A/N This chapter's a bit depressing, but it lightens at the end…I hope you don't find it boring. It's not so much Harry/Ginny only here, it's a general moving on chapter. I just didn't think I could do a post DH story without something like this. Review! Constructive criticism is welcome, but please don't read and not review.

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The following day marked the official 'end of term'. As Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione made their way down for a final breakfast, their eyes met a scene where Professor Flitwick was commanding teams of witches and wizards to piece the castle back together, all of whom were pointing pieces of the rubble back into place with their wands. Harry found himself forced to do a kind of assault course through the entrance hall to avoid the assorted debris and chunks of wall. As he passed, the people working on the castle repairs followed him eagerly with their eyes. Ginny tried her best to shield him by walking on the outside, and he gave her an appreciative smile.

When everyone who still remained at the school had congregated in the hall, Professor McGonagall, newly reinstated as official Headmistress, stood up to address them. The Floo network would be opened for departure around midday, and the castle's enchantments would be temporarily lifted for apparation. At eleven o' clock there was to be a ceremony for those who had died in the battle, to which anyone was welcome, and it struck Harry that this would be a good moment to return the Elder wand to its rightful place. After McGonagall had finished speaking, the four of them were helping themselves to bacon and eggs when it occurred to him that no one else knew the truth about Snape. His feelings towards his old Potions master had so dramatically changed since seeing his final thoughts in the pensieve; so much so that though he still felt resentful towards him, he now also felt Snape had been one of the bravest people he knew. And yet, everyone still believed him responsible for Dumbledore's death. He was filled with such remorse for Snape, felt such sympathy for him, for the life he'd led and the horrifying death he'd suffered…He would have to explain…people had to know…Ginny, who had taken a seat across from him, had been watching the thought process out of the corner of her eye as she buttered her toast.

"Something wrong, Harry?" she asked pointedly.

Recalled to his surroundings, he realised his forkful of scrambled eggs had been poised in midair for at least a minute while he'd been mulling things over. He shook his head and replied;

"I was just thinking about clearing Snape's name. People need to know what he did for us…and people need to know Dumbledore was right all along in trusting him."

He saw Hermione eyeing him sceptically over her glass of orange juice, and frowned at her. "What?"

"Are you sure you don't want to clear Snape's name because you feel guilty?" she said tentatively. Ron rolled his eyes, and Hermione gave him a reproachful look. "I'm only saying!"

"I wasn't the only one who thought Snape was guilty!" Harry said defensively. "And anyway, he gave me good reason to suspect him; he was hardly nice to me when he was alive!"

"Yes, well," said Hermione brusquely. "He was in love with your mother Harry; it wasn't very much to do with you. And it can't have been great for him to have to see you all the time, especially when he hated your Dad so much."

"Want to be a little blunter, Hermione?" said Ginny. "I think Harry's right. People should know Snape was a good person."

Harry actually leant across the table to kiss her.

--

And so, based on this agreement, half an hour later Harry was knocking on the door to the Head's office, having carefully bypassed the gargoyle which was still laid on its side, somewhat in pieces.

"Come in," McGonagall called from within.

Harry stepped over the threshold and closed the door quietly behind him. Looking up, he saw McGonagall's slightly surprised expression. Evidently she hadn't been expecting him back so soon.

"Sorry, Professor," he apologised. "I was just wondering if I could, er - talk to you about something."

"Of course, Potter. Is everything alright?"

He nodded. "Yeah…I was just wondering…well, I wanted to talk about Snape…"

"Snape?" McGonagall repeated, looking bewildered. Harry gave her something between a nod and a shrug, and she went on; "Very well. Have a seat, Harry."

As he did so he noticed with a suppressed grin that her box of Ginger Newts had now found a new home by her overflowing in-tray. She restored the quill she had been writing with to its pot of ink, and looked at him expectantly. Harry launched straight into an explanation; he told her everything he'd seen in the pensieve, and how Snape had really remained faithful to Dumbledore throughout, despite the entire Order's being convinced of his guilt. He glazed over the details of how Snape had been in love with his mother as much as possible, feeling that he would've probably preferred it not to have been advertised.

"--and even after Dumbledore had died, Snape carried on helping me. He helped me with my quest…although Dumbledore never told him exactly what I was doing. He was a hero, Professor…and I want people to know that."

A small silence met this proclamation. If Minerva McGonagall had ever had to bet on anyone being described as a hero by Harry Potter, Severus Snape would've been pretty far off her estimations.

"You're sure?" she said weakly. "You're sure that Albus arranged his death with Snape?"

