The service over, the Weasleys, Harry, Hermione and Lucie sat in the sun on the edge of the lake. George and Lucie sat close to the water; hands tightly clasped as George silently conjured bits of cake and threw them onto the surface. Lucie had flat refused to believe there was a giant squid in there until she saw at least one tentacle. Mr and Mrs Weasley sat in the shade of a beech tree, perfectly placed to see all their children at once. Harry sat behind Ginny with his arms around her, smelling the floral scent of her hair and sharing the cocoon of silence she was wearing. Charlie and Percy stood, talking in low voices of Romanian law, of the weather, of Lucie's break in to the Ministry. Anything except Fred. Bill had conjured a chair for Fleur, but sat on the floor himself, his head resting lightly against her round, growing bump. Ron was trying to calm Hermione down. Her meeting with Hagrid had not gone as smoothly as she'd expected.

"…and THEN he said that he was worried I'd work myself to death, which is ridiculous and…"

"Is it,'Mione? Ow!" Hermione had slapped him on the arm.

"I can't believe you're not taking my side in this, Ronald, how could you –"

"Hermione. I am on your side. Hagrid's on your side, too. We just want you to take care of yourself…"

"Don't you dare, Ron, don't you DARE say I can't look after myself…"

"I'm not, you mental woman! No one's saying that! I'm just saying that in third year you literally meddled with time to attend more classes than was physically possible and the stress nearly gave you a break down! It's great that you want your NEWTS and we all want you to get the best grades, but we don't want you to drive yourself mad to get them!"

"Apparently I'm already mental," she sniffed.

"You are. You're going out with me, aren't you?" This earned him a small, reluctant smile. "Anyway, he let you back in, didn't he."

"Yes, but I have to take at least one class that favours practical work over academia and I have to have at least one non-studying extra-curricular and I'm to limit my timetable of work outside of classes…"

"So take Herbology or Magical Creatures, re-start spew and spend some time writing to me so I don't think you're run off with Neville or something!" This time his efforts earned a tiny giggle.

"I suppose Elfish welfare is still a huge issue. And Herbology would complement potions nicely…" another giggle. "And maybe I could run away with Neville…"

"Hermione, you'll break my heart!"

Harry sighed with relief. He, too, thought Hagrid was quite reasonable in all his concerns but the look on Hermione's face had scared all the Griffindor courage from him and he'd tactically decided to let Ron handle it.

Ginny shrugged him off and stood. He rose and hugged her.

"I have to go back to the school," she said.

"Will you do something for me?" Harry asked her. "Will you make friends with someone in Slytherin?"

"I'll try," she promised. He kissed her. "I love you."

"I love you, too," he replied, the thrill of hearing it turning his stomach upside down. They kissed again and she went to say goodbye to her parents. Harry went and sat next to Hermione. "What did you find in the library that got you so excited?"

"I think I know what the dragon's teeth are for," she said quietly. "And I think I know where they are."