Author's Note: The last chapter. Wow! I hope you have liked my first fanfic. I know it's not much, but I'm just beginning, so give me a chance here ok? Thank you to those who kept their faith on my story, and kept it on their alerts system. And a special thank you to those who have reviewed.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in any way, shape or form. Everything belongs to the great mind of JK Rowling.

Chapter 12 - The New Leaf

He knocked three times and waited for the door to open. From inside, the same flat, monotonous voice he expected was heard. Harry wondered if anyone could really make the word "Enter" sound so terribly boring. Breathing carefully as to not let out the sigh he was holding, he turned the knob and opened the door.

Professor Binns was inside with a seventh year, whom Harry remembered to be a prefect from Ravenclaw. Said student was currently sitting in a chair next to Professor Binns' desk, and something that he had always wondered about during his school years had cleared up. Just how did Professor Binns correct student essays? Why, with the help of a Prefect of course. Harry hesitated, feeling very much like a young student.

"You are hovering, Mr. Potter" said Professor Binns. Harry raised an eyebrow at the pun since said Professor would be the one to hover as he was a ghost. He shook his head and decided to finally enter the office.

"I apologize, Professor" Harry said respectfully. "I was wondering if I could have a word with you" he glanced at the boy who had kept on grading papers when Harry came in. Now he looked at the ghost for further instructions.

"Surely, Mr. Potter" said Professor Binns. Then he turned to the seventh year next to him "Mr. Mathews, we shall continue with the grading tomorrow. I am once again grateful for your assistance."

"Sure thing, Professor" the student nodded and immediately went out the door.

Professor Binns floated through the desk over to Harry, "Well, Mr. Potter? How may I be of assistance?" he asked him.

"Sir, the thing is… I wish to… become a teacher, that is, and earn my mastery in History of Magic. Professor McGonagall has encouraged me that I should address you in this matter. So, I am formally asking you to give me the opportunity of becoming your apprentice." He stood silently waiting for a response to his brief speech. Professor Binns serenely stared at him for a few moments and Harry couldn't help but find a similarity with the many times he was under the scrutiny of Professor Snape. He vaguely wondered if ghosts could also perform legilimency.

"Sit down" the Professor finally stated. Harry obeyed immediately. "Possessing mastery is a privilege! Suffice it to say, there are not that many History of Magic Masters in this era… or in other areas of study, actually. But History of Magic seems to lack a larger number of them. Some witches and wizards need a background of History of Magic to go into Politics. Others write textbooks, as I am sure you are aware. However, it is rare in the extreme sense of the word for someone… anyone… especially one as young as you to desire pursuing a mastery level in History of Magic. Therefore, I must enquire as to why have you chosen this subject for your career?"

Harry was a bit startled. He did not expect such a question. However, he took a deep breath and took some time to gather his thoughts. Taking a chance, as he always seemed to do, he spoke from his heart.

"Professor, may I be honest with you?" he asked rhetorically, though Professor Binns inclined his head affirmatively. "I didn't very much care for your class. Mostly, because I found it boring," he looked apologetic but the Professor merely smirked as if he had been expecting that remark. "But now as I have gotten older, I can now appreciate more the importance of our history. Heck, I'm part of that history. Who better than I to teach it?" Harry had never spoken about himself in that manner. He always hated being the Boy-Who-Lived. But now he saw a great advantage in it.

People had always speculated so much about him, Voldemort, Dumbledore, the war itself. This was his time to speak out and tell the truth of events, to stop all speculations; and what better way than to teach it to the younger minds of the wizarding world. Of course, he was also aware of having to teach other parts of Wizarding History, and he had set his mind into renovating it. Binns looked at him calculatingly, but Harry wasn't finished.

"Don't get me wrong, please sir. I am not one-track minded nor egocentric. I know perfectly well that there is much more to it than just that, and I know there is so much more for me to learn. I do not believe myself to be in the position of teaching anything… yet. That is why I have come to you, why I am asking you to teach me how to do it if you are willing, and if I could borrow some of your time." Having finished with his little speech, Harry felt both elated and anxious as to what Professor Binns would respond.

"Follow me" the ghost said floating towards a door to the left of his desk. Harry followed a bit confused. The candles lighted as soon as Harry stepped inside to reveal a nice and spacey sort of living room. The room was decorated with beautiful antique furniture which hadn't been worn for years. Along the walls, there were numerous shelves full of what Harry could see were very old tomes. Professor Binns glided over to the shelf that was farthest from the door and next to the windows. Harry stayed where he was expectantly.