"Certain," replied Harry, glancing up at Dumbledore's apparently snoozing portrait. "Snape hasn't got a portrait…" he observed.

"I believe that is because he abandoned his post before his death," replied McGonagall. "But I'm sure we can arrange for his portrait to be put up next to Albus'." Harry smiled at her. "As far as the general public goes, Harry, I don't think we can very well strike up a fuss," McGonagall continued. "But rest assured, I will let it be known within Hogwarts walls that Severus Snape was good…and I will say something in today's ceremony."

Harry nodded, and, taking his leave, replied; "Thanks, Professor. That's all I wanted."

As he reached out for the door handle she called after him; "See you next term, Potter."

--

The ceremony passed in a haze of tears and laughs; memories of those who had died flashed before their eyes as speeches were made by family members and teachers. A golden plaque was placed on the front wall. It read;

Dedicated to those who gave their lives in The Battle of Hogwarts

1999

May their brave hearts Rest in Peace

And below this were listed all the names of the people who lay forever beneath it. Many people placed flowers atop their graves. A sobbing Mrs Weasley stepped forward to place a bouquet of white lilies for Fred, and when the crowd had thinned, and only close family and friends to him remained, George stepped to the front and said, voice shaking;

"To Fred."

And with a wave of his wand there was a bang like a gunshot as an enormous box of Weasley's fireworks was let loose. Ginny was caught somewhere between laughing and crying as she watched them encircle the topmost towers, and Harry put his arms around her as tears welled in his own eyes. The fireworks continued for several minutes, before finally displaying the sparkling message, which somehow stood out even in broad daylight;

To Fred Weasley

The champion who died laughing, RIP

Harry applauded along with the rest; it had been perfect. Fred would've wanted this, he would've wanted them to celebrate his life and remember him as he was. When the words had faded, Harry gently extracted his arms from Ginny's waist to conjure up a bouquet for both Remus and Tonks. When he reached their adjoining graves, he picked up a stone at random, and engraved a message with his wand;

Mischief Managed

Smiling to himself, he placed it above Remus' grave with the flowers and mumbled;

"Bye, Professor Lupin. We'll all take care of Teddy…"

After a few moments he felt a warm hand enclose his, and looked to his right to see Hermione. Ron appeared on his other side, and the three of them stood there together; and somehow it strengthened Harry that they were there with him. Wiping his eyes, he pulled open the pouch Hagrid had given him and took out the Elder Wand. He left the others, and made the slow walk over to Dumbledore's white marble tomb. And as he went, his heart was suddenly lifted, and he was full of life, full of energy, full of song…Looking around, he saw a flash of red and gold; Fawks was gliding through the skies to greet him, coming to land elegantly on a treetop above where Dumbledore lay. Feeling somewhat strengthened by Fawks' presence, Harry gently opened up the heavy marble lid. Looking down into his old Headmaster's lined face, he thought he could've been asleep; he had died still wearing his expression of calm serene. Harry slid the wand carefully back between Dumbledore's withered hands, saying quietly;

"Thanks, Professor. I did what you asked…I'm back, and he's gone. I didn't disappoint you," he managed a grin, though his eyes were full to the brim once more. "And I'll keep trying not to disappoint you…"

With a gut wrenching pang, he forced himself to close the lid once more and turn to leave, and when he had stepped just a few paces, Fawks swooped down in front of him in an graceful arc, and whether he imagined it or not, he heard the words carried in the wind;

"…you never could…"

--

Arriving back at the Burrow felt strange to all of them. Everywhere they went there was a noticeable quiet, which they put down to Fred's absence. George barely spoke for a week, confined to his room, he left only for mealtimes and toilet breaks. Harry related his behaviour to his own when Sirius had died, and thought he must have an inkling of how he felt. Ginny coped better than Harry could've imagined and he loved her all the more for it; Ron found his solace in Hermione, and Mr Weasley, Percy, Bill and Charlie all managed to put on brave faces, (Bill perhaps helped along by Fleur). The one person in the house who seemed in a worse state than George, the one who seemed for the time being beyond help, was Mrs Weasley. She went about business as usual, cooking, cleaning, doing the dishes, laundering the clothes, degnomeing the garden, but her heart was not in it, and many a time Harry happened across her in tears, though she hastened to wipe her eyes dry as soon as she realised he was there. As a result of this, Harry's guilt began to spiral out of control, and that mingled with his own sense of loss meant that his only source of comfort was Ginny. He did not know what he would've done had she not been there; but they supported each other, pulling each other along when needed. One particularly scorching summer afternoon, they sat together beneath a tree in the apple orchard, Ginny leaning against Harry's knees, her head resting against his chest.

