A/N: Hey there. So...this is my Post-HBP story. For those of you who read my other HP fics, don't worry, I still plan on continuing them, even if I don't update too often. Well, this fic will be H/G, R/H, and T/L, mainly. But the story isn't purely romance, it's just an enormous subplot. So...yeah. Please read, and reviews are greatly appreciated.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter. Obviously.

Chapter One- This House is Not a Home

Harry Potter, a boy of nearly seventeen, sat upon his bed, staring at the clock as he counted down the hours to when he would come-of-age and be able to get away from his horrid residence at the Dursley's forever. He still had about seven hours to go, and he knew that the Dursley's would probably end up torturing him as much as possible within those next seven hours. But after that, Harry would be a free man, away from the Dursley's wrath eternally and would be joining Ron and Hermione in heading to the Burrow for Bill and Fleur's wedding.

Harry broke his gaze away from the clock and turned it towards the window. It was just as misty as had been the previous year, meaning that the horrifying dementors were still breeding. The hours passed in silence as Harry shifted around restlessly, staring out the window or thinking dreadful thoughts of his mentor's passing, Albus Dumbledore. He had been murdered by Severus Snape, an awful man who Harry had always despised, but who Dumbledore had trusted. Harry shook his head sadly but his thoughts of sadness quickly passed as they were replaced with those of determination of what he was going to be doing with Ron and Hermione. He would destroy the Dark Lord, Voldemort.

He would not let Dumbledore down.

Harry glanced at the clock again. 11:30 PM. Only half an hour left. Harry headed down the stairs slowly and entered the kitchen. His Uncle Vernon saw him and began to get red in the face.

"BOY! What are you doing down here? Get back to your room!"

Harry stared at his uncle for a moment. "No thanks," he said boredly, as he continued rummaging through the kitchen for a snack.

Uncle Vernon's face was growing redder by the second.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'NO THANKS'! An order's an order! Get back to your room!"

Harry walked swiftly over to his uncle, where he sat on the couch in front of the television. He pulled his wand out of his back pocket and pointed it as his uncle. "I said no thanks."

Uncle Vernon spoke with a smug look upon his face, "I don't think so.

You know you're not allowed to do magic during the summer! You'll be expelled from that school of yours!"

"I don't care if I'm expelled," Harry spoke dully, "They may be shutting it down for all I know. It doesn't matter. I'm not going back either way."

Fear flooded Uncle Vernon's face rapidly. "What do you mean, you're not going back? You have to go back! You can't stay here!"

Harry laughed bitterly, "Oh, believe me, I'd never dream of staying here. I'm heading down to my friend Ron's for a while, then heading down to Godric's Hollow for a bit. I figured I'd visit my parent's graves."

Harry heard a gasp from the doorway of the room. He turned to see his Aunt Petunia standing there, her face as pale as a ghost. It seemed as though when Harry mention his parent's graves she was shaken quite bit. Harry stared at her curiously for a moment then turned back to his uncle.

"You should probably know that a few friends of mine will be arriving in about half an hour. I'm leaving this place for good. It'll be midnight, my birthday. There'll be no point in hanging around this place any longer now that my protection is gone," Harry said bitterly, with a surge of resentment.

Uncle Vernon looked flabbergasted. Aunt Petunia, oddly enough, looked slightly hurt.

"You-you're leaving your home forever?" she asked.

Harry frowned at her. "This house was never a home to me."

With that, Harry retreated back up the stairs into his room for what it seemed would be the final time ever.

As his clock struck midnight a surge of power seemed to blow through the house as the charms and enchantments deactivated at Harry's coming-of-age. The powerful winds came to a stop a few moments later and Harry grinned, pulling out his wand. He shrunk his trunk and stuffed it in the pocket of his jeans.

He had just performed his first legal bit of magic as an adult.

Harry stepped into the doorway of his room and looked back upon it. He had spent years in this room and now he was gone for good. He sighed but smiled, trudging down the steps. Just seconds later, Harry heard the doorbell. He smiled and pulled the door open to find Ron and Hermione standing on the other side.

Harry welcomed them inside, grinning. Ron and Hermione greeted him a happy birthday, and Harry turned to Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley. Vernon was as red as a tomato with rage, but Dudley seemed to be shaking with insurmountable fear.

There was a silence as both Ron and Hermione stared at the Dursley's and the Dursley's stared right back. Harry allowed the silence to continue for a moment and then spoke to Ron and Hermione.

