Prompt: B13 - As he flicked through the letters, a small, handwritten envelope caught his attention and his heart began to thump

Note: This is a bit AU. Harry never dated Ginny at Hogwarts.

It was almost seven o'clock in the evening when Harry Potter landed with a soft pop at the entrance to Number 12 Grimmauld Place and pushed open the door. He'd been on a secret mission for three long weeks, hidden under his invisibility cloak, observing a deserted hut somewhere in the middle of the wilderness of Wales. But the culprit never showed once. In the end, Robbards had called back because it had turned out he'd been watching the wrong hut, about half a mile away from the right one, which had been abandoned a few days earlier.

"Hello, Ron? Are you home?" Harry called up the stairs when he found the kitchen deserted. A year ago, he'd moved into Sirius' old house with Ron so that Ron could be closer to his brother's joke shop and Harry would be close to the Auror office. But Ron often stayed at Hermione's at night, and Harry... was often away on secret missions.

However, Harry had hoped to go out for a drink with Ron and Hermione today to celebrate his birthday, which he'd spent alone in the wilds of Wales almost two weeks ago.

He spotted a small stack of letters and cards that Ron had probably left on the kitchen table. Most of them were birthday cards from Hogwarts friends. As he flicked through the letters, a small, handwritten envelope caught his attention and his heart began to thump. He'd recognize Ginny Weasley's distinctive handwriting anywhere.

Ginny. Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath, but this didn't calm his loudly pounding pulse either. He and Ginny had become pretty good friends over the years, and if Harry was honest, he had had quite a crush on her for at least three years. But he'd missed his chance with her - ignored her for too long. At first, she had dated his roommate, Dean. Then, he was away hunting Horcruxes with Ron and Hermione for a year. And finally, he'd decided on a career as an Auror, and ever since, he'd hardly had a day off since he was constantly away on important missions. And soon, Ginny would live in Holyhead most of the year and be famous. She had moved on.

Harry sighed.

If he was honest with himself, she had been one of the reasons why he wanted to move out of the Burrow. Yes, it was more of an escape than a move. At the Burrow, he'd seen and smelled Ginny everywhere, even when she was at Hogwarts. He couldn't get the thoughts of her out of his head. Finally, he'd accepted that he'd missed his chance and had to move out.

His gaze turned back to the small envelope, and, somewhat reluctant, he began to open it.

Dear Harry,

I actually wanted to invite you personally to my birthday, but unfortunately, I haven't seen you for weeks. That's why I'm now inviting you to my birthday party, which will take place on August 11th, my birthday, as you probably remember, from 4 p.m. in the Burrow.

I hope you'll be able to come. I miss you.

Love,
Ginny

Merlin, Harry thought in shock. What day was today? His eyes widened in horror. Today was August 11th - and it was almost half past seven - and he didn't have a present.

Not going to Ginny's birthday wasn't an option either.

Without thinking twice, Harry hurried up the stairs to his room to get ready. Fifteen minutes later, he'd taken a quick shower and made himself presentable. Wearing a pair of jeans and his favourite Led Zeppelin t-shirt, similar to the one Sirius had often worn. Apparating to Kings Cross Station, he managed to buy a bouquet of flowers just before closing time. An enormous bouquet of red roses was the only thing the Fleurist could offer, but Harry was glad to have gotten anything at all.

With his heart pounding loudly, Harry finally Apparated to the Burrow where the noisy chatter of the party guests could already be heard from afar. When Harry stepped around the house into the backyard, where a large banquet table was set, the pudding was already being served.

In search of Ginny, Harry let his eyes wander over the crowd. Some of the guests had already spotted him and were pointing at him. Ron gave him a dark look but nodded, while Hermione beamed happily at him, obviously relieved that he'd made it. Only Ginny was nowhere to be seen.

"Harry!"

He turned around and spotted her coming out of the house, staring at him in disbelief. "You came."

She ran towards him with a hard, fiery look on her face as she threw her arms around him. And without thinking about it, without planning it, without worrying that her whole family was watching, Harry kissed her.