Disclaimer: I own no part of this story except for the plot and spell work. J. K. Rowling owns everything else, including dozens of hours of my life that I am dedicating to this story.

Chapter 13: Celebrations and Promises Renewed

Harry smiled as he heard the excited Gryffindors return to their common room. Tonight promised to be a celebration, Harry would make sure of that. Harry had given the Marauder's Map to Ginny who had been quick to make good use of it. However, no one, aside from Harry and Ginny, knew how to get to Hogsmeade from the castle and Harry preferred to keep it that way. Harry knew that he and Ginny would have to decide who to bequeath the map to next, but Harry wanted to keep the map secret for now. "Who knows, it may come in handy some day."

It came as a great surprise when Harry and Ginny entered the common room carrying loads of Butterbeer and sweets from Hogsmeade. Sure Harry could have gone by himself and just walked there, but it had been more fun to take the secret path from his childhood. Voldemort had long since stolen Harry's childhood and Harry made quick use of any reminder he could to remember the carefree days of his youth.

Harry snorted as he thought to himself, "If you considered battling giant Basilisks, defeating trolls, out flying dragons, and saving the world since the tender age of eleven 'carefree.' "

Besides, it took Harry and Ginny quite a bit longer than it should have for them to get to Hogsmeade and back. A few detours in dark, private places were taken to "spice up" the short trip.

"Thanks Harry!" Colin cried as Harry tossed him a bottle of Butterbeer. "Do I owe you anything?"

Harry firmly replied no and ignored Ginny's warning glance. Ginny had insisted on paying for some of the treats, but Harry had steadfastly refused. Only when Harry had ended up charming Ginny's pockets to remain closed did Ginny finally give in. She gave Harry an icy stare, but quickly followed it up with a loving kiss that had lingered on Harry's mouth for the remainder of the trip. "At least until the next one," Harry thought as a goofy grin slid across his face.

Ginny seemed to know what Harry was thinking, which wouldn't really surprise Harry at all, and gave his hand a quick squeeze. Harry gave her a loving smile and turned back to Colin.

"No Colin, I insist. I have already been over this with Miss Weasley; I have a job for a reason and providing for Gryffindor celebration parties is one of them. Keep your money for things more important—like Dungbombs for instance."

Colin laughed at this and turned back to where his girlfriend Sarah was waiting patiently.

After all the Butterbeer had been distributed, Harry and Ginny took a seat on the couch across from Colin and Sarah. Ginny snuggled up next to Harry and Harry relished the feeling of being able to hold Ginny in his arms. Harry and Colin talked about how the professional Quidditch season was going to go while Ginny and Sarah were complaining about the Potions exam that Snape had assigned for Monday.

"I hate it when he gives tests on Monday. It's like he enjoys torturing us."

"It's on the first day of the bloody week! What is the damn git thinking?" Ginny complained loudly.

Sarah gasped at Ginny's "slightly less than ladylike" language, but Harry burst into laughter at the Ginny's word choice. That was one of the many things that Harry loved about Ginny, she simply called things the way she saw them. She didn't worry about the diplomatic answer or making sure that what she said was something a lady might say, and if she didn't like something, you were sure to know it. There was no beating around the bush with Ginny.

"Best watch the mouth on that girl you have Harry," Colin remarked with a smile.

"Excuse me Colin, the girl that he has?"

Harry interrupted Ginny, which he knew would drive her mad, "Yeah, she gets pretty rambunctious at times."

"Rambunctious Potter? Let's see how rambunctious you can get without me around."

Ginny got up and stormed out of the common room. Colin turned to Harry and said, "Sorry 'bout that Harry. I didn't think she would get that mad."

Harry simply stretched out on the couch and propped his feet up. "Oh she wasn't mad, that was simply an invitation for me to follow. She'll be back soon when she realizes that I'm not coming. I give her five minutes."

Colin's eyes widened as he saw the carefree manner in which Harry acted. Harry hadn't ever acted like this before and Colin wondered when Harry had gotten so self-centered. Perhaps his sudden promotion to leadership had gone to his head. He was about to comment on this when Sarah said aloud, "You're bluffing Potter; I can see it in your eyes. If she wasn't back in five minutes you'd be running after her."

Harry simply gave her a slight smile and Colin was amazed at how much Harry had grown up since Colin had seen him last. Harry was no longer the small boy who had wished that he hadn't ever been famous and had developed into the relaxed and comfortable young man sitting in front of him. Colin was suddenly made aware of how attractive Harry really was and his grip around Sarah tightened protectively.

Sarah seemed to notice his troubles and whispered loudly in his ear, "Don't worry Colin. I wouldn't want a self-centered git like him. It would be like dating Snape."

