Disclaimer: I own no part of Harry Potter or its associated canon nor, any other already copyrighted material.

(A/N): As has been so famously said 'All good things…must come to an end.' So I now present the last chapter of 'Harry Potter and the Second War'. Enjoy.

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Chapter 45

The Man Who Lives

Fifteen Months Later…

Harry leaned against the wall of the Burrow and stared up into the beautiful cloudless sky, a psychotically wide grin on his face. It was coming up on noon of August sixth and the weather couldn't be nicer if he had charmed it to be so. Not that he had any skill when it came to weather charms. Angie, his chaser teammate on the Cannons, had a way with them though. Now if only she was allowed to make it stop raining during their matches… A stray cloud raced across the blue propelled by a light breeze that nicely took the edge off the day's warmth.

He could still feel the slight twitch from the wrist he had sprained in their final game of the season when he nabbed the snitch against a set of bleachers. The mind wrenching agony of the moment had been mitigated considerably by the fact that snag had won them the national championship. And he plenty of time to heal before the tryouts for the one year delayed World Cup season started. Having been the champions, everyone on the team, especially their much hyped Keeper would be a shoe in for the national team. Harry nearly laughed at the possibility of competing in the World Cup finals. He hadn't had much luck there as a spectator.

Fortunately, this time he was far better prepared should anything go awry. His Auror certification would testify to that as surely as his arrest record. He had completed the Ministry's training in just under a year, credit for bringing in most of the remaining Death Eaters with Ron, Hermione and Ginny's help speeding his progress along considerably. By the time he was a certified Auror and had taken his place in the ranks of the reorganized Office, they had brought in or executed every Death Eater that had escaped the final battle. None claimed they had been under the Imperius Curse this time. The mountain of evidence provided by Parkinson and Malfoy had seen to it that that claim would never stand.

Incorporating time for Auror training, hunting rouge Eaters, Quiddich and spending time with his friends had been a daunting task though, surprisingly, it was still less exhausting than seventh year had been. The only difference was that this time, he didn't have Hermione to make sure he got everything done, though Ginny had been keeping up the pressure through her weekly letters. Though it tore them apart, they had agreed to stay somewhat separated during her last year at school. They both had things to focus on and didn't need the distraction. A couple stolen days here and a week over the holidays saw them through as she finished near the top of her class and he finished up with Tom's followers.

He glanced down at his immaculate dress robes and noticed a flash of red hair out of the corner of his eye. Given the height it was at there was only one person that could own that head. Pushing away from the wall, he smiled warmly as his two best friends approached. Hugging Hermione and shaking Ron's hand firmly, he looked them over. He hadn't seen either since the championship celebration two months back. It was the longest they had gone with out visiting in years, but it was kind of hard with two of them out of the country.

"Hey mate."

"Hi Harry."

"Ron, Hermione. Good to see you."

"You're a sight for sore eyes yourself mate. So…how you doing?"

"Good. Been really busy lately. And you two?"

"Really good. Been busy ourselves. In fact…Hermione has something she wants you to see." He turned to her as Harry cocked and eyebrow in curiosity. Oddly, Hermione colored a little and dug into her handbag.

"Really…? And what might that be?" Her hands came out a moment later with what appeared to be the rough draft of a manuscript, bound weakly in a leather sheath. This ought to be interesting. After finishing Hogwarts Hermione had put the massive amount of knowledge to work as a writer as well as working at the Ministry and the three she had done were each bestsellers. The first A Muggle's Guide to the World of Magic had nearly become required reading for first year muggle born students not just in England, but across Europe. Her more lighthearted follow up, A First Year's Guide to Hogwarts, was under serious consideration to be made part of the official book list for all first year students. Her most recent Magical Beings and Their Rights, had been less well received by many older wizards, but had gained a strong following in the younger generations.

"Now…I didn't really want to show you this yet…and I'm not even sure I would try to get it printed, even if you approve. I just sort of felt the need to write it." Even more curious than he had been before, Harry carefully took hold of the sheath and turned it around. Glancing up he noticed odd apprehension in her eyes before retuning his focus to the cover and slowly opening it. Inside he found a title page that shocked his eyes wide open.

