Chapter twenty

When everyone arrived back at Hogwarts, it didn't take long before people started to notice the large emerald and diamond ring on Ginny's left hand. So by the second day, it was known that Harry Potter was engaged to Ginny Weasley, to a lot of disappointed girls.

They all started their classes again, with Harry already knowing everything he would need to pass his N.E.W.T.s so he was anxious to start learning how to become an animagus. There were only four in the class that wanted to attempt such a complex charm, so Professor Grenley had those four work in a section of the classroom away from the other students.

Harry, Simon, Lucy and Joseph all practiced the charm for the first half of the class, but none of them expected to be able to change form straight away as Professor Grenley told them it could take a few months before they could get it to work.

Just before the end of the class, Harry changed. A large black stallion walked around the classroom, he even went over to Ginny and ran his nose along her arm, making her giggle, before he changed back.

'Wow, that felt so strange, Sirius never told me how it felt,' Harry said as he shook his head.

'Well Harry, you now have to make sure you register with the department and control of magical creatures, even if you are not one, your animagus is. I was surprised it was a stallion and not a stag, as we all know you can produce a stag patronus and your father was a stag animagus,' Professor Grenley said.

'I thought it would be a stag as well, but I think I know why it ended up a stallion,' Harry looked at Ginny and nodded, so she pointed her wand and her horse patronus leapt around the room before disappearing.

'Now I understand, you're a couple, and an engaged couple, so you've changed to match Ginny's. Very well done Harry, so now you just have to keep practicing it so you can change at will and of course the homework that goes with it.'

The bell rang and everyone left to go have lunch, 'That really showed your power Harry, to do it in one day.'

'Yeah, I wasn't sure I could do it, but I felt it, like something starting in the pit of my stomach and just spread out. You even feel completely different, like you are a real horse, not a person except your mind is the same. That's going to be fun when I see Teddy next time, I'll take him for a ride,' Harry laughed along with everyone else around the table.

Over the next few months, Harry kept helping his friends with their defence, but he also helped the other three people in transfiguration until they could all change. As it got closer to the N.E.W.T. Exams, everyone was quiet and a little stressed as they started revising. The friends all took over the Gryffindor common room most nights, weekends they were all in the library. Harry, Ginny, Ron and the rest of the quidditch team kept practicing at every available chance. Their house points were triple what the others were because Gryffindor had not lost one game all year and were going in as favourites against Ravenclaw.

The Saturday of the quidditch cup saw both teams up early and nervous. Harry was told by Professor McGonagall that there were going to be scouts in the crowd, but Harry decided not to tell Ginny, because if she knew, she would be too nervous and might not play as good as she could.

When it got close to the time, Harry led his team into the changing room to wait. He knew there was no use saying anything as he had said everything before and he also knew his team would go out and do their very best because they like Harry, would love to go out as winners.

Madame Hooch called the two teams out, the captains shook hands, before the teams took off into the air to wait for the balls to be released. Harry gave Ginny a smile before looking back at the ground.

The moment the balls were released the game started and it was intense. Both teams scoring, but Ginny scoring more than the other chasers on the Gryffindor team, while Ron pulled off some spectacular saves to a rounding chorus of Weasley is our king, but the crowd also sung it for Ginny every time she scored. As the game got faster, Ginny was scoring almost every couple of minutes and had put the score up to 570 to 265 when Harry spotted the snitch. The Ravenclaw seeker was looking the other way when Harry dived, speeding as fast as he could, catching the snitch right on the ground to loud cheers from the crowd.

When the team settled onto the ground, they got surrounded by all their friends, but also every other Gryffindor before they made their way up to the staff box where Professor McGonagall presented Harry with the quidditch cup. After much congratulations the team apart from Harry all left to go down and change when a tall woman walked up to Harry.

'A wonderful game Mr. Potter, you will make a great seeker for some team.'

'Hi and thank you, but I'm not going to play professionally, I want to become an auror. You look familiar, have we met?'

'No, I'm Gwenog Jones, captain of the Holyhead Harpies. I came to see if there were any girls good enough to join our team and I must say your chaser, the red head is someone I think would suit being a Harpie.'

