A/N: Eh heh heh heh. #looks guilty# long time, no update? #ducks flying vegetables# I KNOW!! I KNOW!! I'm a lazy sod! Yes masters and mistresses! Of course, masters and mistresses. So sorries masters and mistresses…

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise. All HP characters and places belong to JK Rowling.

Just What I've Never Wanted

Chapter Five

The next morning found Harry awkwardly accepting congratulations from Dean and Neville in their dorm. Seamus was a patient at St. Mungo's for some fairly easy to fix spell damage, considering how bad it could have been being locked in a half transformed state. He was a bit nervous of the idea of going down to the Great Hall, as it would be his first public appearance since Voldemort's defeat but Ron was here with him and Hermione would be meeting them in the common room.

He just hoped most people remembered he was still just Harry. A Gryffindor classmate that just happened to get into more trouble than they did.

"Hey mate. Don't worry about it. Everyone's just glad to have you back." Ron said quietly after Dean and Neville left.

"Have I told you you've gotten a lot more perceptive lately? Must be all that time with Hermione." Harry gave a laugh.

"Actually Malfoy's made me get smarter. Now you've got him hanging around us I can't be the dumb one anymore." Ron grimaced moving out of the room. Harry followed him shrugging into his robes with a frown.

"You were never the 'dumb one' Ron. We each have our own strengths. Draco only adds his own to ours. And I know you two are still uncomfortable together but I'm telling you! If you'd both get over this two hundred year old family feud crap, you'd be great friends!" Harry jogged down the stairs behind Ron who seemed to be trying to get away.

"Trying to convince him to bury the hatchet with Draco again?" Hermione's partially amused voice asked as she stood from an armchair before the dead fire in the den.

"What can I say? My head's just as hard as his." Ron snorted lightly heading to the portrait making Harry smile and Hermione give him a knowing look.

"Come on. We're already a bit later than everyone else and we don't want to be late for class."

"Ron," Hermione put a hand to her chest dramatically. "I think I'm having hallucinations that talk."

"Har har. Ferret's probably waiting for us." Ron stepped out of the portrait.

"Is it too much to hope that there was perhaps even a trace of affection in that?" Harry beseeched Hermione as she laughed quietly.

"A bit too soon to hope for that much Harry. Let's go eat though. Ron's right, we can't be late."

They made it down to the Great Hall about ten minutes later and Draco met them in the outside foyer off the Hall with a smirk for Harry.

"Alright there Scarhead?"

The green-eyed boy laughed. "Perfect. Clean bill of health, thanks." 'Well, except for the 'too much latent magic in your body, might kill you' thing.'

The blonde turned serious. "Brace yourself then. The hounds have heard the saviour is awakened." He continued over Harry's blanch. "I'm not going to sit with you guys today. I understand you probably need a little time to…" He waved his hands together, gesturing to them. "I won't interrupt the Gryffindor moment."

Ron looked surprised at his thoughtfulness as Hermione gave Draco a nod and smile and Harry enveloped Draco in a quick hug. "You're our friend too. Don't forget that."

"I can't, what with you embracing me bodily all over the place. Really Potter," Draco stepped away after embarrassed, straightening his clothes. "What exhibitionism."

Ron picked then to push open the doors to the Great Hall. "At least no one saw."

"I'd say more be thankful the two people that saw know you two are just friends." An older, weary but amused voice quipped behind them. Harry froze as Ron, Hermione and Draco whipped around.

"Hello Harry." Remus said cheerfully when he finally turned with Sirius propped against him, grinning widely, even all bandaged up from permanent scar damage the Healers couldn't fix.

"Remus! Sirius!" Harry threw himself at his two godfathers excitedly. "Sirius…Sirius you're…"

"Here?" The man winced and laughed as Harry let him go. "While you were taking your extended nap, Remus and the Headmaster had been working to make sure my pardon got through faster. What with the more solid proof of Peter's body than just witnesses having seen him."

"I can't believe you're here! Oh Merlin I'm glad." Harry buried himself in another hug, unaware half the Great Hall could see him, what with the doors open.

