Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related plot events and characters are the property of JK Rowling.

Summary: PostHogwarts. Harry must deal with the horrors of war, and in doing so he will embrace his heritage and leave a lasting legacy on the world.

A/N: Hope you enjoy!

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Chapter 10: Graduation

Harry was quietly rummaging around in his trunk when he heard the floo out in the suite's living area crackle to life. He sighed and gave up the search for his graduation robes, and pushed himself up from the squatting position. The flames crackled again—louder, this time—so he quickly opened the door and slipped into the still dark room beyond. He turned toward the fire and saw Dumbledore's head floating there.

"Ah, Harry. I hope I didn't wake you."

"No, Albus, I had just gotten up."

Dumbledore inclined his head. "I wish to speak to you…in private."

Harry raised an eyebrow, and then wordlessly waved his right hand around the room. The doors were immediately locked and a silencing charm was put in place. Dumbledore watched the wandless magic but said nothing.

Harry motioned for him to continue. "And?"

"Well, I'm afraid I have some bad news."

A shadow crossed Harry's face briefly, but otherwise he showed no emotion. He stayed silent, so Dumbledore continued. "Poppy has informed me that Mr. Malfoy passed during the night. His heart stopped beating and they couldn't revive him."

Harry's face remained impassive. He had actually been expecting this for some time now, especially since two weeks before when Madam Pomfrey had announced to the staff that he had very little time left. She said in trying to heal, his body was actually doing more harm than good.

"Oh," was all he said, after a moment.

It was Dumbledore's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Harry…"

Harry held up a hand. "Don't worry about it, Albus. I'm not bottling up my emotions. It's just…I'm not really that upset."

The old man's eyebrow went higher. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not happy or anything of the sort, but I can't really bring myself to be sad for the boy who was going to kill you. I never wanted him dead, but there was no love lost between us, and I'm not really that sorry to see him go."

"Then why the impulsive reaction to the Death Eaters that night, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

Harry glared at him for a moment. Leave it up to the old coot to bring up that whole mess on this day of all days. "I didn't know it was Draco at the time."

Dumbledore was silent for a moment, with a thoughtful look on his face. "So if you had, you wouldn't have tried to save him as you did?"

Harry shook his head. "I didn't say that." He paused, collecting his own thoughts, which were still slightly bleary from sleep. "I don't know what I would have done if I'd known it was him. I'd like to think I would have tried to stop them, but…I guess I'll never know."

Dumbledore sighed in the fire. He looked weary and careworn and very much his age. He looked at Harry with a sincere eye. "Harry, don't let the past haunt you—I know it does. I can see it in you every day; every time I look at you I can tell you're constantly reliving things that have come to pass. You can't dwell on the past—certainly do not forget it—but do not let it control you."

"I try not to, believe me I do. With Draco, though…I can't help but feel a sense of pity with my bitterness. He lived a life he was forced into, programmed by the ideals of his father." Harry's lips quirked into a small, ironic smile. "I sometimes catch myself wondering what I would be like now if I had taken his hand that first day."

"Perhaps you would have changed him for the better…or him you for the worse. Regardless, I just wanted to let you know, because you were the one that prevented his death before."

Harry nodded. "What of the burial?"

"Well, Lucius and Narcissa are both dead, so we will most likely bury him in the small school plot. It will be a very small ceremony, probably sometime on Sunday."

Harry closed his eyes and rubbed his temples with his fingertips. "I don't know if I will be there, Albus. I've said all I can to him. I just hope he finds peace in eternity."

"And I echo your sentiment. Nevertheless, I will inform you of the time in case you decide otherwise." Harry nodded. "But, enough of this for now. You've finally made it, my boy! Seven years…seems like forever. I can still remember when you first set foot in the Great Hall…alas, I am rambling. This is a day for the students! Enjoy it! I will see you at breakfast, Harry."

Harry nodded again and the head of the Headmaster wavered and disappeared. As the fire died out, he waved his hand, dispelling the silencing charm and unlocking the doors. As soon as he did so, the door to his room burst open, slamming into the wall with a resounding bang, and an irate Ginny strode forth.

"Harry James Potter!" she shrieked. "What is the meaning of this?" She bristled over to him as he stood and glared at him, hands on her hips. He couldn't help but notice her rosy cheeks, heaving chest, and flashing eyes that signified her anger and annoyance, and he smiled.

"Why are you smiling?" she roared, seeming to get more aggravated.

He gently placed his hands on her shoulders. "Gin, Gin…calm down. Dumbledore just wanted to talk about something in private, but the charm wasn't really necessary. I'm sure he wouldn't mind me telling you that Draco died."

She seemed to deflate instantly. "Oh…" She looked at him a little sheepishly. "Sorry," she mumbled. She couldn't say anymore, however, as Harry's lips met hers in a fiery kiss. Her rosy cheeks and rapidly rising and falling chest returned at once, and she met the kiss with as much passion as Harry. There lips moved fervently against each other, and Harry slightly parted his, allowing the passionate redhead in front of him to gently probe with her tongue. Just as he was getting into it, though, he heard the door to Helen's room start to open, and pulled back from the kiss. She smiled at him, breathing quite heavily, and turned to go back into their room. He turned to look at Helen.

She was yawning when he looked, with her eyes closed and her arms stretched well above her head. His face lit up in warm, loving grin and he leapt over to her and swept her up into his arms, earning a surprised squeal and an amused giggle shortly thereafter.

"Daaaaaaaaaddyyy!" she said, swatting his arm that was holding her. "Don't scare me like that!"