"This is where we shall begin" he started saying. Harry's face brightened. "I have some conditions for our arrangement, Mr. Potter." Harry nodded having expecting this. "You are a wizard" said the ghost "and once again my pupil. Therefore, you shall be wearing robes. Not Hogwarts' robes, but wizard robes nonetheless." He waited for Harry to nod in acquiescence.

"You shall not walk beside me, but always a step behind until such time I deem it worthy of you to walk next to me." His face softened a bit "This is only necessary for the duration of your training for mastery."

"Yes, I am aware of the protocols" said Harry remembering what he had read in the library.

"Very well" the ghost continued. "You will not have to write any essays for me or anything of the like. However, I expect you to read and learn the material I will assign to you, and we shall have extended discussions about them. You may take some personal notes if you deem it necessary. After such a time, you will then begin to correct student essays by yourself, making your way from first years to the top seventh years. This way, you will learn how to criticize the interpretation of others, and to how qualify a student."

"Once you have accomplished a worthy level, you shall take on some of my classes from time to time. Finally, you will have a test both written and orally. The written part shall consist of an extended researched paper. The oral will consist of an extended discussion with me and another Historian. We will both judge your knowledge and articulation. If you succeed at all of this, you shall then obtain your mastery in History of Magic."

They regarded each other for a few moments until the Professor spoke again. "Are you ready for the challenge, Mr. Potter?" he asked.

"It would be an honor, sir" said Harry.

Ginny looked up from her seat at the library where she was studying for the Healer Program test of St. Mungo's. Harry was seating in front of her reading yet another history book. He was always so engrossed taking notes that he never noticed how his fiancée would sometimes sit there and stare at him.

She was so happy that he had finally found a vocation. She had been a tad worried that now that he didn't have to fight in a war, he would find that he had no purpose in life, that he wouldn't have something to look forward to, something to fight for.

And yet here he was once more, with a new cause and new purpose in life. Ginny wondered sometimes where he got all of his energy from; and his interminable strength. She also wondered why this wonderful man in front of her loved her so much and why he decided to settle for her. She loved him so much more than she could ever say, more than she could ever explain. Some people might find it difficult to understand that she has loved only one man in her entire life. Hell, some might think she has simply turned into an obsessive fan of his.

That thought made her smile. Perhaps she was obsessed, especially with his smile, his arse, that thing he did with his tongue every time he kissed her. But she was especially obsessed with his – er – technique in the bedroom department. That man finally learned how to make her scream in wantonness.

"What are you reading?" his voice startled her into looking up at him quickly.

"What?" her voice coming out just a bit too rushed and her heart started racing tens of miles a minute. He smiled mischievously.

"I'm assuming that whatever it is your reading has gotten you blushing in a way that would put any other Weasley to shame" he said peering at her book curiously. "Nothing naughty, is it?" he asked suggestively, his smile cocky.

Ginny composed herself and returned his smile softly. She turned her book on the table so that he could read what it said "Extraneous Potions Incidents: Identifying effects and Assessing Trauma" he read aloud and then looking sharply at her, "this doesn't have you all hot and bothered, does it?"

Her eyes turned smoldering, and she stood up from her seat. Breathing on his ear but being careful not to touch him, Ginny whispered in her most seductive voice "do you really want to know what has got me so hot and bothered, Mr. Potter?" He had grown very still from her first syllable, and simply nodded stiffly.

She chuckled softly, mocking him, taunting him. "Thoughts of you" she continued in that same low voice that was about to undone him "thoughts of you on top of me, beneath me, both of us writhing in pleasure, moaning towards ecstasy" she paused and heard him swallow. Even in a breathier voice, she went for the kill "you know how I like it… long and hard." Nibbling at his ear sensually, she moaned very softly "make me scream, Harry."

Ginny straightened up and acting very normally she took her book from the table and walked away. When she was at the door, she turned around to see Harry gaping at her. Smirking at him, she raised an eyebrow and went out the door. 'That'll teach him' she thought, a huge smile forming on her face.

Walking very fast, Ginny hurried toward the common room that she and Harry shared. Afraid to let out a giggle or a girly squeal, she put her hand on her mouth. She knew that it wouldn't take Harry long for him to catch up to her.

Meanwhile, Harry was still in the library taking deep breaths to calm himself and to calm little Harry down there. "Oh fuck it!" he exhaled sharply and was out the door before anyone could say Quidditch. Exceedingly grateful that Binns made him wear robes full time, Harry was able to hide his painfully hard erection as he made his way to where he know Ginny had gone after pulling off something like that on him. As it was class time, he didn't encounter any students either.

