Author's Note:

To LegendDairy — this one is for you!

Reviews and Comments: LifeonEarth: Nice to see you're back to being the first reviewer lol and thank you, I did think that it was a chef's kiss moment for Ginny. James: Thanks for that amazing review and you didn't read the original scene because this is the first time I shared it. I felt it was too much for the time and wanted to implement it later on as a nightmare. Menna Taha: Thanks for checking up on me earlier in the week, it was sweet, but I've just had a very busy week and work has been kicking my butt! I like to think Theo chose earth tones as much for Slytherin as for Finn as well. Not every bad person turns out to be a physical or sexual abuser, but I think I turn in that direction because it's so horrible that to me it shows true evil so I tend to move in that direction. To Wolf's scream: I suppose Ginny's new top was indeed a gift for Harry as well LOL. And yes, we won't be seeing Harley again. To speedsONEandONLY: Of course, pictures are up on my tumblr — breaniebree — and yes, Zee and Harry are both great with nightmares. No, Harry won't be asking for tips from Padma and Lavender as he isn't friends with them in the way that Ginny is with Theo. And yes, French fries in milkshakes are the best (specifically french fries in a Wendy's frosty)!

To Uberdonut: Thank you, I guess I accept that when I post a chapter without Hinny people might have withdrawals LOL. To Undead Gothic Princess: Thank you, I love writing smut, but I do try to keep it tasteful so thank you for that. To Guest: "I no longer follow this story. You killed off Sirius. I hate that. I won't read any of your stories anymore." — um… thanks for letting me know? Sorry you kept reading even though I killed Sirius ten chapter prior to this one. To Pohnpei: I think Harley is a good person, but we all get a little jealous from time to time and I think when Ginny said that to her, the shock and embarrassment of what she was doing was part of why she left. To Guest: I post most of my outfit descriptions on my tumblr — breaniebree — so please check it out, though Googling does work too LOL. To LilyBlack18: They are concerned about Draco, guess we'll have to see where the story goes from here. To .X: I agree, I think that moment with Harley did help make Harry and Ginny's bond that much stronger. To Saz J: Me too, Ginny is part of the family! To xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: Thank you, I think we should see them doing regular teenage stuff from time to time. To FighterPilot: Thanks for reading. To McKabba: Thank you, wow 4 days to read 229 chapters! Amazing!

To ABlackRaven: Thank you, I think Harry and Ginny know how to comfort each other in just the right way. They don't need words and yes, we will see more Theo and Finn as I love writing them. To xXQueenofDragonsXx: Ginny does fucking slay LOL. And as to my writing platform, I'm a mac user and I absolutely LOVE Pages! It is my favourite platform by far. I copy and paste into google docs for Dusk to beta, but I love Pages. I could never go back to being a windows user now lol. To Steel: Abraxas should give you the creeps and yes, I think Harry knows not to get on Ginny's bad side lol. To PurpleLotus: Thank you for your kind words, they mean more than you know. To Pottermum: Thanks for having my back and understanding, but sometimes as writers, the negative Nancys hit us hard and we can only brush off so many of them. To LordSmidgeon: OMG, I laughed out loud at your comment — "Haters gonna hate, But BITCHES BREANIES FAMOUS!" Thank you, I don't think that's true, but thank you LOL. To crunchy_cheeseball: It was a great burn, wasn't it? To Kassandra: Thank you!

My posting schedule: Once a week.

Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.

As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!

Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!

CHAPTER TWO-HUNDRED AND THIRTY:

When Harry and Ginny returned from the diner, Misha was waiting for them. He waved them over and eagerly marched them to the edge of the wood where he had set up what looked like an obstacle course.

"What's this, Papa?" Harry asked as he looked around.

"I set up a course," Misha said. "I've been vorking on it all day. It vill test your speed and agility."

Ginny's eyes widened. "And we'll use our wands?"

Misha shook his head. "No. This is just for your speed and agility. However, I cannot make it too easy on you." At Ginny's look, his smile widened. "I vill be using my vand on you."

"What?" Harry squeaked in surprise. "But we can't use our wands?"

Misha shrugged. "Not yet. Let's see vhat the two of you can come up vith vithout your vands about you, eh?"

"Animagus?"

"If that's vhat helps you, Ginny, then yes. No vands. Anything else goes. Show me vhat you've learned!"

Ginny stood on her toes to kiss Harry. "I'm going to run upstairs and change."

Harry watched her hurry off, his eyes on the course. Misha came to stand next to him. "You've been difficult vith my training. Only vorking sub-par and it bothers me, because you have such talent. I can see it. You vould make an incredible Auror one day. One day soon, I hope."

Harry shoved his hands into his pockets. "Quidditch would be a better job for me."

"Da," Misha said, his eyes carefully examining his grandson. "It vould be a great job for you. You're a very talented Seeker and have the skills to go far as a professional player if that's vhat you vant, but I don't think that it vould satisfy you. Not like you think." Misha squeezed his shoulder and smiled. "The choice is yours. You're young yet and have much time to decide. You can become anything you vant. It's not my job to choose for you, even if I may like you to be an Auror," he added, making Harry smile. "But for now, I vant to see how you handle yourself. Go inside and change into something you're villing to get dirty. Ve have vork to do."

Thirty minutes later, Harry was breathing hard and it felt great. The course was different than anything he had expected it to be. Like in Defence Club, Misha had them working on the importance of dodging and surviving in case of losing one's wand. But unlike Defence Club, this was much more elaborate. He had them go in one at a time, and Harry went first.

Hay bales had been built as walls for him to hide behind as Misha hunted him in the course. Harry dodged jinxes and spells, rolled out from under hexes and moved from dog to wizard seamlessly to outrun his grandfather. But the biggest surprise came when he got to the end of the course and found himself trapped between a wall and Misha. Misha raised his wand and Harry threw his hands up automatically. The jinx left Misha's lips at the same time that Harry exclaimed, "Protego!"

The shield flew up in front of him so fast that the jinx barrelled back into Misha, knocking him down into a bail of hay with flailing legs.

"Papa!" Harry exclaimed in shock as Misha climbed to his feet.

"No, no, I'm fine," Misha said, beaming at him. He raised his wand and pointed it at Harry. "Now that's something that you've been keeping to yourself."

Harry raised an eyebrow and Misha only smiled.

"Hold it. Inpulsa!"

Harry's hand moved again in reflex of his wand and the shield held.

"Stupefy!"

The spell bounced off his shield and Harry stared in amazement.

Misha grinned. "Can you fight back, Harry?"

Harry stared at his grandfather and before he could utter another spell, he shouted "Expelliarmus!"

Misha's wand flew to the tips of his fingers before he grabbed. "Very good, Harry. Very good, indeed. Let's see how interesting ve can make this now."

Harry followed his grandfather out of the course to where Ginny was happily playing with Chief while she waited her turn. The big Newfoundland was wrestling with her and barking in glee as he attempted to lick her face to no avail.

"Ginny, change of plans. I vant to try something new vith Harry."

Ginny jumped to her feet, laughing when Chief jumped up as well, towering over her on his two hind legs.

"Chief, down!" Harry exclaimed.

Chief barked, but jumped down and ran off towards the house.

Ginny brushed her hands on the sides of her jean shorts. "What's going on?"

Misha pointed to the course. "Move inside. I'm going to jinx you and Harry is going to defend you."

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "How come I can't defend myself?"

Misha chuckled. "I like you and I have no doubt that you can defend yourself, but no, this is for Harry. I vill test you after."

Ginny shrugged and headed into the area where the hay bale maze was. "Where's your wand, Harry?"

Harry only shook his head, his hands tingling with nerves; when Misha shot a spell at him, he ducked. Harry put his hand on Ginny's arm and let out a slow breath. "Just stay behind me, okay?"

Ginny nodded and Misha sent a hurling hex towards her. She ducked automatically but Harry already had the shield flying up between them. Harry kept his eyes on his grandfather and when he made to send another hex, he countered it. When the shield broke, Harry pulled Ginny to the ground and his Patronus burst out, three huge animals dancing around to protect them.

Misha whistled. "Show me what you can do, Harry."

"Protego!" he exclaimed again and when he felt the shield weaken, he focused on it. "Fianto Duri!"

