A/N: Well, here it is, the last chapter. I would like to thank those that have stuck with this story since the beginning – it was your reviews that fueled me! I really hope you like it.

Also…I cannot take credit for the last line I kind of borrowed it from Mean Girls so I am totally disclaiming it.

Chapter Eleven: Crossing Seas

"Arthur Weasley has stood by me for many luxurious years, helping raise the kids, keeping together the household. And just being…just being a good husband. I loved him – I still do. And I will continue to love him until the end of time," Molly Weasley had started to sniffle but she fought against the wave of tears, not wanting to get started in front of the crowd.

Numerous people had attended Arthur's funeral: old co-workers, Hogwarts staff (old and new) and friends of the family. They all sat in plush white chairs, facing the open casket. Molly had been standing at the lectern giving an enlightening speech.

Ginny was proud of her mother for getting up there. She would never have had the guts to, she was too fragile now.

After the casket had been closed and buried under the ground people quietly mingled for a couple of moments before leaving. Ginny leaned against the aging crabapple tree dipping into the pond, watching the quietness ensue.

Then a tall, lanky, blonde figure was coming toward her. A look of pure sadness was gracefully laced on his face. Ginny looked away. This was not the time for her to lose herself in the stunning beauty of Draco Malfoy.

When he was next to her he said, "When my dad died I was still into the whole 'Malfoy's don't cry' phase. It wasn't until I saw my mother shed one tear that I just," he let out a small sigh, "…let loose. You are definitely holding true to the Malfoy standards. I mean my dad was a bastard no doubt, but your father cared about you so much, he loved you…I always-''

"Could you…stop please," Ginny cut him off softly.

Draco said not a word more. He leaned in close to her, a comfortable closeness that made Ginny yield to him. He slipped his hand into hers and that's when the tears started to fall. She tried to sniff them back up but it was too late. They were already cascading down her flawless cheeks. She wiped them away with her other hand.

"Ginny," that was her mum's voice. "Hello dear."

She turned her tear-streaked face towards her mother and tried to hold together her wan smile.

"Is this Malfoy?" Mrs. Weasley looked Draco up and down, "You've certainly changed. Oh dear, thank you so much for coming. I appreciate it so, so much."

Draco wordlessly nodded.

"Come here, give me a hug, lad."

Draco leaned forward awkwardly but Mrs. Weasley gave him a full hearted hug nonetheless. The scene made Ginny want to cry all over again. She didn't normally cry over happy things; she hardly cried at all but seeing her mother crossing the seas of the past and embracing what the future has brought made her sentimental.

"I'm…I'm going into the, er, house," Ginny said interrupting the two.

Without waiting for an, "okay" Ginny trekked through the crowd of people all wearing robes of black. Friends of friends tried to give her sympathy but she politely brushed them off with a small smile. Once in the empty kitchen Ginny took off her black hazardously high heels. She threw them aside and limped to the living room. Closing her eyes she plopped on the couch. She longed to get out of her itchy skirt suit. Fleur had bought it for her months ago claiming she had paid a lot of money for it because she had got it straight form a French designer.

Ginny pressed her fingers into her eyeballs seeing splotches of color. She felt so empty, so lost….so not tough.

"It's pretty weird seeing Malfoy out there."

"Please don't start, Ronald," Ginny said exasperatedly to her brother, without even looking at him. She heard him come over to the couch and sit on the edge.

"Look, what Harry did at The Talking Raven was incredibly daft. And he only did it 'cause he misses you and of course it would hurt him to see you with his enemy," Ginny took her hands from her eyes and looked at Ron as if he had sprouted another head; which had to be the case because why would Ron of all people say something so intelligent like that?

"And," he continued, "it's just so odd seeing him acting like an actual human being. At the Quidditch gamed when you were sitting next to each other you looked so comfortable but to my eyes it looked so awkward. Ginny, all I've ever cared about is your happiness, you're protection….you know. But bloody hell Gin, you're all grown up. And I've realized, after a lot of thinking, that you can take care of yourself."

