More Responsibility
As expected, Headmistress McGonagall delivered a heartwarming and powerful speech to the students, welcoming them back with excitement and support, yet also acknowledging the horrors which had occurred within these very walls. A silent minute was had, and sniffles could be heard scattered across the hall as students were reminded of the events that transpired within the castle grounds a mere few months prior.
It was a strange situation to be in: facing the future on the same floors so many had recently met their end.
As a way to remember the countless witches and wizards which had fought and tragically lost their lives in the battle, McGonagall disclosed that plaques, together with a recent photo of each and every one of the students, professors and the other witches and wizards would be hung upon the wall outside the great hall. She was also careful to explain that while these photos may move, and occasionally utter a sentence, they were in fact not the people themselves. Still, they could offer comfort and celebration of the life, goodness and joy these people experienced, underscoring that this, rather than their death, is what best defined them. This is not to be confused with their decision to risk their life fighting in the battle, which should be kept in mind, Minerva urged; this being a constant reminder of their strength and the sacrifice they made to allow normalcy and everyday life to continue.
Once McGonagall's speech was over, it felt as if she had grown in the eyes of many people in that hall, across all ages.
Following that, once everyone had an opportunity to wipe their eyes and launch their focus back on anticipation of the forthcoming meal, McGonagall decided to introduce the newest additions to the Hogwarts alumni: first years.
"Blimey," Nova mumbled excitedly beside Leigh, "I didn't think we'd have any new first years this time around. When did they have time to send those welcome letters out?"
Leigh hummed in agreement, "I suppose around the time we got our letters. Bit later than normal perhaps, but better late than never when it comes to Hogwarts," she said with a shrug as her eyes trailed towards the back of the hall.
She watched as a crowd of 11 year olds came forth between the tables, moving towards McGonagall, where a chair and the familiar sorting hat were ready and waiting.
One by one, the students were called, and she saw how they, with usually uncertain and trudging steps, made their way up to the chair. Gosh, it was difficult to grasp that that had been her and her classmates just a couple of years ago, young and eager to get thrown into the wonderful world of magic. Time just ran away, and now when she looks back it felt like it had been running way too fast.
The sorting hat seemed to be as fit as ever, and Leigh smiled at the comfort of hearing the familiar voice.
She enjoyed the sorting ceremony, perhaps more than she'd like to admit. It was an opportunity to slide back into her feelings of house pride; cheering with each and every addition to the Gryffindor house, and booing with each addition to Slytherin. Although it was noticeable that students took it easy with the booing this year, and for good reason. Leigh reckoned that togetherness across all houses would be best for the school right now, but that didn't stop some harmless competition, right? After all, the rivalry had been one of the most fun aspects of attending the school.
Soon after welcoming the new students, McGonagall stood in front of the packed tables with open arms, ready to deliver the well-known line which marked the beginning of a new school year.
"Dear students," she started with a subtle smile growing in the corner of her lips, letting the anticipation hang in the air for a second. "Let the feast begin."
And as the countless plates upon the tables filled with food, Leigh could feel the warmth of the Hogwarts she considered home slowly but surely creep up on her.
While enjoying the feast, she did her best to catch up with her classmates. As she expected, Harry and Ron had indeed been convinced by Hermione to come back for this final year. They had been working with the Ministry to capture the remaining death eaters, and according to them both, they were set out to return to that following their graduation. Hermione shone with pride as she listened to her friends.
"As I wish to pursue a career within the Ministry, I had no choice but to return to take my N.E.W.Ts," Hermione explained, pursing her lips in that way she normally does when speaking about something she's pleased about. "But I'm much happier knowing I'll go through it with these two", Hermione smiled, reaching out to grasp each boy's hand, earning a squeeze by her side by Ron, who sat beside her.
Harry looked at them for a second across the table before turning towards the rest of the group. "And as you can see, I've never been more of a third wheel in my life."
Hermione giggled, not seeming to mind the playful comment as she leaned into Ron's embrace.
"Yeah, how's Ginny doing?" Neville chipped in, a piece of chicken held in his hand. "Heard she wasn't coming back this term."
Harry nodded, "Yep. Taking a gap year to play with the Holyhead Harpies."
"Bloody amazing she is," Ron mused. "The Harpies? My baby sister? It's unreal." He shook his head in disbelief, looking as proud as ever, and hums of agreement were heard across the table.
"Do you know if she plans on returning?" Neville asked again.
Ron shrugged, "I don't know. And I'm not sure she knows yet either. If she's offered the opportunity to continue doing it, maybe she will. She seems to know that quidditch is what she wants to do. And she's darn good at it." Harry nodded in agreement, and the table grew silent.
Leigh pushed around a few pieces of food on her plate before taking a sip of water.
As no one else attempted to pick up the conversation, not even Nova, who normally had the power to create conversation out of thin air, she turned to the boy across from her. After a few more seconds she spoke. "What about you Neville?"
Neville, who had let his eyes trail across the opposite end of the hall, looked at her in surprise. "Uh, I'm not sure really. I want to do something with herbology, I know that. But another part of me wants to do something impactful, you know? In fact..," he trailed off, "...I've been thinking about exploring the possibility of becoming an auror lately."
