A/N: This is sort of an epilogue-y chapter, as I'm sure you'll notice.

Chapter 23

November 15

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

I was thinking, and… well, I probably should start appropriately, like we're old friends that are just casually joking around and have been.

How is the batch of first years this new term? Any new troublemakers to give the Weasleys a run for their money? How are the professors—still the same? Is Professor Lupin still teaching or do you have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? How have you been? Any exciting new events and happenings at Hogwarts?

Now that the formalities are finished, I'd like to get to the real reason I wrote. Well, there are a few. I've been thinking a lot lately.

First off, how is Ginny faring? Seventh year and all, I know, and I know about what goes on in seventh year. But how is she, really? I let her off harshly but didn't think anything of it then. I never contacted her afterwards. Ron, Hermione and I visited each other independently. Could you maybe deliver a message to her for me, especially if she's hurting? She would read it if it was given by you, and I don't know what she thinks of me right now.

Dear Ginny, yes, I really meant that. You are dear to me. Merlin, I've been an idiot. We aren't together anymore, but I still care about you. You're like a sister to me, Ginny Weasley. I'll always be there for you, whenever you need me. I hope you understand. I know I've treated you horribly before, but this time away from Hogwarts has helped me realize what I have to do to try to rectify everything. I love you, Ginny. I'm just not in love with you. I hope you can understand that and maybe forgive me one day for the jerk I've been. All my love, Harry

Thanks, Professor.

I'm playing for the Chudley Cannons now and all is going well. I see Ron and Hermione every week because we go out to eat or get coffee or something. We visit the Burrow on a regular basis, too. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley—Arthur and Molly—are so kind. They act like nothing happened and treat me like I'm their son.

Hermione's pregnant; I don't know if you know already. It's a little boy. I know you were at their wedding; I saw you. I apologize now for not talking to you then. I was still scared. It was beautiful, wasn't it? I have some pictures and of course they have a lot—I could send you some copies, if you'd like. They seem really happy now, finally. I'm glad. It's about time they both really found each other.

Life with the Cannons is spectacular. We practice a lot, so I guess it's good that I don't have a family yet. I'm so busy that I only have time to spend with the Weasleys and sometimes the Grangers. We travel a lot—the Cannons, I mean—and I've seen many different parts of Europe. It's really beautiful, Europe. Of course I took pictures.

Here I feel compelled to ask you something personal, Professor, and I hope you'll forgive me if I'm out of line. But I wonder if you ever regret not settling down and starting a family. Of course, I don't know for a fact that you never did… it's just something that's bothering me in my life. I don't see myself as a family-father kind of guy, but I wonder what I'll miss. Hermione and Ron seem so happy, but I don't know if that's for me. It seems so… fake, like a fantasy, like it could never be for me. There's a girl on my Quidditch team, I'm sure you've heard of her. If you haven't already, you will; she's the only girl on the team. Chaser. We hit it off pretty well and I really like her, I mean as more than a friend. We're just friends, but it definitely has the potential to turn into something more. I've never had much of an experience with girls, and I don't want our friendship and business relationship to end if we don't work out. I really like her, though, Professor. I don't know why I'm talking about my love life with you.

I've stopped drinking. Well, I still drink and I still get drunk; it happens to everyone. But it only happens when I'm partying or celebrating, not when I'm depressed or on a regular basis. I can drink with moderation, and I never do so alone just in case.

Smoking is a bit different, though. I don't smoke as often as I used to, but I can't stop. Whenever I'm stressed, I have to have a cigarette. Ron hid all my cigarettes from me once when I got nervous before a match, and it was not a pretty sight. I thought I would die. I wonder if he got the idea or if someone hinted him to it… you know what I'm saying, Professor. You or Hermione?

I thought long and hard about this, and I've decided. I can trust you and besides, I owe you a lot. I've enclosed all my "letters to Sirius" with this letter. (Hopefully Hedwig delivered it all right; she's usually good about that.) They're for you, to read or chuck in the fire. I don't care; I have all the memories.

You've done so much for me for so many years, Professor Dumbledore. Seventeen, actually—since I was a year old. The last couple of years I really neglected and ignored and did not appreciate you at all. I owe you a great apology, at the very least. I want to apologize for everything I've said and done and everything I haven't said and haven't done. When you initially told me to write letters to Sirius, I have to admit, I thought it was a bit absurd. But I did it anyway. Even through my negativity and rebellion, I took your advice. I think it was because I still respected you and your opinion. (I still do, by the way.)

Thanks for looking after me and making sure I got out of Hogwarts and grew up in one piece. If you felt like writing back, I'd greatly appreciate it, but of course I don't expect it and would completely understand if you didn't.

Please give my best to everyone at Hogwarts. And thank you.

Yours most sincerely,

Harry Potter

A/N: Well, that's the end! You can imagine your own endings if you'd like. I thought I would give you guys a happy ending, though. Hey, people can change. J Like me. There's still hope left.

Enough of that. Thanks everyone for all your support… and now I'll thank as many people as I can personally.

potts- Man, are there even words? You've reviewed like every single chapter promptly, and you've always loved everything and been so encouraging. Thank you so much!

nwsbysboomerang- Thanks for all your support!

roxygurl25- You've always been there and we've had some great memories. Thanks for everything.

code112358132134- You're insane, and I gotta love it. Every time you read you think of possible scenarios and solutions and mysterious plot lines. LOVE YOU and we must hang out sometime soon!

IamSiriusgrl- You've been so faithful and so supportive; it means a lot to me. Thank you!

Cecilia Orechio- Even though you stopped reading as the story progressed, I want you to know that your input was so valuable. You contributed more deep personalized feedback than anyone. Thank you.

ghst.sama- Even though we had that incident, I wish you'd come back and read. Thank you for seeing what others didn't. You have no idea how important that is.

Kiyoko-San- Even though I don't hear from you anymore, I wanted to say thanks for all your feedback on not just this story but everything. I've grown to recognize your name (well, the old one).

BlackLupin- Haven't spoken to you in a great while. Hope all is going well with you (and Sirius). Thanks for being so supportive and contributing ideas.

Thanks to everyone who ever read this story, and an extra thanks to those who took the time to review, and I mean all of you! I'm sorry if I couldn't reply to you review personally; I know I left out a few. Thanks everyone for everything you've done! I hope you continue to read what I continue to write.

OutofAzkaban