Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
July sunbeams floated through the tall windows of the hospital wing of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The brief summer months were always more peaceful then the school year, but the contrast seemed especially sharp this year, even if the student currently resting in the Hospital wing technically hadn't left the school yet. Former student, rather, although he still didn't quite appreciate that fact yet. No, the only thing he was really conscious of was that for the first time in so long, all was well with the world. It was even his birthday.
"Happy eighteenth birthday Harry!" Hermione said with a smile as she handed him a brightly wrapped gift.
"It's from both of us, mate," Ron added, unconsciously grabbing the hand of his girlfriend as he spoke.
Harry grinned widely, his eyes twinkling as he felt the package. "Both of you, eh? Couldn't you have talked Hermione out of a book for once?" He said with a pointed look at his friend.
"Oh, just open it, Harry."
Harry turned to look at girl who had opted to sit at the foot of his bed rather than in one of the chairs beside it. "Is this from you too, Ginny?" he asked, even as he started to open it.
"No, I'll… I'll give you my gift later." There was a tinge of pink staining her freckled cheeks, and for a moment Harry stopped unwrapping the present in his hands, fascinated by the present promised in her eyes.
"Harry Potter, are you dating MY SISTER?"
Harry broke away from his stare for a moment at the sound of Ron's indignant squawk, turning red himself, before looking back at Ginny, nervously. "I think I might be." When she smiled back at him with a slight nod of her head, Harry forgot all about the still mostly wrapped gift sitting in his lap until he heard Hermione clearing her throat loudly. When he turned to her, the grip she had on Ron's hand seemed to have strengthened considerably.
"The sooner you open that gift the sooner we'll leave you two alone, then," Hermione said with a smirk. Ron fidgeted beside her, and Harry raised his eyebrows in question as Hermione nudged him.
"You do realize that if you break her heart, I'll break your head."
"Ron!" Hermione and Ginny both gasped at the same time.
Harry just grinned, and turned his attention back to the neglected gift. A few moments later, he was opening up a leather bound book. After glancing at the first page, he looked up at Ron. "A picture book. You must have helped to pick this out."
It was Ron's turn then to blush, as Hermione laughed. "It's a photo album, not a picture book, Harry," she stated obviously.
Harry rolled his eyes. "I know, Hermione." The photo looking waving back at him showed all three of them smiling and waving in the Gryffindor common room as first years, the house cup sitting on the table in front of them. Harry tilted the book so that Ginny could see, but after a few awkward moments ended up shifting to the side so she could sit next to him. Avoiding looking at Ron, he lifted up his arm to rest it lightly around her shoulders, a foolish grin back on his face as she snuggled closer.
For a little while, all four of them looked at the snapshots of their youth, until Harry flipped a page only to discover the next one was blank. A quick search revealed that the second half of the book was indeed filled with nothing but empty black pages. He turned questioningly to Ron and Hermione.
"The rest of the book is for you to fill, over the next few years," she explained.
Harry nodded. He was sure the album would be full in no time. Closing it, he put it on the table beside his bed. "Thanks, both of you. I love it." Hermione beamed, but Ron just shrugged.
"Glad you like it Harry. Say, did you hear about the Canon's first match – Ouch!" Ron exclaimed as Hermione slapped the back of his head.
"We're going for a walk now. You and Harry can talk Quidditch later."
Ron grumbled, but stood when Hermione did, taking a step closer to the hospital bed. Harry gulped, but Ron just shook his head and smiled. "It's about time," he said in a low tone.
Ginny stirred a bit as the door clicked shut. "I'll just go grab my present," she said, but Harry's arm around her shoulder tightened.
"Later," he said, his voice sounding closer to her ear than it had earlier. "If this walk is anything like the ones they used to take, we have plenty of time, but I've waited almost two months to do this again." Knowing exactly what Harry meant, Ginny turned her head and waited for his lips to brush hers. She wasn't disappointed.
Later eventually came, and when Ginny crossed the room to where her bag sat, she caught a glimpse of Ron and Hermione still strolling down beside the lake. She took a moment to bask in the warmth radiating from the window. Really, they had all the time in the world.