If I Should Die Before I Wake
Chapter 10
Back to School?
Disclaimer: I don't own any of it besides the plot.
---
Hogwarts had hardly lost any brilliance over the years, Harry thought to himself as he studied the immense castle. In fact, it seems as if it had improved during the rebuilding stage after the great battle. An additional tower had been built, and the Astronomy tower looked less ancient than the rest of the castle.
The three of them walked toward the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey smiled, as did another younger woman next to her.
"Welcome! This is Madame Bonnim, my assistant. I plan to retire at the end of this year, so I am teaching this young lady all I know so she can continue my work."
"Nice to meet you," Harry said politely.
"Okay, so here's the plan," Hermione said once they had finished their hellos with the two nurses. "You are going to sleep in here every night, since you aren't a professor, so you can't sleep in the professors' dorms. There is plenty of room in here for you. Hardly anyone gets hurt nowadays, but usually when it happens it's a Slytherin who hexed someone for fun. Or Quidditch. Stupid Slytherins."
Harry gaped at Hermione calling the Slytherins stupid. Of course that was normal for them to do when they were students of the school, but now that she was a teacher, Harry had expected her to be respectful when talking about her students.
Hermione smiled. "Yes, I know what you're thinking Harry. But I have no respect for the Slytherins at all whatsoever. Hardly anyone gets sorted into Slytherin anymore… they have about a quarter the number of students that the others houses have. You'd think they'd learn after the war was over, but some of them will never change. Did I ever mention that there was a huge resorting ceremony after the war?"
Harry shook his head. "How'd that go?"
"It was rather strange, I admit. Anyone who wanted to be resorted after the war was allowed to. Already, almost all of the 6thand 7th years in Slytherin had been caught supporting Voldemort's side during the final battle, so they were put in Azkaban and locked up for life. About half of the 3rd through 4th years were on the dark side as well, but they were too young to be put in Azkaban, so their wands were snapped and now they were banished to the Muggle world, to never use magic again. Their memories were modified as well."
"But what about their parents? Weren't they wizards, so they could remind them of their magical abilities?" Harry asked.
"You're not thinking, Harry," Hermione chided. "Usually students wouldn't turn to the dark side so young unless their parents were Death Eaters. So they had already been put in Azkaban, every single one of them that was left. Most of them just sort of… died in the final battle. Most of the Death Eaters, I mean."
"Oh," Harry said. "So how did the resorting work?"
"Oh yes. Professor McGonagall invited all of the Slytherins who wished to be resorted to come forward. She didn't say it bluntly, but she kept dropping hints about the dark side and not going up to the sorting stool if you weren't changed. That's basically what she meant," Hermione said.
About three-quarters of the Slytherins went up to get resorted. Sadly, some didn't understand the fact that you had to be 'changed.' Some just went because they wanted to be sorted into a House with their friends. I remember how sad McGonagall looked when 9 of those Slytherins got resorted back into Slytherin again."
"Onlyfive students got sorted into Slytherin this year. There werenine last year, and we weren't here before that. So that's that," Ron said shortly, trying to end the conversation.
"So you can see, Harry, why I despise the Slytherins so much," Hermione said, giving Ron a look. "Even Snape doesn't favor them as much anymore. For the ones who are in Slytherin, it is too late to turn them back to the good side."
"Yes, well, anyway…" Ron was obviously growing quite bored with the conversation at hand. "Usually we sleep in our dorm every night, and go back home on the weekends. But, now that you're here, we're going to bring our things in the hospital wing instead of our dorms so we can spend time with you, mate!" he said. "We can't go home now anyway. The house is still invaded by that accursed mist. Plus, you could get attacked while we were at Hogwarts or something."
Ron's attempt to steer the conversation clear of the Slytherins, which he had obviously heard one too many times from Hermione, actually worked this time. Harry decided to help him out before Hermione could interrupt.
"Well, I'm glad I'm here with you guys," Harry said. "Any chance I could go see Ginny sometime soon?" he said, blushing.
Ron grinned evilly. "Oh don't worry. If you set up a date with her I'm sure we could work things out."
"It's not a date!" Harry said, blushing deeper, his face suggesting otherwise. "It's just… I want to see her. I haven't seen her for a while because she works at the Ministry, not here."
