Author's notes:

Standard disclaimer: It all belongs to JKR. Except where I might use some song lyrics which I will call out at the time and give proper credit. Thank you JKR for letting us play with your toys.

Also, if you have not read my story, Harry Potter and the Muggles' Daughter, you are going to be lost. That is the prequel to this. But hey, if you haven't, BONUS! You've got a whole story you can go read before coming back here!

HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE

The Rest of His Life

HPHPHP

Through dark and light Harry floated along. He wasn't quite certain what had happened. He really didn't even remember who he was. He actually didn't remember what he was. He remembered pain though; pain beyond imagining. Pain that made him forget everything else.

He floated on.

Time had no meaning. He didn't know he was missing anything but the pain and there was no pain here. He was happy to stay here. Happy. That was something new. He remembered being happy. The light grew but with it pain returned. Panicked he retreated. There was pain in the light. He remembered that now too. The dark offered protection from pain. He'd hidden in the dark often.

He floated on in the dark.

But now there was fear. He didn't know when he'd grown to fear the light, but he had. The dark was a refuge. But the light always came… Always… No matter how much he wished it wouldn't. It brought voices; shouting voices, angry voices, hateful voices. With the voices came pain.

He retreated further into the dark. It was hopeless, he knew. The light was burning all that remained of the dark away. He could feel it on his skin, see it burning through the closed lids of his eyes. It was coming. Just like always. And with it came the pain. He whimpered and his eyes snapped open.

"Shush," a gentle voice soothed. A hand was laid on his brow.

Harry stilled. He knew that voice. He trusted that voice… He needed to find that voice. It would protect him. It had kept him safe in the light before. He tried to sit up but his body wouldn't move. Panic overcame him. He had to find the voice! A face moved in front of him.

"Rest. I'm here. You're safe now."

Harry took in her face. It was her. He closed his eyes and fell back to sleep. Back to the dark. The dark was safe.

Almost twelve hours later, Harry blinked his eyes open. "Mum?" he croaked. His voice was broken and his throat raw from the abuse his screams had inflicted on it. There was movement to his left. Before he could turn to it his mum moved into his line of sight.

"I'm here."

He blinked a number of times. "G–Gin–n…"

"She's safe. Hermione and Luna are too. Just rest."

Harry managed a slight nod before his eyes closed.

When he woke again his brain seemed to actually be functioning. He turned his head to the side. "Hey," he rasped.

Hermione's head shot up from the book she was reading. "Harry!" She was out of her chair, book spilling to the floor and at his bedside in less than a second. "You're awake! We've been so worried. How are you feeling?" Harry motioned at his throat. "Oh!" Hermione grabbed the pitcher from the table and poured a glass for him. Harry struggled to sit up. "No. Don't move," she admonished him. She put a straw in the glass and held it so he could sip from it.

Harry collapsed back on the pillows. "Thanks." After a few seconds he raised his hands up so he could see them. He'd only just realized they were heavily bandaged.

"Hermione?" Luna poked her head around the curtain. "Harry!" she exclaimed and darted to his bed. "Oh it's so nice to see your eyes again. They're the most amazing green you know."

"Thanks," Harry whispered. Apparently he couldn't manage much more than that.

"Ginevra is still in bed," Luna said when his eyes quickly searched the area. "She was hurt nearly as bad as you. But she's fine now. Well mostly she's fine."

"Luna," Hermione hissed.

Harry struggled to sit up. "What?" If something had happened to her he'd never forgive himself.

Hermione put her hand on his chest. "Stop, Harry. She's fine. I promise."

"What then?" he whispered. "Come on, Hermione. I know something's wrong. Just tell me."

Hermione shot Luna a dirty look. "She didn't want you to know yet. She was afraid it would upset you too much."

"Hermione, you're not making me feel any better. Just bloody tell me.

"It's her brother, Bill. Something happened when they tried to recover a treasure from the pyramid. All the protections were set in motion. He was the only one on the team who didn't get out."

Harry stared at her in horror. "When?"

"The same night we went after the stone."

"Is he…"

"They don't know. They're hoping to get the pyramid open again soon, but it could take them months to clear all the curses again."

Harry stared at her for another second before pushing himself up. "Help me up."

"Harry, we can't. You're not supposed to be out of bed for at least another two days."

"Hermione, if you don't help me, I'll do it without you," Harry threatened. "I don't care if I have to drag myself."

"Lay down Harry," Sirius said, stepping around the curtain. "Forget what Pomfrey will do to us, I don't even want to think about what others will do."

"I really don't care what anyone does to you, Sirius." Harry tried kicking his covers off, but his legs wouldn't work. "I swear, if someone doesn't help me…"

"Let me talk to the matron," Luna said. "She said Ginevra could try sitting in a chair today. Perhaps Sirius could levitate her over so you can see her." She was gone before anyone could say anything else.

