**These are not my characters. I've just taken them where my brain seems to think they need to go**

Thanks Sandy, Blair, Dana, Rachel, Cheri, Marie & everyone else who's taken the time to read them and point out any mistakes.

With four loud cracks, they disappeared from Platform 9 3/4.

The 4 cracking noises filled the Burrow as Ron, Hermione, Harry & Ginny appeared. It sounded as if someone set off fireworks. "It's so good to be back," Ginny breathing in the smells of the Burrow. The four of them set off towards the front door. "Ginny! Harry! Hermione! Ron! Come in, come in. Dinner's almost ready," Molly said clearly out of breath. It was obvious why Molly was out of breath. She had four pots stirring themselves on the stove, her double oven both on and cooking its contents, and she was trying to Scourgify an army of dishes and cutlery. "Ginny, would you be a doll and go ask Fred and George to set up the tables outside for dinner please?" Molly asked of her youngest child.

As Ginny dashed upstairs, Molly caught a glimpse of Harry watching the movement of her body from behind. Molly smiled and remembered when Arthur used to look at her like that. As a matter of fact, the last time she caught him looking at her like that, was early this morning while she was fixing breakfast. It was so wonderful to think that someday Harry would officially become apart of the Weasley family. He was practically family as it was, but to make it official would be wonderful.



"Mum, why do Fred and I have to do the tables?" George whined. "I said so that's why," retorted Molly in true motherly fashion. Fred rolled his eyes as he followed George out to set up the tables. "Arthur! Bill! Charlie! Percy! Penelope! Dinner's ready!" Molly yelled poking her head out the kitchen door. "Wands out, everyone. I need help sending all of these dishes out to the tables." Everyone chose a dish and carried it outside to where Fred and George were sitting with their wives who both happened to Apparate a few minutes ago.

Angelina and Katie were fellow Gryffindors when they were all at Hogwarts. They were also on the Quiddich team. Fred was holding their baby while Angelina and Katie hurried to help the Weasleys' set up dinner. "Angelina! Katie!" Hermione exclaimed giving them both hugs. "Hi Hermione" they replied. "Are you hungry girls? You got out of practice late today." Molly said while rushing over to pry her granddaughter, Frederique away from her son. "Practice ran a bit late, but not too terribly late. I had a hard time getting Frederique away from Lee and Alicia. Not to mention, it took about 10 minutes for Katie to get up from the bench." Angelina said winking at Katie. "Ha Ha Angelina. I seem to remember when you were 7 months pregnant too. You couldn't tie your own shoes at only five months along." Katie retorted with a grin. "Freddd! Tie my shooooes!" Katie mimicked.

Angelina, Katie and Alicia all played for the Wimbourne Wasps. It was amazing how all three girls landed positions on the same team. They were like a package deal. The girls worked unbelievably together. They had their own unspoken code from so many years playing together on the Gryffindor team. Any Quiddich coach would have been mad to sign one without the other. Katie, however, was benched temporarily due to her pregnancy. She still has to attend practices and watch. Alicia married the twins' best friend Lee Jordan last summer. Angelina usually asked Lee to watch Frederique during practices. He had to be at practices as well because he was the Wasps color commentator. Lately it's been more difficult and time consuming to get home on time because Alicia and Lee have been bitten by the Baby Fever. They have been trying to get pregnant on their own for about eight months now with no luck. They have yet to make an appointment with Poppy Pomfrey at Hogwarts to see what the problem could possibly be. Alicia and Lee adored Frederique, so nobody minded it took more time to get home. Everyone just wished it wasn't so hard on them to become pregnant.