Once again tears were gathering in Ginny's eyes. She rose to his level and reached over to hug her brother. She loved Ron. And she loved his new accepting ways.

-:-

Ginny let out a tinkling laugh that caused her to double over. The bowl of popcorn on her lap fell to the floor, sending kernels everywhere and shattering the glass bowl. Draco, with a little smile, repaired the bowl with his wand and levitated the kernels into it.

Draco had retold for Ginny, the memory of the time in Flourish and Blotts when he thought he would make fun of the Weasley's, Harry and Hermione. He had admitted that really he was jealous that Harry's picture would be posted on the front page of the Dailey Prophet.

They sat in Ginny's room, on her bed, snuggled up together; her in sweatpants and a green tank top and Draco still in his formal clothes from earlier that afternoon. The rest of the Weasleys plus Harry were all downstairs. This, this right here, was what she needed right now.

She had, had an epiphany: Life goes on, even when someone's has ended. Arthur was in pain and now he was in a place that was pain-free. And Ginny knew good and well her father would never have wanted her to sit in the darkness. She certainly wasn't going to forget her father, she'd never be able to, even if she tried.

With a laughing aftermath sigh Ginny snuggled closer to Draco. He put a delicate arm around her and she laid her head on his chest.

"Oh, Draco, I'm missing him already. I just really want to talk to him again," Ginny confessed absently.

"I know," Draco replied stroking her hair.

"You know what's weird?" Ginny asked looking up into Draco's face.

"Hm?"

"Just as Dad was leaving my life, you started to waltz in. I mean is that weird or what?"

Draco's silver eyes roamed over Ginny's face, studying it.

"Is there room for me?"

"Of course! There's always room for you. And if there wasn't you'd burst through anyway!"

Draco looked away shaking his head but Ginny saw the smile on his face and kissed him on his pale cheek.

-:-

A week later, at work, Ginny was sitting in her office staring at a picture of her father when she was supposed to be examining the unknown leaf on her desk. She was soon interrupted by her door bursting open and Draco Malfoy lunging forth. Ginny pretended like she had been working hard.

"Well, hello," she said.

"Winnona Yanglerstein needs to be put into an insane asylum. I honestly cannot take her anymore!" Draco shouted looking quite manic…or at least driven to the edge.

"I'm assuming your little meeting didn't go well?"

"Gin. She was rolling in dirt when I arrived at her house. And she kept rubbing one particular fallen leaf on her cheek. Vigorously, if I might add," he had started to pace now.

"Draco. It'll be okay. You'll get used to these things because she's been asking to see you a lot. She likes you, and what's not to like, honestly?"

He grinned, sending chills up Ginny's spine. As if a light bulb suddenly blinked on in his head he came out of his trance and reached in his pocket and pulled out a folded bit of parchment. "Picked this up for you at the front desk," Draco said handing it over.

Ginny unfolded it and recognized the handwriting almost immediately.

Ginny,

I would like to apologize for behaving ridiculously the past few weeks. What I did at The Talking Raven was completely out of line and I hope you find it somewhere in your heart to forgive me. When I had asked you to get back together with me I had expected you to throw yourself in my arms and scream, "YES!" I had that in my mind so perfectly that I couldn't believe it when you declined. It took me awhile to digest the fact that you didn't love me anymore. Because I love you so much Ginny, I always have. Even when I broke up with you back at school I loved you and it broke my heart to have to do that to you, but you being one of Voldemort's targets hurt me even more. Ginny, I wouldn't ever be able to live with myself if you had died on my account.

And then Malfoy was in the picture and I thought I would explode. I was hurt Ginny. I was depressed for quite some time and then I was angry that my rival would overrule me that way. But according to Ron and Hermione he isn't all bad. I don't know when I'm ever going to be okay with this (only because it's Malfoy) but I promise Ginny, that I will try.

Again I am sorry. Sorry, sorry, sorry.

Yours,

Harry

Ginny let out a relieved sigh and smile. She looked up to Draco and then back at Harry's letter. Ginny's life used to be like a shark tank, but now she could just float.