to meet you both," Director Hammer nodded curtly.

"Sorry I pulled you out of your lessons, or off the pitch apparently." Professor Vector said, noting Ginny's quidditch robes. "But I felt it necessary, and Director Hammer agreed that you should both be informed about this as soon as possible."

"Informed about what Professor?" Hermione asked, a nervous sinking feeling settling in her stomach as she looked between the two women. After all, the Director of the DMLE didn't just come and visit students at Hogwarts for no reason.

"At today's Wizengamot session, Albus Dumbledore was officially decried posthumously as a Dark Lord." Director Hammer said bluntly, tilting her head when she didn't hear any gasps of surprise or utterances of denial from either of the two younger witches. "This doesn't surprise either of you I see."

"Not really," Hermione shook her head. "We've... well, us and Harry really, and our other friends. We'd all agreed that Dumbledore must have been dark after everything he did, making it official... It doesn't really surprise me at all." She admitted.

"Me neither," Ginny shook her head, in full agreement with Hermione here.

"I see," Director Hammer nodded. "Then this will not cause Mr Potter any undue distress?" She asked. "I only ask because the press were in the visitors gallery during the sitting, if The Wireless has not broke the story already, it will certainly be in the morning issue of The Prophet tomorrow." She explained.

"I don't think Harry will be surprised at all really," Hermione shook her head. "Maybe he'll be surprised at it being official, but he already thought Dumbledore was dark, this won't change anything for him." She said before sighing softly. "I think he'll only really be upset that there's only an investigation now, and that some people only believed him now that Minerva McGonagall came forward to corroborate everything as well." She explained. "The fact that none of this actually happened when we spoke up originally is the problem." She said, looking over at Director Hammer now.

"Well, I cannot speak to that in full," Director Hammer admitted. "Though if either of you had come to me directly, I certainly would have investigated your complaints, but as it were, by the time you both spoke to The Daily Prophet about this, Dark Lord Dumbledore was long dead."

"I suppose," Hermione nodded, having had to conceded that point that they didn't speak to the aurors or anyone, neither of them trusting The Ministry or believing anything would really come of it. "I'm just happy something's being done now, but I just think that Harry is going to be annoyed that this is just another time when he's spoken the truth about something, and it's just been ignored again until someone else spoke up."

"Then I will talk further about this with Mr Potter when I speak to him officially," Director Hammer nodded. "As there will now be an official investigation into everything Dark Lord Dumbledore did during his tenure as Headmaster, it is certain that at some point I will have to speak to you both, and Mr Potter, in order to find out exactly what else Dark Lord Dumbledore did during his time here."

"I'll let him know," Hermione said calmly, inwardly wondering exactly what Harry would make of the DMLE actually investigating Professor Dumbledore now.

"That would be appreciated," Director Hammer smiled softly at that.

"Thank you for keeping us in the loop," Professor Vector nodded, standing up from her desk and shaking hands with Director Hammer. "I'm sure you're aware that the board of governors have officially removed Albus Dumbledore's portrait, along with the one commissioned for Severus Snape. They've made me aware that they actually outright refused to have Minerva's portrait even commissioned after the news of her complicity in these events came to light."

Director Hammer nodded as this while both Hermione and Ginny turned their attention to the wall of portraits, neither having noticed the missing portraits before now.

"I'd heard," Director Hammer nodded back. "I know there's officially call for Dark Lord Dumbledore's tomb to be removed from the Hogwarts ground, though that would be a matter for the Board of Governors to deal with."

"Of course," Professor Vector gave a tight smile at that, hiding the grimace that threatened to show whenever she thought of that white marble tomb on The Black Lake's island.

"I'll keep you appraised of any more information," Director Hammer said curtly. "I have my aurors keeping watch for Minerva McGonagall, as of today she's officially an undesirable with relation to her long term association with Dark Lord Dumbledore. Though it's my belief that she's already fled the country."

Hermione and Ginny both shared a surprised look at that, not having heard that before. Neither of them had really given Minerva McGonagall much thought aside from thinking of her in anger for what she had done over the years while helping Dumbledore ruin Harry's life.

"If I hear anything of her, I shall inform you as soon as I can." Professor Vector said with a firm nod, making that a firm promise to herself.

"Then I shall take my leave," Director Hammer said, turning back to Hermione and Ginny. "Chances are I will have to speak to you both in the following weeks. Do either of you have a problem with me conducting the interviews here, or would you prefer it to happen outside of schooling hours?" She asked.

"Here's fine," Hermione said after a moment's thought, knowing Harry wouldn't particularly like The Ministry finding out exactly where he lived.

"Yeah," Ginny nodded in agreement with Hermione.

"Excellent, then I shall speak to you then." Director Hammer smiled at the two younger witches. "It will likely be only a small informal discussion. Most of Dark Lord Dumbledore's exploits with regards to Mr Potter are now well documented in The Daily Prophet, I have aurors already speaking to the newspaper editor and retrieving any evidence that might help in my investigation." She explained. "But if you could inform Mr Potter that I will need to speak to him as well, that would be appreciated."

"I could ask him to come here when you want to interview us?" Hermione offered. "Would it be easier if we're all in one place for you to talk to us one after the other?"

"That would certainly make things easier, as long as there is no objection to Mr Potter returning to the school?" Director Hammer asked curiously, looking over to Professor Vector now.

"None at all," Professor Vector shook her head. "I have no issues with Mr Potter visiting the school whenever he wishes, it's the least we can do for the young man after everything that he has done for us."

