Disclaimer: I do not own any of Ms. Rowling's work nor will I ever. If I did I'd be a rich woman vacationing in some exotic location. But instead I am here writing this because I am very, very bored. Yes my friends, boredom.

A/N: I am so sorry that this chapter is a week late!! I wanted to post this on Monday but I never got around to writing it. I'm so sorry! I feel really bad about it. The ending was so incredibly difficult to write just cuz I've been wanting to write this part for such a long time. This chapter starts the PG-13 stuff just to let you know. Please review at the end!

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The Ministry Ball

Harry and Ginny arrived at the Ministry Ball and looked around. Everything and everyone looked amazing. The Ball took place in a large round room filled with circular tables with large magical centerpieces. Fairies lined the walls making the room look like it was self-illuminated and people were dancing with their partners in their finest dress robes. Ginny and Harry were both awestruck.

"Wow." They said in unison.

"Harry! Ginny!" Shouted a voice behind them. They turned and saw a very pregnant Hermione with Ron clutched to her arm. Both of them were beaming. Ron was in dark, dark blue dress robes that complimented Hermione's light blue dress. Although she was pregnant, the dress fit her beautifully as though it was enchanted to fit anyone who wore it. The dress had a boat neck fluffy sleeves that came together in a gold clasp in the middle. She had also straightened her long brown hair but instead of putting it up in a bun like Ginny, she let it flow down her back.

"Hermione you look amazing!" Squealed Ginny hugging her best friend.

"You don't think I look too fat? I know the dress hugs my stomach a lot and..."

"Hermione I told you back at the house you look great." Said Ron scathingly.

"What do you think Harry?" Asked Hermione.

"You look pretty." Said Harry smiling. Ron gave him a look. "What? It's just a compliment." He said trying to get Ron to stop looking at him that way. "You know I wouldn't try to steal her away from you or anything."

"Why are men so stupid?" Whispered Hermione into Ginny's ear. Ginny shrugged.

"Come on, let's go see who's here." Said Ginny grabbing Harry's arm and walking away. It turned out that almost every witch or wizard had come to the ball. They met and talked to Dean Thomas and Parvati Patil, Seamus Finnegan and Lavender (the two had recently married), Roger Davies talking to a blonde witch Harry had never seen before, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, and to Harry's despite, Cho Chang. Ginny stayed with Neville and Luna to talk while Harry headed over to the table where Ron was sitting by himself.

"Where's Hermione?" Asked Harry. Ron pointed to Hermione who was standing by a bowl of punch talking to Hannah Abbott. Harry noticed something was not right about his friend. "What's the matter?"

"I'm nervous." Replied Ron taking a sip of his water.

"Nervous about what?"

"Hermione."

"What about her?"

"I was thinking, what if she doesn't win the election?"

"That's not going to happen. Hermione's too far in the lead to not win. Everybody I know has voted for her." Replied Harry reassuringly.

"But still...what if she doesn't get the job? She'll be heartbroken. She's put her everything into this election. She hasn't even had time to see her parents or anything like that. They stop by every so often to see her but she's always too busy to even talk to them about the baby. I don't think they even knew she was pregnant until last week when I told them.

"Are you serious?" Asked Harry in disbelief. Ron nodded.

"They were a bit disappointed that I was the one to tell them but they were pleased overall."

"That's good then."

"Yeah, I guess." Said Ron halfheartedly.

"If she loses it won't be that bad. She'll have the baby to look forward too and if all else fails you can always cheer her up."

"I guess you're right." Said Ron. "I just have a bad feeling about this. I don't know, I guess I'm too pessimistic. Where's Ginny?"

"Talking with Neville and Luna."

"Neville and Luna? That's an odd couple. Imagine if they had a kid one day? It'd be the most bizarre child in the world." Harry and Ron both laughed.

"I'm going to go talk to Hermione. Why don't you talk to Ginny or something?" Suggested Harry.

"Okay." Replied Ron as he and Harry got up and left. Harry walked over to Hermione who looked was talking, rather listening, to Hannah Abbott.

"Oh well of course I love Ernie. He's a Healer, you know. One of the main reasons why I married him. He's okay in bed of course but nothing compared to Justin Flinch-Fletchy. He did this one thing where--"

"Er, hi." Said Harry awkwardly cutting her off. Hannah looked up at Harry and smiled feebly.

"Oh, hello Harry." She said briskly.

"Hi. I hope you don't mind if I steal Hermione away from you."

"Oh not at all." Replied Hannah. Hermione and Harry walked away quickly.

"Thank you so much for saving me back there. If I had to listen to one more word about her or Ernie or...GR!" Said Hermione letting out all of her frustration.

