He flipped open the notebook and dipped his quill in the ink. One day, when this was all over, he'd be able to show her that he had never stopped thinking about her.

September 17th

How strong, how brave, how true of you
To bear the hurt I gave.
I know it tears your heart in two:
All I've said, all I say to you.

Again, he had ventured out of his hiding place tonight to find Horcrux number 4, the cup. After destroying it with a charm found by Hermione, he should have felt the slightest bit of joy, but emptiness again filled his heart. His mother was gone, his father, Sirius, Dumbledore… and now, the only girl he had ever loved was essentially gone, too. He had long since hidden the pictures and her letters, the ones that he had never answered. He couldn't stand to think that there was a chance that he would die without talking to her again, but it was a chance that he felt he must take. To protect her.

Hermione, however, was strongly opposed to his decision to cut off Ginny. Almost daily, she posted clippings from books on his door, attempting to prove to him that love was indeed stronger than Dark Magic. He wanted to believe her, but he just couldn't take that chance. It wasn't a Quidditch match or a game of chess, this was someone's life, and he wasn't going to take a chance on losing. Ron did not voice his opinion. No doubt he was torn, like Harry, but his new relationship with Hermione did provide him with some new insight on love. "I don't know how you do it, mate, just block yourself off like that. I think I would be going crazy," Ron had commented, one Sunday afternoon at Grimmauld place. "And you think I'm not?" Harry spat, quickly leaving the room.

But he continued on, avoiding Ron and Hermione's help when he could. In the end, it would be his job to defeat Voldemort, not anyone else's. And on lonely nights like these, that thought was the one thought that was able to stop him from sending a letter to Ginny, telling her that he was coming home. He wondered what she was doing… how she was spending her time now that Hogwarts was closed. No doubt she, Mrs. Weasley, and Fleur were spending a lot of time in the house, worrying about Bill, Fred, George, Charlie, Percy, Ron, Hermione, and Mr. Weasley. Fleur and Bill had moved back into the Burrow after the wedding on the insistence of Mrs. Weasley. Harry knew that Mrs. Weasley couldn't stand to have anyone out of her sight as long as Voldemort was still around.

Extinguishing the candle beside his bed, Harry rolled over and pulled the covers up under his chin. He couldn't say which was worse… nights at the Dursleys' or nights in hiding.