"Excellent," Director Hammer smiled at that, it would definitely be more comfortable to arrange a secure interview area here in one of the unused classrooms than having to bring Mr Potter into The Ministry. Nobody wanted a repeat of the last time Mr Potter came to The Ministry, she hadn't even been on The Minister's floor, and she'd heard about the argument within minutes of it occurring. "I'm sure you're aware, but it's entirely likely that the International Confederation will release their own statements with regards to Dark Lord Dumbledore at some point next week. He did hold the post of Supreme Mugwump for quite some years, so I have little doubt they will have involved and holding their own investigation to ascertain if Dark Lord Dumbledore misused his position at the ICW in any way, like he clearly misused his positions of power here and at The Ministry."

"I'll let Harry now so he isn't blindsided by anything." Hermione nodded, thankful for this heads up.

"That would be appreciated," Director Hammer gave a tight smile in response to that. "I assume you offered to bring Mr Potter to the school rather than to The Ministry for a specific reason?" She asked curiously. "I am aware there is still some... tension, between Mr Potter and The Ministry, though I am not in a position to know exactly what occurred and why."

"Harry... none of us really trust The Ministry anymore, not since before the war really." Hermione explained with an apologetic look towards Director Hammer. "First it was with Minister Fudge setting Harry up in that ridiculous trial, and then with Dolores Umbridge torturing students with blood quills when The Ministry sent her here to try and ruin Harry and Dumbledore's reputations." She explained. "Then The Ministry was basically under Voldemort's control, but nobody ever said or did anything about it."

"I see," Director Hammer hid her grimace at the faults of The Ministry being forcefully outlined like that, while she hadn't known the specifics like students here being tortured by blood quills, it certainly explained why more and more people were distrustful of The Ministry now.

"Harry didn't trust Minister Shacklebolt since before the war, he was one of Dumbledore's people that kept him locked up with his aunt and uncle so they could abuse him." Hermione explained with a dark frown on her face as she thought about that.

"Him and all the others in The Order as well," Ginny added on.

"Right," Hermione nodded in agreement. "Then after the war... the whole thing with the Order of Merlin medals... that just proved to Harry that nothing had really changed, even though he'd won the war."

"The Order of Merlin?" Director Hammer questioned, quirking an eyebrow at that. She'd seen the photo in The Daily Prophet of Mr Potter throwing his medal back at Minister Shacklebolt, and the article stated clearly that he'd firmly refused the honour, but she didn't know there was more to the story than that.

"Shacklebolt wouldn't give Hermione the medal as well, only Harry and Ron." Ginny explained with a snort of disgust. "Like he tried to say it was only pure bloods and half bloods that were allowed the medal, never mind that Hermione did ten times the work that Ron ever did during the war, and without her they wouldn't have even figured out half the stuff around Voldemort's horcruxes." She explained with an offended glare on Hermione's behalf.

"I didn't ask him to refuse the medal for me," Hermione said quickly. "He just threw it back at Minister Shacklebolt and said he wouldn't want it if I wasn't allowed one as well." She explained. "Just more privileges that only pure blood and half bloods get while the muggle borns get shoved away again." She said with a huff.

"I wasn't aware of that," Director Hammer sighed, seeing all too well now how this would have pushed Mr Potter further away from ever trusting The Ministry were trying to change things. If they couldn't even change things so that a muggle born war hero was awarded the honour she rightfully deserved, how was anyone supposed to believe they were trying to change things at all?

"With everything, I'm still surprised you two still stayed here," Ginny said with a small shrug when Hermione looked at her. "I know Harry talked about moving to France or America or somewhere, I think he only really stayed because we were going back to Hogwarts."

"I didn't know he'd talked about moving to a different country?" Hermione stared at Ginny at that revelation.

"Yeah, said it a couple of times after you two did the interview things with The Prophet." Ginny explained. "I wouldn't have blamed him if he did really, there must be tons of countries out there that treat muggle borns and half bloods better than they do here."

"Mr Potter isn't still thinking of leaving the country then?" Director Hammer asked quickly, fighting back the thoughts of what everyone would think if their national hero abandoned the country altogether. That would definitely be a killing blow to The Ministry, and would likely spark riots against officials after everything that had happened.

"Not anymore," Ginny shook her head, looking at Hermione now. "I think it's official now, but Hermione and Harry..." She trailed off, gesturing to Hermione to continue.

"We're both coming back to Hogwarts next year to do our Mastery courses." Hermione said, knowing exactly what Ginny was prompting her for.

"I was aware of this, but haven't spoken about it outside of the staff that I trust with the information." Professor Vector nodded in confirmation. "I am certain however that when the news does come out, it will reassure a lot of people to know that yourself and Mr Potter have returned to these halls."

"I am glad you both decided to stay," Director Hammer said, breathing out a small sigh of relief that at least something was going right this damned week. "With regards to the Order of Merlin, I'm not quite certain what can be done there. As I don't know the particularities of that specific award or what laws are set around it's inclusion into The Order of Merlin."

"Honestly Director, the medal and award don't really mean anything to me anyway." Hermione explained, shaking her head when both Director Hammer and Professor Vector looked at her curiously. "I really think Harry just used Minister Shacklebolt's refusal to give me the medal as an excuse, I don't think he wanted the medal or the award either."

"Why not?" Professor Vector asked curiously. "It is a most prestigious award, even taking into account the pure blood bigotry that apparently surrounds it currently, if that could be changed, it surely would be worthwhile to accept the award?"

"Professor, aside from Ron... who were the last two people to be awarded the Order of Merlin?" Hermione asked, making a specific point.

"I'm not entirely certain, I don't remember..."

"Cornelius Fudge awarded himself the Order of Merlin five years ago," Director Hammer grimaced when she realised what Miss Granger was saying. "And prior to that... oh Merlin..."

