A/N: Wow. 7500 words! You should be ecstatic! You should be dancing in the streets, singing my praise! You should at least give me reviews! )
This is the last chapter in this story. I'm sorry it took so long for me to get it up, but I am very lazy. Besides, school is evil incarnate! Anyway, although this is the last chapter of this story, it is not the end of everything. I'll start a new one soon, and it will be Ginny's year at Hogwarts. If you have read my one-shot called Intermezzo then you will have a pretty good idea at what is to come. ) I promise to shut up now, and if you think this was a good chapter, then please review!
JK's. Not mine. Got it?

---

The next morning Ginny was the first to wake. She lay awake for a while, thinking about everything that had happened lately and was about to happen. In two days she would be on the Hogwarts express on her way to school, something she hadn't done in two years. She remembered how empty school had felt when she had gotten there last time and truly realised that she would be the only Weasley in school. That hadn't happened since Bill started, almost ten years earlier. Everything that year had been different. Not only was she the only Weasley, she was just about the only seventh year also. The last battle had been fought a few months earlier, and parents were reluctant to send their kids back to school after what happened. It had been a long year, and what should have been her greatest year had been spent almost all by herself, studying or gazing into the fire.

"But that's all over now," she said into the air. "School is packed, and I'm no longer alone."

"Not if I have a say in it you won't," a groggy voice said beside her. Ginny turned her head with a smile.

"Listening in on my private conversations are you?" she asked playfully.

Harry nodded drowsily. "It's kind of hard not to when I lie her right next to you." Ginny cuddled closer and laid her head on his shoulder.

"What were you thinking about?" Harry asked.

"Oh, just school. My seventh year and the general horribleness of it all."

"I'm sorry."

"Why? It's not your fault. Quite the contrary."

"What do you mean?" Harry started to absently stroke the outside of her arm. "I could have come to visit. I could have written you letters. I could have not been a complete idiot and actually made sure you were ok."

"Oh Harry," Ginny said with a sigh. "You had enough with yourself that year. I never expected you to do any of those things. Besides, that Christmas you were the greatest friend a girl could have had." She kissed him on the cheek, and he smiled.

"I'm going to miss you," he said then. "A lot."

"I'll miss you, too."

"Gin, what would it take for you not to go?"

Ginny froze and sat up in the bed. "Are you asking me not to go?"

Harry sighed and sat up as well. "If I did what would you do?"

"I don't know," she replied truthfully, surprised at herself. She had never thought about that before. "I guess I'd ask you why I should give up what I have wanted to do for as long I can remember."

Harry thought about it for a while. "So you could be with me. So I could be with you."

Ginny bit her lower lip. "Harry, are you asking me not to go?"

"Do you want me to?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm afraid that I might do as you ask."

They looked at each other in silence.

"Ginny don't go," Harry said suddenly, the pain in his voice evident. Ginny swallowed. What could she possibly say to something like that? He wanted her not to go. And she wanted to be with him. She had always wanted to be with him. But this was her dream! This was something she had wanted to do ever since she had started Hogwarts and found out that she actually had a talent for Transfiguration. But at the same time this was Harry. And he wanted her to stay. She didn't think it was fair that he asked that of her and she told him as much.

"I don't think it is right of you to ask me not to go. You know that I have wanted to be with you since I was eleven. And you say you love me, you should be able to let me go. And it's not like we will break up or anything. Besides, what would I do all day while you were off playing quidditch? And it's not just practice. I can deal with practice. But what will happen once the season really starts and you will be out travelling nine days out of ten? Then what? Am I just going to be at home and wait? I'm so sorry but I can't do that. I refuse to be one of those women that spend their entire life waiting for their husbands to come home from whatever exciting adventure it is he is out having." She ended her rant, then suddenly clasped her hands over her mouth. "I didn't mean it like that. I didn't mean husband. I meant boyfriend. I meant... cursed, you know what I meant."

Harry smiled and nodded. "Of course. And I think you should go. I was just testing you."

"What?"

"Yeah, to make sure that you really wanted to do this. I mean, if you had said yes I would have forced you to go anyway, because I know how much this internship means to you. Besides," he grinned, "McGonagall would have my hide if I stopped you from going. I may have done some stuff in my life that could be deemed brave, but not even I am one to go against McGonagall when she is in the right mood."

"Never tickle a sleeping dragon," Ginny replied with a giggle.

"Exactly." Harry smiled softly at her before tucking away a strand of hair behind her ear. Then he bent over and kissed her. "I'll miss you, though. And you have to promise me you will write."

