For the next 10 days Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny spent most of their time practicing dueling with each other to try to keep their skills in top shape. Since Harry was the one that had been the former head of the DA and was the best at defense against the dark arts the other three turned to him to help them with what they were doing. They found that they had all improved dramatically over the past year with all the battles they had all been a part of. Ginny had to make sure nobody was around while they practiced seeing as she was still underage but as long as nobody saw her and they kept within the boundaries of the Burrow nobody would be able to detect that it was her using magic.

On August 10th Harry realized that the next day was Ginny's birthday and he still hadn't gotten her a present. So after a quick breakfast he told the others he had to go to Diagon Alley for a quick visit into Quality Quidditch Supply so he told everyone he'd be back in about an hour. He was unaware of Ginny listening on the stairs and before he could get to the fireplace he found Ginny stepping in front of him, blocking his way and smiling at him suggestively.

"And where are you off to Harry," she asked sweetly taking a step closer to him.

"Oh, er, just thought I'd go to Quality Quidditch Supply and see if they have anything new," Harry said quickly.

"Well then can I come with you? Maybe we can go some other places too," said Ginny putting her arms around Harry's neck and leaning into him.

Harry wanted nothing more than to stay in this position forever but he kept his will strong and remembered that this was his last chance to get Ginny a present. If he didn't go now he'd get too distracted and he'd never get Ginny anything, and what kind of boyfriend doesn't do anything for his girlfriend on her birthday.

"No that's, okay Ginny, I'll be back a little later," said Harry pulling away as much as he didn't want to.

He walked past Ginny who was still smiling knowingly at him and stepped into the fireplace. Right before he yelled Diagon Alley and disappeared Ginny blew him a kiss and winked at him. Harry smiled as he was sucked into the familiar and still unpleasant feeling of spinning and taste of ash. He never did get used to floo powder. Just when he was starting to feel sick again he fell out of the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron. One look up told him that it was empty.

"Mr. Potter, how nice to see you, can I get you anything," came the voice of the toothless landlord Tom. Harry could hear a hopeful tone in his voice; he obviously hadn't had many customers lately.

"Sorry Tom, but I have to go into Diagon Alley and get my girlfriend a birthday present," said Harry getting to his feet.

Tom groaned and walked back behind the counter as Harry walked to the alley in back where the brick wall entrance to Diagon Alley greeted him. As he tapped the necessary bricks he couldn't help but feel bad for Tom. Harry made a mental note to himself to stop for a quick drink on his way back.

First Harry went to Gringotts to get some gold from his vault, and then he went into a jewelry store not too far from the entrance to Knockturn Alley.

"Can I help you sir?" the employee asked when Harry walked in.

Harry was about to ask what kind of jewelry they had but stopped himself before the woman could noticed who he was, he really was not in the mood to have anyone hovering over him.

"No thank you, I just wanted to browse and see what I can find," said Harry and walking to the shelves before the assistant noticed who he was.

He spent about fifteen minutes looking over every ring, bracelet, necklace, and earrings that were in the shop of all colors. Then finally he found the perfect one. It was a gold necklace with a little heart hanging on the end about the size of a thumbnail with little birthstones around it. Harry found one with the birthstone for August and walked up to the front desk to pay for it.

"Buying that for a special witch young man," the clerk asked.

"Yes, it's for the woman I love more than anything, tomorrows her birthday and I want to show her how much I love her," said Harry.

"It's beautiful, I think she'll love it, she's a very lucky witch," said the clerk smiling at him as she put it into a jewelry box and put it into a little bag and handed it back to Harry.

"I'm hoping she does," said Harry paying 24 galleons for the necklace. Then not wanting anyone to know that he had bought anything when he got back to the Burrow, put the bag into his pocket and turned to leave. That's when the clerk was looking at him more carefully. Harry started walking a little quicker before she could ask him if he was really Harry Potter and start gaping at his scar.

"Hey wait, aren't you-"

'Yes I'm Harry bloody Potter, the fucking Chosen One and I really love it when people stare at my scar and act like that' Harry said to himself sarcastically in his mind frowning as he walked out the door and turned back towards the Leaky Cauldron.

"Find a nice present Mr. Potter?" asked Tom, who wasn't as cheerful this time.

"Yes I did, but there is one more thing I need before I head back to the Burrow," said Harry smiling. "You wouldn't happen to have any fresh bottles of Firewhiskey back there would you?"

Tom's head snapped up and joy flooded into his face at Harry's request. He looked like he could leap for joy and start punching the air, but he just kept smiling and reached under the counter pulling out a large mug and bottle of amber liquid.

