Chapter sixteen

'So it was Professor Dumbledore that told you to keep that a secret?' Hermione asked.

'Yes, he wanted the attention taken off me, so if I could be what most people believe to be normal, that's what he wanted. Oh we argued for a long time over that, another one of our big fights.'

'You always came back from his office miffed about something. So even though he said you could tell us about the horcruxes and the prophecy, you couldn't tell us that you want to snog blokes,' Ron said.

'Yes, it was only in case you two got overheard. He knew the horcruxes wouldn't be talked about, you knew how dangerous it was, but just dating and who I liked wasn't a dangerous subject and you might have mentioned it.'

'Alright, I understand Albus was willing to sacrifice anything to help you defeat Voldemort, but I don't appreciate the fact my daughter was used this way,' Arthur said.

'I didn't like it either, it was not my choice, nothing was during that time. I found out I had to stay with those abusive muggles when Albus told me dozens of wizarding families offered to take me. So I put up with the way they treated me even if I hated him for making me stay. None of us liked the fact that Ginny was used or people was left to die to keep secrets, but when you go up against someone like Voldemort you have no choice. He started so long ago, he was a patient bastard so it took everything Albus and others could do to stop him, and it took me a long time to accept that. So you see Ginny, I'm gay, we could never be anything so hate me all you want, but he's dead so to me it was worth it.'

'Gay people are just wrong,' Ginny glared then got up and hurried up the stairs.

'So she feels that way about you Charlie?' Harry raised his eyebrows.

'No, she was fine with me, it's just you,' Charlie smirked.

'Which I can't really blame her for, but everyone has their own beliefs, I'm born this way, they either accept it or they don't. So you're okay Ron?'

'Fine, if you want to shag blokes it's your choice, I just don't want to see it.'

'You wouldn't see me shag blokes.'

'Since you're staying at Hogwarts you might be able to explain something Harry,' Hermione said.

'If I can, but I have been told to keep certain things to myself.'

'More secrets, I thought once the war was over you wouldn't have to keep doing that.'

'It seems to be part of my life Hermione, but you got used to it. So what did you want to know?'

'We got our Hogwarts letters last week so we got all our books and equipment, but the letter was signed by Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress. Please don't tell me Snape is headmaster?'

'No, it's not Snape. But tell me this Hermione, did you know that the founders worked a way to choose the right head of Hogwarts?'

'Yes, I remember reading it in the original Hogwarts: a history, the one the founders wrote. There's a copy in the library at Hogwarts, but that's the only copy, you can't buy it.'

'Well, the governors, Wizengamot, Kingsley and Minerva finally decided to let Lady Hogwarts chose, so there is a new headmaster, one that is meant to be there.'

'So he sat in the chair and felt at home and like the chair was meant for him?' Hermione asked sounding excited.

'Exactly, it's going to be announced tomorrow, the day before the students return,' Harry gave Charlie a glance.

'Which brings me to my announcement. The new headmaster offered me the job of history of magic professor, so you are now looking at Professor Charlie Weasley.'

'Charlie, that's great, you told me once how you would love to teach but you didn't think it would ever happen,' Bill hugged his brother, then George and Ron did. Percy only said congratulations. Molly didn't say anything, but Arthur hugged his son and said he was proud of him.

'I don't think you should be there Charlie, you'll influence the boys,' Molly said stiffly.

'Blimey, you can't make someone gay mum; you're born that way, just accept it will you.'

'It's not right, it's against nature. I will be sending a letter to this new headmaster and the new governors, I'm sure they will not like the idea that someone…like you will be in close proximity with young boys.'

'As the new headmaster I can tell you now that your letter will end up in my waist bin with all the other rubbish,' Harry said but his voice was hard.

'You, Harry, you're the new headmaster?' Hermione's voice squeaked and her eyes were wide.

'Yes, I am, I signed two months ago and been in many meetings since, that's why I haven't had time to see either of you. But it's right what was in the book Hermione; that was the feelings I always told you about. How Hogwarts just felt like home to me, how it's where I felt comfortable. I had no idea about any of this until after Kingsley offered me the job. I was completely shocked and it took Minerva slapping my face to get me back. Then she explained about what the founders did. She made me sit in that thousand year old chair and it was perfect in every way. But now you know why I loved going into Albus' office all the time, I was meant to be there, my office now.'

