"So, Harry, what are you going to do after graduation?" asked Molly Weasley.

"Yeah, Harry," said George. "Want to come work for me at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?"

"Well," said Harry, "I…"

"You don't have to decide now, Harry. But remember this. You will never pay for anything at my store and you can always have a job there anytime you want. I'll never forget…" George stopped in mid-sentence and saw his mother looking at him. "Oh, never mind, Harry. You know what I mean."

"What was that all about?" demanded Molly.

"Oh, nothing," said George, who immediately decided to change the subject. "So, Harry, what exactly are you going to do after graduation?"

"Well," said Harry, "I've been thinking about that. I'm in a bit of an unusual situation. Remember, how we all flew away from 4 Privet Drive that night? Well, until that moment it had been my home. After that, I was on the run until I came back to Hogwarts. But on the day we graduate from Hogwarts, I won't actually have a home to go back to. Not that I'd ever want to go back to Privet Drive again. But I'm really going to be starting from scratch."

"HARRY POTTER." Molly Weasley screamed so loud it sounded like a Howler. "If I ever hear you say anything like that again I am going to ring your neck. I don't care if you're a foot taller than me. I'LL RING YOUR NECK, DO YOU HEAR ME!"

Molly Weasley had never spoken to Harry like that before. That was how she spoke to her sons, never to him. She had always spoken to him kindly and tenderly, even when she was really angry at her sons. All of a sudden, Harry remembered the time Molly and Sirius had had a big fight at Grimauld Place. Sirius had yelled at her, "He's not your son" and she had responded, "Well, he might as well be." Harry had gotten a warm feeling when he heard her say that. And he was getting that same warm feeling now listening to her yell at him.

"Harry," Molly said a little calmer now. "I don't want to ever hear you say anything like that again. The Burrow will always be a home to you for the rest of your life. You will always have a place with us. No matter what. We're your family. Have I made myself clear?"

Arthur put his arm around Harry's shoulders, looked at Harry, and nodded.

Harry looked at Arthur. He looked at Molly. Harry's eyes were streaming with tears.

"Harry, we're your family. The Burrow is your home," Arthur repeated. Do you understand?"

Harry couldn't speak. He just nodded his head.

"Okay," said George wanting to lighten the mood. "That's settled then, Harry. After graduation you're coming back to the Burrow. Now stop crying. You're getting your egg salad sandwich soggy."

Harry looked down at the sandwich in his hand, and laughed although his face was still wet.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, George and Angelina had all come to Hogwarts the day before to watch the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff Quidditch match, and McGonagall had let them spend the night in guest rooms. So now they were all having a Sunday picnic lunch by the lake.

Ever since McGonagall had invited Harry back to finish his seventh year at Hogwarts, Ginny had always been almost completely happy, but not totally. In the back of her mind, she knew that this was only delaying the inevitable by a few months. Eventually, Harry would graduate, she would go home to the Burrow for the summer, and she wasn't sure how they would get to see each other. So she always had that feeling in her stomach that everything was temporary, that nothing this good could last. But now it was settled. After graduation, they would both be going back to the Burrow. She didn't know what would happen after that, but at least for now she knew that when the school year was over they would still be together. She hadn't said anything, but she was sitting on the picnic blanket with a smile on her face. George caught her smiling.

"Let me guess, Gin," said George. "It looks like you've got an 'I'm going to get to snog my boyfriend at the Burrow this summer' look on your face." Angelina gave George a sharp elbow.

"Ow, what was that for?"

"You leave your little sister alone," said Angelina.

Meanwhile, Ginny's face had turned bright red with embarrassment as she realized that the look on her face had been so obvious that George knew exactly what she was thinking about. "That is not at all what I'm thinking about, George!" Ginny said indignantly.

"Why not?" said Harry. "It's what I was thinking about."

Ginny's face turned even redder. "Harry," she whispered elbowing him gently. "My family's here."

Then she said out loud. "I'll have you know, George, that what I was thinking about happened to be yesterday's Quidditch match. In fact, I was thinking about a particular number."

"Did that number happen to be 47?" asked Angelina.

"Yup."

"Ginny, you were out of control yesterday," said Angelina. "I was a pretty decent Chaser myself, but I've never seen anything like that. 47 goals in one game! You didn't just break your own school record that you set in the match against Ravenclaw. You shattered it."

"Well," said Ginny modestly. "Hufflepuff has a pretty weak team. A bludger never even came close to me, and their keeper doesn't have the fastest reflexes."

"Forget all that, Ginny," said Arthur. "You played an incredible game. We're so proud of you."

Ginny was beaming.

