The following day was Harry's birthday! Ginny hadn't gotten him much of a present, but she had asked Hermione to do the coins. She hoped that would be enough. Ginny put on a pair of jeans and a dark, navy shirt which floated around her seamlessly. She then took a last look in her mirror before hurrying down the stairs.
Harry was already at the table, with Ron, Hermione and her mother busy fawning over him. She walked up to him and hugged him briefly, "Happy birthday Harry!" she said enthusiastically. He pulled away and grinned at her, "Er, thanks Ginny!" he said. He seemed off and Ginny couldn't figure out why. Maybe they were planning on leaving soon? The thought crossing her mind freaked her out and she didn't like the idea at all.

She whispered to Hermione, "Hermione, can I asked you something?" Hermione smiled and excused herself, "Sure. What's up, Ginny?" They walked into the lounge and Ginny whispered, "Did you…?" Hermione grimaced and shook her head, "No. I haven't been able to yet. Just give me a little more time. I first need to replicate them, which I've managed to do. But I haven't been able to link them up to each other. That will inevitably be the tricky part." Ginny grimaced and whispered, "But I don't have another present for him…"
Hermione smiled and raised her eyebrows, "Well…I'm sure you could think of something…" She winked at Ginny and this caused her to blush. Ginny grinned, "You mean…? But…Hermione we've broken up." Hermione shrugged, "I'm sure he wouldn't say no. It's a present after all." Ginny giggled while simultaneously blushing.

That's when Ron walked in and Hermione said to him, "Hey Ron, let's go and do some de-gnoming shall we?" He frowned and asked, "Why? Ginny and Fleur did it the other day…" Hermione shook her head, "I saw loads more in the garden yesterday. I'm sure your mum would love us for it!" Ron grumbled, "Fine!" under his breath.

Ginny took this as her queue to go and find Harry. She sighed in relief that no-one else was around, "Hey Harry. My present for you is upstairs." He nodded and smiled, "Alright." Once she reached her room, she opened the door and made sure to close it. Harry laughed a little, "Uh, back here again?"

Ginny suddenly felt her heart pounding nervously at what she was about to do. She wondered how he would react. What if he pushed her away? She twisted her fingers nervously, "I wasn't sure what do get you. Something small enough to take it with you when you're off doing…whatever you're doing." Harry smiled awkwardly now, "You didn't have to get me anything." Ginny rolled her eyes at the comment.

She steadily walked closer and said in a whisper, "And it's in case you meet any Veela along the way." Harry frowned at her as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "I think dating opportunities will be very thin on the ground to be honest." Ginny inhaled sharply, her mind racing, her heart pounding. She whispered hoarsely, "There's the silver lining I've been looking for."

And with that, she kissed him with all of her might. He didn't react for a second, but then his hands were on her back and she felt them travel to her hair. She didn't even pause to breathe. Ginny needed this like he was her oxygen. She didn't know how she was going to live without him the next year. He had become her everything and now she felt his hands trailing to her thighs. She inhaled then and stared into his green eyes, which shone with hunger…something she'd never seen in them before. The look he gave her made her want more.

Then she pressed her lips back to his and trailed her kisses down his neck. He whispered softy, "Ginny…I love you." His hands hand stayed on her thigh and she loved the feeling of them there. They sent electricity to every inch of her skin as he trailed them up and down her waist. It was as if the distance between them this summer really had made them love each other more, if that was even possible. She had just reached the base of his throat when the door burst open.

Ron yelled sternly, "WHAT THE HELL?!" Hermione came jumping in moments later, shouting, "Ron!" and Ginny jumped away from Harry, like she'd been burnt. A horrible silence filled the room. Ginny felt like she'd had a longer time with him, that maybe Hermione could distract her twit of a brother. But the little bubble she'd just entered had been quick to burst. She turned her back on them as she walked over to the window and felt tears pricking at her eyes. She muttered, "Happy birthday anyway, Harry."
Ron said furiously, "We need to talk…" Harry sighed and whispered, "Thanks for the present. I'll see you later." Once they began walking down the stairs, Hermione said to Ginny, "I'm sorry Ginny. He was getting suspicious. I couldn't…" Ginny snapped, "It's fine!" She knew it wasn't Hermione's fault. But in that moment she needed to be alone and Hermione seemed to get the message as she closed the door.
Once she had left, Ginny hurried up to Fred and George's old room to see if she could see or hear what Ron had to say to Harry. They were all storming into the garden and Ron yelled again, "How could you, Harry?! You know she's been really cut up about you ending it!" Harry yelled right back at Ron, "You know it's not because I wanted to! She's not stupid! She knows she not coming with us! We had that talk last year already."

