A/N: Thank you to all those following this story, your support is much appreciated. Please feel free to leave a review.
Quick note to say that I know that the present at the end of this chapter has been done numerous times, but I couldn't resist putting it in there.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the universe in which he lives, that honour belongs to the amazing JK Rowling.
The final couple of weeks of the summer passed by quickly and before anyone knew it, it was the day before Ginny and Hermione would return to Hogwarts to complete their final year.
Having spent the morning making sure Ginny's trunk was ready for the next day, Harry and Ginny had chosen to spend the afternoon near the pond relaxing, making the most of their final day together. Under the shade of a tree, Harry had laid down on a blanket with Ginny curled into his side, his free hand playing with a strand of her hair.
"Gin, I was thinking," Harry said, interrupting their quiet solitude.
"Oh Merlin, this can't be good," Ginny joked as she pulled back slightly so she could look up at Harry's face.
"Oh you will pay for that comment!"
Harry flipped them so he was on top of Ginny and immediately began tickling her, making her squeal.
"I give!" Ginny screamed out. "I'm sorry!"
Harry stopped and looked down her, flashing her a grin. He quickly gave her a peck on the lips and rolled off her, pulling her back into his side as he did so.
"So you were thinking?" Ginny continued, once they were comfortable.
"Well, it was about the decision we made to move in together once you finish Hogwarts."
Ginny sat up abruptly, worried that Harry no longer wanted to live with her.
Harry, noticing Ginny's reaction, sat up as well and took her hands in his.
"No, it's nothing like what you are thinking; I still want to live with you. I want to carry out all the plans we made."
Ginny released the breath she knew she had been holding.
"What is it then?" she questioned, still slightly worried about what the conversation was all about.
"Well, we decided that we were going move in together into our own place, the same day you finish Hogwarts."
Ginny nodded at this statement.
"Well I was thinking that perhaps I should start looking for a place once you go back to Hogwarts, rather than waiting till you get back at Christmas."
"I am guessing you have a reason for this," Ginny said, not really understanding the need to rush out so soon.
"I figured that we could buy a house, rather than rent a flat. I want our first home to be the home we want to live in for the rest of our lives," Harry explained.
"That was what I was hoping for when we made the decision," Ginny said, pleased at Harry's suggestion. "So what is your plan and how do you intend to choose if I am not with you?"
Harry grinned at her choices in questions.
"The way I see it is that we have three options. One, we buy a house that needs no work, or perhaps just some decorating to our own taste. Two, we buy a house that needs fixing up, giving us the chance to make it our own, but without too much need for building work. Or three, we just buy some land and build our own house, which would be completely our own design and specifications."
Ginny thought about the three options Harry had laid out for her. She could understand the need to begin their search for their home as soon as possible. If it needed a major amount of work to ready in time for the end of June, then they would need to find and buy the house before Christmas preferably. She looked back towards the Burrow that she could just about see from where they were sat. She loved the uniqueness of her childhood home and while she knew she wanted something completely different, she wanted their home to be something that reflected them as a couple and eventually as a family. She turned back to look at Harry, smiling at him to reassure him she was fine.
"Option two sounds like the perfect idea," she finally responded. "I want something unique like The Burrow, but if we were to build our own home, it may not be ready come June. So I think we should find something we can fix up."
Harry smiled and pulled into his arms and held her tightly in happiness.
"Exactly what I was hoping you would say," he said before he kissed her. As he pulled back, he manoeuvred himself so he was laying back down again, with Ginny once again curled into his side.
"So my guess would be you want something like the Burrow," Harry continued. "Not the house itself, but more like in terms of the area and land."
"Yes," Ginny simply said.
"Me too," Harry replied.
They lapsed into a comfortable silence, enjoying each other's presence and the peace and quiet until they were called to help set up for the family dinner, which was to be held outside.
Despite the still aching gap left by the loss of Fred, this was the happiest family dinner the Weasleys had held for many years. For first time, they could enjoy the end of the summer in peace and truly enjoy each other's company. The entire family had descended on the Burrow to celebrate the end of the summer, the end of the war and to give Ginny and Hermione an amazing send off before they left for Hogwarts.
