Ginny Weasley and the Year of Healing

Fresh Start pt.2

The walk to Gryffindor tower was hysterical. Ginny at one point, pulled her camera out and began snapping photos. The sight of a lone Flamingo on a changed staircase nearly brought her to tears again. It was all of this wonderful distraction that stopped them from thinking of the tower when they reached it. The laughter died down, but no one started sobbing and Ginny considered that a win. Most of the tower had burned during the battle. What hadn't burned was gone in the explosions. The portrait that usually hung outside of the tower had been moved due to its emotional distress following the battle.

Since the damage to the tower was so extensive, they'd had to completely rebuild it. Outside of it now was a suit of armor. As they approached it moved, pulling its sword out to protect the empty wall.

"Halt! If you wish to pass, you must name a time of great courage or loyalty. Be warned, I know of lies!"

That was odd. But it made more sense than just an easily guessable password like they'd had before. The knight was just overkill in her opinion but it was rather whimsical. Luckily for a group of war heroes, it wasn't hard to gain access. The knight was so inundated with responses that he quickly dropped his sword and revealed the door, letting them pass inside.

The inside was beautiful. The ceiling stretched up impossibly tall, indicating they were at the top of the tower. The common room was large with several nooks for sitting along with sofas. The largest change however was the added kitchen, directly beside the common area. Ginny moved closer to examine it and found the cabinets stocked with various items. It was a good addition but she couldn't see the need for it. There was always plenty of food to go around at Hogwarts. Everyone in the common room seemed to be walking around in an odd daze while they examine their new quarters. All except the first years who were practically bouncing off the walls.

Ginny weaved her way through the room to Neville. Hoping to get some insider information.

"Neville, do you know where the dorms are? I should probably escort the first years."

Neville turned to face her, looking away from the hanging plant he'd been examining. That was another new aspect of the room, lots of greenery. "Oh right. Yes I can show you."

Neville led her to the left side of the room and opened a door leading to a staircase. They began walking down. He paused to tell her the second floor was the boys dorms before continuing down the staircase to the third floor which housed the girls. Ginny paused considering the bizarre stairwell which allowed you to pass unnoticed by the other floors. It was ingenious but again, she couldn't fathom the need to change it so drastically.

"There's a fourth floor too. McGonagall reasoned that a lot of us returning might not want to share a room with several other people. Given everything we went through, it might be...." He paused here as if trying to find the right way to phrase it.

"A bit off putting to first years waking up to seventh years screaming." She finished for him.

Neville's face pinched up at her wording but he agreed. "Every floor has its own bathrooms, so no more trekking down a floor. That's a positive."

Ginny smiled. "You're right Neville. Let's round the children up."

Once they were back in the common room, Ginny called for all of the students to follow her as she led them to their dormitories. She lectured them very briefly as she went.

"The common room is for meeting up. Stay off of each other's floors, got it? Whine all you like about it but you don't want to provoke McGonagall."

With that she left them to venture down to the fourth floor. It appeared as a long hallway with doors on either side, extending the length of the room. Walking along, she discovered a separate common room down here complete with its own kitchen. After quickly looking the common area over she began opening random doors. Peering into three of the rooms, she saw they were all much the same. A bed, desk and a wardrobe. With some shelves to store things. Ginny chose one of the only ones with a window. Once she closed the door and sat on the bed, her trunk appeared.