Ginny's Birthday
As Harry and Ginny went down to the kitchen, nothing seemed different but it was a little to quiet as it was nearly lunchtime and the burrow should have been a hive of activity for that time of day but there was nobody to be seen. Harry and Ginny walked out the back door to find the entire Weasley clan and Hermione gathered there. When Mrs. Weasley saw Harry and Ginny, she came running up to them and said " Happy Birthday, Ginny." Ginny smiled and hugged her mum, said "Thanks mum" Ginny's mouth fell open when she saw a sign saying 'Happy 17th Birthday Ginny' in big letters of a marque. The rest of the family and Hermione let out cheer and started on a loud chorus of "Happy Birthday." She turned to Harry and said " You knew about this didn't you, Harry" "Well I knew something was happening but I wasn't let in on what in case you tried to get it out of me" Harry said "Happy Birthday Ginny"
Ginny dissolved into tears of joy and Harry hugged her, walked up to her family where, in the marque was a massive mint chocolate mud cake and enough food to food a small army, which, Harry reminded himself, the Weasley family was.
It was a brilliant day for Ginny she got some beautiful gifts including a gold necklace from Harry, a new diary from Hermione, a mystery item from Ron which he told her not to open with anyone but Harry, a set of earrings from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and a range of Weasley Wizarding Wheeze's products from George and Percy.
Later that evening, after the party ended, Ginny said to Harry that "This was the best birthday she had ever had." Harry just smiled and gave her massive hug. After everyone had gone to bed, Harry and Ginny were in the sitting in Ginny's room and Ginny opened the present Ron gave her. It was a set of dress robes that showed a lot more of Ginny's body than Mrs. Weasley would have allowed. "Try them on" said Harry with a cheeky smile. "Wouldn't you like me to, Harry" Ginny replied with a chastising look on her face. "Yes I would but you are going to make me wait to see them on, aren't you?" said Harry, his cheek causing him to get a smack on the arm. ' You'll just have to wait and find out, won't you." Replied Ginny with a small laugh and hurriedly put them in her case to take to Hogwarts and walking back to the bed where Harry had stretched out and was looking very sleepy.
Ginny realized that she was tired too and changed into her nightdress while Harry changed into his pajama bottoms as he didn't sleep in a top any more. As they crawled into bed, Harry waved his hand and turned out the lights and put his glasses on the dresser next to the bed. Ginny curled up to him and they soon fell asleep.
The next morning, Mrs. Weasley made breakfast for everyone before they left for London and Diagon Alley to buy all the books and other equipment they would need for their final year at Hogwarts as they had all received their lists for the new books that they would need and as all of them bar Ginny had missed the last year Harry, Ron and Hermione had to do the Seventh year after most of their class mates had graduated but Harry had no problem with this.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley traveled to Diagon Alley to pick up their new school supplies and all four of the needed new robes as they were either too short or lost in moving in Harry's case, the five of them went to Gringott's bank first. The Front steps still bore the marks of the spells that had been aimed at the building many months previously and the roof still had a hole in it where Harry, Ron , and Hermione had escaped on the back of a dragon. Entering the massive doors, Harry went straight to the counter and asked to be taken to his vault. Harry and the Weasleys and Hermione where taken down to his vault and Harry withdrew a lot more money than he usually would have as he was paying for Ginny's stuff as well as his own. He had spoken with Mrs. Weasley before coming and they had agreed on this, albeit Mrs. Weasley took a little while to convince to let him do it, Mrs. Weasley went the Weasley vault and Harry was a little shocked. There was a lot more Galleons and Sickles and Knuts than had been in there last time Harry had been with them. After visiting Gringott's they went to see Madam Malkin for their new robes, then they went to Florish and Blotts to pick their new books where Harry made quite a stir amongst some of the first years there who had heard about his victory over Voldemort. After this they picked up new potion ingredients and Harry bought a new owl for Ginny and himself after losing Hedwig. All their shopping done, the small group went to see George and Percy at what was the twins shop and were surprised to see the que to buy their products was out the front door but the man on the front door obviously recognized them and they were in the store without much delay.
Harry bought himself and Ginny a couple of Skiving Snackboxes and some other pranking supplies while Ron and Hermione got a new wizard's chess set each as Ron had been teaching Hermione to play and she was now rather good at it and had even beaten Ron a couple of times, however Harry had helped her out so Hermione could beat him, not that Ron knew that of course. George came up to Harry and pulled him aside and said " If you hurt my little sister in any way, you know I will hurt you and well lets just say Voldemort will be childs play compared to what I will do to you, catch my drift Harry?" and the look in Georges eyes said he meant business.
Harry looked George straight in the eyes and replied "I love Ginny and would never ever do any thing to hurt her, You have my word as I had yours against Umbridge back in my fifth year." George smiled and said " Well better you, someone we know and trust than some of the other wankers she dated,eh?" Harry smiled weakly and they turned and walk back over to where Ron and Mrs. Weasley were arguing with the man on the register about the price of the items they were trying to buy at the counter. George quickly said "Hey! Thats my family. They get the stuff free of charge. Even Harry here, he was our starting backer and he can get anything he wants." the man behind the counter gulped. Harry was rather embarrassed after George saying he could get anything he wanted for free.
They all bade George goodbye and made their way outside into the crowded street and tried to find a secluded spot from which they could all disapparate back to the burrow. As the group walked towards Gringotts, they found a nice secluded space from which they could disapparate back to the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley disapparated first then Ron and Hermione finally Harry and Ginny and as she hadn't passed her apparition test yet, Harry took her by side along apparition back to the Burrow.
Ginny took Harry's left arm and Harry turned into the crushing darkness and appeared almost instantly at the gate to the yard of the Burrow. Harry and Ginny made their way to the house and went inside, where they went upstairs to put their purchases in their room. They went back downstairs and found Ron and Hermione sitting at the table playing chess while Mrs. Weasley bustled around the tiny kitchen, making lunch. it was a great day to say the least, with Harry finally feeling that he had a life to look forward to and to make it even better, he had found a family who loved him for who he was, not just something that could be hidden away in a cupboard under the stairs.
