A/N: Vacations and birthdays, it turns out it's not so easy to write chapters dedicated to mostly romantic fluff. I understand why JKR didn't write romantic scenes and instead developed her character's relationships through characterization.

I struggled with writing this. Hopefully, you all enjoy it!

Bill and Fleur left for France the day before Harry's birthday, thanks to international flu preparations. Harry and Ginny found Shell Cottage as peaceful as ever.

Harry surveyed the sky thoughtfully. "I reckon this is the first vacation I've ever taken, other than holidays and summer, I mean."

"It doesn't count if it's a given," Ginny said, leaning her head on his shoulder. "You've never taken time off for yourself."

I've had days here and there." He reasoned.

"But never more than that and never in a row," Ginny said, squeezing her hand in Harry's. "You amaze me every day, you know."

"That goes for you too, you know," Harry said softly.

Ginny sighed as the sky flooded with sunlight. "Have you ever thought about being evil?"

"What do you mean?" He asked, perplexed.

Ginny sat down on the beach, taking Harry with her. "It would be so much easier to be a terrible person." Ginny quietly started saying as she dug her fingers around in the sand, "That's why you amaze me, you have every reason to be as bad as Voldemort, but you are the exact opposite."

"I might have been if I never left Privet Drive; I was so alone… When you feel alone, you stop caring, and it's easy to spiral like that." Harry admitted quietly.

"You are not alone anymore," Ginny said softly.

Harry scanned the sky thoughtfully. "This place is in a bubble from the rest of the world, so peaceful."

"Let's go for a swim?"

"I'm a lousy swimmer.

"You swam in the Black Lake in your fourth year."

"The gillyweed gave me like animal instinct or something," Harry recalled slowly. "The only other times I've tried to swim haven't gone well." He sighed.

"Harry, are you afraid of the water?" Ginny asked gently.

"I nearly drowned a few times over the years, so I'm not fond of it." He admitted quietly.

"Well earned, but trust me," Ginny said reassuringly.

"What if the water is cold?"

"I doubt it. The heat won't stop this summer."

"Right."

Harry trailed behind Ginny, watching as she stopped at the shoreline, taking off her shirt and shorts. When she kept going, he looked surprised.

"Wait, no clothes?"

Ginny shrugged with a smile. "Skinny dipping is one of those couple things I've always thought would be fun! Besides, what's the point of creating extra work later." She continued taking off her clothes and stuffed them in her bag. Harry followed suit.

"You seem to absorb the sun when you're not wearing anything." He said, turning back to her with captivation.

"Come on you." Ginny urged, shaking her head in amusement as she walked into the ocean waters.

Harry caught up to Ginny, awkwardly wading through the water as he did. "It's warm, at least."

"Your hair stays the same even when it's wet." Ginny mused affectionately.

"Gin, what if we accidentally— "

"Harry, you are very tall, and I'm quite short. We can't happen into our first time just by being glued to each other." Ginny proved that point by pulling Harry against her body, floating in the water with him. "I just wanted to make a point. We're not shagging for the first time in the middle of the ocean."

"Good because I'm barely cut out to swim in the ocean, let alone have sex in it," Harry said dryly.

"I had something way more childish in mind," Ginny said as she backed up in the water.

Harry wondered what she might have been talking about when he felt water being abruptly splashed on his face.

"Oi, get back here!" he called abruptly.

Ginny was laughing as she put a short distance between them. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself."

"I'm going to get you for that." He called impatiently.

Harry swam awkwardly in the water and did not have a perfect sense of how to propel himself, so she decided to stop moving and wait for him to catch up with her.

"I'm not going anywhere," Ginny called back casually.

Ginny was surprised when Harry was dunking her head underwater upon catching up with her. She popped up quickly and returned the favour before she felt Harry embrace her from behind.

"You're all mine." Harry declared triumphantly.

Ginny turned in his arms, wrapping hers around his neck, and smiled. "I think you know by now I have always been yours, Harry."