The Man
Who Lives

A biography of
Harry Potter

by
Hermione Weasley

Before he could continue, she spoke quickly, as if trying to explain herself. "I know a dozen companies have been pestering you for your story. I just thought this way you'd have control over it. If you don't mind me writing it that is. It's just a working title. I can change it if you want. Or just burn the thing…" He raised his hand slowly to silence her. This hadn't been what he was expecting, but it made sense. He had received half a dozen renewed requests for his life story in the last month. He turned the page and found the table of contents, only partially filled in.

1. Tom Marvolo Riddle

2. Lilly and James

3. His Mother's Blood

4. The Philosopher's Stone

5. The Chamber of Secrets

6. The Prisoner of Azkaban

7. –

There were a number of possible titles for his fourth year that had been crossed out, sometimes furiously, and it appeared she still hadn't settled on one. Harry, still stunned, flipped past the opening and through a few pages as the book detailed the life of Tom Riddle and then his parents before moving on to his own adventures. His eyes slowly rose to find Hermione shifting her feet nervously, awaiting his reaction. A smile slowly spread across his face and lessened her anxiety considerably.

"Hermione…this is perfect." She smiled quickly at his approval.

"You really think so! I didn't really want to show it to you but Ronald kept insisting and…" His raised hand again cut her off as he handed the manuscript back.

"You'll do fine. You know I completely trust you to handle this. I'm no writer, and I can't think of anyone I'd rather have write this. Let me know when you finish. Though with your job at the Ministry…I suppose it will be a while." She again looked slightly nervous, as did Ron. "What?" His eyes bounced back and forth between them, trying to figure out what was going on.

"Well…I sort of…quit." Harry wasn't entirely sure why, but it didn't actually surprise him. Though she had professed great enjoyment of her job in the few times they had talked about it, she also mentioned that it was becoming repetitive. On one occasion she had mentioned that her task of sharing knowledge within departments could have been accomplished by a bulletin board. After a moment he gestured for her to continue. "Well…Ronald already works with you in the Auror Corps and it was just becoming long hours and the same thing over and over…" Ron chimed in as she trailed off.

"Plus…this is a lot less stressful. Don't want her overworking her self." Harry was mildly surprised by this statement. It wasn't that Ron didn't care about his wife, but trying to be protective to Hermione was something you just didn't do, even if you were married to her. Then Harry noticed Hermione was accepting the statement and caught, out of the corner of his eye, the slight movement as her had reflexively moved toward her stomach. What the…? Then the pieces clicked together in a bizarre shape he hadn't expected. He slowly pointed to her.

"Wait a minute…are you…?" A broad smile broke across her face followed by a slow nod. Ron positively beamed at her confirmation and Harry's mouth hit the ground. "Wow…you two…pregnant…" Harry shook himself out his stupor and offered his hand. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you."

"Thanks mate."

"You two don't waste any time do you?" Ron shrugged his shoulders as Hermione grinned.

"If we're anything like Arthur and Molly, it's just the first of many." Ron got a far away look in his eye at his wife's words and smiled again. Harry could almost see the visions of a bunch of red headed kids bouncing before his eyes. "That reminds me…we were planning on expanding the house and wanted to make sure it's okay with you." Harry grinned at that.

"Hermione…it's your house and you can do anything with it you want. Okay?" She nodded a second later. Good. Now…" Harry glanced around for a moment before looking down at his watch and noticing the time. "Hermione…you better get going. We'll be ready to go in just a few minutes." Harry smiled as musicians began to tune up in the background. She nodded and surprisingly kissed him on the cheek.

"Good luck." She headed off to fins her place leaving the pair of them alone. Divested of his wife, Ron's thought of course turned to Quiddich. Becoming Keeper for the Cannons had only intensified his love for the game. Harry jerked his head to the side and they began walking as the taller man spoke.

"So…how's the wrist?" There was more than just friendly concern here; it was also concern for his star teammate. Passing an oddly empty white chair, Harry extended his arm and rotated his hand.

