Hermione had spent her entire summer at the Burrow visiting with Ron and his family. While Harry had been finding and destroying horcruxes she, Ron, and Ginny had been studing magic, preparing for their apparition test, and constantly thinking of there love life. In fact, it was Hermione who had found out that R.A.B was Reduglas Aubre Black. Sirus's brother, and that had led to Harry finding the real locket at the blacks old house. Of course it was already destroyed but R.A.B had left many clues that with Hermione and Ron's help Harry had followed, and discovered the locations of all other horcruxes.
During the second week or so of their summer vacation, Hermione, Ron and Harry had met up with each other on three different occasions. Each time they pondered over all the many clues R.A.B had left and finially at the third meeting everything was figured out. It was decided between Hermione and Ron that Harry was to wait, until they all had the chance to go searching for the horcruxes, Harry had agreed, but he never had any intention of waiting for them, it wasn't that he didn't want to put them in danger, although what was a part of it, it was more of the fact that he felt he had to do it alone. With them by his side constantly he didn't think he would be able to become strong, he didn't think that with there constant guidance he would have trained hard enough. His decision had been rash, and many times he paid for it, almost with his life, but he was still alive. And with all the parts of Voldemorts soul destroyed except two he had decided to return to Hogwarts for his finial year.
After finding out the locations of all the Horcruxes except for the snake Nagina, Hermione and Ron had both started studying more upon there strong points. Hermione had started learning spells, that of which she figured might come in handy against destroying the Horcruxes, it never crossed her mind that Harry would have already had taken them out. Ron on the other hand had started studying war tactics. He had began reading almost as much as Hermione, despritly reviewing information on when Dumbledore defeated the last dark lord, and the steps that were taken in precedence to the finial battal. Since Ron could find no opponent that could match his skills in chest, he had started playing a game against his self. This was one of the hardest things he'd ever done in his life considering the fact that he was determined to make both sides of the board win.
Ron was siting on his bedrooms floor, with his back leaning against his bed, playing a game of chest against his self. He was finding it particular hard to concentrated today because Hermione was sitin on the bed right above him with her legs hanging down on either side of him. She was running her hands threw his fire-red hair and occasionally giving his shoulders a soft caress. When she leaned over slightly and brought her hands to his chest Ron turned around and met his mouth with hers.
Hermione was quite surprised with herself rarely had she allowed such play between her and Ron over the summer, and she definitely hadn't initialed it. She had been determined to spend every waking moment studying. But now everything was going to be O.K, Harry was coming, she felt she could relax a bit, have a bit of much desevered fun. She pulled back from the kiss with Ron to lay back upon the bed, sliding all the way on it. Looking quite embarrassed and shocked at what she was doing, Hermione used her index finger to beckon him to her.
Ron swallowed, and stood up, he wondered how far Hermione was going to allow this to go. The two of them had made out before, many times, but never in his room with the door shut and on the bed. With Hermione's indication Ron lowered his body to lay upon her and began to kiss her gently but unchaste. He gazed at her a moment, looking at the way her bushy hair lay upon the bed, and the blush on her cheeks as she melted into his mouth from the kiss. He started using his hands to explore her body, first bringing them down to her thighs and letting them rest there then bringing them to her chest where he rubbed them firm but slow as if he was uncertain with his self.
Hermione moaned softly into his mouth. She could feel the bulge of him pressing against her woman hood. She could also feel how wet she had become. Ron's hand on her chest felt good, and every time his untrained fingers ran over her erect nipples she pushed her body into him grinding it just a little harder. Her breathing had become loud and fast. Her body was moving rithimacally into him. She wondered if she should stop, she had never gone this far before and wasn't quite sure she wanted to lose her virginity just yet.
Ron was starting to grind his body faster against hers, with each moan that left her mouth. The sound of her breathing, and moans of pleasure was driving him crazy. The thought crossed his mind that clothes were getting in his way. Just as he lifted his hands to try and pull her shirt over her head he heard a loud BANG.
