Chapter Text
The soft golden light from the high arched windows bathed the Charms classroom in a warm glow, casting long shadows across the rows of desks. The soft hum of Professor Flitwick’s voice echoed as he demonstrated the proper wand movement for today’s charm. Quills scratched on parchment as students took notes—everyone except Ginny Weasley.
She sat with her chin resting in her hand, her gaze fixed on the window, unfocused. Her quill lay untouched beside her textbook, which remained stubbornly closed.
Hermione glanced sideways at her, frowning slightly. “Ginny,” she whispered, nudging her with her elbow. “You’re not even pretending to pay attention.”
Ginny blinked and turned her head slowly. “Sorry. What were we—?”
Before she could finish, a smug voice cut in from behind them.
“She’s probably daydreaming about Potter,” said Clara Roswell, a Ravenclaw with a reputation for sticking her nose where it didn’t belong.
A few students giggled. Ginny flushed crimson, but before she could reply, Hermione shot Clara a warning look.
“Maybe you should focus on your own wandwork instead of someone else’s thoughts,” Hermione snapped under her breath.
“Quiet, please!” Professor Flitwick squeaked from the front of the room, barely peeking over his stack of books. “Unless you’d all like to practice this charm for extra homework!”
The room fell silent instantly.
Ginny mouthed a thank you to Hermione, then turned her eyes back to the window, where a distant owl soared across the sky.
****
The courtyard was quiet that afternoon, the usual chatter replaced with a heavy stillness during recess. Some students sat on the stone benches, others leaned against the ancient walls, books on their laps. Ginny sat alone under a leafless tree, hugging her knees and staring at the ground. The sky was overcast, like it hadn’t decided whether to rain or not.
Hermione spotted her across the courtyard and walked over, brushing a few stray curls from her face as the wind picked up. She sat beside her without saying anything at first.
A beat of silence passed before Hermione spoke. “You’ve been off all day,” she said gently. “What’s going on, Gin?”
Ginny hesitated, then sighed. “I just…” She shook her head. “I think it’s stupid. Us being here. Sitting in classrooms like it’s all normal again. After everything.”
Her voice cracked at the end. She blinked hard, but a few tears escaped anyway. “People died. Fred died. And now we’re expected to memorize wand movements and write essays like it’s just another year. I keep thinking—what’s the point?”
Hermione looked down at her hands, then turned to Ginny, her voice calm and steady.
“It’s not stupid,” she said. “It’s brave. Being here, trying to heal, trying to rebuild… it’s not pretending nothing happened. It’s proof that we survived. And that we can keep going.”
Ginny swallowed hard, eyes still glistening.
Hermione added softly, “Fred wouldn’t want Hogwarts to stay broken. And neither would anyone else we lost. Being here—it honors them. Even if it doesn’t feel like it yet.”
Ginny wiped her cheek with her sleeve and gave a small, shaky smile. “You always know exactly what to say, don’t you?”
Hermione smiled back. “Only when it’s really important.”
Ginny was just about to say something else when a pair of very familiar voices called out behind them.
“Oi! This where you two are hiding?”
Ginny whipped around—and her heart practically leapt out of her chest.
Harry and Ron were walking across the courtyard, both wearing wide grins and muggle clothing, looking a little windswept and completely out of place among the uniformed students.
“Harry!” Ginny squealed, bolting from the bench.
Harry barely had time to drop his rucksack before Ginny flung herself into his arms, hugging him tightly and pulling him into a kiss that made a few nearby third-years gasp and giggle.
“Well, nice to see you too,” Ron muttered with exaggerated offense, throwing his hands up. “She walks straight past me like I’m a pile of dung on the street—typical.”
Hermione laughed, standing and wrapping her arms around him. “Hello, Ron.”
“Hello, you,” he murmured, kissing her quickly. “Much better welcome.”
As they all settled into a loose circle under the tree, Hermione blinked at them. “Wait—what are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be back from Auror Training until next week!”
Harry grinned. “We wouldn’t miss the first Quidditch match of the season. Come on, it’s Gryffindor vs. Slytherin!”
Ginny raised an eyebrow. “That’s tomorrow. Saturday.”
Ron shrugged, smirking. “Hey, we saved the wizarding world. You think McGonagall’s really going to say no to us spending one extra day on school grounds?”
Ginny laughed and looked at Hermione with pleading eyes. “Please tell me we’re skipping classes. Just this once?”
Hermione hesitated—only for a second. “We are supposed to be in Transfiguration next,” she said thoughtfully, “but after lunch it’s just Divination and History of Magic. Nothing we can’t revise on our own.”
Ginny grinned. “So…?”
Hermione smiled. “Let’s go to Transfiguration. Then we’re free.”
Ron threw a fist in the air. “Brilliant!”
Harry leaned down to whisper in Ginny’s ear, “I’ll make the most of every free minute.”
She blushed, but didn’t pull away. Not even a little.