A/N: I know you missed me! Thank you for all of your reviews! Enjoy the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Harry Potter.
~rAndOM sQuIRrel~
When we last left our beloved characters: "A storm is coming."
~rAndOM sQuIRrel~
Harry held Ginny close to him, hugging her tight. "Are you alright?" he asked, releasing her, and examining her at arm's length.
"Yeah," she said quietly. He searched her eyes to confirm that she was okay.
Harry nodded and turned to the muggle woman, kneeling down. Her eyes showed a flicker of fear.
"You're going to be okay," he reassured, "I'm not going to hurt you."
In a small whisper she said, "Help me," the fear fading from her eyes.
"We will," Harry said, then turned to Ginny, "Send a patronus to your dad. Tell him what happened and have him contact the ministry and St. Mungo's. I don't know if they'll heal a muggle, but we might as well try."
"Well, if he attacked her with magic, then they may have to help her with magic. And someone will already have to modify her memory," she said before doing as Harry had instructed.
A minute or two passed before they heard a pop, a little ways off. A familiar voice began calling their names.
"Over here, Mr. Weasley!" Harry shouted, in the direction of the voice. They heard running and rustling as Mr. Weasley neared them and entered the clearing
Out of breath, he wheezed, "I contacted the ministry. They should be here soon."
Four pops, as though on cue, followed one after another from the same direction that Mr. Weasley had come.
"Arthur! Where are you!" a voice shouted.
"Here, Rawlings!" Mr. Weasley responded. A half a minute later the four Aurors entered the clearing.
"What happened, Weasley?" one of the wizards asked. Meanwhile a witch began healing the muggle woman, and the two remaining wizards went off to search the surrounding area.
"Harry?" Mr. Weasley said, wondering himself, what had transpired.
"Ginny and I were talking when we heard a scream. We ran here to find a wizard standing over the muggle woman. He ran and I chased after him, but somehow I lost him and he circled back."
"I didn't hear him come up behind me, until I heard a branch crack behind me. I yelled, as he grabbed me from behind, and Harry came running back," Ginny said.
"Before I could do much, Ginny took things into her own hands," Harry said.
"Well I wasn't going to let him accept your offer was I? You're sometimes too noble for your own good, Harry. You still seem to think-," She began angrily, before her father cut her off.
"Ginevra, let Harry finish," Mr. Weasley said, before nodding to Harry. "Go ahead, son."
Harry studied Ginny for a moment, before continuing. "She... uh... threw her head back in his face, and I think she broke his nose. He released her and then said a storm was coming. And he disapparated."
"What did he look like?" Rawlings asked.
"We never saw his face," Ginny snapped. "He was wearing a hooded cloak."
"He was Caucasian, and a little taller than me, so about six feet. He was right handed, which was badly scarred. The wand was about twelve inches, and appeared to be Elm, but it's hard to be sure," Harry told Rawlings.
Rawlings looked impressed, "You'd make a good Auror. Anyway, we'll send out an alert to be on the lookout. Let us know if you think of anything else. I'll see you tomorrow, Arthur."
"Alright, Robin," Mr. Weasley said, with a nod.
"We will let you know," Harry answered, as the other Aurors made their way back into the clearing.
"No traces or clues," one responded.
"Well," sighed Rawlings, "Let's take care of the woman, and get back to headquarters and put out an alert. We'll have to make do with the description we have."
"Harry, Ginny," Mr. Weasley said, "I'll finish up here. You've done all you can. Go back to the Burrow. Let Molly know I'll be home for dinner in a bit."
Harry put his hand on Ginny's, who yanked it away. He looked at her pleadingly, "Side-along Apparation? I thought-."
"Fine," she said, taking hold of his upper arm. Harry sighed before disapparating.
Once they reappeared outside the property line of the Burrow, Ginny walked quickly up the hill and into the house. Harry followed behind, giving Ginny room. As soon as he entered, Ron and Hermione were there at the door.
"What happened, Harry? Why is Ginny so upset," Hermione asked quietly, so that Mrs. Weasley's prying ears wouldn't hear.
"Well, Ginny and I, we were- something happened-," Harry heard Mrs. Weasley discontinue humming a Celestia Warbeck song. "Not here," he said. They made their way up to Ron's room, where they couldn't be heard, in silence. As soon as they entered and closed the door, Ron and Hermione sat on his bed watching Harry as he paced.
