Chapter 2- A Different Kind of Year

Harry POV

I stood outside the doors to the Great Hall, unable to will my feet to move forward. The last memory I had of this room was right after Voldemort died, and the families were all in there, grieving for their lost loved ones. It wasn't something I could easily forget. I didn't even know if I wanted to forget.

The doors suddenly opened, and Ginny held her hand out to me.

"It's okay, you can take your time, but just so you know, they're all waiting for you." She grinned up at me, and all my worries and fear melted away as her brown eyes met mine.

"Walk with me?" I asked, grabbing her hand.

"Psh!" she huffed. "You know I won't leave you."

My entire body warmed, and I knew I loved this girl. I hadn't told her yet; I hadn't even kissed her. But, she didn't seem to mind my slow pace. I had screwed so many things up in my life, and had so much shit screwed up by other people, that I didn't want to ruin the closest thing to perfect I had. And she understood, just as she understood that I wasn't strong enough to enter the Great Hall on my own.

"Let's go," I said with more confidence that I felt. With her hand in mine, I pushed the large doors open and stepped inside. At first, it was deadly silent as the door closed loudly behind us. Then, as I took my first step inside the room, the entire place erupted in screams and applause. Every student was on their feet cheering for me, even the Slytherin table, which was oddly sparse. My eyes met with Draco's and he nodded, while clapping. Maybe we could finally be civil.

I felt a tug on my hand as Ginny pulled me gently forward, towards two spots next to Ron at the Gryffindor table. We sat down, but were the only two in the Great Hall for the applause continued on. After a few moments, Headmaster McGonagall loudly cleared her throat, but no one paid her any mind. She pointed her wand to her throat and loudly said,

"That will be enough."

The entire room quieted down and everyone took their seats. Hagrid burst through the doors, followed by a line of severely frightened first years. As Hagrid passed he patted me roughly on the back, causing me to fall forward on the table. Each first year, as they passed, stared at me in wonder. I sighed and buried my face in my arms on the table.

"Not used to that yet, mate?" Ron asked quietly. I sat up and punched him on the arm.

"Bloody git," I hissed at him.

The rest of the feast passed without any major events. As the desserts were cleared from our plates, McGonagall stood, and the hall went silent.

"Just a few announcements," she started as I looked properly, for the first time, at the head table. There were three chairs open.

"As you'll have read, the present 7th years and last years 7th years will be having classes together. Schedules will be handed out tomorrow. Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger, and Mr. Malfoy please join me in my office. The rest of you are dismissed to your common rooms."

My heart froze, what could the Headmaster want with us? And Malfoy? I glanced frantically at Hermione who returned my gaze.

"Do you have any idea what this is about?" I asked her as we exited the Great hall in the crowd of students.

"I have a guess," she answered. I began to ask her what that was, but I felt a tug on my robes. I turned to see Ginny.

"It's going to be fine," she whispered reassuring me. I pulled her into a quick hug and whispered "Thanks" into her ear. She grabbed Ron's robes and tugged him out of Hermione's embrace.

We walked quietly with the crowd, but turned off to head towards the headmaster's office. Malfoy was standing next to the gargoyle that protected the entrance to the office.

"She didn't give us the password," he mumbled.

"Oh," I answered, not quite sure what to say in reply.

Malfoy took a deep breath.

"Listen Harry, I'm sorry," the words tumbled out of his mouth, "for everything. I know it's probably not nearly enough, but it's really all I can say." He looked sheepishly at me.

At first, I just gapped at him, but Hermione nudged me in the ribs with her elbow and I snapped my mouth shut.

"Yeah, urm. It's O.K. Draco. What else could you have done? I put all that stuff behind me." I held out my hand, he took it and for the first time I noticed how pale and thin he was. His hair was slightly messy and his robes looked wrinkled. He noticed my appraisal and spoke quietly.

"The ministry confiscated most of our things. Father's under house arrest until his trial. McGonagall let me stay here most of the summer and gave me a job, helping with the rebuilding. " He looked down at his feet.

"Canary creams," McGonagall's voice stated firmly from behind me. All three of us jumped suddenly at the sound. I registered the password and looked curiously at the headmaster.

"There's a right bit of transfiguration in those things," she defended, "and I find them quite amusing." She confessed a moment later. Shaking her head she motioned with her hand for us to walk up the stairs. I followed Hermione and Malfoy followed me. Hermione opened the large door to the office. The last time I had been in here, I repaired the wand I now held in my hand. I looked up at the portrait behind the Headmaster's desk, Dumbledore waved gaily from his frame.

McGonagall's robes swirled around her as she moved quickly behind her desk. She conjured three chairs out of thin air and waved us over to take a seat.

"You'll be wondering why I asked you up here, and I'll get to the point quickly. I have yet to find replacement professors for Muggle Studies, Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts," she paused and I knew what was coming, yet I had no idea how to answer. "I would like to ask if you three could cover those for us." She continued, seemingly unaware of the three frozen faces in front of her.

"You three have top marks in your subjects, and high marks in all other subjects. I'm quite positive you'll do fine. Of course, you will be exempt from all other classes, and you will finish just like the rest of your year. " At this point she seemed to notice our frozen faces. She appeared to be surprised at our shock.

"Are you three quite alright?"

