Disclaimer: I do not own the HP property, and I thank Rowling for this wonderful sandbox to play in.

3

Harry rubbed the water out of his hair. He felt good, as if he was invincible, and by many standards he was. After three arduous years of training, he had finally achieved auror status. Pulling a shirt over his head, he couldn't help but smile. Now the only thing he desired was bed – his warm, soft bed. His stomach grumbled. His bed could wait.

He heard some commotion downstairs as he descended to the first floor of the Burrow. No one should have been up at that hour – Ginny was still in France training with the Cannons, Ron and Hermione had just moved out, and Teddy was still at his grandmother's. He decided it didn't matter, so long as he could get a sandwich or something, he was fine with it.

At first, he didn't see anyone. All the lights were off. Someone was fumbling around with some pots. He could see their silhouette against the moonlight, but their features were obscured. The pots clashed to the ground, a few glasses shattered, and an angry stream of curses filled the room.

"Great, now you've woken up the whole house. Nice going. I thought you wanted to keep your presence unknown for a while."

"Shut up, Ron. It isn't, like you can make a cake. You know that's the only reason why I'm here. Coach is going to make me run a marathon when I get back."

"Shut up, it isn't helping any.'"

"Just pick up the pans."

"Ginny?" Harry said loudly.

"Harry? I thought you'd be in bed." All the lights flickered on. Ron and Ginny were standing in the kitchen, Ron covered in flour, Ginny standing on a pile of broken glass.

His heart skipped a beat. She was really here. Ginny was really here. He hadn't seen her in almost half a year, and she was right in front of him, as beautiful as ever. He walked towards her, his muscles not rested enough after his test this afternoon to run. Before he even took two steps, Ginny was up against him, her arms squeezing the air out of him.

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, returning the embrace.

"Ron told me he was making a cake, and I thought it better I come to oversee it. I don't want him to poison anyone."

"Well, thank you."

"I've missed you so much," Ginny whispered, resting her head on his chest.

"Me too." Harry played with her hair a little. She had cut it short, probably for convenience. He didn't like it that much, but most quidditch players had short hair, so he understood.

"What are you up for? Didn't you have your final test today?"

"I'm looking for food."

"Sit down; I'll make you a sandwich." Ginny left him standing alone and went

into the kitchen. She waved her wand and all the stuff on the floor found its way back to where it belonged.

"So what do you think of her hair?" Ron asked, rubbing his sister's head.

"Stop it, Ron." Ginny fumbled through the cabinets, looking for food.

"When did you get it done?" Harry said, trying to avoid the question.

"Yesterday, on coach's orders. I'm not used to it yet," Ginny said. "He wants everyone to look the same. Here's your sandwich. I need to go to bed. Ron, don't burn down the house."

"Goodnight," Harry said, taking the sandwich. Ginny ruffled Harry's hair and went upstairs.

"Seriously," Ron said, "what do you think of her hair?"

"I wish I had gotten some warning, but it isn't too bad. I'll get used to it."

"I think it's terrible." Ron said down across from Harry. "I don't know what compelled her to do it. Tragic, really."

"Stop being so hard on her."

"Whatever. I need to get back home; Hermione wanted me back an hour ago." He quickly disapparated. Harry inhaled the rest of his sandwich and went to bed.

3

"Harry!" Teddy shouted, jumping up and down on Harry's bed. "Get up, Harry!"

"I don't want to, Teddy," Harry mumbled. His body ached, as if he had been crushed by a truck.

"Come on, Harry!" The boy had climbed on top of Harry and was sitting on his stomach. "They wait you!"

"That's wrong, it is; they wait for you, Harry. Repeat it."

"They wait for you!" He started bouncing up and down again.

"Go get my glasses."

"Where?" Teddy slid off the bed.

"On the table."

Harry sat up and put his feet on the floor. He could see the turquoise blur rummaging through his stuff. The boy gave out a squeal of delight and climbed to Harry's knees. He put the glasses on Harry's face, nearly poking his eye out.

