Chapter one

Ron and Hermione were looking in shock and awe at Harry, there were tears in their eyes. He had just finished explaining how and why he had walked in to the forest to die for everyone. Who his last thoughts were of; how he had survived the killing curse for a second time; chosen to come back from the dead; made his way to a duel with Voldermort; and, after all they had been through, how he defeated him for the last time.

There was silence for several minutes as they tried to assimilate all he had told them. Hermione was still struggling to stop the tears flowing but Ron seemed to be fighting an internal battle with himself, clearly something was bothering him.

'Spit it out Ron.' said Harry.

'What?' he replied.

'Whatever it is that is bothering you. I'm tired, I need some sleep and I don't want to have to wait for a couple of days for you to tell me.' Harry rubbed his eyes, trying to remove the itching sensation that was telling him that he was several days overdue for a good long sleep.

'Whatareyourintentionstowardsmysister?' he blurted out.

'eh?' Harry looked confused

'What are your intentions towards my sister?' he managed at a slower pace this time.

He looked Ron straight in the eyes 'I love her.'. There was a determination in his voice that Ron had only recently heard when Harry was talking about their mission to bring down Voldermort. 'The thought of her kept me going through the last eight months.' He paused. 'I died for her in the forest tonight, and seeing as how I survived, I intend to live for her now as well.'

Hermione dissolved in a fresh bout of tears Ron just look shocked as if a bludger had just smacked him on the back of the head. Harry thought that he was doing a very good impression of a goldfish when Hermione said 'Harry, have you actually told Ginny any of this?'

He sighed 'Not yet.' he said 'But I want to tell her everything when I do.'

'WHAT!' exclaimed Ron as his head snapped up, 'Even the horocruxes?'

'Certainly he should.' They looked round and saw the portrait of Dumbledore smiling at them. 'And may I suggest our new Minister for Magic and Minerva also sit in on the meeting? It is important that those who are now in charge of our world know the full story of Tom Riddle.

Ron's mouth snapped shut. 'What about the Hallows?' he asked.

Hermione nudged him in the ribs 'Ron.'

'Ah yes' said Dumbledore ignoring Ron's sudden discomfort. 'That decision I leave to you three.'

Harry looked up at the portrait. 'More secrets Professor?'

'That is up to you.' he said ' But if you truly want the Elder Wand to pass in to history quietly then perhaps it is time for the truth behind story to do likewise.'

'I understand Professor' said Harry, resigned to the fact that he would have to keep some secrets even though he hated the idea of concealing things from others. He could see the wisdom in this case. 'Well' Harry started, 'the Stone I dropped in the woods somewhere as I went to face Tom. I'd say that it's pretty well hidden and I have no inclination to go back to try and find it.'

'Very good Harry, if I may say so, an eminently sensible decision.'

Harry nodded and continued 'The Cloak' He paused thinking briefly about his parents 'The Cloak I will keep I think. It's one of the few links I have to my parents. However…' He turned to Ron and Hermione 'As far as the rest of the wizarding world is concerned, this is just a normal invisibility cloak that happened to belong to my father.'

'We understand Harry.' said Hermione with softness in her voice.

'Finally the elder wand...'

He paused to look at it properly for the first time, it looked so ordinary and plain but in his mind's eye though, he could see otherwise. All the blood that had been spilt because of it over the years seemed to have seeped into the wood giving it a foreboding deep red tinge. The power was evident to him as his hand felt strangely warm where it came in contact with the wands and he quickly drew his thoughts away from the accursed wand. He drew the piece's of his own wand out of the moleskin pouch round his neck and placed them on the headmasters desk.

Gripping the elder wand firmly he waved it over the pieces whispering 'Reparo' the two pieces started glowing and then the broken sections moved together. As they met, they could see the splinted ends knitting back around each other until the wand was whole again. The glow faded and Harry reached down to pick his old wand up again. As his fingers connected with his, now repaired wand; he felt the familiar responsive feeling he had first felt seven years ago in Ollivander's shop.

