Author's Note: HALLELUIAH! I thought I'd never be able to post again but if you're reading this, obviously I have been.

Review-thankyous:

Silwen Aurdomiel – Especially thanks for the comments on the career advices... I really liked them myself... And no, Draco did not do a memory charm on his mum. That would have been 'illegal', wouldn't it?

Pussin Boots – mutters Oh you and your bloody details again!

Er... anonymus – You know you could sign or at least write some kind of a name if you want to. I won't eat you, I mean I'm not dangerous. Especially if you write such nice reviews ;)

Kow it allEveryone didn't die, did they? And you're welcome.

Kay345 – Yeah, I haven't checked them out but I'll do that later.

Also thanks to Megamie, ali, Sanity-Not Available, mille-mione, danceingfae, I, Hypercrazy, Megamie,

And sorry if I missed someone.


Chapter 24 – Back to Reality

My feelings were mixed when I left the table. I was happy, sort of, and Dumbledore's speech had certainly inspired me. But the whole atmosphere on the school was very tense, and I did also feel stressed.

But I'd just have to go on with my life.

I got to bed early, tired as I was, and got up early as well. The Great Hall was fairly empty, and no one I was particularly close to was there, so I ate my breakfast by myself in silence and that was actually nice.

Ginny came down when I was almost finished.

"You're up awfully early", she said yawning, sat down and started making herself a toast with chocolate spread.

"I know", I said and smiled. "So are you."

"I couldn't sleep."

"That's understandable."

"I'm worried about Hermione...and Ron. And Harry", she said seriously and took a bite of her toast.

"Yeah", I said. "No news from St Mungo's?"

She shook her head. "Ron is worrying his head off", she said in a low voice. "I feel so bad for him. It took so much courage to finally admit his feelings for her, and then this happens almost immediately. He just got her, and now he might lose her again."

I nodded. "Have you spoken to him since yesterday? He seemed upset when Dumbledore mentioned..."

"I was going to... but I didn't, I mean... I don't want to intrude on his life."

"I think you're right", I agreed. "You should leave him alone for a while, but still be there if he needs you."

"I don't even know how much he talks to Harry. They are both sort of... unspeaking."

"Yeah, I kind of bumped into Harry yesterday. He doesn't seem to feel well at all."

Ginny sighed. "He thinks everything is his fault... poor boy."

We ate in silence for a while.

"Ready for classes?" I asked after a while.

I needed a little lighter subject now. After all this, I just needed some usual light chat.

Ginny groaned. "What's our first class?"

"Potions."

"Yippee! I can't wait", she muttered.

"What's going to happen with the DADA?"

"I don't know. I suppose Dumbledore has found some kind of substitute, otherwise we would have been told not to go there, wouldn't we?"

"I wonder who it is."

"We have DADA today, don't we?"

I nodded.

"Well, then we'll see."


"Snape is really bugging me to hell", I muttered to Ginny when we walked out of Potions class. "I mean, what the hell is wrong with that guy?"

Ginny shrugged. "But there are worse people."

"I meant he is the worst one who isn't on the Dark Side", I said.

"True indeed. But he likes you because of your heritage."

"No, he doesn't."

"Didn't you get an O on your essay?"

"Yeah, but-"

"The best I've ever gotten is an E. And there's nothing wrong with my essays, is there?"

"No, but-"

"So; he likes you. Probably because of your heritage – you know your brother is like Snape's favourite students."

"All Slytherins are. And he's not really showing it while in class, is he?"

"At least he gives you good grades."

"I need to do great on my OWLs. Did you know that Snape doesn't accept students without an O into his NEWT classes?"

"But he accepted Harry..."

"That must be an exception. I mean, he's Harry Potter after all. He must take Potions."

"I'll never pass my Potion OWLs", Ginny groaned. "And if I don't take Potions for NEWTs, I won't be accepted into Auror training and then-"

"You'll do fine", I assured her. "You're Ginny Weasley after all."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing", I said innocently and walked faster and faster, eventually I began running.

"I'll...!" She chased me down the corridor as we headed for the DADA class.

Good. Life was back to normal, I thought. The old spirit was back. Nice. I laughed silently to myself. I had never been so thankful for those simple things before. I was just glad to be alive.

I laughed silently to myself.

BUMP!

Next second, I was lying on the floor after having crashed into someone, and Ginny had stumbled over me and the other person and was lying on the floor beside us.

"TAMARA! What the HELL are you doing?!"

I cleared my throat. "Hi, Draco. Nice to see you too."

Draco got onto his feet, and so did I and Ginny. It seemed as he hadn't noticed her until now.

"Weasley", he said coolly.

"Mal – I mean – oh whatever", she said although not quite as confident as he, and crossed her arms.

I looked between the two of them. Ginny standing with her arms crossed, glaring angrily at Draco, who was looking at her with an amused look, his eyebrows raised. We stood like that for a while before I cleared my throat again.

"Er... Ginny, we should go to class, shouldn't we?" I said, grabbed Ginny's arm and literally pulled her with me down the corridor.


