Epilogue: His Name with Hers

Life slowly turned back to as normal as possible within the last couple weeks at Hogwarts. Ginny had been able to returned to the rest of the school just a day after that Harry was allowed to leave the hospital wing. Her friends screamed in welcome when they saw her enter the common room and ran over to hug her, so glad that she was ok.

Now that they didn't have to worry about exams, Tom was now gone, combined with the perfect weather outside… it seemed almost impossible that just a few days ago she was so close to losing her sanity and her life. Almost as if it had just been a very long and bad dream…

She joined in with the rest of school, ate at least four helpings at every meal—as if trying to make up for all the meals she missed over the year, was outside enjoying the sun so that her once ghostly pale skin turned into a healthy glow. She enjoyed herself and had fun with her friends, even Colin Creevey joined in with her…

But to her, the best part was that no one had blamed her for what had happened.

Everyone was just so glad that she escaped and this horrible year was finally over. In fact, she heard some people joke around that maybe this year had been worth it to get rid of Lockhart and were able to escape doing exams.

For the first time since that accursed book fell into her hands, she felt free. As if the heavy shackles that bound her to Tom were broken and she was able to fly away into the bright sunlight.

This was how her first year would've gone if she hadn't been so stupid… if it hadn't been for Tom…

But she was able to forget all about him as she laughed with everyone else and pretend that she was no different from anyone else. But like all good things, it soon came to an end. All too soon, the end of the year had arrived and she was back in her dorm packing her trunk for the Hogwarts Express to take her home the next day; talking cheerfully with all her friends about their plans for summer. Ginny happily packed all her worn clothes, and ancient books—which were now as priceless to her as if they were brand new—and even hummed merrily as she slammed the lid on her trunk shut…

She talked, laughed, and ate at the feast that night with everyone else, and the next day she woke up, only to glad to be going home again. She almost skipped down to the station, and only looked back when she was safely on the train. She looked out the window in an empty compartment, to get one last glimpse at the beautiful castle—hopeful that next year would be better than this one. Then again, it couldn't possibly get any worse now could it?

So many horrible things had happened to her this year, but so many wonderful things as well. Strange how you can't have one without the other…

"Here's to next year?" she murmured to herself before she smiled as the castle slowly disappeared from her view until it was nothing more than a tiny speck in the distance. A few minutes later, she was pleasantly surprised to see that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the twins had joined her in the compartment.

They greeted her happily before George pulled out his pack of Exploding Snap cards and began shuffling.

She took the cards and as everyone else began to play, she glanced over at Harry. She hadn't spoken to him since that day in the hospital, and as memories of the kiss went into her mind, she turned beet red and hurriedly looked down at her cards, but they hardly noticing her.

Harry wasn't like any other person she ever met. He was world famous, but you would never have guessed it once you met him. He defeated Voldemort, killed the Basilisk, and saved her and the castle all in one night, but he didn't act any differently than any other normal person and hated being treated as if he was special…

That was when she realized that he was special because he didn't want to be special…

Harry wasn't like the star she imagined him to be. He wasn't like a brave knight ready to battle a dragon at any moment, but a normal boy who fought when he felt that he had to. And in between those battles, he tried to live normally, acting like everyone else, though that seemed to make him more endearing.

He was special in a normal way… there was just something in him that just…

"Ginny?" Ron's voice interrupted her, and Ginny snapped out of it as she quickly put her mind back into the game. This went on for some time before they slowly made their way through the country and close to Kings' Cross.

Once, she smiled at Harry when he wasn't looking. She would stop now… she promised herself. She decided to try and be more of herself, stop acting like some lovestruck fan girl. She promised herself that she would try to treat him like anyone else. No more swooning and sighing when she saw him, and most certainly, she was never, ever gonna send him a singing valentine again.

Just at that moment, Harry suddenly turned to her and asked, "Ginny?" she bit back the sigh, "What did you see Percy doing, that he didn't want you to tell anyone?"

Ginny blinked in confusion before she realized what he was talking about. She giggled, forgetting that she was embarrassed, "Oh, that. Well-Percy's got a girlfriend."

Jaws dropped all around the compartment, and Fred had actually dropped his stack of books on George's head—though it didn't look like either noticed as they stared at her. "What?"

She grinned wider, having a feeling that Percy wasn't going to be too happy about this, but… "It's that Ravenclaw prefect, Penelope Clearwater…" she told them what she saw and they stared back at her. While she did promise Percy, this was payback for how he treated her all year. She then asked, though she already knew the answer, "You won't tease him, will you?"

The stunned looks on the twins faces disappeared as identical evil grins appeared. "Wouldn't dream of it," Fred said unconvincingly.

"Definitely not," George agreed firmly, rubbing his hands together eagerly and they left. Her parents were both there and almost ran up to hug her. While she fully embraced them both and hugged back just as hard, she looked over her father's shoulder to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione all saying goodbye.

