A/N: This story picks up right where chapter thirty- six of Deathly Hallows left off. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing! The plot is mine but the characters are as always JK Rowling's. Why can't I be her?! turns green with jealousy

"So, Harry," said Ron as he, Harry, and Hermione made their way down the stairs from the headmaster's office, Harry stowing his newly repaired wand in his pocket, "you've just saved the entire wizarding world, ended the war that's been going since before we were born, and fulfilled your destiny. What are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to Disney Land," Harry said jokingly.

Hermione laughed but Ron simply looked at Harry confused.

"You're going where?" he asked.

"Never mind," said Harry chuckling. He'd momentarily forgotten that Ron wouldn't know anything about that popular Muggle theme park.

"Seriously, Harry," said Hermione as they stepped off the revolving staircase and into the corridor, "You've got your whole life ahead of you now. You can do whatever you want and not have to worry about Voldemort finding you. What are you going to do with your new freedom?"

Harry was silent for a moment and then said "I don't really know yet. I haven't thought much about to be honest."

"Well, no one can blame you for that mate," said Ron. "You have only had that freedom for an hour."

"Yeah," Harry said smiling.

They had reached the Entrance Hall now. It was jam packed with people. Harry caught a glimpse of Voldemort's body on the far side of the hall. He wondered briefly what would be done with it, but then decided that he didn't really care: He wasn't exactly planning on visiting Lord Voldemort's grave.

"Hard to believe it's really over, isn't it?" said Hermione after a short silence.

"Yeah," said Harry, "but I, for one, am glad it is.

"'Ear 'ear," said Ron

"Ditto," said Hermione.

They maneuvered their way through the crowd of people, back into the Great Hall. Once their, Ron asked, "So, what do you think, guys? Should come back here in September and finish school?"

"I think so," said Hermione predictable.

"Well, you guys can if you want to," said Harry sitting down on a bench at the Gryffindor table, with his back to the table so he was facing Ron and Hermione, "but I'm not sure I can."

Ron and Hermione exchanged shocked glances then looked back at him in surprise.

"Why ever not?" asked Hermione. "You're free now Harry, you can do whatever you want."

"I'm not sure that's true," Harry said running a hand up and down the back of his neck.

"What makes you say that?" Hermione asked.

Harry's eyes wandered over to the area of the hall where the bodies of those who had been lost in the final battle had been place. He couldn't see them from where he was now be he knew that Lupin's and Tonk's bodies were somewhere ever there.

"I have a kid now."

"What?" Ron and Hermione said it at the same time.

"I'm Teddy's godfather, remember?" said Harry looking back at his two best friends. "Since Lupin and Tonks…" his voice trailed off, it was hard to believe that they were really gone. The last Marauder had died, along with his wife and that was not an easy thing to except.

"Well, I'm Teddy's guardian now."

Ron and Hermione looked at each other biting their lips.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Harry, do you know the first thing about babies?" Hermione asked.

"Well… no," Harry admitted. "But really, how hard could it be to take care of a baby?"

"Is that a trick question?" said Ron.

"What does that mean?"

"Harry, you're going to be caring for another human life!" said Ron sitting down next to Harry on the bench. "You don't even have a full education! How do you expect to care for a baby?"

Harry stared at Ron in surprise.

"I have no idea where that came from," said Ron after a moment of shocked silence.

"Well, you're right, Ron," said Hermione. "It will be very difficult for Harry to make it on his own, let alone with a baby."

"So what exactly are you two saying?" Harry asked looking back and forth between his two best friends.

"We're just saying," Hermione began, "that maybe you should consider passing Teddy's guardianship to someone a little more…er…financially stable."

"Listen," said Harry, "I know that it won't be easy to care for a baby at eighteen years old without a full education, but I know I can make it. I mean who could understand Teddy better then me: He's an orphan now and only two months old, I was only fifteen months old when I lost my parents. I don't think anyone else I know could better relate to his situation."

"Harry," Hermione said gently, "as you said, he's two months old. I don't think he really cares at the moment whether or not his guardian can relate to him."

"Trust me," said Harry solemnly, "he will someday, and I won't abandon him just because that day hasn't come yet."

Ron smiled at him, and then said to Hermione, "I think he can manage, if he has a little help."

"You do?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," said Ron smiling, "You got a good heart mate. As a matter of fact it just saved us all."

Harry chuckled.

"We'll help you out mate," said Ron. "Right Hermione?" he added looking at Hermione pointedly.

"Well," said Hermione sitting down on the bench opposite Harry and Ron at the Ravenclaw table, "if you're serious about this, I'm behind you a hundred percent."

"We've got your back, mate," Ron said.

Harry smiled at his two best friends.