"Lay down, Harry," Sirius said, "We'll be right back."

Harry flopped back on his pillows. "How long?"

"Have you been in hospital?" Hermione asked.

"Yes."

"Four days." Harry turned to her sharply. She shrugged. "You were both burnt really badly."

"What about you?"

"Oh, I was only in overnight. I haven't even missed any exams or anything."

Harry groaned. "My head hurts even thinking about it… How much trouble are we in?"

"I'm not certain yet. I think they want to talk to all of us at the same time."

Harry let his head drop. "Bugger." He picked his head up and reached a hand out to her. She took it. "If you ever sacrifice yourself like that again, I'll kill you." Hermione grinned at him.

"Look who I've got," Sirius said. He levitated a large chair around the curtain.

Harry's eyes locked on Ginny. "Hey," she said, trying to smile. Her eyes were red and puffy though, making it obvious she'd been crying. Like himself, her hands were bandaged and she had a large bandage covering the right side of her neck and her cheek.

"Hey," he said. Sirius set her down and Harry just stared straight into her eyes; no magic, no Legilimency, just willing her to understand. A tear slid down her cheek and he reached to brush it away. She leaned into his hand a bit and his bandages quickly soaked her tear up. "Thank you," she whispered. Frustrated, Harry called up a supreme effort of will and heaved himself up enough that he could lean over and kiss her cheek. His lips exploded with tingly jolts and he flopped back on the bed, grasping her hand in his. She furrowed her brow at him.

"Couldn't feel you," he gasped, lifting her bandaged hand with his.

Another tear slid down her cheek and she leaned over to lay her head next to his shoulder. "Promise?" she whispered.

"Promise."

HPHPHP

"You know—" Director Bones began.

Two days had passed since Harry had learned of Bill's disappearance – he refused to think of it as anything more – and the comeuppance of their actions in going after the stone were currently unfolding. They were all there, Sirius – who was not only his advocate, but also Hermione's. Magical law limited the parents of Muggle-born children in what would be their normal duties. It couldn't stop them from appointing a magical guardian of their choice however and that's where Sirius came in. Luna's father – though the man appeared to be nearly as scattered as his daughter so Harry wasn't sure what kind of advocate he really was for her – and Ginny's mum and her brother Charlie. Her mum was only keeping her mouth shut under threat of being removed from the proceedings by Ginny's second oldest brother.

She was crazy. Harry was dead certain of it. Every little thing brought an explosion of seriously intense volume from the woman. And, frankly, his head still hurt from Voldemort's attacks. His occlumency shields were shredded in dozens of places. His citadel had been breached. The trunks, banded in heavy steel, were torn open. It was not pretty. But Voldemort hadn't gotten anything that wasn't already public knowledge from him. Harry had long ago moved the things that mattered; hidden them in a pinecone on a small, unassuming tree in the Bourton town square. Professors Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall and Flitwick were all present, as well as two aurors who had accompanied the head of the DMLE. One of them was taking notes.

"—I don't particularly care about four students and the adventures they get up to whilst at school. I dare say we all had a few ourselves and other than being out after curfew, I'm not even certain of what school rules they may or may not have broke. Certainly no laws were broken.

"No, what bothers me is the decision to hide such a dangerous and valuable object within a school. Especially – whether it was Voldemort behind any of it or not – when said object was the reason behind a break-in at Gringotts. I am appalled by the lack of judgment shown and find it incomprehensible that at least one of you did not put a stop to this—"

"Now, Amelia," Dumbledore tried to stop her. "I have explained that it was my decision to hide the stone within the school. As a personal favor to a good friend."

"It was an idiotic decision," she snapped. "This is a school! It is not a fortress. And whatever you may think, Albus Dumbledore, it is not your personal fiefdom. Our society charges you with the education of our children and bestows the awesome responsibility for their safety and well being to you. Nothing more, nothing less. You have betrayed each and every student, parent and member of our society with your actions. Not only did you hide a dangerous artifact within the school, you set up an obstacle course of challenges straight out of Greek mythology that practically begged for some overly ambitious student to attempt to get past them. Frankly, you're lucky only these four tried. And even after hearing their story and viewing it for myself I still can't believe they survived.

"Further, that you are so incompetent as to allow an obviously deranged man to exist under your nose for an entire year without cottoning on to the fact leads me to wonder at your competency to continue in your position. Let's not forget to mention Rubeus Hagrid and his little pet. It is all so incomprehensible as to be ludicrous. That not one of your staff thought to put a stop to all of this borders on the absurd. Frankly, if it were up to me, I'd sack each and every member of staff involved in this lunacy. And to top it all off, the stone is now missing." She finished her rant to dead silence.

