Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

On My Own

Chapter Two

Ginny walked several feet in front of her father as she walked up the path towards the Burrow. A few chickens fluttered around, pecking for extra specks of meal. A small bench with peeling green paint was placed at a random spot in the front yard . One side was apparently higher than the other since two of the legs were deformed from one of Fred's and George's inventions. Ginny swept her sad, cinnamon eyes over her lopsided home. True, sometimes the other family members were too close for comfort, especially since she was the only girl, but it was home and she loved everyone of its occupants with all her heart. It clenched her heart to know that in a month, she would not see it again.

She trudged towards the front door, moving her skirt so that it didn't get caught in the weeds that lined the path. She remembered fondly back to the time when she was five and the weeds had caught on her prettiest dress. She hadn't noticed and continued to move, tearing her dress. She had cried all night since new dresses only came once in a while in the Burrow. Her brothers turned up and produced a messily, horrible looking mended dress.

She smiled with amusement. The dress was a pearly pink and they had used black threaded. Bill and Charlie did most of the labor, but her other brothers helped write a 'Feel Better Card' with Percy spell checking. All these memories she had, situated around her family. How was she ever going to leave it behind?

A sudden movement from the checkered curtains diverted her attention back to the front door. It swung open, revealing six red headed males, and a stampede aroused. Her brothers clambered down the path and engulfed her a bear hug. Bill, being the oldest, swung her around and muttered reproachful words.

She was vaguely aware of being passed around, suffocating in her brothers' grateful hugs.

" Where have you been?" a shrill voice shrieked. The group paused and watched fearfully at their mother. " Virginia Antoinette Weasley! How dare you? I expected this from one of your brothers but never you! Disappearing at night, bed empty in the morning, no note!" Molly screamed vividly.

Ginny's eyes fixed on her mother. The only females in this household were the ones with the largest temper, Ginny being number one. " I woke up at night and couldn't go back to sleep. Went for a walk in the glen, decided to pick up a few things in the town… I'm safe, there's no problem."

Percy, who earlier was brushing away imaginary specks of dust as if they were remnants of worry, put a restraining hand on her shoulder.

" No problem! No problem! You do not go outside in the dark and not show up after everyone was worried sick about you, acting as if it was nothing. And do not look at me like that, young lady! You could have been lost! You could have been taken! There are bad people out there!" Molly instructed, her left hand on her hip and her right hand shaking an angry finger.

" I know there are bad people out there… I learned that quite clearly In my first year," Ginny said. Her tone was cold and warning, her usual twinkling eyes frozen with cold fury.

There was such a tense atmosphere that a stranger would never believe they were once a happy, blustering family.

" The only reason I woke up was because I had a nightmare. I nightmare about Lord Voldemort… now if you excuse me," Ginny muttered. She pushed past her family and into the house. Molly took deep calming breaths, her sons watching anxiously.

" Once she mentions her first year, she can make me do anything. She can make me chop off my head to make her forgive me…" Molly sighed. She entered the house, her shoulders sagging. The rest of the family followed, hesitantly, in single file.

Arthur Weasley viewed all this with sad, hopeless eyes. Ginny carried the ultimatum around and it hung like a shield around her. He readjusted his glasses and walked briskly up the path.

Ginny trudged up the stairs to her room, trying desperately not to cry. She hadn't realized how cold she had been until she saw her mother's devastated look. She had no idea why she was so sore. Maybe it was the weight of the present situation or maybe it was because she knew she didn't have much time left, she was getting pent up anger out. Whatever it was, she was regretting it. Once inside her room, she collapsed into the safety of her bed. She clutched her stuffed animals to her side, wanting desperately for Mr. Snuggles to fight away the demons.

She stared at the patterns on the wall, dancing shadows. The sun was strong and bright, making her white walls gleam like silver. After a few moments of staring at the wall, Ginny closed her heavy eyelids and drifted off to sleep.

~*~

Harry noticed something wasn't right immediately when he stepped out of the fireplace. Luckily this time, he landed on the feet although he had to crouch a little to prevent losing balance.

Brushing soot out of his hair, Molly Weasley greeted him fondly. " Oh look at you, can't your aunt cook at all! You're all skin and bones…" she tutted.

" Mrs. Weasley, what's wrong? It's oddly… quiet…" he said slowly, choosing the right words.

Molly pursed her lips and dropped her hands. " It's Ginny, " she explained. " She disappeared this morning and didn't turn up until noon…"

Harry widened his eyes and fear trickled up his spine, " Is she okay? What happened?"

Molly smiled sadly and nodded. " Not a scratch on her… just she was… troubled by… You-know-who."

Harry nodded knowingly, " Where is she?"

" Upstairs in her room, sleeping no doubt. She explained that she woke up at night due to a nightmare and decided to relax a bit by walking in the glen then shopping in town. The problem was… she didn't have anything with her… " Molly said thoughtfully. She shook her head and gazed at Harry, " I never really thanked you for saving my baby… I just wished we got to her sooner. She was only eleven… what I never saw."