Harry and Hermione stayed just long enough to say goodbye to her family, Mum hugged Harry and Ron again as she did that night at the castle, before Hermione spotted her parents and ran off—her hand rose in farewell. Just then, Harry spotted his relatives and was getting ready to head over to them.

"Ah… Harry…?" she croaked out at him. He looked back at her, obviously wondering what she wanted. While most of her brothers were talking to Mum and Dad, she gulped and opened her mouth, trying to tell him everything she had wanted to say… to tell him how much she liked him, how she was so glad that they met, how kind he had been to her, and so much more… but she wasn't sure how to put them all into words.

He just continued to look at her politely, patiently waiting… and finally, she stuttered out two words… "T-thank you."

He blinked in surprise at her before he smiled again, her heart missing a beat for just a moment. "Anytime…" he told her sincerely. "You take it easy this summer won't you?"

She nodded at once. "So… I guess I'll see you next year?"

"Maybe," he grinned as he took his trolley and started to push it towards his relatives, who were glaring at him for keeping them waiting. "Ron said that he'd invite me over the summer if it's possible. But if not, I'll see you here in two months."

"Oh, right," she whispered as he gave her a wave and walked away. And even when she also followed her family across the station in the opposite direction, she couldn't help but turn her head back to look at him—she could just make out his messy back hair and gave a tiny sigh.

She then walked out into the bright sunlight—an omen of brighter things to come.

*Later*

Dad had been able to get a couple cars from the Ministry to get them home, almost as soon as she saw the Burrow, she felt the need to cry as she flung the car door opened and almost sprinted across the yard to the door and inside. It looked just as it did the last time she saw it… all the pots and pans hanging from the ceiling, the long table with all the mismatch chairs, the smell of her dad's aftershave and the lingering scent of spices in the cabinets, and there on the wall was the familiar clock with nine hands.

Where, just at that moment, the shorted hand that held her name moved from traveling, over to…

"Home," she whispered, suddenly feeling exhausted from the long ride over and trooped up the rickety old staircase. Relishing the way that it twisted and turned at every corner and the way it creaked on every step, up to the familiar door that she had stared at countless times before but never really noticed it.

She opened it to reveal to her the tiny room, that looked exactly as it did last summer… it looked like no one had been in here—except for mum who had obviously been in here to dust once in awhile. She suddenly felt her eyes grow heavy and went over to her tidy bed and collapsed onto it; asleep in no time at all

*Later*

Ginny woke up later some time later. She had the feeling that she hadn't been out for long, it was still light outside, however she could see familiar shadows dancing across the floor telling her that the sun was sinking. She rolled over onto her back and yawned, admiring her Holyhead Harpies posters before she heard footsteps just outside her door.

She looked up in time to see it open and her mother's head poked in. "Ginny?" she asked softly when she saw that she was awake.

Ginny sat up, "Oh, sorry, Mum," she said yawning again. "I didn't mean to fall asleep now…"

But mum just smiled. "It's alright dear," she assured her. "It had been a long ride after all. We brought your trunk in," she then pointed to the foot of her bed to where she just realized that her trunk was indeed was there. "But you can unpack later. I just wanted to let you know that dinner will be ready soon. But if you rather sleep?"

Ginny yawned and slowly got out of bed. "No, I'm fine. I was just a little tired."

"Well, Dinner will be done in about fifteen minutes," she smiled as she left. But before she left she looked back and said, "Oh, and o you know why Percy looks so annoyed with Ron and the twins? Apparently they're teasing him about something?"

Ginny bit back a smirk and twisted her face into what she hoped was puzzled. "No," she lied as mum left after that. Fighting the urge to laugh, she got off her bed and walked across the room to look down at the glowing lawn of gold and reds. Her eyes fell onto the orchard, where she saw her Ron and the twins sticking the brooms back into the shed and heading back to the house—they appeared to have been laughing.

Smiling, she left the room and went outside, just as they walked into the kitchen.

"I'll be back in a few minutes," she called as she ran past them and onto the soft grass. She almost dashed to the shed to get a broom and quickly stole one of the twins Cleansweeps before she kicked off, flying around the orchard—high enough that she was near the treetops, but low enough so that no one could see her.

She breathed in the fresh, humid air, letting it fill her lungs as the wind wiped her long hair around her face as the colors danced around her. After a few minutes, she landed near one of the top branches and moved to sit right on it and watch the sun set.

The wonderful golden ball slowly sinking beyond the horizon, the sky was an explosion of reds, oranges, and bright yellows—dancing off the clouds and casting dark shadows on the ground. Why hadn't she ever noticed how beautiful it was? How the colors mixed and turned the whole world into something magical?

As she sat there, she thought back to the little girl who last sat up here and watched the sun set… back then, she had been so looking forward to going to school, and not really noticing it. Well, she'll be making up for that. At this moment, the young girl sitting here, and the girl back then before school… it was almost incredible to her that they were the same person.

