Author's Note: I own nothing. All belongs to J.K. Rowling. I feel blah about this chapter. It was necessary and transitional, but I definitely want to have more action in the coming chapters. Please review! I'll definitely have one or two more out by the end of the weekend.

Chapter Seven

Harry awoke to something tapping him gently on the leg. "Wake up, sleepyhead." Ginny cooed. He fumbled around for his glasses, and when finally putting them on he took in his surroundings. He had been sleeping on one of the couches in his new basement, and Ginny was perching crosslegged on the armrest nearest his feet. She looked adorable in pajamas, her long straight hair in a high ponytail atop her head. Last nights makeup was still smeared underneath her eyes.

The events of the previous evening came rushing back to Harry. He and Ginny had shared a few more dances before walking out to the back alley to apparate back to the Burrow. They had left Ron and Hermione furiously making out on the dancefloor, deciding that attempting to break the couple up and take them home would be useless. Once arriving an acre away from the Burrow, Harry and Ginny had continued their own passionate embrace and ended up tripping over each other in the muddy swamp beyond the yard as they got caught up in their tryst. Laughing, Harry had escorted Ginny to the door but opted not to go inside, as he didn't particularly want to talk to her parents in his tipsy, mud-splattered state. The memories beyond that did not include Ginny returning to Grimmauld Place with him, so he looked at her quizzically.

"Mum was waiting up. She asked where Ron was, and I told her he and Hermione were spending the night with you. She insisted that I come back here, since apparently I was an idiot for assuming that my parents would want me home at a reasonable hour." Ginny snorted. "I don't know what's gotten into her, honestly. I figured that with everything that's happened she'd be more overprotective than usual, but she's actually loosening the reigns."

Harry considered this. "Maybe she figures you should get to have some fun? Or spend as much time as you can with the people you love because we've all learned that you never know how much time you've got." He watched her face turn solemn as she considered this.

"I guess. I don't know. But anyway, she told me to get upstairs and get my pajamas and my toothbrush, and then she flooed me back here. And when I came looking for you, Kreacher told me that you'd pretty much passed out as soon as you walked in the door." She giggled. "So overwhelmed that you couldn't even make it up to your bed…"

"What can I say, you're pretty overwhelming." Harry grinned, "But in a good way," He added when she smacked him on the leg. "So, what's on your agenda for the day? And by the way, whatever did happen to Ron and Hermione?"

"Well, they weren't back when I got here, so I just went upstairs to your room and fell asleep. But a couple hours later I heard some obnoxious laughing and someone stumbling up the stairs. Pretty sure they're still locked in the guest room." She rolled her eyes. "Never would have guessed that those two would be the ones to really let their hair down, huh? And as for my plans for the day, I don't have any. Why, what were you thinking?"

"Well, I promised Professor McGonagall that I'd come help with Hogwarts cleanup. I need to tell her some things anyway. I've been putting that off for too long. Would you like to come?"

"Sure. I should tell Mum what we're doing. But I can floo over there and be right back."

"Okay, that will give me time to clear my head." Harry sat up. "We really didn't have that much to drink last night, did we? I feel so disoriented."

Ginny leaned down and settled herself across from him on the couch, her hands on his knees. "Harry, you have the right to feel disoriented. You've barely taken a moment to just sit and process everything. As fantastic as last night was, are you sure you shouldn't just have some down time? I don't want you to push yourself, and I'm sure Professor McGonagall will understand. Other people CAN get things done without you around, you know." She teased.

"I know, but I'm fine. I've been putting this off long enough. And I have taken time for myself." He ignored her worried expression. "I promise. Now let me go check on the lovebirds upstairs." He rolled his eyes and stood, heading for the stairs.

The first thing Harry heard as he padded towards his bedroom was the sound of Hermione giggling like mad from the guest room next door. He paused in the hallway, wondering if he really wanted to know what they were up to in there. Finally he knocked and yelled, "Oi! Ginny and I are going to Hogwarts today, if you two ever untangle yourselves from each other and want to join us."

Hermione squeaked, something large and heavy tumbled to the floor, and suddenly the door opened. Harry peered around his female friend to see Ron crumpled on the floor, rubbing his elbow. "Hi, Harry!" Hermione said, almost a little too brightly. "Ronald and I are actually planning something…last night was fantastic, by the way..we'll get ready really fast and be out of here soon…you and Ginny have fun!" she slammed the door in his face.

Harry stood in shock. "Whatever," he mumbled to himself, and set about the task of showering and making himself look presentable for his meeting with Professor McGonagall.

Thirty minutes later, Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione were gathered in the kitchen, where Kreacher was force-feeding them juice and toast. "Mum told me to pack some clothes, because Dad said the renovations are taking longer than expected and we might want to spend a few nights at Hogwarts." Ginny pushed a lock of her freshly showered wet hair behind her ear and took a sip of her juice.

"That's a good idea. I'll take some as well. I was thinking…we could try out our new brooms today to get there." Harry suggested, and Ginny beamed.

"That would be fantastic! I bet I'll be a hundred times faster than you now." She joked.

Hermione cleared her throat, pulling Ginny and Harry's attention back to the other end of the table. "So Ron and I have been thinking…"

"Yeah?" Harry asked suspiciously.

"Well, my parents are still in Australia. And I really need to go get them…and Ronald has offered to accompany me…"

"When?" Harry asked. He was suddenly a bit hurt that he hadn't been invited, but honestly until this moment he hadn't even thought about Hermione's parents. How could he have been so inconsiderate? This thought then led him to the Dursleys, another family that had been evacuated from their home…should he seek them out and explain the situation?

"Soon. We're thinking of going and talking to Kingsley today." Hermione gazed patiently at Harry. "This is really tough, Harry. Of course we want you to come with us, but I feel like there is more for you to take care of here at the moment." She looked pointedly at Ginny. "And I really don't want to wait any longer—it will be really difficult reversing the memory charm…"

"Hermione, I understand." Harry said, a little shortly. He couldn't help it. He didn't like the idea of them going on an adventure without him.

"We'll be back really soon, mate." Ron spoke finally. "After all, I need to come back to make sure you keep your paws off my sister."

Harry couldn't help but laugh at that. "I can't make any promises." He reached over and squeezed Ginny's hand. "I guess things are just going to be different now. No big adventures. No more thinking we can conquer the world."

"You say that like it's a bad thing, Harry. Aren't you the one who said you've had enough trouble?" Hermione scolded.

"And besides, mate, when you say there's no more conquering the world? You're forgetting that we already did." Ron grinned at his best friend and lightly punched his arm. Harry returned the smile, and felt Ginny squeeze his hand a little harder. Of course things were going to be different—but his friends were right. Why was that a bad thing?