A/N: This is a 7th year story with Harry, post DH. The tiro's going back to Hogwarts (They never took their 7th year, after all), although they don't know it yet. The first couple chapters are a little short and slow, but as any Harry Potter fan knows, it all gets better when they get to that castle ;) so, read and review please! (But be nice :D)

(Lame title is the result of my lack of imagination)

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A tall, dark haired, teenager was groaning, as he lay in his bed, awakening to the most unwelcome sound of roosters crowing in the morning. Turning over in his bed, the teenager reached over, and lethargically flopped a hand down upon the bedside table, where it slowly feeling around for the snooze button on it's alarm clock. Feeling rather annoyed that he had not yet managed to locate the source of the racket, he sat up; the hand beginning it's search anew for the boy's glasses. The glasses had been found within seconds, and as he put them on, Harry Potter brushed his fingers over the lightning-bolt shaped scar on his forehead.

Suddenly, Harry realized how very foolish of him it was to be searching for an alarm clock: he was not, as he had first thought, at number four Privet Drive, but in fact, at the wizarding abode of his friends, the Weasleys. This was Harry's third morning at the Burrow, but the fact had still not quite sunk in. It seemed simply strange to him that his summer holiday was not being spent with his enemies the Dursleys, but, in fact, with his favorite group of people in either of his two worlds, the Weasley family.

Harry's groggy features bloomed into a brilliant smile as he looked to his right and saw Ron Weasley sleeping in the bed next to him; and his thoughts drifted several floors down, to where he knew her to be, in her brilliant blue bedroom, Ginny Weasley. Harry's smile spread to his eyes as he recalled standing in front of that window last summer, lost in her eyes, feeling that he hadn't a care in the world as she reached forward and placed her lips to his… Harry drifted happily through that memory as he rolled out of bed and began dressing himself, punch-drunk in his happiness, his mind flitting between Ginny and all that had happened in the last week.

The Battle of Hogwarts had left a terrible strain upon him, although Harry had emerged victorious, it seemed that the victory had come at too steep a cost. Fred, Lupin, Tonks, Colin Creevey, and many more of his friends and classmates all lay in a newly erected memorial on the Hogwarts grounds. After the defeat and the ensuing party, everyone had stayed at Hogwarts while a memorial service was prepared. Harry had mostly kept to the shadows, as now it seemed that wherever he went, there were people wanting to touch him, to talk to him, to praise him. Harry wanted no part of it, and he was truly grateful for his invisibility cloak during these long weeks. He spent most of his time with Ginny, holding her and stroking her hair while she cried on his shoulder. The loss of Fred had hit the family hard, and many of their classmates had met their end upon the battlefield as well. It was hard for all of them to cope, and then, more than ever, Harry was glad for his friends; they deadened the blow, and shared the grief of it among all of them.

Two weeks after the battle, a memorial site had been erected and a service was held. Each and every person that had given their life defending Hogwarts was laid to rest next to the tomb of Albus Dumbeldore, within which Harry had placed the Elder Wand, and mended, so no trace remained of it's heinous violation. It had been a stirring service, and Harry knew that even long after he had left Hogwarts, he would remember those who gave their lives for it. The bodies of the hundred Death Eaters lay just outside the gates, where their relatives could retrieve them, if they wished. The Ministry had taken Voldemort's body from the school, and no one could say for sure what they had done with it. Following the service, Harry had been approached by a teary-eyed Mrs. Weasey, who had insisted that Harry come stay with them until he sorted out where he went next. Flustered, but flattered, Harry had accepted, and he found himself here, at the Burrow, reveling at the thought that he could perhaps, enjoy his holiday now.

Harry shook back his head with a silent laugh, as he considered what lay ahead. Voldemort was dead, and this time, it was for good. He had his whole life ahead of him, and for the first time since he learned that he was a wizard, Harry felt as if he had no obligations. His future was free, and so was the wizarding world.

