All my bags are packed; I'm ready to go;

A/N: Hello again. First off all I want to apologize. This chapter has taken me, an eternity. I'm really sorry about that. And second I want to thank my beta-readers. Without you this wouldn't be posted by now. The rest at the end.

Chapter 4:

All my bags are packed; I'm ready to go;
I'm standing here outside your door;
I hate to wake you up to say good-bye.
But the dawn is breakin';
It's early morn;
The taxi's waitin'
He's blowin' his horn;
Already I'm so lonesome I could die.

So kiss me and smile for me;
Tell me that you'll wait for me;
Hold me like you'll never let me go.
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane;
Don't know when I'll be back again;
Oh; babe; I hate to go.



The daylight dawned: For most inhabitants it was a perfectly normal morning. Most families were sitting together in the kitchen while they enjoyed their
breakfast. There were children running through houses and mothers who were yelling after them. However in one single house, in Ottery St. Catchpole,
tension was high. Hermione knew perfectly well that it would be Ron who would have to leave her. She was standing in the kitchen when Ron entered the
room.

"Morning, darling, why didn't you wake me up?" he asked, a little sleepy.
"Oh, morning." Hermione answered while she turned away from her husband. She hoped that he didn't see the wet lines on her face, where her tears had run
down only a few minutes ago. She also hoped that he didn't realize how harsh her voice was. She then wiped over her cheeks. She really hoped that this
little gesture would dry her face. "I just woke up myself an hour ago, and I thought that I would surprise you with breakfast." But Ron realized her play. He just loved her way too much to not see how sad she was. He went behind her and took her into his arms. He sighed deeply before he forced her to face
him. Hermione hadn't done a good job. Her face was still tear-stricken. Now, she tried to keep her head down, but Ron lifted her chin and looked directly
into her puffy eyes. "Hermione, I know it's hard, but we'll go through it." She just nodded before she laid her head on his shoulder. She closed her
eyes and dreamed herself away. Just like she did when they first danced and Voldemort's power was higher then ever. If her man had to leave her, she was sure that she wanted at least to enjoy the last hours with Ron.

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around;
I tell you now they don't mean a thing.
Ev'ry place I go I'll think of you;
Ev'ry song I sing I'll sing for you;
When I come back I'll bring your wedding ring.

So kiss me and smile for me;
Tell me that you'll wait for me;
Hold me like you'll never let me go.
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane;
Don't know when I'll be back again;
Oh; babe; I hate to go.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A few miles away the Potters were sitting at their little kitchen table. Actually, Harry and Ginny hadn't slept much the last night. They had talked
most of the night, embraced in each other's arms. And they both knew that they would be able to handle this situation. Ginny was feeding her little son and Harry watched the two people who meant his life. He knew that Ginny would be able to go on with her life. At least-he hoped so; that if, if anything
would happen to him and Ron. On the other hand, Ginny had explained very convincingly why she should go with him and not Ron. And deep in his heart he
knew that he wanted to take her with him. But there was still the knowledge that he didn't want Joshua to grow up as an orphan-just like him.
"Harry?" the voice of his pretty wife brought him back to reality.

"What's up?" he asked her. Ginny shot him a funny look but repeated her words again.
"I just told you-at least ten times-that we have to go if we want to arrive in time," She told him. Harry could say by the way she looked at him, that she wanted to be late. That she wanted to lock them into their house and never leave it, but both knew that it was just wishful thinking.
"Okay Gin, let's go then." He said while his lips switched to a little smile. Sure, it was fake, but he wanted to give her support.
When they were actually standing by the fireplace, Ginny took a little breeze of Floo powder and was in the process of throwing it into the flames when Harry caught her wrist.
"Ginny, wait.." he stopped, his breathing was fast and low.
"What, Harry?" Ginny looked worried. "Is something wrong?"

