Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot and two characters, Sikandar and Sarah Durrani. Harry Potter books are the sole copyright of J. K. Rawlings and Scholastic Books.
Summary: Post-Order of the Phoenix, Major Spoilers so if you haven't read book 5 then be warned. H/Hr; Ron out of the trio picture; Ginny joins trio; Harry finds out who his father really is; basically my answer to the Severitus Challenge.
Chapter 5 Exchange and Transfer Students and Ron's Participation in the Exchange/Transfer Program and Ginny's Exams and ResultsAlbus stood up and spoke to all, Hermione, Harry and Ginny were also present since they were teaching he DA classes, "Good morning everyone, I would like to first of all welcome Harry Potter, Hermione Durrani and Ginny Weasley to our staff. They will be teaching the DA Classes starting this term. Part of the developments for the new term was the reaction to the DA classes. I have received requests from 7 Ministries of Magic to allow them to either send about 10 students to us to learn advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts skills or to lesson their loads. The ministries are, United States, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, Japan, and Australia. The United states is sending about 18 students total from their three mainland schools. I have assigned about 4 students to go to Salem School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The names are Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Blaise Zambini, and Susan Bones. Ron Weasley's transfer to Salem is permanent while the others or just for the year."
Harry spoke up, "Albus why is Ron transferring permanently to Salem?"
Albus answered the question, "When I sent out the letters about him being selected for the exchange program for one year at Salem he sent back a request to see if it could be permanent. I have talked to Molly and Arthur about this and they have both said that if it was ok with both me and the headmaster of Salem, they had no problems with Ron going to Salem. As you can see it was ok so he was approved to go to Salem on a permanent basis."
Harry, Hermione, and Ginny nodded in understanding.
Albus then went on to say that Canada was sending 12 students evenly split down the gender line. The rest of the ministries were sending the following:
Spain 5 Boys 5 Girls
Italy 4 Boys 4 Girls
Japan 4 Boys 6 Girls
Australia 5 Boys 5 Girls
"I would like Harry, Hermione, and Ginny to meet the students at the London Gatwick Airport. The group will be meeting you in the British Airways VIP Lounge. I would like the three of you to get them acquainted with what to expect when they get to Hogwarts. They will be arriving a week before the rest of the students. This will be giving them the week the get sorted out. We will be doing he sorting they day they arrive so that they can be settled into their accommodations. Ginny I have been told that you are about ready to take your OWLs. That should be taking place next week and will end on Friday. You will have the rest of the weekend to rest and on Monday you will be meeting the students from the other countries. Oh that reminds me, all the original DA members will be arriving on the Hogwarts Express with you so that they can help get the students settled in. Your DA club is going to be a key factor in the protection of the students this year. All members of the club will be allowed to go to Hogsmede no matter what year they are in. I am aware that you had a couple of first and second years last year in the club so they will be able to attend the trips. The first Hogsmede trip will not be until Halloween. The exchange students will be able to go before school starts so that they can get acquainted with the area. All the students that are going to be on the exchange program have expressed interest in joining the DA club so the trips during the orientation week will be helpful. I just want to stress he need for the students to be back before night fall. That is it for my part anyone have any questions?" asked Albus.
Severus raised his hand, "Albus I have one question. Will the DA members have final say in the safety of the students?"
Albus nodded, "Yes they will. Harry, your team will have the ability to take and give points away from houses like prefects. Almost all the prefects are in the DA too so it will be easier. Hermione, it is going to be up to you to get all the exchange students up to speed on the rules that the other students are expected to follow so they know what to take points off if the students violate the rules. But please make sure that they need to use their own judgment on the rule breaking. Also let them know that they would lose their privilege for going to Hogsmede and being able to take points off for rule breaking if they misuse their badge."
Hermione nodded and said she would. So the rest of the day they spent planning out what will be done and who would be helping them. Harry had come up with the idea to have some of the original DA students meet at the airport to meet the new students. Hermione also agreed and they both went to Albus with the idea.
They got to the gargoyle and said, "Hershey's Kisses", and the gargoyle stood aside. They got onto the moving staircase too the headmaster's office. Harry and Hermione knocked on the oak doors and heard, "Come in" from the inside and the opened the doors and entered the office.
Harry spoke up, "Albus, Hermione and I thought maybe we could get some of the DA original members to come to Gatwick next Monday to meat the foreign students. I thought maybe some of the more advanced members. It would also help in the security too."
Albus nodded, "I had thought about that too and was going to suggest it tonight at dinner. Have you already got a list of students that you want to do this?"
Hermione nodded and handed over the list.
Advanced members:
Cho Chang – Ravenclaw
Elizabeth McGovern – Ravenclaw
Dean Thomas – Gryffindor
Justin Flinch-Fletchery – Hufflepuff
Luna Longlove – Gryffendor
James Toland – Hufflepuff
Albus looked at the list and nodded his head, "I don't have any problem with the list. Go ahead and send them a Owl letting them know."
