"Alright then, now that we're all fully awake, and after most of the adults have had some time to discuss the current situation, we decided to hold a meeting about what's happening next for all of us," Lupin began, giving choice stern looks to certain members of the party congregated around the corner table in the cafeteria, "First off, is there anyone here who still isn't a legal adult?"
Colin Creevy tentively raised his hand, "I'm only fourteen now," he offered shyly. Colin had gotten a lot quieter after his brother, Dennis, had been killed by the after-affects of a very strong Imperius Curse.
"Yea, I'm still sixteen," agreed Zacharias Smith.
"So is Ginny!" Mrs. Weasly volunteered proudly and with great indignation. Ron knew the subject was a sore and well-picked-over one between the two women.
"Mother!" Ginny exclaimed, cheeks and ears flushing a violent shade of red, "I'm turning seventeen March twenty fourth!"
That was true, Ron smiled. Come March twenty fourth, his mother would no longer be able to even try and subdue Ginny. She wouldn't have control over any of her children – anymore control than they allowed her, that is. Ron knew this thought frightened his mother and she pretended to be ignorant of it. No one wanted to enlighten her, so it went unsaid. Once Ginny was gone, Mrs. Weasly, formerly the most busy housewife imaginable, would be living as a widow on her own.
"March twenty fourth, Ginny?" asked Bill, thinking intently.
"Yes, I was born March twenty fourth almost seventeen years ago."
"Ginny, when was the last time you had access to a calendar or date?" Asked Charlie, smiling.
"January fourth, we had a trail at Grimmauld Place, remember? You were there, Bill. We found a magical, self-flipping date book lying on the floor in the drawing room," Ginny answered with dignity. She was very proud she had known the date and tried to continue keeping track of it for about a week afterwards. It didn't work out, though and she had had to give up once they had been captured in a room with no light.
"Well, I hate to break it to you… I asked the MediWizard for the date today. He said it was March twenty eighth." The room was silent for a moment after Charlie spoke.
"We were unconscious here for two days. That means we came in the twenty fifth. We weren't in Slytherin's house for all that long before they managed to find us. Which means…" Lavender Brown concluded before trailing off into thought.
"Right, thank you, Lavender, in any case. Except for Zach and Colin, we're all seventeen or older, correct?"
"What happened to Dennis?" asked Harry, innocently. He hadn't been able to check who was in the hospital and who was absent, so he had had no way of knowing Dennis had died. At the mention of his brother's name, Colin broke down in tears and was kindly escorted out by Tonks.
"Nice, Harry. Let Lupin talk," ejaculated a frustrated Ron.
"Thank you, Ron. Could we all stay quiet for a moment? Mrs. Weasly, you're going back to the burrow, if I'm not mistaken. Bill, I hope you stay as well. Charlie, you need to collect all the dragons that were used in the war. We believe them to be scattered over the east of the countryside. Minerva, you'll be starting up the school again?"
"Yes, of course."
"Hagrid, Tonks, Hestia and myself are going to work there. Zach, you and Colin will be living with the Creevy's and going back to school next term. I think Hogwarts will have reopened by then. Susan, your aunt requested that you learn Ministry law so you'll be starting courses in two weeks. An apartment is being found for you near the Regalos Scrib School of Wizard Law."
"Oh!" exclaimed Susan with a very pleased grin.
"What about us?" Ron asked, wanting to get to the point of the conversation, as he saw it.
"Well… Lavender will teaching at Divination at Hogwarts, Katie got an offer to play Quiddicth with the Chudley Cannons-"
"What!" Harry and Ron shouted at the same time.
"They wanted you two as well but figured, what with the injuries you sustained, and how much you would cost, Katie was a better choice. Besides, they only needed a Chaser," Madame Hooch explained.
"Oh… have fun, Katie," Ron said, dejectedly.
"So Katie's doing that, Angelina wants to work at Fred and George's shop and we figured you, Neville, Ginny, Harry, Ron and Hermione, ought to lie low for a little while. Rest, relax, figure out what you want to do with your lives, find enjoyable vocations…"