Disclaimer: Nope.

Author's Note: Oh my goodness, thank you so much for the incredible reviews! I am so, so happy that you enjoyed the beginning of the parent-teacher conferences! I've been itching to write this part of the story!

I'm glad you liked that I had Hestia talking to some unfamiliar parents. I wanted to start off with them, and get to the Grangers later, because don't worry. I'll definitely get to them, because they have immense importance in this story. They have an enormous part, and I hope you enjoy what I end up doing with them.

I'm really glad you enjoyed the reunion between Harry and his friends. There'll be a whole lot more of that in this chapter, as this one is from Harry's point of view.

And, oh my goodness, the comment you made about Sturgis is truly wonderful. That's exactly how I wanted him to come off as well. He's truly created an amazing community, with the way he's helping the Order. He's a fabulous person.

Hestia's musings about Hogwarts are exactly the way I feel about my old school. The fact that you enjoyed it thrills me immensely. I will always have such good memories of Overbrook School for the Blind, or as I like to think of it, my own Hogwarts castle.

I don't know if I made it obvious, but I, too, had a Professor Crewer in my life, although that was not really her name, of course. Sadly, she passed away in 2021 from cancer. Though it had been years since I'd seen or talked to her, I was completely devastated when I heard about her death. She helped me through one of the worst days of my life.

Tuesday, September 11, 2001, was one of the most terrible days for the United States. I was fifteen years old and at school when it happened, and I was incredibly lucky not to lose anyone. I will never forget going into the staff lounge, a room I was never usually allowed to go to, and watching in absolute horror as the Twin Towers fell. The voice of my "Professor Crewer" was the only thing that truly registered in those moments. I feel like she's the only reason I could still draw breath that day.

No matter how many years pass, I will never forget. And in this story, Hestia will never forget what Professor Crewer did for her.

Okay, here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy Harry back at Hogwarts.

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He had expected there to be a lot of people - after all, he had been warned about it. He thought he'd prepared himself for what he would face at Hogwarts when he walked into the entrance hall for the first time in over four months. The last two times he'd come here, both for his meeting with McGonagall and for the Order meeting at the end of August, he had simply Flooed into McGonagall's office and the staffroom, respectively, and out again. There had been no students at the castle, and he hadn't been anywhere else in the building. So, for him, this was the first time he had truly entered the premises since his escape after the Third Task.

As Harry walked in with Sirius beside him, he was truly flabbergasted by the amount of people that swarmed the castle. Order members, staff, students, parents, and Ministry officials walked around, either in animated conversations or simply taking in the scene.

Harry's breath caught in his throat. He felt claustrophobia start to set in, and he struggled to take a breath as he closed his eyes. He couldn't have a panic attack in front of all these people - that would be the worst thing to happen now.

"Harry? Are you okay?"

As it had done so many times, Sirius's voice came to him, as if through a tunnel. Harry clung to it like an anchor, and he imagined himself floating up out of the dark hole he'd felt himself sinking into.

He opened his eyes, drawing another breath. "There are ... so many people," he whispered.

Sirius's face instantly filled with tenderness. "We can leave again if you want," he said immediately. "If it's too much for you ..."

But it couldn't be. Harry had been looking forward to this. He wasn't about to let these feelings stop him. He was desperate to see his friends again after so long, and in order to do that, he had to stay calm. He had to get through this - there was no other option.

So, he straightened his spine and squared his shoulders. "No," he said adamantly, his determined green eyes meeting Sirius's warm gray ones. "No," he repeated. "I need to do this."

He saw the look of pride pass across Sirius's face, and he wrapped an arm around him. "I'm so proud of you, kiddo," he whispered in his ear. "But you don't have to do this if it gets too much. I won't think any less of you - you know that."

"I know," Harry replied softly. "But ... I want to stay."

Sirius still looked worried, but didn't question him again. Harry continued to take deep breaths, and Sirius rubbed small circles on his back. He could still feel the fear wriggling inside him like a parasite, but the more he breathed deeply and relaxed into Sirius's touch, the less intense it became.

