Mourning Dawn (A Prelude to The Wand of Elder)

"Did he say, 'Bill?'" whispered Ron to Harry as they entered the Headmistress' Office. "I thought he had left to help hunt Death Eaters."

Harry shrugged in mute reply.

The study for the Head of School had undergone only a few changes since Harry had seen it the morning before, but those few changes were profound. Gone were the relics of dark magic that Snape had favored, and where Snape had been orderly but grim, McGonagall had made the work area near the Headmistress' desk brightly efficient. It again emphasized to Harry how different the room had become since the time of Dumbledore's residence, with his silvery jumble of magical disorder.

Upon thinking of the Headmaster, he looked up at his portrait, to find it empty. In fact, all of the portraits of the former headmasters and headmistresses were empty, including Snape's small portrait by the door. This struck Harry as very strange, and added to his sense of foreboding.

McGonagall directed the six students to six padded straight-backed chairs set out for them. Ginny sat on the far left of the group of six, with Luna next to her, then Dean, Hermione, Ron and lastly Harry on the far right. Professor McGonagall took a seat in her own high-backed, ornate seat centered behind the desk. She was flanked by two other chairs, one of which was empty.

In the chair to Professor McGonagall's right sat the sturdy, imperturbable form of Kingsley Shacklebolt. He looked calm and reassuring in a smart gray pinstriped suit, his trademark earring catching the light coming through the tall windows. If what Professor McGonagall had told Harry was true, Kingsley had barely slept for two days, but he looked as fit and strong as ever. His warm smile for the six students did much to dispel the dread that had begun to build while they waited in the hallway.

Bill Weasley stood off to the side a bit, leaning against the wall with his arms folded. He looked troubled and exhausted, as did all of the Weasleys these days, but he smiled encouragingly to the group as they took their seats. Luna gave him a little wave, and Bill nodded in return.

"How are all of you?" asked Kingsley in his stolid voice.

They all muttered varying versions of, "Fine."

"Ron, Ginny, how is your mother?" he asked, a note of deep sympathy emphasized by his baritone.

"As well as can be expected," said Ron guardedly.

"Thanks for asking," added Ginny politely.

"Luna, is your father recovering well?" asked the Minister.

"Oh no. He's not well," said Luna with a thoughtful frown. "I saw him at St. Mungo's last night and he is very worn down, I think. After I arrived, he got a bit overexcited. He was ranting that he may find the Fluidic Dirgbrat during his stay at the hospital. He seemed convinced that one of them is drinking the patients' milk?"

Kingsley just blinked at this information.

"And of course that's nonsense, Minister," continued Luna sadly with a small shake of her head, "because the Fluidic Dirgbat was driven to extinction by the Crumple Horned Snorcack. Daddy published an article about it himself three years ago. No, he is not doing well at all, I'm afraid."

From what Harry knew of Xeno Lovegood, Harry thought that Luna's father sounded like he was completely back to normal.

"Ah...yes. That is...too bad. Give him my best when you see him again. Last year, he was very brave to take the stand that he took in the Quibbler. Your capture was proof of the price of that courage," said Kingsley. He gave Harry a significant look.

"Thank you, Minister," said Luna, looking proud.

"Please, Luna. All of you...please call me 'Kingsley,'" he said in a kindly manner. "I think that given the informal nature of this gathering that you all can certainly use my name. I have sat down with most of you and your families as friends at one point or another, and I would not like my new position to damage those relationships."

All of the six young people murmured varying forms of agreement with this. At that point, the last of the tense anticipation of this interview left Harry's friends, particularly Hermione, who visibly relaxed from her rigid sitting position. Given her tendency to attach much significance to formal offices, rules and titles, this did not surprise Harry.

Yet something was still nagging the back of Harry's mind when he looked at the Minister. Harry sadly realized that Kingsley's new position made Harry distrust him. Over the years, Harry had been forced to learn that the near-heartless machinations of high officials often did not bode well for the little people caught under the heavy wheels of government. Harry flexed his hand, feeling the scars scrawled across the back of it. This lesson had been taught too well for Harry to trust the Ministry just because a friendly face sat atop it. That had been his mistake with Fudge.

Kingsley surveyed the six youths in front of him for another long moment, his eyes lingering on Harry for the briefest instant, then turned his head and nodded to Professor McGonagall.

