So my first real attempt at a story and I'm not sure wether to continue.

Disclaimer: I own three cats, a cracked and abused iPod, a brick of a nokia and an Avengers poster. I don't own much and I certainly don't own Harry Potter. I am merely borrowing the characters made by the amazing JKR and I plan to give them back to her eventually.

There was nothing but the sound of the Hogwarts Express as it chugged along the countryside making its merry way towards Kings Cross Station. Though all seats in the carriage were occupied, there was a deafening silence amongst all six occupants. Not a whisper passed the lips of a student; everyone was consumed by the heavy silence that hung in the air.

A boy with unruly black hair and dull green eyes stared through the glass window that he was slumped against. His eyes usually a sparkling green were dull and unfocused as he stared at nothing. Harry Potter was too busy to notice the beautiful landscape flying by in a blur of colours; he was locked within his own mind in a silent vigil to the godfather he had recently lost.

The others in the carriage struggled past the suffocating silence in respect for their friend who was suffering a loss they could not comprehend. Ron and Hermione exchanged looks and wordlessly communicated with each other about their miserable best friend. Luna sat, Quibbler in hand in its usual upside down fashion. Neville was carefully cradling a black pot plant in his hands, the tiny Venomous Tentacula harmless in its sleeping form. All occupants in their carriage kept their gazes from falling upon the grieving Gryffindor, all but one.

Ginny Weasley had been looking at her friend for the last ten minutes intently. Harry Potter had always been an enigma to the youngest Weasley, something amazing and complex, a puzzle to solve. She understood Harry needed time and space to grieve but at the same time knew he couldn't let it possess him. The youngest Weasley was also intelligent to understand that Hermione and Ron were planning how they would manage Harry and that their actions would be futile. Harry wasn't someone who could merely be managed. He was a human being not an object. If she knew Hermione and Ron, and she did, Hermione would continue to push for information until Harry snapped while Ron would avoid the topic at all costs. Neither was a smart idea because Ron ignoring Sirius' death was like ignoring a Hungarian Horntail who happened to be standing right next to you. Hermione's plan of attack was moronic and obtuse but somehow still what you would expect from one of the smartest witches at Hogwarts. Ginny knew that Hermione, on her constant quest for knowledge, would demand answers and push until Harry snapped. This would make the ties between Harry and Hermione strained and Ginny wasn't going to step in. Hermione needed to learn Harry couldn't be pushed around and she needed to realise that once she brought on Harry's anger she had no idea how to handle it.

Ginny watched as Hermione played with her prefect's badge, biting her lip nervously. Soon it became too much for the older girl and she stood up abruptly. Dragging Ron by the hand, Hermione slid open the carriage door and walked out with Ron trailing behind. Trevor, Neville's ever-adventurous toad, took the fleeting opportunity to escape which sent Neville in a flurry to try and apprehend his runaway toad. Luna stood up languidly and sighed before giving Ginny the smallest of looks before following after Neville with a dreamy smile on her face. As the door shut behind the Ravenclaw Ginny realised she was alone with Harry.

The boy in question hadn't shown any signs of noticing the lack of companions as he continued to stare out into the nothing. Ginny bit her lip for a moment, chewing on the soft skin gently before mustering up the infamous Weasley nerve to do something just as equally moronic and dangerous as it was brave. Ginny threw herself onto the chair across from Harry and put her feet up on Harry's lap casually. Harry broke out of his reverie and looked down at her feet, blinking slowly, before looking up at the redhead with a questioning look on his face.

"Erm, Ginny," He said awkwardly. "What are you doing?"

"I'm bored and I figured I'd let you know while everyone's gone that you can talk to me."

"Wh-wait, everyone left? When?" Harry looked around and realised that Ginny was right, everyone else had left.

Ginny rolled her warm chocolate brown eyes. "Hermione and my twit of a brother left to go do their Prefect rounds and Trevor escaped again so Luna is helping Neville catch him."

"So why didn't you leave me here on my own?" Harry blurted out. "I mean, I'm not the best company in the world right now."

"Who said I wanted the best?" Ginny challenged, a spark in her eyes before they returned to normal, "look Harry I know you're not the best company but I'm not afraid, I'm not going to run and hide because I'm afraid you might snap at me a little. Gryffindor here you know."

Harry smiled at her joke before it became too hard and the smile fell. "You'd be one of the few."

"Harry you've been through hell and I wanted to let you know that I'm here for you." A crimson blush stained Ginny's cheeks, the colour prominently standing out against her creamy skin.

Harry's body sagged despairingly as he sighed. "I miss him. I want to scream, cry, punching something... I want..." Harry sighed once more and looked out and the window so he wouldn't have to look at the youngest Weasley in the eye as he made his confession. "I don't know what I want. I mean other than to have Sirius back. I got him killed Ginny."

