Chapter Ten: Leaving Family Behind

Ron's appearance the following morning told the others everything they needed to know about the advisability of playing drinking games with Charlie's friends.

"Merlin... how do they do this and then go work with dragons?" he groaned as he sat at the table.

"I don't suppose that they're stupid enough lose," Hermione sniffed at him as she walked through from the kitchen, before placing a plate of eggs none too gently in front of him.

Ron took one look at the eggs, sunny side up, and turned a rather fetching shade of puce. Harry grinned and Hermione stalked into the kitchen, obviously still upset.

"She's still mad," Ron said as he pushed the plate away and laid his head down on his folded arms on the tabletop.

"I'd say so, yes," Harry agreed.

"She knows I hate my eggs sunny side up," Ron lamented.

"What I'm really wondering about," Harry said, contemplatively, "Is why she would feel the need to be quite this angry..."

Ron shifted so he could look over his folded arms at Harry. The look in his eyes was not kind.

"I mean," Harry continued, smirking. "It's not as though it affected her in..."

"Shut it, Harry," Ron growled. Glancing up and nodding his thanks as Ginny came in, snorted with suppressed laughter, and placed a steaming mug in front of him, turning back to the kitchen and leaving wordlessly.

"But Ron, how could your inebriation last night possibly have any effect on her? I mean..."

"You're not going to let this go, are you?" Ron sighed.

"No. No, I don't think I am," Harry grinned.

Ron wasn't quite so thick as some people thought he might be. What he was however, was very, very pleased to see his best friend, who normally spent most of his time either stewing morosely or growling at everyone, actually acting... lighthearted for a change.

"I'll tell you what," Ron sat up, blearily reaching for the cup of strong coffee that Ginny had provided him. At least she had shown some sympathy to his condition this morning. "I'll tell you why Mione is so ticked off at me if you tell me..."

Ron paused, looking Harry squarely in the eye. He wanted to see Harry's reaction to this.

"... if you tell me exactly what has put you in such a good mood this morning?"

Harry's eyebrows nearly shot through his hairline before he flushed bright red. He was in the process of stammering out a reply, trying to tell Ron that he really didn't need details of Ron and Hermione's relationship when Ginny returned from the kitchen.

One happy, elated, guilty look was all it took. Ron's eyes narrowed suspiciously, then flared with understanding, then narrowed again with what Harry was sure didn't bode well for his own continued good health.

But then, Ginny smiled at him, and Ron was entirely forgotten. She leaned down and kissed him lightly, lingeringly, and he was sure he was incapable of remembering his own name.

"Good morning," she said softly.

"Good morning," his own voice was low as he gazed at her.

"So, did you sleep well last night, Smidge?" Ron asked, his eyes not leaving Harry.

"Hmm, yes," Ginny grinned as she sat down to her own breakfast. "Yes, I slept... wonderfully. How about you?"

Ron's eyes darted between them before he stood, grumbling about wasting space having four bedrooms, before moving off towards the bathroom.

Harry let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding, glancing at Ginny to find her smirking at him, her eyes dancing with glee as she sipped at her tea.

"What?" he asked.

"Ron knows."

"I know Ron knows," Harry said. "Why do you think...?"

"Harry, haven't you figured it out yet?"

"What?"

"Ron... and Mione?"

"I..." Harry glanced at the stairs that Ron had just disappeared up, at the door to the kitchen where Hermione was, then back to Ginny. "You mean...?"

"I mean," she confirmed, nodding.

"I knew that they were... but... you... you mean... Really?"

"Really."

"Ron didn't say anything to me."

"Did you expect him to?"

"Well..." Harry thought for a moment. He and Ron shared pretty much everything. "Yes."

"Have you said anything to him about us?"

"No!" he turned shocked eyes to her. How could she think that he'd talk about... that... with Ron?

"Then why would you expect that he'd say anything to you about him and Mione?"

"Because...well... it's different."

"How?"

"You're his sister!"

