In the end, N.E.W.T.s turned out not to be such a big deal. For years, Ron and Harry had been a little nervous knowing that in their seventh years they would have to take these tests that they had heard were going to be so hard. When they first heard about N.E.W.T.s, it seemed like they would be so far in the future. Nothing to really worry about yet. And, after all, O.W.L.s were going to come first, two years before the N.E.W.T.s. By the time they were sixth years, they started to get a little nervous that eventually the time for N.E.W.T.s was going to arrive. But now that they were over, Harry and Ron wondered what they had been worrying about all along. They had finished taking all their N.E.W.T.s, and they were both sure they had done just fine.

For Ron, maybe the tests were easy because he had so much time to study for them. Harry and Hermione had been so busy that Ron had had a lot of free time. Or maybe it was because he had so much more confidence in himself after everything he had been through. In either case, Ron knew that he had learned the material. He walked into the test rooms filled with confidence, and he walked out knowing he had done well on all the tests. As for Harry, maybe it was because he had the best teacher in the entire school as his personal tutor. Or maybe taking tests just didn't seem like a big deal to him anymore, now that he was a professor himself. Whatever the reason, he breezed through his N.E.W.T.s without a problem.

It was different for Hermione, who took every single N.E.W.T. that Hogwarts offered. For her, the tests were especially stressful. It wasn't that she had trouble with them. She knew she had gotten every single question right on every test. But with each test, she seemed to be getting more agitated, more upset, more uncomfortable. When she finished her N.E.W.T. in Arithmancy and had only two tests left to take, she walked out of the test room and went to the Great Hall for lunch, arriving at the Gryffindor table with tears in her eyes. Ron had known for a while that there was something wrong, but now that Hermione was actually crying he felt he needed to say something. Ron put his arm around her at the table.

"Tell me what's wrong, Hermione," he said gently.

Hermione looked up at him with a surprised expression. Ron thought that maybe he had done something wrong. He quickly took his arm off of her. "Sorry," he said.

"No," said Hermione. "Don't be sorry. That was so sweet of you. So considerate. So caring. I liked it."

"Ah," said Ron. "I get it. You were surprised. As usual."

Hermione laughed. So did Ron.

"So what is it, Hermione?" said Ron.

"Well," said Hermione, slowly. "I only have two N.E.W.T.s left."

"I know," said Ron. "That's great. But what's the big deal? You can't possibly be having any problem with any of them. I'll bet you haven't gotten a single question wrong. You know you're going to get Os on all of them."

"I know. It's not that," said Hermione, with a shaky voice, trying not to cry again.

"What is it then?"

Hermione hesitated to answer. Ginny and Harry were both smiling.

"What?" said Ron, looking at the two of them.

"Think about it, Ron," said Ginny. "What do you think Hermione is upset about?"

Ron thought for a second. Then he laughed out loud.

"Don't laugh at me," cried Hermione, half crying and half laughing.

Ron put his arm around her again. "Poor Hermione," he said, using his most gentle voice again.

"That's better," said Hermione, blowing her nose with a tissue.

"So," said Ron, "you're upset because you only have two more tests to take and then you're never going to have any more tests to take again ever?"

"Don't say it like that," Hermione wailed, and she started crying harder.

Ron put his arm back around her and smiled.

"Don't laugh at me," said Hermione, half crying and half laughing again. "I know you all think I'm crazy."

"No one thinks you're crazy," said Ron. "Maybe it's a little bit unusual liking classes and tests as much as you do, but not crazy…well at least not TOTALLY crazy."

"Watch what you say, Ron, or I'll turn you into a French fry," said Hermione.

"You know, Hermione," said Harry. "You may be the best student that's ever come to Hogwarts, but you're not the only one here who really loves to study. There's a first year from Gryffindor in my Defense Against the Dark Arts class who actually reminds me a lot of you."

Hermione just stared at Harry.

"Why are you staring?" asked Harry.

"This student," said Hermione. "Is it a girl?"

"Yes."

"Does she have brown hair?"

"Yes."