Molly and Arthur were obviously in attendance. Bill and Fleur had come over from Shell Cottage. Charlie had managed to get a portkey over from Romania so he could be there to see off his baby sister for her final year. Percy had brought along his girlfriend, Audrey. Similarly, George had brought along Angelina, admitting the two had begun dating. Ron had gone over to pick up Hermione from her parents' new house, helping to bring over her trunk and Crookshanks' cage as she planned to stay the night and travel to Kings Cross with the family the next morning. Harry and Ginny were sat close together, much to her brothers' amusement, at one end of the table, watching the family dynamic, both pleased to see everyone happy finally.
Arthur, who was sat at the other end of the table, stood up and cleared his throat before calling for everyone's attention.
"I would like to make a little speech, perhaps even a toast," Arthur began. "I just wanted to say how much it pleases me and Molly to see each and every one of our children happy," he continued with an obvious nod towards George. "I know these last few months especially have not been easy with us all needing to go into hiding, all of us fighting in the final battle and then the loss of our Fred."
Arthur paused, feeling slightly choked up at the mention of Fred. Harry had tightened his grip around Ginny's shoulders as he felt her shudder at the mention of her lost brother.
"Therefore, I would like to make a toast to each and every one of our children, beginning with Fred. He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten. To Fred," Arthur said as he raised his glass.
"Fred!" Everyone raised their glass, with a number of noticeable tears in many of the family's eyes.
Arthur continued in this manner, slowly working through each of his children as well as Fleur and Hermione, before he finally reached Harry and Ginny.
He looked over at the young couple and smiled at them, before sharing a smile with his wife.
"And finally, Harry and Ginny. No offence to the rest of you, but Molly and I are so incredibly proud of these two. Out of everyone here, you two have been through far more than any person your age should have and somehow you both made it through, both the much stronger for it. But most importantly you found each other."
Both Ginny and Harry couldn't help but blush, despite the huge smiles on their faces.
"As Dumbledore always said, the world could always do with a little more love in it. Seeing the two of you together, supporting each other, loving each other, gives Molly and I so much hope for the future. And we want you to know that Molly and I, and hopefully your brothers as well, will support you in whatever decisions you make in your life together."
Both Harry and Ginny were stunned by the love and acceptance, not just from her parents, but her entire family, who they could see nodding in agreement with Arthur's words.
Arthur raised his glass again, in the direction of the young couple.
"To Harry and Ginny!"
"Harry and Ginny!"
Touched by her father's words, Ginny pulled away from Harry and ran around the table to throw herself into Arthur's arms.
"Thank you Daddy," Ginny whispered.
"You are very welcome, Princess," Arthur replied just as quietly.
Eventually, the family began to move away from the table to other parts of the garden or to head back into the house. Harry and Ginny were curled up together, sat beneath one of the trees, enjoying their last evening together.
"Do you know what I think we should do?" Harry whispered into Ginny's ear, causing her to shiver at the contact.
"I am hoping it involves you, me and the privacy of our room," Ginny said, immediately getting up to walk back to the house, not allowing the chance for Harry to answer.
Harry could only smile in response, amazed that he had found someone as wonderful as Ginny, before getting up himself and following her to spend their final night together before she left for Hogwarts the next morning.
The morning of September 1st was, for the first time, not as busy a morning as it had been in the past. Nor was it as tense as it had been for the past couple of years. With only Ginny and Hermione attending Hogwarts this year, there was no rush within The Burrow, just a relaxed atmosphere.
Thanks to both Ginny and Hermione being organised and fully packed the night before, the Weasleys, Hermione and Harry arrived at Kings Cross a full half hour before the train was due to leave. In pairs, they made their way through the barrier and onto Platform 9 and 3/4.
Harry pulled up short when he caught sight of the scarlet steam train. Ginny noticing he was no longer walking alongside her turned back and smiled at the look of awe on his face.
"The look on your face, Harry, would suggest to some people that it was your first time seeing the train," Ginny joked as she returned to his side.
"It's not that," Harry replied, still marvelling at the sight on the train. "I just thought I would never get to see it again. I am reminded of the first time I saw it."
"The only difference is this time we are here together," Ginny reminded him as she wrapped an arm around his waist. "We were strangers to each other back then, naïve little children who were ignorant of the evil in the world."
Harry looked down at her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.