"Peter Pettigrew was given it in nineteen eighty two." Hermione nodded, seeing that Director Hammer had caught on now. "One that betrayed Harry's parents to Voldemort, and another that tried to imprison him, had someone torture him and tried to feed him to Dementors." She explained with a roll of her eyes. "Do you honestly think Harry would accept an award that meant being included on the same honour roll as Peter Pettigrew and Cornelius Fudge?"

Ginny snorted in amusement at that, shaking her head at the thought. "Didn't realise that." She said, looking to Hermione. "No wonder neither of you wanted it." She huffed a laugh. "And Ron's wandering around polishing his medal like Merlin himself pinned it on his robes." She muttered. "What an idiot. They might as well just rename it the Order of Tossers medal."

"I see your point of view now." Director Hammer sighed, wondering if this was what most people thought of The Order of Merlin now. Had it became a joke rather than the prestigious award it was supposed to be. With recipients like Peter Pettigrew and Cornelius Fudge as recipients, the medal and including into The Order of Merlin stood for very little indeed, certainly not honour and valour as it was supposed to stand for.

She would certainly have to bring these points up to Minister Shacklebolt and see if there was some legislation that could be used to remove the prestigious award from these clearly undeserving recipients. If nothing else, it was the right thing to do, and would certainly show people that The Ministry was trying to fix it's mistakes and do right by the people that had shown true honour and valour in defending their country against the Dark Lord Voldemort.

"I didn't realise either," Professor Vector admitted, sending Hermione a quick apologetic glance.

"It certainly paints Mr Potter's refusal in rather a different light than what I had heard." Director Hammer admitted. "Well, I shall look into these points and see what I can do. I am unsure if there is actually legislation to allow the retraction of the award, but if there is, I will personally see to it that both Cornelius Fudge and Peter Pettigrew are stripped of the honour as soon as possible."

"That... I think Harry would like that Director," Hermione gave a small smile at that. "Knowing the person that betrayed his parents was given that medal... I think you can see why Harry wouldn't want to be associated with it as well."

"Of course," Director Hammer nodded, wondering how many other people around the country had made that connection as well, and believed that The Ministry had still left Peter Pettigrew with the award knowing full well what he had done. "I shall take my leave then... it appears I have quite a lot of work to do, not the least of which is investigating Dark Lord Dumbledore's manipulations." She said with a small sigh. "I will owl you both when I have arranged a time to come and interview you and Mr Potter."

"I'll make sure Harry knows Director." Hermione smiled at that, thankful that there seemed to be at least one decent, honest and hard working witch working at The Ministry now.

"I will see you to the floo," Professor Vector nodded, walking around from her desk. "Please, both of you stay, there are some other matters I wish to discuss with you before you leave." She said, looking at Hermione and Ginny before walking Director Hammer over to the fireplace at the far side of the room.

"Did you know about Dumbledore and McGonagall's portraits?" Ginny asked in a whisper, looking at Hermione now.

"No," Hermione whispered back, shaking her head. "I don't think Harry knows either." She frowned as she thought about that. "He hasn't been up here since before the war I think, and I didn't notice it when I came to see McGonagall and Professor Flitwick."

"Wonder what he'll say," Ginny tilted her head as she thought about it. "Bet hearing that Dumbledore's been officially called a Dark Lord now will shock him."

"Them making it official?" Hermione asked. "Definitely. But I think Harry already knew he was a Dark Lord anyway." She said with a small shrug. "That won't..."

"Thank you both for staying," Professor Vector said as she came back across the room and walked back around her desk to sit down again. "I had planned on speaking to you over the next few weeks, but this seemed as good of an opportunity as any." She said, looking at Hermione now. "I would like to ask... you specifically Miss Granger, and Mr Potter if possible, for some assistance in the upcoming year."

"Assistance Professor?" Hermione asked, wondering what on earth the Headmistress would be asking her and Harry for help with.

"Traditionally, starting February, the deputy head is charged with taking the invitation letters to prospective muggle born students, and explaining both magic, and the inclusion of schooling to them and their families." Professor Vector explained. "Now, obviously this isn't something Professor Flitwick is able to do... which causes the task to fall to me."

"Oh, yes, of course." Hermione nodded, remembering all too well that evening when Minerva McGonagall had showed up at her house to talk with her and her parents about magic and everything that being a witch entailed.

"While I am suitably comfortable in the task of explaining magic and the school to these families, I have some... trepidation about my skill in navigating the muggle world, and do not wish for my failings to allow embarrassing pitfalls or confusions to cloud the matter at hand." Professor Vector said with a small self-deprecating smile. "I can admit that the last time I really ventured into the muggle world was perhaps in the late seventies, and believe things have changed quite a bit since then?" She asked, looking at Hermione now.

"Oh, oh they really have Professor." Hermione blinked in surprise, trying to imagine just how much everything had changed since the seventies. Fashion, technology, society, so much had changed that it would be almost impossible for someone used to the seventies to navigate today's world without extreme difficulty.

"I believed so," Professor Vector hid a small grimace at that. "If you might be so kind, you and Mr Potter if possible, would you care to join me in these meetings and speak with the families involved?" She asked hopefully. "As students and someone closer to the prospective students' ages, I thought that it might be wise to have a different viewpoint for them to appreciate, as well as a guide for myself so that I do not make any costly mistakes during these meetings that might drive these prospective students away."

"I'll certainly help, I'm sure Harry would be willing to help as well." Hermione nodded with a wide smile. "I had so many questions when Minerva McGonagall came to visit me, and I know Harry didn't even get a visit at all, he was completely lost when he first started Hogwarts."

"Yes, I have already spoken with Mr Hagrid, though he could not tell me why Albus decided to send him to speak to Mr Potter about his education." Professor Vector winced at the thought, not even needing to imagine how terrible that meeting must have gone.

