Too Young to Die

Chapter One: April 1998

Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way down the spiral staircase from the headmaster's office. They knew that there was much work to do, both at Hogwarts and within the Ministry. They had heard the announcement that Kingsley Shacklebolt was to be a temporary replacement for Minister of Magic. He was the one they would work with.

As the trio entered the Great Hall, a silence fell over all who was gathered there. Harry, feeling the stares of those around him, led the way to where Kingsley sat with some of the remaining Order members. When they reached the Minister, Kingsley suggested they speak and led them to a small room off of the Great Hall.

The four of them entered a room with a sofa and two overstuffed armchairs placed around a small coffee table. Ron and Hermione took the sofa, leaving the two armchairs for Harry and the Minister.

Kingsley started, "I expect many of the prominent Death Eaters within the Ministry have either been captured or are in hiding, but we will, of course, need to be certain."

"Yes, and we need to make sure that the Muggle-borns are released from Azkaban and I would love to see the dementors removed from guarding it," Harry added.

"How would we control them? They've attacked without the Ministry's approval before; how will we prevent that from happening again?" Ron puzzled.

"We will need to form a sub-department under the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures for the relocation and control of dementors," Kingsley responded.

"What's going to happen to Hogwarts, Minister?" Hermione questioned.

"I'm not quite sure. Students can't learn in a place that's as broken as this. Even if I had the entire Magical Maintenance Crew working to rebuild Hogwarts, it would take a month or two at the least. Hogwarts is massive and complex, and the work would really be more than that Department is used to. Two months is really too long for students to be out of school and they won't be properly prepared for their exams."

"Where will the students go? Durmstrang and Beauxbatons aren't big enough to take all of Hogwart's students," Harry asked.

"If we had enough help, we could help with the minor repairs and let Magical Maintenance do the complex repairs," Hermione suggested.

"Can we get enough volunteers, though?" Kingsley asked.

"There's one way we can find out," Harry answered, rising from his seat.

Back in the Great Hall, Kingsley headed for the podium in front of the staff table while Harry, Ron, and Hermione seated themselves towards the front of the nearest table.

Kingsley cleared his voice and then announced, "The future of Hogwarts is questionable. Repairs to the school could take the rest of the school year, leaving the students unprepared for their exams. It has been suggested that we ask for volunteers to help speed the rebuilding process in order to get the students back in the classroom. If anyone would like to volunteer, they may sign up. We will have a meeting in two hours to go through what needs repair."

It was a week and a half later and the reconstruction of Hogwarts was nearly complete. There were more volunteers than had been expected, and they had worked hard stopping only for quick meals and a couple of hours of sleep each night. They had very little left to fix and could probably finish by the next day.

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On their last night at Hogwarts, Ron and Hermione went for a walk around the lake and stopped to slip their feet into the water and gaze up at the castle.

As they sat, their feet still dipping into the lake, Ron grasped Hermione's hand and said, "Hermione, you mean everything to me. Without you, I could never be where I am right now. You make me better, stronger, and I don't want to spend another day without you. I don't want to go to sleep another night without you in my arms. And I don't want to wake up another morning without your face being the first thing I see."

"Ron, what are-" Hermione started.

"Hermione," Ron continued pulling a small box out of his jacket pocket. "Will you marry me?"

Hermione took the box, opened it, and found a ring inside. It was a simple diamond on a silver band, which seemed to match Hermione to a tee.

"Oh, Ron," Hermione tried. "Yes, of course!"

And with that, Hermione flung her arms around Ron's neck and gave him the best snog of his life.

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The work on the castle was finished the next day, and Professor McGonagall was appointed as the new Headmistress. After the weekend, the students were to return to classes.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided to floo to the burrow that night. When they arrived through the fireplace in the kitchen, Mrs. Weasley was at the stove, and the room smelled of stew.

"Oh, Ronald, I thought you three would be here soon. Does this mean Ginny will be back off to school, then?" she asked.

"Yeah, Mum," he answered while she gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek.

"Harry, dear, how are you?"

"Fine, thank you."

"And, Hermione," she said hugging the last one in line. "Dear, you seem awful excited. What is it?"

Hermione held out her hand for Mrs. Weasley to see the ring, not having to say a word.

"You're engaged? Oh, dear that is such great news." Ron was now standing beside his fiancé, and Molly Weasley pulled them both into another, and tighter, hug.

"Arthur, come here," she yelled into the next room.

Arthur rushed into the room, "Yes, dear?"

"Our son is getting married! Isn't it lovely?"

"Yes, that's wonderful news," he said pulling his son into a sideways hug and smiling at his soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

After Mr. and Mrs. Weasley repeated how happy they were of the news, Hermione asked, "Is Ginny here? I was hoping I could tell her the news myself."

"Of course, dear. She's in her bedroom."

Ginny was elated over the news and begged them all to stay at the burrow for the weekend so that she could talk about wedding plans with Hermione.

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On Monday morning the trio went along with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to see Ginny off. Harry and Ginny tried to walk slowly behind the others so that they could get a couple of minutes of privacy.

"The war's over now. Does that mean things will change between us?" Ginny questioned.

"I'd like them to, that is, if you haven't found someone else," he said hoping she hadn't.

"How could I have? No one can compare to you," she nudged him jokingly.

Harry smiled awkwardly towards her but was cheering in his mind.

"So, will you write to me?" she asked.

"Everyday," he said. "As long as you promise to do the same."

"I will." They reached the barrier to platform nine and three quarters.

Harry gave Ginny a small kiss on the lips. Then, looking at each other, they grasped each other's hand and walked through the barrier.

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A/N: ok so i had to change a few things (so sorry). basically i decided i wanted it to just continue after the seventh book (just not the epilogue). so since Hermione was already 18 at the end of the 7th book i had to up her age a bit. also i had to omit Dumbledore for obvious reasons. i tried to add a little romance between both couples, so tell me how i did, ok? thanks to deathbyicecream and LaylaGreen13 for the reviews on the prologue!