This tale starts out on a dark, stormy night, the day after classes at Hogwarts let out.

The day before, everyone said their good-byes to all of their friends at Hogwarts. It was a sad day for everyone. Dumbledore had died a few days back, and everyone was grieving over the loss. Their beloved Dumbledore was killed by none other than Severus Snape. He trusted him, and look how it turned out. After more than 100 years of life, he had died.

For the first time in his life, Harry had wanted to return to privet Drive. He did not know how to be happy anymore. All he could think about was

Dumbledore. Dumbledore SAVED Harry's life, and was killed shortly after. Harry could not stop blaming himself for the incident. If only he could have learned those silent incantations a little better, or somehow saved Dumbledore. But Dumbledore risked his life for Harry and Harry was grateful for that.

Shortly after returning to Privet Drive, Harry was already making breakfast. He had enjoyed doing so because it made him not think of the past year at Hogwarts. But all Harry really wanted to do was be alone.

For the whole month of June, Harry skipped some meals, and sometimes, he forgot about them altogether. Until that fateful day of July 1st...

Harry received a letter (by owl) from the Weasley's explaining that they wanted him to come and visit. Ron was able to apparate now, so if Harry wanted to come, Ron would gladly come and pick him up. But Harry knew that where Ron was, Ginny was. And he couldn't bear seeing her now. She had taken the break-up well, but Harry was in pieces. He knew it was the right thing, but if there was SOME way he could be with her without ANYONE knowing, he would. But he couldn't be. So he decided to turn down the Weasley's offer and stay here at privet drive for the remainder of the holiday.

By now, Harry had stopped skipping his meals and was not looking so thin.

Today was Harry's birthday, and he was not feeling as gloomy as usual. The Dursleys gave no acknowledgement whatsoever to this occasion, but Harry did. Harry knew that now, he could move himself into Sirius's old home, and not live here on Privet Drive. He was now of age, which is seventeen in the wizarding world. But the though of staying where his dead uncle used to live just made him feel sad. Like that creature inside his stomach had died.

So he decided that he would stop moping and go to the Burrow. He almost ALWAYS felt happy there.

He sent a letter to the Weasleys telling them he was coming until September. He had not passed his Apparation test, but he had a feeling Ron and his family would find some way to get him.

2 days later, he received a letter from the Weasley's telling him that Ron would be over at midnight that night. 6:45Harry Thought that gives me 5 hours to pack my trunk and tell the Dursleys I am leaving.

Harry packed his trunk full of everything he owned, for he would not be coming back here. No way. He was leaving this place forever.

Harry checked every nook and cranny in his small bedroom. He checked all of the broken floorboards for schoolbooks and other things, and finally, he quietly crept downstairs to wait for Ron.

Ron had arrived sharply at midnight, by floo powder.

Harry couldn't wait to finally leave this place. Forever. For his whole life, he was like the Dursleys slave. And now, he was free...

"C'mon Harry," Ron said. "Why do you have so much?"

"I'm finally moving out," Harry replied "So I brought everything."

"Oh," Ron said, remembering that Harry did NOT want to stay here. "Where are you going to live?"

"I'll tell you when we get to your house. My Aunt and Uncle are still sleeping and-"

"Oh yeah," Ron said "We best not disturb them."

When he arrived at the Burrow, Harry found the usual suspects. Mrs. Weasley was in the kitchen, all ready to make something for Harry to eat.

" So...where are you going to live?" Ron asked.

"I guess I could live in Sirius's house. But I haven't really thought about it." Harry lied.

"Lets go unpack your things." Mrs. Weasley cut in.

But when Harry put his things in Fred and George's room, Ginny was waiting outside his door.

"Hello" Ginny said in her normal peppy voice. "How are you?"

"Fine," Harry replied in a sulky way

"Happy to see you too," Ginny said sarcastically and stormed off.

"what was that all about?" Ron asked

" I dunno. All I said was: fine." Harry replied.

A few days went by and Harry was actually happy. He played quiddittch (the teams being Ron and Harry: and Ginny and Mrs. Weasley.). It was quite a site to see Mrs. Weasley on a broomstick, but they played anyway.

Four days after he arrived, Hermione arrived as well. Ron and Harry had to share a room so Hermione could have her own room.

"Eek!" Hermione screamed. "There's a rat in here!"

"That's Scabbers the second!" Ron said." And don't let that cat near 'im."

