Dear Gin,

I'm so sorry, but I had to get out of here. After fighting Lucius last night, I just couldn't take it anymore. He was with a couple other Death Eaters in Hogsmeade, prowling about as is normal for the scum. Demetri and I saw them and decided to take them down. Demetri got a few lucky spells in, but we only took down one before Lucius got in my head. He showed me pictures of my past. I tried to use Occlumency, but he was too strong. He showed me days of my life that I never want to go back to- when you were in the Chamber, when Sirius was about to be Kissed, when Cedric died, when I was being tortured in the heart of the Ministry. I remembered the times when Dudley bullied me, when Vernon and Petunia abused me physically and mentally, when Marge taunted me. I was shown the deaths of Fred, Remus, Tonks, Sirius, and even my parents. I saw every terrible thing that ever occured in my lifetime, and you can never understand how awful it was.

Demetri got them off of me, but I couldn't deal with it. We killed Lucius, Ginny. Lucius is dead because of me. While I know that this is a good thing, I hate it. He wasn't really such a bad person, but even when he saw what Voldemort became that day at Hogwarts, he still went back to his evil ways. I had to, but still I feel so much remorse.

This has to be one of the worst things I have ever done as an Auror. I normally try to tune out how much I hate myself, how sorry I feel, but this is too much. Draco and I had just become friends again, and I know that he broke all ties with his father, but if I was in the same position, I would still be incredibly angry if someone killed my father. I can't even tell him, I can't say it to his face. I hope to be able to face the world one day, but for now, I need to come to terms with myself.

I'm so sorry that I have to leave you and James, but I need to forgive myself. It's an awful feeling, but there's nothing you can do. I love you so much, and I promise that I will come home soon.

All my love,

Harry

I sat down on the nearest chair, gripping the armrests with all my might. I knew that it was coming, but still, this was a hard thing for me to read. Harry wasn't really the type to run away from his fears, so if he was running now, I knew it had to be bad.

I sat for only a moment, stunned, when James ran into the room and sat on my lap. "Mommy, what does the letter say?" he demanded. "Does it have to do with me?" I looked at his naive five-year-old face. There was so much he didn't know...

"Well, it's from Daddy. Remember how he didn't come home last night?" I asked. He shook his head with vigor. "Well, why don't I read it to you. It says," I cleared my throat, "Dear Mommy and James, I'm really sorry that I couldn't come home last night. I had to fight a bunch of really mean people, and they did things to me that made me very sad. I needed to be sure that I would be happy when I came home for you. I love you two so, so much, and I promise that I will come home soon. Love, Daddy." I improvised. James leaned his head back into my chest.

He asked me, "Mommy, why was Daddy sad? What did they do to him?" Oh, geez. I really did not want to have to answer this question.

I looked James in the eyes with a serious look on his face, and told him, "Ask your father. What happened was very mean, and he doesn't like anyone to talk about it. Do you understand?" James nodded with a solemn look on his face. I hugged him as close to me as I could. "Now, let's go get some lunch."

That night, after Albus had been put to bed, James and I sat up, still waiting for Harry. He had been gone for a full day now, and I knew that he needed his time, but still I worried.

James was running in circles around my chair. "When's Daddy gonna get here, when's Daddy gonna get here?" he demanded. I was getting tired of his running around me, so I pulled out my wand and cast a quick charm on him. James had a quick second of scare, then started laughing hard when he was lifted off the ground. I maneuvered him around the playroom until I was able to place him on top of his rocking horse. "I don't know!" I told him. "We'll see, OK?"

At that moment, the door opened. I held my breath, hoping that it was Harry.

"Hey, Gin. Hey, buddy!" Ron announced. I groaned inwardly, but gave him a kiss on the cheek. He whispered in my ear, "I have news about him. Let me put the little guy to bed and you can head over to our place. Hermione knows everything, and we think you need a girl's night." I breathed out, suprised at how tense I was. I mean, I wasn't, but I was.

"Uncle Ron, will you read me a bedtime story?" James pleaded. They both looked at me with puppy-dog eyes. I stifled a lugh and said, "Only one!" James screamed and ran into his room. Ron smiled, hugged me, and ran after him. I quickly Apparated to his house, ready to hear all the information.

"Mione!" I called.

"I'm in the kitchen!" she yelled back. I apparated into the kitchen. Hermione turned around, and smiled at me. "She's here!" she shouted to someone. Who else was here?"

A voice behind me startled me. "Hey, love!" I turned around, and ran into Harry's arms.

"If was awful," he told me. We were upstairs in the spare bedroom, kissing and talking as we pleased.

I held him close to me. "It must have been," I said. "But are you sure you are OK? We understand it if you want a holiday from all of this."

Harry looked at me funnily. "Ginevra Potter, do you really think that there is any way that I would ever be able to survive all of this without you and our children at my side?" He kissed my forehead. "Ginny, there is no way I would ever be able to deal with all of this without you."

I was so happy at that moment. I wrapped my arms around his neck, beaming when he put his around my waist. "I love you," I told him.

"I love you, too." He kissed me softly, then broke away. "Now, let's go back to our kids."

I smiled guiltily. "About that... gues what you get to explain to James?"