I actually started this within minutes of the last chapter … it's short, but that's because there's just not that much to say. She's just waiting for Harry. (Can't wait to write the next chapter!)

Ron and Hermione were there instantly, throwing their arms around him, tears streaming down Hermione's face, though she was smiling.

I hurried up and threw my arms around the group, along with Luna and Neville. Soon, my entire remaining family plus Hagrid had joined me.

I knew nothing but screaming for a full ten minutes, pressed against Bill, standing in front of me, as everyone mobbed Harry and screamed.

Then, the crowd began to diminish as Aurors, my mother, and all the sensible people insisted that everyone let Harry … breathe. But, of course, he went to sit down at one of the House tables that had been pushed up against the wall, and people still came up to thank him profusely in twos and threes. I sat with my mother, raising my eyebrows as I silently noted Ron and Hermione walking out of the Great Hall hand-in-hand.

I just sat there, staring across the room at George's body with my head on my mom's shoulder, for who knows how long. I would be happier later … it wouldn't always hurt this bad …

I don't think it really sank in for me immediately just how much life was going to change. But change it would.

For now, however, it was a time for subdued mourning. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, had lost someone (if not many people) who were close to them during the war. This was an extremely bittersweet victory. So many people had been lost. Everyone just had to focus on that no more would be.

I saw Harry glance at me, then look away, going over to Ron and Hermione, who had reentered the hall and sat down on a bench near the door. He said something to them, and the three of them got up and walked out, talking quietly as they did so. I heaved a heavy sigh as I looked at the place where they had disappeared.

"Don't worry. He'll be back," said my mother quietly and slightly absently, stroking my hair.

I looked at her in surprise. I wasn't sure if she was talking about Harry or Ron. Of course she knew Harry and I had been going out, but mothers should be clueless about your boyfriends. It's just … the way it is.

"I know," I replied uncertainly.

I stared over at Lupin and Tonks' bodies, lying on the floor.

"Mom …" I said slowly, "what will happen to Teddy?"

"I'm not sure," she answered shakily, wiping her eyes. "I'm not sure, sweetheart … Harry's his godfather, you know … and I'm sure he'll want to personally make sure that Teddy's life as an orphan isn't anything like his was before he went to Hogwarts … or after, mind you … those poor boys, both of them … but I think Teddy will go to his grandmother for now."

"Who's his godmother?" I asked.

My mother hesitated, then answered slowly, "Well … Tonks wanted you to be, Ginny …"

"And why can't I?" I asked indignantly, taking my head from her grasp to stare at her, annoyed.

"I wasn't sure you were ready, if it ended up … well, like it did, and you had to take care of Teddy. But, as it is, his grandmother made it through, so he can go to her, and by the time it's your turn to take care of him, you'll be old enough. So I suppose you can."

"Good," I said, settling back down.

Making me and Harry Teddy's godparents … just another way of getting us back together … it was just the thing Tonks would have done. She was always a romantic.

I started thinking. After this year, it seemed like I had been in school for more like ten years total. I couldn't even face the prospect of another year stuck being the only one at school.

"Do I have to come to school next year?" I asked sadly.

"Yes," replied my mother instantly and firmly.

I sighed again.

"I hate being the youngest," I muttered.

"Oh, hush, it's only one more year, and, who knows, I'm not sure what Ron, Harry, and Hermione are doing next year … they might have to come back and take their seventh year again, with you, then they'd be in your year … I don't think there's ever been a situation like this where someone didn't take school at all for a year," my mother mused.

"Yeah, well … they just seem to be the exception to every rule, those three, don't they?" I answered moodily.

"Yes … they've had quite interesting lives, haven't they … always something. Always something."

"Always Voldemort," I corrected her.

She blinked when I said the name, surprised, though not afraid, but quickly recovered to say, "True …"

Everyone was roaming the castle now, looking for Harry and celebrating happily. Only a few people, who, like us, had lost family members just tonight, were sitting silently in the Great Hall, not ready to let go and be happy just yet.

Eventually, the teachers came in and asked us all to stand up, putting the House tables back in place. Everyone gradually made their way back into the Hall. House-elves came nervously upstairs from the kitchens, setting the tables, not making eye contact or speaking, squeaking as though startled whenever someone spoke to them.

Everyone was eventually seated, and suddenly food appeared on the plates before us all. Everyone who had dared to come to the battle and not yet left (parents, friends, nearby neighbors of the school) tried to sit at whatever table they had been in back in their days at Hogwarts, but the Gryffindor table soon overflowed into the Slytherin and Hufflepuff ones.

I looked around for Harry, Ron, and Hermione, but I didn't see them. It was a few peaceful hours after the feast that Harry came back into the hall. He gave everyone who came up a very quick, obviously (to me) forced smile, making his way over to where I was now sitting and talking with Luna.

It took a few minutes, but he did make it over to our table, and I smiled as he approached. He did, too, looking for all the world like someone had recently taken Earth off his shoulders.

"Hey, Ginny. Want to go out in the grounds with me for a while?" he asked.

I jumped up.

"Sure," I said quickly.

That wasn't supposed to come out so wrong, so sorry if it did. Hope you liked the very short chap. Expect more soon!