Then, he heard the unmistakable voice of Molly Weasley. "Ron and Ginny - I see Ron and Ginny."

Harry swiveled his head around to look at the faces in the crowd, and his stomach swooped with happiness as he saw Molly and Bill run over to three people. They were undoubtedly Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.

He ached to go to them - they looked great, their faces animated as Mrs. Weasley and Bill embraced them all. He would give them their moment, and then he would reunite with them.

Once Mrs. Weasley released Ron, Harry saw that he was looking around the hall, too. When their eyes met, an incredibly wide smile graced his face. "HARRY!" His shout filled Harry's heart with pure joy and exhilaration.

And the next thing he knew, a bushy-haired whirlwind crashed into him, almost knocking him over, but he didn't care. He hugged her back just as tightly, feeling overwhelmed as he felt the incredible happiness in her embrace. Any remnants of the tunnel were gone, and shining, shimmering light seemed to surround him as Hermione let out a sob of pure relief.

Ginny hugged him as well, her red hair tickling his face. There was warmth in the embrace, and Harry smiled, happy to see her as well. There was no more stammering and blushing around him, which Harry was very grateful for. She made direct eye contact with him, not at all intimidated by his celebrity status anymore.

Ron pounded Harry on the back, and he was grinning so much that Harry felt choked up himself. "What'd I say, Gin?" His joyous shout echoed around the entrance hall. "I KNEW Harry would be here! I KNEW it!"

"Harry! Oh, it's so good to see you!" Hermione wiped tears from her eyes, but her smile was the widest Harry had ever seen it. "We ... we have missed you so much!"

"Hey, Harry," Ginny said. "You look great. How are you doing?"

"I'm doing great," Harry said, and he was telling the complete truth as he couldn't stop smiling.

His friends and Sirius exchanged greetings as well, and Harry basked in the glow of being around those he loved most in the world. Nothing else mattered at that moment - not the huge crowd of unfamiliar people, not the claustrophobia he had felt before, and not his anxiety about running into less-than-friendly people who didn't want his presence at Hogwarts. All he could feel was the love and support his friends and Sirius were giving him, and it meant more to him than anything else in the world.

"For once, ickle Ronniekins was right!" another joyful voice burst out.

"I reckon that's the first time it's happened since you were born," an identical voice boomed.

Ron didn't even have the heart to scowl, or even quip back at Fred and George as they burst onto the scene and slapped Harry on the back. "It's so spiffing to see you!" Fred exclaimed.

"The word is corking, Freddiekins!" George bantered back. "Get it right!"

Harry laughed at their antics as he beamed at them. "I hope you're not causing too much trouble," he joked.

"Us? Trouble?" Fred put his hands over his face. "What an accusation!"

"We'd never do such a thing," George said. "The fact that you would even suggest such a thing ..."

"I would," Harry replied, still laughing. "Because you know it's true."

Fred and George grinned at him. "Too right," George stated happily.

Harry spent the next little while in complete bliss as he chatted with his dearest friends. Over the next few minutes, more people he knew came to greet him - Dean, Neville, Lee Jordan, and several others. The conversation was lighthearted, and Harry was grateful. He knew the darker topics would come later, but for now, he lost himself in these moments of reprieve.

When dinner was announced and everyone began to make their way to the Great Hall, Sirius grinned at Harry. "The Gryffindor table awaits you," he said, the joy in his gray eyes unmistakable. "I'll sit with the other Order members."

Harry smiled back at Sirius. "Thanks for everything."

Sirius patted his shoulder. "I'm always here if you need me," he said quietly. "You know how to get hold of me if anything happens."

Indeed, he did. Earlier that day, Sirius had given him a mirror. It was small enough that it could fit in his robes pocket, and it was easy to handle. "James and I used to use them to communicate with each other when we were put in separate detentions," Sirius had said with a reminiscent smile on his face. "If you need me, just say my name into it."

Sirius had gone on to explain that Harry would be able to use this once he was at Hogwarts full-time. "This isn't only allowed for emergencies," he had said. "Even if you just want to talk, you can use it."

