Walking around the dorm room at a fast pace Harry and his friend Ron tried to get dressed as quickly as they could. "This is going to be some day! Don't you think so Ron?" Looking as though all the blood had been drained from him all Ron could do was give a barely auditable murmur. Rolling his eyes at this response Harry quickly gave the mirror one more glance before heading out the door. As he descended the stairs he called back to his friend saying, "For the love of Merlin! All you have to do is wall across a stage, be thankful you aren't Hermione!" Listening to his friend descend the stairs Ron stared into a nearby mirror. Meeting his own gaze Ron wondered what would become of him in the future. Turning away from the mirror he quickly scalded himself for having that frame of thinking. Of course he had a plan. He was going to go out and face the world with his two best friends. Letting himself daydream Ron could picture them sharing an apartment and partying every night. When they weren't partying they would be off getting into some sort of mischief, Harry would make sure of that. That was the way it had always been and Ron couldn't think of a good reason to change things. Hermione would continue to be the level headed one of the group, always keeping them grounded. Yes, life would continue on as it always had. Maybe they could get local jobs at nearby pub. Carrying that idea with him Ron quickly straightened his dress robes and exited the room.
Walking down the stairs and into the common room Ron quickly surveyed the room. Seeing Ginny in a far corner he made his way over to her. "So, do I get a congratulations?" Kneeling down to put a bunch of last years old supplies into a box, Ginny wiped a strand of hair from her face. Sneezing from the dust that rose up from inside the box Ginny grumbled. "Ron, can you give mum something for me?" "Sure what is it?" replied Ron realizing everyone else had their mind elsewhere. "Give her this list for me. It's a list of all the new supplies I'll need next year. The key word being new." "Ginny you know mum and dad can't afford all of this stuff. I mean come on this list almost touches the floor," said Ron while he watched the list unfold before his eyes. Placing the box on a nearby table and writing the words "Trash" across the lid Ginny gave a sigh. "Look Ron I know that but I was hoping you could help. You're the one graduating after all. So, I was thinking you could loan me some money when you get your first paycheck."
"First paycheck? Ginny what are you talking about? I don't even have a job yet!" "Oh, but you will! If all else fails you can work with George and Fred at the joke shop. I hear they are doing well and they could never refuse their own brother." "Ginny look, you're just going to have to make due. I will help when I can be there is no way I will ever be able to afford all of this stuff." "But Ron I don't want to have to suffer another year of humiliation!" Taking the box labeled 'Trash" into his hands Ron made a quick motion and tossed it over to his sister. Making no attempts to catch the box Ginny allowed it to land with a thud at her feet. "Look, I survived it and so will you. Consider it a family tradition of sorts," said Ron trying to suppress a sigh. "I'm sure there are some potion supplies in there that you could use next year. But right now I don't have time to help you sort all of this. I'm on my way out." Glancing back over his shoulder as he made his exit Ron said, "I'll try Ginny. But there are no promises." Seeing her face light up he quickly added in a sarcastic tone, "We're all smiles now I see." "Yes we are and by the way, congratulations!" Entering into the hall Ron said to himself, "Its about time!" "Now where did the two of them get off to?"