He carefully placed the elder wand on the desk. Harry might have imagined it but he thought it felt slightly angry. He looked at it with a mixture of disgust and awe on his face.

'Now I have my wand back in one piece, the elder wand is going back where Voldemort took it from.' there was a fierce determination in his voice this time. 'If I die naturally then the wands power will be broken and the easiest way to do that if for it to disappear. There is already too much Blood on that wand and if the remaining death eaters find out what it is and that I have it then they will just keep hunting me. I've had enough of that to last a lifetime already.'

Ron sighed with Longing, looking at the wand but before he could say anything Hermione interrupted his train of thought. 'You're Right Harry. It has to be this way.' she squeezed Ron's hand

Ron Looked at Hermione 'I guess you're right, but you have to admit that an unbeatable wand is tempting.'

'That's the real problem Ron it's too tempting for any witch or wizard who might want to take power. Let us all agree that the wand disappears now. We'll return it to Dumbledore's tomb and never mention it again. It can drift out of history and that will be the end of its power.'

'You're right Harry.' Said Ron with a final sigh as Hermione indicated her agreement as well.

'Harry!' Said Dumbledore's portrait with a tear in his eye 'I couldn't have thought of a better solution myself, yet again you demonstrate a maturity beyond your years.'

'I'll need to tell Ginny as well though.' said Harry looking at the portrait. Ron looked up in surprise.

'By all means make an exception for Miss Weasley. She deserves to know and it might just save you from that Bat Bogey hex I hear she favors. 'He smiled with amusement at Harry's obvious surprise at his knowledge of Ginny's favorite curse. 'Oh and one other thing, I believe we can drop the Professor, I'd much prefer Albus, Merlin knows you three have earned it.'

Harry was still slightly dumbstruck but Hermione, who by this time had managed to get over her tears, said 'I think I speak for all of us when I say Thank you Prof... Albus. 'She nodded towards the portrait. 'Come on Harry, time for you to go and find Ginny.'


As they walked towards the Great hall, Harry noted with a wry amusement that Ron had taken Hermione's hand. It was pretty clear what his intentions towards her were after all these years. However Ron was obviously still having some problems with Harry's declared intentions towards his sister. Harry could make out the not very whispered conversation going on between the two of them.

'But he dumped her...'

'To protect her.'

'She might not want him back'

'She does, trust me on this.' Ron looked a little shocked at this.

'But I'm supposed to look out for her.' Ron said.

'Not anymore my darling...' She kissed him full on the lips and Harry realised at that point, Ron had lost this one. No matter what else he might try to drag up, this was one-nil to Hermione. Ron was clearly enjoying the kiss as he eagerly responded. Harry quickly turned his back and moved away. Watching Ron lose the argument was worth the eavesdropping but seeing how, that was more information than he wanted at that point.

A minute or so later Ron and Hermione joined him, looking a little breathless as they entered the Great Hall together.


Harry searched the hall for one person, a certain red head. He spotted Ginny with her family and started to move towards her. As she spotted him her eyes turned to flint and she started to reach for her wand. ~uh oh~ thought Harry but to his surprise Hermione stepped between then and took Ginny's arm. She fought a little and tried to get around Hermione for a clear shot at Harry but Hermione wouldn't let her. 'A quick word Ginny?' she said, ' Before you hex the hero of the battle from here to kingdom come?' Ginny gave in with bad grace and let Hermione lead her away.

'I guess we'd better find McGonagall and Kinsley then.' said Ron

'Eh what?' said Harry clearly still confused over Ginny's reaction.

'Come on.' said Ron, and led him away.

They found them shortly afterward in close conversation with Arthur Weasley and several others from the order. 'Harry! Pleased to see you're alright.' said Mr Weasley 'Although I think that might be because you haven't bumped into Ginny yet.' he winked at Harry.

'I don't know what you mean.' he said

'Oh I've been cooped up with a certain daughter of mine for the last few months. I can tell you she was mightily annoyed with you. Between the bouts of depression and worry that is. Now what are your intentions towards my daughter?' he asked.

