Harry Potter and the Garden of Eden

I may feel loss over my parents, and I may feel cheated because I never got to have them, but I tell you that everyday the pain becomes less. The pain becomes less because you are in my life. You're the best parents I ever had. I'm proud to call you Mum and Dad, and I'm happy that you call me your son.

~Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Garden of Eden

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Harry Potter and the Garden of Eden

Chapter 2

Of Birthdays and Friends

July 31, 1996

The Burrow

The next morning, Harry woke to light streaming in from the window, and a soft, comfortable weight on his chest. He looked down lovingly on the girl still asleep in his arms. Slowly, he bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Her eyes fluttered open. "Good morning, beautiful," he said.

"Mmmmmm," she mumbled, turning into his chest. "Harry? What time is it?"

"I'd say just after eight," he replied.

"Oh no! What if they catch me in here? Hermione's probably already up. She must know I'm not there!"

"Calm down, Ginny! I'm positive Hermione didn't spend the night in your room either, since she's not due to arrive until today."

"Oh. Right. We've got to go though, before one of my brothers come in.

They headed to the kitchen, where Fred and George were at the table, waiting expectantly for breakfast. Mrs. Weasley was making all sorts of good things for breakfast, judging from the smell emanating from the stove. Ginny took a seat next to her brothers.

That left only Ron still in bed. Harry turned and walked back up the stairs to Ron's room. He walked in and found Ron lying on top of his blankets, snoring loudly. Remembering that he could now perform magic outside of school, he doused Ron with a blast of cold water from his wand.

The effect was instantaneous. Ron jumped up, swearing and spluttering, and lunged for Harry, who stepped aside and watched him slam into the wall, laughing all the while. He cast a quick drying charm on Ron, in-between giggles. "Mum expects you downstairs for breakfast, Ron."

"Oh you just wait, Harry, I'm going to get you for this," Ron replied, standing up from the floor. They walked down to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Ron joined Fred, George, and Ginny at the table. Harry walked up behind Mrs. Weasley, hugged her from behind and said, "Morning, Mum."

Mrs. Weasley didn't even turn around, but replied, "Morning Ron, dear. Sit down and I'll have breakfast ready in a second.

"Hey!" Harry exclaimed, "I know I may not be that good looking, but you don't need to insult me by comparing me to Ron."

Mrs. Weasley spun around at this, finally noticing Harry. She dropped her wand, squeezed the life out of him, and exclaimed, "Harry! I've been waiting so long to hear you say that!"

"Yes, I know. Do you mind terribly?"

"No, I am proud to be considered for the position. Of course, this means I'll be treating you like one of my boys."

"I'm sure. I better behave; I wouldn't want a howler from you."

"Yes, well go have a seat and I'll be done in a minute."

He went to the table and noticed a hurried shutting of three Weasley mouths, belonging to Fred, George, and Ginny. There was an easy silence while Mrs. Weasley finished the breakfast and served them. The array of food was light, but decent for a Weasley breakfast. Harry imagined it was because Mrs. Weasley had a lot of food to cook for that night. Harry didn't mind.

"Looks like you owe me that sickle, Ron," Harry teased.

"Looks like you owe me that sickle too, Harry," he shot back, "I saw her drop her wand first."

"Hermione is supposed to arrive soon," Mrs. Weasley said, breaking the silence. "Then we can all go to see Harry's birthday present."

"What is it?" Fred, George, and Ginny said at the same time.

"You'll see," she replied with a grin.

Breakfast was finished quickly, and Mrs. Weasley had no sooner set the dishes to washing themselves when Hermione knocked on the front door. Ron got up from his spot on the couch to answer it.

"Hermione! So good to see you! Come on in!" Ron exclaimed, shutting the door behind her.

"Hello Ron, Harry, Ginny, Fred and George, what's going on? Where's your mother, Ron?" Hermione asked.

"She's in the kitchen cleaning up breakfast. Are you hungry?"

"No, I ate before I left, but thank you. I'll just be taking my stuff up myself, since you boys never jumped up to do it for me," she chastised. All four boys stood up and grabbed for her bags, but Ron got there first, since he was right behind her.