"Harry, what happened with the Golden Snitch?" asked Hermione. "What took you so long to grab it? Everyone in the stadium saw it hovering near the Hufflepuff hoops, except, of course, for the Hufflepuff Seeker who seemed to be looking everywhere else in the stadium except for there. Didn't you see it there, Harry? Why did it take so long for you to fly over and grab it?"

"Well," said Harry as all eyes turned to him. "Yeah, I saw it there. But I wasn't worried. We were so many points ahead that if Hufflepuff had gotten the snitch we would have won the match. So there was really no need for me to grab it."

"But what were you waiting for?" asked Ron.

"Well," said Harry. "I figured the longer the match went on, and the more points Ginny scored, the longer I could watch your little sister's beautiful red hair flying behind her in the breeze. I really like watching it."

Ron grunted. Hermione smiled. Ginny's face turned red again.

Turning to Harry and Hermione, Mr. Weasley said, "Hey, Ron tells me you're both doing a fantastic job teaching. How's it going?"

"It's fun," said Hermione. "I really like to watch the looks on the kids' faces when they've learned something new. When they've performed a new transfiguration properly they get such a look of satisfaction. They're so proud of themselves. And it feels good to know that I helped them achieve that."

"How about Muggle Studies?" asked Arthur, turning to the subject that interested him the most. "How's that going?"

"Well," said Hermione, "the approach I'm taking is to give them some basic information about how Muggles live so the students will understand the differences between how we do things and how Muggles do them. I think it's important that they really understand what Muggles lives are like. But I'm not just emphasizing the differences. I also try to show them how much about us is the same. I want them to understand that witches, wizards and Muggles are all just people. I want the students to feel they have things in common with Muggles so that nobody can ever…" Hermione's voice trailed off. Everyone knew what she meant. As hard as it was to imagine another Voldemort ever trying to come to power, as scary as it was to think about, everyone knew that it was always a possibility. Hermione was trying to do her share to make sure that, if someone ever tried to rally the wizarding world in a campaign of hatred against Muggles, they wouldn't be successful.

"Like just the other day," Hermione said. "A girl in my class was telling a story about how she overheard three six-year-old Muggle girls when they were in first grade after school. The mother said, 'How was school,' and the girls said, 'fine'. The mother said, 'what did you learn' and the girls said, 'nothing'." Everyone at the picnic laughed.

"That's what the students in my class did when they heard the story. They laughed too. Because they felt a connection to those three Muggle girls. They realized that little Muggle girls talk to their parents after school just the same way little witches do. That's what I'm trying to accomplish."

"We're very proud of you," said Mrs. Weasley. "I know some people think that Muggle Studies isn't the most important course, but they're wrong. You're doing very important work."

CRACK.

All of a sudden, Kreacher was standing next to the picnic blanket. "Hi, Kreacher," said Hermione.

"Good morning, everyone," said Kreacher. "The headmistress's elf was sent here to bring the three of you to her office. The headmistress would like to speak to you." Kreacher was gesturing toward Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Harry, Ron and Hermione got up from the picnic blanket. So did Ginny. "Not you," said Kreacher. "Kreacher is only supposed to bring the other three."

"I'm coming," said Ginny simply.

Kreacher shrugged and they all headed up to the castle, leaving the rest of the Weasleys and Angelina to have dessert by the lake.

Soon they were in front of the gargoyle. "Pussycat," said Kreacher, and the gargoyle leapt aside revealing the circular staircase. A moment later they were standing in McGonagall's office. She was sitting behind her desk.

"Thank you, Kreacher," said McGonagall. "That will be all."

"The headmistress said 'thank you'," cried Kreacher. "The headmistress thanked Kreacher. The headmistress is so good to Kreacher."

CRACK. Kreacher was gone.

"Have a seat, children," said McGonagall. "I guess I shouldn't call you 'children' anymore. You're only a few weeks away from graduating. Well, at least three of you are. I see you came also, Ms. Weasley. It's becoming a habit, isn't it?"

Ginny didn't say anything.

"Well," said McGonagall, "after that Quidditch match you played yesterday, I've got nothing to complain about. Gryffindor is lucky to have you on the team. And we've got you for another whole year." The kids were always amazed when they realized how big a Quidditch fan McGonagall was and how much she wanted Gryffindor to win.

"Speaking of next year," McGonagall continued, looking at Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Have you thought about what you're going to do after graduation?"

"Well, the Weasleys invited me to stay at the Burrow," said Harry.

