"I still can't believe you two are Professors now." Colin Creevey told Harry and Neville.
They were on the Hogwarts Express, in a compartment. Some 7th years had come to sit with Harry, Ginny, Neville and Luna and they were awing at the fact that Harry and Neville were the new Professors.
They had first thought that they had failed, and that they had to do their year over. That was just a first guess, then Ginny told them what Harry was really doing there. Neville proudly told them that he had not failed, and that he was teaching Herbology this year.
"It'll be strange, I mean, I have Luna as my student, and I'm only a year older than the oldest students in the school." Answered Neville, smiling at Luna.
"Yeah…it'll be kind of weird, I guess." Said Harry.
"So how's it going with you and Ginny here?" asked Jessica Laxer, fluttering her eyelashes at Harry.
"Fine, we're engaged." Answered Ginny coldly.
"You are?" asked Jessica disbelievingly. The whole compartment was now looking at Harry and Ginny. Engaged?
"Yes." Answered Harry coolly.
"Congratulations!" said Colin, beaming at them.
"Yeah, mate, I always knew you two would get hitched some day!" added Neville.
"I wish you two well." Said Luna, smiling and looking at Ginny's ring. Ginny giggled and held out her hand, the girls examined it, giggling and gasping.
"So when did you ask?" asked Neville in a low voice.
"Yesterday night." Replied Harry, grinning.
"Where?"
"In the garden at the Burrow."
"Brilliant!" said Colin.
"Harry, I need to talk to you…privately." Said Neville, looking meaningfully at Colin. The latter shrugged and went to talk with his brother, who was also in the compartment.
Harry and Neville went out of the compartment.
"What's up?" asked Harry concernedly.
Neville glanced around nervously then whispered,
"I'm going to ask Luna to marry me."
Harry stared, then he said,
"That's great!"
Neville looked at him.
"Yeah? But I don't know when or how or where…you have to help me, Harry!" he pleaded.
"Well…okay…" said Harry.
"Thank you so much! I'll talk to you at dinner." Said Neville, grinning broadly and stepping back into the compartment.
Harry shook his head smilingly and walked after him.
____________________________________________________________________________
"Eat away." Said Professor Dumbledore, beaming at the students before him. It was Professor Aberforth Dumbledore, who looked very like the late Albus Dumbledore.
Albus Dumbledore had died in July, the 31st, to be exact. He had come to Harry's birthday party, and then, later that night, he had died. He said nobody should be sad, because it was like going to sleep for him. They had obeyed him, and felt happy for him, that he could finally rest.
Harry felt very weird, sitting at the Staff Table, looking at the students before him.
When Professor Dumbledore had announced him, everybody had stared and then clapped enthusiastically.
He had blushed and sat down again, Snape looking intently at him.
"What do you think is wrong with Snape? He's not even given me the 'I hate you' look all evening." Harry said to Neville, who was sitting next to him, staring before him.
"I don't know, Harry. Maybe he wants to be friends with you now you're a Professor." Answered Neville, looking away and starting to eat.
"This feels really weird." He added, looking at the students before him again.
"Yeah. I don't think I'll be able to take points off of Gryffindor." Replied Harry, grinning guiltily.
"Me neither." Agreed Neville.
"Well, well, Mr. Potter. I guess I can call you by your first name now." Said Professor McGonagal, who was sitting at his other side, smiling slightly.
"Of course." Answered Harry, a bit surprised.
"Then you can call me Minerva. We are colleagues now, after all. And Neville, the same goes for you." She said to Neville, who looked surprised, but nodded, evidently pleased.
"Say, Minerva, I've been wondering…what ever happened to Draco Malfoy?" asked Harry, who had been wondering this for some time now.
"Well, we don't know for sure, he didn't come to school last year after you defeated You-Know-Who, but then he showed up for his N.E.W.T.'s, and he did surprisingly well, and then he just appeared here to get his diploma and now he's disappeared." Anwered Minerva, frowning slightly.
"Hmmm…" said Harry thoughtfully.
"I see Severus has gotten over his grudge for your father." Said Minerva, gesturing toward Snape, who was not scowling at Harry.
"Yeah, I noticed, what happened to him? I mean, he's not given me a loathing look." Asked Harry.
"He noticed you're not your father." Replied Minerva simply, and she turned around and started talking to Professor Dumbledore.
Neville had turned back to Harry, he had been talking to Professor Flitwick.
"Guess what?" he said excitedly.
"What?" asked Harry.
"I can call Professor Flitwick Filius." Answered Neville.
"Really?" asked Harry, not really paying attention.
"Yes, and you can too, Professor Potter, or can I call you Harry?" squeaked Flitwick, now, Filius.
"You may call me Harry, Filius." Harry called back.
"This is so cool! We can call them by their first names." Said Neville.
"Yeah…I wonder if I can call Snape by his first name now." Wondered Harry out loud.
"Yes, you can, Potter." Said Snape, who had come over for the fried mushrooms. "And you can too, Longbottom."
Harry flushed slightly as Neville almost fell off his chair.
"I can?" he asked. "I mean…I can. And you, Severus, can call me Harry." He said, recovering himself.
"And I am Neville." Said Neville, still looking shocked.
Snape (Severus) nodded and took the dish with the fried mushrooms.
"Wow. He really has changed his attitude toward me." Said Harry.
Neville was staring at his dish. "I can call him Severus. I can call him Severus. I can call him Severus…"
"I guess he has forgotten the Boggart-incident." Answered Harry, grinning.
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responses:
Swishy Willow Wand: Yeah, I could picture him as a big brother…thanks!
Irish Chick: Thanks!
Bug2Buggie: Well, you review almost every chapter! Thank you, Heather!
ZagZig722: Thank you! Yes, you are a true genius.
HappySnakesRule: Hello, fellow evil Mistress of the World, and detester of the Devious Turkeys, thank you very much! Awhoooooooooooooo!
AnimeAngel90: How's it going for ya, dudette? Well, I like to eat them, yes. Hehe…Yes, I give them all the time and I get them on the time. Just today my Chinese friend hit me over the head with her Geometry Book, which, I might add, is extremely heavy. All because I said that when I take over the world, I'm going to start with China! I mean, come on! That's no reason to give someone a concussion! (no I don't have a concussion)
Maria: one or two.
IloveHPbooks: thank you! Glad you like my story!
Darkboy77: I don't know what to say….wow. I have over 400 reviews for this story. Wow. I'm still speechless. Thank you soooooooooooooooo much! Yes, I will review, also anonymously, if that's what you want! I just love your stories and I'm so glad you like mine! Thank againnnnnnnnn!
Sarahamanda: thank you!
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Okay people, I have 442 REVIEWS! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? I never thought I would get that many!
Phew!
Okay, the next chapter might be in 2 days because it's going to be the last chapter, sadly. But it's going to be extra long!
