Thank you guys so much for your reviews, story alerts, and favorites! I will always try to update as soon as possible, but I'm still in high school here, so I'll be a little busy:) I will definitely update with a new chapter at least once a week and hopefully much more.

Also, this is my first fanfiction so if the format is a little screwed up, I'm sorry. I'm still learning and hopefully it'll be better soon.

Please review! Enjoy and thank you so much for reading!

And, of course, I own nothing. But I really wish I did.

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"Congratulations, graduates!" Mr. Weasley cheered, raising his glass of firewhiskey, to which the crowd of guests followed suit.

Harry, Hermione and Ron shyly smiled, nodded in thanks, and drank, feeling a little bit embarrassed but mostly proud. It was four months past the Battle of Hogwarts, and everything was completely back to normal. Hogwarts had been rebuilt, and soon after Harry, Ron and Hermione were invited back for a week to take numerous tests and exams that would excuse them from their Seventh Year and allow them to graduate.

Hermione passed with flying colors and Ron and Harry did well, so they were given their diplomas. Harry thought after all the awards and certificates he had been given the past couple of months (Order of Merlin, First Class, his birthday officially dubbed Harry Potter Day, and voted Most Likely to Become Minister of Magic by Wizarding World Weekly), most of them he didn't even want, his diploma was by far his most precious. It made him feel a little more normal, like his life could go on so he would get a simple job, get married to the love of his life, and live happily forever.

Harry smiled quietly knowing that now that Voldemort was defeated, of course his life would transpire exactly like his dream. There wasn't anything to stop him anymore.

"I'm proud of us," said Harry to the other two thirds of the Golden Trio, in the midst of a crowd of well-wishers including his favorite people; Hagrid, Headmistress McGonagall, Neville Longbottom, the Weasleys, Bill and Fleur, and especially his beautiful girlfriend, Ginny. When he spotted her, wearing a nice Kelly green dress that made her hair look even fierier and her face even more beautiful, she ran to him and threw her arms around him in a rib-breaking hug.

"I can't believe it!" she squealed. "My boyfriend's officially out of school." Harry laughed and tucked a long strand of her hair behind her ear. "I'll be back at Hogwarts this year with only Luna to keep me company."

"I'll visit you. Every day if you want me to."

"That sounds reasonable," said Ginny with a smile. "I'm just looking forward to finally having a normal year again."
Harry could only imagine what it would be like to have to take orders from Death Eaters and watch as his beloved professors were humiliated and abused by them. He didn't want to ever see Hogwarts in such a terrible, dark state.

"I'm excited for that too," said Harry quietly. He turned around, looking for Ron and Hermione, but he didn't see them anywhere.

"Where'd Ron and Hermione go?" asked Harry curiously.

Ginny laughed. "Off for a good snog, I suppose."

"Hm," said Harry. "That sounds like a good idea..."

With a mischievous smile he led her upstairs for a little break from their party.

Hand in hand, Hermione and Ron walked toward the setting sun on top of the orchard hill. The sky was magenta and purple, lit with streaks and orange, like a watercolor painting.

"Ginny will be going back to school soon," Ron said wistfully, like he was in another place entirely.

"We'll have to see her off on the train, then," replied Hermione, tightening their interlaced fingers. "And visit."

Ron laughed and turned his full attention to his girlfriend. "I can't believe it's over for us. Hogwarts. We're starting our lives now."

They had reached the edge of the orchard. It was a hot summer night and Hermione conjured two fleece blankets from thin air. They sat down beneath the tree and leaned against the thick trunk, Hermione's head resting on Ron's shoulder.

"We're gonna get jobs," said Ron quietly.

Hermione glanced up at him and laughed. "I'm already all over that," said Hermione. She had been accepted to the Magical Law Enforcement Office, and her training to become a Ministry Lawyer would begin in late September. "You're the one who needs to start Auror training, or whatever you still want to do."

Ron closed his eyes and roughly leaned his head back against the tree in frustration. "I just don't know," said Ron. "I feel like if I try to be an Auror, I'll find out I'm not good enough or I don't have what it takes or I'll chicken out when I'm doing the real thing." He kept his eyes closed, but his ears were bright red, and Hermione automatically leaned over him and held his face in her small, soft hands.

"Don't ever be afraid to try because you're scared to find out you're not good enough," she said sternly. "You'll regret it forever. You want to be an Auror, so do it. And if it doesn't work out, so what? Who cares? No one will."

Ron opened his eyes and looked deep into his girlfriend's. He said nothing.

"Ron, you can do it. You'll be the best Auror I know."

And suddenly Ron was kissing her, with more passion and force then he ever had before, and Hermione was deepening the kiss further, until they were rolling on top of the blankets. Ron slowly moved his hands onto her stomach, lifting up her shirt slowly and pulling it over the top of her head. He moved to undo her bra, easing it off her shoulder blades, gazing at each other with longing before moving back to connect their lips once more. Hermione pulled his shirt over his head and rejoiced at the feeling of their bare skin touching.

And as Ron moved his hands down to unzip her skirt, he pulled away and asked softly, "Mione, do you really want to?"

"Yes, Ron. I love you."

She'd never meant any words more.