Breakfast in the Great Hall was dying down. Most of the students that remained were merely carrying on lingering conversations about the first start of term since the re-building of Hogwarts. Since the horrible debacle that was last year, the former seventh year class was invited to come back to Hogwarts to receive the rest of their proper education and take Newts, causing the seventh year class to be larger than normal. The school year was also to be extended a month into the summer for necessary make-up lessons. With the exception of Seventh years, EVERYONE was to take double Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was a ministry pushed move, as if doubling up on that class would erase the existence of the former "Dark Arts" class.

Aang enjoyed the light air to the place. It seemed so calm here. So full of life. Aang had almost forgotten what it was like to be a normal kid, doing normal kid things. No tyrannical Despots to overthrow, or awesome Earth shattering powers to keep under control. He had almost forgotten what the laughter of students sounded like. He closed his eyes remembering his airbending lessons with monk Gyiatzo. How the students would play air pranks on each other when they thought he wasn't looking. When Aang got older and Gyiatzo became his mentor, Aang realized that Gyiatzo was ALWAYS looking, but he never scolded anyone. Aang would never forget the time that monk Gyiatzo actually STARTED a huge air prank war in the middle of his class, subtlely airbending Sonam's shirt over his own head, while walking around examining their stances. Sonam assumed that another student did this, which started off a chain reaction of bending that came to be known as 'The War of Stances'. Aang laughed at the thought. He missed his mentor, his classmates.

Harry slurped up the last of his juice. "Ok, so I think we should all head to our houses, pick up the class lists and return the Head Suite."

"Can't, mate." Neville chimed in. "I have to go meet Professor Sprout in greenhouse 3. She says she will let me help cultivate the new Ligonus vines if I agree to help grade the First and Third year homework assignments." Neville finished, pleased with himself.

"That's great Neville!" Hermione chimed in. Neville was, essentially, going to be a T.A.

"Why would it be great? That just means he will have even MORE work to do." Ron continued, finishing the last bit of his eggs.

"Well, SOME people take their education seriously, and SOME people know that opportunities like this can help in their future endeavors. With this experience under his belt, and a recommendation from Professor Sprout, Neville would be poised to be able to work in some of the best Herbology conservatories in the world!" Hermione finished smiling wide at Neville, who returned her smile gratefully, before immediately turning towards his food when he caught sight of Ron's glare.

"Uh..well that's really great Neville. I suppose we'll just see you at lunch then." Harry concluded uncomfortably.

…

Aang rubbed the sweat off his forehead as he followed Harry, Hermione, and Katara back to the Suite. It still felt like the summer outside and, because of his tattoo's, Aang was forced to cover himself from head to toe in a cloak and ridiculous hat Harry had found stuffed into the bottom of his trunk. Once they reached the suite Aang immediately divested himself of the offensive garments. He was drenched in sweat. "Do you have a bathe I could use?" He asked.

"Sure." Harry awnsered. "Up the stairs, the door in the middle of the balcony."

Aang climbed the staircase and walked into the bathroom. He saw the tub, but what confused him was the pipe leading up the wall to some kind of…device that hung over the tub. "Um…Harry? Could you come here?" When Harry made his way into the bathroom, Aang pointed. "What is that?"

Harry looked up to what Aang was pointing at. Was he serious? "It's…a showerhead mate." When Aang only looked confused, Harry strided over to the bathe, tapping the showerhead twice with his wand. Water shot out of it with such force that Aang jumped back. "You…don't have showers in your world?" Harry stated confused. Aang stared at the device, in Aang's world, one usually bathed using pitchers, water fell naturally, it couldn't be controlled…unless it was bended. The water was usually cold or luke-warm, but this "shower" seemed to be shooting HOT water out of it. Aang was apprehensive.

That was when Harry realized that Aang had REALLY never seen a shower before. Slowly, Harry ran his hand under the stream. "See? Nothing to worry about Mate. Water comes up from the tub and comes out through the showerhead…it's just water."

Aang decided to suck it up. Slowly, he approached the device and quickly shot his hand under it. Huh. He thought. "That is…SO AMAZING!" Aang said, smiling wide. Harry arched an eyebrow, he had never really thought about it before but Aang was a 13 year old boy. A 13 year old in a strange new world. He took pleasure in things Harry didn't even think about.