"Hmm, the last time you saw her was what… less than a day ago?" Hermione asked with a wink. Harry turned an even deeper shade of red that didn't seem possible.
"Oh, stop tormenting him," Ron said to Hermione. "Sorry mate. It's just… you're perfect for each other."
"Umm, yeah…" Harry mumbled, then changed the subject. "Anything else you need to tell me? Or do you need to get off to class?"
"Oh, there's more," Hermione said grinning as Harry rolled his eyes and made to unpack his things. "Don't worry. We're informing you well."
Harry grimaced at the thought of Hermione 'informing him well'. His grimace deepened as he thought of the poor students in her Muggle Studies classes that had to listen to her 'informing them well' too. What torture. But he was sure that she was a great teacher.
"We figured you might get a bit bored just sitting around all day," Ron said. "I've mentioned this to the DADA teacher and he was more than okay with it. Would you like to team-teach the DADA classes with me? I'm sure you'd do great."
Harry thought about this. He'd always wanted to teach others to defend themselves, ever since fifth year when they start the DA to go against Professor Umbridge. This was definitely something that he wanted to do.
"Thanks, Ron. That'd be great!" Harry said enthusiastically.
"And maybe you could stop by my Muggle Studies class and help out. I mean, you lived with Muggles too for quite some time," Hermione said.
"Thanks, Hermione," Harry said, though he personally would rather go to DADA than Muggle Studies. "Maybe I can stop by the library if I can't get to your class. I'm sure the classes overlap each other, so I couldn't get to both every day."
"Oh, of course," Hermione said. "I'm in the library during lunch at noon, and the period after. During first period, both Ron and I have a free period, so we have breakfast together."
"I have more free periods than Hermione does," Ron explained, "becauseProfessor Murkwooddoesn't have me help him teach 6th and 7th years. I do better teaching younger students. Sometimes I grade 6th and 7th year exams, though."
"All right. You guys are confusing me! Just write down a couple schedules and give them to me, okay?" Harry exclaimed grinning.
They both agreed. Hermione checked the time.
"Oh dear. First periodstarted ten minutes ago, and I really need to come up with a lesson plan. Ron, don't you have those 5th year exams you said you had to grade?"
"Oh, yeah," Ron mumbled.
See you later, Harry!"
Ron cleared his throat loudly.
Hermione blushed. "You too Ron." She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
Ron turned around, his face slightly red, and spoke to Harry. "I should be going soon too, mate. Ol' professorMurkwood wants me to grade some short exams he had end of last week."
"All right. See you later," Harry said with a wave.
"Why don't you stop by at 9:40 to help out with the class? We're doing boggarts with the 3rd years," Ron said. "It'll be a great demonstration."
Harry smiled. "Okay. I'll stop by at around 9:30."
"See you then," Ron said, and left the hospital wing.
Harry sat on the bed, and after just sitting there for 5 minutes, he grew very bored. What was he supposed to do until he could stop by Ron and Hermione's classes?
He finally figured out that he could just stop by at the library for a while and do some reading. Sure, Hermione probably wouldn't be there, but it was better than sitting in the hospital wing forever. So much for Ron and Hermione's free period, Harry thought. They have to go and work anyway.
Suddenly a thought occurred to him. Maybe they don't have to work, Harry thought. They just wanted to ditch me, he thought miserably. That's why Hermione gave Ron that wink as she walked out the door. Then he brightened up slightly. They're married, you dolt. You'd want to spend some time alone with Ginny, wouldn't you?
Yes.
Being married to Ginny would be wonderful, Harry thought with a sigh. But he had hardly been able to see her since he woke up. He desperately wished he could see her now… go out to lunch or something like that. But for his safety, he was supposed to remain inside Hogwarts for at least a few days to start with.
Harry sighed. He was going crazy over Ginny. He needed to ask her out to lunch… or something. Anything so he could see her alone, and try to figure out if she still wanted to be with him. Since she wasn't trying to get him out of Hogwarts, she probably didn't want him. She wanted him to stay in Hogwarts away from her. Stop thinking like that, Potter, Harry practically smacked himself. Don't jump to any conclusions.
But he couldn't help but think that way.
Suddenly a voice cut into his thoughts. "I've never seen someone so talented that they can read without their eyes moving across the page," Hermione said sarcastically. Her blouse was quite wrinkled, and her hair was more frizzed about than usual. Ron was right behind her, and his hair was askew in all directions. Harry suppressed a grin. It looked like they had had a good time.