Ginny dropped her feet off his lap and leaned forward before bringing a hand up to his face and forcefully turning his head so he had to look her in the eye. Her heart thudded as she felt his shocked, piercing gaze. "You got him killed? Okay so maybe you did."

"What?" Harry asked, confused at her words.

"Well that makes me just as bad as you, maybe even worse really."

"How?"

"Harry I sent a Basilisk loose in a school! I almost killed Justin, Penelope, Hermione and you! I killed Nick!"

"But that was Tom." Harry said quickly.

"But that was Tom," Ginny agreed quickly, "and it was Tom this time too."

Harry sighed heavily. "But if it wasn't for me he wouldn't have been there."

"Harry if it wasn't for me you wouldn't have almost been eaten by a fifty foot snake!"

Harry saw the fiery look in her eye and the determined look on her face and immediately knew there was no way to win. Ginny was being stubborn and after living all her life with six brothers; Harry knew there was no way he was going to win this round. Grudgingly Harry knew her logic was sound but it didn't make him feel any less guilty. Her true feelings were laid bare and as Harry replayed the words in his mind and felt a pang of worried when he realised how quite she had become by the last word. Did Ginny still think about the Chamber often? Harry felt incredibly guilty when he realised he really hadn't spoken to her much at all after the Chamber. It had only been this year when they'd really begun t talk. Her prowess in the DA had given them some kind of standing and reason to talk but prior to that he really hadn't talked to her much at all. And now, hearing her feelings laid bare he kicked himself for ignoring her.

Ginny could see the beautiful landscape slipping away only to be replaced by the beginnings of London. Knowing that soon enough the carriage would be occupied again she took her chance to leave her mark and show Harry that she cared. "Harry I know you're angry and blaming yourself and I'd be stupid to tell you not to and believe you'd listen to me. Instead I'm going to tell you something different. I'm going to tell you I understand."

"Understand?" Harry asked, his face marred with confusion.

"I understand Harry; I know what it's like to have Voldemort screw with my mind. I get it, I really do. You don't have to tell me anything, hell you can walk away when we get onto the platform and pretend we never had this conversation but remember that you are not alone. I get it and if you need someone to talk to, and I mean really talk to, then I'm here."

The all-familiar silence crashed over the pair like an unstoppable ocean wave. Harry was at a loss of words and no idea what to say with regards to the miniature speech but at the same time he had the feeling that Ginny didn't need an answer from him. When she didn't push him for one he sighed with relief, if it had been Ron or Hermione they would have wanted an answer. Harry turned his gaze back to the safety of the carriage window. It wasn't long – or it could have been hours really, he wouldn't have noticed the difference – when the Hogwarts Express stopped with a lurch. As a result of the momentum and the relaxed state of his muscles, Harry flew forward almost flattening Ginny against the back rest of the seat she was occupying. Harry blushed before scrambling off the youngest Weasley. Ginny's face had already adopted the infamous Weasley blush though Harry's own almost rivalled hers. The carriage door slid open with a bang and Hermione and Ron both poked their heads in.

"You ready to get- mate are you okay?" Ron asked stopping off mid sentence when he saw the state of his little sister and best friend. "You and Ginny are a little red."

"Nothing Ron, it's nothing." Ginny all but squeaked.

Harry nodded fervently in agreement and quickly exited the carriage, careful to avoid looking back at Ginny. Hermione and Ron shared a look but followed their friend nonetheless out of the train and onto the bustling Platform 9¾. It was a struggle with all the luggage but Fred and George came to the rescue, appearing out of nowhere before directing the group towards where Mrs Weasley was standing with Mr and Mrs Granger. Mrs Weasley was quick to pull each of the four into her signature bone crushing hug and while Harry hugged her back he knew deep down he couldn't fully enjoy the hug. When he was finally let go he hauled Hedwig's empty birdcage on top of his school trunk which Fred had levitated onto the cart for him. Looking around he realised there were less people than usual here to greet them and substantially less if you counted the entourage that had brought them to the platform in September.

"Where's everyone else?" He asked, raising his voice over the sound of other students and their families bustling around them.

Molly Weasley frowned for a moment. "Remus, Mad-Eye and Tonks are talking to your relatives at the moment."

"Oh."

"I've already asked Albus but he is as persistent as ever and refuses to let you stay until after your birthday. You make sure to tell us if they aren't feeding you and I'll send you food myself. Honestly why Dumbledore thinks you need to stay with them is beyond me."

Harry licked his lips subconsciously at the thought of the magnificent food Mrs Weasley was always cooking up. "Don't worry Mrs Weasley; I have a feeling Mad-Eye will be reminding them they have to feed me."

