Disclaimer: Alright. On the last chapter of this fic, you're still not sure if I own them or not? What's wrong w/ u people??? *shakes head in disbelief* ^__~

A/n: *sobs* I started school yesterday. It's not fun….. surprisingly…. I'm a freshman (freshperson is more politically correct) any way….. And now for the last chapter of my little fic. I must say I'm sad it's ending. But- there is a prequel!-__-; I just haven't started it yet…. Don't look at me like that… I'd start it…. But I haven't picked a song for the chapter titles yet. Not that it matters. I think I'm going to call it Without You (by the Doobie Brothers.) I just saw them in concert the other day! Woo! Hehehehe. Yes! That will work! *starts typing prequel*

Chapter Seventeen

"Well?" Dumbledore says as the three run up to him outside of the door to the Hospital Wing.

"We saved him and Buckbeak!" Hermione says happily.

"We did it!" Harry adds, grinning.

"He's… gone… again…." Ginny says more somberly.

"Good. Now, get inside!" The three file in as Dumbledore shuts the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"No!" Ginny cries as she rushes into Remus's office. "You're not leaving me! I need you. Here! With me! James is gone…. Sirius is on the run… and if you leave… then I'll be here alone again! What am I supposed to do to keep my sanity?"

"Don't be ridiculous," he says. Then, with a grin on his face, "You never had any sanity to begin with. Think. You were with Sirius. Just kidding…. Don't look at me like that…."

"Pllllllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeassssssseee don't leave. You can't! I won't have anyone to complain to!"

"Yes… you like to do that, don't you?"

"What about Hermione? You're leaving her too!"

"We'll see each other again. Just like you'll see Sirius again. Have faith, Ginny."

Ginny looks defeated. Harry runs in now. "It's not true, is it?"

Ginny frowns. "Yes, it is. And he is the most stubborn man I've ever met in my life."

"Besides Sirius," Remus reminds her.

"True…."

"But you're the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've had! You can't leave!" Harry cries.

"I have to. Parents won't want a werewolf teaching their children. Professor Snape let it slip at breakfast this morning."

Dumbledore walks in. "Your carriage is waiting, Remus."

"Thank you, headmaster. Harry, it has been a pleasure teaching you and I'm sure that we'll meet again. Ginny-" She hugs him.

"Please stay?"

"You know I can't."

"Alright. See you soon then. Oh, yes. Harry." He hands Harry a package, his eyes twinkling. "This is for you. Bye." He walks out.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The four are now sitting in a compartment in the Hogwarts Express, which is heading back to King's Cross Station. The room is silent. Hermione is reading, Harry is looking at his hands folded in his lap, Ginny is staring out the window, and Ron is looking at the other three.

"Cheer up! The silence is too much for me!"

Hermione looks up and smiles at Ron.

"Alright, then." She puts her book away. "I've decided to drop Muggle Studies."

"Why?" Harry looks at her.

"It was too much for me. Without it and Divination, I can drop the time turner. It was driving me mad. I turned it in to Professor McGonagall this morning."

"I still can't believe you didn't tell us about it." Ron says, annoyed.

"I wasn't allowed to tell anyone."

Harry then remembers something. "Hey, Ginny?" Harry turns to face the girl who is still staring out the window.

"Yes, Harry, I will tell you. Well, you see, Sirius is your godfather."

"Yeah."

"I was good friends with your mother."

"Right."

"I, Harry, am your… godmother. If something happened to Sirius, then I would be your guardian."

"Really?" She nods.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? You acted like you didn't want me to know!"

"Well, for one, you wouldn't have believed me until the other night. Secondly, I haven't been doing the best job of it, have I? The first year you faced Voldemort, I wasn't there. The second year, I dragged you into it!"

"That wasn't your fault. It was Malfoy's fault."

"Doesn't matter." She goes back to looking out the window again. Ron and Hermione are acting like they aren't paying attention.

"Ginny, were you and Sirius-"

"Dating? Of course!" She smiles. "How could I resist?"

"No, I meant-"

"No." She sighs. "He didn't want to make the commitment. Now that I think about it... we never really talked about it." She turns toward the window again. Harry can see he's hit a soft spot, so he stops prying and starts talking to Ron about Quidditch. Ginny sighs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They're in the car riding back toward the Burrow. It begins to rain.

'Dumbledore said I would change something. There was a reason I was there. Fate had brought me there. I haven't done anything. I haven't changed anything. It's all going exactly as planned. There has to be a reason I was sent there. Maybe…. Just maybe….' She closes her eyes and can almost feel his touch on her cheek. 'He's so close and yet so far away….' There is a break in the rain. The sun shines through the clouds. She smiles, knowing that that's the same sun that Sirius is looking up at now, wherever he may be. 'It hasn't happened yet. I can do it. He'll be safe. He can't die. I won't let him.'

Then, she says aloud, "Stupid veil…."

^__^ The End? ^__^

****************************************************

Can you say, "Foreshadowing"? ^__^ Goodie! I had so much fun writing this story, but I can already tell I'm going to have more fun writing the prequel! I'm glad you guys liked this story so much. Hopefully, you'll like the prequel too. Watch for it! *blows kisses to reviewers and waves* Ja ne! *hugs Siri*

Shoutouts:

Kendra Meadows: Thanks so much! *hug* Watch for the prequel!

xxSimarilBladexx: Hehehehe. I'd make her proud? I suppose that's good, but I'm butchering her plot (and having fun doing it coz he's not gonna die!!!) You are so cool!

Killer Angel: Hi! *waves* you are very smart! And you're such a faithful reviewer. Nope, never seen Moulin Rouge. I really don't watch too many movies…. ^__~ I just watch the same ones over and over! (I know I'm a loser…. ^__^)

Bell: Hey! I looked at the picture…. He'll do. But, I must say- His hair's not black! It looks positively brown! *gets hit on head by Green Eyes Silver Dragon coz she's tired of hearing complaints* Ouch…. Any way, thanks for the link!

KeeperOfTheMoon: Yep. She knows. And she's gonna try and stop it too! ^__^ I think she'll be successful.

American x Dreamer: I hope this was fast enough…. And I hope you liked it! ^__~

The Elfin Child: Hi beta! Hehehehe. Who said he's gonna die? Knowing me, you think I'm gonna let him die? I don't think so… ^__^ Thanks so much for beta-ing!

Devil'sBestFriend: I'm glad you liked it! Stay tuned for the prequel!

Sirius-Sexy-Lady: I agree. He sooooo needs to die. You can hug Remus all you want- I don't mind. You'll have to settle that one out with my friend Green Eyes Silver Dragon. And she has a frying pan….. *cowers* You're so cool!

Porphyrophobic Grape: Wonder who Orli could be…. *thinks* oh well…. Settle that later…. I'm glad you liked my story, and I hope you'll like the prequel.

Lyly: I checked it out. Oh yeah, I read the cookie thread, and drowned in the fluff. Lot's of fun. I'm glad you like the story! I figured out why it didn't work, too.