"Much better. For one I can wave without agonizing pain. Be ready to go in time for the Cup." Ron let out an audible breath of relief. Harry stopped and turned on the spot while Ron moved past him and stood shoulder to shoulder. "So…you're alright with all of this…right? I was sure you were going to kill me when you found out we-"

"It's fine. Trust me. That was just me being…me. Dad's okay with it…who am I to say different." The music changed as Harry released a breath of relief. He had thought as much, but now was the first chance he'd had to ask directly. Ron had gotten his certification as an Auror just a few weeks after he had and then had taken his wife to the continent for a vacation to celebrate. It had left Harry and Ginny to deal with the last group of Eaters themselves, but a few DA members including Neville on holiday from Hogwarts and Luna who had taken up as a reporter for the Quibbler as well as a few others had made a welcome appearance and the fight had been over nearly before it began.

Harry glanced at his watch again. Yeah…right about now Pansy would be meeting Draco at the gates of Azkaban before he headed home to try and rebuild his life. After just over a year in prison the fallen student was being quietly released today on good behavior in a well timed bit of misdirection. It would be surprising if anyone even noticed amid the rest of the media buzz today. Harry instinctively checked for his wand as he always did at any though of the Death Eaters. Shaking the thought as Hermione and Luna passed him he instead let his eyes wander up the clear path before him as the music changed again, this time a steady march.

A slow grin formed on his face. Or rather, would have if not for the fact his jaw had hit the ground. His Seeker eyes rapidly traced every line and every part of the incredible white wedding dress from the ruffled edges to the shoulders set off by the red waves of Ginny's hair. Had he been able to look elsewhere he might have seen the crowd standing and similarly looking bewitched or the single tear on Molly's face that Arthur was wiping away, but his eyes could only seek one target and they locked onto her as she slowly glided up the aisle and closer to him.

Due to the huge number of people that were attending, even after trimming out three times as many requests, the aisle stretched on past dozens of rows of white chairs and it was in fact a rather long walk. Her eyes were similarly locked onto his as she walked and he could see the smile radiating from her lips even at the distance. He could tell she was fighting the urge to break into a run and maintain a stately glide up to the altar. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, she drew closer and in a moment that lasted a thousand years, was at his side. It took every ounce of Harry's will not to break tradition and kiss her right there.

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The ceremony, long as may have been for others, passed in the blink of an eye for the couple at the altar and it was only the presentation of Mr. Harry and Mrs. Ginevera Potter that brought them back to the present amid the clapping and outright cheering from friends and family all around them. The one official and three press photographers that had been allowed in snapped away like madmen apparently trying to capture every second of the ceremony. The Press reporters were more reserved than usual, for once honoring the boundaries that had been set by Harry. He suspected the threat of their violent expulsion and destruction of their photographs had gone a long way toward compelling compliance.

Shooting back down the aisle at a run while laughing like madmen, the pair quickly arrived at the reception area Mrs. Weasley had set up much like the previous summer for Ron and Hermione's wedding and the summer before for Bill and Fleur. Waiting for the rest of the wedding party to assemble around them they then went through the routine of greeting each gust that approached. Harry mentally reproached himself for a light breakfast as his eyes kept drifting over to the long tables loaded with huge portions of Mrs. Weasley's cooking. Dobby and Winky had been helping for days to make sure there was enough for the multitude of guests.

After hundreds of handshakes and well wishes the crowd finally thinned out and the pair was allowed to drift over to the table themselves and get some lunch. A trickle of guests continued as they sat with the rest of the wedding party and ate. As Harry picked through the food and traded stories and greetings with those around him his eyes slowly scanned the crowd and took in the groups of people that had gathered and were intermingled across the yard.

Closest to the house was most of the family he was now officially and legally part of. The Weasleys were gathered around the matriarch of the family who was holding Marie on her lap and gently rocking the child. Marie was the first of Bill and Fleur and had both her angelic face and Bill's fierce red hair. Both parents stood protectively over Molly's shoulders, watching their infant. She was the youngest Weasley…for now. When the news of Ron and Hermione's coming child broke that would change. Percy stood nearby with a rare smile on his lips. He had made up with the family but still had a 'by the book' fell that kept him a little apart from his siblings.

