CHAPTER ONE

Time Passed

After the final battle Harry, Ron and Hermione had settled into their lives as best they could, under the circumstances. Ron had lost Fred and was dealing with the grief in his own way, shutting everyone out, including Hermione. Hermione had gone to Australia to find her parents and return their memories to them. This in itself was stressful enough for her, but with the added pressure of what Ron was doing (or not doing) she felt as though she might soon break. Harry had also suffered many losses; with Remus gone, he felt as though the last remaining connection to his parents had gone with him.

It was Ginny who came up with the idea of taking a holiday. She knew that she needed to get away and could see that Harry was struggling with everything at the moment. It was also obvious to her that Ron was not going to get any better staying where he was. He needed to let go and look to the future. It was not that Ginny wasn't devastated by Fred's death, but rather she had come to terms with it and knew that he had died laughing; just how he would have wanted to go. Ginny could see that Hermione needed this break too. Every time Ginny saw her it seemed as though she would burst into tears and she kept glancing at Ron with such sadness, Ginny thought her heart would break.

All she needed to do was convince them that this was the best thing for all of them.

She decided to start on Hermione. Ginny found her sitting at the table in the kitchen of the burrow cradling a cup of steaming tea.

"Hey Hermione, you ok?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine."

Ginny could see clearly that she was not fine; she had dark circles under her eyes and they were bright red from crying.

"Hermione, come on. We're going for a walk," Ginny stated calmly.

"Oh, no thanks, Gin, I don't think I'm up to it," Hermione replied dejectedly.

"It wasn't a question, Hermione. Come on." Ginny gripped Hermione's upper arm tightly and pulled her off the bench and out the back door.

The bright July sunshine made Hermione flinch. She had been inside so long she'd forgotten what the Sun's light felt like on her skin. After a minute she took a few more steps further into the garden. Taking a deep breath, she made her way to the gate at the back of the garden that led into the wheat field, which had grown around knee high so far and would probably get a lot taller. Ginny followed silently behind her, letting her grow accustomed to her surroundings.

Finally, Hermione spoke, "So, why did you bring me out here, Gin?"

"I just wanted to talk. You haven't been the same, Hermione, and I… I miss you," Ginny said, tearing up slightly.

Hermione hugged her tightly before saying, "I know, Gin, but I can't help it. Nothing's the same. I mean, after Voldemort was killed I knew things would change but I thought they'd get better not… not… well, not be like this. Harry's not so bad, I think he's finally coming to terms with everything that happened, but Ron, well, Ron isn't. He's hardly spoken to anyone properly since Fred died, least of all me."

"That's why I think my idea is such a good one," Ginny said drying her eyes quickly.

"What idea?" Hermione asked cautiously.

"I think that we all need a holiday. Somewhere hot and far away, where no one will recognise us," Ginny said, obviously pleased with herself.

Hermione was a little more cautious. "I'm not sure, Gin. Do you think it's wise to leave your family now?"

"Hermione, we all need this. Harry needs a break from all the media attention; I think if he sees Rita Skeeter again he might just snap. And Ron needs to get out of this house. He's hardly left his room in over two months. And you, you need to be in a different environment. If you stay here any longer I think you might just go insane. I know I will," Ginny stated adamantly.

"Maybe you're right. I would like to get away from here, but I doubt Ron would agree. Harry might, if you talk to him. And anyway, where would we go?"

"I was thinking Egypt. It was really nice when I and my family went, but I thought instead of visiting the pyramids we could have a beach holiday. And you're right, Ron probably won't agree. So we won't tell him."

"What? How on earth do you plan to get Ron all the way to Egypt without actually telling him? And anyway, I don't mean to sound conceited or anything but wherever we go we're going to be recognised. The defeat of the darkest wizard of all time was sort of worldwide wizarding news."

"That's why I thought we could go to a muggle resort. No one would know us there and it'd be fun, seeing how they live for a while. And with Ron, I don't think it'll be that hard. I can pack his suitcase and then we'll just tell him we're going out for the day. I'll drag him out of the house if I have to." Ginny seemed determined about this and Hermione knew it would take a lot to change her mind.