"Every day," she replied at once. "At least every other day. Or like... once a week. Will a Christmas card be enough? A toilet seat?"

Harry laughed and kissed her again. "I love you. And your breath is horrible, by the way."

"Ditto."

---

30/07/00

Oh such a bittersweet day. Harry and I had a great night yesterday – again. And I woke up in Harry's bed this morning – again. Then we spent the majority of the day in bed talking about everything and nothing. Not again, but it is definitely on my 'things I will do again' list. (I just created one and so far that is the only thing on it.) Then around three or so Ron came home (home now being Harry's apartment. It is two days since I moved in with Hermione and I have yet to spend a night there. Not that I really mind.). He (Ron) didn't look too excited to apparate into the living room to find his darling sister walking around still in her PJs. (not really PJs, more like one of Harry's old shirts and some slacks I found lying around that I think must belong to Hermione. Either that or I am getting very worried about Ron and Harry's taste in pants.)

Anyway, perfect morning/afternoon, but all things must come to an end. (Oh the drama!) Ron had apparently come home to find me and drag me home (to mine and Hermione's place) to talk about "something very important". (It was at this point Ron got very secretive and tried his best not to look at Harry, but at the same time make me understand that we were to plan Harry's birthday party. After all it is his birthday tomorrow. Harry did well, though, putting on the Crabbe and Goyle stupidity act. I don't think Ron caught on.) So anyway... I said goodbye to Harry, went home and have spent the entire evening planning tomorrow's party. I am now back in my own room (for the first time!) and I admit that I am feeling quite lonely here, all by myself. But I guess I have to get used to it, seeing as from tomorrow I will be alone again. Unbelievable how quickly one can get used to sharing a bed.

Speaking of alone. I can't believe tomorrow is my last day at home. Harry's birthday and my last day here. If I sleep alone tomorrow night it is because I will be afraid of dissolving into tears at the very thought of not seeing Harry for Merlin knows how long. Oh goodness, I really can't think about this. I am going to cry. I don't cry. I don't ever cry. I did my share of crying during the war. And I am not going to cry over something as stupid as a boy. I am more mature than that. Oh cursed. I'm crying. God, I am so pathetic. I think I'll just quit here. This is only making me depressed. Later.

---

The morning of Harry's birthday Ginny woke with a start. It took her half a minute to remember where she was and to find out why she was unable to move her feet, when suddenly she noticed someone sitting on them.

"Harry?"

"Good morning, sunshine," he said with a big grin. "I have been watching you sleep for ages."

"And I am now officially creeped out."

"Don't. You make a beautiful sleeper."

"Thank you. Now, get off my feet?"

Harry rose and sat down on a chair across from her bed. "Why are you so grumpy?"

"Early morning," she muttered, and then yawned. "What time is it?"

"Six o' clock."

Ginny looked confused, then reached for her bedside watch. He was right. It was actually six o' clock. In the bloody morning!

"Harry I love you, but what the hell are you doing here at six o' clock in the morning? And when did you get up? Holy crap, you said you'd been here for some time, so you must have been up since forever!"

Harry chuckled. "Since around five, actually. I woke up, turned around to see if you were still sleeping, and then I remembered that you weren't there and I had to see you."

"At six o' clock in the morning?"

"Five, actually."

"Whatever. So you've seen me. Happy now?"

He shook his head.

"Then could you please commence your watching in silence? I need my beauty sleep." Then she yawned, turned around and tried to go back to sleep. A little later she could hear Harry move and then she could feel him get into bed beside her. He put an arm across her waist, kissed her neck softly, and a moment later she could hear his heavy breathing, as if he was sleeping. Ginny smiled, curled up in his arms and fell asleep feeling perfectly content with the world.

---

"Gin wake up." It was a man's voice, and it was getting very annoying. Why couldn't whoever it was just shut up and leave her alone? She was sleeping, couldn't he tell? But no – "Ginny, come on. Wake up."

"Shut up," she muttered, but the man refused to be quiet. And now he seemed to have joined together with someone else.

"What should we do?" the first voice said. "She won't wake up."

"Oh come on, it can't be that hard," the second voice replied.

Try me, Ginny thought to herself. It really can.

"But we have tried everything."

"Move over little bro'," yet another voice said, and the next moment Ginny was on her feet, screaming, her entire body being soaked with ice cold water. She reached for the wand on her bedside table, raised it and pointed it straight at the entire clan of Weasley boys.

"See?" Fred said with a smirk. "Not that hard."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Ginny all but screamed at her brothers.