"Er…well, I'll let you get to it. Towels are over there…soap is over there…you know, to clean yourself with." Slowly, Harry backed out of the bathroom and closed the door. He immediately walked into his bedroom at the end of the floor and closed the door. Once safely locked in his room he burst out into laughter, falling onto his bed. Aang's face was priceless. He wasn't laughing AT Aang necessarily, he was more laughing at the situation. Here Harry was, sharing his dorm with a kid who wielded unspeakable power his world did not, and would never, know. And this SAME kid had never seen a shower before. Was MESMERIZED by a shower. Harry decided right then and there that he had liked Aang from the beginning.

Eventually, Aang tore himself away from the fun new way to bathe and made it downstairs, smelling of Jasmine. Harry smirked. He had obviously used Hermione's soap. After some time and light conversation the rest of the gang arrived and the planning commenced.

Harry started first. "Ok, Ive got Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Herbology, Charms, Magical Creatures, Transfiguration and two free periods." Harry decided to take it easy his last year, his free periods would leave him time to study and time for quidditch. Although, now that he had these newcomers saddled to him, he supposed his free periods would also be devoted to making sure they didn't get them all caught and figuring out how to get them home.

Ron was next. "Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration, Herbology, Charms, and Muggle Studies." Ron REALLY didn't want to lug himself in to Slughorn's class because 1) He was dead awful at potions and 2) Slughorn would try to collect him being that he had proven himself to be a war hero and all. Still, his class list was based on the fact that these were the Newt's he would have to have in order to become an Auror, with the exception of muggle studies.

As if Harry had read his mind, He asked, "Muggle Studies?"

Ron didn't want to tell him that the reason he was taking muggle studies was because Hermione was a muggle-born and he wanted to learn more about her "other" life, outside his world. He wanted to be able to talk about that game Hermione's father loved…what was it called? Foot-hand? He was sure it had the word foot in it. He didn't want Hermione to have to give up all of her muggle life just to be with him…no, she had spent the last 7 years learning about his world. It was time he started learning about hers. "Er…I thought it would be good to branch out a bit." He finished vaguely.

"What about you, Hermione?" Ron said hopefully.

Her voice was robotic. "Defense Against the Dark Arts, Arithmancy, Potions, Herbology

Ancient Runes, Magical Creatures, Charms, Transfiguration."

Harry chuckled. "So, your going to take EVERY class before you leave Hogwarts?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "It's HARDLY every class Harry. I just don't fill the need to waste my time with free periods when I could be filling that time with something a little more rigorous." Again Draco snickered, causing Ron to glare at him murderously.

…

Draco didn't read his list, instead just shoving it at Potter. He then strode over to the nook in the back of the common room and sat down. He wanted to look like he was enjoying his time with Potter and his brood as little as possible. However, in actuality, Draco didn't mind it so much. Sitting in his room in Slytherin, 23 hours a day, had not been the welcome solitude he thought it would be. It was…lonely. He had really underestimated how much Crabbe, Goyle, and even Zabini had occupied his time. He underestimated how much he actually enjoyed snogging Pansy in his free time…even if she was an annoying little money grubber. He underestimated how much he enjoyed the teenage life he once had, no cares, no worries…no nightmares. Draco rubbed his eyes in exhaustion. Since the war he hadn't been sleeping very well. In fact, he feared the thought of sleep. His nightmares were relentless. Red eyes…evil smiles…red and green flashes of light. And of course there were the screams, sometimes it would be a man, sometimes it would be a woman…sometimes a child. Sometimes it would be someone he knew. He felt the screams too. Could feel the vibrations cascade up his body and into his head. He would often wake up with splitting headaches, drenched in sweat. Sometimes, he would even…wet his bed. There is nothing quite like waking up, drenched in sweat, with a splitting headache in your own urine. Nothing was so humiliating, so shaming. Sometimes he would cry because of it. Cry out of frustration, or fear. He would then begin what became known to him as his late night routine. He would get up, perform a cleansing charm, then pad quietly into the shower. He would turn the water on, scolding hot, and just stand there, eyes closed, head leaning against the wall. It would seem that no matter how badly the water burned, it could not burn away his past, his regret.

Draco picked up a magazine that Granger, most likely, had left on the table. British GQ, he had never heard of it before and decided, because the pictures weren't moving, that it must have been a muggle magazine. He flipped through it, prim and proper gentlemen dressed immaculately graced the pages. Draco grinned, this was his kind of magazine. He resolved that he would probably steal it when no one was the wiser. Suddenly, he was broken out of his revelry by yelling.

