Hello everyone!

Chapter 12 here! Last chapter! Woooo-whoooo! I'm so sorry that this took such a long time to pound out. It was actually really difficult to put a decent end to this story. I hope you all like it.

Also, if I get at least fifteen reviews on this chapter, I will consider writing an epilogue; however, you have to give me a couple of ideas about what the epilogue should be about.

Thank you to my wonderful reviewers, littlemiss185, SiriusObession, DukeBrymin, DanielWhite, isigirl, Book-Mania-Girl520, and Sigy Artin. Thanks, guys!

Here it is, the last chapter of this story. I hope you enjoy it.

xxxxx

Hermione was not pleased.

That much was clear.

And though she no longer looked livid, I knew that she wasn't done yet.

"You have to come back to Hogwarts! Or at least the Auror Academy!"

Ron managed to stop cowering long to enough to refuse, once again. Ginny and I merely looked on, enjoying the spectacle.

"Yes, you must!"

He shook his head.

Hermione made a noise somewhere between a strangled scream and a drowning cat.

"Erm, Hermione?"

We all turned in surprise. The shock of the voice was enough to get Hermione to drop her anger and turn toward him.

"Ron will be running the shop, with me. We thought we would reopen it, you know, as a way to keep Fred's memory alive and well."

We all just stared at George. Personally, I haven't heard him speak in weeks.

"Wherever a bloke is getting pranked, Fred is there," Ron piped up, nodding.

I watched Hermione very carefully. I'm not stupid, after all. Seven years with these two has taught me which one I need to keep an eye on.

She backed slowly away from Ron's armchair and her knees bumped into the low table in front of the fire. She sank down onto it just as George decided to collapse onto the couch.

"Hermione?" Ron asked, unsure of her silence.

"You wanker!" She yelled suddenly, "How am I supposed to argue about it now?"

I stifled a laugh and could almost feel Ginny roll her eyes beside me. Hermione might still have her wand in a knot, but she won't do anything about it now.

The worst was over, and I'm sure poor Ron was grateful for it.

xxxxx

I sighed and cuddled up closer to Harry. This day was incredibly long, and, personally, I was ready to for-go tomorrow's opening ceremony in favor of sleep.

Harry's arms tightened around me. "You already tired?" He asked, though I could tell he was stifling a yawn himself.

"Mmm," I murmured, electing not to point out how tired he was. I could feel that he was exhausted—emotionally, not just physically. Talking to all those muggle-borns had been truly draining. Instead I just hugged him tighter. "I wish we didn't have to go to the ceremony tomorrow. And there's no suspense since we already know what the monument looks like."

For a moment I thought he might be nodding off, but he was simply agreeing with me. "Yeah, thank Merlin for Luna. Who knew that she was such a good painter?"

"Everyone who didn't think she was crazy."

"Ah, right." He was silent for a moment, just pulling his finger through my hair. It felt lovely, actually. I hope he starts doing that more often.

"So you'll be in your seventh year."

"For two years straight. Not looking forward to that."

"How am I going to see you?" He asked, shifting slightly so that he had a better view of my face. "I don't think I can make it on Hogsmeade visits for two years, Gin."

"Not even if I promise to buy you treacle tart?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood. He wasn't having it.

"Gin, I'm serious. I..." he trailed off, searching my face for something. I wish I knew what it was.

"I spent a year without you. And it was horrible, Gin."

"Harry, that was different. There's nothing to worry about now, it's just Hogwarts and the Auror Academy—"

"I know, Gin, but what I'm trying to say is…is…I'm not ready to say good-bye yet."

I didn't really know what to say to that. I hugged him a bit tighter.

"Me either."

I felt his chest rise as he sighed again. I didn't look up until I felt him skip a breath in excitement.

"I have an idea."

"What's that?" I asked, raising a brow at him.

"How opposed are you to sneaking out of the castle?"

"Right now?" This is so confusing.

"No, just…your general feelings toward it, I suppose."

"Not very opposed to it, really."

"Excellent! Come with me."

And with that, he dragged me up to his old dorm and began looking about for something. Then, suddenly, he grabbed an old robe from the floor and turned to me.

"Would you rather have the map or the cloak to sneak out with?" He asked, excited.

"Erm, what?"

"Oh, right, sorry. So, I showed you the Marauders' Map, remember?"

I nodded, remembering the odd parchment. It's hard to forget something that can track your every move.

"And I also have this cloak that you can use. So which would you rather use? Nothing can see through the cloak—but we weren't completely sure about Mrs. Norris—and the map will show you all the secret passageways out and who's coming, so you'll never get caught unaware…so, which one? Or both, I suppose, if you like."

I just stared at him. "Erm, why would I need to sneak out of Hogwarts?"

"Because I can't sneak in," he explained as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. I didn't point out that he had already accomplished the feat of sneaking into Hogwarts. "You can sneak out every Saturday so that we can see each other!"