Harry glanced at each of the people present. Luna and her father were both staring off into space. He didn't know about her father, but he knew better than to think Luna had missed even a word of it. Hermione, Ginny, Ginny's mum and Charlie all looked like they'd been stupefied. He was pretty sure he could knock any one of them over with a feather. Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick stared at the floor, appearing to be every bit as ashamed as Director Bones said they should. Snape glared at Director Bones with unconcealed malice. Dumbledore, the son-of-a-bitch actually looked amused; as if the whole situation being his fault was beneath him. It made Harry feel like giving the man a good punch in the nose. He wondered if the bastard would have even cared if one of them had been killed. The last person, Sirius, well he was staring at the Director with a look that could only be described as besotted. Harry nearly laughed.

Director Bones stood. "Harry, Hermione, Ginevra, Luna," she said, "Frankly you should be given the Order of Merlin for your actions." Snape snorted. She rounded on him. "Give me a reason, Master Snape," she growled. He glared back but said nothing. "The ice is thin, Sir," she said. "I want you out of this school just as badly as half the Board does. I promise you, the moment I can make it happen, it will." She turned on Dumbledore. "You've been skating on your reputation for years, Albus… Maybe you should consider retiring before more of us begin to notice." With that she swept from the hospital with her subordinates chasing after her.

Sirius stood. "Minerva, Filius, despite what our eloquently loquacious Director has just said, you're both gifted teachers and Hogwarts would be ill served by your resignations." He turned on Snape. "You on the other hand, it goes without saying." Snape was smart enough to only glare in response.

"Sirius," Dumbledore warned.

"Don't even, Albus," Sirius cut him off. "I assure you, the players might be slightly different, but your resignation would be greeted with near equal fervor."

"Are you quite finished?" Dumbledore asked.

"Till you're asked to justify yourself to the board, yes."

"Then I suggest we bring an end to this. Certainly we can agree nothing more needs to be aired in front of the children."

Sirius smirked. "Certainly."

"Very good then." Dumbledore stood. "Harry, Ginevra, Hermione, Luna, I thank you all for your cooperation."

"Yes, Sir," they answered dutifully.

"Very good. I shall take my leave then." Without another word he swept from the hospital. Snape was gone a moment after him.

Professor Flitwick stood. "If you'll excuse me, I have much to think on." He was also gone quickly.

Professor McGonagall stood slowly. She focused on each of the four students. "I do not believe I have ever been more deserving of a dressing down such as that. I had many reservations regarding the actions taken this year. I either kept them to myself or failed to take them as far as I should have. You have my most humble apologies for those failures. Rest assured, that should I continue at Hogwarts after this, they are not mistakes I shall repeat." The four students simply stared back at her. Clearly none of them quiet knew how to deal with her apology. "It would be more than kind of you to simply say, 'Thank you, Professor.'"

"Thank you," they parroted.

"Very good then." She turned. "Charles, Sirius, Xenophilius… Molly, would you walk with me?"

Ginny's mum blinked. "Oh, yes, of course." She quickly stood. "I'll be back shortly."

"I'll be here, Mum," Charlie said. She glanced at Ginny but Ginny wouldn't even look at her. Mrs Weasley pressed her lips together but for once decided to say nothing and quickly left with Professor McGonagall.

"Anything?" Sirius asked.

Charlie shook his head. "They got it open, but it's like they feared. It's going to take months to clear it again.

Sirius nodded slowly. "Right."

"There's hope though, right?" Hermione asked.

Charlie glanced at Ginny. "I'm not a baby," she snapped.

Charlie sighed. "The only good news is they haven't found his body."

"They will," Luna's father said.

"Daddy!" she cried.

He smiled at her. "Now, now, Bopkin, you misunderstand me."

"Oh. Yes, of course." Luna patted Ginny's hand. "It'll work out. We just have to believe."

HPHPHP

After five days, Madam Pomfrey deemed Harry fit enough to leave the hospital. Most of the injuries he'd suffered had been superficial. Of the cuts, abrasions, bruises and knocks to the head he'd received, only a particularly nasty gash on his left knee had failed to heal before he woke. The burns to his hands and arms were a different matter. Regrowing flesh and skin was a delicate matter if one wished to have full function and avoid scarring. He was still wearing a protective bandage on his left hand.

But it was the internal effects that had held him back the most. The wizard who could cast a shield capable of standing against dragon flame, even a 'baby' dragon, was not a common occurrence. Apparently desperation really was the mother of invention. But his magic had been on overload from that moment on. Add in everything to follow and it was no wonder he'd been unconscious for two days. He'd been demolished mentally as well. The mind could only take so much pain before it shut down and Harry had exceeded that in spades. He'd never thought he'd experience pain beyond being whipped, but the pain of Voldemort invading his mind made even that seem a gentle slap to the arm.

