Ron and Hermione still had not returned by Harry's Birthday . He spent the day picnicking with Ginny by the creek and had dinner at Burrow. George and Percy came to visit. George was improving, and Harry was glad. But he would still stop in the middle of a sentence and look around as if waiting for Fred to finish it for him, and it was a bit disconcerting.
After dinner they were sitting at the table playing exploding snaps, when George asked "Where are Ron and Hermione anyhow?"
"Oh they sent an owl the other day they found Hermione's parents, everything is all right, but since they are in Australia they thought they would make a holiday of it."
George snorted "Yeah I bet they are making a holiday of it"
Mrs. Weasley turned from the sink looking scandalized "George Fabian Weasley your brother and Hermione are responsible young adults how dare you make a suggestion like that!"
George looked back at her innocently "I don't know what you mean mother! I was just hoping they are having a good holiday!"
Mrs. Weasley turned back to the sink eyeing George suspiciously.
George winked at Harry and said under his breath "Bet things are good down under."
Harry bit his lip so hard to keep from laughing his eyes started to tear up. Mrs. Weasley must have assumed he was upset by what George had said, because she patted him on the shoulder comfortingly as she walked out the door.
By the time Ron and Hermione returned to Grimmauld place it was looking better then it had in years.
"How was your trip?" Ginny asked eagerly.
"When we arrived in Australia after the plane ride…" Hermione began at the mention of the plane Ron turned slightly green and said
"Bloody Plane?! More like a tin can with wings!"
Hermione rolled her eyes and continued anyways "We went straight to the hotel to settle in. The following morning we went to the house my parents where staying in, but when I knocked on the door there was no answer. We waited there for hours but no one came or went from the house. We were tired so we went back to the hotel. We did the same thing for a week and I was starting to get distraught. Finally after ten days of waiting and watching I saw them pull into the drive; it took all the control I had not to go running to them. But I didn't want to scare them so I watched, they looked healthy and happy. The day after they had returned I did go to the door pretending to sell books…"
At this Ron interrupted again with "Well you bloody well have enough of them to sell!!" Hermione ignored him again and continued
"They let me into the house Mum seemed a little off when I said my name; she kept repeating it over and over again as if she was trying to remember where she had heard it before. I knew the memory spell must be wearing off so it would be easier to reverse. I quickly pulled out my wand and reversed the spell. We spent the next few days explaining everything to them; they of course where upset about being sent away. The next weeks we spent sight seeing there are some really interesting wizarding villages in Australia."
They spent the rest of the day talking; Hermione was very excited about the job offer from the ministry and promptly started pouring over the leaflets the ministry had sent. Ron however had explained to Harry that he thought it would be best for him to help George with the shop for awhile before deciding on what else he wanted to do with his life.
Before Harry knew it, it was Ginny's party. She had told him Neville, Luna, Hagrid and other friends from school would be attending along with Andromeda Tonks and little Teddy; Harry was looking forward to seeing them all. When he arrived at the Burrow he found a very irate Ginny, she was swearing under her breath, not the greeting Harry was hoping for he cleared his throat.
"Mornin Gin, glad to see you're having a good day"
"Oh Harry" Ginny said in a very different tone then she had been using. Harry found his arms full of her and she whispered in his ear "Please save me! She is driving me mental!"
Harry assumed she meant Fleur as she had been flitting around Ginny ever chance she got criticizing her
"What did she do now?" Harry asked.
"Ginny you know everyone is wearing 'air with bangs now I can cut it for you, 'arry would love it" Ginny replied in a very good imitation of Fleur "I wanted to scream at her Harry likes me just the way I am and if doesn't he can stuff it."
Harry laughed "Oi, I do like you just the way you are why don't we go for a walk and give you a break, after all you are the birthday girl you should get what you want."
"Ohh?" said Ginny with laughter and a little suggestion in her voice "What is that you think I want?"
Harry swallowed the large lump that suddenly appeared in his throat
"I could tell you but the kitchen doesn't seem like the place." He answered teasingly.
As it turned out that was the last time Harry and Ginny had any time alone for the remainder of the day, Mrs. Tonks arrived moments later and they where given the task of watching over Teddy. He was really cute and kept metamorphmagusing to look like whoever was holding him. As more guests started to arrive Mrs. Tonks took Teddy back and Harry greeted his friends. Most of the surviving members of the DA and the Order of the Phoenix had come. They all had a good time Harry spent most of the evening dancing with Ginny. They were taking a break and were sitting at the table with Luna, Neville, and Hannah Abbott. Ginny and Hannah were discussing the upcoming school year as it turned out Hannah was one of the students that would be attending. Luna was talking Neville in her usual dreamy voice about the trip her and her father would be taking before the start of the term to search for another horn of the Crumpled Horn Snorack,
Harry overheard Luna say "Daddy still isn't sure what happened to the last one. He thinks it may have been stolen during the attack, they are very valuable."
