Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

A/N: Wow! Am I really doing this? Well, here you are! This is my first fan-fic and English is not my native language, so please try to be gentle and patient… Since JJ J.K. Rowling does not wish to write a book, which would explain with details, I wondered a bit about what happened between the Great Battle and "Nineteen Years Later", I decided to try and fill that in for myself! Rated MA for mild language and strong sexual situations. Enjoy yourselves!

A Free Life

Prologue: And the life goes on and on…

It was a very difficult summer for Harry Potter… His feelings were complicated, making him have completely different reactions from one moment to another. Two months ago, after a big battle, he had finally defeated his eternal enemy, Lord Voldemort. This thought in particular made Harry really happy. The possibility of a peaceful life without the fear of getting killed, exhilarated him. On the other hand, thinking of those who lost their lives trying to bring about Voldemort's downfall, made Harry's heart ache… Remus and Dora died fighting Death Eaters, leaving behind their only son Teddy. Harry, being Teddy's Godfather, was very fond of him and spent a lot of his free time with his three-month old godson. Every day Harry and Ginny were visiting Andromeda Tonks and little Teddy. They were playing with Teddy for hours, feeding and bathing him, changing his nappies and putting him to sleep. That simple routine with the baby caused a unique smile in Ginny's face and Harry was determined to make that smile permanent…

Ginny…

She was still grieving over Fred's early death. The rest of the Weasleys were even worse. Mr. Weasley and Percy were burying themselves in work at the Ministry.

Mrs. Weasley, when she was not crying in her bedroom, was arguing loudly with Kreacher over housework. Charlie was helping George at WWW. George was completely destroyed after the loss of his twin. He seemed to be so alone, so lost… The absence of his other half was very obvious even to those who didn't know him. Ron was constantly absent-minded. Hermione had left to find her parents in Australia the first days of June, and she was still there. Bill and Fleur were visiting the Burrow frequently, to keep Mrs. Weasley and Ginny company, and, Harry suspected, to keep a concerned eye on them. Harry, for his part, was busying himself and Ron with participating in the trials of the Death Eaters that had been captured and helping with the reconstruction of Hogwarts.

It was the evening before Harry's birthday, when Ron and Harry returned from the Ministry satisfied from the outcome of the trials of Yaxley and Dolores Umbridge.

"They both received life sentences in Azkaban!" shouted Ron, when he came out of the Floo.

"Great!" screamed Ginny and hugged her brother and her boyfriend tightly, giving the latter a warm but chaste peck on the cheek.

"A life sentence for Dolores Umbridge?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

"Yes, indeed!" Harry answered. "It was unbelievable! Half of the Hogwarts students were there to witness her doom! Oh! You had to be there. The charges made Kingsley lose control! He was about to hex her on the spot! She definitely deserved what she got!"

Mrs. Weasley and Ginny set the table, while everyone returned from their jobs and shared their news.

"Olivander's work load is incredible! He's going at it so frantically!" said George, when he sat at the table. "Since Hogwarts opens on September 1st and Muggleborns are returning to the school, he's going to have quite a big number of first years!"

"Too true." Charlie agreed. "By the way, guess what?"

"What?" everyone asked in unison.

"Florian Fortesque opened his ice-cream shop again!"

"That's really wonderful!" Harry said. "Considering that he was held prisoner for two whole years, yeah, that is really good news!"

"Oh Ron! I almost forgot!" Ginny said suddenly. "Pig arrived with this a couple of hours ago. It's from Hermione…" She gave him the envelope. Ron grabbed it hastily and started reading the letter.

"Yeah!" He said after a few moments of silence. "Mate, I'm gonna kiss you!"

"Sorry to disappoint you, Ron, but I really don't fancy you. Besides, I'm spoken for." Harry said, glancing at Ginny, while everyone broke into endless laughter. "So, what's going on?"

"What's going on? Hermione's coming here tomorrow! And she's staying!"

"That's brilliant! So, why did you want to kiss me?"

"Because, you prat, tomorrow is your birthday. That's why Hermione is coming here!"

"My birthday? Oh… I'd completely forgotten that…"

"Perhaps you forgot your birthday, but we didn't" said Ginny playfully.

"Err, listen I don't want…" Harry began, only to be cut off by Mrs. Weasley.

"We'll make sure we all have a good time tomorrow dear" she said. "It's not going to be much, but we'll be with people we love! Is that fair enough?"

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley" Harry said smiling. Mrs. Weasley beamed at him.

Later, everyone retreated to the sitting room, and it was not long after when they went to their bedrooms, leaving Harry, Ron and Ginny behind. Ron was pacing up and down the room, muttering to himself.

"Ron, please sit down!" Ginny said after a while. "What's your problem?"

"Hermione is coming tomorrow, Ginny! I'm nervous!"

"Exactly Ron! Hermione is coming!"

"Yeah mate" Harry interrupted. "Calm down. I can't believe you're nervous now, when it's you that can handle her better than anyone! I haven't forgotten that you sided with her about visiting the Lovegoods last winter, just to keep her happy!"

Ron opened his mouth to retort, but closed it, paused, then burst into laughter.

"Still mad at me about that, Harry?"

"It's not the only thing, Ron…" Harry said, struggling to keep a straight face. "You see, there's something else, you know, in the Room of Requirement, two months ago…"

Ron flushed bright red.

"All right Harry, I got the message."

"Seriously speaking Ron, you're in love with Hermione and she loves you back. Enjoy the time you spend with her, just being yourself."

Ron smiled.

"Thanks mate! Well I think I'm going to bed. Goodnight sis! Don't be late Harry!"

"Goodnight Ron" the couple said in unison.

When Ron disappeared from view, Ginny turned her face to look at Harry.

"Ah, alone at last…" and before Harry could respond, she kissed him tenderly. Immediately Harry deepened the kiss and their tongues started dancing. Soon their lips parted, so they could draw a breath. Ginny's lips sought Harry's neck and his ear. He moaned softly. At that precise moment, Ginny felt a movement in a particular portion of Harry's anatomy and she smiled in spite of herself.

"Come to my room after midnight" she whispered. "I want to be the first to give you your birthday present…"

Harry looked at her puzzled, but nodded. Ginny stood up and went to her bedroom and a few minutes later Harry went to the bedroom he shared with Ron.

"Still up are you?" he asked when he saw Ron reading a familiar book at his bed.

"Yeah… I'm looking for a few tips to enchant my witch." Ron laughed.

"Ron, I meant every word I said before. Just be yourself. That's what Hermione loves in you. It's not like you don't have any hope…"

"I think you're right Harry" Ron said closing the book. "I'm gonna go to sleep… I'm completely knackered… 'Night Harry."

" Goodnight Ron" Harry said turning off the lights.

A/N: So what do you think? A bit cliché, isn't it? Next chapter is coming soon. If I don't update regularly, it'll probably be my PC's fault. Review please!