"Is her first initial 'M'"?

"Yes."

"Myrna Eldridge?!"

"Yes. She's in your class also, isn't she?"

"Yes," said Hermione. "And I've been staring at her for weeks, trying to figure out who she reminded me of. Now I know!"

Everybody laughed.

"I have a meeting this afternoon with McGonagall," Ron said. "We're going to be choosing the Prefects and the Head Boy and Head Girl for next year."

"Wow. You get to help choose them?" said Harry. "This is serious. You're actually going to be the Dean of the School. This is hard to imagine. Ronald Bilius Weasley, the right hand man to the Headmistress of Hogwarts."

"Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" said Ron.

"So who are you thinking of choosing?" asked Harry.

"It is a very confidential matter. I am not permitted to discuss it until the students are notified. Not even with faculty members. And certainly not in front of sixth-year students." Ron was looking at his sister. Ginny glared at him.

Harry laughed. "Sure, Ron. You're really going to tell us, aren't you?"

"I most certainly am not," said Ron. "You heard McGonagall. She trusts me. I need to take this job very seriously. "

Harry was staring at Ron. Ron sounded so serious, but Harry couldn't tell if he really was or if he was just putting on an act.

"We also need to choose a new Head of House," Ron continued.

"What do you mean?" asked Hermione.

"Well, McGonagall stayed on as head of Gryffindor House during the time she served as temporary Headmistress. And she has stayed on for a few months since she was appointed permanent Headmistress. But she's going to have to give up being Head of House when this school year is over. The Headmistress can't be head of one of the houses. It wouldn't be fair to the other houses. She needs to be totally impartial."

"So who's going to become Head of Gryffindor?" asked Ginny.

"Well," said Ron. "As you know, to be the Head of House, a professor needs to have lived in the house when they were a student. There are only two current faculty members who have lived in Gryffindor."

"Who?" asked Ginny.

"Well," said Ron. "One is our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and the other teaches Transfiguration and Muggle Studies."

Harry and Hermione stared at Ron with open mouths.

"Are you serious, Ron?" asked Ginny. "Harry or Hermione is going to be the Head of Gryffindor House?"

"Who else?" Ron asked.

Hermione and Harry looked at each other. They both really wanted the job. But neither of them wanted to compete with the other for it. If getting the job meant their friend would be disappointed, it just wasn't worth it. At the exact same time, they both said to the other, "You can have it."

As they laughed, Ron interrupted, "It's not up to you guys to decide. The decision will be made by Professor McGonagall and myself."

"You're actually going to pick either Harry or Hermione to be the Head of Gryffindor House?" asked Ginny. "You're going to choose between your best friend and your girlfriend?"

"Come to think of it," said Ron, "maybe that's a bad idea. I think I'd better tell McGonagall to make this decision on her own."

Just then, Hagrid came walking past the Gryffindor table on his way to have lunch at the faculty table. As he passed, he stopped and said to all four of them, "Hey, I want to see you all about something. Do you think the lot of yeh could stop by me hut tomorrow afternoon? Say, at 3 o'clock?"

"Sure, Hagrid," said Harry. "What's it about?"

"Oh, nothin' special," said Hagrid. "Nothin' special. Jus' something. I mean nothin'. Jus' want ter see the lot of you. We can have some tea and treacle fudge and chat. Well, gotta be runnin' along to eat me lunch now. See you later."

As Hagrid walked away, Harry said, "I think he's going to tell us what's under the blankets. He said it would be ready soon a few weeks ago. Maybe, it's ready, whatever it is."

"It's about time," said Ron. "We only have until graduation to be 'up to something'. After that, we need to toe the line, stay on the straight and narrow, follow all the rules."

That evening, they were all sitting in the common room. Hermione was doing some last minute studying for her Ancient Runes N.E.W.T. Harry and Ron were playing Wizard Chess. Ginny was knitting a sweater to give her father for his birthday. It actually was looking like a sweater. "You're getting better at that," said Hermione, looking up from her book for a moment.

"Thanks," said Ginny.

