Here ya go. I'm being nice and posting before I get the five reviews I wanted. I'm not going to bother asking for reviews anymore, but I probably won't post more often than once a week.
This is the longest chapter yet, so enjoy it. It took some time to go through and edit and format this though, not to mention writing it. I've got one more chapter completely written, but it isn't edited yet, so keep on reading, my beloved fans, and I will be inspired to keep on writing. I hope you enjoy. This chapter gets much more romancy (romantic?) by the way, so if you like that, you should be sucked right in. Thanks for reading.
~Robin
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. That is the extent of it. I own my plot, but that's the extent of my ownership. Our best and brightest J.K. Rowling owns the rest.
Chapter 3
July 31st 1998
Harry woke up and looked over at the clock. Seven-oh-three. He was still, after all of these years, an early riser. He sat up and smiled. It was his eighteenth birthday. He was amazed he had lived until seventeen, let alone eighteen, but now that Voldemort was gone, he could have a long life ahead of him.
Once he had dressed he went downstairs to the breakfast table. Mr. Weasley and Percy were finishing their breakfast, and Mrs. Weasley was making more sausages and eggs for everyone else. When she saw Harry come down she swept him up in a hug, "Happy birthday, dear. Eighteen already. I remember when you were just that little eleven-year-old trying to get onto the platform," she smiled. "The one on top is from us dear," she said, pointing to a pile of presents on the table.
He grinned and sat down in front of it. It was the usual batch of homemade cakes and pies along with a small arrow with his name and face on it. "What's this?" he asked.
"It's a hand for our clock, Harry. Here, let me add it," Mr. Weasley said quietly as he took the hand from Harry and fastened it onto the clock.
There was a small prickling behind Harry's eyes. "Thank you Mr. Weasley," Harry mumbled
"Now, Harry. I think you've known us long enough to drop the Mr. and Mrs. now, haven't you," Mr. Weasley smiled at him.
"I suppose so, Arthur," Harry said, reveling at how it felt not to call them Mr and Mrs. It had always seemed so formal.
"At-a-boy," he said, clapping Harry on the back.
Ron walked down the stairs and added his present to the top of Harry's pile of presents. Harry picked it up and ripped it open. It was a book. That was strange. Second year in a row he had gotten a book from Ron. He looked up and raised his eyebrows. Ron shrugged. "There's some useful stuff in there, mate," he grinned at Harry. "Hermione thought you might like to know some normal spells, after all that fighting the dark arts."
"Thanks Ron," Harry grinned back after seeing some hexes written in-between the household spells. There were some silly ones and some that seemed cruel, but the household ones actually looked like they would be useful once he moved into his own house, whenever that might be.
He went through the rest of the presents. He got a new, and much better than even the one Hermione had gotten him the year before, sneakoscope from Bill and Fleur. He had gotten a book on dragons from Charlie along with a second copy to give to Hagrid, 'just in case'. The twins had gotten him a box of soon-to-be-released products from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Hermione had, as usual, gotten him a book. It was similar to Ron's, but without all of the hexes. He knew the book would still get some use though. He then realized that Ginny hadn't gotten him anything, until he saw a little note on the tablewhere all the presents had been sitting. That was when Hermione came down the stairs. "Just read the note and follow the instructions. Oh, and happy birthday Harry," she smiled and kissed his cheek.
Harry opened the note. Go up to where your seventeenth was, and you'll get the best surprise, it said in Ginny's handwriting.
Harry walked up the stairs to Ginny's room, expecting to see her waiting there, but was surprised by a gorgeous little snowy owl. It had another note tied to her leg. I said, thought your presents were a little on the scant side so far, didn't you? Well, here's one we all went in on. Her name's Jeanette, take good care of her. Now, come meet me out where we were surprised and where the secret was teased out of us. Harry grinned. He knew exactly where she was talking about. The place where Fred had surprised them when they were snogging. It was how the whole family had found out. He let Jeanette out of Ginny's bedroom window and she flew up, probably to Ron's room, where she would stay during the day until school started. There was probably a cage up there waiting for her already.
As Harry went back down the stairs to the kitchen Hermione smiled, "Isn't she beautiful."
"Yes, she is," Harry said as he walked out the door to the small copse of trees, "but I know someone more beautiful," he murmured to himself as he saw Ginny standing next to what he thought of as their tree. She was wearing a skirt and a low-cut blouse. He remembered some of his dreams of her and blushed, but in the shadows of the trees she didn't notice. She walked over to him and gave him a peck on the lips.
"Happy birthday Harry," she said, an impish smile on her face. Well, she was asking for it. He leaned for and crushed his lips against hers, before quickly removing them again.
He could see that wasn't what she had expected at all. She shook her head at him and grinned. "Is that the best you can do, Potter?" she teased, before crushing her lips against his once more. This time neither of them pulled away except to breath and even then they got right back into it. Harry pressed Ginny against their tree and they snogged intently. Harry's lungs were burning from the lack of oxygen, but he didn't care. Ginny's hands were on his stomach, leaving heat behind where she touched as he moaned against her lips. Soon they were panting and Ginny pulled away to breath. Harry reached out and brushed her lips with his finger. They were swollen and her hair was disheveled, but she was grinning up at him. "That, Harry Potter, is the best kiss that I have ever had."
