Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter Universe all other claimants to anything to do with the H.P. story are simply hangers on to her glory. I thank her for allowing us mere mortals to play in her world and I promise that while I have Harry in my care nothing bad will happen to him. I will leave that to J.K.R. herself in her books.

LOVE CONQUERS ALL

Chapter 13 Flying Loops.

At eleven that evening Luna and Ginny were wrapped up very warm and on top of the astronomy tower, it was teaming down with rain and the sky was totally overcast, they could not do their astronomy practical.

Neville, Harry and Hermione had decided to wait up for the pair and when Ginny started to panic the three of them rushed to her because of her Amulet, she quickly told Harry the problem and he told Neville to help get them and all of their equipment down to the Great Hall.

By the time that Neville, Ginny, Luna and the examiner reached the great hall Harry and Hermione were there with Firenze and Harry introduced him to Professor Tofty, the examiner wanted to know how the Centaur could help them.

From his divination lessons with Firenze Harry had remembered the Centaur's talent and explained the examination problem to him. Then he asked Firenze if he could reproduce the night sky, as they would see it tonight from a clearing in the forest, if the sky were clear. Firenze said that he would be pleased to do that for them for the next two hours and the night sky appeared in the great hall.

The examiner thanked Harry who then went back to Gryffindor Tower with Hermione and Neville and the three of them were still going to wait up for Ginny and Luna.

The Fat Lady complained that they had hardly spoken to her, since their return to the school Harry remarked that they had not been back twelve hours yet. So the trio stood talking to the portrait for a while about the happenings in the castle, her friend Violet and the ghosts, which seemed to placate her somewhat.

When Ginny and Luna staggered in, to the common room, a little over two hours later they found Neville, Hermione and Harry sound asleep on the Common room sofas waiting for them. So the girls gently woke up the slumber party, Luna's version of gentle was by jumping on Neville's lap and kissing him violently. The pair told them that Professor Tofty had spent the whole of the examination talking to Firenze who had been absolutely brilliant and the exam had gone smoothly, they were all very tired so every one went to bed.

It was just before eleven the next morning when Hermione and Harry came down to the common room, fully dressed and looking fresh. Parvati, Tonks and Ginny were there and Parvati didn't look too happy. Harry asked her what was the matter and she told all of them that she thought that her relationship with Ron was not working out, as she would like.

Ginny said. "If I was you I would dump him, I don't think that he is ready for a serious relationship yet and if you get into next term with people thinking that you are a couple, then you break up, it will be far more embarrassing, for both of you."

"But some students saw us together at the parties." Parvati said.

Ginny responded, "There weren't that many and you could both say that it was only a party thing."

Smiling Parvati then said, "So you won't hate me or kick me out of the group, if I finish with your brother?"

"We definitely wont kick you out of the group or hate you, why should we, the stupid prat doesn't deserve you." Ginny said.

Ron came down the stairs and said, "Do I take it that I have been officially dumped then?"

Parvati said, tentatively, "I want us all to be friends and having you as a 'boyfriend' seemed to be ruining that."

With a slightly sad smile Ron answered, "If I wasn't such a stupid berk, I would have seen that for myself. I keep letting myself get chatted up by other girls and finishing up fancying them, that is no way to behave if you are supposed to have a serious relationship going. So please, are we still friends Parvati?"

"Of course we are," she said smiling at him.

Then Tonks said, "Where is Luna? She needs something to eat before her Astronomy paper."

Harry told her that Hermione had just called her on their way down and she was getting up.

Within another two minutes Neville came down and he was followed five minutes later by Luna who arrived looking fresh and ready to go. Harry called Dobby and asked him if it would be all right if they each told him what they wanted to eat, because some of them had been up a while others still needed breakfast. So they each told him what they wanted, he disappeared.

Gradually they all took their places sat at the table, they were soon eating what was breakfast for some and lunch for others but Ron who had had breakfast earlier had decided to have both anyway.

When it was time for Ginny and Luna to go for their written Astronomy examination the whole group went down as far as the Great Hall with them. The other six had their brooms with them and they went on to the Quidditch pitch where they were going to teach Neville and Hermione to fly properly.

