Chapter Three

With Hermione in the main room of the third floor corridor Harry spent the remainder of his day setting up his study and reviewing the files of the incoming first-years. He wanted to be on a first name basis of every one of his students like Dumbledore had done for him. Granted, Harry's name was popular, even as a child, and the headmaster had taken a special interest in him since the incident with Voldemort when he was only one year old, but it made him feel special in a way. He wanted to make each of the first year's feel special as well.

He was amazed at the number of students that would be attending this year; mainly because of the enormous amount of transfer from the various school around the world: twenty-five from Asia-North - Durmstrang, five from France - Beauxbatons, seventeen from Hong Kong - Bamberstam, and even two students from America - The Texan Institute. All of them were sixth and seventh-years and all of them had a special interest in the Defense Against the Dark Arts as their primary field of study.

Harry didn't know how he felt about this turn of events. Almost fifty new students that in all probability had come to either study with or ogle the person that killed Voldemort. He was going to try to give them the benefit of the doubt, but still felt that it was his notoriety that had won the new additions to Hogwarts.

He had finished compiling his lesson plans for the first month and decided to call it a day when Hermione walked through the door looking tired and fairly disheveled. Without a word she stopped by to give him a kiss and proceeded to the bathroom for a nice warm soak. Harry decided to join her minutes later.

After a very unproductive washing session they reasserted them selves and cleaned up properly then climbed into bed for a very restful night's sleep.

Harry awoke the next morning to the feeling of his earlobe being softly nibbled upon. He smiled softly in his middle ground between being the conscious and unconscious. "Hermione," he playfully called.

"Hmm?" he heard her answer back, but it was odd, as if she was on the other side of the bed and not on top of him, nibbling his ear. He opened one eye and saw a mass of snowy white feathers a half inch from his face.

"BAAAAA!" he yelled as he jumped back and scared his wife, not to mention Hedwig who was now fluttering around the room in a snit because her master just yelled in her overly sensitive ears.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione said, looking from side to side.

He slowed his heat rate after having it almost jump out of his chest. "It's bloody Hedwig in bed with us. Scared me half to death."

Hermione laughed. "I think she's getting jealous of me."

She finally flittered down upon her perch and snubbed her beak at Harry, not really caring about delivering the letter the she was carrying. he stood up out of bed and grabbed his dressing cloak, and pulling it on against the chill of the night air. They had forgotten to close the window which explained how Hedwig was out and about to receive a letter from anyone.

When he tried to untie the parcel she scooted over to one end of her perch, and when he followed she moved back.

"Hedwig, I'm sorry I yelled. You scared me is all."

She looked at him and turned her beak back up. He neared and started to pet her soft feathers. "You know you're the only girl for me, don't you?"

If he didn't know any better he would have thought she sighed in resignation when she stuck her leg out for him to untie the letter.

"It's from Ron."

Dear Harry and Wife,

Now that sounds really weird, doesn't it?

Mum wants to know if tonight would be okay for dinner. Dad's got a promotion, even after his transfer last year. He's going to be Head of Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. HEAD of Department! Can you believe it? Dad says a hefty increase in pay comes with the job and I should be able to get new everything this year. Ginny is bouncing off the walls at the thought of being able to go shopping for clothes that aren't found in a second-hand shop.

Luna says hi She's hanging over my shoulder right now to make sure that I put it in the letter. She's staying with us this week because her father is out of town looking for a Single Snort Felly Whack in the rainforest of South America. Don't ask.

Hope you had fun shagging my best friend's brains out for the last month. That statement goes to both of you. Mum won't ever leave the house for more than five minutes at a time, so Luna has been quite pent up. She gets really cranky when she can't have her 'picnics.' Don't tell I said that, by the way.

Anyway, let us know by lunch time because mum has to go shopping.

Your friend,

Ron

Hermione stretched catlike across the bed as Harry watched. "So, dinner at Ron's tonight?"

She nodded and Harry saw Hedwig was already asleep so he stepped over to the living room and grabbed a pinch of Floo Powder, tossing it into the fireplace. "The Burrow!" he called and stuck his head in the green flames.

After the initial disorientation was gone he caught sight of two figures wrestling on the large couch in the Weasley's living room. He was about to call out to the house in warning before he noticed who it was. "Oh, get off each other for a moment."

Ron nearly jumped over the couch trying to separate himself from his girlfriend, and Luna looked very frustrated at being interrupted.

