A/N: Here's the deal. I know that Ginny's birthday is in August, but it just served my plot sooo much better to move it to October (as the story progresses, you'll probably pick up why). But, seeing as you all are true and knowledgeable Potter fans (basically, you know your shit), I have to adapt my story, and I'm changing the last chapter to read Ginny's real birth date. Honestly…what am I gonna do with you guys! LOL.  I love you guys. You rock my socks.

For about two minutes, Harry, Ron and Ginny sat in silence. Ginny played with Arnold, Harry stared at the floor, and Ron kept picking up a pillow and turning it over methodically in his lap. Harry looked up and watched Ron flip the small pillow. Over and over and over and over…

"I can't take it," Harry said suddenly.

Ron looked grateful that Harry had said something. Ginny merely looked amused.

"Do you think we should use some Extendable Ears, have a listen?" Ron asked excitedly.

"Good idea!" Harry exclaimed, "Do you have any?"

"Well, this is Ginny's room. Ginny, do you have-"

"No," Ginny said, and she wore the look of superiority that girls often adopted when they were thinking demeaning thoughts about boys. But she looked entertained as well.

"I don't have any up in my room." Ron said, looking glum, but then brightening, "Say, Harry, Fred and George gave you a box of stuff for your birthday. You reckon there's some in there?"

Harry thought for a moment before replying,

"Most of the stuff had to do with defensive products. You know, stuff like the Decoy Detonators and the Instant Darkness Powder."

"Fred and George don't just sell that stuff anymore, you know," Ginny said informatively, "Since Malfoy…well, you know, anyone who wants to buy from their Defensive Magic Line has to fill out all sorts of requirement papers."

"Yeah, thanks, Ginny. But right now, we're more interested in finding those Ears so we know what's going on downstairs than getting a rundown on Fred's and George's purchase policies, thanks." Ron said snidely.

"Well, excuse me for interrupting your stream of male based needs to eavesdrop on others' conversations. Because, Merlin forbid, you wait till Hermione gets back."

"Oh, c'mon, Ginny, you know you want to find out as much as we do," Ron sniped back.

"I want to know, yes, Ron, but you see, I was blessed with a larger amount of intelligence than you. I think I got your share, actually, and I can calculate in my slightly larger brain that by the time we go to all the trouble of trying to listen in, Mum and Hermione will probably be done talking, and we can get a first-hand account of what happened from Hermione. Meanwhile, I can relax and not have to worry about wracking my slightly neglected brain for ways to nose round in their discussion." Ginny said very calmly and mater of factly.

Ron opened his mouth to retort, and Harry, still trying to recall the exact contents of his gift, stopped Ron prolonging the fight,

"Stop, you two. Honestly, do you ever get along?"

But, as if proving Ginny's point, the bedroom door opened, and a very battle worn Hermione crashed through the doorway and collapsed on the bed nest to Ron, her head in his lap. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Ron looked from Hermione to Harry to Ginny and then back to Hermione. No one spoke; they were all wondering how bad things had gotten downstairs. Harry knew that he would continue with his plans, no matter what Mrs. Weasley had said, but if he could come to terms with her. Any way to make it so that she blessed the journey instead of scorning it. He didn't want to be another Percy, and he knew Ron and Hermione felt the same way. Ron stroked Hermione's hair cautiously. He seemed to be weighing the pros and cons of asking her how things went. His curiosity won.

"Hermione," he said slowly, "how did it go? I mean…are you alright?" He spoke very deliberately, and underneath the curiosity there was a waver of fear and concern in his voice. Harry knew Ron was hoping that Mrs. Weasley had been agreeable and that he was worried about Hermione's reaction.

Hermione sighed,

"Listen, don't get mad, but we've come to terms, me and your mum, Ron. They may not be terms you like, but I agree with her on them." She stopped speaking and Harry opened his mouth to encourage her to tell him the terms, but Ron gave a small jerk of his head, and Harry angrily closed his mouth. He wanted to know what had happened! Ron began to speak soothingly again, his hand still moving relaxingly over Hermione's hair.