He chuckled at her and set her down. "Alright, little lady, I've got to get ready for graduation. Wear something really nice, today, all right?"

She nodded and flashed her grin at him, and returned to her room. He returned to his and searched for his graduation robes some more, but became fed up after a few seconds.

"Accio graduation robes!" he cried, receiving a chuckle from Ginny who had already slipped a gold blouse and a crimson skirt on. There was a chaotic movement in his trunk, and suddenly something crimson and gold shot up into his hands. He unfolded it, stopping for a second to admire the bright Gryffindor colors on the regal robe, and then slipped it over his head. He smoothed the robes over his frame and grinned at Ginny, who took his offered arm in hers and guided him out of the room.

Helen was waiting for them, dressed in a pair of dark slacks and a white blouse; both neatly pressed and sparkling with a little Muggle glitter she had evidently applied. Harry and Ginny both cooed over how cute they thought she looked, and they all exited the suite in search of some breakfast at the Great Hall.

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The Great Hall was alive with the House colors, as all of the seventh years had their graduation robes on already. Most of the younger years had seemingly decided to support their Houses, because many of them wore clothes that matched their Houses' colors. Harry and Ginny sat down, with Helen slipping in between them. Ron and Hermione were already sitting across from them, and they hardly glanced at Harry and Ginny as they sat down.

"So, are you guys looking forward to this?" Harry asked, trying to start a conversation.

Ron grunted in reply and Hermione said, "Yeah, I guess…"

An uncomfortable silence then settled across the table as the five of them began to eat their breakfasts. Harry was painfully aware of it, and he was a little worried too. Today might be the last day the three of them – him, Ron, and Hermione—were together for a few weeks at least, and he didn't really want to be separated from them for so long with things the way they were.

Ginny laid her hand lightly over one of his wrists, and he looked up and met her eyes. She flicked them toward Ron and Hermione and inclined her head slightly. She was imploring him to try to work things out, here and now. He wanted to, but somehow he didn't think they were going to be very receptive of what he had to say. Helen was eating her breakfast and didn't notice the silent drama that was playing out around her.

Harry sighed almost inaudibly. He opened his mouth to speak, but snapped it shut when Hermione stood abruptly. She brushed off her robes and pulled Ron up with her. With barely a look over her shoulder as she turned and walked away, she said, "We'll see you guys at the ceremony."

Harry sat in silence for a moment, aware that Ginny was looking at him but not really in the mood for whatever she had to say at the moment. "Err…right," was all he finally managed to get out. He finally looked at Ginny, who just shook her head a little sadly. Helen looked up at him a little oddly for a moment.

"You all right, Daddy?" She looked at Ginny. "Mum?" Harry was barely able to contain the noise of him sucking in air when he heard that, because he still couldn't get over her calling Ginny 'mum'. It sounded great and he loved it, but he wasn't sure how Ginny felt about it.

She smiled gently at the small girl and said, "Yes Helen, we're fine. Let's finish our breakfast and get out of here." So they did just that. They enjoyed their meal and talked quietly amongst themselves about nothing in particular. Just as they were getting up to leave the Hall, Dumbledore walked over. He was smiling at them.

"Harry, if I might have a word with you?" This was the second time in as many hours he wanted a private word with Harry, and Harry was wondering why he didn't just talk about it during their conversation earlier.

"Um…sure." He looked at Ginny and Helen. "I'll see you guys out there, I guess?" They nodded and Ginny led Helen away, throwing a cursory glance back at Harry before disappearing from the hall.

"Walk with me," the old man said as he motioned toward the doors of the Great Hall. Harry fell into step beside him and looked over with a questioning look on his face.

"What is this about, Albus? Couldn't we have talked about this earlier?"

"We could have, yes, but unfortunately it slipped my mind. I would like to talk to you about Helen."

Harry instantly acquired a guarded look. "Oh?"

Dumbledore smiled at his cautionary tone as they exited the Great Hall into the wide foyer, continuing on toward the doors to the castle. "I was wondering if she had done any magic since she conjured that Phoenix Patronus in the Defense classroom?"

"You know about that?"

"Remus told me about it soon after it occurred, but I was aware of it before that. Hogwarts has a tendency to…reveal…certain things."

"'Reveal', sir?"

"One could say that the castle is alive, Harry. The stones are so saturated with magic that they have almost acquired a mind of their own." They passed out of the large entranceway onto the grounds, and made their way to the stage and chairs that were set up. "Headmasters have written that the castle whispers to them sometimes, and I will attest that that is true."

"I see…but what does this have to do with Helen?"

"The day she arrived, the castle whispered something to me, and I was just wondering if she's done anymore more magic since that day with Remus."

"Wouldn't you know, though, if she did?"

"Most likely…but even I can't tell everything that happens here."

Harry laughed at this, and nodded. "Well, in answer to your original question, yes and no."

Dumbledore looked at him without breaking his stride and quirked an eyebrow.

"You see, sometimes when she wants something done, like a book from her room or to be warmer, or something like that, she does magic to accomplish it." Harry paused. "It's not really Accidental magic…but I don't think it's entirely part of any conscious thought, either. It's only happened a few times, and she doesn't even seem to realize she does it, but it still surprises me."

"Why does it surprise you, Harry?"

"Well, for one thing, she does it without a wand. I know that I can do some wandless magic, but it's certainly not an easy thing, and when I was six I doubt I could have done anything wandless—except accidentally, of course."

"Anything other reasons?" prompted Albus.

