Author's Note: Hey everyone! Thank you to all who reviewed. A special thank you to dancergirl7, golfenjen83, and Katie Travanion. Another thank you to my friend, who for this purpose we will call Hannah Abbott, who gave me the idea for this chapter; and to my friend Oliver Wood, who has been very encouraging throughout this process. And finally, a disclaimer, as I haven't remembered to do one in a while: Everything you recognize belongs to the brilliant author, JK Rowling. I just fool around with what she created :)


The next morning, the Burrow was filled with activity. My mum had decided that we should have one funeral for Tonks, Remus, and Fred, and planning was in full swing. The tiny kitchen was so full of people that I barely had enough room to sneak through and grab a muffin before escaping out to the orchard with Harry.

As I walked down the well-worn path to the little grove of trees I basked in summer's weather. The sky was a perfect shade of periwinkle blue, sunny and cloudless, with just enough of a breeze to keep me cool. The beautiful day mirrored my good mood, and I sped up as I caught sight of Harry through the trees.

He looked around at the sound of my approach and grinned, moving over on the bench to make room for me. His hair was as messy as ever and his round glasses were a little lopsided on his nose. I smiled at how young and carefree he looked; for Harry, this was a new development.

"Hey, Gin," Harry greeted me with a quick peck on my cheek.

"Hi Harry. Managed to give my overprotective brother the slip, did you?"

Harry laughed.

"No, actually, he and Hermione went off into Muggle London for the day. First real date they've been on, you know, very exciting."

"Oh, yes," I agreed, "I'm surprised that she convinced him to go to Muggle London. You know Ron and Muggle things. He doesn't understand it."

Hermione and Ron had officially been dating since the end of the war, but with everything that has been going on since then they hadn't really had a chance to act like a normal couple. It was nice to hear that Ron had finally gotten his act together and was taking my best friend out on a real date, rather than snogging her all the time.

Harry and I spent a nice morning together in the orchard, just enjoying each other's company. I lay down on the bench with my head on his chest and his arms around my waist. It was extremely comfortable. It wasn't until around noon time, when I found myself getting hungry, that Harry changed to a more serious topic.

"I have to go to get the rest of my things from my aunt and uncle's today," Harry sighed into my hair.

"Do you really?" I asked sadly. I didn't want to get up.

"I do," he admitted.

I groaned and slowly sat up, smoothing down my hair. He grabbed my hand and held it tightly.

"Would you- would you come with me?"

His bright green eyes were earnest and a little frantic as they searched my face. He looked rather distressed. I didn't know much about the Dursleys, though I did know that Harry had cooked for them and put bars on his window once. Something about the look on Harry's face as he spoke of them set me on edge.

"Do you want me to?"

He nodded fervently.

"Please?"

I stared at his face for another moment before nodding.

"Alright, Harry. Lead the way."


We Apparated into the bushes at the end of Privet Drive; I clutched so tightly to Harry's arm that I left marks on his skin.

"Sorry," I cried, horrified.

Harry smiled at me.

"It's alright. Come on," he said, taking my hand and leading me out of the bushes and down the street.

Each house on the street was nearly identical, with neatly kept lawns and expensive looking cars in the driveways. It was a relatively silent street, with no kids playing in the yards; only the faint sounds of a wireless or what seemed to be a big, boxy wireless with moving pictures. Harry led me by the hand up the walkway of number 4, and he clenched my hand tightly as he knocked on the door.

We waited in silence for the door to open, Harry's grip on my hand getting more and more painful as we waited. Suddenly, the door swung open, and I heard Harry breathe a sigh of relief.

A large youth stood in the doorway; tall, blonde, and muscular, he stared down at us in surprise. He had a rather pink face and small, deep-set eyes above his rather large nose.

"Harry!" the boy said, a small smile creeping onto his face. "Alright?"

"I'm alright, Big D," Harry allowed, shaking the boy's hand. "This is my-" he looked down at me for a second before continuing, "-girlfriend, Ginny. Ginny, this is my cousin, Dudley."

Dudley smiled at me and stuck out his large hand. I took and gave it a firm shake, marveling at how much larger his hand was than mine.

"It's nice to meet you," I told him politely, as he released my hand and turned back to Harry.

"What brings you here?" Dudley inquired as he ushered us into the house and led us into the kitchen.

"I left some stuff here last summer and I was hoping to pick it up," Harry explained, offering me a seat at the kitchen table.