"Here, Hermione, Let me carry them for you," he said, then bounded up the stairs to Ginny's room.

"Well, what are we waiting for? I though we were going to see Harry's birthday present?" Hermione asked.

"We are, dear. Just as soon as Ron gets back down here," Mrs. Weasley responded, coming from the kitchen.

"You know what it is?" Ginny questioned the older girl.

"Of course I know what it is! I helped pick it out too," she explained.

Ron reappeared down the stairs, fully dressed and cleaned up.

"Well, let's go then," Hermione said, "He's back now."

The Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry flooed to Diagon Alley, and then walked into muggle London. They walked about a block, and stopped in front of a rather nice building complex. Mrs. Weasley pulled out a key and opened the front door. They walked up two flights of stairs, and down a short corridor before stopping at a white door with a brass number plate. The number was 1777. Mrs. Weasley opened the door and they stepped inside.

The flat was bare and empty. Harry felt a wave of magic wash over him. Unsure of whether this was supposed to happen or not, he said nothing.

"Why are we here?" Fred asked.

"Why, this is our new flat!" Ron excitedly replied.

"WHAT!" Fred, Ginny, and George shouted.

"You heard me."

"Why do they get a new flat? What do you mean by 'our'?" Ginny asked.

"Well, Harry's going to need a place to live, right? And Harry, Hermione, and I will be living here," Ron explained.

"Well, I haven't decided that yet Ron," Hermione stated.

"Let's have a tour," Mrs. Weasley said, walking further into the place.

They had walked into the living room of the flat. It was decent sized, not huge, but big enough for almost ten people to fit comfortably in. They moved into the kitchen, which was about the same size as the living room, and completely furnished with major appliances. There was a refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, and a dining table that was made of some type of dark wood. Hermione admired the table for a moment; it truly was beautiful with matching chairs. After the kitchen, they opened the first door in the hallway. This was the loo, and it was pretty small. The toilet was right next to the sink, but there was a combination shower tub. There was a small window on the far wall, and a mirror above the sink.

The next three rooms revealed a two medium sized and one large bedrooms with full sized beds, dressers, and decent sized closets. They each had one window. The last room revealed a study with a desk, bookcase, and spare closet.

"Well, it may be small and bare now, but that's nothing compared to what Mum can do with it," Harry said as they returned to the kitchen, "especially when she's got my fortune to spend."

"Harry, I don't need your fortune to fix this place up," Mrs. Weasley said, blushing a deep Weasley red.

"Nonsense! Spare no expense! I want this place to be beautiful. Oh, and the last bedroom on the right is mine," he added.

"Hey! That's the biggest one!" Ron loudly complained.

"Yes, well, it is my birthday present after all," Harry haughtily stated.

"I picked it out!" Ron whined.

"I called it first!"

"So?"

"We should head back," Mrs. Weasley suddenly said, effectively breaking up their argument as only a mother can. "There's a party to prepare for."

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Harry came in to the kitchen after a long, tiring Quidditch match between all of the Weasley brothers. They had even managed to get Percy onto a broom. Harry could still remember Ron telling him that Percy had come home at the beginning of last year and apologised, but still didn't live with them, much to the chagrin of Mrs. Weasley. Harry guessed that he liked living outside of his mother's influence, for the most part; however, he knew that Mrs. Weasley had taken upon herself to drop by with food every few days.

And speaking of Mrs. Weasley, there were no words to describe the wonderful array of foods that she was preparing for his birthday party. Mr. Weasley had conjured a large gazebo in the paddock they owned, and Fred and George had forbid Harry to go near it. Every once in a while, they would pop in for the food items that Mrs. Weasley had finished. Harry was slightly worried as he watched them.

Ron and Hermione had disappeared as well, but Harry had a good idea where they had gone off to. Since they started dating at the end of last year, he had noticed them sneaking off at odd times. He didn't mind, it stopped their rowing and they acted mostly normal around the others.

