Dumbledore sat peacefully at his desk, sucking a lemon candy and observing the many revolving, rotating, twirling, clicking, ticking contraptions on his desk and around his office. The gentle sounds and motions were relaxing. Too many moments of Dumbledore's life were full of stress. His office was his oasis.

Proceedings in the Wizengamot were going well. Dumbledore felt he was, albeit slowly, making real progress towards equality and happiness in the wizarding realm. Voldemort was almost forgotten in many minds. The people no longer lived in such fear. He hoped, truly hoped, they were right not to.

He feared that in reality, they had something to fear. He had his suspicions on the true state of Voldemort.

His mind strayed to other, happier things. Harry was fitting in well in school. He was a delight to almost all of his teachers, the same for his close friends. Dumbledore had been a little dismayed Harry had not ended up in Gryffindor and worried it might speak to the lad's bravery. If Dumbledore's suspicions about Voldemort turned out correct, then in the coming years, Harry might need a good deal of courage.

Still, Ravenclaw did seem to fit the boy well. Getting along with classmates, doing well in his studies, already in the process of making an extracurricular... perhaps now would be a good time to approach the boy, to access him in greater detail and to begin endearing himself to Harry.

Dumbledore was glad Harry had Amelia Bones. He respected the woman greatly, but Harry needed more than one adult he could trust. Dumbledore needed the boy of prophecy.

Madam Bones, she had told him, had explained to him the piece of the prophecy that she knew. She didn't coddle him, didn't spoil him, none of that. He was not raised as a celebrity, just as a child. It was a greater house than his blood-relatives would have been. Thank Merlin Minerva had been able to show him the state of those people.

Hard to believe, truly almost impossible to believe that wretched woman was the sister of Lily Potter.

Dumbledore shook his head at that thought and at his idea of meeting personally with Harry. He figured he might wait until Christmas, give the cloak, as had been his original plan. Harry didn't seem to need him yet, so Dumbledore intended to let the boy enjoy his school life. That Harry had found happiness already after the tragedy of his early childhood brought a happy feeling to Dumbledore.

Meanwhile, Amelia Bones found her home strangely quiet. She'd anticipated their going away to Hogwarts for as long as they'd been hers, yet still, their absense struck her harder than she was fully ready for. Lately, especially these past two years, the house had always been abuzz with the sounds of children playing. She could sometimes look out her office window to see them all out in the garden. Susan and Harry and their two closest friends, almost always together.

Now, she found herself staring out over nothing.

Amelia had never intended to be a mother. It had fallen on her, as the result of terrible events. She'd never married. She was older than she felt quite a few parents were, maybe even should be, and she was always busy trying to make the magical world a better place. Sometimes she wondered... could she have been a better mother to them?

She felt now, she couldn't make it up any longer. They were gone. Only to Hogwarts, she reminded herself. Only for now, for a little while. She'd see them at Christmas. Have them all summer long. Yet still, they seemed so far. Things would never be the same again. Year after year would fly away, then they'd be adults, changed, wanting to go off into the world by themselves, find their own way.

Even coming back at Christmas, would they come back the same children she'd known?

Well.

Amelia shook her head, clearing away her wandering thoughts, and returned to her work. It was her job to make the world a better place for them. That was how she was the best mother she could be.

Luna spent most of her days with Ginny now. Ginny was lonely too. She'd lost her big brother, Ron, just how Luna had lost Susan, Harry, and Hermione.

They'd always liked each other and been fairly close. Now, they were rapidly growing even closer. Ginny was wonderful. She was so loud and brash and tough. She was a lot like Susan and Luna adored her. Ginny always protected her too. With Ginny, Luna felt stronger. Certainly happier too. Ginny did tend to make all the decisions between them, but Luna didn't mind. She loved Ginny, after all. Certainly, her friends at Hogwarts weren't forgotten, nor did Ginny fully fill their place, but she was special none-the-less. Mostly, Luna loved how Ginny needed her as much Luna needed Ginny.

She got letters from them right away and pretty often too. She always showed them to Ginny.

Ginny had a crush on Harry. Luna teased her about it a lot. She looked forward to going to Hogwarts greatly. She'd introduce Ginny to everyone. They'd make wonderful friends, Luna was sure. Ginny would see who Harry really was, beyond stories and letters. Maybe she'd still like him, but who knows?

They studied together too. Ginny was always grateful for the help. To be useful made Luna feel warm inside.

She hoped the letters were as true as they sounded. That they really did miss her. They they really were having fun. That they liked Hogwarts and thought she would too.

That they couldn't wait to meet Ginny.

AN: Just a quick chapter to show what a few of the other characters are up to! Luna isn't going to be part of the story for quite some time, sadly.