Disclaimer: The characters are not mine. The plot is. Please don't take it. (I used to try to make these funny, or unusual, and then I realized- why bother? It's the same thing that is in every story in every category... I still like the unusual ones, but please, does anyone else read these? Okay, end ramble.)

A/N: I could not think of anything to write for this so I put it off, but here it is now and I'll try to get more out sooner because I've gotten some very nice reviews, and a thousand thanks for all of those, and ... I'm rambling again. Sorries.

Ginny squeezed Harry's hand. He looked down at her questioningly. "What?"

"They deserve each other." She smiled slyly, evil images of Ron and Hermione fighting their was through life flitting through her mind.

"They do. And it's certainly going to be entertaining for the rest of us."

The two walked in silence for a moment, finally coming to a stop at the portrait of the Fat Lady, who was nowhere in sight.

"What do you want to bet she's gossiping with all her friends about the debate?"

"That would be a very stupid bet, Harry, as we all know it's true." She sat at the entranceway to wait for the Fat Lady's return, pulling him down beside her. "What is the topic of the debate?"

"I didn't tell you?" Ginny emphatically shook her head, and Harry shrugged. "I guess I was distracted by all the screaming. Dumbledore stuck it to us- we have to debate the effectiveness of teaching methods- you know, would students learn more if Snape patted you on the back and passed out chocolate chip cookies every time you answered correctly."

Ginny looked at him. "What? That's what the topic is! I'm serious!" She still looked at him, eyebrows raised every so slightly, and eyes widened disbelievingly. "It's true- okay, maybe Dumbledore didn't say it in so many words, but we do have to debate teacher effectiveness. Dumbledore told us to research both sides, because we could argue either one."

She burst out laughing. "Snape is going to argue that he could be a better teacher by passing out chocolate chip cookies?"

"He might have to, or lose, and he would never do that... It's sort of a catch-22 for Snape. If we end up getting those sides."

"Here's your cookie, Harry," Ginny said obsessively, smiling very weirdly in imitation of Snape in imitation of a kind mother giving her son a wonderful home-made dessert.

It was perfect.

They looked at each other and started laughing hysterically.

* * * * *

When Ron and Hermione came along Harry and Ginny they were lying on the floor trying not to laugh any more.

Ron surveyed them, Ginny with her head on Harry's lap, Harry's hands slowly twirling her flaming hair... He walked over to Harry's head and stared down at him in that way that elder brothers have perfected when dealing with their younger sister's suitors.

"If you ever have or ever do hurt Ginny in any way you will never want another girl again."

Harry, suddenly serious, looked straight at Ron. "I know. I would never do anything like that. And I think that you would be more worried about her breaking my heart." The last was said as the caressed the top of her head.

Ron grinned slightly. "That matters less to me. Now, don't you guys want to actually get into the Common Room?" He nudged Ginny's leg with a foot, eliciting a sharp kick to the shin. "Or not, whichever you prefer."

Harry looked up at the frame where the Fat Lady now sat. "Why didn't you tell us that you got back?"

"Well, you looked like you were having so much fun... Not that kind of fun!" She reassured Ron when he started to tense. "They were having a good laugh, and I must say that I've been laughing, too. What will Dumbledore do to Snape next?"

Hermione and Ron looked quizzically at Harry. "What's she talking about?"

"The topic for the debate, that Dumbledore chose..." He paused, trying very hard not to look at Ginny. Harry knew that, if he did, they would be laughing for another half hour before he would be able to tell Ron and Hermione the topic. Finally he decided to just get it out as fast as possible. "The topic is whether some teaching methods get better results than others- like if Snape- If Snape-"

He gave up and collapsed again with Ginny. She looked up at the questioning expressions on their faces, and had mercy. "If Snape, instead of being the mean old git that he is, handed out cookies- chocolate chip cookies- with an apron on- when you answered correctly-"

The four friends did not end up making it into the Commons for some time.

* * * * *

Dean, Seamus and Neville gathered around Harry and Ron when they went up to the dorms.

"All the paintings are talking about it."

"They say that Snape hasn't left his rooms since Dumbledore gave him the ultimatum."

"They say that it's Dumbledore's best idea yet."

"Most entertaining, at least."

"Will we get to watch?"

Harry shrugged. He should have known that the debate would be big news around the school; Snape being forced to defend an unfair punishment was big news. "I don't really know how it's going to be set up- all I know is the topic, that we need to research both sides, and that I need a partner."

Everyone pulled away at this. No one wanted to face the certain wrath of Snape for having the audacity to disagree with him in public. He smiled. "That's okay. I think that I'm going to ask Ginny."

"Ginny?" Neville asked.

"Even though she always ends up around you, Ron, and Hermione when you are fighting, she doesn't lose control. That's important in a debate partner. Plus, I enjoy working with her."

The four boys looked at each other, then at Harry.

"Yeah."

"Work."

"That's right."

He tried to defend himself. "It's true! She's very smart, and hard-working!"

"Whatever you say, Harry."

A/N: I liked that chapter ... hopefully you all will too...

Thanks so much for the reviews, it makes me so happy! Thanks go to Eureka, RetroBirdie, witchchild, snapefan, Mary :), and fluere113- many thanks to you for reviewing every chapter, and telling me that the third chapter was okay...

That's about it. I'll try to write more soon, some sort of tension release with school having started... of course, I probably should be doing my chemistry, but that's okay! Tah!