"I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS RONALD!" Granger yelled. What had Weasley, the idiot, done now?

"HERMIONE! YOUR MAKING A SCENE!" Weasley yelled back, waving his arms around to emphasize his point.

"Oh REALLY Ronald! Am I making a SCENE? Am I some kind of HYSTERICAL woman, Is this all MY FAULT?" She retorted. Draco almost wished he had been paying attention, this looked like something he could capitalize off of later.

"Ronald, I don't understand why you think ALL of the WOMEN should go with ME to classes!" She replied. Ah. Draco thought. Weasley's stupid jealousy. As if anyone would want Granger, although Draco had to admit she had one hot arse.

"Hermione, I just think that…you know because girls…they like to talk…and, you know." Weasley sputtered out. Did he think Granger was going to fall for his "Im an adorable bumbling idiot" routine. Draco smirked. Give Granger some credit, she might be a hag, but she WAS smart.

"I don't mind going with Hermione." The Katara girl chimed in weakly, "Her schedule sounds…enlightening!" God bless her, the girl was trying to quell the row. But Draco knew that the only thing that could stop Hurricane Granger and Weasley was the silent treatment they usually gave each other for a few days…or perhaps a snogging session. Draco wasn't really sure what Granger and Weasley had managed to accomplish-relationship wise- since everyone had gotten wind that they were dating. And frankly, he didn't want the thought of Weasley snogging anyone in his head. Draco laughed. These people were amusing, idiots, but still amusing.

…

Harry sighed in obvious frustration. " Ok! We can have Sokka and Toph go with Ron, Aang can stick with me, Katara can go with Hermione, Zuko with Draco.

"No way!" Toph interjected. "If Im going to be stuck here, I should be able to pick my own classes!"

Harry sighed, "Fine, as long as one of us is with you." Harry said, shoving the class lists at Toph, who just rolled her eyes at it.

"Oh right." Ron interjected when he saw the look of frustration on Toph's face. "She sees with her feet mate." He finished casually.

Harry arched an eyebrow. "What?"

Ron sighed. Right, he should probably explain that. "She's blind mate. Sees with her feet. That's why she can walk around fine. Feels vibrations and all that."

"…WHAT?" Harry exclaimed again.

This time Toph chimed in. She explained how she sees, how she used the vibrations in the Earth, how she was perfectly capable of handling herself with no help…and how she couldn't read.

Ron perked up. "See Hermione! There's another reason why Toph should go with you! You like to read! You can read to her!"

Hermione glared at him, "OH THAT IS IT!" She exclaimed, throwing her class lists and notes down and stomping up to her room. How dare he use that poor girl's blindness to advance his own agenda.

Katara shot out of her chair. Resolved to make things better. She grabbed Toph by the arm and dragged her along as well.

Toph turned towards the guys as she climbed the stairs, "Look, I don't care what you give me, but I definitely want to take magical creatures! Sounds fun!" She waggled her eyebrows as Katara yanked her up the stairs.

…

Katara knocked softly on the door. She could already hear the sniffling.

"GO AWAY RONALD!" Hermione's voice yelled.

"Actually, it's Katara. Thought you might like some company." Katara finished softly.

There was silence for a moment before Katara heard the door click. Slowly, she pushed the door open, to find a dejected looking Hermione sitting on her bed, legs gathered up, arms around her knees. Katara padded into the room quietly, taking a seat. Toph followed, closing the door. Suddenly Hermione perked up.

"Oh dear! Toph, do you need any help?" Hermione blurted out.

Toph laughed. "No, and I'm going to let that go because your boyfriend is an idiot. Sort of like Sokka part 2."

Hermione sat back on her bed, burying her face in her knees. Katara shot Toph a glare before striding over to Hermione, putting her hand on Hermione's shoulder.

"He's not an idiot, and I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt your feelings…he just cares about you…"Katara trailed off. She could tell that Ron cared for Hermione desperately. He just had an…odd way of showing it.

Hermione lifted her head, staring off into her fireplace. "I just don't understand why he is acting this way…I thought things would be different now….now that we're together. I thought all this insecurity would go away."