Harry couldn't yet speak yet, so he just nodded, agreeing. He finally managed to get out, "If that had been my 'remember me' kiss last year, I don't think I ever could have left you behind."
"I'll remember that next time you have to run off to save the world," she said playfully, "but my brothers may be wondering what's taking so long, so we might have to go back inside," she said.
Harry shrugged. He had known they couldn't just stay out all morning.
"Maybe you can come to my room later tonight and-"
Harry interrupted her, "Ginevra Molly Weasley, you aren't suggesting that we..." he trailed of. A blush had started to cross her face.
"What no, of course not, unless you want-"
He silenced her with his lips and she calmed, "No, we're not ready. We can't rush through our relationship like that. Besides, we need something to look forward to in the future," he said to her.
She laughed, "Good, we may have to find more time to do some of this again later though. It was rather enjoyable."
"Only rather enjoyable, what happened to 'best kiss of my life'," he said.
"I didn't say that, well not in those exact words," she admitted as they turned back toward the Burrow.
When they came back into the kitchen everyone else was sitting at the table finishing breakfast. "Harry, Ginny, nice of you to join us. We were afraid we'd have to send out a search party soon," George joked as they came back in. Ginny just rolled her eyes, as Ron glared at his best mate for doing who-knows-what with his little sister.
Harry just went over and sat next to Ron, looking very happy with himself, purely for joy of seeing Ron's ears turn more and more red. "What were you doing with my sister?" Ron growled menacingly.
"Nothing that you and Hermione haven't done," Harry shot back, not actually knowing what the other two had gotten up to recently. Although, when Ron's ears turned even brighter red he thought that they might have gone farther than he and Ginny had. "Alright then. Maybe you two have gone farther than we have then."
"Er, good then," Ron muttered, a blush settling over his face, now from embarrassment. He walked over to Hermione and whispered in her ear angrily. She just gave him a look that obviously said, and why would I do that, and then walked out of the room.
It was around noon when Harry heard a sturdy knock on the door of the Burrow. He stood up from the couch where he was sitting with Ginny to go answer it. His face broke out into a grin when he saw Kingsley standing outside the door. "Come in, we're having lunch in about an hour. Still waiting for Luna and Hagrid. Molly doesn't want to start eating until everyone gets here," Harry greeted him.
"Happy birthday Harry," Kingsley said in his deep gravely voice. "Good, there's something I need to talk to you about anyway."
"Nothing bad, I hope," Harry said, worriedly biting his lip.
"No, no, nothing like that," Kingsley reassured him. "It's actually about your Gringott's account and your inheritance from Sirius and you parents. You should have been informed when you turned seventeen, but there wasn't ever a chance."
Harry was really listening now, interested. He lead Kingsley to the sitting room, where Ron, Hermione, Neville and Ginny were talking quietly. Once they had all exchanged greetings Kingsley asked, "Would you like to talk in private, or can they all stay?"
"They can all stay," Harry said firmly.
"Alright. Harry, as you know you inherited everything that both your parents, and more recently, Sirius, owned." Harry nodded in confirmation. "Well, what was in your vault when you turned eleven, was not everything that your parents left you." At this, Harry raised his eyebrows, but allowed Kingsley to finish what he was saying. "They also left you the house where James grew up, located in Godric's Hollow. It still has furniture and many belongings in it. James couldn't bear to go back after his parents had died. Another two-million galleons, left in trust for you by your parents have also been added to your vault, along with some of you mother and grandmother's jewelry and personal belongings that were saved from the wreckage of your parents' home."
Kingsley was finished. Harry sat there in shock. Two-million galleons and a furnished house. Wow. It was a lot to take in. Ginny nudged his side gently. "Th-thank you for telling me Kingsley," he finally managed to stammer out.
"Not a problem Harry," Kingsley said, obviously not surprised by his reaction. He had, in fact expected it to be worse.
There was another knock on the door and Harry snapped out of it. "I'll get it," he muttered, walking once again to the door. It was both Luna and Hagrid. Hagrid swept him up in a bone crunching hug.
"Happy birthday Harry," Luna said in her normal airy fashion. "Is Neville here?"
By this time Hagrid had released Harry and put him back on the ground. "Yeah, he is, why?," he asked, curious as to why she had asked about Neville.
She blushed faintly, "Oh, no reason," she said smoothly as she walked inside. Harry raised his eyebrows at her back. Neville and Luna. He actually could imagine them getting together someday. They would be an interesting couple, that was for sure.
By the time everybody had settled in lunch was ready and Harry had opened the guests' presents and put them with the rest of his things.
Everyone talked over lunch. Neville and Luna were both going back to Hogwarts that coming year and told them that most of their respective years were going back. It was going to be a crowded year, that was for sure. By the time everyone had finished talking it was almost five in the afternoon and the guests all had to be on their way.
