Carolquin – thank you very much for that. I hope you enjoy this epilogue

Holly – I usually only converse with the ones who read my stories in the beginnings of chapters, however I thank you for your good review. I am willing to make an exception

Graham Mallalieu – Here is your answer in this final entree

Chapter 8

"Not quite." Jeanette said.

"How long?" Harry asked feeling a little dizzy.

Jeanette had the back of her hand on Harry's forehead. "A few hours. The headache and dizziness will pass in a moment."

Harry sat up properly. He felt awkward. "I hope this wasn't too bad for you."

"No," Jeanette answered. "I am afraid though our security measures didn't work. They stayed with you." She said nodding her head.

Harry turned in the direction indicated. Standing there was Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.

Hermione gasped and placed her hand over her mouth when Harry turned to look at them. She had remembered the dead look that had been in his eyes. It was gone. He looked once more like the boy she had befriended at school.

"You doing alright there, Harry?" Ron asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Harry answered honestly. "I think I am."

Immediately after he finished speaking, Hermione rushed to Harry and grabbed him in big hug. Harry hugged her back instantly.

"You could have talked to anyone of us you know." Ron said. "We would have listened no matter what."

"I know." Harry said. "This was just something I had to do on my own."

Jeanette patted Harry on the arm. "I'll see you around, Potter." She grabbed her things and headed for the door.

"Wait." Hermione said heading towards her. "I want to thank you."

"Thank me?" Jeanette asked.

"Yes. What you did for Harry. I am not sure any of us could have done what you did." Hermione said. "I also wanted to say that I think a lot of people, and I were wrong about vision quests. Maybe there are times when it is needed, and if the person assisting is trained it is better."

"Are you implying something?" Jeanette asked a little surprised.

"I work in the Department of Mysteries." Hermione said. "We have some witches and wizards there that study the mind and in a way vision quests. I think your knowledge might be beneficial for them. I would be willing to talk with them. Maybe help you out a bit."

"Thank you," Jeanette said a bit taken aback by the sudden generosity. "Potter knows how to reach me." She stepped outside so she could Apparate.

"I really didn't want you to find out like this." Harry said to the group when Hermione returned.

"We better let you rest it off." Ginny said. "That's what was recommended."

"We were worried that it might be hurting you to do this." Hermione said. "That's why we stayed and had Ginny come over."

"I did my research, Hermione" Harry said. "Ollivader knew what she was doing. I got what I needed."

Ron shook his head. He understood Harry and had figured now to just let him be.

"You look tired. Why don't you go home?" Harry said getting up. He actually wanted to go to sleep himself.

Hermione agreed and went for the floo powder. She was a bit tired to Apparate. She headed off first.

Ginny waited a bit then grabbed herself a pinch.

"Wait," Harry said before she could throw it into the flames. "Ginny, tomorrow I want to have lunch with you."

"Alright," Ginny said. She was a bit tired otherwise she would have exchanged barbs with him.

"I will see in the park by St. Mungos. I'll bring the lunch." Harry said.

"That sounds good." Ginny said throwing the floo powder into the flames and heading off.

Harry felt better than he had in a long time.

"Taking her to lunch are you?" Ron said accusingly.

"Yes," Harry said. "I am going to talk with her."

"Are you going to try to get back together with he?" Ron calmly asked.

"Yes I am." Harry answered. He wanted to be with her more than anything.

"The thing is I know there was something that happened." Ron started. "I figured you two would jump into each other's arms after all the fighting was over. But you didn't. I suppose what ever it was happened during the war. If she is willing to work with out you then you two will have my blessings." He spoke calmly and seriously.

"Thanks, Ron. Has for what happened between us," he began. "I found out she was going out with Derek. I read one of the letters she had sent Hermione."

"Yeah him. It was a good thing the twins didn't figure out what he had planned. She found out he was using lines just to shag her. Got him with a bogey ears curse. Pretty good one I'll bet."

Harry smiled. "She could take care of herself pretty well. When I saw her again after we returned to the Burrow, all I wanted to do was hug her. Tell her what she meant to me. But I was afraid she was with Derek. I didn't want to tear her apart."

"I understand. You did this to decide if you should be with her then." Ron said.

Harry nodded.

The next day Harry brought a bottle of butterbeer, and some ham and cheese and bread that he bought from a local deli. He had it all in a good sized picnic basket.

Harry arrived early at the park and grabbed a table in the shade. He set up the lunch and waited on Ginny.

"Am I late?" She asked.

"No, not at all." Harry said having her sit. "I got these rolls at the deli by my building. These are delicious." He said making her a sandwich.

"Harry why did you ask me out here?" Ginny asked.

Harry stopped she went right for the reasoning. He wanted to sit with her a bit before they entered that. "For lunch." He said. Harry finished the sandwich and passed it to Ginny.

"I know that it is more than just that." Ginny had countered after accepting the sandwich.

"Well the lunch was for you as a bearing of gifts you could say." Harry started. "What I actually wanted to do was say that I have been cold to you and that I am sorry." He now took her hands into his.

Ginny was first to speak though. "I didn't understand. I was so happy to see you. I resisted the urge to return early from Hogwarts. You barely looked at me."

"I couldn't bare to." Harry answered. "I just wanted to be with so much."

"That you couldn't even hug me or just shake my hand?" Ginny returned.

"If I would have touched you I would have wanted you more. I thought you were with Derek." Harry offered. So far this did not seem to be going good. "I didn't want to watch you being torn between him and maybe some kind of obligation to me."

"I told Hermione not to tell you about him." Ginny said a little angered.

"She didn't. I found your letters."

"I see." Ginny said letting go of Harry's hand and taking a small bite of the sandwich. It worked to cover her emotions. "I suppose Ron told you that he was a gigantic prat."

"He told me what happened."

There was a moment pause between them.

"You never were an obligation." Ginny finally said. "If you would have read the letters you would have heard me tell Hermione that I had started the relationship with Derek as a casual one. I didn't want anything too serious. I didn't know if you would still be serious with me if you came back. So I just went out with him."

"So you did want me?"

"Yes," Ginny nodded. She was no longer able to hold back her emotions.

"Do you still?" Harry asked.

"Yes."

Harry paused right there. He wanted to touch her face and calm her emotions, but he still couldn't quite do it, not yet.

"I thought you were going to ask me to be with you again." Ginny said.

"There is more you should know." Harry told Ginny about the poisoned cookies and what had actually caused the explosion that day. "They blamed me for those deaths. I did kill them, I didn't want to but I had to."

"You're afraid that someone's going to hurt me."

"Yes," Harry simply answered.

"I can do pretty good with taking care of myself. They are just a shadow of what Voldemort was. By letting you not live your life you are giving Voldemort a default victory. Wouldn't he be happy knowing that you are miserable right now?"

"That's part of what he told me." Harry said.

Ginny gave a curious expression.

"He was my vision guide." Harry explained.

Ginny was surprised. "I suppose though it should be right. Your life did circle with him for a time."

"Yes, but he also reminded me of something Dumbledore tried to teach me. That I didn't realize. Enjoy the simple things in life and be happy. Being with you would make me happy."

"Then I will be with you. We will face what ever will come together." Ginny said.

Without reservations Harry pulled Ginny into a tight hug. He held her with all the longing that he had felt in the past year. After several moments and a few tears by both of them he slowly pulled his head down to take her lips in kiss.

The end.