Harry had been exceedingly grateful. As well as learning yet new information about Sirius and James's friendship, he had a simple way of communicating with his godfather.

"Yeah." Harry smiled again, knowing that if everything went according to plan, Sirius would contact him once this evening's meetings ended and the Order was ready to depart from Hogwarts. "Good luck," he told Sirius.

Sirius pulled him into an embrace. "Enjoy your evening," he whispered.

"We'll take care of him. Don't worry," Ron said as he, Hermione, and Ginny surrounded them.

"I know." Sirius smiled at Harry's friends, a look of trust in his eyes. "I don't doubt it."

And with that, godfather and godson entered the packed Great Hall, and Harry went over to the Gryffindor table with his dearest friends beside him.

He noticed instantly that a few extra tables had been added to the room, to seat the Ministry officials, Order members, and parents. The smells in the room made his mouth water - it was obvious that the house-elves had outdone themselves yet again. The ceiling was showing a night sky that was clear and beautiful, and Harry knew the instant he sat down, surrounded by the warmth of those he felt safest around, that he was home.

Minutes later, Albus Dumbledore got up to speak. Harry felt a strange feeling in his stomach as he saw him, the same strange emotions that he had experienced when seeing him upon his arrival at the castle gates. After everything he had learned about him and the true impact the Headmaster had had on Harry's life, he wasn't sure how to feel.

But he recalled how the man had conceded, how he hadn't fought at all when Sirius had finally gained custody of him officially. And he remembered how the man had allowed himself to get arrested in Harry's place, and the results for him had been catastrophic. Harry still felt nauseous when he thought of what those Mind Healers had done to him. It was only because of Dixon's expertise that he was standing in front of everyone now. The fact that he had lost an entire year's worth of memories still made Harry shudder, too.

"Ladies and gentlemen." Dumbledore smiled at everyone, and the Great Hall grew quiet. He had amplified his voice so that all gathered there could hear him. "I would like to first welcome everyone to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is truly a pleasure to have everyone here."

There was a round of applause, and many people in the room cheered. Harry saw that some of the Muggle parents were staring at Dumbledore with expressions of interest on their faces. He was dressed in a very extravagant robe, his beard bushier than ever, and the half-moon spectacles he always wore. Harry saw his eyes twinkling, and he looked truly delighted to have so many people in his school.

"This is something that we have never done at our school before, and I, for one, am extraordinarily pleased that we are now following the lead of the great United States of America in making this a reality," Dumbledore continued. "And I would like to introduce you all to the individual who fought the hardest for this. This, ladies and gentlemen, is our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Fiona Giddens."

There was a roar of approval from many of the students, and the noise was especially loud at the Gryffindor table. Harry saw Ron and Ginny look over to one of the tables where the parents were situated, giving the Weasley parents and Bill a smile. The candles glowed on the tables, giving the Great Hall that ethereal quality that Harry had come to love so much, and had become one of the greatest fixtures of Hogwarts.

Professor Giddens cleared her throat. "Hello, everyone," she said, smiling. "I am, indeed, Professor Giddens, and I have come here from Salem Institute, the biggest wizarding school in the United States."

There were some interested murmurs at this statement, and they came from the tables where the parents were sitting. Obviously, some of them knew all about the Salem witch trials.

"For a decade, all American schools have held parent-teacher conferences," Professor Giddens explained. "It is something that Ministry officials have brought up over the years, stating that it is very important for this country, too, to partake in such an event. It has not materialized until now, but I am very happy that the time has finally come. All parents, both Muggle and magical, should have every right to know exactly what is going on in our world."

All eyes were on her - she definitely had everyone's attention. "I am sure that many of you have questions, which we will provide answers for in due course," she went on. "Our first set of meetings will start at 7:00, directly after dinner. Does everyone have their scheduled meeting times? Raise your hand if you do." All the parents raised their hands, signalling that this was indeed true.

Professor Giddens smiled. "Very good," she said. "Now, let us begin our feast!"