Harry and Tonks conjured what looked like a large soccer goalpost in the centre of the pitch and then they explained what they wanted the trainees to do. The idea was that they should fly up around the top of a Quidditch goal post, back down through the soccer goalpost and up around one of the posts at the other end and keep doing that.

Ron was going to fly alongside Neville and Harry was going to fly alongside Hermione, Harry for his part was instructing Hermione constantly and encouraging her and as a consequence she was getting faster and faster. Then Harry taught Hermione the technique of how to turn around a post really quickly and then he dived from the top of the centre Quidditch post and did a loop around the crossbar of the goalposts.

Casually he told her that tomorrow he was going to teach her how to do that, in all honesty Hermione looked absolutely terrified.

The friends had landed outside of the castle entrance and grinning Harry said to Tonks why should Ginny and Luna be the only ones worried about exams.

Hermione laughing hit him and he threatened to tell Ginny of her violent behaviour towards him, Hermione retorted with, "Why did he want to get really beaten up by Ginny?"

Harry and Hermione were both laughing as they all went into the castle with the others and they all met Ginny and Luna coming out of the Great Hall. The girls were smiling and talking and said that the examination had not been too bad, as they all went up to the Gryffindor common room together.

Hermione was telling Luna and Ginny about her flying Lesson, Harry asked Tonks if tomorrow, she could take Neville then Ron could take Hermione and Harry would be with Parvati. She asked why and he said that Neville was not getting on too well with Ron and if they all changed it would be more interesting for all of them.

When they went into the common room Harry said to Tonks. "But I will still find the time to teach Hermione to loop the goalposts." Hermione pushed him down on a sofa and jumped on top of him pretending to pummel him, they were both laughing and Ginny asked what it was all about and Hermione explained what he was going to get her to do. Ginny dragged Hermione off him and jumped on him continued to pummel him, she explained that if he killed her best friend she would kill him, Parvati and Luna were rolling on the floor laughing.

Ron and Neville who had been trailing behind came in just as Harry was explaining that they could put cushioning charms all over the Quidditch pitch so that she wouldn't kill herself when she fell off her broom. Hermione and Ginny started on him again, what do you mean by 'when' she falls off, but they had to stop because they were all laughing too much.

Ginny said to him, quite seriously. "You really think that she is good enough to learn to do a loop?"

Harry replied. "If I didn't think she was good enough, I wouldn't try to teach her." He explained what she had been doing and how well she had been doing it. Hermione now was sat there with a smug expression, looking very pleased with her self and then confirmed that they would be putting cushioning charms on the pitch.

Luna was sat on Neville's lap and had been whispering in his ear, he now looked a lot happier than when he had come in with Ron, who asked. "So what are we going to do tomorrow?"

Tonks replied, "You will take Hermione, I will take Neville, Harry will be with Parvati and I think we had all better go up and have showers before dinner, we all must really pong," so they all went upstairs to shower and change.

Before they went into their rooms Harry asked Ginny quietly whether she would mind him shrinking her broom and keeping it in his pocket in case it was needed tomorrow.

She said straight away, "You mean in case my brother starts being a prat again?"

"I might possibly say something like that," he said, tentatively.

With an evil grin, that frighteningly reminded him of Fred and George, she said, "Certainly!" and she went to her room chuckling.

Harry and Hermione were the first to go down to the common room Professor McGonagall was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, with a severe expression she said, "I hope you two are taking the proper precautions?"

Hermione took Harry's hand and indicating that Professor McGonagall should follow went over to the far corner of the common room and said to the Professor. "I am still a virgin, you can try the Unicorn test if you want. A necessary part of the Ancient Magic we are going to use to defeat Voldemort is that we both need to remain that way, I cannot tell you any more but you don't need to worry about it. However it is a great strain on both of us but we stay very close together because that is also an intrinsic part of the same Archaic Magic."

Professor McGonagall was now looking at them both with pity in her eyes and then she said, "I am so sorry for you, I did not realise and do the others know?"