Ron said angrily, "Yes! But now you're messing her around and she might get second thoughts!" Harry groaned and said in frustration, "She's not stupid, Ron! And it's not like we're going to end up getting married or…" Luckily Ginny could see his face from the angle he was standing and she could see he hated the idea of her getting married to someone else. He froze as he was saying it. As she watched, Hermione came in to diffuse the situation. Harry looked pale at the thought and Ginny felt her heart racing. Ron continued, "Yes, but now you're messing her around! You're giving mixed signals…She…" Harry snapped right back, "It won't happen again! Ok?" Ginny sighed and there was an awkward silence in the air. Ron said with a nod of his head, "Alright…yeah…fine."

Harry turned his back on Ron and stormed back into the house. She was surprised he hadn't said anything about her being the instigator. Hermione turned to Ron once Harry had left and said, "You know Ron, it wasn't Harry's fault." Ron raised his eyebrows and asked sarcastically, "Oh yeah? Was it your fault, Hermione?" Hermione raised her eyebrows, "Don't take that tone with me Ronald. It was in some respects my fault!"

Ron laughed and rolled his eyes, "Please! You weren't the one doing the kissing…" Hermione glared at him, her hands on her hips, "No! But I suggested it to Ginny!" Ginny's jaw dropped and so did Ron's! She couldn't believe Hermione was standing up for her like this! She would have to thank her later. She heard her name from the door and spun around, "Ginny?"
Harry was watching her watching this new development take place. Ginny blushed and whispered, "I just…I…" Harry smiled at her knowingly and she sighed, "Thank you for not ratting me out. You didn't need to be so chilvarious. I would have happily taken the blame." Harry shrugged and replied, "I wouldn't want Ron to blame you." Ginny rolled her eyes and replied, "He should have." Harry chuckled and walked a little closer to her before whispering to her, "By the way…best present ever. Thank you." She blushed and when he pulled away, she was very tempted to kiss him again. She glanced at his lips and whispered, "You're welcome." The only thing preventing her from doing that was that she was afraid she wouldn't be able to stop.

XXX

A little while later, Ginny and Hermione were baking a cake for Harry. They were having a small birthday celebration for him that evening and the boys were busy setting up the tent for the wedding tomorrow in the garden. Hermione said to Ginny, "Two cups of flour…" She poured two into a bowl and Hermione read from the book, "Two eggs…" Ginny nodded and added the two in.

As they were busy, Ginny saw two figures apparate at the edge of the garden. She frowned and nodded to Hermione through the window, "A bit early for visitors, isn't it?" Hermione frowned and squinted into the distance, "Hey! It's Scrimgeour!" Ginny gasped and said in confusion, "And PERCY!" Her mother was doing the laundry and she came running through, "Percy?! What's Percy doing here?!" She yelled in surprise as she went running down the yard.

Ginny dropped the bowl onto the counter and said to Hermione, "I don't like Percy being here. It will all but ruin Harry's birthday." Hermione shrugged her shoulders, "Maybe he's here to congratulate Bill." Ginny shook her head, hands on her hips, "I don't think so. Percy isn't that nice." She went to her mother and overheard the minister saying to her, "Mrs Weasley…I've come to have a meeting with Harry, Ron and Hermione Granger. Percy also wanted to come and congratulate his brother on his marriage for tomorrow." Molly began tearing up a little and Ginny retorted from being, "I see he hasn't bought a present. Don't you know it's rude Percy to come to a party empty-handed?"

The minister spotted Harry and Ron setting up the tent. He walked over to them and introduced himself. Ginny frowned as Harry looked less than impressed. When Ron saw Percy, his face turned cold. The minister ushered them inside and as Harry walked passed Ginny, she gave him a nervous smile. He didn't return it and this made Ginny feel uneasy.

She retreated to the kitchen and added sugar to her mixture, as well as vanilla extract. When she had done that, she beat with a spoon so she could try and eavesdrop on the conversation. The minister said, "Happy birthday, Harry! I trust you're enjoying the festivities." Harry replied tonelessly, "You could say that." Ginny smiled and Harry continued, "To what do we owe the pleasure, minister?" Scrimgeour said said, "I'm here on official business. Dumbledore left some positions for each of you in his will." Ginny bit her lip in anticipation of hearing what this was about. He continued, "To Ronald Billius Weasley, I leave my delluminator, a device of my own making, in the hope that when things seem most dark, he'll see the light." Ron said in a mumble, "Dumbledore left this for me?" The minister replied, "Yes."

Ginny put the bowl on the table and poked her head around the corner. She heard Ron say, "Brilliant. What does it do?" He clicked it and the lights in the lounge went off, then he clicked it again and the light returned to its place. Ginny frowned. Why on earth would Ron need that?

Harry spotted her watching and he stared at her. He then shook his head subtly and then averted his gaze back to Scrimgeour and Ginny sighed. He clearly didn't want her in on this. She returned to her baking feeling morbid and unwanted. She did hear Scrimgeour continue, "To Hermione Jean Granger, I leave you my copy of the Tales of the Beetle and Bard…" Ginny frowned. Dumbledore was giving them weird gifts. She thought it was really odd.