"We'll definitely help Professor." Hermione beamed at the thought, already planning on writing up a little helpful guide for new muggle born students with everything she had learnt and knew would be helpful for them.

"That is a weight off my mind, thank you." Professor Vector smiled, letting out a sigh of relief at knowing she would actually have some help in figuring out the muggle world and bringing these new students to Hogwarts properly.

"I can help too if you need it," Ginny offered with a small smile. "Since I've been living with Harry and Hermione, I've learnt everything about the muggle world." She explained with an eager little bounce. "I know about fridges, microwaves, TV's, music, and money and their underground trains and everything." She said with a wide smile. "I only took Muggle Studies up to my OWL's, but seeing it all and what Hermione's shown me... the muggle world is nothing like Muggle Studies makes it out to be like."

"It isn't?" Professor Vector asked, getting a sinking feeling in her gut when Miss Granger gave an apologetic smile that looked more like a grimace to her.

"It's... slightly out of date Professor." Hermione admitted tactfully.

"How out of date?" Professor Vector asked, looking at how Miss Granger very politely evaded the question.

"Um... a hundred years or so?" Hermione offered with a wince as Professor Vector's eyes shot open wide.

"Only a hundred years?" Ginny asked in shock, looking at Hermione now. "Wow, I thought it was like two or three hundred years out of date." She whispered in awe, much to Professor Vector's horror.

"The rest of the world changes far faster than anything I've seen in the magical world Professor," Hermione explained. "There are significant world changing events that aren't even mentioned in the Muggle Studies text books. A lot of those books seem to think cars have only just been invented, and that a lot of muggles still ride around on horse and carriages."

"They don't?" Professor Vector asked in a small voice.

"Nope," Ginny grinned, happy she could answer questions like this now. "They have huge car things that can fit four or five people in them. Entire families. Their trains are so much nicer than the Hogwarts express, and faster too." She explained. "And they have so many different types of music, it's amazing!" She grinned at the memory of Hermione introducing her to different muggle radio stations and all the different music that she could listen to while working out.

"I see," Professor Vector grimaced, reaching for her quill and making a note to speak to Griselda Marchbanks about the Muggle Studies course and how it needed a rather drastic overhaul. "That... will be something I will have to look into later." She admitted, thinking about everything else that was piling on top of her right now. "But thank you for the warning, I only spent sparse days visiting the muggle world in the seventies, certainly not enough time to navigate or enter discussions with muggles with any certainty."

"I'll definitely help, and I'm sure Harry will too." Hermione smiled reassuringly at Professor Vector.

"Thank you both," Professor Vector smiled back. "Do enjoy the rest of your day, what remains of it... and the weekend. And please tell Mr Potter that we are all sending our sympathies to him in this trying time."

Hermione simply nodded at that, smiling and accepting the dismissal for what it was, leaving the office with Ginny and closing the door behind them, leaving Professor Vector to slump her face into her hands and groan in frustration at the chaos and mismanaged syllabuses that she had to sort through after many years of neglect and stupidity from Albus Dumbledore.

If the man hadn't already been a recognised Dark Lord now, she would have been cursing his name every chance she got.

---

Holyhead Harpies Stadium
Holyhead
Holy Island
Anglesey
Wales

Harry was laughing as he flew back down to the pitch, the cheering of the Holyhead Harpies team members felt just like the old days back at Hogwarts with the old Gryffindor Quidditch team, and he couldn't help the absolute feeling of joy and appreciation that had had his blood pumping as he tore through the seekers course, dodging and weaving, following that golden snitch like it was the only thing that mattered in the entire world.

That moment when he'd crossed the finish line and snatched the snitch out of the air with a whoop of joy, it reminded him exactly of why he loved flying so much, and why he loved playing seeker.

It was definitely different now, flying without his glasses. It was strange, thinking this was actually the first time he'd flown properly since dying and the horcrux in his head dying with him, but when he'd been chasing that snitch through the hoops, up and down past barriers and swinging bars, he felt faster, more alert, more driven and focused on that shining golden ball than he ever had been before.

If this was how his life should have been without the horcrux in his head, then he hated Dumbledore even more for leaving it there all those years and forcing him to muddle through his childhood with a sluggish mind, faded eyesight, and aches that never seemed to go away.

"Bloody 'ell Potter!"

Harry grinned wildly has he directed his broom down, angling it up as he approached the grass of the pitch so that he could hop off casually and lift the broom up as he walked.

The Harpies coach was looking at him in awe, and with an oddly calculating glint in her eye as she jogged over with the rest of the team following only a few steps behind.

"How'd I do?" Harry asked with a wide smile.

"Nine and a half, just under ten seconds!" Katie laughed as she came over to congratulate him. "I knew you could do it!" She said, pulling him in for fierce kiss, and ignoring the hoots and jeers from her team mates.

"Bloody glad you don't play for another team now," The coach laughed. "Never seen anyone take on those hoops at that speed, I swear your bristles brushed the sides of the hoops on the last three corners."

"Probably," Harry grinned as Katie released him.

"I'm not letting that record stand," Temps gave him a mock glare from where she was stood with the beater and team captain. "You just watch, I'll have it under nine seconds by the end of the season Potter!"

"Let me know if I can come back and give you another race sometime," Harry grinned over at the petite blonde, getting a fierce smile with an eager nod back in response.

"You're welcome here any time flying like that," The coach laughed over. "So long as you don't sign on with another team, right?" She said with a mock glare. "Keep him in line Bell, Harpies or Hell!"

"Harpies or Hell!" The entire team chorused as one, leaving Harry to laugh at the team unity that felt so much like the old Gryffindor team that it was nostalgic in all the right ways.

