Harry Potter still belongs to J.K. Rowling and not me, Now that the lawyers are satisfied we can continue the story.
Harry and Ginny Potter stepped out into their garden carrying two large bouquets of white lilies. Two weeks had past since James and Lily Potter had faded back into the afterlife leaving their son to face the task of finishing Lord Voldemort. Ginny knew her husband better perhaps than his own mother had and so she simply walked quietly by his side to the two graves under the large mahogany tree at the back of the garden. Harry laid one bouquet of lilies on each grave and stood back looking at the graves steadily. He had made his peace with his parents' death and had wished them peace and rest as the echoes of them he had created had faded away. He had not, as his friends had feared, spent a majority of his time at the foot of these graves lamenting his loss. He stood here now with his wife only because they would leave their home for the better part of the remaining year tomorrow. Ginny's O.W.L. results and Harry, Ron and Hermione's Hogwarts letters had come within days of that last dinner among friends and family. To no one's surprise Ginny had passed everything she attempted, achieving "outstanding" or "Exceeds Expectations" marks on many of the subjects. The only subject she appeared to have any difficulty at all with was divination, but then so did everyone. She and Harry had returned to Diagon Alley with Ron and Hermione the next day to buy books and other school supplies that they needed. Harry had been made head boy, Hermione had been made head girl, and Ginny had been made prefect. However, Harry and Ginny's letters had a third piece of parchment in them requesting that the couple meet with the headmistress as soon as they arrived at the school. They had both been very puzzled by this but no one could even venture a guess as to why it was so urgent that they meet McGonagall so they just accepted it and went on. Now as they stood Harry's arm around Ginny's shoulders looking at the graves of his parents they seemed at peace. Although Ginny had expected this to be hard for Harry she was surprised when, after a long and comfortable silence, he finally spoke to the headstones in front of them. "Well, I guess it's that time of year again Mum" Harry said, "Ginny and I are returning to Hogwarts tomorrow as we promised we would. I've been made Head Boy, and Ginny is a prefect so we must have been at least okay students lately." Harry paused thoughtfully, "We have a few ideas now of where to start thanks to those notes you gave Ron, Dad. I think we'll be able to destroy the horcruxes now so thanks a lot for that." For the first time Harry seemed to struggle to speak and Ginny wrapped her arms around him to comfort him. "Well, I know it's a little late to tell you this now but I want you to know that I'm proud of you. I'm proud to be your son and I don't regret anything. I wish we had had more time together, but … I know that no spell can recall the dead and I meant what I said when your echoes faded. I hope, wherever you are that you are at peace now." Harry looked down at Ginny and to her surprise his eyes were dry. "I will not fail you Mum and Dad," Harry said vehemently. "I will destroy the man who ruined our family and so many others' happiness. I know I can because of all the gifts you left me with the most powerful being Ginny. Don't worry Mum, we've already discussed how we're going to fight and we both know our parts."
At this point Ginny spoke up, "I know that you said that Harry didn't need me there when he faces Tom Lily, but he and I agree that he does. He just needs to know that I am safe, so that's what we'll do. We both miss you terribly but know that we must continue on. We even moved into the master suite a week ago." Harry smiled as Ginny started to choke up.
"It's late and we should be going, Dobby will be around to tend the garden and guard the house" Harry said while Ginny fought not to cry. "I love you and miss you both, and I hope I'll make you proud this year" Harry finished. Then hugging his wife closer to him he turned and walked into the house.
Harry and Ginny woke on the morning of September 1st with an excited air to the house. They both showered and dressed in their Hogwarts robes, gathered there school trunks and readied themselves to leave. At the apparition point Harry banished their trunks to platform 93/4, then taking Ginny's hand and smiling at her they both turned and apparated to the station.
"Where are they?" Ginny asked impatiently. "Oh, I'm sure they'll be here Gin" Harry said smiling at her, "You know Hermione, she's probably had to repack her trunk at least five times this morning to make sure she has everything."
"Ha, Ha" came a sarcastic voice from behind them. They both whirled around to see Hermione leaning casually against a brick wall while Ron pushed a trolley loaded with his and Hermione's school stuff toward them. Ginny smiled and threw her arms around her best friend while Harry clapped an arm around Ron's shoulder.
"So, last year huh?" he asked as he and Ron started loading the trunks and pet cages into the prefect compartment.
"Yeah, Thank the gods above too" Ron said rolling his eyes. Harry threw him a surprised look. "I mean," Ron said defensively seeing Harry's look, "I'm going to miss the place but Mum's been a right old bother this summer about N.E.W.T.s" Harry laughed at his best friend. "As if we didn't have enough to worry about as it is" Ron added quietly trying not to be overheard.
Harry just rolled his eyes at his friend as they finished loading everyone's stuff and boarded the train. "Well, I guess we should find a compartment for now" He said leading the group down the corridor.
"Harry, Wait!" Hermione said urgently. "We have to go to the first carriage to meet with the prefects and explain their duties."
"Oh yeah," Harry replied, "Sorry, forgot about that." He turned and the group followed Hermione toward the front of the train.
The trip was relatively quiet, for once, a couple of first years got overexcited trying to show off and broke a window, and there is always at least one couple that you have to break apart but other than that nothing really happened. Harry and Ginny sat in a compartment alone talking quietly about the year to come and what they expected to do after school. Neither really knew but Harry was sure that being an Auror might not be his dream career.
