A/N: Hello and thank you for reading yet another installment of... wait for it...wait for it... 'Live! Laugh! Love!'. Thank you for your answers to my question... we have all come to the same conclusion and it seems I shall have to go with the movie version of the fate of the Elder Wand... Any-who... Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Like I state every time... its still a no-go on the ownership problem I have...

~rAndOM sQuIRrel~

When we last left our beloved characters: "[Harry] sighed and listened silently to Mrs. Weasley begin to plan the party aloud."

~rAndOM sQuIRrel~

(Ok, Harry's POV now, sort of. I'm going to use the POV Rowling used for this part, or at least attempt to...)

Harry slithered down the dark stairs of the Burrow. He coiled himself up on the landing and noticed his underbelly was red and sticky. He reared and looked at his scaly snake reflection in the mirror hanging on the wall, the moon peeking through the window. He uncoiled and slid down to the main floor and entered a bedroom, the door creaking open a bit.

"Harry? Is that you?" Ginny's voice said up from the bed. He made his way up the side of the bed and lunged, biting and biting.

Harry sat up in bed, drenched in a cold sweat. He reached for his glasses and got out of bed, putting on his Weasley jumper. He made his way down the stairs, stopping briefly to check in on Ginny, to see if she was okay.

It was all just a dream, he thought, when he saw her sleeping peacefully.

He sat down at the kitchen table after starting a pot of tea, as the sun peered over the hill. After awhile of sitting at in the quiet room drinking his tea, he summoned his invisibility cloak and disapparated just beyond the property line.

He appeared on the exact same spot, that his mentor had apparated to almost 17 years previously, dropping him off at his aunt and uncles, after Voldemort had murdered his parents.

Harry threw his invisibility cloak over himself and strolled down the street to the place he dreaded returning to every summer. He watched from across the street as Aunt Petunia kissed Uncle Vernon, who was dressed for work, on the front porch step, before she turned to Dudley, who too was dressed in a suit.

"Ready for work Duddy?" she asked giving him a peck on the cheek, then straightening out his tie.

Of course, Dudley is now graduated from school, and probably working for Uncle Vernon at the drill company.

"Yes, mother."

Wait. I did not just hear Dudley speak politely to Aunt Pentunia, and call her 'mother'.

"Right you are my boy!" Uncle Vernon said pompously, "We not only make a big deal today, but you get to fire Jenkins as well!" Dudley gave an expression of faint sadness, which he quickly covered it with a fake smile.

An owl flew overhead, and both Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon glared at it. Dudley looked vaguely hopeful, but it soon disappeared as the owl landed on Ms. Figg's windowsill.

A beeping noise from inside interrupted the silence. Aunt Petunia gasped, "Oh your coffee is ready, Vernon." She went inside, her husband following behind. Dudley sighed and leaned up against the car.

Without thinking Harry quickly crossed the street and stood at the end of the driveway, "Dudley," he whispered.

Dudley looked up, a bewildered look in his eyes, "Dedulas?"

Dedulas? Harry thought. Diggle? Why would Dudley be expecting him?

"Nope," Harry said aloud, "Try again."

A grin spread across Dudley's face, "Harry? Is that you? Where are you? Why can't I see you?"

"I'm invisible."

"Really?" Dudley asked in amazement. "Wicked."

"Right," Harry said quickly. "How's everything going Big D?"

"It's all right, I guess," he said with a sigh. "Mum and dad are glad to be back home."

"That's good," Harry said, uncommitted.

"Yeah, though they weren't too happy about the damages the cannibal guys made but they hired someone to fix 'em."

"What? Cannibal guys?"

"Yeah the… um… oh! The Deaf and Blind Eaters!"

"Oh, you mean Death Eaters."

"Oh… okay? Are you sure?"

"Yep."

"Hmmm… well they didn't exactly think that one through…"

"Yeah, right," Harry said awkwardly, wondering why in the world he had come.

"So you're all right too, Harry? Is everything in your world back to normal?"

"More or less."

"And the wizard that was after you-?"

"He's dead."

Dudley asked nervously, "D-did you kill him?"

"Not really, no. He kinda did himself in, while trying to kill me. Unintentionally, of course."

Harry checked his watch under the cloak. 6:30. Uncle Vernon opened the front door, a travel mug in hand.