If Neville had expressed this years ago, he undoubtedly would've been laughed out of the room. But the company around the table stayed silent.
"I think you'd make an amazing auror, Neville," Harry said, to which the others nodded their heads in agreement.
Neville's face broke out in a grin. "Thanks," he said sheepishly, and Leigh offered him a soft smile as he looked at her across the table.
Their conversation was interrupted as McGonagall strode towards them, her hands clasped in front of her. She smiled as she spoke. "It's nice to see you." Her gaze travelled across the group, slowing down slightly as she reached Harry. "Welcome home everyone."
A chorus of 'thank you's were uttered in response. "I trust your summer has been well?" She asked politely, receiving hums from the group, and a brief explanation from Ron, who had spent the summer at the rebuilt burrow.
Just as McGonagall was about to turn on her heel and leave, she stopped to look at Leigh. "Miss Conway, could you by any chance meet me in my office later? I have an opportunity I'd like to discuss with you."
Leigh nodded in response, and she could feel the curious looks she received from the other people in the group as McGonagall looked approvingly at her before walking away.
"What was that about?" Nova asked with wide eyes. "It's only the first day and you already got the favouritism going," she joked, punching her friend lightly on the arm. "Way to go."
Leigh rolled her eyes, looking from her friend to the rest of the group before shrugging her shoulders. "I'm sure it's nothing special." She focused back on the meal and took a sip from her glass, but it was obvious that the people around her wanted her to say more.
She sighed, lifting her gaze once more. "Really, it's nothing special," she repeated. "I just told her before term started that I'm planning to go all in with studying this year, and that I'm ready to take more initiative and responsibility around the castle, if she needed any help. That's all."
A string of 'ohhh's were heard around the table, and Leigh felt her cheeks flush.
"More responsibility, eh?" Nova nudged her playfully, and Leigh quietly mumbled a faint 'shut up' in response.
The rest of the meal went by in a flash. Ron provided a further update on his family home, explaining that the rebuilding process was going splendidly, and it truly did start to turn out great. Hermione chimed in, having spent a great deal of time there the last few months. "It would've already been completed if it weren't for those brothers of yours," she said, rolling her eyes playfully.
No one had to ask which brothers she was referring to – everyone around the table seemed to silently agree that it had to be Fred and George.
Ron chuckled. "Yeah, you might be right. One thinks a war would mellow them out, but I don't think anything can get in their way at this point. Really been wreaking havoc at home trying all their new products."
Leigh could see it in front of her, Molly Weasley scared to turn each corner in her house, afraid a brightly turquoise blob of...snails...or something (she really had no clue about the twins' products) would come her way. Poor woman.
As if reading her mind, Ron continued: "Mum's glad they're finally moving out soon. Says she's had enough of the tricks. Afraid it's messing with her blood pressure." Ron said with a chuckle. "Apparently it's been going really well for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. People seem to love it."
It didn't come as a surprise. After all the misery people had gone through it seemed only natural that they reached out for something which kept their minds off it. Although she didn't personally agree with a lot of the twins' methods, she could see how those products could do the trick for some people.
After a few minutes, where the group spoke about quidditch at Hogwarts and whether it would be played this year, Leigh stood up and quietly excused herself, slipping away out of the great hall to go up to her dorm before going to meet McGonagall.
As much as she loved having her friends finally gathered again, she couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh of relief as she reached the empty corridors, finally able to enjoy the silence.
She trudged up towards her dorm, the only sound accompanying her being the sound of her own shoes against the hard stone floors. To her dismay, the staircase she was supposed to take was nowhere to be seen, having moved away some time prior. With a sigh she stopped in her tracks and tapped her foot on the floor impatiently. She had forgotten how slow these things were, and made a mental note to remember it to avoid being late to any of her classes.
Just as she saw the staircase slowly but surely moving towards her, one of the paintings behind her spoke.
"You look miserable. Cheer up lass, it's the first day of term!"
She spun around, her hair whipping around her shoulders. Behind her on the canvas was an old and grey, curly-haired man with a brown highland cow. She scrunched her face. She did like the paintings most of the time, finding them a valuable addition to life at Hogwarts, but at times exclamations about cheering oneself up was simply unwanted. The cow was cute though.
With a shake of the head, and no reply to the unappreciated comment, she turned back around to board the stairs, making her way up to the painting of the fat lady. Clearing her throat, she uttered the secret password to gain entry before making her way inside and up the stairs to her dorm.
As expected, it was empty. She figured she had a few minutes to catch her breath before going over to McGonagall's office, and decided to sit down on her bed, her trunk beside her. Luckily for her, she had gotten a bed by the window, and she let her gaze run over the sunset as it fell across the grounds.
Colours of orange and pink were dancing in the sky as the last of what remained of the sun shone through the glass. She closed her eyes, trying to remember, just for a second, the feeling she had when she sat in a similar place years ago. The way the rays gleamed and warmed her skin.
Desperately trying to make Hogwarts feel like home again.