Harry had spent the last three boring weeks on a routine of brooding, training, doing chores for the Dursley's and brooding some more. Today was no exception to the cycle and he was currently working in the Dursley's garden; weeding.

"You're not coming back in the house until you finish!" his aunt had shouted at him. He had been given this job many times before so he knew better than to so much as go in for a glass of water before the garden was free of weeds.

The afternoon sun bore down on him as he worked and his bare back was beginning to burn.

When he finally finished he stood up to admire his work.

'Even aunt Petunia won't be able to find something wrong with this,' he thought proudly.

Harry slid his shirt back on and headed for the door. However when he pulled on the handle, nothing happened. He pulled again, harder this time but the door wouldn't budge; he was locked out.

He knocked on the door calling out for the Dursley's but no one came. Harry slid round to the side fence and stood on his tiptoes to see over the top; the Dursley's car was gone.

'They've probably just gone to run some errands,' he figured and sat down in the shade of the house and waited.

An hour passed before Harry began to get impatient. The sun was beginning to set and bugs were coming out, annoying Harry greatly. He began to formulate a plan in his mind.

Along the wall was a vine fence with holes he could use for footing. Once he got level with his bedroom window though, he would still have to jump a foot to the left and somehow open the window, thankfully he had left it unlocked.

"Ok, go!" Harry whispered to himself and began climbing.

It was hard, the vines got in his way and scratched his bare and burnt arms and legs. His arms quickly got tired and he groaned with the effort each time he pulled himself up further. When he got as high as he would go he paused for a moment, he was several feet from the ground and it would hurt if he fell, but he decided to take his chances.

He pushed off sideways from the wall towards his window and grabbed the edge with his fingertips. His feet scrambled below him for some hold but there was none.

His fingers wouldn't hold him there for long so he lifted one hand up to the window and struggled to lift it up but it was hard to get hold with no handle.

It shifted slightly, Harry pushed harder. An inch! Harry groaned as he lifted his arm to push it open the rest of the way.

"Uh, Harry? What exactly are you doing?"

The voice startled Harry, and as he was trying to turn to see who had spoken, he lost his hold on the window and fell to the ground below.

"Oh, Harry!" another voice called out. Stiffly, Harry lifted his head and saw Ron and Hermione in the backyard of number four Privet Drive.

Hermione had run over to him and was helping him up, looking concerned. Ron looked as if he was fighting laughter.

"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, fine," he replied looking up at his bedroom window still only open a couple of inches.

"I got locked out," he explained. Ron, it seemed couldn't hold it in anymore and laughed.

"You looked bloody ridiculous, mate!"

Harry laughed too imagining what he must have looked like.

"Ron!" Hermione scolded, "Harry could have really been hurt!"

"Its fine, 'Mione, honestly," Harry said seriously. Then more quietly, so only Hermione could hear he said, "Does this mean Ron's forgiven me?"

Hermione finally smiled and said to Harry, "Actually, he's been acting like he has a selective memory. He's pretending it never happened."

"Well, whatever works for him, I guess," Harry said, happy to have his best friend back. Hermione ran to the back door and pulled out her wand.

"Alohomora," she whispered and Harry heard the click of the door unlocking.

The three friends sat at the kitchen table and Harry poured them all glasses of water, he was dehydrated from being in the sun all day.

"So what are you two doing here?" he asked.

"That's obvious!" said Ron, still in a good mood, "We've come to get you! It's your birthday tomorrow!"

"Yeah," replied Harry, "but I didn't think you'd be coming until then,"

"Well we couldn't let you suffer here for another night," Ron shrugged.

"Ok, I'll get my stuff!" Harry exclaimed forgetting that his knees hurt from his fall, he ran up the stairs.

'I'm leaving the Dursley's! I'm never coming back!' he chanted like a mantra in his head.

He haphazardly threw all his possessions into his trunk and let Hedwig out to fly to the Burrow on her own. Ron apparated off taking the trunk with him, Hermione was going to apparate with Harry as she was more skilled than Ron and it was harder to carry living things than inanimate objects.

Just as they were about to go, the front door burst open and in poured the Dursley's. They all froze when they saw Harry and Hermione standing in the front hall.

