Disclaimer: Oh how I wish I owned this but really I only own this plot line and the few characters I made up. Enjoy.

Chapter Twenty: A Reprieve

Bellatrix sat in a small cottage. A fire warmed the small room and moonlight slid through the windows, casting shadows across the room. The light from the fire and the moon danced across the floor, making pictures in the light. It had come hard to her when she lost her magical ability. Her two sisters had come immediately upon hearing of the situation and helped to ease the pain within her. Ginny had been kind enough to offer to obliviate her memories of the magical world but she couldn't do it.

While it would have eased the pain she still wanted to remember her friends. She still wanted to remember her life and all that she had done to end up where she was today. In a sense this was her repayment for the things she had done, even if unwillingly. Her sisters supported her decision and helped her to get a house of her own. It wasn't hard for her to find a job outside the city, as a muggle nurse. Her knowledge of both magical and muggle remedies helped wonders. While she was not muggle herself she was established as a squib.

It was still hard but she could live with that. On the mantel sat two wands in glass cases, Harry had done that. It was to always remember what it was like, the good and the bad times. Because she had been a witch she had found someone who loved her, she had also found a friend. It made her feel better knowing that her sisters would always be there for her, the pain was easing slowly.

Would she ever be able to adjust to this new life? She was still very much a part of the wizarding world but could she handle it? These were questions that she had asked herself over and over and in a way she was glad. There would be no reason for Rodolphus to come looking for her, for him to be able to use magic to locate her. While she had lost her abilities so had Severus and all forty Death Eaters that had been there. Their own memories had been obliviated that day, leaving them completely as muggles.

A pair of hands rested on her shoulders and she smiled. Turning her head she stared into the eyes of her lover. "Hello," she said quietly.

She watched as a smile crossed his face. "Hello," he replied back quietly as he bent to kiss her softly on the lips. "How was work?"

"Long as always but it wasn't too bad. How was work for you?"

Severus had taken the news hard as well. Now he seemed to be adjusting well and he was now a science teacher at a muggle school. "Very well. I think I might have a knack for teaching," he said with a slight smirk.

She laughed and pulled on his hands. He obediently moved to sit beside her, where he wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled closer to his chest, letting out a contented sigh. "I'll bet you do have a knack for teaching."

He laughed and kissed the top of her head. He gently lifted her left hand, revealing the gold ring on her ring finger. His thumb ran against the gold band, a smile forming on both of their lips. She tilted her head up to smile at him.

"Just where it ought to be," she said with love in her voice.

"Just what we always wanted," he said happily. She nodded. "So how long do I get to keep you to myself?" He asked nonchalantly.

"What do you mean?"

"Well what about kids?"

Bella turned her attention to the fire. Kids? I never thought about having children. I couldn't get any further then just being married to him. She thought to herself. Do I want children? She turned her attention back to Severus, who was gazing out the window.

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Ginny sat in Professor McGonagall's new office, smirking at the older woman. Minerva was staring at the small red head, her head aching. "So what did you do to Mr. Thomas?"

"I turned him into a muggle and told him to leave and never come back."

"You do realize that is against the law?"

Ginny laughed, a cold, laugh. "I doubt doing something like that to a Death Eater would really be against the law."

"It wasn't proven."

"I have my memories. I know what he said and I know what he planned to do. You didn't see the look in his eyes when he looked at me. It was like he wanted to do things to me that I never wanted to do with anyone besides Harry. His touch was ice cold and his voice made my skin crawl." Ginny's eyes took on a look that both startled and frightened Minerva. "Do you have any idea what it feels like to be viewed as an object for a man's satisfaction and nothing more? To know that if you ever gave up you would be just that.

"Then to hear him say that I would have to watch the death of the man who is my very existence. After that I will be stuck with him. He acted like Harry was just using me, that he didn't even care that I was there." Ginny stopped here, her eyes becoming distant. "No one will hurt him, not so long as I have a breath left in my body. He is everything to me. I should have had a better handle on my temper but I won't let it happen. I will die before I let it happen."

Minerva eyed the young girl with a critical eye. It was apparent that she loved Harry but her love went beyond that of everyone else. It was the very core of her existence, the reason she lived each day. She remembered seeing something similar in her years of teaching and it had also been a fellow redhead. It was a time during the girl's fourth year, a surprise that had shocked Minerva to the very core. That such a devotion could be instilled in someone so young. While Ginny was older the effects had been clear long before now.

The look in Ginny's eyes was the same one she had seen in her eyes when Harry had come out of the maze at the end of the third task. She was thirteen then and that only seemed to intensify to the look she held now at the age of fifteen.

Minerva was speechless, utterly speechless. The power she could feel coming off of Ginny was powerful, even more powerful then the power that Dumbledore held. Her power equaled that of what Harry's was.

"What are we going to tell his parents?" Minerva asked finally.

