Disclaimer: No, I don't own the books, movies, characters, or anything to do with Harry Potter. Good? Good.

A/N: I felt like the ending to The Deathly Hallows was abrupt. Let me explain: Harry and Ginny hadn't had a moment together to discuss anything; the last time they had seen each other pre-last battle was at Bill & Fleur's wedding, where Harry had to leave abruptly (pesky little Death Eaters). He explained everything to Ron and Hermione and then BOOM! Fast-forward 19 years in advance where he and Ginny are married with 3 kids...I know Rowling said that "[t]here would be time to talk later, hours and days and maybe years in which to talk" (Rowling, 745). But I just wanted a little more closure than that. So enter another FanFiction. Of course, FF is the way I deal with the ending to any amazing series, so I probably would've written one anyway but this gives me direction in which to write :) Going to be a series of One-Shots all post Chapter 36 (the last chapter in TDH) but pre-Epilogue. So without further ado, I present my newest FanFiction!

This one takes place directly after Chapter 36.

Harry opened his eyes, heart pounding; it took him several long moments to remember where he was. He glanced around the boys dormitory in Gryffindor Tower with relief. He spotted Ron lying under the covers and Hermione curled in a bed beside him; they had refused to be separated after the events of the night before, and no one had put up a fuss about it. Seamus and Neville had Apparated home to be with their families shortly after Voldemort's defeat, but Dean had stayed at Hogwarts for the night. He didn't want to pop into existence right in front of his parents after being gone for so long. Harry glanced out the window and was surprised the find the sun high in the sky; he guessed that it was probably late afternoon. He had slept in way later than he had meant to, but he hadn't gotten to bed until late- or early, depending on the way you looked at it. All he knew was that the sun had risen fully by the time he had finally gotten into bed.

After talking with Ron and Hermione the night before, Harry had gone and put the Elder Wand back where it belonged. It had been hard to see Dumbledore's body, after talking with him at King's Cross, where he appeared very much alive. But he had felt a load rise off of him after he had placed the Elder Wand back in Dumbledore's hands, where no one would touch it. It put him at ease to be rid of a source of such power.

"You okay?" Ron asked him. Harry gave a start; Ron must've just awoken. His hair was disheveled and his eyes bleary; he looked as if he had slept fitfully the night before. Harry couldn't blame him.

"I'm okay," he said finally and Ron nodded in understanding. 'Okay' seemed like the best word to describe how he was feeling. The weight of all of the deaths weighed heavily on his shoulders, but things were starting to look up. There wasn't a war on the horizon. There wasn't a prophecy hanging over his head, or a seemingly impossible task set before him. He could grieve and move on with his life. He felt a smile twitch on his lips. He could now pursue a certain red head with a free conscience. He dressed quickly while Ron woke Hermione. He figured they would be a bit…preoccupied with each other for a while, buying him some time to find Ginny. He trotted down the stairs into the Gryffindor Common Room and froze mid-step. Ginny sat in the couch facing the fire, twisting her hair absentmindedly. The flames reflected in her gorgeous brown eyes and it took Harry a few moments to remember why he was there. He ran his fingers through his hair, smiling wistfully as he remembered seeing his father do the exact same thing in the Pensieve. Harry gulped nervously as he walked over to her; it was the first time that they were alone in a very long time.

"Hi," he said lamely. Ginny started and looked up at him. Then she stood up and rushed at him. Harry opened his arms for her but instead of hugging him, she slapped him. Harry stared at her in shock, hardly registering his smarting cheek.

"That was for going to your death without telling me."

"Technically I didn't die-"

Ginny leaned in and kissed him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him as if she were clinging to him for life. Harry clutched her just as desperately as she ran her fingers through his hair, sending shivers of sensation through him. All too soon, she pulled back and began to disentangle herself from his arms.

"No," Harry gasped. "Not yet, I'm not ready to let go of you yet." And it was true, after going so long without seeing her, feeling her, he didn't think he could ever let go of her again. After a few minutes of Harry holding her to him, she sighed and brushed some hair out of Harry's face. He closed his eyes and leaned into her hand.

"Can we at least sit down on the couch, then?" She asked as Harry continued to hold her in place. "I promise I'll let you hold me. I'll even sit in your lap if you want."

Harry chuckled. "You make it sound like such a chore."

"Trust me, I'm not complaining," Ginny grinned. She grabbed his hand and led him to the couch where, true to her word, she climbed up into his lap. Harry wasn't sure if it was the wisest decision, because now he could hardly think straight, with his nose buried in her neck, her flowery smell overpowering him, and his arms wrapped around her soft body-

"So," Ginny turned in his lap so she was facing him. Her face was just inches from his and if he just leaned forward a little bit he could-

Ginny placed her fingers over his lips as he tried to kiss her again.

"If we start that, we may never get around to talking," she smirked.

"Who says we have to talk?"