"What's going on here, boy?" Vernon asked, staring down angrily at the two teenagers.

"Uncle Vernon," Harry began, "I'm leaving." Here Harry paused for a moment.

"It's my seventeenth birthday tomorrow, which, in my world, makes me a legal adult. So I'm going and I'm not coming back."

Vernon eyed him warily for a moment as if afraid Harry was joking. Then Vernon smiled, the first time Harry had seen him smile when it wasn't out of malice.

"Be gone with you then," Vernon said and headed up the stairs.

Dudley blew Harry a raspberry before following his father up the stairs.

"Well, bye," Harry said awkwardly to aunt Petunia. Then she did the most surprising thing she had done since the night Dementors had attacked Harry and Dudley. This time, however was much stranger; she hugged Harry.

She had never hugged him before, not even as a baby but now she held him tightly.

"Be safe," she said to him and Harry saw tears in her eyes. He understood, though she had never loved him, he was still her sister's child and she knew that he was in danger and, despite herself, she was worried.

"Write from time to time will you? Just to let us know your safe." Harry nodded and Aunt Petunia stood up and resumed her usual cruel demeanor.

Hermione, who had watched the exchange in silence, grasped Harry's hand and then he felt the familiar feeling of being squished as Number four vanished from sight

When Harry opened his eyes he was standing in the Weasley's front yard. He let go of Hermione's hand and stepped through the door into the Burrow.

"Harry, dear!" cried Mrs. Weasley, jumping up from her seat by the fire and rushing over to hug him.

"How are you? Are you hungry? Everyone's gone to bed already but I can cook something for you if you'd like."

"No thanks," he said, "I'd rather just go to bed." She smiled at him and he followed her up the stairs.

"Here you are, then," she said arriving at the second floor landing.

"Am I not staying with Ron?" he asked.

"Oh no dear, this is your home now for as long as you wish to stay. This is Bill's old room, but now it's yours." She said smiling widely at him.

"I… thank you," he stammered. She hugged him tightly one last time and headed up to the next floor, with Hermione hurrying behind. Harry was pleased to see that his trunk was already in his room and he changed into his pajamas and slipped into a dreamless sleep.

"HARRY!" was the first sound Harry heard upon waking the next morning, followed by the feeling of his ribs being crushed. When he opened his eyes all he saw was a red blur. Then someone was kissing him and he forgot all about the pain in his chest from being jumped on.

"Ginny…" he whispered, breathing in the smell of her hair and enjoying the feeling of embracing her.

"Ahem!" said a voice in the doorway. Harry broke away from Ginny and turned to see Ron and Hermione standing in the doorway. Harry was thankful to see that Ron didn't appear angry. 'Selective memory' he remembered Hermione saying and inwardly chuckled.

Harry was both relieved and sad when Ginny slid off him to sit beside him.

"It's time for breakfast, you two. And Happy birthday, Harry" Hermione said from the doorway.

"Happy birthday, mate!" Ron said and with that Hermione left dragging Ron after her.

Harry got out of bed and quickly dressed then he and Ginny headed downstairs arm-in-arm.

Harry enjoyed a nice breakfast; as usual Mrs. Weasley was piling his plate with enough food to feed five people. It was just Ron, Hermione, Harry, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley as all the other Weasley men were at work.

Harry ate quietly taking pleasure in listening to Hermione's story about taking her muggle driving test and the trouble she had had with highway driving.

"Hermione, why are you even bothering with it?" Ron asked, exasperated.

"Well, you never know when it will come in handy and besides my parents want me to do it,"

Ron tutted at her through a mouthful of sausage.

Mrs. Weasley was giving Harry more toast when she noticed his arms which had begun to peel from the sunburn.

"My Goodness! Harry, how did you do that?" she asked him.

"Oh, I was weeding the garden yesterday," he said sheepishly. Everyone was now staring at him and he felt very self-conscious.

Mrs. Weasley left the room and returned a moment later with a bottle of creamy potion.

"This will help heal the burns, Harry," she said as she began spreading it on his arms.