But he was recovering.

Enough that he was able to join Ginny in making up the end of year exams they'd missed. She'd been released a day before him. With his release scheduled for the next day the professors had held off starting her on exams so he'd be able to join her. It saved them from having to set two different exam times as well. Ginny was mostly healed as well. Though she still wore a bandage on her neck and cheek. Madam Pomfrey was uncertain yet as to if she would have permanent scaring or not.

But Ginny's biggest issue had nothing to do with injuries, internal or external. Still struggling to accept the loss of her father, she was now facing the loss of her brother. Over the year Harry had been able to gather Bill was her favorite brother. But Hermione had said that Luna had confided in her that losing Bill might be even harder on Ginny than the loss of her father had been. Apparently Bill, and not her father, had been the subject of Ginny's Oedipal complex. Of course Hermione'd had to explain what an Oedipal complex was to him. He supposed, in a clinical, Freudian fashion, it made some sense. But he couldn't relate. He'd certainly never felt any of that towards his aunt and by the time he actually got to know his mother he was well past the age it would develop.

"Time," Professor McGonagall said quietly. Harry set his quill down and gently laid his head on the desk. The matron might have cleared him but two days of straight exams had his head throbbing. Thankfully, this was the last.

Ginny collected his exam and delivered them to the professor. "Thank you, Professor."

"You're welcome Miss Weasley. Are you alright Mr Potter?"

He took a deep breath and sat up. "Yes, Ma'am… I think I might go see if Madam Pomfrey will give me a Headache Potion."

"Perhaps you might like to stay there and lie down for an hour before the feast tonight."

Harry considered. "Maybe. Thank you, Professor. I've enjoyed your class this year."

She gave them both a small smile. "I appreciate your saying so, Mr Potter. It's more than I deserve, but thank you. I've enjoyed the two of you as well. It is always enjoyable to teach students such as yourselves, Miss Granger and Miss Lovegood."

"Well we all hope you come back next year," Harry answered.

"We really do," Ginny added.

Professor McGonagall's eyes got suspiciously bright. "Thank you, Mr…" She stopped and turned away for a second before turning back to them. "Thank you, Harry, Ginny."

"You're welcome," they answered.

"Best get going. I'm certain Miss Granger and Miss Lovegood are waiting on you."

Harry gave her a last smile. Ginny slipped her hand into his and he wove their fingers together. "Come on," she said. Luna and Hermione were waiting outside the classroom and joined them as they slowly made their way up to the hospital wing. None of them spoke. It had been that way since that night. The situation with Bill seemed to have deepened it. They each seemed to need to be with the others, but talking was subdued. And none of them wanted to mention the impending separation summer would impose on them.

Of course Harry and Hermione would spend the summer together. They really were brother and sister and were treated as such by their parents. Luna would be fine. Her father was taking her on an expedition to South America. She was due to leave the day after they got back. But Ginny was going home with her brothers and mum and there seemed to be an unspoken nervousness about what that meant. Normally she'd have seen Luna most days, but not this summer.

Harry and Hermione were hopeful of having her visit often, but Ginny wasn't sure she'd be allowed. Charlie had received an invitation to spend the summer at a special camp for prospective players for the English national side. The camp had started today. It was a closed camp; meaning for the ten weeks it ran, he couldn't leave without special permission. If he did, he forfeited his chance to be on the team for at least a full year. When Bill had first gone missing, he'd said he wasn't going to attend any longer, but Ginny had insisted he go. And really, it was silly that he wouldn't. Her mother might be difficult but she'd never been abusive or anything such. There was no reason Ginny shouldn't be able to be at home without Bill or Charlie there to protect her. At least that's what Ginny said. Harry wasn't so sure. After what he'd seen in the hospital, he'd prefer Charlie be there. But it wasn't his place to say anything and he had to admit giving up your chance to play for England, possibly forever, was an awful lot to ask.

An hour later the four made their way down to the Great Hall for the Leaving Feast. "I suppose we have no choice but to sit with our houses, do we?" Luna asked.

"I'm afraid not," Hermione said.

A year had seen a number of changes in how the four were perceived. Quidditch had given Harry and Ginny a few people willing to be, if not friends, friendly with them within their house. Of course they got on well with Marcus. But he was willing to give the whole house the finger and there wasn't anyone, Harry included, who would pick a fight with the burly keeper. Ginny had even had a few conversations with her roommate, Daphne Greengrass. They never said a word to each other outside of their room, but behind closed doors Daphne would at least talk to her. Harry couldn't say the same of Blaise. He was pretty sure he could count the words they'd said to each other on fewer than ten fingers.

