A/N:(I have editted this a bit, this was the A/N which was there originally, but due to the problems in my comp I couldn't get this up. But here it is now) I know, I know a very long wait and I AM sorry. I had important exams and their results and selection process and blah blah blah. I am really not making excuses. Hope you lot understand. For all the readers out there, a very big thanks to you lot for continuing with the story. Thanks to silenceshouting for being my beta. Anyway here is the chapter.

The Train ride
Ginny's birthday party was in full swing. She had received a Firebolt from Bill, Fleur, Charlie and Percy, and her parents had given her a very beautiful set of jewelry. Other than that, she had mainly received books and sweets. At long last, it was Harry's turn to give her the present he'd gotten. When he walked to Ginny, holding the present, she was very happy.

"Harry you got me a present! Thank you very much."

She slowly opened the gift. She had a grin on her face, but as the present was revealed, her mouth formed a perfect 'o'. Then, slowly, a small smile crept onto her face. She turned to Harry and hugged him, saying, "You remembered! Thank you, thank you, thankyou! I always wanted one of these! And this is the new model. Oh, Harry! You're so sweet." And then she kissed his cheek.

Some kind of warm, tingling sensation started in Harry's stomach. It spread throughout his body and his knees started getting weak. He felt like he was floating, but it wasn't like flying, where he had a broom for support. The feeling was too amazing to just lose it.

She gave him a warm smile and went to sit next to Andromeda, who was holding Teddy. He was almost five months old. Ginny had taken a very great liking to Teddy. After all, he was so cute, not to mention that he was the son of her favorite professor and her best friend, with whom Ginny had always been really close when the she was alive. Teddy had inherited Tonks' ability to metamorph. He still could only change his hair colour and most of the time it was not under his control, but whenever he was near Ginny, he changed his hair to red.

Meanwhile, an internal battle was taking place inside Harry.

'Oh my god, oh my god she kissed me!'
'Yes you daft, but it was only a friendly kiss. She kissed you on your cheek remember?'
'But she kissed me! And she smells so flowery. It makes me float.'
'But she thinks about you like a friend or more like a brother. She is Ron's sister, remember?'
'I don't care! She kissed me and it feels amazing. Oh, I think I'm falling for her.'
'No, you dolt. It's totally wrong.'
' It isn't.'
' It is.'

"STOP IT!" Harry shouted. Only Ron and Hermione sitting near him and, thankfully, they thought that he was shouting at them to stop bickering. They were 'discussing' whether or not they had to learn all their texts before or during the school term. Both of them looked at Harry apologetically.

He sighed. Whatever was happening with his brain, he had to stop. If Ron had a bit of hint about his feelings to Ginny, Chosen One or not, he would be cursed into next century. Wait, what? Feelings for Ginny? Where had that come from? It was purely sisterly, no scratch that; it was purely friendly. Yes she was one of his best friends. May be not like Ron or Hermione, but still a very good, beautiful, charming best friend. Harry groaned. He had to stop thinking about Ginny.

Sighing, he took Teddy from Andromeda and went for a walk near the pond. Harry loved his godson. Yes, he was just eighteen, and therefore a bit young to be a godfather. However, Harry was only physically eighteen. Emotionally, the entire generation had gone through a lot. Their pains and worries had forced them to grow up fast.

Life had been cruel towards himself and his near and dear ones, but it was for the next generation that they had fought, so that they wouldn't live in a world so evil. It was when he looked at Teddy's smiling face that he knew what they had done was worth it. Whatever they had lost it was worth the smile on other millions of people; magical or Muggle.

He smiled as he remembered the day when he walked into a store and wanted to get Teddy a toy broomstick. It was with great difficulty that he had talked himself out of it, reminding himself that Teddy was very small and barely able to stand on his feet.

He chuckled at the memory of Sirius doing almost the same to him. He wanted to be the godfather to Teddy which Sirius couldn't. Teddy would never have a childhood like the one that Harry had.

He looked at Teddy with fondness in his eyes. Teddy smiled at him and closed his eyes, screwed up his face for some time. Then, the child reopened his eyes. They were green, just like Harry's. He still had the red hair. Just by looking at it, Harry's heart swelled. Red hair, green eyes: perfect combination of himself and Ginny. He smiled silently.

Just for a moment he thought that Teddy looked like what his and Ginny's kid would look like. He banished the thought thinking that his thoughts were all wrong. He could not and should not be thinking about Ginny like that. She was Ron's sister, for Merlin's sake. Still, deep down there was some sort of happiness. A happiness he had not felt any time before. It was like some sort of contentment.

