Chapter thirteen

Even though Ginny was expelled, she was also admitted to St Mungo's. The healers believed it would take months, if not a year before she was well enough to leave. She will still lose her wand rights, but not for good. When she reaches the age of twenty, she could get herself another wand. She would be questioned again at that time and with the use of veritaserum. It was just to make sure she wasn't lying or acting. They wanted to make sure she was in her right mind and no longer at danger to anyone.

Arthur officially and formerly apologised to Sirius, along with Harry and Luna for what Ron and Ginny had done. Harry knew this was hard on the Weasley family, but he wanted Mr. Weasley to know he held nothing against any of them except Ron and Ginny. If Ginny was ill then there was hope she would be fine one day and she should have been sent to a healer right after the chamber of secrets. Ron on the other hand had to get over his insecurities and his jealously. Harry ended up giving Arthur a hug before leaving with his girlfriend. They headed outside so Colin could take some pictures of them. They decided they wanted a record of their relationship when it started. They knew they would grow old together so they would be able to look back and see when they first got together.

Many people stopped to watch as Colin took photo's of Harry and Luna, how he would get them to move into different positions. He said that way he could get the perfect picture. Luna offered to take a picture of Harry and Colin together. Even though Harry had already given Colin the signed photo, he also decided Colin should have a picture with him if that's what Colin wanted. Dennis ended up being pulled in for one photo so Harry stood between the two Creevey brothers. Once they were done, Colin said he would get Harry the copies later then rushed off with his brother.

Harry and Luna were joined by Neville and Hannah, 'So Ginny is in St Mungo's?' Neville asked sadly.

'Yes and Sirius wants me to see a healer during the holidays. He knows I'm fine, but really, I should have seen a healer at the end of first year and second year. I told Sirius I don't mind just get someone who won't leak what we talk about to the papers, nor will he keep staring at my scar.'

'I'm sure Madam Pomfrey will be able to give him some names of good healers,' Hannah said.

'Yeah, probably. Anyway, I hope this with Ginny was just caused by what she went through. How could that old man not think about how this could have affected her?'

'He seemed to be more obsessed with you and not thinking about anything else, or anyone else,' Neville said.

'We believe it's his age, he just wasn't concentrating on anything other than Harry, Voldemort and when the war would start again,' Luna said.

'Sirius said Dumbledore was obsessed with the prophecy, so was Voldemort. The thing is, if they ignored it, then nothing would have happened. They made the prophecy a reality when he went after me. From then on Dumbledore just couldn't believe others would know more than him.'

The rest of the year went without any problems, even from the Slytherin's. When they found out that two Gryffindor's had been expelled, they realised if they caused trouble like they used to, then they could be expelled, which would mean they couldn't own a wand again. They decided to just go to classes, but they stayed away from everyone else. A few thought of transferring to Durmstrang, some thought they might leave after their owls, then get tutors. The world had changed around them yet they had change their ways and their way of thinking or they just might end up in Azkaban.

Cedric had won the triwizard tournament which made Hogwarts cheer loudly. There had been a party held in the great hall that night.

The following day the students and staff said goodbye to the Durmstrang students and the Beauxbaton students.

Even though Harry had began to speak with Hermione, they were not as close as they used to be. Harry stuck with his girlfriend, along with Neville and Hannah, which meant sometimes Susan bones was with them as well. One thing Harry noticed though, he had begun to talk and get friendly with others. A few that he got on well with said they didn't like Ron or Hermione. They explained that Ron's manners along with his attitude kept them away. With Hermione, it was how she always believed she was right and refused to listen to other people's point of views. They also said that she was trying to change their world into a muggle world, with their rules and traditions, not the wizarding worlds rules and traditions. Harry understood and he was now glad he was making more friends. Once people got to know him then they might not believe every little rumour going around about him.

Even though Harry would miss seeing Luna every day now the holidays began, he just wanted to get away from Hogwarts and relax. He would see his girlfriend and he would see Neville, but for the first two weeks he just wanted to stay home and spend his time with his godfather. He knew he had to go to the department of mysteries, but they had time.

'You finally look relaxed pup and I get why.'

