A/N: This chapter has been fueled by guilt. I had been halfway done with it for a while but decided to sit down tonight and get the rest of it out. I'm so sorry for the long wait!

There are about 3-4 chapters left on this story. I do plan on finishing it. However, if you follow me on tumblr or have seen my profile on here something has come up in my personal life that is taking up a lot of my time right now so I won't be able to update as quickly as I used to.

A few things about this chapter:

1. Things between Harry and George are heating up but I want to clarify that right now Harry is no where near ready to take their relationship to the next level sexually.

2. The topic of Harry's happiness is talked about in this chapter. I just want to make clear that, while George can contribute to that happiness, she is not searching for fulfillment through a boy/relationship.

3. Harry does not remember the dream with Fred in it yet. That will come into play later.

Anyway, I will let you know as soon as I have an estimated time frame for the next chapter.

Enjoy and please review!

Chapter Nine

"So, if I am hearing correctly Miss Potter and kindly correct me if I am wrong, you have decided to give up your previous ambition of being an Auror."

Harry squirmed from her place across from the Headmistress. A few weeks had passed since the Quidditch incident and McGonagall had required her to report to her once a week in her office so that her mental state could be scrutinized. This week's session brought about the issue of career advice to which Harry reluctantly admitted that she no longer felt called to her previously desired profession.

"Yes," said Harry trying to appear confident but even to her own ears her tone sounded questioning and unsure of herself.

"Even after I went toe to toe with Professor Umbridge ensuring I would do everything in my power to make sure you would have such a career."

"I just- I'm just tired of it, Professor. It seemed like a viable option in the past when my only choice seemed to be nothing but fighting dark wizards. But now- now that Voldemort is gone and I'm…"

"You're what, Miss Potter?"

"Free," said Harry, the word coming to her before she could process that it was indeed what she felt. The word itself coming out in a breath that caused her to feel as though a weight had been lifted off of her. "For the first time in my life, Professor, I'm free. I'm free to do as I choose, to live a normal life, to not fight dark wizards for a change. Free to be...happy."

McGonagall was silent for a moment as leaned back in her chair and peered at Harry from behind her glasses. The moment was eerily reminiscent of Dumbledore and Harry felt a pang in her chest at the thought. Harry glanced down at her hands which were clasped together tightly in her lap.

"I don't know if I ever told you this Harry, but I visited you at the St. Mungo's the day after you were born," McGonagall started slowly standing to her feet. She crossed the room and though she was facing the portraits of all the previous Headmasters and Headmistresses', the hand that she placed on Harry's shoulder made her aware that her words were meant directly for Harry. "Your mother and father were so proud. I thought to myself that there was not a better home for a child to grow up in. You were to be so loved."

"Really?"

Harry felt a wave of affection overflow for the Headmistress. She knew only what people had told her of her previous life. Where she had parents and a family who loved her. It had not occurred to her that she must have had visitors when she was born. People that had wanted to come see her.

"Indeed. But as they say the dragons come at night and when they did- well, the events that took place after and the decisions that were made for you. I can't say that I agree with them. Even though they were made in your best interest."

Harry said nothing and instead kept her gaze downwards.

"The day after the attack at Godric's Hollow I trailed your aunt and uncle, as my animagus form of course, and I was distraught over what I saw. They were boring. Not at all the type of family I had expected you to grow up with, but Albus insisted that their home would be the safest for you. Years went by and you arrived at Hogwarts. I could tell right away that you were not cared for in the way you ought to have been. Too skinny, kept in the dark about what you were, lacking of affection."

They were silent for a moment and Harry turned her head slightly to see all of the portraits staring back at her. However, the one she was both searching for and afraid to find was being blocked by McGonagall.

"But what I was concerned for the most," continued McGonagall, "was your lack of happiness. At least outside of what these castle walls had to offer. You have been so brave, Miss Potter. You have fought so many times not only for your own life but for the lives of others. I think that perhaps you are right."

"Professor?"

"Happiness is a wonderful goal for you to have. It can take you far. And after everything you've had to endure I dare say you deserve to be happy. So go and be nothing less than happy."

"Thank you, Professor."

McGonagall nodded as Harry stood and Harry was startled to see tears in her Professor's eyes.

"But Professor," said Harry suddenly frozen from where she stood. She had assumed that it would be a fight to get McGonagall to see things from her perspective at all that she had not foreseen what to do had things actually gone her way. "Where do I- how do I-that is…"

"How do you find the thing that makes you happy?"

"Well, yes."

"I cannot answer that for you, Miss Potter. All I can tell you is you have time and to take it. Explore the world. Explore your place in the world. Take some time to find out who you are apart from the Chosen One. I believe once you figure that out you will have your answer."

McGonagall smiled but this time the smile went past Harry and Harry knew as she turned around to leave who she would see. There Dumbledore stood, tears in his eyes similar to the ones that had been in McGonagall's earlier, and Harry felt her chest tighten. He was smiling but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes and Harry could see the guilt displayed across his features. Harry had once found herself at odds with Dumbledore back when Ron, Hermione, and she were hunting Horcruxes. It was a place she didn't think she would ever be and a place she didn't care much for returning to. But she had long come to terms with that. She understood now why Dumbledore had chosen the path for her that he did. But she also understood that it was time for her to choose her own path forward.

"You know," said Harry swinging her back over her shoulder. "I've always been called 'Dumbledore's girl.' 'Dumbledore's girl through and through' they said. I don't think wherever I go next will take that away from me. I was proud to be Dumbledore's girl and I still am."

Harry nodded to both her previous Headmaster and her current Headmistresses before heading out the door. She didn't know where her newfound freedom would take her in the future. But she did know where it would lead to tonight after dinner.