Katara was thoughtful for a moment. Did the insecurity ever go away? She remembered how jealous she got when the Kyoshi Island girls had given Aang all that attention, how hurt she felt when he seemed to be enjoying it. She still got uncomfortable when girls came running up to Aang, trying to get a feel of him after he saved the world. Aang was almost 14 years old and he had gotten quite a bit taller since she had found in the iceberg, what felt like a million years ago. He was a bit taller than her now, his voice was deeper. She was lost in exquisite thought about how his body had shaped up, becoming lean muscle and yet, Aang still had that childlike curiosity about him. He still had what made him, essentially, him. She smiled at the thought. They were all growing up she supposed. She continued, "Hermione, sometimes it's difficult to be sure that someone wants you…loves you. You said earlier that you two had been pining over each other for years and were too afraid to say anything." Katara continued, thinking about the conversation she had with Hermione earlier that morning in her room. "Maybe he's still just afraid that you don't like him as much as he likes you…"

Hermione looked at Katara, noticed the softness in her eyes. " Well, he's being ridiculous then. Of COURSE, I want him, probably MORE than he wants me. I just…I just thought things would be simpler now. The war is over and yet things are just as complicated as ever. My parents are still groggy from getting their memories back, everyone is still in mourning about our friends. Oh, and this whole sharing a suite thing with Harry has made things between Ron and I more difficult than ever." Hermione closed her eyes. Yes, she had hoped things would get better in general after the war, especially with her and Ron. They had shared their first kiss and immediately afterward, Ron had lost his brother. Had seen him die. Right after the war, she had tried to be consoling. Gentle with him. Ron had been quite distraught about losing Fred. They all had. Sometimes, she would sit with him in his room for hours, while he wallowed in his sadness, sometimes they would say nothing, sometimes he would cry in her arms. In fact, it had been during one of these moments that Hermione and Ron had shared their second kiss. The first one had been a surprise, she hadn't meant to do it. It was the culmination of all her frustration, fear, desperation,…and love, crashing into another person. The second kiss was a bit more…desperate…

Ron had been sitting staring out his window when she walked in. He had looked at her smiling in a watery manner. She supposed he had been thinking about Fred again. Thinking about George, who had been staying with his parents those first couple days after the war. The night before, George had woken up from what must have been a truly horrendous nightmare. He awakened the entire house as he screamed in anguish, in grief. When Ron and Hermione had showed up to his room they found him, curled up in his mother's arms, clinging to her desperately, wailing into her chest, she looked at Ron, his eyes wide in terror, in sadness. Later that night, Hermione had woken up needing to use the loo. When she crept up to the door, she had heard him, Ron, weeping in solitude in the bathroom. The next day he had been silent, they all had... So there she was again, sitting in the room alone with Ron. In silence. When suddenly he spoke, "Sometimes it's you I see…instead of Fred. It's your eyes I see with the life sucked out of them…" He finished quietly.

"Oh Ron." Hermione whispered. He looked at her, she saw something in his eyes she had never seen before…something she couldn't describe. What happened next was sudden, completely unexpected. He had launched himself at her, crashing his lips against hers desperately. His tongue demanding entrance against her lips, to which she instantly complied. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, as if letting her go would mean he'd never see her again. He slammed her down on the bed still holding on to her tightly as his body crashed on top of hers. Hermione was almost swept up in his need, was on the brink of losing all control of her lucidity, when she came to her senses. Her eyes shot open and she broke the kiss. Looking at Ron in surprise. He was crying. Tears rolling down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. His eyes still closed. When he tried to move, she stopped him. Holding on to him tightly, as if letting him go meant that she would never breathe again.

"I'm still here, Ron. As long as your heart beats…so will mine." She whispered. She wanted to believe it, desperately. She knew that she could not dictate the hands of death anymore than any other mortal. Still, she needed him to understand that, if It was her choice, she would will herself to live until the end of time if it meant that he would never have to feel the way he felt before that kiss. He rested his head in the crook of her neck. She could feel his tears hot against her skin. They stayed like that for a while, clinging to each other. Once again, in silence. But this silence was different. Not a silence of pain nor grief, anger nor fear. It was love. It was in that moment that she realized that she belonged to Ronald Weasley. And he to her.

Hermione was snapped out of her revelry by a knock at her door. Slowly, she picked up her wand, heart pounding, and flicked it. Slowly the door opened to reveal…Ginny and Luna. Hermione sighed…in disappointment.

"Ok, now which one of you is going to tell me WHAT is going on here?" Ginny announced as she flopped down on Hermione's bed. "Hogwarts EXCHANGE program? I'm not buying it." Apparently, Ginny hadn't gauged the tone of the room at all.

