A/N: Just so everyone is clear, the chapters will all start with what is currently happening and then go to a flashback. This will happen until the flashbacks catch up with where the story starts. It's not too complicated, so just keep reading and you'll figure it out.

She was finished at Hogwarts now, so bringing books along seemed like a silly idea. But Hermione's influence over the past seven years had taken it's toll and Ginny decided that taking a few of the basic practical books wasn't such a bad idea. Advanced Transfiguration, her N.E.W.T. Level potions book, and Leading a Charmed Life by an unknown American witch (a seemingly useless book which turned out to have come in handy more times than anticipated), were among the many things she stored in her rucksack.

Hermione really shouldn't have taught me that Undetectable Extension Charm, Ginny grinned at the reminders of her friend.

With one last glance around her childhood room, and a final, calming breath, Ginny simultaneously released the protections on her door and apparated to the hill less than a kilometre away from the Burrow.

"This is it, then," she whispered to herself. "No turning back now."

Silently, she marched down the other side of the hill, trying, without success to not think about what scene she had probably just created at home. Her mother probably blew the door off it's hinges the second the wards were dropped, only to see her daughter vanish into thin air. Her father was now more than likely holding his wife, trying to not let her break into pieces.

Tears streaked down Ginny's face. "Stupid traitor tears," she said as quietly as she could. If Charlie only knew how lonely she was at this moment, he would appear beside her. Chances were he wouldn't really say anything, but she couldn't risk him dragging her back home to the disaster that would be waiting for her.

And then she thought of him, and stopped dead in her tracks. Her mind started racing. What was she doing? He was the only one who could actually talk her down from one of her rages, and she left him. Literally, walked away from him when they needed each other the most. No. Don't even dare, Ginevra. He's a traitorous bastard. Looking back, it did not surprise her in the least that the moment he knew something monumental, he ran to Ron and Hermione about it. But still. Did their relationship and her future mean that little to him? That he couldn't be trusted with one stinking secret? That's what you get for falling for the Boy Who Lived, the voice in her head mocked. He would always be one third of the Golden Trio and the stinking, lucky ass Boy Who Lived.

She continued to walk until night fell and blisters were fully formed on both feet. With one hard study of where she was standing, she apparated to the Leaky Cauldron, with the intention of popping right back to where she was standing in the morning. Use as little logic as possible, and they won't find you. Just trust in that, and you'll be fine. The little voice inside her head was starting to take on a familiar tone, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

Looking around the bar, Ginny was relieved that she didn't recognize anyone. She walked up to Tom, the bartender, and ordered her room. She was freaking out inside about being recognized as a runaway, but the tension eased away when he told her the room number without any further questions.

"Thank you," she told him. But it was too late. He had already walked away to tend to dirty dishes.

Trudging up to her designated room, she noticed remnants of old wanted posters adorning the wall from almost three years ago. Bellatrix Lestrange's intentionally cruel stare followed her as she walked up the stairs. She can't hurt you any more, not like she really had the chance to before. Just ignore it. The voice in her head was beginning to piss her off. SHUT UP! she just wanted to scream at herself. But as Hermione said years ago to Harry, even in the wizarding world, hearing voices no one else can is never a good sign.

Ginny's first night away from home was strangely uneventful. Because of how tired she was, there were no nightmares or even any dreams at all. It seemed as though she was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow and woke up just minutes later. She wasn't bothered by this though, she was fully rested and after grabbing some toast and juice, she concentrated with all her might and apparated back to the field she left the previous evening.

Continuing her way north, Ginny quickly decided that she needed to find another place to stay that night. The Leaky Cauldron was only safe as long as her parents didn't involve the Ministry or report her missing. She couldn't trust that they haven't already done that, so getting as far away from heavily populated areas was her best bet. Rural areas, populated with mainly muggles was her main focus. You could always go to Europe. Spain is lovely this time of year.

She was getting thoroughly annoyed with that voice in her head. It didn't seem to know it was a part of her, and since she had never been to Spain, it shouldn't know what it was like at any time of year.

Before she knew it, it was well into the afternoon. And since she hadn't eaten since early that morning, Ginny decided it was time to see what kind of food she actually packed in her bag. To her relief, there was enough that she wouldn't have to stop for supplies for a few days, provided of course, she remembered to use proper cooling and preservation charms before putting anything away. Finishing her sandwich, Ginny packed everything away properly and continued her trek through the deserted country.

