Here it is! Longest chapter yet!

Harry awoke to his favourite gift of all- the feel of Ginny's lips pressed on to his. "Happy birthday, Harry" she said with a sweet smile, pausing and adding emphasis to his name. Harry. She loved the feel of that name rolling off her tongue and hearing it ring in her heart. Harry. Harry. Harry. Even better was that finally, she rang in his heart as well.

Harry James Potter was hers.

"Good morning beautiful," he said, now awake. He stretched his arms out, sitting up, with Ginny curled up next to him. He would never get used to being able to say that to her. It was he who said that and not Dean or Michael or any other prat.

Ginevra Molly hopefully someday Potter was his.

Harry thought of his last birthday. He never ceased to wonder what- or more like, how far- that birthday present really was to be. Harry had always been careful not to push Ginny too far and he rather liked having taken it slow- by teenage standards- as it made it all the more worthwhile. It was that one strand of childhood that they still held on to. They had shared long, fervent kisses but had never ventured beneath their clothing. He thought back at that moment a year before, the gift, the kiss, and- Ron!

Harry jumped up with a start and looked at Ron's bed. Ron would not be very happy to find Ginny curled up on his, even if they truthfully explained she had really only just came in. He found it empty and looked at Ginny quizzically.

"Don't ask me. A bit after I went to bed, Hermione quietly snuck out. Still hasn't come back."

"Well then."

Harry found it odd getting used to his two best friends becoming a couple, although he had seen it coming for ages. Even stranger was the fact on how-err, he shuddered at the thought- intense they were. Smart, sensible and sometimes uptight Hermione had let herself go, if only just in that little way. As much as it happened, he still would be quite shocked to walk in on the pair passionately snogging or even worse- a few times he had caught Ron slyly slide his hand inside of her shirt, in front of Harry no less.

"We never got to last year's present, now did we?" Ginny broke the silence flirtatiously, teasing Harry just a tad bit.

Harry smiled. His excitement grew. "Well in that case," He leaned forward, kissing her.

As the kiss deepened, Ginny pulled apart. "Silly boy. Didn't happen 'til night last year, did it? And we really ought to go get some breakfast. Mum's gone elaborate with waffles and chocolate and cream and berries and all that, we mustn't keep her waiting."

Harry knew it was no use arguing with a stubborn Weasley.

In the meanwhile, two-thirds of the Golden Trio were waking up with a bit of confusion to find themselves on the roof of the Burrow, next to a broken bottle or two of Firewhisky, Ron's broomstick, and their strewn about clothing.

"Oh dear!" exclaimed Hermione, taking in the sight and realising what it had all meant. She was completely, utterly naked. She looked about to see Ron similarly taking it all in, but with a giant grin. He also lacked clothing.

"Did we…?" she asked, a bit scared of the answer.

"Yes," said Ron, smiling ear to ear.

It all came back to her: sneaking out together, smuggling some of Bill's old Firewhisky, flying on to the roof, cracking open the first bottle, and the fuzzy memories that followed. She was surprised to find herself not regretful at all. In fact, she was quite pleased, just shocked and very embarrassed. They had been waiting for each other for nearly seven years, after all.

Embarrassed, she crouched over and used her arms in a fruitless attempt to cover up and preserve her modesty.

"C'mon 'Mione, it's not like I haven't seen it all."

Ron's plea held no avail. However, the past year had seen him grow greatly emotionally. The newly mature Ron gathered Hermione's clothes and presented them to her.

"Here you go, beautiful. I can even turn around if you so wish."

That was all Hermione needed to hear. She realized how pointless her natural embarrassment was and leapt up, kissing him. It wasn't a long kiss, however, as she insisted they get dressed and sneak back in to the house, as not to arouse suspicion. She looked at the sun trying to determine the time, but was no good at such things. She thought it to be pretty early though, so decided to take their chances.

Once dressed, they hopped on to Ron's broom, Hermione comfortably snuggled in his arms and flew down to the broom shed.

Happily, they walked arm-in-arm to the back door of the kitchen, not expecting anyone to be awake.

Harry bit his tongue to suppress his laughter as his two best friend's walked in, rumpled-looking in last night's clothing. Hermione's shirt was buttoned incorrectly and her hair was all the rage. Ron was a bit better off in just a t-shirt and jeans, but his short hair was also a bit messy. Even more giving was the unbelievably pronounced guilty look they both sported.