"Actually, yes. The power of her spells also catches me off guard. You obviously know of her corporeal Patronus, which was stronger than Hermione's, but, for instance, the other day she summoned a book from her room." The two of them had arrived at the back of the mass of chairs that had been set up, and they were already quickly filling up. There was a raised platform at the front with several chairs of its own on it.

Harry continued as they stopped walking. "She kind of just held up her hand and apparently thought about it, and I guess she just expected it to be there. It wasn't exactly a summoning charm, because it looked like it just appeared there, but I don't think she conjured it, either. The copy of the book was no longer in her room when I went to look."

Dumbledore nodded. "I thought as much, and that is why I wanted to talk to you. You're still planning on starting the training I mentioned on Monday, correct?"

"Of course."

"Then I thought it would be wise to travel to Ollivander's sometime Sunday with Helen and pick up a wand for her. She obviously is a powerful young lady, and I think she might benefit from some of the training you will be getting."

Harry looked shocked for a minute, but then slowly nodded as he realized the truth behind the Headmaster's words. Of course Helen would need a wand—she was at a school for magic and would be for many years. It was the most logical thing to do and she had already showed an amazing propensity at a young age for some advanced forms of magic.

"Alright…that sounds like a plan." He grinned. "I'm sure she will be thrilled to hear it. She always gets slightly goggle-eyed at any large displays of magic, and she talked for two weeks straight about her Patronus."

Dumbledore smiled as well, patting Harry on the shoulder. "I'm sure she will, too. The ceremony is about to begin. Let us take our seats." He began to walk forward toward the stage.

"Albus?"

He stopped and, without turning around, said, "Yes, Harry?"

"What did it say to you?"

"What?"

"The castle, I mean. What did the castle say to you about Helen?"

If Harry saw Dumbledore's face, he would see a knowing smirk. "All in due time, Harry. All in due time." And the old man continued to stride for the stage, leaving Harry with a curious look on his face.

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"First off, I would like to congratulate the class of 1998 for finally making it," McGonagall said from the podium on the stage as the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. Ginny was sitting with her housemates for the ceremony because she couldn't sit with Harry and the rest of the graduating class at the moment.

She listened as the Deputy Headmistress and Transfiguration teacher continued with her opening speech, and her eyes strayed to the chairs behind the speaking woman. Dumbledore had asked if Helen would like to accompany him up there during the ceremony and she had agreed; so, she was now sitting on his lap. He was whispering something to her and she silently giggled.

"…certainly was a long and difficult—Albus!" she interrupted herself as she turned around. He gave her a look of serene innocence. "Surely you can keep quiet during this!" Her words were harsh but her tone was light, and the crowd burst into laughter as he gently made a face at her as she turned back around. She arched an eyebrow at them before continuing.

"As I was saying, these past seven years have certainly been a long and difficult…" her voice faded as Ginny's attention waned. She was ecstatic that Harry and the rest of the seventh years were graduating, but her patience for pomp and ceremony was very thin. She looked over the podium at the lake beyond, and watched as the Giant Squid basked in the late June sun. It idly lifted a tentacle and—

She gasped suddenly as pain wracked her chest. Her left hand clutched at it and she bent over herself a bit as it intensified.

"Ginny?" whispered the wide-eyed blond girl next to her.

"I'm fine, Luna," she said through gritted teeth. The pain was already abating, stabbing itself away with every beat of her heart. "Must just be some sort of cramp," she continued, straightening as the last of the pain died away. She looked over at Luna with a reassuring smile.

"You sure you're ok?" the girl asked, for once focusing her vacant eyes on something—Ginny's face.

"Yeah," replied Ginny with a wave of her hand. She took a deep breath. "See?"

"Alright," Luna acquiesced, her eyes unfocused again as she turned to stare at the podium McGonagall was still speaking from.

Ginny returned her attention to the podium as well. "…and now Headmaster Albus Dumbledore," finished McGonagall. She stepped back as Albus stood, placing Helen on his chair, and made his way to the podium. Ginny looked for Harry as he did so, and as she caught sight of him, he seemed to sense her gaze, and turned to her. He smiled at her and then turned back to the podium to hear what Dumbledore had to say.

"I must apologize for my behavior, Minerva," he began. "My mind, in my old age, has finally begun to slip." Yeah right, thought Harry, you keep saying that, old man. I certainly don't believe you, and I doubt there are many here that do.

"There are only a few things that I wish to say here today, so I will try to avoid boring you all. All of you here, but this class in particular, had to face the task of growing up and adolescence with a war raging around you. When you entered here in the fall of 1991, Voldemort," –he was impressed by how few people flinched— "was just beginning to regain his grip on this world.

"It is with a heavy heart that I say Thomas Riddle was a product of this school, and I wish that more could have been done during his time here, but alas, it does not do to dwell on the past. All of you fine young people who will be walking across this stage today are examples of the everything that is good about Hogwarts and what we try to accomplish here, and I am proud of you all.

"As a group, you have persevered in your studies and have some of the highest OWL and NEWT scores in memory, and you have persevered with each other to try to break the barriers between yourselves. You have worked against the evil that faced this world for so long, and during your fifth year you overcame the difficulties that arrived here at Hogwarts.

"I'm not more proud of any class over another, but I am certainly quite fond of this current one. I have a feeling that many or all of you will leave lasting marks on the wizarding and possibly Muggle worlds before all is said and done, and I couldn't be happier to be the Headmaster of the school that educated you.

"Now, let us get to the diplomas, because you have certainly earned them. Please, everyone, hold your applause until they have all been passed out." He waved his wand, and a table stacked high with parchments appeared by the podium. The seventh years all stood and formed the line as they had been instructed. They waited to receive their Certificate of Merit and Diploma with Concern to the Education in Magic given by Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and strode up and across the stage to shake the hand of the Headmaster when they were called.