"Meet the Dursley's," said Harry sullenly.

There was more awkward silence, until Harry, once again, spoke.

"Well…I'm off then. See ya," he said waving at the family that had tortured him for so many years.

Harry started for the door when Uncle Vernon grunted, "Good riddance."

Harry felt all his blood rushing quickly to his head in anger. He turned his head around slowly to look at his uncle. "Excuse me?" he spoke quietly, his eyebrows raised.

"I-I said good riddance!" Vernon said indignantly.

"You should know," Harry began, speaking even quieter than before, "that you're going to regret that."

A look of pure horror crossed Aunt Petunia's face, as Harry's hand reached subtly into his back pocket, gripping around his wand.

"I am, am I?" Vernon questioned heatedly.

"Oh yes," Harry said coolly. Then, with a quick slashing movement, Harry whipped out his wand and cursed his terrible uncle. Vernon's face was growing steadily bluer and bluer by the second until his head resembled nothing but a gigantic blueberry. Aunt Petunia shrieked and Dudley whimpered. Harry turned to the door, Ron and Hermione at his heels. He turned his head back to the Dursley's and muttered, "Good riddance," bitterly. The trio exited the house and Harry snapped the door shut for his final time.

Harry sighed and mentally said good-bye to all the abuse he had endured for the past sixteen years. He was now moving on to something better. Something far more important. Something he was meant to do.

Harry turned to Ron and Hermione, who were both looking at him. He shrugged moodily and the pair began to walk, trying to find a spot where they would be hidden from view.

"So," Harry began, breaking the silence once more, "When's the wedding?"

"In two days. Sorry for the short notice and everything," Ron said.

"It's ok. Uh…what are you guys wearing?"

Ron said nothing but, "Uh…"

Hermione giggled. "You should where dress robes, Harry."

Harry nodded, "Okay, thanks. I need to get some new one's then."

"We figured," Hermione said abruptly, "So do I. We're going down to Diagon Alley tomorrow."

"Okay."

By then, the three were in a covered area, away from the prying eyes of muggle neighbors.

"You ready, mate?" Ron asked.

"Yep," Harry replied.

"You, Hermione?" Ron asked.

"Of course," she said hastily.

The three of them immediately apparated with an echoing CRACK.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood at the front door of the Burrow. Harry took a deep, steadying breath, looked back at Ron and Hermione for a moment, and slowly opened the door. Within about thirty seconds of opening the door, Harry was engulfed in an enormous hug from Mrs. Weasley.

"Oh, Harry!" she nearly shouted merrily, "It's so good to see you again!" She let go of Harry, stepped back, and studied his features. "You look malnourished!" she declared. "Have the Dursley's been feeding you?"

"Does it really matter?" Ron asked his mother. "He's gone from there now, isn't he?"

"Yes...well," Mrs. Weasley said delicately, "I suppose that's true."

There was an odd silence, until Molly spoke once more. "Well, you lot ought to get off to bed. It's getting rather late."

Harry nodded and the trio trudged up the steps. Harry yawned lightly and suddenly heard a rustle on the other side of the hall. A few seconds later, Ginny Weasley walked out of her room and into the hallway in front of them.

Harry froze.

Harry and Ginny's eyes locked, but no words were spoken for what felt like an eternity. The painfully awkward silence continued for several more moments until, finally, Ginny spoke.

"Um…hi, Harry," she said awkwardly, her deep brown eyes filled with visible internal struggle.

"Hey, Gin," he replied, his eyes still locked with hers. Harry broke the gaze and looked down.

Hermione cleared her throat loudly, "Ron, won't you show me that…um…thing you were talking about earlier?"

"What thing?" Ron asked thickly. Hermione stepped lightly on his toes, but with enough force to cause him a bit of pain. Ron yelped quietly, "Oh! Right, the thing! Yeah, sure, I'll show you that." Ron and Hermione quickly exited the area, leaving Harry and Ginny alone to talk.

Harry stared intensely at Ginny for a moment and then spoke with obviously fake casualness, "So…how has your summer been, so far?"

Ginny shrugged. "I don't know. Okay, I suppose. I mean…I've had better. I'm sure we all have."

Harry nodded, and the two sat down in the middle of the hall, leaning their backs against the wall.

"How's your summer been, Harry?" she asked.

