(A/N): Finally! Lol. Sorry this took so long to get up, I meant to have it posted on Sunday, but I got sick, so I didn't. Yea. Anyways, this is officailly my longest post yet. 2088 words. I'm very proud of myself. And now to thank my reviewers...

Dark Syaoran: Thanks for the review! I laughed when I read it...

GiR: Thanks! Lol, I'm going to try to update more... really I am!

crzyangelchic: I don't know if Harry and Luna are impossible, I just think that they're really, REALLY unlikely... yeah. Thank you for reviewing! Yeah, Harry had a dirty mouth, though thats slightly more because I do, and honestly, its the morning, and he had a hangover, and he just realized that not only did he lose his virginity, he lost it to Luna, who isn't the one he loves. I'd be a bit pissy too. lol.

mundum: yeah, everyone says Luna is a bit OoC. Maybe, definitly in chapter 3, but I don't think its too far off. She hasn't really said all that much in the present time, and we don't know what she thinks in the HP books... lol- sorry. defending my work too much. lol. thanks for reviewing!

mysockisonfire: This ones not so short! lol. Lunas not even mentioned in this one, it's all Harry and Hermione. -nods-. I'm trying to feature Harry more, but we already know so much about him from the books, that its hard to shine any new light onto him. For me at least.

Lily Evans Potter Black Lupin: Yea, Harry is being a git.

Harpy Prince: lol. hm. No, its all me writing. My friend and I say that when writing comes really natural, to the point where the story may take turns you didn't see coming, its the character writing through you. Basically, it is sort of freestyle- I wrote this post in one sitting. I'm currently planning on a bit of a love triangle between Harry, Ginny, and Luna, but shhh! You didn't hear that from me!

absolutelyfabulous: ch. 7! (probably-hopefully) its all very carefully planned out (meaning I have a vague idea of whats to come). lol.

And I believe thats all my loverly reviewers! Hope you like the next chapter!

Hermione exited the scarlet train with Ginny, their trunks bewitched to follow behind them. Hermione kept half an eye on the trunks, making sure they didn't hit anyone, though there was one person she didn't mind if they did hit. She looked around for a sign of Ron, or for a sea of red that would be the Weasley's.

Ginny pointed the way and Hermione nodded numbly. Her stomach was in knots, summer was really here. She didn't want it to be, she wasn't ready for it to be. She wondered what it would be like, to be normal; to spend her summer at the beach with her friends, with Ron. She didn't want to be chasing dark lords and having her life and the lives of those she loved threatened every other day. It was too painful.

Hermione had owled her parents the other day, telling them not to come to Kings Cross; she would be spending her holiday at Harry's aunts and uncles house in Little Winging. They had been disappointed, to say the least. She had not told them why she would not be coming home. They needn't know that she didn't plan to return to Hogwarts, that instead she was to search for Horcruxes with Harry and Ron. She told them nothing; she did not want to worry them.

Ginny grabbed a cart and Hermione lowered their trunks onto it; they could not very well just burst through a brick wall into muggle Kings Cross, trunks floating lazily behind them. It was easy enough to find everyone, as they made up the largest group of people who most obviously did not belong.

It looked to Hermione as though half the Order had shown up to see them home. Mr. Weasley stood with Bill, Fred, George, Remus, Tonks, Mundungus, Mad-Eye Moody, and a few others Hermione wasn't sure she recognized were all there. Harry and Ron were already with them, and hugs were going around.

"Where's mum?" Ginny asked, walking up to the crowd.

"With Fleur and her mom, looking at flower arrangements. They can't decide on orchids, roses, or a combination for the bridal bouquet." Bill answered. He was looking much healthier Hermione noticed, though the scars remained. She tried not to stare; she didn't want to be rude.

Everyone chatted around her with feigned happiness, and she felt lost in the swarm of lies and half-truths. Everyone avoided speaking of Dumbledore, of Snape, and of the rising death toll. She plastered a smile across her face, and went along with the charade. Her body went through the motions and her mind drifted elsewhere.

It was unbearably hot in the station, and she needed some fresh air. She looked around for Ron, he was still by Harry. He looked over at her and she waved weakly. He grinned at her, and signaled towards Harry's uncle, who was watching them from a distance, trying to look as though he was simply passing time, reading a newspaper. It was upside-down. Ron laughed and she stifled a giggle; it wasn't really as funny as it seemed.

Ginny glanced in the direction Hermione was looking towards, and sighed.

"You're really going to live at that mans house for a month?"

Hermione nodded, not much looking forward to it. She'd much rather be going to the Burrow.

"Hmm" Ginny answered, pursing her lips together, not unlike Professor McGonagall. "Fine then, will you give this to Harry for me then? When you get there?" She handed Hermione the letter she wrote on the train. It was sealed tightly in an envelope. Hermione took it and placed it carefully in her bag, than embraced Ginny warmly.

"I'll miss you- write to me okay?"

"Be safe" was all Ginny could say.

----

Harry waited for Hermione to walk over, than led her, Ron, Mr. Weasley, Mad-Eye and Remus over to his uncle, who was positively trembling. Mr. Dursley stood up. Harry noticed as his uncle tried to make himself look larger, more intimidating. Harry shook his head in humor, and plopped his trunk down in front of his uncle.

Mr. Weasley, Mad-Eye, and Lupin took Harry's uncle to the side, and explained to him that Hermione and Ron would be staying at his house for the month of July as well. He did not look pleased. In fact, his face was turning rather purple.

