Chapter 070

When the owls streamed in Hermione was as quick and eager to spot Hedwig as she was two days previously. However, the bird was practically already on the table before she spotted her.

"Hedwig!" she exclaimed.

As she reached for the bird, Hedwig gave a little hop to the side but still remained within reach, and turned her head away. At least she still held her leg out, though.

Harry just snorted in amusement.

This time, though, Hermione was immediately ready with three strips of bacon for the owl and was handing them over as soon as she had the letter untied from Hedwig's leg. She also made sure she was also holding all three pieces together, so the owl could take all three at once.

With a quiet "Prek!" Hedwig carefully took all three before flying off again.

As Hermione was opening the envelope, Harry said, "I think she's forgiven you now. Either that or your bribe was enough to buy you her forgiveness."

"Uh-huh!" she distractedly muttered in response.

Harry was pretty sure she hadn't even heard him as she was avidly reading her letter already. And he watched as her expression went from slightly worried to blooming into a wide grin.

Looking to him and almost bouncing in her seat in excitement she squealed, "Mum and Daddy are happy to have the aurors stay. And they agree that the servants' quarters would be perfect for them. The only time that gets used is when we have a large family gathering at home, anyway. And that only happens about once every few years, if that. And there's nothing like that planned for the foreseeable future."

While Hermione had practically said all that rapidly and in one breath, Harry had long since gotten used to her talking that way. So, he understood every word she'd said.

"Sounds good," he nodded. "They still only know we're going to be turning up there 'soon', though, right?"

"Yeah," she replied. "They understand why, though. But, it would be nice to give them some sort of idea of when that is likely to be."

"Well..." he began. "Both Professor Flitwick and Hagrid were allowed to return... but, Professor Flitwick did say, and we saw, that he fully co-operated with the aurors both in their interviews with him and during their court cases. On the other hand, though, we have no idea about whether or not Professors Sprout or McGonagall co-operated any, or will during their trials. And we know Professor Snape won't... nor, probably, will Dumbledore.

"But... we also have to consider that Professor McGonagall, as Deputy Headmistress, is far more responsible for what's been going on for the past few years than the other Professors. And Dumbledore even more than that.

"As for Severus Snape... well... he's just an out and out... sorry... prick! And, no, I won't apologise for referring to him like that. So, I cannot see him returning.

"In a nutshell, I think Professor Sprout will return, I think Professor McGonagall will return... but, like Professor Flitwick, she'll lose her position as Head of Gryffindor House and, added to that, I think she'll also lose the Deputy Headmistress position. I think Dumbledore's going to manage to escape a sentence in Azkaban, which I think he richly deserves, simply out of respect for his previous accomplishments. But I cannot see how he could possibly manage to hold onto any of his other positions."

Neville asked, "What about Madam Pomfrey?"

"I don't think she'll be returning," Hermione sadly and immediately replied. She was a bit hesitant to add more but eventually did while also blushing a little. "I had to go to the Infirmary to get some... ummm... potions I needed. And there was a new healer there, who had packed away all Madam Pomfrey's personal things and was setting up his own."

Harry frowned and asked, "Why did you need to go to the Infirmary? Nobody attacked you, did they?"

Blushing even more she quickly replied, "No! Harry. It... ummm... had to do with... women's issues."

"Oh," he softly said, also starting to blush a little. "Sorry I asked."

"No, you were worried about me," she said. "I understand that and am grateful you care enough to ask."

"Women's issues?" asked a confused Neville, before his eyes suddenly widened and he quickly looked away while blushing. He quickly muttered, "Sorry!"

"Anyways..." said Hermione, quickly trying to change the subject. "You were describing when you thought we could go visit my parents".

"Oh, yeah," said Harry, breathing a quick sigh of relief. "Without a Head of House for at least three of the Houses, possibly four, added with no Deputy Headmistress or Headmaster and also missing a DADA Professor, Potions Professor and CoMC Professor, I don't think classes are going to be starting back up as soon as the trials are finished.