Chapter 1

Even though we won the war, no one feels like celebrating. Which is fine by Harry, he needs to do something anyway, but first he must find Professor McGonagall. As he looks around the Great Hall he notices more people are smiling than frowning. He finally spots Professor McGonagall, her hair is no longer in a bun, it is now out & completely askew she slightly resembles Belstrix & her robes look as though they have been through a shredder during a fire. Beings no one has spotted him, he takes this oppurtunity to put on his Invisibility Cloak. As he makes his way through the crowd of alive and dead bodies he walked right past Ginny. he realizes just how much he loves her & makes a mental note to himself to ask Ron if he can go out with her again. He finally made it to McGonagall she is now sitting on the stage where the long Headmaster & teacher table normally is. He slid right next to her & in a low voice

"Professor, please don't jump! Meet me in the Headmaster's office in about five minutes."

Harry slowly & carefully made his way out of the Great Hall & up the stairs. He ran into nobody on the way up except Peeves which he dodged, but not before hearing

"The Dark Lord has been vanquished, but Peevesie does not feel like making mischief."

Harry couldn't believe his ears but didn't dwell on it & kept moving. He got to the Headmaster's office saw the poor gargoyle still smashed to a million pieces. Harry took off his cloak, took out his wand & put the gargoyle back together. The gargoyle instantly sprang into life,

"Thanks Harry."

"You're welcome. Can I go up?"

"Yeah."

"Professor McGonagall will be up too."

"Ok."

Harry went up & went to stand in a corner to wait for McGonagall but thought better of it. He put his cloak in his pocket & saw the Dumbledore in the picture fast asleep. He then sat down with his back turned towards the door & was almost asleep himself when the door opened. He woke with a start & very quickly rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

"I'm sorry Professor I just needed to get somewhere quite & I want to speak to you."

"Yes harry," with a note of concern in her voice.

"We need to send owls to all the relatives of the people that died with honor tonight. And we need to talk about funeral arrangements for those people."

"What is there to talk about the funeral arrangements?"

"Well I think we should have one big ceremony here & then the families can take the bodies home & have a more private burial or they can be buried here if the families so chose so."

"I think thats a swell idea."

"But there is one I want to do personally."

"Tonks?"

"Yes, does Lupin have any family?"

"Not that we have ever known of."

"Ok."

"Harry everything is going to be alright. This is just the beginning." Her hand is on the door knob.

"Yeah, hey will you get...."

"...Ron & Hermione?"

"Not yet Ginny first."

"Of course." She smiled & walked out the door.

As he waited for Ginny, he truely started looking around the office. he noticed it is exactly the way Dubledore had it. Although he was truely wasn't surprised, especially since he now knows the truth about Snape he has a deeper respect for him. Then a very familiar X-Ray satre of piercing blue eyes caught his eye, Dumbledore was staring at him so intensly

"I'm very proud of you Harry."

"Why? I just did what 'The Choosen One' was meant to to do."

"Harry why are you so bitter? You accomplished something even I couldn't. You ended the war."

Harry felt his ear going red & his temper rising.

"So what! Alot of people died helping ME end this war."

"They were brave soliders. They died for a good cause. Besides Harry everyone will die someday so why not go out being a hero."

Harry's temper started going down, but he still couldn't help feeling guilty about even coming back here & puttng everyone in danger.

"Yeah I guess you're right."

The door then opened, it was Ginny.

"Hi Harry.

"Hey beautiful."

She smiled & giggled

"Oh Harry don't try to be nice. I llok terrible; I've got bruises everywhere, my hair is burnt in some places & I have more cuts & scrapes then I ever knew was possible."

"Even with all of that...you still look beautiful to me."

She turned a bright shade of pink, but just as quick got very serious.\

"I'm glad your ok I was worried about you."

"I was worried about you too."

They had been moving closer & closer toward each other, but now they are at arms length. In the next split second they were giving each other a very chocking hug.

"Ginny this is the first time I've smiled for a while."

She smiled,

"Well I'm happy to have helped."

"I have something I need to do but I still want to see Ron & Hermione before I go."

