The months flew by and before Harry and Ginny knew it Harry's graduation was nearing. On the eve before his graduation he and Ginny snuck up to the Astronomy Tower. When they got there Ginny sat down against the wall and Harry joined her. She looked up at the sky for a moment before finally speaking.
"When you graduate you're going to go after him aren't you," she asked.
"Yes I am," he answered.
"Do you know when you may return," she asked.
"If I return…I have no clue Gin," he said.
"Harry James Potter! You will return. You have to…because I don't know what I'll do without you," she said.
"Ginny I've survived him six times before what makes you so sure I will this time," he asked.
"I know you Harry. You will…you have to," she said on the verge of tears.
"Ginny…look at me," he whispered.
"What," she asked.
"As long as you believe in me and I have you to come home to…I know I will have the strength to come back," he said.
"I do believe in you. I've believed in you since my 2nd year when you saved me," she said.
He looked at her and saw the tears running down her cheeks. He gently wiped them away and smiled at her.
"I'll return Gin…alive," he said.
"Promise," she asked.
"I promise," he replied.
She smiled at him even though she had tears still streaming down her cheeks. He pulled her close to him and gave her a reassuring hug. Then he remembered that he had her necklace box still in his pocket.
"Hey Gin," he said.
"Yes," she said.
"I have something for you," he said.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the box. She looked at with amusement and then excitement when he began to open it. When he did open the box he revealed a gold necklace with a lone teardrop stone on it. She looked at in the moonlight and realized that it was colored emerald. She handed it to Harry and he put it around her neck. When was clasped securely around her neck she immediately began to feel it.
"I love it Harry," she whispered.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear.
"I love you too," she said.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him. She looked at him for a moment and said,
"This is perfect."
"It is isn't it," he asked.
"Are you ready for tomorrow," she asked.
"I guess, but I will be leaving my 2nd home," he said.
"You're 2nd home, what is your 1st home," she asked.
"The Burrow," he said.
"The Burrow…why choose there," she asked.
"It is the one place that I feel I truly belong," he said.
"My family loves you Harry like one of their own," she said.
"I can tell, but I'm pretty sure you don't love me like a brother," he
said.
"You are correct about that," she replied.
She gave him a hug and a quick kiss. She looked at the sky and then back at Harry. She smiled and said,
"I never thought this would be possible."
"What," he asked.
"Us," she said.
"And yet it is and do you know why Ginny," he asked.
"No I don't," she replied.
"Because I got to know you as a friend and from that I gradually fell for
you," he said.
"I fell for you a long time ago Harry," she replied.
"I know that and I'm sorry it took me this long to realize that it was you
all along Gin," he said.
She gave him a swift kiss and nodded her head reassuringly letting him know that it didn't matter as long as they were together now. He felt her shiver slightly and he pulled her a little closer to him.
"Cold Gin," he asked.
"I was, but not anymore," she replied.
They stayed up there until it was almost midnight. Just before the clock struck 11:30 they stood up and began to walk back to the Commons. They were careful to avoid running into Mrs. Norris and Filch. As soon as they got into the safety of the Commons Ginny laughed slightly. Harry noticed the slight note of sadness in it and asked her what was wrong.
"It's just that this will be the last time I will ever sneak back here with you," she said.
"Ginny, don't think about it, please," he whispered.
"I can't help it," she said.
"Do it for me," he replied.
"All right…I'll do it…for you," she said.
"Let's go to bed," he said.
She nodded her head and began to walk up the stairs but stopped. She turned around and smiled demurely at him. He looked at her quizzically until she held her arms out towards him. He walked over and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He carried her the rest of the way up the stairs. When he sat her down on the stairs she leaned up and gave him a kiss. As she pulled away he pulled closer again for another one. When he pulled away he saw her eyes brimming with tears.
"Gin, don't be sad," he said.
"I can't help it," she said.
"I'll be at the Burrow this summer," he said.
"I know that….but not the entire summer, correct," she asked.