The now retired Order of the Phoenix members had unconsciously gathered nearby and were chatting amongst themselves about this and that. They looked oddly like the picture Ginny had taken at the last meeting, a copy of which now sat next to the one of his parents in his room. They would all go silent for a half second every now and then and Harry knew someone had mentioned a fallen comrade. Kingsley stood off to one side of the group listening intently and smiling. He had taken up the Defense teaching position for the last year though Harry had heard someone else was stepping in for him this year. Again the 'curse' continued. He also noticed Lupin giving Tonks nervous looks occasionally and worked out that each of these was directly preceded by her glancing over to Marie and smiling to herself. Forcing himself not to laugh, Harry let his eyes continue on.

The DA was gathered around a couple large tables, some seated, some standing, some sitting on chair backs, and laughing loudly. There was also a photograph of them sitting in his room. They were now all watching as Neville animatedly retold what appeared to be one of their adventures with occasional help from the others. After taking the assistant professorship at Hogwarts he had become an altogether better public speaker and was now widely sought as the life of the party with his stories and jokes. Luna had her usual half gone expression as she watched and corrected the occasional point. Harry had thought for the longest time something would develop there but Neville had told him recently that she was just a little too far out there for him. Harry hadn't written the idea off though, there was a connection there.

Of course, that could have been said for most of the Dumbledore's Army Members. That bond had shown it's strength the previous March when they had gathered for a private remembrance of fallen friends. The entire magical community had celebrated the day of course and they had been part of the festivities but for a couple hours that afternoon they had also taken somber time to gather at the school and to remember those not with them. The large white granite monument that now stood in one corner of the graveyard inscribed with the names of all who had fallen to Tom's reigns of terror was something none of them could look at with out recalling the faces of their classmates and coming close to tears. They had sworn to meet there every year until they died. It was a vow Harry knew none of them would ever break.

Seamus and Dean stood near him, watching with rapt attention. They too had joined the Auror Corps and would be finishing their training soon. Dean and Lavender was a couple no one had seen coming but it seemed to work out despite her work at St. Mungo's almost in direct opposition to his as a fighter. Pavarti had followed her sister to Diagon Alley where they both worked as sales witches and seemed to be rather happy. The rest of his year had spread out as well from Sally-anne Perks working for the Prophet to Justin Finch-Fletchley who had garnered a job in the Department of Mysteries that he naturally couldn't talk about. And now Ginny's classmates would be spreading out as well. McGonagall had been right; they were the cornerstone of the rebuilt magical world.

Moving on he found his friends from the Ministry and specifically the reelected Minister Fudge. The man raised his glass in salute before turning his attention back to Arthur. He had proven an amazingly able leader over the last year and his past transgressions had been all but forgiven by the public. One of the hardest decisions he had had to make was what to do with the Inferi that had assaulted the school. In the end they had decided to return what remained of the bodies and burn down the town. Everyone had officially been killed in the blaze. Harry still kept an eye on him for any backsliding into his old ways, but so far he had proved remarkably resistant to them.

Looking closer at the group his eyes picked out his fellow Aurors. The past year had taught him much of the subtler aspects of the job, but his school experiences had prepared him to the point he barely needed much of the training. It had simultaneously brought him praise and a bit of annoyance from the others. The latter had died after his impressive track record in the field hunting down and destroying the last of Tom's followers. It was strange thinking he had found a home at the institution that he had spent so much time fighting with, but there was a strange symmetry to it. And working with Ron did have its benefits.

Speaking of which…Ron was joking with the rest of the Cannons near the buffet tables and all of them were laughing loudly as he cracked another joke. Harry had never really considered making part of his living playing Quiddich, but it had slotted in nicely to his schedule and kept him busy. After a few weeks he found he also greatly enjoyed the sport as he really had to work to win at the professional level even with a superstar Keeper in Ron holding the opponent to just a few points. He had gained a little more notice on top of his already considerable fame by donating the majority of his salary to various places, mostly to St. Mungos and Hogwarts.