Harry shrugged also. "Well…I mean, no summer at the Dursley's is fun…um…besides that it's been…decent, comparatively I suppose. I mean, at least I wasn't locked in my room with bars on my window this time," he added, with a slightly bitter laugh. Ginny nodded.

There was a long silence, until Ginny spoke with what seemed to be determination in her voice, "Harry," she began, "I want to come with you guys…to get the horcruxes. I can help you, Harry…."

Harry sighed, "Ginny, I can't put you in that danger! I didn't even want Ron and Hermione to come with me! I can't have you in that danger, Gin, I just…can't…."

"I'm already going to be in danger as it is!" she exclaimed in frustration. "I'm a Weasley, therefore a 'blood-traitor', I dated you last year, we've been friends for years, and I'm your best friend's sister. I'm in danger already! We all are," she added gravely.

"But Ginny, don't you want to go back to school next year?" he asked desperately. Sure, it would be wonderful to have Ginny on the trip with them, but he didn't want to risk it.

"We don't even know if the school's going to reopen next year!" Ginny exclaimed.

Harry sighed, "Gin, I just don't want to risk it. Ron, Hermione, and I will be fine on our own, I promise."

Ginny was getting slightly red in the face, "Don't you even promise me that, Harry! You have no idea what's going to happen out there! You'll never know until it happens! For all we know, all three of you could be killed!"

"Ginny, don't say things like that," Harry said exasperatedly, "Don't you see why I don't want you coming, then?"

Ginny nodded. "But that doesn't keep me from wanting to come. I think the more trustworthy people you have with you, the better. There's safety in numbers—well, not so much safety now-a-days as less danger, but you know what I mean."

"Yeah," Harry sighed, "I know what you mean."

The pair was silent for a moment, just staring down at the floor. Ginny eventually scooted closer to Harry and laid her hand on his. She spoke quietly, "I know it's tough, Harry, but we'll figure things out…eventually."

Harry nodded but spoke no words. Their silence was finally rather comfortable and the two just sat there, Ginny's hand on top of Harry's, for a long time. After what was nearly fifteen minutes, Harry spoke, "It's getting late. We should probably get off to bed."

"Alright," Ginny replied. The pair stood up. "Good night, Harry."

"Good night, Gin."

Ginny kissed Harry lightly on the cheek and the pair went their separate ways. Harry walked silently to Ron's room, and absently reached into his pocket, wrapping his hand around the fake horcrux, out of habit. He entered Ron's room to see Hermione sitting on Ron's bed, the two sitting around, talking.

"Hey Harry," Hermione greeted him, "You alright?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," Harry said tenderly.

Hermione said, "We could hear you two," she paused, "fighting, I guess, in the hall. Are you positive you're alright?"

Harry nodded, "I guess. We'll figure things out sometime," he added with a chuckle. Both Hermione and Ron nodded.

"Well," said Hermione, "I suppose I ought to get off to bed, too." She got off Ron's bed and headed to the door, "Good night, Ron, good night, Harry."

"'Night," said Ron.

With that, Hermione exited, closing the door behind her.

Harry gave Ron a fleeting look and took his shrunken trunk out of his pocket and restored it to its regular size.

"So," Ron began awkwardly, "things between you and my sister are…okay now?"

"Yeah, I think so. I mean, we're not together anymore, but we're going to stay friends and all."

"Do you think you'll ever get back together?" Ron inquired.

Harry shrugged, "Not until Voldemort's gone at least," he spoke rather bitterly.

"Why's that?" Ron asked.

Harry sighed. "I broke up with her so she'd stay safe, Ron. I'm in no position to be in a relationship at the moment. If Voldemort found out about her, he'd probably kidnap her or something, to lure me to him. You know how he works, he already knows my weakness, and he'll take advantage of that. He's already used her once, and that was when I hardly knew her. Think about what he'd do if he found out she was my girlfriend."

"I get it," Ron declared, "You're pulling the whole heroic thing again aren't you?"

Harry laughed, "I suppose if that's what you want to call it."

"Well," said Ron, "I'm glad you're staying friends at least."

Harry paused, then spoke, "What's with your sudden interest in my relationship with Ginny, anyway?"

"Just curious," Ron said nonchalantly. Harry raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. He'd been getting the feeling for quite a while now that Ron had wanted him to end up with Ginny. Harry never knew why exactly, but had a feeling it was rather subconscious on Ron's part.

