The Last Trip

"Come on, Callidus!" Ginger barked behind her. "I thought you were faster than that."

"I'm waiting for the best opportunity!" Callidus barked back.

The four Animagi were playing in the field that Harry's book took them to. Right now Harry was in a race against Ginny, one in which he was losing. Harry could hear Ron screeching high overhead but couldn't make out what he was saying. Hermione was at the finish line waiting to see who would cross the line first. Harry could hear Hermione cheering Ginny on and he started pushing himself harder to catch up.

"I'm gonna catch you, Ginger." Callidus told Ginger as he started getting closer.

"Not this time!" Ginger replied. She knew that he probably would though, he almost always did.

There was only a hundred feet left in the race and Harry was starting to doubt he would catch up to Ginny. As they drew closer to Hermione, Ron landed in a tree near the finish line. Harry had pulled up to Ginny shoulder when they were just ten feet away from the finish line. Ginny crossed the line to a loud roar from Hermione, the roar caught Harry by surprise and he fell over sideways. Ron almost fell out of the tree he began laughing so hard.

"Close race, Mr. Potter." A voice came from behind the group.

Harry turned to see Professor McGonagall standing there holding a second copy of There and Back Again. The group returned to their human form and stood in front of the Professor.

"Yes it was, Professor." Harry said smiling. "She is beating me more often than loosing now."

"Whats wrong, Professor?" Hermione asked with a scared voice.

"Nothing, Miss Granger." McGonagall smiled. "Professor Dumbledore asked me to come remind you that the Ministry cars will be leaving for Kings Cross in ten minutes, he thought you had forgotten."

In truth, Harry had forgotten, he was trying to hold on to the remainder of summer as long as possible. Most of the last month had been spent here in what Harry and his friends had started calling Marauders Meadow. This summer was Harry's best yet, there were no attacks, he got to spend the whole summer with friends and he didn't have to worry about using underage magic anymore.

"Ok, Professor." Harry answered reluctantly as he picked up his book. His friends placed their hands on the book as well and prepared for the journey back to Grimmauld Place. They returned to a very busy Grimmauld place, Molly was running around the kitchen trying to finish the lunches she had prepared for the four students. Arthur was trying to coordinate with Alastor and Remus who would ride in which car. Harry was thankful that no one seemed to have noticed they were gone for so long.

Harry walked through the barrier to Platform 9 3/4 and saw students frantically climbing on board the Hogwarts Express. Ginny was next to reach the platform followed by Hermione and Ron. They said their goodbyes to the Weasleys, Remus and Alastor and walked through the car to find an empty cabin. The Hogwarts Express slowly began to pull out of the station as the Marauders found a cabin and took their seats.

Harry had started setting up his Quidditch Pitch when the door to their cabin slid open. For a split second Harry held his breath thinking it was Malfoy coming for his annual taunt. When Harry looked up he saw that it was Neville, Dean and Seamus.

"Hey eveyone." Neville greeted the group. Everyone exchanged greetings and filled in eachother on the events of the summer. The best news of the summer came from Neville who said that his Mum had actually seemed to make some improvement in her condition. She would now say her sons name when he came to visit and Neville was sure she understood what he was saying when he talked to her.

"That's great Neville." Harry said smiling.

"Hey!" Seamus yelled suddenly. "You're Head Boy, Harry. And you are Head Girl, Hermione!"

"Yeah, I know." Harry said laughing. "They sent us letters earlier this summer."

The group began to laugh when Hermione remembered that they had to meet in the Prefect car for their meeting. Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way to the Prefect car while Ginny waited for them and visited with Luna when she came by the car.

"Hello, everyone." Hermione began the meeting. "We should have a great year this year, Lavendar Brown is taking my place as seventh year Gryffindor female Prefect, while I am Head Girl, Harry is Head Boy this year. We will be sure to plan a lot of fun activities this year. Harry, do you have anything to say?"

"Erm no, just remember, follow the school rules." Harry said slightly laughing to himself knowing how many rules he had broken in the past.

"Ok, well fifth years, you well be responsible for helping the first years find Hagrid, not that it should be too hard."Hermione joked and actually received laughs from most of the Prefects. "You will also help the sixth years show the first years where your dorms are. Seventh years just keep an eye on everyone and help out. We will post your rounds tomorrow."

Harry and Hermione answered questions for the next thirty minutes then concluded the meeting asking eveyone to make rounds in the train every hour until they arrived at Hogwarts. They arrived back to their cabin and found Ginny talking with Colin Creevy about the trials that took place over the summer.

"I just wish they would have locked him away for ever, not just for ten years." Colin was saying. "Do they really think ten years is going to change him?"

"I don't think so, Colin." Harry answered as he walked in. "But at least it will keep him out of our way during the war. "And as much as I dislike him, they didn't have enough evidence to prove he did it so they couldn't send him away for life."

"So you think the war is still coming?" Colin asked.

"We are in the war right now, Colin." Harry answered. "I do think that Tom Riddle will attack sometime this year and it will probably be the final battle."

They talked for the rest of the trip to Hogsmeade Station, when they arrived they went and said hello to Hagrid who was trying to gather all of the first years. They climbed aboard their coaches and Ron was the one to say what they were all thinking.

"This is the last time we make this trip together." Ron frowned while he spoke.