A/N So here goes. I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything to do with Harry Potter. And if you recognize anything else, I probably don't own that either.

Chapter 1 Beginning Again

Harry Potter walked into Sirius Black's old bedroom, where he had been staying since the end of the war earlier in the year. He still thought of the room as Sirius' even though he had been gone for over a year. He had left it almost as Sirius had; it made him feel there was still a connection.

Voldemort, defeated, he had time to mourn the loss of his godfather and the others that had been murdered in the war. Since he'd return, he had hardly left 12 Grimmauld Place. Ron and Ginny had come a few times, but his spirits had only been lifted for a short time in their presence.

In all honesty, he was having a terrible time adjusting. Defeating Voldemort had been his sole purpose for so long; he didn't know where to go from here. And the people who used to guide him and offer advice, Professor Dumbledore, Sirius, Remus Lupin, were all gone.

Harry felt lonelier now than he ever had, even at the Dursley's house. There he had not known what it was to have friends and love, so he didn't know what he was missing. The loss of so many people he cared about seemed devastating. The added guilt of knowing so many other people had lost people they loved didn't help.

He looked at his trunk that Kreacher the house elf of the Black family that had passed to Harry, along with all of Sirius' other belongings, had packed for him. School would be starting in a week and he hoped with all of his being that it would help him discover some new purpose, some feeling of normalcy.

Tomorrow he would go to the Burrow and stay with the Weasley family for the duration of the summer, just as he had for the last several years. He hoped the resilience of their family would cheer him.

Things would be different there, though, with Fred gone. But, Ginny would be there.

Lovely Ginny, he smiled to himself as an image of the vibrant, ginger haired girl floated into his head. Thoughts of her relieved his heavy mind, if only for a moment.

He had plans to talk to Arthur and Molly this year of proposing. He was sure they would want him to wait. Ginny would still have another year left at Hogwart's after all.

Not that would be an issue, really. He was hoping that time would be spent completing his first year training at the Auror's office. So far though, no offers had come.

***HPGW***

Ginny Weasley glanced anxiously around her room. She couldn't seem to remember where she had put it but it seemed like she'd had it just yesterday. She really wanted to find it before school started in a week.

"Accio, pendant," she muttered, still scanning the room. Nothing moved. She tried to recall where she had seen it last.

She became aware of her mother calling her downstairs to the always-busy kitchen to greet Hermione Granger, who had just arrived at the Burrow. The redhead quickly flew down the stairs and hugged her friend, thoughts of the missing pendant disappearing for the time being. Ginny hoped someday they would be sisters. Hermione and her brother, Ron, had been getting along fabulously since the war and it didn't seem an absurd wish.

"How've you been?" Ginny asked, as they all moved to the sitting room for tea.

"Great. My parents have resettled into the house quite well. And I'm really looking forward to this school year." came Hermione's reply. "When does Harry arrive?"

Ginny's face colored slightly at the mention of Harry. "Tomorrow, I think." They continued chatting all through the evening, catching up and making plans for the week. They would need to go to Diagon Alley to do some shopping and Molly was going to make some new formal dresses for them.

Later that night, Ginny sat thinking, looking out the window in her bedroom at the garden. Yes, this should be a good year. It would be Harry's final year at Hogwarts and she would do her best to make sure it was a good one.

The next morning, Ginny awoke to the sounds of clattering dishes and chatter. She looked at the other bed that had been placed in the room for Hermione and saw that she had already woke. She smiled and began to dress to go downstairs. Hermione and Ron's voices carried up the stairs. Then she heard another voice and her heart skipped a beat. Harry was here!

Ginny sped through the rest of her morning routine and sped downstairs. Harry turned as she came in to the room and she landed right in his arms. She threw her arms around his neck as he hugged her. She sighed happily. This was her perfect moment; but then it wasn't. Something felt off though. There was a sadness radiating from him. She felt as though he was clinging to her as if his life depended on it. Hermione recalled Ginny from her thoughts.

"Hurry up and eat, Ginny. I want to get Diagon Alley before it becomes to crowded."

Ginny stepped out of the fireplace into the famous wizard pub, The Leaky Caldron. The others followed closely behind. Hermione tapped the bricks in the garden and they were in Diagon Alley.

Already the street and shops were bustling with people. It was such a drastic change from the same time last year, when people couldn't be paid to linger outside of their homes. Several of their classmates could be spotted talking and purchasing school supplies. It seemed nobody was waiting to the last minute to prepare for classes this year. The exhilaration of freedom had chased them all out into the energizing sunshine.

It was nice to see how the shopping district had recovered. The destruction from Voldemort's reign of terror had mostly been repaired. Even Ollivander's Wand Shop had reopened.

They headed for Flourish and Blotts, the bookstore. Ron whispered to Harry, who smiled and made a slight, barely noticeable gesture with his hand.

Ron turned toward Hermione. "I just remembered I have an appointment. Harry is going to come with me. We'll meet you at George's shop in an hour."