Not Your Ordinary Love Story

by LondonWitch

A/N: Thanks to all of my reviewers. I'd rather not reply to each one individually, since that would take a very long time and I don't have the time, so I just want to say thank you for everything. This will be the last chapter, and I'm going to try and not make it too sappy. No promises, though - and if you don't get it by now that I own none of this except for the plot, you need to go back over and read the author's notes again. If you have any comments, please email me. Also, I have a Harry Potter website, and if you'd like me to put up a link to your FanFic, put it in your review or email me. Thanks!

Epilogue: At Graduation

"And in conclusion, I feel that we have learned everything that Hogwarts has to offer. From the subtle science of Potions to the exciting art of Charms, let us carry our newfound knowledge into the ever-growing, ever-changing magical world. Thank you, graduating class of 2005!"

Hermione was beaming as she stepped down from the podium after concluding her Valedictorian speech. It was obvious that not everyone agreed that the classes were captivated (like Draco Malfoy, who was sporting a smug frown), but at least they had been paying attention. Harry and Ron were grinning at her as she took her seat between them, and Dumbledore replaced her spot at the head of the crowd.

"It has been my deep, wonderful pleasure of getting to know all of you throughout these marvelous seven years. I have only one word for you..." Dumbledore stated, a knowing smile on his face, "Goodbye!"

A half-hour later, the students, parents in attendance, and faculty had crowded around the generous buffet tables that lined the walls in the Great Hall. All of the Weasleys were there, celebrating Ron's graduation, as well as Hermione's parents who were there for their daughter. Harry had invited Remus Lupin and Alastor Moody, and the whole Weasley clan was like his family, anyway.

Everything had worked out in the end, the way that everyone (well, more like Harry and Ron and Hermione and Ginny), had planned. Harry and Ginny were a couple, Ron and Hermione as well. Ron had even accepted that Harry was a good boyfriend for Ginny, though it had taken awhile for Bill and Charlie to get used to seeing them together.

"Ah, I never thought we'd make it," Ron said, picking up his fork and spearing a piece of chicken, "After all, who'd actually survive Snape, every day, all day for seven years?"

"But we didn't have Snape every day, all day," Hermione said from next to him, sighing because of Ron's inaccuracy and bad table manners (would he ever learn?), "We only had him on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for almost all of the years."

"Well, I'm just glad Ron will be out of my hair from now on. I was getting tired of him chiding me about my homework every night," Ginny remarked, she and Harry were sitting with Ron, Hermione, and every other sibling and parent of those four.

"Oh yes, that's just Ron's place, though, Ginny," Harry laughed, raising his eyebrows at Ron, "Even though he didn't really do his homework and didn't care who nagged him, including Hermione who is his girlfriend, he was still in the position to tell you what to do."

"Ronald? Is this true? Did you not do your homework every night? And here I was, thinking that Hermione was keeping you two in line!" Mrs. Weasley said disapprovingly, looking up from her casserole with a grim face. Ron kicked Harry under the table, and as he winced, Hermione spoke up.

"Well, you see, Mrs. Weasley, as hard as I tried, neither one of them really put forth the effort, so eventually I just – " Hermione was cut off by Ron, who was kicking her ankle quite hard as well.

Ginny just laughed, and all of a sudden a loud POP! came from the end of the table where Fred and George were sitting with their wives, Angelina and Katie (yes, the ones who were on the Quidditch team for a long while). Everyone looked up, surprised, and Mrs. Weasley gave them one of her menacing You'd-Better-Start-Running-While-You-Still-Can looks.

"Sorry," Fred said with an odd frown, "They're this new product that turns bland-tasting food into something that's actually edible. But we didn't expect them to make so much noise. Last time we tested them, they were actually quite quiet."

"Not that we don't like noise," George added as he crammed spoonfuls of tomato soup into his mouth, managing to talk at the same time. (Watch out, Crabbe, you've got competition!)

As Angelina and Katie scolded them for their behavior, Ron gave a loud belch and announced that he was done. Everyone feigned shock that he wasn't going to eat a whole other meal, but he just shrugged and said, "Hey, Harry and Ginny and Hermione, want to go for one last quick walk? As the four of us?"

Harry nodded, smiled at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley one of those all-knowing smiles, and gave Ginny a hand up. While the rest of the Weasleys waved them off, the two couples made their way out of the Hall, and outside into the blooming garden. The sky was getting a bit darker, but fairies were glistening over tall rosebushes and the moon glowed above.

"Can you believe it? Our last walk, all together, at Hogwarts?" Hermione sighed, smiling up at the sparkling stars, "Poor Gin, you're stuck with Snape for another year."

Harry waited, but Ginny didn't answer. When he turned, he saw that she was crying silently, tears streaming down her face. Harry nodded for Ron and Hermione to go on ahead, he turned to Ginny and said softly, "What's wrong?"

"It's just that –" Ginny sobbed into Harry's shoulder, "I'm not going to see you – for a whole more year and then – you'll probably be too busy and then –"

"And then what, Ginny? And then will you marry me?" Harry said, and slowly he knelt down in front of her and pulled out a small box from his pocket. Ginny gasped, and just looked at him for a moment – until she broke out into tears again and nodded yes.

They both smiled at each other as Harry put the ring on her finger, and as she marveled at it, she said, "But what about school? And my parents?"

"I've asked them," Harry replied, as they began to walk along the path again, hand in hand, "And there's really nothing wrong with a one-year engagement. Or a three or four-year one, however long you like. I still want us to finish schooling, have careers. But I want us to be together forever."

At this point, they saw Ron and Hermione on the path in front of them. They were watching something in the bushes, and when they heard Harry and Ginny approaching, motioned for them to be quiet

"WOULD YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, CHANG?" Draco Malfoy's voice cut through the silence, and all of a sudden he ran out of the bush (where he had apparently been cornered), followed by Cho Chang. She was looking almost Rita-Skeeter-ish, as she was wearing pink cat-eye glasses with one lens missing and her nails were badly chipped.

"Wait," Ron said, laughing at them as they raced to the castle steps. Cho caught up with Draco and tried to hug him, and Ron added, "Didn't she graduate a year ago?"

"Yes, but I think she never really got over Draco. Hold on – that's going to go with my memory of Malfoy the Amazing Bouncing Ferret." Hermione said jokingly, and then she turned to Harry and Ginny. "Are you okay, Gin?"

Ginny nodded, and said, "I'm more than okay. Look!" She showed Hermione her ring. Hermione whirled around to Ron, who wasn't surprised. "Did you know about this? No one bothers to tell me anything, anymore! Take the miniature Krum for example!"

"Well, if Harry or I had told you anything about that, it would've spoiled this surprise," Ron said with a smile, and then proceeded to propose to Hermione. She said yes, of course. There would have been no point to this story if she hadn't.

And; except for Draco and Cho, they were all very happy with what graduation had brought upon them.

A/N: Finished! Now I have time for that soapbox derby car I'm supposed to be building for next Memorial Day! I'm not kidding, I swear. It's a long story. But you don't want to hear that one.