Author's Note: I'm going to start this one off with a note from me right away. Thanks to everyone that pointed out that I had Ginny calling Harry's parents Mr. and Mrs. Weasley in the graveyard….I was tired and should have stopped working. So I edited it, thanks for the heads up though…that's one way to get a review I guess. Someone said in a review that they didn't see Ginny being a knitter….it's funny because I'm not sure I think she is a knitter either. I think as a knitter Mrs. Weasley definitely would have taught her only daughter how to knit when she was young. I'm not sure that Ginny ever took much interest in it even though she could do it well. Currently she is using it as a distraction and as things become easier and she is happier I think she will set it aside again. She needs it right now though so she doesn't dwell on things. The only other thing she can do to keep her mind from the sadness and fear right now is fool around with Harry and I'm trying not to move things too quickly that area. I hope that explains things… this will pop up in this chapter.
The next day found Harry and Ginny venturing into London again. This time they were in search of a yarn shop. As Harry and Ginny sat side by side on the subway Harry voiced what he'd been thinking all morning, "I still can't believe that you knit."
"Why?" Ginny asked, "You see it as something that only prissy old women do?"
"Well, kind of, but it's more that, you're Ginny Weasley," Harry said, "You're an amazing Quidditch player and you have a red hot temper and you have 6 older brothers who can't keep up with you on a broom and you can cast a hex better than almost anyone I know and you're just not very girly….my point is you don't seem like the knitting type."
"I'm not sure if I should be offended about everything you just said or not," Ginny said with a frown.
"Definitely not offended," Harry said, "Those are some of the things I love most about you, they are what make you, you."
Ginny grinned and said, "I don't actually consider myself to be a knitter."
"Well now I'm just confused," Harry replied.
"Mum taught me how to knit when I was five. I had knitting lessons with her like other children have piano lessons. I rather detested them back then but now that I'm older I appreciate knowing how. I will never be one of those people who carries knitting around in their handbag but right now it is helping me," Ginny explained, "If I have something to concentrate on I can more easily forget, at least momentarily, some of what it eating me on the inside."
"I understand," Harry said.
"The only other thing I've come across that distracts me enough right now is fooling around with you," Ginny said huskily, "Which is why I need to stick with the knitting. I already have trouble restraining myself with you."
Harry swallowed before saying, "You know I'm always available to distract you."
"But it's a good thing I have the knitting too, "Ginny said, "Otherwise Ron's likely to blow a gasket."
"True," Harry agreed.
Harry followed Ginny around the yarn shop carrying the skeins she'd selected for different family members. Occasionally she asked Harry's opinion which hue would be best for someone. It was amazing to him as he looked around the shop that so many options would be necessary as far as yarn was concerned.
"Harry, what color should I get for your socks?" Ginny asked holding a skein of a warm shade of red and another skein of a deep green.
"They both look nice," Harry said, "Why did you pick those particular colors?"
"This reminds me of Gryffindor Red and this green is the same color as your eyes," Ginny said as her eyes flashed to his, "You have the most beautiful green eyes."
"Maybe the green then" Harry said softly, "Are you going to make yourself a pair too?"
"Maybe," Ginny mused, "If I don't get tired of knitting by then."
"How about I pick out yarn for your pair," Harry suggested.
"Okay," Ginny said.
As Ginny picked out yarn for the rest of the family Harry scoured the overwhelming selection of yarn and eventually narrowed it down to two that in some way reminded him of her. One was a fiery mix of reds, oranges and golds. It was called sunset and it reminded Harry of Ginny's hair. The other was a wild pastel mix of colors that made Harry think of her flowery scent; appropriately it was called summer garden.
When Harry found Ginny he handed her the two skeins. She considered them briefly before asking, "Why these?"
"This one," Harry said point to the fiery skein, "Is like your hair. This one," he said pointing to the other, "reminds me of how you smell."
"How do I smell?" Ginny asked with a smirk.
"Flowery," Harry said, "Have you ever smelled amortentia?"
"The love potion?" Ginny asked.
"Yes," Harry said, "Professor Slughorn had a big cauldron full of it on my first day of potions, sixth year. He told us that it smells different to each of us based on what attracts us. To me it smelled like treacle tart, broomstick wood and your flowery smell."