"Why don't you come downstairs with me everyone else wants to see you too?"

"I'm not really ready for big crowds right now."

"Harry...." came Dumbledore's voice from behind them "....you're going to have to see them sooner or later. Besides you're a hero you'll be fine."

"Ok Ginny I'll go with you.

She smiled

"Thanks Dumbledore I couldn't have said it better myself."

Dumbledore nodded as they left the office. They went down the spiral staircase & nearly ran into Peeves at the end of the stairs. Peeves almost immediately noticed that they are holding hands

"Famous Harry Potter has a girlie friend?"

Harry & Ginny looked at each other & Ginny waited for Harry to respond.

"I believe so Peeves."

"Good because behind every great man stand an even greater woman."

Ginny couldn't believe her ears, she has never heard him be so serious.

"What Peeves no jokes?"

"Don't feel right making jokes right now. Maybe next year."

Ginny smiled

"Good Hogwarts just wouldn't be the same without Peeves the Poltergiest. But we do have to go, see you next year Peeves."

"Later."

They walked down the rest of the stairs & cooridors in complete silence still hand in hand. They finally entered the Great Hall Hermione was the first to spot them & she shrieked with joy which got everyone else's attention, they all looked at Harry. It was quite for a moment until Neville started clapping and everyone followed suit, including the ghosts; which made harry wonder if there was any sound to speak of when a ghost clapped. After the clapping calmed down a bit Ginny walked over to her family leaving Harry to his complete oblivion, Ron however came over & slapped Harry on the back

"You have my complete blessing to go out with Ginny."

Harry smiled

"How did you know?"

"I see how happy you are with her and how happy she is with you."

"Thanks Ron. Hey Mr. & Mrs. Waesley!

They looked up to acknowledge him as he walked closer to them all.

"Is it ok if I meet you guys at the Burrow I have to do something & I don't know how long I will be?"

Mr. Weasley nodded, Mrs. Weasley turned to cry into her husbands chest. Harry tuned to Ginny, Hermione & Ron.

"Please don't wait up for me I seriously don't know how long I will be."

They nodded & Harry turned to leave, he got out to the court yard & was almost to the gates when all of a sudden

"HARRY!"

He turned on the spot it was Ginny running with all of her might. She stopped short form colliding with him, put her arms around his neck & kissed him with all the passion in her heart. He was first taken by surprise then no time at all he was kissing her right back. They were embrassed for what seemed like years she finally pulled away

"Please come back this time."

She turned and strode back to the castle. Harry looked as though he was rooted to that spot it took him a moment to actually remember what he was doing. He then turned, walked out og the gates & disappated on the spot.

He felt the all to familiar fish hook pull in th pit of his stomach & a few moments later he landed on all fours heaving in Mrs. tonks front lawn. After a good two minutes of dry heaving he looked up & saw Mrs. Tonks standing next to him holding Teddy with a baby bag next to feet.

"Here just take him, I know thats why you're here. Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, thank. But Teddy is the subject of my visit, but thats the wrong reason."

She helped him to his very shaky feet, escorted him into the house & lead him to the couch. he sat down still shaking, but trying to hide it. She handed Teddy to him, went into the kitchen & came back with a goblet of liquid that looked like melted rubies. Harry just looked at it in complete amazement

"What is it?"

"Very old family recipe, helps control after effects of disappating & apparating until you can get used to it. Drink up it will help with your shaking too."

He placed the goblet to his lips & took a small sip

"it tastes like peppermint."

"It take the flavor of whatever the drinker enjoys the most."

"Wow, could I get the recipe?"

"Well you are practically family. Yes i will give it to you tomorrow. Tonight, we talk about Teddy."

Harry had just taken the last sip, put the goblet on the coffee table next to him & shifted Teddy to his other leg. Mrs. Tonks looked from teddy to harry & then became fixated on Teddy

"I'm sorry Harry, I heard about you defeating Voldemort & about Lupin & tonks getting killed. I just assumed you were coming for Teddy."

"Even though I would love to raise him I just can't right now."

"What are you going to do now?"