Luna looked around the room, she could feel the sadness as soon as she walked in and closed the door. It felt cold. Very curious. "Oh, Hermione, have the dinglehoppers gotten to you too? I find they always affect one the most as the summer winds down…"

Ginny smirked at Luna before turning her attention to Hermione. Oh..oh no. She thought at the obvious look of sadness that graced Hermione's features, how could she not have noticed?

"Great, what has my prat of a brother done THIS time." She said, quickly resting her hand on Hermione's knee in a reassuring way.

Hermione quickly tried to compose herself, "Oh, it's nothing. Just the dinglehoppers." She said, smiling somewhat affectionately at Luna, reminded of the mural she knew to be painted on the ceiling of Luna's bedroom…friends. Hermione changed the subject, "So, has Harry told you about our guests then? This is Katara and Toph." She finished. As she noticed the alarmed look on Katara's face, she continued, "Oh, you don't have to worry about these two, 'blowing your cover,' as Sokka put it. They are close friends of ours."

Katara smiled warmly at the newcomers. "It's nice to meet you! That's Toph over there." She said, pointing in Toph's direction who shot them a smile and wave.

Toph's leaned against the wall "Well, I'm glad "feelings time" is over." She stated shortly, grinning. Katara shot her another death stare…it was as if Toph was impervious to glares…oh right, she's blind…Katara rarely ever noticed it anymore.

"…ok, so do you want to tell me what's going on then, since you don't want to tell me what's going on between you and my brother?" Ginny said, smiling.

And so once again, Hermione went into the story of how the newcomers got here, how they were different, about Draco's involvement, Katara and Toph showing Ginny and Luna they're bending abilities. By the end, Ginny was in shock, Luna however, just looked satisfied.

"Yes, that sounds about right." Luna said finally, causing Hermione to arch her eyebrow. Hermione just accepted it. You just got to accept it.

Ginny got up, pacing the room. "Well, how are you going to get them back? What are you going to do now?"

Hermione sighed. "Well, I guess we'll just have to hide them here until we can deduce how to get them back…" She said. "As of right now, they are "exchange students."

Ginny stood for a moment. "Well, I'll help out as much as I can. I can certainly help out in classes, now that we're all seventh years." She grinned. " I think it'll be fine…for now. So, you want to tell me what going on with you and Ron, or am I going to have to jinx it out of you?"

Toph laughed. "I don't know who this girl is, but I like her!" She exclaimed, causing Ginny to grin wickedly at her.

Hermione sighed. "You know how Ron is. He's always saying one silly thing or another…" She trailed off. "I just wish he would get off this whole, 'Me and Harry sharing a room' thing. I mean, it doesn't bother you Ginny! Why are his knickers in such a twist about it?"

Actually, it did bother Ginny a little. Ginny would be a fool if she didn't recognize that Hermione was an attractive woman. She was also smart, brave, loyal…plus, she was in the whole "Golden Trio" thing with Harry and Ron. The three of them shared a little mini-click that Ginny had always been somewhat jealous of. Hermione would always know a part of Harry that Ginny never would. Still, Ginny also knew that Hermione could be trusted, and even though she envied her connection with Harry sometimes, she also knew that she would share things with Harry that Hermione NEVER would…if Hermione knew what was good for her. And the thought of this comforted Ginny endlessly. Ginny smirked. "Well Hermione, you know how guys are. They think with their…you know."

"Think with their what?" Katara asked innocently. Ginny smirked again.

"Genitals." Luna said quite matter of factly, causing Toph to fall to the floor with laughter, Katara blushed profusely.

"Yes…well anyway, Ron is just a big baby." Ginny continued. "He always has been. It's like when we were young. Ron never liked to share his toys…what was his was HIS. But still, it's not like he isn't crazy about you. Everyone could tell that you two were daft about each other since your third year...we placed bets and everything, ironically, Pavarti Patil won the pot..."

Hermione scoffed. "That is NOT true!"

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Please Hermione, you guys were always fighting, always trying to find ways to talk to each other. Not to mention it was sooooo obvious that whenever one of you would get with someone else, even LOOK at someone else, the other one would be horribly jealous…"

"That's not true!" Hermione exclaimed again. She looked around the room for confirmation, Luna just smiled that mysterious smile, and Katara and Toph smirked. Even though Katara and Toph had only been there for ONE DAY they could tell from the first hour of meeting Ron and Hermione that they were into each other.