"Isn't that obvious?" George replied. "We're waking you up."

"But I didn't want to be woken up," she said, trying to get her brain to to work so she could figure out which hex to use for each brother.

"Obviously," Charlie said with a laugh.

"Sorry Gin," Percy said with an apologetic smile. "I tried to stop them."

Ron snorted. "As if. Percy was the master mind behind the whole water thing."

"Why the hell are you here?" Ginny repeated while starting to feel the effects of just having had an entire bucket of water thrown over her. At least it looked like that was what it had been from the bucket lying in front of her.

"In case you have completely forgotten, wee one, today is Harry's birthday." Bill was about to continue when Ginny suddenly spun around. Harry! He had been in her bed!

"Where's Harry?" she asked next, looking around frantically. "He was here this morning, and... what did you do to him?" She glared at her brothers, all of whom were looking too innocent for Ginny's liking.

"What do you mean, where is Harry? I would guess he was at home in his own bed." Charlie was smirking, and Ginny rolled her eyes. How stupid could you get?

"What did you do to him?" she pointed her wand at each of the five men in turn.

"I'm here Gin." Harry was standing outside her bedroom, dressed and looking far too handsome for it to be only ten in the morning.

"See Harry got up when we asked him to," Ron said with a nod. "He's a smart man."

"More like used to you and your unorthodox ways of waking people up," Harry replied with a frown, and Ron laughed.

"True."

"Now then, Ginner pinner," Bill said, eyeing her wand carefully. "You are awake and up. Mum wants us all to come home for breakfast, we were given strict instructions to be no later than ten thirty, and we will see you there."

Ginny glared at him. "Why didn't you just say so?"

"This is a lot more fun."

"Get out," she muttered and put her wand back. A united sigh of relief went through her brothers, and Ginny rolled her eyes. Men! Afraid of one little girl with a wand. Of course, they had come face to face with her hexes before, and they knew perfectly well what she was capable of. But still!

"See you at home, Gin," Percy said before he apparated out.

"Yeah. Dry up properly, though." Fred smirked, then he was gone as well.

"Fleur sends her love and says she is excited to see you." Bill waved, and now only two of her brothers were left.

"Take care, wee one," George said with a wink and was off.

"I'm going to see Hermione." Ron smiled quickly, turned around, leaving her to herself at last.

"God, I hate them," Ginny muttered and looked at her room.

"I'm sorry." Harry was still standing outside her room, and he looked like he was about to laugh. "If I had known, I would have stopped them. But I was just in the bathroom and was on my way back to try and wake you up in a more thoughtful manner, when I heard you scream. I'm very sorry."

Ginny sighed and pulled a hand through her wet hair. "Don't worry. Dry this up for me and I will be back in ten minutes." Then she suddenly remembered something. "And happy birthday."

Harry grinned. "Thank you. Do you have a present for me?"

Ginny smiled impishly. "What do you mean? The one I plan to give you tonight isn't good enough?"

Harry coughed and joined her grin. "Can I bring my girlfriend?"

She laughed. "No. Tonight I want you all to myself."

"I can't wait. In fact..." Harry put a quick drying spell on Ginny and her room. "Do you think your mum will notice if we were a little late for that breakfast?"

Ginny laughed. "If she doesn't my brothers certainly will, and then they will come and get us, and trust me, that is one of those things you do not want to go through."

Harry looked horrified. "You're right. Tonight then. Now go shower and I'll drop by home and get some decent clothes. I'm back here in ten minutes."

"Ok. And happy birthday again."

"Shower. Now."

---

For as long as Ginny could remember, and for a reason she never really could put her finger to, breakfast had always been her favourite meal. She figured it had to do something with it being the one meal where the entire family was gathered. Or, as Ron had pointed out once, the only meal where everyone was remotely quiet.

Harry and Ginny apparated outside the Burrow and was immediately welcome by Bill and Fleur and their son.

"Well you're dry," Bill said with a laugh as he saw her sister. Ginny glared.

"No thanks to you."

"Oh come on, Pinner, you have to admit it was a little funny."

"What is so funny?" Fleur chimed in, while trying to keep her son in reign.

"Oh, nothing," Bill said hurriedly, giving Ginny a meaningful look. Fleur would obviously not find it amusing that her husband had participated in soaking his little sister to get her to wake up.

"Just an inside joke," Ginny said with a smile and took baby Bill's hand. "You have the evillest dad in the entire world," she whispered to the little boy, who replied by planting a wet kiss on her cheek. Ginny smiled. "Thank you."