"All the group knows, the Headmaster and now you." Hermione answered, "Please you must keep it a secret, it is all part of the weapon."

"Of course I will, you know that the Headmaster would probably kill me if I let it slip. But I will see if I can do something for you in term time."

The others had started coming down and as they were all moving over towards the dining table, there was a loud knocking from the portrait and Professor McGonagall went and opened it, Hagrid came in followed by Madame Maxime.

Professor McGonagall said, "Forgotten the password again Hagrid?" Hagrid sneezed and it sounded like Security! Professor McGonagall blushed and mouthed, "sorry" at him as soon as Mme Maxime wasn't looking. All the students were very pleased to see him and they dragged Tonks over to meet him because she did not really know him that well, he told them that he was back early because of the OWLs.

The Headmaster arrived with Professor Snape and told them that he did not think that anyone else was coming so they all sat around the table and ate an excellent dinner.

When they had finished eating and were sitting talking there was a soft knock on the portrait, the Headmaster went and opened it, it was Mme Marchbanks, "This is my old house, but I think that I am too old to climb through the portrait hole now."

Professor Snape said, "Allow me," he levitated her into the common room.

She thanked him and said, "I have come primarily to see Miss Granger, Hermione dear, firstly will you please make me some more of those delicious biscuits." She had sat at the table with them next to Hermione who produced a plate of biscuits in front of her also a pot of tea, milk, sugar and a cup and saucer and then a big tin full of biscuits.

Mme Marchbanks smiled and continued. "Now something quite serious, I am due to retire in a few years and I wondered if you would consider taking over from me, as Head of the Examination Board, when I do." Needless to say it was not only Hermione who was dumbfounded, Mme Marchbanks continued. "You received nineteen OWLs, which could have easily of been twenty two and if you had had a regular year who knows how many and we fully expect you to set another record when you take your NEWTS," she was looking at Hermione, obviously waiting for an answer it came.

"How could I ever have thought of such a career, but thinking about it I believe it would suit me perfectly. Thank you for even considering me, of course Mme Marchbanks I am honoured to accept."

Mme Marchbanks, still smiling, continued, "Thank you my dear, obviously we would not like this to become public knowledge and now we come to yet another item. Would the seven of you on Friday like to take a series of tests, some alone and some in groups? These would be for your NEWTS in Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms and Transfiguration, there would be no written papers, so the tests would need to be quite comprehensive, keep in mind you may receive up to six NEWTS for this and if you do well, it will considerably ease your workload over the next two years."

Now they all looked dumbfounded, including the staff, the students started talking amongst themselves, it seemed that Hermione had been nominated as spokesperson. "We accept of course, will we be allowed to choose our own partners?"

Mme Marchbanks smiled and answered. "We have been having a little problem with that because there are seven of you and we wondered if you all may be able to help us, the first and last tests are alright but the second and third tests are designed for three and two respectively."

Harry thought and answered, "Then see if this helps, for the second task have Ginny, Luna and Neville first then Hermione with Ron leaving Parvati with me. For the pairs I would suggest, Ron being with Parvati, Neville partnering Luna then Hermione with Ginny, leaving me to complete it on my own?"

Mme Marchbanks looked at him and said. "If you fail in a task then you fail the tests, do you all agree to the groupings suggested by Mr Potter?" they all indicated their acceptance of the groupings and then she continued, "Mr Potter if you complete the third task on your own then you will not have to undertake the forth task. You will all receive all your examination results at a dinner, I am going to ask the Headmaster to organise, on Friday evening in the Great Hall."

Mme Marchbanks stood and shook all the students hands and said. "In times like these it is good to know that young people such as yourselves are coming along," she said goodbye to everyone and picking up her tin of biscuits, she left climbing, quite easily, through the portrait hole.

There was a deathly hush and eventually Tonks said. "How's about that then?"

The Headmaster said, "There will be a dinner in the Great Hall at seven on Friday, your attendance is requested. I don't really know what to say, Mme Marchbanks has been part of the Examination Board for about one hundred and fifty years and now Miss Granger has been asked if she would like to replace her."