They kissed while floating slowly in the water, an intimate and leisurely lip-lock while their hands stayed in each other's hair. Harry was now reminded how hot it was this summer because his hair was nearly dry despite spending time underwater. Ginny's hair was the opposite because of the length. Harry was the first to break the kiss, getting completely distracted with Ginny's hair.

"I did not consider myself lucky until you, I had no business getting you, and somehow I did."

Ginny whispered emotionally. "You overthink Harry. I love you, I have always loved you, and you're going to remember your birthday tomorrow."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes, but for now, let's stretch our animal legs."

"Sounds good to me."

They swam side by side back to shore, and Ginny noticed that Harry was copying her movement in the water.

"You never had swimming lessons, huh, Harry?"

He laughed. "I hardly had anything growing up, and I had to learn what little things I could figure out on my own. My introduction to swimming was getting thrown in the school pool by Dudley and his gang."

"What?" Ginny said, outraged.

"As I said, I have nearly drowned a lot over the years, but magic always saved me just when I thought I could not breathe anymore and I would flail to the surface. I've never quite gotten the hang of actually swimming."

Ginny frowned. "How casually you talk about your awful childhood has always worried me, Harry."

"What childhood?" Harry laughed sadly. "That was dead even before my parents were, honestly. They were forced into hiding."

Now both out of the water, Ginny melted her head into Harry's chest. "I know. I'm sorry, Harry."

Harry shrugged. "Thanks, let's go for that run on four legs."

Ginny knew it would take Harry's mind off things and hers too. She was genuinely starting to realize how often these attempts at regular conversation with Harry led to her finding out how severely lacking and unfair his childhood was.

"Sure."

Together they got dressed again, making sure to charm their clothes to transfigure with them, and sent their bags inside the cottage. It was easy to send things where they wanted them to go nonverbally. Transforming felt more natural this time, though it wasn't without pain. It was more satisfying to run on four legs. Harry felt on par with his old nimbus at his fastest, though Ginny was more rapid than him and made it back to the cottage before he did.

"When did we start racing?" Harry asked, taken aback.

Ginny was sitting on the front steps with a bright grin. "I just felt like running back to the cottage." She shrugged.

"Something is freeing about it." Harry agreed. "Why do you suppose our animal self is a wolf?" He asked curiously.

"Wolves have a lot of traits that match us. I think people don't necessarily become what is obvious." Ginny reasoned.

"I wonder how Hermione feels about turning into a magical cat, considering she turned into a regular one in our second year." Harry chuckled.

"I heard about that, even with everything I was going through that year. Ginny chuckled too.

"Pollyjuice, poor Hermione has dealt with a lot of magical mishaps." Harry sighed sympathetically.

"So have you. The boneless arm, the rogue bludger, the time you accidentally almost killed Malfoy—not that I would have been all that broken up if you had." Ginny added unapologetically. "I'm sure I forget a lot."

"I blocked most of them out, to be honest. Want to get settled inside? I'll cook dinner." Harry offered his hand to Ginny as he stood up again.

"It's the day before your birthday, and you think I'll let you cook for me," Ginny said softly, taking his hand. She shook her head. "I've already got food covered for a while."

"I shouldn't be surprised." Harry chuckled.

"Time to step inside, handsome," Ginny said teasingly.

"How much did you plan without me knowing?" Harry asked curiously.

Ginny grinned. "Well, Luna, Hermione, Mum, and Fleur all helped. Mum was a bit bummed that I wanted you all to myself on your birthday this year, but she understood. I think she will have a belated birthday party when Bill and Fleur get back from France, though."

"Nobody has to make a big deal of my birthday." Harry insisted, blushing.

"Well, Mum is Mum, and I wanted to show you a side of life you've never experienced."

"What's that?"

"Domestic bliss."

Ginny led Harry inside and parked him at the kitchen table while she began moving about the kitchen with her wand, having summoned it nonverbally.

"I can help— "

Ginny turned. "Stay put you. I'm quite sure you've slaved in the kitchen enough over the years!" She said sternly.

"You don't have to— "

"Harry, I want to. Let me be a housewife." She implored with a loving smile.

