All characters in the following story are property of J.K. Rowling.
Harry sat alone in his four poster bed at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, his trunk was packed and soon the Hogwarts express would leave to take him and his schoolmates "home." Except that Harry rather felt like he was leaving home. He would return to Number Four Privet Drive once more because Dumbledore wished him to, but he planned to stay two maybe three days before he setoff to Godric's Hollow to visit his parent's graves. He sat here thinking of all he had lost: Both parents, a godfather, and his almost all-knowing mentor, all to the same evil wizard, Lord Voldemort. Harry sighed, he had also broken up with his girlfriend because he had lost everyone he loved to Voldemort and would not let him take Ginny too. He had just sat through Dumbledore's funeral when he told her, to his surprise she said that she understood. Harry knew it was an act, she was hurt, it was in her eyes. The look in those lovely brown eyes is what tortured him now.
"Harry, it's time Harry." Harry looked up to see Neville standing at the door. He nodded and grabbing his trunk and owl, Hedwig's, cage he quietly left the dorm.
Once aboard the train, alone in his compartment, Harry's thoughts again turned to Ginny, he already missed her and the happiness and comfort her mere presence brought. Hermione and Ron were patrolling the corridor, Neville had disappeared soon after boarding, and Ginny was in a compartment with some other fifth year girls. So Harry had nothing to occupy his time, he was pleasantly recalling some of the happier memories of the year. Times he had spent with Ginny, when the door to his compartment opened. Harry looked up to see Ginny standing in the door.
"Can I talk to you, Harry?" she asked timidly. Harry looked at her, astonished that she wanted to talk to him, but nodded anyway. She sat across from him, after closing the door and casting Muffliato on it, and stared at her hands for a long moment. "Harry I know I said I understand, but I don't. I can't be in anymore danger than Ron or Hermione."
"Ginny" Harry said tiredly, "they are my friends. You are much more than that to me. I love you more than I could ever love them, that's why you are in more danger." "Do you swear that's the reason for breaking up with me Harry?" Ginny asked in a fearful whisper.
"You made me happier than I can remember in my life, I can't begin to tell you the peace and joy I feel around you." "Even now" Harry finished quietly. Ginny stared at him slowly shaking her head. "What?" Harry asked half amused and half exasperated. "I will never understand boys" She said. "Harry, last year Dumbledore told us that the bonds of friendship are more important than ever. I was supposed to be your closest friend, how can you break that bond?" she asked.
Harry heard the hurt in her voice and sighed. "I had hoped not to break the bond Ginny, just to keep Voldemort from using you again." Harry said in a defeated voice. "He already used you as bait once, remember?" he asked.
"Of course I remember Harry. You don't forget something like what happened in the Chamber of Secrets quickly!" She spat at him with her voice rising.
Harry cut across her before she could really build up steam. "Ginny you are the most important part of my life now, when he used you before it was because you were my best friend's sister! But there's more to it than that. He chose me to kill him Ginny, The night he tried to kill me he made a choice. The prophecy could have meant another boy entirely but he chose me, and now I've escaped him four times in the last six years. Last time he was at full strength!" Seeing Ginny's look of defiance he held up a hand to stop her from interrupting. "He thinks I'm this terribly powerful wizard Ginny, He'll use any advantage he can get. He's a bloke Ginny, he may not be capable of love or believe in its power but he knows that any bloke will give anything they possess to protect the women they love.
Ginny thought about this for a while and finally said "so you broke up with me to hide me so he can't use me to create a weakness in you at the final duel."
"Yes!!" breathed a relieved Harry.
"You didn't have to break up with me Harry, you could have just told me. We could still date. I just won't go writing in, or listening to; any book that writes back to me." Ginny said with a half grin. In spite of the seriousness on the topic Harry had to laugh. "How is it that she can always make me laugh?" he thought.
"Really Ginny, you know I am lousy at occlumency. I need for you to be safe so that I have something to stay alive for."
Ginny hung her head in defeat. "I know I can't make you change your mind, just promise me you'll consider what I've said okay."
"I promise Ginny" Harry said, after all if that's all she wanted that was easy to give. He wished he could give her everything she dreamed of, but that would have to wait until Voldemort was dead. Ginny nodded and got up to leave looking utterly miserable. "I'll always love you Harry, and no matter what, you always have me to come home to", she said, as the tears began to roll down her cheeks. It was at that moment that Harry broke. In one movement, he stood and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Please, don't leave." He begged her. "Let's enjoy one last train ride before all of this starts." Ginny turned in his arms and kissed him. Harry thought his heart and head would explode, he had missed her so much. He had sworn to himself when she came in that he would be strong, but he couldn't bear to see her cry. They spent the rest of the trip sitting in that compartment holding onto each other for dear life.
That's how Ron and Hermione found them and chose to leave them deciding that they needed this time more than they needed to talk to Harry. All too soon the train slowed and stopped. Harry gently kissed Ginny again before rising to collect his belongings and leaving the train. There on Platform 9 ¾ were Molly and Arthur Weasley, Remus Lupin, Hermione's parents, and many other parents relieved to see their children safely home. Molly immediately grabbed Harry in a tight hug before moving on to her children and Hermione. Arthur shook Harry's hand and informed him that his uncle was waiting by the curb, in the car. Harry always laughed at the horrified look Mr. Wealsey gave him when he told him this. Vernon Dursley hated coming to pick Harry up but the Weasleys thought that he could at least be civil enough to come inside the station. After promising to attend Bill and Fleur's wedding in two weeks Harry pulled Lupin aside. "Profes…uh Remus I need a favor." Remus smiled as Harry caught himself. He had told Harry several times to call him Remus or Mooney but Harry always started to call him Professor.
"Of course Harry, what can I do for you" he asked.
"Well I'd like to visit Godric's Hollow in a couple of days but I don't know how to get there." Harry said.
Lupin smiled "I'll be happy to take you just let me know when." "Thanks" Harry said "I'd like to go day after tomorrow if I can." "Sure" said Lupin, "I'll ..uh pick you up around… say ten a.m.?" "Sounds great, Remus. Oh and I'll make sure to warn my Aunt and Uncle this time" Harry said with a smile. "Good, I'll see you then" said Lupin smiling at the boy who reminded him in so many ways of his father.
Harry turned and walked over to the group of Weasleys and Grangers to say goodbye to Ron and Hermione and assure them again that he would not leave on the search for Horcuxes without them. Having finished with his goodbyes he turned to walk through the barrier and back into the muggle world when he almost ran right over Ginny. "Merlin, Ginny, don't sneak up on me like that." he gasped.
Ginny just smiled sadly and said "I just wanted to thank you for letting me stay with you on the train, I'll miss you Harry Potter." Harry dropped his things and again folded her in his arms. "Thank you Ginny, I don't know when the trip home has been more fun. I'll miss you more than you know." After saying this Harry grabbed his belongings and disappeared through the barrier.
