In three weeks, end of term exams will be given
In light of recent events, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be closed for an indeterminate period of time.
The students talked non-stop throughout the school after this announcement was made. Most talked about how serious the war had gotten that it forced Professor Dumbledore to close the school. Others wondered how long Hogwarts would be closed, and if it would be reopened at all.
Then, of course, there was the group of students that complained about still having to take exams.
“I don’t see how we are supposed to concentrate while the threat of an attack is looming over our heads,” Malfoy could be heard saying in the Great Hall. His attitude was common among the Slytherin students and those among other houses that disliked hard work. The teachers had assured them that the exams would only cover material already taught, but that didn’t mean the exams would be any easier.
Harry was thankful for the early tests, since they allowed Hermione a distraction to take her mind off of the horrible cave incident. She had thrust herself into her studies and took a special pride in pestering Ron about studying as well. He tried his best not to upset her over the past few days, but he did get on her nerves when he tried to pull her away from the books once in a while. She eventually relented, but only after a healthy argument.
It was good to see Hermione getting back to her old self, though it would take a long time before she forgot what had happened. Harry decided that he would wait until she was ready to come to her friends for help and just let Ron keep a close watch on her, which he did gladly. Meanwhile, Harry did what he could to find a bit of time alone with Ginny. Her O.W.L exams were fast approaching and she had expected another month of preparation before she would take them. Harry often found her among a group of fifth years in the library with a large collection of parchment and books scattered across a long table.
She would always take a moment to smile at him and bat her eyelashes, but her attention soon returned to her studies. Harry could hardly blame her; this had been a difficult time for him last year as well.
The entire school became more nervous as the day they would all leave loomed closer. Exams were indeed as difficult as ever, so there was something to distract the student’s attention.
However, nothing could stop that day from coming.
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It was near the end of April, the night before the students would leave on the Hogwarts Express, that Harry and Ginny decided to catch a moment by themselves out in the courtyard on the east side of the castle. As they walked the corridors that would take them outside, Harry kept an arm tight around Ginny’s waist.
He wasn’t worried about being separated from her. Mrs. Weasley had invited both he and Hermione to stay at the Burrow for the time being. Harry had secretly hoped that he could return to Godric’s Hollow, but he knew better then to argue with a Weasley woman.
Despite the threat of an imminent attack, Dumbledore had done his best to provide a feeling of safety for his students. The Aurors were still present, though they kept out of the way, and tried not to intimidate the students. Surprisingly, though, the corridors were empty of the usual wandering young wizards and witches. Harry and Ginny didn’t think it odd, because it gave them a bit more privacy.
They finally reached the courtyard and found that someone else was already there. Kevin was pacing back and forth across the stone floor, an anguished look on his face. Harry looked around and saw that he was not alone. Sara was sitting on a low stonewall beside Lita, who was in human form. They all looked to be in deep conversation. “Let’s go,” Harry whispered to Ginny.
She nodded. They started to walk away, but their presence was already known. “We have company, Kevin,” Sara could be heard saying.
Kevin stopped pacing and turned towards them. “What are the two of you doing out this late?” he asked, forced cheeriness clear in his voice. “You should be getting some rest for the trip tomorrow.”
Harry led Ginny closer to the adults. “We just wanted some time together,” he answered. “We didn’t mean to intrude on anything.”
“You’re not,” Sara said. “We’re just catching up on old times with Lita. Before she came back as an Animagi, it had been almost five years since I had seen my younger sister.”
“Sisters?” Ginny said.
Sara nodded. “That’s right. She’s four years younger then me.”
Ginny looked back and forth between the two red-haired women. “I can see a resemblance, but you never said anything about having a sister before.”
Lita smiled at her. “We couldn’t say anything, because I was in training to be an Animagi along with the other three.”
“You see,” Sara started to explain. “Lita had the potential to become an Animagi when she was really young. After our parents died, she was sent to live with a family that worked in the Ministry so she could continue her training. It was lucky that she was able to come live with us during everything that happened.”
“It was hard to keep the disguise,” Lita said. “I wanted to drop the deception a lot of times so I could talk one on one with my sister, but I had to stay as I was so we could have a surprise waiting for Voldemort.”
Harry looked over at Kevin. “What are you all going to be doing after the school closes?”
Kevin’s forced cheerfulness faded at Harry’s change of subject. “We’ll be staying here for a while, but eventually we’ll probably go back to Godric’s Hollow. The house is yours, Harry, but I hope you won’t mind if Sara and I spend some time there until the baby is born.”
“Of course not,” He answered. “I hope I can spend some time there as well, if Mrs. Weasley ever lets me out of the Burrow.”
Ginny giggled at his comment. “When is the baby due?” she asked Sara.
Sara placed a hand on her belly. “Some time this summer, maybe late June.”
Kevin lifted his wrist and looked at his watch. “9:30. Train pulls out at 11:00 tomorrow.” He looked up at Harry and Ginny. “We’ve heard a lot of rumors, but I want to hear it straight from your mouth. How do the two of you feel about the school closing down?”
“I don’t like it,” Ginny said right away. “How are any of us supposed to finish our training if we don’t have anyone to teach us?”
“The Ministry will find some way to continue the education of the students,” Kevin replied. “This is just a temporary thing. Voldemort is supremely pissed off right now, but once he finds something new to occupy his anger, he’ll forget about the school and move on.”
Lita turned to him. “Do you really believe that?”
“No,” He said. “But it helps me sleep at night if I keep telling myself that.”
Harry had to chuckle. He knew that Kevin was trying to lighten the mood, because he probably knew exactly what Harry was thinking. Harry knew that as long as he was alive, Voldemort would never stop hurting those he cared about. It pained him inside to know that he was the cause of so much fear and hardship.
He took Ginny’s hand in his. “We should get back up to the tower.” He led her back to the castle, wondering if he would ever walk these halls ever again.
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The train did not leave on time, but it was not for lack of preparation or technical problems. Kevin had been right when he said that Voldemort was pissed…and he aimed to take out his frustration on Hogwarts.
In the early hours of the morning, the castle walls were shaken by a series of explosions. This was unlike anything that had been felt before. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was under direct attack.