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Chapter 1 – Wake up! It's a Beautiful Morning

"Harry! Come on we have to go!" Harry Potter awoke with a start as one of his best friends Ron Weasley pounded into his small bedroom.

"You know, when I gave you that key to my flat, I didn't expect you to come and wake me up at unreasonably early hours," the twenty year old grumbled before smiling at his redheaded friend. Four years had passed since the dark lord Voldemort had been killed by Harry in one of the biggest battles in wizarding history. Since then, Ron and Harry's other best friend Hermione had built up a strong relationship with one another and now the two were engaged.

"It was Hermione's idea to get up this early mate. I know how you like to lie in during the holidays, but we've got to go quickly – it could take hours to find her. It's taken us a year to find out where she's gone. Be quick, and Hermione should have breakfast up when you're ready. I'll leave you to get changed."

Ron closed the door behind him as Harry set about combing his still untameable hair, but the young man, formally known as the Boy Who Lived, had his mind elsewhere. Ginny Weasley was Ron's younger sister. She had become distant towards most people after the final battle and had only come home for a few weeks after the end of her seventh year at Hogwarts. Soon after she had left the Weasley family home in the dead of night and had never returned. She didn't tell anyone why she left. Harry knew though. He knew and was afraid to find the redheaded young woman because of that reason. She had run away. No one had known where she was or how she was. At Christmas and birthdays parcels would arrive from the youngest Weasley, but with no return address. The friend's had only discovered where the missing girl was after they had visited Hermione's old friend Victor Krum. She was in Venice. As soon as Ron heard where his sister was staying, the plan had emerged to find her in time for Ron and Hermione's wedding.

Harry came out of his daydream with a start as he heard a knock on his bedroom door.

"Breakfast is ready Harry. Hurry up!" Hermione's voice called out. Harry finished getting ready and devoured the meal that Hermione had made for the three friends. It was going to be a long day.

As the three reached Venice and settled onto one of the city's many water buses, Harry drifted off to sleep.

It was summer. A glorious and calm summer free from the threat of Voldemort, and Harry was spending the warm summer night with her, Ginny. She had been home for a few weeks, which Harry could only describe as pure bliss. Days were spent keeping their precious relationship hidden - not because of a threat to their lives this time, but because of their need for privacy. Harry still was the Chosen One after all, and while a year had passed since Voldemort's defeat, the media still followed him around during auror training, outings with friends and other times as well. Harry and Ginny's relationship had been developing over the year, and soon it would be time for them to move forwards, but not quite yet. They had connected in many ways over the past year, and soon they were going to take the final step, marriage. They had to tell people about their relationship soon. For now they kept it a secret. She wore the ring on her wedding finger – a simple silver ring with diamond and onyx stones set in the sparkling metal concealed by a glamour charm. In Harry's eyes it was perfect, just like her. They walked together in the orchard where they had played Quidditch with her brothers just a few short hours ago. Hand in hand they silently sat by one of the trees afraid of being caught. He kissed her hand softly, and her smile glowed in the darkness. Her eyes twinkled in the moonlight. Everything was perfect.

"You're beautiful." He whispered as he brushed her soft red hair away from her chocolate coloured eyes. She leaned close to him and whispered in his ear sending shivers down his spine.

"If I am so beautiful how come we are still hiding?" Ginny asked looking deep into Harry's eyes as if searching for an answer.

"We aren't hiding," Harry said cautiously. "We're just protecting our privacy. I like being able to walk along a beach somewhere without having anyone follow us. I like sneaking you into my flat and not having people spy on us trying to find out what we're up to. I like the way things are at the moment."

"You know that we can't keep this relationship a secret for much longer." She examined his fingers that were intertwined with hers before looking into the bright green eyes of her love. "Mum will be mad that we've kept this a secret from her for this long. And let's not forget that when we do tell her we'll have the wedding to plan."

"I just want us to have a few more weeks to ourselves with no one interfering or anything. You saw how all your brothers acted when they found out about Ron and Hermione. They wouldn't leave them alone!" Harry watched helplessly as Ginny stood up and brushed herself off before turning to him with anger flashing in her eyes

"So the reason we have to be so secretive and deceitful is because you are afraid of my brothers?" she asked in a deadly whisper. Harry tried to explain, but Ginny spoke over him. "You have faced Voldemort, but cannot face my brothers? It seems clear to me that you pride yourself over our relationship!"

"Ginny, will you let me talk!" Harry shouted losing his temper.

"Harry I have let you make decisions to do with our relationship even before it was a relationship. For once couldn't you give me this one thing? I just want to be out in the open. I don't want to hide any more. Would that be so bad?"

"Why can't you just shut up and listen?" Harry exclaimed loudly. Silence fell over the orchard, and Ginny glared at him angrily. "I just want a few more weeks of peace. Can't you at least give me that?"

"I'll tell you what Harry; I'll give you a lot more time than a few more weeks." She threw the ring he had given her to the ground at his feet. "I have waited for you twice before, and I am not going through all that pain again."

"Ginny, come back!" Harry called, but she continued to storm off towards the house.

Harry awoke suddenly feeling tears burning his eyes. That day had haunted him since she had left. He had given her just a few minutes to cool off before he went back to the house, but by the time he had gotten back, she had disappeared, and her room was empty. She left a note which explained her intention to create her own legacy in this world and said goodbye. Harry had hoped she would return, but she never did. After waiting so long Harry was now searching for her. One question kept on running through his mind every time he thought of how he might find her; would they ever be together again?