Harry suppressed a grin. He watched as Neville nodded a response, but was surprised that Neville's eyes were watching Hannah's every move as she talked with Ginny. Dean came over and led Luna to the middle of the yard and the makeshift dance floor. Harry followed them with his eyes and noticed Hermione and Ron where dancing closely. Hermione occasionally adjusting Ron's hands as the slipped down her back, he laughed and turned back to the conversation at the table, he noticed that Luna's chair had been filled with none other then a very sulky Lavender Brown.
"Erm.. Hi Lavender how are you?" he asked politely
"Hi Harry" She answered not looking at him but at the dance floor.
Harry did not have to follow her glare to know that it was aimed at Ron. Obliviously she had not gotten over him. Harry caught Ginny's eye and nodded towards Lavender. Ginny winked and engaged Lavender in conversation trying to draw her attention away from Ron.
Mrs. Weasley announced shortly after that it was time for presents. Ginny received the traditional a coming of age present, a watch. Harry had given her a locket with a picture of them enclosed, and George had gotten her a new Nimbus 2000. It was growing late and most of the guests had gone home. Ginny would turn 17 at midnight and she was determined to stay up so she could use magic at exactly that moment. The remaining guest, Luna, Neville, and Hannah where seated at the table watching Ron and Harry play Wizards Chest or rather watching Ron slaughter Harry at Wizards Chest. Midnight struck and Ginny started summoning stuff from here and there. When one of the boots from the yard barely missed Ron's head she decided she was done, or almost, she said "Accio, Harry" laughing as she did. Playing along Harry acted as though he was being pulled towards her.
"Let's go for a walk Harry."
"We're not done playing" Ron said at once.
"Well, we can sit here and you can watch us snog or we can go for a walk its up to you Ron" Ginny retorted. Ron's face turned as red as his hair and everyone laughed as Ginny pulled Harry into the darkness.
The following day Harry accompanied Ginny to Diagon Alley to pick up her school supplies. She had been made head girl and Quidditch Captain. Mrs. Weasley was beside herself with pleasure. Harry was glad to see that Diagon Alley was back to its former grandeur.
"Where should we go first?" Ginny asked.
"Will I was thinking that we should get some owls, so we can write when you go back to school."
"Harry, I can't let you buy me an owl" Ginny replied. "Consider it a late birthday present" Harry said and started pulling her towards Eyelops. They settled on two grey owls naming them Gaeth and Areanna.
"Where next?" Ginny asked looking up and down the crowded street.
"Well let's go get your supplies first then we can spend time visiting George."
Flourish and Blotts was so crowded Ginny and Harry had to fight there way through, holding tight to each others hands. The reason for the crowd was discovered quickly Rita Skeeter was signing copies of her latest book, and unauthorized biography of Harry's life. Harry Potter the Boys who Lies, Harry found it all very amusing, in face Ginny and him had excerpts of it in the Sunday Prophet, and the remainder of that day quoting it to each other, much to that chagrin of Mrs. Weasley who found the whole thing very upsetting. It may had something to fo with the fact that according to Rita Harry and Ginny had had a love child the previous year and that was the reason Ginny never returned to school after the Easter Holiday. Harry had abandoned her after discovering the pregnancy, and went into to hiding with the love his life, a muggle born named Hermione Greynor.
Harry suddenly wished he had brought along his invisibility cloak. Because the moment people caught site of him they started announcing to others
"That's Harry Potter" and all hope of leaving with out Rita noticing was lost.
"Lets get out of here Ginny, we can mail order your books" Harry said hurriedly. They had almost made it out the door then suddenly Rita was in front of them, Quick-Quotes quill in hand.
"Harry my dear boy, do you have time for an interview?"
Harry laughed "What good would that do Rita, after all I would do is lie, and you would just make up what you wanted to say anyhow." While he was talking he moved ever so slightly in front of Ginny hoping Rita had not seen her yet. Ginny knew what he was doing and stepped out from behind Harry, her wand pointing towards Rita.
"Ah. Jenny Weasble, isn't it?" Rita said in her silkiest voice.
"Considering I am in that ridiculous book of yours, I would think you would know my correct name" Ginny replied acidly "Don't you want to know how our love child is? As you were so concerned for his welfare in your book."
Rita looked shocked but quickly recovered "So you admit to having a love child?" Her quill zooming over a piece of parchment.
'You're just giving her more ammunition." Harry whispered to Ginny
"Who cares what she writes, no one believes her anyways. It's bloody B.S."
Ginny grabbed Harry's hand and stomped past Rita, swearing like a sailor. Harry had never been so proud of her.
"You do know we will be that headline of tomorrow's paper?" He said as they entered Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. "Let's see if we can convince George and Ron to have lunch with us."
They found them in George's office, surrounded by piles of paperwork. Ron jumped up enthusiastically and greeted them.