But she was still Ginny Weasley. She still had red hair, six older brothers, and lived here with her family at the Burrow. But now she was one of those few people to have ever met Lord Voldemort and was lucky enough to tell the tale.

She looked down at her hands, the familiar feelings of shame and guilt of what she had done came back to her. She was responsible for hurting all those people and scaring the whole castle. If it wasn't for some strange coincidences, she would have easily been responsible for killing. On some level, she knew it wasn't her fault. It had been Voldemort… she knew that… but…

She still cringed when she thought about all the secrets she had shared with that accursed diary…

Because of her prattling on about Harry, Riddle was able to slowly tighten his hold on her. It took weeks for her to realize that but it has still been too late. She had opened the Chamber of Secrets and set the Basilisk free on the students. She had hurt her friends, and almost led Harry right to his death…

And yet, they didn't hate her? Why?

She felt nothing but sick with herself… she had cared about that boy so much and he almost died for her. But he didn't… she had woke up and there he was… she reached into her pocket and pulled out the slightly wrinkled picture that she took from Colin.

She was here enjoying the sunset thanks to him… oh, and Ron too of course. Everyone was alright, she hadn't been expelled, and now she was free. But for some reason, she suddenly thought of Ron's stupid comment about Moaning Myrtle being her competition for Harry's feelings and she blushed as red as the sky again.

She shook her head hard. No. She couldn't let herself become selfish about Harry. She wasn't going to be like Tom, tearing someone apart just to get what she wanted. Professor Dumbledore was right, they were both still young. There was still plenty of time… even if he didn't like her now, there was a chance that he would someday.

And even if they wouldn't be together… they could at least still be friends right? Yes… she would focus on being his friend… she would never try to ruin his friendships and any future relationships that he might have… he deserved that much.

She smiled at that little picture as she watched him continue to fly like a hawk. She knew that she was going to like him for a long time. Even now Ginny still doubted why he saved her. Why had Harry risked life to save her from the Chamber? Surely it was mainly for Ron and her family… but he still wouldn't have done all that for a silly little girl that he barely knew right?

She gently touched her lips with the tip of her fingers before she turned an even darker shade of red. She would wait… even if everyone laughed and said that it was hopeless, she just couldn't help herself. Even though he had been asleep, she felt so at peace and whole for that brief kiss. When he pulled her from the chamber and they were walking out, his words comforted her, and he protected her when he later explained what happened to the Headmaster.

He had become something like a stone wall protecting her from Riddle. Ever since that night she knew that she would never forget. Even if she fell in love with someone else… she knew her first kiss would be to Harry alone.

She thought about kissing him so many times, she still couldn't believe that she had the nerve to do it. One day, she hoped that he would someday return it… it had been more than just a spark…

She then pulled out the folded scarf that she had gotten for Christmas… still warm to the touch. Inside it was the quill that Hermione had given her that same day… but from all the hours she had used it writing to Tom, she doubted that she would be able to use it for much longer. But this would be its final act. Carefully looking around to make sure that no one was watching, she leaned in close to the tree and made a few deep marks. No one would see it, she was sure of that. With all these branches and leaves in the way, no one could possibly see it unless they sat here and looked closely at the trunk. She carved only two simple initials inside a small heart:

H.P

G.W

No one would ever know about this secret but her as she leaned back to smile at it. Seeing it there was like making a vow. She would live her life, and he would live his… but she would always be hopeful that one day he would fall for her as madly as she had fallen for him. Ginny's mind was made up. She would wait for him… and if they were meant to be together, then it would happen one day. No matter how long it took, she would wait and see…

She then thought back to something else that Professor Dumbledore had once said.

"If that's true and he does care about me," she said softly to herself, "Then he doesn't love me, he just likes me." She smiled softly before she hugged the scarf and the picture close to her heart and said, "So we're halfway there."

Little did she know that in just five years time, her waiting would pay off. And then… they would live happily for the rest of their days… together…

THE END

(Hope you liked it! Thank you everyone who reviewed this story. This was just my take on what had happened during Ginny's first year. And while some people say that the two of them shouldn't have ended up together, I couldn't think of anyone else that I would rather have. I mean, sure Ginny saw him as sort of a rockstar figure when she was young, but she does truly love him for being 'just Harry'. And if Harry's happy shouldn't that enough for everyone? I hope that you had enjoyed the ending, and for those of you asking me to do the rest of Ginny's years at Hogwarts, sorry. But I'm already having a hard enough time doing a story from Dumbledore's view through all seven. But now that this story is done, I've been thinking of doing another story from someone else's point of view from Harry Potter… HEDWIG! XD You don't get to many Hedwig stories and I'm going to add one! I'll be putting it up as soon as I finish the first few chapters. Again, I hope you enjoyed this story and thanks again for all your support.)