XXX

Ginny finished Harry's cake just in time for the guests to arrive. It wasn't a big celebration, considering the wedding was the very next day, but it was big enough for Harry. Hagrid came, as did Tonks and Lupin. Ginny hadn't been near Harry since their little rendezvous earlier. Ginny had the feeling he was avoiding her. But she still had to give him his real present.

Hermione came up to her then and presented her with two identical coins. She grinned and she said, "I managed something at least. These two are for you and Harry. When we're in trouble it burns, like how the other ones did for the D.A. It will also provide you with a location of where we are. An example would be like it will say, "The Burrow."

Ginny grinned and hugged her friend in thanks, "You're the best, Hermione! Truly!" Hermione shrugged and replied, "I'm glad I can help. It will make Ron feel better knowing you're all safe too. Oh, that's the other thing. If you're in any kind of danger, it will burn on our side too. Ginny grimaced and whispered, "I hope mine won't be burning all the time then?"

Hermione shook her head and smiled, "Only if it's a life and death situation." Ginny sighed in relief, "Thanks. I think it will be useful for both of us. Although mine can't tell you much I guess by my location." Hermione shrugged and whispered, "It's better than nothing. Here's a bag to wrap them in." Ginny did as she was told and she asked, "Oh Hermione, do you mind writing Happy Birthday Harry on it please?" Hermione grinned, "Sure! It looks scrumptious by the way!" Ginny shrugged, "Thanks. I did my best under the circumstances."

XXX

Once everyone had had a chance to speak to Harry and congratulate him, after dinner Ginny went and sat on his free side. He had been talking to Tonks, but she got up to see if her mother needed help in the kitchen. She whispered, "Harry…" He turned to her and she said, "I'm sorry about earlier, again." He rolled his eyes, "Honestly Gin, you don't need to worry…I said it was fine…" Ginny shook her head, "No! I mean about eavesdropping." Harry grimaced and replied, "Oh, yeah that. Well it was not very helpful information anyway." Ginny shrugged, not quite believing him and said, "I asked Hermione for some help with these, while you're away. Remember I was telling you about the coins?" He nodded eagerly, a smile spreading across his face, "Yes! And…?"
Ginny pulled out her bag and handed it to him. His eyes lit up and he said with enthusiasm, "This is really bloody brilliant! Thank you Gin!" He even leant forward and kissed her on the cheek. She blushed and glanced at the floor, before Fred interrupted, "What's bloody brilliant?" George appeared beside him and laughed, "And mate, I heard about you and Ginny earlier…don't think you can get away it again."
Ginny rolled her eyes at her brothers- one who now sported a headband- and said, "It's none of your business what happened. And Harry wasn't the instigator."
George rolled his eyes and sighed, "Fine, but it better not happen again." Ginny nodded and then she saw her mother give levitating the cake towards them. It was a plain vanilla cake with white icing covering it. Harry turned to her and asked, "Did you make it?" Ginny shrugged and replied, "I may have had a little help from Hermione." This caused Harry to grin and he said, "I hope this is the last present?" Ginny nodded and whispered, "Yeah it is."

The cake landed in front of Harry and they all sang and had a slice. Then people started getting ready to leave and Bill came and chatted with them. He said to Harry, "Happy birthday. I know it's not much, but here's a little something for you. I hope it comes in handy."

Ginny went to go and say goodbye to Tonks. She asked Ginny, "How are you coping?" She shrugged and replied, "It's hard having him around, when it's not how it used to be." Tonks sighed and nodded, "I know. But things will get better, won't they?" Ginny raised her eyebrows, wondering how much Tonks knew. She wasn't giving anything away so Ginny shrugged, "I don't know. We'll see."

Lupin joined them then and asked concernedly, "How's he been, Ginny? He seems very distant. He's not telling us something. Do you know anything, Ginny?" Under Lupin's intense stare, Ginny felt guilty for knowing what she did. If this is how she felt with Lupin interrogating her, she hated to think about what would happen if Death Eater's did the same. She had to lie through her teeth, "Nope. Nothing." He raised an eyebrow, not quite believing her and sighed, "Well thanks for the cake, Ginny. We better get going."
Ginny nodded and squeezed Tonks to say goodbye. Ginny wouldn't be seeing her now until the holidays. Tonks pulled away first and smiled, "Take care, Ginny." She nodded and watched her friend leave. It felt like everybody was leaving all at once.

Ginny sighed and shook her head. Bill came up to her then and hugged her, "I'm off little sis. Have a good year at Hogwarts, ok?" Ginny frowned and asked, "Hey, where are you going?" Bill chuckled and said, "I'm going to go and stay with a mate. I shouldn't even be here right now with Fleur. By the way, I heard you two are starting to get along?" Ginny rolled her eyes and smiled, "If you want to exaggerate yeah!" Bill laughed and then Fleur kissed the top of her head, "Night Gin. See you tomorrow." Ginny grinned, "Yes! At your wedding!" He grinned at her before walking to the gate and apparating.