"Well, now," began McGonagall, "let's begin. I am sorry to bring the six of you up here on such short notice, but we have some pressing matters that have erupted in the last few hours and we think that some of you have information that bears on those problems. Since the minister's time is precious, and since mine is not cheap either, we thought we would kill two birds with one stone, as it were. Therefore, we will discuss and do everything that we have pressing for all of you. We had meant to cover this at a later time, but there you have it. Any questions so far?"

The six students just looked at McGonagall blankly.

"Good. The first thing is your education. The Board of Governors has unanimously agreed to offer places to all students who missed this past term, including Muggleborns such as Hermione and Dean. They have also appointed me as temporary Headmistress until they can meet again in August, at which time they will either extend me in a temporary capacity for next year, or they will make a permanent choice..."

"Are they cracked? You'll be the permanent one too, right?" asked Ron, his tone illustrating how stupid he thought it would be to have anyone else as Head of School.

Professor McGonagall gazed at Ron sternly for the interruption, though she did seem pleased by his vote of confidence. "Well, my name is certainly among those being discussed, Mr. Weasley. If I am asked to serve as permanent Head of School, I will consider the appointment to the office. As far as suits our purposes and until further notice, however, I am the Headmistress. Therefore, this summer it falls to me to sort out the students who missed last term."

Harry looked over and caught Hermione's eye. She raised her eyebrows slightly and then attentively faced back to Professor McGonagall.

"Now let's see. Where was I? Ah yes..." said Professor McGonagall, consulting a small sheaf of papers on her desk. "Harry, Hermione, Ron and Dean. You each missed the entire school term. If you are to return to Hogwarts, you will have to pick up where you left off from your Sixth Year. Ginny and Luna, you two are more difficult so we will discuss your situation first."

McGonagall cleared her throat and fixed her gaze alternately on Ginny and Luna. "I presume that you both will be returning to school, despite the fact that you will be free to choose otherwise since you will each be older than seventeen at the start of next term. Am I mistaken?"

"Ooo, I would like to, Professor" said Luna with a hearty nod, answering before Ginny. "But I will have to see about Daddy first."

"Please explain," said Professor McGonagall kindly.

"Well, I would love to come back to school with my friends." At this Luna gave a dreamy smile as she looked down the line of young people seated to her right. When she continued, however, her voice was uncharacteristically grave. "Daddy is not well, though, and I won't leave him alone if he stays unwell. If he makes a full recovery, then I will be back in September. If not, I am sure that Daddy can teach me a lot of other useful things while I am gone."

An image sprung into Harry's mind of Luna and her father standing by a stream in rubber wading boots trying to catch Freshwater Plimpies. Despite his sudden urge to laugh, Harry was touched by Luna's statement. Her voice was heavy with the love she felt for her strange old father. Considering that Luna herself had been imprisoned in a basement for several long months, and must have suffered terribly as a result, her selfless concern for her father was admirable. Remembering Kingsley's words of moments before, Harry felt pity and forgiveness for Xeno Lovegood. It was hard not to forgive a man who had earned such devotion from a person as uniquely special as Luna.

"Your point is well made, Luna," said Professor McGonagall. The professor's voice held a hint of surprise that Luna could ever make a point at all, let alone do it well. "We will have to play it by ear, then. I am sure that Xeno will pull through fine and we'll see you in September. He is a tough fellow, your father."

"Oh, I hope you're right, Professor. I really do want to come back very much," said Luna earnestly.

Professor McGonagall nodded crisply, and then turned her eyes to Luna's left. "And you, Ginny? Can we expect you back in your rightful place as Gryffindor's star chaser?"

Harry smirked to himself. Harry suspected that Professor McGonagall might want some of them back just to increase Gryffindor's Quidditch chances for next year.

"I dunno, Professor," said Ginny softly.

Professor McGonagall's surprise was palpable. "What do you mean, Girl? Of course you will come back!"

"You're damn right she will!" said Ron sternly, immune to the withering stare Professor McGonagall directed at him for his language. "Mum will skin you alive if you don't."

"Ron," said Hermione with a cautioning tone.

"I'll be seventeen, and Mum and you and everyone else will live with the decision that I make about it!" said Ginny fiercely, staring at Ron. Her eyes darted to Harry for a heartbeat and then she looked levelly at Professor McGonagall.

Harry glanced up at Bill. He was frowning thoughtfully at Ginny, but he kept his silence.

"But why, Dear?" said Professor McGonagall delicately, sounding disappointed and distraught at this unwelcome news.

"I don't want to talk about it now, Professor, but I have my reasons," said Ginny firmly.

