Returning To Hogwarts?
After the battle of Hogwarts, you spent a lot of time with your parents. You were from a long line of pure-blood healers, known as the Weavers as such after a war, healers were needed. For days on end you were side-by-side with your family as an apprentice healer. You were not an official healer as you technically had not graduated from hogwarts.
In the aftermath of the war it was very evident that the wizarding world has a surplus of under qualified witches and wizards and a high need for more actually qualified witches and wizards.
The wonderful solution was proposed by the Ministry of Magic. A temporary 8th year to catch up the 7th years that did not get a complete education. A one-time all around great idea, right?
Not exactly. The Ministry did not provide any solutions or protections for the Slytherin students, only restrictions. Once a week Aurors would come and interview teachers and Slytherin students to ensure they are all in line.
You can't imagine how that would ever go wrong. Not one thought.
~
You spent most of the summer working with your family. You still had all your books from 7th year so your parents didn't see a need to go out of their way to get you school supplies. It wasn't until the restart of school was one week away did you get a visit from the Weasley Matriarch.
Mrs. Molly walks in with piles of food in tow, she often made meals for the staff at St. Mungos when her eyes landed on you.
"Good afternoon Mrs. Molly." you say.
"Good afternoon dear, are you still working here?" Mrs. Molly looked for your parents not seeing them yet.
"Yes ma'am I am" You smile.
Clearly unamused, Mrs. Molly searches for your parents and talks to them at length before they approach you as a group. They clearly had come up with some sort of plan and were trying to figure out how to tell you.
"What is it?" you ask.
"Well we just were informed that school starts in a week, we've lost track of time and Mrs. Molly has said she can take you to the train." Your parents were trying to push you off on her, and you couldn't complain. Your families have been friends for a while. And you were good friends with Hermione. You just nod and pack your stuff up.
You say goodbye to your family and leave St. Mungos with Mrs. Molly. Even though you floo back to the Burrow Mrs. Molly gives you a flood of questions;
"How long have you been healing with your parents?"
-Since the war starting
"Do you like being a Healer?"
-I think so.
"Is that what you will do?"
- I think so, it's what everyone in the family’s done.
"I've heard about you from Ron."
- I've done a couple of studying sessions with Hermione. I met Ron that way..
Seeming pleased with her interrogation you arrived at the Burrow.
Ron seems pleased to see you “Hey I see Mum even dragged you here too!”
“What do you mean “me too”?” you ask.
“Well Hermione and Harry are already here, but I mean they practically live here.”
You nod, glad to know at least someone you know is here.
“Can you guide me to the bathroom Ron,” You gesture to the dirty clothes you were wearing from the hospital, “I’d like to clean up”
“Sure, I’ll see if Gin has anything you can wear until your trunk gets here, George and Mum just left to get it.”
You thank him as he leads you to the bathroom and lets you clean up and get a good shower in. Cleaning the dirt and filth of the hospital along with unidentified bodily fluids, you felt wonderfully clean. You heard a light knock as you were getting out, you wrap yourself up with a towel and open the door slightly.
It was Hermione, “Here's some spare clothes until you get here.” Hermione gives you a neatly folded stack of clothes.
“Thanks Hermione, I appreciate it.” You say as you take the clothes, You change into Hermione's Gryffindor Jumper and some jeans. You laugh as you see yourself in the mirror, a Ravenclaw wearing a Gryffindor Jumper. It was the first time in a while you thought of yourself as a “Ravenclaw” and not as a “Healer Apprentice”.
You leave the bathroom with your dirty clothes in hand, you see George pushing your trunk into a room near the bathroom. You follow him and find out it's Ginny’s room. Hermione and Ginny are already there. In the room you see three beds side by side, you assume it's for the three of you. Ginny and George were already bickering about how he cant be in her room and him shooting back he was helping.
You walk over to your trunk and place the dirty clothes in a separate bag, you grab your Ravenclaw Jumper and throw it at Hermione. “Until you get yours back” You say.
Hermione smiles and immediately pulls it on. “I think it suits me.”
You smile too. “It certainly does.”
You sit and watch Ginny argue with George eager for the next week ahead of you.
~
You lied to yourself by the second day you were riddled with anxiety about not helping your parents, you even dressed in medic robes and tried to leave before hermione pulled you back into Ginny’s room to change.