Hermione was under him, but somehow when she heard the noise she managed to jump to her feet, leaving him for a moment straddling the bed. She saw the look of surprise on Ron's face, she hoped that he knew she had gotten up so fast because she knew the source of the noise and not because she didn't want to be there anymore. Truth was she was sure that if they hadn't heard the noise clothes would have began to disappear, not that she thought that a bad thing.
"Its Harry, he's finially come, that was him apparating. Or maybe I should say that it was Xanth apparating, guiding Harry here, seeing as Harry hasn't his licence yet and Xanth is of a different force.
Ron was a bit angered by this, for weeks he had anticipated Harry's arrival, hoping they could began searching for the horcruxes but now he only wished that Harry had managed to wait a hour or so before coming. " He's finially come." Muttered Ron. "Of all the bad timing, I was a bout to cum."
At this Hermione smiled, and indicated to Ron that she had heard what he'd said.
He looked a bit embarrassed but didn't take back the words he said. He stood up, and straightened up his cloths, grabbed Hermione's hand and the two of them ran down stairs to greet their best friend.
Xanth could smell sex even before he'd finished apparating. He used his power to make the noise of him and Harry very loud. It was only fair for the people in the house if they wanted the things that were happening within to remain private. Or at least he figured that it would be good if they thought that what they had been doing was private, he would know who it was right after he got close enough for a better smell, and had the images of there faces to match.
Harry's brain was swimming with thought. In a few moments he would see his best friends, the love of his life and he would get an explanation on how the weasleys knew about Xanth. Not to mention the fact that he would have to tell Hermione and Ron about what he had did to the Horcruxes. And how would he react around Ginny, he had broken up with her, so that Voldemort couldn't use her against him. He didn't think he could stand living in the house with her, he wouldn't know how to act around her.
It was Ginny that ran to the door first, she opened it and threw her hands around Harry's neck. Harry Instintly put his arms around her, hugging her tight, close. He pulled away fast but the damage was done, Ginny had what she wanted, or at least some of it.
Xanth pretended to not see this little upisodoe, and Harry pretended it was just a regular hug, no different from the one Hermione would be giving him. Except of course the fact that his stomach wouldn't be clenching or his heart pounding when he hugged her.
Harry walked in the house followed by Xanth, who was looking around taking everything in. He paused when his eyes came to the Weasley's family clock, letting his gaze stay in that direction.
Hermione and Ron came down stares at the same time, Hermione threw her arms around Harry, just as he knew she would. She watched Ron come up from behind her and give Harry a good thump on the head. Resisting the errge to tell him not to hit Harry she walked over to Xanth and introduced herself.
"I'm Hermione." She said, while extending her hand in invitation. She nodded her head to Ron's direction. "and that's Ron."
Xanth nodded, shaking her hand, and the Ron's as he approached him. His eyes returned to the clock.
"Harry we've got loads to tell you. Bill and Fleur decided to have there wedding only a week from now. And Dad well, he said to let him tell you about Xanth himself. But Hermione and me have learned loads. Dumbledore's will was brought here by McGonagall, Everyone is in the dining room waiting on your arrival. We got tired of seeing Fleur though herself all over bill and so went upstairs.
Harry raised his eyebrows at this, wondering why Ron had felt the need to say such random things one after the other, it was like he changed the subject after each sentence. And about his last line, Harry wondered why Ron had felt the need to explain why him and Hermione had came down the stairs together. Harry pause to look at his two best friends closely, now that he was paying attention, Ron did look a bit flushed, and was it his imagination or was Hermione's hair more bushy than ever? Hermione seem to read Harry's thought off of his face, for when he looked at her she had began to blush.
Ginny looked at Harry with sadness in her eyes. She could tell by the way that he drew away from here earlier that he hadn't changed his mind about breaking up with her. She had plans though, she knew for a fact that before summer was over he would be hers again, in her arms. She wanted to say something to him now, she thought that maybe she should start a conversation about the events of last year.
Harry saw Ginny moving closer to him. As much as he wanted her to come to him, to embrace him, or even just to talk to him, he couldn't allow such a thing to happen. He indicated to Xanth that the two of them should go on towards the other room, where the others were waiting for him. He saw a hurt look on Ginny's face but he ignored it. What more could he have done?
