Hello everyone :D

I'm glad to see you all. And I have very good news! I hope you don't all start throwing tomatoes, but I never really had a real outline for this story before. But now I do! It's all typed out and ready to go :D So this probably means updates will also be more frequent (although not until the next two weeks are over, since I will be writing papers for real life classes).

Anyways, I hope you like this installment, enjoy!

Huge thank you's to my wonderful reviewers, sistersgrimmlover, DukeBrymin, isigirl, and PottedLilies. Love you guys!

xxxxx

"Ginny!"

"Hermione!"

I have to say, it was quite nice to watch the two of them hugging.

"Harry!" Hermione yelled, suddenly noticing my presence. Half a second later, I found myself enveloped in a rather suffocating hug, complete with bushy brown hair in my face.

I couldn't help it, I had to hug her back. "Hermione," I welcomed her with a grin, "Where are your parents?"

"I've already dropped them off at home, Ron is helping them settle in," she told us, her voice returning to a more business-like tone. "I'll be going back there soon, but I just thought I'd stop in and check with Professor McGonagall, see if there's anything I can do for her quickly before I'm off…"

"So what you're saying is, you're glad your Mum and Dad are home but they're already driving you up a wall?" Ginny supplied with a knowing look.

Hermione sighed. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."

I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Well, we can give you something to do, if you like," Ginny supplied. "I'm sure there's a couch in the common room that needs someone to sit on it."

Hermione sighed. "That honestly sounds wonderful."

xxxxx

"All I'm saying is that she can't leave me alone with her Dad and expect us to sit perfectly still watching the tele. I mean, there's no quidditch on a tele! Poor bloke was trying to explain some sport where all they could do was kick one little ball with their feet—can you imagine that? Only one ball and they can only touch it with their feet! I mean, really, how do muggles find this stuff exciting?"

"Well, I imagine most muggles haven't heard about quidditch, Ron, they have to settle for football."

"Football! That was what he called it! Bloody boring game, honestly—"

"Harry, Ron, there you are," Hermione said, coming to a stop right in front of us. "McGonagall wants to see us about something."

"What is it?" I asked, my interest piqued by her irritated expression.

"I don't know," Hermione admitted in annoyance. "She won't tell me until we're all in her office."

"Hey Harry, where's Ginny gone?" Hermione asked as we started out the portrait hole. "I've been looking for her all day and I thought you two were supposed to be attached at the hip—oh honestly, Ron, it's just an expression," she added when she saw him start to turn red. Whether it was in anger or embarrassment I wasn't sure, but I was glad to have Hermione between us at the moment.

"Erm, I think she went to help Mr. Weasley tend to Hagrid's gardens. They have to be replanted and all, and they need a little magical help if they're going to be ready for the opening feast," I answered, thankful that Ron returned to his normal coloration rather quickly. Honestly, it's not like I was about to say, 'oh, well Ginny's just lying in my bed with a whipped cream bathing suit on,' now was I.

Not that she was, of course, she really is down in the gardens…and honestly I've never been particularly fond of whipped cream.

Without even being aware of the trip, I suddenly found myself standing outside of McGonagall's office. Hermione knocked twice.

"Ah," McGonagall said crisply, standing back from the door and gesturing for us to enter, "Please, come in and have a seat. Crumpets?"

"Thanks," Ron said, grabbing one off the tray. I took one too, because her expression had eased my stomach somewhat. When Hermione first said that the three of us were wanted in the Headmistress's office, I was a bit worried. But she doesn't seem to be preparing any stories about the Death Eaters still active in Lancaster and Bath.

"Now then," She started once we were all seated. The Dumbledore behind her desk gave me a wink. I smiled back at him. I haven't fully forgiven him for not telling me everything, but I can respect a great man when I see one. "I'm glad to see you back, Weasley, Miss Granger," she acknowledged with a nod to each of them. "I hear that your trip went well?"

"Yes," Hermione smiled, "Mum and Dad are settling back in as we speak."

McGonagall gave her a genuine smile. "I'm glad to hear it. I'm sure they are very proud." Hermione blushed. "And I am immensely proud as well," she continued. All three of us blushed that time. I suppose we thought that not even defeating Voldemort could make McGonagall express pride. Although lately, that inscrutable exterior has been breaking a bit.