He said the password to the portrait of the Lady Reading. Once inside, Harry's eyes widened for Ginny's clothes were strewn about the whole common room. He made a beeline picking up all of the items and smelling her scent on them. Her robes were near the door, her sweater landed on the sofa, a shoe lying upside down next to the other one that was pointing towards the chimney, trousers at the foot of the stairs, bra was on the fifth step, and finally her panties were at the top of the stairs. It was a very good thing that they lived by themselves in these quarters, Harry fashioned.

He found her in the bathroom. She was seating on the edge of the large tub, filling it with bubbles that had a flowery scent. Her favorite, he knew. She was totally naked, with her back to him, and he noticed that she had felt his presence since he saw her perk up a little and saw the goose pumps on her arms. He made a quick work of his clothing while she turned her head to check him out from head to foot. Her eyes mischievous and wild with lust, Ginny asked him "Care to join me, Mr. Potter? I'm feeling lonely and I need someone to fill my emptiness." She entered the tub, and not two seconds later so did he.

"You've been very, very naughty Miss Weasley" he said caressing her shoulders and down her arms. The tub was very much like the one at the Prefects bathroom. It was practically a pool, and the water reached to their chests.

"Have I?" she squealed, for he had lifted her up from her bum. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist. His hands caressed her back and she arched trying to get even closer to him.

"Oh yes, you have" the last part he said it in parseltongue and he didn't even notice it. However, Ginny noticed it and it turned her on.

He braced her against the wall of the tub for leverage and kissed her passionately. With one smooth stroke, he entered her making her moan appreciatively. "Do you feel this Ginny? This warm, slippery and wonderful water?" he asked her coming in and out of her while caressing her soapy breasts.

"Yes" she said breathily.

"This is exactly how I feel every time that I'm inside you" he said while looking into her eyes. She let out a cry of ecstasy and asked for more, for harder thrusts, for more of that sibilant tongue, for more of his kisses, more of his caress. And it wasn't enough. Even after two orgasms, after being thoroughly spent, it still wasn't enough. But they enjoyed their time in the bath and made the best of it. Two hours later, the two came out satiated and exhausted.

"Mate, no matter how hard you try, it will not work. Not all the magic in the world would make it work. Voldemort himself could come back from the dead and hex it himself, and it would still not tame down." Harry was glaring at Ron with all of his might, willing him to shut up.

"What?" Ron shrugged "It's not my fault your hair is such a mess, Harry. Even on your wedding day" he shook his head gravely.

"Shut it or I'll be the one hexing you, Ron" said Harry looking at his reflection in resignation. Ron just laughed good-naturedly.

"Nah, you won't. You love me, remember? Red hair, freckles and cocky personality?" said Ron while fixing his tie and checking himself in the mirror.

"You must be confusing me with Hermione. Unless you have an impending crush on me, Ron" he laughed when Ron glared at him. "Hey, I don't mind if you are gay. But I'll have to break your heart, mate because I really like pussy. Your sister's to be exact" Harry smirked.

"Aaaaah, my ears, my ears" Ron put his hands on top of his ears. "Are you trying to scar me for life? For Merlin's sake, Harry, that is really cruel."

"And to me as well" said a voice from the door. It was Hermione wearing a beautiful maid of honor dress. "Ginny may not be my sister, but there are some things I don't need to know about my best friend" she said making her way inside and shaking her head. "Harry, you look positively dashing! Oh but that hair of yours" she said, making Ron laugh and Harry glare at both of them.

"Just leave it alone, will you?" he said exasperated when Hermione started to carve her fingers through it. "How's Ginny?" he asked changing the subject.

"As nervous as you are, I expect. And she looks very beautiful too." Hermione took Ron's hand. "We have to go in first, Harry. It's time" she said starting to lead her husband to the door.

"I'll be there in a minute, 'Mione" Ron said and Hermione looked at him calculatingly. Then, she smiled at both of them as if she had figured him out and left.

"Is everything ok?" Harry asked and he was soon enveloped in Ron's larger arms. "Ron? What is it?"

Ron was silent for a moment, but then began speaking "When I saw Hagrid coming out of the forest with your body in his arms…" he shook his head as if he preferred not to even remember it "I had just lost Fred, but when I saw you… the pain was incredible, like someone had ripped out a part of me." He tightened his arms around Harry and let go. "We are brothers in every way except blood, Harry. And I'm so happy for you and Ginny, mate" their eyes were beginning to sparkle. "And now let's go before you think I really am gay." That made both of them laugh. Leave it to Ron to make fun of a moment so touching that he created himself in the first place.

