(no subject)
Title: Rebuilding
Author: in_finitas
Summary: Two weeks have passed since Voldemort’s defeat and things were already looking up. A glimpse at the future.
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Lavender/Seamus, Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione, Neville, Luna, Professor McGonagall
By decree of the Ministry of Magic, all students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry must repeat one (1) year of their magical education due to the inadequate curriculum presented in the last year. The curriculum was deemed insufficient by no less than ten (10) Department of Education officials, reasons citing to be:
1. Anti-Muggle propaganda presented by Alecto Carrow in the compulsory Muggle Studies class. Muggle Studies will no longer by compulsory for students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
2. The improper use of Unforgivable Curses as punishment for disobedient students as directed by Amycus Carrow and Alecto Carrow.
3. Defense Against the Dark Arts being turned into a class about Dark Arts by Amycus Carrow and Severus Snape.
4. The Unforgivable Curses were taught to all students, including First and Second Year students.
5. Students were barred from attending for various undisclosed reasons.
6. Students disappeared mid-year for various undisclosed reasons.
7. The Battle of Hogwarts disrupting the end of the school year. Students were thus unable to take final exams, OWLs, and NEWTs.
8. The emotional toil suffered by most students under the jurisdiction of Severus Snape, Amycus Carrow, and Alecto Carrow.
New First Year students will share a class with last year’s First Year students. All First Year students, new and otherwise, will be resorted due to the uneven amount of Slytherins sorted in the previous year. Students that were supposed to be in their First Year last year will have the option of starting their education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Any questions can be directed to Julia Abbott, Head of the Department of Education.
Signed,
Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic
---
Harry smiled contently as he surveyed the people surrounding him one Saturday night. He slipped an arm around Ginny’s shoulders and squeezed, feeling a rush of delight when she snuggled closer to his side. Luna and Neville were carrying the conversation, filling Harry, Ron, and Hermione in on the smaller things that had happened at Hogwarts in the past year. All six of them were squeezed into a booth at Hog’s Head, sharing a few rounds and just enjoying each other’s company.
“So how about that new decree, eh?” Neville asked, giving them a wry smile. Hermione sat even straighter, a feat that Harry had previously imagined impossible.
“I think it’s excellent. It will give us all a chance to take our NEWTs and get on with our lives,” she said. Ron groaned loudly, causing her to give him a severe look.
“Get off it, Hermione. You know the only reason why I agreed to go with Harry was to avoid NEWTs at all costs,” he remarked. The rest of them laughed loudly and Hermione couldn’t help but smile. Ever since they starting dating officially, their rows took a playful turn, much to the chagrin and disgust of those around them. It was almost sickening to watch them flirt at all times with each other, but most of their friends were relieved they finally got their head out of their arses. It only took seven years.
“You know,” Harry started. All heads turned to him, “I wonder if Yaxley got into Grimmauld Place or not.” Harry, Ron, and Hermione had already filled the other three in on their journey, so everyone knew immediately what he was talking about.
“Probably not,” Neville replied offhandedly. He was frowning at his empty Butterbeer mug, most likely wondering why it was empty all of a sudden.
“Why not? I brought him right to the front stoop,” Hermione asked. Harry knew she still felt guilty about that, but the rest of them could care less. Yaxley’s body was found at Malfoy Manor, murdered, Harry knew, by Voldemort himself when he found out about the Gringotts break-in. Neville looked up, startled that he knew something Hermione didn’t.
“Because a house elf’s greatest bidding is his Master’s,” he said. Harry and Hermione looked at him blankly. Even Ron and Ginny looked curious. Luna just smiled serenely and sipped her drink.
“Explain,” Harry said, feeling as if he was saying that word a lot.
“It’s simple, really. Everyone’s fundamental wish is to keep their home secure, right?” They nodded, still not following. “So a house elf’s nature is to keep the home safe from all uninvited guests. Hermione, you never actually brought Yaxley into the house, only to the front stoop, so it’s Kreacher’s duty to keep him out.” Hermione looked extremely relieved at the news, sinking into her seat.
“Wow, Neville. How’d you know that?” Ron asked curiously. Neville blushed crimson.
