A/N – YEAHHHH – got my first review….from FuckMeImIrish. This means that I actually have a reader who is NOT one of my friends. This has pleased me immensely and so I have decided that I can post the next chappie. This is not incredibly exciting, but it finally allows us to say farewell to Hogwarts (for the time being) and understand a little about what each character is going to do next. Hope you like it

Chapter 2 - Prize-Giving

Ginny, Posie and Ben walked into the Great Hall at 6 O'clock on the dot, along with the rest of the 7th years, all of whom were looking extremely nervous. The room was decorated with the four house colours and the tables that usually ran down the length of the hall had been removed and replaced with row and rows of chairs. The majority of chairs were now occupied with the family and friends of the 7th year students. Ginny quickly scanned the crowd for her family, but they weren't hard to find. A group of people all with bright red hair were sitting in the middle of the audience. Mrs. Weasley was turned around in her seat and waving enthusiastically at her daughter. Ginny blushed and quickly gave a little wave back. Ginny's eyes then drifted of to the left of her mother and her stomach gave a sharp jolt. There he was, he was actually here! She could recognise the shock of messy black hair anywhere. Harry Potter was here. She felt a sharp poke in her back. She turned around and gave Ben a disapproving look, but his reply was to simply make kissing movements with his lips, and mouth the words, "Harry…oh Harry….kiss me Harry."

"SHHHHH….please don't be mean Ben," Ginny pleased, throwing a sharp look in the direction of her family and Harry to check that no one had seen what Ben had done. They hadn't and Ginny gave a relieved sigh.

"Students, please take your seats so that we may begin," Professor McGonagall called out, pointing to the front three rows of chairs.

When Ginny had taken her seat, Posie on her left and Ben on her right, she looked up at the stage were all the teachers were seated. Dumbledore stood behind a lectern, with a table behind him that was stacked high with books. When he was finally happy that everyone was sitting in their correct place her tapped his wand on the lectern in order to gain the halls attention.

"Welcome, visitors students and teachers, to this very special occasion. After many years of study and school life we are gathered today to bid a warm farewell to the next generation of young adults to leave the secutuity of left at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as they begin the next stage of their life," Dumbledore said loudly, with his bright blue eyes gleaming happily. "This evenings events will be three pronged. Firstly the presentation of the NEWT exam results, where our students will finally discover their final grades. Secondly the Prize-giving ceremony. All students will receive a book of their choosing as a small memento of their time here at Hogwarts. They will also receive a certificate for every NEWT that they have passed. Lastly we shall all be treated to, what I predict, will be a spectacular feast. Now, without further ado, it is my honour to present to you the results of the NEWT exams for this year." With that he gave a couple of sharp claps with his hands.

A pack of forty brown owls swooped into the Great Hall at that moment, all flying in perfect synchronicity. They swooped and dived and soared and twisted, as the crowd below "ohh"ed and "ahh"ed. The group of owls then flew towards the awaiting students, and at the exact same time each owl dropped the envelope that it had been carrying. Ginny watched as a red envelope fluttered gently onto her lap and lay there. For a horrible moment she thought she had just received a howler. Oh my god, she thought, have I done that bad in the exams that the ministry have sent me a howler telling me that I can no longer do my degree? With wide eyes she turned to Posie, who was holding onto her envelope tightly, which was also red. Ginny looked around at the other students and saw that the colours of the letters corresponded to the colours of their house's. With a relieved and trembling hands she took hold of her letter and tore into it. Shaking, she slowly removed the contents and scanned it quickly. Tears slowly started to built up in her eyes, and blinking to clear her vision she looked at her friend. Posie was sitting there grinning to herself, so Ginny correctly assumed that she had gotten the grades she needed to do her Muggle Studies degree. Posie turned to look at Ginny, and seeing the tears falling down the red heads cheeks, she quickly grabbed the sheet of paper Ginny was clasping in her hands. Posie read it quickly and gasped:

Name:Miss Virginia Anne Weasley

Candidate Number:44669

NEWT Results:Transfiguration OUTSTANDING with honours

Defence against the dark arts OUTSTANDING with honours

HerbologyOUTSTANDING with honours

CharmsOUTSTANDING with honours

PotionsOUTSTANDING with honours

"Oh my god Gin, you got five O's," exclaimed Posie, "that is absolutely BRILLIANT." Posie grabbed Ginny in a tight hug, and Ben threw his arms around the two girls also.

"What did you get Benny?" sniffed Ginny, wiping away her tears of joy.

"Oh, well I got three Acceptable's, so that is fine, as I only needed one!" grinned Ben sheepishly.

They were hushed once more by Dumbledore, who proceeded to give another speech, none of which Ginny heard as she was still in shock at her results. I got an 5 honours, I cant believe it, she thought to herself. Dumbledore then started to call the students up to the stage in turn, where he presented them their chosen book and a certificate. Ginny watched as Colin Creevy walked up on stage and gratefully accepted his book from Dumbledore. Ginny couldn't help smiling when she saw the title; Magical Photography – An Art or Science?. He then was presented his NEWT certificate by Professor McGonagall, and he then proceeded to walk down the line of teachers, shaking each of their hands in turn. Ginny waited patiently for her name to be called, but after calling up Posie Waterberg, Dumbledore indicated for the teachers to take a seat. Ginny looked around in panic, thinking that she had been forgotten.