Harry accidentally locked gazes with Ginny and she arched a delicate eyebrow, making it clear that she didn't believe him and that he would be fed properly. Harry gave her a pleading look and felt his body relax a little when she gave a small nod. Looking around, Harry was grateful that their little exchange had gained no audience. It was strange enough how connected he felt with Ginny at that moment and he didn't need to try and explain it to anyone else when he couldn't even explain it himself.

Remus and Tonks struggled through the crowd towards the group but Mad-Eye who walked along behind the pair had no trouble as the crowd parted slightly for the paranoid ex-Auror. Tonks' hair was no longer her signature happy go lucky bubblegum pink but a mousey brown that looked just as washed out and haggard as Remus and Tonks themselves. Remus didn't look much better with his fraying robes and the silver that began to creep amongst the rest of his brown hair. Tonks merely looked tired but to Harry, Remus looked like he had aged a lifetime.

"Harry, I've talked to your relatives and they have agreed to ignore you for the most part this summer and I'll be around to visit every Sunday to check up on you."

"No chores? They're just going to ignore me?" Harry asked disbelievingly.

Remus grinned wolfishly. "I may have mentioned if they didn't I'd come visit during the full moon."

"Remus!" Molly scolded while Ginny, the Twins and Harry grinned like mad men... and women.

Tonks looked back at Harry's Uncle who seemed to become agitated at the wait. "Harry you better say your goodbyes, your Uncle doesn't seem too happy."

"When does he?" Harry muttered under his breath but did as Tonks instructed.

The goodbyes from the Twins and Mrs Weasley were short with the former pledging to send him new products to try out on his relatives and the latter berating the twins while pulling Harry into one last hug. Ron slapped Harry on the back and promised to nag his parents until Harry could live with them again and Hermione told him it was perfectly fine to grieve but he would have to talk to them at some point. He pointedly ignored her remark and wasn't sure whether or not to be shocked at Ginny's bold action as she hugged him briefly before letting go and blushing. Harry caught Tonks' mischievous smile and was quick to give her a shove as the Auror began to laugh. Harry briefly hugged Remus and began to pull his cart towards his Uncle, turning once more to give a final goodbye nod to his real family.

"Hurry up Boy!"

Harry grimaced at his Uncle's mood but wasn't too worried, he'd become used to it over the years. He followed his Uncle out to the car and put his trunk and Hedwig's empty cage into the boot of the shiny company car. Climbing into the backseat he almost smiled when he saw that Dudley was trying to avoid any kind of contact with him until he remembered about Sirius with a painful pang in his chest.

The car drive home was silent but unlike the silence on the train Harry was acutely aware of everything. He could feel the cold as he drew in each breath. He could see the muggy London sky and the rain as it pelted down from the Heavens. He could feel the hatred and hostility coming from his relatives in thick waves. Everything was heightened in the small car and Harry gritted his teeth and closed his eyes tightly, wishing he couldn't feel anything at all. He didn't want to feel, feeling meant the hurt and the pain and Harry didn't want it. He didn't want to feel anything at all because what he wanted was something he could never have.

Harry knew the summer would be torture, he was doubtful that Remus' threat would hold for long and when it no longer had any weight his relatives would be as ruthless as ever. Cut off from the world at Privet Drive with only the upcoming Sunday visits from Remus, Harry knew he'd be lucky to escape with his sanity intact. The last summer holidays had been bearable on the account that he had been looking forward to seeing Sirius but now, with Sirius gone, there was nothing to look forward to. Even the prospect of staying at The Burrow with the Weasleys was overshadowed by the feeling of sorrow Harry was experiencing over Sirius' death.

It was undeniable; the summer was going to be horrible.

Harry ran down a dark hallway, his feet pounding against the marble floor. He could hear the laboured breathing of the person chasing him as they neared closer with every moment passing. Harry forked left when presented with two hallways and realised with horror that the hallway was coming to a end quickly. Looking over his shoulder he continued to run and lifted up his wand as he approached the door he instinctively knew was locked.

"REDUCTO!"

Harry barrelled through the whole he had created where the glossy black wooden door had once stood, almost tripping over debris on the floor. Harry began to run faster until he skidded to a stop, his body paralysed. There in front of him was the smiling figure of his godfather, Sirius. Twirling a wand gracefully between the fingers of his wand hand, Sirius for the most part ignored him. It wasn't until Harry's pursuer had arrived that he spoke.

"You're here."

"Of course."

Harry spun around in horror as he saw a mirror image of himself smiling evilly at his godfather. Barely croaking out a barely audible protest, Harry backed away until his legs gave out and he lay crumpled on the floor, helpless to watch the scene in front of him. Barbs were traded by his clone and Sirius before the other Harry sent a red curse towards Sirius. He sighed with relief when Sirius ducked but almost cried out when Sirius spoke.