Harry thought that Hogwarts without Ginny was just...wrong. Rashly, he began, "Ginny, if this is about me..."

"Honestly!" said Ginny furiously, her brown eyes blazing. "No offense, but don't flatter yourself, Harry! If I don't come back to school, and I have not yet decided whether I will or won't, but it will not have anything to do with you. I have my reasons, as I said, and that is that."

Harry felt his face flush at Ginny's rebuke and the disdainful tone that she had larded on top of it. He felt wounded by Ginny's words and angered by the thought of her failing to return to school. It was an inane sentiment, because at that moment, he did not know if he would return himself. Hogwarts had always been his first home, but suddenly Harry felt a sense of pointlessness in returning.

His feelings puzzled him, and the wash of emotions must have shown on his face. Everyone looked uncomfortable at the eruption between Harry and Ginny. Bill's, Kingsley's and Professor McGonagall's faces were so expressionless as to be almost comical. Dean looked sheepish and gave Harry another sympathetic look. Luna was gazing out the window again, apparently interested in a bird on the windowsill.

Ron moved as if to protest further, but his half-open mouth was quickly commandeered by another massive yawn, which forestalled any further complaints from him momentarily. His eyes brimmed with frustration at being unable to enunciate his thoughts to his unreasonable baby sister. Hermione laid a restraining hand on Ron's as she watched Ginny closely.

"Oh, shut it, Ron!" said Ginny shortly as she looked at her brothers. "You both need to realize that I am not your baby sister anymore. I will do things the way that I think is best."

Professor McGonagall looked almost beside herself. A pleading note entered her voice. "You have so much promise, Ginny. I don't want to see it wasted. If you complete your N.E.W.T. studies, it will give you..."

"Professor, I said that I don't want to talk about it now. Please!" Ginny's angry countenance began to break slightly, and Harry was startled to see her eyes shining with angry tears despite her fierce words. "I would like to bury my brother, alright? I'd like to sleep for one night without dreaming about the girl who died in my arms crying for her mother. After that, I can make the big decisions about whether I want to come back to this...this place."

"Well, there," said Kingsley, his deep calming voice settling over them in mediating tones. "So you just need time to figure out what you want to do. That sounds reasonable, doesn't it, Minerva? It is not unexpected that someone might need time to figure out where their heart lies after the mess we've been through."

"Well..." began Professor McGonagall, composing herself. "That sounds right. Yes."

"So there you have it," said Hermione calmly, mimicking Kingsley's tone. Harry noticed that her knuckles were white. She was gripping Ron's hand with everything she could muster, and he kept silent. "Ginny, why don't we just get all the information about coming back, in case everyone decides to come back, and then that may even help you to make your decision."

Ginny nodded and McGonagall cleared her throat. The Professor's imperiously efficient manner returned as she shuffled her papers. Harry looked at Ginny and noticed her wipe her eye with the back of her hand. His hurt feelings of moments before were forgotten, and he had a nearly overwhelming desire to hold her tightly. If Ginny showed tears, then she was very upset indeed.

"Well then, on to the rest of you. Dean, what are your plans?"

"I'll definitely come back, Professor. My mum will be after me to get back," said Dean.

"Oh, good," said Luna, smiling.

Dean gave her a return smile. "Well, education is really important to Muggles, you know?"

"It's pretty important to wizards, too, I dare say," said McGonagall emphatically, looking at Dean over the edge of her spectacles. "What say you, Hermione?"

"If at all possible, yes," said Hermione. At McGonagall's questioning look, Hermione continued. "I have some things to sort out first, Professor. With my parents, I mean. They have gone into hiding and I will have to go get them. But I should be able to do that in a few weeks over the summer unless they have gotten themselves lost."

"We'll help you find them, Hermione. Won't we, Harry?" volunteered Ron.

"Yes," said Harry, glancing at Ginny. "Of course."

Hermione blushed at the offered help. "Thank you," she said quietly as if she had not expected it.

"Oh, come off it," said Ron, shaking his head slightly as if to keep himself alert. "I figure I should get to know your parents anyway. I've only seen them at Diagon Alley or when they drop you off at the Burrow. Might be fun to see how they tick. I could bring back loads of stuff to tell Dad."

"Yeah," said Harry, smiling at Hermione. "It's not like you haven't spent the last year following me all over Britain. I figure I can at least follow you to Australia for a couple of weeks. Better weather, anyway."

