Chapter 14: Harry's Fifth Year

The Hogwarts Express looked the same that first day of September. Harry was glad to see that familiar green and red engine ready to pull out of Platform 9¾ at Kings Cross Station. The presence of British Aurors in their red robes was evident for everyone to see. Dora Tonks was one of the officers patrolling the platform as many students and parents came to the station. This year, the muggle-born parents were escorted inside the platform by Aurors (ICW), dressed in appropriate muggle clothes.

Many of the Magical British parents were subdued, as were some students, but others were excited and chattering enthusiastically about classes. Harry turned to Remus and Padfoot, who whined to see their pup leaving them again. He grinned and said, "I promise to write regularly."

"And we'll come on Hogsmeade weekends," Remus promised. Padfoot insisted on another round of face licking before Harry hurried on board the train.

There weren't prefects selected (yet), and two British Aurors patrolled the train, as did two known professors, Pomona Sprout and Andromeda Tonks. After greeting the professors, Harry found a compartment with Seamus, Dean and Neville. The three talked about the Hogwarts letters they'd received and the prospects for the coming year.

"Hi, Harry," greeted Dean Thomas. "Forget your trunk?"

Patting his pocket, Harry explained, "Shrinking charm – something you need to make certain you learn this year."

"How was Switzerland?" Neville asked his friend.

"Beautiful! The people were nice, the mountains are beautiful, but the food was only so-so. I liked the French cuisine in the west but didn't care much for the German food in the north."

"And you used muggle trains the whole time?" asked the pureblood boy.

Harry nodded, "It was a nice holiday."

Seamus asked, "What's the pin on your shirt?"

Harry explained, "I'm the library prefect this year."

"The what?" asked all three boys.

"It's a new position. There are computers and printers in the library now that have lots of the books, scrolls and writings from the last thousand years scanned into the computer, and we can use them."

"How did all this happen over the summer?"

Grinning, Harry replied, "Magic!"

He admitted that only about half of the library's catalogued manuscripts, scrolls and books had been scanned. "There are elves who spend a couple of hours scanning in books and scrolls. Other elves are building an index that students can use to search for information."

Dean was excited and asked, "Are there any computer games?"

Seamus said, "My mom was excited about getting a clock that my magic didn't make it fly out of sync. And me dad is pleased I don't blow up his tele anymore."

"Yeah, the runes harvest your excess magic to run the clock. I think the ministry is giving one to every family with a muggle-born kid."

"You seen any of the invaders?" asked Neville. "Gran wouldn't let me out of the house for the whole month of July. We made one trip to Diagon Alley for new robes in the middle of August, and everything looked pretty calm. There were only British Aurors in red robes on the street that day."

"Are you reading the Daily Prophet?

Neville shook his head, "Gran says it's all propaganda from the ICW."

"I hope she'll come around," Dean said.

"If your Gran is so worried about the invaders, how come you're going back to Hogwarts?" asked Seamus.

"Gran was invited to tour the school and meet the new headmistress. Hogwarts – the castle – lets people know what she wants for the school. The new professors impressed my grandmother."

Harry wandered around the train for a while and found the Creevey brothers with other kids from their years. Luna Lovegood was sitting with Hufflepuff and Slytherin girls from their fourth year. She rose and took Harry's hand to introduce him to the other girls as if they'd never met him before.

"But this year is different. Harry's our librarian now, and we'll work with him every day about how to talk to Hogwarts," Luna explained.

"Talk with Hogwarts?" asked Harry as Luna smiled.

"The library! She's very excited about everything she will teach us this year with her library," the Ravenclaw explained. Then she added, "Wait, maybe you are not our librarian. Are you the interface, the cursor, or the mouse?"

After searching the train and finding the Greengrass sisters and Tracy Davis from Slytherin, Harry sought out Professor Sprout and asked about the faces he'd not seen on the train. Pomona sighed when she explained, "None of the Weasleys signed up to return. All four failed their examinations, and I understand Arthur blew the roof off their home he was so angry."

"And Hermione Granger?"