"Just got that bottle today Mr. Potter, so be sure to enjoy it as it's as fresh as it'll ever be," said Tom.

"Thanks Tom," said Harry sipping his mug, taking his time so he could stay a little longer and let Tom enjoy having a customer for a little while. When he finally finished 20 minutes later he set some gold on the counter, bid Tom good day, and stepped back into the fireplace to floo back to the Burrow.

Ginny was sitting on the love seat when Harry landed in front of the fireplace with a suspicious look on her face. Harry stood up and brushed the soot off his jeans when he noticed Ginny looking at him.

"Hi Ginny, everything okay?" asked Harry, wondering if she had been sitting there the whole time since he left earlier.

"You sure took a long time to just go to Quality Quidditch Supply," Ginny said sweetly to him.

"Okay I also stopped for a drink in the Leaky Cauldron so Tom could have someone to serve since he barely has anyone there anymore," said Harry trying to make sure the bag was completely hidden in his pocket.

Ginny stood up and walked up to him putting one foot in front of the other causing her hips to swing a little, and you can believe that she got Harry to gaze at her. "So you didn't go shopping anywhere else for anything, maybe for a certain event that happened on the 11th of August for someone supposedly very special to you," said Ginny wrapping her arms around Harry's neck once again, this time also stroking his hair.

"Huh, what happens on the 11th of August," Harry asked innocently.

"Oh nothing special, it's just your girlfriend's birthday and she'd love to see what you got her," said Ginny as she leaned into him and planted a couple kisses on his cheek moving down to his neck.

"Well if I did get her something then I couldn't tell her yet could I now, because the 11th of August is still ten hours away, today is only the 10th of August at two in the afternoon," said Harry though he let a small moan escape his mouth from the pleasant feeling Ginny was giving his neck. Ginny tried to slide one of her hands down his body and made a reach for Harry's pocket. Harry suddenly realized where Ginny's hand was reaching for and came back to the Burrow, for his mind felt like it had traveled to a paradise island.

"Nice try Ginny, you almost got me," said Harry grabbing her hand before she plunged it into his pocket. "You're just going to have to wait until tomorrow," said Harry teasing her.

Groaning in defeat Ginny pulled back from Harry and turned to walk into the kitchen, but Harry grabbed her from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Hey now, just because you can't see what I got you doesn't mean that you still can't touch me, I was rather enjoying what you were doing a minute ago," said Harry suggestively. Ginny giggled and placed her hands on top of Harry's and leaned back against him so that Harry could plant kisses all over the side of her face, making it her turn to moan. Spinning around on the spot Ginny wrapped her hands back around Harry's neck and gently scratched the top of his head which sent shivers down Harry's spine. Smiling at each other for a second they looked into each other's eyes to see them bright with love. Harry then leaned in to kiss her and once again got that erotic feeling he always got when his lips touched Ginny's. Unexpectedly Harry felt Ginny step back but with her hands still in his hair, pulling him back with her as she laid on the love seat. Harry had never felt as alive as he lay on top of her and started deepening the kiss. Ginny moved her tongue across his lips and Harry gladly let her in and felt her tongue brush up against his own and tighten her grip around him. Forgetting all about where he and Ginny were neither of them noticed Ron and Hermione walk into the room.

"Okay I know I said I wasn't going to be a prat anymore but I still am not comfortable finding you two like this right in the middle of the living room," said Ron causing Harry's and Ginny's mouths to separate.

"Sorry mate, I forgot where I was and Ginny just got me totally hypnotized," said Harry smiling back down to Ginny, and receiving a light smack on the arm.

"Well do try not to do things like that in the middle of the living room anymore, I really feel uncomfortable seeing my best mate and sister like that," said Ron. Harry and Ginny both frowned and Harry unwillingly got off of Ginny and helped her to her feet.

"You guys in the mood for a game of exploding snap?" asked Ron. They all nodded and went up to Ron's room and played Exploding Snap until Molly called them to dinner.

The next day Harry woke bright and early at 6 a.m. and was showered and dressed by 6:30. After making sure he hadn't woken Ron he tip toed out of the room and down into the kitchen. Harry had asked Molly if she would leave him some instructions on how she made her excellent eggs with toast and jam so Harry could make them for Ginny and give her breakfast in bed. Carefully going over the instructions Molly left on the counter Harry whipped up an omelet with ham, cheese, tomatoes, peppers, and mushrooms, two pieces of toast with strawberry jam, sliced an orange into 6 pieces, grabbed a vine of grapes, and poured a glass of pumpkin juice. He wanted everything to be perfect so he had Molly tell him the exact amount of time to cook the eggs, the exact amount of cheese and milk to mix with the eggs, how long to cook all the vegetables, the exact amount of time to warm the toast, and the exact amount of jam Ginny liked on her toast. Putting it all onto a tray he gathered it up and headed up into Ginny's room. As he walked in he noticed that Hermione was just waking up and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. When she saw what Harry was doing she beamed at him and smiled.

