Hello you rascals! Sorry for anybody who's keeping with this for how long it took to get this chapter up. If I can brag for a moment: the first few chapters were written in Valencia and I've had very little time to write since the past week or so I've been finishing up in Valencia, heading home and all the palaver that sits around that.

For my American readers: 'So the actress said to the Bishop' is where the phrase 'that's what she said' originated from. Most English people who have seen 'The Office' should be aware of it but I know that the US Office changed it to the more Americanised version.

Anyway, apologies again. Now go on you little buggers, enjoy this extra long chapter I put together for you.

3.

Celebrations
Secondi

Ron leaping off his bed and thundering to the bathroom flung Harry out of his reverie. The grumblings and assorted noises coming down from the bathroom forced him out of bed. He never could lie back when Ron was in the bathroom. That boy was far too loud sometimes. It was why Harry had developed the habit of getting up before him. Shrugging a t-shirt on he smiled to himself. Living at the Dursleys had taught him some useful things. Pragmatism being one.

Ginny was already sat at the kitchen table by the time he arrived. Her eyes were sparkling and she was finding it impossible to sit still.

'Happy Birthday'' Harry said calmly as he walked round to her.

'Hello Harry!' She jumped up and gave him a kiss. 'Pancakes?'

'Only always.' He replied, sitting down. Ginny leant over him to grab his plate.

'You always just summon it you know Gin'' She looked at him for a moment, slightly baffled. Realisation dawned. This wasn't just any birthday. She pelted from the room and up the stairs.

The newspaper that had been hiding someone in the corner dropped down.

'You don't know what you've unleashed Harry.'

'I only feel sorry for her brothers Mr. Weasley.' Mr. Weasley smiled before lifting his tea to his lips and sipping at it. Harry busied himself getting his own pancakes.

'So, when are you and Ginny leaving us?'

Harry nearly dropped his plate. Mr. Weasley let the question fall from his lips with such distracted ease. In truth Harry had been fidgeting about it for weeks. He and Ginny had barely spoken about it though.

'We.. erm.. pardon? We're not?'

'Don't pretend Harry, you don't do either of us any favours.' Mr. Weasley advised.

'How did you know?'

'It's my prerogative to know everything that goes on under this roof.' He smiled knowingly. Harry flushed. His embarrassment only deepened when Mr. Weasley winked at him. Harry sat down and quietly ate his pancakes.

The rest of the day passed without any major revelations. Once they were all showered, breakfasted and properly dressed Ginny insisted that Harry, Ron and Hermione come with her to Diagon Alley. Upon their return, the trip been blessedly devoid of paparazzi the brooms came out and a rough quidditch game took place. Girls versus boys. Whilst Hermione was a poor keeper, she only had one ring to protect in the Meadow. Combined with Ginny's predominance over Harry when it came to chasing led to a close game. Only Ron's tactical ability from keeper kept the boys 20 points ahead when Bill appeared to call them down for dinner.

At his voice Ginny hurtled towards him on her broom. Just as she was about to collide with him she leapt off with easy elegance and hugged him. Bill just stood there, stock still. Terrified.

'When the hell did you learn to do that, sis?'

'Oh you know,' she smiled, 'you pick these things up.'

The five of them chatted amiably as they wandered down from the meadow to where Molly Weasley had set out the tressle tables, like the old times. They groaned with food and gold and red balloons covered the back of the house.

The party was as close to normal the Weasley family had seemed for the months marked by the deaths of Fred and all those close to them. Even George, barely a spectre for the past few months cracked a few dry jokes. Things brightened up further when Ginny dragged George up onto the tables for a mock duel. After a couple of moments egging on George started flinging rubber ducks at Ginny and transformed her Bat Bogeys into incredible swans which exploded like fireworks in the evening air.

