AN: Alright guys... I am posting two chapters back to back, but they're both shorter than I usually post. It was initially going to be one big chapter, but it didn't feel right and it was screwing with my flow. So, two chapters.


"These boys are so dramatic," Ginny complained, allowing Pansy to drag her into the Great Hall. "What in Merlin's name are they doing that warrants dragging everyone at the school into it?"

"You'll see," Pansy replied smugly.

Hermione's eyes widened when she looked around. "Where are all the tables?" she asked. All of the tables, including the Head table, were missing. There were students everywhere, standing in groups and chatting. Several rushed over to greet the female Sentinels eagerly. The Professors were walking around the room, keeping an eye on the crowd and talking to some of the students.

After a few minutes, the Headmistress approached the platform and everyone fell silent. "Good evening," she said crisply. "Professor Flitwick has been working with a few of the boys over the last several weeks. They have a presentation for you."

"Presentation?" Ginny asked quietly, sharing a bewildered look with Hermione. "What the hell have they been up to?"

"We're about to find out," Luna noted, pointing toward the platform. Harry had just emerged from a door at the back of the Great Hall, followed by the others. They stepped onto the platform, smiling when some of the students cheered.

Flitwick joined the boys on the platform and offered an encouraging smile. Seamus pulled something out of his pocket and enlarged it with a wave of his wand. A guitar?

"Damn," Ginny murmured. "Didn't see that coming."

"Just wait," Pansy said, her eyes wide with excitement.

Seamus started to strum on the guitar, starting a playful tune. The others provided percussion by clapping of tapping their feet on the wood floor. They all started to sing together and the Great Hall erupted with cheers and excited chatter. The song was upbeat and funny. The boys interrupted their own song by cracking jokes and laughing periodically. Their audience was clapping along and laughing. The song was rather simple with very little harmonizing, but everyone seemed to enjoy it.

For the next song, Harry took out a guitar as well. He shot a nervous look at Seamus but began to play when Seamus nodded. Ron began to sing the lyrics to a lighthearted love song, his face animated as if he was telling a story to the crowd. Blaise took over for the chorus, giving Ron obvious flirtatious looks and making a group of Hufflepuffs giggle.

Draco sang the the second verse, his confidence building. His voice was quite impressive. It was a clear baritone voice full of warmth. Hermione blushed when he met her gaze and pressed one hand to his heart while he sang. He continued singing the chorus with Neville and Seamus, their bodies swaying to the rhythm.

Dean began to sing, his voice a lovely tenor that shocked the girls. The others young men looked on, still swaying to the music, while Dean's voice became more intense and climbed higher in pitch. Dean hit one particular high note and then went even higher, the others froze and stared at him in shock. Harry abruptly stopped playing the guitar and gaped at Dean in mild alarm. Dean trailed off and then coughed, rubbing his throat sheepishly.

"Are you alright?" Ron asked, though he sounded much more amused than concerned. Dean nodded. "Are you sure? That was really high. It looked like it hurt."

Feeling awkward, Harry strummed on the guitar and sang a few bars looking embarrassed. The audience was tittering.

"Key change?" Draco suggested.

"No," Dean blurted out. "I think we're good."

Draco gave him a bored look. "Calm down and don't do that anymore," he said impatiently. "You'll be fine."

"Fine," Dean grumbled.

Draco nodded to Harry and cued the group with a sharp downward motion of his hand. They all jumped back into the song, harmonizing and swaying as if they hadn't just interrupted their own performance. Their energy was infectious and soon they had a group of first and second years jumping in time to the rhythm and singing along enthusiastically.

They sang a few more songs, sometimes adding in choreographed dance moves and inspiring students to join in. As the time drew closer to curfew, Professor Flitwork flicked his wand and enlarged a lovely grand piano, levitating it to the center of the platform. He patted Draco's arm and nodded pointedly at the glossy black piano.

Draco sat down at the keys and drew in a nervous breath. The other boys stood behind the piano and smiled their encouragement at the blond. Draco stared down at the keys for a moment before placing his fingers on them. He began to play, the song tender and sweet. He began to sing, closing his eyes to avoid the stares of the other students. The song made him think of Hermione; Of the fact that he wanted more than anything to stay with her and remain at her side. It made him ache to hold her and make her understand how much she meant to him. As he played the final few notes, his eyes opened and met Hermione's gaze. She was staring at him in wonder and the sight made his throat tighten.

Draco was barely aware of Professor McGonagall bidding the students goodnight and sending them off to bed. He was too caught up in his thoughts and the flutter of his heart as Hermione took his hand. He allowed himself to be led to the dorms while his mind kept straying back to the way Hermione had looked at him when he sang.


