Prologue

After his final visit to the Headmaster's office Harry had crept up to Gryffindor Tower and waited for the one he truly needed to speak to. Like so many of those who had participated in the final battle, the Weasley clan, less one, remained at Hogwarts that first night, too exhausted and shellshocked to apparate home. Ginny returned to the tower with a group of sixth years to talk while they packed their things to go home. A hush fell over the common room as she stopped just inside the portrait hole, looking at Harry. So fast did they close the gap between them that onlookers would later swear that they had apparated. He took her in his arms, and though he had intended to tell her a great many things, he could only choke out, "I love you," before he collapsed, weeping in her arms.

The last year had been a strain on them both, and the final battle even more so. So many friends and loved ones lost, they moved to the couch, held one another, and wept well into the night. When sleep finally claimed the two, the remaining Gryffindors crept about, having kept a constant vigil on two of their own who had given so much for their safety. They stoked the fire and covered them in a blanket before dimming the common room lights and receding into the darkness.

Harry awoke first, looking down at the sleeping redhead he sighed with contentment and kissed the top of her head, squeezing her tightly. Ginny awoke with a broad smile, which was quickly replaced by her trademark impish grin.

"So, you think I'm going to take you back just like that do you Potter?" she teased, "You run around for almost a year playing with your friends and think I'm going to be here waiting, I'm not a girl without prospects you know."

Harry opened his mouth to speak but Ginny quickly moved in and covered it with her own. Their bodies melted together as the kiss became more fevered, and Harry's head spun as he prayed the moment would never end.

"Eh-he-hemm," came a voice from the far side of the room, Harry reluctantly broke their kiss and sough the source of the voice, "That's my baby sister who's face you're currently trying to eat."

Harry was saved the trouble of responding to his best mate by Ginny, who hurled a pillow at him. Ron's skills as a keeper did nothing to save him as the fringed throw struck him squarely in the face. Harry looked at Ginny with a mix of shock, awe, and pride.

"Does this mean you'll take me back?" He asked her, somewhat fearful that she might still say no.

"Well, you are an awful lot of trouble to have around," she said playfully, "but you are kinda cute, and I've already invested a great deal of time in your training. It seems a shame to start from scratch on a new guy. Yeah, I guess I'll keep you around."

Harry couldn't even pretend to be offended with her, in a single swift move he stood up with her in his arms and twirled her around the room. Her laughter was a sweet song in his ears, and washed away the pain and worry in his heart. He fell backwards on the couch with her pressed tightly against his chest, she rested her head on his shoulder and the pair just lay there, relishing the closeness. Harry wept again, but this time with joy, he was finally free of Voldemort, free to live, and to love.

Harry, Ginny and Ron spent the next month making Grimmauld place a fit place to live, and in early July Harry moved out of Ron's room at The Burrow and into the bedroom his godfather had once called home. He was soon joined by Tonks, whose family home had been destroyed when snatchers had killed her parents, Harry told her that she and Teddy were welcome to live with him for as long as they liked. He loved the spunky auror, and the child she and Remus had brought into the world.

Hermione had left Hogwarts quickly after the battle, she wished to recover her memory charmed parents from Australia. With McGonagall's help she lobbied to be allowed to take her NEWTS, despite having missed her entire seventh year. It was a surprise to nobody that after a scant month of revision she obtained top marks in all subjects in a special sitting in the newly repaired Great Hall. With so much rebuilding going on some were against the idea of convening testers for a single student, but interim Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, insisted that for the witch who helped Harry Potter defeat the Dark Lord it was the very least they could do.

In early July both Harry and Ron received letters from Hermione saying that she was going to be spending some time studying abroad. They had hoped for postcards from faraway locations, but none materialized.

Ron and Percy helped George rebuild the joke shop. The three made quite a success of the place, but Fred's absence was keenly felt.

Shortly after, Ginny's Hogwarts letter had arrived, and her mum insisted that she would INDEED be attending her seventh year and wouldn't hear a word to the contrary.

Harry was approached by Kingsley, who asked him to consider joining the Auror program. There were still Death Eaters out there and Harry wanted to make sure they were all brought to justice. On his first day of training he was surprised to see a familiar face when a smiling Susan Bones rushed up to greet him. Gone were the waist length plait and baby fat that had defined her in the minds of so many. The former Hufflepuff had become fit, and quite attractive since he hast saw her, and now kept her red hair in a shoulder length bob more appropriate to her chosen vocation. Harry and Susan connected quickly and when at lunch she mentioned that she was having trouble finding a suitable flat in London, he offered her a room at Grimmauld until she could find a place. After a time she gave up the pretense of looking, and Harry knew his little family had grown by one.

It was a tearful goodbye on Platform 9 ¾. Molly and Arthur Weasley stood back as Harry helped their daughter on to the train. The young lovers promised to write daily and Harry swore to visit on every Hogsmead weekend, and every other occasion he could manage. He stood on the platform until the train had long since disappeared from sight.