"Ok, if you can convince Harry and come up with a way to get Ron there, then sure why not? I could do with a holiday." Hermione finished with a smile, the first one in a while and headed out further into the tall grass. "You go inside and start convincing Harry. I want to stay out here for a bit. Oh, and Ginny? Thank you."

"No problem," replied Ginny whilst making her way back inside.

Ron saw Hermione and Ginny talking just outside the Weasley's back garden. He watched Hermione intently from his seat by the window in his room. How he longed to go out and talk with her as well, but he didn't think he could face anyone just yet, especially not Hermione considering what happened just before the final battle.

That kiss. That kiss had haunted his dreams and remained with him throughout the day. He couldn't forget it. The way her lips felt against his, how her body fit perfectly next to his as he gripped onto her, determined not to let go. He wanted, no, needed more. He needed all of her. But all too soon reality came crashing back to him. Hermione didn't really feel that way about him; it had been an impulse act, a spur of the moment thing. And anyway, he couldn't feel happy at a time like this. Fred was dead. He had to grieve with the rest of his family. There was no room for happiness yet.

Ron saw Ginny head back inside and expected Hermione to follow soon after, but instead she stepped further into the yellow wheat. She walked slowly at first and Ron wondered what she was thinking, when all of a sudden, she broke out into a run. Tearing through the field she headed further and further away from the house; but as she stopped and spun around Ron could still make out the blissful grin on her face and couldn't help but match it with one of his own.

Maybe he could be happy for a while after all.

Ginny quickly made her way back into the Burrow, desperate to find Harry. She was so ecstatic that Hermione had agreed to her plan and was eager to make sure Harry would too. Ron, she thought, shouldn't be too much of a problem, sure, he'd be mad at first and refuse, but once he realised that he'd be with Hermione for two weeks or so, she was sure he'd come around.

Ginny eventually found Harry in the living room playing a game of wizard's chess by himself. Ginny inwardly chuckled as she saw him get up and walk around to the other side of the board before sitting back down and once again concentrating on the chess pieces in front of him.

"Ahem." Ginny cleared her throat to gain his attention.

Harry quickly looked up from the board and gazed at the girl in front of him. Her dark green t-shirt contrasted brilliantly with her vivid red hair and the tight jeans she wore did nothing to help Harry forget how much he wanted her.

"Oh, hey, Gin. You ok?" Harry asked trying to draw his gaze away from the way the t-shirt stretched appealingly across Ginny's chest.

Ginny didn't fail to notice where Harry's gaze was fixed but decided not to comment on it, and actually felt rather flattered by the attention he was giving her. "Yeah, I'm alright, thanks. I just wanted to ask you something really," Ginny said calmly.

"Yeah? What's that then?" Harry asked, finally drawing his eyes up to meet hers.

"How would you feel about going away for a while?" Ginny asked with a nervous smile on her face. "You know, sun, sea and, and, well… I don't know! But I just need to get away Harry, and Hermione's agreed to it and if she thinks it's a good idea then nothing you can say will make me change my mind so I don't care if you come or not but you can't stop me…"

Harry quickly interrupted her rambling before she managed to hurt herself by rupturing a vein or something. "Ginny! Listen, just calm down okay? I actually agree with Hermione, I think it's a great idea. Where were you thinking of going?"

"Oh, erm, well great! And I was thinking Egypt maybe?" Ginny said with a small smile.

"Yeah, so long as it's hot. What has your mum said?" Harry asked.

"Err…"

"You haven't asked her have you?" Harry asked, smiling slightly.

"Not technically, no. Oh, Harry you know what she's like and exactly what she'll say. I'm obviously going to tell her but just maybe not yet. So don't say anything okay?"

After getting Harry to agree to keep quiet about the holiday and help her with explaining to Ron about it, Ginny headed upstairs to think about just how she was going to break the news to her mother without causing another wizarding war to break out.