"It's hard to believe you and Draco are siblings", Ginny said a couple of minutes later when we were sitting in the DADA classroom, waiting for the teacher to arrive.

"Think so?"

"You're not alike each other at all. Except for the looks, perhaps."

"That's possible", I said although I knew it wasn't really true.

We weren't that different, really. The difference was which part of the inside we had chosen to show to the rest of the world.

"I mean, you ar-"Ginny started but was interrupted by the door that was flung open. Actually I was glad the teacher had decided to arrive in that very moment, because I found this conversation pretty uncomfortable.

And in came...

---Insert commercial break here--- (A/N But I don't have commercials in my stories so you can just keep on reading. Nice, huh? LoL.)

... Mad-Eye Moody?!

I heard half the class pull after their breath when the somewhat fearsome man marched into the classroom. His magical eye looked like it had gone nuts, spinning around like a cement mixer. I found that quite disgusting.

"This will be great", Ginny whispered to me.

I didn't know how she would know, as Moody from our third year (A/N Yes, remember she is one year under Harry & Co.) hadn't really been Moody, but Barty Crouch Jr. (A/N Or am I totally wrong? I have bad memory and I haven't got the book right here.) I thought he was more... terrifying, but I guess if Ginny said so, then...

"Hello everyone", he grunted. "I am Professor Moody, but you might already know that. I will substitute for your ordinary teacher during the rest of the year and try to prepare you for your OWLs. Say me, what have you studied this year?"

Silence.

"Anyone?"

No one.

So he turned to Ginny.

"What have you studied this year?"

"Um..." Ginny said. "Nothing."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Nothing", she repeated.

"Which chapters have you read?"

"Only the first."

"Seriously?"

We all nodded. Moody looked confused. "Then we should start with chapter two", he said slowly. "As we have very little time before your OWLs, it will be very much homework. Until next time, I want you to read chapters two to five..."

I checked my book to see how much that was. A hundred pages?! Until... the day after tomorrow?

"... carefully, as there will be practising it in reality next time..."

My eyes widened.

"... I would also like you to write a summary of the most important things in every chapter..."

Holy cow.

"... one parchment for each chapter, at least..."

Bloody hell.

"... those of you who wants good grades for their OWLs, may I suggest that you also read chapters six to nine, as we won't be including them in the basic class..."

I buried my face in my hands. How was I supposed to have time to do all that?!

"Say goodbye to sleeping for a few days", Ginny whispered.

I suppose it was supposed to be funny, but I had a hard time seeing the comic in that right now.

"I know this might seem much", Moody said, "but that is only because we need to complete the course before your OWLs if you want acceptable grades. Say to yourselves, it is only for a couple of week. Actually, you can begin reading now as we have a little time left."


That evening, I sat in the common room, burying my face in the DADA book. I had planned to try to do as much as possible that day, but I couldn't concentrate. It was too much noise in the room.

I covered my ears with my hands, trying to shout the noise out and began reading again. I had just begun to recover my ability of concentrating, when McGonagall entered through the portrait hole.

"Mr Weasley and Mr Potter", she said to Ron and Harry, who were sitting in a corner, "would you please come with me."

The two boys rose slowly and followed McGonagall, their faces expressionless.

"What's happening?" I asked Seamus, who was sitting at the table next to me.

"I have no idea."

I tried to go back to reading, but now I couldn't concentrate again. I sighed and put the book aside, pulling out a parchment for the summaries. I had managed to read the first chapter, so I could at least write about that.

Concentrate, I told myself. Okay. Simple defence. What's important...

I had only written a few lines when the portrait hole burst open again and Ron and Harry returned. They did not return to their corner, though (their seats had been taken by some second years anyway), but remained in the middle of the room. Everyone turned their attention towards them, expecting them to say something.

Ron looked like he couldn't wait to tell something, he was almost shaking, but he looked happy. He looked like he wanted to dance around the room. But when he opened his mouth, he couldn't really create full sentences.

"I... oh we... told... er..."

"Hermione's awake", Harry filled in.

The next sound filling the room was clapping hands. Ginny rushed up from the couch, throwing her arms around her brother's neck.

I smiled.


Chapter Poem: (This time without any relation to the chapter)

Take some ripe and fresh tomatoes, put them in a boil with oil

Add the onions strong and tasty, on the stove you let it boil.

Choose the finest meat you get, from cow or pig it doesn't matter.

Beans and jalapeño peppers necessary is to this.

But don't forget, don't forget the Mexican spices.

The spices, the heart of the art of the cooking.

Oh no, don't forget don't forget the Mexican spices.

Without them, you won't get the flavour of sunshine!

Chili con carne, chili con carne, chili con carne

Chili con carne, chili con con con carne con chili con carne

Aha – let's make

- Text to the song Chili Con Carne, originally sung by The Real Group

Author's Note: See? I finished this chapter, just for you my lovely readers.

As always, review darlings.

Lots of love,

Take care,

Don't smoke,

Megafreak