"I'm going to go melt into my bench at the table now." Draco sidled off after giving a short nod to Sirius and Remus.

When Sirius and Harry finally let go of each other, the two older adults turned their eyes to the other two members of the Gryffindor trio. "So what are you bunch planning to do to celebrate!"

"Celebrate?" Harry blinked. "Umm, going to get breakfast?"

"You're not planning on doing anything?" Sirius looked to the side as Remus elbowed him lightly and whispered something. "Oh…right. Well, we can still go out or something the day after your birthday? How's that?"

"That'd be…that'd be great Sirius." Harry gave a weak grin. "We had better get into the Hall. Are you going to be here long?"

"Actually we're getting a suite near the teacher's quarters." Sirius looked devious as he grinned again. "We'll be here for the last few weeks of the year and who knows about next…"

Remus snorted at Sirius' attempt at being mysterious. "The Headmaster's trying to convince us to share the D.A.D.A professor spot."

"That's great news." Hermione interjected. "You were our best Defense teacher after all…Remus." She said hesitant, blushing lightly.

"Well, we'll get a chance to speak again soon. And before you all have to go back referring to me as Professor, so don't worry about it." Remus smiled. "You go on Harry. Hang in there." He said more softly. "We'll talk soon."

'He knew.' Harry nodded faintly. 'Of course he would. He was one of his trainers.' "I'm going to be having some free time for the next few days anyway so I'll be able to drop by and see you."

"Until then." Remus wrapped him in a half loose hug, seeing as he was still supporting Sirius before the two of them started to walk slowly to the stairs. Harry had turned quickly and strode to Gryffindor table before Hermione could ask her burning question.

"What do you mean you're going to have some free time coming up?" Ron frowned, speaking quietly. "Exams may have been cancelled but the teachers are just going to give us harder end of year course work to make up for it. And extra homework." He added on with a groan.

Okay, it had been Ron's burning question. Harry shook off his surprise. "Well, believe it or not I'm still training with the Headmaster and the professors. That's probably half the reason Remus is back at the school when it's obvious he and Sirius should be at Grimmauld resting."

"But why? Voldemort's gone. The war's over." Hermione whispered back urgently. "Is there something the public doesn't know about? Something gone wrong?" She pushed some toast at him.

"Of course not Hermione. I just want to finish my training. I wasn't quite done with…some of the more technical areas I was interested in so…" Harry said slowly, emphasizing his words carefully.

"The…" Hermione frowned at him. "Earth stuff?"

"Yes." Harry hissed back. "So I want to finish it. That's all."

"But why do you have to miss classes for that this time? And what does it have to do with Remus? I thought he was only tutoring you in Advanced Defense magic. You had after-class hours with both of them before…him and Dumbledore." Ron said.

"I…I also need time to rest too." Harry lowered his head. "I was run ragged before. What with all the research and spell casting…"

Ron's head shot up at that and he looked at the Head table suddenly.

"What?" Harry looked confused, following his stare.

"Where's…Snape?" Harry blinked at the tentative question and then turned to Hermione who was blushing into her oatmeal.

"Umm, in his quarters I assume? He woke up after I did." Harry offered curiously.

"Really?" Hermione muttered into her bowl. Ron glared across the table at her.

"Don't even think it. I agree with Malfoy. You shouldn't…" He clapped a hand over his mouth. "Gods, did I just say what I think I said?"

"What are you guys talking about?!?" Harry finally asked as curiosity overtook him.

"Didn't you…see him?" Hermione looked at him flabbergasted. "Aren't you the least bit curious as to…?"

"As to…?" Harry raised an eyebrow with an amused smile. "I have no idea what you guys are talking about."

"I guess you'll see soon enough. He'll be teaching you right?" Ron started to shovel food into his mouth and Hermione looked away from him, going back to her oatmeal. Harry shrugged and decided that, as long as they weren't asking questions about him, he didn't care.

A/N: Don't hurt me! #cowers#

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