A/N: okay so I figured I couldn't possibly take that last chapter like, ANYWHERE, so sorry to disappoint, but the whole idea flew right out of my head. Anyway, guys, you all rock so hardcore its not even funny. I love how all of you have supported me throughout this story and I feel honored to have so many people tell me how much they love it. It really makes one feel appreciated. I'm not ending it just yet though, never fear. So, here's chapter nineteen. Read on, dolls and gents.

Chapter 19

Talking to a Wall and N.E.W.Ts

"Harry! Harry! Wake up!" Somebody hissed in Harry's ear.

"Whazzamatter?" Harry sat up, expecting to see his dormitory in front of him. What he didn't expect to see was the fireplace in the common room and his feet propped up on the table in front of the couch.

"Did you sleep here all night, Harry?" Ginny asked, baffled. Harry looked around and noticed he was still in his clothes from the day before and his neck was terribly sore.

"No, I…I could've sworn I went up to my dormitory…" Harry trailed off. Had the head of his former headmaster in the flames all been a dream?

"Hon, when I went to bed you came and sat right here, and when I came downstairs, you were sitting right here with your chin on your chest." Ginny reached around and started rubbing the back of his neck with her hand. He sighed in contentment.

"I guess I must've just fallen asleep without realizing it…" Harry replied. Ginny nodded.

"Well you may want to go freshen up. Breakfast is in twenty minutes." She suggested. Harry nodded and gave her a swift kiss before heading up to his dormitory.

"Mr. Potter would you kindly pay attention? This is crucial information you must know to pass your N.E.W.Ts!" Professor Slughorn snapped.

"Oh, I'm sorry professor. Didn't get much sleep last night." Harry mumbled.

"Nevertheless, pay attention!"

"Yes sir…" Harry mumbled, ignoring the worried glances he got from Hermione, Ginny and Ron. That is how most of the day went for Harry. He kept zoning off and thinking about the dream he'd had. What could it have meant? Why did he have that particular dream? When the bell sounded for break, he immediately packed up his things and headed out the door.

"Harry? Harry!" Ginny called to him. He turned and she almost ran smack into him. "What is with you today? You seem so…I dunno…out of it."

"I just had a very weird dream last night and I want to talk to McGonagall. That's all." He smiled softly at his fiancée, kissed her quickly, and left her stuttering after him as he headed for the headmistresses office. He gave the password and rode the spiral staircase up to the door.

"Enter." She called before he'd even knocked. He did so, thinking the whole time how she was getting more and more like Dumbledore every day. "Hello Harry. What can I do for you today?"

"Actually, this may sound strange, but could I talk to Professor Dumbledore's picture?" Harry asked on a whim. Professor McGonagall gave him a funny look but nodded towards the picture all the same. "Thank you." He headed over to the familiar man's portrait and cleared his throat.

"Ah, Mr. Potter. How may I help you?"

"Uhm…I was just wondering…last night, I had a dream that I was talking to Professor Dumbledore, well, your face in the fire of my common room."

"As in a vision?"

"Well, yes kind of. I mean it was so real. I even dreamed I went up to my dormitory to sleep, but when I woke up I was on the couch in the common room." Harry explained awkwardly. It was weird talking to a picture. One felt rather stupid, especially talking to this particular picture, because he sat so still as he listened. It was as if you were talking to a wall.

"Ah. Yes, one often experiences things like this in the passing of loved ones."

"But it happened over two years ago."

"Time makes no difference, Harry. You can receive strange dreams, strange visions, even strange shapes in crystal balls or even clouds anytime after a death of an ally."

"So this wasn't Dumbledore trying to tell me anything?" Harry asked uncertainly.

"No, Harry. If anything it was an elaborate hoax your mind played on you. Very rude trick, but it happens. Nothing to be concerned about. I would not be on this wall otherwise." Picture Dumbledore said wisely. Harry nodded, rather disappointed.

"Well, thank you anyway for listening." He said politely.

"Anytime, Mr. Potter, anytime." Harry turned away from the portrait and looked up to see the headmistress watching him sadly.

"Sorry, I'll just go."