"I think Mum's doing better…" Ginny murmured, as Harry played with the ends of her silky hair. "She cries less at least …"

Harry's stomach churned unpleasantly and he did not immediately reply. Eventually he said; "How are you doing? I know you were close with Fred…and Tonks…"

Ginny paused, and then replied with a quiet yet surprisingly strong voice; "Yeah…I'm okay. Some seconds are harder than others." She gave a slight chuckle. "I'm just glad you're here." She took his hand and looked up into his face meaningfully. "When I saw you…that day, lying in Hagrid's arms…when Voldemort said you were dead…I--" but her voice broke over the last few words.

"But I'm not. I'm here," he said firmly. Perhaps it was in this moment, as Harry entwined her sweet hair around his fingers and she stroked his palm, that he realised he would always be there for her. He knew as well as he knew his own name that he'd never leave her side. And then at the same moment they kissed each other, their lips grazing, and then their tongues entwining…Ginny was twisting on the spot, wrapping her arms around his neck, he extracted a hand from her hair and placed it on her lower back…she was pressing him against the tree trunk and he would not complain because the kiss was deepening with such passion, such a wonderful –

"Ginny? Harry!" called a voice as the back door banged open and the couple broke apart, hastily getting to their feet and flushing wildly.

"What, Mum?" Ginny asked, trying to keep her voice level. But Harry noticed that pink spots had appeared in Mrs Weasley's cheeks, pink spots that, to his recollection, only appeared when she was happy…

"Get in here, you two!" she said in cheery tones, waving an arm behind in the direction of the kitchen. Eager to find out whatever had caused this spur of delight in her, Harry and Ginny hastened to follow. On entering the kitchen they found themselves in the company of all the Weasleys, Hermione, Fleur and Kingsley Shacklebolt. Mr Weasley was chatting merrily to him, and when he caught sight of Harry and Ginny he broke off, realising that now the whole family was assembled. Beaming to everyone in the room in turn, he said to them all;

"I have a little announcement to make!" With a lazy flick of the wand, twelve butterbeers appeared in mid air, hovering in front of each person. Everyone took them as Mr Weasley continued; "Kingsley here has just given me my old job back, in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts office!" He looked absolutely ecstatic, causing most of the onlookers to exchange perplexed looks. He had been promoted during the previous year…meaning that now he was, in effect, celebrating being demoted…Harry glanced at Ginny uncertainly, whose expression mirrored his. There was a ringing silence and Harry was just beginning to wonder whether they were supposed to cheer, when suddenly Mr Weasley went on;

"And he's giving me a raise of three times what I was earning at my promotion!" he finished with gusto, raising his butterbeer in triumph. The room erupted into congratulations, Ginny stepped forwards to give her father a one-armed hug, for the first time since the day of the Hogwarts' ceremony George grinned widely, saying "Nice one, Dad!", but no one beamed wider than Mrs Weasley.

"A pay rise! And he's doing what he loves! Oh, I'm all of a dither!" Harry heard her say as she threw her arms around Kingsley. "Oh, you'll have to stay for dinner now! Shall we invite Hagrid too?" she chirped. "Make a bit of a party of it…and Andromeda and Teddy of course…and the Lovegoods…Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny would love to see Luna…"

And that night was the night that the future finally loomed bright and beautiful before them. Though they all still grieved enormously, they were comforted by the fact that good things were happening now; the new generation was free, they'd never be threatened again…toasts were made repeatedly to Harry, and by eleven o' clock Mrs Weasley begun to appreciate Fred wouldn't have wanted to see her upset.

"--I can just imagine him saying it! 'Mum, pull yourself together, you're embarrassing yourself!'" And then she, like Ginny, became caught between tears and laughter, leaning on her husband's shoulder for support. But from that day on Mrs Weasley began to heal, and their survivor's guilt began to wear off; people's scars began to heal. And as the night wore on to become a party not just for Mr Weasley's pay rise, but a belated celebration of life and victory over Voldemort, and a well wishing to Hermione and Ron and Harry and Ginny, another pleasant surprise came from Bill, who stood on a chair in the early hours of the morning to announce gleefully;

"Fleur's pregnant!"

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A/N: Review! Hopefully you didn't think it was too dull. I thought the ending was funny hah seeing as Teddy was snogging Victoire at the end of DH I thought they could've been born pretty close together – and it seemed appropriate for moving to the future and all that! Anyway I have some new ideas for other chapters, related to Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione. Should all be fun! Keep reading.