The Most Important Task

The ride home to King's Cross this year was quite a somber affair. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sharing one compartment with Ginny, Neville, and Luna. The entire trip was a long awkward silence. The cart lady came by and for a first no one wanted anything. The arrival at king's cross was met with a slow gathering of everyone's things.

The last two in the cabin were harry and Neville. Neville made to leave the compartment, when harry said, "Neville, would you wait here a second? I want to talk with you."

Neville, startled by the break in silence quickly replied, "What do you need, Harry?"

Harry took a deep breath deciding to finally voice what he had been consider asking Neville to do. "I need you to do something for me-"

"You know I would do anything for you, Harry," Neville replied immediately.

Harry smiled softly at Neville knowing that was the reaction Neville would have chosen. " Do not be so eager to accept this task, Neville. It will not be an easy one to complete."

Neville place a hand on Harry's shoulder and looked him in the eye. "I'll do anything you need me of me, Harry. Just let me know what it is that needs to be done."

The resolve in Neville's voice made Harry nod. "I'm not coming back to Hogwarts next year."

Neville smiled and nodded. "I knew that all ready."

Harry nodded and continued, "Next year, I have a feeling anyone associated with me will not have an easy year. " Neville nodded. "I fear Hogwarts will be one of Voldemort's first targets."

Harry looked down sadly and Neville replied. "Just tell me what needs to be done, Harry."

Harry looked out the window of the cabin to see the Weasley's standing there. 'No doubt waiting for me,' he thought. His eyes found Ginny. Harry whispered to no one in particular the thought that had been eating at him for the past days since Dumbledore's funeral, "I need her to be there when I come back."

Neville followed his gaze and understood immediately what harry would be asking him to do. Neville nodding and turned back to look at harry again. "She will be waiting for you, Harry. I'll make sure of it."

"She will not be happy I decided to ask someone to look out for her."

"She doesn't have to know, Harry."

Harry laughed. "She knows me so well; she probably all ready knows." Harry's face looked stern remembering what he was asking Neville to do. "If Hogwarts is one of his primary targets, and I know it is. Voldemort will send some of his worst and evilest Death Eaters. Snape and Malfoy have no doubt told him about our relationship. They will be gunning for Ginny next year Neville and I cannot have that."

Neville's face filled with conviction and harry knew he had chosen right. He held out his hand for harry to shake. "I promise you, Harry, I will do everything in my power to help Ginny make it through this war."

Harry took Neville's hand and they shared a moment before Harry replied, "I will be in your debt forever." Harry picked up his trunk from the rack and left the cabin giving Neville and short nod.

Neville smiled. Although he knew just how hard this task Harry had given him was, he also knew for certain Harry trusted him. If he did not, then why had Harry chose him for the most the important task of the war.

A/N: This was something that has been eating at me for a while now. This is my solution to the Ginny-at-Hogwarts-in-danger stories. I thought this would be the most ideal solution for people like me, who actually like Ginny and think Harry would not have just left her to the Carrows. I want to point out that I wanted it to feel like he had thought about doing this for a long time. I apologize for any Grammar and Spelling errors that found; I dont have a beta to do that for me :(. Thanks for reading this and please leave a review.