The Proposal

They all picked out their disguise hats then made their way to the front of the shop. George waved away Harry’s offer to pay for his hat

‘How many times do I have to tell you mate?’ He exclaimed ‘You are the reason I’m in business. You are the reason I have the shops in Hogsmeade, Paris, Rome, Tokyo and New York. You don’t pay geddit?’

‘Yeah okay’ Harry said quickly pulling on the hat before the next rush of people entered the shop ‘I suppose I’ll see you at the Burrow soon huh?’

‘You bet’

Ron, Hermione and Ginny paid for their hats then all of them left the shop and headed up toward Gringotts.

I need some more money’ Hermione said peering into her money bag ‘Does anyone else need any?’

‘Yeah I could do with filling up’ Harry said ‘It’s been a while since I’ve been to Gringotts and I don’t know if I’ll be back anytime soon’

‘Harry today is going to go fine!’ Hermione exclaimed in exasperation.

‘I’m okay for the moment’ Ron said ‘How abut I go to the post office and owl McGonagall and see if she’s okay with us visiting? Then I can meet you at the Leaky Cauldron. A fast owl should get the message to Hogwarts and back by the time we’ve finished lunch’

‘Gin you okay for some dosh?’ Harry asked as Ron departed for the Post Office which was next to the Apothecary.

‘No buying the hat cleaned me out I need to get some more’ Ginny said ‘And it’s Mum’s birthday next week, I need to get her a present’

‘Shit how could I forget that?’ Harry exclaimed smacking himself hard on the forehead ‘Had any ideas of what to get her?’

‘Nah not really I thought I could window shop around here or later in Hogsmeade to see if there’s anything. She and Dad need a holiday so I was thinking about going to the travel agent’s in Hogsmeade. I reckon a month somewhere tropical would be just the ticket for Mum and Dad. Neither have had a holiday since before the war’

‘Have a word to Bill, Charlie, Percy. George and Ron and see if they’ll chip in then it can be a present from all of you’ Harry suggested as they ascended the steps to Gringotts

‘Hey that’s an idea!’

Half an hour later Harry Ginny and Hermione met Ron in the Leaky Cauldron. They ordered lunch and retreated to the outside dining area.

‘So what do you think?’ Ginny asked Ron after explaining Harry’s holiday idea to him

‘Yeah I’ll chip in’ Ron said sipping his Firewhiskey ‘Any ideas where?’

‘I know it’s a bit cliché but how about Hawaii?’ Ginny suggested ‘Hermione was telling me last night of a time she went there in the summer of her second year. It’s mainly a muggle holiday destination but apparently there is quite a large magical community’

‘Anything muggle and Dad would be there faster than you can apparate’ Ron said with a laugh ‘How about we check out the travel agency in Hogsmeade and see what holidays they have on the books?’

‘Cool’

After lunch the two couples went wandering up and down Diagon Alley to window shop Harry was looking in the window of Abbott Jewellers (‘The jewellers for every discerning witch or wizard’) when Hermione caught up with him. Ron and Ginny were in Eeylops Owl Emporium getting owl nuts for Pig.

‘Buying anything Harry?’ She said brightly readjusting her hold on several bags marked with the ‘Madam Malkin’s Robes For All Occasions’ logo.

‘Nah just looking’ Harry replied his gaze lingering on a beautiful princess cut diamond and sapphire on white gold creation ‘I want to do the bulk of my shopping in Hogsmeade. Ron and Ginny are getting owl supplies in Eeylops’

Hermione gave him a strange look.

‘Harry you can talk to me I’m your best friend’ She said waving her wand at her bags til they shrunk to pocket size ‘You’re thinking of asking Ginny to marry you aren’t you?'

Harry dragged his gaze from the ring.

‘H-how’d you know?’ He said in surprise.

Hermione rolled her eyes.
‘Harry I'm not stupid’ She said pocketing the Madam Malkins bags ‘The last couple of weeks you’ve been toey and if I can say a lot more lovey dovey towards her in general’

Harry snorted.
‘Lovey dovey?’

‘Well yeah why don’t you just come out and ask her? She wanted to marry you years ago. And right at the end of the war she wanted to walk down the aisle. I reckon she’d gallop down the aisle now all these years later’

‘Aww I dunno Hermione the war was huge for me and making the decision to get married is a big thing I don’t want to rush into anything’ Harry said ‘Plus if I do ask Ginny to marry to me I want to ask for Mr and Mrs Weasley’s blessing first’

‘Very impressive Harry’ Hermone said admiringly ‘I think Mr and Mrs Weasley will say yes. You’re like a son to them and have been part of the Weasley clan from the beginning. There’s no way they’d say no’

Harry gave Hermione a skeptical look.