In the next second, the food suddenly appeared on the tables, causing gasps of shock and wonder to come from every single one of the Muggle parents. In that moment, memories filled Harry up - he could recall vividly that he had done the very same thing upon his first meal at Hogwarts. It was something that he could never have imagined, not even in his wildest dreams. For years, as he'd lain in his cupboard with spiders crawling all around him, his imagination had been the only thing that had kept him sane, but even his most creative fantasies couldn't have thought up the sudden appearance of food when there had been none a second before.

The talk around the Great Hall was animated and lively as everyone started to dig in, and the familiar joy rose up within Harry as he piled his plate high. He grinned at Ron on his left and Hermione on his right, and it was so ... normal.

"So," said Harry as he ate a mouthful of the delicious roast chicken that the house-elves had prepared, "how was the Halloween feast last night?"

At these words, there was a peculiar look that passed between Ron and Hermione which Harry couldn't quite decipher. They smiled at each other, and it was a strange sort of smile, one that Harry had never seen on either of their faces before. It held an extra ... something within its depths. "It was amazing," Ron said with feeling.

"We really missed you," Hermione said, and Harry didn't doubt her as Ron nodded. "You would have loved the Flaming Dragons."

"Yeah," Dean grinned. "They had their own special flare. They performed both Muggle and magical songs, and the lead singer, Robert - I've never seen anyone with so much energy."

"They were dressed in dragon costumes, and Robert was dressed as a Hungarian Horntail," Neville explained.

"And we got to talk to him during the break," Ginny added. "He was really interested in our lives. It was amazing."

Harry smiled. "I'm really glad to hear it," he said, meaning it. He couldn't help but notice that Ron and Hermione were still gazing at each other with that ... odd expression on their faces.

And Harry found that as he continued to look at them, he was filled with a dawning understanding. He'd seen that look before - hadn't he seen Cho and Cedric staring at each other like that during the Yule Ball? He remembered the jealousy that had come alive within him, the strange longing that had filled his being as he saw their faces simply glowing as they danced together. And after that night, every time Harry saw Cho and Cedric walking hand in hand in the corridors, they were glowing like that. ...

It was something Harry was surprised, yet not at all surprised, to see coming from his two best friends. He thought back to that same Yule Ball, and he remembered the terrible row his best mates had gotten into. Ron's face was contorted in fury as he screamed at Hermione, "You were fraternizing with the enemy!" The jealousy was so naked on his face that even a blind man would have seen it there.

And Hermione had never looked so hurt. Her voice had been laced with anger and tears as she screamed back, "Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does! And not as a last resort!" She'd then run up the staircase to the girls' dorm, the unmistakable sound of sobbing accompanying her loud footsteps.

Harry had been away from them for two months. Yes, they'd exchanged letters back and forth even after the owl dilemma had begun, but he had missed so much time with them. What had happened between them while he was gone?

And how did he feel about it? As he continued to watch them, he pondered that very thing.

If he was correctly interpreting the looks Ron and Hermione were exchanging, then their relationship had certainly deepened in his absence. He was honestly glad if they had pulled closer together. He had spent so much time thinking of them, hoping that they weren't missing him too much, hoping they weren't rowing with each other, hoping that they could draw strength and comfort from one another. And if, somehow, their relationship had become something deeper ...

Well, he thought as a smile spread across his face, how could he be anything else but happy for them? He knew how much they still cared about him - it had been crystal clear in their expressions when they'd seen him, when Hermione had practically thrown herself at him and Ron had pounded him on the back. They were joyously happy to see him, and if they had come to care more deeply for one another ... well, that didn't make them care for him any less, did it?

Harry realized that if this had happened last year, he might have felt differently about it. He might have resented it, because if they needed time for each other, then what would happen to him and their friendship? Would they forget about him along the way?

But after the last few months, Harry had learned a lesson about what was truly important. His heart ached as he thought of Cho and Cedric's glowing faces - romance was something he hadn't really ever thought about, but seeing the happiness in both of their eyes as they gazed upon each other made him wonder what being in such a relationship would be like. He remembered wishing that an incredibly pretty girl like Cho would look at him like that, not Cedric. What right did the older boy have to look so happy? He had been every bit the Hogwarts champion - the looks, the smarts, the admiration, and a pretty girl on his arm. And Cedric had never received all the negative attention, the accusatory stares, the mutters of "cheater" that Harry had gotten when his name had come out of the Goblet of Fire.

