I Own Nothing! MolotovJukeboxJunkie I hope this is good enough for you. I couldn't really think of way to add the in without it seeming forced. :) One chapter to go. My head is pounding so I haven't checked this over, any mistakes please point them out. Short, I know but I couldn't make it any longer.
Albus shuffled in his portrait before linking his hands with his eyes twinkling madly. "Now, as I'm sure you know Minerva keeps me rather busy in my portrait and because of my impending banishment…" Hopeful eyes flickered from a stony faced Minerva and back to the room. "I merely wish to know, as a doting old man how everyone is coping after the war and rebuilding their lives."
"What he means is, he wants to know all of the 'gossip'." Minerva quickly added in. "Meddling old fool…."
"Precisely Minerva! I want to know what I've missed between students, whose fallen in love with whom and which enemies have decided to forgive each other…" Albus trailed off looking rather expectant.
"Uhh…Professor, that's not really a secret…" Neville muttered.
"Nonsense my boy, I'm sure there are a few secrets…And this is the most cheerful topic I could think of." Albus replied happily. The trio looked at each other before shrugging, who were they to complain?
"Okay… Well I'm not really sure what you want Professor…So I guess I'll start from your death." Harry started. He strained to think of things that would interest the strange headmaster. "Err…Well Lupin and Tonks got together, and they were married before I turned seventeen. They even had a son, Teddy before they died. He's my godson now."
Albus looked pleased. "Ah yes, Nymphandora would've been good for Remus. Were they happy together?" The room all nodded.
"Teddy's so cute, he's already learned to change his hair colour and everything. And he loves Harry." Ginny gushed. "He really reminds me of Tonks when he squeals…" She looked sad for a moment before shaking her head. "He's also like Remus when he has a tantrum! The other day I caught him howling…"
"How delightful! What else is there?"
"Well…We've sort of made a truce with Malfoy, I mean we don't really speak anymore…But when we do we're civil." Ron offered.
"I had hoped you would reconcile in a more friendly way." Dumbledore said, looking disappointed.
"He spent years insulting us Professor." Hermione said, raising an eyebrow. "There was no chance after that."
"Yes well, a man can hope that one day you will bridge the gap that has formed."
"Ron and me are starting auror academy soon. Kinglsey let us in without our NEWTs." Harry said.
"Splendid. I wish you a long and exciting career. I always knew you'd make a good auror." Dumbledore beamed at the two. "And what is Miss Granger doing?"
"I'm finishing my seventh year Professor, and I've been offered a job in the ministry." Hermione explained. "I'm hoping to work towards bettering the lives of house elves." There were a few approving nods around the room.
"She's not obsessed with setting them free now." Explained Ron, dodging the fist sent his way.
"I'm being scouted for the Holyhead harpies!" Ginny mentioned.
"Neville's with Luna at the moment." Harry interrupted.
"Lavender's out of hospital, she recovered well."
"I have a grandchild!" Pomona beamed.
"That's lovely Pomona! What's the name?" Filius asked excitedly.
"Marlene. She's Darian's first." Pomona smiled.
"You must bring her to the school one day." He commented. "Geraldine would love to meet her."
"Geraldine? Who's that?" Asked a curious Bill.
"That's his girlfriend." Teased Rolanda. Filius went bright red.
"She most certainly is not!"
"Speaking of girlfriends, Ron and me actually got one Professor!" Harry said.
"Yeah, I'm with Hermione now, and Harry's with Ginny." Dumbledore smiled.
"I must admit I'm surprised, I had always thought that Miss Granger and Mr Potter were together." Nods came from the teachers around the room and the two mentioned screwed up their faces.
"Not Harry! He's like my brother!" Hermione protested. "And he's clueless with girls…Actually Ronald is too, but I still love him." She gave him a soppy peck on the cheek.
"Yuck. Well My joke shop is booming with business."
"I'm apprenticing under Professor Sprout next year."
"Aberforth is much more friendly now."
"Hagrid and Madame Maxime are going on holiday together."
"Little Victoire has been born. She's just like her mother."
"I'm engaged!" George joined in. There was a short pause.
"What?" Molly said. "When did you get engaged? Why wasn't I told?" George stared at her in bewilderment.
"Sorry…got a bit carried away. It was supposed to be a surprise." He said, rubbing the back of his head. A round of congratulations echoed around the room.
"To Angelina?" Hermione asked.
"No. He broke it off with his three year girlfriend and decided to propose to someone he'd only just met." Ron answered sarcastically.
"Well that's fantastic son." Arthur proclaimed happily. "Angelina's a lovely girl. I'm very happy for the two of you."
"Thanks dad, although I think she may kill me for telling you ahead of time."
"And just when were you planning on telling us?" Molly demanded briskly. George held up his hands soothingly
"Relax mum, we were going to tell everyone tomorrow at the family dinner." He grinned. "I only proposed four days ago." Albus beamed cheerily.
"Well I wish you luck and happiness for the rest of your lives. It's stories like these that truly make an old man happy."
"And this conversation is certainly a lot less 'depressing'." Slughorn stated.
"I just hope that it stays that way." McGonagall dryly commented. She then glared slightly at Rolanda, as if daring her to knowingly make the mood more sombre.
"I have no intention of doing that." She replied loudly. "I would never ever knowingly do such a thing. Minerva quite frankly I'm rather offended."
"You most certainly are not Rolanda, I have said far worse to you over the years and nothing has come of it."
"No, I've just filed it away in the back of my mind, plotting revenge all the while and biding my time Min."
"Of course." Minerva drawled. "I should have known, that has been your excuse for the last five years."
Meanwhile the room's inhabitants had disbanded and were now having short conversations to fill the time. Molly had rustled up a few snacks with Ginny's help, but most made sure they weren't pranked before eating them. Harry, Ron and Hermione had drifted off to a corner and were now discussing the possible last question.
"…There's not much that they don't know now, and all of the questions have been in chronological order so far." Hermione reasoned. "What else have we got to hide?"
"I don't know." Harry's brow had furrowed in thought. "You two haven't been mysteriously disappearing off to places have you?" The two shook their heads.
"I don't think so." Ron replied. "Mum doesn't bother asking me much these days, something about 'keeping secrets' whether she want me to or not." He shook his head.
"Anyway, what I suppose we can't stop it."
"I can't wait for this to be over…I just want to go back to number 12 and sleep." Hermione moaned. "It's always me that gets it trouble!"
The boys grinned. "That's because they expect better of you. And I think I've had my fair share too." Harry rubbed his ears. "I think I might need ear muffs…"
"You have no idea what mum's gonna do to me! I have no idea what she's gonna do…" Ron moaned, wringing his hands. "I don't want this to end, because once she gets her hands on me…"
"I don't think they'll do anything drastic, we are after all adults legally now. It's not like they can give us a detention." Hermione reasoned. She still felt a little worried despite that. However, both she and harry were happy that their families weren't present.
When Filius called the room together again it elicited mixed reactions. Some were wary of the question or its answer but most were eager to finally have all of their questions answered.
Rolanda stood up, a sneaky smile on her face and the trio found themselves gulping.