‘Oh Harry James Potter don’t be so bloody stupid!’ Hermione said in an uncharacteristic burst of bad language ‘You have to remember Voldemort is gone! He’s not going to jump out from behind a bush and murder you! All of his known Death Eaters are dead or in Azkaban and I can’t think of any way you and Ginny getting married will make you vunerable!’

Harry grinned sheepishly.
‘Yeah you’re right’ He conceded ‘I just want to do this properly, you know?

‘Yeah I know what you mean. Well let me know if you need any help. I don’t profess to be an expert in the romantic sense but I am a girl and I can help you with girly ideas’

‘Hey maybe there’s an idea you can get out of a book! Maybe we should drop in at Flourish and Blotts’ Harry teased as they made their way down Diagon Alley ‘But then may be we don’t need to you have enough books to stock Hogwarts three times over’

Hermione swatted him.
‘Oh ha ha’ She said dryly ‘Don’t be a prat’

Harry and Hermione met up with Ron and Ginny outside the apothecary. Ginny was laden with bags containing potion ingredients she needed as part of her job as a maternity healer.

‘When do you go back to work?’ Hermione asked her

‘Two weeks time' Ginny said ‘Along with all the other healer interns. But I need a decent supply of pain relieving potion before I go back so I figured if I started making it now I wouldn’t have to make it when I go back to work. And I may be called in early anyway’

‘Is that likely?’ Harry asked who had gotten used to seeing Ginny every day at the Burrow.

‘Not sure’ Ginny said ‘With so many lost in the war St Mungo’s is short staffed and until more healers graduate from training in November everyone on long service leave is on possible call’

‘Well you’ve been on holidays for the Summer wihtout a call I doubt you’d get called in now’ Ron said as they all made their way to the apparition point just past George's shop.

‘I’m hoping that too’

Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Harry all stood on the apparition point and one by one apparated. Seconds later they appeared outside the Three Broomsticks the popular Hogsmeade watering hole.

Harry stretched like a cat in the midday sun.
‘I’ll never get used to apparating’ He announced rubbing his neck ‘Give me a broom any day’

‘You say that everytime you apparate’ Hermione said in amusement as Ginny appeared.

‘Harry bitching about apparating again?’ She teased.

‘Yeah Gin I love you too’ Harry said dryly ‘C’mon!’

Hermione opened the door of the Three Broomsticks and they all filed in. Hermione spotted Professor McGonagall sitting in a booth and started over They all sat down and Harry had to hold in a snort when he saw her reaction.

‘Er may I help you?’ She said.

One by one Ron, Hermone, Ginny and Harry pulled off their hats to reveal their true identities. Professor McGonagall broke into a wide smile when she saw them all.

‘Oh it’s so good to see you all!’ She said ‘It has been a while. What are you all up to now?’

For the next few minutes they all told McGonagall what they were up to. Hermione explained all about her job in the Improper Use of Magic Office. And Ginny told her all about her healers job at St Mungo’s. Ron was telling her all about the latest goings on in the Auror office when McGonagall saw the faraway expression on Harry’s face.

‘Are you okay Harry?’ She asked in concern ‘Are you not returning the Auror Office?'

‘Aww Professor I don’t know’ Harry said ‘I've been on long service leave for the last three months and I've gotten used to spending time with Ted and not having to worry about catching the bad guys. I like the slow sedintary lifestyle'

‘But Harry you’re the Head of the Auror Department!’ Ron exclaimed loudly his voice ringing with incredulity ‘If we don’t have you we don’t have anything!’

Harry snorted.

‘Harry don’t be so down on yourself!’ Hermione said getting to her feet ‘I know the war took a lot out of you and so has being the Auror Office Head but you have to do something to fill in your day. I know you like spending time with Ted at the Burrow but even I can see you're going nuts, you need the hustle and bustle of the Auror office you know you do, if you don't want to go back full time maybe even going back part time to ease yourself back into things would be better’

‘Hmm maybe’

‘Drink Professor?’

‘Gillywater thankyou’

‘Butterbeer’ Ron and Harry chorused.

Hermione made her way to the bar and Harry, Ron and Ginny continued chatting to the professor

So how are you getting along Professor?’ Ginny asked

‘Not bad not bad’ Professor McGonagall said ‘I’m in the process of going through all the applications for the Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies and Defence Against the Dark Arts posts they're all vacant this year'

'Sounds full on. Have you got a new transfiguration teacher now that you’re full time Headmistress?’

‘Yes Hogwarts has a new transfiguration professor’ McGonagall said with a small smile.

‘Yeah who?’

‘Draco Malfoy’ She said with a barely discernable smile.

Ron, Harry and Ginny blanched. Ron actually snorted.

‘Now now I know what you are thinking but really he is an excellent teacher’ Professor McGonagall said at their expressions of incredulity ‘He’s filled in my classes when I can’t. I know you four had your differences with him at school and during the war but don’t you think it’s time to lay to rest old foes?’