**FLASHBACK TO APRIL**

It was nearing exam time at Hogwarts, and Ginny felt that she was no where near prepared.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no, I'm going to fail! My parents are going to kill me!" Ginny wailed.

"Shhh…don't worry Gin. You're one of the best students in our year. You're just stressed out. Go see Madam Pomfrey for a calming draught, and maybe something to help you sleep," Luna was trying to comfort the distraught Ginny, but it was hardly working. The lights in the library started flickering due to Ginny's suddenly intense emotions.

"Ginevra Molly Weasley!" Luna scolded. "If you do not calm down this instant, I will be forced to call Professor McGonagall! And you know better than I that she is hardly understanding when it comes to being woken at this hour!" That threat coming from the normally care-free girl was enough to make Ginny snap back to reality momentarily.

"Sorry Lunabee. You're right it is stress, but it's not all about school. Next week is the anniversary of…" As hard as she tried, she couldn't stop the rush of emotion that overwhelmed her at this moment. She collapsed into sobs against her best friend, not being able to complete her sentence. Windows shattered at the far end of the aisle they were sitting in, and a strong wind started to pick up among the shelves.

Luna knew, of course, that it had been a year since the final battle. A year since she lost some close friends, and some not so close classmates. She understood that Ginny had lost family, and things hadn't gone back to normal, nor would they ever. But she also knew that if Ginny didn't calm down soon, something would happen that could send one, or both of them, to the hospital wing. Or possibly St. Mungo's.

"I know, but we need to get through this and make our friends proud. Do something that some of them weren't able to." Stroking the distraught girls' hair, Luna felt her calming.

Ginny nodded slowly at this, and pulled away from her friend, knowing she was right. That was their only way to make it through the seemingly pointless hours of classes they attended daily. It was for those who couldn't actually be there. The ones who died protecting the school they all loved so much. Calming down, Ginny noticed the mess she had caused in her hysteria. While wiping her eyes with her sleeve to catch the remaining tears, Ginny moved to repair the windows she broke and replace the books which had flown off the shelves.

"There is one good thing about exams, you know," Luna smiled at Ginny with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"I highly doubt that, Bee. All that comes with exams, is stress and an overdose of calming draught," Ginny countered Luna's smile with a roll of her eyes. Exaggerated by the swollen and reddened state of them.

"Oh, I think you may disagree if you give it a chance, Boo," she said in that hazy way of hers. "But, for right now, I'm going to go to bed. It's later than I realized, and Neville's meeting me early tomorrow to go down to Hogsmeade. Are you going to join us?" Luna asked as she cleared her books and gathered her stray parchment.

Shaking her head in the negative, Ginny also collected her things, though much more slowly. She still had no idea what her friend meant by there being something good about exams.

Ginny watched as Luna made here way out of the library with a slight skip in her step, and dreamy smile on her face. What on Earth is that girl going on about? she thought to herself. There's nothing good… "AH HA!" Ginny exclaimed. Shrinking down immediately from her excitement, she could feel the glare Madame Pince was giving her from wherever she was currently stationed in the massive library. "Sorry," Gin whispered to the area.

But she had finally figured out what Luna was talking about. How she managed to forget, she didn't know. The fact that Ginny was in exams, meant that Harry was also in his, unless he was already done. Which meant they would both be done school soon and back home at the Burrow in a matter of weeks. This could only mean one thing.

As Ginny thought about it more, she squeaked with even more excitement, and quickly shoved all of her belongings into her bag carelessly. Dashing out of the doors, she ran as fast as she could to her dormitory, praying to Merlin that there wasn't a teacher patrolling that area just yet. She needed to talk to Charlie, and couldn't afford even the slightest delay.

Luck was with her tonight, as she didn't pass anyone until she reached her last set of stairs, and even then, all Sir Nicholas said was, "If you run any faster, Miss Weasley, you won't be able to see where you're headed!"

Ginny let out a chuckle and allowed herself to slow her pace a little bit. She would be upstairs in moments, and she was getting rather breathless. Reaching the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, the Fat Lady needed to be woken from her slumber before Ginny was allowed in.