Finally it came to presents. As always the Weasleys were never short when it came to presents. Even when money was lacking, gifts were not. Ginny received the normal make-up, spell books, quidditch supplies. This year though she was given a watch to mark her 17th year. Not only this but Ron and Hermione bought her a present together, which raised a few eyebrows and made the couple blush even as they shuffled closer to each other and linked fingers. Finally the last present was opened. Ginny look at Harry.

'...And no present from a Mr. Potter, it seems' she announced to the party. She was greeted by a number of pantomime boos, jeers and hisses. Harry grinned and climbed up onto the table.

'Better make this good Potter!' Shouted Charlie. Harry held his hands up in apology and a request for quiet. Eventually the Weasleys, slightly encouraged by Butterbeer and Firewhiskey settled down.

'Let's make this clear,' Harry started, 'This isn't a marriage proposal'

'Thank Merlin's soggy left teat for that!'

'Ronald!' scolded Molly and Hermione at the same time, prompting another round of jeering and teasing.

'I did however want to share one part of her present with all of you. The other part she will receive later'

'So the actress said to the Bishop!' Bill stage-whispered. Harry had the good grace to blush. He carried on bravely though.

'As you all know, when I turned 17 I came into full possession of my inheritance. You can all imagine how much the Potter fortune has increased during 16 years of inactivity. What you won't be aware is that you're all trustees of the fund based off that interest and will each draw a healthy wage from the money it makes.'

'Harry Potter..' Began Molly Weasley as the others sat there, jaws dropped. Harry held up his hand.

'You are all my family. I know you would not accept the money. It will get paid monthly into the relevant bank accounts and you can touch it if you wish.'

Suddenly the boys broke into wild cheers and applause for Harry. The rest soon joined in. Harry shared a glance with Ginny who was glaring at him with pride and affection. He winked and raised his hand again for quiet.

'But today is about Ginny. My parents didn't just leave me money. They left me everything. So, earlier today I popped into Gringotts, as you who were with me will remember. Whilst there I organised all these accounts and paid for the damage we caused a few months ago. As it was, the real reason was to pick up this.' He pulled from his pocket a small box. It was long, quite thin, made of red leather. The edges were slightly worn. It wasn't new. 'Ginny, I'm quite confident you'll be in my life, for better or worse, for some time. I wanted you to have this. From what I can gather it's a Potter heirloom that my father gave my mother early on in their friendship before they began dating.'

The banterous chatter that burbled away whilst Harry spoke died away as he crouched down and passed the box to Ginny. She glanced at him nervously. Fleur, Hermione and Molly all gathered close around her. The boys glanced nervously at Harry. Arthur Weasley smiled benignly. He was aware exactly what was going on.

Ginny opened the box and let out a little gasp of shock. The necklace chain was of fine, intricate weave. Each link formed as a tiny vine branch. The pendant at the bottom was small, teardrop shaped. In a diamond-shaped setting sat a small but flawless ruby sparkling in the final, fading rays of sunlight. All of them could detect the slight reverberations marking it as an enchanted object.

'Clearly it's enchanted.' Percy stated. They all glanced at Harry he nodded and said nothing else. None of them pressed him.

'Harry, well, erm, I don't know what to say.' Ginny felt like she was 11 years old again and running into Harry for the first time in their kitchen.

'Why don't you put it on.'

'Yes, oh, of course. Hermione...' Hermione jumped out her semi-dazed reverie and helped Ginny put the necklace on. As soon as the tiny clasp, highlighted in gold, shut and incredibly tiny, very subtle change came across Ginny.

'It looks wonderful Ginny. Harry this is beautiful!' Molly exclaimed in her Molly Weasley way.

'What do you think, Gin'?' Harry asked.

'I feel... safe.'

'We Potters always were a protective bunch.'

And so it was that the rest of the evening passed in peaceful harmony. More Firewhiskey was poured. A game of Nightime Quidditch was played; The whole lot of them chipping in so they could buy her a Firebolt: no new models having been brought out due to the war. When Ginny came to go to bed and lay down on her soft, goose-down pillows she reflected that she had never really felt so secure in her whole life.