Chapter Three: Back to the Burrow

The bus came to a sudden halt some hours later in front of a small village. Brad walked to the back and nudged Harry's shoulder. "The Burrow." He said as Harry sat up slowly and looked around him.

Brad was unloading the trunk onto the ground outside when Harry moved to the front of the bus. Brad nodded and grunted at him when Harry stepped onto the solid ground next to his trunk.

Then with another BANG, the bus was off again. Harry watched as it zoomed away from him.

Harry turned around and noticed where he was. It was very early morning and luckily the sun was still down and there were no people on the streets. Harry grabbed an end of his trunk and started through the street.

A short while later Harry came face to face with a very familiar looking house. He smiled at the oddly shaped home. Happiness replaced the anger and fear he had been feeling earlier.

At the front door Harry paused. Did he dare knock on the door? He brought his hand down to the handle. He moved it to the right and pushed against the door. It didn't budge. Harry hit himself in the head with his hand. Did he really expect it to be open after all that's been going on?

He put up his hand to knock but the door opened suddenly and Harry almost fell forward.

"Oh, Harry dear!" Harry looked up and saw a woman with bright, red hair and a smiling face, Mrs. Weasley.

Mrs. Weasley took Harry into a large hug. She pulled him inside and shut the door.

"Ron just got your letter not to long ago. Well, I did. He and Hermione are upstairs sleeping." She smiled again but hurried over to the counter.

"Would you like anything to eat? You look starving." She started opening cupboards and setting things out on the table.

"That'd be great." Harry said as his stomach gave another loud roar. He sat down in one of the chairs as the sun outside began to rise over the horizon.

Mrs. Weasley gave him a large bowl of soup and a glass of milk. Harry ate quickly as he was anxious to see his friends again.

"MOM, WHERE'S MY SOCKS!" A voice yelled down the stairs. It echoed from the top. Harry looked up at the stairs, knowing whose room was at the top.

Ron came running down, fully dressed but missing two socks. He stopped when he reached the landing. "HARRY! You're here!" Ron stopped and thought a moment. "What are you doing here?" He said with a puzzled look.

Harry laughed. "I sent you a note with Hedwig. I moved out of the Dursley's. I took the Knight Bus. I only just got here."

Ron sat in the chair next to him and eyed the soup. He looked over at his mother. "Where's mine?" Mrs. Weasley hit him in the head with a spoon. Ron held his head in his hands and stood.

"I'm sure Hermione will be down in a minute. I'll be right back." Ron turned and ran back up the stairs. Harry turned back to his soup.

He again heard footsteps coming down the stairs when he sipped the last bit of soup left. Harry turned in his seat to see Hermione running down. She was smiling brightly, giving Harry the hint that Ron had told her.

Harry braced himself when Hermione hit the ground floor and gave him a back breaking hug. "I was so worried about you. I'm so glad your okay." She let go of him.

Harry sat back in his chair and rubbed the back of his neck as Hermione sat down in a chair. "Where's Ginny?" As if on cue a pair of running feet started again down the fleets of stairs.

Ginny stopped near the table and noticed Harry. She smiled. "Harry! When'd you get here?" She gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

When she let go, Harry told her about what happened at the Dursley's and how he got there.

"Nice to see you're not hurt." Ginny teased. She started to eat the bacon and eggs that Mrs. Weasley had just set on the table.

A few minutes later, Ron had joined them downstairs and they started talking about what had been going on in the Wizarding world since Harry had no means of getting news since his uncle had banned getting the Daily Prophet.

"Not a whole lot has been going on since. A few disappearances here and there but nothing major yet." Mrs. Weasley answered Harry's question.

Harry looked around the table. "Where's Mr. Weasley?" He asked.

Mrs. Weasley looked up from her plate. "The Ministry has been having a rough time right now and they have been keeping him there to work overtime." Her face showed that he had not been home in quite a while.

Mrs. Weasley stood and started to wash up the dishes. Ginny nudged Harry's arm and nodded to the garden. Harry caught on and stood with her and walked out into the garden.

Ginny faced Harry when they were not in view. She looked him in the eyes. "I wan to go with you." Harry looked down at her.

"Didn't we go through this before?" He asked with a small tone.

Ginny looked down at her feet. "Yes, but I've been thinking. You're going to need all the help you can get and I want to help." She looked back up at him.

Harry looked at her sternly. "I can't let you do that. I can't put anymore people in danger. Ron and Hermione are choosing for they're own free will."

Ginny narrowed her eyes at him. "And I can't choose on my own free will?"

Harry shook his head. "No, it's not that. It's just, I don't want you hurt again. I know the true strength of Voldemort and I can't let you be exposed to that."

Ginny's eyes were now filling with tears. "I KNOW WHAT HIS POWERS ARE LIKE TOO! OR HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN MY FIRST YEAR! I REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE! THE POWER I FELT!" Tears were now running down her cheeks. She turned on her heel and ran toward the back lawn.

Harry watched her run. Should he go after her? That look in her eyes. She really wanted to help. He looked to where she had sat down in the grass. But he couldn't do that to her. He never wanted to lose a loved one again. Not now, not ever.

Then he remembered how strong and willing she had been in the Department of Mysteries. Would she be strong enough to stand up for herself? Harry held his head in his hands. Of course she was strong enough. But what if something happened? Something went wrong? How would he ever forgive himself?