O that 'twere possible,
After long grief and pain,
To find the arms of m true- love
Round me once agai!…
A shadow flits before me-
Not thou, but like to thee.
Ah God! that it were possible
For one short hour to see
The souls we loved, that they might tell us
What and where they be.

By Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Chapter XIII: The Summer

Dumbledore and the Order had decided to move Headquarters to Hogwarts, that way the children would be able to remain in the safest place available, Hogwarts Castle. After a long discussion, Dumbledore, Mr and Mrs Weasley and Harry had decided that seeing as he would shortly turn seventeen he need no longer return to his Aunt, therefore he would be allowed to remain at school with his friends.

The last day of term came and Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny watched from the main doors as the Thestral pulled carriages moved away towards the station. Harry took Ginny's hand as they walked inside.

"So basically, we have this entire castle to ourselves," Ron sad enthusiastically. "We can do anything we want. We could break into the Slytherin common room, or go and raid the kitchens or find where Snape stays and booby trap his bed…"

"Ron," said Hermione exasperatedly.

"Harry could get the Slytherin password," said Ron. "It would show up on the Marauder's Map."

"I'm not breaking into the Slytherin common room," said Harry. "We'll be contaminated."

Ginny giggled.

"Well, we have to do something," said Ron. "Otherwise we'll get bored. And no Hermione, I will not read any more damn books. I read enough during term time."

Hermione scowled.

"Maybe Dumbledore will get us something to do," said Ginny. "We can really do some proper exploring of the castle. There are parts of it that none of us have ever seen."

"That could be fun," said Harry. "You never know, we could find something that Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs, Fred and George never found."

"That really would go down in the record books," said Ginny with a smile. "You know, I'm glad Flitwick left a bit of their swamp. It stops everyone from forgetting them."

"No one could forget them," said Hermione. "They're a legend."

"We could set some traps for the Slytherins," said Ron.

"Ron, will you shut up about the Slytherins!" hissed Hermione.

"You've got to admit that it would be fun to see Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle covered in some disgusting goop," said Ginny.

"I think we should do something big like that," said Harry. "The biggest prank Hogwarts has ever seen. But we can't do it yet. We'll have to leave it until the last few days. We don't want Filch to find it."

"Good point," said Ron.

"Malfoy the Amazing Bouncing Ferret," said Ginny when they reached the fat lady.

The portrait opened and they all clambered inside.

"I love your password, Ron," said Harry with a grin.

"I figured I could go wild over the summer," he said.

"What are these?" asked Hermione from over by the fireplace.

Four large parcels were sitting on the hearth rug. Hermione picked up a note from on top of them.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny,

I thought these would liven up your summer a bit.

"Who are they from?" asked Ginny.

Harry looked at the slanted green writing.

"Dumbledore," he said.

Each picked up their labelled package. Hermione had been given an enormous, but blank book, entitled Modern Legends of Hogwarts. She grinned widely.

"Looks like Fred and George will be immortalised after all," said Ginny.

Ron opened his package next to find 200 editions of Quidditch magazines and Chudley Cannons books.

"That'll keep him quiet for weeks," said Harry.

He opened his package next to find a sample of every product that Weasley's Wizard Wheezes had ever made. Some of them were deemed too dangerous to be sold.

"Hogwarts Legends book, here we come," grinned Ron.

Ginny was last to open her package. Once she had finally dug her way through the cardboard she found a beautiful acoustic guitar, with a book called 'Teach yourself Guitar' written with both Tab and Music. She also found a bag containing about 100 plectrums. She ran her fingers gently over the strings.

"I've always wanted a guitar," she said. "Mum and Dad could never afford one though."

She grinned widely.

"We're gonna have some fun this summer," said Harry.

"Loads of fun," agreed Ginny.

A week later Molly Weasley had entered Gryffindor tower to check on the children. They were all sharing one dormitory, as it seemed pointless to separate them. She was not prepared for what she found.

Ginny was lying in Harry's arms, both of them wearing nothing but each other and drenched in sweat. They were whispering softly to each other when they heard it.

"GINEVRA ALEXANDRA WEASLEY! HARRY JAMES POTTER!" Mrs Weasley bellowed. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!"

Ron and Hermione sat upright in their beds as Ginny and Harry hastily covered themselves up with their sheets.

"Mum!" shouted Ginny. "What are you doing here?"

"Coming to check on you and it's a good thing I did," said Mrs Weasley angrily. "Both of you get some clothes on and meet me down in the common room."

She stormed out of the dorm. Harry grabbed a T-shirt, some boxers and pants and through them on. Ginny chucked one of Harry's shirts around her shoulders and fastened a few buttons after putting on her underwear. He grabbed her hand and fearfully headed down to the common room.