CRACK. Everyone jumped, as George and Angelina appeared in the common room.

"What's up?" said Ron.

"Well," said George. "There was something I wanted to tell you. Well, er, I mean…we wanted to tell you. I sent McGonagall an owl, and she dropped the defenses for me again."

"So, what is it?" said Ginny.

"We're going to have a party," said George. "You're all invited. Want to come?"

"Well, sure," they all said.

"When's the party?" asked Ginny.

"This summer," said George.

"Where will it be?" asked Hermione.

"At the Burrow," said George.

"You came all the way here just to invite us to a party you're having in a few months?" asked Ron.

"Well, sure," said George. "I wanted to make sure you have time to choose a nice outfit to wear, and comb your hair and stuff."

"Huh?" said Ron.

Meanwhile, Hermione and Ginny had noticed the engagement ring on Angelina's finger. They both looked up at Angelina who was grinning. They grinned back at her. Ginny tapped Harry on the arm, and pointed at Angelina's finger. Harry saw the ring and grinned also. Meanwhile, George was still playing with Ron.

"Ron," said George. "I don't want you showing up at my party with messy hair or pants that are too short."

Ron looked around at Ginny, Harry and Hermione. They were grinning, and they seemed to know something he didn't. He looked at them for help.

George continued. "There's going to be lots of dancing at the party, Ron. And I want you to spend some time with Hermione practicing your dancing between now and the party. If you dance with my wife at the party, you better not step on her feet."

"Your wi…." Ron froze, looked at Angelina, then looked down at her hand which she was holding out so Ron could see the ring. "You guys are getting married this summer? Hey, that's great! Congratulations!" Ron jumped up and gave his brother a big hug. Ginny, Harry and Hermione jumped up and pretty soon everyone had hugged George and Angelina and congratulated them.

"This calls for a toast," said Harry. But they didn't have anything to toast with.

George reached into his gown and pulled out a bottle and six glasses. "I came prepared," he said.

Pretty soon the six glasses were filled. Ron held up his glass and said, "To Angelina and George." Everyone clinked their glasses and drank some bubbly wine.

"So, Angelina," said Harry. "Do you know what you're getting yourself into?"

"I have a pretty good idea," said Angelina. "Whenever George doesn't want to do something, he just ignores me. Then when I complain, he says, 'I couldn't hear you. Can't you see I only have one ear?' He uses that 'Poor me, I only have one ear' thing almost every day."

"Do you really do that to her, George?" asked Hermione.

George ignored her.

"George?" said Hermione.

"Oh, sorry Hermione," said George. "I couldn't hear your question. Only got one ear, you know." George pointed to his ear. Everyone laughed.

"So, Angelina, how did it happen?" asked Ginny. "Did George get down on one knee and propose?"

"George?" said Angelina. "Not exactly. It was a bit more exciting than that. We were in the shop closing up. There was a box labeled 'Extendable Ears' on the floor near the counter. George asked me to unpack it and put the Extendable Ears on a shelf. So I opened the box. Inside there were no ears. Just a red ball. I thought it was a little strange finding a red ball in a sealed box of Extendable Ears. As soon as I picked it up, it started to glow. It glowed brighter and brighter. Then it exploded. Not a real explosion. It didn't hurt or anything. It just popped open and there was a piece of parchment floating in front of me. The parchment said, 'Go to the fake wand section.' So I went to the fake wand section of the store, and on the shelf there was a new wand I had never seen before. It was shiny and black. Bigger than any of the others. I picked it up. As soon as I picked it up, it started to pull me. It was actually pulling my arm. Pretty hard. So I went with it. It took me up one aisle and down another until we were standing in front of the Pygmy Puffs. The wand tugged at my arm until it was pointing at the shelf of Pygmy Puffs. As soon as the wand was pointing straight at the shelf, there was a 'pop' and a large piece of parchment appeared floating in front of the shelf. It said, 'I'll be your Pygmy Puff if you'll be mine.' George had been following me around the store. He was standing next to me. I turned to look at him, and he was handing me this ring."