'Well, it's nice to meet you and it's always been Ginny's dream to be a Harpi, ever since she was five, she's dreamed of playing for the Holyhead Harpies. Do you want to meet her?'

'Yes, I would.'

Harry led the tall woman down to the Gryffindor changing room. The stepped inside to a loud noise as the team and some of their friends were all celebrating.

'Ginny love, you have a visitor,' Harry called.

Ginny turned around and her mouth fell open, before Ron pushed hit shut then gave her a nudge to get her moving.

'Miss Jones.' Ginny said quietly.

'Miss Weasley, you play very well, so I would like to give you a try out for our team, are you interested?'

'What!?' Ginny shouted to everyone's laughter but Harry put his arm around her, 'Of course, I've always wanted to play for the Harpies. Are you serious?'

'Very, I think you have got what it takes to be a Harpie. So how about a week after you leave Hogwarts, you come to our offices.'

'I'll be there, thank you,' Ginny beamed then threw her arms around Harry kissing him passionately. 'I can't believe it Harry, I might be a Harpie.'

'I knew you could do it love,' Harry turned to face Miss Jones, 'I think you've made my fiancée very happy Miss Jones.'

'Yes, she does look happy and congratulations on your engagement. So I'll leave you all to celebrate a well-deserved win,' she smiled then left the changing room.

Ginny got surrounded by everyone, while Harry moved out of her way to let her enjoy her celebrity status.

'My sister is going to play professional quidditch,' Ron kept staring at her.

'Yeah, she is Ron, and I bet you are going to try and get free tickets to games,' Harry laughed.

'Well, if I can,' Ron's ears went red. 'Everything's finally going our way, isn't it Harry?'

'Yeah, it is Ron. We finally had a normal year at Hogwarts, Ginny's got a tryout with her favourite team. Hermione got her parents back, we're all going to pass our N.E.W.T.s easily, then you and me will become aurors. We're all getting what we want instead of just putting up with everything going on around us, it's a good feeling Ron.'

'Yeah, it is, it really is. But you forgot one other thing Harry, you're going to marry Ginny and be my brother,' Ron slapped Harry's back.

'Even though I've always thought of you as a brother, we will be officially and I can't wait to marry Ginny and become a member of your family, the only family I've know.'

After much celebration in the changing room, everyone headed up to Gryffindor tower to continue their fun. Harry had Kreacher bring a heap of food and drinks from the kitchen and the party never stopped until nearly four in the morning, with everyone slowly walking up to their bed when they fell into a peaceful sleep.

One day, every student got notices telling them to come to the great hall the following morning at eleven and in full dress robes. So that morning after breakfast, everyone headed back up to their dorm rooms to get ready. Then they all headed back down through the castle until they came to the doors of the great hall with Mr. Filch standing against them.

'So it looks like we have to wait again Mr. Filch?' Neville asked.

'For some, so when I call your names, please stand over at the back,' Mr. Filch started reading names, including Harry and his friends, so they all moved back to stand against the wall. Mr. Filch then allowed all the other students to enter the great hall.

'What's going on Mr. Filch?' Harry asked looking a little nervous.

'You will find out soon enough,' he said as he stood against the door.

'I hope there are no more pictures of us up again,' Harry scowled.

'Um Harry, I think I might have an idea what this is about. Do you realise what today is?'

'No, what's today?'

'It was a year ago that you finished Voldemort,' Hermione said as she put her arm around Ron.

Harry felt Ginny shudder his arm, so he tightened his hold, 'A year, shit, I forgot about that, we've been so busy. So what do you think it going on in there?'

Before Hermione could answer, the door opened and Professor McGonagall gestured for the group of twenty four to go in. They all saw the students, the staff, but also Kingsley was on a raised platform. All the Weasley's were there, Aberforth, Neville's grandmother, Andromeda Tonks with Teddy, the Grangers and everyone that was here that night. Professor McGonagall lead the group to a set of chairs right in of the raised platform.