"…Harry James Potter…" Most of the audience burst into immediate applause and cheers, evidently forgetting the plea of the Headmaster to wait. He smiled, though, acknowledging that some things are unavoidable. Harry blushed and smiled sheepishly, looking briefly out over the crowd. He hated attention, and he was getting a lot right now.

He shook Dumbledore's hand and grasped the parchment that was his diploma, and started to walk away. Dumbledore stopped him, though, and asked, "Would you be willing to stay up here for a minute?" Harry looked uncertain for a second, but then nodded and moved to where Helen was sitting. She smiled brightly at him and jumped into his arms, and he sat down and positioned her on his lap. He looked over her head at the crowd, missing the warm looks most of the Professors were giving him.

The Headmaster continued to pass out the diplomas, finally reaching the end after another fifteen minutes. He turned back to the audience, and Harry had a good idea of what he was going to say. "Now, I'd like to present Harry Potter, who will say a few words to you all."

Yup, thought Harry, with a sinking feeling. He hated the attention even more now, but there was nothing he could do besides smile at the old man waving him up to podium and join him there. He slid Helen off his lap, who smiled at him again in a reassuring sort of way, and moved to the podium. Dumbledore backed away as he approached, and he forced a warm smile to his face as he looked over the podium at the audience before him.

Everyone had gone deathly silent and had expectant and adoring looks on their faces, and he dropped his head for a moment, placing his hands on both edges of the podium. He heaved a deep sigh, and looked up again. He had figured out what he wanted to say.

"I'm honored to be a part of this graduating class and I wish to express my thanks to each and every one of you. The road has been rocky these years—there can be no doubt that—but somehow most of us are here at the end ready for the next stage in our lives.

"I know that most of you think that I am some kind of hero, but to be honest with you I've only done what I had to. I was born into this situation, and if I could have chosen, I probably would have chosen differently. Voldemort was a sadistic, twisted individual and he deserved what he got, but 'what he got' wasn't only because of me. The teachers," he waved his a hand behind him, "the Headmaster," he motioned the to Headmaster who was standing near his right side, "and all of the students," he spread an arm out above, motioning to the audience, "have all had an important role to play in this, and without all of them, I wouldn't have succeeded.

"I know I'm a modest person, but this isn't modesty—it's truth. I may have struck the final blow, but I didn't do it all. We all had a part in ending this war, and I think we all can enjoy the peace we finally have. This war has been around for our entire lives, and it has cost many lives that we must honor, but it's finally over.

"So I'm asking you to not put me on a pedestal, but rather embrace your friends and neighbors, sons and daughters, loved ones, strangers, and enemies and start fresh. We have a whole new world in front of us, and it is because of more than just me. It's because of everyone."

As the words finally stopped cascading from his lips, he noticed that the silence that had been there before had deepened. They had given them their rapt attention, and had absorbed every one of his words. Suddenly, a few of his classmates stood up and started clapping. It spread like wildfire, and soon the entire audience was giving him a thunderous ovation. Dumbledore laughed heartily and clapped him on the back, and Harry couldn't help but smile.

That wasn't exactly the effect that he had intended, but he wasn't going to argue with the several hundred people on their feet in front of him.

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"Hey, mate! That was bloody brilliant!" exclaimed a voice as Harry tried to maneuver through the large crowd in the Great Hall. The seventh years were in the middle of their graduation party, and the sun was just setting outside. Harry had spent most of the afternoon talking to various people, trying to impress upon them that he wasn't the real hero in the war, but it was mostly to no avail.

Finally, he had excused himself from the adults, parents, and teachers, and joined his peers in the Great Hall. Helen was with the Headmaster, from who Harry would pick her up either later that night or the following morning, depending on how long the party lasted. He turned toward the voice that had yelled at him, and saw Seamus grinning at him.

He chuckled at the sandy-haired seventeen year old and said, "Thanks Seamus. But I meant what I said."

"I know, I know." He clapped Harry on the back. "Let's enjoy this party, eh? This is the last night we're going to spend in Hogwarts as students!" Seamus turned away to heartily greet someone else, and Harry headed off toward the refreshments, still chuckling to himself. Suddenly, he was grabbed and spun, and he caught a flash of red hair before lips were pressed again his. There were some wolf whistles, but, for the most part, the revelers didn't notice the kiss.

Ginny leaned back and smirked at Harry. "So, how does it feel?"

"Well, I'm not sure what you're talking about, but if it's that kiss, then it felt—" he started, but was cut off by Ginny slapping his arm.

"No, you prat! I meant, how does it feel to be finished?"

Harry smirked. "I knew that. It feels…bittersweet?" The smirk disappeared. "It's good that this is all finally over, but…some part of me seems to be closing itself off."

"What do you mean?" she asked, a concerned look on her face.

"I'm not sure exactly—it's just not a completely good feeling. Look, just forget it. Let's enjoy the rest of the night." He smiled at her, causing her to smile and nod in return.

"Sure, Professor Potter. Lead the way." He raised an eyebrow at her form of address, but didn't argue, and took her arm in his as he guided her through the crowd to a table. He noticed one that Ron and Hermione were sitting at, and he changed direction to join them. He hadn't had a chance to talk to them since that morning.

They looked up as he and Ginny approached, and Hermione put a small smile on her face. "So," she began, "how does the Boy-Who-Lived feel to be done with school?"

