Harry released Ginny and strode over to his trunk, which was sitting open in the corner.

"Get your stuff," he said, shoving down the clothes and things that were poking out of the top of his trunk, and then scooting around the room to pick up the rest.

"What?"

"Go, get your stuff, come on," Harry said, cramming items into his luggage haphazardly.

"Harry, what stuff?"

"OK," he conceded. "Then help me."
Still bemused, she put her jeans on and then helped him pack. Hedwig was asleep – when they were done, Harry took her cage in one hand, and his trunk in the other, and stood in the doorway. He surveyed the room, checking he had it all.

Ah well, he thought, a bit giddy with the suddenness of his idea. I'll just Accio things if I need to.

"Harry," Ginny said, exasperated, picking up her broom and coming over to him. "What is this all about?"

"You'll see," Harry replied, grinning.

Ginny groaned and snatched Hedwig's cage away from him. The owl opened one eye and hooted softly as her cage swung. "I hate it when you're sneaky," Ginny said.

Harry shrugged. He still didn't know if it was going to work yet. It would certainly be embarrassing if it didn't.

Ginny went ahead of him down the corridor, while Harry followed with his heavy trunk. He couldn't be bothered to charm it to levitate – and besides, he hopefully wouldn't have to take the thing far.

Mrs Weasley was standing in front of the fireplace in the living room, a decidedly conflicted expression playing across her features. She looked angry and confused and even a little frightened, and she jumped when Harry's trunk thumped against the wall as they entered.

"Do you have everything, Ginny?" she said, calmer than before, but not exactly herself.

"Er – yes," Ginny replied, looking at Harry as if to say Well, go on then.

"Harry. You have your things," Mrs Weasley said, just as he was opening his mouth.

Way to steal my thunder he thought.

"Yeah. Um – I thought I'd come home with you actually."

Ginny had to suppress a smile, and looked studiously out the window.

Mrs Weasley stared at him.

"What do you mean?" she said eventually, when it was clear he wasn't going to elaborate.

"I thought I'd come back to The Burrow. London's not really for me."

Mrs Weasley looked quite flustered now. Clearly, she wanted to get Ginny on her own, but her soft spot for Harry was kicking back on her.

"But – you know, if that's not alright with you, I understand," Harry said quickly. "I'd – understand if I wasn't welcome."
Sure, he was playing her a bit. But there was also truth in what he said, and he felt a definite relief when Mrs Weasley cut in.

"You know you're always welcome with us. That's what I said. But – it's just –" She looked from Ginny to Harry, and then waved a hand feebly. "I don't know."

"It won't be for long," Harry added. "Just till the end of the summer. If I'm going to be in your hair, honestly, I'll stay right here."

"No," Mrs Weasley said immediately. "It's alright, Harry. No. You come back with us."

Harry tried not to grin. If Ginny was leaving, then he was going with her – and he knew Mrs Weasley couldn't resist him.

There was a relatively uncomfortable silence, and then Mrs Weasley bustled into action.

"You go on, Ginny," she said. "And don't go running off once you're home, either."

"Yes, Mum," Ginny sighed, her barely-concealed smile fading. She took some Floo powder from the bowl on the mantelpiece, and then stepped into the fireplace, which promptly spirited her away.

"You now, Harry," instructed Mrs Weasley.

"Sure. And thanks."

He stepped into the fire, dragging his trunk after him. Mrs Weasley had Hedwig's cage. He was just about to Floo himself to The Burrow, when she spoke.

"Harry," she said.

"Yes?"

Her eyes glinted. "You know I'd never turn you away if you needed us – but there won't be any funny business, will there?"

Harry swallowed, considering this, wondering if he dared to say what he really thought.

Come on muttered inner monologue. Say it now. No more secrets. She's seen enough as it is.

"Well," Harry said eventually, "I can't exactly promise that."

And as she raised her eyebrows sky-high, he quickly dropped his powder and shouted for The Burrow, unable to believe his own nerve.

~

"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed as soon as he stumbled out of the fire, his trunk falling forwards. She brushed ash from his shoulders, and then hugged him.

"Bloody hell," he said. "Did all that really happen?"

"Yep. And your little plan worked. I told you Mum'd love you forever."

