A/N: Another chapter for you and only two more to go, which will both more than likely be posted tomorrow.

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor have I ever owned Harry Potter.


Ginny packed the last of her school books in her trunk in preparation for returning to school for her final year the following day. In all honesty; she was not excited about going back to Hogwarts, she felt more apprehensive. She was unsure about whether returning to the place that held so many bad memories for her was such a good idea. However, she was determined to go back and see it through. She just hated the fact that she would be separated from Harry again.

Ginny sat down on her bed and pulled something out from underneath her pillow. She smiled as she looked at the photo in her hand. It was a shot from the night Harry had taken her to the Eiffel Tower for dinner. In the photo, they stood together looking out over the city, peaceful, relaxed and happy. While they knew how to develop photos so they moved, thanks to Kreacher, Ginny had loved this shot so much she had wanted a still copy of it. Unfortunately, due to her family being ignorant to her relationship with Harry, she had taken to hiding the photo or carrying it with her.

It did sadden her that she couldn't tell her mum of her amazing trip to Paris with Harry. Even though her mum was now spending less time cooped up in her bedroom, Ginny still felt she was unable to tell her about the relationship. And she did desperately want to tell her. Even in the aftermath of the war, she had somehow managed to have an amazing summer with Harry. Their relationship had moved forward physically and emotionally, despite their near year-long separation. She definitely thought the saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder was most definitely true in their case. She knew it would be the same while she attended Hogwarts.

Checking the time and seeing it was nearly lunchtime, she quickly hid the photo again and tidied herself up. She quickly made her way downstairs and found her parents in the kitchen.

"I'm going out for the afternoon," Ginny said as she entered the room. "I'll be back by dinner."

"Are you packed for tomorrow?" Molly asked as she turned from where she was preparing sandwiches.

"Nearly," Ginny replied. "I have a few bits that can be packed tonight and in the morning."

Molly frowned. "Is it not pointless to meet your friends when you'll be seeing them tomorrow?"

"Not all of them are returning," Ginny said defensively. "I want to spend time with them before tomorrow."

Ginny could see her mother wanting to protest, but a look from her father silenced her.

"Go and see your friends," Arthur said. "Please just be back by six for dinner."

"Of course, Daddy," Ginny responded before she quickly made her goodbyes and ran out to the Apparition point.

HP&GW

Harry signed his name on the letter he'd written to Ginny before folding it and attaching it to the present he had also arranged for her. He pushed it to the centre of the table as he accepted the cup of tea Kreacher had made for him. As he slowly sipped at it, his thoughts drifted to him and Ginny and their upcoming separation.

He hated the idea of being away from her for an extended period of time yet again. His only consolation was the fact that they would be able to communicate with each other this time and that he would be able to visit her on Hogsmeade weekends. It was going to be hard to be apart again, but he already had a plan to remedy them being apart ever again at the end of the school year.

He had every intention of proposing to her the moment she finished, whether or not her family knew about their relationship by then. Even though he had admitted he was in love with her when they had reunited after the final battle, every day they had spent together over the summer had reinforced just how much he was. She had been his rock these last four months and he knew she would be in the years to come. She was his everything, so it confused him just how the Weasleys had failed to see that.

"Harry?"

The sweet voice of his girlfriend stirred him from his thoughts.

"I am in here!" he called out from the kitchen before he turned to speak to Kreacher. "Can you close down the Floo please? I do not want any interruptions this afternoon unless I call for you or if it is an emergency."

"As you wish, Master Harry," Kreacher said as he bowed to Harry.

"Hey, sweetie," Ginny said as she entered the kitchen.

Harry did not respond with words, but instead immediately walked up to her and swept her into his arms and a passionate kiss. Hands began to roam as their tongues danced with one another and without breaking their kiss, Harry picked up Ginny, allowing her to wrap her legs around her waist, and he carried her out of the kitchen and towards the stairs.

"Harry? What about lunch?" Ginny said panting as they broke the kiss so Harry could see where he was going so he could climb the stairs.

"Bed now," Harry growled huskily. "Food and talking later."

Ginny couldn't help but grin as she realised that this was going to be an amazing afternoon with the love of her life.

