Tears of Loss, Joy of Gain

*Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry, same time*

Professor Snape was scowling. Once again, he had been passed over for the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts, even though there had been no other applicants for the job. He stormed to the headmaster's office, preparing for another cryptic answer, or something of that sort, on why he hadn't gotten the position.

"Canary Creams," he snarled at the gargoyle, and it changed into the familiar winding staircase.

The headmaster was watching Fawkes burst into flames once again when Professor Snape got into the office.

"Professor Dumbledore, Albus, I've been passed up for the DADA job once again, and I don't have a clue at all why!" he exclaimed.

Professor Dumbledore looked at him before turning back to Fawkes. "Severus, you did not get the job not because you are unskilled in the field of defense, but rather because you are most skilled at brewing potions," he said.

"But who are you going to get for the job?" asked Snape.

Professor Dumbledore smiled. "I have an idea, and I sent a messenger."

*Back in Los Angeles*

It was Professor McGonagall. Harry and Hermione just gaped at her as she brushed the soot from the fireplace off of her robes before sternly saying: "Do you want to catch flies? If so, be my guest and keep your mouths open." Astonished, they closed their mouths and followed her to sit on their couch so they could talk.

"Now, Potter," she began, "I know that you haven't been seen in the wizarding world for quite some time, but Professor Dumbledore has a proposition for you."

"What kind of......" Harry began, before he was cut off from finishing the question by a stern look from Professor McGonagall.

"I was talking, wasn't I, Potter?" she asked. "Now, as I was saying, Professor Dumbledore has a proposition. You should know by now that once again, we are without a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and well, there have been no new applicants besides Professor Snape. However, Albus had the idea of our most famous graduate ever teaching it, while our second most famous graduate..." she looked pointedly at Hermione "...taught Arithmancy, as unfortunately, Professor Vector decided to retire so that somebody, dare I say younger, could take the job. Now, you don't have to answer now, so just floo us later and tell us of your decision."

With that, Professor McGonagall got up and flooed back to Hogwarts.

*Back at Ron's apartment, that night* Ron was sitting on the couch with Luna just talking about their old Hogwarts days when Ron decided it was time to propose.

Taking a deep breath, he pulled the ring out of his pocket and opened it. Luna gasped but remained silent.

"Luna, since I met you in fifth year, you have been a big part of my life, first as a friend, and then as my girlfriend. I would like you to become a bigger part, so, Luna Lovegood, will you marry me?"

Luna looked like she was about to cry, but seemed to swallow the happy tears, and said with emotion, "Of course I'll marry you, Ron!" and the two kissed. Everything was perfect.

Well, almost perfect, because there was somebody, actually two somebodies, who Ron couldn't find to tell of this wonderful news. More than ever he wanted Harry and Hermione to come back.

*That night at The Burrow*

Arthur Weasley sighed wearily as he trudged up into the house, with George walking right behind him. It had taken a while, but he had finally convinced the Aurors that George wasn't a threat to anybody.

He walked into the house and was almost immediately knocked over by Molly, who was bustling around preparing a meal. "What's all this then?" he asked.

Mrs. Weasley turned around and practically squealed with delight, "Oh, Arthur, you're not going to believe it! Ron and Luna are engaged!"

This news was enough to make Arthur happy, weary though he was, and he saw George look considerably happier, though that wasn't saying much.

"Is it true, mum?" he asked. "He's engaged?"

"Yes, but we'll talk about what you did later," she said. "However, right now we've got a meal to prepare!"

"Who's all coming?" Arthur wanted to know.

"Well, let's see," Molly thought. "Bill and Fleur and their two children, Charlie, Fred and Angelina, Alicia and Rich...." George perked up more at this, ".....Percy, Ginny, and of course our guests of honor!"

"Let's see, that's..." Arthur counted, "....16 people. George, go set the table." George went to do this.

"I'll take the tables outside and wait for the people to come so I can tell them where they're eating."

The feast was taking shape, and it would promise to certainly be an good one.

*Back in the U.S, same time*

"I don't know what to do, Hermione," Harry said while pacing. They had tried to go back to sleep but hadn't managed to do so, and therefore they were both exhausted. Harry had called off sick from work. "We can take the jobs and risk being attacked by a swarm of angry Weasleys, or we can stay here and remain anonymous."

"Or we can do both," Hermione said quietly.

Harry looked at her, surprised. "How?"

Hermione smiled. "Leave that......to me."

*At the Burrow once again*

Fred and his wife of three years, Angelina Weasley, who was once Angelina Johnson and didn't know that people called her Angelina Jolie without her knowing, came into the house. They were greeted almost immediately by Arthur, who appeared to be in very good spirits already, greeting them warmly. "Fred, Angelina, how are you?" he asked, giving them both a hug.

"Fine dad," Fred said, "but can you tell us why we are here, because mum didn't tell us why before we came?"

Arthur shook his head. "You'll find out later."

*An hour later* They were eating dinner when Ron clinked his glass with his spoon and stood up with a smile at Luna. "I bet you're all wondering why you're here," he said, hearing murmurs of assent from everybody there. "The thing is, I love this woman here," he said, pointing at Luna, "but I'm afraid we're not dating anymore."

This was met with gasps from some people.

"I'm afraid that we can't be dating when we're married." This was met with even more gasps than before, and there was an almost immediate crush of people getting up, simply trying to hug them and shake their hands and look at the ring.

Ron grinned, still with the nagging feeling of knowing that something was missing from this moment. He excused himself, looking at the sky and saying, "I wish you two were here right now. I miss you, and I don't blame you. I'm happy."

*Hogwarts at the same time*

Professor Dumbledore knew that they were heading this way before they had even started to travel. His instinct, once again, so he called Professors McGonagall and Snape to his office to meet them.

Soon enough, they were there, and soon after that, the two figures of Harry and Hermione were tumbling from his fireplace. Harry helped Hermione up and brushed his robes off, emerald green eyes widening as he saw the three professors. "Hello," he said somewhat nervously.

Hermione looked at them. "Okay, we'll teach here, but only if you let us do something else."