"As much as I love to play, I don't think professional is for me," Harry smiled at the coach, shaking his head. "I'll fly anytime I can, but I don't fancy going back into playing for cheering crowds and rabid fans anytime soon."

"That's good news for us I reckon," The coach laughed, happy that her team wouldn't have to face off against Potter playing for Puddlemere or Ballycastle in the league, they were strong enough teams as it was, but having a seeker of Potter's calibre would bring their game up to a whole new level. "Shame you ain't a witch though, get a decent supply of gender switching potion and I'd be offering you a place on the team right here." She said with a wild grin.

"Not happening," Katie laughed, shaking her head at that thought.

"Definitely not, I'm happy being a wizard thanks." Harry chuckled at the thought.

"Me too, you've got a few bits I'd definitely miss if you turned witchy," Katie grinned with an over the top leer, causing all her team mates to laugh and cheer around her again.

"I'll bet he does," Gwenog Jones laughed and nodded over to Harry. "Good seeing you again though, you're a better flyer than I heard about in Slug's party."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot all about that." Harry chuckled, ruffling his hair awkwardly. He remembered Gwenog Jones had been there at the Slug Club party back in sixth year, but he couldn't really remember if he'd even spoken to her that night or not.

"Was a while back, and with everything since..." Gwenog shrugged, trailing off to not mention the war and everything. "Anyway, how about getting a photo of you and the team? Would be a great one to hang up and have a laugh with."

"I want a copy to," Katie nodded enthusiastically at the idea.

"Make it two and you've got a deal," Harry said, smiling as Katie grinned and wrapped her arm around him possessively.

"I'll get the camera," The coach laughed, jogging off the pitch to go and get the team camera from her office, where it was normally kept for special events or fundraising galas or things like that.

A photo of Harry Potter posing with the team would definitely be fun to have displayed up in the trophy room with all the other photos of the team at charity games and sponsored events, and it would definitely be amusing to see and hear some of the reactions from other teams when they came to play against The Harpies on their home turf and saw the photo for themselves.

"So how'd you two hook up?" Gwenog asked curiously, looking between Katie and Harry. "No offence Bell, but thought you were as bent as a Leprechaun's galleon." She said with a laugh.

"I chase for both teams," Katie said with a shrug. "Harry just... you know, it just happened, one of those things." She explained, grinning over at Harry who smiled back happily. "Him and Ginny are the best thing right now, maybe second best if we beat Ballycastle this year." She allowed with a smirk, getting a laugh from Harry as the rest of the team cheered in agreement.

"Got yourself a threesome then, that makes more sense." Gwenog nodded with a smile. "Don't shag her out before any real games, and we won't have a problem, got it?" She said, fixing Harry with a glare that was only slightly ruined by the teasing smirk on her lips.

"I think I have to worry more about her and Ginny wearing me out," Harry smirked back, enjoying the friendly teasing and camaraderie that felt oh so familiar right now.

The team hooted and hollered at this again, Charlotte and Lindsey, the two other Harpies Chasers, pulling Katie off of him to ruffle her around playfully and start demanding lewder stories and far more detail than Harry would ever give.

"Let me talk to the coach after, get you a season pass." Gwenog smiled, walking over to Harry and surprising him by pulling him into a one armed hug. "I owe you for everything at Hogwarts, reckon you kept my little sister alive with everything you did." She said with a thankful smile.

"I... I didn't know you had a sister at Hogwarts?" Harry admitted a bit awkwardly.

"Hufflepuff, same as me." Gwenog laughed good naturedly. "She mentioned you a few times, Meg made the team, talked about Cedric a whole lot more though." She said with a grin. "I know she always believed you about Voldemort though, it was just the rest of the idiots that didn't."

Harry simply nodded, not really knowing what to say about that as he racked his brain to try and remember anyone like Gwenog was describing. He did have vague memories of a Megan Jones in Hufflepuff, but couldn't really put a face to her or anything.

"Knock if off you three," The coach shouted as she came back onto the pitch carrying the camera. "Middle of the pitch you lot." She ordered, making sure the camera had a decent film in it and the lumos flash was ready and set to take multiples in a quick burst. "Three shots, standard five second loop each." She said as the full team gathered around on the pitch, pushing Harry and Katie into the middle together so the rest of the team could crowd around them. Every one of them still holding their brooms proudly.

Harry simply let himself get pushed and pulled into the right position, never really having had a proper photo taken of him before where he was willingly there. The Tri-Wizard stuff definitely didn't count, because he would have run out of that entire press thing with Skeeter in half a second given the chance.

"Alright you lot," The coach shouted as she set up the camera. "Give me at least one serious one first to hang up with the others, then you can have your fun."

Harry nodded, seeing how the team gave resigned nods and rolling eyes at that, assuming it was a regular thing for them and they'd done it plenty of times before now.

"Three, two, one..."

The camera flash went off as Harry stood still, a wide smile still on his face from how he'd been flying manically only minutes ago, and was still feeling the thrill of the hunt and the sensation of victory as he'd snatched up that snitch.

"Right you lot, you can have your fun now." The coach laughed, seemingly happy with the photo she'd got. "Three in a burst, do whatever you want."

Harry didn't really know what to do, so he simply slung his broom over his shoulder and prepared himself to act casually, though that plan when quickly out of the window when Gwenog reached around Katie from behind her, grabbing the Harpies scarf that was still around Harry's neck, and pulled him tight against Katie with a wide grin, tying the scarf around Katie's back when the camera flash went off.

The photo caught precisely the moment as Gwenog tied them together and Katie grabbed him for a searing kiss, the rest of the team turning to look at them, cheering and pumping their brooms in the air.