The end of term was bittersweet. It was exciting to be finished with school and move on with their lives. But, leaving Hogwarts was difficult. It had been their home for so long and it was strange to think that they wouldn't be coming back for the next term. Of course, the end of term also brought Draco departure for France. He returned to Harry's house for just a few days before he had to leave and start his apprenticeship.

Saying goodbye had been heart-wrenching. Draco had kissed Hermione tenderly and assured her that he'd write to her. Once Hermione had stepped away and allowed Ginny and Pansy to comfort her, Draco had turned to Harry with an agonized expression. "You'll be alright," Harry said, grasping Draco's shoulders with a reassuring squeeze.

"Please watch over her," Draco begged, his eyes bright with tears. "I can't..." he trailed off, drawing in a breath and then exhaling on an almost sob.

"You love her," Harry said quietly. "Don't you?"

Draco stared at Harry for a moment. "That song was about her," he admitted softly.

Harry frowned in confusion for a moment before he understood. When they had performed for the school, they'd sung a variety of songs my different muggle and wizarding singers. Harry hadn't recognized the song the Draco sang at the end, but he hadn't questioned it. Now it made sense. "You wrote that song," he uttered in amazement. "It's about Hermione."

Draco's only response was the tears that spilled over onto his cheeks. Harry yanked him into a tight hug. "I'll take care of Hermione," Harry whispered. "Of course I will. You take care of yourself and write whenever you can. I love you," Harry added firmly, pulling back to meet Draco's eyes.

"I love you too Harry," Draco managed to choke out. He'd left shortly after, feeling as if something inside him had broken.

Harry did his best to cheer his friends, but it wasn't easy. Hermione was mostly silent and thoughtful. She and Draco had made no promises to each other. Draco hadn't wanted to press a long distance relationship on her, fearing that she'd come to resent him for it. It was practical, but it was obvious that it had pained Draco a great deal. Hermione was clearly hurting, but after her initial tears she'd become strangely calm. She seemed to be shutting herself off from that pain. Harry hadn't yet discovered the true nature of her feelings toward Draco, and it didn't seem to be an ideal time to question it.

So, Harry forced himself to focus on something else. He'd spent a lot of time thinking and had discussed it with Draco. He wanted to propose to Ginny. After everything he'd been through and the loss that they'd all suffered, Harry wanted a happy ending. He wouldn't demand that they marry immediately, but Harry could hardly wait to offer himself to Ginny. He'd give her every part of himself and cherish her for always. Draco had rolled his eyes and called Harry a sentimental sod, but he'd supported Harry and encouraged him to propose if that was what he wanted.

The problem was, Harry was horrifyingly nervous. You'd think that after fighting in a war and facing down Voldemort, proposing marriage would be easy. But it wasn't. There was something about baring his soul to someone that he loved with his whole being that gave Harry the urge to vomit. He felt that he was ready for this step, but the vulnerability was making him a nervous wreck.

It was probably not wise to bring alcohol into it. The women had gone shopping and Blaise had brought Elf made wine and Firewhiskey to Grimmauld Place. The men were aware of Harry's intentions and were attempting to sooth his nerves. Seamus had suggested the drinks, which should have been the first warning sign.

"When are you going to ask her?" Neville asked, eyeing Harry curiously. They were all sitting around the dining room table, nursing their drinks and just enjoying the company.

"Dunno," Harry shrugged. "I've got the ring. I just..." He shrugged again, gnawing on his lower lip anxiously.

Neville exchanged a wary look with Blaise and Ron. Maybe they shouldn't have let Harry have so much to drink. He was was starting to look... emotional.

"I love her so much," Harry murmured, his eyes looking alarmingly teary and his lower lip trembling.

Oh Merlin.

"We know you do Harry," Dean said helpfully. "And she loves you. She'll be so happy when you ask."

Harry stared at Dean with wide eyes. "I... I don't think I can do it," Harry blurted out.

"Why not?" Seamus inquired, his speech slightly slurred. He still thought that drinking was a grand idea.

"Too nervous," Harry muttered, staring down into his tumbler of Firewhiskey morosely.

Blaise sighed. "Come on Potter," he said. "Where's that famous Gryffindor courage?" he asked, peering at Harry expectantly.

"Someone stole it!" Harry wailed, dropping his head to the table with a pitiful thump.

Blaise blinked at Harry and then burst into tipsy giggles. "Someone stole your courage?" he questioned incredulously, pushing the bottle of Firewhiskey further down the table. Clearly they'd all had enough.

"Stole it," Harry insisted with a woeful little sniffle. "Bastards."

