The Next Great Prophecy

Harry

July seemed to roll around faster than normal that year. The trees were the colour of emeralds and the sky as bright as the future. The ever-mixing scents of honeysuckle and lavender perfumed the garden of the Burrow, as Mrs Weasley and Hermione Granger were working endlessly to create the perfect eighteenth birthday for Harry.

On the other hand, Harry himself was away from all of this, locked away in the attic, trying to ignore the moaning ghoul, who was still clad in pyjamas and spots.

The picture he had found in Remus's pocket was all he had to remind himself of before. The ministry had taken all other photographs and relics from Harry's early life, to study and use as evidence. Kingsley was doing his best to have this process sped up, but unfortunately the Office of Magical Warfare and History saw no rush.

Luckily, Harry discovered the photograph long after the aurors had left Hogwarts. Well, it had actually been Luna who had noticed something in pocket.

The photo displayed the original Order of the Phoenix, and with some magic, the new members and Dumbledores Army had their way into the portrait as well. Harry's mothers arm was resting on Harry's shoulder, and his father was ruffling his hair, making it even messier than normal.

Harry felt his glasses getting steamy, and stood up at the same moment as Ron burst through the trapdoor.

"Bloody hell, Harry. We invited you to come over for the summer to enjoy yourself, not spend a week moping in the attic with a pathetic ghoul." Said Ron, almost exasperatedly.

"Yeah, well, Ron, I apologise if I don't look your textbook picture of Happy Harry right now. And you can't blame me, to be honest." Snapped Harry.

Ron put his hands up, as if in surrender. "Look, I'm sorry, I really am, but it's your birthday and my mother, Hermione, Ginny and Fleur have worked their backsides off all afternoon to make this a special day for you. Even Dad had to make a special effort to get out of work for this."

Harry felt a pang in his heart, and was instantly sorry for his selfish actions. "You know what... You're right. I'll be down now."

This put a smile on Rons face, as he descended the ladder again.

Five minutes and a change of clothes later, Harry made his way down to the living room.

"HARRY!" Beamed Mrs Weasley, throwing her arms out for a hug, "I almost forgot you were here."

Harry chuckled and hugged back, doing the same for Hermione and Fleur (who also felt the need to give him a kiss and say "Oh... 'Arry") and finally kissing Ginny on the cheek.

He then shook hands with Bill, Charlie, George and got tackled into a hug from Hagrid.

"A lot of families are going through a lot at the moment," said Mrs Weasley, "So I tried to keep the guest list as small as possible, if that's okay."

"Perfect." Smiled Harry.

"Luna and Neville should be arriving in about half and hour." Smiled Hermione.

Harry was about to respond when Ginny took his hand. "Can I talk to you?" She asked softly.

"Of course you can." Replied Harry.

Ginny then led him upstairs into her bedroom, away from everyone.

Harry turned to close the door, but was surprised to see Hermione walk in as well.

"I apologise for the intrusion.. But I must have a conversation with the both of you, and I have a suspicion that I want to say the same thing as Ginny."

Harry then knew what they were going to say, straight away.

Hermione took a deep breath "You're not happy, Harry. I can tell. Everyone can."

Harry felt a weird feeling in his chest, "What are you talking about?"

"Well... It's just something I've thought about for quite a few years. How could someone young through so much, not be unhappy. It's because you've always had something to take your mind off it. But it's over now. Everything. And seven years of emotions are going to come pouring out of you."

Harry looked towards Ginny, "So.. Is this what you were going to say as well?"

Ginny gulped, "I-I couldn't have put it better myself."

Harry wasn't really sure how to respond. "Maybe.... Maybe you're right... I don't know..."

"You know what I think, don't you?" Snapped Ginny, "I think you're being rather selfish. Look at you, everyone's trying to get over the pain of the war, and there's you acting like everyone else did when the war was actually happening. Look at George. He's lost his other half. Do you see him moping around in the attic? No. He's moving on, yes, he will never be the same again, and I doubt you will either. But you need to stop living in the pain of the past and keep moving forward."

Harry had no words for what Ginny just said, so he did what he probably should've done anyway. He ran over and kissed Ginny.

And in that moment everything disappeared. There was no death. There was only love and happiness and fireworks and sun and her... She was always here. Here forever and always. When Ginny let go it felt like a dream had been snapped out of his hands.

Ginny stood on tiptoes and peered over Harry's head. "Okay, she's gone." Said Ginny and Harry laughed.

Ginny and Harry then continued, until Harry caught his foot on the end of the bed and they both tumbled on top of it.

Ginny smirked and laughed "Pushing girls on the bed are we?"

Harry laughed at the joke, but still felt embarrassed and shot up immediately.

"I expect it's party time now." Said Harry, as he Ginny made their way out the door and downstairs.

The next few hours were a blur of old friends, food and dancing under the stars. Although it was simple. Just being with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Neville, Hagrid and all the Weasleys, made this the best birthday he had ever had.

The following weeks started to drag on however. Harry began to lose count of the days, and each day blended into the next.

It wasn't until the middle of August, that anything remotely exciting had happened, since the party. And what happened, was probably one of the best moments of Harry's life.

The roller coaster of happiness was unlike any other when Mrs Weasley handed Harry an envelope with the Hogwarts seal on it.