When Harry walked into the dining room he heard a loud course of HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY. He took a step back, quite surprised by this outburst. But then the realization hit him, he was having a birthday party. He spent the next hour or so smiling and waving, It Seemed that everyone from the order was there, the entire Weasley family, with the exception of Percy and quite a few of Hogward's teachers.
Harry spent the next hour or so talking to everyone. First he was called over by the weasley twins Fred and George who both began speaking at the same time. "Sorry Harry, we were to busy selling things to pay close attention as to who we sold to. If we had known it was Malfoy, or one of his friends trying to buy instant darkness powder, we never would have sold it to them."
"Er, no problem" said Harry a bit awkwardly, "I mean there is nothing to apologize for. It wasn't your fault that that git of a person, Malfoy used the powder that way. I know it was only intended to be used for a bit of mischeif."
At this both boys nodded, wished Harry a Happy birthday once again, and took of in the direction of the food table, where Ron was already stuffing his face.
Everyone of the teachers talked to Harry one on one. Most of them just wished him a Happy birthday, but some went as far as to inform his on what the order has been doing. Alastor Moody had told him that since Dumbledore had died there was no longer a secret keeper of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Disspite all the security measures that the place had, it could no longer be head quarters for the Order of the Phoenix. Moody had informed Harry that only a few hours had passed between Dumbledore's death and when a new secret keeper was place over the house. But still everyone thought in unsafe because within those few hours Snape could have giving the location to Voldemort.
After Moody had grown Silent Harry wondered off again. This time looking for Xanth, who he had earlier seen talking to just as many people as he was. He found Xanth In the front room, siting by his self apparently brooding over something.
"What's the matter?" Harry asked him. "Shouldn't you be in there enjoying yourself?"
Xanth had heard Harry come in the room and wasn't surprised about the question. He replied, "Why should I be? After all this is your party, it is you that should be having fun. I don't even know when I was born. You have so much going on for you."
Harry was silent for a moment. It hadn't occurred to him that not only did Xanth not have a family but he also didn't even know when he was born. Harry was going to ask him how had he survived alone, but Xanth broke the silence first.
"That's not why I'm in here all alone though. All my life I've wanted power. Power and Immortality, I now have both but at a very high price. I don't mean being here, for you, that I accept gladly. I don't even mean the fact that I am no longer even human, I can't eat now you know, My emotions and the way I think have changed even more Un-human like than before. I am a vampire. You know what that means? To survive I must drink blood, Where am I going to get blood short of hunting for it myself? Hunting human victims. But as I've said that isn't the reason I'm here alone. I didn't realize that Dumbledore had giving up so much for me until Professor McGonagal told me that his portrait the one in the Headmistriss office at Hogwarts had remanded silent and would always be that way. By giving me this power, this magic, he took away all that he had in himself, He is no longer a magically creature, A wizard. Because of this the imprint of his soul cannot be left on earth. His picture wont ever be able to speak, Dumbledore is truly gone."
At this Harry was at a lost for words. He hadn't realized exactly what price Dumbledore had paid to give Xanth his power. The thought of the matter horrified him, Dumbledore's pictures would remain silent, and motionless forever. No one would ever be able to speak to Dumbledore again, or to see the twinkle that his eye once held.
Xanth looked up from his position and saw the look of sadness on Harry's face. "Lets go back into the other room. This is nothing to brood over." With those words the two them walked back into the dining room.
Harry wished he had stayed in the other room. Just about everyone in this one was dancing, to a slow study sound, that of one of Ms. Weasleys old records. Of course all of the couples were together, Bill was with Fleur, Hermione with Ron, Hagrid and Madame Maximum, Lupin and Tonks, Fred and George both had dates, and of course there was Mr. And Ms. Weasley. Of the people left, most of the teachers seemed to have paired up. The pair that stood out the most was professor Moody and McGonagal. Harry tried to make a swift retreat out of the room when he saw Ginny approaching him, out of the corner of his eye. But unfortunately for him Lupin took that moment to look up and call him over.