"I'm not used to doing nothing," Harry admitted quietly.

"That's the point of the next two weeks. It'll be good practice." Ginny encouraged softly.

"Practicing domestic bliss. Harry said with a long smile.

"Exactly." Ginny nodded as she continued preparing food.

As it turned out, the meal was a typical roast with carrots and potatoes, and it looked great.

"You have a lot planned for my birthday tomorrow, don't you?"

"Not as much as you might think, but I do have something I have been working on for a while," Ginny assured with a smile as they started to eat.

Harry watched her for any sort of tell, but he saw nothing. "I still can't figure out what that is, but I can tell you are very proud of it."

"You will always remember it, I promise. That's my goal with your whole birthday this year." Ginny said affectionately.

"Why?" He asked dismissively.

"You always think you're not worth it, and I know it will take more than house sitting for two weeks, but I'm determined to change that."

"You have me all figured out."

"Glad you caught on, Harry." She said, smiling at him.

"So, you helped your Mum cook this then? It's great!"

"She helped me." Ginny corrected proudly. "I'm glad you like it."

"I'll be cooking at some points over the next two weeks, though." Harry insisted.

"That's fine, but your birthday is my responsibility." Ginny reminded him.

"It makes sense that you are quidditch captain. You love to take charge." Harry grinned.

She shook her head. "You'll help build the team; I'm not doing it myself. I will lose patience with most of the people who try out."

"I'm already on it?" Harry asked, surprised.

"Yeah, any other seekers are playing behind you. You are the best," Ginny told him rhetorically.

"I think you are biased, Gin." Harry chuckled.

"I think you sell yourself short." She countered, smirking at him.

They finished eating discussing various everyday topics. Harry told Ginny about muggle summers. His miserable summers before and after finding out about magic. Ginny again felt awful. Harry was interested in hearing about Weasley's vacations to the beach over their childhood. She also recounted some parts of the trip to Egypt Harry had not heard, including when Fred and George shoved Ron into quicksand.

"I can't believe they did that. Ron never said anything!" Harry said with incredulous laughter.

"Of course not. Ron always hated the twins picking on him, but it's a well-earned fear since he was three, and they transfigured his Teddy into a spider," Ginny said sympathetically. "Don't get up." She added quickly.

Ginny flicked her wand, and their dirty dishes went into the sink and cleaned themselves.

"You don't want me lifting a finger." Harry shrugged.

Ginny nodded, smiling at him. "Not for the next day or two. Now is there anything you want?"

"Honestly, I want to go to bed," Harry admitted sheepishly.

"Making it an early night sounds good to me," Harry sheepishly admitted.

Ginny grinned, clearly approving of the idea. "Let's get settled in an upstairs guest room."

It was surreal to Harry that the last time he had slept in a bed at Shell Cottage was having just escaped death at Malfoy Manor. Back then, he wasn't fully aware of the bubble of peace that always surrounded this place. True to her earlier declaration Ginny set up their room and insisted that Harry do nothing. She magically expanded the bed, giving them both more space, and stored the clothes that they brought with them for their two weeks of stay.

"You did that all by hand," Harry commented in surprise.

"I want to slow down during this vacation, and magic doesn't need to be used every single moment." Ginny shrugged as she sat down on the bed.

"Stop and smell the roses. I've never really done that."

"That's why it's my priority." She draped her arms around his neck and sitting on his lap. "Now, what would you like for your birthday tomorrow?"

Harry raised his eyebrows. "I thought you had stuff planned already?"

"I do, but everyone should get to pick something to do on their birthday," Ginny said quietly, kissing his forehead.

"Nobody has ever asked me that, so I've never thought about it."

"That's why I'm asking now," Ginny gave him an encouraging squeeze.

"I want to get drunk," Harry smiled sheepishly. "I've never done something completely ridiculous, and that was the first thing that popped into my head."

Ginny felt sad hearing this, yet again reminded of how much Harry lacked everyone else's experiences, even things like getting drunk. "I can make that happen," Ginny whispered with a grin and nestling her head in his chest.