"I promised my mum and dad I'd take a trip with them after graduation," said Hermione. "We're going to visit the United States. We're mostly going to do regular tourist stuff like visit New York, and Disneyworld, but I also want to make contact with some of the wizarding communities there. I've never met a witch or wizard from the United States before, and I think it would be fascinating to learn about the similarities and differences between our communities. But after we get back, I figure I'll go to the Burrow to visit …them." Hermione was looking at Ron, who smiled at her.

McGonagall laughed. "Great," she said. "But I didn't mean 'how are you going to spend your summer vacation.' I mean after that. It's time to start your real lives. Have you thought about what you're actually going to do?"

"Well, you know," said Harry. "I want to try to become an Auror."

"I always assumed I'd work at the Ministry somewhere," said Ron. "I never thought I had it in me to be an Auror, but after…after all the…well, I've started thinking maybe I am cut out to be an Auror after all."

"I've been giving a lot of thought to what I can do that will really make a difference," said Hermione. "After the whole elf thing, you know, how you freed them, and how S.P.E.W. ended up being successful and all that, I've been thinking that maybe I should try to work in the Ministry's Magical Creature's department. You know, helping to protect the rights of all magical creatures. Anyway, that's one thing I'm thinking about."

"That would be a very good choice if you decide that's what you want to do, Hermione. I will personally speak on any of your behalfs to Shacklebolt any time any of you want me to," said McGonagall. "I am confident that should any of you wish to work for the Ministry at any time in any Department you will be welcomed there."

Ginny was starting to feel gloomy again. Eventually the summer would end. Eventually, she would have to leave the Burrow and go back to Hogwarts for her seventh year. And eventually Harry would have to do something else. Maybe he could visit sometimes. Maybe McGonagall would lower the defenses sometimes like she did for George once in a while and Harry could "pop" in for a weekend. But her life would be at Hogwarts, and his life would be… She felt a tear in her left eye.

McGonagall continued. "As I said, you will all be welcomed at the Ministry at any time. But in case you're not in a hurry to get there…." Now McGonagall was looking directly at Harry. "…in case you're not in a hurry to leave Hogwarts. For example, if, perhaps, you were interested in staying at Hogwarts for one more year…." McGonagall turned to look at Ginny, then back to Harry. Ginny felt a little flutter in her belly. So did Harry. "I still haven't hired a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for next year. And I happen to be looking at the best Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this school has seen for many years."

"Do you mean?" said Harry.

"Yes," said McGonagall. "I'm offering you the job. It would be a much bigger job than you've been doing. You would be teaching all the classes. Including, preparing students for their O.W.L.s and their N.E.W.T.s, which incidentally, you still need to pass."

Harry grinned.

"Are you interested?"

Harry couldn't answer. Ginny was snogging him. "Ms. Granger," said McGonagall with mock shock. "Please control yourself. You're in the headmistress's office."

Ginny looked up, and said. "Professor McGonagall, Harry accepts the job."

Harry laughed. "Right, Professor McGonagall. What she said."

Then McGonagall turned to Hermione. "Well, Miss Granger. I've filled in for a few months this year, but now that I'm headmistress, I do not intend to continue teaching transfiguration. I'm going to need a professor to teach all of the transfiguration classes in the fall, including to the 5th, 6th and 7th years. And I don't have to tell you how fine a professor you've become. I think you can see for yourself that you have extraordinary talent as a teacher."

Hermione blushed. "If I taught all of the Transfiguration classes, then who would teach Muggle Studies?"

"Miss Granger," said McGonagall. "It is true that we've never had one professor teach classes in two different subjects. But we've also never had a student who took twelve classes at the same time. I am quite confident that you can handle both."

Ron had been sitting their quietly. Hermione looked at him. The job McGonagall was offering her was perfect. It was unbelievable, actually. She really enjoyed teaching, and she knew she was good at it. But she and Ron wanted to be together as much as Ginny and Harry did. Hermione had told Ginny a few months earlier that Ginny couldn't leave Hogwarts before graduation to be with a boy. Now, how could Hermione give up the chance for the most amazing job she could imagine just to be with a boy. But she didn't want to leave Ron. She didn't know what to say.

McGonagall continued. "Ms. Granger, before you answer me, I would like to speak to Mr. Weasley."

Ron looked up. He knew there were no more openings for Hogwarts professors, and he knew that he wasn't really cut out to be a professor anyway. There was no way McGonagall was going to offer him a job.