Harry looked at Ron who at least had the decency to look embarrassed. 'Now I know it runs in the family.' he said to Ron.

'My intentions are decent Mr Weasley. I was dating Ginny last year but I broke it off last summer to try and protect her while I was on my quest. I was worried that Voldermort... ' at this a number of the wizards and witches in the group flinched '... would attack her to get at me. Now that Tom Riddle is dead I would very much like to make her acquaintance again.'

Mr Weasley smiled 'Molly and I hoped that would be the case but I feel bound to warn you that she is still more than a bit put out with you over the quest and Merlin knows what else. A word from the wise, don't let her get up a head of steam or you'll be making your explanations from behind those bat bogeys...'

Harry was a little shocked at Mr Weasley's candor but he covered it well, 'Well Sir, I'll take that under advisement, but Hermione is currently talking to her. I'm sure that she will straighten it out.'

'I wouldn't bet on it son. Hermione might manage to keep the bat bogies off you for about five minutes, I suggest that you make them count.'

This time, Harry failed to cover his shock, and it was his turn to do the goldfish impressions.

'I've been with Molly for over twenty years now, trust me, there are certain traits that breed true. Now go, and good luck!'

Ron smiled, 'He's right you know Harry. Don't let her build up a head of steam.'

As Harry turned to leave he turned back, 'Minister, Headmistress? I need to speak with you as well.' Kinsley and McGonagall looked a little confused but followed Harry from the hall.'

'Headmistress, can I use your office again?' Harry asked.

'What for?' She asked.

'Well Dumbledore, well at least Dumbledore's portrait and I think that you should know about what Tom Riddle did to try and avoid death. It might be important in the future to prevent another dark lord like Voldermort rising.' Harry said quietly so that only Kingsley and McGonagall could hear him. He was pleased to note that Kingsley didn't bat an eyelid at Harry's use of the name, even though McGonagall shuddered slightly.


'Hermione, I am thankful that he defeated Voldermort but that doesn't escape the fact that he abandoned me for a year, he tried to make me stay behind during the battle and then made me, no made all of us believe he was DEAD!' Ginny ranted, 'Trust me, when I've finished he'll wish he was!'

Hermione could see she was very angry and to be fair, she had a couple of valid points. However she owed it to Harry to try to defuse Ginny's temper.

'You do know why he did those things don't you?' she said.

'NO!' Ginny snapped 'and that's the problem. He never tells me anything! You, Ron and he are always off together sharing secrets and keeping the rest of us in the dark. I guess you picked that trick up from Dumbledore?'

Hermione sighed, 'No we didn't, although it was on his orders that we didn't tell anyone else what we were doing last year or what we were looking for.'

'Typical!' Ginny shouted 'So you're going to be all "dark and mysterious" at me then, just like Harry.' She grabbed her wand and began to cast the bat bogey hex.

~Oh Merlin~ thought Hermione and promptly used the only line that she knew would calm Ginny down.

'He loves you.' she said quietly.

'WHO!' shouted Ginny

'Harry...' whispered Hermione.

Her wand dropped to her side and for the second time in the evening, a Weasley impersonated a goldfish. 'Bu... Bu... Bu...' Ginny didn't seem to be able to make herself speak.

'Harry is coming over here to tell you everything. The whole story. What we were looking for, why we needed to keep it so secret and most importantly what really happened tonight in the forest.'

Ginny recovered her voice 'What do you know Hermione?' Ginny asked in a more normal tone of voice. 'More than you do right now and, I suspect, less than you will in an hour or so if you let Harry speak to you.'

She looked at Ginny 'He never stopped thinking about you.' she said quietly. Ginny looked at her, surprised. 'Oh, he didn't talk about it openly but he did spend a lot of time brooding and looking at the marauders map while he was guarding the tent. Trust me he broke up with you for exactly the reasons he said. Right now I would guess that he is desperate to make things up to you.'

