Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, brilliantly created by J.K.
Rowling. Most situations are based on those created by J.K. Rowling.
Chapter Twenty-Five: The Final Year Begins
Once again, the summer ended all too soon, and it was back to King's Cross Station and onto the Hogwarts Express. Harry, Ron and Hermione were filled with a sadness and a sense of excitement, knowing that this would be their last year at Hogwarts. The threat of N.E.W.T.'s was looming, and it was also a little scary, knowing that they would have to choose a path and go out into the world.
After a quick goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley at the train station, they were on their way. "This is our last trip to Hogwarts," Hermione said. Ron thought he could hear a hint of a cry in her voice, but her eyes were dry.
"Aw, look at you, getting all emotional," he said to make her smile. It worked.
Ginny looked at them like they were crazy. "I still have two years here," she said. "You don't know how lucky you guys are!"
"I don't know," said Harry. "Hogwarts has been the greatest home I've ever known. Well, that and your house."
"Well, you know our mum thinks of you as one of her own," Ron piped in. "And you too, Hermione. And, I think of you as a brother."
"Uh, thanks Ron," said Harry. The moment was awkward for both of them, but appreciated none the same.
"And Hermione's the closest thing to a sister I have," said Ginny. "Well, actually, there's Penelope, and she's technically more related to Hermione, but -"
"We get the idea, Ginny," Ron said. Ginny laughed and sat back in her seat. They spent the rest of the train ride reminiscing about the previous six years and the adventures they had.
* * *
The feast in the Great Hall brought more emotional moments for Hermione, when they witnessed the sorting. "We won't see these anymore," she said sadly, then hid her face. Ginny suspected she was wiping away a tear. Still, Hermione perked up enough to listen to Dumbledore's announcements, which included a general stating of the rules of Hogwarts and the announcement that this year there would be a Halloween Ball for all those students in their seventh year (and younger years, if they happened to be the dates of someone in seventh year).
"How exciting!" Ginny exclaimed. "I can't wait!"
"How do you know I'll ask you?" Harry teased. In response, Ginny punched him in the arm.
"You will," said Ginny. "Or you'll get another one of those."
"We can't have that," said Harry, and he put his arm around her. Just then, Dumbledore finished his announcements, and the food arrived. As usual, it was wonderful, and the four friends were quite full when they headed up to the common room to head to bed.
* * *
The next day, classes were in full swing. All their teachers (including Tonks, who had managed to stay on for a second year in the cursed Defense Against the Dark Arts position) started to stress the importance of the upcoming N.E.W.T.'s for their future jobs. Ron was sure he saw Hermione turning green as she started to become nervous about doing badly on the big exams. "Bloody hell, Hermione!" he exclaimed after class. "You do well without even thinking about it! You'll be fine!"
"But these tests are really hard Ron," she said. "I need to keep my options open, so I can choose a career."
"You should go into Mind Reading with Ginny," Ron suggested. "You're very into other people's brains."
Hermione considered it. "I don't know much about it," she said. "I guess that's just another thing I have to study. I have so much to do!"
Ron sighed. He could tell it was going to be tough getting Hermione to relax this year.
* * *
Harry was sitting in Professor McGonagall's office. Since her promise to help him become an Auror, she had insisted that he meet with her every month to discuss his plans and to see how he was doing in his classes. "Well, Mr. Potter," she said as she looked over a grade sheet. "I must say that I am quite impressed. Your grades have been quite good, you have earned all the O.W.L.'s you needed, and it is quite clear that you have the Defense Against the Dark Arts talent that is so important to an Auror. You could stand to be doing a little better in Potions, as usual."
"I know, Professor," said Harry. "I'm doing my best."
"I trust that you will be well prepared when the time comes to take you N.E.W.T.'s?" McGonagall asked. "You don't want all your hard work to amount to nothing. If you don't do your absolute best on those tests, then you will not be accepted into Auror training." Harry nodded in agreement. "I will give you all the help you want."
"Thank you, professor," said Harry.
"And I understand that your friend, Mr. Weasley, has sudden aspirations to be a Healer?" McGonagall asked.
"Yes," said Harry. "Leave it to Hermione to give him a huge goal."
"I notice that he has been doing well though," said Professor McGonagall. "However, he too needs to be doing better in Potions. It's one of the most important things for a Healer. I trust you will pass on the message."
"Sure," said Harry.
McGonagall closed the book she was looking at. She looked at Harry, and he thought he could see a slight tear in her eye. "Well, Mr. Potter, I must say that you have made Hogwarts a very interesting place during your stay here. You will be greatly missed, but also know that we are all very proud of you," she said. "You have the same drive as your father."
"Thanks," said Harry, smiling.
"And your mother, as well," said McGonagall. "I know that a lot of people only mention her eyes when they see you, but I see a lot of her in you as well."
"Thanks," Harry said, again.
"Now, why don't you head back to the common room and gather your team," McGonagall said. "I want another Quidditch cup this year."
"Of course, Professor," said Harry. "We've got a strong team."
When Harry left the office, McGonagall sighed. "We certainly will miss you around here, Mr. Potter," she said to herself. "You and your penchant for getting into trouble."