"Hermione, tell us what happened." He said firmly, but with a note of definite affection that kept the request from becoming an order. Hermione gave another ragged sigh and began,

"Well, I sat down at the table, and I think she knew that something was coming because she asked me, just as I was thinking that I had to tell her, if there was something I needed to tell her. Now, my mum can do the same thing, so I wasn't shocked that she knew-"

"So that's not just witches, then?" Harry inquired curiously, Mrs. Weasley's response to his plans driven momentarily from his mind by the acquisition of new knowledge about typical mothers. "I mean, all mothers can read minds?" The other three looked confused, and Harry mumbled, "Never mind."

Hermione looked puzzle, but Ron gently prodded her, and she returned to the story,

"Anyway, I told her that, yes, I did need to tell her something, and she sat down too. She looked a bit sad, as though she knew I was going to tell her something that she wouldn't want to hear. I told her that what I was about to say involved both Harry and Ron as well, but seeing as neither of you two are any good at calm, rational discussion, that I volunteered to talk to her. Then I asked her to hear me all the way through. And I told her what we planned. The whole story."

Harry looked panicked. He had already broken his word to Dumbledore by telling Ginny about Tom Riddle and the Horcruxes. He didn't think Dumbledore would have minded; Ginny was a big part of Harry's life, and –if he ever had the chance to have one- his future as well. Dumbledore had allowed Harry to entrust the secret to those who he could trust with the secret: Ron and Hermione, and now Ginny. But, as much as he loved Mrs. Weasley, he thought that, somehow, telling Mrs. Weasley about everything would be a much bigger violation of Dumbledore's trust. After all, he loved Mrs. Weasley, but he was in love with Ginny. That was the utmost bond and he felt he had the right to inform Ginny. Hermione seemed to know what Harry was thinking,

"Don't worry, Harry," she said with a small smile, "I only told her that you had a mission to complete that you had started before Dumbledore had died. I explained that it would take you away from Hogwarts, but it was something that you needed to do. Mrs. Weasley seemed upset, but she seemed almost ready to accept this until I told her that Ron and I had agreed to go with you, Harry. She was about to argue, I think, but I cut her off and asked her to hear me out. I told her that Ron and I were your best friends, and we weren't about to abandon you when you needed us the most. I told her that after we're through, and it's all over, we intend to return to school and then go on to whatever careers we're destined for. I told her that this was, simply, something we all had to do together, and that, though we didn't technically need her permission, we were asking for it. I told her that it would mean a great deal to us if we knew that she was supporting us and that, no matter where we were; we knew that we always had a safe haven here with her. Well, then we both-"

"Let me guess," Ron said under his breath, "you cried."

Hermione batted his hand away from her hair and sat up.

"Honestly, Ron, what does it matter if we cried? You weren't there, you don't know that we did," Hermione said huffily.

Ron grinned, "Oh, go on. You cried. We all know it."

"If all you're interested in is the emotional aspect of the conversation, Ron, then you can leave. I'll tell Harry and Ginny the rest of the story seeing as they seem to care about the facts."

Ron grabbed her by her chin, which was sticking up in the air, and pulled her face to him and kissed her soundly on the mouth. She struggled to maintain her air of anger as he pulled away. Ron smiled cheekily at her.

"I got to tell you, that is so much more satisfying than fighting with you. In fact, get mad at me again. Go on. Think of something else dimwitted that I must have said recently. Then we can fight and make up."

"Oh, you two are sickening!" Ginny said from her seat on the floor, Arnold still in her lap. She had been listening intently, but had not commented on Hermione's account of the events downstairs, "On with the story, then!"

Hermione blushed and Harry, too, agreed with Ginny and prompted Hermione to continue.

