Harry rolled over lethargically, and slowly opened his eyes, seeing nothing but a muck of orange and red. He reached over on his small bedside table and felt blindly around for his glasses. His fingers closed firmly around them, and he hastily shoved them upon his face. He looked up into the face of Ginny Weasley, looking concernedly at Harry.
"You're a deep sleeper," She said, laughing her beautiful laugh.
"Ugh, Ginny?" Harry asked groggily, for he had not yet entirely come to his senses. "Why'd you wake me up?" he asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice. Sleep seemed hard to come by in the past couple days, and he was holding onto every minute of it he could get.
"Your post's here," she said with a smile, looking down on him affectionately.
"Oh damn." Harry said, irritated. He had been receiving obscene amounts of post for the last few days. Wizards and witches from across Britain were writing to him now, sending their congratulations, offers for jobs, gold, well-wishes, and many other things. It had been quite embarrassing to return to the Burrow to find the entire kitchen table swarming with letters, some still attached to the legs of their owls, whom apparently would yield their charges to no one but Harry himself. The corner of Harry's room was littered with unread letters, for he found he simply couldn't bring himself to read all of them. It brought back memories of everyone who had died to achieve this, and Harry had been studiously avoiding them to avoid re-provoking his grief.
"I'll come get them," Harry said, yawning. "Anything interesting today?"
"Oh, maybe," said Ginny evasively.
"What'd you mean, 'maybe?'" asked Harry, his interest piqued.
"Oh, I think there might be something downstairs you'll enjoy," she said with an evasive grin. She winked at him mischievously, and half-walked, half-skipped out of the room and down the stairs.
Feeling seriously confused, Harry pulled on his socks, which he had never put on this morning, and stood up, heading to the bathroom to brush his teeth, then heading downstairs, with curiosity bubbling within him at Ginny's odd words earlier.
Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were all standing around a pile of what Harry presumed was his mail. Ginny was holding what Harry knew to be her Hogwarts letter, detailing the materials needed for her final year at school. Strangely, Ron and Hermione both appeared to be holding letters of their own. Harry approached them with a questioning look on his face; when he reached the table, Mrs. Weasley grabbed a fourth off of the top of the pile and handed it to Harry.
"Came just now dear," She said happily.
Ginny had torn into her envelope, but neither Ron, nor Hermione had opened theirs yet. Hermione wore a look of trepidation similar the day she received her O.W.L results, and Ron simply looked bemused. Hermione was muttering under her breath, "Oh I hope I did all right," she said agitatedly. Harry turned to her and asked quizzically, "What are you waiting for?"
Hermione blushed pink. "Well, I kinda- but it's much too soon!" This only deepened Harry's confusion, but Hermione's lips seemed to have sealed themselves, whether out of nerves or confusion, Harry couldn't tell.
"Looks like a Hogwarts letter…" Harry said, more to himself than anyone else.
"I know mate, but why'd Hogwarts send us letters?" Ron asked, puzzled. "Ginny's gotta go," he said airily, waving a hand towards his younger sister, "But we're done."
"Maybe we're not," Harry said as he ripped open his letter. He carefully unfolded the brown parchment and read aloud:
Dear Mr. Potter,
Our records indicate that you did not complete your school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during our last school term. Due to the unfortunate circumstances in the wizarding world last term, our regular schooling was disrupted. We would therefore be greatly pleased if you would return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to repeat your 7th year of magical education. NEWT year is extraordinarily important for your future in the magical world, and without your NEWT test results, many preferred magical careers will be unavailable to you. We will make accommodations for you and all others who could not complete their term last year if you agree to return. If you do not wish to return to Hogwarts School, we require written notice delivered to us by owl before July the 24th, otherwise we look forward to seeing you next term.
Sincerely,
Minerva Mcgonagall
A smile blossomed upon Harry's face as he finished reading and looked up from his letter, looking around the kitchen. Clearly, from the looks on Ron and Hermione's faces, they had completely forgotten that they would be expected back at Hogwarts. After all, they had skipped their entire 7th year at school to hunt Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes, but he didn't think that returning to Hogwarts had exactly been on their minds while were breaking into Gringotts vaults and infiltrating the Ministry of Magic.
Harry looked from face to face around the kitchen as they each reacted to the news. Ginny's registered barely concealed happiness, and Harry thought he knew why. Mrs. Weasley was carefully neutral. Ron's had fallen comically; clearly he had been looking forward to being free of school for the first time in six years. Hermione, oddly enough, was frowning too. Harry could not see a situation in which Hermione would be depressed to return to Hogwarts, with it's giant library, and tomes of magical knowledge.
"Why the sad face Hermione?" he asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
"Oh, well, you see… I took my NEWT tests at the ministry yesterday," she mumbled, the tips of her ears going red, just as Ron's did when he was embarrassed.
"You're mental," Ron groaned, shaking his head, and with a hint of incredulity in his voice. "You took the tests- even though you never took the courses?" Ron put his face in his hand, shaking it in an over-the-top manner. "Men-tal."
Harry giggled uncharacteristically, and Hermione turned quickly to give him a sharp look. "What?" she asked crossly.
"Nothing, said Harry, still smiling. "Bet you aced them all huh?" he joked.
