Tears of Loss, Joy of Gain

Professor Snape's eyes narrowed at the sight of the two former Gryffindors, whom had been gone for ten years, in Dumbledore's office. He couldn't BELIEVE that he had gotten passed over for the Defense Against the Dark Arts job once again, and to be passed over for it by Potter? That was just unbearable for Professor Snape.

"So, it seems like our two young Gryffindors decided they wished to return to the big bad wizarding world?" he said mockingly.

Now it was Harry's eyes turn to narrow, becoming emerald green slits.

"Severus, Harry," Dumbledore said warningly. "You are here to teach, not to cause a disturbance, though it would be a good dueling match to see," he said, blue eyes twinkling.

Hermione had to disguise her laugh at what he had just said with a coughing fit, and though it fooled Harry, who looked at her worriedly, it did not fool anybody else. Professor Snape looked murderous, Professor McGonagall was biting back a smile and Professor Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling merrily.

"So, what is the condition of which you spoke, Hermione?" Professor McGonagall asked. Everybody else in the room except for Professor Dumbledore nodded in agreement. Hermione wondered if, along with his other talents, he had added mind reading of other people to it, or if her skull was completely transparent.

"Well, I was thinking on it, and thinking of Professor McGonagall somewhat gave me an idea what to do," she began. "If she can transfigure into a cat, there are other things a person can do to disguise themselves, such as a glamour."

Now everybody seemed to get what Hermione was saying. Harry took over from there: "So what you're saying is that we use a glamour to cover some of our attributes and appearances and use a fake name, and we can be undiscovered?"

Hermione nodded. "Exactly."

"Okay then,that's easy enough to do, so we must discuss what your appearances and names should be," Professor McGonagall said.

"Perhaps we should begin with Potter here. He is far more recognizable with his scar and eyes and even hair than Ms. Granger," Professor Snape cut in.

"Too right," Professor Dumbledore said. "Any ideas, Harry?"

"Well," Harry said, thinking, "I could use the name of Henry Parker, which I've been using since we've lived in America....." Professor Snape shook his head.

"There is already a professor by the name of Parker here," he said. "Joshua Parker, from Ravenclaw, was just named Muggle Studies Professor. He just graduated, and it is a great honor to be hired right after graduation."

"In fact," Professor McGonagall said, "he showed an admirable ability, despite being pureblood, of grasping everything about Muggle Studies. He got a 130 percent on his Muggle Studies OWL examination, and a 140 percent on his Muggle Studies NEWT examination, grades which surpass even Ms. Granger's here."

Harry was wowed by what he had just heard, and with a glance at Hermione, he saw that she was wowed also by this news. "Okay then," he said, "I guess I'll go by the name of Henry James."

Professor Dumbledore nodded and with a swish of his wand, Harry was wearing black robes with Professor H. James stitched on them.

"And for your physical characteristics?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Let's see, I guess I'll take short brown hair---medium brown colored....." Harry's hair morphed as he spoke. " And brown eyes; and no scar." The transformation was complete, and Harry looked completely different to Hermione; it was her turn now.

"I'll just use the name Leona Green," she said, and now she was wearing robes with Professor L. Green stitched on them.

"What would you wish to look like?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"I'll take strawberry blond hair to about a couple inches past my shoulders and blue eyes." This was done. Hermione now looked different.

"Well then," Professor Dumbledore said. "Time for dinner."

*Back at the Burrow*

The party was now going strong, and the entire family was celebrating the wonderful news of Ron's and Luna's engagement. The two lovebirds were in the living room, discussing the wedding.

"First of all, let's decide where it should be held," Ron said.

"Well," Luna said, "I don't know if you'd like this or not, but how about we hold our wedding at Hogwarts? If it's too much because of your last wedding, let me know and we can hold it somewhere else."

Ron thought about it for a second before saying, "I don't have a problem with it, and in fact, do you think I should ask Professor Dumbledore now?"

Luna grinned. "That would be perfect."

*Back at Hogwarts*

Little did Ron know after he had apparated to Hogsmeade, that two people were already in Professor Dumbledore's office discussing whether they could hold their wedding at Hogwarts.

"Of course I don't have a problem with it," Professor Dumbledore was saying, when suddenly the door to his office was opened and Ron came in. Harry fell off his chair.

"All right there, mate?" Ron asked, helping him up. "Sorry to frighten you, Mr..." he looked at Harry's name tag "....I'm sorry, Professor James. What do you teach?"

Harry choked out, "Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Ron smiled. "Took the position, did you? Don't care about the curse? Neither really did my best friend," he said. Ron looked at Professor Dumbledore. "Harry didn't apply?" he asked.

Harry almost fell out of his chair again. Dumbledore shook his head. "Nope," he said, with a secret smile at Harry and Hermione.

Ron then looked at Hermione. "Professor.....Green," he said. "Nice to meet you too."

Hermione nodded. "Pleasure," she said, and then she realized that that was what she had said to Ron on the train trip before their first year. Harry realized it too, and sucked in a breath, but Ron appeared not to notice and instead turned back to Dumbledore.

"So, Professor Dumbledore," he said. "I have some great news! Me and Luna are engaged!"

Harry fell off his chair again when Hermione cleared her throat before saying, "Wouldn't it be Luna and I? And congratulations!"

Ron looked at her and Harry strangely for a second before saying, "Thanks. And have I met you two before? Because you two seem so familiar."

Harry squeaked out, "No, I don't believe we have." He sounded very much like a boy going through puberty; Hermione elbowed him in his side, and Harry blushed and sat back in his chair.

Ron, still looking strangely at them, turned back to Professor Dumbledore. "Anyway, we were wondering if you could perhaps perform the ceremony?"

Dumbledore nodded. "It would be a privilege," he said.

Ron grinned and said, "I have to leave now." He turned to Harry and Hermione and said, "It was nice meeting you two. I hope to see you soon."

They nodded, and Ron left. "Bloody hell," Harry whispered under his breath.

"You can say that again," Hermione said.

"Okay," Harry said. "Bloody hell."