So this is my take on the events proceeding the end of Deathly Hallows. There's no angst or cheesy crossovers and whatnot here. I like my visions of Harry Potter characters to act like Rowling's. I'm not really sure how long this is going to go but we'll see what happens. Read & review!

Chapter 1

When Harry looked back upon that summer, he was often met with fuzzy pictures, rather like taking a particularly rocky path down memory lane. It wasn't the fact that it was too painful to remember; on the contrary, he remembered that summer overall as being blissfully carefree without the threat of Lord Voldemort hanging over his head. But that was just it: it was surreal being able to enjoy something as simple as visiting his best friend at the Burrow, without having to mind protective enchantments put around the whole house. The most mundane activities felt new and exciting to him, from spending time with Ginny to playing quidditch in the orchard.

There were certain things he remembered with unnerving clarity. The day the Weasley family returned to the Burrow being one of them. George had gone straight upstairs without a word to anyone and Harry remembered Mrs. Weasley collapsing into a kitchen chair just to stop and cry. He remembered snippets of apparating back and forth to Hogsmeade for weeks, trekking his way onto Hogwarts grounds where hundreds of wizards had come to help reconstruction.

There was Kingsley coming and asking Harry, Ron, and Hermione all to join the Auror training team. There was the first time George came out of his room in weeks. The day Mrs. Weasley started cooking again. The day Harry finally worked up the courage to tell Ginny that he hadn't fallen out of love with her since the day he told her good-bye at Dumbledore's funeral…

That was one of Harry's personal favorites, and from where he was sitting in the kitchen of the Burrow he smiled goofily across the table towards his girlfriend. Ginny, who had her nose buried behind a copy of the Prophet, didn't look up and for that, Harry was grateful. He looked back down and smiled into his bowl of ice cream instead. The ice cream wouldn't tease him relentlessly for being so sickeningly happy.

The kitchen door opened and Hermione, dressed in a traveling cloak and jeans came bustling through the door, looking harassed. Ron, who hadn't yet donned his cloak, was looking just as harried, followed her closely. Mr. Weasley bustled in behind the both of them, looking the calmest of the three.

It was nearing the end of August following the close of the war. All over people were being restored to their rightful homes and states. Harry hadn't realized how many people had actually gone into hiding before a fretful Hermione had reminded all of them a few weeks back that she still had to find her parents. After that Harry had made contact (limited contact) with the Dursleys and told them through muggle post that they could return to Privet Drive.

They had not been happy to find that their home had been completely ransacked and almost entirely inhabitable. It had taken the Ministry (which was slowly coming back to order) weeks to sort out the home itself and then obliviate the memories of the entire street. Aunt Petunia had been downright ferocious when she found out the neighbor's were gossiping about them being chased away by the Italian mob. Ron had found the whole thing hilarious and the idea of muggle mobs even more laugh inducing.

Harry was brought back to the present as Hermione slammed her pink beaded handbag next to Harry's bowl of ice cream.

"Ah, the handbag," Harry stated, casting a furtive glance at it.

"Can't we just apparate?" asked Hermione desperately (ignoring Harry's comment) as Ron settled his Comet against the kitchen table.

"We'll apparate once we get closer to the ocean," Mr. Weasley said patiently. "You'd be lucky not to splinch yourself in half apparating at this distance. Australia's not close."

"You can always just fly on the back of my broom," Ron suggested, sounding irritable. He had made the suggestion every time Hermione had expressed concern at flying.

"Why don't you guys just use the floo network?" asked Ginny, setting aside the Prophet.

"It's still not up and running," Mr. Weasley said. "Nearly all the other ministries severed contacts with us after word got out that You-Know-Who was in charge and we'd have to floo into another country's ministry."

"You-Know-Who, Mr. Weasley?" Harry questioned, a laugh in his voice.

"Oh, well, habit-" Mr. Weasley said sheepishly only to be cut off by Ginny.

"What about a Port Key?"

"Yeah," Harry began, "when you all came and picked me up last summer, the brooms were pretty last resort weren't they."