Angelina reached out her hand to show the ring again.

"So what happened next?" asked Ginny.

"I didn't have to think about it," said Angelina. "I looked at George and said, 'yes'. And guess what George did?"

Everyone shrugged.

"He said, 'I couldn't hear you Angelina. Only got one ear, you know.' That time I had to punch him. Then we snogged."

"George, will you take it easy on her?" said Ginny. "You're going to make her crazy."

"Don't worry, Ginny," said Angelina. "George always keeps me laughing. And I can keep him in line if I need to." She pulled out her wand. "I've been practicing a few things."

George interrupted, "She keeps threatening to turn me into a French fry if I don't cut out the ear jokes."

Hermione and Ron looked at each other and laughed. "Angelina, I have a feeling you and I are going to get along great," said Hermione.

It was three o'clock in the afternoon, and they were standing in front of Hagrid's hut. Before they could knock on the door, Hagrid yanked it open.

"Come in, come in… all of yeh. Hurry up. It's almos' time."

They all looked at each other, and walked into the hut.

"How'd yeh all like a nice spot o' tea. An' some fudge?"

"Sure, Hagrid," they said.

They were all eyeing the pile of blankets in the corner of the hut. After Hagrid had poured five cups of tea, and set down a tray of fudge, he sat down in his massive chair.

"So I want to tell all o' yeh a story. Think back ter the end of las' year. Ter the saddes' day of me life."

"Dumbledore's funeral?" asked Harry.

"Yes," Hagrid continued. "I will never know me a sadder day 'n that. I almost didn' stay fer the funeral. I was too sad. But I needed ter pay me respects to Albus Dumbledore, the greates' man I ever knew. Remember how the funeral ended with the mos' beautiful song yeh ever heard?"

"Fawkes," said Hermione.

"Right," said Hagrid.

"And then Fawkes flew away forever," said Harry.

"Right," said Hagrid. "And wrong."

Everyone looked at him puzzled.

"Fawkes flew away that day, an' I don't think we'll ever see that beautiful bird of Dumbledore's again. That's true. But he did'n fly away from Hogwarts at the end of the funeral."

"Where did he go?" asked Harry. Hagrid ignored him, and continued.

"When the funeral was over, I took me self fer a walk in the forest. I was cryin' me eyes out. You know, kids, Dumbledore was like a father ter me."

"We know," said Hermione.

"Anyway, I could'n bear to go back ter Hogwarts after the funeral. But I knew I had to. So when it got dark that night, I walked me self back to this hut. And when I walked inside, what did I see? Fawkes. Right here. Right in the middle of this table, where that tray of treacle fudge is sittin' right now. Fawkes was sitting there. Jus' wait'n for me.

"I sat down in this chair. Right here. Right where I'm sittin' now. Tears were still streamin' down this face. Me beard was soaking wet. And I jus' looked at that bird. And Fawkes looked at me. The next thing I know, Fawkes is standing right in front of me. Right on the table. Right where me cup of tea is right now. And then I saw a tear. One little tear. And it dripped. Right out of Fawkes's eye, it dripped onto the back of me hand, which was resting on this table. And yeh know what happened? The instant the tear hit me hand, everythin' felt different. I was'n cryin. My heart felt peaceful. I knew everythin' was goin' ter be okay. Fawkes's tear healed me heart.

"Then Fawkes flew off the table to that corner of the room. Right there. Right where that pile of blankets is. Fawkes jus' stood on the floor in the corner of the room lookin' at me. For about a minute. Fawkes jus' looked at me. And then Fawkes jus' took off. Jus' flew out me window. And that was the las' time I think any of us will ever see that bird."

Hagrid got up from the table, and walked over to the pile of blankets. He started picking them up, one at a time, and tossing them in another pile a few feet away. As he picked up the blankets, Hagrid continued:

"But before Fawkes flew away, Fawkes left me somethin'. Right here. Right on this spot."

Hagrid picked up the last blanket. And sitting by itself on the floor in the corner of the hut was a single egg.