"Harry! Stop that!" Ginny giggled. Hermione looked up from her book and rolled her eyes with a grin. Two of her best friends, ridiculously happy. "Mione, can you please ask Harry to stop? Use those handy dandy Head Girl privileges?" Ginny asked grinning.

"Now Mr. Potter-" Hermione started with a barely concealed grin. All of a sudden the compartment door opened.

"Jeez, Harry! That's my sister!" Ron barked (good-naturedly of course).

"As if he doesn't have to hear all about your… well never mind, you have no 'life,'" Ginny squealed.

"Oh bugger-off, Gin!" he mumbled.

Hermione grinned and turned back to her book, not really reading. After the final battle and the threat of Voldemort had gone, she sometimes found it hard to talk to Ron. They had had so much chemistry, but as a couple had decided that it was more about the danger than it had been about the real feelings between them. After the last battle, it had taken all the wizard power the Ministry could muster to bring Hogwarts and the Ministry it's self back to even an echo of their former glory. She remembered the ceremony after the Ministry had been complete.

"Thank you all for attending this prestigious event!" the assistant Minister had said, "I now am pleased to present, the Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt!" roaring applause came from the crowd that filled the lobby of the Ministry.

"Fellow Witches and Wizards!" His low voice boomed. "After more than 25 years I am pleased to welcome you all into a world free from any threat of Voldemort." At these words the room again burst out into loud applause. He stood silently for a few moments waiting for the din to die down. He looked again at the people in front of him. "As a commeration of this day, I am pleased to present the new fountain." With a flick of his wand, a huge statue appeared. The statue was quite similar to the old statue, all of the magical creatures stood together, this time holding hands in a circle, a huge jet of water squirted between all of them. Around the base were thousands of names. Shacklebolt cleared his throat, "Around the base of the statue are those who died for the betterment of the Wizarding World. Next we would like to introduce three exceptional young people I think you can all guess who they are… Mr. Harry Potter, Mr. Ronald Weasly, and Ms. Hermione Granger!" The room erupted with thunderous applause. Ron's face had turned a beet red while Harry's was a pale white. Hermione hooked her arms through her two best friends' and dragged them onto the platform. She grinned up at Kingsley. "First I am proud to present to Mr. Ronald Billius Weasly, this medal to signify his courage, bravery, and kindness. Also a sum of 10,395 Galleons. And a job with the Chudley Cannons!" Ron's jaw dropped. "T-thank y-you!" he stammered accepting his prize. "Next we have a Ms. Hermione Jean Granger. She is also receiving a medal for her clever thinking, loyalty, and bravery. Also a sum of 10,395 Galleons. She will also be offered a job in any Department of the Ministry she chooses." She smiled proudly at the crowd, "Thank you!" she said. "And finally, Mr. Harry James Potter we would like to present him with a medal that thanks him for saving the Wizarding World. Also a sum of 25,000 Galleons and a job as Head Auror, if he chooses to accept." Harry looked out at the crowd.

"May I say a few words, Minister?" he asked. With a nod, Harry began to speak. "I wanted to thank you all for coming to this event. I find it hard to believe that seven years ago I knew nothing of the Wizarding world and now I am it's 'hero'. I would gladly accept the medal, but the money that has been generously given I now donate to charity. I will not say that I don't covet the title of Head Auror, but I don't feel as though I should receive such an honor. After all, I am barely 18 and I really don't think that I deserve such an honor. Now before you say, 'But Harry, you saved the world!' I must interject. I don't believe I am ready to tell a group of Aurors how to do their job. Instead, after I have finished my final year at Hogwarts, I will join the Aurors just like everyone else. Again, thank you for your support and generosity." He then stepped away from the crowd and grabbed Hermione's free hand.

Not two weeks after that, they had received a letter from Hogwarts. The Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, had sent the trio a letter.

Dearest Hermione,

I do hope that summer is finding you in the best of health. It was lovely to see you for Harry's party, but there seems to be a matter which we did not discuss. Your eighth year at Hogwarts. It has been decided that our school will begin to offer classes as a sort of training program for the future. Your classes will be specially formulated to coincide with what you plan to do with you future (a bit like a Muggle university really). Now dear, I know that you will be attending, but I would really appreciate it if you would bother your two friends to come back. Many other students have already agreed to attend; so many that we have had to open another wing of the castle just for dormitories! I know that you had to miss your seventh year, so I am offering you extra incentive (as if you need it). I would very much like you to be Head Girl, a position that will now be delegated to an eighth year with a seventh year as the Assistant Head. Now do try not to study too much, and enjoy your summer.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

All of a sudden, their compartment door opened. "Hermione! Ron! Harry! Ginny!" shouted an overexcited Neville. He had Luna in tow.

"Neville, do slow down, you might trip over a Verililump. Father says that-" Luna said in her dreamy voice.

"Sorry, Luna, but I haven't seen them since Harry's party and we are starting our final year and well I have some really exciting news for them and-"Neville spurted but was interrupted by the whole compartment bursting out in laughter. They really were an odd couple.

"Well, what's your news, Neville?" Hermione asked.

"Well, they offered me a job as Herbology teacher! Next year I'll take over the younger kids, and help out Professor Sprout so that she can retire in two years!" he shouted as he sat down next to Harry and Ginny. They all congratulated him on the amazing position, and began chatting.

"Oh my! I have to meet with all the prefects! Are you coming Ginny? "Hermione asked. Ginny pecked Harry on the cheek and got up. As they made their way to the front of the train they chatted. When they finally arrived at the Prefect's compartment, Hermione looked around. With Ginny as Assistant Head Girl, she wasn't too worried, and it looked as if a Ravenclaw was Assistant Head Boy.

"Hello, my name is Aaric Radbourn. We've never officially met, but well obviously I know all about you. It's an honor to be serving with you," he said with a grin. She scanned the compartment looking for the Head Boy. Where was that Head Boy?

"Looking for someone, Mudblood?" was whispered in her ear. She paled. There was no way McGonagall had done that to her. She turned around slowly. And there pinned to his chest was the badge.