Hey guys! Before you ask, yes I am still alive. Once again, I am so sorry for the delay. I've just been so busy recently. I had my school concert and saxophone exam and coursework is actually killing me. Then I got SUCH writers block, so this chapter is pretty short. Sorry about that. Anyways…. Here's chapter 3. Hope you like it. Drop me a review to let me know. Thanks to everybody who reviewed/alerted last time.

If anybody's interested in being beta let me know. Thanks.

Breakfast the next morning was a quiet affair. The memorial ceremony the previous day seemed to have allowed people to begin to move on and there was a slightly lighter air about the castle. The Hogwarts Express was due to leave in just a few hours time and the last stragglers were trailing in to the Great Hall, whilst many of the early risers had already left. Harry and Hermione had finished eating but Ron, being Ron, was still filling up on breakfast. When Ginny mentioned this to him, he defended himself by saying that it was the last time he was going to get food from the Hogwarts House Elves. This sobered them all up.

Kingsley had been circulating the hall, stopping occasionally to talk to some groups. He stopped at their group and sat down, pulling a plate of pancakes towards himself. "I never got a chance to talk to the three of you properly," he rumbled in his deep voice. "What did you think of the ceremony?"

"It was lovely," Hermione said, quickly stopping Ron from talking through a mouthful of scrambled egg. "The ceremony was so moving and Harry, your speech was wonderful. And the name- Dies Victorium et Luctu. It's just perfect."

"Perfect?" Harry spluttered, "I was nervous enough about that speech with out having to worry about pronouncing that right!"

"Well, yes. Most people are shortening it to V and L Day. Although you should be glad, Harry. Many people wanted it to be called Harry Potter Day." Harry, who had just taken a mouthful of coffee, coughed and spluttered whilst Hermione patted him on the back, trying and failing to hide her laughter.

"Who the bloody hell suggested that?"

"Oh, I can't even begin to count how many people suggested it. McGonnegal seemed to find it particularly amusing." Harry still looked horrified.

"Well then I stand corrected. Dies Victoriam et Luctu is a very good name. Yes. V and L Day. I like it. Oh shut UP Hermione!"

This, of course, made her laugh even more.

The Hogwarts Express rolled out of Hogsmeade Station a few hours later. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna had managed to bag a compartment near the back of the train. As the train drew away from the castle, they all watched as it grew further and further away. A bittersweet silence had fallen over them as they watched as their school- their home- disappeared from sight. Within moments, however, their silence had been broken and they were soon talking and laughing as only a group of teenagers can.

Halfway through the journey, Ginny announced that she needed the bathroom and Hermione and Luna both decided to accompany her. As they left the compartment, the boys looked after them, confused.

"What is it with girls always going to the bathroom together?" Ron burst out after a few seconds.

"I don't know," Harry looked confused too. "They always seem to go together though, don't they?"

"That's true!" Neville nodded. "They always go in swarms, packs. It's creepy." Harry and Ron nodded and the three shivered.

Meanwhile the girls had arrived in the bathroom of the Hogwarts Express and Hermione and Luna turned to face Ginny.

"OK, spill," Hermione said.

"Yes, please do," Luna nodded, "You've been awfully quiet."

Ginny sighed and leaned back against the door. "I don't know. It's just Harry I guess. I mean, yesterday morning we were talking and he- he said that he loved me."

"Oh Ginny, that's wonderful!" Hermione gasped and Luna gave a small squeal but Ginny interrupted them.

"No. It's not. Well it is, of course it is but it's not because my idiot of a brother had to come bursting in straight after he said it and he ran away! He hasn't spoken to me since. I mean, we're back together again, I think but he hasn't mentioned it at all. He's pretending it hasn't even happened."

"I know what that feels like," Hermione snorted. Ginny and Luna both turned to her now, a questioning look on both their faces. "Well, Ronald and I may have maybe possibly kissed-during-the-final-battle."

"OHMYGOD!" Ginny screamed. "It's about bloody time! What happened? When? Where? Why did you not tell me this before?"

"Okay, okay," Hermione laughed, "Give me time to think! Well, it was just after Ron and I had gone to get the basilisk fangs. We were talking in the corridor and it just sort of… happened. But it may as well not have. I've been trying to get his attention for years and we finally kiss and then he goes back to acting like nothing happened! He's an idiotic bloody teaspoon and I'm sick of it!" Ginny and Luna stared at her. "What?"

