Chapter 1: The Train Home
After Dumbledore's funeral guests had gone. Harry and his two best friends Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger headed back to the Gryffindor common room. They needed to get their things and get to the Hogsmeade train station. This was going to be their last ride on the Hogworts Express. They weren't in any hurry to get there.
Harry told Ron and Hermione about breaking up with his girlfriend, Ron's sister Ginny Weasley and why he did it. He wanted to protect her. He thought that she would be in more danger if she was with him than she would be without him. "Harry, I don't think that was a very good idea," said Hermione.
"Why isn't it a good idea Hermione?" Harry said "I'm trying to protect her!"
"What has Dumbledore been telling you for the last year?" asked Hermione. "That Love is the greatest power. And your ability to love and be loved is what will help you beat Valdemort, because it's the power he does not have. And if you push away the one person that you love and that loves you the most. What chance will you have?" She gave him a look that only Hermione can give. They were silent until they got to the train.
After they boarded the train, Harry went in search of an empty Compartment. Ron and Hermione went to the prefect compartment. Harry passed by the compartment that Ginny was in because he was too ashamed to look at her after the talk with Hermione. The Train started on the long journey home. Harry had not alerted the Dursleys that they were coming. They were planning to ride the Knight Bus there. Harry had no intention of letting the Dursleys know in advance, after the life he had lived in their house, he was not planning to be cordial to them. He was only going there because Dumbledore said he had to in order to keep the protection spell active. But he had asked Professor McGonnagal exactly how long he had to stay to do that. She told him that the bare minimum was one week.
Harry was so deep in thought that he did not notice Ginny coming in. "Harry?" she said. "Are you all right?" Startled he looked up into her beautiful brown eyes, the eyes he could just get lost in. "Hermione said you wanted to talk to me." "I was hoping you would let me talk to you, but I was afraid to come and look for you." whispered Ginny." "I wanted to let you know that I will be here for you as a friend since that is all I can be now."
"Oh Merlin, Gin." said Harry "I've made such a mistake. Can you ever forgive me? Hermione's right, you are my strength. I can't fight Voldemort without your love. I love you Ginny! I love you more than life itself."
Ginny looked at him through tear filled eyes. She wanted to be with him so badly. She knew she would take him back. She just couldn't do it yet. "Harry, think about what you want while you guys are at the Dursley's. Make sure this is what you want, because if we are going to be together, it will be forever. I can't take feeling the way I've felt today ever again. I love you too, Harry. But take the next week and really decide what you want, okay?"
Harry was so shaken by the way she said no. She told him she loved him. And said she wanted to be with him forever. She gave him a week to make up his mind. He didn't need a week. He knew now that he wanted to be with her forever as well.
"Harry, are you okay?" asked Hermione.
"Oh yeah, I'm fine." said Harry. "I talked to Ginny, and she told me to take this week at the Dursley's to decide what I want."
"Do your really understand how she feels Harry?" asked Hermione and Ron at the same time. "Harry, she has been in love with you since she was 10. We all thought she would grow out of it but she never did." Ron said showing his love for his sister. "I tried to talk to her but she was crying."
"Her heart was broken Ron." said Hermione. "What she told you is a good suggestion Harry. She gave you a week to really think this over. You know Snape knew you two were a couple before he left, right? So you also know that he has probably told Vol…Voldemort that she is your girlfriend. He doesn't know that you broke it off. She's in as much or more danger without you than with you. At least if she is with you, you can make sure she is protected instead of it being a distraction because you don't know if she is safe for sure."
"I hadn't thought about it like that. You're right. Well, we need to start making plans, and getting supplies for this hunt we're going on. We can do that this week while we're staying at the Dursley's house." said Harry. "Hermione, could you start making a list of things we're going to need?"