Chapter Five: The Return to Hogwarts

It was times like these that Harry wished he had not been the one to save the world and bring down the darkest wizard of all time. As soon as he had stepped onto Platform 9 ¾, dozens of people flocked to him, grabbing at his hands, clothes, and hair shouting, "Harry! It's Harry Potter! The Boy Who Beat You-Know-Who!" The entire Weasley family, plus Hermione, Luna, and Neville, had to surround Harry like a protective shield, in order to guarantee he would be able to get on the train before it left the station.

Finding an empty compartment, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Neville sat down and slid the door shut. Harry breathed a sigh of relief, until a hoard of first and second year students appeared, faces pressed against the glass, giggling with childish excitement. Harry shook his head, while Ron rolled his eyes, and Hermione pulled the shades down.

"Better get used to it, mate," Ron said sympathetically.

"Yes, I imagine it will not be much better once they realize you are their professor," Luna added.

"Oh no," Harry moaned, "I didn't thought about that," putting his head in hands.

Harry had spent the last four weeks with Hermione, writing lesson plans, deciding on homework assignments and appropriate material for each of the years. McGonagall had barely been able to keep a straight face when Harry and Hermione agreed to teach. Harry had a feeling she knew he would accept because she handed him a very detailed, and very full, schedule the moment he said yes.

Harry would be taking three classes as a student: Charms, Potions, and Transfiguration. Technically, Harry needed five N.E.W.T.s with Exceeds Expectations to qualify for Auror training but Kingsley and Hestia Jones, recently appointed Head of the Aurors, agreed that as long as Harry got the required N.E.W.T. level in those three subjects, he would qualify for training. McGonagall offered to do private lessons with Harry in Transfiguration in the evening once a week so that he would have extra time to practice Quidditch, since he decided against using a time-turner, thinking back to how frazzled Hermione was during their third year. Harry had a feeling that McGonagall also wanted Gryffindor to be the house that wins the Quidditch Cup, even though she was no longer Head of Gryffindor House since she became Headmistress.

Harry's class load as a teacher was a bit more daunting. He would be teaching seven classes total. Hermione would be co-teaching with him for three, and, since McGonagall decided to add an eighth class to accommodate the increased number of first year students, Hermione would be teaching one of the first year classes on her own. When Hermione realized this, she spent four hours writing and re-writing the lesson plan for the first day of class. For being the brightest witch of her age, Hermione was dreadfully insecure about her ability to teach. Ron spent more than one occasion in Hermione's room, telling her over and over again how brilliant she was and that she would make a great teacher, as Hermione cried that all of her students would hate her.

"Don't worry, Harry. We'll be able to manage them together," Hermione said, placing a hand on his knee, quickly removing it when she saw Ginny's annoyed expression. Ginny was not pleased with the amount of time Harry and Hermione had been spending together over the last month. Deep down, Ginny loved Hermione like the sister she never had, but she couldn't deny the pangs of jealously she felt every time she saw Harry and Hermione with their heads together, scribbling down lesson plans on parchment, laughing, and becoming even closer friends. Ron, apparently, was blissfully oblivious to the situation, or had a greater trust in his relationship with Hermione than Ginny had with Harry.

"Besides, Harry," Neville chimed in, "Most of the people who will be in the 6th and 7th year classes will be people who were in Dumbledore's Army! So, those classes should be a breeze to teach."

"I suppose you're right, Neville," Harry admitted, suddenly feeling less anxious.

Ginny placed her arm in Harry's and leaned her head on his shoulder. Harry's cheeks become red with embarrassment.

"What you should be worrying about, is when we're going to have time together," Ginny said, hugging his arm.

An awkward silence fell on the compartment. Ron and Hermione looked at each other, nodded, and said they were going to go and say hello to the other Gryffindors in the next car. Neville and Luna followed. Alone in the compartment, shades drawn, Ginny kissed Harry lightly on the cheek. Harry turned to face her.

"You're not happy that I took McGonagall's offer, are you?" Harry said abruptly.

"I-Well-It's ju-" Ginny struggled to find the right words to say. She didn't want to hurt Harry's feelings but she could already see the hurt in his eyes when she didn't give him a clear answer.

Taking hold of his hand, she said, "I am happy for you, Harry. It's obvious you're happy about it and that's what matters. I guess I am just a little jealous that it feels like everyone at Hogwarts will be spending more time with you than me, your girlfriend."

Harry was not surprised by Ginny's answer. The tension had been building between them since he and Hermione returned from McGonagall's office, announcing that they were officially Hogwart's professors.

"Ginny, I will make sure that we will have time to be together, alone," he promised, kissing her on the forehead. "It will be difficult in the beginning, while I get used to the schedule and we have the first Qudditch match of the season to prepare for, but you are, and always will be, my first priority."

Ginny breathed a sigh of relief, reassured that Harry still cared about her. Her jealous feelings towards Hermione immediately began to fade away as Harry leaned in and kissed her deeply on the lips.

When the train arrived at Hogwarts, Harry prepared himself for a new onslaught of gawkers and overly excited children. Luckily, the awe of seeing Hogwarts in the distance proved to be an effective distraction while Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Neville quickly and quietly climbed into one of the carriages. Not surprising to Harry, he heard many of the older students shout in surprise at seeing the thestrals. It seemed that nearly every 7th year and a good number of the 5th and 6th years had witnessed someone die in the last year. Far too many, Harry thought, far too many.