A sudden burst of happiness swarmed through Harry, and with a flourish of his wand, he sent Ron's covers flying into the air, revealing Ron's lanky frame, adorned with nothing but his bright orange Chudley Canons boxers. Harry suppressed a snigger at the sight, as Ron muttered, "Just five more minutes Mom…". Harry laughed, but it came out as more of a bark, and a shadow flickered across Harry's face as he remembered Sirius, falling gracefully through the Veil. Harry shook the image from his mind, determined to be enjoying himself for once on his summer holidays. "See you down stairs for breakfast Ron!" Harry yelled entirely too loudly, before bolting out of the door. Ron, for his part, muttered some obscured swear words t his pillow, before rolling over and falling out of his bed with a loud crash.

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Mrs. Weasley's cooking was delicious as usual, although the table wasn't quite as lively as it used to be. Fred's empty spot seemed to be spreading it's depression to everyone, most of all George, who couldn't quite seem to cope without his second half. He spent five awkward minutes pushing his eggs from one side of his plate to the other, before finally fleeing the table under the pretense of a full bladder, and had not returned. Just as Harry was polishing off his third plate of bacon and eggs, he heard a faint pop outside the Burrow's back porch, as someone Apparated to the Weasley house.

Just as Harry was wondering who would be visiting the Weasleys right now, the door opened, and Harry saw Hermione's bushy brown hair rushing through the door, where she proceeded to hug Ron, give him a peck on the cheek, and continued on to hug Harry and Mrs. Weasley, quite enthusiastic to be back, it appeared.

"Hermione!" exclaimed Ginny, rushing forward to greet her friend. Harry watched with mild interest, "What took you so long Hermione?" He asked bemusedly. Hermione had vanished directly after the memorial service at Hogwarts, and much to Ron's chagrin, she had told none of them where she was going. Harry knew she would be back, but he hadn't expected her this soon, to be perfectly honest.

"Oh, I was away in Australia, of course." Hermione said as a slightly annoyed look flitted across her face. "You didn't think my parents would break that enchantment on their own, did you?" Harry laughed. Hermione was still her normal bossy self. "No, of-" Harry started, but he was interrupted by Mrs. Weasley.

"Your parents were in Australia? Under an enchantment?!" Hermione blanched under Mrs. Weasley's penetrating gaze. "Well- you see… with Voldemort and all, and me and Ron going off with Harry, I thought it would be safest…" Hermione trailed off, a small plea in her voice that Mrs. Weasley would understand her plight.

Harry thought it best to avert the situation before things came to a head. "But why did it take so long?" Harry asked quickly. "You should have been back here long ago." After all, Hermione had become quite accomplished at Side-Along Apparition during their last year on the run from the Death Eaters. It was quite a necessary skill when almost every other means of transportation available was being watched by Voldemort.

"Harry!" said Hermione in exasperation. "You can't just Apparate to from country to county! That's much too dangerous; and you know I'm not comfortable on a broom. I had to go by muggle transportation- an airplane; Not exactly efficient." She grimaced, and Harry grinned inwardly. He knew how much it would have tortured Hermione while she was forced to ride on an airplane for hours instead of being able to instantaneously Apparate. While she once might have lived a happy life as a dentist or whatever profession she chose in the muggle world, Hermione had been spoiled beyond help by the wizarding world. He knew she would never be at home there again. They were very similar, him and her.

"An Aeropline?" Asked Mr. Weasley brightly, his eyes shining, "You'll have to tell me all about it later Hermione!" He exclaimed excitedly. Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes and shared a knowing grin, while the rest of the Weasley's merely looked lost. They were clueless around muggle technology.

Mrs. Weasley shot Mr. Weasley a venomous look, telling him explicitly he would not be asking Hermione about anything at all except how her parents were. Mr. Weasley gave a little shrug that said, "Hey, I had to try," and turned back to his bacon, looking slightly disappointed. Harry was overwhelmed with affection for the man and his family right then, and he silently resolved to buy Mr. Weasley every book he could find about airplanes for Christmas.