"Wow you guys are busy?" Ginny said
"Well I guess Fred used to handle the paperwork…" Ron said gloomily "Now I am in charge of it"
"Don't act so delighted about it Ron, I could always transfer you to the testing Department" George said sarcastically
"I am the bloody testing Department, I would like to know what you put In my tea. It took Hermione half the night to get my lips to deflate."
"Oh yeah, what did she use?' George asked eagerly "It may help in the development."
"Merlin's saggy Y fronts, George ask her I have no idea."
"Anyway you two toe rags" Ginny interrupted "We came to see if you wanted to get some lunch."
"Sure" George said standing quickly "I just have to go tell Verti."
Harry looked at Ron quizzically "I thought it would take a bit more convincing then that."
"Well Angelina is working at the Leaky, he goes there everyday and watches her. It's a bit creepy actually.
"Are you joining us?"
"No, I promised Hermione I would go have lunch with her, she said she had something to talk to me about. " Ron finished nervously
"Okay, I guess we'll see you later."
They Leaky Cauldron was so busy there were no empty tables. Luckily they saw Luna and Dean in the corner and joined them. Luna was explaining to Dean what a wrakspurt was, and having waiving her hands as if she was trying to shoo away a fly. They had a nice lunch. Ginny and Harry told them all about there run in with Rita Skeeter which of course sent Ginny on another tirade.
Until Luna looked at Ginny her face very serious and said "Ginny you never told me you have a child, you really should watch it closely Daddy says lactolins are attracted to the babies milk and can make it very ill."
Ginny burst out laughing
"Luna, that Rita hag made it all up. Don't you think you would know if I had a child?"
"Oh yeah, I guess so" Luna said dreamily "Just remember lactolins are quiet dangerous."
The day went quickly and it was nearing dinner time when they arrived back at the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley fussed over them.
"Come on now dears, dinner is almost ready, go and get washed up. Ginny put your things in your room, and we'll get it all sorted out later. Oh what nice owls I will just put them in with Hermes"
Harry found Hermione and Ron in the sitting room. Ron was looking rather sulky and Hermione looked harassed. He thought they must have had a row and entered the room cautiously.
"Err... how was your day?" He asked.
Ron ignored him and sat staring at the wall.
Hermione answered politely "Oh it was fine. Did you have fun in Diagon Alley?"
Ron made a noise that sounded remarkable close to harrumph.
Harry glanced over at him. 'Okay what happened?"
"Oh, Ron is a pig headed prat." Hermione said in an expatriated voice.
Harry raised an eyebrow and said "Well I know that! I have been his best mate for seven years!" He saw Ron trying to suppress a grin and continued. "What exactly did he do today to earn the title?"
Neither one answered for several minutes, even after Ginny entered the room and a seat beside Harry.
"Well?" Harry asked again
"I've decided to go back to school, and for some reason Ron is being completely obnoxious about it."
'That's Ron for you' Ginny said.
"Are you all going to bash me all night or do I do get to tell my side of things?"
Ginny looked at him her eyebrow raised so high it was nearly hidden beneath the fringe of her hair.
Ron sputtered for a moment "Well I… I mean… that's not what we decided. We were supposed to stay at Grimmauld place and get jobs… and well... that's what we planned!" He finished lamely
"Ron, I was upset to when Harry told me he wasn't returning to school" Ginny began. Ron and Hermione both looked at her shocked. "But then I realized how completely selfish that was, you should be happy Hermione is doing something that will make her happy."
Ron looked at her grudgingly and said "How is the bloody hell did you get so logical?"
Ginny laughed and got up from the sofa pulling Harry with her. "Come one Harry these two have some things to discuss."
Harry followed her but not before he whispered to Ron"Good luck"
The month went quickly and before Harry knew it he was at platform 9 ¾ saying goodbye to Ginny and Hermione.
"Behave your self" Harry said teasingly to Ginny.
"Oh I wont do anything you wouldn't" Ginny answered
"Thanks that makes me feel loads better" pulling her to him and kissing her forehead, he caught site of several faces pressed to glass of the train. "Looks like we have an audience."
"Then let's give that a show." Said Ginny pulling his face towards hers, Harry immediately forgot that they were standing on a busy platform surrounded by people, it was just him and Ginny. He distantly heard Ron's voice but was not sure what he was saying and he did not break away from Ginny until he felt a hand on his shoulder that did not belong to Ginny.
"What?" Harry said angrily
"Well you two can snog all day so she misses the train for all I care. It's about to leave and Hermione wants to say goodbye." Harry saw Hermione standing behind Ron and she mouthed
"I'm sorry" Over his shoulder. Harry walked towards her.
"Have a good term, write lots." Harry said hugging her
"It will be strange to be there with out you and Ron, stay out of trouble and take care of Ron." She said the last very quietly.
The whistle blew and Hermione and Ginny climbed aboard waiving.
They stood watching the train as it departed hands raised, long after the girls could see them.