It was the last week in August and Harry had grown quieter and quieter over the last week. Oh, he'd plastered on a happy face when Hermione and Ron returned from Australia, her parent's memories intact once more, but Ginny was the only one to notice the relief as well as happiness in his face.

September would bring big changes to their family. She and Hermione were returning to Hogwarts, while Harry and Ron had just moved from the Burrow to Grimmauld Place and they would be starting their Auror training.

Charlie had returned to Romania, Bill and Fleur were at Shell Cottage and even Percy was leaving the Burrow to live in the flat above WWW, while George had moved in with Lee Jordan...temporarily, he said.

Ginny could see that having his family spread wide made Harry a bit nervous, but it eased somewhat with his best friends return. That was till Hermione and Ginny made plans to go to Diagon Alley to get their school supplies. Suddenly their impending departure became real.

They'd had a fun weekend, just the four of them, spending time at Grimmald Place as the girls helped Harry and Ron set up Grimmauld Place for their long term stay. The boys had agreed the kitchen was Kreacher's domain but they had chosen their rooms – by mutual unspoken agreement on separate floors – and let their girlfriends help them decorate. Then Harry and Hermione had introduced the Weasley siblings to a movie night in muggle London followed by pizza.

There was a lot of laughs as they talked about the movie, but Ginny noticed Harry didn't participate in the conversation much, content to listen, his arm stretched behind Ginny in the booth as his fingers played with her hair.

Molly had insisted Ginny return to the Burrow that night, but Hermione had slept over in Ron's room. Ginny hoped that the three being back together might help Harry to open up, but he was the same the next day too.

Monday morning was when Ginny and Hermione had decided to go to Diagon Alley for their school supplies. As Harry was not eager to face the public that were clamouring for him, he went to visit with Teddy while the girl's were shopping with Ron.

On their return to the Burrow, Ginny checked her books and supplies once more then packed them in her trunk, adding a few clothes that she wouldn't need between now and September first.

When she went downstairs she saw Harry had returned. She greeted him with a kiss, and the two cuddled on the lounge as they listened to Hermione as she went into raptures about the spells they would be learning in preparation for their NEWTS, and the things she had seen as she looked through her new books.

Again, Harry smiled and nodded in all the right places, but seemed content to merely sit and observe. He was courteous to Hermione's parents when they joined them for dinner, but was quiet when he and Ginny went for a walk.

Ginny shivered and Harry slid an arm around her waist, drawing her to him, to his warmth. It had come in cool this last week; Autumn was on its way. Ginny wrapped her arm around his waist, her head falling on his chest, as they turned and made their way back to the Burrow.

Hermione's parents had already left, along with Hermione. Ron was having a second dessert as his mother fussed over him, preparing containers of food for him and Harry to take home with them.

Harry sat at the table next to Ron, while Ginny excused herself to go to the loo. She looked in the mirror as she washed her hands. The wind outside had mussed her hair, so she scooped it up into a bun on the top of her head. Strands fell to the side but she left them.

As she left the bathroom, she saw Harry leaning against the door to her bedroom. He had that stoic look on his face as he stared at her, drinking her in.

It was then that Ginny knew he was watching them to remember all the small details he would miss while she and Hermione were away.

She walked slowly to him, and he pushed off the wall to come meet her. She grabbed the draw strings on his hoodie as she looked up at him.

She stepped closer, hugging him tightly. He held her even tighter, realising that she understood, glad that he didn't have to say anything, that, incredibly, Ginny knew exactly what he was feeling.

"It's going to be okay," she said quietly. "We're going to be okay."

"I know," he replied, equally quietly.

"I'll miss you," she assured him, " but it won't be like last year. You'll be busy with Auror training and Teddy, and we both know Hermione has a homework planner she just can't wait to give me."

She was pleased when he chuckled, but when she pulled away and looked at him, she still saw concern in his eyes.

She cupped his jaw with one of her hands, her thumb gently caressing his cheek.

"We can write, we can even fire-call. There'll be Hogsmeade visits and Quidditch matches, and before you know it, I'll be back for Christmas."

"I know," he repeated, and smiled a crooked half smile. "I just...I want you here, with me."

He looked back at the nearby stairs, then once he was assured no-one was coming up, he looked back at her.

"I like going to sleep, knowing you're right next to me, and I like waking up to you by my side," he said, his fingers tangling through her strands of hair.

"One more year," she vowed, then amended, " it's not even a full year, just more ten months, and you'll have me forever."

His eyes burned bright as he pulled her to him again.

It was all he wanted. Him and Ginny, together, forever.

Ten more months.