Misha aimed his wand and said, "Fumos!"

Dark grey smoke erupted from his wand, hovering around Harry and Ginny. It clouded their sight and made it hard for him to judge where Misha was, pushing at them as if it were solid. It wound around them like a tornado taking hold and Harry felt himself lifting off the ground. He grabbed Ginny's arm and without thinking held his hand up to the left and said: "Flipendo!"

He heard Misha fall and he and Ginny were carried higher into the twister. He snuck a look at Ginny next to him, holding tightly to her hand and whispered, "Nebulus."

The dark grey smoke turned into a swirling fog, moving up into the air and hiding them from Misha's view. The two of them crashed to the ground, rolling behind the bales of hay.

They could hear Misha coming around and Ginny whispered in his ear. "Orbis."

Harry nodded and focused on where he could hear his grandfather moving before he stuck his head around the side of the hay bale, but Misha was faster.

"Aer Calidus!" Hot air fizzled from his wand, blowing the smoke and the fog away and before Harry could comprehend that he no longer had the fog as a cover, Misha shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!"

Harry's legs and arms locked into place at his side and he keeled over.

Misha grinned proudly and removed the spell. "Again."

Harry caught his breath and with a look at Ginny yelled, "Orbis!"

Misha's feet stuck to the spot, sinking into the ground like quick sand.

It took a minute for him to dislodge himself and Harry was already shouting, "Rictusempra!"

The tickling charm attacked Misha and he let out a strangled laugh before pointing his wand and saying, "Virga!"

A shot of magic bolted out like lightning fast enough to shock and stun as Harry flew through the air from the lick of power. He rolled, transforming into his Animagus as he hit the ground and ran at his grandfather who had finally managed to pull his feet from the earth. He tackled him to the ground, dog and man wrestling, and he growled when Misha shot a sneezing hex at him followed by a stinging hex.

Harry changed back into himself, breathing heavy as he lied on the ground. "The spells are harder to hold."

Misha nodded, pulling Harry to his feet. "Yes, they are. I want to see the Double Shield now."

Harry nodded, glancing back at Ginny before he said, "Protego Speculo!"

A powerful shield erupted around him like a bubble, with a mirror that glimmered and hid Harry from view. Misha's spells bounced off it as he tried to find where the shield ended. Harry waited until he was close enough and attempted to disarm him. Misha hit the side of his shield with something that vibrated through Harry.

"Fianto Duri!" Harry exclaimed, feeling the shield strengthen.

Then Misha smiled at him and said, "Finestra!"

The mirrored shield shattered like glass and Harry was left vulnerable once more.

"Expecto Patronum Familia!"

"Flipendo!"

Harry collapsed to the ground, his eyes on Misha's feet as he muttered, "Leva in Terra!"

The ground below Misha's feet crumbled and lifted, making him stumble as it rose up into the air like a small steep hill.

Misha merely said, "Gradibus" and the earth moved into steps for him to walk down.

Harry waved his right hand and said, "Glisseo!"

The steps he'd created flattened into a slide and Misha slid back down, unable to stop himself, rolling onto the ground. He sprung back to his feet and shouted, "Gemino!" A copy of himself appeared behind Harry distracting him long enough for Misha to shout. "Everte Statum!"

Harry flew backwards through Misha's magical clone and landed in the hay bales before he sent his dog Patronus barrelling towards the real Misha. The dog disintegrated when he touched Misha's shield and the stag leaped over him, knocking him to the ground as the wolf circled him, jaws out. The wolf pounced and its jaw clutched Misha around the top of his arm, dragging him to the ground.

"Glacius!"

Harry's wolf Patronus turned to solid ice and Misha pointed his wand at it again.

"Reducto!"

The Patronus shattered like glass and before the stag could do anything, Misha blasted it apart with a moving shield and Harry was left lying panting on the grass.

Misha turned his wand on Ginny and Harry sprung to his feet and shouted, "Expelliarmus!"

Misha's wand flew from his hand and Harry caught it in his hand. The Auror grinned widely and bowed his head.

"Ginny, vhy don't you pull your vand out this time? Ve're going to tag team Harry now."

He made a come hither motion with his fingers and the wand that Harry was holding flew out and went back into his hand.

"Never allow an opponent to disarm you after you've disarmed them," he warned. "Again."

An hour later, Harry was exhausted. He was lying on his back on the evening grass, breathing heavily. His whole body tingled as if he'd run the length of the Quidditch pitch for hours while doing magic non-stop. He felt like he could sleep for a year and yet wasn't quite ready to close his eyes. He looked up as Misha stood over him, grinning from ear to ear.

"You see that, Ginny? He fought me vithout his vand. And he almost von, too."

Harry grinned at that. "I could have taken you."

Misha shrugged. "Vith a vand? I vouldn't doubt it."

Harry could feel Ginny's eyes on him, but he didn't meet her gaze. He was unsure on how he felt about the fact that he'd just spent over an hour duelling wandlessly - and quite successfully, might he add. He'd never consciously thought about having the ability to do magic without his wand. He sat up, taking the water his grandfather passed him before he urged Ginny to head into the maze. He could hear spells flashing and the hum of Misha's voice as he urged her on, giving her pointers on how to hold her wand; Harry wondered how she was doing in there.

He looked over at Zee when she plopped down into the grass next to him.

"Papa make you into an Auror yet?"

He grinned. "He's trying."

Zee slipped her arm through his as he rested his arms on his raised knees. "You can be anything you want to be, Harry. Auror. Seeker. Marquess. Lazy arse. Not the last one, or I'll make you become a permanent nanny for your siblings."

Harry chuckled, his eyes moving to her stomach. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel great," she told him. "Morning sickness is gone. I feel hungry and tired a lot, which I'm sure you've noticed. I really need that afternoon nap if I'm going to make it through the day, but I feel great." She flattened her shirt against her stomach to show him the bump there. It seemed to have gotten bigger over the last few days, he was sure of it. "But they're in there."

Harry smiled down at her stomach. "What did the healer say today?"

Zee'd an appointment with her healer at St Mungo's, but since she was in Georgia, she'd worked out an international Floo call with Healer Abby to discuss her pregnancy. "She said that everything looks great. I'm going to see her in person again the day after we get back, but she said everything that I'm feeling is normal. The babies look good. When I go for my appointment, I might even be able to learn what I'm having, if they're behaving that is."

"Boys? Girls? One of each?"

"Healthy," Zee told him, her eyes twinkling. "The rest doesn't matter." She placed her hands over her stomach before she rested her cheek against his shoulder again. "I think that I want to be surprised."

Harry looked down at her, taking her hand in his. "Yeah?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I think I want to wait and see. Is that okay with you?"

"Uncle Remus said that there aren't enough surprises in life and I agree with him. Surprise, it is."

Zee kissed his cheek. "When we get back, we can start talking about how we're going to make the guest room into a nursery. I'd really love your input."

"Sounds like a plan," Harry said.

"Now, are you going to tell me how cool it felt to battle Papa without your wand?"

Harry's smile was slow. "Pretty bloody brilliant."

"Wait until Remus hears. You've been doing things wandlessly a lot lately, haven't you?"

He shrugged. "Not really. It's more of… my glasses sometimes… I summon them without thinking or I light my wand or… nothing like this. And sometimes when I summon my glasses, I just poke myself in the eye."

Zee squeezed his arm, chuckling. "All of us do wandless magic without realizing it, Harry. I do all the time when I'm cooking or getting ready for the day. The magic is part of us. It's in our blood, in our souls. It courses through us on a regular basis without us really thinking about it or how it works. Our wands help us channel it. But using wandless magic in duelling or in defence, that's not as common. Most witches and wizards don't have the power or the stamina to keep it going and they reach for their wands as it gives them a sense of security."

"I get the security bit," he admitted. "My spells didn't feel as strong or as… focused."

"But they still worked."

He grinned. "Yeah, yeah… they still worked."

Neither of them spoke for a few minutes, listening to the sound of the spells in the course and the wind in the trees.

"How was your lunch with Harley and Tucker?"

Harry shrugged. "Weird. They didn't stay that long and Harley kept… she was playing footsies with me under the table."

Zee chuckled. "I told you, you've grown into quite the handsome young man, Mr Potter. Ladies are noticing."

