Summer had fully arrived. Harry was enjoying his time off after saving the world, spending his days with Ginny while Ron worked at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes with George. Sometimes, Hermione popped in for visits. She had this new light about her like everything was right in the world. Harry guessed for her it was—Voldemort was dead, her parents were back safe and sound, her best friends were alive, and she and Ron were officially dating. Harry could not have been happier for her.

Harry woke early one day in mid-July. He still slept in Ron's room, in Ron's bed, actually. It felt awfully weird the first week or so after Ron moved in with George, but he was getting used to it now. He would not call it his room or anything. It was still Ron's room. The same orange Chudley Cannon posters with the same Chudley Cannon players zooming across hung on the walls. The same tank, this time empty as the fat frog had died, stood on the windowsill. The room still held the essence of Ron.

Harry headed downstairs into the kitchen, surprised to see Mr. Weasley sitting at the table, reading the Daily Prophet, and drinking a cup of tea. Things had been crazy at the Ministry since the fall of Voldemort and most days Mr. Weasley went to work before everyone got up and occasionally arrived home after Harry would be in bed.

"Good morning, Harry." Mr. Weasley peeked over the pages of the paper.

"Good morning." Harry replied, sitting down and having a plate placed before him by Mrs. Weasley.

"They've caught two Death Eaters," Mr. Weasley situated the paper on the table, displaying the picture of an Auror wrangling a Death Eater. "They also appear to be on the trail of Fenrir Greyback."

"Good!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed.

Mrs. Weasley had an outright dislike of Greyback, the werewolf, for scarring her eldest son, Bill, but since Greyback was not transformed, Bill would not become a werewolf.

"There are still Death Eaters on the loose, Harry. You need to be safe and be alert!" Mr. Weasley stood up. "I'm late for work, Molly." He kissed his wife on the cheek and headed to the fireplace to travel by floo.

Mrs. Weasley stared at her clock as Mr. Weasley's hand went from home to traveling and then to work.

"Good morning, Harry."

He felt a soft hand brush his. Letting the wonderful flower scent overtake him, he looked up at Ginny taking the seat next to him. Harry looked past Ginny's head at the two owls flying in and dropping letters by their plates.

"Hogwarts!" Ginny exclaimed softly, opening hers.

Harry followed suit wondering why he would be receiving a letter from his school. As he opened the envelope another owl dropped a letter off for him.

Harry Potter,

You may be pleased to know that Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic are allowing everyone who was not able to attend or complete their seventh years the opportunity to return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. If you accept the invitation you also have the opportunity to return as captain of the Gryffindor House Quidditch Team. Please send your reply as soon as possible.

Enclosed is a booklist in case you accept.

Filius Flitwick

Deputy Headmaster

"Flitwick's been named Deputy Headmaster." Harry blurted.

"What else does your letter say?" Ginny prodded with a curious look.

"Oh, just that I have the chance to return for my seventh year."

"You will, won't you?"

"I don't know. I was looking forward to a quiet year."

"You can have that at Hogwarts…with me."

Without responding, Harry looked at his other letter on the table.

"Ministry of Magic." He stated.

Harry Potter,

I would like to inform you that I have been in discussion with Professor Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and have recently learned of your desire to become an Auror for the Ministry. With our recent losses I would love to accept you as a trainee in the program right away as I am sure you have remarkable skills in defending against the Dark Arts. Professor McGonagall, Gawain Robards, head of the Auror Office, and I have decided that it would serve you best to return to school as the information and knowledge you obtain will be important to your Auror training. Ultimately, the decision is yours. Please, do not hesitate to let me know of your plans.

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Temporary Minister of Magic

"Kingsley wants me to be an Auror." Harry declared.

"That's great." Ginny responded, not able to hide her disappointment. "I guess that means I'll be Quidditch Captain."

"What?" Harry asked, taken aback. "Kingsley only wants me if I return to Hogwarts to take my N.E.W.T.s."

"So you will return?" Ginny's eyes brightened.

"Yes, I think so." Harry replied with not much thought.

Ginny placed her hands on Harry's head and gave him a short kiss on the lips.

"Wonderful!" Mrs. Weasley cried

After breakfast, Harry sent a letter to Hogwarts via Errol, the Weasleys' owl, notifying them of his acceptance. He then went outside to appreciate the beautiful sunny weather.

He relaxed against the tree that had become his favorite spot recently. Ginny leaned her head against his chest looking up at the few clouds in the sky.

"Harry, what happened on your adventure last year?"

Harry could tell Ginny had been waiting to ask him for a long time.

"Oi, it's a long story."

Harry looked into the sky hoping a good starting point would drop into his lap. He wrapped his arms around Ginny.

"Let me begin at the beginning."

"That's always a good place to start." Ginny smiled.

Harry did start at the beginning with Professor Quirrell and year one. He left out many details of the past seven years, details he was not sure he could or would tell anyone. He let Ginny know of the basics; of what he felt was appropriate for her to know. She asked questions throughout and he answered.

"…I visited the headmasters office, sneaking away from the crowd gathering the Great Hall." He finished a few hours later, his throat dry from all the talking.

Ginny looked at him wide-eyed.

"What do you think of your hero now?" Hermione spoke with a smile, surprising Harry.

Harry had been so engaged in the telling of his story he did not notice her apparating into the garden.