Ron snorted in amusement and then tugged the tumbler out of Harry's grip. "Bloody hell," he muttered, hearing the floo chime from the next room. "The girls are going to kill us."

A moment later, Hermione, Ginny, Luna and Pansy stepped into the dining room. Pansy eyed the nearly empty firewhiskey bottle. "Thirsty?" she asked the men with a smirk.

"We were just..." Neville trailed off, uncertain of how to safely explain. He was saved the trouble when Harry staggered to his feet and lurched toward Ginny. He dropped to both knees and hugged her torso like a child.

Ginny smoothed down Harry's messy hair, wondering at his obvious drunken distress. "What's wrong love?" she asked gently.

"I can't do it," Harry murmured sadly.

"Do what?" Ginny asked patiently.

"Propose," Harry responded mournfully, unaware that Ginny had gone very still. "I'm so nervous and I'm afraid you'll say no. It's too important," he insisted, sounding rather petulant as he looked up at her with sad green eyes.

Ginny drew in a shaky breath and resumed her petting of Harry's hair. "Would you like me to help?" she asked, her voice wavering a bit.

Harry nodded, giving her torso another little squeeze.

"Sweet Salazar, this is the cutest thing I've ever seen," Pansy muttered, watching as Ginny knelt on the floor.

Once she was eye to eye with Harry, Ginny smiled at his bizarre emotional display. Harry's eyes were wet with unshed tears and he was staring at her with such hopeful adoration. Ginny took hold of his hands and gave them a comforting squeeze. "Harry Potter, will you marry me?"

Harry stared at Ginny in awe for a moment. "Yes, he breathed, his face brightening with a delighted smile. "Of course I will Gin." He caught her in a hug, pressing as close to her as he could.

"Oh Merlin," Ron chuckled. "I can't wait for Harry to sober up." Blaise and Neville snorted into their drinks.

Harry pulled back a bit so he could meet Ginny's gaze. "I've got a ring for you," he told her eagerly.

"Mate, she proposed to you," Ron reminded him. "She should get you a ring."

Harry's expression crumbled, prompting Pansy to fire a stinging hex at Ron. "Don't listen to that ginger idiot," Pansy told Harry. "You can give her the ring." She resisted the urge to roll her eyes when Harry's happy expression returned.

A few moments later, during which Harry tried to use his wand to summon the ring with his wand and Ginny had been obliged to do it for him, Harry was clutching a small box in his hand. He opened the box with clumsy fingers and offered it to Ginny, biting his lip in renewed anxiety.

It's beautiful," Ginny assured him, allowing him to slide the ring onto her finger. It was a white gold ring with a brilliant round cut diamond nestled in a circle of smaller diamonds. Ginny kissed Harry sweetly, giggling into his mouth when he made a strange high pitched noise of excitement.


When Harry woke up the next morning, his mind was flooded with with memories of the night before. In a flash, he was on his feet and swearing colorfully. Perhaps he shouldn't have moved so quickly, because he stumbled and crashed to the floor while his head throbbed spectacularly.

Ginny rushed into the room and shook her head at her fiance. "Why are you on the floor?" she asked with a grin.

"Seemed like a brilliant place to die of embarrassment," Harry muttered.

Ginny rolled her eyes and handed him a hangover remedy potion. She watched while he hastily gulped it down. "Don't you dare ruin this for me," Ginny said sternly. "You were adorable. And it was a beautiful moment. It was wonderful."

Harry opened his eyes, relieved that the pain had dissipated. He hugged Ginny and kissed her temple reverently. "I love you," he murmured against her hair.

"I certainly hope so," Ginny laughed. She sobered when Harry frowned. "What is it?"

"I feel like an arse for doing that the day after Draco left," Harry admitted.

"I don't think he'll take offense," Ginny said.

"It's not him that I feel guilty over," Harry told her. "I feel bad for Hermione."

"I didn't know they were so serious," Ginny responded with a frown. "She said that they weren't dating."

"There was nothing official," Harry confirmed. "But I know that he loves her. And I'm quite certain that she loves him. Neither of them ever admitted it to the other, though Draco did confirm it for me before he left. I'm sure it was too painful to tell say with Draco going to France."

"Hermione is happy for us," Ginny said, stroking Harry's hair lovingly. "And she'll be alright. Why don't you go talk to her?" she suggested.

Harry nodded and kissed Ginny before hauling himself to his feet. He walked down the hall to the room that Hermione occupied. He paused at the door to listen but then rush in to gather Hermione in his arms. Her body shuddered with racking sobs and Harry held her close, desperate to calm her.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Harry asked. He sighed quietly when she shook her head. "I miss him too," Harry said, smoothing down some of her curls. For a moment, he was tempted to tell her that Draco had written that beautiful love song for her, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Knowing that he loved her was likely to cause more pain from the separation. He didn't want her to have more regrets.

