A/N: Thank you for the support and the reviews. I hope you enjoy reading the story!

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Like a hunger, like a burnin

"Where are those pots and pans?" asked Mrs. Weasley as she rummaged through the kitchen. Hermione had been helping her with the cooking since she got back from her parents' place. She seemed all right, but Harry and Ron could tell that she only busied herself so that she could forget about a lot of things that might be running through her mind as of the moment.

Ron looked at Harry. "By the end of the year, I'd be able to get it," he told him. Harry leaned on the couch. "So, have you found a place to stay yet? I mean, I'm sure Mum and Dad wouldn't hand over Ginny just like that," he warned Harry.

"Of course I know that," said Harry, knowing the Weasleys for quite a long time. "I've been thinking about moving back to Godric's Hollow. It's not really too far from here. I actually like it there too," said Harry.

Ron looked at him thoughtfully. "Are you sure that's what you want?" he asked. Harry nodded. Ron just shrugged. "I was just checking." He looked at the family picture that hung on the wall in the living room. It was taken years ago. He looked so young then. "I can't believe we are actually pulling away from what we were before," he said.

Harry nodded. "Me neither." He gazed upon Ron's used-to-be young face. "In three months, you're going to turn eighteen. How about that?" he asked. Ron sat himself down on the couch. "Imagine our lives a couple of years from now. If you had a chance to choose your future right at this moment, what would it be?" Harry asked.

"Be married to Hermione for one," Ron replied quickly. "Maybe we'd have a kid or two, or maybe three. For some reason, I'm dreading having six kids." Harry let out a little laugh at that. "Then I'd be an Auror, you and me. We'd be working at the Ministry together. Hermione would be there too. Since it had always been Ginny's dream, she'd be out there playing Quidditch while you work at the Ministry. We'd have tea together once in a while, even Teddy would join us. Then we'd raise our children; see them off to Hogwarts…" Ron's voice faded.

Harry laughed. "What a vivid imagination!" he commented, but he could picture their lives leading as such and that was pretty all right with him.

Hermione came to the kitchen. She sat beside Ron, very tired. Ron placed her arms around her. "So, any luck trying help Mum find the pots and pans?" he asked. Hermione glared at him. Ron smiled and kissed her cheek. "Don't be so grumpy, 'Mione."

Harry looked at the pair. "I could imagine you two living together," he said with a smile. Hermione leaned on Ron's body. "After so many years of being together, I guess we really end up like this," he said, still looking at Ron and Hermione.

"I heard about your arm," said Hermione. Harry showed him his arm and it was all right. Hermione nodded. "It's fine now I guess. Ginny would have a fit if she saw you hurt." She looked at Harry. "She wrote to me thrice, never forgetting to mention how much she misses you," she informed Harry.

to find the place I've never been

The next day, Ginny returned from Hogwarts. Harry was the first to greet her when she came through the door. Ginny smiled at Harry, but didn't say a word. This made Harry worry since he was expecting a lot more than just a smile from Ginny.

"Is there anything wrong, Ginny?" asked Harry as he followed her to the kitchen. "Ginny, why are you ignoring me?" he asked.

Ginny spun to look at Harry. "There's nothing wrong. I'm just tired. I just need some time alone," she said, although Harry could not understand the logic she had behind what she said because he's never seen her in months. Ginny turned her back at Harry as she drank a glass of water.

"Are you angry with me? What did I do?" asked Harry. He couldn't bear Ginny being mysterious and him not understand why she was acting this way. Harry finally grabbed Ginny's arm. "Ginny, why don't you want to talk with me?" he asked. "Ginny, I can't understand unless you start explaining some things to me. I waited for you to return."

Ginny eyed him. "You weren't here the whole time I was gone. You were in Ireland. I guess that meant you've figured out what will happen from here on," she said.

"Well, yeah, kind of," replied Harry. "That's what I'm excited about telling you. I've been to Ireland for the pat two and a half months."

Ginny frowned. "And you had no plans of telling me this until the last minute." Ginny walked out of the kitchen. Harry followed her, not understanding how Ginny could be so upset with him. "This is so typical of you, Harry Potter," was all she said before going up to her room and shutting the door behind her.

Now I'm broken, and I'm faded

Ron witnessed the Ginny stomping up to her room and shutting the door loudly. "What was that about?" he asked. Harry couldn't help but stare at Ginny's door. Ron waved his hand in front of Harry's face. "Harry, I was asking you what that was all about," he said.

Harry shrugged. "I really don't know. She was all worked up the moment she came home," he said. He looked at Ron. "I have no idea what I did, but I can't recall anything that might upset her. She seemed very disappointed knowing that I went off to Ireland for some reason," he explained.

"She'll calm down tonight," Ron assured Harry. He gave Harry a thump on the back. "Ginny will be happy to know you've become the Seeker for Ballycastle Bats. She'll be very proud of you. It was her who was worried about your future together, right?" he said. Harry nodded, hoping that Ron was right about Ginny calming down at dinner.

Unfortunately, Ginny didn't come down to dinner at all. "Ron, would you mind calling Ginny. It's her first day back at home," said Mr. Weasley when he saw Ginny's empty seat. He looked at Harry. "Is there something the matter?" he asked as Ron went to call Ginny.

Harry didn't really know what to answer. "Ginny seemed upset with me the moment she came home," he admitted. "I don't really know what's gotten into her. She just seemed mad when she saw me and even angrier when she mentioned she found out I had gone to Ireland at the last minute. Though I don't see where it really matters there."

Mrs. Weasley took Harry's hand. "It'll be all right, Harry. Ginny must have just been tired from her trip." Harry nodded, although he sensed a What-Have-You-Done-With-My-Daughter tone behind Mrs. Weasley's pleasant voice.

Ginny walked behind Ron and sat beside Harry for dinner, though she was silent the whole time. The whole table felt tension between Harry and Ginny. After dinner, the girls helped Mrs. Weasley with the dishes while both Harry and Ron went to the garden.

"Just talk to her after she finishes the dishes," said Ron, breaking the silence. He could see the confused look on Harry's face. "I have trouble understanding Hermione sometimes too. Don't worry about it, Harry. You'll work out something."

I'm half the man I thought I would be

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A/NI hope to see you at the next chapter!