Flashbacks and Futures

"Harry?"

"Mmmm?"

"Harry? Harry!"

"Mm, yeah Gins?" Harry mumbled in his half-asleep state.

"Harry, there is someone knocking at the door, and you said that you don't want anyone to know about us just yet, so where this is your room, and Hermione is covering for me in our room right now, it might look a little weird if you know, I ANSWERED THE DOOR..." It was clear that Virginia Weasley had been awake for quite some time.

"Oh my gods! Yes, of course, I hadn't thought... Umm, ah, where can you." Harry bolted out of bed and was running frantically around the room, his face as scarlet as the wallpaper.

"It's ok, I've already hidden, just get the door."

Of course she'd already hidden, he thought. That's just like Ginny, keeping her head in situations like these, predicting the possible outcomes beforehand so that the best course is chosen. After all, that is how she won me. She has matured so much since her first year at Hogwarts.

The knock came at the door again. "HARRY! BREAKFAST!"

"I'm coming," he opened the door just in time to see Percy walking towards Ginny and Hermione's room. "Wait, Perc, I'll wake them."

"Oh, right, of course Harry, right. See you downstairs then."

Oh wow, that was close, Harry's mind raced, he walked down the hall towards Hermione. Wait till she hears about this. He knocked softly and then went right in.

Sure enough Hermione was sitting at Ginny's small desk reading what was no doubt one of their new, 6^th year books.

"Hey 'Mione, thanks for last night."

Her eyes flew up from her book and she quickly slammed it shut and hid it under the desk.

"Oh, Harry, you gave me a bit of a fright. Um, right then, I hope that you two talked and have decided to let down the masquerade. Ron is going to find out sooner or later," she stated in her perfect, analytical way.

Oh yeah, we did a whole lot more than talk, but what does she want Ginny and I to do? Sit Ron down and give him a nice chat about things? 'Hey Ron, hope you're having as much fun this summer as your sister and I are. By the way, we're shagging, I hope you don't mind much..." Yeah, that'd go well.

"In our own time we will tell him. Anyway, watcha reading? It doesn't look like one of our school books." A smile spread across Harry's face as he caught a glimpse at the title. "How To Be Loved By An Oblivious Wizard. Interesting course of study that you've chosen this year. Curious though, I don't remember that being on of our class options. So I suppose you'd better just tell me which wizard it is that you are trying to get, and save me the time of tickling it out of Ginny..." Harry hinted slowly, knowing the answer but wanting her to admit it out loud.

"Harry Potter! How dare you insinuate that I am trying to snag a boyfriend by reading some cheesy advice book? I just thought that it'd be a bit of fun light reading." Hermione replied, still unable to look Harry in the face.

"Oh right then, so I'll tell Ron tonight when he is back that he can stop pining after you, you are a one man woman and you man is your books..."

"Ron, pining after me, you are bloody insane Harry. Ron doesn't feel the way for me that I feel for..." she cut herself off, realizing that she had already said too much.

"For?" Harry propositioned.

"Never mind, no one, that came out wrong."

"Bloody hell, no one, you'd best just admit it now, you are head over heels for Ron Weasley, and he is for you, but you are both too damn thickheaded to notice it, and if I don't walk in to this room and "accidentally" catch the two of you snogging sometime in the next week I going to take some drastic measures, and you know that that means getting Fred and George involved." Harry smirked at Hermione; sure he'd cornered her.

"You wouldn't dare, you know that I can blackmail you too, and what is more important to you, me and Ron or you and Ginny?" Hermione hissed.

"Did I hear my name?" Ginny asked as she stepped into the room. She quickly sat down on the bed and snuggled against Harry's now well-defined chest. He slipped his arm around her waist and kissed her on her forehead. They smiled and giggled and whispered sweet nothings to each other.

Damn, they look so happy together, in fact I've never seen either of them so happy before. They both deserve it. Harry is my best friend, and I don't know what I would do without Ginny to talk to. I just wish that I could have that with Ron. Hermione thought to herself.

"Isn't this what you want, too? I know you want to be happy, you haven't been with anyone since Krum, and I know that that wasn't even much. All I want is to see you in love, and that is all I want for Ron, too." It was as if Harry had read her mind. "But unless someone makes a move it will be nothing except awkward, especially for Ginny and I. Hey, how 'bout this, if you hook-up with Ron, I'll tell him about us," Harry continued motioning at himself and the redhead happily nested in his embrace.

"I'll think about it," Hermione replied and quickly walked out of the room.

"Well, that's farther than I've ever gotten with her," Ginny said as she looked adoringly up at Harry.

"You know, breakfast is on the table, we might want to consider getting our arses down there before they get suspicious," Harry warned.

"I've always been partial to your arse, and also to having my breakfast in bed," and with that Ginny pushed him back on the bed and showered his face with kisses. Finally she leaned down and kissed him passionately on the lips, it continued to deepen as she opened her mouth to let his tongue inside. His hands roamed her body, and then settled on massaging the small of her back, just under her shirt.

A bulge had stated to form in his pants, and Ginny quickly noticed, because next thing she was kissing his chest as her hand started roaming a bit further down.