He shook his head. Then he raised his voice again. "Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to tell you something. Ginny, whatever should happen today, never forget: I love you with all of my heart, now and forever." Ginny smiled at him, a true smile, which he loved so, then she nodded. "I know Harry. I love you too. I always have, and it'll never change as long as I live."
Joshua has watched the scene in Harry's arms. He didn't look very interested in the declaration of love, which his parents had just made. Harry and Ginny leaned forward and wanted to share one kiss, just when Joshua got annoyed and started to cry very loud. "Perfect timing." Harry said, a little disappointed, but he hugged his son anyway, and let Ginny's wrist go. "It's time." Ginny repeated and shot the powder into the fireplace. A few minutes later they had left their house.

Now the time has come to leave you;
One more time let me kiss you;
Then close your eyes I'll be on my way.
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone;
About the times I won't have to say:

Kiss me and smile for me.
Tell me that you'll wait for me;
Hold me like you'll never let me go.
'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane;
Don't know when I'll be back again;
Oh; babe; I hate to go.
I'm leavin' on a jet plane;
Don't know when I'll be back again;
Oh; babe; I hate to go.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hello, you two." Hermione greeted her best friends, just before she hugged them tightly. They were silent while they walked through the aisles. Just
Joshua was babbling with joy. Suddenly Ginny heard something that made her heart jump. "Dada." She looked at her little son who was looking very proud
of himself, at his father, and again the word reached her ear. Harry stopped also in his tracks. He looked astonished, and was sure that he felt a little tear in his eye. "Ginny, he said it." Harry told her, while he hugged his son. Just one month ago Joshua said for the first time "mum," and they were so proud of little Joshua. And for a minute or so the four friends forgot about the mission or the nightmares. They were full in 'the rivers of joy'. But after what seemed to be just a second they came back to reality. When they went on, Harry knew that with every hour it would get harder to leave his beloved family behind. He laid an arm around Ginny's waist when they entered the office.

"Hello again." Professor Dumbledore greeted them. He pointed at the chairs in front of his desk, and then he waited until they were seated, before he spoke
again. "It's not easy, I can tell you. However, I have made my decision."
He sighed deeply. "So when do Harry and I leave?" Ron asked his voice a little shaken. Still he hoped that this was an idiotic nightmare and his alarm clock would wake him up any second. But it didn't happen. He felt his strong arm resting on Hermione's shoulder. He caressed her with his fingers. He wanted to send all of his love to her in this little touch. Meanwhile, Ginny was glaring at her brother. Okay, they all knew that he was going, but where was the reason that he had to rub it under her nose? There was none, he could at least wait till Dumbledore said it.
"Mr. Weasley," the Professor said, "ah, actually, you aren't going," he closed the statement.

 "Wha.. What?" Ron gasped. He had paled very quickly, but he wasn't the only person who was shocked. Hermione looked at the older man in pure disbelief.
She was caught between joy and feeling guilty. Now it was obvious who was going and she was not sure if she liked it.
Ginny was also caught in a problematic situation. Sure she wanted to go with Harry, but was that fair to Joshua? Leave her son behind for some action? But then she realized something that she had forgotten in the last minutes: She wasn't going for fun, for an ego-trip, she was going on a

Rescue mission. It was okay. In a few years Joshua would understand. And she was sure that if something were happening to her, Hermione would watch for her little angel. She looked at Harry for the first time, when the Professor spoke again. "I'm sure you all know who is going, but I'll say it out loud anyway: Ginny, Harry you two will have to go. Are you all right with that?" he asked, slightly concerned. Ginny and Harry looked into each others eyes then they both looked down at their child and they knew exactly that if this would have happened to Ginny, Ron and Hermione wouldn't have hesitated one moment. They saw so much in each other's eyes; it was as if they knew what the other was thinking. They waited one second, and then nodded. At least they would stay together. Ron didn't feel excited, but he knew that he couldn't change a thing. But still a little question was nagging in his brain, but he didn't know if he should ask it. When he just had decided that he wanted to ask, Hermione start to speak, and to his surprise she was asking the question, which made him want to scream.


