AN: The Usual disclaimers apply. Thanks to scrappy8 for the review. I hope you all have had a good Thanksgiving for those of you in the US and that your Christmas holidays are good. I hope you enjoy.

Harry sat quietly in the common room, the fact that they had managed to avoid casualties in the battle that morning still seemed a miracle. He had spent the last few hours revisiting the memory and questions that had plagued him since. No word had come from Dumbledore and the others all seemed to be caught up in their own thoughts.

"Harry?" Ginny called quietly, bringing him from his thoughts.

He smiled softly as he turned his attention to her. "Yes?" he asked as he saw her smile in return.

"Are you ready to go down to the Halloween feast?" she asked as she curled up closer to him.

"I think that we should." he said as he realized that they were the only two still in the room. He wondered briefly where the rest had gone.

She nodded and stood with him as they set off for the Great Hall. They exited the portrait hole and found the hall outside deserted, something that seemed a little off after the day's events. He knew everyone was back safe, but it still seemed odd that they were not all now required to move in large groups.

"Everyone else left a few minutes ago." she said as they followed the staircases down. "Hermione and Ron said that they would save us a seat."

He nodded and she curled into his arm as they walked, and he sighed contentedly. He was still surprised at times that she was his now, that she had agreed to be his girlfriend and how happy this made him. It made him rethink every moment he had known her and wonder how it had taken so long for them to truly find each other.

As they entered the Entrance Hall they could hear the noise from the Great Hall to their right. It was strange to find that everyone could still be excited for the feast after what had happened. Something to look forward to and break the tension he realized was actually helpful.

They entered and saw Ron and Hermione waving them over as they headed toward the Gryffindor table. As the settled in he caught the relieved look Hermione gave Ginny and he smiled softly to her. He knew she worried a lot about him and he was grateful, but he also knew that she worried for a lot of others as well.

"I'm fine Hermione." he said in answer to her unasked questions. "I just wish I knew that today was about."

She nodded and sighed. "I know Harry." she said quietly, her own questions seeming to bubble together. "But I am glad that we all made it safely."

He was about to say something else when Dumbledore stood and the noise in the hall died away. Everyone seemed fixated on what he was about to say and everyone was expecting something to be said about the battle today.

He smiled out at the hall at large, taking them all in before he spoke. "Today has been not only a traditional holiday which represents nearly three hundred years of celebration, but also an unexpected victory." he began as he folded his hands before him. The hand he had injured over the summer still looked dead and blackened. "Most if not all of you are aware of the events that transpired in Hogsmead today, for those who may not be aware I will give a brief overview."

Harry listened as Dumbledore recounted the attack by the dementors upon himself and the small group of defenders who had chosen to take a stand against them. He smiled as Dumbledore relived their involvement in the DA last year and how, under his tutelage they had learned to protect themselves from such dark and dangerous creatures.

"If not for the bravery and actions of those students and Professors who stood against the dementors, the town and most of us would not be still standing this evening." Dumbledore said as he began to close his speech. "Tonight we celebrate not only Halloween, but also those who participated in today's battle and who continued to stand their ground as the other students were escorted back to the school."

He paused and clapped along as the hall broke into thunderous applause. Dumbledore smiled as he caught his eye and raised his hands for silence once more. He waited until the noise resided before continuing.

"While I have the privilege to express not only my gratitude for Mr. Potter and those who first responded to the threat, I also express the gratitude of the village of Hogsmead as well." he continued as he indicated for Harry to stand. "It is not often that one so young ends up leading a battle, it is always surprising how well they rise to the challenge. The Village and the school have decided to commemorate not only Mr. Potter but also everyone who stood their ground today and participated not only in the attack but also in the evacuation of the other students."

Dumbledore waved his wand and a plaque appeared before him which bore several names. Harry was surprised that such an award was being presented though he understood the reason behind it. It was proof that once again the Dark Arts had been faced head on and defeated.

"I am proud of all of you." Dumbledore said as he looked about making eye contact with each of the students and Professors who were named on the plaque. "Now, onto happier things." he continued as the feast appeared along the tables. "Let us tuck in."

Harry laughed quietly to himself as he realized Dumbledore had not only taken the time to congratulate everyone, but also had made a light joke for everyone to enjoy. He was surprised at how much more seemed to have been added to the feast this year, the food was not only the normal Halloween fare but also seemed to hold a few other favorites including additions from the Start of Term and End of Year feasts.

He quickly began to fill his plate as he let the conversation flow around him. Hermione and Ron both seemed to be in their own conversation though he wondered once again what was going on with them. Ever since the day she had promised to speak with him concerning their behaviors he had yet to get a chance to have the conversation.

Ginny also seemed to be closer to him, holding his hand as they ate. He knew she was concerned and that the physical contact made her feel more grounded. He wondered if perhaps they might not slip away early to spend some time together alone.

He whispered the idea to her and she nodded her agreement though he was unsure when would be a good time to do so. It was unusual for anyone to leave the feast early, though he had seen a few students do so in past years. He wondered if any of them had also been together at the time and was sure a few had been.

Finally as the feast began to wind down and he realized that it was running far later than usual for the feast a moment arrived that seemed the perfect opportunity. He gently nudged Ginny and indicated that he wanted to go. Together they stood and said their good nights to Hermione and Ron before leaving.

As they walked back up the stairs toward the seventh floor Harry had a thought that seemed ideal. Leading the way he brought them to the corridor that hid the Room of Requirement. Thinking quietly to himself about his request and pacing before the blank space of wall he was greeted by the familiar site of the door that lead into the room.

Entering he was surprised to find that the room had catered to his thoughts and provided even more than what he had expected. The space inside was not only ample enough for a sitting room but also provided another room off through a doorway which upon inspect revealed to be a small bedroom.

He turned to see Ginny smiling up at him in their private sanctuary. "I didn't expect to see this room again." she said quietly. "And I especially didn't expect to find us being the only ones using it."

He smiled as he pulled her close and held her to him. "I thought that perhaps we could spend the night here." he said quietly, wondering if she would be willing to sleep alone with him. They had not ever had this chance before and he wondered now where this would lead.

She smiled and leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss him softly, he responded deepening the kiss. They broke apart and he could see she had flushed in the passion they were sharing with each other. She looked up at him, her eyes seemed to gleam playfully as she simply stared into his eyes.

"I love you Harry Potter." she said quietly as she raised her hand to his face, caressing his cheek with her fingertips.

He looked down at her as she spoke and he knew from her tone that she was speaking the truest words he had ever heard from her. He could feel his own feelings bubbling within himself as her statement and the promise it held coursed through him, burning its truth into his very being.

He closed his eyes and leaned down to press his forehead against hers, needing her nearer to him. "I love you too." he said softly, and he felt the truth in his own words as well.

They stood their holding each other, their feelings now fully in the open. It was beautiful, he realized, how he felt knowing that she loved him and he loved her in return. For years he had seemed lost without love, unknowing of what it truly was and now he knew.

Love was not only a statement or a feeling, it was a whole new thing. It was the fact that someone was there for him, not only for who he was, but all that he was and all that he could become. It was the desire to protect and understand and to be there for them as well.

Finally he began to move with her, leading her toward the room in the back and onto the bed. As they bumped into the bed they fell onto it together, continuing to hold each other. He gently kissed her again, trying to pour all of his emotions and thoughts into the simple action. He could feel her doing the same, turning the kiss deeper and more passionate than he had ever experienced or imagined.