"Mr. Weasley, I met with the Board of Governors last night, and we've made a decision. We have a somewhat unusual situation here at Hogwarts. Hogwarts is a school. It exists for only one purpose. To serve the needs of children. To educate them. To take care of them. This is a place that exists for the sole purpose of serving the needs of children. And yet… And yet we have this most unusual situation. For many years this place….this place that exists to serve the needs of children has had as its caretaker a man who… well… who… well, there's no easy way to say it. A man who can't stand children. A man who enjoys scaring children, and would love to hurt children if we let him. It has been a most strange situation. I always wondered why Professor Dumbledore kept him here all these years. I never asked him. Professor Dumbledore always had good reasons for the things he did, and I didn't question his decisions. But…I am the headmistress now, and I need to make my own decisions and…there is no way I am going to allow a man who enjoys scaring and hurting children to work at Hogwarts while I am headmistress. So, I met with the Board of Governors last night. We will provide Argus Filch with a very nice retirement package. He will be able to live quite comfortably with Mrs. Norris for the rest of his life. But once this school year is over, Argus Filch will not be at Hogwarts."

"Professor McGonagall?" said Ron. "Are you offering me the job of caretaker?" Ron felt a little strange. With Harry and Ginny staying, and with Hermione being offered her dream job, there was nothing Ron wanted more than the chance for them to all stay at Hogwarts together for one more year. But Harry and Hermione were being offered jobs as professors. The idea of spending a year mopping the hallways while his friends had important jobs as part of the school faculty seemed…well…pretty demeaning. He didn't see how he could do that. Ron didn't want to seem ungrateful. He didn't want Hermione not to get to stay at Hogwarts. He couldn't imagine leaving Hogwarts and not being with Hermione. He didn't know what to think.

"No, Mr. Weasley," said McGonagall. "You know we never really needed Filch to do the cleaning or the repair work or any of the other duties you see him doing. We had house elves to do all that. We still do. Although now they're free elves and we pay them." McGonagall smiled at Hermione. "Filch did all that stuff because he wanted to. I think he did it mostly so he could complain about it. Anyway, Mr. Weasley, I'm not offering you a job cleaning the castle."

Ron breathed a sigh of relief. McGonagall continued.

"Mr. Weasley, I'm not exactly a young witch. As headmistress, I wish to focus my energy on certain areas. For example, the school curriculum. And supervising the instruction of students. There are other responsibilities that I wish to delegate to someone else. Last night, the Board of Governors approved the creation of a new position at Hogwarts, Dean of the School. The Dean of the School will report to the headmistress and have responsibility for the aspects of the school other than the actual classes. For example, all of the elves who do the actual work of taking care of the castle will report to the Dean. The Head Boys and Girls and the Prefects will report to the Dean. The Dean will be responsible for enforcing the school rules, for all discipline. The Dean would have responsibility for all aspects of the school other than the actual teaching. This is a very important job. You would be my right hand man."

Ron couldn't believe his ears. "You would trust me with…"

"Yes, Mr. Weasley. I trust you."

"With enforcing school rules?"

"Mr. Weasley, you've grown a lot over the past year. I have complete faith in your ability to do this job and do it well. If I didn't, I wouldn't be offering it to you."

Ron was having trouble believing what he was hearing. He was used to people being surprised every time he accomplished something. But McGonagall was telling him that she trusted him. Trusted him with the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Trusted him with the students. And she expected him to do well. A few minutes ago he had imagined himself with a mop and bucket cleaning the hallways. Now he was imagining himself in an office, holding meetings, giving instructions. He was feeling really good.

Hermione turned to Ron and said, "Ron, I'm so proud of you…. You'll be a great…"

McGonagall interrupted Hermione, because she had something else to say.

"In case you decide to take this job, Mr. Weasley, and this goes for all of you…" McGonagall looked at all three of them. "If you all take these jobs, in the fall when school begins, you will all be full-time members of the Hogwarts staff. You will not be children. You will be adults. Your job will be to set an example for our students. What I'm trying to say…." McGonagall paused.

"What I'm trying to say is that if you are up to something…"

All four of them looked down at their feet so they wouldn't catch her eye. How did she know, they thought.

"If you are up to something…finish it before graduation. Get it out of your systems now. Do you understand?"

The four of them all looked at each other. They didn't know what to say. They couldn't say "yes," because that would be admitting they were up to something. They looked back down at their feet and squirmed.

McGonagall repeated herself, "Stop looking at your feet. I said do you understand?"

They all looked up at her and nodded.

"Okay then. Now, Mr. Weasley? Do you want the job?"

Ron couldn't answer. It's not that he didn't want to answer. He did. He wanted to accept the job. But he couldn't speak. There was something blocking his mouth. Finally, Hermione stopped snogging him for a second. She looked at McGonagall, and said "he accepts." Then she snogged him some more.