"I thought that was my job," Harry said softly as he walked past her and into the house.

"No, yours is way more intricate than that," she replied so that only he could hear, and Harry laughed.

"I'm intrigued."

"What could possibly intrigue the great Harry Potter?" Fred said mockingly as he entered the hallway where Harry, Ginny and baby Bill were standing.

Harry met Ginny's eyes, and Fred let out an "aaaaah," that left no room for any doubt as to what he meant. "I don't think I want to know," he said then.

"Then I would have to kill you," Ginny laughed and put down her nephew. "Go torture your uncle George will you?" she said with a grin, and the little boy ran off screaming gleefully.

"You leaving already?" she asked then. Fred nodded.

"Yeah. Very sorry, but Angie flooed and said she didn't feel too good. I'm going home to her." He turned to Harry. "Sorry I couldn't stay for your party, mate. But I hope you have a good one anyway."

"I'll definitely have a quieter one," Harry replied with a smirk, and Fred gaped in mock surprise.

"What do you possibly mean?"

"Oh, nothing. I'm just thinking I might be able to stay dry through the entire meal."

"Oh yes." Fred grinned just as wickedly as he had at seventeen. "You have a point. See you."

"See you. Give Angelina our love."

"Will do. Bye." And then he disappeared with a loud 'pop'.

"Do you think he will ever grow up?" Harry asked Ginny as the two of them walked into the kitchen.

"Not if he can help it."

"I'm glad. The world needs a little laughter."

Ginny nodded. "Certainly."

That was all she managed to say about that, because at this point they had reached the kitchen table, and suddenly Ginny realised they were all alone. She looked at Harry curiously.

"Where is everyone?"

Harry shook his head and looked around. "I don't know. Weren't we supposed to be in here?"

"I don't know. Maybe they're out back. Hang on, I'll go check." Then she kissed him quickly and left. In the back yard she was met by the entire extended Weasley family, all of whom were being uncharacteristically quiet.

"Did you get away ok?" Hermione asked as Ginny came out into the garden.

"Yes," Ginny said with a smile and waved at her parents who were trying to keep baby Bill quiet. "He has no idea."

"Brilliant," Ron chimed in. "He is a great man, but definitely not the brightest of fellows."

Ginny suppressed a giggle and was about to retort when the entire back yard suddenly erupted in a chorus of "SURPRISE!" There was sound everywhere, and in the back door Harry was standing, looking genuinely surprised. Perhaps Ron was right. But he couldn't be that dense could he?

"Happy birthday!" Mrs. Weasley said and rushed forward and embraced Harry warmly. "So sorry to fool you like this, but we all know how you didn't want a big party and so we decided to do this instead."

Harry looked around at everyone standing in the yard. His gaze lingered on Ginny for a few seconds before moving on.

"Wow," he said to everyone. "I really am surprised. I had a feeling something was up, but this was definitely not expected. Thank you."

"You are most welcome," Percy said pompously, and Ginny shared an amused look with Ron. Percy had lost a lot of his stupidity during the war, but at the same time he was a Ministry official through and through, a personality trait that would never completely disappear.

"Now then," Mrs. Weasley said loud enough to be heard over all the talking. "Let us eat!" A loud cheer erupted, and a number of people rushed to the table. Ginny was observing it all with an amused smile.

"You should have told me," Harry's voice came from behind her. He stopped by her side and took her hand. Ginny looked up at him.

"I'm sorry, but Hermione said she would never forgive me if I did. I thought you might have guessed, though."

Harry arched his eyebrows and smiled. "Had I thought about it I might have understood something like this was coming up, but I have been... distracted... lately." He smiled warmly at her and Ginny leaned a little closer and put her arm around his waist.

"I'm sorry again."

"Don't be. The distractions have been good."

"Really?"

"Really."

She sighed. "I am going to miss you so much," she muttered.

Harry sighed, as well. "I know. I'll miss you too. And it's not like I can apparate into Hogwarts when I can't sleep because my bed is too big for one person."

"Yeah." She grinned at him. "Maybe you should buy a smaller bed."

Harry snorted. "Sure. Good plan." He kissed the top of her head, and Ginny sighed, from happiness this time.

"I'll write you, though. And Christmas isn't that far away. And maybe if you're free you can come visit."

Harry looked pensive, then he smiled. "I have a question. Do you want to go to the first Hogsmeade weekend with me?"

Ginny laughed and for a moment it felt like she was sixteen again. "What? And spend the entire day following you, Ron and Hermione around? No thank you."