"Hermione, when Ron started dating Lavender Brown, when anyone even MENTIONED Lavender Brown, you got this facial expression…yea, like that one…and you talked rubbish about the girl CONSTANTLY. Harry says that when Ron suspected that you dated Victor Krum, he kicked his prize Krum action figure across the room. Face it, the only people who didn't know that you two fancied each other…were you and Ron. Frankly, it was a bit pathetic."

Hermione shot up in her bed. "Your one to talk! You pined after Harry for YEARS! You never had the courage to tell him how you felt! He had to do it for you!" She finished smirking.

"Wait, so your dating Harry?" Katara queried.

"Oh ho ho yes!" Hermione exclaimed. "She wanted him FOR YEARS! She talked to me about it for HOURS sometimes. Now THAT is pathetic." Hermione shot back.

Ginny shot up from Hermione's bed, Hermione did the same. They stared each other down. It was a stand-off. Katara eyed each of the girls warily, Luna just sat with the same mysterious smile on her face as before. Then Luna spoke.

"Well…it would seem that your both pathetic…" Luna concluded thoughtfully, dreamily, Toph laughed in the background. "But really, if your both happy, maybe it isn't such a bad thing to be pathetic."

Ginny and Hermione looked at Luna, and then towards each other. Smiles creeping along their faces. "So." Ginny said, "Here's to being pathetic!" She finished, raising her wand. Hermione laughed, raising her wand as well. She decided that this "having girlfriends" thing wasn't so bad at all.

…

Ron watched as Hermione stormed up the stairs, then watched as Katara and Toph followed. He had done it again…what a prat he was. He couldn't stop himself. The thought of another bloke being NEAR Hermione set his teeth on edge. She was beautiful, dead smart, and wonderful to be around…oh and a WAR HERO. What bloke wouldn't want to call her his? Blokes who could offer her much more than he ever could. Who was Ron, really, to have a woman so amazing? He was poor, lanky, not that bright. He was certainly no quidditch star or master of death. No, he wasn't much of anything at all.

Sokka looked over at Ron, sympathy in his eyes. He had to say something. The room was uncomfortable enough as it is. "So. Woman troubles huh?" Sokka was never good at saying the right things.

"It's nothing." Ron mumbled, lost in his own pity party.

Sokka sat up in his armchair, resolved to work out this situation. "Listen to Sokka, Ron, as a bonafide ladies expert, I can tell ya, this will pass. You just have to get into your FEEEELINGS."

Aang arched an eyebrow. Reminded of the time Sokka had acted as some kind of…mind healer when Aang's nightmares had kept him from sleeping. Quickly, he took up the role that Toph usually would, "As I recall Sokka, you have had all of two girlfriends, I don't think that makes you an expert."

Sokka turned to Aang, "Quiet Aang, MEN are talking."

"I'm TWO years younger than you!" Aang retorted.

Before Sokka could say anything a wolf's howl rang loudly around the room, causing everyone but Harry and Ron to jump a bit. Harry smirked. "Sorry about that, it's the door. Someone is here." The wolf howl acted as sort of a door bell for the common room, as there was no ACTUAL door in front of the suite. Visitors would request Harry- as he was Head Boy and all- and the wolf would howl for him. "Well, everyone hide I guess…" Harry finished.

Harry strode over and opened the door, revealing a very skeptical looking Ginny and dreamy looking Luna.

"I found her." Luna said casually.

Ginny quickly kissed Harry before pushing him out of her way all together, walking into an empty common room. "I know you're in here!" Ginny exclaimed. Ron was the first to peak his head out, smiling at his sister.

"It's ok!" Ron yelled to the others as Harry strode in behind Ginny and Luna. Slowly, the others started to re-surface. "Hey Ginny, alright?" Ron exclaimed.

Ginny eyed the strangers walking into the room, her gaze resting on Draco. "Am I alright?" She exclaimed, "Apparently, you show up with a bunch of strangers and DRACO BLOODY MALFOY at breakfast and you ask me if I'm ok? What is going on? People are already talking. Hogwarts Exchange program? Did you even TRY to come up with a decent story?"

Harry sighed. "Nothing is going on Ginny….I missed you? Where were you at breakfast?" Harry said in a pitiful attempt to change the subject.

Ginny arched an eyebrow at him. "I overslept." She said shortly. "Fine, if your not going to tell me what's going on, I will just have to ask someone else. Where is Hermione?"

