Harry Potter Returns to Hogwarts

Chapter Six - Past, Present, and Future

Harry, Ginny, and Ron meandered casually through the castle on their way to Hermione's office. It seemed every hall, every stair, every turn held some long-forgotten memory for one of them. Harry and Ginny even fondly recalled their first venture into the Room of Requirement while Ron sputtered and blushed, despite the fact that he and Hermione had been there just two weeks later. By the time they reached the stone gargoyle, the trio were very happy to be back together again at Hogwarts.

The pleasant nostalgia quickly died away as they came upon the blocked entrance to the Headmistress's office. The gargoyle regarded them all rather pleasantly but refused to let them pass. Each of them tried their luck at the new password to no avail. Just as the three friends were starting to discuss other ideas, the gargoyle jumped aside to reveal the opening doorway.

"Good evening," Professor McGonagall said in her most gravelly croak. "The new Headmistress requests your presence straight away." The trio were taken aback slightly by the appearance of their old Transfiguration Professor. Without another word, McGonagall hobbled slowly around and began the slow, trudging climb back up the staircase. Ginny went without hesitation, so Ron and Harry followed behind, allowing the old woman her own pace. When they reached the top of the stairs, the door to the office was open and the warm glow of a fire was visible.

"Now that the formalities are over, let me greet you both properly," McGonagall said as Ron and Harry entered the room. She opened her arms and welcomed Ron and Harry in turns with a frail hug. She greeted Ginny again, this time with a peck on the cheek. "Well, I still have a few things to pack, so I shall leave the four of you to it," said McGonagall. With that she turned and made her way slowly up the steps and into the more private parts of the office.

The sound of footsteps outside the office door heralded the arrival of the new Headmistress. Hermione burst into the room and immediately threw her arms around Ron. He hugged her back tightly, a proud smile lighting up his face. After releasing Ron, Hermione went next to Ginny and the two women exchanged a girlish squeal before hugging. At last, Hermione turned to Harry and nervously asked, "Well, how did I do"?

" 'How did I do' she asks," Harry said, striding over to her and embracing her warmly. "You just became the youngest head of Hogwarts ever and you want to know how I think you did. You were brilliant, 'mione, as usual." He released her and turned to sit down when Hermione stopped him.

"Harry, there's someone else that wants to see you," she said.

The sound of large wings beating the air filled the main room of the office as a brightly colored bird swooped down and landed on Harry's shoulder.

"Fawkes," Harry whispered in amazement. "Wow...I...what are you still doing here?"

"Well, actually, Harry, he sort of belongs to me now," Hermione explained. " He belonged to Dumbledore, then stayed with Professor McGonagall after he died. When she decided to retire, Professor McGonagall told me she wanted Fawkes to stay here at Hogwarts with me. He really does belong here, so I kept him." She approached Harry and Fawkes as she spoke and gently stroked the bird's back. The great bird rested on Harry's shoulder for another moment before taking off and flying gracefully to his usual roost next to the desk.

Harry shook in head in wonder at the appearance of his old friend and then joined Ginny and Ron who were sitting in comfortable chairs by the large stone fireplace. Hermione excused herself and returned shortly, carrying a bottle and four champagne glasses.

"I thought we'd celebrate in style tonight," she said, smiling impishly. She passed the bottle to Ron who ceremoniously read the label.

"Peasblossom's Babbling Bubbly," he said, looking up at his wife. "This is pretty expensive stuff, Hermione. We really must be going all out."

"Well, it's not every day that the four of us get together for a twenty-year reunion," she replied. Hermione handed a glass to Harry and Ginny while Ron uncorked the champagne. After the initial 'pop', a rush of high-pitched, tinkling laughter issued from the neck of the bottle as the enchanted liquid spilled out over Ron's hands.

The same magical giggle could be heard as Ron poured each of them a glass. When he'd finished with his own, Ron put down the bottle, wiped his hands, and joined his friends by the fire. An occasional twitter floated up as the bewitched wine fizzled in their glasses. No one drank as they all looked around at each other. Finally, Ginny spoke. "We need something to toast," she said.

"How about toasting Hermione's big promotion," Ron offered immediately.

"Oh, that's not necessary," replied Hermione, blushing.

"On the contrary," came the wizened voice of McGonagall as she hobbled back into the room. "I think it's very fitting to toast such an auspicious accomplishment. You're the youngest Head that Hogwarts has ever seen. That is saying something. Do be a dear, Ronald and pour us a bit of that," she concluded, fishing a battered tin cup from her robes.

Ron stifled a smirk as he poured more of the champagne into the old cup.

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley. I've heard this particular brew is very good for the brain; keeps me from becoming a senile old bat, as it were," McGonagall said with a twinkle in her eye.

Ron nearly dropped the bottle as he spun around to face Hermione. She, however, had become very interested in the fire and was busy stuffing her knuckles in her mouth to muffle her laughter. McGonagall tapped Ron sharply across one shin with her cane and made her way over to join the others. "I can only stay for one. My coach is waiting. I would not, however, miss out on this toast for all the Galleons in Gringott's", she stated.

