Ginny was sitting on Harry's bed when he walked into the room. She looked a little upset as she looked around and saw the ancient desk that was about to collapse, the busted television that Dudley had put his foot through as a child but nobody had bothered to remove yet, and all of the other broken, smashed, and generally just ruined items that littered Harry's floor. What really seemed to break her heart were the remains of the bars that had been on his windows before second year. After what seemed like an eternity, she spoke.
"Wow Harry, I knew the muggles weren't very nice, but I figured that they would at least have had the common courtesy to pick up that crap that that boy of theirs has spent years breaking."
Harry saw that she really was upset. He nodded as if to say, "You'd think so." Ginny got up and walked over to the beat up armoire. Harry didn't stop her because he felt that she really needed to know, somebody did. Ginny pulled the door open quietly and rummaged through the old, sweat-stained clothes. She could tell at first glance that three quarters of the clothes were too big for Harry and the ones that would fit were so worn that Ginny knew he must have had them for years. Silently she vowed to herself that nobody was making Harry come back here by himself next year, not even Dumbledore.
One look at Harry told her that he was praying that she wouldn't say anything, so she held her tongue. Instead, she began to jam things into Harry's trunk so quickly and with such force that Harry would have been afraid had his wand been in the trunk.
"Ginny," he said quietly, " These people that I live with are not my family. They are related to me by blood, no more, no less. I never had a true family that I could count on until I went to Hogwarts. When I got there, everyone wanted to be on my side. It was an awkward, yet really amazing feeling. Then I met your brother and Hermoine. They were my family all through first year. Then I met you and the rest of your family and all of you became my family. Then, last year, Neville and Luna became a part of that. Ginny, don't feel bad for me; I have the best family in the world. Hey, I only have to come here once a year, so I think it'll be okay."
Harry ended his speech with a small smile. He knew that what he had said was true, but he had left out one very important man, hoping that Ginny wouldn't notice. She did.
"Harry, what about Sirius? I know he was very important to you, so why did you leave him out? I know it hurts to lose someone, but trying to forget them doesn't help."
Harry's face fell. Ginny was crying now. He really didn't want to talk about Sirius, so he simply waved away his 'mistake'. Ginny loved Harry and she knew it, but she had felt like that for years. Who was she to think she would stand a chance? Unfortunately neither could read minds because both were thinking the same things.
"Harry there is no reason you should have to come to a place like this for any amount of time. You should always be home! Harry I know you better than most people and you are a good person, not to mention a bloody great wizard, even if you can be a real prat." Ginny said regaining some of her spunk, "Fred and George swear that they couldn't have managed a joke shop without you, Bill swears that you were the main reason he got Fleur to start with, and Charlie nearly fainted when you had to take on that Hungarian Horntail in 4th year. We all love you Harry, you are a part of our family too."
Harry fidgeted a little, "What about you Ginny, do you think of me as family too?" He asked, blushing quite a lot.
Ginny sat and looked thoughtful for a minute and said, "I don't know Harry, there is only one way to find out!" With that, she kissed him, right on the mouth. Harry was a little confused at first, but then he caught on. Suddenly someone cleared their throat. The two broke up immediately and tried valiantly to look innocent.
"They sent me up here to see what was taking you so long." He muttered almost apologetically. Ginny was the first to snap out of her trance-like state.
"We were almost done, just grab the Firebolt and Hedwig's cage would you Ronnie?"
Ron grabbed his part of the stuff, shot another warning look at Harry, and went back downstairs a little hurriedly. As soon as Ron cleared the room, Ginny turned to Harry.
"Definitely more than family, now help me get this." She said as she grabbed one side of the trunk. Harry rushed over to the loose floorboard and grabbed his books and parchment, and then he happily grabbed the other side of the trunk and walked slowly as he and Ginny made their way downstairs. God he loved that girl.