"Professor, but why Harry and Ginny? Do you think you could explain your choice?" Their former headmaster just nodded and started his explanation. "It was really no easy choice. When you left yesterday, I started to think about the whole thing. And to be honest, first of all I thought that Ron and Harry should go, because there is little Joshua. But after a few hours I realized that it was not my best decision. And here it goes: If the two men went back in time and something would happen, two families would be destroyed. Two children would have to grow up without a father." He sighed deeply. Obviously he was in pain. "And when Harry and Ginny go, which is now fact, and something should happen, there is just one child without parents." Ron looked very shocked at his former headmaster. Yes, he was right, but since when was he such a pessimist, and so cold? Hermione frowned at the thought of an accident. 'What should I tell him? Mom and Dad died when they tried to rescue Ron and my child?' Ginny seemed to know exactly what bothered Hermione, because she laid her hand on Hermione's shoulder, and smiled reassuringly. The four friends were positive that nothing would, or better should happen.
"Okay," Harry spoke for the first time in a long period, "when do we leave?"
"We have to do a lot of things and in order to that, I think in a week or so." Professor Dumbledore explained, "Because there are a few problems."
"Like what?" Ron snapped, obviously he was losing his temper. He really wanted to hear a few answers.

 Dumbledore sighed deeply. There was no doubt, they had grown up, and their questions had gotten more complex to answer; or was it that he was growing older? He firmly pushed this thought aside; there was no time for weakness. He focused back on the main problem and tried to sound more calm and confident then he really was. "Oh, you see, our biggest problem is that we only have a temporary time-turner."
"WHAT?" Ron shouted. "No way. Neither Ginny nor Harry will go back in time with only a temporary time turner, giving them what? Three time-turns?"
"To be exact: two." Dumbledore corrected the young man. He silenced the growing protest with a movement of his hand.

 "It's the only possibility which the Minister of Magic wanted to accept. He told me at least ten times that it would be illegal and therefore forbidden. And since Rita Skeeter is again looking for a headline I couldn't convince him that he had to give us a permanent. He fears to get sacked," Dumbledore closed his statement.
"Percy is such a jerk," Ron said angrily.

"Don't be too hard to him," the headmaster said. "Fudge wouldn't have given you one single trip."

"But he's my brother, and he should help us in more effective ways." Ron said. He was still in a bad mood, but he knew that he would have to speak
with Percy in a very 'brotherly' fashion, just later. So he went silent again, and watched his sister who was hugging his nephew. There were still
doubts in his mind. He wasn't convinced that it was the best that Ginny was going, but on the other hand he was relieved that he could stay in Hermione's sight, and could give her moral support. The voice of Professor Dumbledore brought him back to reality.

"So I'll give everyone a special duty, okay?" the Professor stated. The other persons in the room just nodded, so he continued. Ginny realized that she had forgotten how cold Hogwart was over the winter. She snuggled herself against Harry's shoulder to absorb his heat. And it definitely helped a little. "Hermione, I think that you should do the calculation, since you were the best student in Arithmancy in your year." The headmaster
told her. Hermione blushed furiously and nodded. She was about to leave the office, but Professor Dumbledore showed her that she should stay a little while longer. "Ron, you'll have to do a little research of the clothes that were worn in the late middle age," He explained further. Ron also nodded although he wasn't happy about the extra time in the library. "Yes and last but not least: Harry and Ginny. First of all, you two will have to learn how to ride a horse, or drive a cart. And we have to change your appearance a bit." he closed. When the Professor had finished his explanation he handed Hermione a map, with a few sheets of paper in it. So Hermione had a few corner-dates, timetables and so on. Dumbelore asked Hermione and Ron to take Joshua to Madam Pince. So Ron picked the little boy up, and they left the office. When they were gone, the Professor faced Harry and Ginny again.

 "I think the best place for the training are the Hogwart grounds," he told them.
And a few minutes later they were on their way.

