Again, thank you very much for the encouraging and touching reviews/comments, no matter how big or small they were. I hope Ireplied to all of your reviews and questions. Thanks and here's Chapter 4 for you all!

CHAPTER 4:End-Of-The-War Celebration

Floating chandeliers graciously lit the Hall, giving off a warm, but also classy look. The usual four long House tables were replaced with several round table-clothed ones, which held no more than ten guests to a table. A long red runner ran from the main doors by which Harry and Ginny stood, all the way up to where the professors' table was.

Aromatic smells from the flowers scattered all over the room filled Ginny's nose, making her smile in awe. As Professor McGonagall gave a speech to the other guests, Ginny smiled to herself as she saw the backs of Ron, Hermione, and the rest of her family seated at the very front table, which was at the opposite end of the room. Her smile faltered as everyone in the room turned around to face her and Harry.

"...and here he is, Mr. Potter, along with Ms. Weasley!" the Professor said through her stern-looking glasses, all the while applauding with the guests.

Ginny let go of his hand nervously, causing Harry to look at her in confusion. She clapped with everyone, her face getting redder as she did so.

The clapping and catcalling done by Fred and George, of course died down a few minutes later as Harry held out his arm to Ginny.

He looked at the crowd's expectant faces and at Ginny's blank one. "I think they want us to walk down the aisle," he said uncertainly

Ginny laughed nervously and took his arm. As they walked down the "aisle," she couldn't help but grin like an idiot. With all the people looking at her and Harry as they walked in such a beautiful room, she couldn't suppress the thought that she was a princess walking alongside her prince charming.

As they grew nearer to the front, Ron and Hermione stood up from their seats and followed Harry's lead.

"I think it's my cue to sit down, Harry," Ginny whispered as she turned her head around to look at Ron.

Harry nodded and smiled weakly at her as she sat down with the rest of her family. Ron and Hermione then joined him by his side and were all given individual recognition and applause.

Ginny sighed in her seat as she watched Harry and Professor McGonagall converse a few tables away from her.

"Ginny, are you all right?" Hermione asked, "You've barely spoken a word ever since Harry left our table to speak with McGonagall."

She nodded slowly and said, "I'm fine. I'm just tired."

Hermione looked at her knowingly. "Sure, you are," she said as she took a sip from her pumpkin juice.

Ginny laughed and she picked up her own goblet as well.

Hermione looked at her and smiled. "Harry bought that dress of yours, Y'know."

Ginny choked on her drink and looked down to examine the dress which she noticed was emerald green in color. "What? He did?" she asked. "He never told me."

Hermione nodded. "Well of course, he wouldn't tell you," she said, "and plus, he couldn't 'cause he didn't have time to, remember?"

"No- I mean, never mind," Ginny said, as she recalled that the time he could've told her was spent by snogging. How Hermione could've known, Ginny would never know.

Ginny blushed. "So what were you and Ron going to tell me?" she asked, wanting to change the subject.

"Um..." Hermione smiled, placing a hand on the table.

"Don't tell me you forgot!" Ginny exclaimed in surprise. Out of all the years Ginny had known her, Hermione never forgot what she had to say.

"No, I didn't," she countered. She picked up her goblet again with the same hand and drank from it.

Ginny sighed but then she noticed a gleam in Hermione's hand. "Hermione?" she squealed.

"Hmm?" she asked, as she put the cup down. "What is it now, Ginny?"

"You're engaged, aren't you?" she asked in a loud whisper.

Hermione didn't reply, but the squealing and laughing confirmed the answer to her question.

"I knew he'd come around, Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed. "He's not that thick as we thought he was."

"I know," Ron replied out of the blue, causing the two women to turn around in their seats.

Ginny jumped out of her seat and hugged her brother lovingly. "So you've gotten your act together?" she asked with a smile. "It's about time too, Ron."

Ron chuckled. "Don't tell Mum and Dad yet though. Hermione and I want to tell them."

Ginny nodded. "Of course, Ron."

Ron grinned and stuck out his hand to Hermione. "Do you fancy dancing?"

Hermione laughed and took his hand. "Of course," she replied, "well, that is if you don't mind, Ginny?"

Ginny smiled. "No, don't be silly, Hermione. Go on and dance your arses off," she said, shooing them away with her hand. "You both need the enjoyment after all you've been through."

"See you later then," Hermione said as Ron dragged her to the dancing floor.

Ginny sighed and looked around. Her old schoolmates were scattered all over the room, but she didn't feel like getting up nor talk to them for now. Her eyes once again fell on Harry, who was still currently speaking with the Professor. Every once in a while, he would smile or wink at her, making her laugh in return.

A few minutes later, after stoically sitting in her seat, watching Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and her parents dance, she felt it was time to get up and walk around, until, someone blocked her path.

"Where are you off to now, Weaselette? Potter's not giving you the attention you deserve?"