"Okay. But you take Scabbers." Hermione said coolly.

"Hermione?" Ron asked," Why in the world do you have this much stuff? I mean do you really need 7 brushes for you hair?"

"Ronald. I am a girl. I need 8 brushes, I just couldn't fit them all in." Hermione answered giggling.

Ron and Hermione fell on the floor laughing.

Meanwhile, Harry and Ginny were alone in the kitchen.

"This is really awkward. I'm gonna go," Ginny said awkwardly.

"Wait-" Harry said, "Im sorry."

"What?" Ginny asked

"I'm- I'm sorry" Harry replied.

"For what?" Ginny asked, actually unsure of what the HELL he was talking about.

"For ever breaking up with you," He answered.

" At least you did it for the right reasons." Ginny said slowly.

Harry and Ginny moved closer and closer until-

"What's up?" Ron asked

"Oh nothing," Ginny and Harry replied together.

"just chatting" Harry said.

"Yeah, school stuff." Ginny lied.

"Ok," Hermione said, unsure if this was true, on account that they were standing less than 2 inches away from each other. There was silence. To Harry it was an hour, but to everyone else, it was only a minute.

"How about some quiddittch?" Ron asked. He didn't really want to play, but he wanted to break this awkward silence.

"Sure." They all answered quite quickly.

After their short game of quiddittch, they each received letters.

Dear Student,

We are obligated to inform you that Hogwarts will be not opening again this year. The ministry has decided it is too risky to have the school open again.

Greatest apologies,

Fred and George.

P.S. gotcha!

"Rotten twins." Ron said angrily. "They scared my half to death. I really thought that was real!"

"Me too." Hermione said

"Mum," Ron said, "Can we go to Diagon Alley. I know we don't know what we need for school, but I think it would be fun."

"Sure." Mrs. Weasley replied." We can go by Floor Powder. Tomorrow okay?"

"Yeah," Ron said happily.

Harry ate dinner with the Weasleys and that night, Mrs. Weasley was listening to Celestina Warbeck again. Last Christmas, Harry had spent the break at the Burrow. On Christmas night, Mrs. Weasley was listening to Celestina's horrible love songs. He remembered that night very clearly in his mind.

Harry and Ron went upstairs and played chess, while the girls listened to Celestina with Mrs. Weasley.

"I've just noticed your dad has been gone for quite a while." Harry said.

"Yeah, he's in Romania visiting Bill." Ron said.

After the barbaric game of chess, Harry was really tired and went to bed.

Harry woke up the next morning feeling very happy. Today was the day they were going to Diagon Alley. He would most probably spend a lot of time in the joke shop.

He went downstairs and found that everyone was ready to go.

" Are you guys ready to go?" Harry asked, "I'll go get ready."

"Take your time dear, we can wait." Mrs. Weasley said.

Harry rushed back upstairs and got dressed. He grabbed some money and ran downstairs.

"I'm ready." He said swiftly.

"Ok Ron, you go first." Mrs. Weasley said.

"Diagon Alley!" Ron said quite loudly after he had stepped into the flames.

Harry did not like using floo powder very much, but decided to go next.

After Harry, everyone else went.

After arriving in Random fireplaces, everyone met at the joke shop.

Chapter 3

Harry walked in and saw a horde of people crowding around the front of the shop.

"What is all this?" Harry asked Ron

" Probably a demonstration," Ron answered.

" Probably..." Harry repeated.

Harry heard Ginny and Mrs. Weasley and Hermione come in, wondering the same things.

It was weird for Harry when he was around Ginny. He felt as if he had broken her heart, even though she seemed fine. He didn't know what to, what do, or how to act. He was lost in a sea of brokenness.

"Harry?" Harry looked around and people were piling out of the shop. It was Cho.

"Hi Cho." Harry came out of his daze and looked at Cho. In his fourth year, he and Cho dated.

" How have you been? I know you were really close to-" Cho couldn't finish her sentence because tears were flowing out of her eyes. She ran out of the store and sat at a table nearby and cried. Harry went out and sat across from her. It was raining, but Cho was already soaked in tears.

"Sorry to just run out like that, but just to think about it kills me." Cho said softly

"Its ok. I understand," Harry replied.

"Really?" Cho asked.

"Yeah. It's been tough for everyone." Harry replied.

"Harry, Cho, you wanna go get some ice cream?" Hermione asked, soaked in rain.

"Yeah," Harry and Cho replied at the same time.