A/N: I don't own anything except my own creations

A/N: I don't own anything except my own creations!

It was breakfast at the Weasley's and everyone was at the table. They were all discussing the plans they had for the day when four owls came flying through the open window and hovered above.

"Oh, I bet it's from Hogwarts!" Hermione squealed as each of them opened their letters. The owls, free from their burdens, flew back the way they came.

Harry opened his.

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to announce the re-opening of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. As some of the seventh year students like yourself weren't able to complete their seventh year, we have decided upon two options available to you if you desire to complete your education.

You may return to Hogwarts this year to complete your education.

You may complete a placement test and enroll in a shortened term to take the classes that you need further instruction in.

The new term will begin on September 8th. If you are interested in taking the placement test, it is scheduled to take place at the school on August 2nd. Kindly inform us of your decision either way, so we can plan accordingly.

Sincerely,

Headmistress Minerva McGonagall

Harry looked up from his letter to see everyone processing the news. Ginny's letter was like the usual school letters since she was a sixth year last year. She peeked over Harry's shoulder and read his letter after she had finished her own.

The day's plans forgotten for now, everyone lingered at the breakfast table and discussed how they should go about finishing their schooling.

"Well, there's one good thing about this." Ginny teased. "We're all in the same year now."

"I don't know about you two." Harry began slowly. "But it feels kind of weird to think about going back to Hogwarts after everything that happened last year."

Ron nodded in agreement, but Hermione looked horrified.

"Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, don't tell me you're not thinking of going back at all!" she shrieked.

Harry exchanged an amused glance with Ron. "We probably will, but that doesn't change the way I feel about it."

Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione spent the day discussing what the three friends would do. Hermione wanted to take the full year, but Harry and Ron were adamant that they take the placement test. In the end, it was decided that the three of them would all take the placement test- Hermione begrudgingly agreed that it was the best option for the three of them. And although Ginny wanted Harry to be with her at Hogwarts for the whole year, she understood how he felt. They sent owls to Hogwarts informing them of their decision and Hermione set a study schedule for them up to the test date, much to Harry and Ron's protests.

The day of August 2nd was clear and sunny. Harry and his friends rose early so that they could apparate to Hogsmeade for the assessment tests. Harry dressed quickly and knocked on Ginny's door. He heard a soft "come in" so he entered the room.

"Hey!" she said with a smile on her face. Harry walked over to Ginny and enveloped her into a hug.

"Hey yourself, love." Ginny reached up for the kiss she knew was hers to claim.

"What's up?"

"I just wanted to make sure that you're okay with the decision we made about today?" Harry said, taking her hands in his. "I told you I wouldn't leave you out again and this is included."

Ginny looked down at the floor and then back up at Harry again. "Harry, when we first started working on our relationship after the battle, I honestly didn't know if we'd make it. But you have really made me feel loved and- and I know now that you would never do anything that would be bad for us. So, whatever you decide about school- even though I would love for you to be there all year- I know that you're making the best decision for us- not just you. I trust you, Harry." She said simply with a cute little shrug.

Harry tried to find his voice. "Gin, I'm so glad that you feel that way again. It was awful to think I had almost lost you. I love you so much. And I really do think this is the best decision for us. I can take the assessment test and take a shortened class load. That way, I can go ahead and get started on a career and we can plan for our future."

Their lips met again with an intensity that spoke of everything they had poured into their relationship over the last few weeks.

Harry broke away reluctantly. "Ron and Hermione are probably waiting for us downstairs."

Ginny threaded her fingers through his and they headed downstairs to meet Ron and Hermione.

The four friends apparated to the Three Broomsticks. Ron looked longingly at the bar, but Hermione urged him onward toward the school. Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the gate. Filch was at the gate admitting the students in. He gave them a dirty look and begrudgingly opened the gate for them to enter in. Harry and his friends entered the castle doors and walked into the Great Hall.