McGonagall walked up to Harry and Ginny within five steps of their entrance to the castle. "Mr. and Mrs. Potter" she called over the heads of about fifty students. Harry and Ginny looked at each other and grinned. McGonagall was always strict and organized.
"We should have known she literally meant as soon as we got here, huh Gin?" Harry asked smiling. Ginny just nodded. They followed the new headmistress into a small room off the entrance hall.
"Firstly, congratulations on your marriage" she said smiling at them. They both smiled and thanked her. "However, you marriage does create a small problem. You see I have to figure out a way for you to live together in Gryffindor tower without every couple in the school running off to get married so that they get the same benefit." Harry and Ginny nodded. "Any ideas?" McGonagall asked.
"Well, I get my own suite as Head Boy right?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Harry you and Hermione will each get a dorm suite with a bedroom, a sitting room and a private bath. But that doesn't solve the problem of how Ginny can live there without raising suspicion."
"Professor, I don't have to live there." Ginny said, "I can live in the dorms and just visit from time to time" Ginny suggested bravely.
"Nonsense, Mrs. Potter" McGonagall retorted. "You are a married woman and you deserve to live with your husband, we just have to figure out how to do it."
"Well Professor," Harry said slowly. "What if we say that Hermione requested that Ginny room with her as they are best friends?"
"Okay, how does that help? McGonagall asked confused.
"If you will allow it Ma'am, I'll add a door to the sitting room that opens into the sitting room in Hermione's room. That way Hermione and I can meet conveniently to discuss problems in the student body."
"Potter that is pure brilliance" McGonagall said staring at Harry like he was Dumbledore reincarnated. "Then Ginny will be seen going into Hermione's room to sleep and simply walk through the new passage into your rooms." She thought for a moment mumbling to herself. "In fact Harry, I'll get Professor Flitwick to alter the rooms this evening before joining us at the feast." Harry just nodded.
"Also Potter, I have been unable to find a new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. So we are going to have the older students tutor the younger ones in what they have learned" McGonagall informed them. "Would you consider tutoring the seventh and sixth years like you did with the D.A.?"
"Of course Professor" Harry said smiling, "in fact, as long as I can continue to pursue the mission Dumbledore gave me last year, I'll tutor everyone if you'd like."
McGonagall stared at him truly shocked. "Are you saying that you would take the post if I offered it to you?" she asked astounded.
"Sweet Merlin no!" Harry said, "I can't be a teacher, but I will quote teach everyone all that I know for free."
McGonagall had tears in her eyes hearing this. "Harry, the ministry will try to place a teacher here soon enough unless I find a teacher. If you take the post I'm sure we can find you an assistant so that you will have time to take classes and work on your mission."
Harry thought about this for a long minute or two. He remembered the last time that the ministry had appointed an instructor to this post. He knew that he would never allow it to happen again, so he agreed to take the post reluctantly. "Very well then," He said looking into McGonagall's troubled eyes. "You may name me as the D.A.D.A. professor to the ministry and only the ministry." I get enough attention as it is." He grumbled as she gave him a surprised look when he announced his conditions for taking the post.
Ginny slapped his arm lightly. "Harry, you are unbelievable" She said exasperated.
"What?" Harry asked astounded as he rubbed is arm.
"You could teach a muggle to conjure a patronus if you wanted to" Ginny said as McGonagall beamed at them both.
"I could not!" Harry exclaimed. "I can barely keep ahead of the D.A., How on earth do you expect me to plan lessons for the entire school and keep up with my studies?"
McGonagall answered him, "Harry I do not need to see your lesson plans for now." He looked at her curiously. "The Board of Governors will not allow me to pay you while you are still a student" She said smiling at him. "Therefore I consider your classes a form of tutoring and as such you are not required to plan your lessons but are free to teach whatever you feel is appropriate on that particular day."
"You see," Ginny said grinning up at him as if she did not have a care in the world. "I'll help you with whatever you need, it won't be as hard as you think" Ginny finished triumphantly.
"That's another problem Ginny," Harry said gravely. Ginny just stared at him. "If I teach then I will be your teacher and you will always be accused of sleeping with me for a grade.
This time it was McGonagall who laughed. "Harry, did you really think that I would allow you to teach your wife?" she asked. "I won't Harry for the exact reason you just expressed. No matter how you try you will always be partial to your wife, so I am afraid that Ginny will have to drop D.A.D.A.," she said earning glares from both of them. She held up her hand to stop the coming outburst. "I am not suggesting that you do not attend the classes Ginny, I cannot tell you what to do during your free period, I am merely suggesting that you do not attempt for NEWT credit in defense." Ginny still looked disappointed. "Of course you are at perfect liberty to attempt whatever exams you choose on the exam day and no one can prevent you from attempting an exam that you have not attended a class for in two years" she said smiling at her. Ginny nodded understanding what the headmistress was hinting.
"However Harry, I will have to name you in front of the school or you will have no chance at maintaining control over your classes that contain the Slytherins."
Harry started to protest but Ginny laid her hand on his arm, "Darling she is right, besides your going to get more attention now that we're married anyway so you might as well get it all at once"
Harry's face softened, "Very well" he said with a scowl on his face. "But please tell them not to make a big deal out of it" he pleaded. McGonagall nodded as she dismissed them to the feast.