Harry thought of something and asked, "Albus can we have them come up to the castle now instead of later, so that they can be more prepared to help the new students."
Albus nodded and said, "They can come tomorrow and get settled in. They can take the Hogwarts Express here."
Harry nodded and Hermione took down the information and they both took their leaves of the headmaster and headed to the owlry to send off he letters to the 6 students on their list.
They received letters from all of them letting them know they would be honored to come early and help get ready for the new students and that they would all be taking the Hogwarts Express back to school the next day.
Ginny wanted a break from studying and so she decided to go to the train station with Harry and Hermione to meet the rest of the advance group. The train pulled into Hogsmede station at about 4pm (early because they used a bullet engine to run the train).
Harry greeted the group that got off the train, "Welcome back to Hogwarts everyone. I would like to say that starting this year we are an official organization and that because of us we are being recognized world wide. Hermione and my self are going to be full time teaching the group. Virginia or Ginny will be helping us. Shall we head up to the castle and get you all settle in. Oh one other thing while I remember, Hermione and I are going to be the Head Girl and Boy this year. We were moved up a year to 7th year."
With that said they all got into separate carriages with Cho and Elizabeth joining the trio. Cho spoke up first, "Congratulations you two. I knew that when you were 7th years you would make head boy and girl, at least that was before Harry didn't make prefect last year."
Harry spoke up on that particular issue, "Albus apologized to me about that. He said that with all that was happening with the ministry and his uneasiness about Upbridge last year he thought I was going to be to busy to be a prefect. He realized at the end of the term that he had made a serious error in judgment and was going to make me prefect this year if me and Hermione had declined to move up a year."
Cho nodded, "At least we know that Ron wasn't their first choice. By the way I have heard from Fred and George that Ron was being shunned by his entire family for his actions against you. Now I want to apologize for leading you on last year with our relationship. It took me this summer to realize that I was being a bit selfish and was expecting a one-sided relationship with you only paying attention to me and me not reciprocating. I am happy that you and Hermione are together, somehow I knew it was going to happen, but was in denial."
Harry nodded, "Thanks Cho, I have also been in contact with those two scoundrels and have tried to get their family to ease up on Ron. I think that is why Ron requested a permanent transfer to Salem. Thank you for your kind words to Hermione and me going out. I also apologize for the comments I made and have also sent a note to your friend apologizing to her and asking her to join us again. She has sent a reply saying she would be here and accepted my apology."
Cho and Elizabeth smiled and nodded to this information.
They all went into the castle and settled in for the next week. Harry and Hermione helped Ginny with her studying with some help from Cho too. Monday of Ginny's exams was a bit nerve racking for her. She was so nervous that she was having a hard time eating breakfast. Cho and Hermione were basically spoon feeding her while Harry reviewed a few things about her potions exam she had first. In the end they all left her in the hall to take her first two exams. This went on for the rest of the week. By Friday, Ginny was a wreck. Harry had asked the headmaster for permission to take the five of them to Hogsmede to get Ginny to relax. He had said yes so they went.
Because Ginny's exams were the only ones taken that time, her results were ready for her that evening. At dinner, Albus stood up and made an announcement, "Good evening everyone, I wanted to congratulate Ms. Virginia Weasley on making a perfect score on her OWLs like Harry Snape and Hermione Durrani. Speaking of Harry, he has a bit of news for you all that don't already know it. Harry?"
Harry stood up and addressed everyone present, "Good evening, Albus sort of burst my little announcement by announcing my last name, so here goes. All of you have come to know me as Harry Potter for he last 5 years I have attended Hogwarts. My true parentage was hidden from everyone including my self through a memory block placed on me by my request after my mom and James Potter died that fateful night. My mom was not married to James Potter but instead was married to Severus Snape, or better known as Professor Snape. James had offered to protect my mom and me when it was learned that the Dark Lord Tom Riddle was after me in particular because I was a very strong baby magically. We changed my last name and a Glamourie charm was placed on me to look like James Potter. Now my appearances have changed to what they are now because I no longer needed to hide. So if anyone has any questions or comments let me know. Thanks. Hermione has an announcement to make her self."
Hermione stood up and stood beside Harry, "First off, me and Harry are going out so Justin stop asking me out. Next thing, my true last name is Durrani and no Granger. Like Harry, my parents went into hiding and I went to live with an aunt and uncle of mine here in England while my parents lived in the states. My dad and I are as powerful as Harry and so that is why we went into hiding."
