By the end of June, the castle was beginning to take shape again. The number remaining dwindled as the seventh years went off to jobs, or to travel, but the D.A. remained as vigilant as ever. Ginny had come up for a week, with Mrs. Weasley's reluctant consent, and she had brought with her news that Luna had permanently moved in with the family. Her father, Xenophilius, had been killed by the Death Eaters shortly before the battle, and the tower where they had once lived had been cursed by an enraged Lucius Malfoy. Fortunately, Mrs. Weasley had welcomed the girl without a second thought, and she had been given Ron's room until the attic could be cleaned. Although Luna had cheerfully suggested that "living with a ghoul might be great fun," Mrs. Weasley had other ideas, and the ghoul had been given a notice of eviction. Someone from the ministry was expected to come and move it to a ghoul sanctuary in Wales within the month.
Ron and Harry had been accepted into the Auror training program at the Ministry, and were due to begin there in September. They were planning on moving into a flat together in Diagon Alley, where Hermione was to be temporarily employed at Flourish and Blotts. In the fall, she was to return to Hogwarts to obtain her N.E.W.T.s. Although Harry and Ron had been accepted without them, it was against her principles to accept a job that she hadn't fully earned. "Besides," she said to Harry and Ron, "I plan on making life very difficult for the sorry wretches that abuse house elves, and I'd like to have written proof for them that I know what I'm talking about."
Early one morning, Ron noticed his brother, George, alone on the top of the newly rebuilt Astronomy tower. Although it was still dark, George's fiery hair was unmistakable as the morning sun shone off of it. He was not crying, or screaming- rather, he was so still that he might have been a statue. Ron worked his way over to the tower, but by the time he had climbed to the top George had gone.
Right after the battle, Hagrid had left without any explanation as to his intentions. The school found out, however, when he returned in late June carrying a suitcase the size of a small car. This he took to the shore of the lake, a line of curious people in his wake. In every mind was a hint of suspicion, and everyone's hopes were affirmed as he waded out into the water. Hagrid opened the case underwater, and when he returned to shore it was empty. But, as the crowd began to disperse, an inky black tentacle rose from the water in the centre of the lake and waved, once, towards the shore.