"So, as I was saying, Mrs. Weasley sat without speaking for a minute, and I was so sure that she was going to condemn us all for even thinking of going on this mission. But instead she told me that she would grant us permission and blessing on one condition. She said that since the N.E.W.T.s were cancelled at the end of last term, they're giving two weeks for refresher courses and then they're giving the tests at the end of September. She said that as long as we returned to Hogwarts, took the exams, and promised to go back to school once we've finished what we have to do, she would give us her full support. She told me to make sure that you know that no matter what we decide, she will always love us all and we will always have a safe haven with her, but she simply couldn't support our decision." Hermione finished the story and the room fell into thoughtful silence for a moment. Looking frantically for some type of response from anyone, Hermione finally blurted out,

"What do you guys think? I think it's a good idea. I mean, at least this way, we've taken our N.E.W.T.s. The seventh year is really just to put a cap on what we already know. We retake the N.E.W.T.s at the end just to be sure that we've really taken in what we've been taught, but all in all, we'll have everything out of the way in case in takes a while to, well, you know…do what needs to be done." She said all of this very fast as though speaking quickly would automatically make her opinion law.

Harry thought carefully before he nodded.

"She's right. Ron, I'd give nearly anything to have your mum's support. Just so long as we can work on theories and try to get some sort of direction while we aren't out there doing what needs to be done, I can wait until exams are over. It's only till the end of September, Hermione, you're sure?"

Hermione nodded fervently, her expression almost as glad as Ron's was. They were both very pleased that Harry had agreed to Mrs. Weasley's terms.

"The very latest would be the first week in October. But that's the VERY latest," Hermione added.

Harry made his final judgment.

"Ok. We'll wait. Meanwhile, who's hungry?"

Ron looked almost as grateful that Harry had mentioned food as he had looked when he realized he was receiving his mother's support.

"I'm starved!"

"Before we eat, I was thinking of something. Sort of something we could do to get ahead on the plans to search for the Horcruxes," Hermione said.

Ron's face fell, but Ginny and Harry looked interested. Ginny still hadn't voiced an opinion, and Harry wondered, yet again, if she felt left out. He hoped not, and as he thought of it, he walked over to Ginny and sat in the chair behind her, pulling her back against his legs, and massaging her shoulders.

"What is it?" he asked Hermione.

"Well, you got that Penseive for your birthday, and I was thinking…I mean you don't have to if you think it's too personal, but I think you should put you memories of Voldemort in there. You know, anything you can remember about all of your encounters. And maybe…maybe the night Dumbledore died."

Harry's hands tensed and Ginny reached one of her small, delicate ones to squeeze his sympathetically and reassuringly.

"You don't have to, Harry," Hermione said quickly, "I was just thinking-"

"No," Harry said, and Hermione looked ashamed at having asked, but Harry continued, "No, you're right. That's a good idea. You lot may see something I've missed. You know an outsider's perspective. You weren't there, so you may be able to spot things I couldn't. Mind you, they aren't happy memories. You lot will see things that you could probably go your whole lives without seeing," Harry said flatly.

Ron spoke first this time,

"Well, mate, we're tagging along with you, and chances are, we're probably going to see those things anyway. Especially is we're chasing You-Know-Who around, right?"

Hermione reached over and grasped Ron's hand in hers, giving him a smile that said,

"Well said."

Harry nodded, and said,

I s'pose you're right. Although, Ron, if we're tracking Voldemort down, you should probably get over saying his name don't you think?" Harry asked, lightly, laughter returning to his voice.

Everyone laughed, and the tension eased out of the room.

"Ok, now I'm really starved." Ron said emphatically, "Can we please eat?"

"Alright, alright, alright," Hermione said exasperated, "we'll feed you. Let's go."

She and Ron walked hand in hand out of the room and Harry stood to help Ginny to his feet, his mind wandering to how lunch with Mrs. Weasley was going to go.

"You'll be fine, Harry. She'll be happy you've accepted her terms." Ginny said, putting her arm round Harry's waist.

"Is that something girls just inherit?" He asked, flabbergasted, "The reading minds thing?"

Ginny chuckled and kissed him,

"Hmm…guess you'll never really know, will you?"

And he slung his arm around her shoulders as they made their way toward the kitchen.

A/N: Ok…so, please review. And I want to thank you guys sooo much for all you support. I was so moved by your sympathetic and empathetic words about my moving. It made the first week at my new school so much easier to know that you guys, for some reason, cared enough to offer such kind words of support and advice. I can't tell you what it meant to me to have all of those inspiring messages to read. Thanks so much. You guys have no idea.