"But Ginny was right there," he said in exasperation. "Like, what did she think was going to happen? I haven't even seen her in over two years. We dated for two weeks."

"You did," Zee said. "And they were an intense two weeks from what I remember. You left an impression on her. Will we be seeing more of her around?"

"I rather doubt it," Harry admitted. "Ginny set her straight and she and Tucker left."

Zee grinned. "I knew that I liked that girl."

Harry grinned sheepishly. "She's pretty incredible."

"And then some," Zee said, climbing to her feet. "But this woman is tired and needs to head up to bed. Tell Remus I said hi when you call him tonight." She bent down to kiss the top of his head. "Tomorrow's supposed to be quite hot so we're going to spend the afternoon at the beach. I know we keep making plans to go, but tomorrow it's happening. We're going to head to Tybee Island as it's one of my favourite beaches and I already arranged for what you asked for."

"Sounds great," Harry said. "Thanks. Goodnight, Zee."

Zee squeezed his shoulder as she said goodnight and he watched her go back into the farmhouse. It was only a few moments later when Ginny and Misha came out of the obstacle course, both of them grinning.

"She's a good fighter," Misha said, putting his arm around her. "She learns fast."

"That she does," Harry said, smiling when Ginny sprawled out on the grass next to him. "And she's powerful."

Ginny opened one eye to look at him. "With my wand."

"And without," Harry said, thinking of the power she wielded over him.

"Well, that may be so, but I certainly wasn't duelling wandlessly in there."

Misha smiled at them both. "You did great, Ginny. Both of you. Ve'll vork on learning some new spells and Ginny tells me she vants to learn how to make a Patronus."

"Yeah, Uncle Remus didn't teach her group in Defence Club that yet."

"Harry was supposed to teach me after he wrote his OWLs, but well, other things came up," Ginny said, taking Harry's hand in hers.

Misha nodded. "Tomorrow evening ve will vork on that then. Ve can't have our girl lagging behind in her studies."

"Misha, do you think that I could learn how to do that Patronus shield too, like Harry does?"

Misha smiled at her. "It's Papa, Ginny, and I most certainly believe you could."

Ginny beamed at him and squeezed Harry's hand in hers. Harry met his grandfather's gaze and nodded. He knew that he would be working on his wandless duelling again tomorrow as well and he was rather surprised to realize that he was as excited for it as he was anxious. He wasn't sure what to do with that, but he knew that tomorrow would be another test and he would see where he stood and where to go from there.

~ ASC ~

After Harry said goodnight to everyone, he took his mirror outside to talk to his father in the evening air. He stretched his long legs out to rest on the bars of the porch and said Remus' name into the mirror. It was only a moment before he answered, his arm wrapped around Tonks whose head was resting on her husband's shoulder.

"Hi, Harry!"

"Hey, Tonks, hi, Uncle Rem."

"Everything still going good out there?" Remus asked.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, it's been really great. I'm glad we came. Um… I ran into Harley Mills."

Tonks' eyebrow rose. "Your ex-girlfriend?"

"Yeah," he said, dragging his fingers through his hair so that it stood straight up and making Remus smirk at him. "Yesterday. She showed up when Ginny and I were in the stables."

"How did Ginny take that?"

Harry's lips curved. "She was a little jealous."

Remus chuckled. "It is rather nice sometimes to know that your woman is jealous."

Tonks elbowed him and he grinned.

Harry shrugged. "We talked about it and it's all good. We had lunch with Harley and Tucker at Grandma's diner too and well, that was interesting."

Tonks chuckled. "Sounds like you and Ginny are having a great time."

"We are," Harry said. "Papa put us through a defence obstacle course tonight that was quite good. It was fun and… different from the ones you make, Uncle Moony."

"How so?"

Harry explained how Misha had him go through the course without his wand on him at all; his father raised an eyebrow.

"How does he expect you to defend yourself without a wand?"

"He said that it was about speed and agility and I transformed between wizard and dog a lot, but then I um… I used magic," Harry said.

Remus' eyes widened. "How did that go?"

"I erected a shield," Harry told him. "And I disarmed him behind my shield all without my wand. Then he had me try to protect Ginny and I made a Patronus shield, but it wasn't strong enough to do more than hover, but my duelling spells worked."

Tonks whistled. "Harry, that's brilliant! It's about time you try to push yourself. We've known that you're a powerful wizard for years."

He smiled at that. "Yeah, well, it felt strange, right? I mean, to use magic so forcefully without my wand"

"Strange how? Your wand doesn't give you your magic, Harry. The magic is part of you," Remus told him.

"I know," Harry said. "But the wand makes the spells stronger too and well, these weren't quite strong enough to defeat Papa."

"But you slowed him down," Remus said. "And that to me sounds like a pretty promising start. You're going to take Professor Rhiannon's Wandless Magic class in September, aren't you?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I think I am."

"Your OWL results arrived today."

"Really? How did I do?"

Remus smiled. "I'm sure that you did great, but I didn't open them."

Harry shrugged. "You can if you want."

Remus chuckled. "You'll be home later next week, you can see them then. We can talk about what classes you're going to be taking and which ones you'll be dropping."

Harry nodded. "Okay."

"Andy and Ted want to make a birthday cake for you when you get home too, have another small celebration here."

"It's not for three more days," Harry said.

"Sixteen is a big age," Tonks told him. "And we want to celebrate with you. Only one more year until you're considered an adult, scary thought."

He grinned. "Yeah, okay — 'cause you're such an adult."

Tonks stuck her tongue out at him. "I am a married woman, Mr Potter, and an Auror to boot — I am very much an adult."

Remus kissed her cheek. "Yes, you are, Mrs Lupin."

Harry grinned at them. "How are things there?"

"Things are good," Remus told him. "You just worry about enjoying your holiday and when you come home, we'll discuss everything else."

"And the diadem?"

"And the diadem," Remus confirmed. "Keep working with Misha on your wandless magic. I can't wait to see what you've accomplished. Now I know it's late there, get some sleep."

"You don't mind that I wake you up at two in the morning to call?"

Remus smiled. "I never mind when you call, Harry. Besides, you told me yesterday you would call later this evening. Nymphadora and I were awake and waiting for you."

"Thanks."

Remus nodded. "We love you and miss you. Get some sleep. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Harry said, closing the mirror and putting it on his lap as he looked out across the yard.

When he spoke to Remus he felt homesick, but he wasn't ready to leave here yet. Georgia was an escape from his life in England, an escape from the worry about Voldemort and the Death Eaters and finding the Horcruxes. When he was here, he felt like he could have a life - a normal life.

He stared up at the sky, wondering if Sirius was out there watching over him. Was he with his mum and dad? His grandparents? Marauder? He rubbed a hand over his aching heart. As excited as he was to turn sixteen, he wasn't ready yet either. Sixteen was a big birthday. He was supposed to get his motorbike license with Sirius and now… how was he supposed to celebrate when Sirius wouldn't be here?

He closed his eyes as he leaned back in the chair on the porch, jumping slightly when Lucy, the beagle, jumped up into his lap. He pet the dog absently, staring out into the night. The smell of cigar smoke woke him a little while later and he looked over to see Colt sitting in the chair across from him, a cigar in his mouth.

"Hi, Grandpa. Sorry, I guess I fell asleep out here."

Colt blew a smoke ring before he spoke. "That's okay. I won't tell your mama if you don't tell your grandmother that I'm having one of these."

Harry smiled. "Are you going to come to the beach with us tomorrow?"

Colt shook his head. "My beach days are behind me, I think. Flo and I will stay here. You and Ginny worked with Misha tonight. He was quite proud when he was telling us what you did out there in his training course."

Harry nodded. "It felt pretty incredible. He's taught me a lot and yet when I was fighting the Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries… it was like I learned nothing. I resorted back to stuns and simple spells and jinxes."

"That's because you have a good heart. You don't want to hurt anyone and well, no one goes off into a fight and becomes the conquering hero on day one. It took me almost a full year on the job before I got used to dealing with criminals. The first time I used my gun on a perp, it terrified me. I didn't do everything I should and my partner had to get me to lower my weapon as I was in a bit of shock."

"Zee said something similar about her first time out in the field," Harry said.