As they entered the castle, memories of the battle came flooding back to Harry. Ginny sensed that something was up and gave Harry a questioning look and squeezed his hand. Harry forced a reassuring smile.

"Ginny, they'll probably make you wait outside while we take the tests." Harry said apologetically.

Ginny flashed him a mysterious smile. "I have a surprise for you guys. After you all got your letters, I mailed a letter to McGonagall and asked her if I could take the assessment test to see if I could take a shortened load. It took a bit of convincing, but I finally got her to cave!"

Harry looked at her dubiously. "Ginny, are you sure? I don't want you to miss your last year of school."

"Absolutely. I really love Hogwarts, but I don't want to be stuck here without you…again." She ended firmly.

Just then, a wizard walked up to them. "Good morning, my name is Mr. Shatley and I will be administering the assessment tests today. Please choose a seat while we wait for the remaining students to arrive."

The Great Hall was set up just as it was for the O.W.L.'s and N.E.W.T.'s with individual seating instead of house tables. They saw Dean and Neville and chose seats close to them.

"Alright, Dean, Neville?" Ron asked. The friends chatted while the remaining students straggled into the Great Hall.

Mr. Shatley closed the doors to the Hall and strode to the front of the room.

"May I have your attention please?" We will now begin the assessment testing to determine the course of your schooling." He waved his wand and several pages filled each desk. "This test will be divided into two parts: the written exam and the practical exam. The written exam will be first. You will have two hours to complete this test as it is a comprehensive test covering a wide area of study. Once completed, there will be a fifteen minute break and then one of your professors or myself will conduct your practical exam. The results of your tests will be available immediately after the practical exam is concluded. Are there any questions before we begin?"

The room was silent. "Well alright then, you may begin!"

"Excuse me, Mr. Potter?" Harry looked up to see someone he thought was vaguely familiar. "My name is Artemius Elvinwright. I'm the new Head of the Auror Office at the Ministry of Magic. May I have a word with you and also Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger?"

Hermione and Ron exchanged a curious glance and Harry answered for the three of them. "Of course, Mr. Elvinwright."

Ginny smiled at Harry reassuringly and the three friends followed Mr. Elvinwright into an empty classroom.

"I'll get straight to the point. I was given your scores of your assessment tests about an hour ago with the note that the three of you were interested in becoming aurors when you finished your schooling. Is that still the case?"

Harry found his voice. "I am still very interested in being an auror, sir. Ron voiced his agreement but Hermione was silent.

"I know that Harry and Ron want to do this very much, sir. And at one point I thought I might as well. But I have become very interested in perhaps being a Healer." Hermione said tentatively.

"Very well, Miss Granger, I understand that. With your scores, you have a wide range of possibility open to you. I understand a representative from St. Mungo's is still here if you wish to have a meeting with her.

Hermione thanked him and shot a glance at Harry and Ron before she left the room.

"Now, gentlemen, I have an offer to make to you. I would like to extend an invitation to the both of you to enroll in our auror training course to prepare to become an Auror." Mr. Elvinwright finished.

Harry was confused. "I thought we would need to finish school first, sir."

"Ordinarily yes, Mr. Potter. But I feel, and the Minister concurs, that the events of last year taught you quite a bit more than your seventh year would. You tested very well and Ron as well. We think that you would do quite well to start auror training immediately." He explained.

Harry was overwhelmed. He didn't think his dream of being an auror would ever come to fruition.

"Sir, I can't speak for Ron, but it's an opportunity of a lifetime for me. I would love to do this. May I have some time to think it over and to discuss it with my friends?" Harry said slowly.

Ron spoke up. "It would be an honor to be an Auror sir, but like Harry, I'll need to talk with my family before I make my decision."

"That won't be a problem. Take this week to decide and send me an owl with your decision. Thank you for your time, gentlemen." Mr. Elvinwright said as he nodded to them and exited the room.

Harry and Ron stood transfixed. "Can you believe it?" Ron asked. "We're going to be aurors!"

