Hi, everyone, it's Michael here. First, since I last updated, Lily Luna and Potter the New Era of Hogwarts has surpassed 65000 views. Thank you to everyone who's reading this story and making that happen. Much love from Arizona to all of you! :)
Now, after a few recent guest reviews and a recent PM session with a new follower, it's clear to me some thread keeping notes are in order.
At various times, a few of you have asked me about missing characters, mainly missing next generation Weasleys. Well, this was always going to be very long story with a lot of characters with new characters coming in at various times. In this chapter I have added all of the previous unseen next generation Weasleys, though they only have a line each as most of the talking in this chapter is done by Professor Kirke. But all of the next generation Weasleys are in the story now.
Canon violations: Not all fics will follow canon 100% to a tee and this story does include several canon violations. The most notable are as follows:
Albus is a Gryffindor in this story as it is my preference for the Potters to all be in the same house.
In this story's timeline, Cursed Child never happened, it is totally ignored. You will not see Time Turners in this story and in this story, Voldemort left behind no offspring. Also, Luna Lovegood is a single woman in this story and does not have any kids.
In this story, it is possible to Apparate or Disapparate within Hogwarts. However, owners of private property can still ban or restrict Apparition and Disapparation within the boundaries of those properties and each public place has its own rules and such. Apparition at Hogwarts is possible in this story though.
Rules governing muggle-wizard interactions are looser than canon in this story. In many places, including Hogwarts, muggles can enter if a witch or wizard shows them in via Side Along Apparition. However, some places, for example, the Ministry of Magic, are still 1000% off limits to muggles.
To clarify, in this story I'm assuming there are no schools of magic in Arizona so that's why Samantha went to Hogwarts.
And, since this coming Sunday is Father's Day, Happy Father's Day everyone. Congratulations to any expectant fathers who are reading this and good luck on naming your sons and daughters.
"Good evening, Hogwarts!" exclaimed Professor Kirke cheerfully, "I have a few start of semester notices I wish to announce."
Everybody in the Great Hall had his or her eyes squarely focused on Professor Kirke and his or her ears fully tuned in waiting for Professor Kirke might announce.
Professor Kirke herself had a serious look in her eyes but was also smiling. She wanted to present herself in a way that was balanced between being businesslike and being welcoming as she looked out upon Hogwarts student body.
"Now, " said Professor Kirke clearly, "One thing I really want to emphasize in my first year as Headmistress of Hogwarts is inter-house unity. While Quidditch competition, stereotypes, and even general house pride make this a challenge, I have devised some strategies for more interactions this year between students from the different houses which I hope will lead to more inter-house friendships and ultimately more inter-house unity."
Everyone just sat still listening, not quite sure how to react yet.
"The first idea I am implementing, " announced Professor Kirke, "Is actually not my own original idea. This idea was originally the idea of Miss Lily Luna Potter. Last year's Hogwarts Planning Club presented a series of ideas to the staff about changes at Hogwarts. Most of these ideas were approved, but Miss Potter's idea failed a vote of the staff. However, I am now using my power as Headmistress of Hogwarts to implement this idea unilaterally. The idea is simple; in classes that are shared between two houses, if an activity in class involves paring up, I am requiring teachers to pair students from different houses to work together. This idea was downvoted by the staff last year because the majority of the staff believed that if greater inter-house were to be achieved at Hogwarts, it would have to occur organically and not be forced or contrived. There is some degree of truth to this and certainly the end result must be organic to be meaningful. However, a few dissenting staff who voted for idea felt like a "push" to start more interactions between students from different houses could be a good starting point. I have informed all of the teachers of my decision to implement this idea at Hogwarts for the 2021-2022 academic year and they are all on board with it. None of the staff thinks the idea of pairing students from different houses to work together in classes is a bad idea. Some are very confident that paring students from different houses to work together in class will lead more inter-house unity and others are skeptical that implementing this idea will have any effect at all. However, all are willing to give it shot this year. Let's have a round of applause for Miss Lily Luna Potter."
Most students in the Great Hall did clap and chant, "Lily, Lily" a couple of times. The overall reaction to idea of having students from different houses be paired together as class partners was received warmly albeit not enthusiastically.
Lily just smiled. She didn't like praising herself. She was certainly not wired in the mold of people like James and Samantha. All the same, she was gratified to see that her idea was going to be given a chance after all.
"To be clear, " continued Professor Kirke, "Those classes such as Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts that have been single house classes will remain single house classes. Classes that are single house classes are so because of how important increased individual attention between students and teachers is in those subjects."
"Still, " piped up Megan Nash from the Slytherin table, "I'm grateful we're going to have cross house work partners whenever possible. I think we're going to look back and say that this is an idea whose time should have come sooner."
"Well, " said Dominque Weasley thoughtfully from her place at the Ravenclaw table, "You can't know how something will work out if never try it now, can you? Particularly since this will be my last year at Hogwarts, I'm glad Professor Kirke is so open to trying things this year."
"You know, " called third year Louis Weasley from his spot at the Hufflepuff table, "Dominque's and my older sister Victoire was a Gryffindor when she was a Hogwarts and she ended marrying Teddy Lupin, who had been Hufflepuff. They now have three year twins, a son named Remus and a daughter named Dora."
"I want to hear more stories like that in the future, " said Professor Kirke in kindly but still firm voice, "I want the house barriers at Hogwarts to be SHATTERED!"
"Interacting in the first place is the first step, " said sixth year Molly Weasley II matter of factly from her chair at the Slytherin table, "As a Slytherin, I've long felt that many of the students in the houses who are biased against us would have their eyes opened if only they would actually interact with us. Now that will be forced to happen. "
"I completely, agree, sis," added fourth year Slytherin Lucy Weasley in a confident voice, "By the end of the year, inter-house friendships will be commonplace. Not as besties, but as friends."
"While we're on the subject of inter-house unity, " added Professor Kirke, "Starting in October I am going to create monthly teams consisting of one Gryffindor, one Ravenclaw, one Hufflepuff, and one Slytherin. These teams will meet up for two hours from 9 P.M. until 11 P.M. on the first four Fridays of the month. On the first of every month starting with October, you will receive a note of who is on your team for that month. Your note will also include which week is your turn to choose what your team does during this time. I don't give a damn what you actually do, so long as it is legal and appropriate and so long your team spends this time together. You will each get one opportunity during the course of month to be the one to choose what activities your team does during its meeting time. At start of each month, the teams will be dismantled, and new teams created to allow students to meet and interact with a wider variety of people throughout the year."
"That's the best of both worlds, " said Devon excitedly, "Build inter-house unity and get to meet new people every month."
"Changing teams every month should add some nice variety to the mix, " agreed Albus fondly.
"Bear in mind, " clarified Professor Kirke, "That you are not allowed in each other's house dormitories, so you'll have to find common areas of Hogwarts to meet at."
"I'm liking Jill Kirke as headmistress already, " grinned Lily.
"So, " said Professor Kirke in a businesslike voice, "To finish up here, first years please note that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students. "
A few first years exchanged smirks.
"Enough of my voice for now, " declared Professor Kirke, "Let the feast begin."
Professor Kirke waved her wand and the food appeared on the golden plates.
At the Gryffindor table, Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Fred, Gordon, Aaron, Pamela, Rose, Roxanne, Courtney, Stephanie, Samantha, and Lily all began their feast by helping themselves to some delicious roast chicken, all feeling bolstered and confident that the 2021-2022 school year was going to be a successful one.