"Yes, must get back to classes, Mr. Potter." She said, sounding rather stuffy. Harry nodded, adjusted his bag and left the office. He could've sworn he heard a slight sniffle as the door closed behind him and he rode down the staircase.

"Get that dream figured out?" Ginny inquired when he had sat down in the common room.

"I think so." Harry replied with a smile. She grinned back.

"Good. I was getting worried."

"No need to be. I'm fine, you're fine, everything is just fine." Harry leaned forward and kissed her softly.

"None of that. We all need to study. N.E.W.T's are in TWO WEEKS! It'd do you some good too, Potter, seeing as how you didn't pay attention all day." Hermione snapped as she went over a huge, dusty brown book.

"Awe, Hermione, can't we just study your notes?" Harry joked. Hermione's head shot up and she looked completely horrified.

"Absolutely not! You get to work right now!" She yelled, almost hysterically.

"Ha, ha. That's what you get for poking fun at her when she works." Ron said with a huge grin.

"You too, mister!" Hermione snarled. Ron jumped and buried his nose in a book instantly. Ginny made a noise like a whip and Ron flipped her off over his book. Harry burst out laughing and grabbed his own book and some parchment with a quill.

TWO WEEKS LATER

"Oh I'm so nervous! What if I've failed?" Hermione wailed as she paced outside the Transfiguration classroom.

"Hermione, you're a brilliant, extremely smart witch. There is no way in hell you did not pass." Ron tried to soothe her as he rubbed her back, pacing with her. "Harry on the other hand—"

"Shut it, you!" Harry replied as he chewed his fingernail. Ginny was trying to calm him.

"Harry, I'm sure you did fine." She cooed.

"Ginny! The thing weighed fifty pounds and had WINGS! D'you have any idea how much she will count off for that?" Ginny sighed.

"I give up." She sat on the floor, crossed her legs, and rested her chin on her fingertips. Just then the door open and Professor McGonagall stepped out.

"This was your final N.E.W.T test for this year. When I call your names, you will each come up and get your results, open them yourselves, and find out how well, or how horrible, you have done." She announced.

"Was that a hint? Did she look at me when she said that? I think she did. Oh I've failed." Hermione wailed in a whisper as she fell to the floor. Ron rolled his eyes and knelt beside her, still rubbing her back. One by one she called each pupil to her and one by one, someone either squealed with joy, or, burst out in tears.

Hermione did both.

"Hermione! You didn't fail?" Ron snatched her results from her. "Oh for Merlin's sake! All O's and E's!"

"Isn't it wonderful?" Hermione cried.

"How did you do, hon?" Ginny asked quietly. Harry sighed.

"Well, I didn't fail." Ginny looked at him expectantly.

"So? Do you have enough credits to get into Auror training?" She asked impatiently. Harry took a deep breath, closed his eyes and then looked back up at her. He let his face break out into a wide smile.

"Yeah."

"Oh, Harry that's wonderful!" Ginny flung herself at him and hugged him tightly.

"I don't believe it." Ron whispered.

"What?" Ginny inquired from her position halfway on top of Harry.

"I have enough credits too." He said, still in a whisper. Ginny got off Harry.

"No fucking way."

"What was that Ronald?"

"That's awesome, mate!"

"I, Ronald Weasley, have enough credits to get into Auror Training. Go. Me." Ron said calmly. Hermione shrieked and leapt on Ron, knocking the wind out of him and kissing him repeatedly.

"I'm so proud of you!" She kept saying over and over. "I knew you could do it!"

"Wow, why don't I get that kind of enthusiasm?" Harry raised an eyebrow at Ginny, who just rolled her eyes and shoved Harry's shoulder with her own.

"Because someone can't contain themselves when they get that much enthusiasm." She whispered. Harry's jaw dropped and he lunged for Ginny. She squealed, leapt up and ran off towards the common room. Harry jumped to his feet and ran after her.

"THAT WAS SO UNCALLED FOR!"

A/N: And so, I give you le chapter nineteen. What do you think? Sorry it's a bit short, but I'm running out of ideas. I tried to make the N.E.W.T scene long but enjoyable, so yeah. Let me know what you guys think about this. Push the button! You know you wanna!