"Oh, I wasn't exactly reading. Just… sitting. And thinking."
"Well, we decided to come keep you company. We have another thirty minutes to spare," Ron said.
Hermione grinned. "Unless, of course, you'd rather keep reading."
Harry smiled, and then put his hand over his mouth in mock horror. "Keep reading? Are you kidding me?"
They all laughed. "Listen, Harry, do you want to come teach the third years next period? I think it'd be a perfect day to do classes with me. The boggart will probably change into a dementor for you, and the seventh years are learning the Patronus charm!" Ron said. "Normally I wouldn't be teaching the seventh years but… well… maybe you could show them your Patronus or something."
"Okay!" Harry said enthusiastically. He loved creating his Patronus because it resembled his father so much. How he missed his father he hardly knew… and his mother, too. Anything that reminded him of them was welcoming, but sometimes depressing. In this case, it was more comforting than he could ever imagine.
"Earth to Harry," Hermione said, once again interrupting his thoughts. Harry muttered a quick sorry and then stood up.
"I think I'll go to DADA with Ron for a couple periods and then stop by your Muggle Studies, Hermione. Is that okay?" he asked.
"Sure, Harry. I'm sure you'd probably enjoy Defense more anyway," Hermione said. "But I do try my best to make the class interesting. Most students actually enjoy it a lot more than in the past. I let them experiment with Muggle objects like telephones and toasters and such."
Ron grimaced. "What?" Harry inquired.
"Ronald here burnt his hand when insisting he could figure out on his own how to use a toaster," Hermione said with a wink.
"Okay, okay!" Ron said, turning red. "It's not like I'd ever used a toatser before."
"Toaster," both Harry and Hermione recited back at him.
"Whatever," Ron said, but Harry knew for a fact that he would make sure he remembered it next time. "This is the disadvantage of being best mates with two people who lived with Muggles."
"Yeah, yeah," Harry said. "But don't you feel sorry for me for having to live with Muggles like mine? Even if it does classify me as able to make fun of you?"
Ron nodded. "True, true," he said, mimicking Harry's repeating 'yeah yeah'.
Hermione burst into laughter. The two men looked at her. "Oh nothing, oh nothing," she said before she started giggling again.
"Stop that!" Harry said.
"Stop that!" Ron added.
Harry glared at Ron. "Okay I've had enough of this."
"Okay I've h-"
"As have I!" Hermione cut in before Ron could finish. The trio chortled slightly, for some students had entered the library, and drawing attention to Harry Potter would be a bad thing. By the end of the day, surely everyone would know that Harry was in the school.
Harry read the silence correctly. "They're going to find out eventually," he said softly. "Might as well get it over with all at once. D'you want to announce it to the whole school at lunch? Would that work?"
"I guess so," Hermione said nervously.
Ron glared at her. "Yes Hermione. It will work," he said firmly.
"What are you two on about?" Harry asked.
"Well, Harry," Hermione explained, "If the school finds out, some Slytherins could tip off someone, who could tip off someone else, who could tip off… well, you get the point. Eventually, that news could get to Peter Pettigrew!"
"It's not like he won't find out without help either. He's going to know soon enough," Harry argued. He looked to Ron for support.
"Hermione, Harry's right. If you don't want any guilt on your conscience if Pettigrew finds out, then I'll make the announcement, okay?" Ron said.
"Well, all right," Hermione caved. "We'd better get back to class."
"Want to come to Defense with me, Harry?" Ron asked. "I'll introduce you to Professor Murkwood."
"Of course," Harry said, standing up. "I'll see you, Hermione."
"See you later," she said, and exited the library.
"Lead on," Harry said to Ron.
With an extravagant gesture, Ron opened the door to Harry and they were off to the Defense classroom.
When I enter that classroom, the class will know that Harry Potter is not only awake, but is staying at Hogwarts. At noon, everyone will know. I'm tired of hiding the truth. I'm ready to live again.
Harry looked through the door and into the classroom that wasfilled withthird years. It was time.
---
I know this chapter didn't have much action, but I wanted some content of Harry at Hogwarts. The next chapter will probably be like this too, but a bit different. We'll see where this story is going. Please review!
Kelsey