-1Author's Note: I found this saved on my computer and remember writing it like, months ago. Figured I'd post it up here. I'm going to continue with it, I think.. I have the first four chapters saved on this old thing. Let me know what y'all think. Reviews are welcome, as always. Disclaimer: I do not claim to own any of the characters within this story. All canon characters belong to JKR.

The End of Summer

Ginny stood up from the table. She had finished eating her lunch and was waiting for Harry to come down from Ron's room.

"They've been up there a long time," she thought to herself and she set her plate and glass in the sink.

She walked towards the winding stairs and made her was to Ron's room. Stopping outside the door, she pressed her ear against it, listening to their conversation.

"Come on Harry, if you plan on asking, you need to ask before it's to late. You know everyone asks Cho right away. Make sure you ask first."

There was a pause and Ginny was about to walk in when Harry started. She froze. His voice seemed relaxed and calm.

"Ron, you know how much I want to go to the ball with Ginny. Why can't I just ask her?"

"Because she's my sister and I don't want you two seeing each other. That's why." He snapped back.

There was silence, and Ginny turned from the door and ran down the stairs to her room. She shut the door and locked it, making sure no one could get in. A tear was falling down her cheek Why can't he except us? Why does he have to ruin everything. Why can't he just let Harry and me be happy together? There was a knock on the door.

"W-Who is it?" she called out, wiping the tears off her face.

"Who do you think it is my love?" came a familiar voice.

She hesitated before she got up and unlocked the door. Harry walked slowly into the room and sat down next to Ginny.

"Look, I need to talk to you. Would it be ok if…" Ginny looked up to him quickly and cut him off.

"..if you went to the ball with Cho Chang? Does it really look like I have a choice? Who does he think he is? Tell you who you can and can't date."

Harry looked at her, wondering how much of the conversation she had heard.

"Ginny it's not like I don't want to go with you. I love you and you know that. It's.. it's just that I need to respect your brother's wishes for right now."

He took her hand and leaned over to kiss her gently.

"Would you please just let me do this once? It won't be anything between Cho and me. We're just going as friends. Besides I can just meet up with you there can't I?"

Ginny thought about what Harry and said and smiled.

"I suppose we could."

She kissed him back and stood up.

"So who's on the Quidditch Team this year Captain," she said sounding sarcastic.

"Well, for Chasers, we have you, Colin, the klutz, and Seamus. For Seeker, myself, Beaters this year are Dean and Lavender, boy will that be fun. And rounding up with Keeper is Ron. Don't our beaters give you a sense of protection?" He laughed.

"I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on my back the whole time I'm up there won't I?" She laughed.

"I'm assuming Malfoy's Head of Slytherin's team this year?"

"You guessed it. Now, let's go for a walk outside. I'm a bit tired of being in the house, no offence."

"None taken."

She took his hand, and they exited the room, walking down the remaining stairs and out the front door. They walked down the road into the country land where no one was. It was quiet there and the two of them enjoyed the peace. They decided to just look and not talk. Many times they just walked down the road looking at things that caught their eye, and didn't say a word. After their walks, they'd compare and see if they saw the same things.

Harry saw an owl fly through the air towards the Burrow and assumed it to be Hedwig or Errol delivering the Daily Prophet. Ginny on the other hand, noticed all the cans and wrappers laying on the side of the road. She was suddenly angry that the people of England were taking less and less care of the environment and that they were becoming an unhealthy country.

She scowled and looked up in the sky to see the sun sinking behind the hills. She sighed and noticed all of the dark clouds in the little light provided and knew a storm was coming. She tugged Harry's hand which signaled it was time to turn around. The two young adults took their time on their way back to the Burrow, and made it back just as Mrs. Weasley was setting the table for dinner. She looked at the clock with nine hands, all of which pointing to 'Mortal Peril' and saw Mr. Weasley's switch to 'traveling'. A few seconds later, with a pop, Mr. Weasley entered the door and his hand on the clock snapped back to 'Mortal Peril'.

Harry walked over to Mr. Weasley shook his hand, welcomed him back from the Ministry, and went up to wash his hands. Ginny however, walked over to her father, hugged him and went to her mother.