Harry caught on to her act and continued. "No. I mean just you and me. Like a date."

"A date? Are you serious?"

"Of course I am. Besides, something tells me Ron and Hermione might want to be alone as well." He nodded towards his two best friends who looked like they were all alone in the world. Ginny make fake puking sounds, then giggled.

"That's a date, Mr. Potter. But you have to promise to be nice. I'd hate to lose house points over something as trivial as a date."

Harry wriggled his eyebrows. "I can't promise anything. Besides, my best friends are Head Boy and Girl so I can just talk to them to restore the points."

"So that's how you managed to get away all that time," Ginny laughed, and Harry kissed her on the forehead.

"So I'll take that as a yes?"

"That's a yes."

Ginny let go of his waist and took his hand again, before leading him to the table. "Now then, when that is settled; can we please eat? I'm starving!"

---

The party continued for many hours. Baby Bill had fallen asleep on the sofa and Ginny had volunteered to keep an eye on him while the others talked and enjoyed the party. She looked around at the house she had called home for so many years, and felt a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving it all again. She hadn't spent much time at home over the last couple of years, and now she was even living on her own in her own flat. However, as she looked around she couldn't help but feel that, come tomorrow, her childhood would officially be over.

"You look sad, dear." Her mother was coming towards her, and she carried a tray of biscuits, fresh from the oven, by the smell of it. "Is anything wrong? It's not Harry is it?"

Ginny shook her head. "No, it's not Harry. I was just thinking about tomorrow."

"You're sad because you have to leave?"

"Yeah. That, and it suddenly occurred to me that I'm no longer a child."

Mrs. Weasley sat down on the sofa and put the tray on the table. She took Ginny's hand and stroked it gently. "You haven't been a child for many years, Ginny. Quite the contrary. You were forced to grow up way too early, and although you may have been a child, in your head you have always been a lot more mature than many kids your age."

Ginny nodded thoughtfully. "I guess you're right. I still feel sad to leave it all behind, though. It's like I am officially grown up, now."

Mrs. Weasley smiled. "If it helps you will always be my little girl."

"Thank you, mum." She laughed and reached for the biscuits on the table. "I can't believe I'm leaving tomorrow. It makes me feel very grown-up, but at the same time I feel just like I did at eleven."

"Of course you do. This is a whole new phase starting for you. And I don't think you have a reason to be nervous. I am sure everyone will love you, and you will get a lot of new friends."

"Oh yes. Professor Snape and I will probably become the best of chums." She made a face and Mrs. Weasley couldn't help but laugh.

"You know what I mean, dear. And if you don't, then know that you have a lot of friends waiting for you when you get home. Not to mention a certain man who probably feel even worse than you do about you having to leave." She smiled suggestively, and Ginny blushed.

"He asked me not to go," Ginny said softly, and Mrs. Weasley nodded.

"I'm not surprised. Harry is infatuated with you, Ginny. When the two of you got together I was a little worried at first because it looked like you only pretended to be in love. Now I can see how wrong I was, though."

Ginny coughed. If only her mother knew how right she was! For a moment she thought about telling her, then decided not to. This was between her and Harry, and she figured it would be a good story for later.

"Well, we really love each other."

Mrs. Weasley nodded. "So I can see. And I overheard Hermione saying you haven't been much at home lately." She arched her eyebrows, and Ginny suddenly got very interested in her hands.

"Oh don't worry about it, dear," Mrs. Weasley continued with a smile. "Heaven knows you aren't the only one of your siblings to have sex before you were married."

"Ok mum!" Ginny shot to her feet. "You know what? I think I will take these biscuits out into the yard."

Mrs. Weasley laughed. "Of course, dear. I will be right there, I just want to sit here with Bill for a little while. Isn't he the most adorable little boy? He looks so much like your brother did at that age."

"See you."

Ginny grabbed the biscuit tray and walked away from her mum. She couldn't believe the turn the conversation had taken. Normally Ginny really liked to talk to her mother, at least as long as the topic was easy and neutral. This, however... She shuddered involuntarily. The only time she had ever had the Talk with her mother she had had nightmares for days afterwards, not to mention the strong urge to go poke her eyes out she had felt. She shuddered again and walked into the garden. There she put the tray of biscuits on the table and was immediately surrounded by people on all sides. She walked over to Harry who was standing by himself looking at a book he had gotten from Hermione.

"You'll never guess what my mum just said."

Harry put down the book and turned around. "Ok. Then I suggest you tell me. Was it bad?"