As everyone sat down to dinner Ginny eyed Harry trying to send him a silent message with her eyes. "Um, I've got something I need to say," Harry began slowly. "We're engaged!" Ginny squealed interrupting. "I'm sorry Harry! I just couldn't stand it anymore!" she apologized. Harry laughed. Everyone at the table all began to chatter excitedly about the engagement. "Congratulations mate!" Ron said clapping Harry on the back. "Oh, welcome to the family Harry! I knew it would be a matter of time before it became official," Molly said hugging Harry and Ginny tightly. "Well if it wasn't Ginny, don't look at me. I don't want him in the family that bad," Ron said laughing. "Have you set a date yet?" Penelope, Percy's wife, asked of the couple. "Oh not yet" Ginny said, "Harry only proposed to me the last Hogsmeade weekend, immediately after N.E.W.T.S. Which by the way, I got enough N.E.W.T.S to begin Auror training if I want." Ginny said proudly. Molly was just beside herself. If she got anymore good news she would burst. "Congratulations Ginny. On everything," Arthur said hugging his daughter. "I've got a bit of news myself," Ron started not wanting to steal his sister's and best friend's spotlight, but he too had an announcement. "You can't be engaged too! I didn't even know you were dating anyone!" Molly said in a confused way. "No mum, I'm not engaged. I am dating someone new though," Ron continued. "Oooo Ickle Ronnikins has himself a girlfriend," George goaded. Katie glared at him, "Real mature for someone who's going to be a father very soon!" George gave her a pleading look as if to say "If I can't tease my brother who can I tease?" "So who is it? Spill it!" Ginny asked. "Well, you remember Parvati and Padma Patil?" Ron began. "You're not dating the both of them!" Hermione squawked. "If you'd not interrupt you'd know what I was about to say!" Ron said with a false sigh of exasperation then followed with a grin. "Anyways, after we all finished Hogwarts, Padma and Parvati had to move back to Egypt. They were only living here long enough to go to Hogwarts because the wizarding school in Africa isn't much to boast about. Well, after Parvati left, I ran into Lavender Brown. She was very upset. Parvati was her best and pretty much only friend. We had a butterbeer together here and there. It wasn't until Valentine's Day when we really hit it off romantically. For some reason, we just finally clicked. We've been together ever since," Ron trailed off. "That's wonderful!" Hermione smiled, "She's always been a sweet girl. It was just that hanging around Parvati made her... well...less than pleasant to be around." "I know what you mean," Ron said. Apparently it took awhile for Lavender to drop the habits she picked up when she was friends with Parvati.

Everyone finished eating dinner and helped with the cleanup. George, Fred, Angelina, Katie and Frederique all went home shortly after. Apparently the rules of Apparation doesn't apply to small infants. Percy and Penelope followed shortly after that. Bill Apparated home to Fleur who was sick with the Flu, or Flu-er, as Ron liked to tease. Charlie went up to his old room. He was staying the night because he had to go to Wales in the morning for a dragon pickup.

Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Harry sat on the front porch letting the warm summer breeze lick their skin. "So, are you ready for my news?" Hermione asked breaking the lazy silence. "What do you think?" Ron asked scathingly. "I'm dating Severus. We've been dating now since about March." Hermione said ignoring Ron's sarcasm. "Snape! You're dating Snape? How could you? How can you? What's gotten into you Hermione?" Ron demanded looking rather green. "Oh come off it Ron," Harry said coming to Hermione's defense. "He's probably put a hex on her that makes his greasy hair and butter pats for teeth irresistible!" He added bursting into laughter. "Fine," Hermione sniffed, "If you don't care for my choice in men, you don't have to worry about seeing me then. Frankly, I don't care what you think, because we're in love." "Oh Hermione, you know we're teasing you. It's just hard to imagine anyone wanting to 'bump uglies' with ol' Snivellus," Ron said composing himself. "He's not the same Snape as you remember. When he was our professor, it was pre-Voldemort. He was stressed out beyond belief. He hardly had time to worry about himself because he was in fear of his life. He did turn on the Death Eaters and Voldemort to become a spy for our side. It was pretty risky. Since Voldemort's gone now, he's got time to spend on himself. He no longer has greasy hair. His hair is rather beautiful now. It's long, dark, thick, clean, shiny, very beautiful. He made a potion to fix his teeth. He's rather handsome now if you ask me. He's got a deep, sensitive side he doesn't let students see because he feels it would lead them to respect him less plus it's none of their business. He wants students to be fearful of him because potions is a very risky class and he doesn't want any horsing around for safety reasons." Hermione finished. "It's true," Ginny added, "He's completely different from what he used to be. You didn't notice in your seventh year because you were too busy trying to get in Hermione's pants, Ron. And well, we know what Harry was doing." She added with a grin and a kiss on Harry's lips.



"Are you happy?" Ron asked Hermione soberly after a few minutes silence. He genuinely wanted the best for Hermione. Not only did he love her like a sister now, but she was his first real girlfriend. She would always be in his heart for the rest of his life as he would always be in hers. Granted, things didn't work out between them, but the feeling was mutual. There were no hard feelings. They gave it a shot, but they both realized they are better as friends. "Extremely Ron," Hermione said placing a reassuring hand on top of his. "Well, it's against everything I stand for, but if he makes you happy then... we'll get used to the idea. Gradually," Harry said. Hermione broke out in a huge smile and hugged her three best friends. "I love you guys," Hermione said muffled in Ginny's long tomato red hair.

SSJ