Professors McGonagall and Snape didn't know what to say but Hagrid grinned and said. "If you're going to be Head of the examinations, perhaps you could slip dragons back into the syllabus, without anyone noticing like?"

Hermione also started grinning as she replied, "I am already compiling a list of banned creatures and first on the list are Blast End Skrewts."

Everyone burst out laughing including Hagrid chuckling he continued, "Oh! Hermione you knows they was my favourites."

The tension had been broken and they all started talking to each other, eventually the visitors' left and the eight of them went and sat comfortably on the sofas and in the squishy armchairs.

Tonks then said. "What an honour and it will cause ructions, a Muggle born witch head of the Examination Board. But I don't think they could find a better person to do the job."

Then Ginny was grinning evilly again proposed. "If no Blast End Skrewts is rule one how about rule two I suggest. No pure blood witch or wizard may take any NEWT examinations until they obtain two OWLS in Muggle Studies."

They all roared laughing but Luna said, "Seriously, that is not such a bad idea, the amount I have learned since I have been with you guys is enormous."

Neville agreed with her and said, "You can't say two OWLS you would never get away with it but you can say one."

Then Parvati suggested, "You can make the programme such that they had to understand about the power of Muggles also make it written and practical."

Then Tonks said, "I am sorry to spoil your fun but two of our number are sitting OWLS tomorrow and probably need some rest."

Then Luna said with her cheeky grin. "She's practicing being Professor McGonagall again," she ran up stairs Quickly and called down that Neville was to come up and kiss her goodnight in five minutes.

Ginny, Hermione and Harry were getting up to go to bed when Tonks asked them if Gryffindor was always like this and they all agreed that it was pretty much and Tonks bemoaned the ignominy of having been in Ravenclaw, where there were just a load of boring swats.

x-x

The next morning they were all at breakfast together, today's examinations were to be Herbology theory followed by practical in the morning and in the afternoon History of Magic, as the previous day they all went down together, separating at the Great Hall, six of them continuing on to the Quidditch pitch.

The day started with them continuing with their exercises from the previous day but with Ron partnering Hermione, Harry with Parvati and Tonks with Neville, Ron had to work hard just to keep up with Hermione.

After about half an hour Harry stopped Hermione and told her that she was probably quick enough to do a loop, so he asked Parvati and Ron help them putting cushioning charms all over the Quidditch pitch.

Neville was also speeding up with encouragement and help from Tonks, he was now going as fast as Hermione had been at the end of the previous day, Harry was happy and lent Neville Ginny's broom, so then Harry helped putting cushioning charms all over the Quidditch pitch.

The party had stopped for a rest when Harry realised that the first part of the exam would be finishing, so he made Neville come with him to the Great Hall. The pair collected Ginny and Luna and took them on the back of their brooms to the greenhouses, then they waited for the next exam to start before going back to the Quidditch pitch, to join the others.

Harry said, "Right Hermione the pitch is cushioned, so now I am going to teach you to fly loops." She looked at him determinedly and nodded, he continued, "I want you to fly alongside me and I will keep telling you what we are going to do."

The couple started by diving and pulling up vertically then levelling off again, then they were falling off to the side, right this time a graceful curve all the way and they did a complete loop, they landed. There was a big cheer and Hermione threw her arms around his neck and gave him a big kiss pushing him down onto the cushioned ground.

Training had stopped for lunch, which they all had together sitting in the middle of the cushioned Quidditch pitch, Dobby had brought them a load of different sandwiches and drinks. Hermione insisted on showing the other two her loop and they all became excited again and Luna told Neville that she would like him to be able to do that.

After they had delivered Luna and Ginny to their next examination, Harry took off with Neville and by going through the same procedure, as with Hermione, within half an hour, Neville flew a loop, after flying a few more he reverted to his own broom and was soon flying loops on that. It was getting near the end of time for the examination so Hermione went up to her room and came back with Luna's broom and when the exam was finished Luna and Ginny came out to the Quidditch pitch on their own brooms. The girls watched Neville fly loops and Luna started flying them with him then they were all up flying, Harry and Ginny were flying loops around the crossbar.

