Despite the tragedy that occurred, Headmaster Gamp insisted that the students finish the school year. This also meant that the seventh and fifith years take their N.E.W.T.S. and O.W.L.S. This sparked outrage among the parents and professors who felt Gamp was as callous and cruel as Umbridge. Despite McGonagall and Longbottom fighting back against Gamp, Charmer's influence helped secured Gamp's decision that the students finish the year. The students continued their lessons amongst the rubble and ruins of the castles. The Loyalty Leaders made the rest of the year even more unbearable by enforcing the new rules that Gamp imposed to restrict the students' desire to discuss not just the battle but also the events occurring prior to the battle.
The day when the Potters and Granger-Weasleys returned was arguing the worst day for Rose, Albus, and Scorpius because they knew that was the night to make the announcement for their seventh year.
Rose and Albus sat on two chairs facing each other while Scorpius sat on the bench at the end of the table. None of them spoke as Molly cooked supper while Ron and Ginny were setting up a table for the younger siblings in the living room. Eventually, the adults and James made their way to the kitchen with Hermione being the last one to sit down after putting the now two-month-old Ruby down for bed in her bassinet.
"Tuck in, everyone!" said Molly.
During dinner the adults discussed Harry's workload and the Order's assignments. with the topic eventually switching to James finishing up his seventh year and Arthur convincing Ginny and Harry to let James have some brandy in celebration of completing his wizard education.
"I'm fine with it," said Harry. "He's earned it."
"Please, Mum?" asked James.
"Fine," said Ginny. "You can give him a glass, Dad."
"Excellent," said Arthur, getting up to grab the bottle. "Anyone else want a glass?"
"I'm have one," said Harry.
"Same," said Ron.
"Me too," said Ginny.
"And next year," said Arthur returning with the brandy."We'll be doing this for Rose, Scorpius, and Albus."
"Once they've passed their all N.E.W.T.S. with 'outstandings'," said Molly beaming with pride. Rather than smile or laugh with embarrassment, all three of them looked down at the table.
"Rose, what's wrong?" asked Ron. Finally, Rose decided to muster up the courage to tend the adults the news and stood up from her chair.
"Mom, Dad" said Rose feeling her heart fluttering with anticipation and nervousness. "I'm not going back to Hogwarts next year."
At hearing this news, Ron dropped his fork on his plate and Hermione's jaw dropped at this statement.
"I'm not going back either," said Scorpius standing up as well so Rose didn't feel alone. When the adults and James then turned Albus waiting for his response, Albus merely nodded his head to confirm the news. Rose began to bite her nails as she looked at her father's face slowly turned a shade of crimson.
"And I thought I'd be the dropout, " said James trying to lighten the mood.
"Are you MAD?!" shouted Ron loud enough that the the living room went silent. Hugo, Lily, Iris, and the twins popped their heads in the kitchen and saw Rose and Scorpius simultaneously sank back to their seats.
"Well," said Arthur coughing. "Molly, why don't we take the younger kids out to catch fireflies?"
"Yes, I think that's a good idea," said Molly quickly getting up from her chair. "Come along, James."
"No way," said James. "I'm not missing this!"
"Me neither," said Hugo relishing in the rare moments when his perfect sister made a mistake.
"OUT!" cried Hermione and Ginny at the same time, making Hugo and James bolt out the room. At the sound of the commotion, Ruby woke up and began to cry. While Hermione got up to go soothe her, Ron remained seething in his chair.
"I don't understand why you all want to leave school," asked Ginny confused by this decision. "You're all such bright young things!"
"Because we want to fight in this battle," responded Scorpius. "And I'm going make sure that Jason Charmer never uses magic to kill another wizard!"
"And how do you plan on doing that, Scorpius?" asked Hermione concerned with Scorpius at this point.
"I'm going to remove his magic," said Scorpius matter-of-factly.
"Scorpius..." began Hermione.
"That is the most RIDICULOUS thing I've ever head!" said Ron his voice booming with anger. "You know how stupid you sound, son?"
"I've have proof that it can be done!" argued Scorpius as he pulled out the journal and threw it on the table, much to the surprise of Rose and Albus. "In there is a spell that all the founders worked on to remove magic from an undeserving wizard. All it needs is a name and we three can do that!"
"And do you know where to start? How long it would take?" demanded Ron. "How many names there are to be discovered?"
"You didn't any of that when you looked for Horcruxes!" argued Rose now finding her courage.
"It's not the SAME!" yelled Ron. "You three are doing something that has never been done before and endangering your lives - you're just kids! You are not responsible for fixing the world's problems!"
"We want to help, Dad!" shouted Rose, her face red with frustration at her father's lack of understanding. "As long as our classmates keep dying, it's our problem too!"
"Harry what do you have to say?" asked Ginny. Harry remained silent for a bit before finishing his brandy.
"What do I think?" said Harry, calmly. "Let them go."
"Harry..." said Ron feeling slightly betrayed by his best friend's decision.
"Rose is right," said Harry. "We had no idea where these horcruxes were or what to look for. It took a long time before we made any progress, but we found them in the end, and we did it together. I know you're scared, Ron, but so were Molly and Arthur when you were out there. I believe in the three of them, Ron - they'll have each other, just as we had each other."
"Always," said Albus making his father smile at hearing one of his favourite words.
"Besides," said Harry. "I have no doubt that once this is over, they'lll reenroll at Hogwarts and finish their education, right?"
"Of course!" said Rose and Scorpius.
"Promise," said Albus.
"Mrs. Granger? Mr. Weasley?" asked Scorpius. "Do you trust us?"
"As long as you promise to finish your educations afterwards," insisted Hermione. "Then you may go."
"Mum?" asked Albus. "Please?"
"Alright, Al," said Ginny. "Just be safe, please."
"Dad?" asked Rose meekly since he had not agreed yet to this decision.
"Right," grumbled Ron. "I need some air." Before Hermione could say anything, Ron threw his napkin on the table and stormed out of the kitchen nearly knocking over the chair. Rose's heart sank at seeing her father angry as she just wanted to make him proud of her. Now she felt a ping of shame as she heard his footsteps stomp up the stairs of the Burrow.
"Give him time, love," said Ginny noticing Rose's lip trembling slightly. "He's come around to it."
"I hope so," said Rose as she using her napkin to dry her tears.