"This is absolutely disgraceful!" shouted Mrs Weasley the second they arrived. "You are only sixteen years old! Both of you! You should be ashamed of yourselves!"

Harry looked at the floor. Mrs Weasley was like a mother to him, and he had gone and slept with her daughter. He felt really bad, like he had somehow betrayed her trust.

"I'm sorry, Mrs Weasley," he began.

"Sorry?" shouted Mrs Weasley. "You take my daughter's innocence and all you can say is sorry?"

"I…" Harry started.

"It takes two people to tango, you know Mum," interrupted Ginny. "You can't blame Harry. It was my decision too."

Mrs Weasley stared at her daughter.

"I can't even bare to look at you, Ginny," she said. "You're not the person I thought you were. I didn't bring you up for this."

"I think that's a bit harsh, Mrs Weasley," said Harry. "Ginny's a wonderful person. She's kind and clever. She always tries to see the best in people and helps anyone who needs it. She works hard at everything she does, and listens if you just need to talk, and knows when you just need silence. You have to understand, Mrs Weasley, that I love Ginny. I love her with all my heart and I would never, never let anything bad happen to her. I will protect her with my life."

Mrs Weasley was silent for a moment.

"Ginny?" she asked quietly.

"I love him, Mum," she whispered, her eyes glistening slightly. "I love him so much. I know that he would never hurt me, and never let anything hurt me. We understand each other, and Harry needs someone who understands him."

Mrs Weasley looked from Ginny to Harry and then back to Ginny.

"I will let this drop, for now," she said the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. "Just promise that you'll take precautions, alright."

"Of course," said Ginny. "Do you think I'm that stupid?"

"Mothers don't like to admit it when their daughters are growing up," Mrs Weasley said with a sigh. "For years now I've never seen you with anyone but Harry, and I'm glad that you're happy. Just don't let me catch you again."

"Ok, Mum," said Ginny.

She gave her Mum a hug. Harry stood back looking a bit embarrassed. Mrs Weasley held out her arm to him and he joined the hug, if a little awkwardly.

"Now off with you," said Mrs Weasley. "And get some sleep."

She walked out through the portrait hole and Ginny turned to Harry.

"Well, that was embarrassing," she laughed.

"Oh yeah," said Harry.

He grinned down at her beautiful face and touched his lips to hers.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too," she whispered back.

The next morning Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione headed down to the small room outside the Great Hall (the one where Harry and the other Triwizard Champions went when they were first chosen) where a large table had been placed and was being used as the dining room, as it seemed stupid to use the Great Hall for so few people. Harry blushed slightly when he saw Mrs Weasley staring at he and Ginny. They took seats next to each other and moved them closer together.

"I trust you all slept well," said Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eye.

Harry glanced at Ginny.

"Yes sir," he said quietly.

Dumbledore chuckled. Remus Lupin entered the room.

"I have some bad news," he said.

Everyone turned to look at him.

"Yesterday there were five attacks on muggles all in Hermione's home town," he said. "We think that they were looking for her."

"Are my parents alright?" she asked, her face turning white.

"The Death Eaters found your house," said Lupin quietly. "There's nothing left. Your parents we rushed to hospital but were pronounced dead upon arrival. I'm so sorry, Hermione."

Hermione stared at him, speechless.

"They were looking for me," she whispered. "It's all my fault."

Ron put her arms around her and hugged her tightly as she cried into his shoulder.. Harry stared down into his plate. It wasn't Hermione's fault, it was his. If Hermione wasn't his friend then she would never have been targeted. He was putting his friends in danger. Ginny touched his arm.

"It's not your fault, Harry," she whispered, kissing his shoulder lightly.

Harry shook his head, disagreeing with her.

"She's right, Harry," said Lupin. "Hermione's a powerful and formidable witch. They would have gone after her whether she was your friend or not. We just have to be thankful that Hermione wasn't there, or else we would have lost her too."

Hermione lifted her tear-streaked face and looked at Harry.

"Don't blame yourself, Harry," she said. "It's V-voldemort who did this, not you."

He got up out of his chair and hugged her.

"I guess we're both orphans now," she said. "At least I finally know how you feel."

"No," said Harry. "It's worse for you. I was too young to remember my parents, but you'll miss them everyday and remember all the love they gave you.

"You're wrong, Harry," said Hermione. "That's better than remembering nothing."

Harry sat back down and the adults left the four teenagers alone.

Later, Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny were sitting in the Gryffindor common room. Harry was sitting in a large armchair with Ginny curled up in his lap. Hermione was sobbing slightly in Ron's arms whilst he was valiantly trying to comfort her. Harry and Ginny were going over all of their Defence Against the Dark Arts projects from the last year.