"Listen Harry, I know why you've been avoiding Ginny all day and let me tell you its just not worth it. Voldemort will try and use anyone to get to you, anyone at all. Ginny no exception, In truth you are only hurting yourself. I feel that its my right to tell you this, as you already know I've already been threw this situation with Tonks. No matter how noble you are trying to be, no matter how much you are trying to protect her, you are only hurting yourself and her by not being with her." Without waiting for a reply from Harry Lupin turned around, grabbed Tonks, and begun dancing with her once again, whispering something in her ear making her laugh as she swayed to the music.
The little one sided chat with Lupin had made Harry pause just long enough for Ginny to cross the room and approach him. He couldn't now leave without being extremely rude. Ginny held out her hands to him indicating she wanted to dance. Harry knew that he shouldn't he knew that if he begin to get close to her he wouldn't be able to let her go but still he walked the last few feet between the two of them and closed the distance off. As she put her arms around his neck, he put his around her waist. They dance a few moments in complete silence then Ginny decided to speak, whispering in his ear.
"Be with me Harry" She said. "I know that last year when you decided that the two of us should break up so that you could fight against Voldemort without the risk if endangering me I agreed. I really shouldn't have, I thought that I could go threw with it but I just cant. The situation is different now. Although you lost Dumbledore, ho was perhaps the most powerful person on the battlefield in the fight with Voldemort, you have made a lot of progress in this war, and gained more than one new alliance. I remember what you told me about the Horcruxes. I know that that's what you, Hermione and Ron were working on over the summer. Hermione told me herself, and if I know you, and I do, I know you have already destroyed all of them even though you weren't suppose to. Things are different now If you tell me no it will be because of me, not you and nothing you say can make me think different."
Harry was silent for a moment, he continued dancing with Ginny in his arms and pondered what she had said over in his mind. It was true that the situation with the war had greatly changed. It was also true that Harry had got rid of the horcruxes, all but one of them. But were things really any different from last year? Lupin had told Harry to go after Ginny, to keep her, 'Its not worth it being alone' he had said. Hermione and Ron both seemed to agree with what Lupin had said, Hermione in particular had quoted McGonagall words, saying that Dumbledore would have been happy at the thought of a little more love in the word. But Harry couldn't help but think his situation was different, he spoke the next words aloud, as they came to his head.
"Suppose you are right. Suppose I show my feelings for you and Voldemort never catches on, he never uses you to get to me. What if we be together, happy for as long as it takes me to find Voldemort and have a finial battle. Now what if I lose, there is a very high chance of that, what will happen to you when I die, if you have so many memories of me in your head. I think its better to just stop this." Harry started to pull away.
Ginny feeling his retreat grabbed him and pull him back close to her. She had a fierce determined look in her eyes, the same look that Harry saw around the same time he fell in love with her. Her voice was cold, and barely a whisper. "If you leave me now alone and fight Voldemort and lose what will I have? Only a few memories and still my love for you will burn. At least If you had me, we would have been together, I would have known something. Do not do this to me, do not allow Him to rule your life and keep me away from you. Look at Hermione and Ron, they are together, Same as Bill and Fleur, and Even Lupin and Tonks who are in just as great as danger as you. I will not allow you to say no. Please." She said and tears had began to fall down her face. "don't make me beg, don't pull away from me."
Harry released the dancing embrace he had upon Ginny and drew her in for a hug, there faces touches each other and it wasn't until then that Ginny realized she wasn't the only one crying. Harry shook his head from side to side making hers go with it, Ginny kissed him, and it stopped the moment. She wouldn't allow him to say no, she wouldn't give him the chance. He didn't draw away from her kiss, he seemed only a bit reluctant before giving in completely, fully kissing her back.
When the kiss finally broke apart Harry said the words that had been on his mind since the first time he'd kissed Ginny. "I love you." She smiled, she had him once again in her life, she replied to him by once again placing her lips upon his.
The entire room broke out into applauds, It seem that every eye in the house had been on them, without there even knowing it. As the applauding and loud cheers got louder and louder Harry erupted into flames.