Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than the story line . All rights belong to J.K. Rowling

Chapter Twenty One: Gilderoy

They held the service for Cho a week later. Harry went with the entire Gryffindor team. All of Ravenclaw was there, as was the entire staff. The Hufflepuff team was there as well. The Slytherin team was conspicuously absent.

Professor Dumbledore opened the service with a few short words about Cho, her excellence of spirit, and her determination to excel at everything she did. Professor Flitwick, the head of her house, talked about her wit and sharp mind, how she always had the right thing to say when someone was feeling down.

Then it was Michael Corner's turn. He started talking about how she was a carefree spirit when he had first met her, and how she was devastated when Cedric Diggory had died a year and a half ago. He spoke of her strength of character, how she fought her way out of depression to once again become the happy girl he had fallen for, and how she had finally been able to return the love he had for her.

All in all, it was a beautiful service, marked by a lot of tears, some wistful smiles, and many warm memories being shared. It ended with Cho's family thanking everyone for coming in a receiving line.

When Harry got there Cho's mother looked at his forehead and choked back a sob, trying vainly to maintain her composure. Her husband quickly stepped up and shook Harry's hand apologizing "I'm sorry son, it's just that we were told she died holding your hand."

"Er… that's right sir, I just happened to be there. I wish I could have done something to stop it," said Harry, fighting back his own tears. "Cho… well, she was always kind to me, and she treated me well…"

"Don't worry, son. Cho always spoke well of you. We always thought it a shame that things didn't work out between you."

"It's just… I… she always wanted to talk about Cedric's death, and I'm afraid I wasn't ready to give her what she needed. I'm glad she found Michael, Mr. Chang. He was able to provide what I couldn't."

"That's very big of you, Harry. I understand why Cho considered you a friend now."

"Thank you Mr. Chang. I'll miss your daughter. She did something very special for me. I'll never forget that," Harry turned to go.

"What was that, son?" Mr. Chang asked softly.

"She gave me my first kiss," Harry replied in a low voice. He was glad that Mr. Chang couldn't see the tears flowing down his face as he walked off.

The Yule Ball was held the Friday night before the students were to return home on the Hogwart's Express for the Christmas Holidays. As was usually the case, Harry's stomach was tied in knots for the entire day, awaiting the start of the dance.

Once dinner was finished he and Ron went back to their dormitory to prepare. He slowly got into his dress robes, wondering what Ginny was going to wear.

He hoped that he wouldn't make a fool out of himself. Bad enough that he would embarrass himself, but to do so with Ginny. He didn't want to embarrass her. He had finally realized how much she meant to him. He couldn't handle it if he hurt her again.

He glanced over to see Ron in his dress robes, arranging his tie in the mirror. He smiled, remembering the old dress robes that Ron used to have. His mother had gotten them second hand, and they had bright yellow ruffles around the edges. Ron had hated those robes. He had cut the ruffles off unevenly the night of their first Yule Ball. That was the night that Harry first realized that his best friends had feelings for each other.

At last the moment was here. It was time to go down to the common room and wait for his date. As he and Ron went down to stand by the fire, Neville went careening past them and out the door, no doubt off to find Luna before the ball.

They stood there, the two of them, silently staring into the fire. No words had to pass between them, they understood each other so well by now. Harry didn't know how he would have managed these last few years without Ron around. He had always been there for Harry, standing by him through thick and thin, never letting Harry's notorious fame deter their friendship for any extended period of time. Okay, occasionally he had gotten jealous, but he had gotten over it and they were definitely best mates, and Harry felt that life was much more worth living with friends like Ron in his life.

There was a slight giggling behind them, breaking Harry out of his reverie. He and Ron turned around to see Hermione and Ginny standing there. Hermione looked resplendent in a blue formal gown, her hair swept up and away from her face, her features shining as she smiled at him and Ron. She looked smashing, and Harry knew that it was having the desired effect on Ron. He was shifting from foot to foot, trying to articulate what he was feeling, failing miserably to for the words to describe the vision in front of him.

Ginny was wearing an emerald green gown, slit up one leg and sleeveless. Her shimmering red hair was cascading down around her shoulders and down to her waist. She had on the pearl necklace that he had given her on her birthday. Her chocolate brown eyes sparkled as she looked up at him, a demure grin on her face. "I wanted to match your eyes," she said simply.

