Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all the his friends are not mine. I am not the creator of magic! I'm not the Lord(or Lady) of the Rings! I am not the Queen of England! It's JK Rowling! (((sigh))) Ignore that sudden outburst.
H-ello everybody. I have officially decided school is evil and nothing good comes of it! (I just finished my first week back at school after my vaca in Asia) Anywho...it was good to see my friends again. Well most of them. Some of them have changed for the worse (((frowns))) Anywho thank you so much to everybody who reviewed! And please keep on reviewing 'cause it really is the reviews that encourage me to write this story! Also if you're just reading and don't give me any feedback whether good or bad, you're wasting my time (sort of, does that make sense?). I love that fact that you're reading my story but if I don't know you're reading I might just stooop writing it! Please consider what I've just said and review the story! Its kind of like the situation with downloading music off the internet illegally! Please review or leave me and my baby (the story haha) alone!
Anyways to the thank-yous of the loyal people who do review my story. Thank you! I love you very very much!
Chrismukkah-hunnie: Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter so much! And its nice to hear you're still loving the story. Yup Asia was awesome. When I first got there it was so different I almost wanted to come home but now that I'm home...well I miss Asia! Yeah there were elephants. They are sort of funny, I mean how many animals do we know with trunks? LOL hyper's good! (p.s. yes it's so freaking cold! I might die.)
MeryKey-7: Hey I'm glad to be back amongst all you other crazy Harry Potter fans. Aww thanks for saying I'm your favourite writer! The trip was great of course I got to exprience lotsa "thought-provoking" things if you know what I mean. Thanks for asking about it! It feels kinda good to tell this to someone I haven't even seen lol. I'm happy that you loved the last chapter and I hope you love this one too! My publicist says I cannot comment on the snogging like crazy thingy but she does say I can tell you thanks for reviewing the last chappie! LOL.
memommy27: I'm half-heartedly starting to be glad to be back too. Hehe I'm glad my story sparked a large interest in you! Ron is being childish because-hey...read the chapter! Hey I never realized I was the boss. Whao never had that title before! Whao you're a mom? That is so awesome! How many kids do you have? Yeah full ahead with the progression! Oh and btw thank you for reviewing!
QueenofDarkness13: YAY! I updated! LOL. Not as exciting for me as it is for you fabulous readers but yay! (((does sad but joyful little jig))). Your welcome btw! And thanks for the review too!
Miss Court-A-Doo: Yep I know, right? It's so much fun to hear from all you guys! Specially those like you who I remember reviewing chapters from so long ago! I spread the love to you! And thank-thank-thank you for the upddat! oh oops that's your job! I meant review!
QueEnfullofDrama: Yeah I seriously think the map people have made a mistake 'cause once while I was in South Korea I think I saw Hawaii just a bit to the south of it, you know? But sheesh-kerbobs! I'll buy another map from that druggy kid who stands outside my school selling maps. Maybe HE has some sense! Anywho thanks a bunch for reviewing!
bethzc: Hiya. Well you'll find out what's happening...now. Thanks for reviewing too! It was really appreciated!
Rianna Potter: June 11th and is sucha torture! So is November 18th! This means I'll have to live on re-reading and re-watching my dvds of the first three movies! argh! I'm glad at least you understand my pain! Sooo on a lighter note thank you so much for reviewing!
airhead14: Hello! It's good to hear from you too! It's nice to hear you liked the chapter! Hope you like the next and thanks for your review!
Nymphomaniac: And reviewing becomes an art! LOL. j/ks. BTW cool pen-name! Anywhoo thanks for your super duper reviewing! (((getting hyper)))
ellen2321: Haha that's a debate I've had many times with myself when reviewing my favb stories! First question I can't answer. Second question I can't answer. Third question isss no it isn't Albus. It's Aberforth. Don't worry you'll find out what's with Seamus when he makes his return! Oh and thanks for the review. It was awesome!
trikkity: eh eh you suck at reviews haha. j/ks. I looove you buddy! Listen I'm coming over tomm 'cause our parents are going to the Dynamic Christmas Party thingy. So I'll see ya tomm! OH and a giant thanks for reviewing!
hikaru: Yeah I know so metaphoric, eh? LOL. I'm good at those most of the time. Haha a physiciatrist might be good. Oh and thanks a ton for the reviews because they were greatly appreciated by moi!
Bhekie: Yup it's good to hear from you! I hope you like the chappies to come as much as you liked the last! Ark? lol...ark to you too! Thanks for reviewing btw!
hikaru: Haha don't take it as an insult. It's more of a metaphor. LOL. Anywho if I had as much energy as you seem to I would die trying to bottle it up! So kudos to you and your "bottling" abilities! Thanks for reviewing too!
justdreem: Oh whao I'm so happy to be your first. Lol...that sounded almost wrong. ANYways, thanks so much for the review and compliments and stuff!
