Chapter 433: Return to Normalcy, Part 1


    <strong>Disimer:</strong>


    Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.


    I own nothing but the original characters I create.


    "Dialogue"


    ''Thoughts''


    <em>-Author notes-</em>


    <strong>Chapter 433: Return to Normalcy, Part 1</strong>


    One Week Later, Hogwarts Halls


    "Ahhh! Be careful, you duffer!" Filch screamed, clinging desperately to a rope dangling from the third floor.


    On the other end of the rope was none other than Hagrid, his massive hands gripping it tightly. "Just hold still! You''re going to fall if you keep wigglin'' like that!"


    The giant tried to stabilize the rope, but Filch''s panicked iling only made it swing more wildly, much like a pendulum.


    A crowd of students gathered below, some pointing andughing at the spectacle, while others watched in horror.


    "There''s no way I''m using a rope to get to ss," Parvati huffed, crossing her arms in defiance at the mere thought of doing that.


    Lavender nced at the stationary staircases. The moving staircases, along with much of Hogwarts'' magic, had ceased functioning since the battle by the ck Lake a week ago, making it very difficult to move around the castle.


    "Maybe we shouldn''t havee back so soon," Lavender said, gesturing toward the precarious scene. "I mean, we can''t even get to ss properly."


    This rope-and-pulley contraption Hagrid had devised wasn''t looking very promising.


    "No way!" Hermione eximed, her face set with determination. "We''ve already lost an entire week of sses! The tournament disrupted enough of the term...I refuse to fall further behind. I''ll climb that rope a hundred times if I have to! Let me help secure it." She made an attempt to lower herself off the edge.


    "Are you mad?!" Parvati and Lavender held Hermione back, preventing her from joining Hagrid.


    Several sets of footsteps approached.


    "Yikes, what are they doing?" Ginny frowned, taking in the scene.


    "A rope to get to ss? Really?" Lyra raised an eyebrow.


    "The castle''s magic should recover eventually," Luna chimed in, her dreamy tone calm as ever.


    "But how long will that take?" Astoria asked, ncing nervously at the swaying rope.


    Daphne stepped closer to the edge, her sharp eyes scanning the chaos. "Harry said it would take at least a month before the castle returns to normal."


    "A month?!" Hermione eximed, overhearing Daphne''sment. "We need to find another way to get to ss!. I''m willing to ride a flying broom if that is what it takes!."


    Daphne knelt and tapped her wand against the stone floor. "There''s always another way."


    The ground shuddered, and suddenly, tall stone columns rose from each floor before copsing forward to bridge the gaps between levels. They ttened and transformed into sturdy ramps.


    Daphne continued her transfiguration, sculpting the ramps into proper staircases with firm handrails on each side.


    "Blimey! Are you seeing this?" Ron gawked at the newly formed stairs.


    "Yeah, and now we can get to ss," Seamus muttered, clearly less enthused.


    "Oh…" Ron''s face fell as the realization sank in. "Right. No more free days, huh?"


    "We just had an entire week e on." Neville pointed out, wondering why his friends even bothereding back to school.


    "That was amazing!" Ginny cheered.


    "Yeah," Lyra added, giving Daphne a nod. "Your transfiguration has improved a lot."


    "Very impressive indeed."


    The familiar voice of the Headmaster interrupted their conversation, apanied by the gentle tap of his left hand against his tunic.


    "Apologies," Dumbledore said with a warm smile. "I would have liked to p, but this is the best I can manage at the moment."


    "Headmaster!" Daphne stood and dusted off her robes. "I thought you were still in the infirmary."@@novelbin@@


    "I''ve had quite enough of Madam Pomfrey''s supervision," Dumbledore replied. "I was released yesterday. It''s good to walk these halls again."


    His right sleeve hung empty, the arm lost during the battle.


    " So, that arm is notmon back, huh?" Luna pointed at where the Headmaster''s right arm used to be.Now there was only an empty sleeve hanging down.


    "Luna!" Lyra hissed in horror. "Have some tact!"


    The bluntness hung in the air for a moment, but Dumbledore only chuckled softly. He was used to Luna''s peculiarities.


    " I''m afraid not. The wound was caused by a very dangerous spell that I used in a time of need. " His expression became serious as he looked at them. " Let this be served as a cautionary tale. Magic should not be taken lightly. Powerful spells can have equally powerful consequences."


    The group nodded solemnly.


    What Dumbledore didn''t share was that his arm could, in theory, be regenerated. However, the process would be excruciating and lengthy, something he had no interest in enduring at his age. He intended to retire once the school stabilized, confident that Professor McGonagall was ready to take over.


    "Headmaster."


    Dumbledore''s thoughts were interrupted by Daphne.


    "Yes, Miss Greengrass?"


    "I didn''t mean to overstep," she said, motioning to the stairs. "Was it okay for me to—"


    Dumbledore raised a hand, his expression kind. "Perfectly fine. In fact, I came here to do the same thing, though I''m still getting used to performing magic with my left hand. So it''s likely a good thing that you did it in my stead."


    "Oh… okay." Relief washed over Daphne''s face.


    Dumbledore turned to the gathered students. "Well? What are you waiting for? You have new stairs now...off to ss!"


    "Ugh… bummer," Ron groaned as the students began making their way up the steps.


    "Headmaster?" Daphne called again as the Headmaster was about to leave.


    He paused, his eyes twinkling. "Yes?"


    "Tomorrow is Saturday, so…" Daphne hesitated.


    "You want permission to visit him?" Dumbledore finished for her.


    She nodded.


    Dumbledore smiled knowingly. "I suppose we can make an exception, given your contributions to the school''s safety. Do you need ess to the Floo Network? Moody has assured me it''s secure again."


    "No need," Daphne said.


    "Ah, right. You already know how to Apparate. Just be discreet about it...you don''t have a license yet."


    "Thank you, sir," Daphne said gratefully.


    What the Headmaster didn''t know yet was that Daphne could have apparated away from the castle, even if the wards were functioning at full force.