Hermione's words cut into Ginny deeply. Everything she'd hoped and wished for! Her bottom lip started to quiver just before she threw herself into Hermione's arms. She sobbed for several minutes until finally she surfaced from Hermione's, now notably wet shoulder.

'I should hex him into next week.'

'Maybe' said Hermione, mysteriously smiling while she said so.

'Okay' she said 'I'll listen to him before I hex him.'

'That's all I ask.' said Hermione as she led Ginny back to the main hall.

'Oh' Hermione said 'Don't be too upset when you decide you don't really need to Hex him.'


Harry walked passed Ginny and said 'Coming?' he held up a finger 'On the condition that I don't get hexed until I have had a chance to explain myself? '.

Ginny looked at him 'Okay Potter, you've got yourself five minutes...'


They approached the headmistress's office. Harry stopped. 'Minister, Headmistress, May I have five minutes with Ginny first? '

'You seem very sure of yourself Potter' growled Ginny.

'Trust me.' he said and then started to climb the stairs.

'Not likely!' she muttered under her breath but did climb the stairs to the headmistress's office.


'Well' Said Kinsley ' Nice weather were having isn't it?'

McGonagall looked at him in shock. 'At a time like this!' she said ' YOU' poking him in the stomach 'want to talk about the weather?'

'It's called small talk.' said Kingsly ' and I'm practicing for all the official functions I'll be forced to attend as minister if they make my appointment permanent.' As he spoke he started to fumble with a piece of paper.

'And what is that?' said McGonagall.

'Ah yes'. said Kingsley, 'This is Arthur Weasleys show of solidarity with his bretherin or to you and me, the reversal charm for a bat bogey hex.'

'She wouldn't!' Said McGonagall, her hands pressed against her cheeks.

'She might' said Kinsley. 'Unfortunately, someone has just cast a muffalo charm on your office so we won't know for sure until either we are invited in or Harry runs from the office chased by bats.


Harry waved his wand casting a muffalo charm non-verbally. Ginny raised her eyebrows 'Show off.' she said. Harry smiled.

'Where do you want me to start?' he asked.

She looked at him and almost forgave him on the spot, almost... 'What are your intentions Potter?' she growled out. 'First, you break it off with me, and then I hear nothing... NOTHING for eight months' ~uh oh~ thought Harry, here comes that head of steam. 'Then, when I DO see you again you try to wrap me in cotton wool before making me think you were DEAD!'

'I'm Sorry.' Harry said quietly.

'SORRY!, IS THAT ALL YOU CAN SAY!' she shouted. ~Definitely steam there~ thought Harry. Ginny took another deep breath, ready to launch into another tirade against him.

Whatever it was she was going to say never got said as Harry, mindful of her father's warning, took her in his arms and looked into her eyes. She looked back and could see the pain and suffering of the last eight months etched into them. Her heart melted when she also saw his love for her there as clear as day. The two pools of green became, for a minute her whole world as she lost herself in them.

Harry for his part, was watching her eyes warily. He saw her emotions flicker between fight and love and back again, but slowly moving to a look of love as she finally surrendered to the feelings that they had for each other.

His next move was automatic. He slowly moved towards her and kissed her, putting all his love and care into the kiss. Ginny was taken by surprise but almost immediately returned the kiss, losing herself in the warm feeling of Harry and her together.

This felt right. Something connected between them and suddenly the kiss became more intense, more real. They lost themselves in each other and started to move as one.

As they separated, Ginny started to breathe again. It seemed like hours had passed but glancing at the clock she could see it was only a minute or so.

Harry looked at her hopefully 'I think that answers your first question.' he said. Ginny looked at him, her mind still wanted to stay angry and hex him good and proper but her heart was overriding her mind which was fighting a rearguard action as the anger retreated.

She smiled 'So your intention was to kiss me?'

'Oh I intend to do a lot more than kiss you.' he said. Ginnys legs started to quiver. 'But for the moment I can only tell you that I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.'

Ginnys mind surrendered, the anger that had powered her up to the office and to within a minute or so of hexing Harry dissolved ~He loves me~ she thought ~HARRY LOVES ME!~ her heart sang out and then she heard her voice say 'And I love you too Harry.'