Everyone split into groups. The twins and Angelina, who Fred had starting dating after Hogwarts, went outside with Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione, along with Charlie to play a quick Quidditch match before supper time. By the time they went back inside it was dark and supper was ready. They quickly ate and split into respective groups. George had gone back to his and Fred's flat, while Fred had taken Angelina to hers.
Molly and Arthur had gone up to bed at around ten and it was just the two young couples left. Teddy had been put to sleep, and Charlie was staying with Bill and Fleur at Shell Cottage. The four of them talked for a while. Eventually Ron and Hermione left, probably to snog in Ron's room and Ginny pulled Harry up the stairs and into her bedroom.
She pulled his head down and crushed her lips onto his. "I've been waiting to be able to do this again all day," she murmured contentedly as she pressed her lips to his once more. Harry's lips started to work across her jaw and neck before she pulled his lips back to hers. They stood there a while longer, lips locked. His hands slid out of her hair and to the small of her back, pulling her closer to him. She pulled her hand from his neck and down to his stomach, pushing him backwards toward her bed.
"Ginny, we can't," Harry said, pulling away. He looked nervous.
"I don't want to do that," she purred, "-yet," she corrected herself, "It's just easier to reach your lips this way. You really are much too tall." It was true, she was only five feet, five inches. Harry was more than half a foot taller. She stopped all the thoughts in his head as she pressed her lips against his. He moaned, rolling so that he was on top of her, and he let his hands wander up and down her sides. It was her turn to moan as his touch left streaks of heat behind. She never wanted this to stop, but of course Hermione had to come in at just that moment. The door opened, and she stood in the doorway, frozen.
"Er, I'm not interrupting anything am I?" she asked, even though it was quite obvious that she was, "because, I could leave again if-"
"No, Hermione don't leave, Ron will want to make sure we don't get too long alone together anyway," Harry sighed. "Night, Gin, that was definitely my favorite present today," he said, leaving the room after pecking her on the cheek once more.
Ginny sighed, "You know, your timing is worse than Ron's sometimes," she complained to Hermione.
Hermione was sitting up strait, "You weren't planning on, you know," she trailed off.
"No, not now, and definitely not here! My parents are a floor above us, we'd never get away with it. Besides, I'm not ready anyway, even though I always seem so forward, I'm just not ready for that kind of thing yet," she shrugged. Hermione wouldn't meet her eyes as a blush started to creep across her face. Ginny was watching her carefully, "You haven't done-"
"Of course not," Hermione blurted out. "We've gotten close, you know, when we disappear for a while, but we haven't done that yet. I think that if Ron wasn't so worried about me not being ready that we might have by now though." Her blush deepened.
"Ew, Hermione, TMI," Ginny groaned
Hermione giggled, "You'll enjoy it someday too, you know," she pointed out.
"Yeah, but we are talking about my brother," Ginny groaned.
"Fine. 'Night then," Hermione said, settling down. Ginny lay back down too. Her pillow smelled faintly of Harry and as she drifted off to sleep, she knew that she would find her dreams to be full of him too.
August 3rd 1998
Harry stood up from the breakfast table. "Ginny, you ready to go?" he asked. They were going to the Dursley's today. Harry had to find out what had happened at the safe house and he had to get the rest of his stuff, if they hadn't burned it, anyway.
"Yup, just let me grab my bag," she said as she stood up and ran up the stairs. She was back by his side in less than thirty seconds. "Remember, mum, we'll be back by three. After we get done in Surrey, we're going to go for some lunch," Ginny said as they walked out the door.
Since Ginny wasn't yet seventeen, Harry grabbed her arm and side-along-apparated her to his Aunt and uncle's back yard. He had gotten his official license the day before in preparation for this.
They walked quickly around to the front and rang the bell. Harry hoped that Dudley would be the one that answered the door, since they weren't expected. He wasn't sure what his aunt and uncle's reaction would be like if he showed up on their doorstep without warning. Harry was in luck that day as it was Dudley's face that appeared in the doorway. "Harry, what a surprise, come in. You're lucky mum and dad aren't home. They weren't exactly happy with being in that safe house for nine months," he joked. That was when he noticed Ginny standing slightly behind Harry. "Who's this?"
"Dudley, this is my girlfriend, Ginny. Ginny, this is my cousin Dudley," Harry said, telling Dudley with his expression that he had better keep his pudgy, well not so much anymore, fingers off his girlfriend. It was strange. Dudley seemed much fitter and was acting much more intelligent than usual. Being trapped somewhere for long periods of time must have had it's advantages.
"Don't worry Harry, she's all yours. I won't touch her," he said quickly, chuckling, seeing the look on Harry's face. "I have my own girlfriend now." He sounded almost smug. "She somehow, managed to get through the charms on the house we were in. I have no idea how, but she was the only person other than those two people protecting us and the three of us. We couldn't leave of course though," Dudley looked at his watch. "She was supposed to be coming in about an hour."