"Hey Gin, this place feels all by itself. I've never seen strangers around. I guess Bill and Fleur kept the Fidelius Charm intact." Harry said quietly.

"You can't undo this particular charm because it's tied to the soul. It only dies if the subject does." Ginny said.

"To think Mum and Dad would have been fine if they trusted themselves or even Dumbledore to be a secret keeper."

"They used the Fidelius Charm?" Ginny asked, raising her eyebrows.

"It was Dumbledore's idea. He even offered to be secret keeper, they initially picked Sirius, but he thought that was too obvious to the Death Eaters and suggested Wormtail who betrayed the secret." Harry sighed heavily.

"You never said… Oh, Harry…" Ginny squeezed herself more tightly to him.

"You know, Bill told me that I look 70, not 17."

"It was this last year that did that, I reckon. Let's get to sleep." Ginny pulled Harry gently down on the bed with her.

Harry yawned heavily. "These next two weeks…will be the most peaceful sleep… I've gotten in a long, long time. Maybe ever…"

Ginny watched Harry fall asleep and whispered lovingly to him. "I hope this helps you have sweet dreams for once."

Harry remembered an extremely vivid dream as he opened his eyes on his birthday the following morning. Ginny wasn't in bed. He guessed she was already in the kitchen as the smell of food from downstairs filled his nostrils. Harry saw Ginny in her robe, hard at work, when he entered the kitchen, long red hair situated down her back to avoid the food.

"I can't decide which is better, the way that smells or the way you look," Harry said softly.

"You're awake. Happy birthday," Ginny said brightly. "I just finished cooking, and I would go with the food. I haven't gotten cleaned up yet." She set a plate for him, and they both sat at the table. Harry couldn't help but bring up his dream as it was still vividly ingrained in his mind.

"Ginny," Harry said emotionally.

"Hmm." She said softly.

"I think I dreamt about our future. You had just given birth."

"You seem like you're in shock."

"I just never believed in my future until now. That was the first time it felt possible…."

Ginny blushed nervously. "That was my first birthday gift for you. I practised Legilimency to give you a picture to latch onto and not let go."

"What do you mean?"

You have such a hard time believing in your future that I wanted to share the one I've believed in for a long time, but more than anything, I wanted you to understand how much I love you." Ginny said emotionally.

Harry's eyes became moist. "I felt how you feel about me, I knew you loved me, but it's so more to feel the immensity. I hope that someday I will have measured up to how much you love me. "

"You don't have to measure up to anything, Harry. I'm just glad it worked as I thought. I wanted to give you hope for the future," Ginny said softly.

"I'll admit that hasn't been too easy for me," Harry confessed guiltily.

"I know, believing in dreams is very hard to do if you've only ever had nightmares. That's why I asked Hermione to teach me Legilimency. I wanted to change that."

Harry squeezed her hand with a grateful smile. "The things that you do for me. Let's go for a fly today. We haven't been on our new brooms yet."

"Okay, that is why we brought them with us. Don't move." Ginny flicked her wand twice, and breakfast was cleared, and plates were cleaning themselves. "You always clean up by hand, and I won't let you do that on your birthday." She said bluntly.

"I always cleaned up after the Dursleys, just habit to do it still, I suppose." Harry shrugged.

Ginny sighed. "You have magic now, I've got to break you of doing manual labour, but I'll table that for later. She took Harry's hand in hers. "Take a walk on the beach with me?"

"Do we need to get dressed?"

"Nobody is going to find us here, and brooms have cushioning charms." Ginny reminded him.

"Right, lead the way then."

"You know, life is beautiful," Ginny said over the calmly moving waves. "Being with you is what I've wanted for as long as I can remember, and now we're together. I see no reason to put this off any longer." Ginny stopped walking and met Harry's eyes.

"What?" Harry asked curiously.

"The future." Ginny knelt on one knee: her eyes full of devotion.

"You're…Wow…" He was surprised.

"Well, seeing as I've been in love with you nearly my entire life, I couldn't let you steal my thunder, could I," Ginny said in an emotionally rhetorical voice.

