A/N: I'm very sorry for the late update! I was obsessed with plans for our senior prom, and right after that event I was off to Taiwan for a week. Please forgive me…

Anyway, on with the show…

Chapter 15

"Let's go visit Hagrid," Ron announced a few days later.

"Yeah—we haven't been to see him in a long while," Harry agreed. "Hope he hasn't missed us too much."

The trio pulled on their cloaks and headed across the grounds to the gamekeeper's hut.

Hagrid opened the door, the gentle half-giant's beetle-black eyes smiling down at them.

"Hullo, Harry, Ron, Hermione," he boomed. "Come in. Was jus' havin' some tea."

They entered, and to their surprise—

"Professor Greenleaf!"

The pretty professor looked equally surprised, but pleasantly so. "Harry, Ron, Hermione! Nice to see you!"

The three students sat down as Hagrid plunked down three mugs before them.

"Eat up, now," he announced as he set a platter of rock cakes on the table.

The four guests looked rather ill and queasy.

"Er, we'll stick to just tea, thanks," Harry spoke up. "Too close to dinner, y'know."

Professor Greenleaf quickly followed up. "Erm, I'm on a diet, sorry."

Hagrid chuckled. "Yeh don' need that, Nicole. Yeh're still as thin as yeh were back then."

Harry agreed wholeheartedly, but he didn't make a point of mentioning it.

"Well, you know women, Hagrid. Always so concerned about their figure."

"So, why are you here, Professor?" Hermione asked. "I mean, not that I'm—I'm just curious."

"We were talkin' abou'—" Hagrid began.

"Plants!" the teacher interjected smoothly. "I was telling Hagrid how lovely the flowers are this year."

"You like plants?" Ron asked. He shot a sly smile at Harry.

"Oh yes! Herbology was my favorite subject in school. I might've been a Herbology teacher if Professor Sprout hadn't continued teaching."

"Why did you become a Defense teacher?" Harry queried.

The professor's eyes clouded over once more, but as always she mastered it. "I needed a job. I'd just moved back to Britain in the summer, and heard that Professor Dumbledore was hiring, so I applied."

"You just moved back here? From where?"

"Australia. I'd relocated there a year or so after I graduated from here."

Hermione perked up. "Australia is very lovely."

"You've been there?"

"Oh yes! The Muggle portion only though…"

"Did you shop the boutiques in Melbourne?"

"Definitely. They have the best scarves! And the opal jewelry is to die for."

"Oh, the opal is a given. How about the macadamia-but chocolates?"

"How about the chocolates? They are beyond delicious!"

Harry and Ron looked at each other, blinked, shook their heads, and gulped their tea.

"They're getting along."

xxxxxxxxxx

Since that day, Professor Greenleaf became their friend.

xxxxxxxxxx

"Well, hurry on up, Harry! Haven't got all day, you know!"

"Coming, Katie!" Harry called back.

It was late November now, the day before the last Quidditch match before the holidays, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. Harry was heading out to practice (his "lifelong" ban had been lifted the moment Dumbledore reasserted his power as headmaster), his Firebolt over his shoulder.

Ginny, who had tried out for Chaser that year and was discovered to be "the best since James Potter", was already on her broom, hovering gently a few feet from the ground. Ron was soaring around the goalposts, occasionally doing a flip or two. Since he had helped Gryffindor attain the Quidditch Cup last year, Ron had become more confident (incredibly so), and ergo, much better.

Katie Bell, who had been named Captain of the team this year, was standing in the middle of the field, looking tiredly at Andrew Kirke and Jack Sloper, the team Beaters, who were using their clubs to smash up bugs in the grass. Harry had admittedly been a bit skeptical when his former Captain Angelina Johnson had told him that Kirke and Sloper were stupid, but after Harry rejoined the team, he'd seen just how right she was.

"Merlin, Angelina's tough," Katie grumbled as Harry approached her. "She had to put up with these two."

These words she said very often.

Ginny touched down beside Harry. "Whose turn is it?"

Harry gestured to the two boys. "Yours, I believe."

Ginny and Harry were the official get-Kirke-and-Sloper-to-practice people. They took turns doing this.

Ginny headed over. "Andrew. Jack." Her voice took on a commanding tone.

"You know, we can still hold tryouts," Harry quipped.

"Might be a nice idea," Katie replied darkly as Ginny finally coaxed the boys out of their fun.

xxxxxxxxxx

The practice went considerably well, despite the fact that Kirke managed to knock himself out with his own bat again. Katie, annoyed but obliged to do so, had accompanied him to the hospital wing (by levitating him onto one of many stretchers she'd started keeping in the locker room). But she wasn't letting her not being there get in the way of practice.

So she'd left Harry in charge of the entire Gryffindor team.

As the rest of the members headed for the showers after, Ginny hung back to wait for Harry.

"You did a great job of leading us today, Harry."

Harry smiled. "Thanks, Gin." He fell into step beside her.

"How's your first taste of being Quidditch Captain?"

"Kind of weird, being the one bossing others around" (Ginny rolled her eyes at this part, as in the past year, Harry had done a lot of bossing around) "instead of being the one taking orders." He suddenly thought of something. "Was I too bossy? Maybe I shouldn't have asked you to do that turn a different way earlier…"

Ginny quickly shook her head. "Oh no! I didn't mind in the least. Besides, that was excellent advice."

"Whew—wait, I don't even know why I'm thinking like this. I don't even know whether I'm going to become Captain. I'm kidding myself."

Ginny looked like she was struggling to hold in laughter. "I agree with the last part, certainly. Harry, you are kidding yourself if you think for one second that you won't be Captain after Katie leaves. I'd've thought that after so many years on this team, you'd know how the Captains are chosen. You're the most senior member (well, after Katie), and you know the game best. I mean, just look at yourself today. You have a natural flair for leadership, and I know that there is no one else that will make a better Captain."

Harry grinned and drew Ginny into a quick hug. "And you have a natural flair for encouragement. Thanks, Gin."

Ginny saluted, grinning back. "Anytime…sir."

XXXXX

A/N#2: PRAISE BE TO THE LORD!

And to my reviewers:

HPbabe143- Thanks:)

Flavagurl- Oh…I'm sorry about your uncle. He sounds like a really great guy. My great-uncle actually also died from cancer…

Black Diamond4- Thanks:)

Peanutilover- Thanks:) And yeah, he was a nice guy. He was always really concerned for me, and I remember he always used to give me orange-flavored lollipops whenever I saw him… OK, I'm babbling too. :D

Ehlonna- Thanks:)

Delayed Action Ninja- If by hardcore fluff you meant kissing, very very very sorry, but it won't come yet. I know that it is maddening to have to wait (I once watched a TV series wherein it took the guy and the girl TWENTY-SIX episodes to lightly brush lips) but when the Big Scene happens, I promise you that it'll be worth it. :) The next few chapters will have some sweet D/Hr moments, though…

Red and Gold- Thanks!

Trapped-in-a-dream- Thanks:)

Stargirl1066lkl- Thanks:)

Alcapacien- Thanks:)

Crimson Girl- Whew:D Thanks:)

Cold-eyes-for-you- Thanks:)

Goodybad- There won't be any Harry-versus-Draco action—I'm really sorry to disappoint you…please forgive me. I'll be trying to fit in some more Quidditch matches, although I'm not sure if I'll be able to. As for the Gryffindor-winning-by-goals plan, I won't be using that, sadly, because I've already done that in one of my other stories, and I don't want to repeat it again… Thanks for the suggestion, though. :)

Sacagawea- Thanks:)

Next: Revelations...