"Anytime." Replied Harry casually.

"Where's Ron?"

"He's over talking to Ginny, Neville, and Luna."

"Let's go see them." The two began walking over to where their friends were when Hermione stopped suddenly.

"Oh no." She said with her eyes wide in surprise.

"What? Is it the baby?" Asked Harry cautiously.

"No, it's Krum!" Said Hermione pointing over to a large crowd of people. Harry looked closely and saw Viktor Krum, Seeker of the Bulgarian Quidditch Team. Harry hadn't seen Krum in years but he still looked the same as ever. Hermione turned to Harry.

"What am I going to do?" Hermione asked panicky.

"What do you mean? He's not going to kill you or anything. I thought you two were friends."

"We are friends but Ron hates him because he took me to the Yule Ball."

"He's still hung up over that?" Hermione nodded.

"If Ron sees him here he's going to be following me around all night making sure I don't talk to him. Ron can get so jealous at times."

"Yeah, I know. But why is he here? He's from Bulgaria."

"Well I sort of asked him if he'd like to come because he stopped by the Ministry one day and I ran into him. I never thought he would actually show up!" Exclaimed Hermione. "What am I going to do?"

"We'll go distract Ron and make sure he doesn't see Krum. Come on, let's go see Ron." Hermione nodded and followed Harry over to Ron, Neville, Luna, and Ginny.

"Hey, there you two are. I was wondering where you went." Said Ginny happily.

"Yeah, what took you guys so long?" Asked Ron.

"Oh it was nothing." Replied Hermione quickly. "Somebody spilled some butterbeer on their dress robes and Harry and I helped wipe it off her. So Neville, Luna how are you two?" Asked Hermione politely. The six of them chatted happily for a half an hour before getting their dates and heading off to the dance floor. Ginny and Harry, Neville and Luna, and Ron and Hermione all danced. Harry and Ginny were dancing peacefully when they felt a bump from somebody behind them.

"Well if it isn't Potty and the Weasel." Snarled Pansy Malfoy. "Seems like you've been quite the couple I've heard. Living together and everything."

"Pansy, for once in your life will you please shut up and mind your own business." Said Ginny. Harry noticed her trying her best to control her temper.

"Oh am I upsetting the poor little Weasel? I bet you're just sleeping with him for his money. He's loaded, you know. But of course you already know that!" Snapped Pansy.

"Watch your mouth Pansy!" Proclaimed Harry.

"Face it Potter, everyone knows what a whore she is." Ginny looked at Pansy with stone cold eyes then headed out of the Ball Room. Pansy shrieked with her familiar shrill laughter and walked away over to her husband's arm. Harry turned around to go chase after Ginny but instead ran into another Weasley.

"Harry! There you are I've been looking all over for you!" Exclaimed Ron.

"Ron, not now!" Said Harry trying his best to make his way past his best friend.

"But Harry, Krum is here!" Harry looked at his friend's face and saw a slight hint of nervousness. Harry sighed. "Listen you have got to get him to come over here! I need to speak to him!"

"Wait, you actually want to speak with Krum?" Asked Harry in disbelief.

"Hell yes! I have to show off to him." Exclaimed Ron.

"What do you have to show off to him about?"

"That I was the one to get Hermione to marry me! He couldn't do it but I did!"

"Ron, Krum asked Hermione to marry him a long, long time ago. She never said yes. It was the summer before 6th year, when are you going to forget about it?" Asked Harry.

"Never because the moment when Hermione agreed to marry me I felt like for the first time in my life I had won something no one else had ever won."

"I don't think Hermione would fancy the idea of being 'won.'" Commented Harry.

"Never mind that. The fact is, I have Hermione and she's pregnant with my baby. Now I just need to get her and myself over near Krum and strike up a conversation."

"How are you going to do that?"

"Well I'm thinking about casually bumping into him. You know, that whole 'Sorry. Oh, it's you Viktor. How are you? Yes this is my wife. I believe you know her. No, she's not fat, she's pregnant with my baby.' You know, that sort of thing." Said Ron.

"Ron, you're insane and obsessive." Said Harry bluntly. "Please excuse me for one moment. Go over and get Hermione so you can 'bump into' Krum."

"Will do!" Said Ron as he rushed and grabbed Hermione's arm and started dragging her over to where Krum was standing. Harry instead began walking in the direction he saw Ginny walking last. He opened the big wooden doors of the Ball Room and walked out into an empty corridor. He saw Ginny sitting up against a wall with tears running down her face. Harry walked up next to her and sat down.