But it had all been so petty. So unbelievably petty and stupid. Harry couldn't help but glance at Cho at the Ravenclaw table, and even though it was his heart talking rather than logic, he would always feel that, somehow, he had taken Cedric away from her. It was irrational, but he couldn't help but think about his old jealousy, and it made him want to crawl into the ground and never come out.

And he never wanted to make his best friends feel guilty over finding something special between them. Harry wanted that for himself - but he was nothing but happy for them. And he also knew that there would be no complications as far as Hermione went, because he had never developed romantic feelings for her. Not that she wasn't an amazing person - but Harry had always thought of her as more like a sister, and when he thought about it, she had always treated him like a brother. He'd never looked at her and imagined what it would be like to kiss her, and he couldn't ever see it going in that direction.

At that moment, Cho's eyes caught his - it was as though she sensed that someone had their eyes on her. She blanched when she saw it was Harry, but instantly, her lips turned up slightly, giving him a sad but reassuring smile. Harry felt his heart break as he smiled back at her, and he wasn't surprised at all that his stomach no longer swooped when looking at her, as it had done before. There was too much guilt there now for him to ever have those same feelings again. He knew, however, that she would always be his first crush.

He knew that he would have to pluck up the courage to talk to her. There were things that needed to be said - and he needed to thank her for what she had done, for being one of the people who had pleaded his case to the school governors. He couldn't believe that, of all people, Cho Chang was part of the reason he was able to return in January.

"Are you okay, mate?" Ron's concerned voice pulled Harry out of his thoughts, and he focused again on what was going on at the Gryffindor table.

"I'm fine, Ron." Harry smiled reassuringly at his best mate. He thought it best not to mention his suppositions about Ron and Hermione here - he'd take Ron aside and mention it in private; he wasn't about to embarrass them in front of their classmates.

Ginny caught his eye, and smirked knowingly at him. She knows, too, thought Harry. He smiled back at her as he took a bite of mashed potatoes.

"Are you sure?" Hermione asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You looked far away there for a minute."

"Just ... lost in thought," Harry said, feeling a surge of affection well up. He could never accuse his friends of forgetting about him - never.

Harry then participated in a lively, lighthearted conversation with many of his classmates about how the school year was going. Ron and Dean waxed poetic about Professor Giddens and the duels they had partaken in, while Hermione spoke loudly about Professor Dillen Philand, who had taken over as Transfiguration teacher while McGonagall had been acting Headmistress. "A lot of girls claimed they had problems with Transfiguration and needed extra tutoring," she stated, rolling her eyes.

"That's because we WERE having trouble with it," Lavender Brown said snootily. But her tone was way too defensive, and Hermione outright laughed. Parvati scowled at her.

Harry could tell that some people at the table, including Seamus, Lavender, and Parvati, were less than pleased to see him. He couldn't help but wonder if they were three of the people who thought his presence put the entire school in danger. Every now and then, he could see Ron giving them nasty looks, while Hermione, too, stared at them in a less-than-friendly manner. Harry's heart jumped - even though he knew that security was exceedingly tight, how could he blame them? How would he react to his presence if he was in their position?

Still, the constant chatter from his fiercest supporters helped to keep any more negative thoughts and feelings at bay. Before long, Harry had eaten his fill of both dinner and dessert, and Fiona Giddens rose from her own seat to speak again, causing the Great Hall to fall into a hush.

"Once again, good evening," she said as she smiled at everyone. "I do hope you all enjoyed our spectacular feast."

There was a round of applause, more cheers ringing through the room. Harry looked over at where the parents were sitting, and they had varying expressions on their faces. Some were looking intensely at Professor Giddens while others were still looking awestruck at the ceiling, which was showing a night sky speckled with stars.