With that everyone understood why they were best at what they did and were good at doing the stuff they taught in DA. The rest of the weekend was spent putting together information packages for the new students to read. Harry, Hermione and Ginny spent most of the rest of the weekend going over the schedules for the DA classes. The schedule was as follows:
Monday
10:00 AM – Advanced DA course for students in 6th and 7th year primarily.(Double)
1:00 PM – Beginner DA course for students in 2nd and 3rd year primarily (Double)
6:00 PM – All DA members meet to practice and get help for each other for their spells.
9:00 PM – four teams of members go through the entire school making sure no one is out of their common rooms.
Tuesday
11:00 AM – Intermediate DA Courses for students in 4th and 5th year primarily (Double)
6:00 PM – Physical training for entire group
9:00 PM -- four teams of members go through the entire school making sure no one is out of their common rooms.
Wednesday
10:00 AM – Advanced DA course for students in 6th and 7th year primarily.(Double)
1:00 PM – Beginner DA course for students in 2nd and 3rd year primarily (Double)
6:00 PM – All DA members meet to practice and get help for each other for their spells.
9:00 PM – four teams of members go through the entire school making sure no one is out of their common rooms.
Thursday
11:00 AM – Intermediate DA Courses for students in 4th and 5th year primarily (Double)
6:00 PM – Physical training for entire group
9:00 PM -- four teams of members go through the entire school making sure no one is out of their common rooms.
Friday
10:00 AM – Advanced DA course for students in 6th and 7th year primarily.(Double)
1:00 PM – Beginner DA course for students in 2nd and 3rd year primarily (Double)
6:00 PM – All DA members meet to practice and get help for each other for their spells.
9:00 PM – four teams of members go through the entire school making sure no one is out of their common rooms.
Saturday and Sunday
Times are not set for meetings. Weekends are meant to be spent studying and training. Also since everyone is expected to be walking around, the members will also be on patrol.
Monday came around and the members that was at school all flooed to the Leaky Cauldron. The Ministry of Magic had arranged for a few buses be setup to pick up the students at the airport. One went to the leaky cauldron and picked up the students from Hogwarts.
When they got to Gatwick airport, the trio was surprised to see Ron and the rest of the Weasley family was there. Hermione, Harry, and Ginny walked up to Mrs. Weasley and greeted her.
"Hello Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Bill, Fred, George, and Ron. How has everyone's summer been? Ron congratulations on getting your 26 OWLs," said Harry trying to be friendly to Ron.
Mrs. Weasley hugged Harry and then turned to Ginny, "We are so happy for your scores on your OWLs. Also we are happy for you being moved up a year. Harry, Hermione congratulations on becoming head boy and girl this year and being moved up. I've heard that the world has found out about your Dumbledore's Army was a great success last year and they wanted some of their students to take part in it."
Harry nodded, "Thank you Mrs. Weasley. As to the DA group being world renowned it was a great surprise and we are really happy to help out other students as much as we can. Ron, speaking of the exchange students, congratulations on being a select few students that were selected for the exchange, I am surprised you have decided to make it permanent. We are going to miss you at Hogwarts."
Ron just shrugged, "I wanted to do something different and be somewhere where I was not compared to my brothers. Also I looked up some information regarding Salem and have found that I may be able to train for work in the ministry. Hopefully the reputation stay true there. I am flying out today that is why we are here. Ginny congratulations on making it to 6th year and your OWLs score. Harry, I am truly sorry for what I did in the hospital wing. Please forgive me. I guess seeing you and Hermione together made me jealous. As you both know I have had a crush on Hermione for a while and always wished I would be where you are now. Congratulations both of you on your OWLs and good luck this year."
Harry went and gave Ron a brotherly hug and thanked him and wished him luck. Hermione gave him a hug also and thanked him. Ginny was the last one to hug him and once that was done they had to part ways because the students should be at the lounge by then.
After taking their leave of the Weasleys, the trio followed their security detail to the lounge. What they found in the lounge made them step back for a bit.
************* End of chapter 5 *****************
(A/N: I hope you liked that. Thanks to all for reviewing.)
Review replies:
Gryffindor620: I am glad you like the story. Hope you like this chapter.
H+Hr: *blushes* Glad you love the story.
HarryPotter2: Thanks for reminding me but I was just trying to keep the sores tight. Anyway I hope you still like the story anyway.
Dragoncar: Hope you liked the chapter.
Sapphire: Thanks for the review. Hope you like the chapter. I am still a Ron hater but can make his friends mad at him forever.
ChristinaLupin: I hope you like the chapter. I loved your update. Keep up the good work.
FallenDruid: Draco is going to be good. It goes against my better judgment because of my beliefs of Draco going to be the next dark lord. Anyway in this story since Harry is a Snape it would work well.
LordSauren: Thanks for the info on the education system in England.
GrimmyD: Thanks!
Bee: Thanks I also hope you like my little part on Ron at the end of this chapter.