"I won't be seventeen until the end of summer, but if Mum and Dad will let me go, I would come too, Hermione. If you'll have me that is," said Ginny. A brief happy image of Ginny in a bikini on an Australian beach flashed through Harry's head. He managed to keep his expression neutral.

"Oh, Ginny! Thank you. Of course I would love if you would come," said Hermione looking nearly tearful. "It will be like a holiday. Dean and Luna, you are welcome to come too, if circumstances allow."

"That might be nice," said Luna noncommittally, "but it will depend on Daddy."

Dean simply nodded, also noncommittal.

"And count me in for school too, Professor, provided we find Hermione's parents in time," said Ron, sounding brighter by the prospect of the trip ahead. He looked over at Harry expectantly.

Harry kept his face impassive, and Ron's grin faded when Harry did not immediately agree.

"Very well," said McGonagall, pleased by the avalanche of positive responses. She glanced at Ginny. "And I think the trip to Australia is a good idea, as well. It might be a tonic after the recent events. I will speak to Molly, Ginny."

Ginny nodded her thanks to Professor McGonagall. Harry looked at Kingsley and saw a glimmer of amusement in his dark eyes. Harry had the feeling that Kingsley was marveling at the recuperative enthusiasm of young people.

"And I expect you'll be back, as well, Harry?" asked Professor McGonagall. Her tone indicated that she considered it a foregone conclusion. Suddenly all eyes in the room were focused on Harry, and he felt uncomfortable under their scrutiny. This was going to be difficult.

"I...I don't think so, Professor," said Harry softly.

"What?!" Professor McGonagall and Ron exclaimed together. Looks of surprise painted the faces of Harry's friends in the room, and Ron looked a bit angry.

"I don't think so," said Harry more firmly, looking Professor McGonagall in the eye.

"Are you bleeding mad, Harry?" asked Ron.

"For heaven's sake, Ron..." said Hermione.

"And when were you going to tell us this bit of news?" said Ron angrily. "I mean being that we're your best mates and all."

"I didn't realize it until we got in here and started talking about it," said Harry defensively.

"Good to know you've taken so much time to ponder such a big decision about your education," said Ron sarcastically. Harry wondered if Ron realized how much he sounded like his mother.

"Ron, please," said Hermione. "Can you tell us why, Harry?"

Harry looked at his two best friends. Hermione was being diplomatic, but Harry could hear the hurt tone in her voice. She would have expected Harry to confide his feelings in her and Ron. How could he explain to them the sadness he had felt while walking the school grounds? How could he explain to them his feeling that his old home would never be the same, at least not for him?

"It's hard to explain, Hermione," said Harry, shaking his head.

"Please try?" asked Hermione softly.

Harry took a deep breath. "I...I am not sure...it's strange. I feel...I feel like I need to be somewhere else. I feel like I need to do something else."

Ron snorted, and Hermione's knuckles went white on his hand again.

"What do you mean?" asked Kingsley, studying Harry over his fingertips much like Dumbledore had been prone to do.

"Oh, I think I understand," said Luna.

"What?" asked Harry and Dean. All eyes in the room swiveled to Luna.

"Well, you have been waiting to fight Voldemort for years, haven't you? Maybe your whole life?" said Luna with an airy smile. "You were prepared for that battle here and with your friends and teachers here. The battle was very costly, and that makes you sad...sad to be here, doesn't it?"

To his own surprise, Harry said, "Yes, that's right."

"But most of all," finished Luna with a very understanding nod, "the battle is won, and well...you don't need Hogwarts anymore. It's time to do something else, like you said."

All eyes in the room swiveled back to Harry. He opened his mouth to respond, but closed it again. He simply nodded. Luna had said it more clearly than he ever could have. Harry looked up at Professor McGonagall and expected to hear a protest similar to what she had said with Ginny. Instead, she just nodded her head slightly. Harry glanced at Ron. Luna's insight had apparently mollified Ron's anger somewhat, and he bore a thoughtful expression.

At this the minister cleared his throat. Harry looked up at him.

"Harry," began the Minister, extending a large hand flat on the desk towards Harry, "I would ask you to defer your decision until Professor McGonagall, Bill and I have had an opportunity to talk to you in private about some other matters that have arisen in the last few hours. I think that these new developments will bear on your decision. Can you agree to that?"

"Sure, Kingsley," said Harry.

Kingsley nodded, satisfied.

"Very well," said Professor McGonagall. "Let me go through the details then, as Hermione suggested. Let's see...