"Well, I'm not so sure of that," he began, but then there was a rush of flame and dust as Mrs Weasley was transported into the living room fireplace. Harry dropped his arms from around Ginny's waist, but she took his hand firmly as her mother righted herself.

"It's alright," Ginny murmured. "We can do this."

Mrs Weasley looked at them, long and hard, while Harry kicked himself inside his head. Shit, Potter, is it really so difficult to just lie? he thought furiously. Why couldn't you have said 'Of course, Mrs Weasley, no funny business at all', and just carried on? Now he'd very likely be thrown out of the house.

"Let's talk," said Mrs Weasley.

"Mum, please –" Ginny started, but Mrs Weasley cut her off, rather shrilly.

"Virigina, I'm trying to be understanding here, so don't push me, alright? Now come and sit down."

She went into the kitchen, and Harry and Ginny followed reluctantly. When they entered, she'd pulled up a chair at the crooked kitchen table and was sitting with her hands folded. Harry swallowed nervously. They were about to have this conversation. With Mrs Weasley. The person closest to his mum in the world. Good Lord. He steeled himself, prepared for the worst.

Once they were all seated, Mrs Weasley opened her mouth, but didn't seem to know what to say. She shut it, and thought. Then she opened it again.

"Ginny, you may be alright, but that doesn't make what you did alright. You lied to us when you should have told us the truth."

"I couldn't," Ginny said immediately, "because then you wouldn't have let me go, would you?"

Silence.

"Well, would you?" she insisted.

"No," said Mrs Weasley, after another long pause, rather quietly. In fact, she sounded tired, and Harry noticed for the first time the shadows under her eyes. "Can you blame me?"

Now it was Ginny's turn to be silent. Harry glanced at her – her head was bowed, her face screen by her bright hair. He didn't know what to do, but tightened his grip on her hand. This felt like a private conversation. He wasn't sure if he should be there.

"I just – I don't want you to grow up so quickly," Mrs Weasley went on, almost speaking to herself, he thought. "You're my last baby. I've already lost one."

"I know," Ginny said, still not raising her eyes. "But you can't lock me away, Mum. This – was important to me. I – well, I thought – I didn't think you'd understand."

She struggled for more words, but clearly couldn't find them.

This isn't what I expected, Harry thought. I expected –

"Sex," Mrs Weasley said suddenly.

Ah. There we go.

He felt his cheeks redden, and wished he could stop them.

"Sex," she went on, "is complicated."

"OK, Mum," Ginny said, sounding mortified, but Mrs Weasley was obviously making an effort to return to her normal self, and wasn't going to be swayed.

"It's a big step in a relationship, and it shouldn't be taken lightly."

"Mum," Ginny groaned. "Please."

"I know what young people are like," she continued, relentless. "They just don't think practically. All the boys were the same."

"Mum!"

"Are you using a Contraceptive Charm, Ginny?"

Harry didn't even know. He felt immediately irresponsible – Mrs Weasley had that effect on people, when she wanted to.

"Yes," Ginny said lowly, flushing. "Merlin, Mum, we're not stupid. I can't believe I'm talking to you about this."

"Harry," Mrs Weasley said.

Inwardly, he cringed and curled up in the foetal position. Outwardly, he squared his shoulders and met her eye.

"Yes?"

"You may think this is all fun and games, but it's not."

"Mum!" Ginny said wildly, not for the first time.

"I know," Harry agreed, valiantly maintaining eye contact. "I know that, Mrs Weasley."

Her face softened, just a little. "I love you like you're my own, Harry," she said, "and I don't mind that you and Ginny are – seeing each other. But that doesn't mean I want you two sleeping together in my house. If you're going to stay here, that's my basic ground rule. If you don't like it, you'd better be off to London again."

Ginny had her head in her hands, but was peeking at him out of the corner of her eye. He could see her. She was worried, and he thought he knew why. It wasn't about her mum anymore. She was afraid that Harry might just take up on Mrs Weasley's offer, and look for someone easier.

Not likely.

"That's OK," Harry said, clearing his throat. "We're – not just about that. And I'm not going back to London, if that's alright."

Mrs Weasley smiled a small smile at him.