Hermione had also managed to break through the prejudices of her house. A couple of things had helped pave the way. The first had been the way Hermione had dealt with Ron way back on the first night of school. Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson had been quite impressed. They'd sought Hermione out for a bit of instruction themselves. The second had been setting Professor Snape on fire. It had made her a hero to more than just the twins. Hermione denied it till she was blue in the face. She had to. But, as urban legends are wont to do, it persisted. The third thing going was Harry and Ginny themselves. Of all the students in the school they were the only ones willing to sass Snape. Students of all the houses bandied about the stories of Snape contorting himself into knots to avoid taking points from his own house because of the two. Anything that upset the most hated professor in the school was bound to be met with some level of approval by the student body. That wasn't to say everyone was good. Ron and Percy still hadn't apologized to Ginny and badmouthed them all any chance they got.

It was Ravenclaw that remained the biggest problem to the four. Hufflepuff was just a nonstarter for them. None of them were in the house so their interactions were very limited. But Ravenclaw had not warmed to Luna at all. Nor she them. She viewed her roommates with derision and the feeling was mutual. The upper years were worse and actually encouraged the students in her year to pick on Luna. The prefects did nothing to stop it. The four had turned their considerable pranking ability on Luna's housemates. It wasn't even disguised. Every time Luna was pushed, her homework was messed with or anything else, someone in Ravenclaw ended up running around the Great Hall as a silver and green chicken. They'd transform back, crowing, "Snape wears pink knickers." If Snape was actually in the Great Hall they'd be sitting on his plate at the high table. He couldn't assign them detention right then. They'd obviously not pranked themselves. But they all had to go to potions sooner or later. The greasy git had yet to fail them. And they'd yet to fail once they'd settled on a target. Their efforts had also, single handedly – or maybe it was four handedly, no, wait, eight handedly… actually, when you put Peeves in the account (The poltergeist now sat on his gargoyle every morning with a big bowl of scrambled eggs, eating it like it was popcorn, cackling 'Here, chicky, chicky.') it was ten hands – knocked Ravenclaw out of first place in the standings for the house cup.

All that was just a long way of saying Luna was in for a miserable evening.

Luna gave them each a hug. "I shall see you for breakfast then."

"And we're sharing a carriage to the village and compartment on the train tomorrow," Hermione added.

"Of course," Harry and Ginny agreed.

"Lovely," Luna said. She pushed the doors open and went to sit in her accustomed spot at the Ravenclaw table. It seemed all the more empty without the other three around her. Hermione made her way to the Gryffindor table. The twins slid apart, making room for her to sit between them, but Angelina grabbed her and pulled her between her and Katie instead. Harry and Ginny went and sat across from Marcus.

More than few eyes followed the four. The Hogwarts rumor mill was as efficient a mechanism as had ever been invented. The DADA professor had been killed. A dragon had escaped from the school's 'deranged' gamekeeper. The four had all spent the night in the hospital the same day/night of those events. Someone had seen Hagrid hauling the cerberus into the forest the next day. Aurors had been swarming the school ever since. Someone had seen Director Bones entering and leaving the hospital wing just after and before Hermione and Luna did. The whole school knew Harry and Ginny had yet to have been released. There was also the bit about Harry and Ginny sporting a number of still healing burns. It all pointed, correctly, to them somehow being involved.

Marcus eyed them. "Missed you on the pitch the last couple weeks."

"Sorry about that," Harry said quietly.

Marcus shrugged. "More concerned about you two. You look like shite by the way."

"Mostly feel like, shite," Harry answered.

"You gonna tell me what happened or can't you?"

"We got chased into the forest by the dragon."

"All of you, or just you two?"

"All of us."

"You two look a bit worse than your friends."

Harry shrugged. "For some reason it was more interested in us."

Marcus snorted. "Way I hear it was it was interested in you."

Harry shrugged again. "I think it'd have been happy to eat either of us."

"And you've got nothin' to say about Quirrell or a cerberus or anything like that?"

"No."

Marcus nodded slightly. "Talked to your brother, Weasley. He mentioned about Bill. I hope they find him."

"Thanks," Ginny whispered. A loud tinging sound slowly brought chatter in the hall to an end.

Professor Dumbledore rose from his seat. "Good evening. And welcome to another Leaving Feast. Or if you are a first year, welcome to your first Leaving Feast." He paused to survey the students before continuing. "I feel I must take a moment to address some of the rumors traversing our halls before we continue. First, I shall begin with the dragon, Mr Potter, Miss Weasley, Miss Granger and Miss Lovegood. There is little secret within this unfortunate event. A dragon did chase these four students into the Forbidden Forest. Mr Potter and Miss Weasley were gravely injured, Miss Granger and Miss Lovegood, less so. Each student displayed remarkable bravery, intelligence and loyalty to one another during their ordeal. Mr Potter and Miss Weasley, particularly, were very brave in leading the dragon away from their friends, allowing them to go for help. Miss Granger and Miss Lovegood displayed admirable loyalty in leading professors back so that aid might be rendered to their friends and that we might deal with the dragon permanently. As such, each of these students is being given an award for special services to the school. If Mr Potter, Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood and Miss Weasley would please stand for a round of applause."