That night, when he went to sleep, there again in his dreams was the mystery girl. But this time in addition to red hair, he recognized the chocolate brown eyes, and she wasn't alone. There were small red haired, green eyed and black haired, brown eyed kids running.

The rest of the month was spent playing Quidditch, de-gnoming the garden and spending a lot of time in WWW, and in Hermione's case studying. ("We missed an entire year! And this is NEWT year. How are you going to remember everything else you have learned?")

Finally September 1st came. After last minute packing, checking their pets and having a handful of dungbombs exploded (from Ginny's trunk after it slipped), they were all seated in the taxi with Molly and Arthur.

At long last, the large group reached King's Cross. They went through the barrier in pairs; Ron with Harry and Hermione with Ginny. When they'd come out of the barrier, the steaming scarlet Hogwarts Express stood before them. Harry would never forget his first ride to Hogwarts. That was where he made friends with Ron and had met Hermione. He would always enjoy the train ride to Hogwarts.

"Now behave yourself Ronald. Head boy or not, if I hear one wrong thing about you, I will- I will ground you or you are supposed to de-gnome the garden for the entire summer."

For a moment, it looked as though Molly didn't know what his punishment was supposed to be. She could threaten Ron with de-gnoming and grounding when he was really young, but now he was 18-year old young man and had faced a lot more than many 18-year olds. It looked like Molly had just understood that all her kids had grown up and they no longer needed her as much as they did when they were little.

Then she finally sighed and said, "I know Ron, you are grown-up and everything. At times I still forget that it was not yesterday you had dirt on your nose and were trying to get on to the train for first time. But, well, you all are still my babies and I will continue to mother you." Then, with a small grin, she continued, "Although I don't have to worry, as Hermione will surely keep you in line. And I just hope that the Heads' dorm is charmed and everything."

Ron and Hermione had blushed brilliant shades of red, but Ron smiled and said, "Yes mum, Hermione will keep me in line, but I still need you to mother me." It seemed like it was the right thing to be said, because Molly hugged him tightly and when she left him her eyes were shining with unshed tears. She brushed them off. No more words had to be said, because she knew that her kids would always love her the same way, whatever their age might be.

She next moved to Hermione, "Hermione, you are just like a daughter to us. You always were, and this year I hope it becomes official. You are the best for Ron. I hope you both have a very nice year unlike what you had all these other years and I mean it, keep Ron in line."

"And Harry… just keep out of trouble. You have had enough of it for a life time. I hope you just- you will find someone very good for you this year. And-" Whatever she was about to say was not said because Harry had hugged her and said softly, "Thank you for everything, Mrs. Weasley."

There was no need to say anything else. Everything Harry wanted to tell her was understood by just those few words. Molly nodded and cupped Harry's cheek.

"Oi mum! Did you forget you have a daughter?" It was Ginny. She was grinning at Molly mischievously. No doubt that Ginny had said that to lighten the mood. Molly had been getting a bit teary throughout the good-bye's.

Finally she hugged Ginny and finally shed her tears. "I will never forget I have a daughter. Take care, Ginny," was all she said.

The train whistled and everyone said their final good-bye's as they got onto the train.

"Ginny, are you coming with us?"
"No Hermione. I am going to sit with Melinda."
"Is she-"
"Yes, Hermione. I will see you guys later. Bye."
"Bye" said Harry and Ron.

They found an empty compartment for themselves and sat. Unable to bear the curiosity Harry asked, "Hermione, who's Melinda?"
"She was Colin's girlfriend, Harry."
"Yeah and she was a year below him. She is one of the very few who took the exam with the ministry. Now she is in her sixth year with Ginny."

He knew Ginny and Colin were best friends and felt very bad for Colin's death. Once he had almost cried remembering the small boy with camera hero-worshipping him, who was very protective of his younger brother. He had thought of the way Dennis would be feeling over his death. He had never once thought what effect it would have on Ginny. Unwillingly he thought how it would be if he had no Ron or Hermione in his life. He shuddered. He did not want to think anything like that. Just the thought was enough to hurt him badly. If it really- no, it would not happen.

Just then the compartment slid open and Seamus and Lavender entered. Lavender had a huge scar running across the side of her face.

"Hey guys!" said Lavender.
"Hope you don't mind. All other compartments are full. And congrats Hermione and-" he looked at Ron's badge "Ron! Wow! You both are the heads this year! Cool!"
"Congratulations to the both of you and speaking of which, don't you need to give the instructions to the prefects?" Lavender asked.

Harry noticed that there was no awkward air between the couples. After all, Lavender was Ron's ex. It looked like all the four had an unspoken agreement on not talking about the matter. It surely was an improvement, thought Harry.