"Is that when you realized you wanted to be with me?" Ginny asked.
"No," Harry confessed, "I was a bit thick headed when it came to you. I knew the smell was familiar but I couldn't place it besides it being something I smelled at the Burrow."
"So when did you figure it out?" Ginny asked.
"When Ron and I caught you and Dean making out after Quidditch practice that time," Harry said, "I wanted to rip his head off. I tried to convince myself that it was just because you were Ron's sister and like a sister to me, but it wasn't."
"You think of me like a sister?" Ginny demanded.
"When we were younger I did, but no, not for a long time," Harry said.
"Good, otherwise I'd have to do some very un-sisterly things to you," Ginny said.
Harry's heart skipped a beat thinking of some un-sisterly things she could engage him in. Shaking the thoughts out of his head he said, "Have you got all the yarn you need?"
"Yeah, let's get going," Ginny said heading to the register.
When they arrived back at The Burrow they found Ron and Hermione at the kitchen table with piles of paper surrounding them. "Isn't it a little early for homework, Hermione?" Harry teased.
"This isn't homework, I'm working on arrangements to go to Australia to find my parents," Hermione explained.
"Any idea when you're going?" Ginny asked.
"Ron and I are going to be leaving on Sunday morning too," Hermione said.
"Ron's going too?" Harry asked.
"I'm not about to let her go half way around the planet on her own," Ron huffed. Hermione raised an eyebrow in response to Ron's not 'letting' her go alone but didn't say anything.
"That means I'm going to be the only one home come Sunday," Ginny said miserably.
"George and Percy will still be here," Ron offered.
"No they won't," Hermione said, "Weren't you listening at breakfast this morning. Percy has been doing the book keeping and he's convinced George to start working on reopening. They are going to move into the apartment above the shop and try to reopen for the back to school rush."
Harry put a comforting arm around Ginny and said, "I'll only be gone for a week, maybe even less."
"A whole week with just Mum and Dad," Ginny said, "It'll be like when I was 10 and everyone else was either away at school or off living their own lives. Except worse, I'll be worrying about all three of you."
"You could come with Hermione and me," Ron offered, "We could use the extra help in Australia."
"No, I can't," Ginny said, "I need to be here when Harry gets back or if Kingsley sends word that something horrible…" She trailed off, unable to finish.
"Maybe you can help George and Percy at the shop to fill up some of your time," Hermione suggested.
"Maybe I should contact Kingsley and let him know I can't go on this case. I'll tell him that it's too early and I need more time before starting," Harry said.
"No," Ginny said, "If they are trying to catch death eaters they need you; you have insight that no one else does, you have to go. I will be fine; I just need to pull myself together."
Ginny muttered something at that point and left the room quickly. Realizing that she needed some time to herself Harry pulled out a chair and settled at the table with Ron and Hermione.
"Is it selfish that I want to go be an Auror?" Harry asked, "She is trying to be supportive but I know that it is kind of killing her. I wish I didn't feel so strongly about being out there chasing death eaters, I can't help it, I have to go."
"It's part of who you are," Ron said, "Everything about your life lead you to this career."
Hermione added, "Ginny knows that this is who you are and I think if you decided to back down from doing this it would change who you are for her. Part of why you are irresistible to her is the danger and adventure that you gravitate toward. She hates that you have to put yourself in danger but loves this heroic side of you."
"So how do I make her feel better," Harry asked, "I'm just completely at a loss."
"I don't know that you can," Ron said, 'She is going to worry, no matter what. She will adjust to letting you go out on missions she just needs some time and to see that you'll come home safely."
"The best thing you can do is to come home in one unscathed piece from this first mission," Hermione said.
"No pressure there," Harry snorted. Changing the subject he asked, "How are you getting to Australia? Apparition?"
"Airplane," Ron said nervously, "Apparition is out of the question, Australia is too far."
"What about portkey?" Harry asked.
"I asked Kingsley about arranging a portkey but there is a lot of paperwork involved especially to travel so far; I couldn't go until late August at the earliest," Hermione said, "I might need more time than that to sort things out with my parents. So, we'll travel like muggles."