Harry sighed deeply and stood. Ginny seemed just as enthused. He didn't even bother to look at Hermione or Luna. What a load of rot. And they had little choice but to go along with it. Everything was going to be chalked up to the dragon, and Dumbledore was going to get away with putting everyone in far more danger than the dragon had ever been. It was that or tell the world Voldemort wasn't dead and that the four of them, he and Ginny in particular, were responsible for killing their possessed DADA professor. He zoned out as the rest of the students applauded politely. Dumbledore then held his hands up. He smiled that grandfatherly smile that made Harry want to gouge the man's eyes out.

"Thank you. You may be seated." They wasted no time in doing so. Dumbledore took a deep breath. "Secondly, I must address the rumors regarding Professor Quirrell. I am sorry to say that Professor Quirrell is indeed dead." A rush of whisperers filled the hall causing Dumbledore to hold his hands up for silence again. "Yes, a tragedy to be sure. Without going into detail I will say this. Professor Quirrell was a bright young man who allowed his ambition to get the better of him and instead of working hard for his goals began to take shortcuts. Those shortcuts cost him his life.

"Some might question my decision to make an example of Professor Quirrell's death but I feel the young man he was when I first met him would agree with me when I tell you this. If you are to carry one lesson from Professor Quirrell with you as you move forward in your lives, it is to not – be – him. Because what became of the bright eyed young man I once knew is what eventually happens to all who embrace dark magic. Dark magic uses you. It consumes you and when there is nothing left, it kills you. I am truly sorry that such a happy occasion as tonight must be interrupted by such tragic news and deep subjects, but it is, perhaps, in the poignancy of the timing that the lesson might be learned. I ask you all for a moment of silence to remember Professor Quirrell as he was before he fell, because, if we forget what is right, he is all of us."

Harry bowed his head. As much as he hated Dumbledore, there was wisdom in his words.

"Thank you," Dumbledore said. He clapped his hands together. "Let the feast begin." He took his seat and the tables filled with food.

Harry and Ginny quietly filled their plates and began eating. They talked softly with Marcus and as soon as they were able, left. Luna and Hermione joined them, but they all had packing left to finish, so after escorting the other girls to their houses, Harry and Ginny made their way down to the dungeons.

"I really don't feel like going back quite yet," Ginny said. Harry glanced at her. "I only have a few things left to pack. I'll just be stuck sitting in my bed the rest of the night if we go back now."

Harry nodded slightly. "Wanna go sit up in the clock tower?"

Ginny considered. "Yeah. I like it up there." They detoured at the entry hall and climbed the one hundred thirty four stairs up the tower. He pushed the door open and they moved onto the balcony that surrounded the tower. They moved to the rail and looked out across the lawns, past the stadium to the loch and forest and Ginny rested her head on his shoulder. Behind them, the steady click and clank of the clock mechanisms provided an oddly reassuring sense that, no matter what, life went on. They'd been there for close to twenty minutes before Ginny softly asked, "Promise?"

Harry turned and she picked her head up from his shoulder. He looked down into her upturned face. Very slowly he bent down and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was sweet and innocent and everything he'd imagined kissing her would be. Lips on fire, face flaming, he pulled back. "Promise."

Ginny's eyes fluttered shut and her breath caught as Harry's lips pressed to hers. She was only eleven but something deep within her shifted. The naivety of first love settled in her heart and she was utterly certain Harry would be hers forever. He had promised after all. Face flaming to match his she opened her eyes when he drew back. His emerald green eyes blazed back, seeming to be lit from within. "Ok," she answered.

HPHPHP

The next morning, Hermione was rather frustrated with Harry and Ginny. They were just behaving oddly. She'd catch them looking at the other when they thought the other wasn't looking, the other would catch them and both their faces would flame the color of molten lava. And they were smiling uncontrollably as well. She didn't mind them smiling, but she might like to know why they were both so happy all of the sudden. She could understand if they'd heard that Bill had been found and was safe and sound, but she knew that wasn't the case. It had been going on all through breakfast and the ride in the carriages from the school and she was tired of it. Didn't they think she and Luna might like a reason to be happy as well? Well now that they were settled in a compartment on the train she was going to give them a piece of her mind.

"Relax, Hermione," Luna said before she could get started. "It's obvious that, sometime after they left us last night, Harry kissed Ginevra. Or perhaps she kissed him, but I think it is most likely he kissed her."

"Kissed her?" Hermione asked.

"Yes. I rather imagine on the lips. They have, after all, kissed each other on the cheek before and if he were to have done that I don't see the reason for them to be covered in Besotting Plimper bites."