"She didn't write to you?"

"No, professor."

"Miss Granger's parents replied to the Hogwarts letter saying she had decided to attend another school this year. She spent many hours talking with Madame Maxime last year, and I believe your friend is attending Beauxbatons this year."

Harry nodded and said, "Her French is excellent, so she'll not have any problem with the language."

There were many changes at Hogsmeade Station. Hagrid was missing, but several professors at the station directed students to the horseless carriages and the first years to the small boats. Harry was glad to see someone had cast a powerful ward to keep the sky clear over Hogwarts tonight to let the youngest kids have a smooth ride over the lake with the breath-taking view of the castle.

Hedwig approached Harry after getting off the train with a letter tied to her feet. Madam Pince requested his presence in the library tomorrow morning before breakfast – there was an issue with a printer jam.

"Dobby," he called.

"Yes, Mr Harry Potters?" asked the elf when he popped in. Several students jumped a bit, seeing the elf appear.

"Let one of the library elves know Madam Pince has a paper jam again," Harry smirked, thinking of the numerous times in August that the librarian floo called asking for help and advice with small things.

Shaking his head, Dobby said, "She's still not knows to only feed one sheets at a time when she uses that slickest papers for posters. Dobby goes hisself and shows her – again!"

In the Great Hall, there was one significant change – the four tables had been replaced by smaller tables that remained in rows but with space between the ends to allow for easy passage from one side of the hall to the other. The new deputy headmaster led the firsties into the Great Hall with the ghosts congregating overhead and the staff rising to their feet to applaud and welcome the new students. Harry rose to his feet and got the other students to join him with applause for the firsties.

Another difference in the Great Hall was the absence of the throne where Dumbledore sat when he presided over meals. The new headmistress, Alison Hempel, sat in a regular chair in the middle of the staff table, and she made all the announcements (which took a long time with the many introductions of new professors) without conjuring a podium. She was also dressed conservatively, and Harry decided he did not miss the garish robes the former headmaster wore.

Other differences were the increased number of staff members (senior professors and associate professors), dedicated Head of House without teaching duties, and wizard lights that resembled muggle lights everywhere instead of the faux-torches of previous years. The Defence and Duelling class replaced the old DADA class, and Harry understood the castle had broken the curse on the position.

Finally, the headmistress cleared her throat and said, "There is one other individual who wishes to speak to you tonight. Hogwarts!"

The short figure of a young woman in modest robes in the colours of all four houses appeared at the door of the Great Hall and stepped further into the room.

"Welcome! All of you are welcome here! We shall work hard all year to reveal the secrets of magic, history, maths, and writing essays that exceed expectations. I am here to provide you with a safe environment to learn and make friends with people who will build a new Magical Britain."

She looked sternly at every student and adult before saying, "There'll be no bullying. Stinging hexes are my speciality, and I have eyes and ears everywhere. So, no broom closets after curfew. And each of you listen carefully; I have no patience with wizards with wandering hands or witches who tease a boy out of his mind."

Return of the Weasleys

At the end of the first week, Harry discovered that several students who had been missing on the first day had arrived. Ernie McMillian returned on the third day with his little brother, who was sorted into Hufflepuff with his older brother. Ernie was in the Fifth Year with the other Harry's study group members, and he quickly made up the missing work. Cho Chang and Marietta Edgecombe returned the next day and joined the Fifth-Year students. The professors spent extra time starting the two witches off with their first assignments, and Harry helped both of them in the library. Other wizards and witches who returned weren't known to Harry, but he was glad to see the tables filling up.

Then, during lunch on the fifth day, the doors of the Great Hall opened, and Molly Weasley led her four youngest children inside. Headmistress Hempel had risen from her chair and was at the door.

"Who are you?" asked Molly the moment the woman moved in front of her to block her progress into the room.

Mrs Weasley, when we met in your home the other night, I spoke to you and your husband about the provisional readmittance of Fred, George, Ronald, and Ginevra to Hogwarts.

