A/N: Hello! Here is the next chapter, I've spilt the Australia chapters up, so here is a interlude of Harry and Ginny, with fluff and angst - enjoy! Thank you so much for your reviews, please keep them coming! If your waiting on "Release" I've hit the wall, and update asap!
Enjoy guys.
Love xAx

DISCLAIMER: NOT MINE, IF IT WAS, I WOULDN'T HAVE A CURFEW ON MY NET!
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Harry felt strangely alone. He was surrounded by people and yet he could feel the absence of Ron and Hermione already. They had only been gone for a few hours; he had at least a week of this before they returned. He never realised he had taken their company for granted, after all these years he was simply used to them being around; consulting them in theories or trying to not to get involved with one of their arguments. He figured the time apart from each other would be good; they have gotten to the stage where they could communicate with looks, a factor that worried many, but being separate gave him a fear, he would send himself into a panicked frenzy at realising they weren't there. He appreciated the time alone with Ginny, it would allow him to complete the adventures of the last year to her and maybe have time to actually have some fun.

Laying out in The Burrow's garden enjoying the sun, Harry found himself thinking about his future, something he had never allowed himself to do, it was always to risky to think ahead that far, almost as if he was tempting fate. He had decided weeks ago that he couldn't face going back to Hogwarts; it almost physically hurt to think of the state they had left it in, plus it held to many memories good and bad. Harry also knew it was too soon to start his training with the Aurors; he appreciated the break from all the chasing around and fighting and always swore to himself he would train and partner with Ron, after years of battling Death Eaters together he couldn't see himself being paired with anyone else.

"A sickle for your thoughts?"

The voice from beside him made him start, from a year of being on high alert; he quickly sat up pulling his wand out, feeling slightly embarrassed to realise it was only Ginny. She smiled kindly at him, used to the behaviour now and sat down next to Harry.

"So what were you thinking about?"

"Stuff." He knew he had to elaborate at some point, but he wasn't sure how, he was still used to the company of his best friends who seemed to know when to leave him be, plus he wasn't sure what he was thinking of would please his girlfriend.

"I wonder where Ron and Hermione are now."

"If they're lucky on the plane, according to Hermione's schedule they should have been in the air for about an hour."

They both moved, so they were lying down next to each other, basking in the sun and enjoying each others company.

"It was good of George to give you the day off."

"Yeah, I suppose he thought I would be a bit useless without the company of Ron and Hermione, which I apparently am by the way. Besides he hasn't seen Lee in a while. Did I mention that Angelina turned up as well?"

She turned to face him, as if she didn't believe his words.

"Really? She was almost as much as a mess as Mum and George at the funeral." She paused, repressing the memory she had conjured of that day. "Still I guess its' good for him to have Lee and Angelina."

Harry nodded in response and they resumed their comfortable silence. Harry spent most of the time taking her in; her eyes were closed and she seemed relaxed for the first time in a while. Her hair shined in the sun and as he gently took her hand a slight smile appeared on her face, as he watched her, he was reminded just how beautiful she is. For the first time Harry felt genuinely relaxed, content, and as if he and Ginny were finally a couple again, the happiness he felt took him back to the days they spent together in his sixth year, and he finally allowed a small smile to appear on his face.

"Are you looking forward to going back to school?" she said it with her eyes still closed, a factor Harry was glad of, since he guessed he had a look of shock on his face. He felt like the breath had been taken from his body, it was a simple question, but the way she said it was as if she had automatically presumed he was returning, he was consumed with guilt at telling her he wasn't going back, although he wasn't sure why.

"Harry?" he figured he must have not answered for a while for she was sitting up looking slightly worried at him.

"It was a simple question" she spoke it with a smile although her eyes were watching him closely, "What is it?"

Harry drew in a deep breath, "Gin, I'm not going back to school."

It was her turn not to speak; she looked disbelievingly at him before getting up and walking away. He gave her a few seconds before following her; he caught up quickly, walking a head of her before stopping, anchoring her to the spot by placing his hands on her shoulders.

"So that's it, your not going back, your not even going to discuss or at least pretend to talk about it to me, after everything we have been working out these few weeks?"

"Look Gin, let me explain…"

"No, let me explain. Once again you've gone off making decisions without me, let me guess that either Ron and Hermione or both know about this?"

"Well Ron but" he muttered.

"I don't believe this; you told him before me, is that how it's always going to be?"

"No, we were just talking and the subject came up, he's not going back either, we're going to help George with the shop before…"

"So great you have your whole future planned without me. I just let you plan my life while you leave me in that god forsaken school where you left me last year and I'll deal with my own horrors by myself."

And there was the guilt; he had left her the year before, in no more danger than he was, and now she was probably more terrified about returning than she would ever let on.

"Ginny, I'm sorry. Your right, I was being selfish and wasn't thinking about you or your feelings. Please can we sit down and talk about this?"

She glared at him before dropping on the floor. Harry followed.

"So what would you want me to do?"

"That's not a fair question, and you know it. I have to go back, and would like you with me."

He didn't look at her straight away, he fighting an inward battle of trying to make her happy as well as himself, knowing it was impossible, he finally looked up.

"Gin, I want to be with you everyday but I cant go back there, I know you have no choice and I hate that and its not fair…damn it none of this fair."

"That's life. I learnt that a long time ago." She said it quietly, not quite making eye contact with him, Harry nodded, and the quiet seeped on them again, both trying to figure out their own heads.

"I want you to be happy Harry, you deserve it, I think apart of me wants you to go back to Hogwarts because you will be with me everyday and I can show you off as mine, and you do the same, and I know that's selfish, and I feel like giving in to it because we missed too much last year, because I feel like I have given you everything you wanted or needed and it's my time to have something I want, and then I realise I have that because I have you." She paused for a short time, allowing her words to sink in; she also seemed to be gathering her thoughts.

"But I heard Dad telling Bill that the secret to a good relationship and marriage is being fair, sometimes going without and compromise.

So, If you don't return to school, then I expect to see you every weekend, every holiday and Quidditch match, but I have one condition: that you at least consider going back to school."

Harry nodded, feeling slightly guiltily that Ginny had to give up what she wanted and her happiness for him. He leaned in a kissed her, stopping when both were breathless, and whispered:

"I love you." The biggest smile Harry had ever seen appeared on her face.

"I love you too." They shared another embrace before lying down on the grass once more.

"I wonder how Hermione will act when Ron tells her he's not going back to Hogwarts."