It was around lunch that Ginny signaled Harry that the plan was going to begin. So Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak and set it on his trunk, hiding it from view. He then bewitched it to move by itself. After he and his trunk got into the bathroom, he took the cloak off the trunk and placed a disillusionment charm on it. After the charm was placed he lifted the trunk and dropped it out the window. He then put the invisibility cloak on and waited for the signal from Ginny.
What was only five minutes felt like five hours until he heard the squawking of owls. Just as was expected, he heard the thuds of feet running down the stairs to help the frantic people below him.
'There goes Remus,' he thought with a smile. 'Any second now Ginny will give me the signal to leave.'
Just as that thought crossed this mind he heard the loud voice scream, "Mum!"
Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the bathroom and quietly walked down the stairs into the living room. As it was planned, Ginny was standing there with the door open. He stepped out the door and out into the glorious sunshine that he hadn't been in in days.
Ginny then closed the door, and stepped out into the sun with him. Together, they walked to the woods that stood on the edge of the Weasley property.
When they got to the woods and out of the light Harry took off the cloak, took out his wand, and yelled, "Accio!" It took about two minutes until his trunk came flying towards him.
After it stopped at his feet, Harry pointed his wand at it again and shrunk it. He took off the disillusionment charm and stuck the tiny trunk into his pocket.
When he turned to face Ginny he saw her leaning up against a tree, staring off into space.
"Gin?" he asked. "Ginny? Ginny are you okay?" He walked over to her and looked her in the eye. She just seemed to be staring off into space.
Finally she said, "What have I done?"
Harry just looked at her and said, "What do you mean?"
"Oh, Harry," she cried. "This could be the last time I see you. For all I know you could get killed the second you leave my sight. Harry… what if I never see you again?"
Harry didn't know what to say to her. He was also worried about never seeing her again, but he couldn't tell her that. So, he did the best he could do to comfort her.
He wrapped his arms around her and said, "We may never see each other again. For all I know, I could get killed in five minutes. But think of what'll happen if I don't die, if I kill Voldemort. Everything will be normal again."
"I know, Harry," Ginny said. "But one of my biggest fears is getting a letter at breakfast saying you were found dead in the woods."
"Ginny… that's something we'll just have to risk," he replied. "But if I do die, I want you to remember that I'll always be with you."
"Always?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied, and took Dumbledore's locket out of his pocket, and handed it to her.
She took it and read the words that he had inscribed on it a week before.
"Always and forever," she said, reading the inscribed words aloud. "Are you… are you giving this to me?"
"Yes," he said, and hooked it around her neck. "Therefore, even though I'm not there with you, you'll have a piece of me always there."
She looked down at the locket and held the heart in her hands. The words inscribed on it were so thoughtful and so sweet, they made her love him even more.
Not knowing what to say, she let the heart shaped pendant fall to her chest, and jumped into his arms. And then, for the first time in months, she kissed him. The kiss only lasted a few moments, but to them it lasted forever. Both of them had no idea how long it would be until they saw each other again, or if they would ever see each other again.
When the kiss finally broke and Harry stepped into the forest behind him, Ginny was silent. Nothing in the whole world could cheer her up now. Quietly, as she wiped the tears out of her chocolate brown eyes, she walked back to the Burrow.
As she opened the door of her cozy little home and stepped inside, she heard the loud voice of her mother.
"GINERVA MOLLY WEASLEY!" she yelled. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, GOING OUTSIDE ALONE, WITHOUT A GUARD?! YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!"
Ginny just looked at her mother with a blank face. As her mum continued to yell at her, she continued to act as if she was listening. Really, though, she was thinking about what had just happened. What she could've just lost. It hurt her to think about, but she knew she would be thinking about it for a long time.
"WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF?!" her mother yelled, waiting for her youngest child to answer.
Quick as lightning, Ginny started to cry. "Mum… I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I'll never do it again, just please let me go upstairs to my room."
The whole house was stunned by what they were seeing. Ginny rarely cried, and never cried when being yelled at. Instead of crying, she would yell back.
Mrs. Weasley just looked at her and said, "Yes, go to your room… and do not come out until I tell you!"