"You know," said Harry light-heartedly as he sat down, "I really wish you wouldn't call me that." Ginny sat next to him.

When Hermione didn't say anything, Harry asked, "So, what are your plans for the summer, you two?"

"Well," Hermione replied, "I think we're both going to stay at the Burrow for most of the summer. Right Ron?"

He nodded, and added, "Yeah, and then we're going for Auror training at the Ministry in the fall."

Harry looked surprised. "Oh really? Both of you?"

Hermione nodded. "Yep. We've both already been accepted."

"So I guess you did better on those NEWTS than you thought, Ron?"

Ron smirked at him. "All of that studying I did with the smartest witch in Hogwarts paid off, apparently."

Hermione smiled lightly before turning to Harry again. "What about you, Harry? What are your plans for the summer?"

"Well, for most of the summer I will be here training with Albus."

It was Hermione's turn to look surprised. "What?"

"He wants to ensure that I can control this power," he motioned to himself, as if doing so would make them see the power. "So he's going to personally train me for most of the summer."

"Ah…I see," said Hermione.

"And next year you're going to teach, right?" intoned Ron.

Harry inclined his head. "That's right. I'll be Ginny's teacher," he said, elbowing her gently in the side of the arm. She mock glared at him.

He laughed and added, "What about you, Gin? We haven't really talked about what you're going to do this summer."

"Well," she said thoughtfully, "I was thinking of asking Albus if I could stay here with you for the summer." Her face saddened. "The Burrow is going to be quiet this summer, without Mum or Dad, and I'd rather stay here with you than feel like the third wheel there." She looked at Ron and Hermione. "No offense to you two, of course."

"None taken," Hermione said. Ron nodded, his own sad look filling his face.

Harry put his arms around her waste and leaned into her, whispering in her ear, "I'm sorry, love. I really am." She smiled lightly and leaned against him, her cheek against his forehead. They stayed like that for a few moments, listening to the music from the dance floor as it cascaded over everyone in the room.

Eventually he leaned back and said, "Would you do me the honor of dancing with me, m'lady?" Harry stood and offered his hand in a mock bow to Ginny, and she grinned at him and took his hand.

"Of course, m'lord. Lead on." He pulled her up into him, and with a glance and a nod from each of them towards Ron and Hermione, they walked toward the dance floor.

It was packed, and the rave music that was playing caused many flailing arms and legs. Harry and Ginny moved to an outer edge and started moving to the beat, the bass pounding through their bodies and encouraging them to get lost in the music. They did just that, and moved against each other in time with it.

The music changed to a slower, mellower tune, and Harry pulled Ginny close, wrapping his arms around her waist as she did the same to him. She leaned her head against his shoulder and they moved in a slow circle as the leisurely melody washed over them. She sighed into his shoulder, extremely content at the moment, and closed her eyes.

Harry turned his head into her hair, and inhaled deep the fresh flowery scent of it. He was tremendously satisfied at the moment, and he wouldn't change it for anything. He felt Ginny tense against him, and he lifted his head to look at her. As he did so, he noticed that her breathing had increased.

Worried now, he lifted her head, and started at what he saw. What little color she had had drained from her face, and she was gritting her teeth together tightly. Her eyes were squinted in pain and were unfocused.

"Ginny?" She didn't answer.

"Ginny!" She didn't answer again. "Come on, snap out of it!" he said, shaking her gently. Several people were looking at them now. A small drop of blood leaked out of her nose and her eyes rolled back into her head. She went limp in his arms.

"Ginny!" he cried. This got the interest of even more people, but he paid no attention. All of it was focused on the limp girl in his arms. He could only think of one thing: I've got to get her help! I've got to get her help!

There were cries of shock and alarm as Harry suddenly disappeared from the dance floor with the limp form of Ginny in his arms. He had gone to the one place his brain had latched on to for help, and that was St. Mungo's. He had Disapparated from Hogwarts through its many anti-Apparition wards directly into the Emergency Ward of the hospital, through all three of its anti-Apparition wards.

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Harry sat on the floor outside of the door to one of the intensive care units at St. Mungo's. His knees were pulled up to his chest, with his arms around them, and his face was resting in them. Chaos had ensued when he'd Apparated in, and the sound of klaxon's ringing through the hospital had informed everyone there'd been a breach in security. It took a few minutes for them to understand what had happened, but once they did, they took Ginny from his arms and immediately started to examine her.

Shortly thereafter, she was moved to the intensive care unit, and he was still waiting for word on what had happened to her. He had been sitting in the hallway for almost two hours, and was waiting on the arrival of her family and friends. The hospital had taken it upon themselves to contact them, and they would be arriving soon. Just as his thoughts were starting to slip into sleep, he heard the rushed patter of feet on the hard tile floor, and he looked up.

Helen was running toward him with a worried expression on her face, and he noticed that there were quite a few people following her. The Weasley children were all there, as were Dumbledore, Hermione, and Luna. Helen crashed into him and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face into it. She let out a noisy sob.

"I-is Mum alri-ight?" she choked out. Harry wrapped his arms around Helen and shifted his position to pull her close to him. She radiated warmth against his body and he pressed her form into his lap. Her arms tightened around his neck, seeking security and reassurance.

"I'm not sure, hun…" he spoke softly into her hair. The lead Weasley—Bill—arrived in front of him just then and looked down with an open question on his face. Harry nodded toward the door and shrugged, telling Bill all he needed to know without any words. The rest of the people stopped near them in the next few seconds, with Dumbledore bringing up the rear.