Harry erupted into laughter at the thought of being compared to, what Sirius had always referred to Snape as, the "greasy git." Colin noticed that Harry's laugh wasn't as deep and happy as it had once been, but Colin knew that war did that. "Besides, he lost one of his best friends. What do you expect?"

Harry quickly cut off his laugh and let a sullen expression fill his attractive features. "Watch this," Harry whispered to an inquisitive Colin. Harry shut his eyes as Ginny came striding up to the group, looking both putout and angry. Colin checked his watch and saw that only three minutes had elapsed since Ginny had been gone. He gave a slight chuckle as Ginny stopped next to Harry and looked down on his motionless form.

Harry opened his eyes, acting as if he had just seen Ginny, and smiled casually before replying. "Miss me beautiful?"

"Git," Ginny replied before trying to push Harry's legs aside.

"Nope," Harry said while remaining stretched out, "I'm much too comfortable to move." Harry patted his chest suggestively as Ginny gave him a withering stare.

"Have a seat?" Harry asked innocently.

Ginny scowled but lay down on top of Harry anyway. Harry wrapped his arms around her slender body and allowed himself to take in her wonderful fragrance. Harry didn't know what Ginny used to get that smell, but it drove him wild. Harry found it difficult to keep his hands off of her when he smelled that fragrance, but Harry restrained himself as Colin and Sarah were around. Harry didn't care about his reputation, but he didn't have to face the daily rumors that flew around Hogwarts like Ginny did. Therefore, Harry crossed his hands on Ginny's stomach and gave a sly wink to Colin.

Ginny had sensed the struggle that Harry was going through and had reached up to lightly kiss Harry's nose when she saw the wink.

"Harry James Potter!"

Harry put on the most innocent expression he could possibly muster, one that had saved him countless times at Hogwarts, as Colin burst out laughing.

"Didn't work quite as well as you expected, eh Harry?"

"Oh it worked fine," Harry said, acutely aware of the intimate position the two were in, "It worked just fine."

Ginny tried to wipe the smile off her face as she turned around to give Harry a cold stare but failed miserably. The two dissolved into laughter and Harry realized how much he had missed the red-haired beauty. The times that he spent with Ginny were some of the most noteworthy times of his life and Harry vowed never to let those good times go again.

"What am I going to do with you," Ginny said dramatically.

"Ginny, I hate to say it, but you're stuck with me."

"You make that sound like it's a bad thing Mr. Potter," Ginny said raising her eyebrows suggestively.

"Alright you two, break it up."

Both Harry and Ginny turned to Colin and stuck their tongues out at him. Colin thought it was ridiculously funny to see Harry Potter, the worldwide celebrity and savior of the wizarding world, stick his tongue out at him, but Ginny brought the best out in Harry. It was nice to see how the two complimented one another so perfectly. Colin could only hope that he could find such pure love as theirs someday.

Colin turned to look at Sarah, who was staring silently ahead. "Then again, who knows, I may have already found it." The light from the fire accentuated her beauty and Colin counted himself lucky to have such a wonderful girlfriend.

"Ah-hem," Harry said clearing his throat. Sarah suddenly woke from her reverie and looked at Colin sheepishly.

"Break it up you two," Ginny said, guessing what, or who, both Colin and Sarah had been thinking about.

Sarah blushed scarlet and gave Colin a quick kiss on the cheek before excusing herself from the room. Colin watched her walk over to Jenny and the two whispered together excitedly.

Now it was Colin that stretched out on the couch and he gave Harry a smile as he said, "That didn't look so hard Potter. I'll show you how it's done."

Ginny sighed, "You know she's not going to let you right?"

Colin smiled, "We'll see…we'll see."

Harry looked down at Ginny, enjoying her closeness, and gave her a significant smile. Harry knew that Ginny was right—she was always right when it came to girls. Harry knew that Ron could have saved himself countless problems if he had only listened to his sister, but Ron, of course, had been stubborn. Ginny would always be right and a fight would break out between Hermione and Ron, which was quite a regular occurrence in their relationship. Ginny just understood girls in a way that Harry never would, which was quite fine with Harry. He was just fine with being oblivious to the ways of women. Besides, he had his own and he was perfectly happy where he was and who he was with.

Ginny gave Harry's arm a squeeze as Sarah started to return to the group. "It's Showtime," Ginny whispered quietly.

Sarah walked up Colin and, seeing where this was going, decided to play along.

"Move please."

"Nope," Colin said while remaining stretched out, "I'm much too comfortable to—"

"Mobilicorpus."

Colin suddenly found himself up in the air and Sarah took her seat. Colin looked at Harry, trying to figure out what he had done wrong.

"Sorry Colin, I guess you just don't have the charm that I do," Harry said plainly.

Harry got a sharp nudge in the ribs for the comment, but the four started laughing until Colin interrupted.

