Chapter 2

Ginny stepped out of the apparently horseless carriages and admired the view of the towering Hogwarts castle, a smile appearing on her freckled face. She hadn't seen Hogwarts in 9 years, and it was great to see it again. Instantly memories rushed through her head. She remembered on Valentine's Day of her first year she had sent an embarrassing poem to Harry. She remembered playing quidditch in the grounds. She remembered kissing Harry when they won. She remembered graduating, and having Harry there as her date. Most of her memories included him, and that just reminded her that Harry was her one true love.

She felt Harry's arm wrap around her shoulder, as they merely stood there, looking up. Their trip had been calm, but fine none-the-less. Instead of catching the Hogwarts express, they had caught a one-compartment little train that was special for this one time. It seemed Headmistress McGonagall wanted them to all see each other at Hogwarts for the 1st time, instead of on the train. Ginny now agreed, it was way more exciting seeing them at Hogwarts.

"Let's go inside," Harry said, and Ginny followed him up the front steps and let him rap the door two times.

The door opened after they waited a bit, and they both exclaimed.

"Neville!" Ginny grinned.

Neville's round face was grinning too, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Hey Ginny! Hey Harry!" Neville said brightly.

"Hi, Neville," Harry grinned. It had been a long time indeed.

Neville stepped back to let them both in to the entrance hall, a jolly view coming into sight.

The entrance hall had been set up with a table each corner with little snacks and glasses of fire whisky and other beverages, and all around the hall were about 30 adults, chatting away and having a good time.

"We're here!" Ginny said, excitedly.

"Oh, it's so good to see you," Neville said, the happiness not going away.

"Yeah, you too, Neville," Harry said, he hadn't realized how much he had missed his good old friend from Hogwarts.

Ginny smiled, and then looked at the 30 people talking. They weren't the last ones, as there were still about 10 to come. There was no sign of Ron or Hermione yet.

"So what you have been up to the last 10 years?" Ginny asked him as the door closed behind them and walked on into the middle of the room.

"Oh, well I've been, you know, here" Neville said.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Well I've been teaching here." Neville said nervously.

"You mean, you're a Hogwarts professor?" Ginny asked, stunned.

"Yeah, for Herbology," Neville was now beginning to blush.

"Well, that's great!" Harry said, patting him on the back. "You're definitely gifted. I can imagine you being a popular teacher here,"

Neville smiled again. "Thanks. I really like it here."

"That's great," Ginny smiled sweetly.

"Harry, Ginny!" Came a pompous voice and a man with thick blonde hair and a spotless face came into view.

It was Ernie McMillan and both Ginny and Harry smiled and greeted him.

"Well, it has been a long time, hasn't it?" He asked, grinning.

"Yeah," Harry nodded.

"So you two are-uh" Ernie said, pointing at them both.

"Married," Ginny nodded. She then smiled again, it felt great saying it.

"Oh, that's great!" Ernie said.

They both simply smiled and looked at each other lovingly.

"Children?" Ernie asked.

"Yes, two boys" Ginny replied.

"Well, I must say, you two have gone far, haven't you?" He pointed out.

"Er, I guess we have," Harry replied.

"Well, I've married Hannah," Ernie said proudly.

"Oh, really?" Ginny asked, looking around for Hannah. She hadn't known her that well as she was a year younger than her, but it was still interesting.

A woman with long blonde hair pulled into two low buns walked up and put an arm around Ernie.

"Hi!" She said brightly.

Ginny and Harry greeted her the same.

"I was just saying how we were husband and wife, Hannah" Ernie told her.

"Oh!" Hannah said, blushing, sounding a little nervous. "Yes. We are."

"No children, yet though." Ernie said, looking at Hannah a bit annoyed.

"Oh," Harry said, sounding confused. Ginny agreed with the tone of Harry's voice. It had been a long time.

"When did you get married?" Ginny asked.

"Oh in 2004," Hannah replied.

"Yes, we wanted to get married at an older age," Ernie added.

"When did you two get married?" Hannah asked, smiling.

"Oh, uh" Harry said quickly looking at Ginny.

"Um," She said. They had married pretty young.

"In 1999."