She looked up to see a silly grin on his face and for the first time since she'd seen Harry again he actually looked happy. Then she realised that the same silly grin was also plastered on her face. They looked at each other and then threw themselves into each others arms, both muttering 'I love you's' in each others ears.

'Ahem.' They parted and looked around before Harry's gaze settled again on Dumbledore's portrait.

'Yes Albus?' said Harry

'I believe that you and Miss Weasley have used ten of the five minutes that you asked Kingsley and Minerva to wait for you.'

Harry looked at his watch 'Whoops!' he grinned. Ginny for her part was trying furiously not to blush. 'I guess I'd better invite them up then.'

Dumbledore grinned back 'In your own time Harry, in your own time...'

Ginny failed to stop the blush this time and was, Harry thought, amazingly cute when she did. He noted that she wasn't the only one blushing either. He took her hand and said 'We'll have more time later.' Almost as an afterthought he added 'The rest of our lives in fact.'

This only made Ginny blush harder. 'I'll get you for that Potter.' she said.

'I certainly hope so.' said Harry smiling as Ginny laughed and removed the muffalo charm.


'Okay, we've established that the weather is nice for this time of year, and that the Cannons are not likely to win a match this season.' said McGonagall 'what else is there in your repartee of small talk?'

Kinsley looked slightly embarrassed 'Erm, that's it.' he admitted, 'I'm, or at least was, an Auror. We don't go in for small talk. Generally we used to move straight on to wands out and shields up in my line of work.'

'Well' she said 'That'll make those tedious Ministry functions shorter then.' She flashed a smile at him

Kinsley grinned 'That it will.' he chuckled 'That it will.'

They stood for few minutes straining to try to hear anything through the Charm then suddenly the Gargoyle slumped aside.

'I assume that's our invitation' said Kingsley. 'As I see no sign of Harry, I also assume that I won't need this.' and put Mr Weasley's spell back in his pocket.

'Ladies first.' He smiled and followed McGonagall up to her office.


As the Minister and the Headmistress entered the office they could tell something was different between Harry and Ginny. Apart from the fact they were holding hands, there was something about them, almost a glow that surrounded them.

'Now then, Mr Potter and Miss Weasley.' said McGonagall, 'I take it that I can assume you have resolved your differences?' They nodded. Harry was still grinning and Ginny still had a healthy blush.

'Then let me be the first to congratulate you.'

Kinsley looked at them both 'Indeed, it looks like whatever you said Harry certainly appears to have stopped Ginny from hexing you to hell and back, rather the opposite effect I think.' He grinned at them.

'Oh I'll be keeping the hexing option in reserve.' said Ginny 'Just in case.' She grinned at them as Harry started to look nervous but Kingsley simply laughed and Harry relaxed a bit.

'So then.' said McGonagall 'What did you want to tell us about Harry?'

After quickly casting the muffalo charm, again non-verbally, earning him an interesting look from both McGonagall and Kingsley, he said 'Okay for this one time only I will explain where Ron, Hermione and I have been for the last year and what we were doing. Dumbledore and the three of us believe that the information is so dangerous that the fewer who know the full truth the better. As Minister and Headmistress you both need to know the full story but we will leave it to your discretion as to what you tell the rest of the wizarding community.' He took a deep breath 'Ginny needs to know to help her understand why I had to leave her last year and why I want her back now and also so that there are no more secrets between us.'

Ginny's eyes widened, not just at Harry's clear and public indication that he certainly wanted her in his life but also at his maturity. Obviously he had grown a lot over the last year. She shed a small tear over what she had missed, but resolved that she would make it up to him this year and for the rest of her life ~where had that come from?~ Was she already thinking in those terms, she and Harry together for the rest of their lives? She tried to put the thought to the back of her mind and continued to listen to what Harry was saying.