"You had to wait for me for a very long time, so it's only fair." Harry agreed, looking at her with nervous excitement.

Ginny grinned, feeling emotional as she continued, also holding his scarred hand. "You are the only person that I have ever and will ever love. That dream you had this morning, and what you felt, I've felt every day for most of my life, no matter how farfetched it seemed to other people. I always knew. Now I want nothing more than to make that future—our future real."

Harry felt a tear slip down his face. "Gin, it will take a lifetime for me to get used to how much you love me."

Ginny kept herself together, but deep emotion laced her following words. "That's good; a life with you is what I want, so…Harry…James Potter, will you marry me?"

"Of course, I will, Gin."

Tears finally escaped Ginny now. She beamed and stood up again. "I'm officially the luckiest woman on the planet."

Ginny kissed Harry there on the beach near the water, full of affection wrapped in his arms for an eternity. The sun shined on them both, marking the moment. Finally, they stopped kissing and started walking again.

I just remembered you don't have a ring."

Ginny looked blissfully content. "I leave that to you, I just insisted on popping the question, which I know is not traditional, but I felt like it was my right after loving you my whole life."

"I'm honoured, Gin, and I'll take care of the ring. Are you looking for anything in particular?" He asked.

"You don't have to break the bank, but a meaningful ring would be nice." Ginny mused.

"Got it, so what else do you have planned for my birthday?"

"Well, I'll make sure to help you get drunk today just

like you want, but I have a few things up my sleeve still." She assured.

"And you're not going to tell me?"

"I'm trying to be spontaneous, and that would defeat the purpose, so, no," Ginny said softly. "But for now, let's go for a fly as you want."

"Don't think I'll forget about this." He warned.

"Once you're in the air, you will." She said confidently.

"If you say so..." He said playfully.

They flew for two hours or so, testing their new Firebolt III's in various ways. Diving to the ground, pelting to the sky, racing each other—-Ginny won more times than Harry did, but he admittedly enjoyed lagging in looking at her while she flew. Ginny caught on to this once she won three consecutive times and, rolling her eyes, insisted that they put an end to flying.

"Those are likely four times as fast as the original Firebolt," Harry said thoughtfully afterwards.

"You wouldn't know that with you going so slow most of the time," Ginny said with a smirk as she sat nestled against Harry.

"I can't help but look at you," Harry said defensively.

"All well and good when it's just recreational, but it's not going to cut it during a match." She reminded him. "I'll get purposely look bland just so you stay focused."

"One problem with that, but you always look beautiful whether you are trying to or not," Harry told her affectionately.

She stroked his cheek with an emotional inflexion. "You always make me feel special, Harry."

Together they slowly made their way over to the handmade graves for Hedwig and Dobby. They were increasingly eroded, but Harry thought things were better off considering if Harry ever needed to withdraw the Elder Wand.

"Hey, you two," Harry greeted softly. "Getting along up there?"

"I'm sure Dobby is taking care of her as best as he can." Ginny offered with a soft smile.

"She kept to herself, Hedwig," Harry recalled somberly.

"Just like her owner then," Ginny said delicately, bending down next to Harry and resting her head on his shoulder.

"I don't— "

"Harry, I love you, but if Ron hadn't sat in your compartment, you would have kept completely to yourself," Ginny said with a sad smile. "All three of you did that for years anyway, shroud of secrets." She chuckled. "I had to catch snippets until your fifth year." There was a calm whistle of wind at that moment. "See, Hedwig agrees."

"I wish I had clued you in, especially with what you went through." He said, looking apologetically at her.

"Water under the bridge, Harry. Let's go closer to the shoreline."

"I'll come back; we'll be here for two whole weeks. Dobby, I hope you have plenty of clothes to wear up there." Harry felt emotional suddenly. "Hedwig, thanks for keeping that safe for me; I—I'm sorry." He wiped his eyes, not sure why he shed tears every time he tore his eyes away from this spot.

"Are you okay?" Ginny asked as they started walking again.

"I don't like crying if I can help it," Harry admitted anxiously.