"Alright, alright," she said, yawning. "Should serve you right though, being out this close to curfew! I was in the middle of the most pleasant dream, and you've just ruined it. Next time this happens, girly, you'll just have to wait until morning!"

Apologizing profusely, but still grinning like a mad woman, Ginny climbed through the portrait hole. Unsurprisingly, the common room was empty. But the fire was still burning.

Why they still light it in this weather is beyond me, she thought. Though she was entirely thankful, because this way she could call on Charlie and he could floo his face right over without needing to wait long.

"Chaarliiee, get your face in the fire!" She whispered almost inaudibly, just in case someone was still awake and able to hear her talking to herself.

Not five minutes later, the flames flared up, and there was the face of her favourite brother.

"What the hell do you want, Gin? This better be bloody important for you to be calling me at this hour!" He sounded mad, but Ginny knew that her news would but a smile on that surly face of his.

Grinning like the Cheshire cat, she knelt down and did a light drum roll on her legs. "Guess what."

He rolled his eyes and looked at her. Even through the flames, she could see that his angry mask was starting to break for her. "What?"

She held up her left hand, wiggling her fingers, as if for him to notice something. "I'm getting married!" She had to hold herself back from actually shrieking the news to him. But he smiled at her, in that coddling way older brothers smile at their baby sisters when trying to make them happy.

"I don't see a ring, love. And I thought you hadn't seen Harry since the Easter fiasco. So what do you mean you're getting married?"

"I mean, Charliepants," she singsonged to him, still smiling. "In three weeks, when I'm out of school, and Harry is done wasting his time at uni, he's going to propose!"

Charlie gaped at her for a good two minutes. It would have been a glare, but the way the fire distorts ones face, it would have been pointless. He finally sighed and prepared to dash his only sister's dream.

"Ginny, I know how much you love Harry, and I know he loves you," he started. "But do you really think he's ready to get married just yet? I mean, the amount he's been through…Not just in the past couple years, but in his entire life! Don't you think that maybe he'll want to just enjoy the peace he's finally been granted?" He started to falter on his words because he could see the way Ginny's face fell when he continued. "I mean, sure, one day, I suppose, you guys'll get hitched, but right away?" He had to stop there though, because the dam finally broke, and Ginny was crying for the second time that night.

She couldn't believe this. The one person she expected to be happy for her, had basically just told her that she's caught up in her stupid school girl fantasy. "I can't believe you, Charles Weasley! You remember what he said at Christmas, that as soon as school and everything is settled, there wouldn't be anything else stopping us. So why would you say that it's not happening?"

Ginny was disappointed in her brother. But she would prove him wrong. Harry would follow through on his promise to her that they would have a life together. And it wouldn't be in a couple years from now. They were both ready for this. They've been ready for a year, but the timing was off. Now, as she just said to Charlie, there was nothing stopping them.

Their careers were decided. He would go on to work in the ministry, quickly being moved through the ranks all the way up to Minister within a couple months. And she would be starting training with the Holyhead Harpies in the fall. She had her position secured with the team in November at the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin match. There really was no reason that Ginny could see that would postpone her engagement to Harry.

"If you say so, Gin. But if Harry decides he isn't ready just yet, you're going to have to understand that," he wanted to be happy for her, he really, honestly did. But Charlie was much older than his sister and her boyfriend, and knew that sometimes, a guy just needs time to be. Without going through half of what Harry had, Charlie knew he needed a break. It was admirable that Harry wanted to settle down right away, follow in his parents' fading footsteps, but it didn't make any sense to Charlie.

Still sobbing, Ginny pushed herself from the floor and wished her brother a goodnight. Walking solemnly to her bed, she still couldn't fathom the possibility that Harry wouldn't want to marry her right away. Everything was perfect. This was her final thought before she crawled under her burgundy and gold blankets and drifted off to sleep.

He'll see. He'll see he's wrong, Gin. Don't you worry, she thought. When you talk to Hermione she'll tell you he went shopping, and came back with a small velvet box. Everything is going to be perfect…

A/N: The nickname for Luna (Lunabee) is borrowed from atruwriter's fic Blood is Thicker Than Tears... and you should all check it out. It's on my favourites. =)