Harry yawned loudly, "Well, I guess I'm going to bed. 'Night."

"'Night."

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all went downstairs around noon, to head to Diagon Alley. They were flooing in because Ginny was not yet old enough to take her apparation test. Harry was just hoping that this time he wouldn't end up in Borgin & Burkes in Knockturn Alley like he had years ago.

Luckily, the traveling by Floo Powder went much better this year. The whole party ended up in Diagon Alley, completely intact. Soon after arriving, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley headed down to Madame Malkin's. Upon entering, Mrs. Weasley led everyone to the dress robe section, and Madame Malkin met them there a few moments later.

"Okay," she began, "Who all are getting robes?" Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all raised their hands. Madame Malkin gestured for them to come forward, and they did as they were told.

Madame Malkin looked at Ron first. "Which color do you prefer?" she asked. She quickly pulled a piece of paper full of color samples out of her pocket and shoved them into Ron's hand.

Ron shrugged, staring at the piece of paper in front of him, "Uh…that one," said Ron, gesturing towards a nice midnight blue shade. Madame Malkin nodded and set to work, gathering the robes in that color and putting them on. She quickly altered them, until they fit Ron perfectly.

Hermione was next, and she chose a lovely shade of periwinkle. Madame Malkin altered them quickly, until fitting nicely. Ginny then chose a set of chocolate brown robes, which, in Harry's opinion, matched her eyes wonderfully. It was then Harry's turn, and he chose the emerald green ones, just as before. Madame Malkin hurriedly took the measurements and made the necessary alterations.

Everyone quickly paid and left the shop.

The rest of the day passed slowly, not much going on, after heading back to the Burrow. Harry and Ron played a few games of wizard's chess, Ron, of course, beat Harry every time. Later, Harry and Ginny played a game of Exploding Snap, and the rest of the day, the group just sat around talking.

"We should be finding out whether or not they'll be reopening the school soon," Hermione said with unease.

Harry sighed, "Not that I'm going back, of course, but I hope they do keep it open. There are still students who need to learn, and as long as there's some who are willing to, they should teach them."

Hermione nodded her agreement. "As long as there's even one student willing to learn, there should be someone to teach them."

Harry laughed flippantly, "That's exactly what Professor Sprout said at the end of last year."

"Really?" Ginny asked curiously. "Which others wanted it to remain open?"

Harry pondered it for a moment. Who had wanted it to remain open? Well, Professor Sprout, obviously, but the other professors had seemed quite unsure. Flitwick had wanted to consult the governors, and everyone else seemed to be in agreement. "Well, they were rather unsure."

Ginny sighed and nodded.

Rather suddenly, Fleur ran into the room, searching about frantically for the tiara she would be wearing in the ceremony tomorrow.

"Fleur," Ginny began awkwardly, "I think it's over on that table," she said motioning to the small wooden table by the fireplace.

"Ooh, yes, 'ank you, Ginny," Fleur said with a sigh of relief, as she grabbed the tiara and exited the room quickly.

There was silence for a moment, until Harry spoke. "Well, you seem to be accepting Fleur a bit more," Harry said to Ginny.

"More like hiding my hatred for her better," Ginny replied.

Harry laughed and said, "I can't believe they're actually getting married."

"I know what you mean," Ron spoke dully. "Mum's going to be insane tomorrow," he paused, "I bet even those two will get all caught up in the craze," he said, motioning towards Hermione and Ginny.

"Hey!" Hermione said indignantly. "Since when have I gotten caught up in things like that?"

"Since the Yule Ball," said Ron, grinning.

Hermione opened her mouth to say something, obviously indignant, but seemed to be at a loss of words. She sighed and closed her mouth. Ron just continued grinning.

"Anyway," Ginny began, "tomorrow should be quite fun. I wonder how I should wear my hair…." she added thoughtfully. Harry laughed at this. "What?" Ginny said, noticing Harry laugh.

Harry opened his mouth to speak, paused, and closed it again. He shook his head slightly, "Nothing." He knew what he had wanted to say, that her hair would look good any way she wore it, and that she shouldn't worry about it, but he realized it wouldn't be a proper things for him to say in their situation. Ginny looked at him curiously, but said nothing. Harry sighed. Maybe one day he'd be able to say what he wanted to Ginny. To be with her again. But sadly, now was not that time, and Harry would just have to deal with that.

Next time they get ready for the wedding.