"That is the reason I have called you here today," she announced. I stared at her incredulously. Surely she didn't actually call us in so that she could shower us with praise? "In order to defeat him, you went on a quest for a year—clearly, you are all capable wizards. But, should you so desire, I am more than willing to offer you a place in this year's seventh year class. I understand that you have mastered many practical spells, but I encourage you to return in order to round out your knowledge and finish your Hogwarts education.

"You should know," she continued as she began searching through some parchment on her desk, "that this is not your only option. Harry, I recall that you wanted to become an auror—you do not have to finish your Hogwarts education to enter the program. Kingsley believes, as do I, that the three of you have enough magical knowledge to enter the program immediately. To be clear, you could begin with the class enrolled this fall."

The three of us simply sat there and stared at her, stupefied.

After a moment it became clear that the three of us weren't about to say anything, so she said, "I do not expect an answer at the moment. I am merely presenting you with your options."

"If we choose not to complete our Hogwarts education, we only have the auror department open to us, is that correct?"

Only Hermione could actually ask a legitimate question at a time like this. Personally, I'm still trying to figure out why I'm being asked to keep doing things, and I'm not sure what Ron's thinking.

"That is correct as I understand it, Miss Granger. You may either begin the auror program immediately, or you must finish your Hogwarts education."

Hermione nodded in concentration. "So you wouldn't advise me to apply to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement without my final year NEWTS?"

Oh Merlin, only Hermione, really. Although what's Voldemort compared to ten NEWTS?

"Well Miss Granger, you could certainly apply," McGonagall said. "Your name might get you into the training program this year. I would delay it, myself, as there are several concepts in seventh year History of Magic that cover the original magical contract…"

And that was when I tuned out completely.

Instead, an image of Ginny in a chocolate bathing suit popped into my head.

Merlin, it really is a good thing that Ron isn't a legilimens…

xxxxx

Merlin.

I always thought that Dumbledore kept Hagrid around out of the kindness of his heart, but now I see that it was out of necessity. No normally-sized person can cart around these monstrous loads of seeds and manure.

I paused, huffing and wiping some sweat from my forehead.

Oh, bad idea. I think I just smeared unicorn poop on my face.

Yes, I said unicorn poop. Hagrid swears by it. Apparently it's the best fertilizer there is because unicorns are pure or they eat butterflies and poop rainbows or some other codswap. Ridiculous, honestly.

And to top it all off, I heard a low chuckle coming from behind me.

"You could just charm it feather-light, you know."

I groaned. Why didn't I think of that?

Harry's arms enveloped me from behind and he kissed my cheek. "How long have you been at this?"

"All morning!" I moaned.

"Sweetheart, it's already three in the afternoon."

I groaned. "Just what I needed to hear. Now I know why Dad was trying to get me to eat so much breakfast this morning."

He chuckled again and produced a sandwich from somewhere. "I figured you might say that. So I brought you this. Erm," he said, looking at it in consternation and blushing slightly, "It didn't look squashed like that when the house-elf wrapped it up for me, sorry."

"That's alright," I told him, kissing him lightly and taking the sandwich. "Honestly, right now if you produced a dead acromantula I might consider eating it."

Harry shuddered slightly. "First you would have to keep it from eating you."

I shook my head, taking a bite. "Nope. Dead acromantula, remember?"

"Mmm, good point. Still wouldn't snog you if you actually ate one, though."

I wrinkled my nose at him. "Yeah, I love you too."

He laughed outright that time.

"So what did you come down here for?" I asked, wriggling out of his arms and plopping down on the grass. He sat next to me and tucked a lock of hair back into my braid. "It wasn't just to make fun of me, was it?'

He smiled. "No, I came to tell you the news."

I cocked a brow at him.

"McGonagall said that I could join the auror program this fall! Apparently Kingsley decided that Ron, Hermione and I had more than enough practical experience to start, we don't have to finish our last year of Hogwarts."

"Wow, Harry, that's great," I told him as I munched on my sandwich.

"Yeah, it's brilliant! I don't think Hermione wants to go—wants to finish Hogwarts, you know how Hermione is—but I think Ron might come with me! Just think, we could go through training together, then be partners on the job!"

His grin was infectious, but he still got me thinking.

He could have come back to Hogwarts and spent the year with me.