Colt nodded. "And you m'boy are going to be sixteen. No one expects you to be perfect, to be out there duelling fully grown wizards with decades of experience and win. The fact that you held your own says quite a lot."

He smiled under his lashes as Lucy rested her face over his heart and he scratched her behind the ears. "Yeah, I guess it kind of does."

Colt smiled at him as he puffed on his cigar. "You and Ginny enjoy your beach day tomorrow. Cal and Tuck will take care of the horses when they get here. You two sleep in and enjoy yourselves. You've been working hard out here this summer, it's time for a few days of rest."

Harry nodded as he urged Lucy to get down so that he could stand. "Thanks, Grandpa."

Colt said goodnight and as Harry made his way upstairs to bed, he felt a little lighter.

~ ASC ~

Remus tossed the mirror onto the coffee table in front of them and turned to smile at his wife. "Thanks for staying up with me."

"Hardly a hardship since I wanted to talk to him too." She turned so that she was facing him on the sofa. "And now that we're awake at this terribly late hour," she began, slipping her hand into his pyjama bottoms. "Perhaps we can make the best of it."

"Make the best of it, most certainly," Remus said, breathing heavily as she stroked him. "For someone who was whining when I pulled her out of bed half an hour ago, you suddenly have an abundance of energy."

"Are you complaining, Mr Lupin?"

"Never, Mrs Lupin," he said as she slid down to the floor to kneel before him. "Merlin, yes."

Tonks grinned, slipping his pyjama bottoms down and off with his help as she stroked his growing erection. "Oh, were you expecting something?"

Remus only stared at her. "Tease."

Tonks simply leaned over him and kissed his tip. "I've been thinking."

"Hmm?" he said.

She kissed his tip again and then stood up. "I want to try something."

Remus frowned as she took his hand and pulled him to his feet. He followed her into their bedroom, smiling as she crawled onto their bed. She stripped off the shirt she was wearing and he was rewarded with her nakedness in the moonlight. "I'm already intrigued."

Tonks laughed and stretched out on her back. "So easy to please my husband, just show a little skin and he's all mine."

He smiled and bent to suckle her breast. He made to crawl onto the bed with her, but she pushed him back.

"Nuh-uh. I said I want to try something."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "What's that, Nymphadora?"

Tonks smirked and moved so that she was sprawled horizontally on the bed. She wiggled around, dangling her head off the edge, and smiled at him. "I heard a rumour that this position lets you really deep throat a cock."

Remus' already hard cock stiffened further, and she smiled.

"Come here and let me have a taste."

"Nymphadora," he said as he moved to the edge of the bed. "This is… I could hurt you."

Tonks smiled. "No you won't." She beckoned him closer and he moved slowly, his eyes on hers, and when she pulled his hips towards her, his breath hitched.

"Nymphadora, I don't care that you can't take it all. I'm not small and I — oh fuck…"

He watched in fascination as she took him into that sweet mouth. He held onto the top of the headboard for support as he crouched down over her; she arched her head back further as he slid into her mouth slowly, inch by inch. Her soft lips gripped him, and as he slid down her throat, she moaned. He tossed his head back in pleasure from the vibrations it caused.

Her hands gripped his bum and he began to slowly ride her mouth, his thrusts going deeper and deeper, and when her lips touched his pubic bone, he groaned. He watched her mouth, the way those lips puckered and slid along him, leaving a wet trail in their wake. She licked him earnestly before she slid her mouth off to catch her breath before those soft lips engulfed him again. The feeling of his length sliding down her throat was more enjoyable than he had anticipated, and he began to thrust faster. The warmth of her, the feel of her tongue gliding over him as she sucked made him groan her name… He couldn't help but look down, watching the arched column of her throat, the visible outline of his cock inside of it and he felt himself tighten.

"Nymphadora," he hissed. "Fuck, Dora…"

He pulled out and she suckled just his tip, savouring it, brushing her tongue over it like she was licking a lolly. Her hand reached out to stroke his sack, dancing her nails across it just enough to make him tighten before her hand rested on his thigh. Her tongue fluttered and stroked and then she pulled him back into her mouth, only suckling his tip now; he came, chanting her name in ecstasy as he did.

Remus collapsed on the bed next to her as she crawled up, resting her chin on his chest. "Bloody fucking hell."

Tonks was grinning hugely like the cat that swallowed the canary. "Mmm, I had your entire cock in my mouth and I liked it."

"You'll be the death of me, minx."

She smirked and kissed his chest. "That was rather fantastic. We're definitely doing that again. My neck and jaw are a little sore, but it was totally worth it."

Remus' fingers gripped her hair and he tugged her up to kiss her. "I love you."

"Was it the best blow job ever?"

He chuckled. "And then some. No one's ever… you're the first to take all of me."

Tonks' smile widened. "I'm glad of it. This broadsword is all mine."

She slid down his body to run his semi-hard cock against her cheek and he smiled at her.

"Vixen."

Tonks laughed. "I want to please you. Always." She nuzzled him and he pulled her back up to snuggle her close.

"Just you being here pleases me."

She kissed him softly. "You're always pleasing me and it's only fair that —"

Remus put his fingers over her lips. "I would die a happy man if I spent the rest of my days with my mouth on you."

Tonks grinned widely and straddled him. "But then you want to shag me too, right?"

Remus groaned when she rubbed herself over him. "Merlin, yes."

Tonks bent her head to kiss him, her lips sliding up his jaw to his ear where she nibbled before she whispered. "I'm so lucky you have such good stamina. Take me from behind."

Remus growled as he flipped her beneath him on the bed, planting kisses down her spine. "You like it when I'm rough with you, darling?"

Tonks snuck a look at him over her shoulder before she stretched up onto her hands and knees, eyes on his already growing cock. "Fuck me."

Remus' hand spanked her bum before he positioned himself behind her and in one quick motion, slid into that glorious wet heat. Tonks groaned, pushing back against him and he held her hips as he rode her, one hand sliding up to cup a breast.

Yeah, nothing made him as happy as his woman did.

~ ASC ~

Hermione found her holiday in Spain was both restless and relaxing in ways that she hadn't anticipated. She spent her days with Dario and Daniella, exploring the town and seeing the sights. They lounged on the beach and ate ice cream by the pier. They went dancing in a club and shopping for clothes. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she felt like a regular teenager.

It was when Dario's eyes met hers that she realized she'd been caught staring at him. "What?"

"Nothing," she said quickly, turning away.

She felt him sit next to her on the beach and saw his long tanned legs stretch out. "You were staring at me."

Hermione blushed. "I was admiring your tenacity to read."

He raised an eyebrow. "Sure you were. I think that you were admiring my incredible good looks."

She smiled at that, prepared to make a witty comeback, when he cupped her cheek. "Dario..."

"We're going to regret it if we don't," he said, his eyes on hers.

Hermione gave a little nod of encouragement; he bent his head and pressed his lips to hers. It was soft and lovely. But when he pulled away, she noticed that all the feelings she'd had when Ron kissed her, weren't there. It was just a kiss and nothing more.

Dario smiled kindly at her. "That was nice. I'm glad I kissed you." He kissed her lips softly once more before her cheek and then he moved back over to his side of the beach blanket. "Whoever he is, Hermione Granger, he's a lucky man."

Hermione let out a little sigh, relieved that he'd felt the same when he kissed her. "I'm the lucky one."

"What's his name?"

"Ron," she said in a slow breath, surprising herself for finally admitting it aloud. "He's one of my best friends, maybe my closest friend. I met him when I was eleven and he was an annoying git. He complains all the time about school work, about how hungry he is, about how tired he is, and he drives me mad."

Dario chuckled. "Does he feel the same way about you?"

"Probably," she admitted. "I study too much, I know it, but I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to grades. I want to do well. He needles me about it, but he always brings me snacks when I'm studying late or he'll sit up with me and claim that he just isn't tired, but I know he's really just keeping me company. He's a prefect with me so we tend to spend a lot of time alone together doing patrols as well. He knows everything about me."

Dario nodded. "And you want to kiss him, do you?"

"We did kiss. And it was... perfect and intense and it scared me and I told him that it was a fluke."

"Ouch," Dario said. "How did he react to that?"