The second flash went off only seconds later, and caught Harry staring up at Katie with a dazed look in his eyes while she simply smirked and held him tight against her body, whispering "Tonight." As she rubbed herself into his crotch.

The third flash captured the entire team standing up and glomping the pair in a huge team hug that collapsed mid way through, sending them all crashing to the ground, with Harry and Katie still tied together and buried under a pile of Harpies witches.

It was with loud laughter and cheering that everyone got up and Gwenog untied the pair while the coach took the camera back off the pitch, ordering them all to the dressing rooms to get changed and 'bugger off for the day'.

"Hang around, I'll grab my bag and apparate back with you once we've got the photo from coach," Katie said with a grin. "Can have a shower together back at your place." She added with a wink.

"Sounds good," Harry nodded, firmly in agreement with anything that got him in the shower with a naked Katie right now.

He enjoyed it as Katie pulled him in for one last fierce kiss before running off the pitch and down one of the slopes that he was guessing led to the changing rooms, now all he had to figure out was which one of the four pictures he actually wanted a copy of, or if he should just ask for a copy of all of them and be done with it.

---

Holy House
Holyhead
Holy Island
Anglesey
Wales

"Harry?" Ginny shouted out as she came through the floo, stepping aside quickly so that Hermione could follow her through and not collide in the middle of the living room.

"Upstairs!" A shouted reply came back as Hermione stepped through the fireplace.

Both Ginny and Hermione headed for the stairs as the same time, heading up and hearing the sound of music coming from the gym room they automatically looked there, seeing Harry working out on the rowing machine while Katie was happily on the weights bench with a truly terrifying amount of weight on the bar she was lifting up and down over her chest.

"Hey you two," Ginny smiled as she came into the room, heading over to the big machine on the other side of the room and sitting down on it comfortably for now and dropping her school bag off by the side of it.

"That's... that's... wow," Hermione breathed out, staring at the amount of weight Katie was bench pressing and feeling suitably impressed to see a witch benching more weight than either her or Harry even weighed.

"Hey," Harry breathed out, slowing down in his rowing. "How was today?" He asked.

"You saw the paper right?" Ginny asked, double checking first.

"Yeah, I figured Dumbledore was setting the whole thing up anyway. Thought about that ages ago, there wouldn't be any reason to hide the stone in the school and lure Voldemort there if he wasn't trying to set it up for me to fight him." Harry explained, still breathing a bit hard as he slowed down and cooled off from his exercise.

"Such an arsehole," Katie huffed out, lifting the weights bar up fully before placing it gently back on the supports and sitting up, grabbing the towel from beside her to wipe off the sweat from her face and arms.

"Right," Hermione nodded in agreement. "Harry... can you stop for a minute?" She asked. "At school today... the Director of the DMLE came in to talk to me and Ginny."

"What?" Harry said loudly, stopping his movements completely and letting go of the pulley on the rowing machine and causing it to snap back into the turbine with a clatter of metal against metal. "What for?" He asked, not liking the sound of that meeting one bit.

"Nothing bad," Ginny clarified quickly, shaking her head. "Actually, she was really nice." She added with a shrug when Harry looked at her curiously.

"Apparently The Wizengamot had a session today, after the newspapers and McGonagall's interviews and everything..." Hermione trailed off. "They've officially named Dumbledore as a Dark Lord." She said, biting the bullet and getting it out there as bluntly as she could.

"Really?" Harry asked, his eyes going wide at that, not having expected that news at all.

"Really," Ginny nodded in agreement. "Apparently they're doing a proper investigation and everything, the DMLE is looking into everything Dumbledore ever did." She explained.

"Wow," Katie breathed out, trying to reason that out in her head. Even after hearing everything that Dumbledore had done to Harry, hearing him decried as a Dark Lord would definitely take some getting used to. She didn't even think she'd be able to say 'Dark Lord Dumbledore' without it sounding really weird to her.

"Director Hammer said that it was going to be in the papers tomorrow, so she wanted us to tell you about it now so you didn't get a shock when you saw it tomorrow." Hermione explained.

"That's... I don't even know what to say about that." Harry admitted. He'd been happy enough just knowing Dumbledore was dead and couldn't manipulate him anymore now, but hearing that other people actually believed him properly and had seen through all of Dumbledore's lies and bullshit, actually felt really good right now.

"Maybe mum might actually realise she's been wrong for once," Ginny snorted in amusement, not really finding that likely at all. She knew her mum only ever heard things that she agreed with or anything that backed up her views, anything she disagreed with or didn't want to hear simply went in one ear and out the other.

"Oh, there was an owl for you this morning, I left it in the kitchen." Harry said, nodding to Ginny to let her know.

"Harry, the DMLE are going to want to talk to us, all of us." Hermione pointed out. "Director Hammer asked if she could interview us some time next week, talk to us about everything Dumbledore did and ask about anything we saw him doing."

"Oh," Harry nodded, he supposed that made sense. If there was going to be a proper investigation, then they would have to talk to the people Dumbledore screwed over the most, which meant him.

"I said we could talk to the aurors at the school," Hermione explained. "I thought that might be better, easier really, than bothering to go into The Ministry and deal with everything there." She said with a hesitant smile.

"Yeah, yeah Hogwarts is definitely better." Harry nodded firmly at that, not wanting to go anywhere near The Ministry if he could help it.

"Director Hammer said she'd write to us when she's organised a day to come to Hogwarts, so I'll tell you when we know alright?" Hermione asked.

"Sounds good," Harry nodded as he climbed off the rowing machine, stretching to work out the tight feeling in his legs that had come from doing such a good workout. "Fancy going out tonight?" He asked, looking around at Ginny, Hermione and Katie. "I don't really fancy cooking tonight, and getting out of the house today was great." He said with a grin.