"And they are now too," Mr. Weasley said, "We don't want to attract too much attention though. Other countries are not entirely trusting of us these days."

"You just had to send your parents to Australia," Ron muttered under his breath. The comment earned a punch to Ron's arm followed by Hermione hissing, "You don't have to come Ron, I'll just go alone-"

"That's enough," Mr. Weasley said and Ron and Hermione fell silent. "We're going to need to get going soon."

"Not yet!" said another voice and Mrs. Weasley came through the kitchen door brandishing yellowing envelopes.

"Are those Hogwarts letters?" asked Ginny, sounding amazed.

"Yes," said Mrs. Weasley and she smiled broadly. "Addressed to a Ms. Ginevra Weasley, a Mr. Harry Potter, a Mr. Ronald Weasley, and a Ms. Hermione Granger."

She dispersed the letter between the four of them. Ginny's took hers hesitantly as if she was afraid it might bite her if she touched it. Ron looked at his own letter and promptly chucked it.

"Ronald!" Mrs. Weasley cried as the trashcan regurgitated the letter. It soared across the kitchen, slapping into the back of Ron's head.

"What, it's not like any of us'll be going back this year," Ron said, rubbing his hand over the back of his head.

Mrs. Weasley started ranting about the importance of education but Harry silently agreed to chuck his as soon as Mrs. Weasley went back upstairs. He studied the envelope, noticing the green ink to be in a slightly more feminine handwriting than usual. He looked over at Ginny, about to ask her if she recognized the handwriting but stopped when he saw her expression.

Harry had come to learn that Ginny was a very brave person. He rarely saw her crying, even after George's funeral. She usually set her face in that determined, blazing expression whenever she was fighting back weepy emotions. But Harry had never seen Ginny apprehensive; she was much more of the go-getter type. She ripped off band-aids with absolutely no pretense.

Harry thought she might be afraid to even look directly at the envelope. "You alright Gin?" he asked, fighting back a laugh again.

Ginny jumped and Mrs. Weasley fell silent to look at her daughter.

"Don't tell me you think you're not going back either?" Mrs. Weasley began.

"Well," Ginny began.

"Don't even think about it! You are still underage Ginny and your education has gone" (Harry noticed her blanch slightly) "for the most part uninterrupted. You have to finish!"

"But Ron doesn't?" Ginny asked, firing up for a fight.

Mrs. Weasley cast an intense glare at her youngest son. Ron looked down at his shoes. "Ron is seventeen. And although I don't agree with Kingsley on this one issue, he seems to think Ron has enough credentials to start him a career."

"Oh, so you're okay if the three of us don't go back then?" said Ron, suddenly cheerful. He ducked down to kiss his mother's cheek. He turned to Mr. Weasley and clapped his hands. "Well let's get on then!"

Mr. Weasley and Ron both grabbed brooms but Hermione didn't move. She seemed to be fighting an intense personal battle with herself in which she might've ripped her envelope in half had she not suddenly shoved it into Mrs. Weasley's hands.

"Do you mind picking up my books when you go get Ginny's?" she said breathlessly.

Harry stared at Hermione who seemed afraid to move and saw Ginny's mouth drop open.

"What?" Ron cried, dropping his broom.

"Ron you know I don't want to be an Auror!" Hermione began, twisting her hands nervously.

"But if you go back to school," Ron began. "I mean, that is if you leave-"

"Goodness Ronald she's not leaving," Mrs. Weasley began, sounding exasperated. But Harry noticed her broad smile to be holding Hermione's envelope. "It's school! You go every year!"

"Not last year!" Ron retorted. Hermione went about picking up her own broom and her handbag off the table, resolutely not looking at Ron.

"Come on Hermione, you know how you get during the year. You're so busy! And it's N.E.W.T.'s year!"

"Exactly why I want to go back," Hermione said and moved towards the back door where Mr. Weasley was still waiting, looking impatient.