"He seemed to agree with me," she said quietly. "But then a few months later, it happened again. And I freaked out again and he wasn't as agreeing. He wants to talk about it. The kissing."

"I think that's fair. Obviously they meant something to you," Dario said carefully. "You barely even reacted when I kissed you."

"Dario, I —"

He shook his head. "No, it's fine. My pride's hurt a little, sure, but you're going back to England in four days so it's not like I expected an epic love story."

Hermione smiled at him. "You and Niella have been so kind to me. I've had the best time."

"Just think how much worse it could have been if you'd been stuck with that blustering Australian?"

She chuckled. "He reminded me of this bloke back home and it definitely wasn't in his favour."

Dario laughed and stood up, holding his hand out to her. "Well, should we join Niella in the water?"

She nodded, accepting his hand. "Yes, we should."

As they ran towards the ocean, laughing and pushing each other, she realized that talking to Dario and kissing him had made her finally come to realize the truth.

She wanted Ron Weasley in every way imaginable.

Now she just had to figure out what she was going to do about it.

~ ASC ~

Harry laughed as Ginny climbed onto his back in the ocean. Her warm, wet body pressed against him made him rise to the occasion in a way that made him grateful that his lower half was underwater. He turned his head to kiss her and she laughed.

"The water feels amazing," she said. "I love salt water!"

He grinned. "It is pretty great. Cooler than Anguilla, I imagine?"

"Yes," she said, looking out across the ocean. "But still magnificent."

"I have a surprise for you."

Ginny looked down at him, a half smile on her lips. "It's your birthday in two days, shouldn't I have a surprise for you?"

Harry grinned and held onto her as he swam out of the water, still carting her piggyback style along the sand. When they reached the blankets where Zee was lounging under an umbrella with a book, Ginny squealed in delight.

Lying in the sand next to Zee were two surfboards.

"Really?" she exclaimed, sliding down his back.

"Zee rented them for us," Harry told her. "I was hoping that you could teach me. If it's just like flying, I imagine that I'll learn fast."

Ginny threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "Absolutely! Let's go!"

She bent down to hug Zee, thanking her before they each picked up a surfboard and headed out to an area that Ginny claimed looked good.

Harry couldn't help but stare at his girlfriend's perfect arse; the way the wet turquoise bikini fit those cheeks made him want to get on his knees and kiss every inch of her. The sound of his name dragged his gaze away and when his eyes met hers, she was giving him an amused look.

Ginny put the surfboard flat on the sand and urged Harry to do the same as she explained the basic premise of surfing. She explained how the leash worked and how to attach it, and then showed him how to lie belly-down on the board and stay straight while paddling. Then she demonstrated how to turn and spring up onto the board. Even on the sand, Harry crashed down rather terribly on his first attempt. Ginny laughed before demonstrating again how to turn and spring up. It took a few tries, but he soon understood it was the same as broom surfing. He practiced standing and crouching in the proper stance for balance before he headed into the water.

The two of them paddled through the ocean, floating on the waves on the board before Ginny decided to give it a try. He watched in amazement as she sprang up, body crouched, and balanced as she rode the first wave. The wind whipped her ponytail out behind her and he watched as she glided over a second wave and then a third before the fourth forced her into the water. She came up, holding the board and grinning gleefully.

Harry watched her a few more times before he gave it a go. Unlike broom surfing, the water was more powerful than simple wind force and he fell into each wave unsuccessfully - but within the first hour, he'd delightedly ridden his first wave. They took a break for lunch and Zee commented on how well they'd done out there. Ginny complimented Harry's balance and told Zee that she knew Harry would figure it out because he loved to broom surf so much. They chatted to Zee a while longer, building a sandcastle as they digested their lunch and then grabbed their boards and headed back out.

By the late afternoon, Harry was hooked and was riding the waves almost as well as his girlfriend. When the sun started to set, Zee waved at them from the sand and they reluctantly returned to the shore.

"That was brilliant!" Harry exclaimed, kissing Ginny when they reached the sand. "I can see why you love it so much!"

Zee smiled at them. "You two looked great out there! If you're up for it we can come back out here tomorrow?"

Harry and Ginny nodded in agreement. They told Colt and Flo all about their day and Colt told them if they wanted to ride the waves early, they didn't have to worry about the horses again. They thanked him. The next morning, they were at the beach by seven and happily riding the waves. Harry felt the more he did it, the better he got. It seemed to come naturally to him and he knew that like his girlfriend, it was because of how much they both loved to fly.

By the afternoon, it felt like he'd been surfing his whole life and he knew that Ginny was just as comfortable. They sat on their boards across from each other in the afternoon sun, floating in the ocean, and Harry watched the water drip down the ends of her hair and between her breasts. The turquoise bikini was bright against her pale skin and he hungrily admired the freckles scattered over her.

"We have to find some places to surf when we get home. Do you think that the beach near your house has decent waves?"

Harry shrugged, dragging his gaze from his girlfriend's hard nipples poking through her bikini. "What?"

Ginny smirked at him. "Did I lose you somewhere?" She looked down at the swell of her breasts and saw that her nipples were erect from the wet and the wind. She grinned, adjusting the strap of her halter top and straightening her bikini. "I can't take you anywhere."

"Not when you look so bloody gorgeous, no," he admitted. "What were you saying?"

"I was saying that we should try to find some good places to surf when we go home. I've missed this. The feel of riding the waves, the salt water on my skin… it's wonderful. But the weather at home is never this hot either."

"Tell me about it," Harry muttered. "Grandpa said that with the humidity it's supposed to reach thirty-eight. Blimey, that's hot! Of course, that means I might not be able to see you wearing something so lovely if we surf at home."

Ginny grinned. "A wet suit is probably required. They are skin tight, though."

Harry's eyebrow rose. "Really… interesting."

"Since you'll be wearing one too, definitely," she teased.

He chuckled. "Cold water doesn't do anything for me that you'll want to see."

Ginny's eyes twinkled. "That's what you think."

"Minx," he teased, paddling closer to her. "Thanks for teaching me to surf. It's honestly been brilliant."

"You're a natural."

"It's like surfing on a broom. It's about finding your balance and keeping yourself centred and calm, but this time it's about dealing with the waves as well as the wind, which is more of a challenge than I had anticipated."

"And knowing that if you fall, you're going underwater as opposed to falling from a great height and plunging to your death on the ground."

Harry shrugged. "Semantics."

Ginny laughed. "Semantics, right. But really, do you think the beach near your home is good for surfing?"

"Not sure, maybe. We'll have to do some research because I definitely want to do this again."

"Maybe we can spend a few more days on the beach before we head back?"

"I'd like that," he told her. "But first things first, we're heading to that surfing store on the street. I think we both need our own boards."

Ginny smiled. "I'm afraid that will have to wait, Mr Potter, as I spent my holiday money on your birthday gift and my outfit to show Harley up."

Harry's eyes twinkled as he slid off the board into the ocean and swam closer to her. He put his hand on her knee as he smiled up at her while treading water. "I really liked that outfit. Worth every Knut you spent."

The sunlight reflected off her hair and his hands slid up her legs to her hips and he tugged her off the board into the water with him. She laughed when he dunked her under and kissed her when she broke the surface.

"And, someone has a birthday coming up and I haven't gotten her a gift yet."

Ginny's eyes twinkled. "Harry… it's too much."

He kissed her nose. "No, it's not. Are you telling me you don't want a birthday present?"

Ginny grinned. "I would never say such blasphemy. Presents must be given to the goddess on her name day."

He chuckled and bent his head to capture her lips for a long deep kiss. "Well, this goddess can help pick out her own board. What do you say?"

Ginny's arms encircled his neck in the water. "I say: Race you to the shore?"

Then she shoved his head under the water and made a break for it. Harry broke the surface spluttering and laughed as he hurried after her. He won by half an arm's length and when she attempted to tackle him, he merely carried her piggyback style up the shore to find their shoes.

They were going shopping.

