The Hogwarts Express lay like a red snake on the tracks, the white plumes of smoke floating upwards into the cornflower blue sky. There was pandemonium on the platform as students milled around, some taking their last long look up at Hogwarts. The whistle sounded and Marcus wrapped his robes around himself. Where was she? About half an hour ago, Beth had darted away.

"I'll meet you at the train," she'd said.

He ran his hand nervously through his hair. The train was due to leave any minute, where was she? His sister, Alicia, was standing chatting with Joe. He watched as she punctuated her speech with her hands. Joe laughed. Six months ago he'd hated the guy. In fact, it wasn't like he was best friends with him now, more like mutual friends of Beth. For their sake, they didn't argue much anymore. Around him his friends waved and grinned and punched his arm as they passed by. Jessi sauntered past him.

"What's up, grumpy?"

"Can't find Beth."

Jess shook her head and pointed over his shoulder. "She's coming now."

He spun around in time to catch the plummeting Beth, choking on his breath as she hugged him tight. "Dumbledore wants me back next year… as a student teacher!"

Leecie came racing over, Joe hot on her heels. "Did I just hear right?" she gasped. "Student teacher, you're kidding!"

Beth shook her head, breathless. She gulped in air, trying to stop her chest from heaving. She'd run all the way down here, beyond happy. Joe stared at her, amazed. "That means you'll be here with us next year."

"And I don't have to go to the college, I can take correspondence seeing as I'm doing workplace learning! I learn while I'm working, I'll be here with you guys!"

"Yes!" Joe shouted.

Tom was standing a few feet away, smiling as he listened in. So she would be back… He looked away, rubbed the back of his neck, then stepped onto the train, disappearing in the shadows beyond the doorway. Behind him, Marcus swore.

"Come on, the train's about to leave."

He ushered them on board, tweaking Beth in the waist and making her squeal when she got too close. Damn him, she thought, how dare he abuse the fact that I'm ticklish.

The three others slid into an empty compartment but Marcus grabbed hold of Beth's hand. "We'll be there in a sec!" he called out. There was a chorus of 'ooh's from the inside of the compartment before the door shut again.

"Beth… congratulations." He hugged her and kissed the top of her head. "I can't believe it's over."

"Neither can I." She smiled up at him. He reached out and ran his fingers slowly through her hair, letting the curls rest in his hand. She frowned slightly. "I could never figure out why you chose me. You could have had the pick of any girl you wanted, but you still chose little, insignificant, boring, stupid me."

"You can't help who you fall in love with."

"Oh. So you think I am little and insignificant and boring and stupid?!" she asked, teasing him. She had never asked any of those silly mind bending questions girls asked. If anything they annoyed her. 'What are you thinking about?' Honestly, the stupidity in that question always amazed her.

"Yes. You're also talented, beautiful, amazing and funny."

"Liar."

"I don't lie."

"You're a filthy liar."

"Don't make me poke you."

"Try me."

He stabbed her gently in the stomache with his finger, smiling as she let out a small laugh. "Beth, never doubt yourself. You do it so often. Look," he held her shoulders and bent his head to look into her eyes. She had her head down, looking up at him. "I have no intention of leaving you in the near future. None at all. Next year you're going to come back here and be the best damn teacher this as ever seen. Right now, we're going to go back into that compartment and have the best last day in Hogwarts history." He grinned. "Ok?"

"Ok!"

Marcus slid open the compartment door and they both stepped inside to enjoy their last day as students from Hogwarts.