"Very bad."

"I see. Should I be afraid to ever look her in the eyes again?"

Ginny laughed. "Umm, yes. Definitely."

Harry made a face. "Do you suggest I make a change of address?"

"Yup."

"Move somewhere far away? Like... Malaysia?"

"Not far enough."

"Now I'm worried."

"Ok, it wasn't that bad. We were just talking about tomorrow. You know, about me leaving and stuff."

Harry's smile disappeared. "I know."

"Anyway, she said she was sure you would miss me a lot, and she was very happy that you and I seemed to be so in love."

"She said that? But that wasn't so bad."

"No, that was quite nice, actually. It was what came after that."

"There was an after?" He looked worried.

"There was an after. She said she had overheard Hermione say that I hadn't spent much time at home lately, and then she probably assumed that also meant I hadn't spent too many nights at home."

"Oh. Bad. Very bad."

Ginny nodded. "Very bad. Then she proceeded to say that she wasn't angry, and that I wasn't the only one of my siblings to have had sex before I was married."

Harry gaped. "She said that?"

"Yes she did."

"Oh my God. What did you do?"

"Run?"

He laughed. "I can understand. Wow. That's kind of..."

"Gross?" she continued.

"More like terrifying."

"I agree. So what do you say we both run away and never ever talk to her again?"

Harry looked around. "They look happy with the biscuits. Maybe if we just... disappeared?" He arched his eyebrows suggestively and Ginny blushed without meaning to.

"How about we go upstairs? My old room is there and I know a very good soundproofing spell. We could also put a hex on the door to make sure no one comes in."

"Oh, I like that." He grabbed her hand and they were about to run off when suddenly Mrs. Weasley came running through the back door. She looked flushed and she was staring around wildly.

"Molly! What is wrong?" Mr. Weasley ran to his wife and tried to calm her down.

"It's Angelina," Molly panted. "Fred just flooed to tell us she's in labour!"

The silence that followed it could have rivalled a graveyard. Then it was as if everyone came back to their senses at once, and there was chaos everywhere.

"Damn. Talk about bad timing." Ginny growled and looked at Harry, who nodded.

"Couldn't have been worse. Well, we will have to postpone it. Your family probably want you at the hospital. I'll just head home."

Ginny looked confused. "What do you mean 'head home'? You're coming, too!"

"Gin, I can't do that. They would want the family there, and I have no place in that."

"Oh shut up, you. You're as much family as anyone here. Even more so than some. Besides, I need you there."

"Do you really?"

She leaned in close. "I always have."

---

The maternity ward at St. Mungos was bustling with activity when Ginny and Harry appeared on the scene. Five Weasleys, Hermione and Fleur were pacing the corridor looking very nervous. Baby Bill was playing with some toys on the floor, and over by the corner in a chair sat Fred looking pale as a ghost. He was wetting his lips every two seconds, and when he didn't do that he was looking at his watch.

"Hi everyone," Ginny said to no one in particular, and they all stopped their pacing. Hermione rushed over.

"Oh thank goodness you are here!" she exclaimed. "I am going crazy. Ron is absolutely impossible to talk to, all he does is pace and pace. Fleur is so busy with Bill, Penelope had to go away on some urgent Ministry business and Laura left to get tea about two minutes ago."

"Well here we are," Ginny said cheerfully. "Is Angie ok?"

"Yes, she's fine. The baby is on its way, but no one knows how long it will take. I think it is Fred you should worry about. When we came here he was sitting in that chair right there, and he hasn't moved since."

Harry and Ginny both laughed, then sobered at Hermione's stern look.

"Sorry, Hermione," Harry said with a shrug. "It's not funny."

Hermione sighed, then gave out a small chuckle. "Actually it is. I'm just going crazy. The tension is driving me nuts."

"How about we sit down?" Ginny asked and looked around for a couple of chairs.

"No chairs left," Hermione said with a sigh. Ginny rolled her eyes, took out her wand and conjured up three chairs. Harry whistled through his teeth and Hermione looked stunned.

"Way to go, Professor Weasley," Harry said with a mock smile. Ginny pounced him.

"Shut up and sit down."

The three of them fell into their chairs, Hermione still staring at Ginny.

"I had no idea you could do that," she said after a while.

Ginny shrugged. "It's no big deal. Conjuring has just always been something I was good at."

"I can tell. I didn't know you were this good, though. Three chairs in one spell is very advanced!"

Ginny smiled sheepishly. "I guess. I just..."

