Chapter 32: Destiny
Harry stood at the highest point of the Astronomy Tower and looked into the heavens. He was looking for something, or rather someone, in the stars that blanketed the night sky. It was a clear night, and he could see forever. In the past, he would have looked into the stars to remember Hermione, but tonight he was remembering something that Sean had told him and was looking for the memorials for a few people who he wanted to be with him to see him get the honor that they had sacrificed so much for him to achieve.
He found Sirius, the Dog Star, first because he had done so many times, and he figured that this was the memorial for his godfather Sirius Black. He then looked around to find either familiar stars or patterns of stars that he was sure he could find later. He eventually found three of them and then he named them in his mind.
"That one will be Dumbledore, that James, and that one Lily" Harry thought to himself.
After having decided on what to use for the ultimate final memorials for the four people who had loved and helped him the most in getting to where he was and who had passed on, he spoke out loud to them as he held up his medal.
"Well," Harry began with a strong voice, "I don't know if you could see from where you are up there. But I wanted to show the four of you this. You probably all know what it is and that it hasn't been awarded in a very long time. I wanted to thank all of you individually for helping me get to this point."
Harry paused at this point and wondered in what order he should thank them. He decided to first thank Dumbledore since he had spent the most time with him. He then decided that he would thank Sirius and then his parents.
"Headmaster" Harry began while looking at the pattern of stars he had designated as Dumbledore's monument. "You were the one who taught me to do the right thing and who helped me realize my potential. You were always there for me while I was here at school, and you were there to help and protect me when I needed it. I know that I can never do anything to completely thank you for your help and guidance. But I will do my best to live up to the potential you saw in me. Thank you headmaster, and I hope that wherever you are you are receiving the honor and recognition you deserve."
Harry then gave Dumbledore the same salute he had learned and seen during his time with the Order of St. George. He then turned to the star Sirius and began to speak.
"Sirius, you were the closest thing to a real and loving parent that I ever knew. I owe you so much, you gave me love, guidance, and you taught me to always bring honor to the ones I love and who love me. I miss you a lot, and I want you to know that this medal should be around your neck and not mine. But I will honor your memory by wearing it. Thank you for everything Sirius, I will always treasure the time we had together, and you will always be like a father to me."
Harry had settled on combining the patterns he had designated as Lily and James to make one constellation. He figured that they were married and in love, so it was only right for them to be united in the eternities. He did not have much to say to his parents, but he did his best.
"Mum," Harry began, "and Dad. I never knew you, but I know that you were the ones who made it possible for me to even survive to this point. I know that I have no real memories of you, but I will honor the name you gave me. I love you both very much, even though I don't remember you, because I know that you loved me enough to sacrifice yourselves so that I could live."
Harry paused and held up his medal to them, "I wanted you, Sirius, and Dumbledore to see this. This is a result of all you did for me, and I want you to know that what you did was not in vain. Voldemort is gone now, and the Wizard world is united with the Order of St. George…" Harry turned to the Dumbledore constellation, "…just like you wanted. I want to thank you all one last time, and know that I now know where to find you, and I will never forget any of you."
Harry finished his talk, but kept looking up at the sky. He wished that they could appear to him and put their hands on his shoulders and tell him personally how proud they were. But he knew that some things were impossible, and then he heard a quiet sniffling behind him.
He turned to see, standing in the doorway leading up to the tower, the figure of Hermione Granger. He could see that she was sobbing, and he figured that she had been standing there for a little while. He turned to face her, the moonlight reflecting off his glasses and putting a shadow on his short spiky hair. He held out his arms as she walked up to him, Hermione leaned into the embrace and held him tight.
"They would all be very proud of you," she said after a few moments and when she had stopped sobbing. "I had forgotten that none of the people you would have really liked to have been at the ceremony were there."
Harry gently pushed Hermione away from him just enough so that she could face him and kept his hands on her shoulders, "That's not true" he said, "the Weasleys were there, Hagrid, McGonagall, and especially you."
Hermione smiled at this and then leaned back into Harry. The two of them wanted to just stand there and hold each other all night, they never wanted to let go or change anything about the moment that they were now sharing. While they were doing this, Hermione felt the urge to ask Harry something.
"Harry," she began "why were you talking to the sky when you were saying those things." Harry smirked and then took Hermione's hand to lead her to the edge of the tower where he had been standing.
"Sean once told me," he started, "that there was a legend that when heroes and other great people died they were immortalized in the stars. I know that Dumbledore, Sirius, and my parents were heroes and great people, so I just had to find their memorials in order to pay them tribute and express my gratitude."
Hermione looked at the sky, "tell me where they are." she said to Harry.