He started off by covering the Horocruxes, what they were and how they were created. McGonagall's face went white as he explained about the process of creating them. Kingsley nodded along, as an Auror he was broadly aware of what they were but he'd never seen one in the flesh. Oddly, Ginny didn't seem to be too shocked either but then she'd owned one for most of her first year before Harry destroyed it, saving her life into the bargain.

He quickly sketched in the life of Tom Riddle that had been shown to him in pieces by Dumbledore and then the true story of what happen on the Astronomy tower last year. They were all shocked to find out some of the truth about Severus Snape ~If that shocks them, wait until they get the full truth~ he thought.

He paused for a minute and then ploughed on through the last year, finding the remaining horocruxes and destroying them. He recalled the many lonely nights doing guard duty and thinking of Ginny and of how those thoughts had kept him going when the quest seemed hopeless. Ginny gripped his hand harder at these points, constantly fighting back the tears as she began to realise just how much leaving her behind had cost him. McGonagall and Kingsley were equally stunned by the depth of Harry's feelings for Ginny.

Finally, he reached the Battle; how he had got into the castle and then every action slowly taking him step by step closer to that meeting with Voldermort in the woods. Harry had indeed been right about the shock they all got when he detailed the full truth about Severus Snape, what he had shown Harry and the implications for Harry's survival. Kingsley gave a low whistle, and he briefly interrupted Harry's story saying 'I can tell you now Harry that the truth about Severus is one thing that we will be telling the press', Harry simply said 'Thank you.' in a serious tone of voice and pushed on.

He detailed the lonely walk under his cloak of invisibility to the forest; of passing Ginny and pausing knowing he could not speak to her if he was to keep enough of his willpower to continue the trip. Ginny was crying like she had never cried before. Tears streamed openly down her face but she forced herself to sit and listen to the rest of the story. She was dreading what she would hear next. After the cruel prediction of Harry's demise, she tried to console herself with the fact that he was here and alive so it must have worked out fine.

Harry slowed down now, telling them of the resurrection stone and the people who had come from it to help him get through to Voldermort. Then he reached the part that he knew was going to upset Ginny but he had to tell her so that she could understand. 'I stood there' he said 'In the clearing surrounded by Death Eaters. I looked up at Voldermort and thought of Ginny and then the next thing I saw was a flash of green light and then nothing.'

Ginny could no longer contain herself and collapsed into Harry's arms sobbing uncontrollably. 'Erm, could you give us a few minutes?' said Harry as he started to comfort Ginny. Kingsley nodded, not trusting himself to speak; he led the headmistress out of her office. He could see that she was also in shock and indeed they had barely reached the bottom of the stairs before she too collapsed into his arms sobbing uncontrollably. Kingsley fought back his tears but did not really succeed and they stood in each other's arms crying for the Boy who had saved them all.


Ginny managed to get her tears under control after a few minutes and she looked at Harry and said 'You died for me?' Hardly believing the words that she was speaking.

'I died for everyone.' he said simply 'But mainly I died for you. I died to give you a life free from fear.'

Ginny was speechless 'I..I...I didn't know.' she managed to force out.

He took her hands 'Now you do. I promise that it gets better from now on.'

'Should we fetch the Minister and the Headmistress?' Ginny asked.

'No, Let them come back at their own speed.' he replied. 'I think McGonagall took it almost as hard as you did.'


Outside the office the sobbing had also subsided. McGonagall looked into Kingsleys eyes 'I had no idea.' she said, clearly still in a state of shock.

Kingsley's eyes still looked a little wild as well as he said 'Neither did I. Harry has had to shoulder a burden that no wizard should ever have to. Not only that, but he actually proved to be more than equal to the task as well.'

They stood there for a few minutes more and then reluctantly separated. 'Well.' said Kingsly, whose throat seemed to be tight all of a sudden 'Shall we join them and hear the rest of the story? Especially as, for a dead person, Harry seems to be moving around and talking rather a lot.'

Professor McGonagall smiled weakly at the quip and climbed the stairs to her office once more.

Kingsley looked thoughtfully at her back and then followed her up.


