I bet you people thought that I would never update this. That I promised an epilogue but would never deliver one. Ha! I wish I had made a bet with you! But it did take me forever, so I'm very, very sorry to anyone who waited for this. I've been busy and working on another story (which isn't going so well) and fighting the urge to start about 6 more stories (which isn't going very well either) so this has been delayed. It also didn't help that there were about 4 different versions of this epilogue, and I wasn't sure which one to do. The truth of the matter is that it never needed an epilogue, but I had to throw in some sickeningly sweet romance. I apologize.



When they thought no one was looking Harry and Ginny stepped out of the Great Hall, on to the veranda. The noise of the people inside carried through the cool, spring air, mixing with the sounds of the crickets, the fairies, the occasional splash of the squid in the lake.

"I don't think any of this is real," Ginny said, looking out over the railing with her back toward him. Harry moved to stand behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She leaned into him and he smiled.

"What's not real?" he asked.

"The last few years, really," she said quietly. "But mostly tonight." She shifted in his arms to look up at him. "Tell me," she continued, "did I really just graduate from Hogwarts?"

"Yes," he told her, lifting one hand to stroke her hair. It looked gorgeous in the setting sunlight like this.

"Did I really just speak up there at the ceremony as Head Girl?" she asked, seeking confirmation that she wasn't dreaming.

"Mm-hmm," Harry murmured.

"And I was really a published author before I was 17?" Harry nodded.

"But most importantly, you were captain of the Quidditch team last year," he reminded her. She grinned.

"Of course." She paused, smiling to herself. "Do I rule or what?" she said, jokingly.

"Oh, you definitely rule," he said, reaching down to give her a soft kiss. When he pulled away, she turned so she was facing him and rested her head on his shoulder, thinking for a moment.

"It still doesn't seem real," she said finally.

"I know what you mean," Harry told her. She looked up at him.

"Aren't you supposed to be giving me some sort of advice?" she questioned. "Everyone but you has given me their words of wisdom so far." Harry sighed.

"You get used to it," he said.

"Used to advice?"

"No. Used to the real world," he clarified. "I don't know, you just… get used to it. It's no different than starting school for the first time, really. Or learning to fly."

Ginny smiled at him. "You wise, old sage," she teased, moving her arms to around his neck. He responded by sliding his own arms to around her waist. They stood there for a moment, not saying anything, just looking at each other.

Harry knew he must have looked foolish, standing there just looking down at her, but he didn't care. He was thinking about everything he and Ginny had been through, each moment they shared, their first fight, their first date, their first kiss.

"Harry," she interrupted suddenly. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," he answered, not sure if he should be nervous or not.

"Well," she paused for a moment, thinking. "You remember our first kiss?" He smiled. So she was thinking about the same things he was.

"It would be a little hard to forget." He could still recall every thought he had had and every emotion that had passed through him.

"And you gave me the necklace?" She fingered the locket she was wearing, the same he had given her that day they had gone to Diagon Alley together. He nodded, still smiling fondly at the memory. 'Why… why did it take you almost a year to actually ask me out after that?" She was frowning now, and Harry suddenly realized she had just asked a question that she had been saving for quiet some time.

"Because," he said, in all seriousness, "then, I still wasn't sure how I felt about you, even though I had a pretty good idea. And I was terrified I'd do something wrong and screw everything up." She smiled a little. "I mean, I still felt like a kid; I didn't know what the heck I was feeling." Her smile grew slightly. "Do you know," he said, in a confiding voice, "I've been trying to find the perfect way to make it up to you all this time." She grinned.

"You're very good at making things up," she said.

"Well, I had to do something extra special, something better than ever," he explained.

"It will be hard for you to top that valentine you gave me last year." He rolled his eyes.

"It wasn't supposed to explode," he said, off topic. "I told you I was sorry about it."

"It's ok," Ginny assured him. "No one died. Well," she teased, "you almost did, of embarrassment, but you're fine now." He felt his cheeks burn and she reached up to touch them, laughing. "It's ok, really. I'm only teasing. I think it was sweet." Harry laughed.

"Well, still, I have something for you," he said, "but you have to walk down to Hogsmeade with me." He began to lead her down the steps and onto the walkway, still not detaching his hands from her shoulders, but she stopped.

"What about everyone?" she asked, craning her neck around to see inside the Great Hall.

"It's taken care off. Come on." Harry pulled her away before she could catch a glimpse of all her brothers, standing in a circle, talking grimly. Harry had told them what he was planning last week, and had spent an hour and a half trying to convince them to let him. If it hadn't been for Ron, Charlie probably would have hauled him back to Romania and left him in a cave with a dragon, and now way out.

They walked down the path to the village, the moonlight bathing the way before them. As they neared the edge of the wards around the castle, Harry let go of Ginny and swallowed hard. She looked up at him curiously, but they continued on in silence.

The edge of the Hogwarts grounds was always noticeable, in looks and in feeling. You just knew when you had come to the end of the magical field, and as Harry took his next step, he just knew. He stopped a few paces away and Ginny followed suit, biting her lip to try to keep from smiling. Harry couldn't smile, his stomach suddenly felt like lead. This was it.

He checked his watch- 30 seconds left. Carefully he pulled something out of his pocket, making sure Ginny couldn't see it.

"Close your eyes," he said, and she did so. He placed the object in her hand and made sure they were both touching it, clutching both the object and her hand tightly. "Hold on tight," he whispered. He leaned down to kiss her, his free hand clutching her waist tightly, pulling her to him, and counted down in his head.

5…4…3…2…1…0

He clutched Ginny tighter and felt her go ridged against him as they were pulled by portkey away from Hogsmeade. It was only the 3rd time in his life he had ever traveled this way, since he hated it and had some very bad memories because of the devices, but he felt this time it was necessary and was willing to do it, if it would make everything perfect.