When they stopped Hermione flew up and said to Harry, "You said, you were going to teach me to do that."

Ginny answered her, "It's very dangerous and you don't need to learn it."

"Why? What makes it so dangerous?" Hermione asked looking serious.

Harry answered, "If you want to fly under the bar, you must be above the ground and under the bar. Then you do a loop and you still must be under the bar and above the ground and if you miss either you need the infirmary, urgently and badly."

"Do you know if Mme Pomfrey is here?" Hermione asked.

"You don't need to learn it and I don't know if Mme Pomfrey is here," said Harry.

Hermione flew off towards Tonks then came back and said, "Tonks said that Poppy is here."

Harry flew to the goalposts and raised the crossbar by six feet then he converted the crossbar so that it was like a high jump bar, considerably lighter and just resting on top of the uprights instead of being fixed to them.

"Away you go then, practice, but never do it on your own, when you're ready you can lower the uprights yourself." Harry and Ginny had been watching Hermione doing loops for about half an hour, during which time she had lowered the bar three times, a foot each time, when Tonks called out that it was time for them to go and get ready for dinner.

x-x

Dinner that evening was a relatively normal affair with only the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress in attendance besides the seven students and Tonks.

Harry asked the Headmaster if there was somewhere nearby where they could practice some fairly violent magic, prior to their tests on Friday. Professor Dumbledore told them that there was a range about five miles north and that Professor McGonagall could show them where it was in the morning.

Harry sensed the Deputy Headmistresses distress and said, "But Professor McGonagall hates to fly, sir"

"She will be alright behind you, won't you Minerva?" Professor McGonagall nodded, very nervously, then he continued, "There will probably be more than twenty at the dinner on Friday, please try to do us proud, all of you." Shortly afterwards the Headmaster and the Deputy Headmistress said goodnight and left.

The team sat around the common room discussing what they would practice the next day and debating what they were lightly to be confronted with in their NEWT tests on Friday.

Then Tonks broke the spell, "Come on you lot, its Potions tomorrow."

Hermione said. "Great now she's doing her Sergeant Bilco impersonation."

As she started going up the stairs, Ginny sang sarcastically and very badly. "OH how I love potions," over and over until Luna hit her, playfully.

As they all were going to bed they could hear Ron who was asking an equally confused sounding Neville whom Sergeant Bilco was? Hermione and Tonks were both giggling.

The next morning after breakfast they accompanied the girls to the Potions Lab and then went to the entrance hall to meet Professor McGonagall, when she arrived she said, "I rather hoped that you all might have changed your minds over night."

Then Harry said, "Look we don't have to go we could do something else Professor."

"No, if I don't take you and you do badly Professor Dumbledore will blame me and really truly, so will I."

The party were in the grounds now and Professor McGonagall told them to head towards a large mountain that she pointed out and after about four miles they were to start looking for a large patch of brown ground, which was where they were going.

"What will you be doing Professor?" asked Ron.

"I will be sitting behind Mr Potter, holding on very tight and having my eyes closed, that is what I will be doing so if you can find it without me having to open them, before we land, I promise to love you all forever!" She sat behind Harry on his Firebolt and held on very tightly as they set off towards the mountain at a reasonable pace with Harry leading and after about four minutes they reached a large patch of brown ground and Harry landed.

As soon as her feet touched the ground Professor McGonagall opened her eyes and jumped off the broom and started looking around and told them they were in the correct place, she suddenly looked quite relaxed and very happy.

The group had spent the morning building walls and destroying them, sending targets flying in all directions and destroying them and Professor McGonagall and Tonks conjured all kinds of nasty things, which they disposed of.

Then at quarter to twelve it was time for them to return for lunch, they all mounted their brooms and Professor McGonagall said that she knew where Hogwarts was and with a pop she was gone.

Harry allowed Neville and Hermione to set the pace on the way back and they were at the castle in two and a half minutes, as they arrived they could see Professor McGonagall walking briskly up the drive.

As they made their way down to the Potions Dungeon, the group decided that they had done a reasonable mornings work.

PLEASE REVIEW and thank you.