Disclaimer: I did not create the magnificant world of Harry Potter, that gifted person happens to be JK Rowling.
Spoilers: As this takes place after HBP there may be instances of spoilers. Don't read if you haven't read the book, unless you want to read the spoilers.
Pairings: Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermoine, and others...
A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers. You have really boosted my confidence. Well, hope you like this chapter...
A Birthday to Remember
The sun streamed from the windows, as signalling Harry to wake up. Harry yawned and stretched.
"Wow, I haven't slept this well in ages" he said to himself. As he reached for his glasses and put them on, he realized that miraculously, Ron had woken up before him as he was not in the room. Harry decided it was best to get dressed and go downstairs to the kitchen.
When he got there, he saw Mr Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Fleur (whose love from Bill had obviously not faltered after the series of events that resulted in his now disfigured face) Ron, Ginny (who seemed actually a bit quiet among the rest), and Hermione all seated at the table as if they were discussing something important. Before Harry could say a word, Hermoine had looked up.
"Hey Harry, happy birthday" She said embracing him.
"Thanks, Hermione. When did you get here?"
"Oh I apparated about an hour ago, I'm here for the rest of the summer"
" 'Ello 'arry, 'ow are you?" asked Fleur smiling brightly.
Harry shrugged "alright, I guess. So, have you set a date for the wedding?".
"Yes, eet ees een two weeks" she replied, her perfect skin turning a slight shade of pink.
Mrs Weasley then cut in. "Harry, after breakfast, Arthur has agreed to take you to take your apparation test with Ron and Hermione to keep you company".
Harry looked up towards Ginny. He had decided that he had to talk to her. "Can Ginny come as well".
"If she wants, she can go too".
After a pause, Ginny shifted her eyes towards her mother. "I guess so" she replied quietly.
It seems that Ginny was the first to finish breakfast, then she hurried up the stairs. After Harry finished (which was soon after Ginny) he excused himself and went upstairs to Ron's room. There, he found his trunk, which contained the wrapped gift he had gotten for Ginny. After pocketing it, he saw that Ginny's room door was closed. He knocked on it.
"Ginny?"
The door opened, letting Harry enter the room. There he found Ginny sitting at the edge of her bed, her eyes looking a bit red and watery.
He scooted closer to Ginny, brushing her hair from her face. "Ginny wait-" he began.
Ginny scooted a bit away from Harry, facing him. "No, I want you to hear this, before you say anything".
She then stood up and began pacing back and forth across the floor.
"Why, Harry, must you always be so bloody noble. You think I haven't thought of the dangers that I face being at your side? Can't you see that I don't care? Can't you see I love you and rather die being at your side?" She then sat down, hiding her newly fallen tears.
Harry stood up and embraced her.
"Ginny, you know I love you. You have no idea how much it hurt to cut myself away from you. I did this because I care, don't you?"
Ginny's eyes look up upon Harry's now dull green eyes. "I know you care. But I care too. I can't bear to see you go through all this pain. You shouldn't go through it alone either. I want to be there with you when times are hard, when times are good. I want-"
She was cut short by Harry who kissed her.
After they pulled apart they just stared at each other for a moment.
"Well" Ginny began. "What do we do now?"
"Well" Harry began "I know I couldn't stand it if something happened to you. But I also can't stand to see you that hurt".
With that statement, Ginny flung herself onto Harry, knocking him over. Laughing, both got back up. As Harry stood up, that wrapped package fell out of his pocket.
"What is that?" Ginny asked.
When Harry noticed that she saw the package on the floor, he picked it up and handed it to her.
"Well, I guess I should give you this now".
Ginny gasped as she unwrapped a heart-shaped locket with an unusual shimmering stone on the front.
Harry then pulled out a similar locket from under his shirt.
"It's a love locket. Similar to mood rings, but it changes colors according to how the other wearer is doing. Like, if this locket turns a pearly white, you are at peace. If it turns red, you are passionate/you are feeling a deep sense of love at the moment. If it turns blue, you are saddened. If it turns purple, you are in some sort of danger. And if it turns black... you are well... You're either dead or our love has ultimately ended. Your locket shows the same things but about me".
Ginny embraced Harry in a hug.
"It's beautiful, I'll always wear it". She let Harry put it on her, and immediately both lockets turned a bright shade of scarlet.
Ginny laughed. "I guess I know what we're thinking..." She then looked at the clock.
"Wow, we should really get downstairs".
As they walked hand in hand, they passed by Ron's door which suddenly opened. Out came Ron and Hermione, both breathless and blushing.
"When did you and Hermione-" began Harry.
"Oh they have been together since the beginning of summer. Ron has been apparating to her house at night, possibly several steamy snog sessions. And he thinks no one has noticed..." replied Ginny.
Hermione began to blush furiously as she wacked ron behind the head. "Honestly Ron, how obvious are you?" Ron rubbed his head and he looked at Hermione innocently.
"I guess there's no need to hide this anymore" he stated, walking up to Hermione and kissing her as hooked on a similar locket that Harry had given Ginny, except this one was in the shape of a crescent moon, around Hermoine's neck. After Ron had explained the locket and everything, Hermione hugged him.
"Oh Ron, this is beautiful, thank you". Pulling apart, they followed Ginny and Harry, who already were headed down the stairs.
Mrs. Weasley smiled fondly as she saw Harry and Ginny holding hands.
"I see you two decided that love is much to strong to pull apart. Very well then, are all of you ready to go?".
"Yes" they all replied. Pretty soon all apparated, (Harry holding on to Mr. Weasley's arm as Ginny held onto Hermione's arm) to the place where Harry was to take his apparation test.
"Are apparations always so uncomfortable?" stated Ginny.
Everyone else laughed. "You get used to it after a while" said Mr Weasley. He then looked up.