He lowered his head and shook his head. He heard her whimper a little and looked up. He reached up and wiped away the lone tear streaking down her cheek.
"I'll see you in the morning Gin," he said.
"Harry," she began before she wrapped her arms around him.
He knew she didn't want him to leave her so he decided to sleep in Commons on the couch. He gently picked her up and carried her down the stairs. He sat down on the couch and laid her next to him. As soon as he laid her down she curled up next to him and looked up at him with sadness in her eyes. He didn't want to leave her, but he knew that it was up to him to seek out and defeat Voldemort. He wrapped an arm around her and just smiled at her assuring her that the upcoming summer would not be his last. When she saw him smile she knew that everything was going to ok, and she fell asleep. Just as she fell into her deep sleep she felt Harry's head fall gently on top of hers. 'Please let him live when he leaves me and please let him come back to me,' she thought before falling into a deep sleep.
The next morning Harry awoke to a sharp cramp in his neck. He then realized that his arm was also asleep. As he began to become more awaken he realized that Ginny was tightly curled up against him. He slowly moved his arm away and stretched it. A slight noise in the room startled him and he began to look around. He looked down and saw that Ginny was beginning to wake up. When she became a little more alert she realized that she was in the Commons on the couch and in Harry's arms.
"Good morning," she said.
"Good morning to you," he replied.
"I could wake up like this every morning," she said.
Harry's eyes widened a little when he heard this. Ginny's cheeks turned a bright red when she realized that she had said her though aloud.
"I said that out loud didn't I," she asked.
"Yes you did, but I can say the same thing," he replied.
She smiled but then the smile faded a little when she realized today was his graduation.
"Don't be sad Gin," he said.
She shook her head and agreed silently. He kissed her cheek and began to get up.
Halfway to the stairs he turned around and said,
"I love you."
"I love you too," she replied softly.
As he walked up the stairs he could feel the weight in his heart grow heavier. He knew that he would miss her just as much as she would miss him. But he knew that as long as Voldemort was out there the wizarding world would not be safe. He went up to his room and took a brief shower. After freshening up a bit he threw on his dress clothes and his graduation robe over that. He knew the ceremony was to begin at 9:00 sharp. He wasn't about to be late for the most important date in his life. At 9:00 right on the dot the ceremony began. Hermione being the valedictorian gave the class their farewell speech. After her speech the diplomas were handed out and when he looked out at the audience there were the Weasleys and Lupin standing there cheering him on. He scanned the crowed for Ginny and immediately found her. He smiled happily at her and she knew that for once in his life he was happy. After the graduation ceremony was over she found him all alone in the commons.
"Harry," she said softly.
He turned around and grinned at her. She walked over to him, wrapped her arms around him and said,
"You're done. Your final year is over. How do you feel?"
"I feel happy and yet at the same time I feel sad," he replied.
"Why," Ginny asked.
"This was my home away from home. I know after Hermione and Ron help me we will all go our separate ways. I mean we will still write but it won't be the same," he replied.
He pulled her a little bit closer to him and whispered in her ear,
"But I do know this," he began.
"What," she interrupted.
"I will never leave you," he replied.
Ginny's eyes brimmed over with tears and she replied very shakily,
"And I will never leave you Harry. I love you too much to let you go," she said.
"I don't think we will ever find other people who can tolerate our tempers or completely understand what we've been through," he said.
"I know…but at least we've found someone…each other," she said softly.
"Are you ready for your summer," he asked.
"Yes and no," she replied.
"Why is that…oh wait…I know why never mind," he told her.
She smiled sadly at him and just nodded her head. He took her hand and said,
"I'll return. I promise."
"I know you will," she said.
He squeezed her hand slightly and asked,
"Are you ready to go back down to the celebrations and see your brother?"
"Let's go," she said.
As they walked out of the Commons he noticed how she seemed more comfortable with his leaving during the middle of the summer. He knew she understood what he had to do, and he was grateful that she did.
Alright everyone that is going to be the last update for maybe a day or two. Thanks to those who have reviewed!