"Good, I'm glad," Professor Giddens continued with another one of her bright smiles. "It is almost 7:00, which means it is almost time for parents to start attending meetings. As you can surmise, the schedules in front of you will tell you which teachers you'll be meeting and when, and the maps will provide you with the knowledge of where the classrooms are. However, as this is an enormous castle, it is very easy to get lost. Therefore, Ministry officials and other assistants will be on hand to guide anyone who needs help, and, also, feel free to ask assistance from the many portraits on the walls. They will provide great conversation.

"I hope that this will be an enlightening experience for many of you," Giddens went on. "At 10:30 tonight, parents, Hogwarts staff, our other helpers, and Ministry officials are required to come to this room again for a question-answer session. Anything that has not been covered during your meetings will be answered then. We wish for nothing more than to make this as comfortable and welcoming an experience as possible.

"Also, while parents are not in meetings, students can give them tours around the castle," she added. "This is not mandatory - students are not required to do this. But I am sure that many will volunteer - this, after all, is an incredibly fascinating castle, with much room for exploration!"

Her obvious delight was contagious, and Harry now understood why Ron and Hermione both spoke of Giddens in their letters with such enthusiasm. Harry knew that he would be taught by her when he returned in January, and he now knew firsthand that it was something to look forward to.

"All right. This concludes my announcements. I wish everyone a good evening." She smiled at them, and there was applause again before the sound of the scraping of many chairs could be heard, and everyone began to get up from their tables.

And Harry did what he had always done, what he felt most comfortable doing. He followed Ron and Hermione out of the Great Hall, and it was so easy to fall back into his regular pattern of behavior. It made him smile.

They walked past all the people milling in the entrance hall, many students, as Professor Giddens had predicted, offering to take parents on tours around the castle. However, neither Ron nor Hermione did so.

"We'll definitely do it another time," Hermione explained. "This goes on for three nights and two full days, after all."

"Right now, we'd like to talk to you," Ron said. Harry truly saw how much his best friend had grown in the last few months, and he didn't just mean by height. Ron held himself differently now - he had gained confidence, and it warmed Harry up. He had come to realize that the rift in their friendship the year before had mainly come from Ron's lack of confidence in himself, and his desperation to stand out in his huge family.

Had Harry's absence actually helped Ron step out of his shadow and discover his self-worth? If so, Harry couldn't be prouder of his friend. He still had that red hair, that gangly build, and those ever-present freckles, but he somehow looked so much older. Hermione had always held herself confidently, but there was definitely a difference to how she looked as well.

Harry was puzzled when, instead of going to the Gryffindor common room like he thought they would, his best friends led him to an out-of-the-way empty classroom, one that was not used for anything anymore. There were several of these dotted around the castle, and Harry had always been confused by it. What had they once been used for, and why weren't they made into something else?

But, no matter the reason they were there, these classrooms were very useful. Students would often go in them to have private conversations, or, as he heard from older students, they went in there to ... er ... partake in other activities. Harry felt his face flaming as he couldn't help but wonder whether Ron and Hermione would ever ...

But ... not this time. It was apparent that his two best friends wanted a private place to talk to him. Harry went without objection, grateful for the time alone with them. It hadn't been just the three of them for so long now.

They walked in, and Hermione quickly shut the door behind them. Silently, they sat down at three desks, Harry sitting between them.

"It's so good to see you, Harry." Ron cleared his throat, and for the first time that evening, Harry could sense his best mate was nervous, and was using the small talk to stall.

"What's up, mate?" Harry asked gently. Why was Ron nervous? And, if he wasn't mistaken, Hermione was looking at him with anxiety present on her face, too.

"Er ..." Harry never thought he would ever hear Hermione stumble over her words, and it was honestly quite endearing. "Er ... I ..."

"You do remember who you're talking to, don't you?" Harry tried to make light of the situation. "You know I don't bite."

Ron and Hermione exchanged glances with each other, and Hermione finally spoke. "We talked about this last night, Harry," she said quietly. "Ron and I ... we wanted to be honest with you."