~ ASC ~

After spending the afternoon designing their own custom surfboards, they headed back to the beach to enjoy the last of the sun. Their boards would be ready before they went back home and in the meantime, they continued to use the rentals. They headed back to the ranch and took a horseback ride before settling on the porch. Ginny sat curled in Harry's lap in the big chair on the front porch of the ranch. He was absently playing with the tresses of her hair that escaped from the messy bun she'd thrown it up in after they left the beach, but he wasn't really looking at her. His eyes were far away, and it was the second time that she'd caught him looking off that day. She leaned into him a little and when he didn't break his absent look, she placed a small kiss under his ear and she felt him tremble. She turned her head just slightly and kissed the pulse in his throat, then his Adam's apple; he shivered.

"Those are my weak spots," he murmured.

Ginny pulled away a little to smile sweetly at him. "I know. I'm going to discover all of them."

He smiled at that, tilting his forehead down to hers. "I'm so glad you're here. In Georgia, I mean."

"Me too," she told him. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He only raised an eyebrow.

Ginny kissed under his ear again. "I know it's on your mind. Your birthday's tomorrow."

"What can I say that you don't already know?"

"It will help to get it off your chest."

He shrugged absently so Ginny merely snuggled into his shoulder so that he wrapped his arms around her. They sat there for the longest moment, just holding each other, before he spoke.

"He won't be there. I know it's stupid, I mean, it's just a day, but he always made such a big deal out of it. He plays 'Birthday' by the Beatles and makes me wear this red cape that my dad owned and... I want to do those things because it's part of my birthday every year but... I don't want to do it tomorrow if he's not here."

Ginny lifted her head a little, pressing her lips to his cheek. "I can't tell you what you should do. Missing him is natural and there are going to be a lot of firsts without him this year. It's not going to hurt any less, but over time it will heal. He loved you very much and I think that he would have wanted you to celebrate."

"I know," he murmured. "I know he would have."

Ginny let her fingers play with the hairs at the nape of his neck, stroking up into those dark locks. His hair was always so soft. She stroked his hair gently, up through his messy locks, and then down to stroke the back of his neck. Then she leaned in and pressed her lips to his Adam's apple and he shivered.

"I love you," he said softly as her lips left his throat.

She looked up into his green eyes, surprised by the whirlwind of emotion she could see there. "I love you. And tomorrow is going to be a great birthday."

"How do you know?"

"Because I'm going to be here."

He smirked at that. "That does improve it quite a bit."

"Zee asked you what you wanted to do and you said that you just wanted to hang out."

Harry nodded. "I don't need a big celebration."

"I know that, but you had a plan for your birthday this year."

He swallowed. "Uncle Siri was going to take me to get my motorbike license."

Ginny nodded. "I know that meant a lot to you. You should still go."

He shrugged. "I don't know. We'll see what happens."

Ginny leaned in close and sucked on his bottom lip. "You should go. How else are you going to take me for that ride?"

His breath hitched at her words and she grinned.

"Now, let's talk about how we're going to get some alone time tomorrow."

Harry raised his eyebrow. "Alone time?"

Ginny nodded. "I need some alone time with you. Some time where there's nobody around but us. No tourists in the water, no kids on the beach, no Calvin and Tucker near the horses, no ex-girlfriends… just you and me."

"We're kind of alone now," he said, nipping at her ear.

Ginny shook her head. "Not alone enough for what I want to do to you."

Harry's neck flushed and she kissed the pulse in his throat again. "Ginny… you can't just… say stuff like that to me."

Zee called them in for dinner and Ginny smirked as she climbed off his lap, taking his hand and tugging him to his feet. "Let's go have dinner."

Harry nodded, his hands not so subtly covering himself. "I just, er… I'll be right in."

Ginny bit her lip, her eyes twinkling, as she left him alone on the porch. She made him smile.

And for now, that was all that mattered.

~ ASC ~

When Ginny went up to bed that night she found Zee with her shirt raised, looking at herself in the mirror.

"You're starting to show a little, but you can still hide it easily," Ginny told her with a smile.

Zee chuckled. "I know, but knowing they're in there is kind of amazing." She placed her hands over the small bump and smiled before she dropped her shirt. She turned to smile at Ginny. "You and Harry enjoyed surfing?"

"We did," she told her as she grabbed her brush. "He's going to be thrilled when he finds out that you're buying his board."

"Good," Zee said with a smile.

"Zee… can I ask a favour?" Ginny said carefully.

Zee's eyebrow rose. "Of course." She moved to sit on the side of the bed, her eyes on Ginny.

Ginny took a deep breath before she spoke. "I know Harry is saying tomorrow's not a big deal and he just wants to hang out but… Sirius promised Harry that when he turned sixteen, he could get his motorbike license."

"Ah," Zee said in understanding. "He hasn't said anything about it, but I did wonder if he still wanted to."

"He does," Ginny told her. "He's just… he's sad that Sirius won't be there tomorrow to take him and I think it makes him sad to think about it. But I think that if you took him to get it, it would be good for him. It would make him feel closer to Sirius."

"I agree," Zee said. "Obviously, he would have to go for a road test, but doing it here would be waste as he'd need an English licence once we got home." She looked thoughtful for a moment before she smiled. "I have just the thing."

Ginny finished brushing her hair, braiding it down her side before she climbed into bed. "Really?"

"We're going to make sure that he has a great birthday tomorrow. I can promise you that."

Ginny watched Zee head out of the room and she wondered what exactly the woman had planned. She crawled into bed with a big smile on her face. She wanted him to have a great day and she knew that Zee would help her make sure that happened.

~ ASC ~

When Harry woke up on the morning of his sixteenth birthday, the last person he expected to wake up to was Dobby. But the tiny elf was hovering near his bed, a big smile on his face, a red hat on his head, and his tiny little uniform bearing the Potter crest.

"Happy Birthday, Harry Potter, Sir!"

"Er, thanks, Dobby," Harry said, wandlessly floating his glasses towards him and putting them on to bring the elf into better focus. "What are you doing here?"

"Dobby wanted to wish Harry Potter a very special happy sixteenth birthday, Sir!"

"Well, thanks," Harry said again, still not entirely sure why the elf was there.

Dobby beamed at him. "Harry Potter needs to get dressed and then come with Dobby, Sir."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Come with you where exactly?"

Dobby only shook his head. "Dobby will wait downstairs, Sir."

Then he was gone with a loud crack and had left Harry frowning in his room. He showered and dressed for the day in blue jeans and a red tee shirt before he made his way downstairs. He found Dobby and Zee in the living room and he raised his eyebrow again.

"What's going on?"

Zee stood up to hug him. "Happy Birthday, sweetie."

"Thanks," he said, his eyes on hers. "Now, will you tell me what's happening?"

Zee only grinned. "Not yet. Dobby's going to take us somewhere. Hold onto me."

Harry gripped Zee's arm tightly in his own as Dobby Apparated them with a loud crack. Apparition with a house elf was always rather intense, but internationally, he'd learned it made his ear drums pop and his eyes spin for at least a minute after landing. He shook his head to reorient himself. He recognized the forest as being near Remus' home and when he turned, he saw Remus and Tonks standing in front of their cottage. His eyes widened when he saw that next to them were two motorbikes: One was Zee's 1937 BSA M20 and the other was Sirius' first bike, the 1970 Triumph Bonneville. There were helmets on either one and his breath hitched when he recognized the leather jacket lying on top of the Bonneville.

"Zee…"

Zee squeezed his arm. "He'd want you to have it, sweetie. No one else should have it but you. And I know that he promised you you'd get your licence when you turned sixteen and even though he's not here to take you, I am. So, what do you say? Want to go for a ride and get that license?"

Harry swallowed the lump in his throat as he picked up the leather jacket. "Yeah, yeah, I do. Zee…"

Zee stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. "Put on your jacket, darling." He watched her move over to straddle her own bike, pulling her helmet on and starting her up. He stared at her a moment, love swamping him, and he put the jacket on.

It smelt like forest and leather, like engine grease and like the father he missed so much it hurt, but it was comforting. It fit over his broad shoulders like it had been made for him; he knew he still needed to get more muscle to fit into perfectly, but it fit and it felt great. He swapped out his glasses for his prescription sunglasses and put his helmet on. When the bike rumbled beneath him, he couldn't stop grinning.

Remus came to stand next to the bike and put his hand on his son's back. "He'd be so proud of you, Little Prongs. Go get that license."