"Wait, Ginny. I can't get this worked up before breakfast. I won't be able to hide something like this..." she silenced him with a kiss.

"Don't worry, this," she stroked the taught fabric over his crotch, "is something that I think I can fix."

***

Hmm, those were the days, Harry thought. It was so fresh then... Everything was magical, even for a wizard.

After graduating from Hogwarts School five years ago, he and his friends, Ron and Hermione, had gone their separate ways, thought always keeping in close touch. A part of their bond was strengthened in their final year there, and yet a part of it, the innocence, was lost forever after their final meeting with Lord Voldemort.

One that cost me almost as much as the first meeting, Harry thought bitterly while absentmindedly rubbing his scar, a souvenir from that first fatal meeting.

Thinking back to that year was so painful, even now. Voldemort was more vengeful than ever, almost killing without purpose. As usual he'd come after Harry, his most valuable target. Once again Harry had escaped, but not without being dealt a terrible blow. Snape had sacrificed himself to save Harry and his friends, it was then that they all realized the depth of the issue. In his worst attack yet, Dumbledore, Percy Weasley, and several others were killed using the worst of the unforgivable curses: Avada Kedavra. It had truly been the worst year of his life, and yet in some ways the best.

Percy had married his school sweetheart, Penelope, earlier that year and everyone was delighted by the news at Christmas that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley (thanks to Percy and his new wife) would be expecting their first grandchild. Harry and Ginny finally came clean with everyone about their relationship, and while there was some initial surprise (especially from Fred, George, and Ron who took him outside for a quick chat about exactly what Harry was doing with their little sister, how long it had been going on, and to inform him that if he even remotely hurt her he would no longer be known as The Boy Who Lived...) it was generally well received news (Mrs. Weasley almost fainted at the idea of Harry Potter finally being a part of her family, "I can't believe our little Ginny and Harry..."). Over that same holiday, thanks to some well-positioned mistletoe by Fred and George, who were both engaged themselves to Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnston, even helped to get Hermione and Ron together. For Harry it looked like life was finally going his way. Then it happened.

Gryffindor won both the house and the quidditch cups; Hermione and Ron had been head boy and girl. Draco had finally conceded his defeat and had actually become amicable to Harry after the death of his own father at the hands of the one he revered the most, Voldemort. The year seemed to come and go with no issues at all.

He appeared at graduation, while they were all seated out on the Quidditch pitch. Harry had just stood to receive his diploma, and it was like they were being ambushed, Wormtail and several others were with them, they didn't even look at whom they were hitting. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall both immediately went to task disarming and capturing as many of them as possible. Snape dived in from of Harry, just as Voldemort himself set the Unforgivable Curse upon him. Percy, now the Deputy Minister of Magic was on the stage at the time and was on of the first hit. In the end the final death toll was 45, including 30 students.

Harry and Hermione, along with a pregnant Penelope went back to the Burrow right after the incident, first for Percy's funeral, and then just because they needed the comfort of each other. It was the worst year since the first time the Dark Lord had risen, but there was comfort to take in the knowledge that he was finally dead. The combination of Avada Kedavra curses yelled by Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny, and the power of their unending love and friendship was too much for Voldemort, not only was he killed, but also the largest piece of him that was found was a finger.

It was after this that they all separated, all of them needing time to think. Hermione returned to Hogwarts as the professor taking McGonagall's place once she became the headmaster. Ron went to work at the ministry, he was given at job in the office of Law Enforcement, and he proved to everyone that he was the best. Ginny still had one year left at Hogwarts where she was the Head Girl. And Harry, Harry had gone into training to be an Auror, even though most felt that he was the most qualified to be teaching the class.

It was different now, though. Hermione and Ron had both married last year, Ginny and Harry were the maid of honor and best man, and it was at that reception that Harry had proposed to Ginny.

Every year they still returned to the Burrow for Christmas, where the now ageing Mr. and Mrs. Weasley now had an empty house. Penelope returned every year too, with the twins, now fatherless but not lacking in love. Penelope lives next door now sharing a house with Bill and Charlie, who now both worked for the Ministry. It was getting better and better as the years went by, even though Percy's absence was constantly noticeable.

Fred and Angelina had their first daughter a few months ago, and not to be outdone, George and Alicia had their first son twenty minutes later. In their typical competitive spirits they were now both expecting again. The boys both owned joke shops all across all across Europe and the Americas, but both led quiet lives in Hogsmeade with their family (well, as quiet as could be expected from the twins, who still were coming up with new ways to make random objects explode...). Amazingly enough, Lee Jordan and his wife, Katie Bell, lived right next door. Making it clear that you don't lose some childhood friends.

Ron and Hermione lived not too far away from the twins, both were Governors of Hogwarts, and had successful jobs at the Ministry. Hermione was Deputy Minister and Ron was the Head of Press Relations. While they had decided to hold off on children for the time being, it was clear that they both felt the time was growing closer and closer, and Mrs. Weasley now had them money to spoil her grand children they way she couldn't her own children.

Harry and Ginny had not yet set a date, after tonight he wasn't sure that they ever would.