Ginny squeezed his scarred hand consolingly. "It's okay, you know." She said softly. "But the last thing I want you thinking about on your birthday is what you've lost."

"The last few years, I can't help it. The losses are always in the back of my mind." Harry admitted quietly.

"Come with me. I'll take your mind off all that." She whispered affectionately.

Back inside, Ginny led Harry to the living room sofa and wrapped herself against him with her hands on his chest and in his hair.

"I want to say thank you," Harry said quietly.

"For?"

Harry was quite captivated as he talked about the empathic experience. "Until what I saw and felt this morning, I didn't fully understand the depth of your love for me; feeling all your devotion to a family that we haven't even started yet, was incredible."

"I'm glad; that was the whole point."

Ginny captured his lips tenderly and then moved slowly along his bare chest with several kisses. She held his eyes for a moment before she lowered his bottom clothes past his waist.

"You don't have to— "

"This isn't just for you, you know." She reminded Harry softly.

Harry sat up as Ginny kelt in front of him on the floor and stroked his rapidly growing erection a bit teasingly.

"You're so great with your hands." He said in relaxed contentment.

"I'm not using my hands this time." She told him bluntly, lowering her head over his groin.

Ginny took his lengthy hardness partway into her mouth, slowly going down on him, frequently licking as she did. Ginny noticed that she could taste Harry's magic to some degree, making it more apparent than ever that magical energy often came out during sexual activities. Ginny had to resist the urge to mount him and do away with her virginity as she had so many other times in the last few months; luckily, Harry still had a relatively quick release, much to his frustration as she came off his todger with a bit of a pop.

"You always look so hot when you're—um… is there a term for what you're doing?"

"Giving you a blowjob."

"Uh right, did I ruin the mood again? I can't seem to last long." He looked anxious.

"No, I just don't want to forget about your bollocks, too; it is your birthday after all." She said playfully.

Ginny resumed the blowjob, slowly licking his bollocks clockwise and then counterclockwise. The visual appeal of Ginny occupied between his legs, and with her mouth no less, left Harry completely enthralled. Still, it was the added sensation of her long hair over his groin that was a huge turn-on for him, peaking the pleasure he felt, and he climaxed again.

"Wow, I…" Harry failed to catch his breath.

"You alright?"

"Brilliant."

Harry pulled his lowered clothes back up again, and Ginny curled herself into his body on the sofa.

"You've got that look in your eye." She observed quietly.

"What look?"

"The look you always get when you are trying to wrap your mind around part of our sex life," Ginny said with a knowing smile.

"I guess that's because I never thought a girl would want to cross these sorts of lines with me," Harry admitted sheepishly.

"I like hearing you, and I like doing that for you, honesty." She blushed.

"I'm sure I will find out what else you like when we shag."

"And when will that be?" Harry blushed nervously. "I'm joking, Harry," Ginny said with a playful grin.

"Okay, when we do shag, you are better off taking the lead; my nerves will screw things up otherwise." Harry looked apologetic.

"No, you won't." Ginny hit his chest in annoyance.

Harry shrugged. "I guess, but you know what you're doing more than I do is the point."

Ginny chuckled, teasing his cheek with her fingers. "Oh Harry, I think you keep forgetting that I'm a virgin too, Harry, an informed virgin sure, but still a virgin, I'm nervous too."

"You are?" He asked blankly.

"Of course, I built up in my head the fantasy of losing my virginity to you for a long time, and now that we are together, I'm always reminding myself not to rush into that, let it happen naturally," Ginny admitted shyly.

"Gin, you shouldn't have to wait anymore if you want to— "

"I've said before that I don't want you are feeling pressured to shag; you matter in this too, Harry," Ginny told him bluntly.

"I'll have to get used to that because most of my life, I've only mattered as a means to an end." Harry shrugged.

Ginny wanted to say otherwise but knew any counterargument would be a total lie, which broke her heart.

"I'm the one who needs a drink," She said bluntly.

Ginny came back with a bottle of Firewhisky and conjured two glasses, filling and drinking one for herself.

