My thanks to JKR for creating all these wonderfully memorable and complex characters.  None of these are my own invention.  

This is really a short prologue combined with the first chapter. This is my first fan fiction.



May 8, 1998


The young man surveyed the velvety darkness stretching above him. Hundreds of stars shone like tiny pinpricks of light in the cloudless sky.

It is Ginny's birthday.  The whole family has gathered.  How will they react to Harry's return.  Will Ginny be able to forgive him for leaving again?

Our friends return to their home away from home.

A/N: None (well very, very little) of this world is mine. Thanks to JKR to creating such an awesome world that I can “borrow” for a few moments.

A date, a trip to Hosgmeade, and a meeting with a reporter...

Harry tells Hermione what he's learned about her parents.  Malfoy's return stirs up unwanted memories.

Another day passes at St. Mungos. 

Ginny arrives back at the Burrow and an unexpected visitor arrives to make amends.

The Slytherin team was expecting to soundly beat the Gryffindors. They didn't plan on Harry getting in their way.

Harry and Ginny have things to discuss.

Christmas holidays bring two unexpected reunions.

Hermione and her parents return home. Hermione has some explaining to do.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione get closer to an answer to who is behind the plot against Harry.

Ginny attempts to help Harry as he comes to terms with the loss of Grimmauld Place.

Harry startled awake at the click of the portrait hole as it closed. Looking down at Ginny’s sleeping form lying against him, he rubbed his aching neck and tried to remember how they’d ended up falling asleep on the common room sofa.

The wedding of the year begins.