Walking out of the shop Harry asked Ginny, "Did you get everything? I promised your dad, you'd have everything you needed and some."

"Of course I have everything Harry. I even have more than I need. Plus if I need more I can get things at Hogsmeade. Our first trip is the Saturday before Halloween. Are you going to come?"

"To the first Hogsmeade trip yes, the second I have some business to attend to elsewhere."

"Really, where?"

"Well if I told you it would ruin the surprise, now wouldn't it? But I shouldn't be gone all day. I may be able to go to Hogsmeade afterwards. And my travel time will not be long I'll Apparate. There and back."

"I can't wait until I pass that test, then I could go with you. I hope I don't fail it though."

"You'll pass, I thought I wouldn't but I did, I mean I had to pass, after traveling all last year."

Once back to number twelve Grimmauld Place Ginny went to her room and put her things back into her trunk. Making sure she had everything ready. Then she and Hermione went to decorating the house immediately. Leaving Harry and Ron in the kitchen trying to make lunch. "I never knew how hard my mum had to work just to make us food. I don't like this." said Ron while dodging the flying knife.

"Well at least now we can use magic Ron, before we couldn't. And it's not that hard."

"Not for you, the Dursley's made you cook practically every night."

"But I couldn't use magic then Ron. And I served them, I didn't cook much. That would mean Aunt Petunia would have to let me in the kitchen."

"They sound like a bunch of gits. I'm glad you have here to stay. Otherwise I'd think I'd be sending you to hell every summer."

"It really wasn't that bad Ron. After I told them I'd use magic on then, all the making me do stuff, came to a stop. Which was fun. Until they learned I couldn't use magic at home."

"Hermione! Ginny! Lunch!" yelled the hungry Ron up the hall of the house.

"Coming!" they both said in unison. As their footsteps grew louder and louder, from their hurried hops down the stairs. "Where are Lupin, Tonks and Teddy? Did they get back from last night?" an extremely worried expression weld over Ginny's smile.

"They sent an owl, saying they were spending the night at Mrs. Tonks house. Their quite alright. Please sit and eat, before Ron cries."

"I won't cry Harry."

"Really, but you will complain that you hate cooking? It's really not that hard Ron."

"You know for someone who has two house-elves, you don't use them enough." After saying this Hermione's face turned cold. "Don't look at me like that Hermione, you know darn well what I meant."

"Okay, please no arguing at the lunch table. You two can slice each other's throats later. Eat." Harry was looking a little irritated, and he didn't want another S.P.E.W. argument.

Everyone sat down and pilled food onto their plates. "This is really good Harry and Ron. How long did it take to make?" asked Hermione.

"'Ow sholdth I kows? 'Arry ooked."

"Ron you should really learn to talk without food in your mouth." snapped Hermione.

Laughing, Harry replayed, "It didn't take long. I used my Aunt's recipe, but instead of taking normal muggle time, I used magic to speed things up a bit."

"See Ginny you picked well, he can cook." Both Ginny and Hermione laughing at this. Harry just merely laughed and shrugged it off. It was true he could cook and quite well. He didn't even mind cooking.

"Harry are you going to cook dinner also?" asked Ginny feverishly, her face turning as bright as her red hair.

"If you wish me to, sure why not. What would you like?"

"I don't know. But if it's this good, I could care less what you make."

"I'll figure something out. How are the decorations coming along? Oh and what time is everyone coming over?"

"All the decorations are up, and they should start arriving at midday." Hearing a knock on the door Hermione asked; "Who's that at the door?"

"I'm unsure, I'll go check."

Harry got up from the table and strode over toward the door, opening it he was shocked to see who it was. "Hello Potter, may I come in?"

"Oh, but of course Severus, do come in. Are you to be staying?" completely shocked that it was Snape at his door step.

Whispering this to Harry, so no one else could hear. "Yes I would like to stay. But I need to ask you a favour. May I stay here for the summer? My house has been taken away."

"Of course you can stay the summer Severus, we have the room. If you'll fallow me I'll show you to your room. And if your hungry lunch is still on the table." Returning his own statement in a whisper, and ushering Severus to a room on the first floor. "Here we are, it's a tad small, and the lamp over on the desk works quite well. There is parchment, ink and quills in the desk drawers. If you need to send a letter there are two owls in this house. Kreacher will turn down the fire, if it is on at night, he will also close the curtains. The closet next to you, has room for your luggage. There's a clock on the mantel piece, and a night stand for your wand. The doors automatically lock at midnight that is if you're in here at that time. And I think that should be all. The loo is down the hall. I'll let you get settled in then."

"Thank you Harry. I don't know how I can repay you?"

"Please don't speak a word of repaying me, you will not need to. Lunch is in the kitchen, please do join us."

"But there must be something? And I think I have that something." Handing Harry a small package. "Here, open it."

"Severus my birthday's tomorrow I'll open it then."

"No you will not! You'll open it now." He hurriedly added, "Please."

"Alright I'll open it." Slowly Harry pulled off the brown paper that was covering a small box. Harry opened the old box, that looked as if it was stored in the Black Lake to find a very old looking key. "Where does this key go to Severus?"

"To your rightful home in Godric's Hallow. Only the rightful owner can get inside it. So there's your key. Lily would've wanted you to have it." Severus saying this while looking solemn, he very rarely said her name; at least when Harry was around. In fact Harry had never heard Snape say his mothers name.

"Thank you Severus. Thank you a great deal. I should get back to the kitchen, make yourself at home."

He left Snape in the small dimly lit room, and walked back down the hall to the kitchen. Still looking at the key in his hand. When he returned everyone was talking about who they thought it was at the door.

"Harry who was it? And where have you been, I was getting worried with everything that's happened I thought the worse." said Ginny looking flustered in the face.

"Severus. I've been helping him settle in. He's staying for the summer." Seeing Ron's look on his face Harry continued. "Ron, my mother would've wanted me to let him stay."

"But he's a git Harry."

"That might be true Ron, but I can't kick him out. He has no place to go."

"What do you mean he has no place to go?"

"That's his business, but he's staying and that's final." Making his way back to his seat to finish eating.

"Fine Harry, I get it I really do, no more questions. Except is he going to be at the party?"

"No Ron he's staying here and I'm going to tell him he can't come. Yes he's welcome to come to the party, if he wishes to."

"Well Harry I think that that is very nice of you to let him stay. And you've got my full support. Did he get you a gift?" said Ginny.

"Ya he did, a nice one too."

"Well what was it he got you?"

"He got me my house key. I know what you're thinking Ron, the key to my rightful house in Godric's Hallow."

"You mean you've got the key to your parents' house? Are you going to go?" asked Ginny.

"Ya I'll go, I don't know when but I'll make my way there again. This time I get to go inside though. I can actually see where it happened. And I'm free to take effects out."

"Go the second Hogsmeade weekend Harry. I kinda sensed you were going to go there anyway."

"I think I might just do that. How'd you know?"

"The way you spoke about it, they way you didn't look at me in the face when you said it. I figured it was something like that. So I didn't ask any more questions."

"So you knew? All along. And you didn't say a thing?"

"Well I thought it was your business and if you wanted to tell me you would when ready. Please don't be mad Harry."

"I could never be mad at you. Remember that."