"Well," she said softly, and he knew that, on some level (beyond the one that was freaking out about her daughter growing up, and being in bed with a boy) she was happy about what he'd said. "I'm glad you're back, Harry – even if it was – like this."

He nodded, sighing quietly in relief. He thought they'd managed nicely, all things considered.

"Ginny," Mrs Weasley said sternly.

Ginny took away her hands and looked at her mother.

"You still lied and left the house without permission. And no matter what reasons you had, that was – inconsiderate. You can help me around the house for the next few days."

Ginny nodded wordlessly.

"And Harry?"

"Yes?"

She paused. "You can too."

With that, she stood and went out the kitchen door into the garden.

There was a short silence.

"Well," Harry said finally. "That wasn't so bad."
Ginny exhaled, laughed wearily, and leant against him. "Merlin. I'm sorry."

"Don't be silly. It was nothing." Bloody scary was what it had been, but if it meant he could stay with Ginny, he didn't mind so much.

She hesitated. "You know, Harry –" she began, and then stopped.

"What?"

"If you do want to go back to London," she said in a rush, "and just didn't want to say in front of Mum, that's alright."

He knocked her lightly over the head. "You're crazy," he said. "After all this, you still think I might not want to stay?"

"I don't know," she mumbled.

"I couldn't stand London without you."

"I mean, we won't be able to – you know, and it'll be awkward as arse around Mum for a while, and –"

"I meant what I said. You kn- sex isn't all we have, Gin."

"I know. I know that."

"Not to say it isn't great," he added, grinning.

She smiled a little, but didn't reply.

"Hey." He nudged her and she looked at him properly. "When I said – that night you flew to my room – well, when I said – what I said –"

This was harder to repeat than he'd imagined. He floundered, searching for the right words, the right way, and in the end she saved him.

"OK, Harry," she said softly. "OK."

They sat like that for a little while, her head resting against his chest, bodies on separate chairs. Harry found that, when they were like this, he could forget about Mrs Weasley talking about sex, and Bill probably wanting to slaughter him, and the twins when they saw tonight that he'd left without saying goodbye, and his letters of placement, and even Voldemort. These moments with Ginny were self-contained. They were sharp pieces of happiness within the other heavy worries.

"Well!" said a cheery voice.
Harry and Ginny jumped and turned, almost in unison. Hermione was standing at the bottom of the stairs, grinning widely and crossing her arms over her chest.

"Look who's back," she said. "And so soon. City life didn't agree with you?"

"Not exactly, no," Harry said, moving to hug her.

When Hermione released him, she looked to Ginny, who was still sitting at the table.

"I can't believe you did that," she said.

"Me neither."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Ginny shrugged helplessly. "I didn't want anyone to know. Sorry, 'Mione."

Hermione looked at her a moment longer, and then flapped a hand as though to say 'pah!' "Doesn't matter, anyway. As long as you're OK. Are you OK?

Ginny came over to stand next to Harry.

"Yeah," she said, her hand snaking into his. "I'm fine."

Hermione smiled contentedly at them. "Good. Good, I'm glad."

"Where's Ron?"

"Fishing. I didn't want to go, but you know what he's like. He gets an idea in his head and then runs with it, especially if I disagree." She shook her head, and glanced sidelong at Harry. "He missed you."

"I missed him, too," replied Harry, realising as he said the words that it was true.

"Why don't you go find him?" Hermione suggested. "Me and Ginny can chat."

Harry looked at Ginny, who smiled and nodded. He wasn't exactly sure he could let her go right away, but she solved the problem for him by releasing his hand and linking arms with Hermione. He felt immediately bereft.

"Er – OK," Harry agreed.

"See you later," Ginny said, and then, as though on second thoughts, bent forward to kiss him gently on the lips. "Sorry," she whispered, so only he could hear.

"S'alright," he said quietly back.

Then she was leaning away again, and leaving the kitchen, giggling with Hermione.

It was funny. He wanted her back almost before she was gone.

~

Thanks for all reviews guys (especially the old faithfuls who've been with me since I started this). Keep R&Ring, I love reading your comments. Don't worry – answers to your questions WILL be revealed, but all in the fullness of time. ~I'll be around~ Shez XXOO