"What happened?" Ron asked.
"Where have you been?" Hermione questioned.
Harry recounted the story. "Ginny clobbered him, breaking his nose. He said that it's not over, and that a storm was coming."
A knock sounded from the door. "Come in," Ron answered.
Mr. Weasley entered, "I talked to Head Auror Robards, Harry. They're going to do their best, but-."
"I didn't give them much to go on," Harry said with a sigh. He hit the wall angrily with his fist, causing Pigwidgeon to screech angrily from the corner.
"Harry-," Hermione tried to comfort.
"I know," Harry said angrily, sliding to the floor against the wall, "I let him get away, though."
"How did they find you though?" Ron asked.
"That's what scares me," said Mr. Weasley. "We don't know. And it's quite possible, we may never. We all have to be on our guard."
"Is the name still Taboo?" Hermione asked.
"We didn't even talk about that," Harry answered.
"Mum, wants you all downstairs for dinner," Ginny said, coming up the stairs behind her father.
"Gin-," Harry began, but she turned and trotted down the stairs before he could continue. As they all began going down the stairs Mr. Weasley turned to them, "Everyone, but Molly knows, and I don't want to stress her out. She's already got enough on her plate."
The rest of the family was already seated at the table, and gave them anxious looks, which they all ignored. Dinner continued in an awkward silence.
Halfway through Molly threw her utensils down, "Okay, what is going on that I don't know about? You're all in on it, but it starts with you three," she said pointing to Harry, Ginny, and Mr. Weasley.
George scooted his chair back, "Well, I'm just gonna go home…"
"No you're not," Mrs. Weasley said, still looking at the three 'perpetrators'. "Sit." George did so. "Arthur, what is going on?" she demanded.
"Well, uh, honey… Harry and Ginny, they… uh… You have to understand the situation…," he began, trailing off.
Mrs. Weasley jumped to conclusions a little too quickly, and took this the wrong way. Her eyes widen and she began to glare murderously at Harry.
Harry realized what she was thinking. He raised his hands in innocence, "No. Mrs. Weasley, I would never-."
Mr. Weasley came to his rescue as she began to draw her wand, "No need to do anything rash, dear. Harry didn't do anything to Ginny. They only ran into a Death Eater."
Mrs. Weasley's expression changed drastically, from angry, to worried. "What?" she asked, finally turning her gaze from Harry, to her husband.
"Well not a confirmed Death Eater. Harry, why don't you explain what happened?" Mr. Weasley said, sitting in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Harry recounted the story once more, but was unable to look Mrs. Weasley in the eye, after her accusation. He focused, instead on the clock on the wall, where his hand on the clock –which had been added by Mrs. Weasley only a week ago- and the rest of the family's lay on 'mortal peril'.
Bill finally spoke after Harry finished, "Well, some of this was to be expected. After all, they lost a lot from the war too."
"But after Harry defeated You-Know-Who fifty times-," George said.
Harry interjected, "It wasn't fifty."
"Yeah, well- you get the point. But you'd think that they'd give up. Persistent little buggers."
Mrs. Weasley sent the plates flying to the sink to wash themselves, with a flick of her wand, as the events of the day began to sink in.
Fleur excused herself to use the bathroom, as she was looking a little pale. Bill gave her a weak smile, "Are you alright, dear?" She gave a small nod, before exiting the room.
Soon after, the family began to disperse. Percy, who had been helping around the shop, went home with George. Ron and Ginny began a game of chess by the fire, while Hermione curled up on the couch to read Extraordinary Trials in History. Mr. Weasley left to see if there had been any recent information on the incident. Harry had soon vanished after dinner, saying he needed some air.
The sun began to fade over the treetops of the orchard, where the Quidditch pitch lay. Summer storm clouds began to move across the darkening sky, threatening rain. With a crack of thunder and a flash of lightning, the rain came pouring down.
The game of chess had ended long ago, and Ron and Hermione now sat together on the couch, her head resting on his shoulder, as she continued to read her book. Ron watched to fire, lost in thought. Ginny was sitting on the other couch, looking out into the night.
All three looked up when Harry entered from the kitchen, soaking wet. Ginny stood, "Harry."
Harry rubbed his neck, "C-could I talk to you Gin?" She slowly gave a hesitant nod. She followed him up the stairs.