(((NOTE)))
By the way there comes a confusing part in the middle-ish of the story when everyone's talking over each other so here's a legend so you'll know who's talking when.
Hermione
Ron
McGonagall
The first thing Ron saw when his feet hit Hogwarts was Professor McGonagall sitting behind Dumbledore's old desk. Or he supposed it must belong to her now. It didn't matter either way from the piercing look she was giving him. He gulped. McGonagall looking at him the way she did when she caught him and Megan Jones (a very cute blonde Hufflepuff) in the Restricted section of the library after hours doing-well what young angsty teenagers do was not the first thing he'd wanted to see upon his return at his former school.
Luckily Ron was avoided the trouble of having to make chit-chat by Hermione's arrival in the fire after him. She was a tad sooty. Floo travel had never been her cup of tea. Ron on the other hand didn't mind it so much. It had it's ups and downs yet it was a part of everyday wizard life. Just like publick tramportion was to Muggles.
As Hermione got up, Ron noticed she looked rather dazed. She stumbled over beside Ron and they both stared at McGonagall expectantly. Although Ron had no idea what he was expecting...
"Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, I welcome you back to Hogwarts" Professor McGonagall said in a voice that lightly suggested she was glad to see them again after all their time apart. Perhaps McGonagall considered them her children almost? Afterall she had been a major parent figure to them at their time here in Hogwarts. And the war had only drewn Harry, Ron and Hermione closer to the staff at Hogwarts because of their close relations to Dumbledore.
"And it's wonderful to be back" Hermione chimed.
They both looks towards Ron in waiting.
"Erm yeah, great to be back..." Ron mumbled and trailed off. To tell the truth 'great' wasn't exactly the word he'd use to explain what it was like being back at Hogwarts. It almost hurt to be back in a way. An aching arose within him at an alarming rate. So many memories. Even in this office. He remembered coming here near the end of his second year with Harry and Ginny and he could almost remember what it had felt that night. Being frightened, excited, overjoyed. They had saved his baby sister. Stepping through his castle would be like walking through a place filled with ghostly memories. The first time he and Harry had played chess. The first time he'd shared a civil conversation with Hermione. The first time almost everything had happened for him had been here. He missed the school sorely and being back here made him miss it ever more. It was still standing yet he couldn't even be here. He remembered the night of the final battle. Voldemort had come. Those words were ringing through the school. Voldemort has come to Hogwarts. He remembered himself and Hermione standing just so beside Harry, prepared to die if they had to. And back then-he almost choked up as he thought of it-back then everyone had been alive.
No, no, no. Ron shook his head slightly and tried to stop thinking about it. Thinking too much about what happed, what was now in the past, only made him feel terrible for being alive. He knew he shouldn't have come to Hogwarts today.
"Well we best get to business now hadn't we?" McGonagall suggested.
"Ron look! The Sorting Hat!" Hermione piped up excitedly. The Sorting Hat was there indeed. It looked even more ripped and aged now then it had when he'd attended Hogwarts. Actually the room looked almost the same as it had when Dumbledore had been here. It was almost as if Dumbledore still came and went here. All the silver instruments whizzed around and even Fawkes' cage was there. Ron noticed a painting labeled Dumbledore but it was empty at the time being. He and Hermione spent a while gaping over various things they remembered from childhood.
"Miss Granger? Mr. Weasley? Are you two done because if you don't mind I have a school to run" McGonagall snapped. Hermione stopped in her tracks and stood totally errect. Ron followed suit only to content the new Headmistress.
"Very well now I suppose we do need explain to Mr. Weasley what is going on, do we not? Oh for goodness sakes, who is owling me now?" McGonagall sighed rushing over to the window, where something was pecking and to her surprise and Ron and Hermione's it was no owl awaiting permission inside.
"Fawkes!" Ron gasped.
Fawkes soared in, impressing Ron and Hermione with his flight skills and foliage. Hermione almost stepped forward to stroke the phoenix gently but then stopped as if it would be commiting a great act of profanity. You couldn't just pet Fawkes.
Professor McGonagall, however, wasn't distracted by the wonderment and beauty of the bird and noticed the note that was attached to his leg. It was small, very small. Barely visible beside the great creature that had carried it here.
She unrolled the note and read it silently to herself to the great annoyance of Ron and Hermione. Her eyes darted quickly from once end of the page to the other. After she had finished reading it, McGonagall blasted it on fire and soon only the ashen remnants of the note lay on her otherwise neat desk.
"Well Professor Dumbledore has surprisingly requested to speak to you himself" McGonagall explained, "You two are to meet him in-
"Dumbledore?" Ron blurted out, "The real Dumbledore?"