"Are you okay?" He asked attentively. Ginny nodded.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I just hate how someone's words can affect me like this!" Said Ginny angrily. "And it's not even someone important! It's Pansy. Pansy Parkinson!"

"Actually it's Pansy Malfoy now." Corrected Harry.

"Ugh, even worse." Sniffled Ginny as she wiped a tear that had fallen down her cheek.

"You know all of those things she said weren't true." Said Harry as he searched for the right words to say. "I know you're not a whore and I definitely know you're not after any money I may have. I don't even know how she knows that my parents left me some money."

"I know." Said Ginny consolingly. "Don't feel bad though. You have nothing to feel bad about."

"I know, I just can't help it. I feel bad for you." Replied Harry sincerely.

"Well don't because it's just a waste of time." Said Ginny standing up. "I think we need to just forget that she said any of those things tonight. You know what? We need firewhiskies." Ginny pointed her wand at a nearby statue of a very odd looking witch into four firewhiskies. "Accio firewhiskies!" Summoned Ginny as two of drinks came into her hands. She gave one to Harry. "Drink up!"

"This stuff is strong, Ginny. Are you sure?" Asked Harry eyeing her and his drink carefully.

"Why not?" Said Ginny as she took a swig of her firewhisky. "Aah. Good stuff." Harry looked at his drink once more before taking a sip. He smiled immediately.

"Wow. This stuff is good." Said Harry smiling looking at his bottle. "Damn good." Ginny laughed. "How much of this do you have to drink to get pissed?"

"Not much, I think. Want to find out?" Asked Ginny cocking an eyebrow.

They stood outside of the ballroom drinking the rest of their firewhisky. They both finished their first and second drink as they laughed and joked around but never kissed the entire time. Nobody saw the two of them seeing as everyone was busy mingling in the ballroom and chatting. They talked about times back in Hogwarts. "Remember that time I fancied you when you were in the hospital wing and I sent you that signing card?" Asked Ginny slurring all of her words together. Harry laughed.

"Ha! I remember that...I think..." Trailed off Harry thinking. Ginny started laughing as she looked at Harry's funny "thinking" face.

"He-he, you're drunk." Said Ginny pointing unsteadily at him.

"Nuh-huh. I can't be drunk."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm Captain Fancy-Knickers! I'm wearing polka dots tonight on my boxer shorts." Ginny and Harry both started laughing hysterically.

"So am I!" Replied Ginny.

"Let me see!" Shouted Harry. Just before Ginny could even reply the ballroom doors came open and Ginny and Harry tried their best to straighten out themselves and not slouch and look so drunk. Ron looked at his sister and his best friend.

"Where have you two been? They're going to announce the winner of the election in just a few moments! Come on!" Said Ron grabbing Harry and Ginny by their arms and bringing them back into the ballroom. "Ugh, what smells so bad?" Harry and Ginny looked at each other quickly and tried not to laugh.

"You." Said Ginny briskly.

"Oh honestly Ginny, you're acting like a child." Ginny giggled.

"No I'm not! You're acting like...like..."

"Like Hermione!" Shouted Harry. He and Ginny went into a fit of laughter. Ron eyed his best friend.

"Harry, are you alright?"

"I'm fiiiiiiiiine, Ron. Ronny-Ron. Ronny-lou. Ronny-Boy." Slurred Harry.

"Harr-ay! Harry-manny!" Joined in Ginny.

"Ginny...boy." Harry and Ginny started laughing manically as they sat down at their little round table with Ron.

"You two are bonkers." Said Ron. Ginny and Harry started messing around with one another as Ron started to observe the Ministry Ballroom. He looked around the room and spotted Draco, Lucius, Narcissa, and Pansy Malfoy all standing around one another trying their best to look as casual as possible. There were two wizards standing beside Lucius watching his every move. He didn't look as rich and powerful as he once had. He was paler, more gaunt looking, and had dark bags under his eyes. Ron tried his best to listen in on their conversation.

"Draco you have no idea how proud I am of you. You have proven yourself to the family and me. Finally you can clear up our family name so we are no longer disgusted by the wizarding community." Said Lucius.

"Thank you, father." Replied Draco embracing his father. Narcissa Malfoy smiled and looked at her son and husband. She whispered something in Pansy's ear and Pansy nodded. Draco stepped back from his father and the two blonde men smiled and looked at each other. The guards smiled also.

"How touching." Said one of them sincerely.

"I never had a moment like that with my father. He was always much too busy for things like hugs. Lousy bastard." Replied the other guard angrily. An older looking wizard with balding white hair sticking on end and large black and green glasses walked by the crowd. Pansy looked at the man curiously. Lucius turned to his guards.