HP&GW

Around an hour later, the young couple lay curled up around each other sweaty, yet satisfied. Ginny lay with her head on Harry's chest as she listened to the comforting sound of his heartbeat, while Harry slowly ran a hand repeatedly through her long, silky hair. Both were enjoying the quiet in the aftermath of their lovemaking, neither wanting to face up to their upcoming separation.

"I'm going to miss this," Ginny whispered so quietly that Harry nearly missed what she had said.

"Me, too," Harry said as he shifted their bodies so they were laying on their sides, face to face. "But we will be in contact this time and I'll come and see you whenever I can."

"I know," Ginny replied with a sigh.

Harry reached out and tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear before he began stroking her cheek with his finger. He could sense something was bothering her and that worried him. He knew it was going to be hard for them with her being back at school and him in Auror training, but he knew that was not the problem. They had discussed their options and had supported each other in their decisions. Whatever it was, therefore, must have been bad enough for it to be able to consume her thoughts.

"What's bothering you, baby?" he tentatively asked.

Ginny opened her eyes from where she had closed them at his relaxing touch, to reveal the worry that was deeply etched in them.

"My family," was all she said in reply.

Harry knew it was not the grief that was still consuming them that was the issue, but their ignorance of their relationship.

"Would you rather just tell them?" Harry asked knowing it wasn't what either of them wanted to do right now.

Ginny sighed as she turned to lie on her back and stare at the ceiling.

"No," she answered truthfully. "I like the lack of intrusion from them and the lack of attention we've had from the press."

"You're worried that if we are suddenly open about our relationship then everyone who doesn't already know will find out and we won't be left alone like we have been," Harry suggested knowing it was what his girlfriend was thinking and verbalising it for her.

"Is it selfish of me to want to keep this to ourselves for a little while longer?" Ginny mused. "It's not like it is a complete secret seeing as most of our friends know and they know without being told to keep it quiet."

Harry chuckled. "It isn't selfish, but I do appreciate not having your brothers breathing down my neck. Can you imagine how they would react if they knew the things what we get up to? Especially if they knew what we have gotten up to in this very bed this afternoon?"

Ginny laughed out loud, her worries lessening as a result. She rolled herself over and onto Harry, so she was stretched out along his body. Harry immediately spotted the look of mischief in her eyes.

"What's going through your head now?" he asked as he began running his hands up and down her bare back.

"A bet!" Ginny said gleefully. "Let's make a bet over who, out of the family, will figure out our relationship first!"

"Well, that's easy," Harry immediately responded. "It'll be Hermione!"

"No, it won't, it'll be my mother," Ginny protested. "I mean, I know she isn't in a good place right now, but I guarantee you, in a few months when I arrive home for Christmas, she will just know that I am in a relationship."

"If you say so," he cheekily responded earning him a smack on the shoulder. "Anyway, I think Hermione is already suspicious of us, or at least of me. She gave me a strange look when I told her I had been busy most of this summer. Just how are you going to hide our letters from her once you go back to school?"

Ginny was sneaky enough that she knew she could avoid any questions from Hermione if needs be and Harry knew that. She tapped a finger to her nose to indicate it was her secret as to how she would divert Hermione's attention to their letters.

"What are the terms of the bet then?" she asked changing the subject and wanting to get something good out of Harry if she won.

Harry could tell Ginny wanted something more than money if she won.

"A forfeit," he declared as she moved to straddle his body. "If I win, I choose what you'll do for me and if you win… "

"I choose what you'll do for me," Ginny finished off for Harry. "You've got yourself a bet, Potter!"

Instead of shaking her hand that Ginny held out to him, Harry grabbed her and rolled them over so he was now on top.

"No more talking," he said huskily. "I want to make love to you one more time before you go home."

"I love you," Ginny whispered as Harry bent his head to kiss her.

"I love you, too," he whispered back before capturing her lips in a passionate kiss.

Slowly, they began to explore each other with their hands and gentle caresses. Neither wanted to rush, neither wanted the moment to ever end. Even as their passion and desire for one another began to rise once again, they still took their time as they made love to one another for the final time before she returned to Hogwarts.

