Harry's New Life
Chapter Sixteen
Back to School
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"Ron, will you leave me alone so I can pack!" Hermione called from her Room.
Harry who was sitting on the couch, cleaning his Firebolt laughed as Ron was shooed out of the girl's room and the door was shut in his face. "Sorry mate, but you never mess with a girl when she is packing."
"I just wanted to help her!" Ron said indignantly as he walked over and sat by Harry.
"What, were you going to pack her knickers for her?" Harry said, laughing again.
"Oh shut it Harry, don't you have practice this morning?" Ron asked.
"Nope, I took the day off so I could see Ginny off to school. Shouldn't you be at work?"
"No, were closed today because we won't do any business until the Hogwarts students get back to school." Ron replied.
Just then the girl's door slammed open and Ginny came out, toeing a large chest and looking rather disheveled. She pulled her trunk over to the door, dropped it and then sat on top of it. "You know, I'm really glad that this is the last time I'll ever do this. That bloody trunk weighs a ton."
Harry didn't have the heart to reminder that she could use magic now as she walked over and sat on the other side of Harry and rested her head on his shoulder. Harry, who was now clipping a few stray twigs off his broom leaned over and kissed the top of her head.
Ron jumped up and walked towards the kitchen. "Ick, I do not want to see my best mate slobbering over my sister's hair." Harry and Ginny choose to ignore him.
"So Harry, what are you going to do while I'm at school?" Ginny asked.
"Other than thinking about you? Oh I guess there is Quidditch and of course I'll have Ron to entertain me." Harry said, smiling.
"You can entertain yourself." Ron said from the other side of the room.
Once again the girl's bedroom door busted open and Hermione came bustling through looking frantic. "Come on guys were going to be late. Let's go!" Hermione walked towards the front door, her luggage levitating behind her as she went. She grabbed her coat off the stand and walked to the middle of the room and apparated, her luggage following her.
"Well, I guess we better go too!" Harry said. He put his broom down, stood up and helped Ginny get off the couch. Harry walked over and waved his wand towards Ginny's trunk and levitated it just like Hermione did.
"I'll meet you there Harry." Ron called as he chased after Hermione.
Harry waved his wand again and Ginny's luggage vanished. "Grab my arm Ginny." As she did so Harry turned on the spot and they both vanished.
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Platform 9 3/4 was exactly how Harry remembered it, full of young witches and wizards all wishing their families well and hurrying to find a spot on the train. The large Hogwarts Express was whistling happily and issuing steam. Through the crowd Harry saw Ron and Hermione expressing a fond farewell that caused a few mothers to cover the eyes of their younger children.
The worst part of the morning came when a group of giggling teenage girls, much younger than he surrounded him asking for autographs. Ginny found it all rather amusing but Harry found it annoying. He was told that being a Quidditch star on top of his Voldemort fame was bound to attract attention but he would never feel comfortable with it. Sense his last winning Quidditch game these moments seemed to become more frequent, he just didn't like talking about it.
Once he made his way from the girls, Harry followed Ginny onto the train and hoisted her luggage onto a rack in an empty compartment. As they walked back down the corridor, towards the door, Harry looked back and saw Ron putting Hermione's luggage in the same compartment. Harry and Ginny jumped down off the train just in time to see Mr. and Mrs. Weasley heading towards them.
"Mum, Dad!" Ginny cried as she ran towards them. "You came to see me off, how wonderful!"
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley hugged Ginny tightly, and Harry stood back as they said their goodbyes. Ron and Hermione emerged from the train and everyone hugged Hermione and Ginny in turn. The train blew its whistle once more and all around them students started to enter the train.
"Ginny, can I talk to you for a moment." Harry asked as he pulled her hand away from everyone.
"Quickly Harry, I need to leave."
"I know," Harry bent low towards her ear so only she could hear him. "I just wanted you to know that when you come home for the Holidays that I'll be waiting for you. And when the year is over I plan on keeping my promise to you."
Ginny smiled and looked down at her ring; it was sparkling in the sunlight. "I love you Harry, this is going to be longest year ever, waiting for you." Ginny pushed up on her toes and kissed Harry intensely. Several girls nearby giggled as they acted like they weren't watching.
The train whistle blew once more; Ginny squeezed Harry's hand and ran quickly to the train door. Once onboard the train and seated in her compartment she opened the window and looked down at Harry. Harry had just long enough to say one last goodbye and the train started to move.
Hermione and Ginny waved goodbye to Harry, Ron and the Weasley's. They all stood there and continued to wave until the train was out of site. Harry continued to stare into the distance as Ron turned to talk to his mother and father. Suddenly Harry had a strong desire to return to school too, but he knew in his heart that he wasn't meant to return. His brief but meaningful conversation with Ginny was running threw his mind. Harry was determined to make due on his promise and ask Ginny to marry him the moment she stepped off the train next spring.
Now that the prospect of a future with Ginny was closer than ever before many new possibilities opened up to Harry. The thought of a wedding, the marriage it's self and then someday kids. He had never thought of these things before, he never had a reason to until this very moment. Up until now the only thing that he was concerned with was dealing with Voldemort, and now that he was gone life and its prospects seemed so real. He had a life to live, he no longer feared death, he no longer feared anything. Harry had a new life and he planned on living it to the fullest.
Fin