"B–besotting Pl–Plimper bites?" Hermione stammered.

Luna sighed. "Please don't tell me you've never heard of Besotting Plimpers."

Hermione blinked a number of times. "N–no, I can't say that I have."

Luna shook her head sadly and muttered, "Any wonder as you've been covered with them yourself on more than one occasion." She focused on Hermione and recited in her lecturing voice. "Besotting Plimpers are insects that are near indistinguishable from the common mosquito. They fly around biting people and infecting them with the blood of their last meal. If they travel between the same two people it can lead to said individuals becoming besotted with each other. Under the right circumstances said besotted will fall in love, hug, kiss, marry, have sex and babies; not necessarily in that order. I do hope you'll marry before having babies you two. I rather think even William would kill Harry if you did not." The only sound to be heard in the compartment was that of three people, Harry, Ginny and Hermione, opening and closing their mouths like goldfish.

This persisted for about a minute before Hermione and Ginny squeaked, "I need to use the toilet," and spilled over each other in their rush to leave.

Luna let out a sigh and set her copy of the Quibbler aside. "I'm very happy for you, Harry. A bit jealous, but happy nonetheless. Ginevra should be back shortly, but I rather imagine Hermione and I might be a while." With that, she left. Harry still hadn't managed to pick his jaw up from the floor.

It was only about five minutes later that the door slid open and Ginny slipped back in. The two stared at each other faces going red. "I really just like holding your hand," Harry ventured.

"Me too," she said. Harry scooted over on the bench and she sat down next to him, sliding her hand into his. "I like it a lot, actually."

Harry grinned at her. "Good." She blushed and looked down. "You're really pretty too."

She looked at him sharply. "You really think so?"

Harry nodded vigorously. "Yeah. I think you're the prettiest girl I've ever seen." His face turned scarlet again.

"I – I really like your eyes."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Everyone says that."

"It's true though," Ginny insisted. "It's like they glow." He stared at her and she looked away, blushing again. She glanced back but he was still staring at her and she just couldn't seem to stop feeling self-conscious so she kept doing it, looking away and glancing back.

Something occurred to Harry and he thought he should make it clear. After all, he wasn't exactly versed in this whole kissing girls thing. Well maybe not on the lips anyway. He had plenty of experience kissing girls on the cheek. There was his mum, Mali, Mrs Tonks, Tonks, and Hermione. They'd all kissed his cheek as well. Luna had kissed his cheek too, but he'd never kissed hers. And there was Gwen – the girl from the boat kiosk at Disney World. But none of them were Ginny. Ginny was the only one he'd kissed on the lips. Well, aside from his mum. But that had been an accident. She'd been going to kiss his cheek when he'd turned and ended up getting kissed on the lips instead. They'd stared at each other for a second before bursting into laughter. Anyway, Ginny was the only girl he'd kissed on the lips and he wasn't exactly versed in everything that meant. Or what it didn't mean. Or, well it was all kind of confusing and embarrassing and it made his stomach turn flips… or swoops… or… or… maybe just flips and swoops covered it. Again, he wasn't sure. "Ginny?"

She turned to him. "Yes."

"I just thought that maybe, since we haven't said or anything yet, but I was wondering if you'd maybe wanttobemygirlfriend?" Harry finished in a quick rush and waited, hoping she'd understood and he wouldn't have to repeat himself. Talking was seriously difficult… and embarrassing… and, well, it was much easier just to hold her hand.

Ginny's brows went up to her hairline. She had thought that maybe he wanted to be her boyfriend. That's what it meant if you kissed someone on the lips, didn't it? But he hadn't said and now that he had, she wasn't so sure. It really was confusing. But if he was asking, then it wouldn't be confusing anymore and maybe she could stop blushing Every – Single – Time he looked at her. "I – I think I'd like that."

"Bril."

Ginny blushed again. Apparently not. Stupid redhead complexion she silently muttered. Harry shifted on the bench, leaning against the outside wall. His thumb rubbed absently over hers, sending soothing jolts of – she didn't know what actually – something up her arm.

"Ginny?"

She shifted from studying their entwined hands to his face. "Yes?"

"And it's ok that I kiss you… you know… like – like last night. Not all the time," he hastened to add, "but sometimes?"

Ginny blushed deeper. Would it never stop! "I – I think that would be nice." Actually, she was a bit worried about that. She'd been thinking about the kiss he'd given her pretty much Every – Bleeding – Second she'd been awake since he had. Her lips were still on fire and she was a bit concerned they might just melt right off her face if he kissed her too much. That same smile, the one that seemed to blot out the sun itself bloomed on his face. And his eyes, they did that glowing thing that made her tummy feel like someone had set a snitch loose in it.