"I ruined the mood again," Harry said apologetically.

"If you assume that one more time, I'm going to hex you," Ginny told him sternly.

"What's this for then?"

"You said you wanted to get drunk; I think how hard your life is, is the perfect bloody excuse so..." She filled his glass and then her own again. Ginny picked up her glass with an empathetic look. "Tell me more about your life with the Muggles, vent."

Harry shrugged, taking the other glass, and joined her on the floor. "It's ironic, but it was a lot like the way Sirius treated Kreacher, even worse honestly, but I try to forget."

"You never once pitted me about the diary; you just listened; it's time I do the same for you," Ginny said encouragingly.

"I'm likely to down the whole bottle myself," Harry warned her, moving his finger along the inside rim of the glass. "Telling you the things you haven't already seen."

"I can handle it." She assured.

Harry said nothing briefly but then, but he began talking somewhat detachedly about his childhood on Privet Drive after a brief sigh. Manual labour, bullying from Dudley, outright neglect, and open hatred from Petunia and Vernon. He had just finished a story about getting his head repeatedly shoved in a loo for an entire term at school when he spoke with a childlike sadness and slurred a confession.

"There were times I wished I was dead; I was nothing to them or anyone else for a very long time— "He gave a very drunken hiccup. "I like that this world needs me as much as I complain nobody in the magical world ever made scrub the kitchen floor, or eat dung, or shoved my head into a loo every day for months…."

Harry had been through more than a dozen stories by now; some were memories she had seen while confronting his aunt and uncle, but all of them were childhood trauma that he buried deep down.

"Harry…" Ginny just let him vent, not saying anything before now.

"Booze is gone. Let's go find more!" Harry exclaimed quickly.

"I have to draw the line. You went through that bottle a lot faster than I thought you would." Ginny admitted with a frown. "But reliving things like getting your head shoved into a toilet regularly, or constantly being called a useless freak along with the few hours worth of other stories you told me that usually ended with some form of abuse or neglect that you needed to get drunk for once."

"What time is it?" Harry slurred.

Ginny put her arms firmly around him. "It's been a few hours."

"It's still my birthday!" Harry reminded with another hiccup.

"Yes, it is," Ginny chuckled with a smile.

"I feel like I'm on fire," Harry said eagerly.

"Comes with the Firewhisky," Ginny informed him with an amused smile.

"I wish we could practice shagging before the real thing. " Harry said abruptly.

The next thing Ginny knew, Harry was snogging her quite confidently, clumsily removing her robe while he did. The heat of Firewisky enveloped her; Ginny was surprised but figured the alcohol helped Harry's overall honestly in more ways than one.

"You're not matching?" He said, noticing the red bra but white knickers with lustful eyes.

"I mix things up sometimes." She whispered with a grin.

Ginny giggled before they resumed kissing and found their way to the floor with Harry atop her body. "We can practice shagging. The Firewhisky seems to have deadened your nerves; you are practically dry humping me already anyway," Ginny teased affectionately.

"I'm what?"

"Think of it as shagging minus the penetration, so we'll still be virgins." Ginny clarified. "It'll help you work off that bottle of Firewisky too, but it's nice to see you so eager." She let out a heavy moan. "Oh Merlin, you're growing, and it feels great! Keep moving!" She said eagerly.

"Fast or slow?"

"Slow…"

Harry did as she asked but relied on Ginny to find a good rhythm. She was immensely enjoying herself from what Harry could read of her reaction as she cupped the back of his head.

"Harry," Ginny whispered emotionally, "I love you so much," she lingered on his neck with her kisses.

Harry lifted his head, meeting her eyes with his hands in her hair. Without a word, he began to thrust, tamed by the barrier of their underwear.

"Sorry, Gin." He said when exhaustion caught up with him.

"Sorry?" Ginny repeated blankly; she clearly did not mind. "Harry, don't be so hard on yourself." They chuckled at the unintentional double meaning. "I just mean you have to stop treating our sex life like it's a test you have to pass." She wrapped her arms around his neck with a tender expression in her eyes. "All I'm ever thinking about during our sex life is that I'm with you, the only man I have ever loved."