"This is why she is going to be a Professor," Harry said with a firm nod. He gave her a proud smile that warmed Ginny's heart. He was proud of her, and he didn't mind that she was going away. At least he knew it was what was best for her.

"I suppose. Still, though," Hermione said, not wanting to let the topic go.

"Listen, 'Mione," Ginny said. "It's no big deal, ok? Besides, you are good at just about everything else. The fact that I can conjure three years in one spell doesn't change the fact that you still got a million NEWTs, while only got like – nine."

Hermione went silent then, and Harry and Ginny looked at each other amusedly. The best way to shut Hermione up was to tell her how good she was. She hated to talk about it, even though everyone knew it for a fact. It was a very good weapon that could be powerful if one knew how to use it right.

The hours dragged on, and still nothing much had happened. About half an hour earlier a nurse had come to fetch Fred, and now everyone were waiting for him to come back out and tell them how it had gone. Ginny was half asleep, her head in Harry's lap. Hermione had risen a while back and Ginny had used the opportunity to stretch out across the chairs. Harry was stroking her hair absently, now and then looking into her face and smiling a little. Fleur had gone home with baby Bill, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had gone to get some coffee and a little rest. George and Percy had gone to see if they could find any food, and Ron and Hermione were talking quietly in the corner.

"What is taking so long?" Ginny said with a sigh. Harry shrugged.

"Maybe the baby doesn't want to come out?"

She smiled. "Maybe. He's probably afraid. Can't blame him, though, when you think about the kind of family he will get."

Harry chuckled, then looked pensive. "Why is everyone saying 'he'? I thought Fred said they didn't know what it would be. Still everyone keeps saying 'he'."

Ginny took his hand and kissed it. "Did you know I was the only girl to be born into this family for generations?"

Harry looked surprised. "No I didn't. Well, I guess that explains it."

"Yup. Apparently the chance of me being a girl was like one in a million. My dad had three brothers, no sisters. When I was born it was a huge sensation. If you look at my baby pictures you will see that I only had blue clothes for the first three months of my life. Mum and dad had everything ready, the clothes, the colours, everything. Imagine their surprise when they got a girl. It was such chaos that they couldn't think of a name for me. According to Charlie I was called 'the baby' for quite some time. Fred and George were very little when I was born and up until they were five or so they thought that 'the baby' was a real girl's name."

Harry laughed. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah. I think I got my name just in time for the christening."

Harry stroked her chin. "Ginevra Molly Weasley. I think it's a pretty name."

Ginny sighed. "It's a name. I guess it is better than 'the baby'."

"Very true. But I do think it is very pretty."

"Like I said, it's a name."

"You don't like it?"

Ginny shrugged. "I can't say I don't like it. It's more... I don't think it fits. I've been Ginny for as long as I can remember, and Ginevra sounds so... heavy, in a way. So not me."

"Queen Ginevra," Harry said, and Ginny looked confused. He smiled. "Queen Ginevra was a Scottish queen in the age of King Arthur."

"He was the king in Merlin's time, right?"

"Exactly. And I have to admit my knowledge of that entire story is a bit thin, but I do know that Ginevra was a queen at the same time as Arthur was king."

Ginny looked impressed. "Was she a witch?"

Harry shrugged. "I have no idea. Maybe you could ask your mum. She must have given you that name for a reason."

"You're probably right. Hmm, I never thought that my name might actually have a meaning. Thank you."

Harry bent down and kissed her forehead. "You're welcome. And I still think it's pretty."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say. Now then, Harry James Potter – any deep meanings to your name?"

"Nope. Not that I know of, anyway. I mean, James was my dad, of course, and I suppose I'm named after him. As for Harry, I have no idea. Probably just a random name my parents came up with."

Ginny looked at him seriously. "Do you think about them a lot?"