HP&GW

Much later, Harry and Ginny stood together in the hallway of Grimmauld Place with their arms wrapped around each other.

"I'm going to miss you," Ginny whispered sadly into his chest where she was resting her head.

"I'm going to miss you, too," Harry replied as he tightened his grip on his girlfriend, wishing he didn't have to let her go.

Ginny lifted her head to look up at Harry. "Will you be there tomorrow?"

Harry sighed knowing full well what she meant. He wanted to go to the platform to say goodbye, but he knew he wouldn't be able to say it in the way he wanted to without everyone staring. On top of that, he was expected in the office for his first full day of Auror training, which he had begun part time a couple of weeks ago.

"I'm sorry, but I have to be at work at eight," he sadly confessed.

The tears that Ginny had been holding back finally broke through and began to stream down her face. She hated feeling like this, she hated being so emotional over them being separated yet again.

Harry gathered Ginny closer and ran a hand soothingly through her long hair. "It's ok, baby. It's not like last year, remember. We can write to each other this year."

Harry suddenly remembered the present he had left in the kitchen and quickly pulled away from Ginny, leaving her confused to his sudden movements. He returned barely a minute later and held out the present to her.

"This is for you," he stated as she took it from him. "Don't open it until you are on the train."

Ginny pocketed the present before looking back at Harry. "You didn't have to get me anything, but thank you."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and threaded her fingers into his hair and pulled him down into a heart-stopping kiss.

"I'd better go," Ginny said panting as they broke for air.

"Ok, then," Harry reluctantly agreed, before kissing her passionately one last time.

"I love you," she whispered tearfully as they pulled apart.

"I love you, too," he responded as she Apparated away.

HP&GW

Harry leaned against the door frame to the changing rooms as he watched his girlfriend give the team talk to the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Her eyes were alight with enthusiasm and determination as she spoke and it was infectious, Harry could tell from the way the team were responding to her. He couldn't help but smile as they all cheered and clapped as she ended her speech.

"Great speech, Captain!" he called out as the cheers died down. Seven heads snapped round to look at him. "Much better than the ones I made when I was captain."

Ginny could only stare at her boyfriend with an unbelieving look on her face. While she knew he would be attending the match to support her and the team, she didn't think she would actually get to see him.

"Finish getting ready," she said to team, her eyes never leaving Harry's. "I'll be a couple of minutes at most."

Harry followed her into a side room and closed the door behind him. Ginny immediately launched herself at him and Harry caught her just as she firmly planted her lips on his.

"I'm so glad you're here," she said as she gasped for breath. "I'm so nervous. Professor McGonagall told me there are Quidditch Scouts in the stands today. She invited them to watch me. Me! Little Ginny Weasley!"

"You're rambling, baby," Harry said, effectively cutting her off as he pulled her back into his arms and kissed the top of her head. "You are going to be amazing. You'll get in the air, your nerves will melt away and you'll forget that the scouts are here. You know you will."

Ginny took a deep breath to calm her nerves and slowly let it out before she responded to her boyfriend's words of encouragement. "You're right. I can do this, which means I need to get out there and up into the air."

She went to open the door and looked back at Harry who had made to follow her. "I mean it, thank you for coming today."

The couple went their separate ways with Ginny heading back to the team and Harry to the stands. Despite being invited to sit with the teachers, Harry had, instead, decided to surprise his best friend and sit with and spend some time with her. He climbed the stairs to the Gryffindor stand and immediately spotted a head of bushy hair sitting at the front. Harry quickly made his way over and sat in the spare seat next to Hermione.

"Great weather conditions for the match, isn't it?" Harry causally said once he was seated.

Hermione quickly turned her head to see her best friend sat next to her.

"HARRY!" she squealed as she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"Hey, Hermione," he replied with a chuckle as she released him from the death grip she had held on him.

"What are you doing here?" she asked still feeling a bit flustered at the unexpected appearance of her best friend.

"I thought I would come and support the Gryffindor team," he replied with a twinkle in his eyes. "It's been a while since I've been to an actual Quidditch match."