"Fancy seeing you here, Malfoy." Ginny stopped walking and turned around to face him. She took a step back out of nerve, noticing how he towered over her. "Never expected to see you here, of all places after what you've done."

Draco sneered at her. "Well I never expected to see you here either."

"What are you doing here anyway?" Ginny asked. "I honestly doubt you'd want to give your praises to the trio after all these years. You've barely changed from the ferret that you are."

"Funny, how time plays in this world," he said, rubbing his chin.

"Excuse me?" Ginny asked.

"You've certainly changed from the last time I saw you," he said, eyeing her up and down.

Ginny gasped at his last remark and the way he was looking at her. She wasn't sure why she did it, here of all places, but she slapped him. Hard.

She then stuck her tongue at him and began walking towards the double doors. She knew it was immature, but she didn't care.

"That was totally uncalled for, Weaselette!" Draco shouted.

She ignored him and as soon as she was out of the Great Hall, she took a deep breath and leaned against the corridor wall. Thinking that it was Malfoy, Ginny tightened her fists as she heard one of the doors creak open.

She exhaled as Harry came into view.

Harry walked up to her and hugged her. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"I'm fine, Harry," Ginny replied, "I think."

Harry chuckled. "Remind me to never get you mad." he said as he leaned down to kiss her.

Ginny laughed in his mouth. "I thought it was about time to shut him up."

"You should've seen the look on his face after you left," Harry said, running a hand up and down her back, "and the red mark on his cheek to boot."

Snap!

Ginny turned to look past Harry. "Did you see that, Harry?"

"See what?" Harry asked, turning to look around.

"Never mind. I thought I saw someone standing by the corridor over there," she said, pointing to a nearby corridor.

Harry walked to where she pointed. "There's no one. It's probably just Peeves."

"Probably."

Ginny sighed contentedly in her bed. She was back home safe and sound from the party and she was beat. She was just about to fall asleep when a noise startled her back awake. She immediately sat up from her bed and squinted her eyes to see through the dark.

"Hermione, is that you?" she asked, noticing a shadow by her bedroom door.

"Shh, Gin," Hermione whispered as she turned the doorknob open. "Go back to sleep."

"I will," Ginny said in a loud whisper, "but not until you tell me where you're going."

"I'm going to get a glass of water," Hermione said, as she was about to close the door.

Ginny placed her hands on her hips. "Oh, really?" she asked. She wasn't fooled. "Then why are you bringing your pillow and blanket with you?"

Hermione's head shot out through the crack of the door. "I'm afraid that I might fall asleep along the way?" she asked, more than replied.

Ginny rolled her eyes knowingly. "You're afraid you'll fall asleep along the way to get a glass of water?" she asked. She then began snickering. "Go on and get your glass then. I don't want to keep you thirsty."

"Okay," Hermione said.

"Have fun with Ron," Ginny called out in a whisper.

"I wi- I mean...oh never mind," Hermione said as she shut the door.

Ginny laughed as she lay back down in her bed. She knew her friend was going to Ron's room, but she couldn't help but tease her a bit

Ginny was just about to fall asleep after thinking about Harry, as usual, when the door creaked open. Ginny sighed defeatedly, another attempt of sleeping unsucessful.

"Hermione? Back already? You quenched your thirst of Ron?" she asked. After getting no response, Ginny opened her eyes and saw Harry in his pajamas standing by her door timidly, carrying his own blanket and pillow.

"Harry," she asked as she self-consciously sat back up on her bed. She pulled her comforter tightly around her so as not to reveal the thin nightgown that clung so tightly to her body. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I was just wondering," he said as he ran a hand through his hair, "if I could sleep here?"

"Here? In my room?" she asked. Ginny was quite taken aback as he nodded. "Sure, Harry. You can sleep on my be- I mean, Hermione's bed."

"Thanks, Ginny," he said, as he strode over to Hermione's neat looking bed. He set down his things and was about to crawl into bed, but instead walked over to Ginny's.

"G'night, Gin," he said sleepily as he kissed her cheek. He slowly walked back over to Hermione's bed and crawled in.

"Night, Harry," she said, as she watched him close his eyes.

Ginny stared at him. "Won't Ron realize that you're not in your bed?" she asked, unsure if he was still awake.

Harry shook his head. "I honestly doubt it," he replied slowly. "He personally kicked me out of the room. Said something about wanting some quality time with his fiancée."

"Oh." Ginny smiled to herself. "Thank you, Ron," she whispered.

"Sorry?" Harry asked, his eyes still closed. "Didn't quite catch that."

"Oh nothing," Ginny replied with a huge grin. "Good night, Harry," she said again.

" 'Night, Gin," he replied sleepily.

"Good night indeed," she whispered to herself. Her whole family was safe, she had just shown Malfoy who was boss, and Harry was back in her life and was currently sleeping in her bedroom.

She looked over at Harry, who was facing her with his eyes closed. She was certainly not going to fall asleep anytime soon.