Harry then took a few moments to point out the constellations he had designated for his parents and guardians. Hermione gazed at them for a few moments and Harry just stared at the woman he loved. Harry then remembered something that she had said what seemed like years ago when the two of them were under another starry night.
"You once asked me," Harry began to Hermione, "if I believed in destiny."
Hermione turned to face Harry as he spoke this, "and as I recall," she said in response, "you never answered."
Harry then gave Hermione his answer. "Sean told me that our destinies are our choice. And that nothing is written in the stars or carved in stone."
Hermione smiled as she answered, "tell that to professor Trelawny and Firenze."
Harry smiled at this but then got serious, he gently cupped Hermione's chin and said. "I have chosen my destiny."
Hermione paused at this before asking "and what is that Sir Harry," she smiled as she used the term Sir to allude to Harry's being an honorary Knight of St. George. Harry quickly took Hermione's hand and stood up to face the sky. After the two of them were facing the sky, Harry called out to the constellation for his parents,
"Mum, Dad" he said, "this is Hermione Granger, she's wearing the bracelet you gave to Mum, Dad--she's the girl that I am going to marry."
Hermione gasped at this, had she heard him right, had he said that he was going to marry her? Harry then turned his gaze back to the beautiful young witch at his side.
"I really meant that," Harry said, "I want to marry you one day. That is the destiny I have chosen, to spend the rest of my life and then the life after this one with you."
"Oh Harry" Hermione said as she embraced him and the two of them came together in a passionate kiss.
They stayed like that for a long time, and if they had been watching the sky, they would have seen the slight change in brightness in the stars that made up the constellations for Dumbledore, Sirius, and the Potters.
Back at the ceremony, Bill sat down with his family and his wife and started talking with them. They all had many questions for him, they wondered especially about the battle outside the school and about his Irish friend. After Bill explained about Sean and his profession, as well as how he had met him, his brother Percy asked him an interesting question.
"Will you be going back to work for Gringott's?"
"I suppose so," Bill answered, "I don't see why I wouldn't go back to work."
"I just figured that now that you are a great hero and will no doubt be revered as more of a warrior than a banker," Percy said, "that you would be changing professions."
Bill had not thought of this, but now that the idea was in his mind, he realized that it did make sense.
"Dad" Bill said to his father, "if I was to change professions, what would you suggest?" Mr. Weasley thought for a moment about his answer.
"Well," he began, "you would have no shortage of connections within the Order of the Phoenix, especially now that Moody is the Minister of Magic. I would say that with a little training, and your background in curse breaking, you could become an Auror."
Bill realized that he had a lot to think about. And unknown to him, he was only going to have more on his mind.
At about this point, his wife Fleur spoke to him, "Bill dahling, could I talk to you in private for a moment?
Bill nodded and the two of them got up and left the room.
When they were alone, Bill spoke to his wife. "What is it," he said with concern in his voice, "are you okay?"
"I am fine" Fleur answered, "I 'ave something to tell you." Fleur took a deep breath and then merely uttered two words, two words that would change the lives of her and her husband forever. "I'm preghnant."
This news took Bill by surprise, and now he had even more on his mind. He was now facing a career change, and now he knew he was going to be a father. He was silent for a lengthy period of time, and this was beginning to worry Fleur.
"Dahling," she asked him nervously, "are you all right?"
Bill came out of his trance, then gently placed his right hand on his wife's stomach in wonderment at the prospect of their child that was growing inside there, and wrapped his left arm around her waist.
"I'm great" was his answer as he tenderly and passionately kissed his wife.
They came apart after about ten seconds and just looked into each other's eyes for a few moments, both of them joyful at the prospect of starting a family together.
"We should tell Mum and the others" Bill said, Fleur nodded in agreement.
"Should I tell zem, or would you like to?" Fleur asked.
"You tell them," Bill said, "I'm sure that you would do a better job of it than me."
With that, the now expecting couple took hands and made their way back into the Great Hall to share the good news.
Ginny led Sean to a garden area near the school, the same place where Harry and Ron had gone when they left the Yule Ball nearly three years earlier. She led Sean to a bench in the midst of it and the two of them sat down. The two of them were silent for a while; they both had a lot on their minds. Ginny was wondering what Sean's intentions were in bringing her away from the ceremony and the people there. Sean was wondering where and how to start, this was the first time he had ever been with a woman like this, and he was ignorant about the whole thing.
After they sat down, Sean broke the ice. "This is a lovely garden," Sean said, "I have never seen anything like it."
