Second Destiny
Before we begin, a note from the Author...
I would like to thank all of the people who have read this story to date and have reviewed it. Please allow me a moment to answer some of the comments I have received thus far.
First, user "dreamjanus" asked in a review of Chapter 21-I if I was writing for myself or for the reviewers—warning that if I were writing for the reviewers, I would burn myself out. While I appreciate dreamjanus' concern, I am confident in saying that I write for myself...though I do try to take the reviewers' concerns to heart.
Let me explain: when I receive a comment from a reviewer recommending a change, an addition or a correction, I see it as an opportunity to make the work better. As an example: Chapter 17-I, which I was advised to create when site user geostim21 was concerned that I had not previously written a scene in which Hermione's parents learn of the soul bond and how Hermione is now a Lady of several noble magical houses.
I saw this as a challenge to create a scene describing these elements that was as good as (if not better than) similar scenes in the third story of my Harry Potter/Star Trek trilogy, Harry Potter and the Great Ascension, as well as other "Harmony" stories I have read here on this site.
Turning again to dreamjanus' concerns about burning out, if I do start to feel that way, I will take a step back for a while.
I have also been receiving a few foreign-language reviews on this story, such as one by user "Isabelle6116," who wrote, "Quand Harry et Hermione ont ils récupéré l'anneau Gaunt.?," which when translated into English using Google Translate means, "When did Harry and Hermione retrieve the Gaunt ring?"
Well, Isabelle, to that, I say (translated using Google Translate, so if this translation is inaccurate, I humbly apologize): "Lorsque la Mort a demandé aux Destins de retisser la tapisserie du destin de Harry afin de faciliter la défaite de Voldemort par Harry, des détails tels que les emplacements des Horcruxes ont été modifiés.
Par exemple, la chevalière Gaunt a été placée avec le reste des actifs survivants de la famille Gaunt dans le coffre-fort du fondateur de Serpentard à la Gringotts Bank." (Or in English: "When Death had the Fates re-weave the tapestry of Harry's fate so as to make it easier for Harry to defeat Voldemort, details such as Horcrux locations were altered.
For example, the Gaunt signet ring was placed with the remainder of surviving Gaunt family assets in the Slytherin founder's vault at Gringotts Bank.")
I hope Isabelle6116's concerns are laid to rest. Merci beaucoup for your review.
Again, to all of my readers around the world, keep those comments and reviews coming. I hope to use them well in the further crafting of this story.
I can now also announce that since this story will come to an end in around seven chapters (not counting this chapter or any Interlude chapters that will need to be created), I will be creating a sequel story entitled Beyond the Second Destiny. I hope to have the first chapter ready for posting before the start of January 2023, but release timing is subject to change. Stay tuned for further details.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Harry heard a hooting at morning meal in the Great Hall. An owl swooped down and landed on the Gryffindor table in front of him. Harry reached into the satchel around the owl's neck and found an envelope with the Gringotts crest and the address label reading "Lord Harold James Potter-Gryffindor-Slytherin-Peverell, Great Hall, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland."
Harry opened the envelope. A smaller, mundane-style envelope fell out. Harry looked at the letter that accompanied the mundane envelope.
"Who is it from?" Hermione asked. "It's from Director Bones," Harry said before he began to read:
Dear Lord Potter,
The County Court in Surrey has taken your statement into consideration in reevaluating your cousin Dudley's sentence.
Upon reexamination, Dudley has been re-sentenced—as you suggested—to a year's probation and house arrest (except when attending school or shopping when accompanied by Petunia). In addition, a psychologist has been appointed by the court. He will examine Dudley twice monthly and those examinations will be used in the review that will be conducted a year from now that will determine Dudley's fate from there after.
Petunia has sent the court a message for you, which my counterpart has sent on to you via Gringotts. It accompanied this letter.
Respectfully,
Lady Amelia Bones
Director, Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Harry put down the letter from Amelia and opened the envelope from Petunia.
Dear Harry,
I was made aware of the statement you submitted to the Surrey County Court on Dudley's behalf. Even after all we three did to you before you went to Hogwarts, you still had the kindness that my dear sister once had. I thank you for your standing up for Dudley.
Hopefully, over time, you will come to see us as the family I believe we can be.
Your aunt,
Petunia Dursley
Harry asked a Hogwarts house elf to transport the letters to his and Hermione's quarters. He then turned his attention back to the food on the plate in front of him.
An hour later, in Professor Colton's class, he stood before the gathered students. "I have been made aware by the Muggle-born students in this room that the title for this class-'House Maintenance'-has the connotations of building or taking care of an actual house like one you live in," Colton began.
"Therefore, discussions will be held at the next Board of Governors meeting next week as to what name this class will now take. As a result, after today's session, this class will be suspended until a proper and acceptable name can be decided upon. All students assigned to this class will instead be given a self-study period that they can use as they will," Colton continued. "I recommend, however, that you use the time to study for your end-of-term examinations as much as possible."
And so, Harry and Hermione decided to use their new free study period to prepare for their assault on the Sorceror's Stone and the sure-to-come final battle with Quirrellmort.
One Week Later
Hogwarts Board of Governors Meeting Room
After Madam Longbottom called the month's meeting to order, Harry raised his hand. "Yes, Lord Potter?" Longbottom asked.
"Madam Chairwoman, I have a proposal for the new name for the House Maintenance class," Harry said.
"We're listening, Lord Potter," another member of the Board said.
"Heraldic Education, or H.E. for short," Harry said.
Longbottom closed her eyes and sat in thought for a moment. "And how did you come up with this idea, Lord Potter?" she asked.
"In the mundane world—as my wife and I have taken to call it, there is a class most schools have at most educational levels: physical education, or P.E.," Harry said. "I decided to choose the proposed name as something easy that the students taking the course can remember."
"A wise approach, Lord Potter," Mr. Corbin said. "I move to vote on Lord Potter's proposal."
"I second," another Board member said.
"Very well," Augusta said. "All present, hold your wands and vote on Lord Potter's proposal of Heraldic Education or H.E.-green for yea, red for nay."
Every member of the Board lit their wands green. "The motion is carried," Augusta said. "Effective immediately, House Maintenance shall be henceforth known as Heraldic Education. If there is no further business, I declare this meeting adjourned."
The Board members filed out of the boardroom.
::TBC::