"Oh yeah, we were just leaving. We just wanted to sit for a few minutes and then leave. We're going to give the prefects instructions and patrol the corridors a bit and join you guys again."
"Patrolling or snogging?" Seamus asked.

Ron and Hermione both laughed a bit and turned a slight red. It was obvious what they were going to do. They blushed slightly and left for their duties.

Harry noticed that Lavender was looking a bit down. It was so different her because she was a really bubbly girl. Now her eyes held a kind of darkness. She rarely smiled. He knew in their sixth year Lavender was so girly and giggly, but at least now she was happy with Seamus. He knew she had been bitten by Greyback, but it hadn't been full moon, so there wasn't much damage. Her situation was similar to Bill's, who had a lot of wolfish tendencies and became very cranky during the full moon.

Although Harry thought that it was nice for her to be with Seamus. Harry knew Seamus had harbored a crush for Lavender for a long time. It was a wonder that Seamus was not with Dean and Lavender was not with Parvati. They were best friends the same way he and Ron were.

"Hey guys, where are Dean and Parvati?"
"Oh, we forgot to tell you, they are the seventh year prefects this year, so they went to the prefects' carriage."

That's nice, Harry thought. There were only three Gryffindor girls, and as Hermione was a head girl, the seventh year prefect position was left either to Lavender or Parvati. He privately thought that out of the two Parvati was fit for the job, not that he disliked Lavender.

And as for Dean being made the prefect, he was not sure. There were three other choices for Prefect position including him. He obviously had no desire for it and was glad. And Seamus… well may be Dean was more balanced than Seamus, just like it was with Parvati and Lavender. But then again, there was Neville, who had changed drastically. Harry thought that maybe Neville was more worthy of the job than Dean, but he was not very sure whether or not Neville would be suitable for the job. Oh well, he thought, I think the teachers know what has to be done.

Just then the compartment door slid open. Harry really wished it would not have happened this year; he had no mood to endure taunts from Malfoy. But maybe he had changed. He thought this because there stood Malfoy, not accompanied by his henchmen. Crabbe had died in the room of requirement. As for Goyle, Harry had no idea where he was. But what Harry noticed was that Draco Malfoy stood there in front of him, and not wearing his usual sneer. His facial expression suggested that he had gone through a lot. True, Harry had gone through a lot more than Malfoy, but at least he was pretty much happy the last few weeks. In fact, Malfoy looked really rugged.

"Potter." He nodded at him.
"Malfoy?" Harry asked, wondering what in the world he had wanted.
"I came here because- because I wanted to tell you how sorry I am."
"Sorry for what? You have so many things to be sorry about." Harry said. And to his surprise Malfoy bent his head and said, "I know."
"I know nothing will change anything between us, and it's alright. I don't want to spend my life knowing that I realized my mistakes and did not do anything to apologize for it."
It would be an understatement to say that Harry was shocked. He continued, "I am not telling that as soon as I say I am sorry I want us to be best of friends. I know that won't happen. I just want us to be civil to each other. I just hope that can happen."
Harry stared at him in shock. Yes, he had expected a bit of change him, but not this much.
"I know you are not the only one I am supposed to apologize to; there is also Granger, Weasleys and most of the Gryffindors too."

He turned to Seamus and Lavender and said, "I am sorry."
Seamus looked like he was about to say something, but Lavender poked him and he shut up. Both of them just nodded at him.

Harry had recovered from his shock. But couldn't help thinking if there was some other reason Malfoy was apologizing to him. Maybe he was planning a plot? Yet somehow the reason sounded stupid even in his head. He had, of course, seen the remorse in the other boy's face. It was not fake. But of course Moody had said 'constant vigilance' and he was going to stick up to that. Well, he thought dryly, at least I will try not to get too close to him then. But then one other question was repeating itself in his head that Harry couldn't help but asking.

"Malfoy, I do not know about accepting your apology. Maybe I might, I don't know. But I couldn't help but notice something."
Malfoy nodded for him to continue.
"I don't know but after everything that happened between us, you seem to be willing for us to be…. Something nearly….. Friends."
Malfoy smiled, a real genuine smile. "I had wanted to be your friend from the first time I knew you were on the train, in my first year."

"Yes Potter, I had grown up hearing your stories just like anyone else in our world. My father taught me to hate Harry Potter, yes. Yet, somehow, I didn't. I always did want to be friends with the Harry Potter. Yes I agree I wanted to be friends with Harry Potter. That's why I came to meet you. But you were with a Weasley, a family I had been taught to despise. And you chose him over me. That's why I was so angry on you. I didn't exactly hate you. Not really at least. But I was really angry at you, and loathed you. You had everything I wanted, yes. But I never did seriously hate you."

