'After the End' Chapter 3

*This HP fan-fic takes place in the nineteen-year gap in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Some people like me were probably wondering, "What the heck happened during that time??" So, I present to you chapter three of "After the End!"*

*I do not own any of the HP characters!*



~*~*~*Chapter 3~*~*~*

     Everywhere in Diagon Alley people were reading The Daily Prophet. The newspaper was still running lengthy stories about Voldemort's death, Dumbledore's death, and Harry Potter. Some witches and wizards would stop in their activities and whisper excitedly about a young man who was passing by with his friends.

     "It's been three weeks," Harry said quietly. "I wish everyone would stop talking about it."

     "Harry, everyone will be talking about this for years," Hermione said. "We can't stop people. Besides, it's not like they're slandering your name anymore, or Dumbledore's. You should be happy about that."

     "Yeah, Harry," Ron joked. "Just ignore them if you don't want to hear extravagant praise and good wishes."

     "Hush, Ron," Hermione scolded.

     They all reached the Leaky Cauldron and went inside. After they were all seated at the bar, Harry and Ron ordered a Firewhisky, Ginny ordered a butterbeer, and Hermione ordered a cherry-cream soda. They sat in silence for a while, sipping their drinks.

     "So," Ginny said, breaking the silence. "Where all do we need to go?"

     "I think Pig's running low on Owl Treats," Ron said thoughtfully.

     "And I need to get some fresh parchment and quills," Hermione said.

     "You can't be serious, Hermione," Ron gaped. "We're OUT...OF...SCHOOL. Why on earth would you need more parchment?"

     "Just because you never write, Ron, doesn't mean I don't," Hermione said.

     "Mental," Ron said as he shook his head.

     "Well, come on you guys, we might as well get going," Harry said. They pushed their stools away and left the bar. It was much more crowded outside than it was before, and the small group sometimes had to squeeze inbetween clusters of people.

     "Hey, who wants to go into Knockturn Alley?" Ron asked.

     "Who's mental now?" Hermione grinned.

     "Ron, don't be stupid," Ginny said. "Mum would kill you."

     "Who says she'd find out?" Ron asked. Ginny opened her mouth to argue, but then thought better of it and stopped herself.

     Ron and Hermione hurridly did their shopping. Harry and Ginny sat and waited for them on a bench beside the stores. Ginny sat close to Harry and wrapped her arm around his and enterwined her fingers with his.

     "Are you about ready to go home?" Harry asked her.

     "Yeah," Ginny said. "I don't feel much like mingling with crowds today."

     "Me neither," Harry said. They looked up and saw Ron and Hermione walking to them.

     "Let's get out of here," Ron said.

     "What's the rush?" Harry asked him.

     "Malfoys," Ron spat. "I don't want to even glance at his smug little face."

     "Fine," Harry said. "Let's go home, then."

     They Floo Powdered back home from the Leaky Cauldron. Mrs Weasley was waiting for them at the Burrow's fireplace with a soot broom.

     "You weren't gone long," she said as she brushed everyone off.

     "Wasn't much to do," Ginny said. "And Ron said that he saw the Malfoys, so we didn't stick around."

     "Very wise of you, Ron," Mrs. Weasely said. "You decided well on that matter."

     "I'm going outside for a little while," Ginny said. "Anyone want to come?"

     "Yeah, I'll come," Harry said. He followed Ginny outside and up to the top of a small hill. The apple tree sat on top with its white blossoms falling gently to the ground.

     "Did you finally fall asleep last night?" Ginny asked Harry. "I forgot to ask you this morning."

     "Yeah, I did," Harry smiled. "Thanks, Ginny."

     The wind suddenly picked up and blew Ginny's hair behind her. Harry couldn't help but think that she looked beautiful, and her hair was like a flowing river of flames. He swiftly came closer to her and held her to him. She responded by holding him tightly as well.

     "What?" Ginny asked when she looked up and saw Harry staring at her.

     "Nothing," Harry said gently as he leaned down and touched his forehead to hers. "You're just so beautiful. I'm still wondering how you fell for a lanky, messy guy like me."

     "If you mean your hair is messy," Ginny grinned, "I like it that way. And in case you haven't noticed, you're not so lanky anymore," she said as she ran her hand up his arm. Indeed, Harry's arms had rounded out with hard, stringy muscles. "I also fell for you because you're so brave and honest," she said quietly. "And your heart is true," she said, placing her palm over his chest. Harry's hand reached up and enfolded hers in it.

     "You give me so much credit for such little things," Harry murmured.

     "But they're not little," Ginny insisted. "They're what makes a person good. And you are good, Harry," she said. "And that..... is why I love you."

     Harry stared at her, his eyes wide with shock from the seven words she had said. He slowly smiled at her.

     "You love me?" he asked.

     "I've always loved you," Ginny laughed softly. "I thought it was fairly ovbious."

     "Well, you did a pretty good job of hiding it," Harry grinned.

     "Oh, Harry," Ginny laughed again. She held him close to her and felt the beating of his heart. It was going so fast and wild that Ginny couldn't help but smile. "Did I say that too soon?" she asked him.

     "No," Harry said slowly. "I think you timed this just about right." He pulled away a little and with a free hand tilted Ginny's face up to his. His eyes met her bright hazel. "Ginny?" he said.

     "Yes?" she asked him.

     "..... I love you too," Harry whispered. He leaned forward and kissed her hard and deeply. He had never felt so full and alive in his life, and being there with Ginny right then, right there, was all he wanted in life at the moment. Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed Harry harder. She felt nothing but her love for Harry, and she wished that she could live in this moment forever. Moments later, Harry felt her tongue against his for the first time, and he met it with his own.

     What seemed like hours later, Harry and Ginny pulled apart. Ginny looked into Harry's eyes and smiled warmly at him.

     "We'd better head back in," she said quietly. "Mum will be suspicious if we stay out here too long."

     "Yeah," Harry said huskily. "We'd better get back." Hand in hand, he and Ginny walked slowly back down the hill, back to the Burrow.

     **********