"We could come back another time-" Harry started to say. Ginny was still standing by Harry, being unusually quiet.
"No, its all right. I'll introduce you to her," Dudley waved Harry's offer away.
"If you insist," Harry said, wondering what kind of girl would date Dudley. Although now that he wasn't 90% fat he was much better looking. He sounded more urbane too. He must have been so bored in that house that he had read a book, or several.
"I do," Dudley looked sincere. "Do you want something to eat or drink?" he asked cordially.
Harry shook his head but Ginny spoke up for the first time, "Have any pum-er, orange juice?" she asked, remembering that Harry had told her muggles didn't drink pumpkin juice. That was crazy in her opinion, but she guessed that it would seem strange to the muggles that wizards drank pumpkin juice, so she went along with it anyway.
Dudley looked at her strangely, but went and got her a glass. When he came back in, he asked curiously, "Did you start to ask me for pumpkin juice?" He was sitting on the couch opposite from Harry and Ginny.
"Yeah," Ginny started to explain, "you see, in the Wizarding world, we drink pumpkin juice, not orange. I just realized that you weren't going to have any and would think that I was strange for asking for it."
Dudley laughed, "I'm used to strange things happening. I grew up with a young wizard in the house, didn't I?" That remark seemed to break the ice. Ginny laughed.
"Oh, you did. That must have been terribly difficult to get used to. I grew up with six," she countered.
"Wow, six brothers. Sounds fun," Dudley grinned.
"Well, it definitely toughens you up. They tend to be overprotective though, especially with your love life," she grumbled.
"They roughen you up a bit then Harry?" Dudley asked him.
"Well, since I'm the savior of the Wizarding world, they didn't have much of a reason to. I'm the best person their little sister could ever possibly end up with," Harry smirked.
"Forgot about that," Dudley muttered as the doorbell rang again. "I'd better get that. It's probably Vicky." He got up and walked quickly out of the room to get the door. They heard some muttered conversation and a quiet shriek.
When Dudley came back into the room, he had a tallish brunette pulled against his side. "Victoria, this is Harry, my cousin, and his girlfriend Ginny. Harry and Ginny, this is my girlfriend, Victoria Bell." Victoria was looking at Harry with a strange expression. It seemed like she was combing his forehead for something, but the only thing on his forehead was his scar, and she was a muggle. Then Harry put it together. She could get into the Dursley's house even though she was supposed to be a muggle and it was muggle-deflecting, she was looking for a something on his forehead, and Bell, he recognized that last name.
"Katie!" he blurted out suddenly. Ginny gasped next to him, drawing the same conclusion that he had. "Er, sorry, but do you happen to be related to someone named Katie Bell?" he asked, making up for his mistake. She looked an awful lot like her, in fact, he may have seen her at Hogwarts.
Her eyebrows rose and she answered quickly, "Yes, she's my cousin. She's three years ahead of me at Hog-I mean my school," she covered up, obviously, not seeing his scar since it had healed almost completely and was now barely visible, and thinking he wasn't Harry Potter.
Ginny had just figured out what was going on and burst out laughing. "Dudley," she managed to stutter out between laughs, "Your girlfriend is a-a witch."
Dudley just looked shocked as he sank into the couch. "I-I'm so sorry Dudley, but I couldn't tell you. It's supposed to be a secret. Wait, how did you know then, oh my goodness, you must actually be Harry Potter! When, I didn't see your scar I figured you weren't, but I guess that," she cut herself off. "I should have known though, I saw you a couple of times at Hogwarts, and my cousin talked about you a few times since you were both on the Quidditch team and-oh, I'm blabbering aren't I," she blushed.
"No, it's alright, but for the record, I am just a normal person. I may have defeated Voldemort, but that doesn't make me any different," he grinned, "and since Voldemort's gone, my scar has almost completely disappeared." He pulled his bangs up revealing the thin white line.
Dudley had recovered somewhat. "So, you, really are a-a witch then," he managed to say.
"Yes, Dudley, I am," she confirmed quietly. "If I had known that you knew about our world, then I would have of course told you, but we aren't supposed to tell, but you probably know about that and everything-" Dudley stopped her talking by kissing her firmly on the mouth. Harry just watched as Dudley pulled away.
"And if I had known you were a witch I would have told that I knew," he pulled her into a hug. "We should probably redo introductions then," he said. "Victoria Bell, these are Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley."
"Nice to meet you," the three of them said at once. They all laughed, even Dudley.
"Anyway Harry, what have you been up to lately?" Dudley asked.
"Not much. My birthday was a few days ago, and I've been playing lots of Quidditch. I'm the team captain again this year. I'm trying to learn how to take care of a baby too," he faded off seeing the looks on Dudley and Victoria's faces.
"Are-are you-I mean, I assume you're his girlfriend, are you..." Victoria was stammering badly.
"What-no! I mean, yes Ginny's my girlfriend, but no, she is not pregnant!" he burst out. Ginny was just sitting there, shocked at the question and at his outburst. "My godson. I'm taking care of my godson. His parents died in the Battle of Hogwarts."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I just assumed-"
"It's not a problem," Ginny cut in. The mood had suddenly turned colder.