"Anyway dear," said Mrs. Weasley, who was trying to wrest Hermione's bag away from her without much success, "You can bunk with Ginny. I'm sorry, but there's not much room here right now." She shook her head apologetically while Ginny bounced forward eagerly to show Hermione the way to her room, although surely Hermione had been here so often she had memorized the route to Ginny's room on the first landing, with it's brilliant blue hangings. Perhaps Ginny merely had something she wanted to talk about with Hermione, Harry thought with a smile. He waved at her as she disappeared in a flash of twirling red hair around the corner, and he heard their footfalls on the stairs a moment later.

He turned back to the rest of the Weasleys, some of them milling around the kitchen, some of them still finishing their breakfast. "Thank you for breakfast Mrs. Weasley," Harry said graciously, to which she casually waved a hand at. "It's nothing, really dear," she mumbled into her apron. Harry smiled at her, beckoned Ron, who was done, to come with him, and headed up the stairs to Ron's room beneath the attic, eager to escape being roped into helping with the clean-up by Mrs. Weasley.

When they reached Ron's room they both flopped down upon their covers, fighting the urge to fall asleep again. However comfortable it would be, Harry knew it to be pointless: Mrs. Weasley would have them all out of their beds mere minutes after they had fallen asleep again. Harry rolled over on his side and glanced sideways at Ron. He was lying on his bed, his hands folded over his face and clearly thinking. He figured this would be the perfect time to pop the question that had been floating around in his mind almost since the day Voldemort had died. "Ron?" Harry asked hesitantly. Ron did not move, and Harry grabbed a balled-up shirt from the trunk at the foot of his bed and heaved it at Ron. "Wake up mate!" Harry said, even though he knew Ron was not asleep.

"What is it?" Ron asked curiously, turning to face Harry, his red hair clashing against the brilliant orange of his bedspread.

"Well mate…" Harry began hesitantly, "It's about Ginny." He blushed a little, and Ron sat up slowly, a shrewd expression upon his face.

"Yeah…?" said Ron slowly, although he knew what was coming as clearly as though he had opened a window into Harry's mind through Legilimency.

"Well, you know, with Voldemort gone, things are much simpler now." Harry was unconsciously messing with his hair as he spoke, switching between mussing it up and attempting to flatten it. "And well… you know…" Harry trailed off.

Ron gave him a penetrating look, but the hint of a smile played around his mouth, unnoticed by the agitated Harry.

"I know she's your sister and all mate, but with Voldemort gone," Harry thought he was beginning to repeat himself now, so he simply stopped and looked up at Ron hopefully, putting his hands in his lap, looking uncharacteristically sheepish.

Ron grinned, and reached over to Harry's bed, where he slapped Harry on the back. "Mate, I don't think there's anyone better for her than the man who murdered Voldemort." Harry smiled, although he was on the edge of arguing Ron's terminology- he didn't much like being thought of as a murderer- but he thought better of it. Arguing about tact with Ron was like trying to tell Dudley that he should eat less.

Harry simply gave Ron a grateful nod. Not that Ron's consent was the last word to Harry, but he knew he would feel better if Ron was okay with him and Ginny. Harry was reminded of the promise he had made Ron on his birthday last year, ecstatic that he no longer had to honor his word.

Of course, Ginny was returning to Hogwarts, and Harry would be pursuing his career out in the wizarding world. There would be little time for romance for either of them, and Harry would be leaving the castle that he had come to regard as his home for the first time in his wizarding life. The thought caused his gut to clench, and he wished, for a moment, that he could return to that castle, with it's towering battlements, secret passageways, and shimmering ghosts just one last time. Harry closed his eyes as he treasured the prospect: back at Hogwarts, just one last time: Hogwarts with Ginny, Hogwarts with Ron and Hermione, Hogwarts, his home… And Harry drifted off to sleep with that singular thought in his head, unaware of the four large brown letters, adorned with a serpent, a badger, an eagle, and a lion, winging their way to the Burrow upon the wings of four elegant tawny owls even as he slept.

A/N: Yay! First chapter done. That chat was bit cheesy, but it had to be done to set up later elements. Anyway, R & R please :)