She laughed and Harry's heart soared; he knew that he would do everything in his power to hear that sound in these sad times.

"Oh, I dunno, Harry, it's not like we haven't seen each other for nearly a year or anything."

"I missed your sarcasm," Harry said as he ran a finger over her lips and under her chin. Ginny leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering shut. "I used to watch you, on the Marauder's Map, while I was searching for Horcruxes."

"That's not stalkerish at all," Ginny cut in.

"Shh," Harry grinned. "Let me finish. Even though you couldn't see me, I knew that you were at least alive as long...as long as I could see your dot-" Harry's throat closed as he watched tears come to Ginny's eyes. "I missed you so, so much," he finished thickly.

"I think I missed you more," Ginny gulped. "It was awful, being left here, not being able to do anything-"

"Oh, it sounded like you kept busy," Harry met her eyes. "I still can't believe you tried to steal that sword right out of Snape's office!"

"Oh. Yeah," Ginny watched him through her lashes, blushing slightly. "Don't tell me you wouldn't have done it."

"No," he agreed truthfully. "But it didn't make me feel any better leaving you behind when I knew you was getting into all sorts of trouble," he growled playfully.

Ginny giggled as he nuzzled her neck, nipping at her gently.

"Okay, okay, enough," she stammered. Harry was pleased that he had caused her to be so flustered. He pressed one more kiss on her neck for good measure then pulled back. She glared at him, but her lips quirked. Harry just stared back at her, drinking in the sight of her. Her eyes softened and she placed her hand on his cheek.

"I really did miss you," she murmured. "More than I thought possible."

"Me too," Harry whispered, playing with the ends of her hair.

"Which reminds me," Ginny said loudly, surprising Harry so much he nearly fell off the couch. "Why didn't you tell me anything before going to your death?!"

"If I had stopped and talked to you-"

"Wait, do you mean you just walked right past me? You could've given me a goodbye at least!"

"I was in my Invisibility Cloak, and you were helping an injured girl…"

"I knew I heard someone walking past me! Go on," she said to Harry's raised eyebrow.

"Well, as I was trying to explain, if I had stopped and talked to you, I…" Harry felt his throat close again as the memory rushed over him. "I never would have been able to leave," he finished hoarsely.

Ginny stared at him, her eyes boring into his, as she leaned her head against his shoulder.

"I can't stay angry with you when you say something like that," Ginny growled.

Harry laughed as he ran his hands through her hair, his fingers tangling in the silky strands.

"Ginny?"

"Hmm?"

He steeled himself to say what he wanted to, needed to. What he had known for some time but never had the chance to say. And he wanted to say it now, when he had the chance.

"I love you," he sighed and she froze in his arms. Then she sat up abruptly, her eyes ablaze, and Harry braced himself for another slap. But instead she peppered his face with kisses, lingering on his lips.

"I love you too," she breathed as he covered her mouth with his. He groaned as her soft lips moved against his, as he fingers tickled the hair at the nape of his neck, at the feel of her against him. Like their first kiss in this very room, he wasn't sure how long they sat there, kissing, but he knew he never wanted it to end. Unfortunately, there was this nasty little thing called breathing that required them to separate. But they did so at the last possible moment, both of them gasping for breath. Harry noted Ginny's thoroughly-kissed lips with approval.

"So what are you going to do now?" She asked as she slowly ran her fingers through his hair, which felt so good that it took Harry several moments to form a coherent answer.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, You-Know-," Ginny paused then took a deep breath. "Voldemort's dead, so what are you going to do now? I mean, besides snogging me," she winked.

Harry stared at her, opening and closing his mouth. What was he going to do?

"You could come back to Hogwarts," she offered as she fiddled with his shirt. "Finish your seventh year and become an Auror." Harry looked at Ginny, and imagined completing a year at Hogwarts without some life-and-death event interspersed. And he could date Ginny the entire year. He couldn't even wrap his mind around it. He smiled at her and was about to lean in for another kiss when Ron burst into the room, Hermione trailing behind him. Harry and Ginny burst apart and ignored Hermione smirking at them.

"Ginny," Ron stared at her with his mouth agape. "What's that thing…on your neck...is that a hickey?!"

"Honestly, Ron," Ginny sighed. "We were in a war yesterday; one of the windows shattered and a piece of glass cut me. Seriously."

"You weren't even supposed to be fighting," Ron grumbled as Harry met Ginny's eyes and turned away to hide his laughter, feeling immensely pleased with himself.

A/N: I have the next chapter written too, so it'll be up shortly :) I hope you enjoyed chapter numero uno! It's still a work-in-progress as I learn to write with these characters. Please feel free to review and give any ideas for future one-shots.

Oh! Oh! And I thought of the best joke the other day!

Q. What's Harry Potter's favorite game?

A. Wizard! (my family plays the game all the time. I was so proud of myself lol)