Ginny was radiant, and as she walked down the aisle, she couldn't stop smiling at him. Harry was beside himself too. When she and Mr. Weasley arrived at the altar, he grabbed both Harry's and Ginny's hands and said a little prayer "May this union be blessed, may Merlin himself smile upon your magical cores for now and eternity."

Harry and Ginny smiled for their wedding was not only a simple wedding, but also a joining of their magic and their souls. Ginny had hesitated when Harry first mentioned it to her. But he insisted that they should always be equal, and should share everything they had. Ginny agreed and now they were about to perform a union that had not been seen in many years. According to Remus, the last couple before them to do such a thing were Harry's parents; hence the form of the rings.

The last part of the ceremony contained the magical union in which they had to hold their wands with one hand. The wands were one next to the other facing opposite sides, with Harry grabbing his wand and the tip of Ginny's and Ginny doing the same. Their left hands with the rings on them held each other on top of their wands while they recited the incantation:

"The pearly treasures of the sea,
The lights that spatter heaven above,
More precious than these wonders are
My heart-of-hearts filled with your love.

The ocean's power, the heavenly sights
Cannot outweigh a love filled heart.
And sparkling stars or glowing pearls
Pale as love flashes, beams and darts.

So, youthful lover come
Into my ample, feverish heart
For heaven and earth and sea and sky
Do melt as love has melt my heart."

Their wands glowed in a pale bluish light and their rings felt warm in their fingers. They were finally bonded.

Harry and Ginny were getting ready for their first dance as husband and wife. Everyone had already congratulated them. So, Hermione was now fixing the hem of Ginny's dress so that she could dance properly with Harry. Outside, Harry was speaking to Remus and waiting for Ginny to come out.

Seeing her state more freshened up and comfortable, he smiled at her. She returned it and made her way quickly to where he was sitting.

"Ready to dance?" she asked him caressing his hair. He nodded and stood from his seat. "Don't worry, just follow my lead" she whispered to him. He simply smiled in response. She knew very well that he couldn't dance even if Death Eaters threatened him to do it. However, he surprised her by confidently giving her a slow spin. She looked at him in wonder.

"You didn't think I was going to embarrass my wife, did you?" He said with a teasing smile on his face and stressing over the word wife.

"Two questions: how and when?" asked Ginny.

The smile on Harry's face widened "your father has been teaching me some stuff for the past two weeks".

"You are remarkable, Harry" she said shaking her head in wonderment. He kissed her nose. A mischievous smile broke into her face. "You know, I've got a little secret of my own."

"Really? And what is that, Mrs. Potter?" he said searching her face.

"Well, you see… I have got this terrible urge to leave early, and… enjoy… the rest of this night in a more secluded area, if you know what I mean Mr. Potter" she spoke in that sexy tone that always turned him on.

"Ginevra Weasley, do you have any idea what you do to me?" Harry asked.

She glanced down. "I may have some idea!" They finished dancing and everyone applauded. They laughed and cheered as Harry dipped Ginny and kissed her lips.

"When the show starts, follow me" she whispered to his ear. He stared after her in confusion until he saw her talking to George. The remaining twin looked at his sister with mirth and then nodded as if in agreement, smiling at her.

Harry sat down to chat a bit with Hermione, who was sitting on Ron's lap. Ron was discussing the latest quidditch game with Neville, Seamus and Dean. After a few minutes, the fireworks could be heard and seen in their entire splendor. George, as always, outdid himself. It was simply sad that Fred was not there to witness and accompany the merit. The colors were simply dashing, and the fireworks made a number of pirouettes. Harry was entranced, as well as the rest of the guests. At least, he was until he saw a blur of white from the corner of his eye. He turned his head and saw Ginny walking away. She turned, smiled seductively, and kept on walking.

Only when the show of the fireworks ended did everyone notice that the bride and groom were no longer present.

HPGWHPGWHPGWHPGWHPGWHPGWHPGW

"Finally" Ginny said as they made their way inside their renovated home at Godric's Hallow.

"I couldn't agree more" murmured Harry kissing his way from her face to her neck and at the same time trying to tug at the dress. "Off… take this off" he demanded.

Ginny moaned at his desperation. Before she could do anything about the dress, however, Harry had magicked it off of her leaving her in only her undergarments.

"You seem to be really eager" she smiled at him.

"I need to have you, Ginny. Now!" he picked her up, making her gasp and instinctively wrapping her legs around his waist.

ONE YEAR LATER…

"Professor Potter!" Harry heard a third year Hufflepuff boy shouting at him from across the hallway.

"Mr. Slater, you cannot run around the hallways of the school. Have you forgotten?" Harry looked down at the light-brown haired student in front of him, still feeling a bit apprehensive about reprimanding a student.

