Hey guys its me! I know sorry its been such a long time. I had a lot of things going on which I needed to get though. But good news is that thats done and I passed my second year of university! Hope you enjoy this update and I hope to bring you more over the summer, so keep an eye out! ;)

Chapter 3 – of Parties

The carriage pulled up outside the main doors to the castle, which were wide open, allowing a warm glow to emit from within. Hermione looked up the steps into these doors, she could see the high vaulted ceilings and could smell the sent of old stone and a small that could only be described as Hogwarts. Oh how she had missed it! The thestral pawed at the ground, anxious for the passengers of it's carriage to disembark so it could once again roam free in the forbidden forest.

Ron leaned forward towards the door of the carriage closest to the castle. It sprang open before he could touch it and a small set of steps descended from the base of the carriage to aid it's passengers on getting down to the floor. Ron stepped out first, straightening out his robes as he did so, then offering up his hand to help Hermione down. She took his hand gratefully and stepped onto the pathway up to the castle doors.

"So here we are," Ron said, still holding Hermione's hand looking up at the great castle, " feels a bit strange to be back again doesn't it? Looks like it's hardly changed at all, even though we know what happened to it in the battle, you know kinda got a little bit smooshed." He trailed off. Both of them knew that speaking about the final battle was still a little difficult and a little raw for them all.

"It is strange to be here again, I had forgotten how much I missed it you know?" She replies, also trailing her eyes over the expanses of stone work, " I would love to be back here, learning more, less hassle, not as many worries." Her eyes has misted over in thought.

"You just want to back in the library with all those books 'mione" Ron laughed.

"Oh what ever Ronald, let's just go shall we, I am sure there are plenty of people for us to talk with." Hermione grabbed Ron's hand and started to drag him up the main steps until they reached the doors to the great hall.

The doors stood open and proud, the long house table inside were no longer there, being moved in favour of smaller tables, allowing for a more intimate setting. There was also space in the middle of the room made into a dance floor, with a band being on the small stage at the front of the room, behind the old Owl lectern which Dumbledore always used to stand behind to give his speeches to the school. But today Professor McGonagall was stood behind it smiling happily around at the people who were wandering around the room.

Hermione's dress swished against the flagstones on the floor with a soft sound, her heels clicked and her ear rings jangled quietly. Ron walked her into the room, both of them grabbed drinks from the long table at the entrance which was covered in glasses which were filled with everything from Butterbeer, to Wine and even fire whiskey for the odd few who enjoyed it. Hermione had grabbed a glass of white wine and Ron a tankard of butterbeer.

Suddenly there was a flurry of movement from the side of the room and a blur of brilliant yellow was rushing towards them.

"Hermione! Ron!" a female voice called from the yellow blur which came to a halt in front of the two. "welcome, I have missed you guys" They were pulled into a warm hug by none other than Luna Lovegood.

"Luna, hi!" Hermione said, returning the hug, patting the girl's back '"How have you been? What are you doing these days?" she asked stepping back to take in Luna's appearance.

Luna was wearing a bright yellow dress, although different from the one she wore to Bill and Fleur's wedding a few years before. This dress was a lot more sophisticated and really made Luna appear much older. Her hair was the same blonde and was held back with a pretty clip at the back of her head. For a change she wasn't wearing her butterbeer cork necklace or her radish ear rings, this time going for something a little less strange. She had a necklace of some kind of leaves strung together around her neck and from her ears hung purple flowers.

"Oh Hermione, I am sorry I thought you knew," Luna began, looking slightly confused, "I work here now, at Hogwarts. I was offered a divnation teaching job, alongside Professor Trelawney. But what are you doing? I heard it was something in the Ministry."

"A teacher Luna, thats brilliant! I would love to be a teacher, especially here, I miss it so much, you don't realise until you return after a long time. But yeah I am working in the Ministry, I am undersecretary to the Minister actually." Hermione replied, looking slightly embarssed at this last part.

"That amazing Hermione, well we did always know you would do well for yourself. And yes the teaching is great, it is a shame so few enjoy divination but the ones who do seem to really be flourishing." Luna now turned to Ron who has been occupyng himself by swigging from his tankard of butterbeer and glancing around the room. "What are you doing with your time now Ron, Quidditch isn't it?"

"Oh yeah," Ron said, lowering his drink, "Yeah I play keeper for the Chudley Cannons, we're doing really well this season."

"Luna dear, what are you doing over there, please don't say you're pestering people, not everyone is interested in what Narggles are." A voice came from behind Luna and Neville came walking into their view.

"Oh Neville, it's okay it's Hermione and Ron, they know about the dangers of Narggles already." Luna turned and wrapped her arm around his waist, bringing him against her, his arm going around her in return.

"Urm so are you two, like together now?" Hermione asked Luna and Neville, gesturing to their close proximity to each other.

"Yeah, we got together not long after the..." Neville paused, thinking of the best way to explain himself, "after everything had finished, you know."

"Yeah I understand, that's really great though, I happy for you both" Hermione said. "So what are doing then Neville?"

"Oh teaching as well, I teach Herbology, I always was good at it, and it just felt like the right thing to do. I have always wanted to inspire others to love plants like I do, and now I can!" he looked o happy and proud of himself, it was good to finally see him like that.

The four of them happily continued to chat about everything from their jobs, relationships, day to day lives and Luna and Neville brought some brilliant teaching stories into the equation until a questioning voice caused them all to turn around and stare at the person it came from.

"Granger?"