"Wow, Ginny, you're…. wow. I can't even put into words how beautiful you look right now. Wow." Harry was having trouble thinking. His head was spinning. This vision before him was there just for him. It was almost too good to be true. How c could he be so lucky? It was beyond belief.

They arrived at the ball moments before the first dance. Hermione quickly grabbed Ron's hand and dragged him towards a procession line forming up near the teacher's table. "Come on Ron, we have to follow the head boy and girl in leading the first dance."

Harry looked up, and sure enough, there was Adrian Pucey and Marietta Edgecombe standing there with their respective dates, chatting about something. Happy that he didn't have to lead this year, Harry took Ginny by the hand over to a table to wait for their chance to go out on the dance floor. It probably would be a lot better dancing with Ginny, anyway.

When they could go out, Harry and Ginny went to a point over by Ron and Hermione. Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry's neck and gazed up at him, while Harry felt his own hands naturally fall into place around her hips. This was so right, if felt so good to be in her arms. This had to be heaven, nothing else could be so good.

As they were dancing, they were interrupted by a school owl swooping in and depositing an envelope right down onto their chests. Harry looked at it, and recoiled in horror as he realized what it was. It was bright red, and it was smoking slightly at the edges. Ginny stepped back as Harry cautiously opened it, dreading what was about to happen.

"THREE PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW! ONE FELL DOWN! NOW THERE WERE ONLY TWO TO GO!"

Harry stood there for a moment, as all heads turned to see who had gotten a howler. His vision went red. He could hear his pulse in his ears. He was shaking uncontrollably. His head whipped around, seeking out his prey. There he was! Before he knew it, Harry was on the move. He vaguely heard Ginny yell for him to stop.

He reached Malfoy and spun him around. His fist impacted with the side of Malfoy's face, sending him crashing to the floor. He leapt on top of him, fists flying into Malfoy's face. Soon there was blood everywhere. He couldn't stop. He just kept pummeling him, not even noticing that Malfoy was barely conscious by this point. It felt so good to be hitting him. Then an invisible force lifted Harry straight up in the air. He thrashed around, and saw Professor Flitwick below him, his wand out and pointed at Harry.

Harry looked around. Everyone was looking at him. All the fight drained out of him. He let himself go limp. As he was let down, Pansy Parkinson had to be restrained, she was trying to get at him, her fingers outstretched like claws, her face contorted into a mask of rage. He looked down at Malfoy, laying there in a pool of his own blood. When he looked back up, it was straight into the fury filled eyes of the head of Gryffindor house, Professor McGonagall.

"Mr. Potter! How could you?!? Fifty points from Gryffindor, and a weeks detention for you! Now get back to your dormitory. I think you have disgraced yourself and your house enough for one night." As Harry turned to leave, he could have sworn he saw a small smile pass over Malfoy's swollen face.

Christmas morning came as Harry woke to the song of love birds outside his window. He stood up, looking out at the two of them wistfully. Ginny had barely spoken to him the last couple of days since the fiasco at the Yule Ball. He couldn't really blame her. It had to be embarrassing for her. After he had come back to the dormitory common room, she had come storming through, pushing him roughly to the side as she made her way up the stairs. There had been tears on her cheeks as she went past. His fears had been well founded that night.

He turned his attention to the presents at the foot of his bed. He went over and sat down, careful not to wake his friends, and proceeded to open his gifts. Ron had gotten him a large bag of sweets, concentrating mostly on chocolate frogs. He knew how much Harry was trying to collect the entire collection of wizard cards that came with each frog.

Hermione had gotten him small bottle of Myrtle's Magical Cloth and Fabric Restorative. She had commented before that his invisibility cloak was looking a little worn from all the use they had put it through.

Luna had given him a year's subscription to the Quibbler, her father's magazine, with an enclosed note:

For your information needs and personal enjoyment.

Neville had given him a picture of the Quidditch team during their first game against Slytherin. All the players were zooming around reenacting their match. Harry grinned seeing it.

Mrs. Weasley had sent her usual package, this time with a dark blue sweater for Harry, and plenty of homemade candies and mince pies. There was nothing from Ginny.

He piled all his stuff on his bed quietly, slipped into his clothes, and headed down to take a walk. He got to the bottom of the stairs, and there she was, standing over by the fire, waiting for him, her cheeks wet and glistening. She held a small package in her hands. She held it out to him, as he came running over to her.

