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Later That Night: Wednesday, June Week 3

Harry looked up at Ginny who was gazing down at him with her big brown eyes.

"Talk in private?" Harry repeated with a puzzled expression.

"Of course, you know…about the whole breakup thing." She said turning her attention Ron and Hermione. "You lot will have to wait outside, Harry and I have something to discuss." Ginny said haughtily.

"Come on Ron, we should wait outside." Hermione said moving into the hall, almost dragging Ron out in her wake. Once they had closed the door behind them Ginny turned back to Harry, "I don't know what you were thinking, but I can tell you care about me just as much as I care about you." Ginny exclaimed.

Harry had thought this was what she wanted to talk about. He was now considering his 'speech' he had made several days ago in which he told Ginny that they couldn't be together any longer. "So I suppose you think I'm some kind of git?" Harry asked.

"No! I didn't say that at all. I don't care if Voldemort uses loved ones against people." She said looking Harry in the eye.

"You'll care if it gets you dead!" Harry shouted, suddenly angry. Ginny looked taken aback for a moment before saying in a forcedly calmed voice, "I don't care Harry, this battle isn't yours to fight alone."

"Well last time I heard the prophecy it didn't say anything about you in it!" Harry said in undertones.

"I don't care! I've made up my mind. Some things are worth fighting for, and some things are worth dying for!" She said, tears suddenly forming in her eyes. Harry realized that this had just as much to do with fighting Voldemort as caring about each other…perhaps loving each other.

"R-Remember at Dumbledore's funeral when you said that if you had asked me sooner that we might have had ages, months or y-years together?" Ginny asked, her voice faltering slightly because of the tears that were now streaming down her cheeks.

"Of course I remember!" Harry replied.

"Well…it's not my fault you didn't!" Ginny suddenly screamed, getting up and storming from the room. Harry could not imagine where she was going to go, it was the Dursley's house after all and Harry's room was the only safe-zone. Harry couldn't imagine Ginny going downstairs and being comforted by his Uncle Vernon. Harry laughed at the thought in spite of himself.

The door opened just at that moment and Ron and Hermione came in with Ginny in between them, Hermione looked at Harry and said in a soothing voice, "Listen Harry, quit fighting it. You both want to be together and lets face it, your always angry when your alone. Remember two summers ago before our fifth year? You hated not hearing from us about much of anything, you hated not knowing what was going on."

Hermione did have a point, one that Harry had to consider. He remembered the summer that the dementor's attacked him and his cousin.

"Yeah, I hear you." Harry said in an irritated tone of voice.

"Well good, then you agree that you and Ginny have the right to be together!" Hermione said, almost shouting.

Harry had never thought of it this way before…the right to be together? Did he have the right to be together with Ginny? Did she have the right to be with him?

"Yeah-yeah…I guess…I guess I agree." Harry said reluctantly. Yet something swelled inside his chest that made him truly smile for the first time in three days. He didn't have to let her go after all. Harry turned to look at Ginny who was now leaning against the wall behind Hermione, Ron had been comforting her. Harry locked eyes with her and she seemed to come to, as if out of a trance.

Harry put his arms out and she ran to him embracing him in a hug. Just then Harry noticed a shadow at the bedroom door which had been left open just a crack, and upon seeing Harry notice the shadow vanished. Harry saw Dudley's blonde head vanishing and heard him trying to sneak down the stairs later. He also thought he briefly seen a look of anger, which wouldn't be out of the ordinary considering Dudley's bad temperament towards Harry. Dudley certainly was acting weird since his friends came to visit, Harry knew that much for sure. After hugging Ginny for a while, Harry noticed Ron and Hermione had been doing the same. Harry got up letting go of Ginny proceeded to close his bedroom door. As the door snapped shut it seemed to have brought the other three to their senses.

"Anyone up for a game of exploding snap?" Harry asked.

They passed several hours playing exploding snap and eating magical sweets that Harry kept under a loose floor board. Yet another hour later their came a tapping at Harry's bedroom door followed by, "Harry, it's you aunt. Diner is ready so if you all want to eat come down." The four of them went downstairs to find that his Uncle Vernon had already eaten and went into the living room to rot his brain in front of the television. Strangely Dudley seemed to have decided to eat very slowly so that half if plate was still full. This was unusual since usually Dudley would have proceeded on to his third or fourth helpings by now.

Harry was the first into the kitchen sitting at the kitchen table, followed by Ron who Dudley did not pay much attention to. Harry was paying attention this time because he had a definite hunch about Dudley's strange behavior. Harry knew that Dudley went to an all boy's school, but Harry didn't think Dudley would act so strangely in front of attractive girls. But obviously Harry, much to his delight was wrong and Dudley was a big sop in front of them. When Hermione came in talking quietly with Ginny he noticed Dudley's eyes shift from one to the other and then came to rest on Ginny. Harry decided that the moment was just too good to pass up.

"Hey Big D, not hungry?" Harry asked him, taking his place at the table. Dudley looked at him before replying, "Jus' taking my time."

"That's unusual, usually your like a great steam shovel when you eat." Harry said, the look of confusion followed by irritation satisfied Harry. Ginny sat next to Harry while Ron and Hermione sat on the other side of Harry. Ron looked at Harry, "Looks like casserole, eh mate?" Ron then went about his usual of shoving food in his mouth and talking loudly with his mouth full.

"So this is actually pretty good 'Arry," Ron said, doing his best not to choke on his mouthful of food.

"You sound like Fleur when you talk with your mouth full." Hermione said with disdain.

"Who's Fleur?" A voice suddenly rang. Everyone looked to realize Dudley had been the one to ask the question. Everyone looked at him for a few seconds before Ron decided to say, "She's like a goddess, just your type." Harry noticed that this didn't seem to help Dudley out any, especially since Dudley didn't catch the sarcasm in what Ron had said.

"Speaking of Fleur, is she excited about the wedding in two weeks?" Harry asked, looking at Ron.

"Yeah, she's in a right state. Bill is looking a lot better, his face is almost back to normal although there's a scar that runs down one side of his face, but it's nothing serious. I guess he's lucky that the werewolf was still in human form." Ron seemed to think for a moment before continuing on, "But Fleur is happier than ever. You can imagine how excited she is with her wedding so close."

"Well she's barely tolerable. But at least she's respectable now." Ginny said. Harry wasn't sure whether Ginny's opinion of Fleur had improved any. Ginny never had been a big fan of Fleur Delacour. Ginny suddenly turned and looked across the table, as it would seem Dudley was staring again like a great git.

"What are you looking at?" Ginny said, getting irritated. Dudley seemed startled something terrible before he attempted a response, "W-w-well…I j-just thought I would tell you how p-pretty you are, t-t-that's all," Dudley said, with a look of expectation on his face. Harry wasn't sure what Dudley was expecting but Harry was sure he was going to get it.

"Yeah, you and Michael Corner both." Ginny said, and with that she ignored him for the rest of the meal. After they finished and got up and were going back up the stairs Harry whispered to Ginny, "I thought you would have remarked about Dean Thomas." Harry said laughing a little. Ginny gave him a steady glare as she mounted the staircase.

Once back in the safety of Harry's room they heard a peck at the window. Hedwig hooted softly as if to get Harry's attention. Looking carefully Harry could see a tawny barn owl sitting on the window ledge outside in the gathering darkness. Hermione walked passed Harry and opened the window, the owl hopped in and hooted impatiently. Hermione removed the scroll attached to its leg and handed it to Harry. Harry opened the letter which was addressed to him and carefully read:

Harry Potter,

You might be pleased to be informed that Number 12, Grimauld Place

Has been checked for traps and cleaned up. You may do with the property as you please. Regardless you must meet me there tomorrow in order to officiate Sirius's will.

-Minerva McGonagall

"Not much for words is she?" Ron asked.

"Well I imagine she's really upset about Dumbledore you know?" Hermione said, tears already in her eyes. Ron put an arm around her and looked gloomy and Harry fought hard to keep from crying himself. He had not talked about it to anyone since the funeral, and had tried his best to keep the thoughts out of his mind. Harry sat down on the edge of his bed and Ginny did the same, laying her head on his shoulder and whispering, "It's alright Harry," over and over.

The night went on that way and they didn't talk about Dumbledore's demise any more. Finally after several more games of exploding snap and many conversations later Harry said, "I spose'you guys will want to come with me then? To collect my inheritance?" Harry said gloomily.

"Yeah, of course we will Harry!" Hermione said cheerfully.

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