Chapter Three: Bliss
The next few days were pure bliss. Harry and Ginny spent many hours out in the fields behind the burrow or locked in Ginny's room getting reacquainted. Just as Ginny had said, they were making the most of the summer before it was over. They only had a few more weeks until Ginny would leave for school.
When they weren't alone, they were spending time with Ron and Hermione. Ron had also decided to stay behind from Hogwarts and help George with the joke shop, while Hermione had decided to join Ginny in their 7th year at Hogwarts. For the first time in seven years, they would be separated for months.
They spent hours playing exploding snap, or Quidditch in the backyard, spending as much time as they could together.
One afternoon, they were sitting on the back porch, laughing and screaming as some of Hermione's enchanted birds chased them around, when Hagrid came around from the side of the house.
"Hagrid?" Harry yelled excitedly.
"Hello," he yelled in response. The four of them jumped up and ran over to him.
After they had all greeted him, Harry asked, "What're you doing here?"
"I've got a present for ya 'arry," he said. With that, he ran back to the front of the house.
"What's going on out here?" Mrs. Weasley said suddenly from the back door. The four of them turned to see that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley standing on the back porch.
"Hagrid's here," Ron said excitedly, "He went to get a present for Harry." Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came down off the porch and joined them on the lawn.
"What could he possibly have?" Mrs. Weasley asked, but before anyone could answer, Hagrid brought it out. Or rode it out.
Hagrid was riding in on Sirius' old motorcycle. Mrs. Weasley gasped and looked completely horrified. "You are not getting anywhere near that thing," she said and grabbed Harry's arm, but everyone else was ecstatic.
"I fixed it up for ya," Hagrid said as he got off of it, "I thought Sirius would want you to have it. Do you like it?"
"I love it," Harry said, but Mrs. Weasley still wouldn't release his arm.
"Hagrid," she hissed, "How could you think this was an acceptable gift? It's far too dangerous!"
"Oh Molly," Hagrid said and laughed, "Let 'em have a little fun!"
"Besides mum," Ginny said, "It's less dangerous than chasing after Voldemort, destroying horcruxes, and fighting in a wizard war. You let him do all of that." Everyone snickered at this but Mrs. Weasley only looked more horrified.
"Don't worry Mrs. Weasley," Harry said, "I'll be careful." He pulled away from her and grabbed the helmet out of Hagrid's hands. "Can I ride it now?"
"Go ahead," Hagrid said. Harry jumped onto the bike and pulled the helmet over his messy hair. He kicked off the ground and the bike sped off through the yard. He could still hear Mrs. Weasley's screams as he drove through the fence and out of the yard.
It was exhilarating. It was like being on a broom but better because the bike could go faster than Harry ever could on a broom. He sped around the hills surrounding the Burrow before heading back to the yard, knowing that Mrs. Weasley was probably hysterical. And sure enough, as soon as he came zooming back into the yard, Mrs. Weasley pulled him off the back of the bike.
"Don't ever do that again," she was screaming, "No one else to ride this thing ever!" But Harry had already handed the helmet over to Ron, and he and Hermione climbed on and sped off before Mrs. Weasley even noticed. When she heard the bike start again, she screamed, "You all are trying to kill me! Hermione is going to get thrown off, what will I tell her parents!"
"They'll be fine Molly," Hagrid said, "It's bewitched, it won't let 'em fall off." This, however comforting it seemed, did not help Mrs. Weasley at all.
"Arthur you have to make them stop," Mrs. Weasley yelled, close to tears now. Mr. Weasley nodded as he began poking and prodding at the bike as soon as Ron and Hermione came skidding to a halt in front of him, ignoring every word.
"That is the best and coolest gift anyone ever gave you Harry," Ron said as he helped Hermione off the back, "Even better than the fire bolt!" He threw the helmet back to Harry.
"You want to go for a ride?" he asked Ginny as he climbed back on. She nodded excitedly and climbed on behind Harry.
"GINEVRA MOLLY WEASLEY YOU GET OFF THAT THING AT ONCE," Mrs. Weasley was screaming.
"Step on it," Ginny yelled and they sped off toward the hills.
Once Mrs. Weasley's screams finally faded with the distance, Harry slowed the bike down. He and Ginny drove through the orchard that surrounded the small village near the burrow. After a few more laps around it, Harry slowed the bike to a stop and climbed off.
"So what do you think of the bike?" he asked as he helped Ginny off and she laughed.
"Oh it's really impressive," she said and ran her hands down his chest, "And really hot."
"Oh yeah?" Harry said and Ginny nodded and laughed before pulling him in for another kiss. When they broke apart Harry smiled down at her. "I'm going to miss you," he said, "Maybe I will go back to Hogwarts." Ginny laughed and kissed his hands.
"You need to go to auror training," she said, "We'll be okay. We'll both be so busy anyway."
"I guess you're right," he said, "I'll just miss you a lot."