Harry made his way up the stairs and into the shower. After a short wash, he made his way quickly into Ron's room with a towel wrapped around his waist, thankful that he didn't run into Ginny or Mrs. Weasley. Of course, he figured they were used to it by now.

Nothing could prepare him, however, for the nasty shock he received when he looked in the mirror after getting dressed. Somehow, Fred and George had managed to change his hair colour to a bright Weasley red, change his eye colour to a bright blue, and give him a whole load of freckles across his face. In fact, if he wasn't mistaken, he could have passed for Ron, if he had been taller. He groaned loudly and made his way down the stairs anyway.

There was quite a shock from the family when he arrived in the living room. First, there came choruses of "Ron!" followed by laughter from the real Ron who had come up behind Harry, Hermione in tow.

"I've often wondered actually," Hermione began, to a chorus of groans. "What?" she said.

"We've known you too long, that's a cue that you're going to go all thinky," Ron told her.

"Thinky. You mean intelligent?"

"That's the one."

"I've wondered," she glared at them all. "Why it is that Harry can look so much like Ron at times. It's rather scary, if you think about it. I mean it's not as if they are remotely related-"

"Oh, but we are, dear Hermione," Ron casually replied. "See, back a few decades ago, my great great great aunt married into the Potter line, or something like that. Pure Weasley traits had she, until the black hair, pale complexion, and scrawniness took over. Harry's like my sixth cousin on Dad's side. Potter's an old pureblood name after all. Maybe not as old as Malfoy-"

"Oh don't go and ruin the day by mentioning Malfoy," Harry cut in.

"Hey, it's bad enough I just found out we're distantly related to him. All the purebloods are. I thought you all knew that!" Ron stated with a look of disgust on his face. "Of course, Potters aren't related to Malfoys, that would cause a riot and possibly a lot of deaths. You know, Malfoy being the epitome of evil, and Potters the epitome of good."

"Yes well, you're worth twelve of Malfoy, Ron," Hermione said, placing a kiss on his cheek while she spoke.

"Ugh! Hermione! No one wants to see that!" Ginny called from the corner where she was sitting. Hermione had the grace to blush and look away.

"Hey," George said, "Ron used a big word! Out little Ronniekins is all grown up and using words like epitome. Next he'll be using spiffing and corking and pompous."

"Shut it, George," Ron said.

The party soon got underway, with all the Weasleys in attendance, including Bill and Charlie. Harry had a very interesting conversation with Charlie about Norbert, the Norwegian Ridgeback, who seemed to have become the alpha male in camp. Bill was off helping the twins prepare the gazebo.

At about half past five, as if on cue, there was a knock at the door. Percy got up from his spot on the couch to answer it, and suddenly Professor Lupin, Headmaster Dumbledore, Tonks, Neville, Seamus, and Dean came in to the living room. Choruses of hellos greeted them.

"Where's Harry?" Seamus and Dean asked at the same time.

"The twins haven't destroyed him yet, have they?" Professor Lupin asked, glancing around the room.

"Well," the Headmaster said, "It is not everyday we see the Weasley resemblance on a Potter."

"Hah! I should've known you wouldn't be fooled Headmaster!" Ron exclaimed, shoving Harry forward.

"Hello everyone," Harry said. His ears had turned bright red like Ron's did when he was embarrassed.

"Harry! What have they done to you? Honestly, I think enough Weasleys have gone through Hogwarts in the past few years!" Neville proclaimed.

"Yes well, apparently Hogwarts' has one more, now," he replied, "And just imagine if they had done this my fifth year. Five Weasleys on the Quidditch pitch! Lee would have had a field day."

"Yes I can hear it now! Weasley passes the quaffle to Johnson! Johnson streaks toward the goal only to lose it to Slytherin! Slytherin in possession, nice bludger work by Weasley and Weasley! Slytherin shoots for the goal and it's blocked by Weasley! Oh and what's that there? Weasley has seen the snitch! He goes after it and the Malfoy is blocked by the work of beater Weasley and beater Weasley! Weasley blocks another goal, and Weasley has got the snitch! Weasle- I mean Gryffindor wins!"

