Life and Love After Voldemort

Harry woke with his forehead throbbing. It wasn't anything to do with his scar; it was merely a byproduct of trading butterbeer for firewhiskey after Ron and Hermione had arrived arm in arm at the post-match celebration in Hogsmeade. Though he was often the focus of attention at celebrations over the years, Harry was rarely the life of the party himself. However, the burst of joy from seeing his two friends together after hoping for the best and fearing the worst had Harry leading conga lines, doing the Macarena with Hermione as the wizard-borns fell about howling with laughter, and toasting everything from "Merlin's beard" to "Nearly Headless Nick's nastily nicked neck."

Harry's spirits had lifted to such a degree that he even sought out Bagman to lay down his terms for joining the Cannons. "I'd only be looking at a one-season deal to start," Harry made clear to Bagman. He also demanded that any contract he would agree to needed a clause specifying that his free time was his own, no questions asked. (Harry made one confidential request that was more in the nature of a suggestion. Given the potential cost-savings and marketing potential of the idea, Harry was confident that Ludo would welcome the suggestion, which he did and promised to act on it when the time came.)

Still, Harry anticipated a fierce argument for a long-term deal from Bagman. Surprisingly, Ludo immediately agreed to Harry's terms. Harry had tried to make it sound like his special clause was all about sneaking off to meet up with Ginny since the likes of Ludo wouldn't question that excuse, but it left him the flexibility to disappear from sight of the team without arousing suspicion, which was a necessity as an Auror in training. And yeah, it won't hurt to have that freedom when I do want to dally with my dolly! Ouch, did I just say that? I don't think I did, at least out loud... Phew; I'd better take a pass on the next tankard of cheer...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Finally up, are we?" Harry saw Ron sitting on the bed across the room.

"Uh, yeah," Harry yawned. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"Yeah, Hermione said you had this room to yourself this semester, so I figured I'd crash here and say a proper thanks and goodbye to you and the girls today. I don't think it would've registered with you by the end of last night!" Ron laughed.

"Nah, I shut things down before any damage was done," Harry feebly protested as his head kept throbbing. "Been up long, Ron?"

"Only got a couple of hours, but it's all right. I feel amazing." Harry looked at Ron's bewitched countenance, which recalled his friend's love-struck gaze when Ron had consumed a Chocolate Cauldron filled by Romilda Vane with a love potion intended for Harry. "I can't believe I let so much get in the way of appreciating what I had in Hermione. That's all over, mate, and I'm ending all of this 'King' business and just concentrating on being the best Keeper Chudley's ever seen. Yeah, I know that's not sayin' much, but you've got to start somewhere..."

Harry agreed. "That's the way to do it. We'll have to wait and see if the fans let the 'King' abdicate his nickname; I doubt they will because it's been associated with you from the start of your Quidditch days. But as long as you cut out acting like someone should throw rose petals in front of your every step, I'm sure Hermione will let you live out your days in peace." Harry figured this would be the best time to confirm to Ron the worst-kept secret in the wizarding world. "If you reckon you can stand a bit more excitement, I'll let you know who's penciled in as Chudley's Seeker the week after he takes his N.E.W.T.s."

"I knew it!" Ron exclaimed, clapping his hands together as if he'd just caught a Quaffle. "I can't believe everything I've always wanted for my team is coming true: we've finally got ownership that's willing to pay for talent, and players who actually want to play for the Cannons!"

"Hey, they're my team, too," Harry reminded him. "I've read Flying with the Cannons cover to cover more times than I can count." He remembered being locked up with it at the Dursleys, with the book being one of his only reminders of the wizarding world.

"You looked as good as any Seeker in the league judging from the replays of the match," Ron said. "Ginny looked like a pro as well."

"Don't get any ideas; she's still got another semester to go," Harry cautioned.

"I know," Ron continued, "but for once, we've got a chance at having as much top tier talent as anyone in the league this year if we get a few more breaks. I couldn't believe that the Kenmare Kestrels canned Connolly and Quigley, the two best Beaters in the league! I don't buy the talk that they're going to face charges over 'conduct detrimental to a team mascot,' and neither does Ludo because he put in a waiver claim for both. And if Ludo puts enough cash behind a transfer offer for Clara Ivanova at Center Chaser, I really think we've got the makings of a Cup winner! Oh, if we could end those chants of '1892!' '1892!' and the "Wait 'till Next Century" song they sing over and over on the road, I'd..." Tears began forming in the corners of Ron's eyes.