"But when we shag for real— "

"The only thing I will be thinking about is that you are finally inside of me." She finished with anticipation.

"But we're not even starkers."

"Which is a good thing, I'm glad that bottle of Firewisky helped your nerves, but I'd rather not give you my virginity when you're drunk," Ginny said bluntly.

"I'm getting over that quicker than I thought that I would; maybe alcohol is different in the magical world," Harry reasoned.

It wouldn't surprise me, but you have worked quite a bit of it off." Ginny pointed out, impressed.

"Not enough," Harry admitted, still sounding reasonably drunk.

"Well, you can relax now; I want to practice being on top for a bit—I'll be gentle." She added reassuringly.

Harry nodded and watched as Ginny slowly rolled the two of them until she was the one on top. At this point, he was bulging under his boxers, but the satisfied smile on Ginny's face relaxed his nerves.

"I don't want to get carried away," Harry confessed.

"We still have important clothes on, Harry. I'm just curious about being on top." She admitted with a smile; Harry grinned.

Ginny felt bolder on top, quite sure that was entirely the idea, but she also noticed the difference in body contact with Harry. It was satisfying to connect as much as the barrier of underwear between them would allow.

"You look great under me," Harry told her playfully.

"Feels great too." She said with a relaxed whisper.

"Merlin, even just practising makes me so randy," Harry said emphatically.

"Oh Harry, it would be so easy to just sod waiting and shag right now," Ginny said anxiously.

That was an understatement; Ginny felt Harry's erection now more than ever against her, thankful for the lone barrier of clothing still between them. Still, she started quickly grinding against him, their underwear fabric spreading uniquely pleasurable sensations, their breathing now highly ragged.

"I'll do whatever you want." He said bluntly.

"We better stop, but I know you're close, and I'll take care of it," She assured. Ginny lifted herself off Harry and retreated between his legs, freeing his length.

That's better." Harry said in relief.

Ginny was determined, and that mindset made it easy to find a rhythm as she closed her mouth around his penis, going quickly back and forth. It wasn't long before Harry climaxed, and Ginny was watching him recover, quite pleased with herself.

"You know, with all the attention you've given me, I'm going to do the same on your birthday," Harry affectionately said while he caught his breath.

"How do you feel?"

"I'm not drunk anymore, just hungry," Harry said casually.

"I can take care of that too; I might have made dessert," Ginny said with a casual smile.

As it turned out, what was for Harry's birthday was a large treacle tart cake.

"I would love to take full credit for baking this, but you know that Mum never skimps on birthday cakes, so she helped me. Hermione and Luna helped too." Ginny told him.

Harry smiled. "That's Hermione's handwriting and Luna's artistic flare."

The cake said: Happy birthday Harry; you're an adult for the second time!

Harry laughed out loud. "That's true, honestly."

"Hermione found that very funny. I know it's an inside muggle joke." Ginny said with an amused smile.

"Hermione would make that joke; Ron's given her a sense of humour." He grinned.

"They are rubbing off on each other," Ginny said with an amused smile. "Now, before you start eating," She waved her wand twice, and candles appeared on the cake and then they were aflame. "Make a wish, Harry." She encouraged affectionately.

When Harry had prompted himself to make a wish at the stroke of midnight on his eleventh birthday seven years ago, his life changed forever. Still, he closed his eyes and blew out the candles, making a wish before he opened them again.

"Thanks for this birthday today; being with you makes it the best one I've ever had." He said gratefully.

They shared a deep kiss before cutting into his treacle tart birthday cake. Harry may have gotten drunk today and even spilt his guts about growing up with the Dursley's, but he knew his eighteenth birthday was the best one he had ever had because it was the day Ginny proposed, and he got to say yes—it was the first day of the rest of his life.

A/N: I always pictured Ginny proposing to Harry. But he is still going to give her a ring:) I know I keep teasing their first time having traditional sex—it will happen sooner than later, I promise! More vacation coming.