"Oh, it's only Harry," said Ron as he was clutching his chest. "Shouldn't sneak up on us like that, mate."

Harry watched Luna rearranged herself and chuckled. "Got your letter; tonight should be fine."

Ron smiled, "Great, I'll tell mum when she comes back in. " then as an afterthought. "Are you at number twelve?"

"No, already at Hogwarts, Hermione's here too. You should see our rooms."

"Big, huh?" asked Ron.

"Make's my old rooms look small in comparison."

Hermione's voice came from the other room. "Harry, ask them if they want to meet us at Diagon Alley today."

"Is that, Hermione?" asked Luna.

"Yeah, did you hear?"

Ron nodded, "We haven't gotten our supplies list yet. Not for another week, probably."

"McGonagall gave me yours and Ginny's already, I'll see if I can get yours too, Luna."

"Thank you, Harry," she replied.

"Well, we'll be ready to leave in about an hour. Is that okay with you?"

Ron shrugged. "We're already ready. Mum woke us up early to degnome the garden this morning."

"Okay, well I better get down to McGonagall's off right away. You can Floo over if you want and check out the new rooms."

Ron held up a finger and ran out of the room. He watched as Luna felt behind her ear and realized her wand was missing and then turned to the cushions of the couch to retrieve and replace it in it's proper place.

Ron came back holding a decent sized pouch in his hand. Apparently, Mr. Weasley had gotten a decent pay raise off of his last promotion. "Mum asked if Ginny can come with us to buy her supplies too."

Harry laughed. "Sure. The more the merrier."

Ron turned his head to the back, "Oy! He said it was alright!"

He saw a flash of red hair in the background rushing up the stairs when Ron turned around. "Says she has to go change. We'll be over in a mo'. Where are you at anyway?"

Harry smirked. "You ready for this?"

They nodded.

"Just say 'Gryffindor Head of House'."

Ron's jaw dropped and his eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. "No way!"

He smiled, "I better get going if we're going to be on time."

"Bloody hell!"

"Ronald Weasley!" Harry heard Ron's mom admonishing him in the background.

He turned his head. "Mum, Harry's Head of House!"

Mrs. Weasley came into view. "What?"

He turned back. "See you in a few, mate."

Harry pulled back and waited until the spinning stopped before he stood back up. Hermione was right behind him and already dressed. He looked her up and down.

"How is it possible that you look this beautiful this early in the morning?"

She smiled coyly. "You always know just what to say, Harry." She rose up on her tip toes and pecked him on the lips. "You better go get ready."

Fifteen minutes later he was taking the revolving staircase down to the first floor and passing the entrance way to the corridor where McGonagall's office lay.

She looked up from her desk where she was magically stuffing envelopes and flying them across the room to a table that was full of already completed supplies lists.

"Harry, up early I see. Very good. It's a good sign of your dedication."

He nodded. "Yes Ma'am. Hermione and I are going to Diagon Alley for my books and more of her supplies. I had a request and a question."

She nodded. "Proceed, you are not interrupting." She flicked her wand again and another dozen or so letters flew across the room.

"Luna Lovegood is staying with the Weasley's while her father is out of town. May I bring along her supplies list as well."

"Ravenclaw is on the right side of the table." she paused. "And your question?"

Harry smiled. "Would you like me to pick anything up for you while we were there?"

She smiled with thin lips. "That's very considerate of you, Harry. I've already completed all of my shopping for this term, however."

He turned and searched through a large stack until he found Luna's envelope. "Thanks, Professor."

"Anytime, Harry."

He had returned in time to greet Ron and Luna who were inspecting the new rooms with much awe.

"Where's Ginny?"

Ron looked somewhat disgusted. "Oh, she's discovered make-up. It takes her about four times as long to get ready to go anywhere now."

Hermione scoffed. "She didn't just discover make-up. this is the first time that she's actually been able use any. Your mother absolutely forbad her to use any until her sixth year."

Ron scrunched up his face with confusion. "Why? What's the big deal?"

Luna was perusing the books on Harry's shelves. "She's off to impress Neville this year, of course."

Harry and Ron spun around in shock. "What?" they said in chorus.

"Somebody's in looove," Luna sang under her breath.

"With Neville Longbottom?" asked Ron with disbelief.

Luna smiled and her eyes softened. "Have you seen Neville recently, Ronald?"