"Ah well, there's the place right there" he said pointing to the building which they stood in front of. They then entered the building. There, in the front of the sat a witch behind a desk.
"Why hello Arthur," said the witch smiling. "Have you brought another Weasley to take the test?".
"Hello Ophelia. No, although Ginny turns seventeen next August. I have brought Harry Potter to take his apparation test".
"Why hello Harry," said Ophelia smiling. "Just fill this sheet out, with your name and birthdate, and sign here to verify that you are indeed seventeen years of age. Then take this form to that desk over there, where they will assign you to an official who will be conducting your test".
He thanked her and filled out the form and went to that desk he was instructed towards. When he got to the front of the desk, a young man was seated behind the desk.
"Name please"
"Harry Potter"
The man looked up at Harry. "Go through that door, Marianna will be there waiting to administer the test".
"Good luck" said Mr. Weasley. "We will be waiting for you hare when you finish".
Harry then went through the assigned door. There, a woman stood waiting.
"Hello Harry. I am Marianna. I will be conducting your test today. Ok, let's get down to business." She then guided him towards the street corner.
"You see that grocery store over there? I would like you to apparate in front of that store".
Harry then closed his eyes and invisioned the apparation classes he took back in 6th year. With a pop, he appeared in front of the store. He looked himself over, to check if he had splinched anything. When all appeared well, he heard a pop right next to him. Marianna appeared with a clipboard. After a while of scribbling on her clipboard, she handed Harry a piece of paper.
"Very good Mr. Potter, you pass. Now when you go back in, take this form to the front desk where you will recieve your apparation license". With this, she disappeared with a pop. Harry then apparated back to where Mr. Weasley, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were waiting. Harry then walked towards them grinning. Ron looked up.
"Did you pass?"
Harry then waved the paper. "I passed".
"That's great mate!" exclaimed Ron.
"Very good Harry" said Mr. Weasley, shaking his hand.
Hermione then hugged him. "Congratulations" she said.
Ginny then greeted him with a kiss. "Great job. Now you get to help me with my apparation test".
"Sure thing" said Harry hugging her close.
Mr. Weasley then looked at his watch. "We should go now. Molly is expecting us".
With this, they (Ginny holding onto Harry) all apparated to the front of the Burrow. As they walked in, a group chorused "Suprise!"
Harry jumped. He then saw Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Fleur, Fred, George, Remus, Tonks, and Hagrid in front of him/ He then gazed around the room where he found a red and gold banner that said "Happy 17th Birthday Harry" along with some balloons and streamers.
"Wow everyone, thank you!" he exclaimed grinning.
"Well, did you pass?" asked Fred.
Harry then pulled out his new license.
"Excellent Harry. You managed to pass without leaving behind any eyebrows" commented George.
"Hey, that was only half an eyebrow. And I passed the second time" retorted Ron.
After a round of "Happy Birthdays" and "Congratulations" the party went underway. After all the food (and cake) it was time for presents.
From Mr and Mrs Weasley, Harry recieved a pocket watch similar to the one that Ron recieved for hisb17th birthday.
"I hope you like it" stated Mrs. Weasley.
"I love it, I'll treasure it always" said Harry.
From Bill and Fleur, Harry recieved a set of deep green robes. " 'eet goes 'ery good weeth your eyes" (a/n: I really can's spell a french accent well, lol)
"Thank you" replied Harry.
He recieved some nice products from the twins' joke shop. From Remus, he had recieved Sirius's old flying motorcycle.
"Sirius left this in my care. I found it fitting to give it to you. Use it wisely".
A pang of saddness overcame Harry as he remembered his godfather. "Thanks, I will"
From Tonks (whose hair was recently a shade of violet) he recieved a nice quill with ink that had an odd pearly color.
"It's invisible ink. It will only show up to the writer. When the writer finishes the writing, the ink disappears, only to reappear to the intended reciever revealing whatever color you intend it to reveal".
"Wow, this is great. Thanks".
From Hagrid, he recieved a beautiful red and orange quill.
" I made it from a feather left by Fawkes. I kno' 'e is really taken ter yeh". (a/n: Hagrid's accent is also something I really can't spell well")
"Thanks Hagrid".
Ron and Hermione both got Harry books (from Hermione, A Basic Guide to Animagi Transformation "Honestly Harry, you should start researching this now that you are of age"From Ron, 1001 Dueling Spells for the Advanced Dueler "Um, I figured you would need this for um, when you have to face him this year".
"Thanks, these books will be real useful".
After the presents, the party started to draw to an end. After a while, Ginny motioned Harry to come with her. Both went up to the attic where Ginny presented her gifts to Harry. One was a lock of her hair for Harry to keep in his locket. Another was a hat and scarf set in a shade of deep green.
"Mum's been teaching me to knit, I hope it's alright".
"I love it Ginny" said Harry, who also placed the lock of hair in his locket. He then embraced her. After he pulled away, he pulled out his wand, and muttered a spell. A lock of Harry's hair appeared in his hands. He then proceeded to place this lock of hair in Ginny's own locket.
"Here, I think you should have this" said Harry.
Ginny face broke into a smile. "Thank you Harry".
Harry then looked out of the window where he saw everyone in the garden. "I think we should join the rest."
"Yeah, good point." With this, the two went down to join the rest of the party. Harry sighed happily. This was the first time he had felt happiness in a long time.
A/N: I know this was a loong chapter. I have a tendancy to get carried away when writing sometimes. Also I felt that Harry's 17th bday was an important one to describe in detail. Stay tuned for the next chapter which involves Bill's and Fleur's wedding, and of course... Harry's and Ginny's moment alone which leads to their own little situation. Please review, I want to know if this chapter was any good. Thanks.