"Do you know where in Australia your parents are?" Harry asked.
"Sydney," Hermione said, "When I put the charm on them I planted the idea of Sydney specifically in their minds. I had originally considered a small rural town but if anyone was looking for them they might be harder to find in a bigger city."
"Makes sense," Harry agreed.
Hermione and Ron went back to their work. Harry sighed and decided that he best start packing his bag for Sunday morning, tomorrow would be busy with the funerals. Up in the attic he pulled out his school bag. It looked worn and dirty from the past year. He couldn't do anything about it being worn but with his wand he performed a scourgify spell to remove the worst of the filth. Opening the bag he pulled out the invisibility cloak which he hadn't used since the battle and the mokeskin pouch. He emptied the mokeskin pouch onto the bed looking at the items remaining inside it and was amazed at how each had been placed in the pouch as a merely sentimental item, but each had come to play an important role. The Marauder's Map helped him during the battle, the mirror shard had brought them help in the Malfoy's cellar, the snitch had helped him to face death with the resurrection stone and the letter his mother had written to Siruis along with the partial photo had given comfort and a reminder of what he was fighting for. Carefully he set each into bottom corner of Percy's old school trunk. He wouldn't have use of any of them on his mission. He wished he had a picture of himself and Ginny together to put in the pouch and take with him. Setting the pouch aside he started filling the bag with clothing for the next week. He found some parchment, ink and a few quills and tucked those into the bag as well.
"Hey," Ginny said from the doorway, "Sorry I ran off before, I needed a minute."
"That's okay," Harry said, "I know this is hard on you."
"It is, but that doesn't mean that I think you shouldn't go," Ginny said. She approached and sat down across from him on Ron's bed, "I brought you something to take with you." She handed him a photo of the two of them, "Colin gave this and several others to me last year. I think he could tell how much I was missing you."
Harry took the photograph and studied it. It had been taken during his sixth year, just after they'd started dating. The two of them were sitting together at a table in the common room studying. They were facing each other and looking at each other in a way that suggested that they were talking about anything but their studies. Ginny's hand was on the table and as the photograph moved Harry put his hand over hers. They looked happy. "Thanks," Harry said, "Can I see the rest?"
"I thought you might ask," Ginny said as she handed him an envelope.
Harry took out the photos and flipped through them. Mostly they were pictures of himself but there were two others of them together. One was taken at the Quidditch pitch during a practice session. In the picture Harry appeared to be lecturing the team, Ginny stood to his right watching him with a small smile on her face. The second was a picture of them walking hand in hand across the Hogwart's grounds; both looked happy and occasionally Harry leaned to kiss her on the cheek.
Harry wanted all three pictures of them together, not just the one. Deciding to try something he'd seen Hermione do once he pulled out his wand and tapped the Quidditch picture and said, 'Geminio.' An exact copy of the picture appeared on top of the first. He repeated the spell on the other two pictures then handed the originals back to Ginny.
"Where did you learn that," Ginny asked in amazement.
"Hermione," he replied with a smirk.
"Of course," Ginny said.
"Thank you," Harry said, "You read my mind. I was packing for Sunday and wishing I had some picture of us to take with me."
"I had another idea," Ginny said, "Remember the fake galleons from the DA? I know we can't write each other letters while you are gone but we could send each other short messages using fake galleons and the protean charm."
"That's a good idea," Harry agreed, "But with the galleons we are limited to changing the serial number. We'd have to work out a code. Let's see if we can find something that we can use actual words with."
"Let's go look in Dad's shed. He has loads of useless muggle stuff, I bet we could find two of something to try," Ginny said excitedly.
Forty-five minutes later they were still pawing through boxes of rubbish and Harry was giving up hope of finding something suitable. "What about these?" Ginny asked, "I'm not even sure what they are."
Harry took two sets of dog tags on chains and grinned, "These are perfect. They are called dog tags. People in the army wear them as identification. They will work great because there are already letters on them. We can just manipulate what it says."
"Let's test them," Ginny said exuberantly. With her wand she worked the protean charm on her set of dog tags and Harry felt his set grow hot in his hand.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley loves Harry James Potter," Harry read from his dog tag with a smirk.