“My uncle had a house elf and one of his girlfriends tried to climb into the house through the window. You know, ‘to cut off his balls’ or something. She was American,” Neville explained at the blank looks around the table. They nodded sagely, knowing how violent those Americans were. "Anyway, Juniper, his elf, blew her right out. Kind of surprised the girl, since she was a Muggle and all, so my uncle had to Obliviate her.” The table roared with laughter, getting a few dirty looks from other patrons.
Harry ordered another round of drinks as the conversation turned to more lighthearted things. He looked down as Ginny’s hand brushed against his thigh. She smiled up at him and he couldn’t help but grin goofily at her. There was nothing better, he thought, than just being around the people he called friends.
---
Minerva McGonagall looked up warily as two people entered her office. Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnegan fidgeted uncomfortably under her gaze as their shuffled closer to her desk. Seamus was still healing from his various wounds. Most of them, Professor McGonagall knew, would never heal completely. Lavender had faint marks at her throat from when Fenrir Greyback scratched her, but she was, thankfully, saved by Hermione Granger before he could inject any of his saliva into her bloodstream.
“Yes?” Professor McGonagall said impatiently as the silence stretched on. She had a pile of paperwork to finish and no time to waste.
“Well, Professor. Seamus and I heard about the decree about repeating a year of school and we’re happy to do it, we really are. It’s just that, well - ” she trailed off. Professor McGonagall looked at her crossly.
“Well?” she said.
“Come on, Lavender,” Seamus whispered loudly. Lavender glared at him.
“Don’t rush me, Seamus,” she huffed. He sighed and looked at Professor McGonagall straight in the eye. She kept her features stony to prevent herself from flinching at his scarred face.
“Lavender and I got married yesterday,” he said baldly. No amount of control could keep Professor McGonagall’s mouth from dropping open stupidly.
“Excuse me?” she said, dazed. If she wasn’t sitting, she probably would’ve collapsed from shock.
“We eloped, but it’s perfectly legal!” Lavender said hurriedly. “I know we’re young, but - ”
“We knew we love each other and we wanted to do it,” Seamus finished. “I mean, the world won’t wait for us, so why should we wait for the world, right Professor?” They looked at her with hopeful expressions on their faces.
“Indeed,” she said faintly. She reached to her side and took a long gulp from goblet at her side. The potion inside was unnaturally pink and rather creamy, reminding Seamus of the Muggle medicine Pepto-Bismal.
“Thank you for telling me this, Seamus, Lavender,” she said after a long pause. Her voice was back to it’s normal brisk, no-nonsense tone. “I’ll bring this to the Department of Education. I’m assuming you’re telling me this so you can share a room?” She gave them a hard look and they gulped.
“Yes Professor,” Lavender said meekly.
“If you have nothing more to say, you may leave,” Professor McGonagall said. They hurried to the door. They paused as she said to their backs, “Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Finnegan.” They murmured their thanks and left as quickly as they came.
Professor McGonagall took another long drink from the goblet and then began drafting a letter to Julia Abbott.
---
Lavender and Seamus joined the other six at Hog’s Head after their meeting with Professor McGonagall. Hermione produced two chairs with a swish of her wand and Harry signaled for two more Butterbeers at Aberforth, who gave him a dirty look, but filled two mugs to the brim. It was when everyone was settled and talking amiably that Hermione noticed rather crossly the glare coming off of something on Lavender’s hand. It was rather blinding and nothing should be that shiny. However, as she looked closely, she couldn’t help but gasp loudly.
“What is it?” Ginny asked next to her, looking around. Harry had jumped and pulled out his wand reflexively. Hermione clamped her hand onto Ginny’s arm, gripping tightly as she continued to stare at Lavender’s hand. “Ow, Hermione, you’re hurting me.”
“Tell me I’m not seeing things!” Hermione said shrilly, ignoring Ginny. She looked from Seamus to Lavender and back. The two of them then looked at each other guiltily. Lavender nodded, shrinking away from Hermione, who looked particularly insane at the moment.
“What in the name of - ” Ron started, but was cut off by Ginny squeal. She had finally noticed what Hermione was so intent upon.