I couldn't help laughing at that. Not that it was a funny idea, no, not at all. It was just the fact that I was expecting some grandiose plan because this is Harry Potter, and he's escaped Gringotts on the back of a dragon, instead all I get is a request to sneak out to Hogsmeade every weekend using an old piece of parchment.

"Where did you even get an invisibility cloak?"

"Well, erm, my dad left it for me."

I was curious about his expression, but I let the subject slide. He obviously doesn't want to talk about it right now. And I'm not going to take something that his dad left for him.

"I'll take the map," I decided. That makes the most sense, really. "After all, you won't be in Hogwarts to use it, but you'll need that cloak at the Academy."

He grinned. "Alright, now let me show you the secret passages out of the castle."

xxxx

"Mr. Potter!"

I turned, half expecting to be berated for forgetting to turn in my transfiguration essay.

"Mr. Potter! I need you back here, with the rest of the beneficiaries."

I sighed. Ginny squeezed my hand before I went off in McGonagall's direction.

"Good, good," she was saying in response to something that a portly man was telling her. Something new made her frown. "Well, I hadn't expected that they would boycott the entire ceremony…well, really! They can't expect that I would allow them to donate to the rebuilding efforts—they caused some of the destruction!"

"Yes, but Minerva—"

"Headmistress McGonagall, Sturgis, and I am in charge of the goings-on at this school."

"Declining the Malfoys the chance to be contributors to the rebuilding fund may not have been the wisest course of action."

"You may prove to be correct, Sturgis, but we cannot say. And given their family history I will not allow them the advantage of a monetary say in Hogwarts. Why, until Dumbledore took office they had been commanding Dippett's strings—Harry! Wonderful, come sit, please."

And, although I had been very interested in the conversation, she abruptly ended it and brought me up to a raised platform out on the Quidditch field.

"Representatives of all the families that have donated to the rebuilding effort shall sit on the dias, and I will expect, of course that you shall cut the ceremonial ribbon at the Astronomy Tower."

I breathed a sigh of relief and she winked at me.

"Yes, I rather thought that you would prefer the ribbon to a speech. I only ask that you not run off with the scissors after you cut the ribbon—very hard to find, giant-sized scissors. Even Diagon Alley didn't stock them…ah! Sturgis, what is it now?"

Within moments, she was off in another direction. I just settled into my seat and watched as the Quidditch field filled with spectators. It had been transformed for the occasion, with rows upon rows of seats filling the grassy pitch. There was even a faux ceiling suspended magically over the seats, to protect from the clouds that threatened on the horizon. It seemed every wizard in Britain was in attendance, especially as school starts tomorrow and families are coming with students to say a goodbye before the extended school year.

I sighed and settled back into my seat. At least I don't have to deal with the Malfoys today. If Merlin understands that he owes me huge, then I shouldn't have to deal with the Malfoys for the rest of my life.

Well, one can only hope.

Although honestly, I think if Merlin had any foresight at all Voldemort never would have existed in the first place.

"Hey."

I looked up with a smile. "Hey. Are you going to be sitting with me?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. I groaned. I was really hoping that she would. I just love having her around, even if I'm not allowed to touch her. "I have to go sit with Mum and Dad. Not special enough to be stared at."

She meant it in jest, so I tried to take it that way.

But being stared at is not fun.

"Are you sure you can't stay, Gin? I'll give you my seat—I can sit on the floor."

She shook her head, smiling. "And have everyone gasp about the girl who stole Harry Potter's seat? I don't think so."

"They already gossip about how you stole my heart," I mumbled glumly, quite put-out that she wouldn't stay with me. I mean, it's not difficult to conjure her another seat. And I should have the right to a plus one, being Harry Potter and all. I mean, really, Brits do not look good in silver and green, for starters.

She sighed just as McGonagall stopped at the foot of the dais. She would be coming up any moment to begin the ceremony.

Ginny quickly pecked my lips. "I'll see you after the ceremony, love."

I gave her a half-hearted smile as she walked away.

I think I'm turning into a love-sick fool.

xxxxx

"Ginny? Ginny? Ginevra?"

Mum was looking about for me, no doubt to clamp onto my hand as though I were a three-year-old. I rolled my eyes and slid further back into the crowd of spectators.

Then I bumped into Dad.

Oops.

But he just shoved his camera into my hands and whispered, "Go."

I gave him a grateful smile before pushing through the crowd in as ladylike a manner as I could, but that didn't seem to be working. And I was not about to miss Harry cutting the ribbon simply because every magical being in England was in my way.

So I started just plain old shoving.

It seemed to get the message across.

Soon, I made it to the front of the crowd and could actually see the ribbon at the foot of the Astronomy Tower. Harry was standing in front of it with the giant-sized scissors in his hand. He was scanning the crowd for someone, but when he spotted me he gave me an uneasy smile.

I tried to smile back as reassuringly as I could. It always amazes me that he is the strongest person I know, yet he still can't stand being the center of attention.

Well, I suppose public speaking is an acquired taste.