Ron recovered from his embarrassment and stood beside Hermione as the others rose to their feet to toast her. All four of them looked at each other and then slowly focused on the bent figure of Professor McGonagall. The ancient woman seemed lost in thought for a moment and then raised her own cup.

"I have been most fortunate in my time here," McGonagall began. "I have had the opportunity to work for and with some of the finest wizard educators that have ever lived. Whether she believes it not, Hermione Weasley is cut from that same excellent cloth. She was a brilliant student and a magnificent Arithmancy Professor." McGonagall turned to face Hermione and said, "Furthermore, any doubts she may have about her ability to be a successful Headmistress should have been quelled straight away considering the reception she received from her students tonight."

"I couldn't have said it better myself, Minerva," said another ancient and familiar voice.

The five of them turned round toward the source of the new voice, the portrait of Professor Dumbledore. "As I told you earlier this evening Professor Weasley," he continued, "You have been making quite an impression here since the first day you arrived. I suspect your tenure as Headmistress will be no less successful...or eventful, considering Lily Potter has now come to Hogwarts." There was a glimmer in the oil on the canvas as Dumbledore looked to Harry. "It is good to see you again, my old friend," Dumbledore said quietly.

"Good to see you as well," Harry replied with a lump in his throat.

"And, Mr. Weasley, you must be very proud. What with Hermione's posting, Arthur starting school, and from what I hear at the Ministry, your own job going very well, it seems that life has treated you very kindly," said Dumbledore.

"Yeah," Ron answered, putting his arm around a tearful Hermione. "Life has kind of worked out rather nicely, at that."

The four friends stood in silence for a moment. Each marveled at the good fortune that fate had seen fit to give them. They all secretly reflected on how hard they had once fought to survive. All of them were very thankful for the fact that they had not only lived but had lived well.

The cloud of memory was lifted by Professor McGonagall's announcement that she was leaving. Each of the four friends spent a few moments with the old woman, thanking her and eventually hugging her one last time. Watching the bent figure disappear down the staircase was difficult for everyone.

"Well," Ron said, breaking the melancholy, "What else should we drink to?"

"I'd like to propose a toast," Harry said quietly with a smile. "To Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs. They have provided us with much guidance, inspiration--"

"Yeah," Ginny interjected. "On exactly how to get into every type of trouble conceivable."

"Exactly," Harry continued. "A finer group of wizards there shall never be," he finished with mock drama. The group refilled their glasses and drained them again in tribute to the Marauders.

The next few hours passed easily. The four friends, back at Hogwarts again, laughed, cried, hugged, and, most of all, remembered. They toasted those who had sacrificed their lives in the Second Great War and those whom they had lost track of over the years. The talking and toasting went on into the wee hours of the morning until Hermione finally called a halt to it, saying she had to be able to function on her first day as new Head. The group made promises to meet the following weekend at Molly Weasley's for the "official" family celebration. They also made plans to all meet in Hogsmeade during the first student weekend. A rather tipsy Hermione nuzzled Ron at the mention of Hogsmeade. Ron's face was a mix of embarrassment and delight.

Harry and Ginny returned home by Floo Powder and went immediately upstairs to bed. With Ginny in the bathroom, Harry undressed and put on his pajamas. He mechanically opened the top drawer of his bedside table to stow his wand. As he did, he stared into the drawer. Something wasn't right. There was a large, square space at the back of the drawer that was usually occupied by something. An over-indulgence of Babbling Bubbly made it difficult for Harry to remember what went there. He continued to stare until Ginny joined him. She stared at the drawer with him for several seconds before asking why he was doing so.

"Something's missing," he said, feeling rather stupid.

"What?" Ginny asked.

"I can't figure that out. Too much bubbly."

"All right. What do you normally keep in there?"

"The photos of you and Lily, my wand, and the Maraud---oh, no...oh no, no, no, no!"

"What is wrong?" Ginny asked sounding a little frightened.

"She took the Marauder's Map," Harry groaned.

"Who?" Ginny demanded, bewildered at this.

"Who do you think? Lily! She stole the bloody map out of my drawer!"

"Don't be ridiculous, Harry. She doesn't even know it exists! How could she possibly..."

Harry and Ginny looked at each other with realization dawning bright and clear as a spring sunrise.

"Fred," Ginny said.

"George," Harry replied.

"Bastards," they said in unison.

"I'd better check to see if my dad's invisibility cloak is missing as well," Harry moaned. Three seconds later, a wounded howl from the walk-in closet left no doubt that the cloak had, indeed left the premises. Harry returned to the bedside table looking thoroughly defeated. He looked helplessly at his wife, hoping for an encouraging word.

"That's your daughter, that is," was her scathing reply.

EPILOGUE

Far away to the north, in a castle unseen by most people, a little red-haired witch sat alone on a cold stone floor. Her eyes were bathed in ethereal, moonlit mischief. She excitedly regarded the treasure in front of her. Glancing around one last time, the little witch pulled a shimmering cloak over her head...and promptly disappeared. Then, with her wand and a whisper, she performed her first bit of real magic...

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good

But that...

Is an entirely...

different...

story...

THE END