Gathered to the other side were the Hogwarts Professors, looking rather odd not wearing their usual robes. With the fall of Tom Headmistress McGonagall had finally let go of Transfiguration duties to run the school full time and appointed another to the post. She had also finally done away with all forms of Divination as a class, something that had shocked and annoyed many a young female student but came as relief to many others. In the year as only a Headmistress she had gained some of Dumbledore's bearing and steadiness, doubtlessly a result of not having the school constantly under siege. Professor Sprout was walking a little better though she still held a cane at her side should her leg weaken. Hagrid saluted Harry with his mug from the back of the group before returning to whatever they were talking about.

Further outside these circles were the other guests, many of which he barely knew or had spoken to, but all thrilled to be here. And that brought him back to the reason they were all here and celebrating. His eyes finally rotated around to gorgeous red head sitting next to him who was now, officially, his wife. He rolled the thought around his mind for several moments as a grin grew steadily across his face while watching her talk to Hermione. After captaining the Gryffindor team to yet another Quiddich Cup she had gotten quite a few professional offers herself. On top of the outstanding NEWT scores that guaranteed her any job she wanted as well as the standing offer to DA members to join the Auror training program she had almost as many options for a career as he had had. He was relatively sure they would both be grateful he had left the Fidelus charm in place on his home in the coming weeks. After a few moments she seemed to feel the look and turned back to him as Hermione turned to speak to someone else. Her grin matched his as she stared up into his eyes.

"Whatch' thinking about?" Harry reached up and traced her cheek as he spoke.

"I was thinking about…how insanely lucky I am." He leaned in and kissed her softly. As he pulled back her lips curved back into a smile, this time he knew was just for him and one that any of the Weasley men would likely kill him for seeing despite being her husband. Her voice was a low caress, just loud enough to reach his ears.

"Not as lucky as you're going to be tonight." He furiously fought the heat rising in his cheeks and to get his breath going again. No matter how many time she said things like that, and no matter the circumstances, it still got to him.

"Why…is that a promise Mrs. Potter?"

"Yes it is Mr. Potter." She glanced past him and gestured with her chin. Harry followed her eyes and found her mother…his mother-in-law…standing near the cake and motioning to them. "Time to cut the cake."

"Excellent. Come on." Helping her to her feet, they headed to the cake table as the others assembled to watch. Again with the assistance of Mrs. Weasley who sent a piece to each person they cut through the gorgeous cake she had produced with the elves' help.

After that came the dancing and a of course throwing the bouquet. Slowly, bit by bit, the party finally began to break up as evening deepened and it came time for the couple to make their exit. While they stepped around a fence where their Firebolts were waiting the crowd waited for the promised flyover before they took off into the evening. They waited with baited breath for several moments but the couple failed to appear. After a few more moments Ron headed for the fence and rounded it. He let out a cry of surprise and returned to the crowd. "They're gone!"

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Harry took a moment to orientate himself from the apparition as he appeared with Ginny, holding her tightly. A moment later she turned and her eyes found the same sight his had. Out the large picture window stretched a short beach and then…an endless field of blue that sparkled in the sunlight. The bright…midday sunlight. Harry had kept the location of their honeymoon a secret even from her and she had no idea where they had come to. She stepped slowly closer and spoke in wonder.

"Harry…where are we?" She turned to find him closer and wearing a wide grin.

"We are in a small, very exclusive, very private, magically run bed and breakfast with private bungalows on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California." It took several moments for her to process this information, all the while a wide grin forming on her lips. "So?"

"It's…perfect."

"Almost as perfect as you." She turned and stepped into his embrace, her fingers quickly finding the buttons of his robes. "Little eager are you?"

"We just picked up eight hours…and I intend to use every one of them."

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(A/N): And that's it. There is no more. For now. Thanks for reading and a special thanks to the avid reviewers. In case you are wondering, I am toying with the idea of sequel. There are enough loose plot threads and unanswered questions to comprise another story. Though if I do that it will be weeks if not months away. Once again, thanks for reading. Later.

(A/N): If you feel it is warranted feel free to review. I welcome any and all opinions.