The Next Chapter

disclaimer: I own Harry Potter just as much as i own a laptop...in other words, i don't:(

A/N first of all i'd like to say a great big thank you to my new beta,Alice Brandon Cullen, for all of her hard work on perfecting this chapter. Thanks also to all you reviewers and reader's and with out further adu, chapter 3...

"Back together!?" roared Ron. Harry winced as mashed potatoes flew from Ron's mouth.

"Maybe telling Ron during supper wasn't such a good idea," murmured Ginny, wiping potato bits from her hair."

"Maybe not," Harry muttered back.

"Oh Ron," said Hermione, sounding exasperated, "calm down, you can't honestly say you didn't see this coming."

Ron's ears turned red, "Well its not exactly something I think about, you know!" Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed. Harry and Ginny exchanged glances.

"You'd think that since their together now..." Ginny muttered under her breath. Harry grinned at her.

It had been two week since Harry had woken up at Hogwarts. Since then he had been to 37 funerals and 18 memorial services. Most of the people Harry had only known in passing, those times had been very awkward, but it had helped that Ginny, Hermione, and Ron had come with him.

Fred's funeral was held four days ago. Almost the same crowd from the wedding had attended, with the exception of "cousin Barny". Surprisingly, George stepped up to the plate and organized the funeral. Although it had been one of the strangest Harry had attended all month. He had to admit it was what Fred would have wanted. Instead of the normal black dress, the instant everyone sat down, their robes changed to a startling shade of orange, comparable to the famous Weasley hair color. The service consisted of various people Fred knew telling stories of all the pranks he had pulled. By the end of the service, Harry couldn't tell which tears were from grief and which were from laughter.

Harry had been asked to speak at Fred's funeral, but he politely declined. Andromeda Tonks had also asked him to speak at Remus and Tonks funeral, but Harry didn't think he'd have been able to make it through a speech with out choking up. He didn't make it through much of the service before he started to cry. Mrs. Tonks had insisted he sit in the front row reserved for family. Harry had been touched and it was there that Harry met his godson for the first time. Mrs. Tonks had handed him to Harry the moment he sat down. Teddy had smiled up at him, gleefully, his hair changing from aqua blue to crow black, completely oblivious to the nature of the situation. Harry smiled as he remembered the baby's chubby face.

"Harry?," Ginny tapped him on the arm.

Harry jumped, "Oh, sorry...what?" he blinked several times, and the familiar kitchen in the Burrow came into view.

Hermione laughed,"Daydreaming Harry?" she teased, lightly.

Harry shrugged, "Nah, just...thinking. "Ginny stood up and collected their empty plates.

"Umm, 'Mione?" Harry started, watching Ginny walk over to the sink, " I was wondering...you know how McGonagall wanted to see us today?"

"Mmm hm?" Hermione mumbled, looking at him curiously.

"I, uh, wanted to pick up a...book for her, only I wasn't sure what to get...so I was wondering if you could come help me pick one out?" Harry hoped he didn't sounded as nervous as he felt.

"Uh, sure." said Hermione, " When do you want to go?"

"Now, if possible," Harry said hopefully.

Hermione nodded, "Just let me go get you some polyjuice potion," Lately it had been the only way Harry could go out of the house without getting mobbed.

As Hermione headed up the stairs and Ron sighed, bringing a hand to his head," I suppose you'll be needing some of these." He plucked a few red hairs out of his head and laid them in front of Harry.

Harry grinned sheepishly, "Thanks, mate"

Ginny came back over to the table and wrapped her arms around Harry. "Do you want some more company?" she asked.

"No, no!"said Harry, a little to fast.

Ginny frowned, "Oh, ok." she said, sounding a little hurt. Harry promised himself he would make it up to her later.

"Its just." Harry said quickly, "remember you promised you'd help clean out the twi- I mean George's old room once everyone got back from Percy's."

Ginny made a face, "Oh yeah."

Hermione skipped down the stairs holding a vile in her hand. She scooped up the loose hairs on the table in front of Harry and added them to the bubbling goop. It turned a bright orange as she handed it over to Harry.

"Cheers," he said, lifting the vile in Ron's direction. He downed the condensed and waited as his body grew approximately 4 and 1/2 inches.

"Lucky your mom was convinced that I'm going to grow some more when she got these for me." he said in Ron's slightly deeper pitched voice, examining his hem line.

"We'd better get going." said Hermione starting for the door.

Harry nodded and, looking at Ginny said, "I'll be back soon," She smiled and waved, both understanding the predicament that kept them from doing anything else.

