Over the next two weeks, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was a very busy place. Fifth and seventh year students each had testing that had to be completed before the end of May. The younger students, when not in class, were huddled together in hallways, behind tapestries, or in common room corners trying desperately to avoid the yelling that would start any time they happened to get in the way of an older student.
Life around Hogwarts wasn't any easier for the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Harry James Potter spent his days lecturing rambunctious students trying to cram as much knowledge as possible into his older ones before their tests. At night, the young professor spent much of his free time in the office of one of his colleagues. They were after all supposed to be helping him study for his upcoming N.E.W.T. tests.
Friday evening was no exception. Well it wouldn't have been if Professor Sprout had been feeling well. Instead she had left Harry and Neville Longbottom, her associate professor, to study in the greenhouse for their Herbology test that would be held the next morning. "Neville, how do you remember all this stuff?" Harry asked as they were talking about the healing powers of an optomy bush.
"I don't know Harry. I guess it works the same way as you do. You know, I remember Herbology stuff like you remember dark arts? I mean I forget half the spells I'm supposed to know before I ever walk out the door." The boys shared a laugh. "I couldn't even disarm a person till our fifth year with the D.A."
"True but if you hadn't been able to lead me to Gillyweed, well Fred and George would have never opened the joke shop. Could you imagine life without having to avoid offered drinks for fear of a love potion cooked up by your best friends?" Both boys' faces had a similar look of disgust. "Honestly you think the Minister would ban all love potions from existence." Harry smiled looking at Neville.
"True Harry but think about all the good things love potions have caused to happen in this world." Neville leaned against the counter rubbing his hand on his chin in a thoughtful manner. "Lets see, Ron almost died because of Romilda wanting you." Harry faked throwing up in a flower pot.
"Well that did get Lavender away from him though if you think about it. I mean she did hear him going on and on about Romilda that morning. Maybe that's why she didn't take it too hard when he called it off."
"Sure Harry. That's why she spent the better part of a week in the bathroom with Moaning Mertle crying her eyes out?" Neville raised his eyebrows suspiciously.
"Yeah well how many times have you fallen in love with the wrong girl because she slipped you one huh?" Harry dropped the flower pot he was holding when he saw the blush on Neville's face.
"Just two." Neville smiled.
"Must be nice. Between Romilda and Paverti I have almost left Ginny no less than ten times." Harry shuddered at the thought of losing her.
"How are things going between you two anyway?" Neville asked looking through a rather large book on magical healing plants.
"Well they would be going better if I ever got to see her."
"I know what you mean. I haven't got to spend more than a few minuets with Luna at a time in about a month now."
"I know but it will all be over soon. And then we have all summer to spend with the girls." Harry's face lit up in a big smile as he thought of Ginny in her skimpy muggle bikini from last summer. "Do you know what you're going to do after Hogwarts?"
"Yeah well kind of. I mean for right now at least, there is no after Hogwarts for me. McGonagall asked me to stay on for a few years. I think Professor Sprout is planning on going into retirement and I might as well fill her spot." Neville blushed at the thought of being in charge of the Hogwarts Herbology department.
"That's wonderful Neville." Harry leaned across the desk and patted Neville on the back. "I have been asked to stay on too but I mean you know this job is kind of cursed." Harry laughed. "If I do manage to stay on I guess it will at least show the world that the Defense Against the Dark Arts job at Hogwarts is now more than a one year post."
"True. I would think now that the spawn of the love potion is dead though the curse would be lifted anyway." Neville smiled up from his book.
"Hey give a guy some credit. It sounds cooler to think I'm a curse breaker." Harry laughed. "And just what is a spawn of the love potion?"
"Duh Harry spawn of the love potion? Didn't you say Merope Guant slipped Tom Riddle senior a love potion? Isn't that why he fell in love with snake face's mom in the first place?" Neville tried to control his laugher. "Imagine all the things that we would have if the Ministry had banned those damn things years ago."
"Yeah like our parents?" Harry asked looking up at Neville. The two boys shared a look that only those who had been brought up without parents could understand. "Sanity. A normal life." Harry smiled.
"True but we would both be just stuttering idiots around girls. I mean what's cooler than defeating voldy moldy anyway." Neville forced a smile. "Curse breaker or defeater of the Dark Lord, which would you rather be Harry?"
The boys looked at each other for a moment. "Curse breaker." They both said at the same time. Arm in arm and laughing hysterically the two friends made their way back to the castle that night. Each hoping to spend a little time with their respective loved ones before curfew. Their Herbology test would be first thing in the morning. After that, if they survived the other N.E.W.T. level tests, they could breathe a little for the remaining school year.