A/N: Hey, Sorry that I haven't updated in a while. School is starting soon so I won;t have tons of updates. Sorry. Well, I hope that you enjoy chapter nine. PLEASE REVIEW!

Chapter Nine

In Memory of A Great Man

Harry and Ginny walked amongst the shops of Diagon Alley hand in hand. It had been the perfect evening. They had eaten a light dinner at the Leakey Cauldron and then proceeded to go shopping. Harry was soon carrying a large number of packages in his arms as he walked from store to store. He suddenly set down his pile of bags and pulled out his wand. With a wave he had bewitched them to fly in front of him as he walked leaving him free to take Ginny's hand.

They walked into a small boutique and Ginny began to look through the dresses with enthusiasm. Harry just gave her a small smile and sat down to watch her shop. She was absolutely lovely.

Harry's attention turned to the street outside. There was an old woman wearing a worn green sweater accompanied by a small girl holding her hand. There was a young man walked hurriedly down the lane glancing to the left and right as he walked.

"Harry," said a voice somewhere behind him. Ginny was standing there wearing a long black dress that looked absolutely beautiful on her. Harry was amazed, he could barely stand.

"Well, there is only one thing that we can do, now isn't there. I'm buying that for you," Harry said.

"No, Harry, I can't let you do that. I'll pay for it but, do you really like it?"

"Of course I like it!" Harry exclaimed. "But, you I'll buy it."

Ginny looked up at him and blushed. "Thanks, Harry."

Harry paid for the dress and they walked out of the shop and apparated back to the burrow. They walked up to the front step and Harry stopped and pulled Ginny aside. He looked at her as her red hair glimmered in the moonlight. Her chocolate brown eyes looked straight into his. "I love you," he whispered. "I love you and I'm never going to let you go."

"Harry," she whispered and she threw herself into his arms. She buried her head against his chest, enjoying his arms wrapped around her. "I love you too."

Harry brought his hand around to tilt her face up to look into her eyes. He bent down to brush his lips against hers. Their kiss was slow and passionate. It continued for several minutes until Harry pulled back. He looked at her face in the moonlight and his heart melted. "You are absolutely beautiful."

She bit her bottom lip and looked up at him with a grin on her face. It was just too tempting. Harry leant down to take her into another kiss. After another few moments he pulled away reluctantly. "Come on," he sighed. "We need to go inside sometime." Ginny nodded in agreement and reached up for one last kiss before going inside. This one was tender and loving. They both pulled away smiling.

Harry walked through the door and into the living room followed by Ginny. Ron was lying on the couch next to the fire. He was looking down at Hermione who was sleeping softly, using his chest as a pillow. Upon seeing Harry and Ginny he gave them a small smile and leant down to give Hermione a small kiss on the forehead. She woke with a start to stare up at Ron. He whispered something in her ear and she turned toward the door to see Harry and Ginny leaning against the doorframe grinning.

Harry and Ginny walked across the room to the space in front of Ron and Hermione. Harry took out his wand and conjured another couch before taking a seat. Ginny walked over and sat down leaning into Harry causing his arms to encircle her.

Hermione grinned seeing this exchange. She was happy that her friends could finally find this much happiness.

"Well, I've given it some thought and I talked to Ginny and Remus," said Harry. "I think that I have decided what I want to do with my life." He glanced down at Ginny who was smiling up at him. "I think that I want to teach."

"Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Hermione. "That's great Harry. You could be a teacher. That's a great position."

Ron chuckled at Hermione's reaction and looked down at her with love in his eyes. "Sounds cool," said Ron.

"I thought that I could teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. I mean it should be fun."

"Sounds great Harry," said Ginny giving Harry a kiss on the cheek. The four of them settled down to rest by the fire in a condition of absolute contentment.

Harry walked through the city of Hogsmeade with a smile on his face. He was finally able to return in good conscience. He walked up the drive to the castle and through the front gate.

Harry had set off in the early morning to travel to Hogwarts. He walked around the side of the castle until he approached a pure white tomb. He bowed his head in respect before circling to the side of the monument.

Harry pulled out his wand and gave it a few waves. He then turned and walked up to the castle. It was just as he had remembered it. In the two years since he had been gone it seemed that no time had passed.

It seemed that the castle had gone through a very thorough cleaning in anticipation of the upcoming term. He walked through the halls until he approached the familiar stone gargoyle. "Lemon Drop," he said.

The gargoyle moved aside revealing the moving staircase. Harry walked up the stairs and knocked upon Professor McGonagall's door. She answered the door and smiled when she saw him. "Mr. Potter, it's nice to see you."