"I really didn't think that was going to happen last year when we were trying to find the horcruxes. I had no idea that he was going to say that. This is great, Ron! Wait till I tell Ginny!" Harry exclaimed.

The two friends exited the classroom and headed back to the great hall to meet Ginny and Hermione.

Ron and Harry saw Ginny and Hermione talking to the Healer from St. Mungo's. They grabbed seats at a table and soon the girls were on their way to meet them.

Ginny beamed. "Hermione says you have some good news?"

Harry spoke up. "The head of the Auror department asked Ron and I to enroll in the auror training to become Aurors!" he beamed. "But we told him that we'd have to talk it over first."

Ginny reached up and hugged Harry excitedly. "That's great, Harry, Ron! I'm so proud of you guys! And we have some news too." She flashed that mysterious smile at Harry and Ron. "Hermione, you tell them."

"Well, after I left you guys, I headed back here to find that Healer to see what I would need to do to get into that career. I saw Ginny was already talking to her, so I headed on over. I introduced myself, and she pulled my test results. She said that the both of us scored very high on the test and would like for us to immediately enroll in the Healer program!" Hermione explained excitedly.

"That's great! No more Hogwarts for any of us!" Ron said eagerly and Hermione gave him a look.

"You're going to wish you were at Hogwarts when you get into your auror training, Ron. It's supposed to be really hard and I won't be able to check your work for you this time."

Ginny took Harry's hands in hers. "I'm really proud of you, Harry. I really think you should take the auror training. You'd make a really great one. But I'm glad you wanted to talk it over with me first."

"And you're going to make a great Healer. I think you're going to have to resist shooting off a Bat-Bogey Hex though. The healers probably frown on those." Harry teased.

"If you don't watch out, you're going to need a Healer." She joked back.

Harry and Ginny looked over to Ron and Hermione to see if they were ready to leave but they were engaged in a bit of snogging.

"You know, they snog much more than we do." Harry said in a mock concerned tone. "I think we need to step it up a bit."

"How about we catch up a little tonight?" Ginny replied, the teasing gone in her voice.

Harry had trouble finding his voice again. "I think we'd better get back, then.

That night at the Burrow, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were ecstatic over the news of the day. They insisted on inviting the old Order over and Neville and Luna as well. The rest of the night passed quickly for Harry who savored being back with his friends and mentors. He was pleasantly surprised to find out that Neville and Luna had starting dating after the battle. As for him, he had been separated from Ginny for most of the night because of so many people who wanted to speak with him but now he searched the room for her and found her talking to Luna.

"Hey Luna. Having a good time?" Harry asked, wrapping his arm around Ginny's waist.

"Oh, yes. Did I tell you that next week Daddy and I are going hunting to find a Foiliwob?" Luna asked in her dreamily sounding voice.

Harry stifled a laugh. "Um, no, I don't think you did, Luna. Sounds like fun. Ginny, can I talk to you for a second?"

They excused themselves from Luna with a promise to visit as soon as she and her father got back from their trip.

Harry and Ginny walked hand in hand to the back porch which miraculously was unoccupied.

"What's up, Harry?" Ginny asked.

"Are we doing the right thing here, Gin? With me going into Auror training and you into Healer training? We may not have much time at all to spend with each other." Harry asked with a concerned look on his face.

"Harry, I think so. I mean, it's an awesome opportunity for both of us. And I know you've wanted to be an Auror since the first time you found out about them. We can do this. We'll just have to make the most of the time that we do have together. I love you and that will NEVER change." Ginny stated firmly.

"I love you too, Ginny. And you're right. Our love will keep us close, no matter what happens with our new jobs." Harry said, at peace again with their recent decisions.

The couple walked back into the party with a lightened load and the knowledge that the love they shared would keep them together through the next chapter of their lives.

A/N: To everyone who is reviewing this story: Thank you!! They mean so much to me. I really enjoyed writing this chapter and I hope you all like it too. Things are going well for Harry and his friends. But will they stay this way? I'll update soon.