"I'm sorry to disturb you from your interesting conversation but I'm afraid I need to go to the bathroom." Said Lucius. His guards nodded.

"Come this way." Said the guards in unison walking with Lucius over to where the bathrooms where located. Ron shook his head.

"Did you see that Harry?"

"See what?" Asked Harry who was trying to play patty cake with Ginny; he was failing miserably. Ron sighed.

"Nothing. Nothing at all." Ron sighed and began to play with the rim of his wineglass. Moments later Amos Diggory emerged on the front stage of the ballroom where Hermione was already sitting behind him. Draco was sitting next to Hermione as well.

"Settle down now everyone. We're just waiting for Eddie Bradshaw to come and announce the winner. You know Eddie, always late for everything. I remember one time a few years back when--ooh, never mind! Here he is now!" The old man with the large green and black glasses walked on to the stage next to Amos Diggory. His short gray hair was still standing on end as it always seemed to but he looked strangely bewildered. He took the envelope from Diggory's hand and rippedit open. The little old man read the piece of paper carefully before declaring "Draco Malfoy has been elected as the new Minister of Magic for Great Britain!"

Draco's supporters and fans stood up and applauded as Draco rose and shook Amos Diggory's and Eddie Bradshaw's hands. Hermione sat in her seat trying her best to not look disappointed and smiled half-heartedly. Her eyes met with Ron's as Ron gave her a comforting look as if trying to say everything was going to be okay. She nodded at Ron and tried her best to smile as Draco took to podium to deliver yet another speech. "Come on. Let's go." Said Ron to Ginny and Harry not taking his eyes off of Hermione. Ron stood up and began to walk backstage to try to find Hermione. He stood on the wing and waited for Draco's speech to end so that Hermione could leave. When the speech was over the crowd cheered once more and Draco left the stage and walked by Ron.

"Congratulations, Weasley. You'll be raising your child poor just like how your parents raised you." Said Draco pompously.

"Shove it, Malfoy." Sneered Ron as Hermione walked down into the wing. Hermione stood next to Ron as Ron instantly put a protective arm around her ever-growing waist.

"Temper Weasley. You wouldn't want to be upsetting your new Minister, would you?" Asked Draco rhetorically as Pansy walked over to her husband and responded with a soft "phm!"

"Don't say a word." Said Hermione quietly so that only Ron would hear. Ron looked at her as Draco and Pansy began walking out of the wing. Pansy leaned into Draco's ear and whispered something that made Draco go white.

"Are you okay?" Asked Ron softly. Hermione nodded.

"I'll be fine." She said just as soft as she wiped a tear that had dripped down her face. Ron pulled her into a tight embrace. Ron held Hermione, the love of his life and best friend since the age of 11, close to him as she cried silently into his broad chest. She looked up at her husband with tears in her eyes as Ron gently brushed a loose hair out of her face and put it behind her ears. He placed his hands on the side of her face and looked into her brown eyes. Hermione smiled gently as she knew that everything would be okay as long as he would always be there for her. "Where's Ginny and Harry?" Asked Hermione noticing that neither of her friends were telling them to stop being so cheesy.

"They're right behind me." Replied Ron moving his hands to her waist.

"No, they're not Ron."

"They've got to be, they were right behind me when I got up. They were sitting with me at the table the whole..." Trailed off Ron. The truth of the matter was he did not know if Harry and Ginny where there at all when the winner of the election was announced. He suddenly remembered how quiet it had gotten very suddenly and remembered not hearing any giggles or laughs from the two of them.

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"That was so boring!" Said Ginny as she and Harry stood outside of their apartment. "That was more boring than...than..."

"Rice pudding." Finished Harry as he unlocked the door and opened it. "Aha! Like magic! I just flick my wooden stick here a bit and woo! Look at that! I think I've set my couch on fire!" Ginny gaped in awe. He played around with his wand again and put out the fire. A very drunk Harry and Ginny walked into the apartment.

"Do you know what I like best about - -Whoa!" Said Ginny as she slipped on the rug. Harry quickly moved over to her and caught her before she fell on to the ground. He helped her stand up as straight as she could. They looked at each other with a drunken haze in their eyes and began kissing. Slowly at first, then become more and more passionate. Harry started moving his hands all over her body trying his best to touch every single part of her and still keep himself from falling over. Ginny started to kiss his jaw then moved closer and closer to his ear. She nibbled on his earlobe a bit before whispering "Make love to me, Harry." Harry looked at her and saw a fiery desire in here eyes that he had never seen before in a woman. It was the most erotic look in the world. He led her by the hand into his bedroom and closed the door after the two of them.