"Well, Dud, we should probably be on our way. Is any of my stuff still left?" Harry asked.
"Oh, yeah, mum and dad didn't touch it. It should all still be in your old room," Dudley said. Harry and Ginny went up the stairs to his old bedroom. He waved his wand and packed it all into his trunk easily. He shrunk the trunk and Ginny put it in her bag.
"Good thing magic takes care of the weight of the trunk, isn't it?" she asked, giving him a peck on the cheek as they walked back down the stairs. Harry walked over to Dudley and Victoria, giving them each a quick hug.
"Dud, if you want to send me any mail, just send it to Ottery St. Catchpole and I can pick it up from the post there," Harry said as they were walking out the door. "Keep in touch, alright, and when you tell Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia about Victoria being a witch, keep out of the range of his fists," Harry said quickly. Dudley chuckled and closed the door behind them.
Ginny grabbed Harry's arm and they turned on the spot, going through that dark tube that was apparation, and appeared with a small pop back at the Burrow. They put Harry's stuff inside and then went back outside. It was only noon and they had told Molly that they'd be back at three so they had some time to kill.
"What do you want to do for three hours?" Harry asked Ginny.
"How about we go to out tree and partake in are usual time-wasting activity," she said with an impish smile.
"Sounds good to me," Harry said as she led him away.
August 7th 1998
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny walking down Diagon Alley towards Gringott's. Compared to the last time they had been there it was full of activity. There were hoards of children running around with their parents, who were desperately attempting (and failing) to keep control of them. They were all back to get supplies for Hogwarts that coming year. There must have been a lot more students than usual that year too. All the first years of course, and all of the returning students, including those that should have graduated the year before, but had never taken their N.E.W.T.'s. There were also the muggle-borns who hadn't been able to go the year before. That was a lot more students then before.
As the four weaved through the crowds, clasping hands to stay together, they goggled at the sheer amount of people. They quickly made their way down the alley to Gringott's bank and made their way inside. The two Weasleys and Harry made their way to one desk to go to their vaults, while Hermione exchanged some of her muggle money for wizarding coins. She did this every year before school started, and since the ministry had brought her parents back from Australia they had given her some money to exchange, as usual.
As Harry, Ginny, and Ron boarded the cart with a goblin and set off zooming into the underground darkness of the bank Ginny clutched Harry's arm. She had always hated these rides. She didn't understand how Harry could stand them, let alone enjoy them.
When the cart rambled to a stop Ginny jumped out like the cart was going to bite her. Harry chuckled, but she gave him a glare and he stopped.
"Mr. Potter, your key, please," the goblin requested. Harry handed it to him and the goblin opened his vault. Harry was taken aback by the sheer amount more stuff in his vault. It was obvious it had been expanded since the last time he had been. It was filled with more gold than Harry had ever seen along with several trunks of belongings. He walked over to one of the trunks. On top, was a large-ish box filled with expensive looking jewelry. He found his parents wedding and engagement rings. They were right on top. He heard the other two wandering around the vault. He quickly slipped the rings into his pocket along with a few things he thought Ginny might like. He did need to give her a birthday present after all.
He stood up and scooped a few handfuls of galleons into his moneybag and stuck it back in his pocket. The other two had finished looking around and were waiting for him by the entrance. "I'll look around more when I'm moving into my own house after Hogwarts," he told them.
They nodded and Ginny squeezed his hand reassuringly before climbing reluctantly back into the cart. As soon as she had climbed in and sat down, huddled to Harry's side, it once again shot off into the darkness. When they got out at the Weasley vault Ron handed the goblin the key. The goblin took it and quickly opened the vault. It had much more gold in it than the last time Harry had seen it. That was probably due to having only two children in school and Mr. Weasley's promotion. Ron scooped some out and handed half to Ginny, then closed the vault and walked back to the cart. Harry and Ginny followed and they got back in before shooting off back to the surface.
Hermione was waiting when they got back and they all walked back out into the August sunshine.
As they walked back down the alley to Madame Malkin's robe shop. They all needed new robes that year, as Ginny's had all been ripped from the Carrows' torture and the other three hadn't gotten new ones for two years. Hermione's were wearing through, and Harry and Ron had grown out of them again.
They all entered the shop and quickly bought their robes. After an incident with Malfoy and his mother two years previously she didn't exactly welcome them into her shop. They then walked quickly to Flourish and Blotts for their books. They each had at least five books, so they were considerably weighed down afterwards even with their money bags much lighter. After quickly restocking on potion supplies, quills, parchment, and ink they went to Fred and George's shop. It was probably the most crowded shop in the alley and was completely filled with students and their parents. The foursome made their way to the front to talk to the twins. It turned out that Fred and Angelina were working the front room with Verity, one of the other employees and that George, and Katie, who had recently began working at the shop were in the back room with Lee.