"Um, no."

"Ginny has, or rather Ginny has a picture that was taken recently under her pillow in her room. Neville has become rather ..."

"Bald?" offered Ron.

"I was going to say dreamy."

Ron laughed. "Dreamy ... Longbottom, dreamy?"

Hermione wasn't amused. "Ron, Neville was working out and cutting back on his desserts especially by the end of the year. He took Dumbledore's instructions very seriously, last year."

At that moment emerald green flames whooshed up and Ginny Weasley stepped out of the fireplace. Except this wasn't the Ginny that Harry remembered. Her normally straight hair was wavy in places and her face was accented in flattering colors hiding the thickest of her freckles.

Hermione poked him in the ribs. "Close your mouth, Harry. You lost your chance when you married me."

His mouth snapped shut and looked down at Hermione who was staring fire at him. "Um ... just surprised is all."

"You are not going to Diagon Alley looking like that," commanded Ron.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Mum, said I looked very nice and you are not dad."

"Blimey, Ginny, I'll have to stun every boy I see."

She smiled. "Thank you, Ron. That's the nicest thing you've ever told me."

Ron looked around the room and received no assistance. It looked like his heart sank.

Harry though of a way to divert his attention. "You lot want your Hogwart's letters?" he stepped around to his desk and retrieved Ron and Ginny's letters and passed them out along with Luna's.

Ron tore his open and perused his supplies while Harry watched Ginny just hold hers, staring at it.

"Harry?" she asked with almost a whisper.

"Open it."

Ron looked on with interest while she ripped it open and pulled out a prefect's badge.

She looked down at it and back up to Harry. "I'm a prefect?"

He nodded.

"SQEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Hermione held her hands over her ears as did Harry, Ron and Luna. "Okay, she's got me beat."

Harry nodded in response.

Ginny grabbed a pinch of Floo Powder and tossed it in the fire. "The Burrow." She stuck her head in and yelled for her mother. "Mum! Mum!"

They all could hear Mrs. Weasley in shock. "Ginny, dear. What's wrong?"

"Mum, I made Prefect!"

It was like fifth year all over again, Mrs. Weasley came through the Fireplace moments later to give Ginny a proper hug and the squealing ran rampant throughout the living room and study.

"This calls for something special. What will it be, Ginny? Ron got a new broom, what is it you want?"

Ginny's eyes lit up. "Oh, Mum ... can I?"

Mrs. Weasley paused for a moment and then shook it off. She reached around her neck and pulled out a chain with a familiar Gringotts vault key hanging around it and handed it to Ginny. "Only as much as you need to purchase the cloak. And I want that back here as soon as you return to the house."

Ginny bounced up and down hugging her mother. "Oh, thank you, Mum."

Mrs. Weasley pulled back smiling at her daughter. "You earned it, dear. You deserve it."

Harry left the living room and walked over to the file cabinet to withdraw a large folder. Voices were still loud and celebrating when he returned. He handed the folder to Ron.

"What's this?"

"It's the Quidditch Captain's playbook."

Ron's eyes lit up. "Cool, I can learn some of the old strategies. thanks, Harry."

Ginny looked on. "Ron, you silly prat."

"What?"

She rolled her eyes. "Only the Quidditch Captain can look at the playbook."

He rolled his eyes mockingly back at her. "I know that's why I said thanks."

Harry shook his head in disappointment. "Now I don't know If I want someone so thick to be Gryffindor Quidditch Captain."

Ron looked down at the book and back up at Harry. "You're Head of House. You pick the Captain."

"Just thought of that, did you?"

"Me?"

Harry nodded. "Ron, you've beaten me in almost every game of Wizard's Chess we've every played; you're real good on strategy It was because of you that we won last year and you're the oldest player on the team ... unless you want to give it to Ginny."

She made a grab for the playbook and Ron jerked it away. "Not on your bleedin' life!" He looked back down at the book. "It's just like I saw in the mirror."

"What's that, dear?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

"The Mirror of Erised, Mrs. Weasley," Harry recounted. "It's supposed to show you your most desperate desire. Ron and I found it our first year."

Ron nodded. "I was Quidditch Captain and I won the Quidditch Cup, I was also Head Boy ... I wonder?"

Harry snickered. "I wouldn't hold your breath on that."

Ron shrugged. "I hated being prefect anyway. Fred and George always on my head. They can't have anything to say about this though."