"Uhm… Headmaster?" Hermione asked after a moment, "We haven't had any time to prepare lessons, and wouldn't it be odd for the rest of the students, when they realize? Living in close quarters with their professors…" She trailed off, muttering to herself. Malfoy and I both sat still, staring at the Headmaster, mouths gaping.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy please close your mouths." She snapped suddenly, "Ms. Granger," she continued, turning to face Hermione, "I've thought of those things, all lessons are prepared for all years and each of you will have your own quarters, with a shared commons area." She looked quickly to Draco, "Draco, you know the rooms, you helped design and build them this summer."

Realization hit Draco's face and he nodded and again looked to the floor. Silence filled the room for a few moments, then McGonagall huffed impatiently.

"Will you three be giving me an answer today, or shall I have to postpone class tomorrow?"

I glanced over at Hermione, she was nodding her head excitedly, Draco nodded curtly once, and than all three pairs of eyes were focused on me. A million reasons to say no filled my head. I was only 18; I already had enough attention on me; I wasn't nearly has smart as Hermione, or even Draco; but all these flew from my mind as I saw Dumbledore watching serenely from his portrait. He nodded at me again, and I knew I couldn't say no.

"Alright," I said clearly.

McGonagall stood quickly, all three of us followed suit quickly.

"Splendid. Lessons for tomorrow are on the table in your commons area. Your belongings are already there and unpacked. Draco, please lead Harry and Hermione there." She paused and her normally stern face softened and she smiled softly at us. "Thank-you, I know you three will do just fine." Then she turned and disappeared quickly through a door that I hadn't noticed before. I turned and looked at Hermione and Malfoy, running my hand through my messy black hair.

"Well, this is going to be interesting."

Ginny's POV

To say I was surprised was an understatement. Not that I didn't think Harry could it; I knew he could, he had with the DA two years ago. But, I was surprised that he accepted. We had many conversations about blending in at Hogwarts, avoiding the limelight, but here he was again, saving the school, and fixing a problem. I guess that shouldn't surprise me. That was an integral part of who Harry was. He would save the day, if he had to. And he would succeed, He had so far.

The Halloween feast was tonight, and the whole school was buzzing in anticipation for the food. I quickly ran through the mostly empty halls to the D.A.D.A room, my last class of the day was Double Defense with all four houses. There was only a handful of students who made it this far.

This was my favorite class, obviously. It wasn't often that you could sit in class and oogle your boyfriend as he taught. I skipped into the room a few moments later, all the other students were up and practicing, so they didn't notice their professor wink at me when I entered.

I watched him carefully during class as he strolled around the room, encouraging people and correcting a few others. He walked near Ron and Ron whispered something in his ear. A grin split Harry's face as he glanced in my direction. Our eyes locked across the room and I froze in his vivid emerald gaze. His messy ink-black hair spilt messily across his forehead, covering his famous lightening bold scar. It was amazing how he interacted with his students. He always had complete control and we learned so much, yet he was still Harry, our mate. He quickly made his way over.

"We are reviewing, Ms. Weasley. Would you like to practice wordless disarming?"

I grinned up at him, moving my hand up to brush his hair out of his eyes.

"Nah, I'll just practice later in my private lessons." I leaned in and whispered quietly. " I get extra-lessons because I'm dating the professor."

He rolled his eyes at my suggestive tone, "Hang on back a bit after class." And he walked off to correct Neville's excessive wand-waving.

As class ended and everyone packed away their quills and parchment, I stayed back, waiting for them to leave. Eventually, Harry and I were the only two left in the classroom. He plopped down in the seat next to me and laid his head on the desk. He turned and stared exhausted at me. He was very good at hiding that during class. I scooted my chair closer and reached up with my right hand, and began rubbing his neck. Harry groaned slightly and his muscular shoulders slumped further onto the desk.

"What's got you so stressed?" I asked quietly.

"It's dumb," he mumbled from under his arm. I stopped rubbing his neck and let my harm slide down his back and up again. I felt the shiver that ran down his spine at my touch.

"Yeah, right." I answered sarcastically.

He sat up and looked at me with a sheepish grin.

"Quidditch is tomorrow," he replied.

I knew that much, I was a chaser on the team. McGonagall allowed Harry to continue on as seeker, but gave his captain duty to Ron, the keeper. Harry and I had talked a bit, back a few weeks ago. He was glad for it was a huge weight off his shoulders.

"why are you stressed about quidditch? "

"Its been a long time since I've played in front of people," he muttered.

I stood up and pulled him to his feet, he eyes me warily and I backed up a few feet.

"Harry James Potter," I admonished, "You are in the best shape of your life!" I looked him up and down, causing a blush to spread across his face. The last part of the summer,, and past few months of school, had been good to him. He no longer looked like a gangly teenager. His slender frame had filled out with muscle, from hours of quidditch practice, and his normally pale skin was bronzed from the hours spent outside. I stepped closer to him and noticed that he was now significantly taller than me, probably about six feet. "You are faster, stronger and smarter now. You'll be just fine."

He glanced down at me and for a moment, I could see this wasn't the entire reason he was stressed. But once I noticed, he masked his expression. He wrapped his arms around me waist and pressed his lips to my forehead. The door suddenly burst open and Ron, red-faced, ran into the classroom.

"Oye, quit snogging long enough to show-up at the strategy meeting for tomorrow's match!" he thundered before disappearing to find more wayward Gryffindor players. Harry hugged me closer and I pressed my lips to his neck.

"We need to find more time to be together," he mumbled into my hair, "alone."

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