Hannah and Ernie exchanged glances, then looked back at the couple and nodded politely, though the judging was very evident.

"At the end of it," Harry continued.

"Yes, the end of '99" Ginny spoke up.

"Oh," Ernie nodded.

Harry simply smiled, then pulled Ginny to him and they walked on, trying to find some others talking to, that conversation hadn't gone well.

Hermione stepped out of the horseless carriages, and patted down her skirt nervously.

"Ronald!" She said.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!" An angry reply came.

"Well, I don't want to be late!" She said.

"We're not late! The invitation said to come between 9 and 9:30"

"Exactly!" Hermione said and marched on as Ron stepped out of the carriage too and jogged up to keep up with her. "It's 9:38!"

"Oh, yes, we are ever so late!" Ron mocked as they both walked quickly up the front steps.

Hermione knocked three times and stepped back, awaiting the door to be opened.

It did, and Professor McGonagall now stood there. What both astounded Ron and Hermione was that there was a smile playing on her face.

"Hello!" She said, her lips slightly pursed, as if trying to keep her excitement out of her voice.

"Hi, Professor McGonagall!" Hermione greeted and stepped into the entrance hall.

"Oh, it's so lovely to see you both!" She replied, putting her hands to her now rosy cheeks.

"Yeah, you too" Ron replied as he also stepped inside, his eyebrows slightly arched.

Hermione knew it was exciting for all of them to see each other once again.

Hermione looked at the many adults filling the hall and instantly spotted Harry and Ginny who were talking with Neville.

She turned to McGonagall, not wanting to be rude and leaving straight away.

"Oh, go!" She said instantly. "Mingle!" She gave a little laugh then blushed again and walked off through the crowd.

"What's up with her?" Ron asked to Hermione.

"I expect we were her favourite year group," Hermione replied knowingly. "It's obvious that it's exciting for her to see us all together again."

They walked through the crowd, on their way to Harry and Ginny.

"Favourite year?" Ron repeated. "What makes you think that?"

"Oh, come on, Ron" Hermione said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We're the year that defeated Lord Voldemort. We were the year with Dumbledore's favourites."

"Right," Ron said, a bit confused.

Hermione knew she was being very honest, but she knew it was the truth.

They finally reached Harry, Ginny and Ron.

"Hi!" Neville said, waving vigorously.

"Hermione!" Harry turned around, grinning.

"Harry!" Hermione also grinned and pulled him into a tight hug. She then walked over to Ginny and also gave her a hug.

"It's been too long!" She said, knowing that it had been a few months. It was becoming difficult for them to see each other as they all lived in different parts of Britain.

She then came in front of Neville and looked at him. "Oh, Neville." She said, and then brought him into a hug.

"I've missed you so much!" She let herself say.

"You too, Hermione!" Neville exclaimed as they let go of each other.

"How have you been?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, great, thanks. I love it hear at Hogwarts." Neville replied.

"Oh yes, that's right, I heard you worked here now," Hermione said, remembering the article from the Daily Prophet years ago.

"Where are you working?" Neville asked, as Harry, Ginny and Ron were talking amongst themselves.

"I'm working at the Ministry of Magic, at the department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures" She told him.

"Oh, wow!" Neville said.

"Yes, I'm finally able to put a protesting group up for stopping house elves being put into slavery"

"Oh," Neville said. "Right."

"So, I haven't seen you since our wedding, Neville. Any love for you?"

Neville instantly blushed. "Nope."

"None at all?" Hermione asked, perplexed.

"Well, it's a bit difficult when I'm teaching at Hogwarts. If I ever did get with someone, then I would only be able to see them during the summer holidays."

Hermione looked at him sadly. That must be horrible. "How dreadful" She said.

"Yeah," Neville said, looking down at his feet.

"So, you haven't really had any relationships since graduation?"

"Well, there was one." Neville said nervously.

"Really?" Hermione asked. "Neville, who?"

Neville looked up and opened his mouth to reply, when the doors to the entrance hall swung open with a violent surge.

The whole crowd's heads spun around to look.

There stood a tall man with white blonde hair, gelled back to show his sharp face. Two fat figures stood behind him, and a woman with black hair stood next to him, arm in arm.

It was Draco Malfoy and his crew.