Ginny didn't even know what to say, it was her brother! Her brother!

Ron and Hermione tried to stammer through an explanation and sneak back up when Molly walked in, having went to get plates from the pantry.

"RONALD WEASLEY WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS? OUT ALL NIGHT, DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE DANGER? AND IN MERLIN'S NAME, YOU'RE WITH HERMIONE! RONALD, I DO NOT WANT ANY INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR HAPPENING IN MY HOME! YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF! Now Hermione, dear, oh please do be careful. Why don't you go upstairs and freshen up?"

Ron was mortified, but he was nothing next to Hermione. Her face was flushed beet red as she issued a string of apologies and half-hearted explanations towards Molly.

"Oh not to worry dear. You're not the first girl my sons have sneaked around with. But, Merlin, I am so very happy!" Molly's mood had rapidly adjusted and she now had tears of happiness flowing. "Oh I've waited for this for so long, for you to be a couple, I've always thought you to be the perfect girl for Ronald, although I did worry a bit that you might choose Harry. Oh, you two make a lovely couple. How brave and smart and kind and sensible and beautiful you are, everything I could hope for my little boy. Just think of the children you two would have! More Gryffindors for the family name!

Hermione's face grew redder, if that was even possible. She managed a smile, and under the embarrassment, really was touched. She thanked Molly profusely.

She hadn't always been so wanted or appreciated. From her first day of Muggle school, she had been different. Her classmates would never cease to poke fun of her wild hair or her know-it-all personality or most of all, how strange things always seemed to happen around her. This was a common past that she shared with Harry, a bond that even Ron couldn't quite understand. Even at Hogwarts, Hermione was never the most popular. She was often times accused of being a goody-two-shoes and know-it-all, especially in her first couple years. She smiled, still red-faced and rushed upstairs.

Harry's 18th birthday dinner was great fun and a lot less tense than the previous year's. Bill and Fleur came along with Charlie, Luna, Neville, and Hagrid. Percy, who was living at the Burrow, was also present. Luna also brought a new friend, a quirky, quiet sandy-haired boy named Rolf Scamander Harry recognised as having been a few years ahead of them at Hogwarts. All Luna said about him was "We were united by our shared and pressing interest in Nargles." The others were used to Luna enough to just sweetly smile and Molly responded with "That's lovely, dear."

Hermione gave him a book (of course!) entitled "Aurorism through the Ages: A Brief History of the Wizarding World's Most Noble Profession" which Harry truly appreciated and would find the time to sit down and read it. Ron's present was also predictable, being a bright book that was a guide to to the 1998 Quidditch World Cup, detailing players, chances, and predictions. From Molly and Arthur he received his very own set of Quidditch balls. Bill and Fleur gave him a bottle of French cologne, most likely picked by Fleur. Harry wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean. Neville very timidly snuck him a bottle of Firewhisky and also brought a note from his grandmother thanking him for saving their world. Luna and Rolf brought him a book called The Modern Wizard and Witch's Guide to Combating Hazardous Nargles, an independent book written, edited, bound, copied, published, and distributed all by Rolf himself. Needless to say, it wasn't exactly a bestseller. Charlie got him a pair of dragon-hide (died of natural causes, of course) gloves that would prove useful in his Auror career and Percy being Percy got him a set of quills and stationery.

Last but most certainly not least was Ginny's gift. Again, she hadn't known what to get him but this time finally thought of something. She knitted him, with Molly's assistance, a maroon scarf so that he could always remember his Gryffindor days. On one corner she embroidered a gold lion and their initials 'GMW + HJP' in a little heart. That was his favourite gift of all. At last, after all those years, they were together forever.

In the bustle of everyone running around and chatting with Bill, Fleur, and Charlie who came to stay the night, some a bit drunkenly, Harry and Ginny were able to sneak up to her room once the other guests had went home.

"Well, it's finally time to give you something to remember me by when I'm at school and you're off saving the world again."

Harry awkwardly chuckled and took her into his arms. Soon, they were kissing like their life depended on it. He somehow remember in the midst of it all to silently put a locking charm on the door.

Ginny moved his hand to her shirt buttons, indicating it was okay.

"Are you sure?" He asked her, always the gentleman.

She nodded. "Always."

Harry slowly and carefully laid his hands on the top button and undid it One after another, he undid them all until her shirt was open. He lifted it off and their night began.

Thank you for reading and please review (PLEASE!)! Hogwarts is coming up soon.