"Uh Sarah, could you let me down please?"

Sarah gave him a wicked smile but slowly lowered Colin back towards the couch.

Harry, always a troublemaker at heart, raised his wand and muttered quietly.

"Finite Incantantem."

Colin came crashing down on Sarah's lap and Harry laughed at the uncomfortable situation the two Gryffindors were in.

"Gee Colin, I didn't know you had it in you," Harry remarked teasingly.

The two blushed and quickly jumped apart and Harry bit back a laugh.

"Ah first loves; always an interesting experience."

Harry watched with a knowing smile as Colin and Sarah excused themselves, saying that they needed to get to bed.

"Sure thing guys. It was nice seeing you again Colin and nice meeting you Sarah."

"See you guys in the morning," Ginny said brightly.

The two quickly said their goodbyes and walked out of the common room.

"The astronomy tower then?" Harry asked Ginny.

"That would be my guess. As if they thought we might not catch that they left the common room to go to bed. At least Colin should be in a good mood tomorrow."

"Let's forget about Colin and his troubles, or lack of them rather, Miss Weasley. I now seem to have you all to myself. Have any ideas what we can do until beautiful, young Gryffindors such as yourself need to get to bed?"

"Many; all of which require me to get into a more comfortable position."

Ginny rolled over and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck before pulling Harry into a slow, passionate kiss.

Harry found himself relaxing into the kiss, letting its warmth spread through his body. There was nothing in the world like kissing Ginny Weasley and Harry wished that he could spend days just enjoying her kisses. Harry let his hands slide lower down her back; never straying too low but always reminding Ginny that they were there. Ginny gave a slight whimper as Harry's hands slowly caressed her back and Harry found himself losing control. Harry broke the kiss, giving Ginny one short kiss in return and laid his head back down on the couch. Ginny, sensing why he had broken the kiss, laid her head on his chest and felt heartbeat.

"Your heart is beating fast," Ginny said simply.

"It beats for you."

The room lapsed into silence as the two lovers reflected upon the last few months. Ginny broke the silence, asking the question that Harry was dreading.

"Harry?"

"Yes beautiful?"

"Why did you do it?"

Harry didn't need to ask what she meant but sighed deeply, compiling his thoughts.

"I thought that I was doing was what best for you. I didn't give a damn how I felt or how much it pained me to ignore the feelings of someone who truly loved me, but forced myself to concentrate on how this was the right thing to do for you. I thought that I was protecting you from Voldemort and I wanted to keep you safe so much that I started to believe that I was doing what was right even when my heart was telling me I was wrong. I was listening to my mind, rather than my heart and you had to pay the price for my foolishness."

Ginny nodded, knowing that Harry was speaking the truth and wishing that she could let the issue stop there.

"So has anything changed or was this just a fling?" Ginny asked in a quiet, anxious voice. She was unable to look Harry in the eyes when she asked. It was embarrassing to doubt Harry like this, but she had to know the truth.

"Has anything changed?" Harry replied in a slightly incredulous voice. "I could hardly look at you before this because I was constantly fighting what my heart was telling me. Of course things have changed. Ron is dead, the Ministry was attacked, and somehow I have evolved into a leader. My whole world had been turned upside down since Ron's death and I can hardly believe the person that I am now."

"After my speech at the Ministry, I realized that I needed to take some of my own advice to heart. I realized that I was thinking with my mind, a mind that was governed by the fear of what Voldemort could do to those I loved, when I really needed to listen to my heart. I was doing exactly what Voldemort wanted me to. I was letting Voldemort rule my personal life; allowing him to choose who I let be a part of my life, instead of making my own choices. I isolated myself from you and the rest of my friends in order to protect what I believed Voldemort could not touch. It took Ron's death to wake me up from my delusional beliefs. I owe Ron my life twice for that; once for saving me and the other for saving me from spending a life without you in it. I can't fight this war alone, and I need you and the rest of my friends at my side. Only with your help do I stand any chance of conquering Voldemort."

Harry paused and took a breath before continuing. "Many things have changed since I saw you last Ginny, but the one thing that has never changed has been my love for you. I love you Ginny Weasley, and I am not afraid of it anymore."

"Oh Harry," Ginny cried as she pulled herself closer to him. Tears now glistened in her beautiful eyes and Harry wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight and sealing his promise with a passionate kiss.

Harry wasn't aware of how much time passed as he and Ginny lied together on the couch, relishing the undying love that they had for each other. Soon the two drifted off into a blissful sleep still holding tightly to one another with no intentions of ever letting go.

Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is so late guys. I had a really long and slightly depressing week so it wasn't really easy to write the happy relationship thing that occurred in this chapter. Still, it's done and that's what matters and until next time, this is Jared signing off.