"It works!" Ginny grinned, "Send me one back." Harry thought for a moment before changing what the dog tag said and casting the charm. "And he loves her too," Ginny read when the dog tags became hot. Ginny threw her arms around his neck and said, "I'm going to have a much easier time with you going if I know I can get and receive some form of messages from you."
"I'm glad," Harry said, "I was starting to have real doubts about going."
"You know I never would have stopped you from going," Ginny said. "I might be obsessively concerned but I wouldn't stand in your way. You were meant to do this."
"You support my decision to do this then?" Harry asked.
"Of course," Ginny said, "I love you and more than anything I want you to be happy."
"All I need to be happy is you, Ginny," Harry said softly.
"Maybe for now, but if you don't have a purpose you will not be fully satisfied," Ginny said wisely, "I would never presume that I'd be enough to make you forget what you see as your purpose in life."
"You're amazing," Harry said, "You know that?"
"I try," Ginny said coyly.
The next half an hour was lost in the shed where Ginny sat atop a work table and Harry stood between her thighs kissing her and letting his hands wander beneath her tank top. For the first time in a long time they weren't interrupted and finally Ginny pushed him away and said, "Maybe we shouldn't push things anymore today. We're bound to be discovered here eventually."
Harry nodded, unable to speak momentarily. When he'd regained himself he said, "I thought I'd bring a book with me, any suggestions?"
Together they went back into the house and Ginny showed him to the large bookcases in the sitting room. Harry browsed the titles looking for something that caught his attention. "Mum has a lot of muggle books up in the attic too," Ginny offered, "If nothing there interested you."
"Why are the muggle books up in the attic?" Harry asked.
"Most of them would probably be considered smutty, they are muggle romance novels," Ginny said.
"And you think I'd be interested in reading muggle romance novels because…." Harry prompted.
"I don't, just offering you some more options," Ginny said with a smirk.
At that moment Molly called Ginny to come help with dinner. She grimaced at Harry and left him to look through the books.
The next morning was busy with everyone at the Burrow getting showered and dressed for the funeral. Once everyone was ready the entire group apparated to the front yard of Andromeda's house. From there they walked to the small church down the road. Most of the family entered the crowded church to find seats. Harry, Ron, George and Percy who had all been students of Remus's, along with Neville and Seamus had been asked to act as pallbearers for Remus so they waited outside. Fellow Aurors would carry Nymphadora's casket. When the signal was given Remus's and then Nymphadora's caskets were carried to the front of the small church. Seats had been reserved at the front of the church for the pallbearers.
As the minister spoke Harry watched his godson in Andromeda's arms and vowed that as Teddy grew he would tell him everything he knew about his parents. He didn't want Teddy to have to go to Hogwart's one day and find out things about his parents the way he had, at random, from other people. He wanted Teddy to know who he was and where he came from. Tonks and Remus had been amazing people and it was unfair that he should grow up without them. Harry also thought about how Remus had been the best defense against the dark arts teacher he'd ever had and how unfair it was that his condition had kept him from teaching. Remus had taught him how to produce a patronus when he was in just his third year a teacher that good shouldn't be taken away from students who could benefit so much from his teaching. Harry thought also about Tonks and what a talented Auror she was. She was so vivacious and full of life and character…. there wouldn't have been a more fun person to have as a mother. It stuck him that he was following in her footsteps in becoming an Auror. Had she survived they might have worked together.
When the minister opened the floor for anyone who'd like to say anything many of Tonk's fellow Aurors told stories about Tonks and praised her talents in their field. When there was an opening Harry stood to talk about Remus. "Remus was one of the best teacher's I had at Hogwarts. He taught me how to produce a patronus when I was just 13 years old. I am sorry that so few students had the benefit of having him as their teacher. I will miss his wisdom and his guidance. Remus was also one of my father's best friends and therefore a powerful influence in my life. May he rest in peace." Harry returned to his seat without saying anything about Tonk's. The things he could think of to say about her would pale in comparison to the glowing accolades her fellow Auror's had to say.