"Albus if that's what you mean" McGonagall sniffed, "Although I see nothing less Dumbledore-esque about Aberforth." (Stolen from what Fawkes Forever said. Hehehe)
Ron noticed that McGonagall's nostrils flared as she defended Aberforth with a strange sense of pride.
"Yes, well where did he want us to meet him?" Hermione inquired speaking delicately as if she too noticed McGonagall had gotten over-upset over Aberforth.
"Douglas' Cafe and Coffee House" McGonagall said, saying the name disdainfully, "In Kent. I suppose it's Muggle."
She wrinkled her nose slightly.
"How will we know who's Dumbledore? How will he know us? How-
"Leave it to Dumbledore to take care of that Miss Granger" McGonagall answered.
Silence...then...
"Well we-
"Dumbledore's alive? Why didn't anyone tell me this-
-best be going."
-It's unfair the way you all leave me out as if I were some kind of-
"Thank you for your time Professor-
-child! Well I'm not a child! I'm 20 now! And I'll be-
-McGonagall. I really hope we weren't much trouble. And ignore Ron's rants-
"You watch yourselves too. Do not tell anyone where-
-21! And I work in the Department of Mysteries! Are you two-
-Because he's a childish prat. Ron will you stop-
-you were. And also I'd like to-
-listening to me? Hermione will you stop-
interrupting me!interrupting me!
-Mention a School Reunion.
"School Reunion?" Ron and Hermione trumpeted in chorus.
"You two must stop talking over each other" McGonagall tutted.
"Yes Professor" they said obidently. McGonagall rolled her eyes with impatience.
"Your invitations will arrive soon" McGonagall explained, "Now we've wasted enough time, you two need to be off. You're welcome to use my fireplace to Floo to the Wizard Headquarters in Kent. You'll surely find directions to Douglas' Cafe and Coffee House there."
"Yes, thank you Professor" Hermione prompted, "And good-bye."
"Yeah, er-see you around. This was a-nice visit" Ron added uncomfortably. He wasn't used to formal and cordial good-byes with his ex-Professor.
Professor McGonagall glared sternly at them for a second but gradually her face softened and she gave them a brief but sincere smile.
"On behalf of Hogwarts, I'm proud to have such prestigious students come visit me" McGonagall replied. Ron guessed that was her way of saying she was happy to see them too.
"I don't know how you could stand her!" Hermione huffed. The pair were currently in Kent and they were lost. They had gotten out of the Kent Wizard Customs Headquarters alright but their directions to Douglas' had been faulty or according to Hermione it had been his fault. They had been waiting at something called a 'Bus Stop' when Ron had noticed who else but Megan Jones, the cute Hufflepuff from his sixth year. He and Megan had gotten into a hefty conversation and well one thing led to another and instead of taking the bus to Crescent Drive (the street Douglas' Cafe and Coffee house was on), Ron had instead taken Hermione to Megan's flat half-way across town to glimpse her new racing broom, the Firebolt 7.
In her current fury Hermione was walking about ten paces ahead of Ron and anybody watching her wouldn't have even begun to guess she was talking to him of all people.
"Hermione-wait!" Ron called jogging up beside her and grabbing her arm for her to stop. She wretched it away from him and glowered at him, her face flushed red in the winter cold. Or maybe it was because she was so darn mad at him.
"Listen I have to tell you something..." Ron started.
"What is it? Is it an apology? An explaination why, for cripes sake why, you dragged me across town to that wench's flat? OR IS IT THAT YOU DID IT FOR THAT STUPID DATE YOU GOT!" Hermione shouted, causing every Muggle around them to stare.
"No, it's just that we're standing outside Douglas' Cafe and Coffee House" Ron responded, "Just thought you ought to know." (Whao that was Quirrell-ish.)
Hermione's harsh breathing dragged throughout the, now, evening air.
"I'm cold" Hermione said with a slight whimper.
"I'll buy you coffee then" Ron suggested sensibly and draped a 'friendly' arm over her shoulder to steer her inside.
They took a table near the front hoping that Dumbledore would notice them if they were more visible. Hermione slumped down and Ron beside her. They left the other, more larger, chair for Dumbledore, himself.
After a waiter, more like a pimply Muggle wearing an apron, had served Ron and Hermione their coffees, Ron brought up a subject he would find rather amusing.
"So why don't you want me going out with Megan Jones?" Ron questioned with amusement. Hermione looked up at him in shock.
"I never said I don't want you going out with Megan Jones" Hermione replied tersely.
"Well it seemed an awful lot like it. What I don't understand is why who I do or don't date matters so much to you" Ron said offhandedly. He grinned as he saw her try to think of a response. Oh how he loved putting her on the spot.
"You know what" Hermione mumbled, "What if Dumbledore already came around here and left when he saw we weren't here?"
Ron was utterly disappointed at how well she could change the subject.
"Hermione..." Ron began, "That's not fair."