"Sure," Ginny nodded, always happy to go out for food with Harry. Him and Hermione always knew really interesting muggle restaurants, and had introduced her to so many different types of food that it was amazing.

"I'm up for it," Katie nodded in agreement.

"Sure," Hermione smiled. "Wait, you went out today?" She asked curiously.

"We needed some help for practice," Katie explained with a grin. "Our seeker's not playing her best, so I volunteered Harry to come to practice. Give her a good challenge and get her competing properly again."

"You played with The Harpies!?" Ginny demanded with wide eyes.

"Just their practice pitch and training stuff," Harry said quickly, seeing Ginny staring at him after Katie's explanation.

"We got photos too," Katie laughed over, drawing Ginny's attention over to her. "And season tickets for you two, for as many games as we want." She explained, causing Ginny's expression to change to a wide grin at that news.

"Really?!" Ginny demanded. "What photos?" She asked.

"They're downstairs," Katie laughed. "Just some silly ones of Harry with me and the team." She grinned. "Thought they'd be fun to hang up somewhere."

Ginny simply darted out of the room at that, thundering down the stairs in search of these photos to see exactly what Katie was talking about.

"Think she'll scream when she sees the entire team signed the photos as well?" Katie asked with a mischievous grin.

"I'm not stupid enough to take that bet," Hermione laughed, knowing full well about Ginny's Harpies obsession and how much she would treasure signed photos of the team. "There is something else I wanted to talk to you about... both of you really." She said. "Neville helped me get so..." She trailed off as a scream of joy echoed up from downstairs where Ginny had clearly found the photos in question.

"She found them," Harry laughed. "Might as well go and see what she has to say about them." He chuckled, holding a hand out to help Katie climb off of the weights bench before he led the way downstairs. "What were you saying?" He asked over his shoulder towards Hermione as they walked down the stairs together.

"Oh, right, yes." Hermione nodded to herself. "I was looking in to some of the other mastery courses, and I found two transfiguration text books." She explained. "I found the spell for turning yourself into an animagus."

Harry nearly stumbled over his feet as he paused in the living room, whipping around to stare at Hermione with eager eyes. "Really?" He asked.

"Really," Hermione laughed. "I copied it all down, and Neville got me a load of mandrake leaves, that's the first part of it." She explained. "You have to keep the leaf in your mouth for an entire lunar month, so new moon to new moon." She said, seeing both Harry and Katie were paying full attention to her now. "Then you have to mix the leaf into a potion, and wait for a thunder storm." She carried on. "But I don't think we should start yet, it's probably better to make sure we've got all the rest of the ingredients for the potion first before we start everything, because according to the books if you make any mistakes with it, you've got to start all over again."

"Wow, Hermione... that's... that's brilliant!" Harry smiled widely at the thought, never actually thinking that he'd get the chance to proper follow in his dad and Sirius' footsteps in becoming an animagus.

"I got enough leaves for us all," Hermione said. "You, me, Ginny and you." She smiled up at Katie. "That's if you want to do it of course, you don't have to, I just thought..."

"I'd love to!" Katie nodded eagerly, cutting Hermione's babble off as she grabbed the far shorter witch and pulled her in to a tight hug, lifting her clean off of her feet in the process and causing Harry to laugh at Hermione's predicament as her face was pulled into Katie's chest.

"I... I just thought it'd be something we could all do together." Hermione explained with a flushed face as Katie put her down and released her.

"It's amazing!" Harry smiled, pulling Hermione into his own hug. "Thank you, really... really thank you!" He laughed into her hair as he hugged her tightly. "You don't know how much this means to me." He whispered, feeling a few tears welling up in his eyes as he thought about finally doing something like his dad.

"I know," Hermione whispered back, hugging him before pulling away with a laugh. "But you two really need a shower... god, how long were you exercising for?" She asked with a playful huff and a sniff at herself. "Oh god, now I need one too." She grimaced, seeing how her school robes were a bit damp in places from both Harry and Katie's sweat.

Both Harry and Katie simply laughed at that, continuing on into the kitchen and ignoring Hermione's playfully outraged look. "Who's it from?" Harry asked, spotting where Ginny was sat at the kitchen table and reading her letter, with the four Harpies photos scattered out around where she'd clearly been watching them eagerly.

"Dad," Ginny explained quietly. "He says mum's been trying to write to us, both of us." She explained when Harry looked at her curiously. "He said mum saw the news and finally figured out you weren't lying." She explained with a roll of her eyes as she put the letter down.

"Huh," Harry nodded, not really having anything to say about that one way or the other as he moved to the fridge and got out a few cold cans of Dr Pepper to hand around to everyone.

"Apparently Bill really beat some hard truths into her, dad says she's been trying to send owls to everyone but Errol won't take them, not even to George or Charlie." Ginny explained.

"Are you going to write back to him?" Harry asked, sidestepping the question about Molly entirely.

"Yeah, I mean... dad never did anything, he didn't stop mum from kicking me out... but he wasn't like mum and screaming and shouting and everything." Ginny explained with a long sigh. "It's just... it's mum, I don't know what to do about everything that she did."

"It's up to you," Harry said as he opened his can of drink and enjoyed a deep mouthful of the cold and fizzy drink. "I won't hold it against you if you want to forgive her or anything, I know it's your mum and she did a ton for you."

"Yeah, but she also kicked me out of The Burrow and said all those horrible things." Ginny pointed out. "I've never seen her change her mind about anything before, and she definitely doesn't apologise to anyone." She reasoned out to herself. "So what's the point in talking to her if she's just going to say she's changed her mind, but not fix anything or say sorry for anything she's done?" She asked.

