Short chapter: reviews for all that's happened so far would be appreciated…
Chapter 15 - The New Deputy Head-Teacher
Despite the fact that the Order was now regrouping, Harry could not help the fact that he didn't feel reassured at all. This feeling was compounded by the lack of direct activity in which he was partaking. The only activity he had been able to involve himself with was the re-opening of Hogwarts. Letters had been dispatched by owls to every family of Hogwarts attendees announcing the school's future and, although the option of home-schooling was still available, the vast majority of students were allowed to return.
The day of return, Harry found himself accompanying the Aurors with their final checks of Hogwarts protection. He had been assigned to the flying taskforce, who had the painstaking job of ensuring the network of spells around Hogwarts, particularly above the point where Andromidus was guessed to have disapparated, was covered, adding a spell to ensure that nobody with the Dark Mark could pass through, although Snape had been involved to allow himself access in and out. Harry had spent most of the day sat on a broom above his house, revolving at an infuriatingly low speed, his wand held in front of him as he muttered a string of incantations, leaving a hazy patch of sky around him.
About forty metres away from him on one side had been Ron. Their positions had taken agonisingly long to calculate, based on spell casting ability and the fact that circles would have to cross to ensure that there were no gaps in the shield.
"I'm hungry," Ron said abruptly. "When are we allowed back down? I'm starving!"
"What do you mean, allowed?" Harry laughed back. "You are an Auror! You know, the ones who make the laws? And you're the son of the Minister for Magic!"
Ron scowled. "If you feel like upsetting Mad-Eye be my guest! He's the one calling the shots!"
"Maybe you should ask McGonagall then!" Harry yelled back, chortling. "It is her school after all!"
"She may not be my teacher now but she still has the power to scare me!" Ron shouted back and, even though Harry could hear his stomach rumbling even from where he flew, he thought he saw Ron grinning to himself. Thinking quickly Harry cast a quick spell leaving a bright glowing arrow showing where he was flying and which direction he was aiming, before quickly diving back to the ground. Placing his broom on the ground for a second, he poked his head through the door of his house.
"Dobby," Harry said, as the little elf trotted into the room, "could you make Ron and I some afternoon tea?" Dobby bowed happily out of the room and, mere moments later, hurried back in with a plate of scones, almost falling over in his haste to pass the plates to Harry. Harry stooped quickly and, giving Dobby his thanks, took the warm plate outside. Conjuring another small plate, Harry got back on his broom and, after giving Ron half of them, flew back to where he had left the shining arrow.
"Cheers Harry!" Ron yelled, shoving a scone greedily into his mouth.
"Don't thank me, thank Dobby!" Harry shouted back, munching on a scone whilst continuing his spells. "Any word on whose going to be Deputy Head yet?"
Ron shook his head. "Hermione thinks Flitwick, but I reckon it'll be Snape." He scowled. "Has Emily put her name forward? She'd be good I think."
"Too new I expect, and isn't it normally a head of house? That'd rule out Snape, Slytherin doesn't exist anymore, remember?" Harry mused. "Sinistra?"
"Head of Hufflepuff? I barely know her except through our astronomy lessons." Ron munched on his scone, looking unusually thoughtful. "Well, we'll know soon enough. McGonagall said she'd announce one at dinner tonight."
"Good times!" Harry murmured, vanishing his plate as he finished the last scone. Surreptitiously summoning one of Ron's, he turned back to his defence casting, a small grin on his face.
*
Having finished their spell casting for the day, Harry and Ron sat recuperating in Harry's living room whilst Dobby served them butterbeer. Having fully discussed the recent national events, or more accurately the seeming lack of them, Harry checked his watch quickly before realising they were going to be late for dinner, when the new Deputy-Head teacher was due to be announced. Quickly changing out of their Auror robes, (Harry lent Ron some of his own casual robes), the pair hurried up the darkening lawns to the Great Hall. With an apologetic glance at Ron, who headed over to join Aaron and Lucy, Harry sat himself in his usual seat between Emily and Hermione.