"Yes I suppose that would be about how it goes. You forgot all those goals by chaser Weasley though," piped Ginny from her corner. "Oh yeah, and then there was that whole Quidditch ban thing, so there really was a Weasley catching the snitch!"

"Oh thanks, Ginny," Harry replied, feigning anger. He threw a pillow at her for good measure.

"What are we to do Dean? Now we've got two Weasleys to deal with. You know, they even kind of look alike without the red hair and freckles. You sure you're a Potter, Harry?" Seamus teased.

"I hope so! Otherwise I'll have gone from being an orphan to having too many relatives to name. I think I'd rather be a Potter!" Unfortunately for him, Mrs. Weasley had come in at this statement. Her eyes clouded up as she called them for dinner. She quickly turned away so that no one would see. Harry, however, was very perceptive and caught her crying as she left the room. He felt awful for not thinking about what he was saying. Harry vowed to make it up to them later.

"Well now," Dumbledore observed, "It seems that Mrs. Weasley has outdone herself. What are we waiting for? It is not everyday that one enjoys such fine dining." The group laughed and made their way out to the gazebo. "Harry, may I have a word."

"Yes sir?" he replied.

"It has recently been brought to my awareness that you no longer have to return to your relatives' home." Harry laughed at this; he knew that nothing ever escaped the Headmaster's notice. "I'm sure you know that I have been somewhat of your guardian in the Wizarding world for the past sixteen years. I should tell you that every year since your first year at Hogwarts, Mrs. Weasley has begged for permission to adopt you, and yesterday she asked once again. I know you already understood why this couldn't happen before. Now, however, since you are of age in this world, you have a choice. We can continue our relationship as it is now, or you can be adopted by the Weasleys. This means that you no longer have to spend holidays at Hogwarts, which I daresay will be a pleasant change."

"What will it change, though? Now that I'm of age and all, what does it matter?"

"Harry, my boy, I know that it may seem to be no big deal, but imagine the benefits to yourself. You'll have a real family. They already care about you a great deal. At the end of your fifth year I explained to you the mistakes I have made. I only wish I could have sent you to a loving home. Please, allow me to remedy this situation now."

"What about after Hogwarts?"

"Well, I imagine that you would want to live in your new flat. This is mostly just a formality, after all."

"And I'll be able to come here for Christmas and Easter holidays? No exceptions, no ideas about me being safer at Hogwarts?"

"Harry if you choose to spend your holiday here I could not stop you, especially if the Weasleys adopt you."

"Fine then. But I get to tell them, in my own way."

"That is fine, my boy. I suggest you tell them during your coming of age speech."

"I have to give a speech!"

"Of course! It is Wizarding tradition to give a speech when you come of age."

"Well I wish someone would have warned me!"

"Impromptu speeches are always better. Now, let us go and sample Molly's fine cooking, shall we?"

As they made their way to the gazebo, Harry turned to Professor Dumbledore and said, "Sir, I know this may seem a bit stupid coming from me, but thank you for looking out for me all those years. I know that I may not agree with you not telling me stuff all the time, but I know that you did the best with the resources available to you. Thank you for providing me with protection and thank you for stopping at nothing to get me to Hogwarts."

Dumbledore stopped, turned to Harry, looked him in the eye, and said, "You are most welcome, Harry. I am so proud of you." Harry swore he saw a tear in the old man's eye before he turned away.

They reached the gazebo and cries of "Happy Birthday Harry!" nearly knocked him off his feet. Fred and George had really outdone themselves, with red and gold and green streamers, balloons, and confetti suspended near the ceiling. They pointed to a chair at the head of the table. It had his name on it, which was no surprise to him.

"What did you guys do to the chair, Fred? George?"

"Oh, we'll never tell, Harry. You'll just have to sit down and find out!" He obliged, thinking that it couldn't be that bad. Nothing happened.

"Tuck in, Harry!"

