a/n: This is a much needed chapter. It was definitely fun to write and I am very proud of it. I just hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

As much as they despised Hermione's bickering of early bedtimes a week before going back to school, they were all grateful they had listened. The week had flown by faster than they had realized. Harry and Ron sat on one of the beds staring at the floor, their trunks on the opposite bed, strewn with clothes.

Not a word was spoken between them as they sat there in silence. Both knew that going back to school meant new and possibly more difficult challenges lay in front of them. They were just now understanding and exploring their relationship, and they felt like now they were going to have to start all over again.

Ron placed his hand warmly on Harry's knee, breaking them from their trance. Harry looked up, gazing deeply into Ron's eyes. As a tear threatened to escape Harry's eyes, he leaned in and vigorously kissed Ron's soft lips, knowing that it could be their last for a long while.

A gentle knock on the door broke them from their breaking emotions and they jumped up quickly, haphazardly throwing clothes into their trunks, as Hermione walked in. She shook her head briefly at their lack of progress, causing them both to blush severely. "It's ok," she informed them. "I understand how you both must feel and I can't be mad at you...this time." And she smiled at her last remark.

Hermione strode over to the bed and motioned for them to sit down again. Harry and Ron slid their trunks back a bit to sit on the bed in front of Hermione. As the silence threatened to take over again, Ginny knocked and walked in as well. She sat next to Hermione, looking around and taking it all in.

"Everything is going to change now, isn't it?" Ginny asked rhetorically.

They all nodded, and Harry looked to the floor again. It seemed to him that every time he found happiness, it was ripped from him. A silent tear fell from his eyes and Ron placed his arm over his shoulders, causing Harry to sit up and lean in to his embrace.

"Have you decided where to go from here?" Hermione asked, seeing the sadness in their eyes.

"It's not that easy," stated Harry. "You, of all people, must understand the variables at stake."

"I'll forget you just said that," Hermione said, shaking her head at Harry's comment.

"There are ways around everything," Ginny chimed in. "Just look at all your previous years at Hogwarts. You all managed to find a way around every rule, a way out of every situation..."

They all nodded in agreement, and she continued, with a look to Harry, "and you always ended up on top." Seeing Ron's blush, she added with a laugh, "No pun intended!"

A half-hearted laugh filled the room and Hermione stood to help her boys with their trunks. Ginny followed suit, folding the strewn clothing as Hermione tidied the rest of each trunk. Feeling bad about being the last with their trunks, Harry and Ron both stood and finished with their packing, appreciating all the help they were receiving.

After snapping the locks on the now very heavy trunks, the four pitiful teenagers headed downstairs to meet Mrs. Weasley. They informed her that all four trunks were ready to be levitated downstairs and proceeded outside to enjoy the last light of the last day of relationship freedom.

Finding a secluded spot of soft grass, Harry and Ron laid in each other's arms, with Hermione and Ginny on either side of them. Harry adjusted a little closer, enjoying Ron's scent and his warmth. He tried to memorize the musk and the soft movements Ron's chest made as it rose and fell in case this really was the last night.

With their trunks downstairs and ready to go, and food filling their bellies, Harry and Ron laid in the darkness of Ron's room, both unable to sleep. Their minds spun wildly as the dread of the next day filled their every thought. Harry looked over to Ron as he heard him clear his throat.

"I don't want this to end, Harry," he said with a sigh.

"Neither do I."

"I know we haven't talked about this yet, but..."

"But what, Ron?" Harry asked with curiosity at Ron's pause.

"Do you think you might want to spend the night together?"

Harry laughed. "We are spending the night together," he said, with a barely seen smile.

Ron's pillow quickly collided with his head. "I was being serious, you prat," Ron said, laughing from embarrassment.

"I know, Ron. I just couldn't resist." Harry was shaking with laughter now as he sat up and looked over to Ron. "But yeah, I would like that."

As he stood, making his way silently to Ron's bed, Ron whispered sternly to him. "Don't forget my pillow."

"But I thought it was mine now," Harry pouted with a smile.

"Prat!" Ron growled as Harry crawled in to bed with him, handing him the pillow.

"Sorry mate, but you left it open again."

Ron hit him with the pillow again before placing is hastily under his head. As his head sunk softly and comfortably, he felt warm lips touch his own. Harry's soft lips gently brushed againstRon's and a shiver shot down his spine. As they broke apart, Ron let out a shuddering gasp.

Harry shifted, raising his upper body off the bed slightly. Leaning on his elbow, he firmly squeezed Ron's upper thigh, causing Ron to let out another shuddering gasp. Harry smiled before kissing Ron again. As their snogging grew with fervor, Harry pushed Ron onto his back, and rolled himself on top of him.

Ron's head felt light as the blood rushed from it. He felt like he was floating and he had to unwillingly break away from Harry's lips to catch his breath.

"Are we - really - going - to do - this?" he asked between rushed breaths.

"Only if you want to," Harry said with assurance.

Ron kissed Harry passionately, sinking in to his warmth and tenderness. There was no other place in the world that he wanted to be more at that moment. He broke away briefly again needing to tell Harry one thing before his mind completely stopped functioning from the blood loss.

"Harry, - the summer is officially over - and I just want to tell you..." he said with deep breaths.

"This is the best summer of my life!" Harry stated with a smile.

"Stole the words right from my lips," Ron said as Harry kissed up his neck.

"That's not all I'm going to steal from your lips," Harry said friskily.

"Tonight I'm all yours," Ron said, his breath catching in his throat as Harry began to roll him over onto his stomach, arching his arse upwards.

A smile played acrossRon's lips as Harry sat up behind him.He pulled Harry's pillow closer to him and inhaled the scent deeply. This really is the best summer of my life, he thought to himself. A summer of love.

a/n: Now don't get too mad at me for what I'm about to say. This is the final chapter. ducks from the objects thrown by fans I said don't get mad! Ok so it's understandable. I didn't expect to end it here either. To explain myself, all I can say is that it was brought to my attention that this story was titled "Summer..." and the summer was over. Also, I always tell you all I will write until it feels finished, well it feels finished.

Now before you all throw more things at me... This isn't the official end though! This is just the end of this particular story. There will be a sequel. Don't ask me when because I haven't decided yet. I need to get some ideas together and try and get caught up on some other stories and tasks I've neglected. But I repeat: There will be a sequel! I hope you all enjoyed this part of the story while it lasted. )

a/n 2: Just a quick note/reminder...the reason the updates were so quick was because I had already written Chapters 1-8 on another site and was playing catch up. Now that I am caught up, the chapters will be extremely slow as you now have to wait as long as the readers on the other site. However, the updates will be in a different story now that this one is over. Keep an eye out for the sequel!