A/N: Hmm…Second 'long run' fanfic, my first was kinda bad so I took it off, but this one's hopefully better! PS: don't worry, the title 'Nightmare Train' is referring to certain dreams Harry'll be having later on in the story (important plot twist!), it's got nothing to do with bad Ginny problems (winks).

Nightmare Train.

"I find it kinda funny,

I find it kinda sad,

The dreams in which I'm dying,

Are the best I've ever had." -The Dreams in Which I'm Dying.

Prologue:

The Boy Who Lived sat down in a squishy armchair by a dying fire in his small flat in Hogsmeade. His eyes narrowed, "The Boy Who Lived." He scoffed out loud. He always hated that title, always. But now he hated it even more since he was twenty years old. But then again, the prospect of 'The Man Who Lived' didn't exactly hold his appeal either. He never really understood it, why people fawned over him. It's not like he defeated Voldemort the first time. Technically it was his mother and her love for him who 'saved the day' not him himself. All he really got from the ordeal was a scar, Parsletongue and some Slytherin qualities. Not to mention a reputation of a 'Hero'.

How he was a hero was beyond him. Sure, he'd battled Voldemort and won countless times, but he never actually defeated him. Hadn't he risen to power under Harry's nose and wreaked havoc on the wizarding world? After that he had dueled and prospered against Voldemort's Death Eaters, but the Dark Lord himself chose to remain hidden in the shadows, a Snake buried in it's lair. The threat he cast upon the people Harry loved most and the others around them still loomed high and filled with malice.

Harry didn't think that he could defeat Voldemort. It wasn't like he was the most powerful wizard on Earth. Deep down however he knew that it would come down to him, knew that he was the one everyone was counting on to kill Voldemort and end the threat. Even Dumbledore believed so. So many responsibilities for a mere twenty year-old man.

Not only did he have the weight of the Dark Lord to handle, but he also had to balance his career. Which was not easy. Originally he had planned on becoming an Auror, like his best mate Ron Weasly had. He had strived for that even more so when his Godfather Sirius Black was killed at the hands of a Death Eater. His own cousin too, Bellatrix Lestrange.

But by his seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he knew he couldn't. He couldn't leave his home. And his home was Hogwarts. He had never had any other home, and you couldn't count the Dursley's because that was more like a prison where he went insane with solitary confinement. He was extremely reluctant to leave and not come back as he had figured would happen.

However, he was thrilled to hear that the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for that year was resigning due to 'family affairs' and he went to Dumbledore with the matter straight away. Normally Harry would have had to attend University and get a Teacher's degree in order to teach there, but that part was pushed aside in his case. He had faced so many things to do with the Dark Arts that he automatically qualified. Albus Dumbledore had welcomed him as part of the staff with open arms.

And so it came to be that the next year he had been personally guided by the old wizard as to what a teacher should do exactly and he started the next term as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Professor Potter.

It had taken some getting used to, calling his former teachers by their first names (especially Severus Snape) and having kids only one year his junior (many of which had been his friends or 'annoyances' such as Colin Creevey) call him "Professor Potter, sir". Beginning his teaching career as a nineteen year-old nervous wreck had been difficult, but so far he had mastered one full year and was pretty much used to it. He enjoyed it immensely and didn't regret his decision one bit.

As it happened, now he was sitting in his summer flat staring at flaming embers trying to accomplish his term plans for the forthcoming year. He didn't quite feel up to it however seeing how today was his birthday. He was dead bored, so hence decided to pull on his black leather boots and head outside to enjoy a walk in the July sunlight.

But alas, it was not meant to be, as were several pleasant things the new Professor wanted. As he got up to walk to his porch he was stopped by a shout resounding from the dying flames behind.

"Harry!" It was a soft feminine voice that he recognized very well.

He turned around, agitated to see the faces of Hermione and Ron in his fireplace, both beaming at him from ear-to-ear.

'They have no right to be that happy.' he thought bitterly, but quickly regretted the thought. He forced a weary smile to play across his lips.

"Hello, guys." He said, turning full around to face them.

"Harry, mate, it's so great to see you again!" Ron said.

"Yes, you get to see all of me. But alas, I am reduced to seeing both of your heads floating in my fire place."

They all laughed at that, but Hermione quickly turned sober. "Harry, we're here for a reason you know! We just wanted to tell you that you're-"

"We're getting married Harry!" Ron blurted, receiving a scandalized look from Hermione. "We didn't tell you we were engaged 'cause we wanted to keep it a secret, but the wedding is next Wednesday…Get it Harry? WEDnesday!" he burst out laughing and Harry rolled his eyes.

"So I'm invited right?" He asked smiling, genuinely happy for his two best friends who had been together ever since seventh year.

"Of course, Harry!" Ron said. "Not only that, but would you be my best man?"

Harry was speechless for a moment. Ron had just asked him to be his best man at his wedding. Him. Harry had automatically figured it would be one of his many brothers, specifically Charlie, who would definitely not mess things up. He was truly honored.

"Of course I'll be your best man, Ron." He gave him a relaxed special smile that he only gave his two closest friends.

"Excellent!" Ron exclaimed.

Harry turned slightly to the left to face Hermione. "Who else is going to be there?"

Her face got that odd look she always got at school when she was doing work. "All of the Weasly brothers of course, and Arthur and Molly. My parents of course. You, Sheamus, Dean, Neville, Hagrid, all the Hogwarts staff minus Snape, Mr.Lupin and Ginny of course, who'll be my Bride's Maid. Then there'll be Lavender, Parvarti, and Luna in the bridal party. Sound good?"

Harry nodded, thoroughly pleased. "Definitely. I haven't seen any of them for so long, minus the Hogwarts staff."

Ron laughed a bit before saying, "Ginny's going to be there mate, good chance to get talking." he winked at his black haired friend.

Harry glared at him. "Ron, you know were just friends and barely even that anymore, seeing as how I rarely talk to her."

Now Hermione seemed agitated. "Oh Harry! You rarely talk to anyone anymore, and we're all so worried about you! You and I both know that that's not all you feel towards Ginny, admit it."

"Drop it 'Mione." he snarled.

"But-"

"Drop it!"

"Fine, we'll send you specific information about the wedding with Pigwidgeon and we'll expect you there. Good bye Harry."

If Ron had wanted to say something, Harry had no way to tell because Hermione must have grabbed him by the back of his collar because in the next second he was dragged out of the fire with a yelp after Hermione.

Harry no longer wanted that walk in the sun. He walked bitterly into his kitchen to grab a cup of soda. 'This is going to be one heck of a wedding.' he thought as he settled down in a wooden chair, pondering on what he might say to Ginny.

It would be hard, because he knew that she had stopped liking him the way he liked her now back in her fourth year of Hogwarts.

"Happy Birthday Harry Potter." He snarled to himself.

A/N: Review please and keep me motivated! (grins madly)!