A/N: Thank you guys for continuing to review and read! It's so much fun to write this story and I'm so glad you guys are enjoying it. Please keep reviewing and stick around for more :)

It was a week before Harry and Ron were able to make the proper arrangements to leave London. The Auror office had been in a state of complete disarray as they attempted to put a face on the attack. Despite the Ministry's best efforts to keep the incident under wraps, it did not take long for the murder of ten postal workers and Stan Shunpike to become common knowledge. As a result, the whole of London seemed to be holding its breath waiting for the other shoe to drop. People were weary to leave their homes, and if they did, not a second passed when they weren't hyper vigilant to their surroundings. The certain fear that the wizarding community hadn't felt for over a year had returned.

Despite this the two had managed to convince the head of the office to allow them to take off for Christmas early. The feat ended up being shockingly easy. It was hard to tell if this was due to the fame Harry had acquired over the past year and a half or simply the lack of interest the aurors in training anyone while the city was panicked. Either way, the two found their way home and began to prepare to leave.

"Are you sure we should be leaving? Can't help but feel like there's something else we could be doing here."

"Harry, they'll be fine. They have loads of aurors already on the case, and we've done our part, I'd say."

Ron's easy dismissal did nothing to calm Harry's concerns. However, before he could press the issue, he heard the door of the flat open and Hermione appeared in the living room. She dropped her bag and ran over to Ron, throwing her arms around him and kissing him. Harry began to look away, but before he knew it Hermione's arms were around him too.

"Oh I'm so glad you two are okay! I was at school when I heard what happened and I had no clue what to do, and when I got you letter Ron, I couldn't think of anything else...this packing is horrible!"

Hermione had gotten sidetracked when she finally allowed herself to glance around the room. The boy's bags were packed haphazardly and clothes fell out onto the floor. Hermione immediately began to reorganize as Harry and Ron made eye contact and shrugged.

"Do you have any idea who might've done it?"

"Hermione, like I said in my letter, we have no clue…"

"Yes yes I know, I'm just desperate for information. What do you think of all this, Harry?"

Harry didn't have an answer to her question. For the past seven days he and everyone in the auror's office spent their time devoted to answering these questions - why? who? will there be more? The thoughts never left Harry's mind.

"I really don't know, Hermione. But I really don't think we should be up and leaving London like this. This isn't the time for a vacation, we need to figure this out, we need to be at the office helping…"

Harry threw himself down on the couch in frustration.

"...I thought this was over."

The room was quiet for a moment. Hermione and Ron glanced at each other before sitting down on the couch next to him. Finally, Hermione broke the silence.

"I'm sure she misses you just as much as you miss her, Harry."

He hated how she did that, always knowing exactly what he was really thinking about. The truth was that in a twisted way, Harry had welcomed the panic after the street explosion. It served as a distraction from the fiery red hair and flowery scent that had made it impossible to touch Cho.

Harry sighed.

"Do you really think so?"

"Of course, Harry.", Hermione responded sincerely.

Harry then directed his attention to Ron.

"Where is she, even? I haven't heard from her since we left and I've been terrified to try and write her."

"I'm not sure, mate. Mum says she's been with George a lot, living at the store I think. She says she's been fine."

"Is she going to hate to see me? I feel like I have no place at the Burrow, really."

Harry was somewhat embarrassed at allowing all these insecurities to come out at once, but he figured if he were to voice them, this was the time.

"Harry, how could you even think that. You know Mum and Dad count you as one of their kids at this point. I mean, how many Weasley sweaters do you own?"

"Harry, everyone needs you to be there! No one will enjoy the holiday unless we're all safe and sound and together."

Ron made a noise of agreement, and Harry knew his two friends were right, and agreed with Hermione as well.

"Alright, well we should be off, then."

The three friends grabbed their things and headed out of the flat. Once they were outside, each grabbed onto another, and before they knew it they were being squeezed and pulled in all directions, surrounded by darkness until suddenly, they were on a snow dusted hill in the middle of the countryside. As they all regained their bearings, Harry felt a sense of calm come over him.

Harry was convinced that the phrase "a sight for sore eyes" was first uttered regarding the Burrow. The leaning building always appeared to be on the brink of ruin, but was relentlessly inviting all the same. A layer of white snow coated the now familiar grounds of the home and greatly emphasized the pillar of smoke rising from the chimney. As they began to approach the house, Ron said what all three were thinking.

"I love this place."

After the short, quarter mile walk to the entrance of the Burrow, they entered the home to the smell of a delicious meal being prepared. It was clear from the comfortable silence that no one was home except Mrs. Weasley, working away in the kitchen. When the three of them entered, however, she relinquished her duty for a moment in favor of giving out hugs and kisses. After she found herself satisfied in this greeting, Mrs. Weasley made them all sit down at the table as she returned to her cooking.

"Oh I'm so happy to see you all! Thank God you're here, away from all that dreadfulness going on in London, just awful...but oh, how has everything been! Tell me everything, each of you!"

Harry had missed Mrs. Weasley's sincere doting. He felt a slight pang of guilt for believing even for a second that he wouldn't be welcome here, but it was quickly overrun by Mrs. Weasley asking to hear about their lives once more.