Dinner passed without incident, but that didn't put Harry off his guard. He was wary of all the food he consumed, and of course the location of the twins at all times. Finally, the Headmaster cleared the dishes from the table, and cake and ice cream appeared. Harry cut the cake, placing slices on plates with ice cream, and passing them down the table. As he rose to take the final piece to Mrs. Weasley, he felt a cold trickling down the back of his neck, much like a disillusionment charm. The table gasped in surprise.

"Did I disappear? Turn Slytherin colors? Give me a mirror," he patiently sighed. Hermione handed him one.

It wasn't as bad as he thought. He still looked like a Weasley, but now he had a light gold tint all over his body, so he thought, and his face was done in red. "I knew I was just giving you two ideas!" he laughed, and a party hat appeared on his head. After delivering the cake to Mrs. Weasley, he sat back down to enjoy his own. He struck up a conversation with Neville, who was sitting closest to him on the right. "So, Nev, what are your plans for after Hogwarts? Oh and Happy Birthday. Yesterday, right?"

"Yeah, but how did you know?"

"I picked it up somewhere," he winked.

"I want to open my own greenhouse, Harry. I just have to have the funding for it since my Gram doesn't think it a respectable profession. She wants me to go into the ministry or be an auror."

"Well, I think you'll be a great gardener. I'll have to have you supply me with stuff when I figure out what I want to do. Maybe I'll sell potions for a living. Won't that make Snape angry?"

"I can just imagine his face now," Ron said, joining their conversation. "A herbologist, Neville? I don't think there's been one of those in your family for ages!"

"Three generations, at least," he explained.

"Well, it is a respectable position at any rate. Always in need of plants," Ron explained with a mouth full of cake.

"Ron! Don't talk with your mouth full!" Harry laughed, as Mrs. Weasley and Hermione both chastised him at the same time.

"How are things between you and Luna, Neville?" Ron asked, after swallowing the cake. "Pity she couldn't make it tonight."

"Actually, It's going great. She's in Sweden looking for one of those non-existent creatures again."

"Good to hear, mate! I think you'll be the first of us waiting at the end of the aisle."

"Well, I haven't quite thought that far ahead, Ron. I want to graduate and start my greenhouse too, you know."

"Yeah, but she'll be right there behind you, except of course when she's dragging you to Sweden."

"Very funny, Ron, you should be careful about Hermione. She'll have you in every library in the world."

"Don't give her ideas Neville!" The whole table laughed.

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Later, after all the cake was gone, and the plates cleared once again, Harry found himself in front of a rather large pile of presents. He grabbed the first one, and tore off the packaging. It was from Tonks, and contained a book called Defence against the Dark Arts: A Practical Guide to Teaching Others. Strangely, it was written by Professor Dumbledore. "What's this for?" he asked.

"Well, Harry, if you want to, we would like you to start up you extracurricular club again." the headmaster explained, "Many students would benefit from your tutoring."

"I'll have to think about that one. Last year was fine, but this year is going to be busier than ever. Thanks, Tonks." He reached for the next package, which was from Seamus. It contained a full set of Quidditch gear and a guide to dangerous seeker moves.

"You're not supposed to go giving him ideas Seamus!" Ginny cried.

"Brilliant Seamus!" Ron countered. Hermione glared at him. Harry quickly grabbed another present.

This one was from Remus. Harry pulled off the wrapping and found three books, one of all the pranks that the Marauders had ever pulled off, one was his Dad's journal, and the other his Mum's journal. His eyes became teary as he held the journals. "Thank you, Remus. You don't know how much this means to me." The girls at the table all looked like they would cry with him, so he moved on to the next one.

From Neville, he received a new broomstick servicing kit, and one that was top of the line too. The box said that all professionals used it for their brooms. "Thanks, Neville. I haven't had a chance to get your present, I ordered it, but I've been unable to make it to Diagon Alley. I'll have to owl it to you."

Neville mumbled his thanks, and something that vaguely sounded like "can't believe he remembered".

Dean got him a box of assorted muggle sweets, and a box of assorted Wizarding sweets. Harry shared these around the table, expressing his thanks to Dean.