"Ready, Dudley?" Uncle Vernon asked, getting in the passengers seat.

Dudley sighed, "Yeah." He went around to the right side of the car and got in. He rolled down his window and let the morning breeze waft in, as he started the car.

"Take care of yourself Big D," was followed by a pop. Harry missed the quiet, "Happy Birthday, Harry."

Harry reappeared on the boundary line and walked up to the large, rather rickety home held up by magic. As he entered the back door he met a pack of worried looking Weasleys, who stood the moment he came in. He threw his cloak on the stand as Mrs. Weasley spoke.

"Oh, Harry, dear! We were wondering were you had gone to. Sit, have some breakfast."

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley, but I'm not really hungry, right now," he said heading up the stairs to his room.

He lay down on his bed. A second later he heard a knock. "Who is it?"

"Ginny," a sweet voice answered.

"Come in." She entered and sat at the end of his bed.

"Where were you this morning?" she asked quietly.

"I went to check on the Dursleys."

"Hermione said you would probably do that soon."

Harry sat up. "Well, I don't know- I guess-."

"You don't have to explain yourself. We were just worried."

"Why should you be?" he said, more viscous than he had intended.

Ginny looked taken back by his statement, "Harry, we care for you. I-."

He took her in his arms, regretting what he had said. "I'm sorry Gin. But the war is over. Voldemort's dead."

"I know, but not all of his followers are-."

"They're in Azkaban though."

"Not all of them."

"I'll be alright," he said pulling her away to look at her.

She smiled, "Okay. Now let's get you out of the house." She pulled him up so he was standing.

"What? Why?"

"It's your birthday, silly. Mum wants you out of the house while she prepares for the party," she said. Harry groaned. "I know. Also, Mum is going to be mad and running about, so I don't want to be anywhere near here."

"Oh so you're using me," Harry asked with a chuckle.

"Exactly," she said, moving closer and kissing him tenderly.

He hummed against her lips as she pulled away, "Hmm… that was nice."

"I'm glad," she smiled. "But now, I must admit I couldn't think of anything to get you, for your birthday."

"I'm quite alright with what you gave me last year," he said with a grin.

"I don't think that's good enough this year, Mr. Potter," she said poking him in the chest, affectionately. "But I just gave you what I gave you last year."

"It wasn't the same. It was… different…"

"Okay Mr. Redundant."

"What?"

"Uh- huh...," she said, then in a low voice of mocking, "It wasn't the same… It was different."

"Well can you argue with that? They were different."

"All right calm down I was just taking the mickey out of you," she said before moving closer. "So what can I get you?"

"Hmm… Well what if we just spend the day together?"

"That might be fun. What do you have in mind?"

"A date. Muggle style, cause I have no idea what wizards do," he said with a grin.

"Okay, sounds good-."

Ron and Hermione came into the room, laughing. Ginny rolled her eyes and put her hand on her hip. Harry smiled, then turned to Ron and Hermione, "So what are you two up to?"

"Hanging out with you the rest of the day," Ron said.

"Oh, I think not," Ginny said. "Harry and I were planning to-"

"I don't want to know!" Ron blurted, covering his ears.

Ginny rolled her eyes, "You didn't let me finish, you tosser." Ron began singing a Weird Sisters song.

"Oh honestly, Ronald," Hermione said, pulling his arms down, "You're being unreasonable."

"What Ginny was going to say was that I'm taking her out on a date," Harry said, coolly.

"Oh, that's wonderful, Harry," Hermione said.

"I thought I was taking you," Ginny said.

"No, spoiling you would be the best birthday present you could give me," Harry said, sweetly, leaning down to kiss her. Ron made a noise of disgust, which earned him an elbow in the ribs.

When they finished a second later, Hermione said, "Ginny I thought you-" Ginny lglared at Hermione fiercely and gave her a look, which neither of the boys could distinguish. Hermione apparently took the hint and her expression changed to that of innocence.

"So what are you two going to do?" Ginny asked casually.

"We already told you," Ron said. "Hanging out with you, so we can escape Mum."

"You don't have to actually come," Ginny said. "All you have to do is tell her you're with us and go off someplace."

"Actually, Ginny. We could all go out and spend a day as friends," Harry suggested. "I haven't really been a good friend as of late, and I want to mend that. Think of it as my gift to you guys."