"It's an emergency, sir! Headmistress McGonagall asked me to tell you to see her in her office immediately. It is a family emergency, she said, Professor!" the thirteen year old panted having run from the McGonagall's office all the way down to the outside of Harry's classroom.

Harry's face blanched at hearing that, and promptly thanked his student to all but run towards the Headmistress' office. "Albus Dumbledore" he gasped out the password to the gargoyle.

"Ah, Professor Potter…" McGonagall shook her head "Harry, I have received word from Mrs. Hermione Weasley that your wife is at St. Mungo's."

"Well, obviously. That's where she works, Minerva" Harry frowned. However, McGonagall sighed.

"Obviously, young man… your wife is being treated! She collapsed in the middle of consult with another patient and…" she couldn't finished for Harry had quickly grabbed a handful of floo powder and flourished in green fire out of sight after shouting the hospital's name.

"Hermione, where's Ginny? What's the matter?" Harry said as soon as he saw his best friend. Harry's panicked face exasperated Hermione.

"Harry, calm down" said Hermione.

"McGonagall told me Ginny collapsed! How is she feeling? Do they know what's happened?"

"HARRY!" Hermione grabbed his shoulders and shook him. He gave her his full attention after hearing his name shouted like that. "Alright" continued Hermione in a very calmed voice "calm down, you're not going to help Ginny in that state. Take a deep breath. There you go" she said as Harry listened to her and did as he was told. "Now listen, Ginny is fine. Yes, she did collapsed but she is awake now and she's feeling much better after taking some healing potions. Go in there" she pointed to a room where a nurse had just come out "and talk to your wife." She gave him a push, but he relented and turned back to see her.

"But, you're sure she's alright now?" Hermione almost wanted to roll her eyes, but she only nodded and smiled gently.

Harry opened the door to the room where Ginny was located. However, instead of finding a sickly Ginny, he found her radiant and smiling at him. "Gin" he hurried to her side. Cupping her face in his two hands, he kissed her lips.

Ginny laughter startled him and he leaned back to look at her. She looked positively beautiful and happy, albeit a bit pale. "I have to tell you something." He nodded for her to continue. "You are not the only man in my life anymore." Seeing Harry's unreadable face, she hurried to finish "We are going to be parents, Harry. There's a little boy inside of me" she smiled and her eyes brightened with unshed tears.

Harry's face changed immediately. It went from shock to disbelief to awe and finally to the same brightened eyes that Ginny had. "I… we… there's… in there" he stuttered placing a hand on her belly. She nodded and a few tears escaped from her eyes. "Gin… oh my God, Gin" he said cupping her face once more and planting kisses all over it. "But, are you feeling alright? I was told you collapsed."

"Apart from working my arse off lately, the baby has also been draining me. It was finally today that my body couldn't take it anymore. So, I collapsed" she explained.

"Well, from now on you will take it easy, ok?" his voice filled with concern for her and for the baby that resided now inside his red-headed beauty. "Are we really going to have a baby?" he asked making Ginny smile.

"Yes" she kissed his lips and then his forehead "we are."

"I… this is incredible Ginny. How can so many good things happen to me? To tell you the truth, I'm a little scared that another Dark Lord like Voldemort is going to appear and take this all away."

"No," Ginny shook her head taking hold of his hands "don't think like that. I can't promise you that nothing bad will ever happen again. But if it does…" she paused to take a deep breath and he kissed her hands. "If it does," she continued "then we will fight again, and win again. We are fighters, Harry. No matter who and what we do now, we will always be those kids that didn't think twice before standing up against evil. Now more than ever, we have something to fight for. No child of mine is going to grow for a world reigned by darkness. We won't let it happen."

A knock on the door startled them. Ron and Hermione came in followed by the rest of the Weasleys. They congratulated them at hearing the news, and Mrs. Weasley promptly scolded her daughter for not taking proper care of herself.

Harry smiled gently and thought that never before had Ginny looked so beautiful and courageous than she did now. Never before had he been so proud of being by her side and able to call her his wife. Just like she said, he knew that life could not be perfect. But he was glad that they had each other, and that now more than ever, they had even more reasons to fight against any evil that wanted to harm them and their family.

"You should name him Ronald" said Ron loudly. That started a whole discussion on how the baby should be named. Everybody gave a different opinion, and Harry and Ginny just shared a look and shook their heads.

"I've already got a name, so you might as well stop with your suggestions" said Ginny loud enough for all to hear. Even Harry was surprised. "James" she looked at Harry and he looked at her with awe again "James Frederick Potter. James after Harry's father, and Frederick after Fred." Nobody objected after that.