"Tell them what you will. It's irreversible and even if I could fix it I wouldn't. Their son is still alive but they will have to search for him. But warn them, if I do see him, I will finish what I started." With those final words Ginny got to her feet and left.

Minerva watched her go. The girl was a mystery to her, just like the other young woman she had met.

"I couldn't ever fathom the depth of love she holds for him. She's so young yet its been there for the last two years," she said softly. "How is something like that possible? How can love be that strong as to bind two souls together so completely? It's just unimaginable," she finished quietly.

"Love is a powerful thing," a voice said from nearby. "It can bind two souls together. It can save other's lives. It is what gives us a reason to fight on, a reason to believe that there is still good left in this world. The light within the dark, a light that will always win."

Minerva turned to look at Dumbledore, who sat in a chair not far from her. "But a love like that. A love that is so powerful that it can destroy another's ability to use magic. I told her about the spell but I never taught her. The power she used was strong. He was stripped of it down to the very core. He couldn't even be considered a muggle. If he ever had children, they would never carry any magical ability within their body." She shook her head slowly, rubbing her forehead. "I am afraid to know what she could do if anyone did ever hurt Harry, attacked him. I'm afraid to know what he would do if he ever found out about what Dean tried to do.

"She's trying to protect him, like he is her. They are powerful, so powerful that it's frightening. Ginny's grasp on magical concepts exceeds Harry's while his raw power exceeds hers. Yet, those two are so evenly matched, so absolutely perfect for each other. How could you not feel it? That power."

"I felt it. It was strong, very strong. But if they are that powerful why don't they defeat him now?" Dumbledore questioned her, knowing the answer himself.

"They can't," Minerva said slowly. "Despite their power they still don't have the control needed. Their power will only continue to grow with each passing day. In the end they will be pretty invincible."

The two gazed at each other. They were both trying to grasp how two such young children could be close to immortal.

"You shouldn't have made them mad. Just look at what Ginny did to Dean, she could easily remove every ounce of power within you."

Dumbledore gave her a grim smile. "I never realized how powerful young Ginevra is. You are right; I should have handled things better than I had in the past. I just hope that Lily and James will be able to forgive me for my mistakes."

"I would worry more about Ginny rather then Harry's parents."

"Yes, I should speak with them but I think it is time to let them have their own time. Harry is leading quite well. I don't even have such a spy network as the one he has."

"They," she said suddenly.

"They?"

"Yes they. Harry isn't doing this alone, Ginny is right beside him and will continue to be there till the end."

Dumbledore sighed again. "Yes, they. They have found out things that I could only hope to dream about. The power it takes to do what Ginny did, it's amazing. She is a year younger than Harry and she can do almost everything he can."

"Almost everything. In the end I believe they will be the same in power and strength. Sirius, Tonks, and Remus can't even stand five minutes with the two. Ginny and Harry's fights can go on for hours. Moody and some of the Aurors have even come to help along their training."
"So they continue on then?"

"Yes, I believe that they will be teaching Lily and Karen soon."

"Lily and Karen?"

Minerva looked shocked. "You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"Petunia had twins, they were girls. They both had magical abilities so they sent them to an adoption agency. When Vernon and Petunia died they designated Harry as their caretaker."

His eyes grew wide with shock, than regained their normal size. "Then I suppose I have underestimated the matters at hand. I should get to work making amends for what I have done."

"That would be quite wise Albus. How did you manage to escape the Aurors?"

"They just let me go actually. Madam Bones said that I was allowed to leave but I wasn't allowed to take my Headmasters position just yet. 'Snape' escaped earlier, almost the moment we left the castle. Tell me how did so many Death Eaters get onto Hogwarts grounds?"
Minerva smiled slightly before frowning. "If I understood what was told to me, Dean let them in. There were about sixty in all. Voldemort's forces have grown substantially. I do not know what to make of this. The war is about to begin."

"The war has already begun," Albus said quietly.

"No, no it hasn't. Voldemort will be killing soon, killing thousands. It hasn't even begun yet. Not until Voldemort begins to take out the Muggle world. Either we lose and he wins or we win and he loses. The end of everything is coming, coming quickly."

Dumbledore smiled at her. "Then let us pray that we will win in the end."

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Harry was flying around the pitch. Classes had been cancelled for the day and he was now enjoying the time to fly. Ginny sat on the ground of the pitch, her eyes closed as she viewed the world through Harry's eyes. His glasses were off and she could see the magic pulsating around them.

His attention moved down to her and she could see the gold aura flowing around her. She smiled slightly as she felt Harry's emotions.

I love you too Harry.

He chuckled softly. I am glad you do. I would be nothing without you love.

That's true, she said in a bored tone. They both laughed at this.