"Harry, can you forgive me?" she whispered to him.

"Forgive you? Can you forgive me? It must have hurt you so. I just lost control…"

"I know, Harry, I know," she said, tapping her temple, "remember?"

"Oh yeah," he said.

"Open it" Harry quickly unwrapped the box, opening the lid to see a small ring inside. It had ornate golden filigree around the edges, with a large ruby set in it. Inlaid in gold in the ruby were the letters HP. "It's a signet ring. I had it made for you that last Hogsmeade trip. I hope you like it. It's inscribed on the inner surface.

Harry turned it over to look at the inside edge. Sure enough there was a light inscription there: For My One True Love, May It Always Remind You Of What We Share.

Harry swept her up, twirling her around in a circle, to collapse on the couch in front of the fire. He kissed her passionately, wondering how they could ever have been upset with each other. She was his fulfillment, his heart, and his breath. If he ever doubted that before, he didn't doubt it now.

His hands swept over her, taking in every delicious curve, reveling in the softness of her skin, and the luxurious feeling of her hair. He was lost in the moment when he heard "Hem, hem, get a room."

He looked up to see Ron's smiling face, the laughter evident in his eyes at seeing Harry turn a brilliant shade of red.

Harry spent the day relaxing in Ginny's arms in the common room, thinking that nothing could spoil the feeling he had right now. It was life at it's finest for him. Therefore it was with a smile that he greeted Professor McGonagall as she strode into the room.

"Merry Christmas, everyone, Harry, I need you to come with me to my office. There is an urgent message for you from Neville."

Harry scrambled to his feet. Neville had left the night before with his grandmother so that they could spend Christmas together and go to visit his parents at St. Mungo's Hospital.

Professor McGonagall led the way for Harry and Ginny. She had insisted on coming, and Harry was silently glad for her presence as they made their way to the office.

Harry walked in and saw Neville's head sticking out of the fireplace. "What is it Neville?" he asked.

"Harry, thank Merlin you got here so quickly. It's Lockhart, he's asking to see you."

"Professor Lockhart wants to see me?" Harry asked, feeling stunned.

"Harry, you don't understand, he asked for you by name…" Neville let his voice trail off.

"What?!?" Harry whipped his head up so fast it hurt.

"Yes, he's lucid for now, but who knows how long it will last, and he wants to see you. Can you come?"

Harry looked over to Professor McGonagall, who gave a slight nod, "sure, I'll be there shortly. Thanks Neville." He stood up as Neville pulled back and disappeared.

Professor McGonagall said "Professor Dumbledore has arranged for a portkey for you to St. Mungo's, Potter." She held up a small candlestick.

"Professor, can Ginny come too?"

"Yes, Potter, we figured she would want to as well. Just grab on and think of St. Mungo's and it will take you there. When you wish to return, it will bring you back here. Professor Dumbledore has encoded it to work in these walls. Now go."

Harry and Ginny grabbed the candlestick and thought of St. Mungo's. He felt the now familiar pull at his belly button, and the next thing he knew they were standing outside the ward where Neville's parents were. There was a nurse waiting for them.

"Right this way, Mr. Potter, miss." They followed her into the ward. There, laying on his bed, looking very frail and worn was Gilderoy Lockhart.

"Harry, Harry, Harry," he began

"Professor Lockhart," said Harry, feeling distinctly uncomfortable.

"Harry, I don't know how long I have, so I'll be brief. I woke up this morning, as if from a long sleep, and who should I see, but Neville Longbottom. I looked at him for a moment. Harry, is he under a memory charm?

Harry looked stunned. "He might be, Professor, Dumbledore mentioned something about the possibility."

"Look, Harry, I can already feel myself slipping away. The next time I come back, let me examine him. If I'm right, I might be able to help him. After all, it was my specialty." His eyes went blank, all memory seemed to drain right out of them. "Hello, are you here for my autograph?"

Harry and Ginny allowed him to give them pictures of himself, and excused themselves to return to Hogwarts and ponder the future.

Author's Note: Well, Harry got a small measure of revenge upon Malfoy, but at the cost of his own credibility. So the question now becomes: where do they go from here? I'm curious as to what you, my readers think. I wonder how close to my truth you can get. Let me know.

The reccomendation for the chapter is "The DA Missions: Agent Toots" by nonjon. He writes some absolutely hilarious stuff. Check it out, you will enjoy it.