"Now, every year a prize is awarded for academic excellence," Dumbledore began, "This prize is usually an award of 200 galleons, which goes to the student was has achieved the highest at NEWT level. This year however, I am very proud to announce that we have a student who scored the highest overall marks, not just in this country, but in the whole of Europe. The award for this honour is 500 galleons prize money, and a full scholarship to study the course of their choice at Maloestra University. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my great honour to present to you the student who has won this prestigious prize, Miss Virginia Weasley."

The entire hall erupted into waves of applause. Ginny was being pushed towards the stage by her classmates, a look of complete shock in incomprehension on her face. Dumbledore grasped her hand and shook it vigorously, handing her a massive trophy that was practically the size of Nelson's Column. She looked out into the crowd to see her entire family on their feet clapping the loudest. She could see her mother clutching her hands together with a look of immense pride on her face. She then looked across and for a brief moment her eyes made contact with the boy, no MAN, she had been fantasising about for the past 8 years. He gave her a wide smile and the thumbs up sign. Ginny then looked back at Dumbledore, as he had been talking to her.

"I'm sorry professor, I was miles away," she apologised, "what did you just say?"

"I asked if you would be so kind as to go backstage to the green room and wait for me there, Miss Weasley," Dumbledore beamed.

Ginny nodded obediently and made her way quickly to the green room where. Immediately after her followed Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape and two people Ginny didn't recognise. One was a short balding man, who was dangerously obese and one plate of chips away from a myocardial infarction. The other was a tall thin woman, with long dark blond hair. Dumbledore was the first to start speaking.

"Firstly, I would again like to congratulate you Miss Weasley. This school hasn't had this honour for over 15 years. Secondly, I would like to introduce you to Professor Squibble," Dumbledore motioned to the red, breathless ball of lard, "Professor Squibble is the Dean of Maloestra University. And this is Professor Shoreditch," he continued, turning to the tall woman, "Professor Shoreditch is the lecturer of Potions."

Ginny smiled to the group as a whole. She was somewhat lost for words.

"Miss Weasley," huffed Fatty McLard, "I am aware that you have been accepted onto the Cultural Relationships According to Potions and Spells course, but the honour you have been awarded affords you the right to do ANY degree of your choosing, the fees for which will be paid for, as well as your accommodation costs and book expenses. It is my duty to enquire as to whether you wish to continue with the aforementioned course, or whether you wish to study one of our more exclusive courses?" Professor Squibble gasped for breath, it seemed this little monolog had almost been too much for his lungs to handle.

Ginny looked away from Squibble, not trusting herself to burst into fits of laughter. She looked at Dumbledore instead, "Well….um…. I really wanted to…it mean my best subject is..I want to study Potions professor."

"Ahhh yes, I thought as much, hence I took the liberty of inviting Professor Shoreditch to this meeting," Dumbledore replied.

"Miss Weasley," began Professor Shoreditch, "I am so impressed with your NEWT potions result. It was one of the highest that has ever been achieved. I would like to invite you join the Master of Advanced Potions course. Only those who achieve truly remarkable grades are ever invited to study this course. In fact only you have been asked this year. It will be hard work, but immensely rewarding at the same time." Professor Shoreditch had a loving look in her eyes when she was talking about the course.

Ginny couldn't believe her ears. She felt absolutely elated. It seemed her dream had actually come true. I am actually going to get to study the subject I love, and not have any money worries at all. Ginny pinched herself on her leg to check that this wasn't some sort of sick trick her mind was playing on her. Sure enough she felt the pain of nails on her skin. Looking up at Professor Shoreditch she smiled and exclaimed, "I would be honoured to be able to study Advanced Potions. It would be an absolute HONOUR!"

They continued talking about the course for several minutes more, and Ginny was assured she would receive the paperwork shortly, and she was then dismissed. She walked back into the hall only to be enveloped in her mother's arms.

"Oh my little girl, top of her class, top of the COUNTRY, TOP OF THE CONTINENT," Mrs. Weasley cried, tears welling up in her eyes, "you have no idea how proud we are of you Ginny darling. We are all so proud of you."

After expertly extricating herself from her mothers clutches she started looking around for Posie and Ben, unable to contain the excitement about her new course. She spotted Ben, who was examining Charlie Weasley's dragon skin leather trousers and exclaiming, "Charlie, you have exquisite taste darling, just FAB-OU. They show of the shape of your legs to perfection."

Laughing to herself Ginny turned around trying to spot Posie, but instead came face to face with none other than Harry, who quickly bent down and kissed her cheek.

"I just want to say congratulations Gin," he whispered quietly, "Hermione will be green with jealousy, she missed out on that award by miles." With that he walked away leaving Ginny feeling like mush and with her mouth hanging wide open.

"You look like a complete wally Ginny, close your gob or you will catch flies in it," said Posie as she walked towards her grinning. "Come on, lets take a seat for the feast before you turn to jelly," and with that Posie dragged Ginny to one of the tables that had magically appeared while she had been with the teachers. Ginny sat down but was in a daze all even. Life is perfect, she thought, I am doing a course I love, am going to stay with my best friend for two whole weeks tomorrow and Harry kissed me…..can life get any better.