The funeral concluded with a graveside burial like the other two funerals he had recently been too. Remus and Tonks were buried in the little cemetery behind the church, right down the road from her mother's house. Harry watched Baby Teddy and just hoped that someday he would understand how wonderful his parents had been and what it was that they'd given up their lives for. He also hoped that his father, Sirius and Remus were having a happy reunion on the other side of the veil.
After the funeral people gathered at Andromeda's house for food and drinks. Everyone shared more stories about Remus and Tonks'. They would be sorely missed. Harry took this opportunity to spend more time with Teddy. Andromeda was busy being the hostess so Harry gave him his bottle and rocked him to sleep up in his nursery.
"Teddy, your Dad was an amazing guy and someday I'll teach you all the great things he taught me. My Dad and your Dad were best friends and someday I'll have to tell you about all their adventures when they were at Hogwarts. Hogwart's is our school and you'll go there someday too. I loved going to Hogwart's and I'm sure you will too," Harry said. He knew he was rambling and Teddy wasn't even awake to listen to him, but somehow it was making him feel better.
"Harry?" Andromeda said as the came down the hall.
"He's asleep," Harry whispered.
"Do you want me to put him into his crib?" Andromeda asked.
"Let me hold him for just a bit more," Harry said, "I have a mission to go away on and I won't get to see him for a little while. But I want to see him when I get back and lots before I go back to school."
"You are going to be a wonderful godfather, Harry," Andromeda said beaming at him, "It is nice to know that he will have a connection to his father through you. You know you were Remus' favorite student. He talked about you all the time."
"Thank you," Harry said with a lump in this throat, "I just want Teddy to have what I didn't growing up. I want him to know about his parents and have a godfather to be there for him. He deserves that."
"Yes he does," Andromeda said, "I am glad to know that you'll be around to provide that even if something happens to me."
"Are you unwell?" Harry asked in horror.
"No, no," Andromeda assured him, "But things happen."
"Maybe sometime if you need a break I could take Teddy for a day or two," Harry said, "If that would be okay with you."
"That would be wonderful," Andromeda said, "Perhaps after you return from your mission you could take him for a night. I will talk to Molly about it."
"That would be great," Harry said. He stroked the downy turquoise hair on his godson's head and added, "Won't it Teddy?" Harry bid Teddy good-bye and handed him off to Andromeda who placed him in his crib to sleep.
When they returned to the Burrow it was late afternoon. Mrs. Weasley set about getting dinner ready. Harry went up to the attic and as he changed out of his dress robes he realized for the first time since he was eleven years old he was setting out an a different adventure than Ron and Hermione. He always knew the day would come when it was not the three of them but he hadn't realized how bittersweet it would be. He was ready to move forward on his own path but it felt odd not to have Ron and Hermione along for the ride. Tomorrow they would be leaving too, off to Australia with out Harry. It was the end of an era. While he wanted to spend the rest of his evening with Ginny, Harry felt compelled to seek out Ron and Hermione first. He found them in the sitting room packing Hermione's beaded bag.
"Hey," Harry said as he settled himself on the loveseat.
"Hi Harry," Hermione said, "You all packed for tomorrow."
"Yep, I think so," Harry said, "You guys?"
"Yeah," Ron said, "I think we've packed just about everything we own between the two of us."
"One can never be too prepared," Hermione said loftily.
"You guys are my best friends," Harry said. Ron and Hermione looked up from what they were doing and gave Harry a slightly puzzled look. Harry continued, "The three of us have been on every adventure together since we were eleven. Tomorrow I will go to the Ministry to start my career as an Auror and you are going to Australia. It made me a little sad to realize that things are changing and our time as the three amigos is past. We will always be friends but it won't be quite the same. Thank you both for always being there for me."
Hermione snorted in an attempt to mask a sob, "Oh Harry, you are our best friend too. I can't believe you're going to be an Auror…"
Ron rolled his eyes from where he stood behind Hermione and said, "Of course we'll be friends forever."
Hermione flung one arm around Harry and one arm around Ron and pulled them into a hug saying, "Best Friends, forever."
George chose that moment to pop his head into the sitting room from the kitchen and say, "If your love fest is over, dinner is ready."
Blushing the three pulled apart and Hermione wiped her eyes. While they would be friends forever, they were the three amigos, no more.
Thanks for reading!! Please review!