Epilogue: The Best Year Ever

Ginny Weasley fell onto her bed with a sigh of pure contentment. Trunk's packed, homework's done, look out O.W.L.s, here I come...

"This is going to be a wonderful school year," she said to no one in particular. A loud squeak made her look up. "Yes, it is, Deedee. Even for you."

Deedee had been given to her on her birthday, a few weeks previous, by Alastor Moody, both in honor of the day and to celebrate her being made a prefect. Her family and Harry had gone halves in getting her a new broomstick, since Moody had taken care of the traditional new pet for a Weasley prefect.

"You won't miss a thing, you know," she said brightly, going over to Deedee's cage. "I'll take you out flying so you don't miss Quidditch. You can be the Gryffindor team mascot if you like." She ignored the pained squealing which seemed to say that Deedee would not like. "And Hermione's promised to read you her notes every night so you don't get behindhand. You can even go to class with her and Harry and Ron – I'm sure Professor Black would love to have something to demonstrate curses on for Defense Against the Dark Arts."

She giggled. She was looking forward to having Sirius as one of her professors. His name had been cleared early in the summer by his testimony under Veritaserum, and Professor Dumbledore had hired him for the perpetually empty DADA position. The next time she'd seen Professor Severus Snape, he had looked as if he had just been forced to drink one of his own noxious creations. The look had grown worse, if anything, as the summer had progressed.

"And Professor McGonagall can use you for Transfiguration, and Professor Flitwick for Charms, and even Professor Snape for Potions testing – you'll have a different look every day! Won't that be fun?"

Deedee gave a series of wild squeals, running in circles.

Ginny sighed, feeling guilty for a moment. This is pretty mean of us...

But really, where else could the poor boy go? Both parents arrested as Death Eaters, the family's property and money seized – he's much better off here than he would be anywhere else. And it's not as if we're actually hurting him.

Her mind wandered to other consequences of that failed attack on Privet Drive. The Dursleys had successfully eluded the Death Eaters and were now resettled somewhere in the country. No one knew where, not even Harry, which was the way he wanted it. The blood magic wards, after all, had collapsed when the Dursleys had left the house with no intention of coming back.

And there's really no need to reestablish them. Harry's got enough protection here. A house no one can find, and a dozen or so people who'd die to save him. Ginny squared her shoulders. Including me.

That does it. This is the year I finally tell Harry Potter how I really feel about him.

No need to hurry, though. Better wait until we're settled in at school.

Thinking of school reminded her of something. "Of course Professor Hagrid will want to meet you, Deedee. Maybe he'll introduce you to Buckbeak. And I bet he's got a nice female ferret you can breed with."

The sounds from the cage escalated towards panic.

Chuckling, Ginny started laying out her robes for the morning.

I'm a prefect, I'm on the Quidditch team, I'm going to make Harry Potter fall in love with me, and I have Draco Malfoy in a cage in my room...

This is going to be the best year ever.

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THE (real) END

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(A/N: OK, that's really all she wrote. For real and definitely, this time.

Maybe.

::maniacal giggling::

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