"Mum, have you noticed the rubbish collecting on the side of the road? I noticed it during my walk with Harry. It's starting to collect and I was wondering if we could use a spell to remove it. I mean, I hate seeing England turn into a dump."

Her mother, who was finishing setting forks down, walked to the counter, tapped her wand on it, and watched as the Mashed potatoes started. Molly Weasley, a short, plump witch, looked over to Ginny and smiled.

"Ginny, darling, I think that is an excellent idea. I could do that tomorrow before we leave for Diagon Alley."

Ginny nodded and turned to go wash. She was at the foot of the stairs when Ron appeared. She scowled at him and ran up the stairs. He looked at her, quirked an eyebrow, and kept walking to the table.

"Mmm smells great Mum."

He sat down in his usual chair and counted the seats.

"Awh, Hermione's not here yet?"

"No Ronald, she'll be here in the morning. Well before you're awake. And don't you be waiting up for her tonight. We've got a busy day tomorrow, and I don't want anyone falling asleep."

She turned back to the mashed potatoes set them on the table and sat down. When Harry, Ginny, Fred and George came and sat down, they all began eating. Everyone enjoyed when Mrs. Weasley made a meal for them. After they had all finished complimenting Mrs. Weasley for her food, she got up and made pots of coffee and tea. Harry took the pot of tea, poured Ginny and himself a cup and set it back down. After he added the sugar and milk, he took a sip and let the warm liquid slide down his throat. He looked up at Mr. And Mrs. Weasley.

"Umm, I was just wondering, when are we going to Diagon Alley tomorrow? I needed to meet someone, and wanted to know when we'd arrive."

Mrs. Weasley looked at Arthur and they both looked to Harry. Neither seemed to have an answer at first, but Mrs. Weasley finally found words for him.

"Well dear, first Ginny and I have something to do and Ron has to take care of the gnomes in the garden. Fred and George are leaving around 4:15 in the morning and I was wondering if you could get rid of a few boggarts for me. One is in the room above Ron's floor on the right, and another in the basement." Harry thought about it.

"Could I take care of the boggarts before bed, and leave with Fred and George? My meeting is important and the sooner the better. I'd be sure to meet up with you when you got there."

Mrs. Weasley smiled weakly and looked to her husband for assistance. Mr. Weasley took it the wrong way and nodded.

"Sure Harry, dear. If that's what you'd like. I'm sure Fred and George wouldn't mind, would you boys?"

The twins looked up from a clipboard they had and shook their heads.

"Harry's welcome with us whenever. He'd just have to travel via side-apparation."

Harry nodded and stood up, making his way to the basement. He smiled and waved to the family and went down the stairs. As soon as he left, the family started talking.

"Now what in the world does he have to do in Diagon alley that early in the morning," Mrs. Weasley snapped.

When nobody answered. Ginny got up the courage to answer her mother.

"Mum don't you think Harry's old enough to do things on his own? I mean nothing against you, but he isn't your son. We just love Harry and accept him into our home because he has no magic folk left. Isn't that right mum?"

Mrs. Weasley forgot Ginny was there and was surprised at what her daughter, let alone youngest child was telling her.

"Ginny off to bed for you. It's much to late for you to be up. Ron, Fred, George, you too. Off to bed all of you."

The kids groaned, but didn't want to argue. They stood, pushed in their chairs, and walked up the stairs, Fred and George snickering and looking at their clipboard. When the kids were gone Arthur looked up.

"Ginny's right. Harry's not our son. He have to accept him and let him do what he'd like."

He stopped when Harry walked up the stairs waved good night to the Weasley's, and made his way to the other boggart. Arthur continued.

"If he wants to go to Diagon Alley at 4:15, let him. That's all we can do. Fred and George will take care of him. Now that they got what they wanted, they developed some kind of common sense."

Mrs. Weasley looked down at the table. She lifted her head to her husband and sighed.

"I suppose, Arthur. If he wants to we'll let him."

She waved her wand at the table, flicked it at the sink, and the dishes started cleaning themselves up and putting themselves away.

"Well I'm going to bed Arthur. Good night. You should come to bed soon too. We have a busy day."

"All right Molly. G'night."

Mr. Weasley watched his wife climb the stairs and poured himself another cup of coffee. After he drank it, he turned off the lights downstairs, the muggle television set, and walked upstairs to his room for the night.