Ginny's eyes lit up and she began to speak, "I know, this garden really is nice. It's a lot better than other places I have seen. But I'm sure that you've seen more great places than I have, I mean, you've been all over the world. But over here is…" Sean gently put a finger to Ginny's lips to hush her rambling.
"I am sorry" Sean said, "but I asked to talk with you alone because there is something I need to tell you." Sean took his finger away from Ginny's lips and he could see that he had her full attention.
"I killed the head vampire, and now we in the Order have an opportunity to destroy what is left of them. I am going on a mission to do just that, and then I am being relieved as a Knight of the Order. I will remain affiliated with the Order to train Knights and new recruits."
Ginny paused as he said this; she figured that he wouldn't be telling her this unless it had something to do with her.
"What does this have to do with me?" she asked.
"I have come to realize" Sean said, "that you have taken a liking to me. And if you have, there are some things you should know about me." Ginny was slightly nervous at hearing this and could only nod to encourage Sean to continue.
"It all really started sixteen years ago," Sean began, "when my parents were killed by the man you knew as Rufus Scrimgeour and the Priest, then a Knight of the Order, found me and raised me up as his own."
Sean then told Ginny an abridged story of his life. He talked about his training and how he traveled the world to become the vampire hunter that he was. He told her about all the places he had been and the missions he had performed. He also told her about when he had found his mother changed into a vampire and had killed her, and then about the next three years of his life before he had met her and her family.
Ginny couldn't get over the story about Sean's mother and she was still looking at him with shock across her face and tears in her eyes.
"Now you see," Sean said, "you don't want to be with me. I have killed too many, and you would be getting a man who knows nothing of true love and who is an emotional wreck.
Sean finished this, and then looked at the perfect brown eyes that were staring at him. Ginny, even after hearing all of this, still felt the same way romantically about Sean…and she wanted to let him know that. She took a chance and put one of her hands on his leg.
"Sean," she said, "all that you have told me just now only tells me that you are an even better man than I thought you were. You've come back from all of that to become a truly noble, and great man."
Ginny then knew what she had to say, "Sean, I love you."
Sean paused at this, his parents and the Sagart had said those words to him in the past, but this was the first time anyone had ever said it to him like this. Ginny could see that Sean wasn't going to respond on his own, so she added something to it.
"Do you love me?" she asked with her cute British accent and not taking her brown eyes away from Sean's Prussian blues.
Sean thought about this and then answered, "In my mind I know that I shouldn't feel for you or want to be with you. But my body cries for you Ginerva."
Ginny didn't know how to respond, but she settled for moving in closer to the man she was falling more and more in love with every moment.
"Sean," she said as she moved her hand from his leg to take his hand. "Everything you say or do only makes me want to be with you more. I know that you have killed, but you have never killed an innocent person. You have had a lot of painful things happen to you, but don't you think that its time you quit shouldering that burden alone? Let me help you."
Sean paused and then looked at Ginny, "Ginerva, I want to be with you. I want that more than I can express, I'm just scared that I won't know what to do…" as Sean said this, Ginny put her hands on Sean's cheeks and brought his face to look into her eyes.
"I will help you Sean. There won't be anymore 'I' or 'you', there will only be us."
Sean looked into Ginny's eyes and thought of how perfect they looked to him, especially coupled with her beautiful long red hair. But he also knew that he had to go, the Priest would be expecting him.
"I have to go," he said to Ginny, "I need to be going with the Priest to prepare for my next assignment."
"I understand" Ginny said.
"When I am relieved as a Knight," Sean said, "I will be allowed and encouraged to marry and start a family." Ginny's face brightened up as she realized what he was implying. "But I don't want you to wait for me unless you are absolutely sure this is what you want."
Ginny looked deep into Sean's eyes and answered with "I have never been more sure of anything in my entire life Sean. I am devoted to you my brave and handsome Knight." Ginny then paused and said to Sean "Please, just come back from this last mission alive--come back to me."
Ginny's eyes then welled up with tears and she wanted so much to kiss Sean, but remembering that he was still a monk she settled for giving him a big hug, which the Knight returned with a gentle one.
"I need to be getting to the Priest, I need to prepare to leave in the morning" Sean said.
"I know," Ginny said in a soft voice, "just, please let me hold you for a little while."
Sean consented to this and held Ginny as she held him, it was a moment that both of them felt was frozen in time and that they would always remember.
After they came apart, Ginny spoke, "you should be going now," she said.
"Aye" was all Sean said, and he got up to leave, Ginny got up with him and took his outstretched arm.
"I heard about what happened with Regal at the Phoenix base," Sean began to Ginny, "he must like you."
Ginny smiled and held onto Sean's arm as he led her back to Hogwarts.