"I love you guys." He said gratefully. "Thanks for always standing by me."

"Hey, if you can't trust you're best friends to help you raise your new godson, who can you trust?" said Ron.

Harry was slowly walking alone out to the Hogwarts Lake. Ron had kissed Hermione in celebration a few minutes ago and it hadn't really ended there. After standing there for a very awkward moment or two he told Ron and Hermione he was going for a walk, although he wasn't sure that they had heard him. It really was hard to believe that it was finally over, after years of running and hiding and resisting Lord Voldemort, it was over. Harry really didn't need to hide anymore. Harry no longer had to watch his back wherever he went. He didn't have to worry about his scar hurting him anymore. Was this really happening? Was it really over?

Harry knew he should feel elated but he didn't. On the contrary he was devastated: The end of the war had not come without loss. Over the course of his life he had lost his father, his mother, his godfather, his mentor, his pet, his friend Dobby, his best friend's brother who was like a brother to him, Lupin, and Tonks. And that was just the people who had been very close to him. He knew several other people who had been lost, and he knew that thousands of people had been killed over the last two years. He knew it was childish and impossible but he really wished that the war could have ended without losses.

He reached the edge of the lake and sat down with his arms around his knees. The losses were hard to take, yes, but at least no one would ever have to die for him again. Being seen with him wouldn't be a danger for anyone anymore. Maybe he could even get things started up again with…

Harry looked around. He thought he had heard a sniff. His eyes feel on the bushes he had hidden behind after Sirius had died two years ago. He hesitated for a moment, listening. He heard it again. It sounded like someone was crying. Harry stood up and walked over to the bushes. He thought he heard a sob. Harry leaned over the bushes and saw a head if long red hair, her face buried in her knees.

"Ginny?"

Ginny started and hastily began wiping her eyes.

"Harry," she said, "I was just--"

"Crying?"

Ginny forced a laugh and said shakily, "Crying, me? I don't cry, I never cry."

Harry walked around the bushes and sat down next to Ginny on the edge of the lake. She looked away from him so Harry couldn't see her face.

"You know," said Harry after a moment of silence, "I came out here once."

Ginny still didn't look at him.

"I came out here after Sirius died," Harry said, "Ginny," he added after a moment, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ginny said shortly and shakily.

"Then why won't you look at me?"

Ginny didn't say anything, just kept her face turned away from him.

"Ginny, it's okay to hate him."

"What?"

"It's okay to hate Fred for leaving you."

Ginny was silent.

"When Sirius died," Harry continued, "I was completely alone. I hated him for it."

Ginny finally turned and looked at him. Her face was puffy and her eyes were red.

"I was closer to him then any of my brothers."

Harry didn't know how it happened, all he knew was that the next moment Ginny had her arms around him and was crying into his shoulder. Harry gently put his arm around Ginny's shaking shoulders and held her while she cried. Would he ever have to do this with Teddy? Suddenly what Ron and Hermione had said to him in the Great Hall made sense. He'd never so much as held a baby before and now he was going to be caring for one full time!

"I'm going to be a parent," Harry said aloud, as though to confirm it, without thinking.

Ginny who, Harry hadn't realized had stopped, crying lifted her head off of Harry's shoulder and looked at him in surprise.

"I'm sorry," she said, "You're going to be what?" her voice was rising, "I thought you said you wouldn't have any dating opportunities on that trip of yours!"

"What?" said Harry surprised, "Oh, oh no! No! I'm Teddy's godfather."

Ginny was silent for a moment.

"Oh," she laughed nervously, "I thought…"

"No," Harry said quickly while shaking his head, "No, no, no. No. No."

After a moment of silence in which Harry and Ginny stared out across the lake, Ginny asked Harry, "Are you nervous?"

"Only when I think about what could happen if I screw up," Harry said simply.

"You won't screw up Harry," Ginny said resting her head on his shoulder again.

"I don't know the first thing about babies," Harry admitted slinking his arm around her shoulders. "I'm a drop-out, I don't have a job; damn I'm the perfect teen parent."

"Well," said Ginny, "on the bright side, you should have enough money to get by without a job for a while. You're luck you have gold."

"Uh…yeah," Harry said sarcastically, "I was very fortunate to inherit a fair bit of gold, Ginny."

Ginny giggled, "You're right, I'm sorry."

"Forget it," Harry said.

"You'll be a good parent, Harry," Ginny reassured him.

"I hope you're right," said Harry. "I really hope you're right."

Harry knew as he sat there with Ginny by the lake that he was about to embark upon a new and possible more complicated adventure.

A/N: So that is the short prologue. Thanks for reading and pretty, pretty please with sugar and sprinkles and yucky fake cherries on top, leave a review!