Pursuing her lips to be reminded of an embarrassing conversation, Molly huffed and said, "Yes, I remember now."

Turning from Molly, the headmistress addressed the children. "Fred and George, you will return to the sixth-year boy's dormitory in Gryffindor. Your books will be beside your beds, and your class schedules are there. Go find seats at the table for lunch."

Now addressing Ronald, Hempel said, "Ronald, you will find your textbooks and schedule in the fourth-year boy's dormitory in Gryffindor."

"I'm in fifth-year!" Ron insisted. "Last year was my fourth year!"

And you failed all your exams, Ronald," Hempel reminded the boy. "If you stay in the fifth year and fail your OWLS next spring…"

"Ron's a pureblood," Molly insisted. "They don't fail their exams."

Hempel frowned and said, "Mrs Weasley, we discussed this at your home. Readmittance was conditional on your children earning passing grades by studying and working."

"They will! Of course, they will! They did all their work last year! It was just…everyone failed last year, so there was something wrong with the examinations!"

"I'm hungry. Can I go eat now?" Ron asked before wandering to the Gryffindor table and dishing up food at the first table. Ginevra was even less accepting of the notion that she had to repeat her third year and began to cry, seeking her mother's comfort. The headmistress found herself in a privacy bubble provided by Hogwarts with Mrs Weasley, Ginny Weasley, and the figure of Hogwarts.

"Molly Weasley! How dare you bring your hooligans in here and make a scene!" Hogwarts fussed.

The witch drew her wand and demanded, "Who are you?"

"I am the manifestation of Hogwarts."

"The what?"

The figure of the young woman smiled before she replied, "I shall explain this slowly, and I hope you can understand. I am the spirit and magic of the school of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I have taken an active role in what happens inside my walls after too many years watching…well, I won't say his name for fear of invoking his ghost."

"How dare you speak ill of Albus Dumbledore! He's not dead!" Molly began shrieking before her voice vanished.

Hogwarts stepped closer and pinned Molly in place with her cold stare. The image said, "You agreed that your children would repeat their previous year. You agreed that they would study and earn their grades through hard work."

Molly searched the room for a supportive figure but found no one who would give her children what she wanted – placement in what she thought was the correct year. Her voice returning, Molly said, "Arthur said Hogwarts would let them go to their next year."

The headmistress frowned and asked, "Did Mr Weasley tell you that this morning? If so, that violates the agreement I made with him, and your children will all go home with you now."

"No! No! They must stay and learn! They have to pass their OWLs."

The castle shook her head and said, "Leave Mrs Molly Weasley. If I need to speak to anyone, I will contact Mr Weasley."

Ginny's tears dried up as soon as her mother left. The image of Hogwarts vanished, and the headmistress motioned for the new head of house for Gryffindor and the witch's husband (Charms Professor) to approach and speak with each of the four Weasley children. Ron and Ginny both remained resistant to their assignments to fourth year and third year again. After a fortnight, Ron was sent home because he again refused to do his homework or study and had caused several fights in the halls and dormitory. Ginevra lasted an entire month, but she refused to attend the third-year classes and tried to participate in the fourth-year courses. Arthur Weasley was required to come to the castle each time and escort his child out the school's doors. Fred and George dedicated themselves to being model students and were grateful for the opportunity to study.

Hogwarts and Harry

Harry was sitting at a library table and reviewing the illustration in a herbology/potions compendium to revise before a potion test on judging the fitness of leaves and seed pods for use in potions when he noticed the figure of Hogwarts seated beside him.

"Lady Hogwarts!"

"Hello, Mr Potter. I had a moment and wanted to ask you a couple questions."

"Please," Harry replied with a genuine smile.

"Last school year, you seemed to be aware of the magic spilling out on the floor in the Great Hall."

"Yeah, I saw it," he nodded. "Starting with the crack in the Goblet of Fire and then after Halloween with the magic dripping out of Headmaster Dumbledore's wand. That continued most of the year. All the magic that fell out on the floor seemed to melt into the stones too."