"Harry," Dumbledore prompted, "what happened?" Helen sniffed against Harry and he rubbed her back gently. He took a deep breath and started to explain.

"We were dancing and she just…went rigid. I tried to get her to talk to me—or focus on me—but she seemed to be lost in pain. A little blood came out of her noise,"—there were a few noises of shock around the room—"and she went limp. I, uh, panicked and Apparated her directly here."

There was a silence as everyone there tried to absorb what he'd just said. Bill gave him a strange look.

"You said you Apparated her directly here?" Harry nodded, still rubbing the back of Helen, trying to soothe her distraught emotions. "Where exactly?"

"Mmm…into the Emergency Ward."

"Really?" Harry nodded once again, wondering what this line of questioning was about. "Damn…I guess I'll have to work on strengthening the wards then…" he trailed off, clearly thinking about what he needed to do.

"What are you talking about, Bill?" Ron asked. He sounded as confused as Harry looked.

"Harry Apparated—out of Hogwarts, mind you—through several wards protecting the hospital." He looked at Harry. "Were there alarms going off when you arrived?"

"Yes, there was this really high-pitched whooping noise. It sounded like one of the Muggle air-raid warnings."

"Then you did go directly through the wards. That is very impressive, but I'm going to have to thank you, because you're quick thinking got my sister here faster than anyone else could have."

Harry shook his head. "I think it was more panic than quick thinking, Bill." He glanced at the door. "I wish they'd tell us something soon." He looked back down and kissed the head of the now quiet Helen, and just fell back into his thoughts as people settled into chairs and on the floor around the door. Helen turned her face up to his and gave him a wan smile, but her eyes were still teary.

"Shh…it's ok, Helen, I'm here for you…" he said and she closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep in the comfort of Harry's arms. Harry felt far from ok, though, but he couldn't let her see that. He needed to be strong for her, even if it felt like his insides were twisting themselves to death from the uncertainty of the situation. Why had she suddenly gone rigid like that, and what was causing her the pain? And the blood…that worried him. He wanted to know what was going on, and he wanted to know now, but he had to wait for the Healers to finish whatever it was they were doing.

Another hour passed by, in which little was said between everyone there, and Harry felt himself drifting off more than once. Each time his head would droop he'd snap it up and look warily around, and see that others were fighting the same condition. It was getting late—past midnight—and they still hadn't heard anything. Then the door to the room opened, and like magic, every single person leapt up, half anticipating-half dreading the news. Harry was careful not to jostle Helen, but he was still on his feet the fastest and confronted the Healer immediately.

"What's going on," he demanded. The Healer gave him what looked like a sad look and motioned around him.

"All of you here need to hear this." He pointed to a sitting area down the hall a bit. He strode off toward it, and everyone was forced to follow. They avoided each other's faces, because they didn't want to see the fear that was surely mirrored on their own. The Healer motioned to all of them to take seats, and they did. They looked at him expectantly as he seemed to brace himself for what he was about to say. This can't be good…Harry thought.

"I was never good at this sort of thing," the Healer started, "so I might as well just cut to the chase. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but Ginny has another year to live, at most." It took several seconds for people to absorb this information, but when they did, there were many cries of rage and anguish.

"WHAT?" exploded Ron, Harry, and Dumbledore simultaneously. The others appeared to be too shocked to articulate any of their thoughts.

The Healer cringed a bit at the sudden yelling, but continued on. "Through some diagnostic tests tonight, we were able to determine that she has a terminal degenerative heart disease."

More silence followed. Finally, Harry found his voice, and it sounded a bit dazed. "How…how can you be so clinical about this?"

The Healer looked at Harry sadly for a moment. "It is my job. I'm sorry to be the one to have to tell you all this…"

Ron swallowed loudly and tried talking. It came out as a raspy noise, and he cleared his throat. "How did she get it?" His voice was strained and quiet; he was obviously trying not to break down.

Harry could sympathize with him, because it felt like the world was slowly being sucked away from him and his chest was gradually tightening. Ron had lost both of his parents only six months before, and now this? Harry couldn't help but wonder about how all of this was happening, and why it seemed like no one in his life, including himself, could ever get a break. His throat was tightening and he felt a burning behind his eyes.

The Healer explained. "This type of disease is hereditary, which is a Muggle term meaning that it's passed from parent to child." He paused, and then forged on. "To really understand what I'm going to say next, you need some comprehension of Muggle genetics. Your mother must have given her the trait as well as your father, because it is a recessive one and it is carried on the sex cells. Only female children can suffer from the disease, but some of you," he said as he gestured to the male Weasley children around him, "undoubtedly carry it."

This was a lot to absorb, and everyone was still silent as he finished. Crying could be heard, but Harry didn't dare look up. Instead, he focused on Helen, who was sitting in his lap, and tilted her head up. She looked at him with wide, unbelieving eyes, and then broke into fresh sobs. He had reached his breaking point as well, and his defenses crumbled down around him as he poured his heart out into the tears that were now cascading down his cheeks. She kneeled on his lap and threw her arms around his neck, resting her chin on his shoulder. They cried like that for a little while, forgetting about everyone around them as they poured the sudden grief from themselves. Harry finally looked around him and noticed that there were only a few people left in the lobby. Hermione, Dumbledore, and Luna were sitting in chairs around them.

"W-where'd they go?" he asked in a trembling voice. Dumbledore looked up at him, and Harry was surprised to see the honest grief in the old man's eyes.

"They are visiting with their sister at the moment," was all he said, before he slipped back into his own thoughts.