Harry looked into the air, then back at her. "Not much. Sometimes, but not as much as I used to. When I was little and lived with the Dursleys I thought about them all the time. That was before I knew I was a wizard – before I knew magic even existed. I used to dream up stories about them, things we would do together had they still been alive. But then I met Hagrid and I started Hogwarts. And then of course I met Sirius and he changed everything. In a way I guess he was more of a father to me than anyone has ever been." He went silent and Ginny looked away. She was surprised at the way Harry had opened up to her lately. She figured it had something to do with him growing up and being able to move on. When they had been to school, during the war, he had always looked so worried, like everything was his responsibility. Then, once the war was over, he looked like he wanted nothing but to sleep and sleep and forget it ever happened. He had hardly spoken, hardly eaten, hardly come out of his room at all. He had looked thin and grey, and everyone was so worried. Ginny could remember the letters she used to get from her mother expressing her concern over Harry. 'He doesn't eat, he doesn't speak, and I don't think I have heard him laugh at all since he came here.' Then that Christmas, Christmas of her seventh year, something had changed. Ginny had come home on vacation to find a house full of happiness and excitement. This was their first Christmas with no need to fear anything or anyone, and everyone was in their best mood. Even Harry had smiled a little, but it hadn't reached his eyes, and Ginny remembered the feeling of helplessness she got whenever she looked at him. As Christmas went by Ginny and Harry had spent more and more time alone together. Ron and Hermione were nowhere to be found, something that left them to themselves a lot the time. And they had used it well. Ginny was sure she had never talked as much before in her entire life. Her and Harry had spent many nights in front of the fire, talking about this and that. For the first time in what had felt like an eternity Harry's smiles started to reach his eyes. He was eating again, and Ginny felt it like a personal victory the first time she heard him laugh at one of the twin's jokes. Since that Christmas a deep friendship had evolved between the two of them. And it was this friendship that eventually led them to where they were now - half asleep on hard chairs, in a hospital corridor, once again talking about everything that came to their minds.

There was darkness everywhere the next time Ginny opened her eyes. She was still lying in Harry's lap, her face pressed into his abdomen. She turned around and found that her family were back, and they were now looking at her and Harry in obvious amusement. She sat up quickly and looked at Harry, who smiled apologetically.

"You comfortable, Gin?" George asked with a smirk.

"Please don't get up because of us," Charlie continued.

"Oh yes. We're not going to say a word." Bill was chuckling.

Ginny rubbed her eyes and decided to ignore them. "Is the baby out yet?"

Everyone laughed, and Ginny looked confused. What was so funny?

"Yes, sweetheart," her mother said. "The baby is out and well. Fred just came by ten minutes ago. Your father and I are going in to see her now."

It took Ginny about a second to realise what had been said.

"Her?"

"Yes, dear," her father said. "Looks like we finally have found someone we can give those pink baby clothes of yours to."

Ginny grinned. "That's amazing! What are they going to call her?"

"Alexandra, after Angelina's mother," Bill told her.

"Wow. I'm... stunned."

"So are we, dear," said Mrs. Weasley. "So are we." Then she took her husband's arm and they walked through the door to Angelina's room to take the first look at their new granddaughter.

Ginny turned to look at Harry who hadn't said anything through this entire ordeal.

"Are you ok?" he asked her.

Ginny stared at him. "Me? Why shouldn't I be ok?"

"Your brothers?"

"Oh, that. I don't care about them anymore. I'm used to it. Are you ok, though? Were they nice to you?"

"Oh you know how they are. I can hold them off, though. Don't worry about me." He smiled, and Ginny smiled back.

"I won't, then. What time is it?"

Harry looked at his watch. "Two in the morning."

"Really?"

"Really."

"I'm so tired I could fall asleep standing."

Harry looked at her in concern. "You want to go home? They said that the only people allowed in tonight are Fred and your parents. How about I take you home and then we can go visit Angie before you leave tomorrow?"

Ginny nodded. "I guess I can do that. The train doesn't leave until one, anyway."

Harry smiled. "Are you saying the Hogwarts express actually leaves at other times than 'eleven sharp'?"

She laughed, then yawned. "So it would seem. Who would have guessed, huh?"

"Not me."

She got to her feet, swayed a little, then yawned again. "Take me home. I can't even think straight."

"Ok. I'll just go say goodbye to Ron and Hermione."

"Do that, I'll meet you back at my place." Ginny waved at her brothers, then got out her wand and apparated. When she was back in her own room she fell down on the bed with a 'thump'. A little later Harry came in. He helped her undress, then got her into bed, before getting in with her. Ginny pulled him close and kissed his cheekbone.

"I'm sorry I didn't get to give you your birthday present," she muttered.

Harry put his arms around her. "It's ok. It leaves us something to do on the Hogsmeade weekend in case it rains."

Ginny giggled tiredly. "Talk about setting an example for the students."

Harry kissed her head and then stroked her back carefully. "Sleep now, queen Ginevra. You have a long day ahead of you."

"You're like my knight in shining armour," Ginny mumbled into his chest, fighting against the sleepiness that threatened to overwhelm her.

"I am. And I will be here for as long as you need me to. Sleep now. I will watch over you."

And with that, she was gone.