-1Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. End of Story.

Chapter 17:

The Welcome Feast

"Glad to see you've made yourself comfortable already" Ginny said as she entered the dormitory, followed closely by Luna, Molly, and Jane.

"So this is where you spent the seven years of your life away from me" Hermione's mother said as she entered the room, looking around. Hermione nodded enthusiastically.

"We should probably start getting ready, dinner will be starting soon" Luna said dreamily from the corner. Hermione glanced over at her and took in the expression on her friend's face. It was a far away look that Hermione had rarely seen since her school days. If she was correct, as she usually was, Luna had quite a lot on her mind that had absolutely nothing to do with tomorrow.

Hermione opened her suitcase and got out her skirt and top. She changed quickly, but then spent a bit of time on her hair and even threw on a little make up. Soon, they were all ready to go down to the Great Hall for the feast. They went down to the common room to find Ron and company all ready and waiting. Ron offered Hermione his arm and they were off out of the Portrait Hole.

The Great Hall was glittering as though freshly cleaned. Above, dozens of white candles hung in mid-air, reflecting against the inky, star-strewn sky. Hermione and Ron took seats at Gryffindor table and quite soon after that, McGonagall rose to her feet.

"I won't bore you with a speech as you could all probably eat dragons right now, so tuck in!"

McGonagall sat back down again and as custom at Hogwarts, the food appeared on the table. Hermione grabbed the plate of roasted chicken that was nearest to her and selected a piece. While piling mashed potatoes on her plate, Hermione glanced down the table and saw her parents' reactions. Her mother had a look of utmost bewilderment on her face and her father was poking at a loaf of bread, trying to decide if it was really there or not. Hermione chuckled softly to herself and then set back to her plate and began eating.

After a delicious dessert of cherry pie and vanilla ice-cream, McGonagall rose to her feet again.

"Now that you're all properly full, it is the time for speech making. For those of you that have never been to Hogwarts, welcome! For those of you that have missed it, welcome back! I hope that you all have a lovely stay here. The reason, of course that we are all here, now that is what I would really like to talk about. Now, I am getting older. I have seen many students pass through these walls, but none of which cared as much about the other as these two. Oh, where to begin.

"Hermione Granger is probably the brightest witch who has ever graced the school with her presence. She received twelve O.W.L.'s and took part in many dangerous tasks and journeys throughout her seven years here. As she grew up, I watched her mature and flourish. It is very rare to come across a girl so passionate about her studies during her teenage years. In fact, for a while I thought that was the only thing that she was passionate about. Alas though, as Hermione grew up, I saw her passion for something- or rather someone- else.

"And then there is Ron. Weasley number six to pass through the walls of this school after Molly and Arthur. He had talent for trouble, oh yes, an uncanny one. He was very loyal to his best friends, and he had done a very good job in the selection of his best friends. In ways, he was extremely over protective of Hermione and Harry, especially Hermione. He didn't throw up slugs for Harry, now did he?

"So yes, I saw it happen. I can bare witness to the fact that Ron and Hermione have loved each other for a very long time, probably since they were eleven years old. Both of them, however, were either too stubborn or quite frankly stupid to see it. But here we are now. It's quite amazing, their love story. There were many fights and relationships. There was nearly always jealousy and you could cut the sexual tension with a knife on any given day. But in the end, I do believe that's what brought them together. Perhaps opposites really do attract, because in this case, they certainly did.

"Now, my little speech is over. Tomorrow, you'll all be glad that I got it out of the way will all the other speeches that will be made. So here's to tomorrow, and everything that it stands for."

The hall raised their glasses in one fluid motion and toasted the forth coming day. Then, everyone got up and started to mingle. Ron stayed by Hermione's side as they moved from guest to guest. Harry joined them about halfway into the night, and together, the Golden Trio walked over to old friends and teachers. It was strangely surreal to see all of their favorite people in one place all at once when now it was hard to find time to talk to one of these people on a normal day.

At a quarter past eleven, guests started heading towards their warm comfortable beds in the various house towers throughout the castle. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were soon the only three people left in the hall. They started back towards Gryffindor Tower as though nothing was different and that, if anyone saw them, they'd be teenagers again, going to bed before they were caught out of bounds.