"And everyone who knows you knows that you look at Mione like a sister. I don't see any difference at all."

"Well... maybe not. But I would have thought she might say something..."

"I certainly wouldn't talk to Ron about us, Harry. Not in that way, anyhow. So I wouldn't expect Mione to talk to you," Ginny said as she broke off an orange segment and popped it into her mouth.

"Did she talk to you?" he asked.

"Briefly," Ginny admitted.

Harry looked at her, suddenly concerned. "Were you comparing notes?"

"Briefly yesterday, Harry," Ginny shot back at him shortly.

Harry took a swift drink of his tea. He did not intend to get Ginny angry with him. He'd just been surprised to realize that Ron and Mione's relationship had progressed to the point where...

"Well," he said, standing. "I think I'm going to go shower."

"You do that," Ginny said, standing and taking her plate and cup towards the kitchen, leaving Harry to speculate on what the day might bring with Hermione upset with Ron and Ginny... well, Ginny apparently thinking he was a complete ass.

Their day, in the end, turned out to be wonderful. Charlie took them on a tour of the dragon pens, and introduced them to several of his favorites. In all, they had about thirty dragons, and they were in various stages of training. The young ones were frisky, the older ones sly, and between there were all manner of personalities. Harry looked on with admiration as the others watched two young horntails playing in a pen.

"I'm sorry," Harry turned to see Charlie standing next to him.

"For?"

"For what I said last night," Charlie admitted. "I'm sorry."

"Charlie..."

"No. I know she's only sixteen, but... but Ginny's been through a lot. She doesn't act sixteen, Harry. She's..."

"She's special, Charlie."

"I know."

"I'm not going to tell you that your sister and I..."

"I don't need to know, Harry."

"Yeah, I think you do," Harry studied the powerfully muscular wizard at his side. Strangely, he felt no fear. "I care a lot about her, Charlie, and I think she feels the same way about me. But I will promise that, if it means my life or hers, I would always choose to keep her safe. You know that, right?"

"I do," Charlie nodded.

"But I can't keep her safe if she's not with me."

"No."

"And her being with me... well..."

"You've been living together for five months, Harry. I'm not stupid," Charlie said dryly. "Just promise me that you'll take care of her."

Harry flushed. "I'd do anything to keep her safe. That's all I can promise."

Charlie nodded shortly, then moved forward to the edge of the pen where the others were standing. Ginny glanced back and saw Harry standing there, quietly watching, and moved back to stand next to him. He pulled her to his side, almost awkwardly. Ginny smiled.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Charlie still giving you the gears?"

"No," Harry denied. "I think we've got that sorted."

"I hope so," Ginny said, watching as Charlie pointed something out to Ron and Mione. "I'd hate to have to bat bogey hex him. After all, I promised you I would control my temper, didn't I?"

Harry laughed. "Don't."

"I won't," she said, leaning her head against his shoulder. "But I won't promise that my revenge on him won't take another form."

"No need for revenge," Harry replied. "We're sorted. Charlie understands."

"Understands what?"

"That I'm not giving you up. That I'm not sending you home. That we're together, and that's the way we both want it," he said honestly.

Ginny looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me," he said quietly, the look in her brown eyes tugging at his heart. "Don't. I've been a total idiot..."

"No, you haven't. You've just been... worried."

Harry was silent, but held her tightly to his side as they turned and retreated with the others up the hill to the encampment.

The following three days were spent learning about the workings of a dragon camp and writing letters home. Charlie had promised to get the letters there without sending them directly from the camp. Harry didn't want anyone knowing that they'd been there. Charlie, apparently, had a friend in Austria who he would send the packet to, with instructions to send it on to Neville Longbottom. In the meantime, Neville would receive a letter from one of Charlie's friends who was returning home to England to expect the package and to take it to Fred and George at the shop in Diagon Alley.

Harry hoped they would get it by Christmas. In the meantime, they had work to do.

"But we haven't even found all the horcruxes..." Hermione said, obviously upset.

"When we've found them, we need to know where he is, Mione," Harry said calmly. "As soon as we have them, I want this over with. And we need to know that Nagini is with him, or destroy her first."

"But..."

"No buts," Harry said quietly. "You agreed to this, Mione."

Hermione nodded, her cheeks flushing. She knew that she had agreed to take direction form Harry, but this was different.

"It's going to be really dangerous, Harry... finding him, confronting him. I just think it would be better if we..."

"Brought the Order into it?" Harry asked. "It may come to that, Hermione. But I'm not making any promises on that."

"But..."

"Please, Mione," Harry pleaded softly. "Not now."

"So?" Ron asked, sitting back on the low, deep sofa. "What now?"

"We're leaving tomorrow," Harry said softly, tensing when he felt Ginny's body next to him sag with disappointment. "I'm sorry, Gin. We've already stayed here too long."

"I know," she said, nodding. Harry could tell she was close to tears.

"So, tomorrow morning?" Ron asked.

"Early," Harry confirmed.

Ron nodded, then stood. "I'm for bed, then, if we're going to be flyiing off before dawn."

"I'll be right up," Mione said quietly. Harry could tell she was disturbed, as she never, ever made any reference to sharing a room with Ron in front of him.

Ginny stood, as well, avoiding Harry's gaze. He could tell she was near to tears. "I'll... be going up, as well."

"Goodnight," Harry said.

"Goodnight, Ginny," Hermione said, watching her go.

"I'm sorry, Mione," Harry said when she had gone.

"No, you were right," Hermione sighed. "I agreed. It's just..."

"I know it's hard, but they can't help us. Not right now."

"I know."

"So, are we okay?"

Hermione glanced up at him, smiling sadly. "We're okay."

"Good," Harry stood, banking the fire in the fireplace as Hermione headed towards the stairs.

"Harry?" she turned when she reached the bottom.

"Yes?"

"It's... do you feel anything different?"

Harry watched her carefully for a moment, noting the concern and worry in her eyes.

"Yes, I do."

"Is it because of Ginny?"

"I don't know," Harry said. "I don't think so. I think that..."

"What?"

"I think it's Voldemort," Harry said softly. "I think... I think that something is... being planned."

"What?"

"I think he knows that we're here."

Hermione's eyes rounded.

"Not here here..." Harry continued. "Not here with Charlie... but I think he knows that we've been in Albania. I think he knows that we've found the cup, that we've been to the orphanage, that we did research in London..."

"You think he's tracking our movements?"

"Maybe," Harry agreed. "But it's more that I think he knows that we're up to something. He had to know that I'd go after the horcruxes, after finding out how Dumbledore died. He'd be stupid not to, and he's not stupid. I think that we have to understand that Voldemort knows, because Snape knew that Dumbledore had figured it out, and because Dumbledore trusted Snape... well."

"Harry, I'm still finding it hard to believe that..."

"I know that you've always said that Snape wasn't as bad as Ron and I thought, Hermione, but you have to understand, that all adults are not trustworthy, just because they hold a position of authority. Didn't Fudge prove that to you? Or Umbridge?"

"That's not what..."

"I think it is," Harry said quietly. "I watched Snape kill him, Hermione. I watched him as he turned on Dumbledore and threw the Avada Kedavra at him... I watched as he turned from the wall, and left the tower... not an ounce of remorse was there. I saw Dumbledore's body at the base of the tower, and all for nothing. All for a fake locket, all for something that..."

"Harry..."

"Hermione," Harry interrupted her. "I love you like a sister. But please, don't mention this to me again. Snape is... if I ever find him..."

"I understand, Harry," Hermione said sadly. "I do understand."

Harry stared into the fire, getting his temper under control for a moment. When he turned back to the stairs, she was gone.

Harry sat in his own room, quietly. Ginny hadn't been there when he got there, as she had been the past three nights. He knew she was upset about leaving, but he knew that they had to. Every minute they stayed increased the chances of them being found there, and Harry wouldn't risk that. Not for anything.