Dudley took two glasses out of the cabinet, filled them with orange juice, and set them in front of Harry and me.

"Of course, Harry," Dudley said good-naturedly. "Let me just go get Mum." He left the kitchen, leaving Harry and I alone.

I looked around the spotless kitchen, admiring the neat and spacious set up and the strange appliances.

"Nice place," I told Harry, taking a sip of my juice. "Your cousin seems nice, too."

Harry laughed a little bitterly.

"Wasn't always," Harry muttered, draining his glass. "He beat me up more times than I can count. I saved him from the dementors three years ago, though, and he decided he likes having me around."

I stared at him, horrified.

"He did WHAT?"

Harry could not answer me, for at that moment, Dudley returned with a tall, blonde woman with a long neck and rather thin structure. Her cheek bones stuck out in her face above somewhat horsey teeth.

"Aunt Petunia," Harry greeted her.

She nodded once at him and turned to me.

"You are-?"

"Ginny Weasley," I introduced myself, before Harry could say anything. I stood up and shook her hand. "Harry's girlfriend."

Petunia started a little bit at my words, looking from Harry to me. Finally, she turned to her son.

"Dudley, why don't you go upstairs and help Harry gather his thing?"

Dudley nodded, and together he and Harry left the room. Petunia sat down in the seat across from me, drumming her fingers on the table. She continued to stare at me; I felt awkward and uncomfortable, not sure if I should say anything.

"You look very like someone I once knew," Petunia burst out suddenly.

"Who?" I asked, taken aback.

Petunia regarded me seriously for a moment.

"Lily Potter, née Evans." There was a longing, wistful look in her eyes as she said the name.

"You mean- Harry's mother?"

She nodded.

"My sister. You look very like her. Got the same attitude, too- I can tell just by the way you speak." Petunia smiled a little sadly. "Feisty. I guess Potter men have a thing for red-heads."

I laughed, and Petunia smiled a little more warmly.

"I- I'm not proud of the way I treated Harry," she admitted. I was surprised; I hadn't expected her to talk to me at all, let alone open up to me about her sister and Harry. I listened intently as she went on. "I resented taking him in because he represented all Lily had that I didn't- brains, beauty, courage, a man who truly loved and cared for her. And it reminded me that I was the one who ruined my relationship with my sister, because I was insanely jealous."

I was startled to see Petunia's eyes brimming with tears.

"Sorry," she gulped, dabbing at her eyes with a napkin. "You just remind me so much of her, it was almost like getting to see her again… being able to apologize."

Although I knew she had treated Harry extremely poorly during his childhood, I couldn't help feeling a little sorry for the woman sitting before me. She had been jealous of the sister who out shadowed her in nearly everything; so jealous that she had let it get between them. I, with my six older brothers, certainly knew what it felt like to be out shined; I was glad that I had never let it ruin my relationship with anything of them, especially Fred, now that he was gone.

We both jumped a little as we heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Petunia put her hand over mine on the table.

"Ginny- take care of Harry. Make him happy; God knows he deserves it. And- if you get the chance…" she paused and glanced at the door, "Tell him I love him."

I agreed as the door opened, and Petunia yanked her hand back and stood up. Harry carried a small box of books and other items under one arm. Dudley followed him.

"Ready, Gin?" Harry asked, holding his hand out to me. I nodded and smiled swiftly at Petunia and Dudley before following Harry to the door. "Thanks for everything, Dud," Harry shook hands with his cousin again. "Take care."

"Same to you, Harry," Dudley called as we went up the walk. "And you, Ginny."

I didn't notice Petunia had come to the door until we were halfway up the street.

"Don't lose her, Harry," she shouted after us. "You have one special girl there."

I blushed and avoided Harry's confused gaze as I gripped his arm again, and together we turned on the spot and vanished.


Author's Note: What did you all think? I know Petunia does a rather abrupt change in character but I hope you all understand why. If you don't feel free to ask! As for the title- I chose it because Hallelujah means "praise", and that is certainly what Ginny gets from Petunia. Also, Hallelujah is often sung at Christian funerals and I thought it was fitting since the funeral is being planned back at the Burrow during this chapter. The last reason is because "Hallelujah" is a song by Paramore about falling in love, and since we find out that Hermione and Ron is finally together in this chapter, it seemed fitting. Reviews are greatly appreciated! See you all soon.