CHAPTER III

Harry glanced around his room at the Dursley's. Everything was packed, he was almost ready to go.

Flashback:

Dumbledore looked up in shock as a tall young man apparated into his office. His first thought was: You can't apparate into Hogwarts, And his second thought was, HARRY?! And his third thought was: He looks different. Harry of course did not see all these emotions on Dumbledore's face; years of practice had given the old man a permanently calm expression. Harry smiled apologetically.

"I'm really sorry Professor Dumbledore, I didn't get a chance to let anyone know where I'd gone

He'd explained everything to Dumbledore, about Merlin and all his new powers. He'd also explained that he now was strong enough to apparate through virtually any ward or barrier which explained the sudden appearance in Dumbledore's office. The plan was that he would apparate with all of his possessions to his Gryffindor dormitory and then pop in at the Weasley's to tell them he was still alive. He pulled out his wand and paused. Should he let the Dursley's know he was leaving? Nah , they won't miss me and I won't miss them. He disappeared with a pop.

***

"Get a move on!" shouted Molly Weasley, "The sooner you all get your acts together the sooner we can get to Diagon Alley." She huffed impatiently while swinging her cloak over her shoulders.

"Fred and George you stop that right now! Oh FINE you two apparate, I don't want to see you before lunch time." She glared at them.

They both gave her what they thought were winning smiles and disappeared simultaneously. She rolled her eyes. Ron and Hermione both gave her a kiss on each cheek.

"We'll meet you outside the Floo Fireplace Mrs. Weasley" said Hermione nicely. They both dissaparated as well. Mrs. Weasley sighed and said

"C'mon Ginny you can floo after me alright?"

She grabbed a pinch of floo powder from the flowerpot on the mantelpiece and threw it in the flames. Stepping in it she shouted,

"Diagon Alley!" and disappeared.

Ginny sighed. She disliked all the family outings. Ron and Hermione were likely to want to be alone so that meant she would probably have to stay with Mum. She followed Mrs. Weasley's example and threw some floo powder in the flames. She ducked under the mantelpiece and turned feeling the warm flames lick at her shoulder and arms. Just when she shouted her destination, she saw a familiar figure with black hair and glasses apparate in front of her. She gasped and inhaled a mouthful of ash. Luckily she'd finished saying "Diagon Alley" already. She felt the familiar whirling sensation and tumbled out of the grate in Diagon Alley choking horribly. Her mother, Ron and Hermione all rushed over to help her.

"Ginny dear are you alright? What happened?" Mrs. Weasley said in concern. Ginny spat out some ash.

"I'm just fine Mum, I inhaled some ash accidentally that's all. Why don't you go do the shopping you need to do. I'll stay here with Ron and Hermione." Ginny hesitated and looked pleadingly at Hermione, "That is, if that's alright with them."

Ron looked as though he was about to protest but Hermione stepped on his foot and said quickly

"That's just fine Ginny."

Mrs. Weasley said "Well there are a few things I need to buyif you're sure you're alright."

Ginny gave her mum what she hoped was a convincing smile.

"I'm just fine mum."

Mrs. Weasley gave her one last look and bustled out into the street. Ginny swiped a hand hastily over her teary eyes, hoping no one would notice that she was about to cry. She'd been so distressed the past month. She'd never told anyone how much she was still in love with Harry. Most people thought it was just a crush. So much for that she thought ruefully as she looked up to see Hermione watching her. She glanced at Ron, who hadn't noticed a thing, luckily. He was getting all red in the face, and he rounded on Hermione.

"Why'd you tell Ginny she could stay with us? I don't want my little sister tagging along with all day!" He said heatedly.

Ginny opened her mouth to tell Ron a thing or two but Hermione stuck out a hand. She counted off on her fingers,

"Because one: she is not a little girl anymore. Two: she'd have to spend the day with your mum who isn't a great companion for an adolescent. Three: she's my friend, and four because if you weren't being so self-centered you'd realize that something is still not alright with her and I want to know what it is!"

Ron opened his mouth but it looked like he really didn't have a comeback. Hermione glared at him and then turned to Ginny whose eyes were still teary.

"What's wrong Ginny?" Hermione asked nicely.

Ginny closed her eyes.

"I sawsomeone apparated to the Burrow just as I left." She swallowed, wondering if she was going insane. Even Ron looked interested now.

"I think it wasI saw" she let out a frustrated breath. "I saw Harry."

***

Harry apparated to the Burrow just in time to see Ginny flooing somewhere else. He saw her eyes go wide just as she dissapeared. He looked around the room. Obviously everyone had gone wherever she had gone. Damn, where did they all go? He wondered in irritation. He had a sudden idea and looked at the clock. Mr. Weasley's hand pointed to "Work" as well as Percy's. Bill and Charlie's hands pointed at "Abroad", but the other five pointed to "Shopping". He grinned. Diagon Alley he thought. His best bet was the floo grate. Excellent, he thought and dissaparated with a pop.

***

Hermione's eyes went round. A huge bubble of hope filled her chest. She kneeled next to where Ginny was sitting on the ground.

"Are you sure? I mean, it could have been anyone right?" Asked Hermione. She was trying not to get her hopes up but was failing miserably.

Ginny shook her head and shut her eyes tightly.

"Who else would just apparate straight into our house?" She asked. "It looked just like him, except much older."

She stopped and thought a bit. He had looked older. He'd been taller and better built than before. Hermione looked at her in confusion.

"Older? How strange. What do you think Ron?" She looked at Ron who didn't answer; he was staring off in a different direction with a strange expression on his face.

"Ron?" She got up and turned to see what he was looking at.

Her stomach gave a funny flip. There was a young man, leaning against the doorway to the room they were in, watching them. He was tall and handsome, with messy black hair, long enough to give him the "I just toppled out of bed and my hair already looked like this" look. He had broad shoulders and slim arms with good definition. Very attractive thought Hermione idly. He looks familiar. Then her stomach gave a bigger flip. It all came together as her eyes widened and she opened her mouth.

"HARRY? Ohmygod, HARRY!" she yelled.

Behind her there was another yell and a squeak. Ron ran past her and he and Harry embraced, slapping each other on the backs and punching playfully and grinning. Hermione rolled her eyes. Men! She thought. She ran over and gave him a huge hug and a kiss on each cheek. She pulled away, not noticing Ron's smile lessen slightly.

"Look at you! You've grown about 3 inches" She pinched his arm playfully " and where did all this muscle come from?" she asked.

Harry ran a hand through his hair and half smiled.

"It's a long story, I'll tell you later tonight."

He glanced past her and Ron to Ginny. She was standing several paces away, eyes bright and wide in disbelief. She fiddled with the edge of her robes, and avoided his eyes. He smiled happily, She's awfully pretty, he thought. He crossed the distance between them and swept her up and whirled her around, placing a big kiss on her cheek. Behind him Ron didn't look too pleased but Hermione stepped on his foot again and so he saved any comments for later. Harry slung his arm over Ginny's shoulders and his other over Ron's. Ginny looked slightly surprised.

"C'mon lets get those school supplies" he said happily.

They walked out of the Leaky Cauldron and onto the street trading catching up and so forth.