"Well I think it would be smart for Ron, hermione, & I to complete our last year at Hogwarts."

"I agree that would be smart, but do they want to?"

"I'm sure Hermione would, I believe Ron would too. but after that I need to find a house; which I'm thinking about going back to Godric's Hallow & reconstructing my parents old house & living there. Then I need to find a job; I hope to be an Auror. I figure if I can take care of myself without screwing up to bad the I would get married & then I know I would feel comfortable raising Teddy. What do you think about that?"

With tears in her eyes & a smile on her face she tore her eyes away fom Teddy & was truely looking at harry. She saw all the sorrow he was trying to hide, but was not very successful at doing

"I think that is a very good idea. I think you are very mature to be so young. I also think Lupin & Tonks made the right decision about making you Teddy's God-Father."

Harry smiled, looked at teddy who was almost asleep in his arms

"I wish I had as much faith in myself as you seem to have in me."

"You don't have faith in yourself?

"I just don't want to screw up to much."

"I believe in my heart & soul that you will be fine."

"Thanks Mrs. tonks, I will visit every holiday, birthdays & I or someone will drop in every now & then to check on you & help you out."

"Oh Harry thank you, you are to kind. I just can't believe Teddy, Tonks & Lupin are gone. I'm all alone."

"Mrs. Tonks, you have me Hermione, Professor McGonagall, the Weasley's & most importantly; your grandson."

"I know, I just miss them thats all."

"I know, I do too."

There was a strong silence until the clock on the wall behind Harry; which he never noticed before; rang out with 'It's a small world after all' he turned to look at the clock

"Merlins Beard, it nearly midnight. I'm truely sorry, but I have got to go."

Harry stood up, walked down the hallway, put Teddy in his crib, came back to the living room & Mrs. Tonks walked him to the door & almost bumped into him when he all of a sudden turned around

"Before I forget Mrs. Tonks, Hogwarts is having a huge ceremony for those that died as brave solider's & then the families can take the bodies home for a more private ceremony & burial. But if the families have no where to put them then Hogwarts will bury them there."

"Ok good, because i was wanting to bury Tonks & Lupin in the family grave yard."

"Ok. I will let you know when Hogwarts is doing thier thing then I will help you with the neccessary arrangements on your end."

"Thank you Harry. You better get going so Mrs. Weasley don't worry."

Harry chuckled

"Ok, see you later." He walked out the door, to the middle of the front lawn.

"Bye Harry!" She waved as he disappated.

He felt the fish hook pull in the pit of his stomach & in the next second felt his feet land in the yard of the Burrow. Just as quick as he appeard he was on the ground, but this time wasn't because he was dizzy it was because he got knocked down. He rolled over in the grass & saw Ginny smiling at him so he smiled back

"Hy hun, how are you?"

"Better now that your back. how are you doing?"

"Fine now, now that I know I'm not being attacked."

Ginny started laughing, stood up, offered to help harry up which he declined.

"I got it."

He stood up, brushed himself off & procedded to go in the house. Ginny grabbed his hand, pulled him back toward her & they collided into yet another passionate kiss. Mrs. Weasley was now standing at the doorway, her arms crossed & smiling after a few moments she cleared her throat. harry & Ginny both jumped as they seperated

"Hi Mrs. Weasley, how are you tonight?"

"I'm fine, how are you?"

"I'm good."

She smiled even wider

"I can see that."

She turned & went into the house, still outside Harry & Ginny could hear her laughing. He was surprised she wasn't mad especially since he's been snogging her duaghter.

"I guess she's not mad."

"I guess not."

They went in the house & Harry was surprised to see that everyone was still awake. Ron & Hermione were playing Wizard Chess by the fire, of course Hermione was loosing beautifully. Mrs. Weasley was knitting what looked like a very small sweater.

"What is everyone still doing up?"

Ron look up for a moment, in which time Hermione had called

"Checkmate!"

"What? Since when do you know how to play Wizard Chess?"

Hermione giggled

"Since our second year down in the chamber watching you, made me want to learn. So when I went home that summer I had dad buy a muggle chess set & teach me how to play. We played almost every day during the summer & when I got back to school Ginny started teaching me Wizard Chess which surprisingly isn't much different. I played Wizard Chess at school & muggle chess at home. In answer to your question Harry..."