There was a long pause.

‘Weeeeel I suppose so’ Harry said reluctantly.

‘Okay but it won’t stop us from thinking he’s a great big git’ Ron said who looked as if he would like to hex Malfoy into a bucket of Hipogriff manure.

‘And it takes too much energy to hate someone’ Ginny chimed in ‘And it’s not as if we’re going to see him every day'

‘Very mature all of you, I’m impressed’ Professor McGonagall said as Hermione returned to the booth.

‘What am I missing out on?’ She said dispensing all the drinks ‘Gillywater Professor’

‘Thank you’

Guess who’s now the transfiguration professor at Hogwarts?’ Ron blurted out.

Hermione sat down.
‘Who?’

‘Malfoy’ Ron, Harry and Ginny chorused.

Hermione’s jaw dropped.
‘But Professor…’

‘I know what you’re going to say Hermione but as I was saying to Ron, Harry and Ginny isn’t it time your four let old foes rest? Draco was instrumental in the final war and it’s been a long time since you were all at Hogwarts. People do change and I believe that had been particularly the case with him. And he has stepped up to the plate and taken all my classes when I can't'

Hermione made a face indicating she’d like to argue the point but she caught sight of Ron, Harry and Ginny’s expressions and sighed.

‘Well I suppose so’ She said ‘So how’s things at Hogwarts? We haven’t been back since my graduation'

‘Well nothing much has changed apart from the fact we are discontinuing the subject of Divination. After Sybill died at the beginning of the year there didn’t seem to be much point in keeping on the stand in teacher. There were only four O.W.L students and two N.E.W.T students studying the subject and after the N.E.W.T students graduated there didn’t seem any use in hiring another teacher to take the O.W.L students through to N.E.W.T. And we have a new Herbology teacher, Pomona decided to retire’

‘Really who?’ Harry asked in great interest.

‘Neville Longbottom’

‘Oh really that’s wonderful!’ Hermione exclaimed ‘Makes sense him taking up Pomona's apprenticeship offer after the war, he and Hannah must be thrilled!’

‘Yes they are’ Professor McGonagall said with a small smile ‘You already know Neville owns that chain of herbology supplies shops...’

‘Yeah’ The group chorused.

‘Well he's going to hire even more staff to run them so he can devote his time to teaching. I hear he plans on opening a shop here in Hogsmeade within the month. And after he and Hannah are married next week they’ll live in Yorkshire in Neville's family home’

‘Neville must be chuffed!’ Ginny went on with a wide smile ‘Herbology was always his best subject at school and I always knew he would carve out a career in that field’

‘You along with a lot of other people’ McGonagall said.

The next three hours were full of reminiscing and gossiping as Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione visited with Professor McGonagall and caught up with all the happenings going on at Hogwarts then eventually the older woman got to her feet.

‘Would you four like to come back to the castle for dinner tonight?’ She asked ‘All the teachers and other faculty staff will be there and I’m sure they would like to catch up with you as much as I have. Especially Hagrid’ She added looking at Harry.

Harry looked at his watch it read 5:30PM.

‘Yeah why not?’ He said ‘Your Mum wouldn’t mind just cooking for herself and your Dad for one night would she Gin?’

‘No actually she probably would like a night off’ Ginny said getting up ‘I’ll send her an owl. May I use one of the school owls professor?’

‘Of course but before we go please call me Minerva!’ Professor McGonagall ‘You’re all adults and there’s no need to call me professor any more’

‘Okay but it does feel weird’

The group left the Three Broomsticks and made their way up the path to Hogwarts Castle. In the early sunset it was cast in a glowing orange light and Harry felt his heart swell with affection as he saw what he considered his home for six years came into view.

‘Gee the ol’ girl’s looking good’ Ron said ‘It’s nice to be back at the second home’

‘I was thinking the same thing’ Harry said as they made their way through the big steel gates ‘Feels peculiar to be here as an old scholar though'

‘Well welcome back'

Harry grinned.
'Has Hagrid gotten another dog yet?' He asked 'It's been a while since he lost Fang'

Shortly after the final battle Hagrid's faithful old hound that had been his companion throughout all Harry's years at Hogwarts died in his sleep and last time Harry had caught up with his friend Hagrid had not as yet replaced him.

‘No he hasn’t got another dog yet’ Professor McGonagall said as they climbed a the grassy rise that led to the entrance Hall ‘I don’t know if he’ll get another dog anytime soon. Replacing a pet is not something you do like changing linen’

‘True’

The group entered the Entrance Hall and Ginny headed off to the Owlery. Harry followed Ron, Hermione and Professor McGonagall into the Great Hall. All the tables were set as they normally would be for the start if term and behind the High Table was a banner bearing the Hogwarts crest.

