It was the summer before the trio’s seventh year at Hogwarts and, as usual, they were staying at the Burrow.  However, this summer had been different from the previous ones.   There was a different mood in the house.  There seemed to be less bickering between Hermione and Ron (and Ginny could swear that they were actually being nice to each other).  Ron and Hermione could be seen going off on long walks after dinner and not returning until well after sunset, often returning hand in hand.  Harry and Ginny’s relationship had changed also.  In Harry’s eyes, Ginny was no longer his best friend’s kid sister.  Harry and Ginny would stay up and talk endlessly into the night.  

Ron and Hermione’s relationship blossomed over the first month of their summer vacation.  On one of their long summer walks, Ron seemed particularly nervous around Hermione.  

“Ron what is wrong? You are really quiet tonight” Hermione said after a solid five minutes of silence.  They had been walking hand in hand for the last five minutes, but Ron had not spoken a word.  He was usually filling every moment of their walks with conversations about nothing in particular.  They would talk about their future career options, Quidditch (normally Hermione hated talking about Quidditch, but she enjoyed seeing how excited Ron got about the sport), and what they were going to do during their final year at Hogwarts now that Ron was Head Boy and Hermione was Head Girl.

“Oh, um, it’s nothing really” Ron replied looking down at the ground and kicking a clod of dirt around, “I am just nervous.”

“Nervous? nervous about what?”  Hermione said looking confused.  Their previous evening walks were filled with endless conversation, why was Ron suddenly nervous around her?  
	
“It’s just…” Ron said, stopping mid-sentence.  Hermione was about to respond when he suddenly leaned down and laid a soft kiss on her lips.  

After what seemed like a glorious eternity, Ron pulled away from the chaste kiss.  “I’m, I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have” Ron stuttered, “Maybe we should go back…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Hermione captured his lips into another kiss.  This time, the kiss was more passionate.  Ron suddenly forgot his nervousness and pulled Hermione closer to him.  Ron gently stroked Hermione’s soft brown curls; while she rested her one hand around his neck and her other hand was gently laid on Ron’s chest.  When they finally broke apart, they slowly separated and looked into each other’s eyes.   
“We should go back to the Burrow” The couple said simultaneously, causing each of them to laugh, which lightened the mood considerably.  As they walked back to the Burrow, Ron wrapped his arm around Hermione’s waste causing her to shudder.   

“Hermione, Willyoubemygirlfriend?”  Ron blurted out quickly.  

Hermione felt her insides do a back flip; he had finally asked her the question that she had been waiting for him to ask since fourth year.  

“Of course,” she said as she laid a soft kiss on his cheek.  He pulled her closer to him and they walked back to the Burrow together in silence, both feeling like they had never been closer to each other.  

Unbeknownst to Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny were also growing their relationship that very night also.  It was as if no one else in the world existed but them at that very moment.

***
Back in the sitting room of the Burrow, Harry and Ginny were having another long talk.  They were discussing new prospects for the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

“Come on! you know that Dean would make a perfect Chaser!”  said Harry.

“You know damn well that Dean would never agree to play on the team unless he was the center of attention at all times!”  Ginny retorted.  She loved their little arguments.  They both knew that their arguing was just another way to flirt with each other.  They had been doing a lot of flirting with each other lately.    

I wish he would just shut up and kiss me!  Ginny thought.  They were both obviously head over heals for each other, but neither were brave enough to actually make the first move.

Come on Harry! Harry thought to himself, where is that Gryffindor courage?  Harry had barely heard the last few sentences Ginny had said he was too busy just looking at her.  She is so beautiful he thought to himself.  

“Right, so I was thinking of dying my hair purple and shaving off my eyebrows” said Ginny.

“Sounds good” said Harry absentmindedly.

“Okay, that’s it, I knew that you were not paying attention” replied Ginny with smug smile.  She had finally caught him in the act.  

“Huh, oh what?” said Harry with a confused expression.

“Oh never mind” Ginny said before bursting into a fit of giggles.  She knew that Harry was staring at her, not that she minded, but she was hoping that he would make a move on her tonight.  She was getting fed up with their little flirting games.  

Damn, Harry thought, she caught me staring again.  Okay Potter it is your move, just do it already, he thought to himself.  As he was thinking this he slowly inched over to where Ginny was sitting on the sofa.  

Ginny could feel her heart racing.  She saw him slide himself to within a few inches of her, and could not believe what was finally happening.  

“Ginny,” Harry said as he slowly leaned closer to her, “I really like you.”

Before she had a chance to respond, he kissed her.  She never wanted it to end.  Of course this had not been Ginny’s first kiss, but it was the first kiss were she had felt magic explode within her.  At that very moment she knew Harry was the one for her.  

Harry had not felt anything like it before.  He had kissed Cho once in his fifth year, but it barely could be compared to the kiss that he and Ginny were sharing.  She was so perfect.  We are meant to be together.   They broke apart and Harry pulled Ginny into his arms so that her head lay gently on his chest.

“Harry, I really like you too” Ginny said barely above a whisper.