"We owe you that, mate," Ron said, his ears turning bright red. This happened when he was either enraged or embarrassed, and Harry could tell that it was pure embarrassment talking right now. And if this concerned what he thought it did ... well, maybe he wouldn't have to pull Ron aside after all.

"Er ... we saw you looking at us over dinner," Hermione said in a rush. "And we knew we had to tell you tonight."

Their awkwardness was getting to Harry, and they were both looking at him worriedly. A flash of realization came over him - were they expecting a bad reaction? Did they think he'd fly off the handle because they'd found some measure of happiness during these dark times?

Harry felt his heart aching. It showed how much they cared for him, that they'd worry so much about his feelings. Wanting nothing more than to save them the embarrassment and worry of this conversation, Harry joked, "Something tells me you've been getting along a lot better these days ... or are you still rowing all the time?"

Hermione let out an audible gasp, and Ron only flushed harder. Harry had to use every ounce of effort to keep from laughing - they really did make an endearing sight.

"I'm not stupid." Harry was smiling as he spoke the words. "I'm ... I'm happy for you both. When did it happen?"

Hermione looked flabbergasted, as though she never expected Harry to have realized what was going on, and Ron opened and closed his mouth like a fish.

And Harry couldn't help it - he really did laugh. "Oh, piss off, Harry," Ron muttered, but there was no heat behind it. After a second, he couldn't help but smile himself.

"Last night, after the Halloween feast. We went out into the courtyard and ..." Hermione stammered, blushing.

"Well," said Harry, his emerald eyes bright, "all I ask is that you two don't start screaming at each other once I return to this castle full-time."

"We haven't rowed in ages," Ron proclaimed, and Hermione nodded, still blushing. Their eyes spoke volumes, and Harry knew they were telling the truth.

"That's brilliant," he said, meaning it. His expression growing softer, he repeated, "I'm happy for you both."

"You act like this isn't a surprise," Ron said, giving Harry an odd look.

"That's because it's not." Harry told them bluntly. "I might be silly, but I'm not stupid." He said only three more words. "The Yule Ball."

Both Ron and Hermione looked shocked for a moment before Hermione simply said, "Oh," and Ron proclaimed loudly, "I was such a ruddy idiot."

"Yeah, that about sums it up," Harry agreed, smiling at Ron.

"Oh, piss off, Harry," Ron repeated, grinning. After a moment, though, his expression grew more serious as his blue eyes met Harry's green ones. "Er ..." he started, the uncertainty and embarrassment showing again. "We want you to know that ... er ..."

"That this changes nothing," Hermione finished for him. "Nothing about the way we feel towards you, I mean. We're not about to forget about you because we ... er ..."

"Because you finally got a clue, and stopped fighting all the time?" Harry teased before his expression, too, grew serious. "I know." His voice was softer when he spoke again. "That's obvious - I'm not worried about that."

"You're not?" Hermione truly sounded surprised. "I mean, we don't ever want you to feel like you're a third wheel or ..."

But Harry raised his hand to silence them. "You two have done more for me than I could ever ..." He suddenly felt choked up. "You're my best friends," he told them quietly. "You've been there for me and supported me through all the ... the crap that happened to me this summer. I'm not about to accuse you of such a thing."

Hermione gave into her impulses and embraced Harry tightly. "Thank you, Harry," she whispered, sounding choked up herself.

"Thanks, mate." Ron looked relieved, the awkwardness and worry disappearing from his face.

There was another worry that was niggling at the back of Harry's mind, one that had made itself known when the thought first came upon him that something might happen between his two best friends. What if they got in another terrible row, or simply decided that they weren't right for one another, and broke up? What would that mean for their friendship? He remembered the times before when his best friends had been fighting and he was the go-between. It had been awkward, uncomfortable, and sometimes downright painful, with Ron constantly telling him how annoying Hermione was, and Hermione griping about Ronald this and Ronald that. He'd been there for both of them, but it had been very difficult.

But he put that thought to the back of his mind - he was being selfish. Even through that period, both of them had remained his friends even though they were angry with one another.