Before she could respond, the teams were announced as they flew out onto the pitch, Harry's attention was now fully on the game that was about to start.

Hermione was happy to spend some time with Harry, she was surprised that it was at a Quidditch match. She could believe he was here to support the team, but she rather thought he was probably here to support Ginny. But as far as she was aware, they had not reunited as a couple after the final battle and while she knew they both valued their privacy, she was certain the family would have known by now if they were a couple once more. No, they couldn't be a couple, he was just being a supportive friend, she thought.

Pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind for another day, she focused her eyes on the action taking place before her.

HP&GW

Harry said goodbye to Hermione and headed back down to the changing rooms to see Ginny and congratulate her and the team on a great match and victory. He was impressed by not only the team she had put together and by how well they all played. He was also impressed by the strategy and plays Ginny had put together. In his mind there was no way that the scouts in the stand could ignore her, especially considering how she had led the team to victory by demolishing the Slytherins.

Harry had to wait for quite a while for his girlfriend to emerge from the changing rooms. He had congratulated the rest of the team as they exited and returned to the castle. He had even briefly spoken to Professor McGonagall, though he had declined her invitation to stay for dinner. Eventually the door opened and Harry was not surprised to see who he presumed to be the scouts and Gwenog Jones of the Holyhead Harpies walking out. He nodded courteously to all of them as they passed him.

"I've been given a trial for the Harpies!" Ginny squealed in excitement when she finally emerged.

"Congratulations, baby!" Harry said as he swept her into a hug and pulled her into a passionate kiss.

HP&GW

Harry quickly ducked into The Three Broomsticks to escape the biting cold. He immediately felt the welcoming warmth of the inn as he looked round to see if Ginny had already arrived. As he had expected, he was early, but he did spot his two best friends in the corner, wrapped up in each other and one very heated snog. He couldn't help but smile at the sight, even though it was one he didn't really want to see.

"Ahem," he gently coughed as he reached their table. The couple broke apart and sheepishly looked at Harry who could only shake his head in amusement at their swollen lips and flushed faces. "Mind if I join you?"

"Can I join you, too?" a voice said from behind Harry. "Or does my brother not wish to see me?"

"Judging from his face, Ginny, I don't think he wants to see either of us right now," Harry responded with a chuckle as he noticed the irritable look on his best mate's face at being interrupted.

"What exactly are you doing here, Harry?" Ron asked as the couple sat down at the table. He couldn't understand why his best mate had come to a Hogsmeade weekend. As far as he knew, Harry didn't have a reason to be here. He was no longer dating Ginny and he knew that Ron, himself, would want time alone with Hermione.

"Ronald, that was rude," Hermione admonished as she smacked her boyfriend on the shoulder.

Ron glared at Hermione. "He needs to find himself a girlfriend, Hermione, so he can stop interrupting our time together!"

Both Harry and Ginny snorted at the statement, both knowing how wrong he was. Neither could believe that Ron could be so dense.

"You know what," Harry said as he stood back up, fed up with Ron's reaction. "I did have an actual reason for coming today and seeing as you wish I had not interrupted your date with my best friend, I will just get on with what I planned to do to begin with."

Harry turned to look at Ginny who gave him a look of understanding as she stood to join him.

"Harry actually came to meet up with me so we could go and pick up the presents we planned to get together for Teddy, our godson," Ginny told the older pair. "So, we'll just leave you to it."

Hermione watched as Ginny and Harry left The Three Broomsticks together, arm in arm. She was even more convinced that there was more going on between them than they had been letting on, but she only had circumstantial evidence that this was the case. Looking at Ron, she thought about telling him her suspicions, but she knew he would brush them off by telling her she was seeing things that weren't there. Thinking about it, perhaps she was just seeing things. Shaking the thoughts from her head, she turned her attention back to her boyfriend.

HP&GW

The sounds of a crackling fire and a ticking clock were all that could be heard as Harry and Ginny lay cuddled up on the sofa in front of the fireplace. Despite the numerous invitations from work colleagues and school friends they had received to celebrate New Year's Eve with them, the couple had politely declined due to wanting to spend a quiet night in together alone.

