Badges and Broomsticks

It turned out that Avery hadn't left the store since the end of the Battle and that Borgin had used his expertise on dark artefacts, which was why Borgin was sentenced to five years in Azkaban. Borgin&Burkes was closed, all products were confiscated and Borgins note books were checked thoroughly which left many longtime customers with a lot of problems. Avery was of course given a life-long sentence. His arrest was the first major success of the new auror office and was therefore celebrated accordingly at the office. Proudfoot even shook their hands and complimented them on their good work before assigning them to Zeas and Jameson who were leading the search for Jugson. Harry would have preferred to hunt Selwyn, but he knew better than to complain..

At the middle of August, Ginny finally turned seventeen and celebrated the end of her magic's restriction so happily that she made her bedsheets burn, which gave her a thumps up by George and made Molly throw a tantrum. After everybody had calmed down and sat down for breakfast - Harry, Ron, and George had taken the day off work - she unceremoniously ripped her presents open. Her parents gave her the traditional golden watch (''Who'd have expected that? - Thanks, Mum!''), Hermione and Ron a Holyhead Harpies jersey (''Stopped being a Quidditch hater, did you, Hermione?''), George a subscription of Which Broomstick? (''Er, really?'') and Harry -

''YOU'RE KIDDING!''

- ''A FIREBOLT?!'', Ron moaned.

Ginny stared at the broom and then at him. ''Harry - ''

- ''It's not too much'', he said determinedly. ''You've been talking about playing professional for years, so you should have the fitting broom for it. Besides, I can afford it.''

He shot a short glance at George who grinned widely as he realised which money Harry had used to pay for the broom.

''Thanks'', Ginny finally said, grabbed him and pressed a strong kiss on his lips which wiped George's grin away.

''Harry, I must say -'', Molly started, but her speech on excessive birthday presents was cut off by the arrival of four owls which came through the kitchen window and landed on the table.

''Hogwarts'', Hermione said quite unnecessarily.

Harry opened his letter. Inside were the usual book list and also Quidditch captain's badge.

''Congratulations'', Ginny said quietly while she was staring at her own prefect's badge.

''Wha- oh'', Harry said weakly as he realised that she would replace Vicky Frobisher who had died during the battle. Molly hugged her.

''It's alright, dear.''

Ginny nodded slowly. ''Yes...''

- ''Hermione?'', Ron asked suddenly because Hermione hadn't moved since opening her letter. He went to her nervously. Hermion stared at him with big eyes and then she pressed the golden Head Girl badge in his hands. Harry realised that he wasn't surprised at all.

''Congrats'', Ron said grinning widely and hugged her.

''That must be a mistake'', Hermione mumbled. ''They can't seriously consider -''

- ''Your name's on the letter'', Harry said.

''But -''

- ''Oh, shut up, Hermione'', Ginny said and hugged her too. ''There really was no one else they could've taken.''

- ''Congratulations, dear'', Molly said smiling.

Hermione seemed still unable to deal with the news, so Molly made her a big cup of tea.

''Congrats'', Harry said grinning. ''From Undesirable Number Two to Head Girl in four months, not bad at all.''

- ''And we didn't have to do anything to make it happen'', she said dryly.

In the afternoon the other Weasleys, Luna and Neville arrived to celebrate with Ginny. Hermione's badge, which Ron mentioned at every possible opportunity, raised a lot of cheers. George absolutely refused to talk to her for half an hour, Percy shook her hand pompously and Bill answered all her panic questions about organising prefects meetings and nighty patrols.

''Listen up, Neville'', Luna said casually. ''That sounds useful.''

Everyone stared at Neville whose ears had turned bright red.

''Oh'', Luna said surprisedly. ''Is that a secret? Why don't you want to tell them that you made Head Boy? Are you ashamed?''

Neville cleared his throat and shrugged shyly. ''Er...yep.''

- ''Congratulations, Neville'', Ginny said proudly. ''After what happened last year, they had to choose you.''

- ''What did Augusta say?'', Molly asked.

Neville turned even more red, though that had seemed impossible before. ''She...well...''

- ''Leave him alone'', Hermione said. ''Neville, I'm really happy that we'll do this together!''

- ''To Gryffindor's new Head Boy and Girl!'', Bill said and raised his glass.

''Well'', he added when everybody had put their glasses down again. ''While I hate to steal your thunder, I still have to announce that we're expecting a baby!''

Everybody cheered happily while Molly and Arthur hugged their oldest son and his wife.

''Blimey, a baby!'', Ron said happily and Hermione and Harry shared a nostalgic smile.

After the universal congratulations and hugs were over, Harry took Bill aside.

''Our Hogwarts letters arrived today, so we'll have to go to Diagon Alley and Gringott's soon'', he said. ''Until now, I've kept sending Kreacher to take money, but...''

- ''You want to know if you can risk a personal visit at the bank'', Bill said slowly.

Harry nodded nervously.

''I can't think of any reason why you shouldn't'', Bill said. ''While you don't have many friends among the goblins, they all understand the reasons for your break-in. But still, you shouldn't make, er, inappropriate jokes, you know.''

He shot a glance sideways at Ron.

''Of course'', Harry said.

''I think it would make things a lot easier if I simply accompany you'', Bill said. ''How about next Saturday?''

And so they stood in front of the golden gates of Gringott's early next Saturday morning with Ron grinning widely while looking at the poem.

''I'd never thought I'd one day -''

- ''Ron'', Hermione hissed. ''Shut up.''

- ''I only wanted to -''

- ''There have already been five goblin rebellions and you don't have to start another one, thank you.''

- ''Five?'', Ron whispered to Harry. ''Weren't there only four?''

Harry shrugged and entered the bank. Both goblins behind the door didn't pay any more attention to them than to any other customers who were currently present. Bill waited for them by the counters.

''Everything okay?'', he asked a little nervously.

''Apparated perfectly'', Ginny said casually - she had passed the test on Thursday.

''That's not what I meant, but okay.''

They followed him to one of the counters where a relatively young goblin sat. Harry didn't know what made him think the goblin was young, goblins looked all the same to him. The eyes, he thought. The eyes don't look that old.

''Ragnok, my siblings and their friends wish to enter their vaults.''

Ragnok nodded, as if it was perfectly normal that bank robbers returned to crime scene uncontestedly.

''Keys, please'', he said.

Ragnok checked the keys and returned them without any complaints.

''Mr Potter, there are several inheritance issues which Gringott's needs to clarify with you'', the goblin said. ''I will send you the papers, there will be no need to discuss that here in person, will there?'''

Harry nodded strongly. ''I agree.''

- ''Very well. Now, if you will follow me, I'll show you to your vaults.''