Harry grinned and hugged his father and Tonks as they wished him happy birthday. Then he took off down the road, following Zee as the bikes rumbled loudly around them.

An hour later, he was staring down at the license in his hand with a huge grin. Zee linked her arm through his. "I'm so proud of you! I'll do the charm on them when we get back to Georgia. That way you never need to renew it or anything. I'll make sure it's charmed so that it's official and you won't have to go through more tests. The Muggles have too many steps. Happy Birthday, Harry."

"Are you crying?" he asked as he watched her sniff.

"Look, hormones are making me crazy, okay? Just accept my tears as pride for you and give me a bloody hug."

Harry chuckled, but pulled her into his arms as she sniffed back her tears. Once she assured him that she was under control, they got back on their bikes and rode out of the Muggle transportation ministry and back to Remus and Tonks' cottage. When he walked inside, "Birthday" by the Beatles played loudly and he couldn't help but grin. He laughed when Tonks slipped the familiar red cape over his shoulders and he found himself fingering the edges of it lovingly.

Remus hugged him, a soft smile on his face. "We can't break tradition, can we?"

Harry nodded against his father's chest. "We're going to have a good time."

"Exactly," Remus said, kissing the top of Harry's head. "Now, let me see that shiny new license."

Harry grinned as he showed off his new license proudly. He told them about the test, explaining what kinds of things they asked him do on the bike. Tonks kept playing the Beatles song on repeat and when he found himself smiling, he knew that it was something that Sirius would want. He accepted the gift from Remus and Tonks, grinning when he opened the box revealing a wrist watch.

"Speaking of traditions, it's traditional to give a man a watch on his seventeenth birthday, but Nymphadora and I decided that you deserve it this year. You've grown into an incredible young man, Harry, and we couldn't be prouder of you."

Harry stared at the watch in amazement. It was a brown leather band with a large white gold unit the size of a Galleon and beneath the time piece of Roman numerals was a moon chart and a compass in gold.

"It's water resistant," Remus told him. "It always points you north and it always points you home. It… it belonged to your dad. Fee and Monty bought it for him for his seventeenth birthday."

Harry lifted the watch from the box, turning it over to look at the engraving on the back: For our son, you're our world. Now it's your time to shine brightly.

Harry's eyes met Remus' and the emotion he knew his father saw there made him reach out. Remus engulfed him in his warm arms, kissing the top of his head. "Thank you."

Remus smiled. "Jamie's watch and Siri's jacket… I thought it made sense. Happy Birthday, Little Prongs."

Tonks hugged him as well before they urged him off, promising to have a mini celebration when he returned. Harry put the watch on and said goodbye as Dobby reappeared outside.

"I will return the bikes to Black Cottage, Harry Potter, Sir."

"Just the '37, Dobby," Zee told him, taking Harry's arm in hers. "Harry and I are going to take the Bonneville to Georgia."

Ten minutes later, Harry and Zee were Apparated back to the ranch with the Bonneville. Dobby wished them well and Harry straddled the bike again, grinning back at Zee.

"Want a ride up to the house?"

Zee climbed onto the bike behind him. "Absolutely. Let's go."

They rode up to the house and around the stables as Ginny rode out on Ebony. She hopped off the horse as Colt headed towards them as well. Zee and Harry climbed off the bike and Ginny ran into Harry's arms.

"Thank you," he whispered against her hair.

"I didn't do anything."

Harry only gave her a look and kissed her forehead. "I know exactly what you did. Thank you."

She simply kissed him in response.

Since England was five hours ahead of Georgia, he'd only lost two hours. They headed into the house for a late breakfast and he was treated to a birthday feast of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and cheesy hash browns. Afterwards, he took Ginny for a ride on the bike, promising not to go far as they set out down the road. She snuggled into his back, holding him tightly as the bike rumbled under them.

They pulled back up the drive to the ranch an hour later and they were both grinning widely. Harry put the jacket on the bike lovingly before he pulled Ginny close for a long kiss.

Ginny smiled up at him. "I quite enjoyed the ride myself. It is similar to flying, the speed of it, the wind in our hair. Do you notice that we rather like things that remind us of flying?"

Harry nodded and pulled her closer, burying his face in the crook of her neck. "I love you."

"I love you, too. Happy Birthday, Harry."

They stood in the driveway near the bike snogging for a long moment before Zee interrupted them. Ginny moved away from him and into the house to help with lunch and Harry called Zee's name before she followed.

Zee smiled at him. "You okay?"

"I'm great," he told her honestly. "But I need to ask a favour."

"On your birthday is sneaky, that makes it hard to say no."

Harry grinned at her. "I'm counting on it."

Zee raised an eyebrow. "What can I do for you, Harry?"

Harry's eyes met hers for a long moment before he spoke. "I want to spend the afternoon alone with Ginny. No interruptions. No one else around, just us. I thought maybe we could take the horses through the trail in the woods and have some time, just the two of us."

Zee hesitated. "I suppose that we have been cramping your style a bit, have we?"

He nodded. "Please? I just want to spend the day snogging my girlfriend."

Zee smiled at him, reaching out to brush his hair out of his eyes. "Well, I… okay. But stay by the creek and Grandpa will come out and get you before dinner. The afternoon is yours."

Harry hugged her tight, kissing her cheek. "I love you, Zee."

Zee's eyes filled up as she hugged him back. "I love you, too, Harry. As Sirius would say, spend the day with your girl, make her happy, and be safe. Happy Birthday, darling."

Harry kissed her cheek and hurried into the house to get Ginny, a big grin on his face. It was turning out to be a pretty great birthday and he couldn't wait to spend the afternoon with his girlfriend.

~ ASC ~

After eating lunch, they decided against taking the horses and voted on walking. They headed up the path and through the trail in the woods, walking hand in hand. They'd been exploring the area, laughing and smiling as they chatted about this and that before Harry had chosen an area near Toccoa Creek. He spread the blanket out that they'd brought with them before he sat down. Ginny plopped herself into his lap, making him grin widely.

"Mmm, afternoon snogging, perfect birthday present," he said, kissing her neck.

Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck as she stretched out sideways on his lap. "A birthday snog would be lovely, wouldn't it?"

When he made to kiss her, she covered his mouth with her hand, laughing when he kissed her palm.

"You wouldn't deny me a kiss on my birthday, would you?"

"Maybe," she said, smirking when he tried again and she covered his mouth a second time. His eyes pleaded with her and she smiled, leaning in to nip softly at his bottom lip. "Did you plan this? To bring me out here to this lovely spot by the water and snog me senseless?"

Harry grinned and shrugged. "I might have given it a passing thought or two." He gently stroked her cheek with his knuckles. "I needed to just spend time with just you. I've had you and yet I miss you at the same time."

She nodded. "I know. I feel the same."

He stroked her cheek again as he spoke. "Thank you for telling Zee about the bike. It was… it's brilliant."

"And now you can drive it whenever you'd like."

"Tomorrow we'll have someone Apparate us with the bike to Tybee Island and go surfing. What do you think?"

"I think it sounds perfect," she told him.

His eyes raked over her. "I love this," he said, letting his fingertips trail over her top. It was a soft green circular cut vest that buttoned down the front. There was a delicious bit of skin showing between the bottom of the vest and her denim shorts.

"I bought it when I went shopping with Zee and Sorcha," she told him. "I thought it made my tits look nice."

Harry's gaze lowered to the tits in question, the soft swell of them he could see revealed in the open neck and he nodded in agreement. "Bloody fantastic."

Ginny chuckled, smiling when he picked up the necklace she wore around her neck. "Is this what I brought you back from Georgia the first time?"

She nodded. "Yes."

Harry dropped the necklace, his fingers trailing over her skin, down the edge of the vest with a smile. "You have the most beautiful tits."

She blushed. "Is that your way of asking to see them for your birthday?"

He leaned in and kissed the exposed skin softly. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, watching as the light through the trees made her hair shine like the sun, golds and reds exploding everywhere, blinding in its beauty.

She smiled, kissing his lips in soft nips that drove him mad. "I think you need your eyes checked."

Harry made a show of adjusting his glasses as his eyes raked over her. "Definitely not."

He tugged her back to his lips, deepening the kiss and sighing as she turned to straddle him. Harry's fingers danced along the edge of her shirt before he slid them under, sliding slowly up her ribs to brush the sides of her breasts as they kissed.