"I love you." Ginny responded looking deep into Harry's green eyes.

"I love you, too." Harry gave his favorite redheaded girl a squeeze. "How's Ron?" He turned part of his attention to Hermione.

Hermione broke into a wide grin.

"Great."

Harry had a feeling Hermione was in a state of disbelief that Ron liked her as much as she liked him.

"We're meeting up tonight as soon as the shop closes."

"I can't believe you still want to be his girlfriend after he abandoned you in the woods." Ginny commented. "The prat."

Hermione's face turned bright red.

"He did save my life, I think we can forgive him." Harry interjected.

"The reason I'm here," Hermione changed the subject, pulling the letter out of her pocket, "is I got a letter from Hogwarts allowing me to come back. You received one, Harry, did you?"

"Yes…"

"You are going? It would be awkward to be there without you."

"Oh, you don't care about me. You can have Ginny to keep you company."

"You are going? You'll probably need to pass your N.E.W.T.s to become an Auror, if you're still interested."

"Kingsley sent me a letter stating that it's in my best interest to finish school before I become an Auror, so yes, Hermione, I'll be joining you."

"Good. I'll ask Ron when I see him tonight."

"Good luck with that." Ginny muttered.

---

Later in the week, Mrs. Weasley planned to help the rebuilding efforts of Hogwarts. Ginny and Harry decided to go with her and through owl post invited Hermione. Ron had to work, unfortunately, for he really wanted to join the three that day. Harry was surprised to see a distraught Hermione who looked like she had been crying when they met up with her on school grounds.

"You OK?" He asked, staring at the building.

With a chunk missing, it looked like a giant had taken a big bite out of the castle.

Wiping her eyes, Hermione replied, "Oh, just the state of the school makes me sad."

Harry knew she was not telling the truth.

"Good to see you here, Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, and Miss Granger."

The three had run into Professor McGonagall upon entering the building.

"I'm delighted you two, Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, have decided to return to finish your education. Unfortunate that Mr. Weasley will not be joining you. Kinglsey and I were so certain he would."

Ron said no? So, that must be why Hermione was so upset.

"Congratulations on the position." Harry spoke before she walked away.

It had been the first time Harry had seen the former head of Gryffindor since she had officially been given the title.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter."

Harry turned to Hermione as soon as McGonagall was out of earshot.

"Hermione—"

"Ron doesn't want to come back. He said he's got a fine job at Weasleys' and doesn't need his seventh year." Hermione burst into tears.

Harry pulled her into a hug, hoping Ginny would understand.

"We got into a huge fight. I-I—" She hiccoughed. "I don't think he's speaking to me."

"The prat." Ginny muttered.

Odd, thought Harry. Ron seemed fine in his letter, not mentioning any of this. Actually, he appeared that he wanted to see both of them, although, now that Harry thought about it, Ron never mentioned Hermione's name, just that he wished he could hang out with the three of them. It took Harry by surprise to see Hermione's reaction as well. Usually when Ron got angry, Hermione got angry, not upset. One of the side effects of being in a relationship, Harry guessed.

"In the end, you and Ron always make up." Harry offered.

"Yeah…" Hermione wiped her eyes. "Let's go see what state this school is in."

Harry, Ginny, and Hermione tramped through the halls and stairways toward the Gryffindor Tower. The banisters and such had been fixed, but the walls were in disrepair and many portraits were missing. They reached the Gryffindor common room to see the outer area looking the same as it did when Harry last left it.

"Harry Potter!" The Fat Lady screeched upon spotting the dark headed boy. "September first already?"

"No, no. We're helping rebuild."

"What a fine boy. I'm proud to say you lived in the house I stand guard for!" She swung open. "No password needed."

Hermione, thought to be a stickler for rules, gave the portrait a funny look.

The three climbed into the common room and sat down in the available squashy chairs, Ginny and Harry sharing a large seat.

"I made Head Girl." Hermione said in a volume not much louder than a whisper. "I thought Ron would be happy."

"My brother doesn't understand girls at all."

Harry thought of Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches, hoping there was something in there about making up for pitiful mistakes.

"I'm sure he is." Harry leaned forward. "He's just…well, he's Ron."

"Yeah—I—" Hermione shook her head.

"I'm happy for you. There's no one else more suited. Congratulations."

"Percy…" Ginny muttered. "Ron can be a bit of a git sometimes. Don't take it personal, Hermione."

The three did not stay in the common room long. They spent most of the day fixing up the walls, re-hanging portraits, and just generally cleaning up the debris that had made its way indoors. They broke for lunch and then went right back to work. They had done a great deal of work, but by the end of the day they were nowhere near finished.

"Ready to head home?" Mrs. Weasley found Harry, Hermione, and Ginny, dirty and grimy from the hard day's work, near the library talking to Hestia Jones.

"I will be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor." She stated proudly.

"Professor Jones," Harry tried on for size, "Professor, you took the Durselys into hiding. How are they?"

"Complete nutters if you ask me." Hestia winked. "We've released them. I don't think their house was harmed in any way, not that I made to check on it. I was ordered to protect them not their house. Better off I never see them again."

"Same." Harry muttered. "Thank you and I think you'll make a good professor." He looked at Hermione, Ginny, then at Mrs. Weasley. "Yes, I think we're ready."

The group made it's way to Hogsmeade. Harry gripped Ginny's hand and they apparated to the Burrow