"We got top marks on the one about you," said Ginny.

"I really don't find it surprising, seeing as I was the one telling the stories," said Harry.

"I did all the writing though," said Ginny.

"That's because you work harder than me," said Harry with a brief smile.

He kissed her gently. She through the parchment onto the floor and snuggled further into Harry's arms.

"How're you holding up, Hermione?" she asked gently.

"It's just awful," she said. "Knowing that they're not coming back."

"I wish I could tell you that it will be ok," said Harry. "But it won't. All I know is that it will hurt less everyday, but the pain never really goes away."

"I'm just glad that you three are here," Hermione said. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"We're not going anywhere," said Ron. "Right, Harry?"

"Right," said Harry, slightly less confidently.

"I'm tired," said Hermione. "Will you come with me, Ron? I don't want to be alone."

Ron nodded. He took her hand and the two went upstairs.

"I hope she'll be ok," said Ginny.

"Hermione's strong," said Harry. "She'll get through it. She's stronger than I am, and I got through it."

"Eventually," said Ginny.

"It didn't take that long," said Harry indignantly.

Ginny looked up into his eyes.

"Of course not," she whispered, just seconds before their lips met.

Harry kissed her energetically and passionately, their bodies inching ever closer. He slid his hands up her T-shirt and moved them slowly higher up her chest, gradually taking the T-shirt with them. He lifted it off over her head, and felt her hands moving towards the fastening of his trousers.

"Ginny," he whispered, taking his lips of hers for just a second. "I love you."

"I love you too, Harry," she said.

She moaned softly as he kissed her neck. After a couple of seconds of fidgeting Harry's trousers were lying on the floor just next to Ginny's T-shirt. He touched his lips to hers again with even more passion than the last time.

A week later at breakfast Ginny opened with excitement the envelope containing her OWL results. Harry, Ron and Hermione peered over her shoulder as she unfolded the parchment.

"Congratulations, Ginny!" exclaimed Hermione.

"What did she get?" asked Mrs Weasley bustling over.

"Twelve," said Ron.

"Twelve!" squealed Mrs Weasley. "This calls for a celebration."

"You bet it does," Harry whispered into Ginny's ear.

Ginny grinned, but didn't have time to reply as she was engulfed by her mother.

"Mum," she wheezed. "I can't breathe."

"Sorry," said Mrs Weasley. "I think a special breakfast is in order. I'll get Dobby to make you a fry up."

Hermione opened her mouth to say something about SPEW but decided against it. Fred and George appeared a few moments later and after hearing the news began conjuring streamers, silly string and party poppers and letting them off.

"Honestly, you two," said Mrs Weasley, surveying the instant mess.

Afterwards Harry and Ginny went outside for a walk by the lake. They lay down underneath the tree from Snape's memory and cuddled up to each other.

"What do you plan to do after Hogwarts?" Harry asked Ginny.

"I've never really thought about it," said Ginny. "There's been so much going on recently, it's difficult to think of anything else. I suppose I'd perhaps like to be an auror. What about you?"

"An auror is the only thing that I've ever really considered," said Harry. "But I'm not so sure anymore."

"Why?"

"Well, after all this is over, and if I win, I'll probably of had enough of Dark Wizards to last me a lifetime," he explained.

"Yeah," said Ginny. "I have to agree with you there."

"I wouldn't mind coming back here and teaching for a few years," he said. "To pass on what I've learned, and to stop children forgetting what we lost so that they could be free. And of course, they maybe one other reason for me coming back straight after leaving."

"I would never have thought you would be expecting to miss Snape that much," laughed Ginny.

"No," said Harry. "But we have become increasingly close."

Ginny giggled.

"Snape isn't who I'm talking about," Harry said, gazing at her.

"So who are you talking about?" asked Ginny, feigning confusion.

"I think you know," whispered Harry.

He stroked her cheek with his hand and slowly moved forward to kiss her.

"I think that may have cleared it up," said Ginny, with a smile after they broke apart.

They moved slightly apart, needing air. Harry sighed.

"What's wrong?" asked Ginny.

Harry simply stared at the lake.

"You miss him don't you?" said Ginny.

Harry nodded.

"Summer is almost as bad as Christmas," he said. "I miss the letters that he used to write to me. When everyone else was hinting to me what was going on, teasing me almost, he just wrote exactly what I needed to hear to keep me from getting too frustrated. It's just so hard to think that he's gone."

"He's not really gone though," said Ginny. "Those that we love are never really gone. So long as you remember him, he'll always be with you."

Harry pulled Ginny close again.

"What would I do with out you?" he whispered. "I need you so much."