The room went silent for a minute when none other than Draco Malfoy spoke up. "Granger is upstairs, Lovely to see you again Weaslette."

"Bite me." Was all Ginny said in reply, quickly making her way up the stairs, she had really been watching too much American muggle television at Hermione's.

"Hmm." Luna said thoughtfully, "I like what you've done with the place Harry. Although, I think some Derigible Plums would be lovely by the window." She said as she followed Ginny up the stairs.

Draco stared at Luna, reminded of how nice she had been towards him in the Great Hall. Even after all his family had done to her. He had visited her often when she was trapped in their cellar. He never said anything to her, of course. He mostly just found excuses to go down and see her, make sure she was still alive. He would sneak her food, water, once leaving her a blanket while she was asleep on the stone floor. How could she be so nice to him when his family had treated her so wretchedly? If he would do one thing while he was trapped at this god-forsaken school, he would be…nice to her. Or, more accurately, he wouldn't be abrasive towards her…

"So! Where were we?" Sokka continued when the women had all gone.

"We were talking about your lack of experience with women." Zuko interjected, smirking.

Sokka ignored him, "Look Ron, your sitting in a room, surrounded by guys who all have girlfriends. USE US!"

Ron stared at Sokka. Why was he so concerned about helping him? "I'm not going to sit here and gossip about Hermione and I." He stated, returning his gaze to the floor.

Sokka chuckled. "Ron. Men don't gossip. Men have MAN-versations. So we can figure out how to MAN-dle situations such as this." Sokka finished, pleased with his ability to turn a phrase.

The room was quiet for a moment. Zuko snorted. "You're an idiot." He said through laughter.

Ron sighed, closing his eyes for a moment…it couldn't hurt, he figured. All those girls were probably up there anyway, plotting against him. It couldn't hurt to make some defensive maneuvers.

"I just…don't like the thought of Hermione with other blokes. I mean LOOK at her. She could have any man she wanted…" Ron trailed off.

Draco snorted. "You can't be THAT delusional Weasley…" He said from his chair in the nook, leafing through British GQ.

Ron had forgotten Malfoy was here. "Im sorry, WHY are you still here Malfoy? NOBODY WANTS YOU HERE!"

Malfoy just smirked, "Well, I suppose it would be because Scarface here would probably need me to get back into Slytherin house. Plus, watching you sabotage your relationship with Granger…well, that's just an extra perk."

Ron was quiet. That last sentence had hit him pretty hard, even sucking out the energy to bicker with Malfoy. Was he destroying his own relationship? Had Hermione grown tired of him? He laid his head back on the couch.

Harry noticing his best mate's anguish, came up with an idea. "You know what we need? A pick-me-up! I had been saving this for the first quidditch match but what the hell…" Harry flicked his wand, and suddenly his bedroom door burst open, he flicked it again and a case came whirling down the stairs.

"What's that?" Aang inquired.

Harry flicked his wand a third time and the case opened. Butterbeer, mead, firewhiskey. Harry smirked up at Ron, whose eyes grew wide with surprise. "Yea, after the war people have been sending me all kinds of things, THESE are what you would call…spirits. It's a kind of…celebratory drink in our world." Harry said, looking over at Ron, waggling his eyebrows. Sure, Harry probably should have felt bad about drinking with a bunch of underage individuals as Headboy, but Ron needed this. Something to loosen him up. A drink with the guys seemed like something MEN did. And let's face it. Everyone in this room had been to hell and back. Had suffered, had fought, had lost a part of their innocence for the good of others. They deserved one night of ill-mannered frivolity.

Harry summoned and filled several glasses, even sending one to Draco. Harry raised his glass in toast. "To MEN! Because that's what MEN do!" He laughed.

Everyone, even Draco, drank up. Several rounds of butterbeer, and several shots of firewhiskey later. They were all thoroughly sloshed. Aang was air scooting around the room, singing something about magic showers. Zuko was standing over in the nook with Draco, laughing at several magazines they had found and decided to peruse. Together, they took a "Which famous wizard is right for you?" quiz, they had found in Witch Weekly.

"I got Dumbeleedore!" Zuko yelled, swaying in place…He looked at the picture, one eye open as he was having a hard time focusing both eyes. Why did people need TWO eyes? "He'sssss a little old…" Zuko slurred.

"I got Potter!" Draco exclaimed manically. "Potter! You're the famous wizard for me!" He finished laughing as he collapsed into a chair.

