Warning: This chapter is a little cheesey, but it moves the story forward. Sorry in advance. BrknLight
Chapter Three
The six gathered together in the basement kitchen to assess their options, which weren't many.
"Well, we could leave," Ron started.
"And go where?" Hermione asked. "The Burrow? They'll be looking for us there, you realize."
"But are we entirely sure that the Death Eaters know exactly where we are?" George asked.
"If they have Dumbledore," Ginny said. "He is the Order's Secret Keeper."
"Dumbledore wouldn't have said anything," Hermione told them. "Besides, this house is still standing. The Fidelius Charm is still in tact. We're still here."
"So it must have been someone in the Order," Fred said. "But since they're not Secret Keepers, they could only tell them a basic, round about location."
"I wonder how many squares like Grimmauld Place were destroyed," Hermione said.
"Probably too many," George interjected. "But I do know that we have no food left and someone has to go to market and get some."
"There's only one place where we can't be hurt," Harry said. They all looked at him.
"Where?" Fred and Ron asked in unison.
"The Dursley's," Harry replied.
"What?" Hermione cried.
"Are you mad?" George asked. "They'll just chuck you out of there, and us along with you."
"No, I don't think so," Ginny whispered. She looked at Harry. "Your aunt, she knows all about the prophecy?"
"To some extent," Harry said. "She also knows that I'm safe and her family is safe as long as I am there."
"Does that mean we'll be safe too?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know."
"Well, we can always try," said Ron. "I don't really think they'll like it too much though."
"It shouldn't be too bad as long as we all behave ourselves," Harry said shooting looks at Fred and George who looked back with fake innocence. "But we'll have to all camp out in my room, which isn't very big. And we should probably help with food because my aunt won't be too keen on feeding all of us."
"But it's only temporary, right?" Ginny said.
"Yes," Harry replied. "As soon as we get there, I'm going to talk to Mrs. Figg and see if she knows anything."
"Who's Mrs. Figg?" George asked.
"A Squib who lives near me," Harry answered. He stood up and went to the mantle, grabbing pen and parchment. "Go pack and I'll leave a note here incase someone comes back looking for us."
"What if it's a Death Eater?" Ron asked.
"I'll be careful," Harry assured him sitting back down. The others all stood and headed up the stairs, except Ginny.
"Are you okay, Harry?" she asked after the others had gone.
"Yeah, fine," he replied distractedly.
"No, your not," Ginny told him. He looked up at her and sighed.
"No, I guess not," he said. "Thanks."
"For what?"
"For always believing in me." He looked down at his hands and took a deep breath, as though preparing himself for something unpleasant. "I know what I need to do now but I don't know if I can."
"What is it?" Ginny asked, sitting down next to Harry.
"I have to find them," he told her. "I have to go and find them, but…" he trailed off.
"But what?"
"I don't know how to tell everyone they can't come with me."
"Harry, you can't do that!" Ginny exclaimed. "We'll want to come with you. I want to go with you."
"But you can't," Harry said fervently. "If anything were to happen to you I couldn't handle it."
Ginny sat there and looked at him. Was he saying what she thought he was? No, that was too much to hope for, especially at a time like this.
"Nothing's going to happen to me and I won't let anything happen to you, I can't do that and neither could the others."
"No, don't you see?" Harry stood up and started pacing. "It's my dream. It's what Voldemort said. He destroys everything that I love and he won't let me get away from that. He took my parents and Sirius and Hogwarts and Dumbledore and I couldn't let him take you and Ron and Hermione and the twins. He's probably already got everyone else."
"Harry," Ginny started to say, but he interrupted her.
"I can't let that dream come true, Ginny," he said stopping in front of her chair and crouching so that their eyes were level. "I can't lose you and if I die, then someone else'll have to fight for me."
"No one else can fight for you," Ginny said. "You have to defeat him. You're the only one. And if we're there to help, maybe you'll have a better chance."
"Ginny."
"Harry, that's the way it is and you can try to stop us all you like but you won't be able to. Have you ever been able to stop when we want to help?"
Harry smiled and shook his head. "No," he said. "I guess not."
"Now if you'll excuse me," Ginny said standing up. "I have some packing to do. Thankfully we're all of age and cam use magic, otherwise this'd be no fun whatsoever."
"Could you have Ron pack up for me?" Harry asked also standing up. "I have a couple letters to send before we go. I know the Dursleys don't like owls but I don't want them to die of shock when we show up."
Ginny giggled. "Of course." She turned to the staircase but only had her foot on the bottom stair when Harry grabbed her arm. She spun around and looked straight into his brilliant green eyes. "What is it?" she asked.
He didn't answer, just looked at her long and hard. Then, with out warning, he kissed her, gently, on the lips. Ginny looked at him in surprise but with a smile on her face. Harry smiled back. "I've been wanting to do that for ages," he said.
"And I've been wanting you to," Ginny replied. She finished climbing the stairs and when she reached the landing jumped into the air with glee.
15
