Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Original A/N: Thanks to MaeSilverpaws1, who is beta-ing this story.

Chapter One Hundred Forty-Six

Harry's Day

Harry quickly made his way out of his room, still a little amazed at how fast the hangover potion had worked. He turned into the bathroom, so that he could get dress for the day, after the look in Hermione's eyes, he knew that he didn't want to stay in his room a moment longer. After getting ready he headed downstairs, Harry could hear the twins talking, telling the story about how they had woken Ron and him that morning to a small group.

"That really wasn't funny," Harry said joining the room.

"Actually it was pretty funny," Seamus sniggered, "it sucked being woken up that early mind you, but watching you and Ron suffer …"

"So Harry my boy, have you learned your lesson yet," George said, wrapping his arm over Harry's shoulder.

"Er … lesson?"

"The next time you want to sneak out and have a party," George said,

"Invite us," Fred said.

"Sure," Harry smiled. Really if he did go out drinking again, he didn't care if more people were around, but he was glad it was just him and Ron last night. He had really needed last night. A normal teenage moment that had nothing to do with any of the crap he had to deal with in his life.

"Well judging by your chipper mood, I'd guess that Hermione gave you the hangover potion," Fred said shaking his head. "It's really disappointing how she'd let you two off so easily for breaking so many school rules."

"I'd guess that has more to do with Ron, than me," Harry shrugged.

"I'm sure it does," Fred said his eyes twinkling with amusement and Harry felt wary of that but soon everyone was heading down to the Great Hall. Harry had a normal breakfast, talking with his friends. It wasn't until after he finished eating that he realized he was laughing and having a good time … something of which he hadn't been able to do for over a month.

Harry was just about to leave when he saw Neville and instead decided to go see him. "Hey Nev."

"Hey Harry. You feeling better," Neville said and it didn't sound like a question, more like a statement.

"Yeah … I think I am," Harry said. "How'd you figure that?"

"Harry, you've practically been a zombie since you've been back," Neville answered. "You wouldn't have come over here if you weren't a bit better."

"That makes sense," Harry agreed. "So how have things been?"

"Alright … well you know for the most part," Neville said. "You know when one of your best friends is in the hospital, there's a new High Inquisitor that's very annoying, though not sadistic like the last one …"

"There's a new High Inquisitor?" Harry said.

"Er … yeah, you … you didn't know?" Neville said seeming to be surprised about that.

"No. No one said anything while I was in the hospital and like you've said I've been a zombie since," Harry said. "I don't think any my classes were …"

"That's not why … well I just thought someone would have said something about it by now," Neville said.

"Who is it?" Harry wondered, thinking that Neville's response was a little odd.

"Percy Weasley."

"Oh," Harry said his eyes going wide, that explained Neville's reaction; it just didn't explain why no one told him. Of course he hadn't really been open to this kind of thing. "How's that going?"

"He's inspected a few of my classes, saying that he needed to evaluate the situation with his own data," Neville said, "like I said, annoying but not sadistic."

Harry sighed, that sounded like Percy. "So how have his siblings taken this?"

"Gin told me that Percy hasn't inspected one of their classes, not any of theirs," Neville said. "She seems to think that he's trying to avoid them …"

"I bet they're avoiding him too," Harry sighed.

"No kidding," Neville said, "They all get tight lipped and angry whenever they see him."

"I should have realized …" Harry frowned thinking about how he hadn't even bothered to think about what Ron was going through lately. He's only been thinking about his own issues …

"You know that none of them would want to talk to you about that," Neville pointed out. "Don't worry about it."

"I suppose," Harry sighed, there was truth to those words. "So, how have the DA meetings been going?"

"They're been going okay," Neville answered, "Cedric has taken the lead with the help of Hermione and Ron. We've been helping too, making sure things run smoothly, Fred and George doing that mostly by not causing trouble themselves."

Harry raised an eyebrow at that.

"Okay, not too much trouble," Neville chuckled.

"What have you guys learned?" Harry asked.

"Shielding Charm, Blasting Charm, Stinging Hex, and a bunch of basic things like that," Neville said. "Hermione said that you wanted to go over them."

"Yep," Harry said, "so you guys have been doing what I've planned."

"I guess," Neville shrugged. "Was that wrong?"

"No … not wrong," Harry said. "It's just … well the DA doesn't really feel like mine anymore. Maybe it would be better if Cedric just taught his own things."

"Maybe," Neville said. "I don't think so, but maybe you're right."

"Really … what makes you think so?"

"People respect Cedric, which means they accept him taking over," Neville said. "Since Ron and Hermione are always around you they were fine with their help, too. But you're the reason why people came to learn. They wanted to learn from you."

"Because I'm the hero," Harry sighed.

"Nah, it's because you're the man of mystery… everyone wants to know more about you," Neville said.

Harry snorted.

"Do you not want to go back to teaching?" Neville asked seriously.

Harry frowned as he thought, he really hadn't put much thought into it, but he had enjoyed helping the others out. He also thought of what he knew would be coming someday and if he could help others know how to defend themselves it would be worth it. "Actually … I think I do want to teach again."

"Good."

"So Nev, I've got an odd question for you," Harry said.

"Er … okay?"