"But I wouldn't change a thing. I know there are things we both went through that we wished we hadn't and I get that, I do. But we wouldn't be the people we are if we hadn't, though I suspect I still would have fallen for you eventually!"
"Nice save Potter!" Ginny said with a smirk on her face. She quickly reached up and kissed on the cheek. "Come on, everyone will be wondering what is keeping us."
They quickly manoeuvred their way through the crowds to where the entire family was stood. George and Charlie immediately grabbed Ginny's trunk and placed it in the same compartment they had already placed Hermione's. As they did so, Ginny began to make her goodbyes.
As Ginny did this, Harry walked over to Hermione and hugged her.
"I am going to miss you and Ron this year," Hermione said, as tears began to well up in her eyes. "It won't be the same without you two."
"Of course, it won't," Harry chuckled as he pulled away. "There will be more time for you to study and less chance of you getting in trouble for once and risking getting expelled."
Hermione started laughing. "Well, that is true. Perhaps I can have a quiet year at Hogwarts for once. Obviously I need to be by myself for that to happen!"
"It would seem so," Harry said as he pulled her into another hug. "I will see you at the first Hogsmeade weekend, ok?"
Hermione nodded. "And you'll….."
"Yes," Harry interrupted. "I will make sure Ron is there. I doubt he will forget though, but I'll remind him just in case. Have a good year, Mione."
Harry locked eyes with Ron, signalling to him to take Hermione from him, which Ron immediately did. Harry then turned to Ginny, who had just approached him, having said her goodbyes to her family.
"I got you something," Harry spoke before Ginny could do or say anything. He pulled out a parcel from his pocket, but paused before handing it over. "I would say wait until you get to school, but I know you well enough to know you won't. So, just wait till you are on the train until after the Prefects Meeting. Just know I will be waiting for your response."
Ginny looked at him confused, wondering what he meant. She ignored her worries as she took the present from his hand, noting the envelope attached to the parcel. She then grabbed Harry in tight hug, realising the time they had been dreading had come.
"I am going to miss you so much," she whispered, as she tried to force the tears back.
"I'm going to miss you too," Harry responded, pulling her closer. "It is only ten months and we will be in contact the entire time. It won't be like last year."
"I know," Ginny whispered as she pulled him down into a fierce kiss, not caring that her entire family or even the platform was looking on as she said her goodbyes to Harry.
"I love you," Harry said as they finally pulled away, foreheads resting against the other.
"I love you too," Ginny responded. "I'll see you in a few weeks. I will owl you the dates you need to know."
Harry just nodded in response, as she pulled away finally and got on the train.
Two hours later, Harry was back in his bedroom at The Burrow. He was sat on the bed, currently reading through the Auror training manual, in preparation for the official start of his training, despite having started back in June. In all honesty, he was not really reading the words on the page, it was more like he was staring at them as he waited patiently for the call he knew was to come.
Harry felt a sudden warmth next to him. He quickly placed the book down and picked up a hand held mirror from where the warmth was emanating. As he held it in front of his face, Ginny's face swam into view on the mirror.
"Hey Gin," Harry answered. "Do you like your present?"
"I love it, Harry!" Ginny responded excitedly. The package that Harry had given her had been a mirror similar to one Harry was currently holding. As the letter that came with it explained, it was a two way mirror that would allow her and Harry to communicate with each other, while she was away at school.
"I thought you would. I doubt we will be able to use them as regularly as we would like, but I thought it would help ease any loneliness we have while we are separated from each other."
Ginny smiled at him, swiping at the tears that were threatening to fall thanks to Harry's thoughtful present.
"Don't think this will get you out of sending me any letters," she chuckled. "I will need them to help sustain me between calls on this mirror, your next letter and visits to Hogsmeade."
"I never expected anything less. In fact, I will be sending Ignotus later on. It is about time he had a job," Harry said, before looking away from the mirror for a second. "I'm sorry," he said as he turned back. "Your mum is calling me for lunch."
"It's ok. I need to patrol the train anyway. Plus Hermione is throwing me looks for not being social. Her and Luna say hello by the way."
"Say hello to them back for me," Harry said laughing at the comments about his best friend. "Call me after the feast if you are not too tired, ok. I love you."
"I love you too."