July 30th, 1998:

Harry apparated back to the Burrow after an incredibly long two weeks of Auror training with Ron. Mrs. Weasley welcomed them with open arms, warm beds, and even warmer food. After the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry and Ron collectively decided not to return to school, and instead become Auror's. Hermione decided to join Ginny's year and finish her classes.

The girls were fast asleep when Harry and Ron returned, but they were eager to see them again. Ron and Hermione finally became an official couple after the war, and Ginny and Harry were excited to start their relationship again, as they had to put a pause to it so that Harry could go horcrux hunting. It was a long wait, but they were ready now.

Ginny practically flew down the stairs to see him at breakfast the next morning, and everyone just sort of laughed it off. "Harry!" She squealed once she saw him, and then she threw herself right into his open arms for the best hug she's ever given. "I'm so happy that you're back!" Ginny longed for late nights with him again. Talking about anything and everything that popped into their minds, falling asleep in the garden, and of course…kissing.

"Would you like some breakfast?" She asked him, "How 'bout some tea?"

"Yes, please." He let her pull him into the living room, and she instructed him to sit while she prepped his breakfast. "Thanks." He replied when she sat down beside him with a plate piled high with crispy bacon, perfectly fried eggs, and buttered toast. While he ate, she stirred some milk into his tea, just how he liked it.

"You must be so exhausted. Hermione's been telling me all about the program through Ron and- wait, why on earth haven't you tried to contact me?" She scolded him as the thought crossed her mind. Two weeks was a long time to go without talking to a person, but despite being used to it because of who he was…this time he didn't have a good enough excuse. Especially since Ron was able to contact Hermione through it all. "Gone for two whole weeks and not one single call, Harry Potter? Have you thought about me even once while you were gone?"

"Of course!" He said, desperate to save himself from Ginny's wrath. "I thought about you a lot. The whole time, really…I just never got around to writing a letter. I'm not sure why. Ron didn't even tell me he was writing to Hermione or else I would have at least asked him to ask about you."

"Well, alright…" she trailed with a much more softened facial feature. "I suppose I'll let it slide, but next time you go away I better get a letter."

He grinned. "Every day, if you'd like."

"One or two will suffice." She returned the smile, and with a mouth full of bacon he leaned in and planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek. It was nice and warm, albeit a little disgusting, but she didn't care. All that mattered was that her Harry was home. It was hard to deny the fact that they had such natural chemistry with each other, and while some might say it was more family-like than romantic, the ones closest to them would have to disagree. Harry loved Ginny, and Ginny loved Harry. It was as simple as that. "Eat your breakfast before it gets cold. I want to spend the day in the garden, just like old times."

"That sounds great."

She reached out to sweep a stray hair out of his face with a thoughtful expression, and he watched her while scarfing down his plate. "But first I think I ought to give you a haircut, it seems a bit unruly. Not a good look for someone who's set to become the head of the Auror Department."

He preferred shorter hair, but at least he knew he'd never have to worry about going bald thanks to his father, who had hair just like his. Hermione cut his hair once and it was the oddest cut he's ever received, but Ginny did it best. He honestly didn't mind her pampering him, but he didn't always expect it from her. She just missed him and didn't want to spend a second doing anything else other than being with him. These little favours were so menial and unimportant to her.

When Harry finished eating, Ginny cleaned his dishes and alerted her mum that they'd be out in the garden for the day. Ron and Hermione were busy elsewhere, and all was well in the Burrow once again. Things had certainly taken a lighter turn after defeating Voldemort, but the loss of their loved ones because of it still resonated deeply with them. Molly cried many times for her son, Fred, to come back to her. Harry took a lot of responsibility for everyone's death, but he was practically forced to think otherwise by everyone else. It wasn't his fault…it was Voldemort. But now he was finally dead, and that provided closure in itself.

With her hand in his, the smiles on their faces, and a bright yellow sun up above, it truly felt like life couldn't get any better than this. There was simply no place else he'd like to be than with Ginny, the one who stood by him through it all and never gave up. They didn't always see eye-to-eye, which resulted in a slightly tumultuous relationship timeline, but for the most part things were usually always good. Sometimes they were even great. She was someone who he knew he could trust, no matter what. She always stood behind him when things went awry because she believed in him, and she believed in who he could be. There was no other person in the world that he wanted to be with, ever.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She asked him as they lay on their backs in the grass, surrounded by flowers, and staring up at the sky. The moment was very serene, and you could feel the love in the air. There was nothing quite like young love, and they were filled with it. Harry, who wasn't staring at the sky but instead Ginny's face, nodded his head and agreed with her. He started to count every little freckle on her face to suffice as a reason as to why he was staring at her. Personally, she didn't mind either way. It was nice to feel wanted for a change.

