Harry stepped off the staircase and the griffin leapt back into place. He quickly scanned the halls and cleared his throat.
"Kreacher?" he called softly.
A loud crack pierced the quiet and echoed down the halls as the small, wrinkled figure appeared, bowing low before Harry. Kreacher looked up at him with clear disappointment on his face and said, "So long it has been since Master has called Kreacher that Kreacher thought something terrible must have happened to Master." He sneered and said loathefully, "Master is needing something of Kreacher?"
"Yes, Keacher," Harry said calmly. "Please inform Ron and Hermione that I am here and will meet them under the birch tree out by the lake as soon as possible."
Kreacher remained bowed, but glared up at Harry and said in furious tone, "Kreacher must do as Master wishes." Under his breath he muttered, "Kreacher will fetch the Mudblood and the son of the blood-traitors, but Kreacher would rather wipe slime from Mistress' shoes. Oh if Kreacher's poor Mistress knew what Kreacher was being told to do..." With another loud crack, he was gone.
Harry sighed deeply and pulled on his invisibility cloak as he made his way back to the entrance hall. He was keen to avoid detection and knew the few students who had returned to Hogwarts would surely be in the Great Hall breakfasting by now.
Just three steps from the main floor, Harry's breath caught in his throat as Ginny emerged from the Great Hall alone. He found himself momentarily paralyzed as she walked briskly past him and up the stairs. Involuntarily, he breathed deeply as she passed, taking in the flowery scent of her hair he had missed so much.
Without realizing what he was doing, he watched her as she climbed the staircase. Harry smiled faintly as, unbidden, his mind wandered back over the years he had known her... He saw the small girl half crying, half laughing, chasing the Hogwarts Express along the platform that first year; her young crush and clumsiness the second year and the battle for her soul in the Chamber; the happiness and carefree hours at the Burrow; her dueling skills at the D. A. meetings; how well she played Quidditch; how loyally she defended those in need; her bravery in the Department of Mysteries; how many times he had been strengthened and comforted merely by her presence...
She was so full of life and Harry knew that he loved her more than anyone else, even Ron and Hermione. He thought about how much Ginny meant to him and how eager he was to be finished with his quest and resume where those few perfect weeks they had had together had left off. It took all of his will power not to reach out to her.
He was abruptly brought back to the present and nearly fell down the final steps when she stopped suddenly just below the landing and slowly turned around. She took a few steps forward and her eyes narrowed suspiciously as she carefully swept the Entrance Hall and the lower staircase, coming to rest on the very spot where Harry stood. His heart pounding painfully in his throat, Harry willed himself to hold still and out wait her. Surely she couldn't see through invisibility cloaks? She couldn't possibly have heard what he was thinking, could she? Harry chastised himself severely for losing focus.
After a few tense moments, Ginny apparently decided she was alone. She sighed deeply and shook her head as if to clear it. Harry watched her turn around and make her way back up the stairs. As soon as she turned the corner, he let out the breath he had been holding and sprinted out the front doors.
