Chapter 1 – Home From Home

Harry stepped out of the front door and breathed in the warm night air. He was not sure how he would be getting to the Burrow but Ron's letter had assured him that all was arranged. He pulled the small crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and unfurled it.

Harry,

Mum says we will pick you up from your Aunt and Uncle's house on the night of your birthday and to be outside the front door at 12.15. She also says not to worry or try anything stupid. Sorry – you know what Mum's like.

Hermione arrived yesterday and we're sorting out the final arrangements but more about that when you arrive. See you soon mate!

Ron

p.s. Harry - don't even consider running. We'll find you in the end anyway and it's not a safe option in the current state of things. Be careful. Ginny xxxxx

It was this last comment from Ginny that had convinced Harry not to disappear without a trace. When he first read it he had presumed it from Hermione with it's warning tones. But he knew Ginny was as scared as him and this was bringing out her protective side.

Harry desperately wanted to handle this quest alone. It was his after all – the prophecy didn't make any reference to his friends. But he desperately wanted to see Ginny again. He couldn't leave without saying a proper goodbye and just hoped she wasn't going to try and come with him. It was far too dangerous for her. At least that's what he kept telling himself, although a part of him, the part he was trying to forget about, thought his troubles might be eased if Ginny was at his side. But he couldn't risk it. She was far too precious to him, and he had already lost the others he truly cared about or could offer him what he had always desperately craved. A place he could call home. He may have been young but Harry was almost certain that if he survived long enough to build a home and family, it would be with Ginny, and he was sure she felt the same way. This presented even more of an argument for her returning to Hogwarts when he left at the end of the summer. If Hogwarts opened it's doors again that is.

He sighed and put the note back into his pocket, as a deep chugging noise appeared in the distance. It was growing louder and louder with a frightening pace and Harry could only assume this meant it was moving towards him. It was almost deafening now and he squinted as bright lights rounded the corner of Privet Drive temporarily blinding him. As he blinked rapidly the lights dimmed, the sound faltered and cut out, and the sound of a car door slamming could be heard.

"Alright Harry!" called the familiar voice of Arthur Weasley.

"Yes thanks Mr Weasley" Harry replied as his trunk and Hedwig's cage flew into the air and into the boot of the vintage car that now sat before him.

"Isn't she a beauty? Found her in Bognor Regis last week. Terrible business of a bewitched out of control car and when I got there it was her. Any charm had long worn off." And with that Mr Weasley spat on his sleeve and began to polish the headlights.

It was then that Harry noticed the small figure of Ginny, whose hands appeared glued to the dashboard, and whose face was contorted into a pure image of shock. He walked over and opened the passenger door with a chuckle. This snapped her out of her trance, and she turned to face Harry.

"Bloody unsafe if you ask me!" She exclaimed in a voice that Harry thought made her sound rather like Ron. Then her face broke into a smile and she simultaneously jumped out of the car and threw her arms around him. This simple act for Harry was like the calm before the storm. He was content for now, to just stand in the middle of the road with his arms wrapped around her and tears pouring down his face. It was Ginny that eventually broke this embrace when she pulled back and cupped his face in her hands. He tried his best to produce a weak smile but when even this resulted in more tears falling, she placed a gentle kiss on his lips, and hugged him tighter than before. She never wanted to let go and knew that it was Harry that was worth fighting for, even if it meant leaving her family behind and travelling into the unknown.

It was Mr Weasley who broke the silence this time. He cleared his throat and commented that it was late and they really ought to be heading on. Ginny ushered Harry into the back seat and sat next to him, his arm protectively around her and her head in the crook of his neck. He was exhausted and was finally admitting this to himself.

Occasionally they would talk but Harry would only answer briefly and just enough to satisfy Ginny, although he convinced no one. As they drew closer to The Burrow the questions became more pointed and Harry only let his guard down when he was sure Mr Weasley wasn't listening. (He had begun fiddling with the radio and looked rather pleased with himself as they drove along listening to static.)

"Have you been eating?" Ginny quizzed.

"A bit."

"Sleeping?"

"Occasionally."

"Have you heard from anyone?"

"A few people have written to check I'm still alive, yeah."

Ginny stared at him and looked saddened by what she saw. The sparkle had left his eye and Harry no longer appeared young. He had changed in ways no one could see, and she scalded herself for leaving him alone for as long as she had.

"Ron and Hermione wanted to come but I put up a fight and said that they weren't the ones who were passionately in love with you, so it was hardly fair they should get the journey with you all to themselves!" Harry laughed and as he did so his face truly lit up. This filled Ginny with warmth and he smiled down at her before placing a kiss on her head and bringing her closer to him.

As Mr Weasley screeched on the brakes outside of his home Ginny opened the back door and hopped out leading Harry, and being careful not to break her firm grip on his hand. She led him through the door where Ron, Hermione, Mrs Weasley and Lupin were all seated around the kitchen table in conversation as he entered. But they jumped up at the sound of the door latch opening, waiting to talk to him and hoping find him in better shape than he was when they had last seen him at Platform 9 ¾. Harry however was only passing through and Ginny made sure of that. She did not stop walking but lead him straight through and up the stairs saying only,

"Harry needs to sleep. You can talk to him in the morning." Harry got a faint glimpse of Ron's stunned face, and Hermione's look of pity before he was dragged up the stairs and out of their view. He was grateful for this and glad he would not face their questions tonight. He couldn't handle it yet. But there was something vaguely ghost-like in the way he was once again led away from the crowds by this girl.

The last thing Harry was aware of that night was Ginny kissing him goodnight and closing the door to the room he shared with Ron behind her. Even this separation for a few seconds before he drifted into a comfortable slumber hurt inside. He needed her now more than ever and was not going to lose her like he had lost his parents, and Sirius. And Dumbledore. He had tried for so long to put the kindly wizard from his mind but at last gave in. Breathing in deeply he remembered the old man's sentiments and the value he placed on love, putting it above all other things. The smell of The Burrow drifted into his head as he realised for the first time that he no longer needed to search for a home. It was here. This was his home from home.

I would like to thank my 2 reviewers for actually reading and reviewing this fic! Also I'm sorry the first entries have been so short and I'll try and make them longer from now on.

(I would also like to point out that although it looks like I've reviewed my own story I really haven't – my friend thinks she's very funny! Sorry about that!)