Choosing to ignore Ron's rapidly expanding emotional range for both their sakes, Harry brought up a salient point. "Wait a minute; I know that Ludo wanted me on board to sell tickets, and I was fine with that. But I thought this season was already another washout, so why are you talking title when Chudley's winless record will almost certainly keep us out of playoff contention?"

"Where have you been, mate?" Ron asked. Busy knocking some sense into you, Harry mused to himself.

"Ludo convinced the league's board of governors to allow every team into the playoffs this year to drive up interest and generate more money for wizarding charities that are providing aid for rebuilding efforts throughout Great Britain and Ireland ."

"You don't say," Harry replied thoughtfully. "Bagman's certainly been busy..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ron and Harry joined a glowing Hermione and giddy Ginny for a chat-filled breakfast, followed by a leisurely walk by the quartet around the school grounds. "...And when we came out of the tunnel last night, Ron carved our initials in the Whomping Willow and surrounded it with a heart," Hermione recalled dreamily.

"Oh, that's SOOOO sweet!!!" Ginny squealed.

Ron leaned towards Harry and whispered: "I started carving a 'K' for my first initial as a joke, but Hermione shot me that look of hers, which I was counting on. (I had to, Harry; she's beautiful when she's angry!) I played it off while I completed the loop and had an 'R' next to a 'W.'" Both of them laughed, and Harry knew his two best friends would be pushing each other's buttons happily ever after.

Before long, the quartet was at the place where Ron's carriage was waiting. It was also next to the stables where a bleary-eyed Hagrid waited to offer his goodbyes to Ron. "It's time fer you to be goin', Ron. Yeh gotta check in wit yer coach, he's bin askin' fer yeh all mornin' on the bloody wireless in yer carriage. Don' pay no mind ter the mess Fang left; 'spect our Hermione's got a scrubbin' spell that'll set it right! C'mere an' say g'bye!" Hagrid gave Ron one of his giant hugs that left Ron's ribs aching more than yesterday's Bludgers had. "Yeh win one fer yer old pal Hagrid, or else..." Hagrid's grin turned into a blubber, and he waved back at the gang as he hurried off towards his cottage, blowing his nose like a trumpet.

Ginny and Harry stepped back to let Ron and Hermione exchange their farewells. "Hermione's over the moon," Ginny confided. "The way they broke through last night, she said she wouldn't be surprised if a ring was in her future." Ginny pointed to her bare ring finger.

"That's good to know, just in case some of the extra-thick Ron is still in place and I need to register that in his head," Harry laughed as Ginny shot him an annoyed look.

"Seriously, Harry, are you sure Ron's really turned the corner?"

"I know he has, Ginny. If you saw how overcome with love he was this morning as he promised up and down to ditch the 'King' thing, you'd know it's for real." Harry was glad to hear his friends were thinking about making the ultimate commitment to each other. Life is short, and you have to make the most of it while you can.

That thought brought Harry's attention back to his girlfriend. Now that the turmoil concerning his friends had subsided, Harry felt it was time to think about cementing his relationship with Ginny before he zoomed off to the big leagues himself. As Ginny stepped forward to hug her brother and wish him well, something clicked in the back of Harry's mind. Say, maybe that's why Ginny brought up rings and showed me her bare finger, so it would register in MY head! Why, that little...

Harry laughed to himself, feeling even more love for Ginny for her subtle initiative and feeling a bit clever for picking up the clue so quickly. The quickness was certainly a record for him, since Ginny had been dropping Harry hints of her affection for him for as long as they'd known each other, with Harry remaining oblivious and continuing to regard Ginny merely as Ron's kid sister until his 6^th year at Hogwarts. It must be the Auror training paying off...

"I guess I'll see you at the team's presser after you wrap up you tests, Harry," said Ron as they hugged and patted each other on the back. "Stay out of trouble, you lot!" After another long hug and kiss from Hermione, Ron stepped into the carriage. He waved back as the carriage pulled away, but suddenly cried: "Oi! What the - Stop! A little help here, Hermione..."

"Oh, I forgot," said Hermione as she rushed back to the carriage. "Reparo!" Fang's indiscretion disappeared, and the color of the carriage's carpeted floor returned to bright orange.