When the world finally stopped spinning and they landed with a jolt, Ginny pulled her face away and stared at him with big eyes.

"That's some kiss," she finally said, starting to smile. "Think you could do it again?" Harry laughed nervously.

They were standing in the middle of towering bushes, almost completely hidden from view.

"What's this all about?" Ginny asked. Harry swallowed and led her through a small hole in the foliage to a huge, concrete staircase. They were one on of several landings, and at each one was an old-fashioned lamppost. At the bottom, there were old houses and shops; at the top was a busy street. There was no one around, thankfully; it was just them and the glow of the dimly lit lamp. It seemed to overwhelm Ginny for a moment. He waited for her to say something.

"We're in Paris," he said finally. She stopped examining their surroundings and looked up at him, in shock for just a second, until she began to grin.

"You-" he interrupted her.

"There's more."

Very slowly, he brought the object that had worked as a portkey up and showed it to her, watching her eyes go wide as she realized what it was. It was a small, black, velvet box. He opened it to reveal a delicate silver ring with a diamond in the middle. Simple, elegant, beautiful- he thought it reflected Ginny perfectly.

"Harry…" Ginny trailed off, her eyes finally tearing away from the ring to look up at him and he saw they were confused and a little scared. "Is this…?"

"I don't mean now," he said. "I know you want to wait. But it's just me saying that someday… I want you to be my wife." He almost cringed as he said the last part, thinking it came out sounding wrong, and was about to tell her he meant something closer to he wanted to be her husband, when she cut him off by throwing her arms around her neck.

"If you don't mean this," she said, her voice muffled against his neck, "tell me now, because as soon as I say yes, I'm taking you for life." Harry felt her tears form against his skin and held her closer, if that was possible.

"You know I mean it." He bent down a little more and kissed her, sealing his words. When he pulled away she smiled at him, her eyes bright and shining. "Marry me?"

"Yes," she whispered. Harry grinned, trying not to look too relieved- part of him had been certain she would say no- but finally letting his joy override every other feeling. He finally remembered the ring, the one he had been looking for the better part of a year, and slipped it on her finger, admiring how beautiful it looked. It looked like it belonged there.

"It will be in a couple of years," he said again, "but- I just wanted to ask you now." She hugged him again, and rested her head on his shoulder.

"You took me all the way to Paris just to propose?"

"No," he said. "There's more. I have reservations at a restaurant- Le Bristrot de Paris. I figured after that we could just walk around for a while. The box is the portkey back too; we have until 12:30."

"How did you get everything so perfect?" Ginny asked in an amazed tone. She reached out the hand with the ring and ran her fingers over the wet branches. The water droplets flew up and got all over her hand, but she didn't seem to care. Harry couldn't help but beam at how lovely her pale hand looked with the ring on it in such contrast with the dark leaves. She took in a deep breath. "It even smells perfect, and it's just after a rain. How did you do it?"

Harry grinned. "I have my ways," he said mysteriously. Ginny rolled her eyes. "Ok, I've been checking the weather reports with a friend from the Ministry. It's the first time it's stopped raining almost all week." He looked at his watch and realized they didn't have much time before their reservations.

"We should hurry," he said, releasing Ginny waist and offering her his arm instead. They walked up the stairs to the street, which was crowed with cars and brightly lit, and went along the sidewalk, which soon became a bridge. It was only half a block to the restaurant, but Ginny stopped suddenly in front of an old music store.

"Do you hear that?" Ginny asked, listening to the music from inside. Harry nodded. "That's La Vie Rose." She sang softly.

"Quand il me prend dans ses bras

Il me parle tout bas

Je vois la vie en rose."

Harry forgot about the reservations, forgot about the bustling city around them, and only focused on her singing. He gently wrapped an arm around her and took her hand in another and began to dance with her, right there in the sidewalk. She kept singing as she laid her head on his chest.

"Il me dit des mots d'amour

Des mots de tous les jours

Et ça m'fait quelque chose

Il est entré dans mon Coeur."

The music ended and she stopped singing, but another song came on, this time one she didn't seem to recognize. They continued dancing, ignoring the knowing looks they were getting from passersby.

"It's never in the middle with you, is it Harry?" Ginny finally asked quietly.

"No," Harry answered. "Do you mind?"

"No," Ginny said. "Harry?"

"Mmm?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

The music was off now, no more songs coming from the closing shop, but they stayed there still, for a very long time.

Hold me close and hold me fast.

The magic spell you cast,

This is la vie en rose.

When you kiss me, Heaven sighs.

And though I close my eyes,

I see la vie en rose.

When you press me to your heart,

I'm in a world apart,

A world where roses bloom.

And when you speak

Angels sing from above.

Every day words,

Seem to turn into love songs.

Give your heart and soul to me,

And life will always be,

La vie en rose."





OK, I am sorry about that, but at least it's there. If you complain about it or are not satisfied, let me know and I'll consider re-writing it with your suggestions.

I tried to use some coding, but it wouldn't work. Meh.

Also, if anyone is waiting for the next chapter in Fior Ifreann, it might be a while. I do have it all planned out, but its taking forever and life is getting in the way. As soon as I get it done, it will be up.

I have 74 reviews. Wow. Just… wow. You people rock. And you people being:

Amanda, Sony Lewison, ShellyK, Safire, Cactuskitty, HarryandGinny4eva, Cygnus Crux (if you that one was weak, man, how bad was this one? Sorry), FuNnIe GiRaFfE, TheMonkeyStoleMyDadsVisaCard, CrazyCutee831, Princess Sam (thank you, a lot.), snowgrl, bucky (twice, I'm sorry it took so long. Thanks for sticking with it.), and irishspring

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