"You're supposed to be trying to kill me Pup, put a little effort in will you?"

"All in good time Black."

Curses were traded, words spoken and hexes screamed. Rapid curse fire streamed endlessly as both figures weaved, ducked and rolled away from the incoming fire of curses and hexes. Harry watched in horror as he watched the magnificent but terrifying show before him, rooted to the floor with no way to get up and help his godfather.

The evil figure of himself began to snarl out a string of curses Harry knew would be deemed more than dark by the Ministry of Magic. To his horror Sirius returned the curses with his own and the battle heated up as deadly curses were being thrown carelessly, most of them falling short of their intended mark. Eventually Harry sent a purple curse that struck Sirius in the leg before a jet of red light occurred and Sirius' wand flew from his slackened grip. Harry pocketed the wand in triumph and walked towards his godfather.

"You always lose."

"If I didn't you'd never kill me."

"True," Harry grinned maliciously, twirling his wand around and he walked around Sirius, "but it never seems to tire me, killing you once in real life just wasn't enough but this? Being able to kill you in my sleep every night? It's better than free movie tickets for a year."

"And why would that be?" Sirius spat.

"Well you see with movies they all have their own endings, I can't control them, but with this, with this every night the ending is the way I choose it to be and every night I chose to kill you. What was in the first night? Oh, yes I remember now, you died because I stabbed you with the Sword of Gryffindor. The second? I think that was the time I let Lupin rip you apart during the full moon."

Sirius turned to Harry who was on the floor, helpless to watch the scene in front of him. "You can stop this Harry, you can this and join me."

Harry heard a flash of green light and the all familiar words only to see Sirius on the floor lifeless.

"No, no, no, Sirius get up! Please! No, you can't be dead."

"NO!" Harry yelled as he woke up with a start, dry heaving as he tried to throw up the little contents in his stomach that he did have. He began to cough violently, doubled over in pain. His bedroom door swung open, banging against the wall as rebounding slightly as his Uncle walked in with a murderous gleam in his eyes.

"What the ruddy hell do you think you're doing? It's three in the morning Boy! People are trying to sleep and we don't need the whole ruddy street knowing about your unnaturalness. Be quiet or I'll throw you back in your cupboard!"

Harry nodded shakily and sighed when his Uncle left with a slam of his bedroom door. Harry rolled onto his stomach and began to sob into his pillow whispering the same mantra over and over.

"I'm sorry Sirius, I'm so sorry."

As the minutes ticked by Harry rubbed his red eyes and wiped the tear tracks from his cheeks as he sat up. He looked up and moved towards the window and looked out and watched as the sun slowly crept up into the sky. Harry needed someone to talk to but who? Who could he talk to? His relatives were out of the question, they were more likely to throw a party and run around with glee, more over anything else. He didn't feel comfortable talking to Remus about it so soon and Ron was out of the question. Ron was a good friend but had no tact at all. Hermione wasn't a much better option if Harry was honest, she'd push and make him talk about his feelings and while that was what he wanted to do he didn't want to at the same time.

Harry wasn't usually expressive with his feelings at all but this was one of those times where he need he had to get what he was feeling out. Usually he confided in Hedwig but she hadn't been impressed with Uncle Vernon's barbaric displace before and wasn't in the mood to talk to him. Harry didn't hold it against her; she'd flown from Hogwarts to Surrey and undoubtedly deserved her rest. However this still left him wishing for someone to talk to.

Harry didn't just need someone to talk to, he needed someone who would just let him talk, no strings attached. He needed someone who would let him say what he needed to say and not judge him. Someone who wouldn't try to force him to read a book about depression (undoubtedly Hermione's first action if he confided in her) or try something else along those lines. Someone who understood what he was going through, someone who could tell him he wasn't crazy. To tell him that he was going evil and that his connection with Voldemort didn't make him a bad person. That Cedric's death wasn't his fault. That Sirius hadn't died because of him. He needed someone who could let him cry and then at the end of the day still look at him no differently.

He just needed someone.

But did someone like that even exist? Harry doubted it. The kind of person he needed was someone you dreamt about, they didn't exist in real life. Not in his anyway. His life was a cosmic joke (literally) so even if there was a chance someone like that existed, there was no way he of all people would find them.

Thinking back to the train ride back to Kings Cross Station, Harry realised that someone like that did exist. Well, not really. Kind of, sort of... There was a person who understood what he'd gone through, a person who had been a victim of Voldemort and survived. The person might not look at him the same way if he divulged to them his true feelings but he had accidentally let slip feelings in front of them earlier that day and they hadn't looked at him twice afterwards so maybe there was hope on that front. They'd even specifically told Harry he could talk to them. Maybe he did have someone.

Maybe Ginny Weasley was that someone.

Should I continue? Please review!