"Capital!" Harry drunkenly yelled back, chasing Aang around the room...poorly, singing the magic shower song with him.

Sokka and Ron sat on the couch apparently deep in discussion.

Ron was slumped over in his chair, eyes half open, his tenth butter beer in hand. "She's…she's the one for me…I knooooo it!" He exclaimed to Sokka.

"Hey man, people helping people. LOVE is a glori…ficious thing…one minute, your hanging out, minding your own buissssssiness. The next, your in love and she's floating up into the moon!" Sokka finished, soon he burst into tears.

"Oh hey! Don't cry!" Ron said, attempting to pat Sokka on the back but only succeeding in somehow smacking himself in the face.

Sokka sat up, "Noooo, noooo, it's ok, everything is ok. Because LOVE…LOVE is eternal. It doesn't stop breathing, just because she does…" Sokka finished quietly, solemnly. Although, Ron would probably never realize it, due to his inebriation, Sokka had actually experienced what it felt like to lose the woman you cared for. Ron's greatest fear, was Sokka's reality.

Suddenly, Harry plopped down next to Ron. "Mate….MATE! Hermione loves you. Like CRAZY, BATTY, NUTTER loves you. HOW can you not know that?" He exclaimed.

Ron looked at Harry, skeptically. "How do YOUUUUUU know?" He finished lamely.

Harry started to talk when Draco cut him off. "Open your eyes Weasley! Don't you…don't you see the way she LOOKS at you? I've been seeing it since third bloody year! When she punched me in the face!" Draco burst out laughing at the thought. "That was HAWT! Anyway, the girl looks at you like…like you're the only thing that exists! Like she BREATHES for you. I mean…I…I….I don't GET it personally, but the bird clearly has it for you! So, shut your bloody mouthface, women don't just do shit like punch a bloke in the face if they don't love you." Draco finished mysteriously, clearly not making the correct connections in his story. He fell out of his chair and crawling towards where everyone seemed to be congregating.

Zuko laughed. "Mai assaulted like 20 fire nations troops to save me…" He immediately became quiet, as the thought of Mai's eyes as she looked up towards him, even in the face of her own possible destruction, flashed in his memory.

Aang sat down, introspective. "Katara…she saved my life in Ba sing Se."

Sokka followed, "Suki fought through a prison riot to help me get out…"

Harry continued, "Ginny, she led a school revolt, in protest of my absence. Had to hide out in the Room of Requirement for fear of being killed…for me."

And then there was Ron, "Hermione…she was tortured… tortured to protect me."

And there it was. The realization of what women do for the men they love. What they sacrifice, what they give. History usually tells the stories of great men. The great sacrifice by men, the great power OF men. But rarely in history, is the story told of the women behind them. Who suffer silently…in their name. Who give unquestionably… for their good. THAT was love. Love, once again, reared it's head, to remind them that even though Men are usually the ones who get the credit for changing the world, a lot of the time, women are the ones who make it possible for them to do so. Women bear the grunt as much as men do, Women cry Men's tears, absorb Men's pain, sacrifice their own happiness… Because Women know, or at least the lucky ones do, that these Men would do the same for them at a moment's notice.

Because, in the end, for men as well as women, it is much more preferable to be "pathetic" with the one you love. Than to be perfect alone. THAT is Love.

Author's Note. Hey kids. So I know it took me FOREVER to post this. RW stuff is really blowing me. Been kind of down, not being able to find a job and all. But we persevere. Ok, pity party over. So! PLEASE tell me you caught The Little Mermaid reference! I've decided to push back the meeting with Hagrid until the next chapter. This chapter was supposed to be shorter but I got into the whole Drunken Avatar/ HP bit. Haha! Anyways, I hope you found it as amusing to read as I found it to write. Shoutouts to my regular reviewers Hooahrtr, ShadowsBloodPain, and Peridot15 and to my newest reviewers blueisawesome, average thief, and Estar9821. Go check out their stories if they got em. Review if you want! So I know this chapter is a bit of filler but I said I wanted to write a comedy and there is nothing funnier than drunk people (trust me on this). Plus, we get to see our favorite characters talk about their lives, their problems. As I am a Research Psychologist by profession, I've decided to diagnose Draco with PTSD. He meets the criteria and has no support system...it makes sense. Right, well my rant is done. Next up the gang meets up with Hagrid and I reveal my surprise. Oh! and do you think I should change the rating on this to M? Im not sure you can say genitals in a T rated story...ok until next time!