They made their way slowly through the crowds to the back room. When they got back their, into the darker, and less crowded room, the only staff-person in magenta robes there was Lee. "Hey, Lee!" Harry said. "Where're George and Katie? Fred told us they'd be back here."
"They went up to the flat to get some more Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder," Lee told him. "Where'd the girls get to?"
Harry and Ron turned around. Hermione and Ginny were gone. They must have been sidetracked by some of the products in the shop. "Dunno," Ron said, shrugging. "We'll find them on our way out. Thanks Lee. Off to find George now."
Harry and Ron walked to the stairs up to the flat in the back of the room. The entry was charmed so that only family and certain other people could get into the flat. They walked up the stairs quickly and opened the door at the top. The site that met their eyes was completely unexpected. Katie and George were lying on the couch, with their tongues down each-other's throats, snogging heatedly. "Well then Harry. We sure found them, didn't we?" Ron snorted loudly.
Katie untangled herself from George, blushing furiously. George pulled her back and kissed her forehead. "Yes, you certainly found us out little bro'. We were going to tell the family at Ginny's birthday anyway," George replied calmly.
Katie was glaring now. Her hair was in disarray and she was obviously angry about being interrupted. "Now, if you'd like to go and find your own girlfriends you can do some snogging of your own, instead of just watching," she scolded, giving them the death glare.
"Fine, we'll just be on our way," Harry chuckled. As they walked back down the stairs, Harry explained his chuckling to Ron. "That's exactly how Fred found out about me and Ginny."
Ron blanched, "With your tongues down eachother's thro-"
"Ron, I'm still pretty sure that's nothing compared with you and Hermione," Harry reminded him.
Ron blushed and mumbled something under his breath so that Harry couldn't hear. The girls appeared out of nowhere. "Guess what we just saw," Ron said, quickly explaining how they had seen Katie and George snogging.
"You saw my twin and employee doing what now?" Fred asked from behind them.
"You didn't know Fred?" Angelina asked coming up behind him. "I've known for two weeks. I thought George told you everything. Katie had been going over to your flat whenever you came to ours. I guess at one point he asked her out and they've been going out since," Angelina told the story quickly. "Now we're needed at the front desk, Fred," she said kissing his cheek and dragging him away.
"Now everyone's coupled up except Charlie, the poor guy," Ginny said morosely.
"Everyone? Didn't Percy and Penelope break up?" Ron asked.
"Yes, but she took him back after the Battle of Hogwarts when she found out that he had rejoined our side again," Hermione explained. "I don't think Charlie minds being single right now anyway, Ginny."
"True, he loves his dragons more than he could love a person," Ginny replied.
They were back onto the main alley by now, but it was only two, and they didn't have to be back at the Burrow until five, so the two couples split up for some alone time.
By the time they reunited, it was four thirty and they had to head back to The Leaky Caldron to apparate back to the Burrow again. Hermione transported all their stuff and then Ginny grabbed Harry's hand, since she wouldn't be seventeen for four more days and they all spun on their heels and appeared back in the yard of the Burrow.
August 11th 1998
Ginny woke up on the day of her seventeenth to an owl knocking on her window. She let the owl in before realising that it was Jeanette. She tore the note off her leg and unfolded it. Ron and Hermione went out for an early morning stroll and your parents are both out, but your mum left breakfast for you and your presents are on the table. She took Teddy out for the morning. We're having a party this afternoon. We have the whole morning to ourselves though... was written in Harry's scrawled handwriting. Ginny grinned, she knew what that meant. Snogging galore. Her stomach grumbled, but first, she needed breakfast.
Harry was already waiting by the time she had showered, dressed, and come down to the kitchen. He doled her out a plate of food before getting himself one and they sat down at the table. After she had eaten her food she looked at the large pile of presents in front of her. She didn't want to waste her alone time with Harry opening presents, so she sent them back up to her bedroom. "Let's go," she said to Harry, dragging him outside into the mid-morning light. She brought him right to their spot in the copse of trees and said "We should really build a tree house here, much more comfortable place to snog, than just pushed against the tree," before she pushed him against the tree and crushed her lips against his.
She didn't know how long they had snogged before he pulled away to breath. "Ginny, how do you do that?" he asked her breathlessly.
"Do what?" she asked devilishly, "This?" she asked again, before pressing his lips with hers firmly and opening her mouth. Her hand trailed down and under his shirt, trailing her hands along his stomach and to his chest.
"Ginny," he moaned quietly, "We can't."
She pressed her lips against his again before removing them. "And why not?" she asked. She had known for a while, that he was the only one that she would ever want. She wanted to be his forever.
"I-I can't do that. Not yet. It's too soon. We've only really dated a total of less than five months. I can't afford to have somebody in your family find out. They might never accept me the same way." Harry was trying to explain how he felt, but the words didn't sound right.
"This isn't about my family," Ginny scowled. "This is about us, but if you really aren't ready, then we don't have to," she smiled at him. "We can still do this though, right?" she grinned slyly as she once again pressed her lips against his.