"And what, may I ask, is not fair?" Hermione asked. She wasn't even looking at him but eyeing her nails. In usual Hermione style they were clean, polished, and practically gleamed.
"You changing the subject" Ron said simply. If you looked at Hermione's nails long enough they were rather hypnotizing...
"What? I didn't change the subject. I don't know what you're talking about" Hermione responded. It came out calm but Ron knew their was a certain defensive tone behind it.
"Fine if we're not changing subjects then you answer my question. Why do you care who I date? Or better hate why do you hate people I date. Even while we were at Hogwarts. And you proved that you still hate the woman I date-Ron almost stopped mid-way through to pronounce that he had rhymed but swallowed up the urge and continued instead-with that horrible Becky incident at the Port Key to Paradise" Ron finished, "Oh and by the way, did you notice how I rhymed back there with the hate and date?"
He couldn't help but add it. Afterall he didn't just rhyme any old day.
Hermione sighed and then seemed to suddenly get quite angry, "You of all people are asking me this after what you did to me in Seventh year?"
Ron was about to retort when he noticed Hermione's face. She had never looked more scary. And it wasn't the usual McGonagall scary either. It was the kind of look he would've suspected Hermione to give him if he'd told her he'd killed her mother. Speaking of killing...If looks could kill Ron was sure he'd be pushing the daisies right about now.
Ron's mind paced quickly thinking of what to say.
"Geez 'Mione, relax will you?"
No not that. She would actually kill him if she heard that.
"I'm sorry, Hermione."
He had a certain sense of pride!
"You know very well what I did to you in Seventh year."
What? That didn't even make sense.
Somehow or the other the only word that popped out of Ron's mouth was, "Erm..."
To his great relief the waiter came back to collect their mugs and give them the bill. Ron drew out some Muggle money he had remaining from his trip to Muggle-town last month.
"I hope this is enough" Ron muttered throwing around sixty-seven pounds on the table. The pimple-faced waiter's mouth dropped. He quickly gulped his shock and asked the strange red-haired man to sign the store's copy of the hand-written receipts they made.
Ron hurried signing it a bit disappointed Dumbledore still hadn't arrived. He had run out of ordering options because he was out of Muggle money. He couldn't very well sit here with a mad Hermione forever without ordering. Why did the damn Muggle coffee have to cost so much?
The waiter checked the name on the receipt and his eyes widened.
"Mister, are you Ron Weasley?" the waiter questioned, "And you Miss Granger?"
The pair nodded, slighty dumbfounded. Could this be a wizard? Possibly with links to Dumbledore?
"Douglas wants you in the back" he explained, "The old bloke has been waiting for you two all day. Come on back."
Ron and Hermione exchanged glances. Hermione nodded and Ron said, "Take us to Douglas."
Douglas must be Dumbledore's friend of some sort.
Ron and Hermione scurried behind the counter with the teenager, who walked with an odd sense of confidence and comfort when he was here. Ron passed a room with drowsy waiters and waitresses sitting around having lunch. Pale salads. Ugh. Finally they were led to a back room with a slightly more posh feel to it. It had a nice homely oak finishing and Ron noticed peculiar instruments. Silver peculiar instruments. And they were moving. Dumbledore wasn't too far away.
"I'll leave you to it then" the waiter said in a rush as if he was afraid of being in this room. It made Ron a tad nervous. After the teenager waiter had left, shutting the door behind him, Ron and Hermione stood there awkwardly.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley."
Ron swung around so fast that he knocked a lamp over. He instantly knelt down to pick it up. As he arose he saw the slender, seemingly strong form of Albus Dumbledore in the doorway.
Except in this case he was wearing a Douglas' Cafe and Coffee House uniform with the name tag 'Douglas' pinned to his shirt. His beard and hair had been tragically cut so that they were barely half the length that they were before. His white beard wasn't so white at the moment. And his half-moon glasses were a bit foggy.
"Professor" Hermione breathed. Ron fought the urge to bow. Without another word Dumbledore closed the door behind him and switched on the lamp Ron had knocked over previously. Ron didn't take care to notice that the thing wasn't even plugged in.
"Sit, please" Dumbledore said ushering them to two comfy parker-loungers. Hermione looked like she was trembling with excitement. What was about to come? Ron just remembered that he still didn't know.
"Professor Dumbledore, please, tell us everything" Hermione said quietly and Ron was shocked to find her eyes were filling up with tears. It was then that Ron realized his eyes were getting teary at the sight of his old Headmaster.
Dumbledore's eyes gave the two their old twinkle, "I will tell you everything you wish to know, but all in good time. For now though, would you care for a cookie?"
Author's Note: Thank you so much to everyone who read this story and I really hope you reviewed! It would be really appreciated! Oh and sorry to those of you who waited a while to read this chapter! Homework kept pushing me off track! Sorry so much!
Loooooooove
WINKY! )