Ginny hugged him tightly.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you, too," said Harry.

Harry walked across the field and sat down on the bench.

"How're you doing, Harry?" asked Sirius, joining him.

"Better," said Harry.

"How's it going with Ginny?" he asked. "You're not still trying to push her away are you?"

"No," said Harry. "I couldn't cope without her."

"I knew, didn't I?" said Sirius with a grin.

"Yeah, you said it," said Harry. "When we're apart I feel like I'm suffocating."

"That's called love mate," said Sirius.

Harry's cheeks coloured.

"Now, Padfoot," came the voice of James Potter. "Stop giving Harry advice on love. We all know that you don't know the meaning off the word."

Harry chuckled. Sirius turned around and childishly stuck his tongue out at James.

"So, you having a good summer, Harry?" asked James sitting down on Harry's other side.

"It's not so bad," said Harry. "Hermione's having a rough time though, but you'd expect that."

James nodded.

"She's strong is Hermione," said Sirius. "She can cope with anything ten times better than you can."

He poked Harry's arm.

"Hey!" exclaimed Harry.

"Padfoot," said James almost warningly.

"Look at lil' Prongsie trying to be the responsible daddy," laughed Sirius.

"He's doing a better job than you," said Lily Potter approaching from behind Sirius.

She was grinning as she squashed onto the bench next to James.

"I never was the responsible one," said Sirius.

"Neither was James," said Lily. "Until he became Head Boy that is."

"Do you know who'll be Head Boy and Head Girl in your year, Harry?" asked James.

"Hermione without a doubt," said Harry. "I don't care who the Head Boy is as long as it's not Malfoy. Actually, I hope it's Ron."

"Malfoy's not giving you any trouble is he?" asked Sirius.

"No," said Harry. "He's been pretty quiet this year. It's probably because we put his dad in Azkaban last year."

"And how's Ginny?" asked Lily.

"Ginny's fine," said Harry, his eyes lighting up with the coming of his favourite topic of conversation. "She's just got her Owl results."

"What did she get?" asked Lily.

"Twelve OWLs," said Harry. "Most of them O's as well. She got E's in Divination and Astronomy, but other than that she got Outstanding."

"That's as good as Lily got," said James.

"She's clever," said Harry. "But the annoying thing is that she hardly seems to do any work. Hermione got good grades but she spent hours working. Ginny did very little and did just as well."

"She's lucky then," said James.

"Nah," said Harry. "I'm the lucky one."

James ruffled Harry's hair, Lily threw her arms around him almost in tears and Sirius looked on in amusement.

"We have to be going now, Harry," said James after a few minutes.

"But you just got here," said Harry.

"I know, but we'll be back again soon," said Lily.

"We'll be here whenever you need us," said Sirius. "Just remember what Ginny said."

Harry nodded and watched as James, Sirius and Lily faded away into the mist.

The last evening of the summer holidays found Harry, Ginny, Fred, George, Ron and Hermione sitting in a circle in the Gryffindor common room. They had just completed setting up their plan to prank the Slytherins. With the help of the master pranksters that had created a web of spells over the doorway to the Slytherin common room, which meant that when a student either entered or exited the common room they would be turned into ferrets of varying colours, and no matter what counter curses were performed the transformation would remain for one hour, and the spell web could not be removed until the first of November. Fred and George were only sorry that they couldn't stay behind to see the outcome.

The six were collectively singing songs whilst Ginny played them on her guitar. The twins had dug up some firewhiskey from somewhere and they were all drinking quite a bit so all of them were getting drunk. After singing and playing an energetic version of Green Day's Basket Case, Harry and Ginny fell backwards and disregarding their companions began to snog each other senseless.

"Hey!" shouted Fred.

"Harry! Ginny!" shouted George.

"Hey!" shouted Ron.

Fred grabbed a stick and prodded Harry.

"Get your tongue out of our sister's throat," he said.

Harry and Ginny turned deep shades of red, and were muttering apologies when the three Weasley boys cracked up laughing. This caused Ginny to Bat Bogey Hex the lot of them and soon, childish hexes were being hurled left, right and centre.

A/N Aren't you proud of me? I got another chapter done so soon. I have been very very busy of late so I've been struggling for time to write this fiction, but don't worry. I'm not giving up on it. The best part is yet to come and I'm looking forward to writing it. I'm glad I confused you with my story preview I was hoping too. I'm sorry about killing off Hermione's parents but it had to be done. I won't kill anyone important. That has now possibly confused you more. I don't know. Anyway, I will try to cover Harry's seventh year in three or four chapters so I can start on the main part of my story. Please keep reading and keep reviewing. I love to know what you think. Thank you!