"Oh so you can flaunt you being the best N.E.W.T.'s student ever? Aren't there more important things now? What about me and-"

Ron suddenly broke off, turning red. He seemed to have noticed his audience. Mr. Weasley politely began studying his hands but Mrs. Weasley just rolled her eyes at her son. Hermione pinked slightly but simply muttered something about him being "simply ridiculous."

"If we don't get going," Mr. Weasley suddenly said. "It'll be too light for us to fly. You two can talk about this when we get back."

Ron and Hermione shuffled out of the kitchen calling good-byes behind their shoulders. Harry (after winking at Ron and gesturing madly towards Hermione behind her back) looked back at Ginny.

"What's your deal with school, Gin?" Harry asked, taking another bite of his ice cream.

"Well, it's nothing with school, I suppose," Ginny said slowly. She paused. "You're for sure not going back?"

Harry sighed. "You know I'm not Gin."

Mrs. Weasley scowled but Harry cut her off, "I want to begin my Auror training. Whatever I don't know I'll pick up there. Kingsley knows the circumstances."

"Ginny, you have to go to school," Mrs. Weasley said while casting an extremely unpleased look at Harry. "You can't work in the shop with George the rest of your life."

"I know, and I don't want to either-" Ginny started.

"So what's the problem then? You know as well as I do you won't get anywhere if you don't finish school."

Ginny opened her mouth to retort but before she did she sent a furtive look in Harry's direction. She closed her mouth quickly and looked down, blushing. Harry felt himself turning red too. Mrs. Weasley narrowed her eyes.

"Oh, so that's what this is about then?" Mrs. Weasley said. Harry was waiting for her to start yelling but instead Mrs. Weasley settled herself across in a chair next to Ginny.

"Harry you had better reassure my daughter that you're not going to be cheating on her while she's away at school this year," Mrs. Weasley stated matter-of-factly.

"Mum!" Ginny cried, burying her burning face in her hands. Harry laughed. Mrs. Weasley fixed him with an expectant look.

"Gin I'm definitely not gonna cheat on you while you're at school," Harry said still chuckling.

"There you go!" Mrs. Weasley said. She smiled broadly at Ginny and kissed her cheek.

"Okay, that's enough Mum. Let's go upstairs Harry," she snapped. Harry levitated his empty bowl towards the sink and followed Ginny to the kitchen door.

"Keep the door open, Ginevra!" Mrs. Weasley called as the two disappeared through the door.

Ginny stalked haughtily up the stairs but Harry fell back slightly to admire his girlfriend's form as she made her way towards her bedroom. Harry had never appreciated muggle clothing more than when Ginny was in them. She wore her jeans tighter than Hermione ever did and her t-shirts were always somewhat low cut. But right now Ginny was impressive in her shorter than short pajama bottoms (they had snitches patterned across her butt) and her white tank top that showed off the back of her bra strap. Harry almost reached out and snapped it before remembering Ginny's alarming reflexes and instead caught her around the waist and stopped her on the landing below her bedroom.

"Harry what-" she began but was cut short by Harry pressing his mouth eagerly to hers.

There wasn't anything much better than kissing Ginny, Harry decided. As he felt Ginny slip her tongue inside his mouth he backed her slowly towards the wall, covering the length of her body with his. Ginny slipped her arms up around Harry's neck but not before slowly skimming her fingertips across Harry's chest. He softly nipped her bottom lip in response and Ginny moaned ever so softly before deepening the kiss. Harry was thinking about hoisting her up around his hips when the door behind them banged open.

Harry pushed Ginny away so fast she shrieked. He spun around to meet the amused expression of George Weasley.

"Merlin, can't you guys find a better place to grope each other?" George asked good-naturedly, but not before shooting a menacing look in Harry's direction while Ginny's back was turn. Harry grinned nervously.

"Well we were," Ginny said hotly and began stalking up the stairs towards her bedroom again. Casting an apologetic look to George, Harry followed Ginny into her bedroom where Ginny kicked close the door.

"Gin," Harry complained pulling open the door again.