But, either way, I was not about to miss my future husband cutting the ribbon on the memorial that we've spent all summer working on. And yes, I have decided that he is going to be my future husband. I said it when I was five, dammit, and I do not go back on my word.

I tried to pay attention to the ceremony when I heard some applause, but it was simply McGonagall going on about the memorial.

Honestly.

There are only so many inspiring speeches that I girl can listen to in one week. I mean, I lived it, I don't need to be given inspiring speeches about it.

After another few rounds of applause, McGonagall's speech seemed to be at an end, and I watched Harry lift the scissors.

I snapped off a shot as he cut the ribbon to raucous applause. I wasn't the only one, either. There were reporters bunched into a special section, snapping photos and jabbering excitedly to their charmed quills.

"Mr. Potter! How does it feel to have defeated the Dark Lord?"

Oh dear, bleach-blonde hair, too-long nails and a skirt that is painfully tight—that woman looks suspiciously like Rita Skeeter's replacement.

"Oh, erm, well…"

"Mr. Potter is not here to give interviews, as you were well informed, Lynessca," McGongall said graciously, although there was still a curt undercurrent to her tone. "However, you should feel free to explore the grounds as they are full of interesting landmarks of the battle."

Lynexia, or whatever her name was, took the hint and receded back into the throng of reporters. But I couldn't help but notice the predatory look on her face when she sized Harry up. My nails dug into my palms in order to keep myself from pulling out my wand.

Just then, Harry waved for me to come forward.

I hesitated for a moment, but he seemed rather adamant about it, which was odd. So I walked up to him and he pulled me into a tight embrace. I was so shocked by the heat in his kiss that I forgot entirely that we were in the middle of a ceremony.

I was quickly reminded, however, when he suddenly pulled away and turned me to face the reporters—who, if they had been excited before, were positively feverish now—and said quite clearly,

"The only story you're getting today is that I am in love with Ginny Weasley."

Holy Merlin.

Two things crossed my mind at that moment.

One—I was blushing furiously. Possibly redder than my own hair, though that was yet to be determined by the photos that were being taken more quickly than a dragon blinks.

Two—I have to check this guy to make sure he's not some impostor on Polyjuice Potion.

xxxxx

"It's beautiful."

"It is."

She sighed next to me. "Do you think they'll understand?"

I hope not.

"No, I don't think they will."

She nodded. "You think that's a good thing."

I wasn't sure how to answer that, exactly. So instead I stared at Luna's mural. It really was beautiful. And utterly surreal. But I would expect nothing less from Luna.

There were witches and wizards, centaurs, goblins, house-elves, and several other creatures that I had never known existed—although McGonagall did verify their existence—adorning the stones. And words, nearly indiscernible because they seemed part of the painting, in a rather intricate way, told of the morals of the war—the need for unity, and acceptance. The image wound up through the inside of the Astronomy Tower, spiraling with the staircase as it ascended to an indistinguishable height. I'm surprised that Luna managed to finish such a large painting so quickly, actually. I never knew that she was such a practiced artist.

I sighed again. "I think that is a good thing."

I knew she nodded, though I wasn't looking at her. I was still looking at the painting, now that I had an unimpeded view. The throngs of spectators had finally gone, the students up to their beds, the parents to spare classrooms that had been transformed for the purposes of these two days. Most of the parents, in fact, would be staying for the Opening Feast tomorrow evening.

"I overheard Kingsley this morning, talking about how the new minister wants to take a look at werewolf rights."

"That's a step in the right direction."

Too bad Remus wasn't here to see it.

"Yes, it is."

We were silent for a while longer, just staring at that wall.

When she finally spoke again, something had changed in her voice.

"Hey, Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"So…you're leaving day after next…"

"Yeah," I sighed, not wanting to be reminded. Two more days of Ginny, then off to the Auror Academy.

She grabbed my hand, and I had to run to keep up with her.

"Gin, where are we—"

"Shhh! You'll see when we get there," she reprimanded, though I could tell she wasn't actually upset. She seemed rather mischievous, actually.

I have to admit, I was confused when she only brought me to the Fat Lady.

But then we slipped inside and she pulled me toward the girls' staircase.

"Gin?"

"You're leaving Hogwarts in a couple days," she said again in explanation, "and I've kind of always had this fantasy about the two of us in the girls' dorm…" she trailed off suggestively.

I flushed.

That only made her grin.

"Come on," she said, tugging me toward the stairs.

"How am I even going to get up there?"

She seemed stumped for a moment. Then another mischievous grin spread across her face. "I'm going to levitate you."

Huh.

I wonder why no one's thought of that before.

We finally got to her dorm and she let me down onto the landing, kissing me soundly after she did.

I grinned. I love having a smart girlfriend.

She grinned back, pulling me into the room. The hangings of all the other beds were already shut tight.

Ginny gave me another smile, and we had enough sense to silence the curtains before we tumbled into bed.

xxxxx

The End!

I hope you liked it!

Once again, if I get at least fifteen reviews on this chapter, I will consider writing an epilogue.