So the young red head walked up to her room, closed the door, and locked it. When she knew the door was locked and knew that no one could hear her, she ran over to her bed and cried. All she could think about was how she could've just let her love die. It broke her heart to realize that she might never see him again. As she wiped her tears she heard the clinking, and looked down at her neck to see the locket. She opened it and was shocked at what she saw. On one side was a picture of her, and on the other, was a picture of Harry. She started at the pictures for a few minutes, then turned it over and read the inscription. Hours past, and she was still looking at that locket.
Her mother came and knocked on the door. When the door didn't open, she yelled through the door, "Ginny, I brought you some dinner… in case you were hungry." When there was no response, she said, "I love you Ginny dear, and I'm sorry I was so hard on you earlier. I was just so worried." Again, no response, so she said, "Goodnight, Ginny dear."
A few minutes later, Ginny heard her mother knock on the Harry's bedroom door.
"Harry dear, are you okay?" Mrs. Weasley said through the door. "Harry, I brought you some dinner…." Just like Ginny's room, there was no response. "Harry dear, I know you're mad at us, but please understand, that everyone wants you to finish school. We're sorry you aren't talking to us, but we're only doing this because we love you." No response, so she wiggled the doorknob.
Ginny heard the door hinges squeak as it opened. She heard glass shatter, and heard her mother scream. She heard footsteps run up the stairs. 'Remus,' she thought.
"Molly, what's the matter? What's hap--," he stopped when he saw what was the matter. Harry's room was empty. His trunk was gone, his closet was empty, and his bed was made. On his pillow was a note, and Remus picked it up and read it aloud.
Dear Family,
I'm so sorry. I know you guys are going to be upset, but I had to do it. There are lives at stake, and there are things I have to do. I know you all wanted me to go back to school, but it's impossible for me to do well in school knowing that everyone I love is in danger. Like I told Remus, Voldemort has taken many people from me already. It would kill me if he killed one more person.
I know you wanted to go with me Ron and Hermione, but it would hurt too many people if you guys got killed. Plus, you guys are happy right now. You've finally found out what I've known for years. I don't want you guys to be ruined, and if you came with me, you would've been. Seeing all that will be out there… you guys don't deserve that.
Bill, Charlie, keep trying to get people to join the Order. It'll help in my fight. The more people involved, the harder it'll be for Voldemort and his death eaters. Bill, keep the goblins, they could be useful, and make sure that Fleur has the veela. Charlie, show no mercy in the fights. Use dragons if you have to.
Fred, George, continue to make people laugh. That's what everyone needs right now. Laughter. The more people that laugh, the harder they'll fight to keep their happiness. Help protect your family, though, and make sure they all keep laughing as well.
Hagrid, you and Madame Maxime should keep trying to get the giants on our side. They'll give in eventually. If we get the giants, we'll have powerful allies. Don't give up. Help Charlie with the dragons. He'll need all the help he can get. Maybe you'll get to see Norbert again.
Ginny, please know that I love you. You've helped me get through everything. You helped me when I thought I was a weapon. You helped me when Sirius died. You helped me when Dumbledore died. You've been there since the beginning. And I think you've helped me more than even you know. I'm sorry things had to be this way, and I wish it could be different.
Please
know that I love you all, and I'm sorry I had to leave this way.
Oh, Ginny, please take care of Hedwig for me. Always,
Harry
By the time they finished the letter, Mrs. Weasley was crying. Remus was in shock, and wasn't saying anything. The rest of the family heard Mrs. Weasley crying, and ran upstairs. When they asked what happened, Remus handed them the letter. When they finished it, Ron was holding Hermione while she cried in his shoulder. Charlie was going to see Hagrid, and Bill was going to inform the ministry to start a search.
Fleur looked up from the letter, and said what no one else had even thought of yet. "What are we going to tell Ginny?" The family looked as if they'd just been punched in the stomach.
"Well…," said Remus. "I guess we should tell her when she wakes up tomorrow morning. That'll give us the night to decide what we're going to say to her."
No one in the house knew that Ginny was listening to every word they were saying. She didn't know how she was going to handle herself. She was the one that helped him leave, and no one knew that. Maybe they didn't have to find out. Maybe she could pretend to be just as shocked as they all were. Maybe… she could forget everything she had done. Maybe, just maybe, things would work out.