Ginny sighed against him. "Yes…"

Harry kissed the side of her neck, letting his lips trail down her throat, over her collarbone before his hands slid out from her under her shirt and moved to the buttons. He started at the bottom, his eyes on hers as he slowly popped open each button. The top one sprung open and he licked his lips at the sight of her breasts, swelling over the light blue lace-covered strapless cotton. With his eyes on hers, he pushed the vest over her shoulders and dropped it behind them. His hands slid up to cup them and her head fell back as Harry rubbed his hands over them, massaging and touching until he bent his head to kiss them. He peppered kisses over the exposed skin, dipping his tongue in the crevice between them and she moaned.

It was all the encouragement Harry needed and he angled his head lower to suckle her, feeling her nipple pebble under his tongue, and she panted slightly. This was the most naked he'd gotten her in ages and when she rocked against him, he groaned and squeezed her. Then to his surprise, her hands reached behind her and unclasped her bra.

It fell open before him and he eagerly tugged the strapless material off, the sight of those beautiful ample breasts more incredible than he remembered. The dusky pink nipples, one larger than the other, soft freckles adorned the tops of each one and he let his tongue trail over each nipple slowly.

Harry brushed his lips over her nipple, basking in the texture there, the way it pebbled where raised gooseflesh and softness met. His tongue darted out to stroke it, flicking it gently before he suckled the peak into his mouth. The sound Ginny made only spurred him on. She tasted so good and the feel of her against him was the best feeling that he could ever have. He reached his hands around to grip her denim-clad bum in his hands and her head fell back over her shoulders, that glorious red mane tickling his hands as he suckled at her breast.

By the time he moved to the other breast, she was softly purring his name. He cupped and molded them to his hands, kneading them, pushing them up and together, eyes wide in amazement as he fondled them joyously. He kissed them; around and over, trailing his tongue beneath and around, kissing her areola, kissing between them, and then sucking on her nipple again while his fingers gently tugged on the other one.

"Harry..." she gasped.

He looked up at her, a soft smile on his face, his eyes full of arousal and he slid his hands back down to grab her bum, squeezing. He massaged, moving his hands around before he dipped one hand between her legs and slid his fingers across the denim. Her eyes rolled.

Ginny's eyes were dark with arousal as she spoke. "Yes."

He smiled coyly, bending his head to lick her breast again, rubbing her a bit harder through the denim and she groaned.

"Ginny?"

Ginny's molten gaze met his.

"I want to touch you."

Ginny gave a small nod and let out a tiny gasp when he popped open the button on her jean shorts. The zipper slid down slowly and she kept her eyes on him. Those green eyes were dark in desire and it made him look even more incredible. The thought that he wanted her just astounded her sometimes. Then his hand slid beneath the denim, and those fingers were stroking through her knickers. The sensation of it, of him touching her so close yet not quite skin to skin, made her buck against him. When he bent his head to suckle her nipple again, she groaned; she knew that he could feel how wet she was.

She bucked again, her face falling towards his, and he kissed her passionately. The sunlight flickered through the trees, dancing along her hair, illuminating her freckles on her creamy skin and he wanted to kiss every one of them. Her cheeks were flushed from his touch and he kept his eyes on those chocolate brown ones as his fingers stroked her through the cotton. He arched a finger a bit in a come hither motion, pushing in through the cotton, and she gasped.

"Is that okay?" he whispered, his voice hoarse.

"Mmmhmm," she said, rocking against his hand.

Harry licked his lips. Without taking his eyes off of her, he moved his fingers slightly to the left and slid under her knickers. The feel of hot flesh made him moan. His fingertips danced along the edge of that soft flesh and when he dipped them into her, finding wet heat, she gasped.

Merlin, it felt incredible. It was hot and wet and utterly delicious. The feel of her pressing around him, pulsing and knowing that he was the reason she felt this way, was astounding. He moved his finger along her folds, basking in the feel of her as she moaned.

"Higher," she whispered

He grinned widely, sliding his slick fingers up along her folds and covering her clit. The feel of the nub made him pause. He remembered his fathers had told him about the clit, that little bud that was part of the secret to a woman's pleasure, and he rubbed it experimentally. The sound she made had his grin widening. He rubbed it harder, swirling his finger in a circular motion, changing the angle as her breathing changed and then twisting it lightly.

Her breath hitched. "Merlin... I..."

"Good?"

She bit her bottom lip, arching her neck back and he moved his fingers quicker. He bent his head to take a nipple into his mouth again as his fingers worked her over, rubbing and pressing into her as he suckled at her breasts. Ginny let out a strangled breath, clamping around his fingers, and cried out his name.

The sound she made as he continued to suckle her nipple made any blood he had left in his body dwindle down. When she she bucked against him, he bit back his own groan. It was the most incredible feeling he could imagine. That hot, wet heat pulsed and trembled against him, around him, and the thought of that feeling around his cock almost made him come on the spot as her hips jerked against his hand. When she collapsed against him, he kissed her cheek, his fingers slipping out from her knickers. He looked down at his glistening fingers and remembered Remus' words that had once embarrassed him so much, about how good a woman tasted. With his eyes on hers, he sucked the fingers into his mouth.

Ginny's eyes widened. "You…"

Harry licked his lips. "I wanted to know if you tasted as good as your lips do."

"And?" she asked, her voice a little breathless.

Harry grinned slowly. "You do."

Ginny kissed him deeply, sighing when his hands moved up to cup her breasts again. "That was… I mean… wow."

Harry kissed her softly. "I've been wanting to make you come for ages."

Ginny's eyes were dark as she stared at him. "I know that, too."

He bent his head and licked her nipple. "Happy Birthday to me."

Ginny chuckled, her eyes on him. "This wasn't actually your present."

He raised an eyebrow. "It's a pretty damn good present, though. Ginny?" He could feel her heart pounding under his hand where it was still resting on her breast. "I want to see you, all of you."

Her eyes widened and little. "Harry…"

"Harry! Ginny!" Colt's voice rang through the trees.

Ginny scrambled for her strapless bra, slipping it back on as Harry did up the buttons on her vest. She'd just stood up, zipping up her shorts when Colt came into view.

"There you two are! You were gone a bit and we were getting concerned."

"Just enjoying the view," Harry told him with a grin. "It's so beautiful here, Grandpa."

"That it is," Colt said with a smile. "Come on, your grandmother has a birthday surprise for you."

"We'll be right behind you, Grandpa."

He nodded and headed into the woods. Harry stood up, tugging Ginny up against him and kissing her deeply. "I love you."

Ginny smiled at him when he pulled back. "I love you, too. And Harry?"

When his gaze met hers, her lips curved again.

"Happy Birthday."

And Harry knew it was the best birthday he'd ever had.

End Author's Notes:

Here are the spells I used.

Protego = shield charm

Inpulsa = shocks and tasers the victim (taught by Misha in chapter 152 & mine)

Stupefy = stunning charm

Exelliarmus = disarming charm

Fianto Duri = shield strengthening charm

Fumos = charm to make defensive cloud of dark grey smoke

Flipendo = knockback jinx

Nebulus = creates swirling fog

Aer Calidus = hot air (I came up with incantation as it wasn't given)

Petrificus Totalus = full body bind curse

Orbis = jinx to suck the target into the ground

Rictusempra = ticking charm

Virga = shooting spell (I came up with incantation as it wasn't given)

Protego Speculo = double shield charm that mirrors the shield sending curses rebounding on the caster and hiding the shield caster from view (taught by Misha in chapter 152 & mine)

Finestra = spell to shatter glass

Expecto Patronum Familia = charm that uses Patronus as a real animal to guard or neutralize the threat while shielding the caster (taught by Misha in chapter 169 & mine with help from Steel)

Leva in Terra = lift the earth (my invention)

Gradibus = steps (my invention)

Glisseo = causes steps on a staircase to flatten into a slide

Gemino = creates identical useless copy of target

Everte Statum = throw victim backward like they've been thrown

Glacius = transforms target into solid ice

Reducto = curse to break objects and at strongest form can disintegrate them

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the lyrics to the Beatles song.

Thank you for reading and please review!