"Bril."

"Just – just maybe not where anyone can see… especially my mum or brothers."

Harry nodded. "Ok." That actually sounded like a good idea to him. He didn't think her mum would react very well at all. And come to think of it, he didn't want Sirius or Remus or even his mum to see him kissing her. That was private. Not even Hermione got to see that. She could know he'd kissed her, but she didn't get to see it. They watched each other for a second before his eyes darted to the door. For a second she thought he might kiss her right then and there, but then the door slid open, admitting Hermione and Luna. They turned to the two girls who grinned back. Harry and Ginny's faces flamed again. Hermione and Luna exchanged a look.

Oh hell, Harry and Ginny thought.

"Harry and Ginny, sitting in a tree," Hermione and Luna sang. Ginny buried her face in her hands.

"K – I – S – S – I – N – G."

"First comes love," Hermione went on.

"Then comes marriage," Luna sang.

"Then comes Harry pushing a baby carriage," they finished together. They broke into peels of laughter and collapsed on the floor.

Harry kicked at Hermione. "I hate you." She made kissy faces at him.

"Just you wait," Harry retorted. "I know what you saw in the mirror."

She pursed her lips at him before breaking into song once more. "K – I – S – S – I – N – G."

"Number one goal for the summer," Harry muttered, "learn the Silencing Charm."

"Oh," Luna said, "Now don't be mad. We're only teasing… We'll even play exploding snap with you to make it up."

Harry and Ginny continued to glower at the other two for another moment or so before they slowly started to grin. Ginny jumped up and grabbed her bag, digging for her cards. She sat down on the floor and started to shuffle. "You're so going to get it, Plimper girl." Harry slid off his seat to join them. Luna and Hermione might be the chess queens, but snap was his and Ginny's game. They almost never lost.

They sat and played till the train began slowing as they reached the outskirts of London. "Alright, I've more than made up for bit of singing," Hermione said. She'd just had her hand blow up on her and her face was covered in soot. "Besides, I need to use the toilet before we reach the station."

Luna brushed soot from her jumper and climbed to her feet as well. "I'll come with you. Ginevra?"

Ginny shook her head. "I'm fine." The other two left and Harry and Ginny began picking up their things. "Harry," she ventured softly.

"Yeah?" He turned to her.

Ginny flushed and looked at the floor. "I was thinking that maybe we should say our real goodbye on the train." She stopped and forced herself to meet his eyes. "You know, so my mum doesn't see us." She took a step closer to him.

Harry stepped to her. "Yeah, maybe you're right." He caught her hand. She edged closer. "Only one thing," he said.

"What?"

"I'm never saying goodbye to you."

She stared up into his green eyes. "Promise?" she whispered.

Harry bent and softly kissed her. He pulled back, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "Promise."

Ginny tucked her hands up between them and laid her head against his chest. "Ok."

"I'll write you every day."

"Ok."

"And maybe you can come visit." Ginny nodded. "Sirius would be happy to come get you."

"Ok."

Ten minutes later they were on the platform. Luna's father had collected her just a few minutes ago and after exchanging hugs with Ginny, and shaking the twins' hands goodbye, Harry was watching her walk away. At least she Fred and George were good now. And her mother had been civil; which had surprised him. Maybe things would be fine for her this summer. But there was something small tugging at him.

"Ready, Harry?" Sirius asked.

Harry waited till Ginny had disappeared through the archway before turning to his godfather. He grinned. "Is she cooled off yet?"

Sirius smirked. "Mostly."

Little did Harry know he'd spend the rest of his life wishing he hadn't pushed aside that little niggling warning telling him he should never have let Ginny out of his sight.

HPHPHP

Author's notes.

First, a note to guest reviewers. If you want a response, you have to create a profile, log in and leave a review. That said, a guest reviewer asked the question (Ginny's wands?) in regards to the previous chapter. If you go back to the train ride home at Christmas this year you will see it stated that that Lily, the night before in the Room of Requirement party where Harry sang and broke his guitar, gave Ginny and Luna second wands and wrist holsters for them.

Second, that's it for Philosopher's Stone. I hope everyone enjoyed it and that it provided a few interesting twists to the story JKR gave us.

Thank you to all those who stopped by and left reviews, especially those who did so every chapter. Reviews, good or bad, are wonderful and many of you asked me very good questions, or made very good points. I think the best point made so far over both Muggle's Daughter and Philosopher's stone is why Lily didn't mention in her letter to Remus that it was Peter and not Sirius who was the Secret Keeper. That one stopped me in my tracks, and I have to admit that she probably should have. Too late to do anything about it now but it was a very good point.

Last: With the little bit of a cliffy I just gave you, I'm sure the question on everyones mind is when will I begin posting year-two? The answer is next week! Till next week then.

Sorcerer's Muse