Harry continued his flying, enjoying the rush of the wind as he dipped in and out of dives. Ginny continued to watch, feeling the calming ease of being in the air even though she was on the ground. His eyes turned to the giant castle and they could see the magic that enshrouded it. Faint blurs could be seen through the spells, indicating the students inside.

They fell into the calm ease of being together and flying.

Join me? He asked softly in her mind.

I don't have my broom.

You can fly with me.

I don't know…I don't think I like you that much.

Well fine, maybe I can find someone else to join me. I hear Padma is available.

Ginny send a pulse of magic through the link, making Harry jump. He laughed quietly as he hovered in front of her. Slowly she opened her eyes, a smile on her face. She got to her feet, brushing the grass off her pants. When that was done she approached Harry, wrapping her arms around his neck.

He smiled at her and kissed her lips lightly. She pulled him closer, deepening their kiss. When they pulled apart they were both smiling. "How much longer till your birthday?" He whispered huskily against her neck as he kissed her.

"Hmm I think it's in a few more months," she said lightly as she tilted her head to the side.

Harry groaned and pulled her onto the broom with him. She scooted back so that her back was pressed to his chest. "Ready?"

"Yep," she said happily as they shot off into the sky.

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Cedric Diggory stood in the entrance of Hogwarts. He was on a nice vacation from the Auror Academy. School had been quite a pain. As a kid he hadn't wanted to become an Auror but after the third task his mind was set on completing his schooling. He had one more year left and he planned to see it through. Harry had invited him to stay and he had jumped at the chance to see his girlfriend again.

Cho Chang headed down the halls with a small group of friends. She held a smile on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes. It had been a pain to be away from Cedric and it seemed as if she never got a chance to be with him. Her friends had been trying to help her along but she missed him too much. It didn't help to watch Harry and Ginny, love shinning in both of their eyes whenever they were around each other.

When she looked up and spotted Cedric waiting just outside the Great Hall she practically screamed in excitement. She took off running towards him, ignoring what the teachers or her friends said to her.

"Cedric!" She cried happily. He looked up towards her and smiled. He moved away from the door and opened his arms to her.

She ran right into his arms, wrapping hers around his neck. He easily lifted her off the ground to spin her in a circle. When he set her down she pulled his head down to hers, kissing him fiercely. "I missed you too," he said in a low voice when they pulled apart.

"I'll bet you did," she said with a grin on her face. He held her tightly, resting his forehead against hers. "What are you doing here?"

"I got a vacation from the Academy and Harry invited me to stay. I've missed you so much," he told her before kissing her again. She held him tightly, not wanting to let him go.

They were panting when they finally pulled apart. "How long are you staying?"

"Two weeks. Harry asked me to help with his seventh year Defense classes. But I really think Ginny and Harry want a free hour."

"Too right you are," Ginny said from behind them. They both turned to look at the young couple. Harry was grinning beside her. His arm was wrapped around her shoulders, holding her close, while his other hand held his firebolt. Ginny had an arm around his waist and was holding him close. "It gets tiring teaching so many classes. The paper work is a killer."

The four laughed. "It's good to see you again Cedric," Harry said with a grin.

"Good to see you again Harry, Ginny."

"I see you've gotten reacquainted with Cho there," Ginny said with a sly smile. Cho chuckled as she kissed Cedric's cheek.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me," she whined indignantly.

"And not see the shock on your face when he arrived? Never!" Ginny said in mock outrage.

"Well what does everyone say to a nice lunch provided by the amazing Hogwarts elves?" Harry asked smiling wide.

"Let's eat!" Cedric said as he straightened up, keeping a tight hold on Cho, who melted against him.

The four of them entered the noisy Great Hall. A few students caught sight of Cedric and waved. None of them wanted to bother him since he had Cho attached to him.

Lunch was a noisy affair. The school year seemed to be calming down, if only for the time being. Ginny watched the hall, students laughing and talking. This time next year they won't be the same.

War changes people. Harry replied back as he took her hand in his. We can only hope that we can protect all those who need it.

Yes that is all we can hope for. Death is never easy.

Nor will it ever be. Time will only tell love.

I know. We will win, we have to win. One day this world will return to what it once was.

Which is what we plan to do. It will come together, in the end, Harry told her, lightly kissing her lips. She smiled at him, placing a hand on his cheek. They just gazed at each other. No words were needed, not any more. They always knew how the other felt and what they were thinking. They were complete.

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A/N: Ta Da! Update! This is twenty now so that means two more chapters before this story is COMPLETE, well complete for all of YOU, while I already have all of it, lol. Well here it is anyway, aren't you all happy? I do hope those that needed to read seventeen read and enjoyed it, if not still sorry about it fanfic can be a butt sometimes but its still good. Well I do hope you all have enjoyed the story thus far. I have been rereading my fourth story cuz i havent written in DAYS but I am going to get some writing in tonight I hope. So thanks again for reading and reviewing, much love!

Seritha