“Merlin’s panties!” Hermione shrieked as Ginny began firing questions at Lavender and Seamus.
“Merlin’s panties?” Ron mouthed to an equally confused and amused Harry and Neville.
“Congratulations,” Luna said calmly at the cowering Lavender and Seamus.
“When did it happen? Where did you go? Why didn’t you tell us? Who did the ceremony? What did you wear? Why didn’t you tell us?!” Ginny asked, her voice getting increasingly sharp until the last question was a screech that rang through Harry’s head.
"What in the name of Merlin's Brazillian cuts are you talking about?" Ron asked, frowning. Harry and Neville gaped at him. Brazillian cuts?
"How do you know what a Brazillian cut is, Ron?" Luna asked serenely. Harry snorted, but Neville couldn't help but laugh out loud.
“Never you mind. What are you congratulating?” Ron said crossly, not liking the feeling of being left out.
“Lavender and Seamus are married,” Luna replied simply. Harry had been taking a drink as she said this and promptly spit it out onto Ron. Ron reacted automatically by reaching across the table and punching Harry, though he wasn’t even thinking about his sopping wet shirt. Harry was too dazed to care much about the throbbing of his cheek, since his head had began to ache from the noise that suddenly exploded around him.
Hermione and Ginny were still shrieking, this time Lavender adding to the conversation that was spoken in voices much too high for normal people to understand. Ron was firing his own questions at Seamus while Neville thumped him on his back with a broad grin. Harry signaled to Aberforth, knowing that they’d need something a bit stronger than Butterbeer from now on.
Round and round they toasted: to happiness, to freedom, to marriage, to love, to Dumbledore, to Hogwarts, to anything they could think of. By the time they were done, it was well past midnight and all eight of them were too smashed to walk, much less Apparate back home.
Aberforth transfigured a few of his grimy tables into dirty beds, grumbling, “damn kids” under his breath. It wasn’t until they were all snoring loudly did he allow himself to smile. Two weeks have passed since Voldemort’s defeat and things were already looking up. He patted a goat at his side and looked up to the ceiling.
“Hope you're happy, Albus, you old fool.”
Author: in_finitas
Summary: Two weeks have passed since Voldemort’s defeat and things were already looking up. A glimpse at the future.
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Lavender/Seamus, Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione, Neville, Luna, Professor McGonagall
By decree of the Ministry of Magic, all students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry must repeat one (1) year of their magical education due to the inadequate curriculum presented in the last year. The curriculum was deemed insufficient by no less than ten (10) Department of Education officials, reasons citing to be:
1. Anti-Muggle propaganda presented by Alecto Carrow in the compulsory Muggle Studies class. Muggle Studies will no longer by compulsory for students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
2. The improper use of Unforgivable Curses as punishment for disobedient students as directed by Amycus Carrow and Alecto Carrow.
3. Defense Against the Dark Arts being turned into a class about Dark Arts by Amycus Carrow and Severus Snape.
4. The Unforgivable Curses were taught to all students, including First and Second Year students.
5. Students were barred from attending for various undisclosed reasons.
6. Students disappeared mid-year for various undisclosed reasons.
7. The Battle of Hogwarts disrupting the end of the school year. Students were thus unable to take final exams, OWLs, and NEWTs.
8. The emotional toil suffered by most students under the jurisdiction of Severus Snape, Amycus Carrow, and Alecto Carrow.
New First Year students will share a class with last year’s First Year students. All First Year students, new and otherwise, will be resorted due to the uneven amount of Slytherins sorted in the previous year. Students that were supposed to be in their First Year last year will have the option of starting their education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Any questions can be directed to Julia Abbott, Head of the Department of Education.
Signed,
Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic
---
Harry smiled contently as he surveyed the people surrounding him one Saturday night. He slipped an arm around Ginny’s shoulders and squeezed, feeling a rush of delight when she snuggled closer to his side. Luna and Neville were carrying the conversation, filling Harry, Ron, and Hermione in on the smaller things that had happened at Hogwarts in the past year. All six of them were squeezed into a booth at Hog’s Head, sharing a few rounds and just enjoying each other’s company.