I shook myself internally. Harry was a grown man, and grown men do not miss out on opportunities simply for the sake of being able to snog their girlfriends. And I shouldn't ask that of him.

So I smiled and hugged him, and told him how brilliant it was that I wouldn't be able to see him for a year.

xxxxx

I was sitting with Ron in the Great Hall.

Alone.

That was a rare treat in the past few years. We used to spend all of our time alone together, but ever since he started Hogwarts he had other friends to occupy his time. Not that I hold it against him, he did lots of important things and helped countless people. I just miss him sometimes, that's all.

"So," I said, watching him ladle his first helping of potatoes onto his plate, "I heard from Harry that you get to chose between your seventh year and the auror program."

"Mmm," he nodded. He swallowed his bite of potato before saying, "You heard right."

Then he promptly shoveled in another scoop of potato.

"Why do you sound so unhappy about it?"

His shoulders sagged. "I dunno, Gin, why do you always know how to ask the wrong questions?"

I fought the smile that wanted to break onto my face. "You're my brother."

"Well, I suppose I'll forgive you the shortcoming, then," he joked. Then his face slowly became more serious. "It would be easy if they were going to decide the same thing," he confessed. "But they're not, I know they're not. Harry wants to go to the academy, and Hermione will want to stay here."

"So?"

"So who am I supposed to follow?" He blurted, then shoved more food into his mouth to cover his mistake.

I sighed. "Ron, don't follow anyone. What do you want to do?"

"Well, if I stay here, then I'll get to see you and Hermione all the time, maybe take her on a proper trip to Hogsmeade, but if I go to the academy I'll get to train with Har—"

"Ron, what do you want to do?"

He stared determinedly down at his plate. Apparently, his potatoes were fascinating.

"I don't want to lose my friends," he mumbled, so low that I might not have heard it. But I did, because I knew that was the only volume at which my brother admitted fears. Can't blame him, really. No Weasley is comfortable admitting to their fears, myself included.

I sighed and took a bite of my own potatoes.

After a while I couldn't stand the silence anymore.

"You should try the ham," I suggested. "The honey glaze is good."

xxxxx

"I just don't know what to say to some of these parents, Arthur, they really are distraught—and who can blame them? If I were a muggle and my child came home such a mess from boarding school I certainly wouldn't want to send them back! I've tried talking to them on the mother to mother level, I really have, but honestly, no one could help but break down when you see the looks in those children's eyes—Ginny! Harry! Come and sit, darlings."

I heard the portrait hole swing shut with a mundane finality as I started cautiously toward Mum and Dad. From what we just heard, this is going to be a weepy conversation.

On the bright side, they got the best couch by the fire, so maybe I can just doze off a bit.

"Hi, Mrs, Weasley," Harry called with a smile. "Mr. Weasley."

Dad nodded in acknowledgement as we sat down.

"So, darling," Mum said, switching gears at the speed of light and suddenly putting a smile on her face. I always get confused when she does that. "What would you like to do for your birthday?"

"Oh, er…" Harry said, looking down quickly, "well, I hadn't really thought about it. It's alright, Mrs. Weasley, everyone's busy—"

"Nonsense!" Mum declared, "Everyone can make time. And I'm sure they will be happy to celebrate with you…Merlin knows we need a good celebration," she muttered. I don't think she fully intended for Harry to hear that last part, but he heard it, all the same.

"Erm, well, maybe just dinner together, I don't want to be a bother to anyone."

I squeezed his hand gently. I've already got his birthday present all picked out.

"Well, alright, dear, if you're sure. Dinner and a big cake, perhaps, that would be nice."

"That sounds brilliant," Harry smiled, relaxing now that he didn't have to worry about any displays for his birthday. For a long moment, we were all comfortably silent, just sitting in the warm glow of the fire.

"Mrs. Weasley?"

"Yes, dear?"

"What if I went to see those students?"

"Which stude—oh, well, I don't know. Why on earth would you want to do that, you're very busy as it is—"

"I want them all to come back. Every single one of them, and I can visit them personally, if you think that will help."

It was then that I noticed Dad had stolen my idea, and dozed off in his chair.

Maybe I should, too.

"Well, we'll see about that, dear," Mum told him. "I think you've already got enough work to do."

xxxxx

I hope you liked it!