When they reached the castle, Harry stared in awe. Hogwarts looked like it always had. You would never have known the biggest battle of the last century had taken place here just 4 months ago. As Harry and the others walked towards the Great Hall, memories flashed before his eyes. Running down the corridors towards the Room of Hidden Things. Saving Malfoy from the Fiendfyre, which destroyed the Diadim of Rowena Ravenclaw. Fred dying in the explosion…

Tears began to form in Harry's eyes, letting the others get ahead of him, he stopped behind a pillar, took of his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

"Blimey, countless funerals and no tears. Walk ten feet into Hogwarts and I'm already blubbering," he muttered to himself.

"Harry?"

Hermione's voice called out for him.

"Harry, where are you?"

Putting his glasses back on, Harry stepped out from behind the pillar.

"Here, Hermione. Had to - had to tie my shoes," Harry sputtered, ashamed to admit he had been crying.

Hermione gave him a doubtful look. She could tell by his eyes that he had been crying but she knew he was probably embarrassed about it, so she kept quiet.

"Come on, you don't want to miss the Feast," she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the Great Hall, where everyone was already seated.

As they drew near, Harry stopped abruptly, breathing hard.

"Harry? Harry, what's wrong? Harry!" Hermione said to the non-responsive Harry.

Harry could barely hear Hermione. Looking toward the entrance of the Great Hall, Harry only saw broken stones, bodies everywhere, and he and Voldemort circling each other in the center of the Great Hall as the sun began to rise.

"Avade Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!"

"Harry!"

Harry held the side of his face where Hermione had just slapped him, with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I'm so sorry, but you weren't answering me and, and you were hyperventilating an-and, Harry I'm so sorry!"

Harry, now understanding what had happened, pulled Hermione into a hug.

"Hermione, no, it's okay. Thank you, I-I was remembering that last duel… with Voldemort… I guess returning to Hogwarts isn't going to be as easy as I thought," Harry whispered, afraid at how weak he felt.

Hermione gave Harry a small squeeze and lifted her head.

"Harry, you don't have to go in there if you're not ready. Everyone would understand. I'm sure you're not the only one who is having a hard time seeing the Great Hall."

Harry felt another hand on his back. Turning around, he saw Ginny, who also had tears in her eyes. Embracing, Harry felt her body begin to tremble. Looking up, Harry saw Ron and Hermione also holding each other. Ron was silently crying as Hermione rubbed her hand along his back and whispered gently into his ear. Being in the Great Hall had brought back memories of Fred's body lying on the table, along with Lupin, Tonks, and so many others. As the four of them stood there, letting out their grief, Professor McGonagall emerged from the Great Hall.

By the look on her face, she was about to reprimand them for loitering in the hallway and delaying the start of the feast, as she needed to introduce Harry and Hermione as the ones teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. However, upon seeing the four tear-stained faces of her most beloved students, she stepped forward and pulled them all into one great hug. Caught off guard by this unusual, though not unwelcome, display of affection from McGonagall, they all quickly returned the hug.

"I'm sorry, Professor," Harry began but McGonagall cut him off.

"It is perfectly alright, Potter. I should have known that returning to Hogwarts might be a bit of an emotional strain on some of the students, especially you four."

"Professor, I know you need to introduce Hermione and I with the other new teachers but I," Harry paused, struggling to admit out loud that he simply couldn't step foot into the Great Hall. Not yet.

McGonagall, perceiving Potter's discomfort, said, "You four are welcome to head up to the Gryffindor Tower. I will make sure there is food available for you in the Common Room. Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, I will send for you after the Feast so we can discuss your first day of class."

"Thank you, Professor," they all replied, relieved to know they wouldn't have to face their fears and grief just yet.

"Off you go, before I start deducting points," she said sternly, though Harry thought that might have been her attempt at a joke.

Walking the familiar route from the Great Hall to the Gryffindor Tower, Harry did his best to stay composed as more memories of the battle raced through his mind. Ginny, lost in her own thoughts on Fred, did not notice the pained expressions that would flicker across Harry's face. Hermione, however, did. As they walked, she glanced at Harry so many times she nearly walked into the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Password?" the Fat Lady asked, confused as to why there were students already trying to enter the tower.

"Bloody hell," said Ron, "McGonagall didn't tell us the password."

"Could you please let us in? Surely you know who we are after all these years?" Ginny pleaded, hungry and annoyed.

"You may think you are better than the other students, but I make no exce-"

Harry pushed himself in front of Ron and Ginny.

"Fat Lady, we don't think we're better than the other students but we are tired and hungry. Professor McGonagall sent us up here to eat our meal in the Common Room, without telling us the password. I guess she assumed you would let us in without it. So, unless you want to explain to the Headmistress why four students were left outside of their dormitory, without food, I suggest you let us in."

Harry was not sure why he spoke so harshly or with such authority but he didn't much care once the Fat Lady gave an exasperated huff and swung open. After climbing inside the Common Room, their spirits began to lift as they saw a beautiful, hot meal and cold goblets of pumpkin juice waiting for them. They eagerly ate and with every mouthful of delicious food, the worry and fear that had plagued them early melted away. When they had eaten their fill, they settled down in front of the fireplace, Harry and Ginny lying on the couch, Ron and Hermione on the floor, and watched the fire burn. Perhaps the return to Hogwarts won't be so hard after all.