Who was she outside of being the Chosen One?

That thought had been bothering her since she left McGonagall's study. Who was she? She was Harry. That was a start.

Harry, Harry, Harry.

Just Harry.

Or at least she felt like just Harry from her current position of lying directly underneath one George Weasley as his lips continued their assault. Her head was swimming and the fact that George was panting out "Harry" every few seconds was doing nothing to help her out of the fog. His hands were skilled as they roamed her body and Harry felt a hand creeping up her leg and brushing her skirt upwards. She squeaked into the kiss which caused George's lips to grin against hers as his hand traveled up more and grazed her bum. She instinctively gripped his biceps firmly and Harry thought fleetingly that Quidditch had indeed been kind to him. This thought was chased from her head quickly though as his fingers danced dangerously against her panty line and Harry forced herself back into the reality of the moment.

"Okay wait a moment," said Harry breathlessly as she pushed George off of her.

George groaned loudly as he pushed himself into a sitting position and ran a hand through his hair which, thanks to Harry, was already in quite the state. Harry had come over to George's flat right after dinner and had opted out of changing out of her school robes. She had simply wanted to save time and didn't take into consideration George's reaction. Harry thought the moment that George opened the door to his flat and stared at her wide eyed before grabbing her into a kiss would forever be etched into her memory.

"I'm sorry. I know I probably took it too far. It's just that uniform makes me weak."

"You went to school with me for years and never lost control like that," said Harry though she was grinning. "How in the world did you manage to get the first two buttons of my shirt undone without me noticing?"

"Great skill," said George whose gaze was distracted by Harry's hands fumbling attempt to button her shirt back up. "I wasn't allowed to touch you before. Not that I didn't think about it. Especially between your fourth and fifth year when you gained a pair of legs."

Harry rolled her eyes and stood to straighten her uniform back out.

"You shouldn't be allowed to touch me now. You haven't officially asked me to be your girlfriend you know."

George stood and grinned. Harry had grown even more fond of the way she had to look up at him.

"So you're saying," said George, his tone husky as he leaned his head down towards Harry. "If I ask you to be my girlfriend officially you'll allow even more touching privileges?"

Maybe, Harry's mind betrayed her.

"No."

George's grin widened as he brought his hand up to stroke her cheek. Harry was ashamed at the way she trembled under his touch. She had never felt this way when a boy touched her. As though she were set aflame.

"I'm just saying," started Harry willing her mind back, "that you shouldn't get boyfriend privileges at all if you aren't my actual boyfriend yet."

George threw his head back in laughter. Harry couldn't help but smile too. She had noticed more and more of the old George returning as their time together grew. There were far fewer sad silences where Harry was certain that he was thinking of his brother and George had even managed to bring Fred up in conversation a time or two without his tone having a hint of sadness behind it. Though there would always be a void where Fred used to be for George, Harry thought that it was getting easier on him to remember the happier moments with his brother without falling into despair.

"Don't you worry," George's voice broke Harry from her thoughts. "I'm going to ask you. I'm planning something."

Harry smiled and leaned her cheek into George's hand more.

"Are fireworks involved?"

"I can't tell you that. It's a secret."

"It's not something dangerous or that would embarrass me is it?"

"Hopefully not," said George leaning down and kissing her forehead. "I have Lee helping me so it doesn't get too out of control."

"Lee knows?"

"Hermione knows," said George arching an eyebrow.

"Hermione figured it out. You would have had to actually tell Lee. It's not like he would have put the pieces together. He doesn't see us."

"Lee has known that I've liked you since we were at Hogwarts. Is there something wrong with telling Lee?"

"No," said Harry glancing at the wall nervously. "It's just...I haven't told Ron yet. I don't know how to tell Ron. He's my best friend in the world and I'm keeping something major from him. I feel bad that Lee and Hermione know and he doesn't."

"We can figure out a way to tell him together if you'd like. After everything is official."

"Maybe," said Harry biting her lip. George groaned loudly which caused Harry to start. "What?"

"It's just this not being officially your boyfriend thing and having my 'touching privileges' revoked is shite. Especially when you're doing that lip biting thing that drives me wild."

"Well," said Harry trailing her hands slowly upwards on his chest. "Maybe tonight I can make an exception."

"Yeah?" grinned George and Harry felt his fingertips brush against her legs.

"Yeah," Harry said as her eyes fluttered shut. "Just for tonight though. And no secretly unbuttoning my shirt this time."

George's only response was a crushing kiss as he bent down to grab her legs and lift her up. Harry's legs instinctively wrapped themselves around George's waist and a few heated seconds later her back hit the mattress of his bed.


A few hours later as Harry wearily climbed into her own bed in her shared dorm with Hermione did she allow herself to drift back to the conversation she had with McGonagall earlier that day. It seemed like ages ago. It seemed impossible to her that it had taken place mere hours ago.

"...go and be nothing less than happy."

McGonagall's words played through her head. She had been happy tonight. She had been happy every night that she had spent with George so far. And she knew as George kissed her tonight why she had been hesitant to call Hogwarts her home once more before returning for the school year. It was because her home had changed. Her home had shifted into a person. It had turned into someone with a goofy grin and one missing ear and someone who saw her as Harry, Harry, Harry. Just Harry. Her soul had know subconsciously before the rest of her did. And Harry knew now. She knew that you could be homesick for a person as she thought of the way George kissed her tonight. And the night before that. And the previous night. And how she hoped her would kiss her tomorrow. She knew George was only the beginning to finding her happiness and her place in the world but she was certain that he was her companion for this journey.

And so Harry drifted to sleep with George the last thought in her head before her dreams took over and she heard the sound of someone calling out to her

'Harry, Harry, Harry…'