"Oh Harry you're just too sweet, making Ginny breakfast for her and bringing it to her in bed," said Hermione.

"Well what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't treat her like a queen on her birthday," Harry whispered smiling back. Stepping up to her bed and sitting on the side Harry placed the tray on her bedside table. Leaning down he gave her a soft kiss on her forehead which caused her to moan in her sleep and a small smile appeared on her face. Harry wondered what she was dreaming of and hoped it was of him.

"What if she's dreaming of me and I interrupt a very peaceful moment," Harry whispered to Hermione.

"I don't know Harry, I guess you'll just have to find out," said Hermione who had been watching him the whole time and smiling at them. "But once she sees what you've made for her I doubt that she'll complain about you waking her up."

Harry decided he'd just take a chance and hope for the best. Putting a hand on her shoulder he very lightly shook her.

Ginny moaned for a minute in protest telling him that she didn't want to wake up yet while still half asleep, but Harry had made her breakfast and he intended to give it to her.

"Come on Ginny, time to wake up," said Harry leaning down to kiss her cheek.

"Harry do I have to, it's so early," said Ginny opening her eyes halfway when she realized where she was.

"Yes you do, otherwise I'll have to eat this breakfast I made for you myself," said Harry picking up the tray and putting it in her lap.

This caused Ginny's eyes to open wide awake and look down at the tray Harry had just put in her lap. Smiling at Harry she reached over to pull him over to her and gave him a quick but passionate kiss, careful not to pull him against the tray and squash the food. "Thank you Harry, but what's the occasion," asked Ginny teasingly.

"Well now, Yesterday you try to butter me up into giving you your birthday present early, and now on your birthday your acting as if you don't know what's going on," Harry said smiling down at her. "Is this the way it's going to be every year I want to make you breakfast and treat you like the queen you are to me?"

Ginny grinned back at him and put a hand on his face rubbing it with her thumb. "I love you Harry and thank you for this," she said.

"Only the best for you love," said Harry. He stayed with her the whole time she ate her breakfast, occasionally accepting a grape from Ginny every few minutes.

The whole day was all for Ginny. The twins had transfigured several flying cards to hover around the living room that would every couple minutes sing Happy Birthday Ginny, Hermione spent all morning talking with Ginny about girl stuff that nobody had any idea about except Molly. Molly had made a huge brownie cake knowing that it was Ginny's favorite. Ron had given her a photo album with pictures of all of the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione and some with her and Harry while they were together at Hogwarts. He told her that she could take it with her when she went back to Hogwarts after they left so she would always be able to remember what they looked like. Hermione gave her a new diary that would open to only her touch. Ginny laughed at this when she said that now she could keep Harry from learning "all" her secrets. The twins gave her some of their new products, one of them being a little jewel that would repel any boys that would try to flirt with her except for Harry. Harry like that one, now he wouldn't have to worry about any other boys trying to take her from him seeing as she was very popular among the guys at Hogwarts. Harry had saved his present until later that afternoon so he could drag her away from everyone and outside.

"Ginny, can I see you for a few minutes outside please," asked Harry while everyone else was busy.

Ginny looked at him knowingly, she clearly knew what was about to happen.

"Of course Harry," said Ginny sweetly.

They both slipped out the front door unnoticed and walked through the yard.

"So am I now about to find out what you really got in Diagon Alley Yesterday?" asked Ginny as they moved out of site of the front door.

Harry reached into his pocket and opened the jewelry box to show her the necklace and birth stones around the heart. Ginny gasped at the necklace and instantly threw her arms around Harry and thanked him again and again and again until Harry started laughing at it. He stepped behind her so that he could put it around her neck then she turned around and they shared a very passionate kiss. They held each other against each other as they began to lose each other as they kissed. Harry let his hands drop a little lower than her waist hoping Ginny wouldn't mind but when she let a moan escape her mouth Harry knew that she liked it and wanted him to continue. In response Ginny tightened her grip around Harry's neck and threw one hand into his hair and scratched his scalp. But their loving moment was not to last as someone shouted from behind them, giving Ginny a birthday surprise that she hadn't been expecting.

"Stupefy," Harry heard a voice from behind Ginny. Harry tried to push her out of the way but it was too late and the beam of red light hit Ginny right in the back. She dropped into his arms and passed out. Harry looked over her back and saw fifteen Death Eaters standing there cornering them.