Harry Potter The Kiss

Harry gave a weak smile "spoken like a true Weasley where family comes before everything! If you would like to visit your father the goblins will allow it, he's just been shown Molly's trial and, as you can imagine not taking it very well. Please tell him Hermione and I forgive him'"

"What will happen to them?" asked Percy really not sure if he wanted to know the answer

"The goblins are very strict about family so they both lost all rights as parents, your father will work for the goblins doing maintenance while your mother will be laboring in the tunnels - the ministry wanted her kissed by a Dementor!" said Hermione who still wasn't sure if that wasn't the best option but when she'd agreed with Harry's plan she hadn't been ready to strangle the conniving, potion brewing, money grabbing witch so time would tell.

The meeting broke up with more handshakes and hugs. Bill was promised a pensieve memory of how proceedings unfolded at Hogwarts as the three brothers headed off to see their father.

Harry and Hermione stood watching the Weasley's depart and hoping that the rest of today went as well as that meeting.

They were mentally revising today's list; meet with Hogwarts staff, Sirius and Remus, talk to assembled Hogwarts students before finally telling the Weasley's they were effectively parentless.

'How did our lives get so crazy?' thought Hermione

A humorous thought came back 'told you dear I don't do normal! Just look forward to Saturday'

'I'm more looking forward to Saturday night lover!' answered Hermione and it was a smiling couple that went looking for Griphook and the elves.

The staff meeting in Hogwarts was predictable; Trelawney was told divination wouldn't be offered after owl and newt exams in summer, of course she had foreseen this so was not surprised.

Harry had to personally tell Binns he was being retired, the ghost refused to listen unless it was Hogwarts heir.

When Harry and Hermione outlined the new muggle studies course the supposed professor of that subject immediately resigned, as he hadn't understood most of it.

Filch was fired, as Harry explained that anyone who wished to hang an eleven year old from the ceiling by means of chains and manacles was eminently unsuitable to work in an education establishment full of children.

Remus was delighted to return as defense professor while Sirius agreed to temporary take the potions position if no-one else was available but fell over laughing at the suggestion he becomes head of Slytherin house.

Professor Flitwick took the vacant position as depute head, he was originally afraid his goblin blood would disqualify him until Harry informed staff that the board were now an advisory body, the ministry couldn't interfere with Hogwarts anymore and the only person whose opinion counted was the headmistress.

The biggest problem, in every sense of the word was Hagrid, he cried through the full meeting about Dumbledore, one minute he was a bastard for what he'd done to Harry, next Hagrid was sure it was all a huge mistake and the great man would be back soon.

Hagrid finally decided that he couldn't remain at Hogwarts it would be just too painful. After Harry arranged for him to work at Beauxbatons under Madam Maxime his mood underwent a gigantic improvement.

After hearing details of the project Sirius and Remus took less than two minutes deciding they wanted in.

Harry, Hermione and the elves stood outside the great hall waiting to address the unsuspecting students as they finished dinner.

"Ok Hermione we need to make an entrance, just walk in there like we own the place."

"Harry dear have you forgotten, we do own the place"

The four smiled at Harry's attempt at relieving the tension they walked into the hall with Winky and Dobby slightly behind and beside the Potter's as swirling capes were once again the order of the day. Total silence followed their progress towards the front of the great hall.

When the curse came it was at such close quarters and from such a surprising location that no one had time for shields.

As the curse shot straight at Hermione Winky managed a slight push that meant the curse partially hit her side rather than the centre of Hermione's back where it had been aimed.

A reducto curse in the center of a persons back will leave the victim paralyzed from the neck down but ninety nine people out of a hundred wont be worried about that as they'd be dead!