'Now that our guests of honour are present, it is time to start our ceremony.' Kingsley said, 'One year ago our lives were changed, for the better, but we also lost some very good people,' Kingsley started to read out the names of everyone that lost their lives the night of the battle of Hogwarts, 'Every person will posthumously receive order of merlin: first class along with having their own chocolate frog cards. They should always be honoured and remembered,' Kingsley lit a torch and pictures of everyone that died flashed across the room.

'Now when I call you name, please come up and join me,' Kingsley started to call names of everyone that fought in the battle of Hogwarts and presented them with order of merlin: third class. Then he started called some of the members of the DA, they received order of merlin: second class. Then Kingsley continued, 'The recipients of order of merlin: first class are, Seamus Finnegan,' he called and placed a medal around his neck, 'Luna Lovegood,' she walked up had a medal placed around her neck, 'Dean Thomas,' he also had a medal around his neck, 'Neville Longbottom,' Kingsley placed the medal around his neck, 'Ginny Weasley,' Ginny walked up and Kingsley placed her medal around her neck, 'Hermione Granger,' Hermione had her medal placed around her neck, 'Ronald Weasley,' Ron grinned as the medal was place around his neck, then he stood with the others, 'Harry Potter,' Harry walked up to loud applause and had the medal placed around his neck then Kingsley put his hand on Harry's shoulder to stop him moving away.

'I have one more award, it is a new award that was voted on by everyone that works at the ministry. Harry Potter, you are hereby awarded the Order of the Phoenix, for you self-sacrifice, your courage and your valor,' Kingsley pinned an award in the shape of a phoenix on his chest. 'Please let's show our appreciation to all these young people because if it was not for them we would not be living in a free world today.'

Kingsley started applauding then everyone else applauded and whistled until the windows of the great hall shook. Kingsley gestured for Harry and his group to leave the platform and go visit with their family. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione went over to the Weasley's and the Grangers and even though the Weasley's were all sad knowing Fred had been gone for a year, they were also happy for their family knowing that none of them would be asked to fight a war again. While they were talking, a very pregnant Fleur went into labour, so Bill raced her up to the hospital wing with the family following. After many hours, little Victoire Weasley was born. A new life coming into their world as everyone was coming into a new era in the wizarding world, a safe and peaceful life.

It was the week of the exams, some students needing calming draughts from Madam Pomfrey, other students would just go quiet, while some would snap at any noise when they were trying to cram in as much as they could.

Harry and his friends all started with charms, with all of them performing every charm perfectly. Then it was potions and again, they were all able to produce perfect potions. Then it was astronomy, which they all did good, maybe not getting O, but at least E or A. Then it was transfiguration, they all performed their spells, changing things into other things, large to small, berries to baked potatoes, animals to kitchen items. Then it was the time for the students who learned to become animagus to show what they could do. So the four of Harry's class were first, the other three all changed, but it took them a long time to concentrate properly mainly due to nerves. Where Harry changed instantly and got smiles from all the examiners. After that was defence against the dark arts. Everyone else pulled off every advanced spell including the three unforgivables. At the end of their exams, everyone finally we're able to relax and wait for their results.

A week later, everyone was asked to come to the great hall at seven the following evening in full dress robes. So after everyone dressed, they all made their way down through the castle to the great hall wondering what was going on this time. When they got to the hall, the doors were open so they all entered and found smaller round tables, similar to how it looked during the triwizard ball.

Harry and his friends all sat together at one table and after everyone had arrived, Professor McGonagall started to call out names and hand everyone in seventh year their N.E.W.T.s. When that was finished, the Weird Sisters stepped out on the stage and started playing. So for the rest of the night, a very loud party took place at Hogwarts. For everyone there that had been through the battle of Hogwarts or had suffered in one form or another due to Voldemort's reign of terror, it was time to celebrate that they finally had safe lives. For Harry and his friends, it was time to celebrate having one normal year as students at Hogwarts, and their final year as students of Hogwarts. So now, they could leave the ancient castle with fond memories and not memories of destruction, of torture and of death. It was time for everyone to move on and to really start to enjoy their lives in a safe wizarding world all thanks to Harry Potter and his friends.

The end: