Chapter Three:

Reflection

The end of summer loomed on the horizon as July started its fade into August. Another year at Hogwarts was fast approaching, though in all honesty, Harry wasn't looking forward to it.

The beginning of summer had been hard. Memories of Sirus' death and the discovery of his destiny weighed heavily on him during those first weeks at number 4 Privet Drive. His godfather's demise particularly haunted him. Harry couldn't shake that it was all his fault. Many nights that realization reduced the boy to tears.

Every few days he sent correspondence to his friends, much to the Dursleys' chagrin. Despite the warnings of his friends, Uncle Vernon still threw quite a fit whenever an owl came to the house. However, Harry didn't let this bother him. Vernon had no choice in the matter now. The others would show up, and he knew his uncle wouldn't want that. Owls were better than having "freaks" knocking on his door.

Then, around July 27th, Ron, Ginny, and their parents came to take him back to the Burrow. He'd spent all the time he needed with his "family" for the spell of his mother's blood to protect him. So, the Weasleys came to take him home.

As usual, the Burrow was as animated as ever. Even through his funk, Harry had to smile at the hustle and bustle of the happy home that always welcomed him. Still, he kept to himself most of the time, hiding out in Ron's room.

Just a few days after arriving, the family threw him a small birthday party. He couldn't help feeling very warm inside. It was a welcome change to the cold hollowness that had filled him since the beginning of summer. Everyone who loved him showed up that night, baring gifts for the-boy-who-lived's sixteenth year. More than just gifts . . . they brought their love. Boy, did he need it right now.

However, it came to an end. It was late at night, but it came to an end. Now it was the first day of August. Another day closer to Hogwarts . . . another day closer to the final showdown with Voldemort, and potentially his death.

He thought to tell the others. Instead, he held the knowledge of the prophecy inside. One day, Harry knew he'd have to tell them and dreaded it. Ron, Hermonie, and the others would dare to step in to stand by his side. Just as they had in the past, they would be willing to risk their lives for Harry. The thought of their deaths on his conscience made him feel like he was going to lose his mind.

Harry closed his eyes tightly as he laid down in the grass out back. The warm summer breeze blew over him like a comforting touch. It gave him a little peace. He desperately needed some peace.

Soft steps tread on the grass, approaching Harry. Harry immediately felt his body tense, preparing and guarding himself right away. His hand moved toward his wand, fingers brushing against it lightly. If needed, he could grab it, but for now, he'd wait and see. He kept his body still as possible, pretending to sleep.

He could feel the heat of another body as the person knelt beside him. It was warm and comforting. Most importantly, the presence soothed him. His fingers slightly moved away from his wand as he opened an eye to see exactly who this mystery person was.

"Hello." He said with a slight croak to his voice

Ginny Weasely jumped in surprise. She had been sure that Harry had fallen asleep right there on the grass. She only intended to check and see, drop him the blanket she now clutched as some sort of shield, then go back inside. There was no reason to bother him, after all.

"Hi, Harry." She said with a smile, finally getting over the initial shock, "Having fun out here on the grass. You have to be careful in our backyard, you know. Fred and George were out here earlier."

Harry jumped slightly, lifting slightly off the ground, then turned his head just to check. He sighed with relief that nothing was there, but Ginny suddenly started to giggle.

"What?" he said with worry, "Am I spotty? Something worse?"

Ginny shook her head as she finished up her snickers. She cleared her throat twice then stretched out on the ground next to him, propping her head with her bent arm. Harry was taken aback by the sudden nearness, but didn't move himself. This was only Ginny, after all. What was there to be so shocked about?

"No," she said once she found herself a cozy spot, "You're just easy." She grinned at him.

Harry smirked, then sighed while turning his face back up to the night sky.

"Something interesting up there?" she asked without taking a look for herself.

He shrugged, not turning his face back to her. Nothing out of the ordinary stared back at him from the sky. Still it gave him a moment to just . . . be . . .

She kept her eye on him as he intently looked at the sky. The moon reflected in his round classes, blocking out the green gaze behind it. Ginny found that slightly disappointing, but ignored that. Instead she just focused on the way he intensely held his face as he watched the sky, moon, and stars.

"What do you see?" she asked quietly

That caught his attention. His face turned to hers. He slightly squinched his face in confusion. Ginny merely raised a brow, waiting for a response.

"Well . . . a few clouds, the moon, stars . . . " he said with a hint of confusion in his voice, "I thought I saw an owl not long ago."

She smiled at him, warmly. For the first time, Harry noticed the soft, feminine features of her face. The pale moon highlighted the delicate curves and dips of it. He'd gotten so used to thinking of her as Ron's sister that sometimes he completely forgot that she was, in actuality, just a girl. A pretty one at that.

Though, that thought truly hadn't hit him yet.

"That's not what I meant." She said finally, "There's more up there than just sky, you know. Thoughts and dreams are floating around up there. So, let me ask again. What do you see up there?"

Harry blinked a few times, then turned his face back to the sky. He watched the silver stained clouds pass the moon as the moon drifted aimlessly across the dark backdrop of night. After a moment or two, he sighed.

"I see something bigger than me." He whispered, but loud enough for her to hear, "I don't feel that important, but everyone seems to think I am. Everyone's eyes have been on me for so long . . . Even the Durselys kept a watch on me, though it was just to see if I did something wrong. At least, under the sky, I'm not any bigger than anyone else. Sort of muted by it, I guess."

He didn't turn back to Ginny, though he knew she was watching intently. He'd opened up to her more than he wanted. All that he said just slipped out without a second thought. Harry figured that he was just getting tired.

Ginny didn't speak again. For a while she watched him think. No doubt he felt awkward now. He never opened up unless he had to. This had to be a definite change of pace for him. Then, after growing weary of just staring, she rolled over to her back, then scooted a little closer to him. She could sense him tense up the closer she got, but she didn't care. Ginny simply moved next to him and turned her eyes on the sky.

Harry swallowed hard. He could feel the warmth of Ginny's body from this distance. He could smell her hair and . . . perfume? Whatever it was, she smelled like flowers and powder. Harry had to wonder if she always had this wonderful scent and he had never noticed. Immediately, he shook the thought off. That was an awkward train of thought.

He felt a slight touch at his hand. His eyes turned downward, noticing her hand moving closer to his. Ginny took note of his eyes, then took his hand without a second thought. Harry tried, for a moment or two, to figure out just how she thought that was an invitation. Then he realized how nice the gesture was. Instead of tensely holding her hand, he loosened up allowing his fingers to entwine with hers. He found it more comforting than the sky.

"Ginny?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"What do you see in the sky?"

She chuckled under her breath.

"It's secret. But if you're lucky, I might tell you some day."

"I'm not sure if that's fair." He mumbled as he frowned.

"Oh, believe me, it's not. That's the joy of being a girl. We're allowed a little mystery." She teased

"A little mystery, you say? Is that code for not making any sense? From what I've seen of you female types, I think that's the case."

Ron was about to come outside to check on Harry when he spotted his friend in the grass with Ginny. His brow furrowed as he crossed his arms, watching, not that he could see much from his position. He could barely make out the figures in the darkness.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you that it's impolite to spy?" a voice called behind him in a tone that pricked at his nerves.

He turned around sharply to face Hermonie, staring him dead in the face with a cheery grin.

"I wasn't spying," he retorted, "I was just looking for Harry."

Her mouth formed an "o", but something told him that she didn't exactly believe his story. It was the truth, though.

"Well," she said, "as you can see, he's occupied at the moment."

Ron shrugged. She said that rather peculiarly. There was definitely something odd about it, but he decided to not ask. It seemed the safer thing to do. Then something struck him.

"And why exactly are you here, Hermonie?" he said, raising an accusatory brow.

She blushed ever so slightly then turned her face from him. For a moment, an awkward silence hung between them.

"I have my reasons." She said finally

"And they are?" he pried, which she didn't take very kindly

"Well, if you don't know by now, I'm not going to tell you." She said in a huff then stormed off

Ron threw his arms up in frustration. Hermonie never made sense to him and she never would in a million years. If she would just say what was on her mind, they would both be better off. He wasn't a bloody mind reader. Even if he was, he'd be too afraid to pick into Hermonie's mind. It was probably a confusing mess!

He turned his attention back to Harry and Ginny. Neither of them had moved. Both of their faces were turned to the sky while they sat together in silence. Heh, it must be night to have someone you can just spend a quiet moment with. If it had been he and Hermonie . . .

He shook his head. There was no reason he needed to get into that train of thought. He was just happy that Harry was finding some kind of peace. When he first got to the Burrow, Harry had been a wreck with the moping and the self-pity. Not that Ron didn't sympathize. It was hard for everybody right now, particularly Harry. It was just hard and frustrating to see him taking it so hard. Harry seemed to have taken the full weight of it all on his shoulders and it was breaking him down piece by piece.

A little quiet and a good friend were exactly what Harry Potter needed right now. Thanks to Ginny, he was getting just that.

Ron walked back inside once he was sure Hermione wasn't around. It wasn't that he didn't want to see her. He was just confused right now, and needed space. If only she made more sense . . .