'Yeah, I mean I love being a Hogwarts, there was just so many things wrong and it was mainly Dumbledore's fault.'

'It was. He refuse to expel students, or even suspend them so those trouble makers believed they could always get away with how they acted. But the changes Minerva and the rest of the staff wanted will be put into affect when Hogwarts resumes.'

'What changes?'

'Sorry, I was sworn to secrecy. But I will tell you one since you were the one that told me what some of the other kids said. From now on, students can choose to celebrate wiccan holidays or muggle holidays. It's like with Halloween Harry, through out history witches and wizards would use that day to remember the dead. It was written that at one time when there was enough of us concentrating on their lost loved ones then the veil between this world and the nether world would lower so you could actually speak to them. Stonehenge was used, now though there are too many muggles who visit so it would be impossible to make them leave. Some, traditionalists want to try and work it, they said it might take time. They also need enough witches and wizards so there is enough power to lower the veil. From what I was told, if it works then for one hour on all hallows eve, the veil will allow those that crossed over to return and speak with their loved ones. It starts at eleven that night and the veil will close right at midnight. I've been speaking with a few, we're going to try to work it so the muggles will stay away from Stonehenge, just for that night. What some have said is that because there was so much inbreeding, they have to find enough people who are powerful so they can make the veil lower. The magic around Stonehenge will use these powerful people to keep the veil open for the hour.'

'After what I found out and what I can do, could I help?'

'You are one of the most powerful Harry, which would help. Okay, I will speak with the ones who are trying to return some of our traditions. We know we have to keep muggle traditions as well since they're a lot more muggleborns or raised now. But we should not have to give up our traditions and become muggles. We are not muggles.'

'Even though there are some things I like about the muggle world, no, we're not muggles. We have our own world and our own ways of doing things. It's like what Luna told me. She said it was like a Buddhist came to this country and said we have to all follow his religion. That's wrong, but everyone should be able to make their own choice. Hermione is a big problem with this. She wants to free house elves and change things like the Wizengamot so it's like the muggle government.'

'She is one of those that come into our world and want us to change. With some of our traditions being brought back, she will find out why. If she keeps going on about it, she will never be able to live and work in the wizarding world. It's another one of Dumbledore's mistakes. He was the one that had students celebrate muggle holidays, which instantly made a lot of the traditional pure-bloods hate muggleborns.'

'He also made me sit and celebrate Halloween even though it was when my parent's were murdered. It's the reason I was glad to leave the great hall that first year. Even though there was a troll, all I thought about was getting out of there. I wanted to spend the time alone to think of my parent's. I was halfway back to Gryffindor tower when I realised I hadn't seen Hermione.'

'I spoke to Minerva about that. She admits she did not even think of how you would be feeling. I will tell you this though, even if no one is supposed to know. Since there are many students at Hogwarts who have lost family, close family, due to the war, she is going to allow those students to make the choice. They can do what they always do and eat in the great hall, go to classes, like normal, or they can have that day off. Now to make sure students don't take advantage of this, they will need some type of documentation to prove they lost someone close. They don't want students doing this because some great aunt they never met that died fifty years ago just so they can get a day off. Close family is parent's, siblings, grandparent's, aunts, uncles and cousins. If there is a great aunt or second cousin then all they need is some type of proof they were close. It's like with me and my uncle, I loved him more than I ever loved my father so we know it can happen.'

'Even though I would take the day since I can never concentrate on that day, I hope they work on the veil and Stonehenge. I would never take a day off again if I could just have that hour to speak to my parent's.'

Sirius wrapped his arm around his godson, 'I would be the same pup. I would give up everything just to have some time with your parent's. Don't worry, I'm sure they will be able to work it out and you'll get to speak with your parents and I'll get to speak with Prongs and Tigerlily. But it's the holidays, we shouldn't be sad or depressed. How about you and I have a fly?'

Harry smiled at his godfather. They summoned their brooms and headed outside. Sirius was like Harry, he would take risks and loved to fly fast. So they got into many races that day. Sometimes Harry won, other times Sirius did. But the man and the teenage boy had a wonderful day, just the two of them. They were doing what many father and sons do. So even though Harry and Sirius knew they weren't father and son, they thought of the other as father or son. They were family.