Harry Potter and all characters, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, not me.

If You Can Help Her – Chapter 11 – Back to the Dursleys

Harry woke up on the day that they were leaving Hogwarts in a sad mood. He knew he'd have to see the Dursleys again. What made it worse was that for a short time he thought he would be living with Sirius Black instead. What bothered him even more was the idea that he wouldn't see Ginny for months.

He looked inside his trunk to pack what little was still unpacked. He noticed the 'spare bit of parchment' at the top. Lupin had given it back to Ginny on the day he left, but after finding out that Harry's father had helped create it, she felt that Harry should have it. He was happy that they all had passed their classes, especially the way Snape had been acting. He figured Dumbledore might have had something to do with that.

As the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station, Hermione told them she had dropped Muggle Studies and had turned in the time-turner. He was relieved she had done it, and couldn't imagine what she'd been through this year and how she hadn't gone completely crazy.

Ron and Ginny promised to get their parents to let him stay at their house that summer, and Ron mentioned something about going to the Quidditch World Cup. Harry wasn't paying too much attention. He was slipping into what he called the 'Dursley Depression.' Ginny must have noticed this and suggested, "Harry, let's go find the snack trolley," and pulled him up by the arm. He was too depressed to offer any resistance. As soon as they were away from Ron and Hermione, she turned back to him. "Harry, you've got to stop acting like this!"

"Like what?"

"Depressed! I know how horrible those muggles treat you, and I wish we could just take you to the Burrow instead, but we can't. Your moping around isn't going to help any. How do you think I feel knowing how miserable you are?"

Harry shrugged, and then looked at her thoughtfully, putting his hands on her shoulders. "I never thought of that. Ginny, don't worry about me. Just enjoy your summer. I'll be fine. The Dusleys aren't what's really bothering me. I just know how much I'll miss you. I'll write you at least three times a week, I promise."

She smiled. "You'd better! I'll miss you, too." She kissed him briefly and said, "We'd better find that trolley now, I'm starving."

After locating the trolley and purchasing enough treats for a small army, they slowly made their way back to the compartment, where Ron and Hermione were arguing about Ron's need to take muggle studies, they sat back down. The argument stopped almost immediately as Ron began helping himself to as many snacks as he could fit in his mouth. They continued eating the sweets until Hermione asked suddenly, "Harry, what's that thing outside your window?"

That thing turned out to be a tiny owl carrying a message from Sirius, along with a signed Hogsmeade permission form. The letter informed them that it was Sirius who'd bought the Firebolt. When the first postscript mentioned that Ron could keep the owl, Ginny immediately named it Pigwidgeon. Much to Ron's horror and Harry's amusement, the owl seemed to like the name. The second postscript told Harry to make sure he was good to Ginny, causing both he and his red-headed girlfriend to blush.

After leaving platform nine and three quarters together, Ginny threw her arms around Harry and kissed him deeply. It took Vernon Dursley yelling, "Boy!" three times before Harry heard and broke away from Ginny.

Ignoring the look she was getting from Harry's uncle, who was rapidly approaching, she declared, "I love you, Harry. I'll see you soon."

Harry smiled at her. "I love you, too, Ginny."

At this moment Vernon Dursley grabbed Harry's arm, causing him to drop the envelope he'd been holding. While giving Ginny an evil look, Vernon demanded, "Why are you kissing this piece of trash! Just look at those old clothes! They look like hand-me-downs from a boy! They…"

Harry was officially upset. He glared at his uncle with over a decade of hatred in his eyes. "If you say one more word against her, you'll end up like Aunt Marge! I don't care if I'm expelled or not!" Then he turned to his girlfriend and said softly, "Bye, Ginny. I think you'd better go."

Uncle Vernon paled at the mention of his sister. He was angry, but he dared not provoke his nephew in a public place like this. He decided to change the subject. "What's that?" he asked, referring to the envelope Harry had just picked up. If it's another form for me to sign, you've got another…"

"It's not," answered Harry, cheerfully. "It's a letter from my godfather. He likes Ginny."

"Godfather?" sputtered Uncle Vernon, and Harry proceeded to tell him all about the escaped murderer who broke out of wizard prison and wanted to make sure he was happy. He also told his uncle that Ginny was a lot like his godfather. As they left the station, it looked like it would be a much better summer than the last.

-IYCHH-

Chapter end