Harry and Ginny were still cuddling when McGonagall and Kingsly entered. They looked at peace and McGonagall was loath to disturb them.

'Ahem.' They separated and looked up at Dumbledore's portrait and then around the room.

'Oh sorry Headmistress, Minister. We didn't see you there'

'That's fine Harry.' said Kingsley, 'We didn't want to disturb you.'

'In that case, I suggest that you buy a curtain for a certain portrait, that is twice he's interrupted us. tonight' he winked at Dumbledore who winked back. Ginny took it as a good sign that Harry was able to make the odd joke.

'Now.' he said 'Lets finish this.' he yawned and then proceeded to cover the conversation he had in Kings Cross station with Dumbledore and how he had been tempted to move on. Ginny fiercely clutched his arm for a few moments until he told them why he came back.

'For me?' she looked up at him.

'Well for everyone really but mainly for you. I decided to live to ensure that you and your family could enjoy life without the threat of Voldermort hanging over you all.' He yawned and rubbed his eyes again remembering that he still needed sleep.

Speaking quickly and precisely he sketched in the time from waking up on the forest floor to the fall of Voldermort. He finished by telling them of how he repaired his own wand using the Elder Wand.

Ginny and the others could see that Harry was now seriously struggling to stay awake as his eyes drooped shut. Ginny looked at the Minister and the Headmistress. 'I assume that questions can wait until tomorrow?' she said with a new tone of command in her voice. The tone wasn't missed by either Kingsley or McGonagall who looked at each other with raised eyebrows. McGonagall broke the silence.

'Certainly Miss Weasley. Go and take him to bed and make sure he sleeps. It's the least we can do for him after what he's done for us.'

'Harry?' he looked up blearily at Ginny 'Thank you for sharing that with me but now we have to get you to bed before you fall asleep.'

He continued to look blankly at her.

'HARRY!' she shouted at him, his head shot up 'Wha..' he said. 'Time for you to go to bed.' she commanded.

'Oh?' he said 'Okay.' and allowed her to lead him out of the office. As they left McGonagall said 'We will need to see the four of you tomorrow before you leave but please, in your own time.' Ginny nodded and left.

'I think we've just seen the birth of a legend.' said Kingsley in awe.

'Not just that.' said McGonagall if even a tenth of what Harry went through for Ginny comes out then we'll have young witches crying themselves to sleep at Hogwarts for years to come.

Kingsley chuckled 'Just wait until tomorrow and Harry really wakes up to the new Ginny, I think he's in for a bit of surprise.'

'Oh I don't know' said Dumbledore's portrait, his eyes twinkling again 'I think that's one surprise that Harry will be glad of.'


Ginny led Harry through the school to the Gryffindor common room. As she passed the main hall, she could see that most people had conjured beds to sleep on the floor. A quick glance told her that Ron and Hermione weren't there either so she assumed they'd be in Gryffindor tower.

The fat lady swung aside with a loud 'Hic' as she and Violet were swigging from a couple of champagne bottles. 'Well done Harry!' could be heard as the portrait swung shut. Ginny had to literally drag Harry up the stairs to the dormitory as he was rapidly losing his fight against sleep. When she entered the dormitory she could see that the curtains were drawn around Ron's bed and from the sounds from within he was already far ahead of Harry.

She cocked her ear and realized that he wasn't the only one either. There were definitely two different sets of snores coming from the bed and one of them sounded decidedly lady like. She smiled to herself. Too tired to really care though she took Harry's glasses off and pointed him at the bed. 'Harry, bed.' she said.

'Oh' he said 'Good.' and collapsed forwards onto it. Ginny rolled her eyes, moved to drag him up the bed, with difficulty, until his head was actually on his pillow.

She turned to leave for her own dormitory but then turned back to look at Harry. After all he had told her tonight, how could she leave him? Moving carefully she climbed on to the bed with him and pulled the curtains closed. Putting her wand to hand she cuddled up to Harry's recumbent form and breathed in ~Hmm~ she thought ~I could get used to this~ and gratefully let sleep claim her.