“So how about that new decree, eh?” Neville asked, giving them a wry smile. Hermione sat even straighter, a feat that Harry had previously imagined impossible.
“I think it’s excellent. It will give us all a chance to take our NEWTs and get on with our lives,” she said. Ron groaned loudly, causing her to give him a severe look.
“Get off it, Hermione. You know the only reason why I agreed to go with Harry was to avoid NEWTs at all costs,” he remarked. The rest of them laughed loudly and Hermione couldn’t help but smile. Ever since they starting dating officially, their rows took a playful turn, much to the chagrin and disgust of those around them. It was almost sickening to watch them flirt at all times with each other, but most of their friends were relieved they finally got their head out of their arses. It only took seven years.
“You know,” Harry started. All heads turned to him, “I wonder if Yaxley got into Grimmauld Place or not.” Harry, Ron, and Hermione had already filled the other three in on their journey, so everyone knew immediately what he was talking about.
“Probably not,” Neville replied offhandedly. He was frowning at his empty Butterbeer mug, most likely wondering why it was empty all of a sudden.
“Why not? I brought him right to the front stoop,” Hermione asked. Harry knew she still felt guilty about that, but the rest of them could care less. Yaxley’s body was found at Malfoy Manor, murdered, Harry knew, by Voldemort himself when he found out about the Gringotts break-in. Neville looked up, startled that he knew something Hermione didn’t.
“Because a house elf’s greatest bidding is his Master’s,” he said. Harry and Hermione looked at him blankly. Even Ron and Ginny looked curious. Luna just smiled serenely and sipped her drink.
“Explain,” Harry said, feeling as if he was saying that word a lot.
“It’s simple, really. Everyone’s fundamental wish is to keep their home secure, right?” They nodded, still not following. “So a house elf’s nature is to keep the home safe from all uninvited guests. Hermione, you never actually brought Yaxley into the house, only to the front stoop, so it’s Kreacher’s duty to keep him out.” Hermione looked extremely relieved at the news, sinking into her seat.
“Wow, Neville. How’d you know that?” Ron asked curiously. Neville blushed crimson.
“My uncle had a house elf and one of his girlfriends tried to climb into the house through the window. You know, ‘to cut off his balls’ or something. She was American,” Neville explained at the blank looks around the table. They nodded sagely, knowing how violent those Americans were. "Anyway, Juniper, his elf, blew her right out. Kind of surprised the girl, since she was a Muggle and all, so my uncle had to Obliviate her.” The table roared with laughter, getting a few dirty looks from other patrons.
Harry ordered another round of drinks as the conversation turned to more lighthearted things. He looked down as Ginny’s hand brushed against his thigh. She smiled up at him and he couldn’t help but grin goofily at her. There was nothing better, he thought, than just being around the people he called friends.
---
Minerva McGonagall looked up warily as two people entered her office. Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnegan fidgeted uncomfortably under her gaze as their shuffled closer to her desk. Seamus was still healing from his various wounds. Most of them, Professor McGonagall knew, would never heal completely. Lavender had faint marks at her throat from when Fenrir Greyback scratched her, but she was, thankfully, saved by Hermione Granger before he could inject any of his saliva into her bloodstream.
“Yes?” Professor McGonagall said impatiently as the silence stretched on. She had a pile of paperwork to finish and no time to waste.
“Well, Professor. Seamus and I heard about the decree about repeating a year of school and we’re happy to do it, we really are. It’s just that, well - ” she trailed off. Professor McGonagall looked at her crossly.
“Well?” she said.
“Come on, Lavender,” Seamus whispered loudly. Lavender glared at him.
“Don’t rush me, Seamus,” she huffed. He sighed and looked at Professor McGonagall straight in the eye. She kept her features stony to prevent herself from flinching at his scarred face.
“Lavender and I got married yesterday,” he said baldly. No amount of control could keep Professor McGonagall’s mouth from dropping open stupidly.
“Excuse me?” she said, dazed. If she wasn’t sitting, she probably would’ve collapsed from shock.
“We eloped, but it’s perfectly legal!” Lavender said hurriedly. “I know we’re young, but - ”
“We knew we love each other and we wanted to do it,” Seamus finished. “I mean, the world won’t wait for us, so why should we wait for the world, right Professor?” They looked at her with hopeful expressions on their faces.
