A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to get this chapter up! School has been absolutely hectic lately. The term is ending next week, so I'm completely bogged down with tests and essays. Additionally, my family is moving next weekend, so I'm busy packing. I wish I had more time to write! Anyways, let me know what you think of this chapter. :)

The remainder of August slipped by in a flash full of Firebolt rides and lazy afternoons lounging in the grass. September was approaching near: the oppressive heat had already begun to cool to a calm, warm breeze and Mr. Weasley returned to work at the Ministry full-time after taking a summer holiday. Yet, the truest sign of September, in Harry's mind, was the arrival of Hogwarts letters.

A handsome tawny owl flew in through the kitchen window a week before the start of school. Ginny received her seventh and final letter sealed with a solid red stamp and addressed in McGonagall's tightly-looped script. Ginny skimmed the letter and tossed it aside morosely.

"Not interested in reading your letter?" Harry asked, surprised. He had always looked forward to his Hogwarts letters. His school was the one place he felt he truly belonged.

"It's hard for me to be excited about going back to Hogwarts when I know I'll have to leave you," Ginny said, wrapping an arm around Harry and leaning against him.

"But you need to finish your seventh year," Harry reminded her.

"You didn't," Ginny said pointedly. "Neither did Ron, nor Hermione."

"Oh, right, I forgot – finishing school is loads more important than ending the war and defeating Voldemort," Harry said. "Ow!"

The tawny owl had bit his hand, leaving deep teethmarks behind. The owl proffered his leg, revealing another letter tied around his thin thigh. The letter was identical to Ginny's, although this one was addressed to Harry.

Harry ripped open the top of the envelope and pulled out the letter.

"Hang on – it's from McGonagall," he said with a smile.

"She's Headmistress now," Ginny noted, reading the return address on the envelope. "I wonder why she's writing to you?"

"'Position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor vacated' ... 'Pleased to inform you' ... 'I would be honored to have you join Hogwarts' staff' ... 'Hope to see you soon' ..." Harry read aloud.

"Harry!" Ginny squealed, eyes round. "You have to go!"

Go back to Hogwarts. Teach Defense. See Ginny every day. It was almost too good to be true. Harry wanted to be an Auror very badly. He had fought against Voldemort too many times, escaped death more often than seemed possible, met challenges that wizards five times his age couldn't dream of. Even so, it wasn't enough. With Voldemort gone, the Death Eaters were disgraced, fallen; however, the crimes continued. Mysterious Muggle deaths occurred every few months – far and few between, easily explained by common Muggle causes – but Harry knew they were the work of dark wizards. Draco was roaming the Wizarding world, free. If left alone, who knew what he could become in a few years' time? Would he become a murderer? Worse?

Yet as eager as Harry was to return to the rough battle of the Wizarding world, he was tired. Tired of living on the run for a year, tired of endangering everyone around him, tired of watching his friends and family die one by one. A year of teaching at Hogwarts would offer a safe place to rest, bountiful meals, and the opportunity to pass on valuable Defense skills to young wizards and witches. It would mean a year with Ginny – just one more year, then she would graduate and he would train to be an Auror. With Voldemort gone, a happy, lasting relationship seemed just in grasp.

"I'll do it," Harry said firmly.

Ginny squealed again and bounced up on her toes to lightly peck Harry's lips. "I don't think I'll mind going back to Hogwarts, after all," she said, giving him a knowing smile.

There was a loud pop! as Ron and Hermione Apparated into the kitchen, hands entwined.

"Did you say Hogwarts?" Hermione asked interestedly. "I didn't know you made up your mind about going back."

"I wasn't completely set on it until Harry got his Hogwarts letter," Ginny said, smiling broadly.

Ron elbowed Harry. "What, did Snape flunk you out of Potions for defeating You-Know-Who?" he snorted. "Going back to finish up seventh year?"

"Ron, it's quite admirable of Harry to take his education so seriously. Don't tease him," Hermione admonished.

"I'm not finishing school. McGonagall invited me to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts," Harry said.

"Oh, Harry! That's wonderful!" Hermione said, embracing him a soft hug. "I couldn't think of anyone else more qualified for the job."