Chapter Twenty-Five: The Final Year Begins
Once again, the summer ended all too soon, and it was back to King's Cross Station and onto the Hogwarts Express. Harry, Ron and Hermione were filled with a sadness and a sense of excitement, knowing that this would be their last year at Hogwarts. The threat of N.E.W.T.'s was looming, and it was also a little scary, knowing that they would have to choose a path and go out into the world.
After a quick goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley at the train station, they were on their way. "This is our last trip to Hogwarts," Hermione said. Ron thought he could hear a hint of a cry in her voice, but her eyes were dry.
"Aw, look at you, getting all emotional," he said to make her smile. It worked.
Ginny looked at them like they were crazy. "I still have two years here," she said. "You don't know how lucky you guys are!"
"I don't know," said Harry. "Hogwarts has been the greatest home I've ever known. Well, that and your house."
"Well, you know our mum thinks of you as one of her own," Ron piped in. "And you too, Hermione. And, I think of you as a brother."
"Uh, thanks Ron," said Harry. The moment was awkward for both of them, but appreciated none the same.
"And Hermione's the closest thing to a sister I have," said Ginny. "Well, actually, there's Penelope, and she's technically more related to Hermione, but -"
"We get the idea, Ginny," Ron said. Ginny laughed and sat back in her seat. They spent the rest of the train ride reminiscing about the previous six years and the adventures they had.
* * *
The feast in the Great Hall brought more emotional moments for Hermione, when they witnessed the sorting. "We won't see these anymore," she said sadly, then hid her face. Ginny suspected she was wiping away a tear. Still, Hermione perked up enough to listen to Dumbledore's announcements, which included a general stating of the rules of Hogwarts and the announcement that this year there would be a Halloween Ball for all those students in their seventh year (and younger years, if they happened to be the dates of someone in seventh year).
"How exciting!" Ginny exclaimed. "I can't wait!"
"How do you know I'll ask you?" Harry teased. In response, Ginny punched him in the arm.
"You will," said Ginny. "Or you'll get another one of those."
"We can't have that," said Harry, and he put his arm around her. Just then, Dumbledore finished his announcements, and the food arrived. As usual, it was wonderful, and the four friends were quite full when they headed up to the common room to head to bed.
* * *
The next day, classes were in full swing. All their teachers (including Tonks, who had managed to stay on for a second year in the cursed Defense Against the Dark Arts position) started to stress the importance of the upcoming N.E.W.T.'s for their future jobs. Ron was sure he saw Hermione turning green as she started to become nervous about doing badly on the big exams. "Bloody hell, Hermione!" he exclaimed after class. "You do well without even thinking about it! You'll be fine!"
"But these tests are really hard Ron," she said. "I need to keep my options open, so I can choose a career."
"You should go into Mind Reading with Ginny," Ron suggested. "You're very into other people's brains."
Hermione considered it. "I don't know much about it," she said. "I guess that's just another thing I have to study. I have so much to do!"
Ron sighed. He could tell it was going to be tough getting Hermione to relax this year.
* * *
Harry was sitting in Professor McGonagall's office. Since her promise to help him become an Auror, she had insisted that he meet with her every month to discuss his plans and to see how he was doing in his classes. "Well, Mr. Potter," she said as she looked over a grade sheet. "I must say that I am quite impressed. Your grades have been quite good, you have earned all the O.W.L.'s you needed, and it is quite clear that you have the Defense Against the Dark Arts talent that is so important to an Auror. You could stand to be doing a little better in Potions, as usual."
"I know, Professor," said Harry. "I'm doing my best."
"I trust that you will be well prepared when the time comes to take you N.E.W.T.'s?" McGonagall asked. "You don't want all your hard work to amount to nothing. If you don't do your absolute best on those tests, then you will not be accepted into Auror training." Harry nodded in agreement. "I will give you all the help you want."
"Thank you, professor," said Harry.
"And I understand that your friend, Mr. Weasley, has sudden aspirations to be a Healer?" McGonagall asked.
"Yes," said Harry. "Leave it to Hermione to give him a huge goal."
"I notice that he has been doing well though," said Professor McGonagall. "However, he too needs to be doing better in Potions. It's one of the most important things for a Healer. I trust you will pass on the message."
"Sure," said Harry.
McGonagall closed the book she was looking at. She looked at Harry, and he thought he could see a slight tear in her eye. "Well, Mr. Potter, I must say that you have made Hogwarts a very interesting place during your stay here. You will be greatly missed, but also know that we are all very proud of you," she said. "You have the same drive as your father."
"Thanks," said Harry, smiling.
"And your mother, as well," said McGonagall. "I know that a lot of people only mention her eyes when they see you, but I see a lot of her in you as well."
"Thanks," Harry said, again.
"Now, why don't you head back to the common room and gather your team," McGonagall said. "I want another Quidditch cup this year."
"Of course, Professor," said Harry. "We've got a strong team."
When Harry left the office, McGonagall sighed. "We certainly will miss you around here, Mr. Potter," she said to herself. "You and your penchant for getting into trouble."