"I love him Harry," Hermione sobbed.

Harry blinked back his own tears. "I know you do," he told her. "But we had to let him go. This will be good for him." Movement drew his gaze to the door and he saw Ron and Blaise standing in the doorway. He hadn't realized that either of them had spent the night, but they clearly had since they were both in pajamas.

Blaise made a soft sound of distress and hurried to the bed. He climbed onto the bed and pulled Hermione into his arms, surprising Harry. Blaise wasn't much for hugs. In fact, Harry had only seen physical affection directed toward Ron. Evidently, Hermione's heartbroken tears were enough to drive Blaise to hold her close and comfort her. Ron soon joined them, encasing Hermione in warmth between himself and Blaise.

Ginny entered the room and stared in surprise at the sight of Blaise and Ron hugging Hermione. Harry was sitting close by, obviously trying to master his own emotions. "Harry, why don't we go make breakfast?" she suggested.

Harry nodded, casting a quick look at Ron. "We've got her mate," Ron assured him. "We'll be down in a little while."

Hermione was coaxed into laying on her back while Blaise and Ron positioned themselves on their sides facing her, propping their heads up so they could look down at her. Hermione's tears had slowed, but she looked miserable.

Blaise lifted the hand that wasn't keeping his head up and gently brushed her tears away. "Are you alright love?" he asked quietly. Hermione blinked up at him in surprise. She'd never heard Blaise speak so gently to anyone. Perhaps she's underestimated his esteem for his friends. She hadn't really crossed her mind that he genuinely cared about her. Blaise seemed to understand her shock and offered her a little smile. "You Gryffindors have grown on me," he informed her lightly. "I'd do just about anything for you. It helps that I'm pretty taken with this one," he added, nodding toward Ron. He grinned when Ron blushed.

"I know you miss him," Ron said, squeezing Hermione's hand. "But, the rest of us are here with you. We'll make the best of it until Draco comes back."

Once breakfast was ready, Blaise and Ron led Hermione down the stairs and to the dining room. Seamus and Dean were seated at the table talking quietly. They flashed Hermione a smile when they saw her. Neville was preparing tea while Luna buttered toast. Pansy was helping Harry and Ginny levitate various dishes laden with food to the table. Harry kept pausing nuzzle Ginny's neck or pepper her face with kisses.

The ten remaining Sentinels had gathered at Grimmauld place for breakfast. It didn't take away the ache in heart that Draco had left behind, but it did remind her that she was going to be alright. She had the best friends that she could hope for.


Auror training started just a few weeks later. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Dean and Seamus had all signed up to become aurors. Training was difficult but their experiences during the war served them well. Head Auror Gawain Robards was quite pleased with them and high hopes for their careers.

Ginny had considered playing Quidditch, but hadn't liked the idea of being away from Harry and her family and friends so much. So she got a job at the Ministry in the Department of Magical Games and Sports. She enjoyed it great deal and loved that she had the opportunity to get tickets to matches for herself and her friends. She was so highly favored that it was suspected that she'd be head of the department in a few years.

Pansy started writing for the Daily Prophet and doing everything she could to make Rita Skeeter's life miserable. Once she felt that she'd accomplished that goal, she got a job at the Ministry. She'd discovered her superb organizational skills and became a secretary in the DMLE. She managed case files for Head Auror Robards and kept things running smoothly. An added benefit was that she had the ability to turn visitors away with a snobbish rebuff when they came to bother the Head Auror unnecessarily. For that reason, Robards was quite fond of Pansy.

Luna worked in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures; The Beast, Being and Spirit division specifically. It provided her the opportunity to come into contact with some of the bizarre creatures that her father wrote about in The Quibbler. She was good at her job, but she baffled her co-workers. Her department head, Edwin Burkoff, found her rather amusing and often indulged her descriptions of the various creatures that she firmly firmly believed in. Harry suspected that it was because Mr. Burkoff enjoyed the looks of bewilderment on the faces of the other staff members.

Blaise had surprised everyone by training to be a healer. He was very clever, but he'd never mentioned a desire to be a healer. When Ron had questioned him about it, Blaise had given him a stern look. "You're going to rushing about, chasing criminals and getting yourself injured," Blaise said impatiently. "I intend to have the ability to patch you up. If you think that you can die on me than you are quite mistaken." Ron had stared with wide-eyed surprise before pulling Blaise into his arms.

"Idiots," Pansy had said with a fond shake of her head.


AN: Sorry. This made me sad and I wanted to move forward. Although, I am particularly fond of the proposal scene. Poor Harry. lol