It was the night before Bill and Fleur's wedding. Harry and I were sitting outside the Burrow. Spirits were high, just for a few days people could forget, they could forget the war, and they could forget Dumbledore's death. Bill and Phlegm's wedding had given everyone a snippet of light in the dark times we were faced with.

I noted the unusual brightness of the moon and how the stars seemed to shine with a vigorous ferocity tonight. It was cool for a Summer's night, the clouds had dispersed earlier this evening, leaving a clear sky suffused with glittering sparkles of light. It appeared to be a good omen, hopefully that meant it wouldn't rain tomorrow. As much as I met Fleur with distaste, I didn't much like the idea of traipsing around in high heeled shoes and a short purple dress on waterlogged grass shelled in mud.

Harry and I were sitting cross legged, side by side, our backs pressed against the wall of the Burrow. We hadn't spoken yet, neither of us felt the need to. It wasn't awkward, just comfortable. Now and then laughter erupted from within the house. The fire whiskey was flowing heavily tonight. It wasn't something we could usually afford but tonight was special. Mum had been worrying for weeks about how we would afford to pay for it all. Luckily, Fleur's parents had offered to help out, originally Mum had refused outright, but things had become desperate and eventually, she reluctantly agreed.

I decided it was time to break the silence, "you're not coming back to Hogwarts are you?"

I knew the answer. Of course he wasn't. Hermione had already told me their grand plan to hunt Horcruxes but I wanted him to tell me himself. I hadn't been surprised when Harry had broken up with me, I knew it was because he was being heroic and I'm glad he did. It gave me a chance to think things over and analyse my own feelings. I had loved Harry for so long. I had been a stupid and naive young girl. It had taken Dumbledore's death and our separation for me to realise it. The truth was I didn't feel for him, now, the way I used to. I still loved Harry, I always would, but we weren't meant to be together and that was that.

He hadn't answered me, "Well?"

He shrugged, "I can't, I've got a job to do, Ginny"

I nodded, "I get it Harry. Just be careful 'kay?" I was glad he had finally told me himself, but would he have told me if I hadn't asked? I didn't think so. Harry was brave, that was for sure, brave when it came to fighting evil, not when it came to girls.

"Always am" He said

I snorted, "Of course you are."

"I am!" He protested.

"Yeah, sure. You need to start using this a bit more" I tapped his forehead "You know you've got a brain for a reason, right?"

Harry pulled a dazed expression and rocked from side to side, I rolled my eyes "Look, just think about things before you go charging in, wand raised"

Harry nodded, "You be careful too, Ginny, now Dumbledore's gone…"

"I'll be fine Harry. Don't worry about me." I paused "Ron and Hermione are going with you aren't they" It wasn't a question, because I knew the answer to that too. It was just something else I wanted him to tell me personally.

"Yeah, they insisted" He grinned sheepishly, "You know sometimes there's just no stopping Ron" I suppressed a smile; his grin was because he was frightened I would kick off. He thought I'd yell at him and tell him not to drag Ron into it.

"I've heard he can be very persuasive at times" I replied.

Harry cocked his head to the side, "Where'd you hear that?"

"Hermione" I said "I'm the only 'girl' friend she has, besides Luna, but you can't exactly have a normal conversation with her"

Harry laughed, "that's true," he paused, with a frown, "Hermione knows she can talk to me though"

"Of course she can, but sometimes she needs the company of a girl, Harry." I looked at him meaningfully, "You know, sometimes you boys can be tactless"

"S'ppose" He bought his knees up to his chest and rested his head on them, his head angled toward me, "Ginny, I need you to promise me something"

"What?"

"Promise?" Harry questioned

I shook my head and resumed the same position as Harry, like that was going to happen, "No, not until I know what it is."

"Don't do anything dangerous while I'm gone.."

"Harry..." I sighed, honestly, he needed to stop trying to protect me. I hated being under estimated.

"No Ginny, let me finish. There's a big chance I might not even make it back, but if I do... I mean, I don't think I'd be able to bear it if anything happened to you. I can't come back to that Ginny. I just can't"

"Look Harry, I'm not promising anything" I paused "but what I will say is this: I'm not an idiot Harry, I'm not going to go out of my way to get myself killed."

Harry sat up and threw his arms in the air "I never said you were Ginny", he sighed, "I'm just saying I can't bear the thought of anything happening to you."

"That's fine Harry" I said, "I'm just telling you not to take me for a fool."

I could tell he was on the verge of relenting, he knew from experience that a Weasley woman wasn't to be argued with.

"Sorry Gin," he gave a small smile, "I just..."

"Forget it Harry, it doesn't matter."

"I suppose we should probably go back inside then, it's a party after all"

I nodded, "Sure." I stood up and held my hand out. He grasped it and I swiftly pulled him to his feet.

He brushed the dust of his trousers and smiled.

"When are you leaving, Harry?"

He shook his head, "I'm not sure. Soon, though."

I sighed and nodded "Well, Good luck." I threw my arms around him "and be careful!"

I couldn't believe it. She was trying to make me go back to Hogwarts. After everything that had happened at the wedding. Over the past couple of days things had suddenly become all too real. The idea of leaving my family didn't thrill me.

"Please, Mum," I whispered, "Don't make me go back."

Platform 9 ¾ was packed as usual, but this time there was a somewhat sober expression in the air. No one knew what was awaiting them at Hogwarts now that Dumbledore was gone. The usual excited anticipation that gripped the Platform had been replaced with fear. It had been announced last night that Severus Snape was the new head master of Hogwarts, it wasn't a comforting prospect.

"Don't be silly dear" She hissed into my ear. I frowned, "You can't actually be serious Mum."

"Of course I'm serious, why an earth wouldn't I be?" She paused and looked at my Dad in the hope of some support, "Oh for goodness sake Arthur!"

He sighed and nodded. "Ginny, my love, it's become compulsory for young witches and wizards to attend a school of magic. You have to go. He Who Must Not Be Named introduced the rule himself." he paused "And your Mother and I are in enough trouble as it is. We're extremely lucky they fell for the ghoul, otherwise we'd have to explain Ron's absence"

I gritted my teeth. Another thing Ron and Harry had mucked up for us. It ruined my chances of skipping school. They had disapparated from The Burrow the minute the Death Eaters turned up. I didn't blame them, of course I didn't, it was imperative that Harry remain free from the clutches of Voldemort but all the same, I couldn't help feeling slightly put out. It was because of Harry that they turned up in the first place.

I was defeated. What choice did I have? My eyes darted to and from both my parents. I felt nothing but sadness every time I looked at them. All the sacrifices they made for us, all the hell they had been put through the past few years. I couldn't give them something else to worry about. It wasn't fair. I relented, "Okay- I loved you both, and I'll see you at Christmas?"

My Dad smiled in confirmation "Of course." My Mum pulled me into a bone crushing hug, "We love you too, Ginny. Don't ever forget it."

I stood back and gave her a brief smile, "Christmas then," I said with a nod.

"Christmas," they replied.

"I'll write when I can!"

"Remember, Ginny, be cautious what you write. Our letters coming in are checked, as well as the ones we're sending out."

"Don't worry, Dad, I'll be careful." I promised turning toward the train.

"Ginny?" He called after me.

Once I'd reached the door of the train I turned around "Hmm"

"Be good, don't get into trouble, things are different now..."

I shrugged "I'll try my hardest not to Daddy... but I can't promise anything!" I grinned and jumped onto the train. "See you soon!" I waved.

I had no idea what to expect when I arrived, but me, behave, never.