She turned to look at him,

"....we couldn't sleep."

"Oh ok, well I think I might go to be. Ron, help me find my room."

Ron looked extremely puzzled, he knows that Harry knows where he normally sleeps but he led the way to his room where two bed were set up & the walls were no longer blinding orange, but they were now scarelt & gold.

"Supporting Gryffindor I see Ron."

Ron chuckled & closed the door,

"Now wat is the real reason why you wanted me to come with you?"

"I'm glad to see you not completely clueless. But please sit down."

Ron sat down on his bed while Harry started pacing back & forth between the two beds. Ron could see Harry is extremely nervous,

"Harry whatever you have to say, it can't be that bad. Just spit out already."

Harry took a deep breathe & sat down,

"Ron I love your sister, I always have & I want to know that when I ask her to marry me that I have your blessing."

Ron looked like he was about to throw up another roundof slugs. Harry waited a moment,

"Ron, please say something! Hit me! Or even blink!"

Ronn stood up, walked toward Harry lifted his; which Harry sort of flinched; & placed his hand on Harry's shoulder,

"Harry you have MY blessing, however, you have to get everyone else's. Which to be honest, won't be that hard."

Harry laughed at himself for being so stupid, he actually thought Ron was going to hit him.

"Ok, but hey, you are sworn to secrecy about that."

Ron just nodded, grabbed his shower stuff & left the room. Harry was left alone to ponder thing over then all of a sudden he saw a flash & then a vision, although it wasn't one of his nightmare that he's sort of used to, but it was good

** He was in front of Ginny, down on one knee. There are mountains directly in front of them, a picnic set up nearby. Then all of a sudden a major close up on the ring as he opened the box; it was a gold band with small diamonds set in shaped like stars. **

The vision faded & at great timing too, someone is knocking on the door. he found his voice,

"Come in!"

The door cracked open, he saw brown bushy hair & knew it was Hermione,

"Are you decent?"

"Yeah, come on in!"

"Oh you still in your day clothes I though you would have already changed."

"Can't Ron's in the shower & I need one badly."

"Oh..."

Whatever Hermione was going to say next got drowned out by the ghoul upstairs in the attic having another fit & Ron coming through the door in nothing but a towel, talking to himself,

"I wish that stupid ghoul would shut up."

He then realized Hermione was in the room all he did was shrug his shoulders

"I forgot my clothes."

Hermione turned a bright shade of pink & ran out of the room. Harry couldn't help but laugh

"Since when is she shy around you?"

"Since we got home. I think she just realized she kissed me."

All Harry could do is laugh as he grabbed his own shower stuff & left the room. He got half way to the bathroom & realized he pulled a Ron. He laughed at himself & procedded back to the room to grab his clothes. He opened the door & very quitely tip toed back out for Ron & Hermioen were snogging. He figured he would just call his clothes to him after his shower. He stopped short when he heard Ginny's voice coming from behind a closed door,

"Mummy, I love him so much. But..."

"But what sweety?"

"I can't help but feel insecure about being with him. I mean I'm poor Ginny Weasley & he's famous Harry Potter. Seriously how can someone like him be truely happy with someone like me?"

Harry decided he couldn't hear any more & procedded his way to take a shower. Once his shower was over he went to grab his wand to call his night clothes to him then he suddenly realized he had forgotten his wand also.

"Merlin's Beard if my head wasn't attached I'd loose it."

He grabbed his towel wrapped it around his waist & procedded back upstairs to Ron's room. He was surprised to see it was nearly one in the morning, he got dressed and crawled into bed. He tossed & turned he was thinking about Ginny's concern he knew he had to talk to her. With that in his mind he fell asleep, although it wasn't a very peaceful sleep he kept waking in the middle of the night to dreams of Ginny saying that she's not good enough to be with him & she erased his memory of her. Each dream was nearly the same, but each time it got worse. Finally, he fell into an exhausted sleep & actually stayed asleep.





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