He was trying to avoid that, but they inevitably came, and a thousand questions came with them. How could this happen? Why does this crap always happen to my friends and I? She only has a year to live? My Ginny only has a year to live? His thoughts kept repeating that sentiment over and over again, and soon his lips were trembling again as he tried to hold back another wave of grief. Helen sniffed into his shoulder and he looked down at her, grief momentarily forgotten. When she looked up, he saw red eyes and raw cheeks from the tears.

He hugged her tightly. "I'm so sorry, Helen. I'm sorry that any of this ever happened. It's all my fault…" he said.

She leaned back and looked at him, studying him with her intense brown eyes. "What is, Daddy?"

Harry made a noncommittal noise and motioned around him. "Everything. This war, all the deaths, what the Death Eaters did to you and the other kids, what's wrong with Ginny, all of it…" he trailed off when she put a finger over his lips.

She shook her head slowly, looking into his eyes. "No, it's not, Daddy. None of this is your fault. I love you so much, Daddy, and I know that you do everything you can to make things better for people. Listen to what the Doctor said—she got it from her parents. It's not your fault." Her lip trembled, and her façade slipped, letting some of her young age through. "I j-just wish that none of this ever happened."

Harry was deeply touched by the profound words of the six-year-old, and he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cool forehead. She kissed his cheek and leaned her own against his, relaxing into her favorite position.

A few minutes later, the Weasley's slowly reentered the small sitting area. Ron, followed by Bill, Charlie, Fred, and then George sat down in chairs. They all looked like they'd been crying, and they looked as tired as Harry felt. No one said anything, so Harry decided that he wanted to see her.

He stood up, tucking Helen securely into his arms, and started down the hall. No one seemed to notice him go. He approached the door with a sense of apprehension; he was unsure of what he would see when he opened the door and how she might react. He pressed a palm against it, took a deep breath, and pushed it open on its silent hinges.

She was lying on her back in the bed, sheets up to her waist, staring at the ceiling. Her cheeks were tear-streaked and her eyes were red. Her hair was a fiery mess underneath her and the hospital gown she wore was slightly disheveled.

She looked over to him as he let himself into the room, and scrunched up her face and turned away from him when she saw him.

"Go away, Harry," she demanded quietly.

Harry set Helen down and walked quickly over to the bed.

"What?" he asked just as quietly.

"I said go away…"

"What do you mean…why…" he asked desperately.

He heard her lose her composure and she started crying again. "I don't want to see you anymore…this just…I don't want to be with you anymore…"

Harry lost it again, and tears slipped from his tired eyes. He reached for Ginny's hand but she pulled it away, and his sobbing became louder. "Ginny? But, I don't understand? I love you…Ginny…" he choked out. She started to cry harder, still turned away from him.

"How can you, Harry? How can you after this? How can you love someone that's going to DIE SOON?" she asked, her voice rising at the last part and ending near a scream. She was near hysterics, as was Harry, and he slid onto the bed with her and pulled her into an embrace. She resisted momentarily, but soon pressed her back against his heaving chest. He could hear Helen crying near the door, but his focus was on Ginny.

"How could you say that, Ginny? You know I love you. Why would that be any different now?" He said into her hair. His tears were abating, leaving a raw feeling, and he needed it to stop. It was eating him up, and if it swallowed him he wouldn't be able to get up and live on anymore.

"You mean everything to me, Ginny. You think I'd just abandon you now? We're in this together. I will never leave you. I love you too much…if you want me to, I'll marry you to prove it."

She had stopped shuddering in his arms, and now slowly turned over to face him. She searched his eyes for a moment, reminding him eerily of the look Helen had given him earlier, and then leaned in to a tight embrace with him.

She spoke into his chest: "Oh, Harry…I'm so sorry…this is just…overwhelming. One minute I'm dancing with you, the next they're telling me I'm not going to live another year. I just don't know if I can deal with this."

He rubbed her back, trying to soothe her, but he knew that he couldn't possibly know what she was feeling at the moment. "You will, and I will help you. I'll be here for you, always and forever. Whatever you need, I'm here for you. This is just another curve life has thrown us—Merlin knows we've had plenty already—and we'll work through this with each other."

"Why are you so good to me, Harry? What did I do to deserve this?"

"Being you. Simply being you, Ginny."

"I love you, Harry."

"I love you, too."

She looked up into his face, her features suddenly set into a hard resolve. "I will not let this get me down. If I have another year, then we need to make the most out of it. We can't let this stop us from doing what we want."

Harry was a little taken aback at her sudden change in attitude, but understood where it was coming from. He nodded, and said, "Of course. And the first thing we can do is this…" he trailed off as he took both of her hands in his, and looked her directly in the eyes. "Ginevra Molly Weasley, will you marry me?"

She choked a bit and tried to compose herself, but then flung herself against him. Her voice came out muffled as she replied, "Of course, Harry!"

"I know I don't have a ring right now…but we'll have to fix that soon enough." Suddenly the bed shifted, and Harry and Ginny looked up to see what it was. Helen had climbed on the end of the bed and was looking at them with sadness and apprehension.

"Oh, Helen…come here," Ginny said, as she disentangled herself from Harry and rolled away a bit, holding out her open arms for Helen. Helen basically dove into her embrace, and Harry watched as the two of them sobbed into each other's arms. He wanted to join them, but he was cried out.

He waited until they quieted down and then asked, "You're ok with that, right Helen?"

She turned her face to him with large, inquiring eyes. "With what, Daddy?"

"Well…with her becoming your mum…for real."

She squealed, "Yes!" and threw herself at Harry. Ginny moved over a bit, and the three of them laid in her bed reveling in the closeness, temporarily forgetting their worries and the news Fate has just bestowed upon them.