Hermione mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like "I know I'll fail," which simply amused Harry more, but he bit his tongue. "I haven't got my results yet," she said, her voice gaining confidence. "I thought this might be them-" she waved her letter threateningly under his nose- "but it's obviously not." She sounded disappointed, but just then it appeared an idea budded in her mind.
"Do you think they'll let me re-take them if I take the coursework?" Hermione asked nervously.
Ron smiled at her, and draped his arm around her back in a way Harry was sure he had lifted directly from Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches. "Of course they will," he said in a soothing voice, and Hermione immediately turned around and gave him an bright white smile, looking soothed. Harry really needed to check out that book.
"Well, that's a pleasant surprise," Mrs. Weasley said. "You know, I always said last summer, you three really need to finish you education, good and proper. None of that adventuring stuff- no, what you need is a good, solid school, with walls to contain you and teachers to keep an eye on you." Mrs. Weasley waved a disapproving finger at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, all of whom had the good grace to look ashamed, although Harry shared a knowing look with Ron. Teachers and walls had never stopped them for long in the past; the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauders Map saw to that. "Now you all have the chance to go back and finish it right," Mrs. Weasley said, looking happy.
Mrs. Weasley grabbed Harry's book list, which had drifted to the floor, unheeded. "Oh dear," Mrs. Weasley said, her face falling. "Looks like there's quite a lot of new equipment we'll have to get this year…" She slowed into silence, and Harry knew her thoughts were drifting to the Weasley's tiny vault in Gringotts, with its small pile of silver Sickles and bronze Knuts, sparkled only with the occasion gold Galleon.
"I'll front it Mrs. Weasley," said Harry generously.
"Oh dear, no, we ca-" but Harry cut her off before she could get started. "Look Mrs. Weasley, people are sending me loads of gold each day-" Harry grabbed a small square parcel from the table and shook it; the jingling of coins was clearly audible through the thin cardboard. "And by my reckoning, after all the times you've had me at your house, all the help you've given me, and the friendship, you deserve much more than this Mrs. Weasley." Harry tossed the box towards her, which she caught, looking startled. "It's the least I can do," Harry said, a hint of a plea in his voice. He truly hoped that Mrs. Weasley wasn't too proud to accept his generosity, for he truly meant everything he said. The Weasley's deserved every Galleon he could give them, and then some.
Tears welled in Mrs. Weasley's eyes, and she enveloped Harry in a bone-crushing hug. Harry feebly returned it with one arm, his other pinioned against his chest by the force of Mrs. Weasley's hug. She released him and Harry came up for air, finally able to breathe. He caught a glimpse of her as she scurried out of the kitchen, apparently too emotional too remain.
Harry rolled his eyes, and looked over to Ginny, who winked at him. Presumably she had been inundated to this sort of behavior by years of living with Mrs. Weasley.
"I thought I was done with Hogwarts," Ron said dejectedly.
"Well, if you want a career Ronald, you'll need at least a few NEWTs." Hermione explained crossly. "OWL's are fine and all, but if you want a real job, you'll need to pass your NEWTs."
Ron looked defeated, and sat down, perusing his supplies list. "Looks like more of the same." He muttered in a dejected voice. Hermione began searching for a letter opener so she could examine the booklist on her own. As soon as he was sure she was out of earshot, Ron spoke to Harry: "What'd'ya think I could do with just my OWL's?"
Harry shrugged, not wanting to crush Ron's hope. "Not much, I reckon. I'll be heading back for sure. I think I might fancy the Defense job at Hogwarts, or maybe an Auror- but I'm sure you need NEWTs for both of those." He scanned his letter again, but saw no mention of what he wanted. "Doesn't say who the new defense teacher is," Harry remarked conversationally.
"Maybe it'll be someone halfway decent this year," Ginny speculated optimistically. "Umbridge, Snape, Carrow. Our last three haven't exactly been role-models for us."
"Well, there's always the DA if we get another incompetent," Harry joked, although the thought nestled himself within his brain. He had enjoyed Dumbeldore's Army when he had led it during his 5th year. Perhaps there still was a place for it at Hogwarts, even if it wasn't going to be a necessity this year. He filed the concept in the back of his mind for further perusal, for Hermione had just let out a jubilant shriek that startled him out of his thoughts.
"It's the Head Girl badge!" she yelled, and sure enough, a small silver badge with "HG" engraved on it lay in her palm. What an odd coincidence that those were Hermione's initials as well. Harry thought it was, in a subtle way, very fitting.
"Huh?" Ron's voice carried over Hermione's shrieks of joy. "Oh, so that's what that is." He spoke with the air of one solving a great mystery, and Harry looked over to see him holding his own small sliver badge up to the light, puzzling over it as if examining it's authenticity. Hermione gave yet another yell and rushed over to Ron.
"OH! You've been made Head Boy as well?!" She asked with delighted glee in her voice. "Ron, that's brilliant! Good for you!" She hugged him, and dashed out of the kitchen, no doubt to tell Mrs. Weasley. Having no desire to be in the kitchen when Mrs. Weasley began her crooning, Harry discreetly slipped out of the kitchen through the adjacent back door, remembering how torn up he had been three years ago, when Hermione and Ron had received their Prefects badges at Grimmauld place. Now he simply felt happy for them and their triumphs. Harry continued his walk, taking in the Weasley's beautiful garden, and, serenely reflecting on how much he had grown up.