Chapter 9

Graduation

Ginny looked at Sirius, smiling proudly, and he laughed, tugging at the collar of his scarlet robe. "You look so professional." she said. He shook his head and pulled her away from Lily and James.

"You know what James is gonna do?" he asked.

"No, what?" Ginny frowned.

"He going to propose to Lily during her vaaladictorian speech." he whispered. Ginnylooked at him, wide-eyed.

"Are you serious?"

"Black." he nodded. She giggled.

"She's gonnabe so shocked." she said. They went down to the Great Hall and he joined the other seventh years on stage. She sat in the front row, watching him.

When the ceremony began, they called forth the students by house. James, Sirius, Remus, Lily, and three other girls all stepped toward the fronth of the stage. "Mr. Sirius Black, Mr. Remus Lupin, Mr. James Potter, MissLily Evans, Miss Chandra Leslie, Miss Jenny Hollick, and Miss Carrie Dons. Our Gryffindor class for this year. Raise your wands high and know you have made it through childhood and are now adult wizards and witches. Most of you anyways." Dumbledore smiled at Sirius and James, whom were making dead expressions.

They same went for the other three houses. Then it was time for that valadictorian speech. "Now, the pride of our academic year, Miss Lily Evans of Gryffindor, will give the valadictorian speech." Dumbledore moved away from the front and was shortly replaced by Lily.

"Hello, everyone. Today has been unbelievable. Our school years have been unbelievable, actually. We've made friends and love that will follow us the rest of our years. Some of us made better life choices than others. And some of us have goofed off all seven years like big, show-offy jerks, hint hint boys. The point is that we'll never forget our years here, and it's probably for the best..." she was cut off suddenly when James stepped out of the crowd. She looked at him curiously.

"Lily...you're an amazing witch. You're an amazing person. Knowing you and loving you has made me a better man. Marry me." he dropped to his knees and looked up at her, holding out a ring. Lily looked down at him, smiling with tears in her eyes.

"Oh James, of course I will." she giggled. He put the ring on her finger and shelooked out at the crownd. "Dismissed!" she said. She and James ran out. Sirius jumped off the stage, smiling, and Ginny hugged him.

"Congradulations." she smiled. He laughed.

"Thanks, baby. Come on. I want you to meet some people." he said. He led her to the back of the room and she looked at three people. "Ginny, this is my mum, dad, and Regulus. Everyone, this is my girlfriend, Ginny." he said. Ginny smiled sweetly at the people she despised.

"Girlfriend...and we're meeting her?" Mr. Black frowned. Sirius nodded. Mr. Black smiled. "Are you going to do the same as your friend?"

"No, father. She's graduating next year. I just wanted you all to meet her. She means a lot to me, so." Sirius shrugged. Regulus frowned.

"Is she a mudblood?"

"Don't use that word around me." Ginny said.

"Ginny is a pureblood, not that it matters." Sirius sighed.

"Really? That's wonderful." Mr. Black said.

"Sirius, are you going to be home for your celebration dinner?" Mrs. Black asked.

"No, mum. I'm going out with Ginny." he said.

"Okay, see ya, bro." Regulus sighed. Mrs. Black shot him a glance. "Right, whatever. Ginevra, would you like to join us since Sirius insists on despising his heritage?"

"I don't consider dark arts to be a heritage. More like a terrible life decision." Ginny said. Sirius smirked.

"I got me the mouthiest one I could find." he said.

"You wouldn't happen to be the girl from October that had the altercation with HIM in Hogsmeade, would you?" Regulus asked.

"Me? Even if it were, I wouldn't admit it to you."

"Really? I'll take that as an admission of guilt."

"There's no guilt in someone helping to rid the world of idiocity. You know, if I helped." she said.

"We've got to go." Sirius said. He led Ginny out to the lake and they sat under the tree.

"So, Siri, what are you going to do now that you're a free mutt?"

"I'm going to get a flat, move in with this chick I know, and then go for auror training in August."

"Chick? Who?" she asked jealously. He smiled. "Oh, me, right." she blushed.

"Yeah. You're definately no Ravenclaw."

"Hey." she shoved him. He laughed. "Well, if I'm not smart enough for you, I'm leaving." she said playfully.

"Fine, twerp."

"Fine to you, too, mutt." she stood. He pulled her down and laid over her.

"Where are you going?" he smiled. She laughed.

"Nowhere apparently." she kissed his jawline and he grinned.

"Come on, we should get back up to Gryffindor." he stood and helped her up. Suddenly, a portal appeared. They looked into it, wands already out, and people walked through.

"Harry? Ron, Hermione? Mum? Guys? Why are you all here?" she frowned. Mrs. Weasley hugged her and Harry picked her up, spinning her. He tried to kiss her, but Sirius shoved him away, pulling Ginny behind himself.

"Get your damned hands off my girl." he spat. Harry frowned.

"Sirius, what are you talking about? Ginny, come on. We got hold of a time spell." he held out his hand.

"Potter, I don't care if your dad is my best friend, but she's MY girlfriend and you are a moron." Sirius glowered. James and Lily ran over, beaming, and Lily froze, staring at Harry.

"Mum." Harry smiled.

"You guys have your family reunion, but keep your son away." Sirius said. James looked at his protective hold on Ginny, then at Harry.

"Harry...Ginny and Sirius are in love." he said, setting a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Sirius Black? Ginny, how can you love Sirius Black? He was in Azkaban, he's such a...baby." Mrs. Weasley sighed. Ginny shoved past Sirius.

"He's a wonderful man that I love and loves me back. He hasn't been in Azkaban. He's not a baby. He's mature and strong and protective...and mine."

"But, Gin..." Harry began.

"Harry, don't. Just don't. It's good to see you, but I'm staying here." she sighed. She looked at her mum. "It's wonderful to see you again, mum. To see all of you. But...I'm not going back. I'm going to stay with Sirius."

"But you two weren't even friends before he..." Harry stopped.

"No, we weren't. But no one was really his friend, no one could comprehend the terror he'd faced. You don't even know him, how can you ask me to turn my back on what I have with him? You're such a..." she shook her head. "There aren't words for how mean that is. It's damned Malfoyish of you."

"Speaking of Malfoy." Sirius said. Ginny looked towards the approaching blonde and swore.

"Go, guys. We can deal with him." she said.

"But, Gin..." Ron began.

"Ron, go." she shook her head. Harry, Hermione, and the Weasley's all piled back through the portal and were gone. The portal vanished.

"BLACK! WEASLEY!"

"Hello, Lucius." Ginny pulled her wand and Sirius mimicked. "To what do we owe the displeasure?"

"You vile little brat!" Lucius raised his wand. Someone tackled him from behind and they looked at Remus.

"You even try it and I'll rip your fucking head off, Malfoy." he spat, standing. Lucius looked at Lily, James, Ginny, Sirius, and Remus.

"You'll regret this, brat." he ran off. Sirius and Ginny put their wands back in their pockets and he wrapped his arms around her.

"I don't think I'll ever regret my decisions." she murmured, looking up at him. He smiled down at her and their lips met.