"Well, Mum, you know what I've been up to, just living with Harry, going to training, nothing special."

"Well, you know, you should try to write home more, Ron! Your brothers always find time to send something home, I feel like I haven't heard from you in ages."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry Mum. Just been busy."

"I know, dear. How about you, Hermione? You really haven't been around in a bit."

"Well, you know, after the war they had to shut down Hogwarts for a while, to rebuild and such. And I actually, well, I started writing a book about horcruxes. There's really no reliable information on them written, and it was so frustrating never being able to find out anything about them when we needed it. I also think that maybe if I write this book, about our experiences with Voldemort's horcruxes, it might get people informed about them and how to destroy them, and maybe if it's common knowledge on how to stop them, people will stop making horcruxes in general."

Harry and Ron were somewhat taken aback, even more so Ron. They had no clue Hermione had been working on this project, she had never mentioned it to them. Before they could ask her anything, however, she was carrying on, telling Mrs. Weasley about the rest of her recent life.

"So, I got a bit into that, but then they announced the reopening of Hogwarts, and I really did want to go back and finish out seventh year, so I did. I've been there since September, and it's been extraordinary, really. I'm enrolled as a seventh year and I've been taking the courses to go along with that, but I'm honestly quite ahead of all the other students. I've actually almost completed those classes, I'm going to take the exams and be done. They've really opened up the school to me, though, they allow me to do whatever I want, really. It's just like free research time, I can go to any classes I want, and the professors have been amazing. I'm having a great time."

"Oh dear, that's wonderful. We're all very proud of you for going back to school, I'm glad they've been so welcoming to you. And what about you and Ron?"

"Mum!"

"Oh hush, you. Are things going well, are you two happy?"

Ron looked very embarrassed as Hermione glanced over at him, smiled, and then back to his mother.

"Yes, yes I'd say we are."

Mrs. Weasley smiled sweetly at Hermione and turned back around to check on the meal she was making.

"And, Harry? Have you been alright?"

"Oh, yeah, things've been great. How's everyone else been?"

Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a knowing smile before answering.

"They're good, Harry."

The four chatted for an hour and a half, enough time for a full lunch of sandwiches and cookies to arrive on the kitchen table. They had chatted more, small talk to fill the time before the other Weasleys began to arrive. Mrs. Weasley had gone to check on Teddy who was taking his afternoon nap when Harry and the others heard the door open. Soon after, Percy and his girlfriend Audrey walked into the kitchen.

Percy and Ron exchanged a brotherly handshake, and Hermione and Harry were greeted and introduced to Audrey, but Percy quickly moved the conversation to more serious matters.

"Harry, Ron, the Auror's office must be mad since what happened last week, everyone's been talking about it at the Ministry, I'm sure you must know."

Just then Mrs. Weasley returned to the kitchen and excitedly greeted Percy and his girlfriend with hugs and kisses. As she began to ask Audrey about her life just as she had done to the others previously, Percy pulled Harry and Ron aside.

"So, what can you tell me. Anything I don't know yet?"

As Ron began to answer his brother, telling him he's sure he knows as much as they do, Harry had an idea.

"Percy, is there any way you could get me a list of everyone who's come forward as being under the imperious curse during the war?"

Percy looked somewhat taken aback by the request, but answered him honestly regardless.

"Well, I can see what I can do and let you boys know."

The day went by quickly after that. Everyone helped clean up from lunch and clean the house in general, preparing for the influx of family members that were to come. The Burrow's charm was endless, and Harry felt a sense of relief at being at the Burrow coupled with his slight anxiety at the thought of seeing Ginny. Teddy woke up from his nap and was toddling around the house, a sight both sweet and saddening.

Around two o'clock Bill and Fleur entered the Burrow. Fleur was now very showing in her pregnancy and she looked more beautiful than ever. Mrs. Weasley greeted them and talked with them excitedly about baby plans. Before long Charlie arrived as well, and as the house filled more and more, Harry found himself constantly drawn to the window looking for new Weasleys. He was beyond pleased to see everyone, but he couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed every time he saw one of the male Weasleys pop up into the yard.

It was after six o'clock when Mr. Weasley finally arrived home, and he was ecstatic to see so many of his children at the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley announced that they would be having dinner soon, as Ginny and George had told her earlier that they would not be at the Burrow until later on. Harry's stomach did a backflip at the name, but he tried to keep his demeanor calm.

The crowd ate dinner nearly an hour later. It was a happy affair, nearly the entire family gathered to eat and talk about everything that had been happening since they saw each other last. Around eight o'clock, after everyone had finished eating but remained at the table to talk, the door of the Burrow opened and George entered the room where they were all eating.

"If there's no dinner left I'm seceding from this family, I mean it."

George's arrival was met with overjoyed response. All the brothers exchanged playful greetings and teased each other as if they were still in their Hogwarts years.

It was now dark outside and the Burrow was filled with the warm light of candles. The room in which everyone was gathered was cozy, and the smell of dessert was coming from the oven.

"George, how's the store been? Doing well?"