"Nothing," Ginny giggled, "It's just that, I've never seen you so annoyed. You just said bloody like Ron does!"

"I know! I'm thinking about him so much I've started talking like him!"

"Hermione, you should try to calm down," Luna commented in her usual dreamy tone, "It's upsetting your aura. Daddy wrote a very interesting article about emotional connections and aura colours. I could get you a copy if you like?"

"Erm, that'd be good, thanks, Luna." Hermione said uncertainly.

"Yes, yes, this is all fascinating but we have more important things to discuss," Ginny impatiently said, "The Kiss! Tell me everything!"

After they had expanded their store of gossip, the girls made their way back to their compartment. When they slipped back in, giggling slightly, Harry stood up and quietly asked Ginny if he could have a word. They both left the compartment and walked down to an empty area of the train. As expected, people pointed and whispered when they passed, especially girls. When they stopped, Harry turned to Ginny and looked at her intensely.

"Look Gin," he started, before clearing his throat and rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "When we were talking yesterday, I didn't really get a chance to finish. Y'know, when I… when I said I…"

"When you said you loved me?"

"Yeah. Then. Well," he sighed and gave a dry laugh, 'Why is this so hard? I just killed Voldemort for goodness sake!' he thought. "I mean it, I really do. I love you Gin, and-"

"I love you too Harry!" Ginny laughed and threw her arms around his neck. They separated after a few moments and walked back to the compartment hand in hand. As soon as they entered, Hermione looked at their joined hands and squealed, before jumping up to hug them both.

"I'm so happy for the two of you!" Luna smiled serenely up at them and Neville grinned at them too. Ron just looked confused. He looked between everyone in the compartment, Harry and Ginny's joined hands and finally put the pieces of the puzzle together. His groan was heard throughout their whole carriage.

"Mum's going to be planning the wedding already."

Ginny looked over at Neville, who was sitting opposite her. "Sorry for using your textbook as a weapon, Neville."

Ron spluttered and looked at her, "Why are you apologising to him? HE didn't get beaten up with the book! If anything, you should be apologising to Harry. Isn't that right mate?" He looked expectantly at Harry.

"Well, to be honest," he said, treading carefully, "It could have been worse."

Ginny raised one eyebrow and turned to him. "Oh? How so?"

"Well, you could have hexed me. I hear you were one of a group of rebels who had a pretty good amateur defence teacher." He said, with a twinkle in his eye to match Dumbledore's. Ginny's eyes had the same devious twinkle as he responded.

"Oh, he was ok. I mean, he was an alright teacher. Of course, all the girls thought he was gorgeous but I never really saw the appeal!" She stifled a laugh.

"Is that right?" Harry asked, amused, leaning towards her. "Well, I wonder if you'll feel differently now…" With that she tickled him until she was rolling around on her seat, tears streaming down her face.

"STOP! STOP!" she gasped, laughing.

"Not until she changed your mind!" Harry laughed.

"OK! OK! I was wrong! He was the most fabulous teacher I've ever had and he's funny and handsome and is about to be given a bat bogey hex if he doesn't STOP TICKLING ME!" She squealed.

Harry finally gave in and stopped and they sat down, grinning at each other, Ginny leaning against Harry.

"OK, I admit it," she said looking up at him, "You were pretty good at teaching us DADA. Although, I can think of a few things you're even better at." She said grinning and leaning towards him.

"Oh yeah?" Harry grinned back, putting his arms around her as they kissed.

"Ew! Get a room! I don't want to see that!" Ginny pulled away and glared at Ron, who was watching them with a look of horror, his ears scarlet. Hermione sighed and gave him a disapproving look. "What?" He said, "You're my best mate and my sister. It's creepy!" He was saved from any further explanation by the food trolley making its usual rounds. "Oh thank Merlin!" he said to the bemused trolley lady. "I've never been more pleased to see food in my whole life. I could kiss you, I really could!"

Everyone in the compartment burst out laughing and Ginny said sweetly, "What was that you were saying about getting a room Ronald?" Turning to the trolley lady, "I'll have a pumpkin juice and a cauldron cake, thanks."

So there's chapter 3. Pretty short but I hope you liked it anyway. Drop me a review please to let me know =)