----------

It was a little past two in the morning when Harry finally stumbled from the room, leaving Helen and Ginny sleeping behind him. He rubbed his eyes wearily, trying to comprehend all that had happened in the past few hours. Ginny was going to die…and he had just proposed to her. The first caused him a deep, hollow sadness, and the second caused a resounding bliss. The emotions combined to create a strange apathy, and he shuffled into the sitting area with an expressionless face.

The only one who was still awake was Dumbledore, and he was sitting in his chair by the window, his chin in his hands. He wasn't really looking at anything, but Harry could almost hear the wheels working away in his brain. He went over to sit by the old man.

When Harry plopped soundlessly into the chair, Dumbledore looked up and forced a grim smile to his face. Harry nodded and looked out the window.

"Harry…"

Harry looked back at Dumbledore. "Sir?"

The Headmaster sighed. "I just want you to know that I'm here for you, if you ever need to talk."

Harry echoed the sigh. "Why me, Albus? Why does all of this have to happen to me? It just seems like…none can escape me with their life…I feel like nothing I did before accomplished anything."

Dumbledore cleared his throat, refocusing Harry's suddenly vacant gaze. "Listen to me, Harry. I don't want to ever hear that again. All right? What you and your friends did ensured the safety of millions—billions, even—of people. Never say that it was all for nothing, because that is a huge lie."

Harry turned to look out the window once again. "The war is over, but…I still feel like I'm just existing. My whole life was about Voldemort and defeating him. Well, I finally did that, and I thought that my life finally might be normal, and that I could be with the woman I love for the rest of it, but then this has to happen." His voice broke, but he controlled it. "I've never really lived, Albus, and it feels like I don't have anything to live for anymore. My task is finished and the rest of my life is too. I'm just tired…so tired…"

Dumbledore listened to him, forcing back the tears that he knew were in his eyes. Harry was so wise yet so innocent, and he had seen and faced so much in his young life. He was the person who least deserved all of this, yet it continued after him day after day.

"What did you and her talk about in there, Harry?" he asked quietly.

Not looking away from the glass, Harry replied, "I proposed to her. She said she wanted to live her life to the fullest, and I thought that was the first step."

"She is very wise then, Harry, and so are you. You have to try to accept this—I don't pretend to know how you're feeling or what you're thinking right now—but you should try to live your life with her to the fullest for as long as you two can."

Harry looked down at his lap. "Why, though, Albus? What's the point anymore?"

"Harry, look at me." Harry continued to look at his lap. "Look at me." Harry looked up, his green eyes tinged with a profound sadness. "You love her, yes?" Harry nodded. "You would spend the rest of your life and hers with her, right?" Harry nodded again. "So do that. Live for the moment, Harry, because you and her need to get the most out of what you have."

Harry looked away, thinking about what Dumbledore was saying. It made sense, but nothing else did to him anymore. "We'll see…"

"No, Harry. Not 'we'll see'. You promised her when you were in there that you would live out the rest of her days in happiness, experiencing the joy of love and life for as long as both of you can. You said you just proposed to her, well, that's excellent!" He paused for a moment, working something out in his head. "Hmm…yes, it could be a Hogwarts' wedding; we could have it at the beginning of August. She can stay at the castle this summer if you and her want that."

Harry had refocused on the Headmaster once again. Was he hearing all of this correctly? "You'd…you'd let her?"

Dumbledore nodded and smiled. "Of course. I'm sure she will want to continue with school for her seventh year, so you and her could live at the castle as husband and wife if you so choose."

Harry swallowed, working his dry throat, and said, "But why? Why are you allowing all of this?"

"Because I care about you, Harry, and Ginny as well. You were always the grandson I never had, and if Ginny's going to be a part of your family, she deserves a place in my heart as well. Helen already has one, and she will be overjoyed I'm sure at getting a real mother."

"Yeah, one she's going to lose…" Harry muttered, bitterly.

"Harry, you can't think like that. Think of Ginny! You have to be strong for her. The bitterer you become, the harder she is going to be on herself, and you and her can't afford that. You both need to focus on the joys in life and go for them all. Just live; let it all out and just live."

Harry sighed and nodded slowly, unable to refute the wisdom of the old man's words. He forced a small smile to his face.

"I'm assuming you still wish to begin training on Monday?" Dumbledore asked.

Harry was still for a moment; a pensive look was on his face. "Yes, I need to learn more about these powers and control them better, for Ginny and Helen, and for everyone else."

"All right. The Healer said that Ginny would be able to leave Sunday evening. She apparently has to take a potion every morning to help with any pain she might have, but otherwise she will have little interaction with any Healers. Why don't you and Helen make a trip to Diagon Alley during the afternoon on Sunday and then pick Ginny up when you're done. Bring her to the school and settle in for the summer."

Harry nodded, his eyes sliding away to look out of the dark window. Dumbledore rested a hand on Harry's knee for a moment and then stood.

"By the way, the ceremony for Draco will be at 9 pm Sunday night."

"I won't be there, Albus."

Dumbledore nodded. "Very well. I must be getting back to the school. I shall see you soon." Harry tilted his head in acknowledgement and continued to stare out the window. Sighing internally, Dumbledore walked to the Apparition point and left St. Mungo's.

Harry was trying to not let the bitterness wash over him, but it was hard. The hollowness had to be filled by something, and it was either bitterness or indifference at the moment. He finally chose indifference, and leaned back against the chair and closed his eyes. Sleep came quickly.