How was it, Harry reflected, that Hermione always seemed to know what he was thinking? As if reading his mind, she said, "Look, Harry. This is really new right now, and Ron and I are hoping it will work out. But ..."

"If it doesn't work, mate, then we're not going to do what we did before and say horrible things about each other to you, and make you feel like you have to pick a side," Ron said, showing that he had read Harry's face as well.

The expressions on both of their faces showed that neither of them wanted it to not work out. Harry could only hope that if it didn't, they would remain friends with each other as well as him. Still, he was exceedingly grateful for their reassurance.

"Thanks." Harry smiled at them, his voice soft. "I just hope you two are happy."

Hermione smiled. "We are," she said, and Ron nodded in fervent agreement.

"Now, why don't we stop this sappy nonsense and go to the common room? I fancy a game of chess," Ron said, his eyes lighting up at the prospect of beating Harry.

Harry laughed, his spirits lifting even higher as they exited the classroom. He knew that he was about to lose brutally to Ron - he had never been very good at chess - but he didn't much care. As they made their way up to the seventh floor, Harry felt that same hope and joy he always had around his friends.

Harry grinned widely when he saw the portrait of the Fat Lady. She was chatting amiably with her friend, Violet, as Harry, Ron, and Hermione came upon them. "Hi," Harry said happily.

"Oh, my stars!" the Fat Lady exclaimed. "Bless my soul!"

Harry laughed. "Hello to you too. It's good to be back."

The Fat Lady and Violet never lost their welcoming expressions as Hermione said, "Hocus pocus," and all three climbed into the familiar, wonderful Gryffindor common room.

Harry felt truly complete as he gazed around, a quiet serenity coming over him as he spied the comfy couches and armchairs, the relaxed decor, and all his housemates making themselves at home as they played games, worked on homework, and sat in their friendship circles, talking with one another. It wasn't as crowded as usual, as some of the students were off giving tours to parents. Only the families of third-years were here tonight, but older students had still offered to be volunteers.

Fred and George were playing a rowdy game of Exploding Snap with Lee Jordan in one corner. In another, Ginny sat speaking with one of her dormmates, a girl named Demelza Robins. Others had books spread out before them, and Lavender Brown was braiding Parvati Patil's hair on another of the couches.

It was like going back in time without using a time-turner, and Harry basked in the normality of it all as Ron, without any preamble, proceeded to set up the chessboard while Hermione settled down with a book. Harry tuned into an animated conversation about Quidditch that was taking place between two seventh-year Gryffindors, Ian Thompson and Sarah Bentley. They were arguing about which team had the biggest chance of winning the League, and as Harry listened, he could almost pretend that there wasn't a war going on at all.

He had needed this moment of levity, of camaraderie between him and his friends. Happiness and contentment continued to wash over him as several others greeted him, including the Creevy brothers. He didn't even feel his normal annoyance when Colin proceeded to snap a photo of him. Many topics were discussed, and others who had been at Sirius's trial told him how brave they thought he had been.

Thankfully, no darker issues came up, though he knew that wouldn't last. But it seemed that for his first night back at Hogwarts, no one had the heart to bring them up. Even those who didn't want him in the castle stayed away rather than confronted him.

As he had predicted, he lost spectacularly to Ron in their chess match, but he put up with his best mate's ribbing with a smile on his face. Hermione then began talking to him about everything he had been learning from his Order tutors, while the constant sound of Fred and George's Exploding Snap game became like background noise.

And Harry knew that no matter what he faced in this castle over the next few days - no matter what the results of the parent-teacher conferences would be - he would never regret being here, in this moment. These might be dark times, but the lighter moments were what would sustain him.

He had so much to tell Ron and Hermione, but how could he bring himself to do it? How could he tell them the horrible secret that was housed within his soul, about his trip to America and what he was going to face in the future? He knew that he had to be honest with them - how could he not? He couldn't keep such a thing from them.

But right now, as he embraced the warmth of the crackling fire, grinning as George complained of his eyebrows being singed and Fred laughed loudly at his twin brother's predicament, Harry realized that for now, all of that could wait.

Because now, these precious moments - they were what he was living for.