‘So will we eat in here Professor?’ Hermione asked running a hand along the Gryffindor table and letting it come to rest at the spot where she Ron and Harry used to sit.

‘No we’ll dine in the staff room’ McGonagall said ‘There’s no point in using the Great Hall just for a few people’.

‘I haven’t been in there since Lupin gave us that Boggart lesson in our third year’ Harry said sitting down at his old spot at the Gryffindor table ‘Though I imagine it looks quite different now’

‘There will be a few people joining us tonight if you don’t mind’ Professor McGonagall said.

‘Cool who?’ Ron asked.

‘Hagrid, Professor Flitwick, Professor Slughorn, Neville and Hannah’ Professor McGonagall said counting off each person with a finger ‘Oh and of course myself’ She added in an afterthought.

‘That sounds like a pre planned party’ Harry said suspiciously.

Professor McGonagall tried but then failed to hide a smile.

‘Oh I’ll confess!’ She said ‘When I got Ron’s owl this morning I did a quick whip around and everyone wanted to see yourself, Ginny, Ron and Hermione. There’s been few opportunities to get together since the end of the war and because of that incident in Flourish and Blotts I new you were reluctant to socialise much. So I gathered the best place for a get together was within Hogwarts’

‘Thanks Minerva’ Harry said in a soft voice fingering a goblet ‘Getting out of the Burrow is something I really need at the moment. Mr and Mrs Weasley have been the greatest but being stuck within four walls for six months was starting to send me nuts! There’s no place I’d rather be than Hogwarts’

Professor McGonagall opened up her mouth to speak then shut it and fell silent.

‘What?’ Harry said

‘No nothing, well it can wait til dinner’ Professor McGonagall said sitting at the Ravenclaw table.

Twenty minutes later Ginny returned, her pink shirt covered in blue ink.

‘What happened to you?’ Hermione asked in surprise.

‘Peeves’ Ginny said with a grimace wiping her face but only succeeding on spreading a great streak of ink across her cheek.

Together Harry and Hermione pointed their wand at Ginny and uttered a silent incantation and slowly the ink started disappearing and a minute later Ginny was clean and bore no sign that she had been covered in ink.

‘Ta guys’ She said straightening her jacket ‘Peeves still thinks I’m a student’

‘He gets bored in the summer when there’s no students here to annoy’ Professor McGonagagall said smiling slightly ‘Never boring at Hogwarts’

‘No kidding so where to from here?’

‘The staff room’ Professor McGonagall said rising to her feet ‘We’ll be dining in there this evening…’

‘With Neville, Hannah, Slughorn, Flitwick and Hagrid’ Ron said as they headed to a side door’

‘That sounds like a party’

‘It is’ Harry, Ron and Hermione chorused.

Ginny laughed.
‘Well it will be nice to see everyone’ She said taking Harry’s hand and going through the side door that led to the staff area of the castle ‘And I know it sounds weird but it was sort of nice to see Peeves’

‘You’re mental!’ Ron exclaimed in disbelief ‘You actually liked seeing that…that..he’s not even a ghost!’

‘Well like maybe isn’t the right word’ Ginny said ‘Put it this way I didn’t hate seeing him even though he emptied a whole pot of ink on me’

Minutes later they arrived at the staff room. Professor McGonagall opened the door and waved them in. No one else from the group of invitees had arrived yet but a round table with eleven place settings was set up in the centre of the room.
Several house elves dressed in linen loin cloths and shirts bearing the Hogwarts Crest wandered around the room making last minute preparations for the arrivals and several drink trays each holding a flask of Butterbeer, Pumpkin Juice, Firewhiskey, Lemonade and Redcurrant Rum floated over to them as they entered the room.

‘Drink?’ Professor McGonagall said gesturing to the nearest tray which held Firewhiskey.

‘I might leave the alcoholic ones til after dinner’ Harry said ‘If I start now I’ll me too drunk to apparate back to the Burrow’

‘You may all stay the night if that happens’ Professor McGonagall offered as they all helped themselves to a drink.

‘Really Pr…Minerva that’s too generous of you..’ Harry began ‘You really don’t have to you know’

‘Harry relax!’ Ginny said pouring him a glass of lemonade ‘Here drink this’

‘Harry please relax Rita Skeeter is not going to leap out from behind a suit of armour and chase you!’ Hermione said exasperatedly ‘I think it would be good for you to get maggotted and spend the night somewhere other than the Burrow’

Roon choked on his butterbeer.
‘Maggotted? Maggoted? What the hell does that mean?’ He exclaimed wiping his nose.

‘It means to get drunk’ Hermione said as the others laughed heartily ‘Louise the new girl in the office at the ministry is Australian and apparent maggotted is Australian term for getting anebriated’

‘I’ll take that one to the Auror office’ Ron said with a snigger
‘Ha ha’