“Indeed,” she said faintly. She reached to her side and took a long gulp from goblet at her side. The potion inside was unnaturally pink and rather creamy, reminding Seamus of the Muggle medicine Pepto-Bismal.
“Thank you for telling me this, Seamus, Lavender,” she said after a long pause. Her voice was back to it’s normal brisk, no-nonsense tone. “I’ll bring this to the Department of Education. I’m assuming you’re telling me this so you can share a room?” She gave them a hard look and they gulped.
“Yes Professor,” Lavender said meekly.
“If you have nothing more to say, you may leave,” Professor McGonagall said. They hurried to the door. They paused as she said to their backs, “Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Finnegan.” They murmured their thanks and left as quickly as they came.
Professor McGonagall took another long drink from the goblet and then began drafting a letter to Julia Abbott.
---
Lavender and Seamus joined the other six at Hog’s Head after their meeting with Professor McGonagall. Hermione produced two chairs with a swish of her wand and Harry signaled for two more Butterbeers at Aberforth, who gave him a dirty look, but filled two mugs to the brim. It was when everyone was settled and talking amiably that Hermione noticed rather crossly the glare coming off of something on Lavender’s hand. It was rather blinding and nothing should be that shiny. However, as she looked closely, she couldn’t help but gasp loudly.
“What is it?” Ginny asked next to her, looking around. Harry had jumped and pulled out his wand reflexively. Hermione clamped her hand onto Ginny’s arm, gripping tightly as she continued to stare at Lavender’s hand. “Ow, Hermione, you’re hurting me.”
“Tell me I’m not seeing things!” Hermione said shrilly, ignoring Ginny. She looked from Seamus to Lavender and back. The two of them then looked at each other guiltily. Lavender nodded, shrinking away from Hermione, who looked particularly insane at the moment.
“What in the name of - ” Ron started, but was cut off by Ginny squeal. She had finally noticed what Hermione was so intent upon.
“Merlin’s panties!” Hermione shrieked as Ginny began firing questions at Lavender and Seamus.
“Merlin’s panties?” Ron mouthed to an equally confused and amused Harry and Neville.
“Congratulations,” Luna said calmly at the cowering Lavender and Seamus.
“When did it happen? Where did you go? Why didn’t you tell us? Who did the ceremony? What did you wear? Why didn’t you tell us?!” Ginny asked, her voice getting increasingly sharp until the last question was a screech that rang through Harry’s head.
"What in the name of Merlin's Brazillian cuts are you talking about?" Ron asked, frowning. Harry and Neville gaped at him. Brazillian cuts?
"How do you know what a Brazillian cut is, Ron?" Luna asked serenely. Harry snorted, but Neville couldn't help but laugh out loud.
“Never you mind. What are you congratulating?” Ron said crossly, not liking the feeling of being left out.
“Lavender and Seamus are married,” Luna replied simply. Harry had been taking a drink as she said this and promptly spit it out onto Ron. Ron reacted automatically by reaching across the table and punching Harry, though he wasn’t even thinking about his sopping wet shirt. Harry was too dazed to care much about the throbbing of his cheek, since his head had began to ache from the noise that suddenly exploded around him.
Hermione and Ginny were still shrieking, this time Lavender adding to the conversation that was spoken in voices much too high for normal people to understand. Ron was firing his own questions at Seamus while Neville thumped him on his back with a broad grin. Harry signaled to Aberforth, knowing that they’d need something a bit stronger than Butterbeer from now on.
Round and round they toasted: to happiness, to freedom, to marriage, to love, to Dumbledore, to Hogwarts, to anything they could think of. By the time they were done, it was well past midnight and all eight of them were too smashed to walk, much less Apparate back home.
Aberforth transfigured a few of his grimy tables into dirty beds, grumbling, “damn kids” under his breath. It wasn’t until they were all snoring loudly did he allow himself to smile. Two weeks have passed since Voldemort’s defeat and things were already looking up. He patted a goat at his side and looked up to the ceiling.
“Hope you're happy, Albus, you old fool.”