He moaned as he turned her around to press her against the tree. His hands were traveling up and down her sides until she guided them to the hem of her shirt. He looked worriedly at her, "I trust you," she said. He relaxed and let himself go, reveling in the feel of Ginny's stomach under his hands. Her hands slid up and under his shirt and he moaned again. The sun had risen higher in the sky and they soon had to go in, but he never wanted to leave. He had something else he had to give her though.
"Ginny, we have to go in soon," he said.
"I don't care," she mumbled bringing his lips down to hers again.
"Do you want your birthday present?" he asked, knowing exactly how to get her attention.
She perked up and gave him an expectant stare. He reached his hand into his jeans pocket and pulled out a little brown package.
She opened it quickly, discarding the paper. It was a thin sliver chain with small emeralds embedded into it. She threw her arms around him once more, kissing his face everywhere. "I love it Harry," she murmured.
"I thought you would," he chuckled. "It was my mother's and we really do have to go back now. Your mum'll be home soon." He grabbed her hand and fastened the bracelet around her wrist. She gave him one more short, but passionate kiss as a thank you before he started pulling her back to the Burrow.
By three that afternoon, the whole family had arrived at the Burrow. Charlie had even come from Romania. It was his last chance to see everybody before school started again. Ginny had opened all the presents and thanked everybody profusely. She had gotten books, a broomstick servicing kit, and a witch's watch from her parents. It was now on her wrist, opposite Harry's mother's bracelet. It was small and gold. It was new too. She had given her parents big hugs after opening it.
Fred and George had brought their respective girlfriends, and Katie and Angelina had dragged Alicia with them. She had, apparently just been through a bad break-up and needed to get out and have some fun. Ginny didn't mind. The more, the merrier in her opinion. Charlie had been eyeing her anyway, and Ginny couldn't help but grin at the look on his face when she had walked in behind Katie. It had been priceless. Even if he didn't know he was in love, Ginny sure did. Turns out she was wrong about him not loving anyone except for his dragons. Harry had noticed too, and they had been sharing sneaking looks all evening. If Alicia hadn't been so depressed, than Ginny could almost have thought she was interested in Charlie too. She would at least smile and talk back to him when he joked with her.
There was a wonderful supper, courtesy of Molly, and they all ate with gusto, even Alicia, who apparently hadn't been eating enough lately. After they had sat around eating for a while, Molly and Arthur went up to their bedroom. They had decided that the 'young people' should get some time to themselves. Percy and Penelope had left much earlier.
They all sat around talking for a while longer before Bill and Fleur went back to Shell Cottage. Charlie was staying with them, but decided to hang around a while longer, probably because Alicia was.
That was when Fred and George unleashed their surprise for the night. "Now that all the responsible ones are gone," Fred started.
"We will bring out our special item for our little sister's coming-of-age," George continued.
Fred pulled a bottle of firewhiskey out of his robes. "She can drink legally now, after all, mum and dad just probably wouldn't like this." He pulled out his wand, making ten shot-glasses appear. Another flick of his wand sent them out, one to each of the people still in the sitting room. "To Ginny, the last of us to come of age, allowing us to be allowed to drink at home," Fred said, raising his glass in a toast. They all drank.
The warmth spread through Ginny quickly. Fred refilled everyone's glasses. Ginny drank again. She was starting to feel a slight tingling feeling in her fingers and toes, and giggled at the sensation. George muttered something quietly to Fred, causing him to grin. They gave Ginny another drink, as everybody else (who had all drunk before) had theirs. It was Ginny's first time, so she was going downhill fast.
Ginny was leaning back against Harry on the couch. He kissed the top of her head, his lips sending a shock through her body that had nothing to do with the alcohol, but may have been amplified by it. She turned around and kissed him before dragging him out of the Burrow and to their copse of trees. She grabbed her wand and transfigured a fallen tree on the ground into a couch.
Harry had finally realized, through his buzzed stage, what she wanted to do. He pulled away quickly. "No," he said. He was gentle, but at the same time firm.
"Come on, Harry," Ginny purred, sitting down. She may have been pretty drunk, but she knew what she was trying to do. She pulled him down with her and crushed her lips to his. He moaned and kissed her back quickly, but pulled away again.
"Not yet," he groaned, as she kissed him again. "We can't yet, and when we do, it has to be special, not when we're both slightly drunk. We're not ready"
He, as usual, won out. Besides, she had fallen asleep. He picked her up, turned the couch back into a log, and carried her back to the Burrow. When he got back inside, everybody was considerably more drunk, and Hermione and Ron had gone up to Ron's room in the attic.
Fred was getting ready to take Angelina home, and Katie and George had left right after Harry had brought Ginny back into the kitchen. Only Charlie and Alicia were left in the sitting room. Harry had put Ginny in her room and then gone to make himself some tea.
He could hear Alicia and Charlie talking quietly. He could only just make out what they were saying.
"He-he said, he said that he would always have more interest in Quidditch than in love, that it wasn't me," she was crying quietly into Charlie's t-shirt now.
"He didn't know what he was talking about," Charlie murmured to her. "Who would love Quidditch, more than they would love you."
