The summer blazed by, so Harry was a little surprised to see that it was already August. With all the funerals, the memorials and all the meetings with the Ministry of Magic time simply flew. Fred's had been the worst funeral by far; the whole of Hogwarts had come, ranging in age from teachers, to Fred's year all the way to First Years starting that September. Tonks and Lupins funerals were slightly smaller but still large none the less. They were buried side by side in a small cemetery just outside of London. Harry decided it would be best if Andromeda raised Teddy, since he was returning to Hogwarts and because he simply had no idea how to raise a child, finishing off Voldemort was probably easier. Andromeda was thrilled and agreed in a heartbeat. She wanted nothing more than to have her grandchild with her. But Harry made it very clear that he was still going to be a large part of Teddy's life.

The atmosphere in the Burrow was the same, as always, but there was still the strange feeling of something missing. The healing process had begun, but it would take many more months before dashing to the bathroom for a cry would stop. Life had indeed gone on, but the ones they loved would never be forgotten.

When Harry and Ron woke up on the morning of August the eleventh, there was a surprise waiting for them at the kitchen table. Hermione was back from her holiday with her parents. After the funerals she went straight to Australia to get them back. Ron had wanted to go with her, but Hermione set her foot down and told him, he needed to be with his family.

"Hermione!' shouted Ron when they fully entered the kitchen.

She jumped up and the two shared an embrace and a kiss. Mrs. Weasley was busying herself with breakfast. She waived her wand and eggs started cracking themselves over the pan.

"Harry, dear will you go and fetch Ginny, your Hogwarts letters arrived this morning."

Harry smiled and heard a small gasp from Hermione's direction and she dived to the stack of post lying on the table. He climbed the stairs and knocked on Ginny's door.

"Come in" He entered and saw she was sitting at her desk, brushing her hair by magic. She smiled as he reached down and kissed her.

"Morning" she said.

"Happy Birthday"

"Thanks"

"Our Hogwarts letters are-"

But before he could even finish his sentence she bolted out the room. He reached the kitchen a second behind Ginny and saw Ron and Hermione reading their own. Mrs. Weasley beamed at him and handed him, his.

Hermione letter contained a surprise; she had been named Head Girl and Harry was glad to see he was still captain of the Quidditch team. His letter also contained a hand written letter from Professor McGonagall, asking him to say a few words after the start of term feast.

"I wonder who's Head Boy?" asked Ron, through gritted teeth.

Harry knew that Hermione being Head Girl would require her to roam the halls late at night with the Head Boy. And he knew that would probably make Ron's blood pressure rise. Harry just shrugged his shoulder, when he saw Ron's expression.

Hermione caught on a second later and said. "Oh, honestly Ron." But she looked amused at seeing Ron jealous.

"How about after breakfast, the four of you go and pick up your school things." said Mrs. Weasley. "You all need new robes."

After gulping down eggs and toast the four of them put on robes and Mrs. Weasley handed Ginny a money bag. Ron had helped George in the shop all summer so he had his own.

"Now" started Mrs. Weasley. "You all need to be back by one, so you can help with Ginny's birthday tea."

They decided to disapparate and Ginny would side along with Harry. They walked to the edge of the burrow and Ginny took Harry's waist. "Everyone ready?" asked Ron.

They nodded and pulled their self in to darkness. When they opened their eyes, they had arrived at their destination, right in front of Gringotts. The four of them went inside, Hermione needed to exchange her muggle money and Ron and Harry had to make withdrawals. The two men climbed in to the little cart, as they did this they tried to hide the smiles on their faces; they were remembering when they broke in only months before. They arrived at Ron's vault first and he filled his money bag. They took off again and two minutes later they arrived at Harry's, he took more than he needed because he wanted to get something for Ginny's birthday.

After another roller coaster ride they arrived at the main floor. The two of them met Hermione and Ginny at the exit and they made their way down the crowded alley. As Harry expected, he could not walk five feet without someone trying to shake his hand. He tried to be polite and acknowledge every one that nodded at him, but there was just too many. They finally reached Madam Malkin's and Harry was relieved when they went inside. The squat witch fitted them all with new robes, they paid and went outside.

