Two chapters for you as a special treat and I'm-Super-Sorry gift!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER

The Destruction of Hogwarts

When the students walked to the carriages, the toll of the battle once again captured their heartstrings.

The school had been mended, but still you could see a permanent scar that reminded all of the terrible destruction. Parts of the perfect stone had been chipped away, not one able to restore it. All in all, the school seemed much more miserable than it had ever been before.

Once in the carriages, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Luna decided to talk amongst themselves about the battle.

"Bloody hell! Do you see that? It's got to be the worst the school's looked in years!" Ron tried, unsuccessfully defusing the tension.

"Ronald!" Hermione scolded.

"What? It's the bloody truth! Honestly, I would have though you had sorted out your priorities!"

"Can you two just shut up?"

Harry was taken aback by Ginny's sudden outburst. He knew that she was a fiery being, but the fact that she had openly expressed her distress for him made him love her more than he already did.

"It was last year, I'm fine, really." Harry mumbled.

"Hey. Calm down. My girlfriend's been trying to say something." Neville butted in.

The four were in shock for a moment. Luna? Neville's girlfriend? Even a stranger could tell they were mad about each other. Harry knew it was coming, but not so suddenly.

"It's quite alright, Neville. But still, I was thinking jumping locograms might be on the threstrals. Very deadly."

There was a moment of awkward silence.

"Thanks, Luna." Harry said politely.

She nodded.

The rest of the trip was made in complete silence.

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When they got off, they could see the damage was far worse up close than from afar.

The exterior of the castle looked fine, but there were bits and pieces of stone that still didn't exactly connect correctly. The scars from the battle still remained unhealed.

To Harry, it seemed almost…unreal. Hogwarts was his home, his safe haven when things seemed most grim. But to see it in this state was completely unbelievable.

"Alright, mate?" Ron's voice broke Harry out of his thoughts.

"Fine." He lied.

"Look, it hasn't been easy on any of us. You don't have to feel bad."

"He's right, you know." Hermione suddenly appeared at Ron's side.

At the same time, Ginny came up to him. Then next came Neville and Luna. Pretty soon, the entire school seemed to surround him. And at that moment, all seemed well once again. Together, the entire mob of students entered their home with short-lived renewed hope.

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