"It did. I ate it up. or better to say, the loose magic was added to my magic, and that allowed me to be more assertive at the end of the year, keep the ICW out of my walls, and run around with the students this year," she explained. "But I have news that I wanted to share with you."

"Okay," Harry replied cautiously.

"Former Headmaster Dumbledore died this morning in Zurich."

"Oh," Harry replied a little sad. "Did his body give out finally? It lasted over six months."

The lady added, "His wand was very powerful. I think that is one reason he lived as long as he did – few wizards reach 138 years of age. Once the wand grew weaker, Dumbledore's age caught up with him. And then when his consciousness left his body, the other parts slowly shut down."

Harry nodded but didn't comment as the castle asked another question, "The rune with the dial-up is true? Is it real?"

"Yeah, Uncle Moony invents great things."

"Do you think he'd let me have a copy of the rune to add to my wards?"

"Sure. Send him a letter."

Letter from Hermione

In the new Hogwarts, unfamiliar owls were shunted to a different window in the wards, and house-elves removed the letters or packages for inspection before delivery to the student or professor. The Aurors arrested or fined everyone who sent harmful or inappropriate items to students. Howlers were forbidden (and eventually made illegal). One morning after Hedwig had delivered Harry's copy of the newspaper, Dobby appeared at his side with a letter from Hermione Granger. He opened it hopeful of good news.

The letter began with a few generalities about Beauxbatons but then began question after question about the 'claims' in the newspaper about Harry inventing spells at age 14, the magic mirror spell being something impossible to exist, and demanding to know where he'd found the spell to convert paper into parchment.

Harry responded to each question and sent his reply with a second copy to her parents and his guardian. A letter from Madame Maxime arrived in the new year informing Monsieur Potter that she had licensed the Harry Potter spells for the computers and printers taking over her school. The headmistress of Beauxbatons noted that it took a month for Mademoiselle Granger to begin using the spells, but now she seemed to appreciate the clean parchments she submitted to professors.

Epilogue Hermione and Draco

With Hermione's move to Beauxbatons, the exchange of letters occurred with less frequency in the spring and summer between Harry's fifth and sixth years. In his seventh year, with his duties as Head Boy (Susan Bones was Head Girl), he didn't correspond with his former friend. At the end of that year, he received an announcement from Hermione's parents that she had been accepted into an American University after graduation.

Four years later, he was surprised to receive an invitation to Hermione's upcoming wedding to Draco Malfoy. The couple had met while attending the same university and because of their history (and his complete change in outlook), shared several conversations that turned into dates and then a serious relationship. The wedding was to occur in the United States, where the couple were employed in the financial district of New York City. Harry made a trip to Crawley to speak to Hermione's parents. He found the Grangers reserved in their enthusiasm but admitted the young man appeared to be pleased to have won their daughter's heart and hand. Harry sent his best wishes to the bride and groom but did not attend the wedding.

Epilogue: Hogwarts Library

With the continuous modifications to the muggle devices for computing, the Hogwarts library became available throughout the magical world where computers were accepted. In 1998, the first cell phones appeared in the school. House-elves became research assistants for serious students and spurred the laziest student to do their work.

Epilogue: Harry Potter

Harry Potter graduated from Hogwarts and then attended a British university. The ICW occupation of Magical Britain ended while he was at university, and he supported Susan's aunt, Amelia Bones, in her candidacy for the post of Her Majesty's Minister for Magic. While always in demand for appearances in Magical Britain, Harry seldom came into contact with the magical citizens of his homeland while attending university. He did maintain a cadre of house-elves to protect his apartment and life from intrusion. When Neville and Hannah Longbottom named him as godfather for their son, he accepted gladly and did appear at the naming ceremony and little Franklin's birthdays each year.

There was a great scandal in Magical Britain when Harry crossed the channel to marry Gabrielle Delacour, the younger sister of Fleur Delacour. The couple settled outside of Paris and seldom visited Britain. When their children were old enough to attend school for their magical education, they went to Beauxbatons, where they could access all the information in the Hogwarts Library via the internet.

END OF STORY