"Do you know of any girls that like me?"

"What?!" Neville gasped looking at Harry as if he was crazy which caused Harry to laugh.

"Sorry … your face …" Harry said trying to control himself.

"Are you serious?" Neville asked him.

"No," Harry said, and then added, "well maybe. I don't know."

"Okay," Neville said. "In that case I know nothing, but Hannah might be able to help."

"Where is Hannah anyways?" Harry asked, not really sure if he had been serious when he asked Neville this or not.

"In the library studying for the O.W.L's with Ernie," Neville sighed. "She's gone really mad about her studies … I've been trying to get her to relax but it hasn't been working. You know finding you a date might do the trick, for a while at least."

"Well that makes it sound really great," Harry grumbled.

"Hey, you were the one that brought it up," Neville shrugged.

O

It wasn't too long after that that Harry got up, leaving the Great Hall and going outside as Neville went to the library. Harry walked out to the lake wondering where everyone else was and thinking about trying to find someone but decided against that. Instead he sat down by his favor beach tree and relaxed, trying to think about how he was going to continue with his new found balance. There was no way he couldn't think about his troubles, what he was and what had to happen in the future. But he wasn't going to let that stop him from living the life he had left to him. It was almost funny how much he had already missed out on with all the crap he had gone through …

"Hello," Harry heard someone say and he opened his eyes lazily.

"Er … hey," Harry answered, seeing that it was Susan Bones standing there.

"I heard you talking to Neville," she confessed.

"Oh …"

"You know I never figured you'd be one to want to be set up," Susan said sitting down next to him.

Harry's knew his face was red but he tried to push through his embarrassment. "Neither did I."

"So what happened?" Susan asked.

"Don't you think that's a bit personal," Harry huffed.

"Yes, but I was curious," Susan said, "I would think you of all people would be able to …."

"Me of all people," Harry repeated, his eyebrows furrowing impatiently. "And just what does that mean? I supposed it has something to do with being so bloody famous …"

"Yes," Susan admitted and sighed. "I guess that just answered my question. It must be hard to try to talk with someone when they already have expectation of you."

"I never actually tried before," Harry sighed.

"Serious?!"

Harry felt his face burn again as he made a face. "Yeah. I always had other thing on my mind."

"Mysterious things," Susan supplied, looking amused.

"Well I guess from your point of view they're mysterious," Harry smiled. "From mine, they're just other things."

"You know you shouldn't sell yourself short," Susan said.

"Huh?" Harry said caught off guard by the statement.

"The fame thing isn't the only thing you have going for you," she said.

Harry looked at her for a moment before answering, "You think?"

"Yeah I do," Susan said, and then went on, "besides how do you think getting set up is going to get away from your issues."

Harry shrugged, "I didn't really think it through to be honest. I just … er … wanted something normal."

"I still think talking to a girl yourself would be better," Susan pointed out.

"And I still have never done that before," Harry reminded her, "I have no idea what to say."

"Don't you like someone … you know it usually starts there," Susan pointed out.

Harry grimaced and looked away from her. "I don't like anyone that I can ask out."

"But you do like someone," she stated this time.

His thoughts went towards a certain red head that he had only just realize that he like, though as he thought back on it, he had liked for a while before that.

"You don't have to answer, I can see you do," Susan said. "I don't know why you'd want to date some random girl if you like someone else."

Harry looked back at her, seeming to look right through her, "I'd just like to know what it's like to have someone …" he trail off because he realize that what he wanted wasn't going to be found in some meaningless date. "Maybe it has something to do with all my friends having someone. They all seem so much better off …"

"I don't think you're going to find that on a set up date," Susan said, "if you're using your friends as a basis."

"I don't think so either," Harry sighed, "so much for something normal, eh?"

"Oh I don't know about that," Susan said. "You're not as bad as you think you are."

"Bad?" Harry questioned.

"At talking to girls," she smiled at him.

"Oh really," Harry said looking intrigued but before he could say anything else he grimaced and grabbed his head.

"Harry!" Susan said in a panicky voice. "Harry, are you okay."

"No," Harry said his head was hammering and he was feeling ill … as ill as he had this morning … He laid down on his back and groan.

"Harry, what's the matter?" Susan asked in alarm.

"Not anything you should worry about," a chuckling voice said and Fred and George seem to appear out of nowhere.

"He just has the pleasure of being one of our test subjects for our new product," Fred said.

"Product?" Harry asked squinting; it seemed much too bright all of a sudden.

"Yeah, a fake hangover potion …" George said beaming. "We're testing how long it takes before the relief wears off and ones goes back to having a hangover."

"It seems like it took you six hours," Fred informed Harry.

"Argh," was the response they got from him.

"Oh don't groan at us, we're the ones that had to spy on you all day to see how long it will take to work," Fred said.

"Argh," Harry groaned again.

"Sorry mate, if we had known you'd be chatting up a bird we would have …" George started and then grinned, "well, we probably would have still given you the potion."

"It certainly made our time watching you much more entertaining," Fred agreed.

Susan glared at them before standing up and walking away.

"Seriously mate, we are a bit sorry," Fred said.

"Gits," Harry groaned at them.

They both shrugged and then lifted Harry off the ground, helping him back to the castle.