Hermione hesitated and, going back to the table, kissed Ron on the cheek.

"See you in a bit," she said, sounding very surprised of herself. Her cheeks reddened a bit and she whirled around. Striding toward the door she grabbed Harry's arm and dragged him into the open air. Once they reached a certain point, she stopped and turned on the spot. The familiar darkness surrounded them and Harry waited for the pressure to stop. When it did, he opened his eye's to see them standing just outside the Leaky Cauldron.

"Alright, Harry" Hermione crossed her arms and rounded on him, "What are you really here to get?"

"Well, um..." Harry shifted nervously, " I- I really do want to get Professor McGonagall a book. And, you know, I should really get Teddy something..."

"Uh huh." Said Hermione, clearly not believing him.

"And, well, if we just happened," he continued, "to maybe look at, some engagement rings..." Harry's voice trailed off and he looked up at Hermione, guiltily. She was beaming.

"Oh Harry!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him, "that's so wonderful! I'm so happy for you!" she drew back and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Do you know where you'd like to look?" she asked. Harry looked at her like she was missing something very obvious.

"Oh," she said, " right, I guess that's why I'm here."

"And to help pick it out." Harry added. Hermione grinned and nodded.

"Let's get the other things first, then we can look for a ring, I know exactly where to go."

One hour later, Harry, still disguised by a very large dose of ploy-juice potion-a-la-Ron, and Hermione, stood outside of an antique jewelry store. Altogether, Harry was very happy with his purchases so far. Hermione had picked out a book on Ancient Runes for Professor McGonagall, saying it was perfect because when McGonagall was done with it, she could borrow it. Harry meanwhile had looked for a gift for his godson. He had finally found the perfect toy at a children's store not far from where Olivander's (which was re-opening soon) was. It was a bright pink stuffed wolf. Harry had instantly known it was the perfect gift and bought it on the spot. He later regretted going back to Flourish and Blotts to show Hermione, because for the next hour his opinion was asked of numerous books he'd never even heard of.

"Last stop," said Hermione, looking into the store. " Uh, Harry?"

"Yeah" asked Harry, weighing his recently filled money bag. It contained both muggle and magical money.

"Uh, you have mentioned this to Ronald, right?" she looked at Harry eagerly.

"Oh, Uh...no, not yet- but," He said quickly, seeing the look on Hermione's face, "I will. Soon. Very soon."

Hermione sighed and went into the store. Harry followed her retreating back.

"We can't stay here very long" said Hermione looking at her watch, a gift from Ron, "The polyjuice potion is only supposed to last two hours, maximum, at the dosage you took, so look quickly," Harry nodded and slid over to a shimmering display case.

"Can I help you?" asked a bored looking young witch from behind the counter.

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I'm looking for an engagement ring." The words felt strange on Harry's tongue.

"Right over here,"the woman gestured, with a long fingered hand, to the display closest to

"Thanks," Harry said as he walked over to her. She didn't seem inclined to stick around. Suddenly, a certain ring popped out at him. It was fairly simple. A white gold setting with four diamonds in an ivy pattern around a slightly larger diamond with an unusual green glint to it. "Wait, actually," Harry said to the woman, "could I see that one?" he indicated to the one that had caught his eye. It winked at him. The woman brought out a silver key ring and opened the case. She held out the ring and placed it into Harry's waiting hand. As she did, Harry noticed an inscription on the inside,

Forever.

"It's perfect. Different, but for Ginny...it's perfect," whispered Hermione, gazing at the ring, her voice awestruck.

"I'll take it," Harry said loudly to the woman.

She jumped "Are- are you sure? You don't want to see our newer rings? You...you haven't even asked the price," she sounded surprised.

"Price is no matter," Harry said firmly.

"Very well," said the woman her tone clipped. She took the ring as Harry held it out to her and situated it in a white ring box. When she rang up the price Hermione gasped, but Harry didn't notice, he merely dug out the amounted money and handed it to her.

So only a few minutes after walking in , Hermione and Harry walked right back out. It was a few blocks to the apparation point they'd agreed on and the majority of their walk was silent. But as the time grew nearer to their departure Harry smiled and looked at Hermione.

"Thanks, and you're right the ring is Ginny."

Hermione's smug remark was stopped short as they twisted on the spot into the crushing blackness.

Thanks for reading! I would really appreciate some reaction's to this...did you love it, was it horrible? let me know please...so push the little button right over there, and let me know!

Rose