Ron had given him another present, this time it was a broom sleeve that had his name and 'seeker' embroidered onto the velvet. With a "Thank you, Ron," he moved on to the next box.

Hermione had outdone herself and given him a whole collection of Dark Arts books, including the curse book that he had seen before his first year. "This is great, Hermione. It will probably give me lots of ideas for when I return to the Dursleys' next summer." He surreptitiously winked at Dumbledore.

"Harry! You wouldn't dare!" she shrieked.

"No, probably not, but they do deserve it," he calmly stated, reaching for the next present. This one was from all three of the eldest Weasley boys. They had gone in on a number of dark detectors, including a Foe Glass, a sneakoscope, and a Kerner Dark Detector, as well as many other useful objects. "There seems to be a common theme here, I think. Either you're all trying to warn me about Tom Riddle, or you're all trying to get me to teach. Very sneaky lot, you are."

"Oh we would never do a thing like that, Harry," Hermione said.

Calls of "Never!" came from around the table. He stared them down and many of them looked at the floor.

"Yeah, right. What's next?" Hermione handed him Ginny's present. He tore off the paper and found himself the owner of a brand new journal. It was made of deerskin, or so the cover said, and it had been dyed black. "Thank you, Ginny. This will be quite useful."

"I'll be giving you the rest of your present later," she smirked.

Choruses of laughter and cat calls came from the rest of the guests. Ginny's brothers looked threateningly at Harry, who quickly turned red and moved to the next gift. This was from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. He received the rest of the keys to his flat, as well as instructions about the wards and passwords and protections involved on the property.

Fred and George gave him an assortment of their products, with specific instructions to not eat any of the green ones himself.

Last, but not least, he opened the gift from Professor Dumbledore. It was rather large, and heavy. When he opened it, there was a pensieve looking up at him. It already had memories floating around inside it, and there were several letters inside the box. "Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome Harry. I think it may be time for your speech now, don't you think?"

"Yeah, er... I guess so." He stood up, and everyone looked expectantly at him.

"Go on, Harry," Mr. Weasley called from the other end of the table.

Well, here goes nothing, he thought. "I'd like to first thank you all for being here tonight, and for the wonderful gifts. I am glad to have you all here to witness this. First of all, to Neville, Dean, and Seamus-you have been the best roommates anyone could ask for. Thanks for putting up with me. To Tonks, Remus, Bill, Charlie, and Percy- I know you want me to teach, so you might as well come out with it. It's still a possibility. Thank you all for being there for me in the past years.

"To Ron and Hermione- you've been my best friends for six years, and we now enter our seventh. I am so happy that you have found love in each other, and you still have some to share. May we have many more years together!

"To Fred and George- just remember that revenge is oh so sweet. Oh and keep up the good work with the shop. Have you run out of ideas yet?"

"No way, Harry!" they said in unison.

"Right then," he continued, "Ginny, I would like to say my bit to you later, away from these ears." She turned bright red at this, and mumbled into the table. The others laughed again.

He continued again, "Professor Dumbledore, you have taken care of me in the Wizarding world all these years. I cannot thank you enough for looking out for me. I would relieve you of your duty, but I know that you would continue it anyway.

"I have a father and a mother who are watching me from wherever they are. I know that nothing can take the place of them," he moved down towards Mrs. Weasley at this, and kneeled at her feet. "I know that you've asked the Headmaster every year to adopt me, and I would like to be the one to grant you permission, if you'll still have me. I may feel loss over my parents, and I may feel cheated because I never got to have them, but I tell you that everyday the pain becomes less. The pain becomes less because you are in my life. You're the best parents I ever had. I'm proud to call you Mum and Dad, and I'm happy that you call me your son."

Sobs were heard around the table, as Mrs. Weasley pulled him to his feel and hugged him as only a mother can. Harry felt arms encircle around his back as Mr. Weasley joined them. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hermione and Ron holding on to one another, and all his new siblings hugging and giving each other high fives. The other adults were teary, except for Tonks, who had broken into wails and was easily heard over all the others. His best surprise came when Ginny broke the circle of her parents and kissed him soundly in front of everyone. Harry turned bright red as the cries turned to cheers. He couldn't remember ever feeling so happy.