Ginny kicked it closed again. "Trust me Harry, my mother does not want to see us snogging. At least the closed door will be a warning."

Ginny walked closer to Harry, smiling warmly. She stood on tiptoes and planted a warm kiss across Harry's lips.

"She's gonna kick me outta your house," Harry mumbled across her lips. He felt his arms encircling her waist.

"Nah, you've been all of our saving grace. She's not letting you go anywhere," Ginny said as she giggled. She wrapped her arms around Harry's neck again. "I'm not letting you go anywhere."

She began kissing Harry again but a thought came to Harry's mind. He pulled away.

"Do you really think I'm going to be cheat on you while you're at school?" he asked.

Ginny scowled and pushed him away, obviously embarrassed at her mother's big mouth. "You know, I really don't. You're not smooth enough to get any other girls anyways."

She walked towards her bed and fell backwards on it. Harry grinned and walked over towards her. He climbed slowly atop her bed and leaned over her, propped on all fours. When his face was just an inch away from hers he blew softly across her closed eyelids.

"Harry stop!" she pushed his face away but Harry laughed and grabbed her wrists. He fluidly climbed on top of her and rolled her so that she lay across his stomach.

"I'm very smooth," he said with a laugh and kissed her forehead. "But if you want, I'll act like Ron all year so that I don't get any young witches throwing themselves at me like you did."

"I did not throw myself at you!" Ginny protested looking half amused, half annoyed. Suddenly she perked up. "Ooh, but speaking of Ron you'll never believe what happened the other day!"

Ginny sat up so she was straddling Harry's stomach. Harry settled his head back against Ginny's pillows and put his arms behind his head. He noted that this wasn't a bad view either of Ginny's slim waist and chest. Her long red hair danced across her shoulders and spilled nearly to Harry's chest.

"What's that?" he said absently, dislodging an arm so he could play with the tips of her hair.

Ginny squealed uncharacteristically. "I walked into the bathroom and found Hermione and Ron in there all but shagging against the sink!"

Harry tried to push the image out of his head before it became lodged there infinitely. Too late, the image of nearly naked Ron and Hermione danced teasingly behind his eyelids. Feeling disgusted with himself, he found himself wondering how they made do with their enormous height difference.

"Please don't tell me things like that," Harry asked politely. Ginny's provocative position on his body seemed suddenly very wrong.

Ginny giggled. "What? We all know Ron and Hermione shag all over the Burrow. All that nonsense about Hermione helping Ron through his grief…any excuse to lock the bedroom door…"

Harry thought about that for a second. He and Ginny had yet to have sex but Harry wondered about her casualty discussing the subject. His thoughts flashed to Dean Thomas and quickly to Michael Corner. He didn't really believe it but-

"Did you and Dean ever shag?"

Ginny stopped her ramblings and stared at Harry as if she hadn't heard him correctly.

"Dean and I?" she echoed.

"Yeah," Harry said. He wished he were sitting up now.

"No, Dean and I never had sex Harry," Ginny said slowly. She was looking curiously at him. "I'm going to safely assumed you and Cho never did either."

"No, Cho and I never did that," Harry said resolutely. His thoughts were still on Michael Corner.

"Michael and I never had sex either Harry," Ginny said softly.

Harry nodded, trying not to think too hard about it all. Ginny suddenly giggled.

"Oh I've opened a nasty can of worms haven't I?" Ginny said.

"What're you talking about?" Harry asked, moving to sit up. Ginny raised her eyebrows but slid gracefully onto the bed beside him.

"You want to have sex, don't you?"

Her ability to be blunt in the most awkward of conversations was somewhat obnoxious at times.

"Of course I do," Harry said gruffly. "I'm a bloke aren't I?"

"Well we're not," Ginny said sharply, taking on a Mrs. Weasley air.

"Fine, fine," Harry said trying to sound like it didn't bug him. He got off the bed. "I'm going to bed."

"And taking a cold shower beforehand?" Ginny asked teasingly.

Harry crossed the room to the door. "Night, Gin."