Alicia looked up at him, eyes still shining with tears, "Do you really mean that?" she asked him, hope written across her face.
"Of course," he murmured pulling her against him.
"Prove it," she said, before kissing him full on the lips. He responded with gusto at first, but then pulled away.
"Don't," he groaned quietly. "I-I don't know how I could have even thought about starting this. I leave for Romania again in two days. I can't do that to you."
"I can handle long term separation," she said quickly, "As long as I know that you love me, I'll be fine. Until then, I think we have a lot of goodbyes to say though," she said before kissing him again.
Harry grinned as Charlie said, "Not here. We'll go to your place, but not here." He pulled her out of the room and through the dark kitchen, not noticing Harry sitting at the table, drinking his tea quietly. Before the door was closed, Charlie had kissed Alicia again, before turning with her, and apparating away.
August 31st 1998
"Please, Harry," Ginny begged him, sticking her lip out into a pout. "I'll love you forever."
Harry chuckled, "I know, but I don't have to learn to swim for that to happen," he pointed out. She just looked at him. "Fine, if that's really what you want to do our last day before school starts again," he finally gave in. She had been badgering him about it for over a week.
Ginny jumped out of her chair at the table and pulled him up, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Trust me, I do," she said, a mischievous glint in her eye. "You go get Ron and Hermione. They can come too. And get your trunks, I'll go get my suit and meet you down by the pond." She whisked up the stairs and into her room.
Once the door was closed she grinned. It was part of her master plan for Harry. She did own a bikini after all. She grinned again, quickly slipping it on under her clothes. She was extremely lucky her mother didn't think that she would ever wear this. It wasn't as scanty as some of the ones she had seen in muggle clothing stores, but Harry would certainly enjoy himself. She couldn't believe that just two months ago, she had told Hermione she wasn't ready yet. She may not have been lying then, but if she said the same thing now she would be.
She pulled her hair into a quick ponytail, grabbed a towl and went out to the pond.
They pond at the Burrow was small, but it had a sandy bottom and got pretty deep. It was shallow at the edges though. She sat on a small dock that went a dozen-or-so feet out into the water and waited for the other three to show up. After only a couple of minutes she heard somebody, probably Ron, stomping through the grass. A set of arms wound around her and lifted her to her feet, kissing the back of her neck. She sighed and turned around. "Don't try to delay, Mr. You are getting into that water and learning to swim if I have to push you in myself," she scolded Harry.
He was wearing only his trunks and his muscles stood out against his skin. Ron had also stripped down to his trunks, but Hermione was still wearing her shorts and t-shirt, like Ginny. They grinned at each other. The boys had no idea what they were in for. They had gotten their bikinis together the weekend before and had been waiting for a while to try them out on their boyfriends.
"Alright, fine," Harry said, taking Ginny's towel from her. "but I don't see your bathing suit." He raised his eyebrows at her.
"That would be because, I, unlike you, decided not to wear only my bathing suit on the walk down here," she said. "I'm wearing it under my clothes," she finished, seeing that he still looked confused.
"Oh, right," Harry blushed.
She started to push her shorts down and peeled her shirt off, very satisfied with the heavy blush creeping across his face.
"Ginny," he groaned, "You are going to kill me, but I can see why you didn't want to walk down in that."
"Hey, that's my sister your oggling, mate!" Ron yelled at him.
"Turn around, and I won't be the only one oggling," Harry replied coolly. Ron turned to see that Hermione had peeled off her outer clothes and was now wearing her bikini too. Ron looked speechless and Hermione blushed.
"Shall we go in the water then," Ginny's voice cut through the silence. That snapped the two boys out of it as they all walked into the water. It was cool and refreshing, but still warm enough to stay in all day. Ginny closed her mouth, held her nose, and dipped her head quickly underneath the glassy surface, before bursting back out, her long hair streaming water from the end of its ponytail.
Harry was only in up to his waist and was staring at her again, eyes moving up and down her frame. Ron and Hermione were already frolicking in the shallows, splashing each other, so she grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him farther in. He looked a little bit nervous now.
"It's not that bad, you know," she stated.
"That wasn't the problem. The problem is whether I can control myself while you have on those clothes, or lack-there-of," he said.
She grinned. "You don't have to control yourself you know," she said to him. "I knew what I was getting into when I got together with you, and I wouldn't have dated you so long if I didn't love you, Harry," she said it solemnly.
"I know, I love you too," he said gravely, "I just don't want it to move too fast," he admitted.
"I'll tell you if I think it's too fast, Harry. Just worry about what you want from me, because I'm ready for anything," she said fiercely. She kissed him and he moaned. "But, for now, we should be getting to your swimming lessons."
Harry swore under his breath, he was hoping she had forgotten about those. "Fine," he grumbled to her. They swam for the rest of the morning before going back in for lunch. Molly had been taking care of Teddy recently because she would have to for most of the school year, but Harry had to spend some time with him before he went back to Hogwarts, plus, he still had to pack. He would get a lecture from both Molly and Hermione if he saved his packing for the last minute.
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