"You too Professor," said Harry. He followed her across the room and sat down on the chair that she offered across from her desk. "I see that the password is still the same," said Harry.

Professor McGonagall nodded and looked at her desk. "I couldn't bear to change it," she said.

"I understand," said Harry.

Professor McGonagall smiled up at him before saying, "I know." She seemed to pull herself together and looked at Harry in the eye. "Now, back to the present. To what do I owe this visit?"

"I wish to teach," said Harry without preamble.

Professor McGonagall broke into a large smile. "It's nice to hear Harry. Dumbledore would have been proud."

Harry smiled back at her and said, "Thank You." He leaned back in his chair and started to explain things to her. "I want to teach defense against the Dark Arts."

"We would be honored," said Professor McGonagall. "You are obviously well qualified and I could not think of a better teacher to take over when we have had such difficulty with that subject in the past. You will be expected to be here for the first day of class. You will conduct all of your classes and any clubs that you wish to. Also, if you consent I would like you to be head of Gryffindor house. I have taken that responsibility for the last two years but it is not proper. You are a good man and a good Gryffindor. I couldn't imagine a better head of house."

"Thank You," said Harry, rather surprised at her previous tirade. It was a lot to take in at once. "I would be honored to be head of Gryffindor House. I hope that I can live up to your expectations. However, I do have two conditions upon my teaching here." McGonagall looked surprised at this but allowed him to continue. "First, I must be allowed to leave if I am to do some consulting for the Ministry. I do not anticipate being gone often but I have promised to be on hand in case of emergencies."

"Of course," said Professor McGonagall.

Harry took in a deep breath. That had been the easy one. "I also need one other thing. I want Ginny Weasley to be able to live with me here at Hogwarts."

McGonagall looked at him in surprise "Well," she said, "I must say that I am not surprised. I suppose that I were to refuse that you could not accept the position?" Harry nodded his head in ascent. "Well, okay. I suppose that is acceptable. She may share residence with you Harry."

"Thank You Professor," said Harry rising from his seat.

"Call me Minerva, Harry. We are, after all, colleagues now." Harry smiled back at her and nodded before he left.

Harry walked off of the Hogwarts grounds and into Hogsmeade as soon as he left Minerva's office. He apparated back to the burrow and set off to find Ginny with a smile on his face. This was great. Ginny was going to live with him. That is, if she said yes. Of course she would say yes said another part of him.

Harry shook himself to clear his head and walked out into the garden, looking for Ginny in her favorite spot.

He found her sitting on the familiar bench in the garden. He walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek.

She turned around with a smile on her face. "So how did it go?" she asked.

"Great," said Harry. "You are now looking at the newest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Ginny gave him another hug and he kept talking while holding her. "Oh," he continued. "I'm also Head of Gryffindor House."

"Oh Harry," said Ginny gripping him tighter.

"Well, there is one thing," said Harry solemnly. "To teach at Hogwarts I would also have to live there, so I can't stay here at the burrow.

"Oh," said Ginny quietly relaxing her grip on him and looking crestfallen.

"But, McGonagall did say that I could bring the best part of the burrow back with me. Ginny, will you move in with me?" Harry looked into her eyes as he said this with extreme apprehension. He had done this too early. She wasn't ready for it. There was no way.

A smile spread across Ginny's lips and she hugged him tighter then ever. She whispered into his ear, "Of course Harry, I would love to live with you. I love you."

"I love you too Ginny."

Professor McGonagall walked across the Hogwarts grounds thinking of the events of the day. It was so often that she found herself wishing that Albus was still here. It pained her every day.

She often visited his tomb in hopes of finding some of his wisdom hoping to find guidance, solace, and hope. She wished he were here. She stared at the white structure with longing. Albus was her mentor for many years; it was too much to lose him.

Something suddenly caught her eye. It was standing toward one corner of the tomb. There was an object that certainly hadn't been there before. She approached it to find a brilliantly white pillar made of marble on which rested a marble basin. Inside the basin danced bright flames of Gubraithian Fire. On the edge of the basin there was an inscription.

In times of darkness there is always light.

In times of struggle there is always strength.

In times of despair there is always hope.

In memory of a great man, a great friend, and a great mentor.

Thank You for teaching me to banish the darkness.

A/N: Did you like it? I hope that you did. The story is really starting to get started now. I should have updates...eventually. If you review a lot I really will have more sooner. I hope that you liked the latest installment of my story. So, set forth and review.