"Luna, I'm afraid you missed half of last term. Therefore, you have two options. One would be to take private lessons in July from me and some others who have volunteered to get students in your situation up to speed. It would be very intensive and a heavy daily time commitment, but if you are successful, then you could begin your seventh year with the rest of your class. Unfortunately, since you missed so much of the last term, we cannot try to condense your studies for the past half year with next year, and you must utilize the summer study program. Your only other option would be to repeat your Sixth Year.

"Ginny, you missed classes since the Easter Holidays. While this is less than Luna missed, it is unfortunately too much to allow you to move on to Seventh Year without some additional allowance made to catch you up on your studies. You have three options. If you decide to take the same condensed study option that I have offered Luna, it would also be in July, though less intensive, perhaps, than what Luna will face.

"While the decision is yours to make, Girls, we are nearly into June. Therefore, if you wish to take advantage of this condensed summer study opportunity, I will need your decisions within the next two weeks."

Professor McGonagall looked at Ginny and Luna seriously, though not unkindly, over her spectacles. They nodded there understanding of the parameters.

"Now, Ginny, you have an option in addition to that which I have offered to Luna," continued McGonagall, "Since you missed a shorter amount of time this last term, and in light of the time you need to contemplate your decision, this option may work best for you. If you do not take the opportunity over the summer, then we can still advance you to Seventh Year. However, it will be necessary for you to take several remedial classes, and the work load will be quite heavy during next term. This is especially true since you will be entering your N.E.W.T. year."

Ginny again nodded her understanding.

"As for the rest of you, as I said, if you come back, there is nothing for it but to begin your Seventh year from scratch. It is unfortunate that you will not be able to advance with your classmates, but it would be foolish to think that you could pass an N.E.W.T. exam after being away from school for a year. Does anyone have any questions?"

Harry and the others, particularly Luna and Ginny, looked dazed by the flood of information that they had just heard recited so quickly. Despite the shock, Hermione raised her hand to ask a question.

"For Merlin's sake, Girl! We are not in class. Just ask," said McGonagall impatiently.

"Right. Sorry. What about the other students from the Room of Requirement, Professor? What will they do for N.E.W.T.'s?" asked Hermione.

"That is a good question. The best answer that I can give is that N.E.W.T. and O.W.L. exams will most likely be scheduled for some point over the summer, as they were last year, or perhaps the beginning of the fall. This will give those students adequate time to catch up on what little they missed. Muggleborns and students who were not in school last year will be in the same boat as you, Dean, Ron and Harry."

Professor McGonagall then peered at each of them in turn. "Are there any other questions?"

The young people all shook their heads to varying degrees.

"Good. Except for Mr. Thomas, we shall await the outcome of events in the coming weeks," said Professor McGonagall.

"At this point," said Kingsley with a broad smile, "I would like to thank you again, Ginny, Dean and Luna, for coming on such short notice under such circumstances. At this point you may go, since our remaining business is with your friends."

"Bill, would you also check to see if our final guests have arrived?" asked Professor McGonagall.

"Certainly, Minerva," said Bill.

Luna and Dean mumbled their goodbyes to their friends with sympathetic looks and encouraging smiles as they trooped towards the door. Bill walked them out, mumbling some quiet words to Ginny as they went. She nodded to whatever he had said. Harry tried to catch her eye, but she did not look his way.

As the door to the study opened, Harry heard Luna say happily, "Hi, Neville!" There was a flurry of brief greetings in the hallway outside the study.

Moments later, Neville came into the study looking harassed. He was followed by a tall, slender, imperious looking man in flowing robes of such a deep purple that they were almost black. He swirled into the room impressively without a word of greeting to anyone, but with courteous nods to Professor McGonagall and Kingsley. He took the seat next to Professor McGonagall which had hitherto been unoccupied. Bill brought up the rear with a thinly veiled expression of distaste.

Neville mumbled hellos to Harry, Ron and Hermione as he took one of the seats abandoned by the three departed students. He then watched the newcomer with a look similar to Bill's.

Harry exchanged looks with Hermione at this new mystery. Ron's interest appeared to be vying with his tiredness. He looked like someone startled out of their sleep, and the dark circles under his eyes had gotten deeper during the interview.

Harry met the eye of the unknown wizard seated across the table, and was affronted by the clearly studious and intrusive way that the man gazed at Harry.

"Harry, Ron and Hermione," began Kingsley, "please allow me to introduce to you the Head of the Ancient Artifacts Office of the Department of Mysteries. This...is Trimble Didact."