Returning Home

Chapter 5

Harry woke at dinner time with a smile. He felt great. His heart was souring and he could think of nothing except Ginny and their time together. He stood and ruffled his hair before walking down the steps into the dining room. There was little food left, but enough for Harry to eat his fill. He washed the dishes happily before walking back upstairs. He was in a daze, everything was pushed from his mind, Sirius's death, and the fact that he was cut off from his world, and that he was stuck living with the Dursley's.

He walked upstairs and sat down at his desk. He pulled out a piece of parchment, his best quill, and the emerald green ink Hermione had sent him. He dipped the quill in the ink and wrote in his best handwriting.

Ginny,

I'm so glad we got to spend time together. I haven't been to think of anything but you. I know we only just left each other a few hours ago… but I feel like a different person. I hope you are feeling better. Send an owl with any news.

Love,

Harry

He folded the parchment and brought the wax set out. He dropped a large amount of emerald green wax onto the letter before pressing the Potter family crest into it. He gave the letter to Hedwig with an owl treat before sending her off to London.

He felt exhilarated so he pulled on a pair of shorts and trainers before walking downstairs. He walked outside and stretched before running around the block a few times. He smiled at everyone and waved at Ms. Figg happily. He knew that he looked odd, a sixteen year old boy who had just lost the last bit of real family he had running around with a large smile on his face, but he didn't care. He continued to run until he saw the sun start to set. He stretched again before walking into the house. He hurriedly slipped into the bathroom. His shower wasn't cold, but cool. The water was on the edge off cold and warm and it felt amazing on his sweaty skin.

He dried quickly and walked back into his room. He pulled his bedclothes on sat at his desk. He pulled out his school books, happy to have his O.W.L.s over. He started on a potions essay and was halfway through when Pig landed at his desk before taking flight again. Pig orbited Harry's head while Harry felt his stomach sink. He was positive Ron had found out about his night with Ginny. He knew the letter contained angry words that would make a sailor blush.

He finally decided to catch Pig and read the letter, no matter if he knew it professed Ron's undying hate of his former best friend. Harry caught the little owl and took the letter from him before feeding him an owl treat.

Harry opened the letter slowly, not wanting to read how much his best friend wanted to kill him and never see him again.

Be prepared.

Ron

Harry was unsure what that message had meant. Was he trying to tell Harry that Voldemort was planning an attack? Or had he meant to be prepared for Ron to kill him?

Harry leaned back in his seat and let his head fall back as he closed his eyes. His heart beat slowed down and the letter slipped from his hand. A million things were running through his mind.

Another owl flew through the window that Harry didn't recognize, but he took the letter anyway and watched the owl fly out the window after a disapproving look at Pig. Harry opened the letter and smiled. It was Fred's handwriting.

You're coming home. Have everything at noon, you know where.

He smiled, Ron must have meant to be prepared for going the Grimmauld Place, but that was an odd message either way. Harry couldn't help but think that it had another meaning. Maybe he did know about Ginny and Harry. Maybe Voldemort was planning an attack.

Harry pushed the negative thoughts from his mind and packed his trunk. He fell asleep thinking of going to see the Weasley's. He couldn't wait to see Ginny again, along with his two best friends, and two adoptive parents. He had spent most of the summer wishing he was with them, and now he would be.

He woke late the next morning and was happy he only had a few hours to go. He would be gone from this house for ten months. He wouldn't have to sneak food for ten months. He would be with his adoptive family before going to the first place he had every felt at home.

He ate his grapefruit with a smile on his face, making Dudley through a temper tantrum saying Harry put sugar on his. Harry stuck his tongue out before walking back up to his room.

Harry sat at his desk before pacing the room and sitting down again before pacing once more. He was excited to get back, but the waiting was killing him. He hadn't thought of what it would be like living in the same house with Ginny, or trying to keep their feelings for each other secret. He hadn't thought of Dean, who still thought Ginny was his girlfriend and Harry his friend. He had thought of Ron however. Of thinking he had to tell Ron something. The details wouldn't, couldn't touch his ears, but the general ideas should, or at least their feelings.

Harry checked his pocket watch every five minutes until it was fifteen minutes till twelve. He pulled the key out and held it tightly in his hand while holding his trunk handle in the other, he had bewitched his trunk to fit everything so he could make one trip. At exactly noon Harry was pulled to the apartment and he pulled his trunk down the steps where not only Fred and George were waiting for him, but Lupin, Mr. Weasley, Tonks, Bill, and Moody. They all smiled oddly and Fred and George took his trunk. They had seen him just appear out of nowhere, except Fred and George. They must have thought that he used a portkey to get to the alley, not the apartment. Harry didn't share his secret, which wasn't his secret to tell, but Fred and George's, but followed them into the main street. He felt a hand grip his should and looked back to see Mr. Weasley. He felt extremely guilty when he looked up at Ginny's father. She had the exact same hair color and her freckles were in the same places as his. He quickly looked down at the ground and followed the group to Number 12 Grimmauld Place.

He walked into the house to see first Ron and Hermione, who gave them big hugs, then Ginny who also gave him a hug, the scent of gingersnaps and honeysuckle lingering in his nose. He gave Mrs. Weasley a hug and was ushered upstairs to the room he shared with Ron.

"How are you?" Ron asked as they sat on one of the beds.

Harry watched as Hermione and Ginny sat down on the other bed, "Um, I, um" he said not wanting to say he felt great. They were expecting him to say horrible, to be upset about his godfather's death. "I don't know," he said. He had forgotten everything, and now, being back in Sirius' house changed things. He still loved Ginny, he still was happy to be home, but he felt a hole. "Thanks, though, for the box."

Hermione looked happy, "We thought you'd like it," she said not knowing it had helped him to spend the night with her best friend. Hermione didn't know about the apartment, she didn't know about Ginny and Harry's feelings for each other, or did she? She was smart, she always knew everything, could she see their feelings for each other? Were they that obvious.

"I can show you the things, or did you see them already?" he said wanting to get onto a less somber conversation. He didn't want to talk about his godfather, yet he had just offered to show all the intimate things he had received to his friends. Maybe he did want to talk about Sirius, maybe he wanted to get everything off his chest, to tell everyone how he was feeling about the death of his godfather, to not become reclusive so everyone danced around him as if he were a bomb.

Hermione noticed something or maybe they had discussed it before he had arrived, but she and Ginny stood up and politely excused themselves.

Harry was unsure what to do, he wanted to cry, but not in front of Ron, but definitely not in front of Hermione and Ginny. Ron was his best friend, he would understand, he had cried briefly on Harry's shoulder when his father was attacked. Ron had leaned on Harry, and now it was time for Harry to lean on Ron.

Harry had finally gotten over being angry over his godfather, that had ended when he walked through the door.

Harry opened his mouth to say something, but no words come out. A single tear fell from his eye and Ron pulled him into a hug. Harry didn't feel odd as he sat hugging his male friend, he was just happy to have someone there for him, even though he knew everyone in the house would lend him a shoulder to cry on, he knew it had to be Ron. Ron was strong even though he didn't know it, he was brave, and he was loyal. Jealousy had never conquered Ron, because of those three traits.

A/N: You've taken the time to read... so please review!