Harry didn't know what to tell. Malfoy had wanted to be his friend. He was not sure if he would have accepted him as his friend even if he had not met Ron. He did dislike Malfoy. But he did not at least hate him like he hated Voldemort.

"I don't know, Malfoy, but you will have to apologize to both Ron and Hermione. Until then I, will not be able to accept your apology."
"Sure Potter, don't worry, I will. That's what I wanted to do anyway."

And then the compartment door opened and the signal to all hell breaking loose began. Ron and Hermione had entered the compartment. They didn't seem to have recognized the new addition to the compartment, yet. They were grinning and their lips were swollen. Harry smirked inwardly. Of course after seven years of tension between those two, this was to be expected.

"Harry did you know- WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" well of course, Ron had noticed Draco Malfoy.
"Weasley, I came here to apologize." He said rather coldly and calmly.
"AND I AM VOLDEMORT!" Ron's yelling didn't seem to stop.
"I thought he died and you were a Weasley. And last time I checked, the dark lord's surname wasn't Weasley."

Harry had to give it to Malfoy. He seemed really apologetic to Harry, Seamus and Lavender and, if he wasn't wrong, even Hermione. But, well, with Ron, he surely didn't hate him the way he hated him before, but maybe they both couldn't even be civil to each other. He wasn't sure how Malfoy kept himself calm in front of Ron's yelling. Weasleys were known to have tempers. Of course the Weasley females are the worst when their tempers are brought out, but the males weren't any less vocal. They could be as calm as the ocean, but when the calmness is stirred, their tempers would be in par with the Weasley women. Ron looked like he was going to eat Malfoy alive if he didn't leave them alone.

"Look, Malfoy, I don't care about your jokes, get it. You and your Death Eater family have done more than enough damage to us. Now just get out of here." Harry knew Ron was not going to back away and he knew why.

Even for so long after the war, Hermione kept being awoken by the same horrible nightmare, where she was tortured by Bellatrix. It wasn't only one night when Ginny had banged on Ron's door, and told him that Hermione had needed him. Ron would return back to his room after hours. He was very upset by the words 'Mudblood' on her arm. He had wanted to write 'Blood traitor' on his own arm, but Hermione had yelled at him for being stupid and he had stopped. Still, Harry knew Ron had the same nightmares as Hermione and he kept shouting in his sleep, 'No, not Hermione, don't do anything to her.' Ron was completely angry towards the entire Malfoy family. Harry knew that Draco didn't exactly hurt Hermione in their Manor, but somehow, he couldn't find fault with Ron for being angry with them. Hermione was his best friend, and if something like that had happened to Gin- no, he wouldn't think of her that way.

"I know Weasley, everything my family and I have done was not correct and I also know that it was too late when I realized it. I came here to apologize to all of you. Not only you guys, but even others whom I had tormented before. I don't want to live knowing that I realized my mistakes and at least did not apologize. Whether or not you accept my apology is up to you, and I won't be surprised if you don't, but at least I would know I had tried apologizing to you. So Granger, Weasley, to both of you I apologize sincerely for all of my actions." He told them solemnly.

"Alright, I accept your apology." Hermione said, to the surprise of everyone. When Ron looked at her with a hint of anger she said, "I know Ron, you don't want to do this. But I just thought that maybe we should give him a chance. No one is bad from birth, Ron; it's just the circumstances that change people. We don't have to be friends, but at least we can be just civil to each other."

"Fine, Malfoy. I accept your apology, seeing that you apologized to both Ron and Hermione."

Ron looked at Harry and shook his head disapprovingly but did not say anything else to him. He then looked at Malfoy and said, "Just because my friends have forgiven you don't mean that I should. I still think you're up to something, but I'll try not to hold anything against you."

Well, Harry thought, this is the most you can expect from Ron. Harry had half expected him to pounce on him and strangle him to death. Thankfully it didn't happen. May be he was being a bit more mature
"Well, if that's it, then leave this instant." Ron barked.
Or not, Harry sighed.

"For your information, Weasley, I was also trying to hide in addition to apologizing to you lot."

Ron smirked, "Running from what? Dark lord? Or Pansy 'Smug-faced' Parkinson?

"As a matter of fact, yes, I am running from her."
"Why?" Seamus blurted out.

He sighed and took a long breath, saying, "I don't like her, not in that way at least. She's a cold hearted bitch and doesn't really care about me; all she cares about is the Malfoy family wealth. And she doesn't even leave me alone when I want to be alone. She keeps nagging me and irritates me a lot. I just can't stand her."
"Why don't you tell her off then?" Lavender asked.
"I just can't, we're betrothed. We're supposed to marry just after our schooling."