"I'll miss you a lot too," she said, "But you'll just have to convince McGonagall that you can come visit. She'll let you do anything you want." Harry laughed and kissed her again.
"We should get back," Harry said, "Your mother is probably losing her mind." Ginny laughed as Harry pulled her back onto the bike. Ginny put her hand over his and pulled it off.
"We will in a minute," she said, "We never get any alone time back there." Harry smiled and turned on the bike seat to face her. She smiled and leaned in to kiss him quickly. When she pulled away, she sighed and pushed some strands of hair out of her face.
"I'm going to miss you," she whispered. Harry was surprised by how worried she suddenly looked. Ginny always had on a brave face, but now she looked sad and worried.
"Don't worry," Harry said and pushed some of her long red hair behind her ear. "We'll write each other all the time and I'll meet you and Hermione in Hogsmeade whenever you go."
"I know," she said and looked up and smiled at him, "I'm not worried about us. I'll just miss you, that's all." Harry smiled and kissed her quickly.
"I know, I'll miss you too," he said, "But it's only for one year, and then we'll be together." Ginny smiled and ruffled his hair.
"Come on," Harry said as he turned back around on the bike, "We should get back." Ginny nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist as he started the bike off towards the burrow.
XXXXXXX
Over the next few days, Harry and Ron spent their days packing and moving into the Black manor. Harry had had Kreacher fix it up and remove all the Black family heirlooms. What surprised Harry was how willingly Kreacher did this. Once they started moving in, they realized Kreacher had taken over the attic and moved everything in there. This was fine with Harry so he didn't bring it up.
Hermione and Ginny started slowly packing their trunks for Hogwarts and convinced Harry and Ron to go to Diagon Alley with them.
"It'll be exciting," Hermione said as she helped load more of Ron's things into boxes for him and Harry to take to the Black manor later.
"No it won't," Harry said as he taped up a box of books, "Everyone will be staring at us and whispering and pointing." Harry struggled with the tape out of frustration.
"That's always how it's been with you," Hermione said and took the tape from Harry, "I doubt it'll be any different." Harry just raised his eyebrows at her, "Oh come on Harry," she said as she put the last box in the pile on the other side of the room, "You can't hide from the world forever."
"I know," Harry said as he sat down on the bed next to Ron in a now empty room, "You know it'll be just as bad for you guys."
"As long as there aren't any death eaters chasing after us, I'm not complaining," Ron said. Harry and Hermione both laughed.
"Well," Hermione said as she put the last box in the stack, "I guess that's it." She sat down on the bed next to them and stared around the empty room. "I can't believe this summer is almost over."
"I know," Ron said as he put his arm around her waist, "For the first time in seven years, the three of us will be apart."
"I hadn't even thought about that," Harry said, "It's going to be weird being apart from you Hermione."
"It'll be okay," she said, "You guys will have each other and I'll have Ginny. We'll all be so busy we won't even notice." Before either of them could say anything else, Ginny entered the room.
"Hey," she said, "Hermione, our Hogwarts letters just got here!" Hermione took the letter happily from Ginny as she sat down on the bed with Harry. They ripped the letters open, both hoping to find certain badges inside.
After a few moments Ginny squealed and held up the Quidditch captain badge she fished out of the envelope. Before anyone could get out congratulations, Hermione pulled out her new Head Girl badge.
"Congrats," Harry and Ron said and hugged them both.
"We'll have to get you a new broom," Harry said and kissed Ginny on the cheek.
"You don't have to do that," Ginny said shaking her head.
"I want to," he said and she didn't argue.
"Ginny this is so exciting," Hermione squealed and pulled her in for a hug.
"Lets get going to Diagon Alley now," Ginny said excited to get her new broom. Harry laughed as the four of them got off the bed and apparated to Diagon Alley.
The four of them appeared with a crack in front of Flourish and Blotts a few moments later. After they had been standing there for a few seconds, the whispering, staring, and pointing started. Harry stumbled back and attempted to get out of everyone's view.
"Come on," Ginny said as she grabbed Harry's arm, "Lets go inside." Harry nodded and the four of them quickly filed into the bookshop. Even once they were inside, the pointing and whispering continued. People started snapping pictures of the four of them from around corners of bookshelves.
"I knew this would happen," Harry said as he slammed more of Ginny's books into a basket. "I should've stayed at home."
"It's fine Harry," Ginny whispered, "This won't last forever."
"I just want it to be over," Harry said. Before anyone could answer, another young boy jumped at them from around a corner with a camera.
"Back off you slimy git or I'll hex you into next century," Ginny yelled as she pointed her wand in his face. The boy nodded with wide eyes and ran back around to the other side of the shelf.
"Thanks," Harry said and kissed Ginny while Hermione and Ron burst out laughing. "Come on,' Harry said, grabbing Ginny's hand, "Lets buy these and get to the Quidditch shop." Ginny laughed as they gathered their books and prepared to leave the shop.