"Thanks, Teddy."

"Come on!" Teddy grabbed Harry's pant leg and pulled on it. He was adorable when he tried to boss Harry around. "Come on!"

"Alright, alright." Harry hauled himself off the bed and lifted up Teddy. Together, they went down the stairs.

"Oh, Harry, you're finally awake?" Mrs. Weasley greeted.

"Courtesy of Teddy," Harry grumbled. Teddy grinned and giggled.

"Well, sit down and enjoy your breakfast. The whole family is coming over later to celebrate," Mrs. Weasley said. "Arthur told me you passed with the best score since Moody."

"I don't believe that for a second," Ginny said, putting a large plate of French toast, potatoes, and sausage in front of Harry.

"I can't eat all that," Harry said.

"I help!" Teddy said, climbing into the chair next to Harry and stealing a sausage.

"It's I will help."

"I will help!" Teddy said obediently, his mouth full of sausage.

"Ginny, you need to eat something," Mrs. Weasley said.

"I've already eaten," Ginny replied.

"You need to eat more. They don't feed you enough in France."

"They feed us fine in France, mum." Ginny sounded exasperated. They must have gone through this earlier, too.

"Look at you! Go eat something! And your hair is atrocious."

"I'm going running," Ginny said, going upstairs.

"Me too," Harry said.

"You need to eat," Mrs. Weasley said.

"I'm not a breakfast person," Harry said.

"I eat your food?" Teddy asked.

"Sure."

Harry was ready to go in one minute. He waited for Ginny in the front yard.

"You won't be able to keep up with me," Ginny said, stretching her arms.

"Are you sure?" Harry grinned, staring at her.

"Yep. You're still sore from yesterday. I had a light practice yesterday. I'll do you a favor and go easy."

She started jogging and Harry followed. He hated that she knew what she was talking about. Almost immediately, he felt as if his calf was going to tear in two. He pushed on, not wanting to disappoint Ginny. She ran for awhile along the road, but quickly diverged into the forest. They ran for thirty minutes before stopping. Harry couldn't breath. He doubled up against a tree and gasped for breath. Ginny stood straight, her breathing heavy but manageable.

"It's not my fault that I'm thin," Ginny said suddenly.

"I know." Ginny had become all muscle since she started playing professional quidditch. "You have the Weasley genes."

"Then why doesn't my mother understand that?" Her face was red.

"She's just worried about you."

Ginny ran her hands through her hair.

"I hate this hair. I hate being away from home all the time. I hate being away from you, Harry." She sat down next to Harry on the ground. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"You're getting tired of quidditch?"

The birds stopped chirping.

"I can't get out of the contract. I have to ride it out. Two more years. I'm not sure I can do it."

"Is there anything you can do if you aren't playing quidditch?"

"I was thinking of getting a job at St. Mungo's when this is all over."

"That would be interesting." Harry stared into the trees, trying to picture Ginny as one of the healers. He had seen some of the inflictions some of the aurors get on the job; he wasn't sure she had the stomach for it. He wasn't about to say anything now, not when she's already upset. Some other time, maybe.

"I'm going to start volunteering there on Saturdays when the team comes back home."

"That's good; find out if you're really cut out for it."

"What are you saying?"

"Well, what department?"

"Memory modification."

"Oh, never mind. I just wasn't sure if you had the stomach to deal with some of the hexes and curses that come through there."

"Of course I do. I went through the elementary training program the first month out of school, and they put me in memory modification or curse treatment; I could choose."

"A lot has happened in two years, though."

"Not enough to change who I am."

"Enough to steer you away from quidditch."

"I'm getting bored, Harry. It doesn't challenge me anymore. You don't understand; an auror always has to be on your toes. But with quidditch, it's the same thing day in and day out. No, I'm finished with it when the contract is up. Besides, I've already broken all the club records."

"Yeah; I've heard that; youngest person to ever start a game and youngest person ever to have all the chaser records for your team. Impressive."

"We'd better get back; I don't want to miss Bill and Fleur."