"I still cannot believe that none of my family has figured out we're together," Ginny quietly said as she thought about how no one had questioned where she would be tonight.

"Does that mean I have won our bet?" Harry cheekily responded.

Ginny sat up with a look of mock anger on her face. "Has Hermione figured it out yet?"

"No, but I am absolutely certain she is suspicious," he replied as he pulled his girlfriend back down to where she had been laying. "But it's not like she had a chance over Christmas to figure it out as your family never gave us a chance to have a moment alone. The only time we came even close was when we were spending time with Teddy."

"That's true," Ginny sighed. "It's not like anyone even knows where I am tonight, let alone that I am spending it with you."

Christmas had been quite a solemn affair with the loss of Fred still deeply affecting the family. The only time the mood seem to lift was in the presence of Teddy, whose laughter and smiles were infectious to anyone he spent time with. Even George was not immune to Teddy's smiles. With the mood so sombre otherwise, New Year's Eve was never discussed, though Ginny quickly discovered all her brothers had plans, so following through on her plan to spend some alone time with Harry was not an issue.

"Do you think perhaps we should just give up waiting for them to figure out our relationship and just tell them?" Harry asked as he ran a hand through Ginny's hair.

Ginny did not immediately reply, something that Harry had expected so he stayed quiet while she gathered her thoughts.

"Yes… No… Maybe," she replied uncertainly. "I don't know."

"Tell me what you're thinking," Harry gently coaxed.

"I don't really know what I'm thinking," she began as she attempted to make sense of her thoughts. "I am still annoyed that they are so consumed by their grief that they cannot see that I have found something special to help me through mine. But I am so happy with you that it seems so easy to push it to one side for now and just not worry about it."

"So what do you want to do?" Harry asked knowing it needed to be Ginny's decision seeing as she knew her family best.

Ginny turned over and rested her head on her hand as she used her elbow to raise herself up so she could look at Harry.

"What I want is to make plans with you for our future, for what we plan to do after I leave school so that when we finally tell them the truth about us, they will be able to see and understand that we are serious about each other and our relationship."

"Oh, well, that is easy to figure out," Harry said with a goofy smile on his face as he rolled Ginny underneath him.

"Oh, it is, is it?" she replied laughing as she looped her arms around his neck.

Harry leant down and gently kissed her. "I want you here with me, living with me. I want to fall asleep next to you every night and wake up to see your beautiful face every morning."

"Are you…?" she began to ask if he was going to ask what she thought he was going to ask but she was in too much shock to even finish her sentence. It took Harry kissing her for her to regain her focus on him.

"Yes," Harry responded, understanding what she was trying to ask. "I want you to move in with me. It doesn't have to be the moment you leave school, but the sooner, the better in my opinion."

Ginny smiled widely before pulling Harry down and kissing him soundly.

"I'll take that as a yes then," Harry said breathlessly once they ended the kiss.

"Absolutely," Ginny replied with a smile that she knew would not be leaving her face any time soon. "But we won't be able to make any official plans until after my trial for the Harpies."

"Decisions which can wait for now," Harry said huskily. "Right now, it is getting close to midnight and I want to spend the last minutes of this year making love to you into next year."

"Now, that's a decision I can agree with," Ginny purred in pleasure as Harry began planting hot kisses down her neck.

Piece by piece, their clothes slowly came off them and they moved down onto the rug in front of the fireplace, where they proceeded to make love into the early hours of the New Year.

Later, as they lay snuggled up together under a blanket, sated from their love making, Harry allowed his thoughts to drift to the coming year.

Even with the pain and heartache of the past year, he really felt his life was becoming what he had always wanted it to be. Yes, he was still, at times, struggling with everything he had been through, but Ginny really did help him find and enjoy the good things in life. Therefore, he knew he wanted to make this a good year for them. By the end of the year, he hoped she would be living with him and that they would be engaged, perhaps even married. The very idea made him smile.

Harry felt Ginny shift closer to him in her sleep, causing him to wrap his arms tighter around her. Smiling, he allowed himself to relax into the embrace and as he drifted off to sleep, his last thought was that by the end of the year, their time together would not be as limited as it was now.