This story is nearly finished I'm afraid. I've only this chapter and another one left to post. There is an orginial character in this chapter by the way. Yes she is based on myself, though I am a Hufflepuff, but she won't be featuring in it this story at all, just a few mentions.
Chapter 45 – The last nightIt was now the 31st August and the night before the return to Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were all returning for their last year. Part of Hermione was excited about returning to Hogwarts to finish her education but the other part of her was dreading leaving Fred.
They had all been to Diagon Alley to purchase new school uniforms, potions ingredients, parchment, quills, ink and their new books. McGonagall had sent out all their school lists and was over the moon to see so many students returning. One evening she had paid the burrow a visit and had voiced her concerns about how worried she was that students would not want to return.
"Slughorn, Sprout, Flitwick and myself have all been to visit the new muggle born students who will be attending." She informed everyone.
"Have you got any new teachers?" Molly asked her.
"Yes we have two new teachers this year. Remus Lupin is returning as defence against the dark arts professor with Nymphadora Tonks filling in for him during a full moon." McGonagall answered. "We also have a new muggle studies teacher. A young lady called Laura Jones."
"Laura Jones?" Molly asked, confused.
"Yes. She's a muggle born witch herself. Would have been in Charlie's year at Hogwarts but in Ravenclaw." McGonagall explained. "She managed to excape capture and torture for being a muggle born because she has been travelling America for the last few years and doing some teaching out there."
"Oh that is brilliant." Molly chirped, clapping her hands together. "Is she any good?"
"Oh yes. She was a brilliant student while at Hogwarts, one of the brightest in her year and was a prefect too. She had always shown an interest in teaching and had considered teaching at Hogwarts one day." McGonagall replied.
The eve before everyone's return from Hogwarts, Molly had provided a feast for them all and had invited their friends too. As it was a lovely evening, they all sat outside under a cloth canopy. It wasn't a party as such but a get together as it was the last eveing they would all be together until around Christmas time. After the food had been eaten, Fred led Hermione off for a walk around the lake. Fred wasn't one to worry but he was dreading Hermione going off to Hogwarts again, especially after everything that had happened recently.
"I'm not looking forward to tomorrow at all Mione." He admitted.
"I am and I'm not." Hermione replied back. "I'm looking forward to going back to school and getting stuck into my studies again but I'm not looking forward to being away from you."
"Do you think McGonagall will let me visit you again?" Fred wondered.
"I think she will. We'll have to ask her." Hermione answered.
"We should try and arrange visits for a couple of nights a week." Fred said. "And then on Saturdays during Hogsmede visits."
"That would be a good idea." Hermione replied. "That's if we get Hogsmede visits."
"We can talk using our two way notebooks again." Fred suggested.
"Yes. I've mine packed already." Hermione answered.
"That does not surprise me at all." Fred laughed.
"You know me, I don't like leaving everything until the last minute." Hermione smiled.
"I bet Ron and Harry haven't even touched their packing." Fred said. "Mum will go mental in the morning."
"Are you coming with us to King's Cross tomorrow?" Hermione asked her boyfriend.
"Of course I am, Mione. Do you think I'd miss seeing you off to Hogwarts?" Fred answered, linking his hand with Hermione's.
"Oh good." Hermione replied.
"George and I will come and see everyone off then head into the shop. Lee is going to hold for the fort for us until then." Fred said.
"Hogwarts is going to be so different this time around without Dumbledore." Hermione said, with a small sigh. "And after everything that has happened."
"Maybe it'll have changed for the better." Fred spoke. "Not that I ever had anything against Dumbledore, because the man was amazing."
"I just hope Harry doesn't any unwanted attention but it's going to be crazy for him." Hermione said.
"Yeah. I overheard Mum talking to Dad about that earlier. I guess he's going back to Hogwarts as a proper hero this time." Fred answered.
"He's never liked any of the attention so I'm a bit worried that he won't be able to handle it all." Hermine said, voicing her concern.
"He'll be fine. McGonagall and the other teachers will look out for him and make sure he doesn't get any unwanted attention or people annoying him." Fred answered.
Fred and Hermione continued to talk about Hermione's concerns about her return to Hogwarts. Fred, although not a worrier himself, understood Hermione's concerns. She was a muggle born witch who was one of Harry Potter's best friends. She had also helped defeat Voldemort in one of the famous Golden Trio.
"All I want to do, Fred, is to go to Hogwarts and get on with my studies without any drama." Hermione admitted. "None of us want to be seen as celebrities."
"Lets hope Rita Skeeter doesn't come looking for the three of you." Fred said.
"Oh she won't be coming anywhere near us. I could easily let slip about her little secret." Hermione answered. "She'd need to offer me all the galleons in Gringotts before I'd speak to her."
"Even if she did offer you all the gold in Gringotts, you still wouldn't speak to her." Fred laughed.
"Nope. I still wouldn't speak to her." Hermione answered.
"Shame you can't stay with me tonight." Fred said.
"I know, especially as it's our last night together." Hermione answered.
"Do you think I could sneak you into my room?" Fred wondered.
"What about Ginny and George?" Hermione asked.
"Well I'm sure we could talk nicely to the both of them." Fred grinned. "George could sleep on the couch or in your room. I'm sure Ginny wouldn't mind."
"Or Ginny would stay with Harry with Ron and George sharing." Hermione suggested.
"Now that would be a very good idea." Fred grinned. "Lets go and see what our lovely friends think of this arrangement.
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Sorry for this bit of fluffyness.