Minutes turned to hours, and next thing they knew they were both being woken by Arthur. "Surely you two must be hungry by now." He teased them. "Don't worry, Molly saved some food for you." Harry helped Ginny up, and they brushed the dirt and grass off their backsides before wandering into the house. Their stomach's were growling, as they hadn't eaten since this morning, but it was worth it to spend the whole day together. Even doing nothing at all was still exciting because at least they could do nothing together.

As soon as they got their hands on the food, they scarfed it down immediately. Ginny wasn't embarrassed to be herself around Harry, and he didn't feel embarrassed, either. Everything was so natural. Their feelings, their emotions, and their actions. Nothing went unnoticed, and they could talk to each other about anything. It was like being in love with your best friend, and that was what it was. Neither could have asked for something better because it simply didn't exist. The only problem was that Ginny would be going back to school in a month, and then their visits would be sparse- holidays only. After that, Ginny would graduate and then they could move in together somewhere.

"Maybe a cottage in Scotland?" She suggested while they discussed plans after Hogwarts. It would be ideal to go ahead and live together, but since Ginny was only 17 and still in school, her parents wouldn't allow it. They wouldn't even consider making an exception for Harry's sake, and he understood. The last thing he wanted was to lose their trust because of his own selfish desires. Ginny's last day of Hogwarts couldn't come soon enough, and she hasn't even started yet. "I've always wanted to go to Scotland." She added wistfully. Because her family was poor, the only real trip they'd ever been on was to Egypt to visit Bill when she was twelve.

"We can go anywhere we want," he reminded her, as he was still sitting on a pretty big fortune in Gringott's Bank, thanks to his parents. Harry really had no use for the money yet, but he took comfort in knowing it was there when he did need it. He'd been thinking about buying a house with it, maybe somewhere in Godric's Hollow to honour his family. There was some emotional attachment to the small town because of them, and he felt obligated to live there again someday. Preferably with Ginny. "Scotland, London, Wales…"

She wrapped her arms around his neck and gazed up at him very lovingly, "I'd go anywhere in the world with you, Harry Potter." She whispered, and their lips crashed together in this fiery, passionate, yearning kiss that set them both ablaze inside. His stomach was doing backflips, and Ginny's arms were covered with goosebumps. There had never been a kiss like this between them before. It was difficult to describe, but the want was clear. The need was even more clear.

"Well, well…" They flew apart nearly as quickly as they came together when they heard Mrs. Weasley's voice out of nowhere. She had her arms crossed over her chest, her foot was tapping against the wooden floor, and a very disapproving look in her eyes. She didn't mind that Harry was dating her daughter, but she didn't very much like tomfoolery going on in her house. Though this was tame compared to some of the other things she's had to deal with from Ginny's older brothers. "Shouldn't the both of you be off to bed?" She asked them while checking the clock. It was late, and Ron and Hermione were already asleep- or so she thought.

"Right, erm, goodnight." Harry awkwardly said to her before turning to Ginny, who was annoyed at her mum. "Goodnight, Ginny."

"Goodnight Harry."

He hurried off towards Fred and George's old room and settled into the bed, leaving Ginny in the hallway still with her mother. They exchanged glances before Mrs. Weasley finally broke the silence. "You know how I feel about that!" She said quite defensively. "I told you dear, I just don't like seeing my daughter snogging some boy!"

"He isn't some boy, he's Harry!" The Harry that their family has known ever since their first trip to Hogwarts. The Harry that saved Ginny's life in the Chamber of Secrets. The Harry that saved Arthur Weasley in the Department of Mysteries. The Harry that defeated Lord Voldemort and freed the Wizarding World. "We weren't doing anything wrong. Why'd you have to make him feel so uncomfortable?"

Mrs. Weasley sighed defeatedly. "I suppose I did. I'll apologise in the morning but please…don't let me catch you doing that again." Ginny just rolled her eyes. "It's a bit uncomfortable for me as well. Now, get to bed. It's very late."

Ginny crawled into her bed after changing into something more suitable for sleep, and she tossed and turned half the night until finally falling asleep. She dreamt about Harry, of course, but it was very faint. When she woke up she had no recollection of what had happened in her dream, but she felt good nonetheless. Today was a new day, and a special day. Today was Harry's birthday, and he would be eighteen-years old. She had something planned for the special occasion, as did everyone else. Harry, though, knew nothing about it.

Nor did any of them know what was to come later on.