"Dunno, Lockhart was bloody well qualified, eh?" Ron muttered, winking at Harry.

"You're comparing me to Lockhart? Please, if I ever brag about winning Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award three times in a row, kill me," Harry replied drolely.

"Five times," Hermione corrected, a slightly dreamy look briefly flitting across her features.

"Oi!" Ron said. "Snap out of it! Besides, I'm much better looking," he added. "Lockhart was a lousy git."

Before Hermione could begin to mention how lovely Lockhart looked in lavender, a second owl flew in through the Burrow window, clutching two letters in it's beak.

"There's one for each of us!" Hermione said excitedly.

She opened hers neatly and unfolded the letter. Her eyes wildly took in the letter. Although there was nearly a full page of writing, she appeared to have read the entire contents of the letter in a matter of seconds.

"McGonagall asked me to teach Muggle Studies!" she cried. "Oh, it will be so good being back at Hogwarts again. I can start up S.P.E.W. again!"

"Madame Hooch's retired now, so I'm Flying Instructor," Ron said happily.

Congratulations were exchanged. For the first time in more than a year, Harry, Ron, and Hermione would be back at Hogwarts together. There wouldn't be any nasty Potions essays to worry about or dreadfully boring History of Magic classes to sit through. McGonagall would no longer reprimand Harry for silly things like breaking school rules; instead, he would be treated as a fellow professor. Harry could attend all the Quidditch matches and watch Ginny fly circles around the Slytherin team. Yes, teaching at Hogwarts would be excellent.

Before long, Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione slipped through the wall between platforms nine and ten and boarded the Hogwarts Express. Once they had boarded, Ron led Hermione to a separate compartment at the back of the train. Harry and Ginny searched for their own compartment and went inside. Ginny laid with her head in Harry's lap and stretched out her long legs across the seat.

"Once we're at Hogwarts, we might need to be more careful," Harry said as he stroked Ginny's hair.

"I don't want anyone else making moves on you – a little PDA and we'll let them know you're mine," Ginny said, voice honey-smooth.

She stood up and straddled Harry, pressing her hips into his. She leaned forward to kiss him, letting a curtain of red hair fall over the two of them. As they kissed enthusiastically, moving together as one entity, Ginny's skirt slid up her thigh, bunching at her hip. Harry ran a hand up her leg, fingertips slipping underneath the hem of her skirt. Skin tingling with anticipation, Ginny guided Harry's fingers to the right spot. Harry had just slid two fingers into her when the compartment door slid open. Ginny pushed herself off of Harry and rolled into the seat next to him, tugging her skirt towards her knees as she did so.

"Hello, Ginny, Harry," Luna said brightly, appearing entirely oblivious to what she had nearly walked in on. "I didn't know you were going back to Hogwarts, Harry."

"Er, yeah. Last minute decision. I'm the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor," Harry said, shifting in his seat to hide his arousal.

"It'll be like Dumbledore's Army all over again, won't it!" Luna said happily.

"I suppose," Harry said.

Before he could say any more, Ron and Hermione slid open the compartment door, hand in hand. Hermione was blushing, her bushy hair wild; Ron looked very pleased.

"You two smell like argworms," Luna said serenely.

"Excuse me?" Ron asked.

"Argworms feed off of human lust," Luna said, seemingly unaware of the effect her words had on Hermione, who turned scarlet.

In reality, Luna either didn't know or didn't call attention to the enormous amount of tension in the room. Harry was just beginning to regain control of his body; Ron seemed physically unable to keep his hands off of Hermione, who was blushing and unable to meet Luna's gaze; Ginny slipped her hand into the pocket of Harry's robe and began stroking him lightly through his clothing. Luna, however, was quite content to tell tales about a Crumple Horned Snorkack she met over the summer. By the time the train arrived at Hogwarts, the four were very keen to leave the compartment, which seemed to grow smaller and more uncomfortable by the second.

As professors, Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the Great Hall through a back entrance. Sitting at the long table of professors at the front of the hall, Harry felt an overwhelming sense of coming home. Hogwarts was where he belonged. He felt at peace here. Gazing out into the sea of students watching the Sorting Hat sing, Hermione at his left and Ron at his right, Harry couldn't think of any other place on earth he would rather be.