"Oh yeah, it's been great. Business has been excellent, I guess kids never get tired of messing with each other…"

George continued to answer questions from all the people in the room. Harry began to get impatient, however. He knew Ginny had been with him at the store for quite some time, so where was she? Harry's anticipation at seeing her was peaking and he could no longer hold back his curiosity.

"Hey George, how's Ginny been?"

He did not hear Harry's question at first. Harry awaited a response, but after several moments passed and George did less than even look in Harry's direction, he asked once again, this time louder. The conversation in the room had died down just as he asked, however, and his question was announced at a rather embarrassing volume.

"George, where's Ginny?"

This time George definitely heard him, as did everyone else in the room. They all moved their eyes to look at Harry. He smiled and looked down, realizing how awkward it had been for him to pose this question.

"I was...uh...just wondering because….she was, er, supposed to come with you. Right?"

George began to laugh slightly.

"Yeah, she'll be here soon."

He then added as an afterthought,

"And I must say, Harry, you are a brave soul coming here. Very scary person, my baby sister."

At this statement the room burst into laughter. Harry laughed too, a somewhat forced, nervous laugh. Mrs. Weasley finally broke everything up, her maternal instinct for Harry coming in.

"Oh, George, stop it. Harry's just terrified to see her again. Go on, Harry, tell them all."

The room was now silent, all eyes on Harry.

"I'm, er, a bit nervous. Yeah."

Bill was the first to respond to Harry's admittance.

"I don't understand, Harry. What even happened?"

"I don't know, really. I just messed up. I don't know what to do...what do I do?"

Harry felt himself filling with embarrassment. Here he was, in the Weasley's home, having just ate a Weasley dinner, asking advice on how to fix his relationship with a Weasley. He felt like a complete arse.

The room was quiet after Harry had sheepishly asked for advice. The first to offer something was Charlie,

"Well, she'll definitely attack you, so I'd prepare for that."

"Oh, please, she'll just poison him."

"You may think that, Bill, but have we ruled out her setting him on fire? Because I think that is a real possibility."

George's last comment sent the room into another fit of laughter, but Mr. Weasley settled everyone down once more,

"Boys, boys, enough."

He offered a kind smile to Harry before continuing.

"Harry, just talk to her."

More than an hour had passed along with the dessert course before people began to head to bed. As their numbers dwindled Harry's nervousness grew. He now no longer had the comfort of the group to rely on when Ginny arrived, he would be forced to have his first encounter with her in months in solidarity, or near to it at least.

It was nearing midnight and only Harry and George remained downstairs. They sat and talked, going into more realistic detail of their lives than they had in front of the other family members. How they had really been feeling after the war, the feelings of guilt and sadness they had been forced to overcome.

"I was in a bad state after the funeral. I didn't even feel like I was alive, really. Nothing felt real. I would go to tell him a joke or something and he just...wasn't there. Ginny helped a lot. Came with me to the shop after everything died down, she's been there with me since. It was hard for a while but...I'm alright now. Not a day goes by that I don't miss him, but I'm alright. Me and Angelina have been going out quite a bit, remember her? She's been great too, but Ginny...she saved me, she did."

Just then, Harry believed he heard a faint popping noise outside. His stomach churned and before he could convince himself he was creating noises in his mind, the big wooden door swung open.

Harry had spent the past year and a half trying to forget many things. He tried to forget some of the horrible things he saw during the war, the people who died, the lives and places and fond memories he saw destroyed. Through all the things he tried to forget, however, there was one he was never able to let go, no matter how much it seemed he should have. The memory of her was the one thing he had never been able to forget. Harry had tried to figure out what about her had made him feel this way, and he came to the conclusion as he watched Ginny walk through the doorway. It was the red, he thought, and how it refused to be extinguished by the frost covered scarf she wore. He had always loved that about her, how her hair made it so she would always clash with her surroundings, but clash in such a loud and wonderful way. A fiery red against the green grass and blue water of summertime or the white out of the winter months. She pushed the hair from her face and closed the door as the moment burned itself into Harry's brain. He could never forget her. Every second that he had never deserved with her and every color that seemed dull compared to that horrible fiery red was stuck with him forever.

Her long red hair had been tucked into her jacket beneath her scarf, but was exposed when she removed the latter article of clothing. Her fair skin was flush in the cheeks from the cold wind outside, only making her look more beautiful. When she removed her jacket and hat and released her hair all together, Harry was sure he smelled her flowery perfume waft towards him. She looked at them with gorgeous brown eyes that crinkled at the edges when she smiled. She began to walk into the living room where they were sitting with no hesitation. It was then she looked up and finally saw him.

"Well hello there Harry"

Harry felt as though he was burning and freezing up all at the same time. He could barely think at the sight of her, let alone speak. He thought he heard George say something to her, but it was all white noise to him. After ten seconds too long he finally choked something out. Swallowing hard he said,

"Ginny."

She stared at him hard, unwavering, wearing a smile. As Harry looked back at her he felt himself crumbling with nervousness and embarrassment, excitement and confusion. He heard George let out a small noise of laughter.

"You just exude confidence, my friend."