Hermione looked at Ginny for her response. She sighed before saying, "I guess, but first," she turned to Harry, "You have to change."

Harry looked down, realizing he was in a jumper and pajama pants. "What you don't like night wear?" he asked with innocence, before grinning at her.

Ginny smiled back, "Well…you do look quite handsome..." Ron gave a cough. "But no, not for waltzing around town," she said. Harry rolled his eyes. She put a hand on his chest and pushed him back lightly, "Go get ready."

"Oh, alright," Harry said dramatically, "If you insist."

"Oh, I do," Ginny said over her shoulder, exiting the room.

Harry quickly showered and dressed, before finding his three favorite people on the landing outside his door. "We ready?" he asked.

"Not quite," Ginny said.

"Okay…" Harry said suspiciously.

"We have to blindfold you," Hermione said, with a look of apology.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Mum, doesn't want you to see until tonight," Ron explained.

"Oh. Alright," Harry said with a shrug. Hermione used the same spell she had used previously that year on the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black. Ginny carefully guided him down the stairs and outside, removing the blindfold once they were a good distance away.

"Okay, birthday boy. What do you want to do?"

"A movie sounds good," he said. "I've always wanted to go…"

Hermione spoke, "Okay I know of a good place." They grabbed hands and let Hermione lead them to their destination.

"Hermione?" Harry said once they reappeared on the busy and familiar looking street. "Are we…?"

"Yes," she answered.

"It's different each time, isn't it?" Ron said. She nodded. "Mione? Why are we here?"

"Don't you remember me telling you about coming to the theater here with Mum and Dad?"

Ron gave a little nod, "I vaguely recall, yes."

"Well if you guys are finished reminiscing-," Ginny started, but was soon distracted.

"Hello," an airy voice called. Everyone turned to see Luna Lovegood wave and skip over to them. Her lavender dress fluttered behind her, and large eyeball looking earrings bounced with her. She wore lime green leggings and a headpiece that appeared to have plush purple tentacles on it.

"Luna," Hermione said. "How nice to see you. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I was wandering around Diagon Alley and was enjoying a quiet meal in the Leaky Cauldron," the four friends looked skeptically at each other, "when I decided I'd go for a walk in London. You know, view the world as a muggle."

"Right, I mean who wouldn't?" Ron said sarcastically, Hermione elbowing him in the ribs.

"My thoughts exactly," she said dreamily. The five of them entered an awkward silence, that only four noticed as Luna began humming "Weasley is Our King" looking around at her surroundings. Harry and Hermione looked at each other, communicating without words.

"Luna," Hermione said, "We were just going to a muggle movie, would you like to join us?" Ron's eyes widened and gave Hermione a bewildered look. She returned a warning look, before smiling sweetly at Luna.

"Oh, how fascinating," she said. Ron began coughing loudly and pointedly, earning a glare from Ginny. "I would, but Ron is indicating that he wishes that I don't accompany you, by coughing rudely." Ginny snorted and Ron cleared his throat and looked innocently around.

"Oh, no," Hermione said, "He's simply getting over a cold."

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. Colds this time of year, though not common, can be terrible…," She said, looking at Ron.

He broke her gaze and cleared his throat, looking at his feet. "Right, thanks, Luna," he said apologetically.

"Yeah," said Ginny. "So should we go?"

"Sounds great," Harry said, putting an arm around her waist.

"That sounds lovely," Luna said. She began skipping away, down the street.

"Um, Luna," Hermione called.

Luna stopped and turned around, "Yes?"

"The theater is this way."

"Oh," she said, skipping past them and leading the way. Harry shrugged and followed after, Ginny by his side.

~rAndOM sQuIRrel~

A/N: So? What choo fink? Did you like or hate it? Do you think its the most fantabulous FanFiction you've ever read? PLEASE TELL ME! Pretty please? In the next chapter we see if mother makes up for throwing away ALL of my WWW notes... before I could copy them into a proper notebook... and trust me... there were A LOT of goodies on those Sticky Notes... sigh... oh well... my cohort spent hours brainstorming and all that's left are a few questionable ones on my iPod... I know... It sucks...

A/A/N: Sorry about the wait! I thought I had already posted this chapter, so I've been working on Ch. 30... The good news is that its almost finished...