"Has there been an announcement yet?" Harry asked Emily, but the question was answered by Professor McGonagall, who rose to her feet and the clamour in the Great Hall fell to silence.
"Good evening students," she started briskly, her eyes scanning the room with customary imperiousness, "As I am sure that you are aware this evening's feast is to celebrate the re-opening of the school, but also the appointment of your new deputy-head teacher." As Moody, Kingsley and Bill sidled into the room Harry glanced beyond Hermione and, like the rest of the hall, scanned the teachers. Snape was completely still, his face pointed towards McGonagall, Flitwick was barely visible beyond the enormous form of Rubeus Hagrid, who coughed nervously. Professor Sinistra, sat on Harry's side of the table was, like Harry, looking along the table. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.
"It gives me great pleasure to announce that the new Deputy-Head teacher of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is our transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house, Professor Granger."
Harry turned in astonishment at Hermione who seemed to be torn between pride and embarrassment. The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers, members of the D.A also on their feet applauding as Hermione stood up, gave a brief smile and wave before quickly sitting down again.
"I trust," Professor McGonagall said loudly, as the cheering died down slowly, "That you shall treat her with the respect that her standing gives her. You may return to your common rooms now."
There was a great scraping of tables, with many students hurrying forward to congratulate Hermione. Harry gave her a strong embrace. "Congratulations!" he exclaimed, beaming at Hermione, who blushed but smiled back, "you kept that quiet!"
"I know, and I'm sorry," she said back, giggling slightly, "but Minerva asked that I keep it quiet from people, even Ron. Where is he?" Harry craned his neck and peered over towards the Aurors' table, where he saw Ron being congratulated by the others. Hermione beamed at what she saw but, after she turned away to speak to Emily, Harry saw Ron exit the hall, a blank look on his face. Excusing himself, remembering Ron's frustration in their Animagus lessons in their sixth year and fearing an attitude issue, Harry hurried out of the hall after him.
He found Ron sat outside, slightly away from the front steps, making the bushes change colour to freak out the animals nestled in there. Harry recognised this instantly as something Ron did to calm himself down – an ominous sign. Harry took in a deep breath, before heading over and sitting down next to him. Ron didn't even give him a glance.
"You okay, Ron?" Harry asked quietly, not looking directly at him, instead looking over at the now bright red bushes. "You left dinner pretty quickly."
The attempt at humour was only acknowledge through a tiny cough of mirthless laughter. "M'alright," he said thickly, although both knew it to be untrue. Harry desperately cast around for a subject, knowing that Ron was probably trying to do the same thing.
"Have I shown you the Room of Requirement?" Harry was unsurprised at the look of confusion on Ron's face.
"Yes…" Ron said slowly, looking worriedly at Harry, "You taught us there, remember?" Harry smiled to himself.
"C'mon," he said, getting to his feet before leading Ron up the familiar route to the Room of Requirement. Refusing to elaborate as to why they were going there, Harry led Ron into the room. Harry was satisfied by the impressed gasp Ron gave as the scene unfurled in front of them.
Harry realised that he hadn't been since the day Dumbledore died, and he wondered fleetingly whether the "Not Yet" section would be open, but he could see from where he was that it was not. Ron, however, was already on the far side of the room, looking at the Quidditch Chamber, where Harry was relatively unsurprised to find a second broom, hovering quite still in mid-air. Understanding the purpose in a flash, Ron leapt onto the broom, and Harry watched amazedly as Ron vanished from sight. Clambering onto the other broom, Ron suddenly reappeared next to him.
"Where did you go?" Ron asked.
"Probably just something to do with room," Harry answered, as they approached to four hoops. "Fancy being a seeker for once?"
Harry and Ron spent the best part of the evening playing Quidditch, both against and with each other, trying out each position and increasing the difficulty as they went along. Ron also had fun racing around the animagus training section, Harry yelling encouragement as Ron leapt across the ramps, trenches and, bizarrely, massive rolling-pin-esque structures. After a brief period in the relaxation section, (the two of them allowing the soft potions to take effect), they headed back down into the grounds, before heading their separate ways.