"Hermione, should we-," Ron said, watching them disappear up the stairs.
"Let them sort it out, on their own, Ron," she said returning to her book. Ron continued to stare at the stairs, as they sat in silence.
"Ron?"
"Hmmm?" he said, not fully paying attention.
"I'm gonna miss you."
He snapped out of it. "Huh? Where are you going?" he asked, looking down at her.
"Back to school, of course," she said closing her book, tilting her head to look at him.
"Oh. Right," he said in dismay, realizing she would be leaving in two days' time.
"Hogwarts won't be the same without you," she said with a quietly, with a smile.
He returned a weak one. "Yeah, I know." She was smiling, but he could see that she was feeling the same thing as he was. A sudden urge to tell her about the new Hogsmeade branch of Weasley Wizard Wheezes came over him, but he restrained it, knowing the joy it would bring to her soon enough.
She saw the twinkle in his eye. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing," he said, with a grin.
"I'm sure," she said, unbelievingly. Ron's watch sounded its hourly chime, indicating the time was now ten o' clock. Hermione kissed him on the cheek, before standing. "I should probably get home, or mum will begin to worry."
"Alright." He stood and walked her to the back door. "Be safe," he said, leaning down and kissing her on the forehead.
"Night, Ron," she said, looking at him as she opened the door.
"Night, 'Mione," he said, as she closed the door behind her. We watched her as she walked to the property line, and disapparated.
~rAndOM sQuIRrel~
They stopped at the top stair just before the floor of Harry's room.
"Ginny, I've been thinking, and after what happened-," he began.
"No," she said, "You're not doing this to me again."
"You didn't let me finish."
"You don't need to. I know what you are going to say, Harry," she said, her eyes becoming glossy with tears. "You're breaking up with me, deciding to go off on your own, or both, but either way, you're leaving me."
"Ginny-."
"No. I can't do this again, Harry."
"But I can't see you get hurt, because of me."
"I'll manage. But I want to be standing next to you. And it's not as if I escaped completely unharmed after you broke up with me last time. The Carrows tortured me too many times to count."
"I'm not going have the only people I care about, subject to the wrath that I caused."
"Don't you see though, Harry. They're not just after you. Neville, Luna, and I gave 'em hell at Hogwarts. Mum killed Bellatrix. Ron took down Greyback. My family is just as big of target as you, Harry. You leaving, isn't going to change that fact."
Harry sighed, then gave a small laugh, "You know, I have nothing left to argue my point with."
"So does that mean you're staying?" she asked with a triumphant smile.
"No," he said, sadly, refusing to look her in the eyes.
The smile drained from her face. As she studied his face, she clenched her jaw tighter, trying to hold back tears. She began to shake her head. "You- you're so bloody, stubborn!" she yelled, with a stomp of her foot. "I should hex you right now!"
"Ginny-," he pleaded.
"Don't 'Ginny' me! You know what? Fine. Go off and forget the only people you supposedly care about! People are gonna get hurt either way. The war is still going on outside these walls, whether others want to see it or not it's still there! And you leaving isn't going to change a thing!" she yelled, cutting him deep.
"Ginny-."
"Oi! What's going on up here? What's with the yelling?" Ron said coming up the stairs.
Ginny took a step back from Harry. "He's leaving again," she breathed.
"Harry?" Ron said, looking at him in confusion.
"Stay out of it, Ronald," Harry growled, as Ginny's words stung deeply within him.
"Not a chance, mate."
"This isn't about you, Ron."
"Like hell it isn't. You're yelling at my baby sister," Ron said taking another step, standing in front of a tear-streaked Ginny.
"Your sister is the one doing all the bloody yelling!" Harry shouted in frustration. He sighed, then looked at Ginny, "I don't want you to get hurt."
Ginny shook her head. "This hurts me far more than anything a Death Eater could do."
"I brought you all into this. And now look at where we're all at. Too many that I love have died, or almost died for me."
"Like I said, not everything is about you, Harry. People have acted like it, and treated you like it for so long, that you began to believe it too. What would've happened if that prophecy had never happened? Where would you be now? Before, you knew that it was so much more than that, and it's still that way, Harry. It hasn't changed."
Harry stared at Ginny for a moment. He nodded, then looked away to Ron, but could hold his gaze. "I'll go get my things."
~rAndOM sQuIRrel~