"Mrs. Weasley, thanks but I can do it…" Harry began but was cut off when Mrs. Weasley lifted his shirt to put some on his stomach and back. He yelped and jumped out of his chair.

"Thanks, uh, but I can take it from here," he said to her as politely as he could. He was annoyed to see Hermione, Ron and Ginny were all giggling.

"But, Harry, how will you reach all the spots on your back?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"I'll help him," Ginny said, surprising everyone. Ron immediately stopped laughing then looked away and started whistling as if he were in his own world. Harry snorted at his friend's behavior.

Mrs. Weasley adopted a knowing look, and said that it was a good idea, then winked at Ginny and resumed breakfast. Ginny blushed but grabbed Harry's hand and the potion and dragged him off.

Ginny lead him to the third floor bathroom and gently removed his shirt to put cream on him. Harry had other ideas though.

He started kissing Ginny but she pulled away from his fiercely.

"Harry, not now!" she said annoyed and began spreading the cream along his arms, back, stomach, legs and shoulders.

Harry was highly aroused by the whole process but Ginny kept shooting him looks that seemed to indicate 'Don't you dare try anything!' so he held himself back.

When Ginny was finished and had put the cream away, Harry seized his chance and snaked his arms around her waist and tried to kiss her.

"Harry, please," she said.

"What?" Harry asked deeply confused. He looked into her eyes and was shocked to see tears there. "What's the matter?" he asked, full of concern.

"You!" she cried as tears began pouring from her eyes.

"Ginny, what…?" Harry asked, still confused.

"This!" she said, indicating his sunburns, "I hate those Dursleys! Oh, Harry, it must have been so awful for you living in that horrible cupboard with those awful people for so long." She hugged him tightly, "I hate to think of you suffering like that."

"Ginny…" Harry began.

"No, Harry, I know your just going to shrug it off like it's nothing but it's something. And now they've gone so far as to physically hurt you! What was Dumbledore thinking sending you there?"

"Ginny, please, calm down. None of that matters now, I'm not going back to them. I'm here with you right now, and I'm never leaving you again."

Ginny sniffed and wiped her eyes.

"Sorry for the waterworks, I'm just being silly," she apologized.

"Don't worry about it."

Harry was thinking about the last time he'd seen tears in her eyes it had been on the night they'd first made love but he had been too preoccupied to ask about it then.

"Ginny, that night, in the room of requirement…" Ginny nodded to show she knew what he meant.

"You were almost crying before we, you know. Why?"

Ginny took a deep breath and said, "Because you said, you loved me. Well you didn't mean to say it but you…"

Harry cupped her chin and lifted her mouth to his and kissed her.

"I love you, Gin. More than anything," Harry said with all seriousness, looking deep into her eyes to make sure she understood.

"I love you too, Harry!" she exclaimed jumping back into his arms and kissing him fiercely all over his face and neck, and he kissed her back, deep and passionately.

After several minutes they broke apart.

"I almost forgot!" Ginny said rushing out of the room. Harry took the opportunity to dress and was just pulling his t-shirt on when Ginny came back into the bathroom carrying a small rectangular box.

"I was going to give it to you later, but now seems right," she said handing Harry the box.

He opened it to find a shining silver watch gleaming inside. His previous watch had broken a month ago and this one was truly magnificent and must have cost more than Ginny could afford.

"Ginny, I…"

"Don't worry Harry; I didn't empty our Gringotts vault paying for it. My grandmother Weasley gave it to my grandfather years ago. I made a little addition to it though. Turn it over." Harry did and found an inscription on the back:

Yours,

Always

HP&

GW

"Thank you," was all Harry managed to say before he busied himself devouring Ginny's mouth with his own.

"Well! That's one way to say thank you!" Ginny, said laughing when Harry had finally finished.

"I love you, Ginny."

"Happy Birthday, love."

In honour of Harry's seventeenth birthday, the Weasley's decided to throw Harry a birthday party, figuring that he had probably never had one with the Dursleys. Members of the Order attended including, Mad-eye Moody, Lupin, Tonks, Hagrid and Mundungus. All the Weasley brothers were there (except Percy) as well as Luna and Fleur and Harry's roommates from Hogwarts; Dean, Seamus and Neville.