A week later:
Again they were sitting in the little office that was Professor Dumbledore's. The last week everybody had been absorbed with his or her duty. And today was the final day. Hermione has worked out the exact number of turns that were necessary. Ron had spent most of the last week looking for the perfect clothes and he had found them, now it was up to Harry and Ginny to wear them. There were no worries at this point. It had also shown that Ginny and Harry were naturals. They really knew by heart now, how to ride a hoarse. "The plan is clear?" Professor Dumbledore asked his former students. They just nodded and so he continued. "Then it's time. Harry, Ginny I think you should go and change. Professor McGonagall will help Ginny, and Professor Snape will help Harry." The two of them stood up and left the office, leaving behind a rather nervous Hermione and Ron. Little Joshua was sleeping in the cradle next to the big wooden desk. The tension had risen in the last days and was on the breaking point. It was impossible to stay cool near one of the included people.

 When the door opened again several minutes later, Ron couldn't believe what he saw. There standing in the doorframe were Ginny and Harry. He recognized Harry because he hadn't changed too much. He just now wore brown lenses, but he still had his black untidy hair. He wore simple trousers with a pitch on it and a shirt, which was bound at the sleeves. The colour was brown because this was the common colour in that time.

 But Ginny had changed so much that he was amazed. Her former red Weasley hair was brown now, and all her freckles were covered with theatre make-up and were not seen anymore. The dress fitted her perfectly and although it was so old, he thought that his little sister would be in the center of attention wherever she would go. In was a simple dress, which reached the floor, and was brown colored. She wore a white under dress, which was seen at the sleeves and the neckline. The dress was laced up in the front, and she wore a little headscarf. Both Harry and Ginny were smiling at them. "We're ready" Harry told them.
"Harry, Ginny please be careful. We don't want to lose you." Hermione said, while she felt that new tears were welling up. Ron hugged Ginny and Harry
good-bye and wished them luck. At last Harry and Ginny knelt down to the sleeping Joshua. They kissed him lightly at his forehead and caressed his
check. "We love you, never forget." Ginny whispered into the ear of the little child. Then they stood up and went in the middle of the room. Harry
laid a long silver chain around Ginny and his neck. For a last time he looked back at Hermione and Ron. "Everything will be all right". He said to them.
Then he looked into the brown eyes of Ginny. Okay, here we go, He told her before he kissed her passionately.

And then they were gone. Ron and Hermione looked at each other. "Good luck," Hermione whispered seconds before she turned around to face the Professor.

A/N: So this was Chapter four. What do you think? Is it good or bad? Should I write the next part or take the whole story off? Let me know. So please review.

 And now I want to say a big Thank you to everybody who has reviewed. You really made my days: Hedwig (Thank you for the try, to beta red it.), Starling, Claudine, Charmsangel, Madsy_Gal, Hazel Harman, Mike Potter, Kirst, college girl (Thank you for reviewing every chapter, hope you like who is going.), Kathy, Ginny, Sylvia, billy, Thomas, Lisa Black, Princess, Katie, Cloudzi, Sunshine (Okay, I got it. You don't seem to like it.), laura, The goddess2007, Gemma, Me (Thanks for the news), Tropical_Gal, Kat Black (wow, your review made me smile like an idiot for an whole day), Kells a Bells, Mialee, anabelle, *hag*(You really think so? That's nice to hear, because sometimes I think that I put to much of my character into them), Mandi, mike m madman magic, Ashley A., morgana, Jenna, Draco's Gurl, Pear Gurl, Missy, California Love. I hope I have everybody mentioned.

Not every beta reader had returned the chapter to me, but since I got some back and I really felt guilty I thought that I'd post you this. (And change it later, if necessary) And Chapter five will not be out in the next three weeks. Sorry, but I have my final tests for this year and I have to study.   


Disclaimer: Okay, we had this already. Characters accept Joshua and the McGillberts belong to J.K. Rowling. The plot is mine. The song belongs to somebody else, too. But don't ask me. I already have two different versions, so I have no clue, just thought that it would fit.