"It's up to you," Harry repeated. "Talk to Arthur and see what he says, I know it's your family and they're a huge thing for you... I'm not going to stop you seeing her or anything just because I don't want to." He explained.

"Maybe," Ginny frowned, staring down at the letter and debating Harry's words as she thought about it. "I just... I'm just sick of her yelling, I don't want to go and talk to her and expect anything, and just have her start yelling and trying to control my life again."

"You know I'll be there for you either way," Harry smiled gently, moving to behind Ginny and enveloping her in a hug. "Whatever you decide." He promised, leaning down and kissing her on the top of her head.

"Me too," Hermione smiled softly at her.

"Me three," Katie confirmed, knowing she'd support Ginny no matter what happened with her family. Though after knowing how great Fred and George were, and how fun Bill had been when she'd met him, she couldn't imagine how any of the Weasley's could have done the horrible things that she'd heard everyone talking about.

"Thanks you guys," Ginny whispered with a watery smile, quickly wiping away a few building up tears from her eyes as she leant back into Harry's warmth. "Maybe... maybe I'll think about it, after the weekend." She said with a firm nod as she convinced herself that taking a few days to think about it would probably be the best idea.

"Oh, Neville said he'd pop over on Sunday to see you." Hermione said, reminding herself about Sunday when Ginny mentioned the weekend. "Since we're going out shopping, he said he'd come over and catch up with you."

"George said he'd pop over too," Katie added in. "Something about going out flying and getting away from Alicia and Angelina for a day." She added with a laugh. "Think those two have got him running scared and thinking they're plotting something."

"Serves him right," Ginny said with a laugh.

"Huh, alright." Harry nodded. It would be good to see Neville again and catch up with everything, and having George over was never really a problem, and they could talk about everything and just laze around with some fire whiskey and relax.

"If we're going out tonight, I definitely need a shower." Katie said, interrupting Harry's thoughts. "And you do too... after flying all day and then working out?" She prompted him with a knowing look.

"Yes, shower, both of you." Hermione huffed playfully. "Where are you thinking for dinner?" She asked curiously.

"Italian maybe?" Harry suggested. "There was that place down from The Leaky on Charring Cross Road, looked pretty good to me?"

"What's that?" Ginny asked curiously, looking at Hermione now for an explanation.

"Pasta, pizza, things like that." Hermione explained with a nod. "Oh I could go for a good lasagne right now, I haven't had a proper lasagne in ages!" She said with a wistful smile, thinking back to bitter sweet memories of her dad making a home made lasagne at home with those red and white Ragu sauce things.

"Lots of carbs, that'll be good for after a good workout." Katie nodded approvingly.

"Smart dress then?" Hermione asked.

"Might as well," Harry chuckled in amusement. It'd definitely be nice to get out of the house again, and at least going into the muggle world he wouldn't have to worry about people bothering him or bugging him with questions or anything.

"I'll floo home and grab something quickly then," Katie grinned, happily thinking about how fun it'd be to have a meal out together all dressed up in fancy clothes and stuff. "Start the shower and I'll be back in a minute." She said, standing up from the table.

"Oh, shower," Ginny grinned playfully. "Just the thing I need to take my mind off of things." She admitted, with a lot more truth in her words than her cheery smile would suggest.

"You two," Hermione rolled her eyes, amused at the playful flirting between the two and having been long since desensitised to it by now.

"Alright, see you in a minute." Katie said, moving around the table to give both Harry and Ginny a quick kiss. "Dresses right?" She double checked.

"Yeah, nice clothes." Ginny nodded in agreement.

"I've got just the thing," Katie said with a wink. "Don't get up to too much in the shower without me." She smirked before heading back into the living room and flooing away back to her flat.

"No promises!" Ginny shouted after her before she stood up as well, intent on tugging Harry upstairs to get him naked and into the shower as quickly as possible, so she could have some fun on her own before Katie returned and joined in with them properly.

That left Hermione simply sat at the kitchen table, shaking her head in amusement as Ginny pulled Harry upstairs. She just smiled as she lifted up one of the photos on the table, her eyes glinting in amusement as she saw Harry and Katie being pulled together by one of the Harpies players before kissing passionately.

Her face softened as she looked at the next photo, where the kiss had ended and Harry and Katie were staring into each others eyes while the Harpies team around them cheered and jostled their brooms in celebration or simply cheering Katie on for her kiss.

Either way it was a surprisingly tender look for the pair of them, and looking at the way Harry was looking up at Katie, she could definitely see that her best friend was falling in love with the taller witch already.

Putting the photos down she gave a melancholy smile at them before she tidied them into a pile and left them on top of Ginny's letter neatly, leaving the three green and gold Holyhead Harpies season tickets on top, and idly wondering when she was going to get a proper loving relationship like that for herself.

She pushed that thought away as she headed upstairs to go for a shower herself, mentally pushing thoughts of romance away as she forcefully set herself to think of her NEWTs and upcoming mastery course.

Romance could wait, her education came first, then... then she would just wait and see.

---

AN: Just for those friendly people I met and chatted with on the HP Fanfiction Writers Guild Discord server, I have since left that server due to extremely rude and unhelpful admin who banned me from posting and talking in the 'love server', saying I was trying to 'role play' and use their server for crap and wasn't asking for help or writing anything...

Their admin didn't even allow me to discuss anything or even show my drafts or ideas that I was writing for, or proof that I was a dedicated an long writer, literally saying "this is not open for discussion", and simply locked my account so I couldn't post further on that channel.

Disgusting admin, and I recommend to anyone there to find different and more welcoming servers where the team will help writers and be friendly towards them, instead of unfounded accusations and restricting accounts without cause or reason.

Methos