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Later that evening, after dishes had been put away, and Harry had returned to his normal self, he hid himself away in his room. He could only take so much company, and his birthday had put him way over his limits. Ever since Sirius died, he had shut himself off from people for long periods of time. It wasn't that he didn't like them, he just didn't want them to get hurt, and he didn't want to get dependent on people now that he was older and away from the Dursleys'. The only thing good about them was that they had made him completely independent and self-sufficient.

The thing he hated most about the Dursleys was that they had made him completely independent and self-sufficient. He couldn't remember the exact moment that he stopped trying to make them love him as much as his cousin, but he guessed that he was around six, after his first year of school. Every assignment, every paper, every drawing of his ended up in the bin, while everything of Dudley's was praised and stuck to the fridge. He finally realized that it didn't matter, that he was worthless to them, and he started to dream of life with his parents.

He had imagined that they were alive, that they didn't know he survived the accident, and if he could just get access to the phone, or someone, that they could notify his parents that he really was alive, and they could come and get him. After his aunt caught him talking aloud to them in the garden, she put a stop to that idea right away. He began to realize many things after that. If he cried, there was no one to comfort him, and most of the time he got beat for it. Uncle Vernon used to like to 'give him something to cry about'. Food was a precious commodity, and if he found some, he was to eat it quickly lest his cousin snatch it from him. At least once a day he got a lecture on how worthless his parents were and how lucky he was to be under their roof, and he better be grateful that he wasn't in a horrible orphanage like he should be. After a few months, his hope vanished. Until he turned 11, and received the mysterious letter that turned out to be from Hogwarts.

After he started dating Ginny, he found himself opening up more, showing love more, and looking for others approval more. She changed him, and helped heal the emotional scars from his childhood. He became more in love with her every day.

After putting his things away, Harry laid down on his bed. He was just about to fall asleep when his bedroom door opened and Ginny stepped into the room.

"Are you awake Harry?" she softly called.

"No, I'm talking in my sleep," he replied.

"Harry!" she laughed, "Don't tease me."

"Did you have another nightmare?"

"No, I came to visit you. Hermione is in Ron's room, so I figured I could sneak away. I don't think she'll be back to notice."

"Well, come over here then, you might as well stay." She joined him on the bed, and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Happy birthday Harry."

"Thanks, love. It was the best birthday ever." He leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"What are you going to tell me in your speech?"

"Huh? Oh yeah. Just that I love you, and you're beautiful, and all that mushy stuff that boyfriends are supposed to say."

"Oh thanks."

"What's the other part of my present?"

"I'm here, aren't I? Isn't that enough?"

"No," he replied, turning away from her.

"Harry, I love you."

"Say it again."

"I love you."

"Again."

"I love you, you great prat. How many times do I have to say it?"

"About a million times a million."

"Why so many?"

"Because it sounds so beautiful coming from your lips, he said turning towards her.

"Well then I'll say it over and over again, just to please you."

"I love you," he breathed, capturing her lips with his. He turned onto his back and pulled her on top of him. They kissed softly several times, before Harry felt her tongue seeking entrance to his mouth. Their tongues duelled fiercely while each tried to pull the other closer. He gave an animalistic growl and flipped so that she was below him. They became a mass of arms, legs, and lips.

"Harry," she breathed. "Harry, we've got to stop."

"Don't wanna."

"We have to. Our relationship isn't ready for this."

He groaned and rolled off of her. "This is torture. I know we're not ready, but I can't help it. You make me crazy."

"Well you make me crazy too," she replied.

Harry pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her once more. He breathed in the scent of her, like fresh apples and vanilla. The night wore on, and soon he heard the rhythmic breathing that indicated she was asleep. Harry relaxed further against her, tracing the outline of her arm under the sheets with his hand. He soon drifted off to join her in dreamland.