At the same time Amelia was putting an end to Time Turners, Heather was having a serious conversation with Harry, Amy, Susan, and Hannah.
"Harry, Amy, Susan, and Hannah, " said Heather clearly, "I have some BIG news. First, I know this part won't surprise any of you, but even if Dumbledore is convicted as expected tomorrow, and even if improvements are made at Hogwarts, after everything that has happened, I have too many bitter feelings towards that place to be willing to send you back."
"I always suspected that would be the case, " piped up Harry a nanosecond later, "Plus, you'd never be able to trust the place."
"Exactly, " confirmed Heather.
"That doesn't sound like big news, " said Amy simply, "It sounds like you've decided to homeschool us for all seven years."
"I seriously considered that, but decided against it, " acknowledged Heather, "But the big news is that I am starting a school of my own that uses a September 1st yearly start date starting next September 1st and runs concurrent to Hogwarts. The Abbotts are an implausibly wealthy family and I am using some of that money to found my own school. I have already made some plans for this school of course, but I would like to allow you four to offer some input for ideas for the new school seeing as you will be four of my first students. I will have the final say as I will be the first headmistress of the new school, but I think it's worthwhile to listen to your ideas."
"Well, " said Harry firmly, "I think it's been established that amongst the heads of house at Hogwarts, Snape was a bully, McGonagall was useless, and Sprout and Flitwick were wonderful people who made excellent heads of house. My suggestion though is that the heads of house at the new school should not be teachers but should be adults specifically hired to be there for the students in that house."
"That won't be necessary," smiled Heather, "Because there won't be a house system at my new school. Say what you want about houses being traditional and all that, but the fact remains that the existence of a house system at Hogwarts and other similar schools causes unnecessary friction, tension, and division between the students. I want my new school to develop a culture of acceptance, friendship, and cooperation and any kind of house system is incompatible with that vision."
"I like the idea, " said Harry happily, "Eliminates a labeling process right from the start and the absence of houses should mean a significant reduction of interstudent rivalry."
"That's the idea, " said Heather crisply.
"During the oh so brief time we were at Hogwarts, " said Amy matter of factly, "One of the things I appreciated about being in Hufflepuff was that Hufflepuffs got their own dorm rooms. I strongly urge you to give students at the new school their own dorm rooms."
"I've already decided that students at my new school will be given their own dorm rooms, " replied Heather, giving Amy an approving nod, "I know for a fact that I would never be able to sleep at all if I didn't have my own bedroom."
"Too true!" chorused Harry, Amy, Susan, and Hannah at once.
"I would find the idea of my room not being my own space pretty repugnant and repulsive, " said Amy fiercely.
"Hear hear!" agreed Harry, Susan, and Hannah.
"Now, " offered Susan, "Have you given any thought to the teacher qualification process?"
"My intent is to require all prospective teachers to pass a rigorous N.E.W.T. level exam with a grade of O in the subject they wish to teach before they may be hired, " explained Heather.
"That's fair and reasonable and it would weed out the Quirrells of the world, " said Susan in a businesslike voice, "But I suggest that teachers should have to requalify for their posts every year both to jettison complacency in teachers as well to identify older teachers whose best years are behind them."
"That's an excellent suggestion, Susan, " said Heather crisply, "It would allow me to go into every new school year knowing my teachers were all competent. "
"A fund should be set to ensure that all students who come to this new school have firsthand wands, " added Hannah, "I know that at Hogwarts some students were using second hand wands because their parents couldn't afford new ones. But remember that "The wand chooses the wizard" and "You will never get such good results from another's wand" A wand is a vital magical tool and financial hardship shouldn't deprive magical students of this basic necessity."
"God, why didn't I think of that myself, " said Heather, shaking her head, "That is absolutely something that should and will be done."
There was a minute and a nanosecond of silence before Heather spoke again.
"Harry, Amy, Susan, and Hannah, " said Heather nervously, "I have something I want you four to do at my new school. I know you're hardworking students who will thrive academically at my new school. But I want each of you to join one of the school clubs that I will be setting up. You will receive more information about what types of student clubs will be available when the opening of my new school draws nearer."
"Well, " said Harry eagerly, "Amy, Susan, Hannah, the four of us will have to get together and discuss and decide as a group which club we want to join."
"No, " said Heather clearly, "I want each of you to join a different club."
"NO! screamed Harry, who burst into tears at once, "DON'T BREAK UP THE YELLOW QUARTET!"
After about a minute of crying and fuming, Harry walked straight up to Amy, Susan, and Hannah and gave each of them bone crushing hugs.
"Amy, Susan, Hannah, " declared Harry vehemently, " I will NEVER abandon you and that's a promise!"
"Harry, it's okay, " said Heather in a soothing voice after Harry had calmed down, "It is NOT my intent to break up the Yellow Quartet. I expect you four to still be BFFs and to still spend time together every day. But I want each of you to expand your circles and widen your horizons. Yes, if you all joined the same club, you'd still make new friends there. But I want each of you to gain some unique experiences and unique friendships apart from each other. You can still be the Yellow Quartet without having a monopoly on each other's time."
After a short pause, Heather continued, "The very reason I rejected the idea of homeschooling you lot for seven years is the antisocial nature of home schooling. Yes, you all have each other for friends and company and it's not as antisocial as it would be with just one of you, but I just think the best and most useful experience comes from being part of a world with numerous and varied people. BFFs are awesome, but it's very important that you don't become SO clingy that you become uncomfortable with or rejecting of other people. The healthiest thing of all would be for the Yellow Quartet to continue being the Yellow Quartet while simultaneously developing individual interests and friendships apart from each other and having each of you join a separate school club will enable that to happen."
"I'd be lonely if I weren't in the company of Amy, Susan, and Hannah, " said Harry tonelessly, "Besides, making other friends would be a betrayal of Amy, Susan, and Hannah after how much they've done for me and how much they've been there for me."
"That's exactly the mentally I want to stamp out of you, " said Heather in a no nonsense voice, "Again, Amy, Susan, and Hannah WILL still be your BFFs. But it is not wrong, in fact, it will be good for you, to do some things without them and to spend some time away from them. The Yellow Quartet will still be able to eat meals together and spend time together and every day at that, but you all need world expansion and that includes each of you having some more unique friendships and experiences."
" I agree with you Heather, " admitted Amy, "Harry, I think you may find the idea uncomfortable at first, but I honestly believe that after only a short time you will really enjoy having more and more varied friends and more unique experiences."
"Well, " said Harry slowly, "If you say it can be okay Amy, then I suppose it can be okay. I have my doubts, but I suppose I have no choice but to give it a shot."
"Can you tell us where this new school will be?' asked Susan.
"Not yet, " said Heather apologetically, "It's still under construction, "However I can tell you that I have hired Professors Sprout and Flitwick as my first two members of staff. They will teach Herbology and Charms, respectively. I offered both of them better salaries than Hogwarts and both admitted that they would be only too happy to get away from a place that holds such unhappy memories for them."