'But didn't all former headmasters and headmistress teach for years before getting the job?' Bill asked.

'Not all, two were chosen by Hogwarts and they never taught, Albus was chosen even if he did teach. The rest were teachers, like Dippet who the governors chose. After everything that's happened at Hogwarts, the governors and Kingsley thought it is best to find someone that loves the school and not the power that goes with having that position.'

'So you signed an unbreakable contract, isn't that unusual for headmaster?' Arthur asked.

'Yes, but again, the governors, Kingsley and the Wizengamot knew I'm not after power or in any way dark, that was before they knew how I felt about Hogwarts. All I want is Hogwarts to be a place the students can learn, they can live without any danger, but feel like it is a home away from home, how it's meant to be. I want to send the students away from Hogwarts knowing everything they need, but also to have some wonderful memories of their teenage years, where most lifelong friendships get made.'

'What about all these changes we've heard is coming?' Hermione asked.

'There are a lot of changes, ones that are needed, so some of my meetings with Kingsley and the governors have been about that. It will still be Hogwarts in every way, there will just be some additions, like the gardens. when I was handed the budget I could not believe how much was spent on food. So we talked and I suggested the gardens, chickens for eggs, cows for milk, we thought maybe the students would help. Minerva mentioned house points if they did, but it was me that came up with the individual points to all students that do any type of volunteer work, like working in the gardens, helping Irma in the library or Poppy in the hospital. At the end of the year the student with the most points will receive a plaque but that will remain in the school, but they will also receive a gift, something any student would love to win.

'But I made sure that no student can volunteer too often which would take time away from their studies. Hogwarts is and will always be a school first, students go there to learn, that will never change. But there was a reason behind this and some of the other changes. If you don't like quidditch or gobstones, the choir, or some of the other group activities, this will give the students a wide range of activities they can choose from. So even with people like you Hermione who loves to spend your time in the library, you might find that helping Irma during some spare time is what suits you. Ron you like quidditch but you also love chess and you're brilliant at it, but you also might like to do something else. So from next week you will hear about some of these other activities.'

'It's still hard to believe how much you're talking, so strange. But explain about this gift.'

'I can't say what it is, I'll announce that at the start of term feast, but even you might want to try for that Ron.'

'What about modernising Hogwarts, I'm not sure about that?' Percy asked.

'Hogwarts will always be a school for learning magic, that won't change. But if you ever go over our records you will find that up to eighty five percent of all students or ones that have left not long ago and ones that will be joining Hogwarts in the next few years are children that know about the muggle world in some way. So even though the words pure-blood, half-blood and muggle-born are no longer allowed, it makes this easy to explain and understand. It's like Hermione and I, we were both brought up in muggle homes, Seamus who has a muggle father, Dean has a muggle mother, Dennis has two parents are muggles. Now one thing we all have in common is that there are some things that we would like to use from the muggle world.

'We're not becoming muggles in anyway, we're not changing anything or making anyone live like a muggle, it's just people like us have magical heritage and muggle heritage. But there are muggle technologies that would greatly benefit our world. We already use muggle things, like the Hogwarts express. It was just changed so magic helps run it. There will be other things like that. The department of mysteries have been working on our own version of muggle gadgets, things that do not need electricity to run. Our world will always be different from the muggles, we have our beliefs and traditions, but with so many of us being brought up around muggles, it makes sense to incorporate certain parts of both worlds. So Hogwarts has a few of these items that originated in the muggle world but they are all magical in the way we use them. I believe Hermione will still like the magical and old way but she will use some of this new ways because it works better. You'll all see soon enough, but it shows that our world is finally coming out from the dark ages and moving towards the future. If we didn't do this then Hogwarts and our world could be lost.' Harry knew that statement would be difficult for the Weasley's who are pure-bloods, but he was surprised that they all seem to accept what he said. It was only Molly Weasley who didn't look happy and he knew that was only because of her belief that same sex relationships were wrong.