He'd been sitting there an hour when he heard the door open behind him, and turned to find Ginny standing, her back to the now-closed door.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

"For what?"

"Sulking," she admitted. "I really don't want to leave."

"We have to, Ginny," Harry said, looking down at the parchment he'd been writing on.

"I know. I was being unreasonable..."

"No, you weren't. We all would like to be with family at Christmas."

"But I will be," Ginny shrugged. "I'll be with Ron and Hermione... and you."

"Gin..."

"That's all I need, Harry. Honestly, it is. I'd love to be with my mum and dad, my brothers... for Christmas. But, all I need is right here."

Harry stood, held his arms out to her, and she flew into them, sobbing.

"I'm sorry we can't stay, Gin," he whispered into her hair. "But every minute we're here we run the risk of someone finding us, and if that someone is Voldemort, or one of his death eaters, I'd never forgive myself, Ginny."

"So, let's go," she said. "We can pack and be gone within the hour. You know we can."

"I think we can take the time to get a decent night's rest," Harry smiled. "Besides, do you want to interrupt Ron and Mione?"

"Eww," she grimaced, looking up at him. "Well, as long as we're stuck here..."

"Hmm?"

"I'm sure we could find something to make the next few hours pass more... pleasantly?"

Harry smiled, and kissed her. If they slept late, well, too bad.

When it came to it, Harry wasn't the first one up. Ron was. Apparently thinking he'd be helpful and wake everyone, he'd come to Harry's room and shaken him awake. Harry sat up, looking for his glasses.

"Harry, time to be up... and would you mind explaining what my sister is doing in your bed?"

"Get stuffed, Ron," Ginny's voice came from the darkness on the other side of the bed.

"Ginny..."

"Did Mione sleep well, Ron?" she shot back before he could comment.

Harry couldn't see Ron's face in the darkness, but he was absolutely certain that he was as Weasley red as Weasley red got.

"That's not...!"

"Of course it is. Now get out," Ginny threw her legs over the side of the bed, and Ron hesitated only a few seconds before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

"Ginny, I think he's upset," Harry said.

"You think?" she chuckled. "He'll get over it."

"Will he?"

"Harry," she turned back to him. He could see the curve of her breast in the dim light. "Ron's been trying to get us together for years. Just because he's now overreacting to the reality of our being together doesn't change how I feel about you. Does it change how you feel about me?"

"No," he said quietly. "I just don't want him to be... difficult."

"He'll get over it," she responded dryly, standing and pulling on her clothes. "Now, what needs to be done before we can leave?"

They were fully packed before six. Harry was stowing the poles in his pack when Ron approached.

"Sorry," he said quietly.

"For?"

"For... barging in on you two. For.."

"Forget it, Ron," Harry stood.

"I can't, Harry. I'm glad you're together. I guess I just didn't think that you'd be... together... you know?"

"I know. I'm sorry you're upset, but..."

"No," Ron said quickly. "Not upset... just... surprised."

"Surprised?"

"I didn't really take into consideration..."

"What?"

"The fact that you feel about her the same way I feel about Mione," Ron said. "I admit that I have... thoughts... about Mione, that I don't want to think about anyone having about my sister, and it bothers me that you two have been together... like that, and I didn't clue in..."

"It's only been..." Harry flushed. He really didn't care to share with Ron these details. "It's not been for that long, Ron."

"I know," Ron said. "It couldn't have been. It's been too... well, I might not clue in as quickly as others, but I'm not dense, you know."

"I know."

"So, are we ready?"

Goodbyes were said to a sleepy Charlie, and letters handed over for delivery, and then they were gone. Harry led them off into the dark, the second eldest Weasley sibling watching them go, and it was the last anyone saw of them for nearly two months.

Okay, folks – I've taken what others have had to say about this review response business, and I've decided to chance it. I will be responding as of next chapter, but right now, I just want to get THIS chapter up.

Ciao until next time!

CQ