"How about this." said Harry "Why don't you two"-He indicated Hermione and Ginny-"pick up our books and me and Ron will get our potions ingredients."

The girls nodded, Harry and Ron handed them some money and they headed towards Flourish & Blotts.

"That should give me ten minutes." said Harry, out loud to himself.

"What?" said Ron, looking confused.

"I need to get Ginny something for her birthday."

"Right" said Ron, as they started to walk.

"Do you know what you are going to get her?"

"I have an Idea."

They walked for several more feet until they reached the little shop Harry saw on their walk from Gringotts. He looked down in the window and saw right what he was looking for.

"Be back in a minute, wait out here and watch for the girls." Ron nodded and Harry went inside.

The witch behind the counter did a double take and asked in a small voice."Morning, Mr. Potter. How can I help you?"

"Er…Can I see that silver necklace in the front window?"

The witch smiled and walked to the window to retrieve it. "Is this the one?" she asked.

"Yes" said Harry. It was perfect in his opinion; the chain was silver with a small rose pendant. The pendant looked just like a real rose in bloom.

"How much?" he asked." One hundred galleons." As she said this something else on the counter caught his eye, a diamond engagement ring. The witch saw this and removed it from the case. Harry could not contain his self; he looked at the price tag and said. "I'll take it."

He smiled, pulled the money from his bag and paid. She boxed them for him and he put the ring in his robes.

"What did you get her." asked Ron, when Harry came out the shop.

Harry held out the necklace for Ron to see. "Blimey Harry, Ginny will love that. Is that a rose?"

"Yes"

"Rose..." said Ron, rubbing his chin. "I like that."

Harry Rolled his eyes and told him. "Let's go" They had barely been in the Apothecary two minutes before Hermione and Ginny walked in, arms full of books. "Have you gotten everything" they asked. "Yes, we got parchment and ink too." "Let's floo our things from George's so that way we don't have to disapparate with it."

"Good thinking Ron" said Hermione. "Always the tone of surprise." muttered Ron under his breath.

When they entered the shop it was packed as usual. They told George they need to use the fire place, but he informed them "The use of it would cost five galleons" They simply rolled their eyes and went to the back. Harry pointed his wand at fireplace and was about to say "Incendio" but Ginny stopped him and said. "I'll do it" and she pointed her wand and started the fire. Ron took a pinch of floo powder and threw it in the fire. He shouted "the burrow" and they placed their school things in the green flames.

"We better get back." said Ginny "Or mum will come looking for us." They thanked George, told him goodbye and went in to the alley. Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry and the four of them disapparated. Ginny's birthday tea was small, besides Harry and Hermione the only ones there that didn't have Weasley as their last name were Teddy and Andromeda.

"Is everyone ready to start" asked Mrs. Weasley. Ginny began opening her presents; they included a gold locket from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, a new copy of Quidditch: through the ages from Hermione and various Quidditch supplies from her brothers. The last present she opened was from Harry. Harry had the foresight to put the small box in to a much bigger box, so Ginny would not know what it was by sight.

She removed the paper and opened the top of the box. She gasped when she saw the velvet box sitting there. "It's not what it looks like" he said quickly. She giggled and removed it. "Harry, it's beautiful!" she said, when she saw the necklace.

"Thank you" she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. She removed it from its pillow and placed it on her neck. Harry looked at Hermione, who was coming around the table to look at Ginny's present.

"Oh Harry" said Hermione. "Is that a rose?"

"Yes"

"Rose… that would make a nice name."

Harry choked on his mead and looked at Ron, who looked in the other direction.

After dinner and a night cap everyone retreated in the house. Right before bed time, Ginny pulled Harry to the side in the Hall and kissed him. "I love it" she said, patting the necklace. He smiled and pulled her in to another kiss. "Goodnight" she said when they broke apart. Harry climbed the stairs to Ron's room, Ron was already in his bed snoring.

He reached in his robes and pulled out the ring. He knew he wanted to ask her soon, but he didn't when. He racked his brain for ten minutes until at last he decided he would know when the time was right. He put the ring in his trunk, changed in to his pajamas and drifted off to sleep.