Harry greeted them all, happy to see them again. He was surprised at the number of gifts he had accumulated. He had gotten books, large amounts of Honeydukes' best candy, joke items from Fred and George, the usual sweater from Mrs. Weasley and many other various items.

Tables had been set up in the back yard and Mrs. Weasley had cooked a fantastic feast for them all. The only interruption in the fun had been when Seamus accidentally knocked over Harry's cup and spilt butterbeer (brought by Hagrid from the three Broomsticks) all over the table cloth. Thankfully, Bill had done a cleaning charm before it set in and Seamus had gone to get Harry a refill.

Lupin had pulled Harry aside after this and had given him his gift.

"This, as I believe you know, was Dumbledore's." Lupin said holding out a pensieve to Harry. Harry was speechless.

"When Dumbledore died, his memories were erased. I have a feeling he would have wanted you to have it."

Harry muttered his thanks to Lupin and took the pensieve from him.

"Harry, my addition to the gift was to put in a few of my own memories for you to see. They're various memories of your parents and the marauders over the years." Lupin winked at Harry and rejoined the party.

Harry followed him back and was met with cries from Fred and George and the other Gryffindors for a speech. At first Harry refused, but realized he might not get another chance to tell everyone how he felt.

"Um, hi," Harry said awkwardly stepping up onto a chair, all eyes were on him.

"Thank you all for coming and for the gifts. I'm not really very good at speeches so I'll just say a few things. Very soon, I will be leaving to do something I had intended to do with Dumbledore," he paused and everyone gave a moment's silence to Dumbledore's memory, "as he is unable to come with me, I have to do it myself. I don't really know what's going to happen when I go, so I just want to express my extreme thanks to all of you. You've all been there for me in one way or another and I want you to know how grateful I am for that."

"A lot of people pity me for everything that has happened, and it certainly has been no picnic, but, I count myself lucky. I have wonderful friends who have become the family Voldemort took from me; I don't know where I'd be without you. You all give me hope, Thank you."

Harry stepped off the chair and was met with a hail of applause, Mrs. Weasley, who was crying openly, practically threw herself on Harry and hugged him so tight he couldn't breathe.

It was now time for everyone to leave. Harry shook hands with everyone as they left and only when the last guest had left (Neville, he'd come back after forgetting his cloak) did Harry really realize how tired he was.

He dragged his feet up the stairs and crawled into bed as his vision began to blur. He didn't bother to change out of his clothes or pull off his glasses; he just collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep instantly.

Harry awoke the following morning with a pounding head.

"I didn't drink that much!" he thought to himself remembering how he had passed out last night, barely making it to his bed.

Harry sat up and wondered how he could have stayed asleep with all the light pouring in through the window.

'What time is it?' he wondered. He got out of bed, feeling groggy and went into the bathroom and washed his face which made him feel a bit better.

He ambled down into the kitchen and noticed that it was empty.

'That's odd,' he thought. He looked out the window and didn't see them in the back yard.

"They can't still be asleep!" he said, eyeing the clock; it was quarter past noon.

Beginning to get worried now, Harry ran up the stairs and checked Ron's room; empty.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's room; empty.

He ran to Ginny and Hermione's room, feeling a slight panic build up in his chest. He burst through the door and, like the others, it was empty.

Harry sat down on the bed, wondering what could have happened.

'Where are they all? Are they safe? If they left why didn't they wake me or leave me a note?'

Then a thought passed through Harry's mind. He remembered; there had been a note on the kitchen table. He bolted down the stairs into the kitchen. He grabbed at the note but had to put it down to read it because his hands were shaking.

If you want to see your girlfriend and her family again come to the warehouse on Dunston Street, London.

Harry re-read the note twice before bolting to his room. He grabbed his Firebolt and his invisibility cloak and flew for London at top speed.

AN: Wow! Loooong chapter. It's possibly the last one before I leave on Friday and after that I wont be able to post anything until September. I might post another but figured that just in case this was the last one, I'd make it really long. (Although I also ended with a cliffhanger, I'm so evil heheh). Please Review, always appreciated. Toodles for now!