Harry heart clenched to see Molly so sad and different from her usual jubilant self. " I'll talk to her. Maybe I can make her feel better. I have nightmares too."

Molly nodded thankfully and hurried him up the stairs, thanking him profusely. Harry took hesitant steps up the stairs. He remembered where her room was from his first visit to the Burrow. His hand closed over the knob and he knocked with his other. There was no answer. He knocked again, sharper and louder. A muffled groaned came through the door and Harry cautiously opened the door.

" If you're here to yell at me for yelling at Mum, don't worry. I badgered myself enough. Now go away before I hex you into the next century… or last which ever is best for you," Ginny muttered, her back facing him.

" Ginny?" Harry asked slowly.

" Yes, it's me! Who else would it be?" her voice sighed as turned over, a tatty and worn looking stuffed cow tucked under her arm. " Harry!" she squeaked. She stuffed the cow away and blushed to the roots of her hair. " I … didn't know it was you…" she stuttered. Her nose scrunched up, wincing in embarrassment.

Harry was slight annoyed. She seemed fine a few minutes ago, a glimpse of a more enjoyable company then a stuttering, blushing little girl.

" Your mother told me about this morning. And your nightmare? Are you okay?" Harry asked tentatively.

Ginny rolled her eyes and flopped on the bed, still a little red in the face. " Yes, why else would you come in here? I suppose it's natural to have dreams about him and the thing. I'm fine… just was rattled so much that I need to get out!' she rushed, stuffing her face in her cow.

Harry smiled. That's a lot better. " Well… I have nightmares too. It helps to talk about them, " he lied. He never really told his friends what was in his dreams, sparing them from the depressing details, even though he tended to forget them.

" I suppose. Get it off your chest, eh? " she said. " But you don't talk about it… you rarely do. Because if you did tell them, Ron would have told me."

Harry stood at the other end of the room, shuffling from foot to foot. " Don't worry. My brother has a pretty tight mouth except he tends to let things…slip… after a few bottles of butterbeer."

Harry could imagine her smiling mischievously and face half buried in the stuffed animal. " Really?" he laughed. " What else do you get from him?"

" Ah… I know he has a flare for frizzy brown hair Muggle-brown witches. Especially ones that knows how to defend her claim, " Ginny laughed. She took a deep breath and got up. It had took her several moments to collect herself and Gryffindor courage.

Harry's eyes widened and then shrugged, " And how many bottles did that take?"

" I thought he'll leak in his pants from drinking so much!" Ginny laughed, tossing her cow in the air. " What's worse, he remembered the next day and made me Seven Weasley Swear that I wouldn't tell Hermione. He didn't say anything about his handsome little best friend."

Her eyes bugged out of her head and she clapped her hand over her mouth, as if she didn't believe what she said. She blushed so red, Harry looked out the window to see if the setting sun was reflecting off her face. Surprisingly, Harry sported a lovely shade of tomato on his neck and cheeks that put Ron's pink ears to shame.

" Oh dear…" Ginny murmured. She laughed nervously, loud and quick. The acting took over and she began to really laugh, making her curl up on her bed, choking on laughter. After a few more giggles, she got up again, looking apologetic. " Sorry."

Harry, who was shaking from silent laughter at her antics, said in a trembling voice, " What's the Seven Weasley Swear?"

Ginny looked puzzled for a moment before forming a little 'O' with her mouth. " It's stupid, " she explained, stuttering as she turned another shade of red. " It's a Weasley children tradition, or rule. If any one of us found something out one of our siblings, we make them swear it with our special swear. You have sign a form and the others sign a form. It's stupid, really."

She tapped her chin thoughtfully, " Since I found out, Ron made me sign the Mum form. You know, the saying, 'Mum's the word'? Well, it basically says, " I, Ginny Weasley, solemnly swear on my Weasley red hair and freckles that I will not disclose any information on my older brother, Ron Weasley, to Hermione Granger. Shall I breath a word of the forbidden secret, my hair will be turned green and I'll be handed over to Misters Fred and George Weasley," she recited. " The others sign a form saying they know I signed the whole form and everything. It's stupid but it's tradition!"

She stopped with a pained face on her face. " I'll miss that…" she whispered.

" What? Sorry, I didn't catch that," Harry said. Ginny looked up at him and he was shocked to see tears in her eyes.

" Harry… can you leave? I need to do something… thank you, " she muttered. Harry nodded, confused beyond belief, and exited the room.

Ginny stared at the door, tears streaming down her face. What is she going to do? It wasn't even a day yet and she's already homesick. She didn't die or leave her family behind. Hugging Moo closer to her, she laid on the bed, crying herself to sleep.

Notes: Finally they second chapter is up and it's one of those chapters that are just there to take up space. It was pretty slow since my first chapter lacked reviews…(there were none). I had to rush this one because if I didn't, I'll never continue it anymore. I hope you like it! Please review !