“C’mon you can’t go.” Hemione stands firm in front of you.
“Hermione, they need all the help they can get.” You beg.
“Will they really notice if one person is gone?” She retorts.
“Yes! Of course I usually handle 20 patients. That's 20 people who rely on me daily that I’m letting down, those are 20 people that are going to be given to other people whose workload is way more than 20. Those patients woke up today and saw a new face. New isn’t exactly comforting given what has happened.”
Hermione considers your logic for a moment. “You’re right it won’t be comforting for them, but you need to stay here Mrs. Weasley will have a brain aneurysm if you don’t. Plus we have to get ready for school, when was the last time you looked at a book?”
“I haven’t had the time for books.” You confess sheepishly.
Hermione shakes her head and gently guides you back to one of the beds. She lets you change into some regular clothes as she pulls out a book from her trunk. The two of you quietly read together until Ginny wakes up.
Ginny takes one look at us and laughs, “C’mon already at least eat breakfast first!” Ginny pulled the two of us to the kitchen to grab a bite.
It was odd walking through the quiet house, listening to the wood creak under our steps. We sneak to the kitchen giggling amongst ourselves, we hardly noticed him.
Harry was leaning against the counter, a cup of coffee in hand as he watched three of his friends sneak into the kitchen like normal teenagers. It made his heart soar to see them acting normal and not fearful. He was worried that you would have tried to run back to the hospital, so he woke up early to stop you if you had tried.
Harry watches as the sun rises and lights up your face, a small smile forming.
You turn to him finally noticing that you’re sharing the space, you jump slightly. You stare at him, your eyes drift to his lips. The small smile he gives you tugs at your heart strings.
The moment is quickly ruined as Ginny shoves food at you and Hermione.
“Harry! You’re up!” Ginny smiles.
“Yeah I am, Rons still sleeping though.” Harry runs a hand through his messy hair.
Your eyes watch his hands as they drift through his messy hair.
“I’ll wake him up, if you’re down for a round of quidditch?” Ginny says.
Harry seems to think for a moment before he nods, “Only if you play,” he turns to you, his eyes looking into yours, “We’d need a keeper on par with Ron.”
You nod. “Yeah I can be the second keeper.”
Ginny turns to you, “I forgot you were the Ravenclaw keeper!”
You just nod gently.
“You should see if you can join the team again, would you even need to apply?” Ginny wanders off to wake up Ron.
Hermione took one glance between the two of you and mumbled something about helping Ginny.
Then you were alone with Harry, the last thing your war fresh 18 year old underdeveloped brain needed. You tried not to stare at him and focus on your food.
“Are you ready for this 8th year thing?” Harry asks as he moves closer to you.
“I mean, I’m ready for it to be over, to be considered actually qualified to be a healer and whatnot.” you say.
“Do you like it? Being a healer?” Harry asks gently.
“It feels right for me, it might not be right for everyone though. What are you thinking of doing Harry?”
“Have I never told you?” You shake your head, “Really? I want to be an Auror!” Harry’s eyes light up as he describes his reasons why. He moves to the same side of the table as you.
You look up at Harry and notice how tall he really is, and how he has developed a bit of stubble on his chin. You try to pay attention to what he was saying and not be too distracted by the warmth that radiated off of him.
Ron was heard yelling and you and Harry jumped apart. You did not realize just how close the two of you were. Your face starts to heat up. Ron grabs food.
“Ginny and Hermione are getting the twins for the game, who’s idea was it anyway? It's too early for a game.” Ron looked between you and Harry. “Was it you Mate?” Ron looks at Harry.
“No, it was Ginny’s idea.” Harry responds.
“Makes sense, of course she would decide this early in the morning was perfect for a match!” Ron complains.
It's 10:30 in the morning.
Rons complaints fall on Harry's ears and not yours. You let him handle all of Ron’s complaints as the twins walk in.
“Good Morning Ron!” George (Fred?) says.
“Good Morning Fred.” Ron replies.
“Good Morning Harry!” Fred (George?) says.
“Good Morning Fred.” Harry replies.
Ron stops and looks at Harry, “Only one of them is Fred mate.”
Harry turns to Ron, “And only one of them has both ears.”
You can't help but chuckle. The twins were a little easier to tell apart now sure, but it was a little blunt.
Ron turns bright red, and turns away and finishes his breakfast.
Your eyes meet Harry’s once again.