A/N: Here we go… Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all his little friends belong to the positively amazing person known as J.K. Rowling, not me. So please don't sue me.

Chapter 1: The Evil Eye

"So, Harry, what are your plans now that you've finished saving the wizarding world?" asked Mrs. Weasley, one hot August day. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were seated around the Burrow's tiny kitchen table, finishing breakfast.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" stuttered Harry. He had just been fondly remembering a date he had been on the previous weekend with Ginny and had completely zoned out.

"I asked what your plans are now that you've finished school," repeated Mrs. Weasley. "I'm sure Arthur could get you a job at the ministry with all the mess it's become. After all, they're severely understaffed since they figured out that half the employees were actually Death Eaters in disguise, and I thought the job prospect might interest you."

"Er… um, well," began Harry, trying to think of a good excuse that wouldn't hurt Mrs. Weasley's feelings too terribly. She may have thought that the ministry provided a good variety of desk jobs suitable for a young wizard, but Harry had no desire to sit in a cubicle all day writing status reports.

His thoughts were interrupted by a large barn owl flying into the kitchen. Harry felt a wave of sadness wash over him as he remembered Hedwig.

"Who could this be from?" asked Ron, looking confused as he untied the letter from the owl's leg.

"How will we ever find out?" gasped Hermione in mock panic. "Why don't you open it and find out? Honestly, you are so thick sometimes."

Ron and Hermione had been going out for nearly two months, but Harry hardly noticed a difference in their relationship. They still argued constantly and treated each other like idiots, nothing out of the ordinary.

Hermione impatiently snatched the letter out of Ron's hand and opened it. Harry and Ron leaned across the table to read over her shoulder.

Dear Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley,

In light of recent events, many students have expressed confusion regarding their schooling, examinations, and future career paths. To remedy this, I am holding career consultations to speak with students about their plans for the future. I would like to request that you meet me in my office at Hogwarts tomorrow at two o'clock. The password is "apricots". Thank you in advance, and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"Blimey," remarked Ron, "why've we got to go get career advice, again? It was bad enough having to sit through it once."

"Yeah, but that was mostly because Umbridge was there, wasn't it," Harry reminded him.

"I suppose we'd ought to go," said Hermione nervously, "Not that we have much of a choice in the matter. It just worries me that we never really graduated. I mean, who will hire us without the proper test scores and documentation? And once we're in the business world, we've got to learn a whole new set of skills, which happens to be something you cannot learn out of a book!"

"Nice, real nice!" laughed Ron. Harry gave him a confused look. "We've finally stopped worrying about our grades and moved on to freaking out about the work world! You worry too much. Relax."

Hermione looked rather hurt by this comment and glared reproachfully at Ron in the ensuing awkward silence.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Weasley was skimming McGonagall's letter with a pleased look on her face. She seemed not to notice that Ron was shaking slightly under Hermione's evil eye while Harry looked between the two, uncertain of what he should do.

"This is perfect!" announced Mrs. Weasley. "You lot need some help seeing as you've got no ambition or motivation."

"What the heck is that supposed to mean?" protested Ron as he glanced away from Hermione. "Term only ended a few weeks ago!"

"You weren't even at school!" answered Mrs. Weasley, sounding slightly exasperated. "Yes, I know you were out saving the wizarding world, but that is no excuse! No, don't interrupt me," she told Ron, who looked like he had every intention of interrupting. "None of your brothers had this trouble setting priorities! Bill brought home his first treasure bonus a week after commencement. Charlie skipped graduation completely because he heard there was a dragon loose in Wales. Percy arranged an interview with Mr. Crouch five minutes after he got his diploma. Heavens, even George and Fred…"

At these words, the wrath of Mrs. Weasley died as she sank into a chair and started sobbing. Harry, Hermione, and Ron exchanged knowing looks, their argument momentarily forgotten. Episodes like this had been happening all summer. Every time Fred's name was mentioned, Mrs. Weasley's eyes began to water. It was a bit like the time Percy had moved out, except this time the rest of the family could understand why she was upset.

Hermione rushed over to the stove and hastily prodded the teakettle with her wand while Harry dug through the laundry for a clean handkerchief. Ron went over and hesitantly put his arm around his mother.

"C'mon Mum, it'll be okay," said Ron, slowly sinking into a neighboring chair, "I mean, he was happy, after all, he died laughing." This, obviously, was not the right thing to say to a grieving Mrs. Weasley. In fact, if anything, it made her cry even harder.

"Lovely job, Ron," remarked Ginny, who had just entered the room. "You seem to be making loads of progress, so I'll take over." With this, she swiftly uprooted him from the chair and claimed the vacant seat.

It took the four of them close to an hour to calm Mrs. Weasley down. After Ginny disappeared into her room, Harry, Ron, and Hermione continued up the stairs towards Ron's bedroom.

"You learned the tea trick from me, didn't you" commented Ron as they climbed past Percy's room.

"So what if I did?" shot back Hermione. "And by the way, I do not worry too much Ronald Weasley. Just because you are ill prepared for the future is no reason

to-"

"Whoa!" said Ron, cutting her off, "I was just making a joke earlier. I didn't think it would offend you this much. I thought it was kind of funny, actually."

Hermione shot him a scathing look and responded, "Well you thought wrong, didn't you."

Ron sighed and apologized, "Hermione, I am completely sorry for what I said earlier, and would take it back if I could, but I can't. So please forgive me." Harry was reminded strongly of chapter seven of Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches.

"Oh, Ron, it's all right," Hermione answered, her anger forgotten. With this, the two of them flew at each other and began snogging on the landing outside Ron's room.

"Erm…I'll be downstairs," muttered Harry. This comment went completely unnoticed by his two friends, so he turned around and went to visit Ginny.

"Hey," said Ginny when she opened the door. "What happened to the Canoodling Couple?"

"They're snogging on the upstairs landing and seemed not to notice when I left," Harry told her.

"Filthy Hypocrite," commented Ginny. "D'you remember the time Ron burst in on us kissing?"

"Vaguely," replied Harry. Changing the topic, he asked, "Did you get all your school stuff in Diagon Alley yesterday?"

"Yeah," answered Ginny, "it's so much easier now that I can apparate. I got some new robes and my new books. And I also went to see George. He's really depressed, but then again, who can blame him?"

They sat for a while, discussing quidditch, the joke shop, and Charlie's current girlfriend. Eventually, the conversation moved to McGonagall's letter.

"So what do you think you want to do?" Ginny asked, sounding remarkably like her mother.

"I dunno," responded Harry. "I still think it would be kind of cool to be an auror and help to round up the Death Eaters and all." At this news, Ginny's face lit up. She looked positively ecstatic that her boyfriend of nine weeks, two days (not that she was counting or anything) wanted to go off and hunt down dangerous, wand-wielding criminals for a living. Harry gave her a questioning look.

"I had a feeling you were going to say that," she told him. "But guess what! Dad had it from Shacklebolt, who heard it from McGonagall that that Auror Training Program is being held at Hogwarts this year! Isn't that cool?!?!"

Harry looked at her in disbelief. "Are you serious?" She nodded. "That is so sweet!"

"I'd hoped you'd be happy," Ginny remarked, looking quite pleased with herself.

"Forget happy" replied Harry, already planning that year that he would be able to spend with the most important person in his life. "Ginny, you just made my day."

A/N: So… what do you think? Should I continue? If you leave me a review, I'll be very happy! Unless you flame me, in which case I'll be very sad, so don't even think about it. Constructive criticism is good, or even if you want to tell me that you love peanut butter with your pickles, that's cool too. So? Review? Please?