Whatever Harry was expecting, wasn't that. He wouldn't want that on his worst enemy. He knew Draco was not an excellent person, but not even he deserved Pansy. She was just too stupid and bitchy and whiny and- He was sure he could go on about the list.

"Well, I'm sorry." Ron said. Even he didn't wish it on Malfoy.
"It's alright" Malfoy sighed.
"Well, is there any way to stop it?"
"Oh yes, there is. The current marriage law, of course."
"How does that help?" Harry asked.
"Well I am not sure how exactly this works. But somehow this law is stronger than the contract between Parkinsons and Malfoys. My only way out is the law."
"But what if Pansy was chosen for you?"
"Then there is no other way. I just have to marry her then or die. Either way the pig is going to be slaughtered."

Harry really pitied him. Even if Malfoy violated the law, he couldn't violate the contract because he would die. Even then, he couldn't avoid the law, because he had to get engaged to only Pansy then.

Draco Malfoy looked really pale, but then, he was not going to lose hope, he had only one chance and there was every chance of it going wrong; but he was going to take the risk.

"Anyways, I have to go. See you in school." He nodded to each of them and he left.

Ron was the first one to break the silence. "I never thought this day would come, but I really, really feel sorry for Malfoy."
All of them nodded and said, "I know."

Then Seamus said, "Bloody marriage law or not, I am not going to leave Lavender. I love her and I am going to marry her come what may."

"WHAT?" Ron blurted out.
"You heard me. Me and Lavender are together forever and ever."
"Then why aren't you engaged or something?" Hermione asked.
"Well I thought we were still young to marry so Seamus gave me a promise ring. But of course, the Ministry doesn't consider a promise ring for the law. So we have to undergo the process."
"But then, won't it be a risk? You never know with whom you are going to be chosen."
"Well, it's a risk, alright. But even if we aren't chosen for each other, we will find some way to marry. I'm not going to let a bloody law and a Ministry come between us." Seamus said.

Lavender beamed at him and kissed him. Harry sighed. He had no idea how this year was going to turn out to be. Just the train ride had proved there would be enough drama in their lives, and he was not sure whether or not he could endure it.

There was Ron and Hermione deeply in love, Seamus and Lavender nearly engaged, Fred and George already engaged, Draco stuck in a hell-hole, and Harry, Harry with no idea what was going to happen to him. He wondered if a day would come when he would think that taking on Voldemort again was better than the marriage law, but whatever awaited him, he would surely find out. After all, things always did turn out fine in the end.

A/N: I know what most of the readers might be thinking, there are certain things I gotta tell you and clear it.

Ron's behaviour is a lot different, most of the times he doesn't have a clue on what is going on (The Ron we all know). But in this chapter he comforts Molly. Like I said, characters are a bit ooc. Who knows, after the war Ron may have changed a bit.

And Draco Malfoy apologising, some of you might not feel it natural for him to be apologising and I agree. I personally feel he went through a lot after the war and by his reactions at Malfoy Manor and while killing Dumbledore, I think he regretted his actions deeply. But whatever he did, it was done forcefully. So I think after everything happened he wanted to at least lead a normal life. So that's why he apologised to them. And about Ron and Draco being at least civil, let's just leave the job to Rose and Scorpius (And I know it is a fanon ship). I am not a Draco Malfoy lover neither am I a hater… I am pretty much neutral to him. And I did feel bad for putting him in this position, I mean come on who wants to be betrothed and have no say in it. And no less betrothed to the person whom you don't like. (Well of course I don't like Pansy, so Dansy shippers I am sorry.)

And about Lavender Brown, I am pretty sure she wasn't mentioned dead; just that she was bitten by Greyback. So I think it is proper for her to be with Seamus. And of course the war changed her, that's why she is so different. There could have actually been awkwardness between Ron and Lavender but I ignored it. I just thought it would be better this way.

I know there isn't much of Harry/Ginny yet. But please be patient. Harry is already confused and in denial. (So much like how it is in HBP). And Ginny- we will see about her in later chapters. But that is how they find each other, in a most unexpected way.

And next chapter the people are chosen. I know you might have waited a long time for this. But it will be in the next chapter. All the pairings are canon of course, so you have an idea who will be chosen for whom. But what about Parvati? Or Terry Boot? Well since we do not know what happened with them we are free to have a guess. So some of them are placed according to my wish and hope you like those pairings. Now, if I continue my AN- it would be bigger than the story. So I will stop. But thanks for reading.