"What are we going to do if he says no?" Hermione whispered to no one in particular.

Harry shrugged. He didn't really think it was an issue; his uncle would be too terrified to say no more than a few times.

Harry couldn't decide if he was looking forward to the coming weekend. It was Bill and Fleur's wedding, and the three of them would be staying at the Burrow for two nights, to help set up for the reception. It was to be held in the Weasley's yard. The Burrow had always been a safe haven for him, but now, with Ginny, he didn't know what to expect.

Mr. Weasley, Mad-Eye, and Lupin finished their talk with Harry's uncle, and came over to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Mr. Weasley addressed them first.

"Everything is settled now. Ron will share Harry's room, and Hermione can have their spare. We expect a letter everyday, assuring us that you are staying together, and not doing anything dangerous. Members of the Order will randomly check in with you guys, so don't wander far. Hermione, we know that you can legally do magic now, but we would like you to please keep it to a minimum; we don't want to scare the pants off of the muggles. It is very generous of them to allow you to stay with them for the next few weeks. And don't give any reason for Molly to have to bring you home, she's been under enough stress as it is lately. Well, I think that covers just about everything. Be good, stay safe. You know where to find us if you need us."

Mad-Eye Moody clasped his hands together, and looked over the three of them quickly.

"Right. You will be leaving in Dursleys vehicle. He doesn't know it, but a few of the Order will be following you, by broomstick. We just need to get you there safely, than we will leave. Ready to go?"

Harry nodded.

Harry picked up his cart and dropped it on top of Hermione's. Ron did the same. After a few grunts from Harry's uncle, they were led out to the car. Harry lifted the trunks into the rear of the car, than took a seat up front, next to his uncle. Hermione and Ron sat in the back. The entire ride home was largely uncomfortable. Harry's uncle didn't utter a single word the entire way home.

When they finally reached the house, Uncle Vernon left the trio to unload their things, and went inside to talk to his wife. They had major issues to discuss.

---

Hermione spent most of the evening in Harry's room with Ron. She had come to an unspoken agreement with herself to pretend nothing had happened, and that she was still on good terms with Harry. She was unwanted enough it the house. She conjured up an extra bed for Ron, who was now sitting on it twirling his wand between his fingers.

"I can legally do magic now too, you know. My birthday was months ago." He said to no one in particular.

"So?" Harry asked.

"So no one said anything to me about it. They told Hermione to keep her magic down, but not me."

"That's because you still act like a kid, so they have trouble realizing you aren't" Hermione answered, a bit irritable. She didn't like being in this house, it gave her the creeps. It was too clean, even for her liking. She kept looking for a way to slip the letter Ginny gave her to Harry, when he wasn't looking, but she was having a hard time finding the right time.

It was getting late, so Hermione finally decided to turn in for the night. She announced she was going to bed, and asked Harry if he had any tooth paste she could borrow. He said sure, and motioned for them to follow him. He walked out the door, closely followed by Ron. Hermione took the moment to stuff the letter under Harry's pillow, than followed him to the bathroom, where she proceeded to brush her teeth.

---

Harry had a hard time falling asleep that night; he kept having nightmares. In one his dreams he could see Ginny, tied to a gravestone as he had been in his fourth year, struggling against the cruciatus curse as Voldemort laughed in his cold, high-pitched manner in the background. In another one of his dreams he was tied to the gravestone, and was forced to watch the Death Eaters brutally rape Ginny over and over again, as she cried and bled, naked against the damp, dark earth.

He'd been having these visions for weeks, but couldn't tell anyone. He didn't want anyone to worry, or to take them for more than they were. He could just see Mrs. Weasley carting her off to live in Romania with Charley. Actually, he thought, that might not be a bad idea. At least then she would be safe.

He turned onto his side, and heard a rustle from under his pillow. He felt under it, and pulled out an envelope. Not wanting to wake Ron, Harry slid out of bed, and tip-toed to the bathroom. He flicked on the lights and felt the top layer of his retinas burn off. He closed his eyes until the pain passed, than stared at the envelope. He flipped it over and saw his name written hastily across the back of it. It was Ginny's handwriting, he'd recognize it anywhere. He turned the envelope over again and tore the seal, pulling out the letter as quickly as he could. He read it twice, than huddled on the tile floor, holding his head in his arms, and sobbed.

Dear Harry,

Hermione told me I should write to you, to tell you how I feel. She says I need to vent. I would rather hit you again, to be honest. What I really want to know is, how can you do this to me? Why would you do this to me? You can tell me all you want that you broke it off to keep from hurting me, but this hurts way more than anything Voldemort could ever throw at me. I can promise you that much.

I cried that night, when you broke up with me. Did you know that? Did you know that I love you, that I want to kill you for hurting me, and for not coming to me last night to comfort you? God Harry! We were supposed to lose it together! To each other! How would you feel if I told you I slept with Dean? You would hate it; I know you would. You would feel as though your heart dropped and shattered on the floor. This is how I feel. I feel as though my heart has deep cracks in it, and I don't know how to mend them.

I lost a good friend because of you. I'm angry at her for going with you, but I can understand where she is coming from. I would have gone with you too. But you don't even love her, do you love anyone? Do you love me? I don't think that you do, because I feel that if you truly did, you would not have gone up with her last night.

I have always seen you as a truth; that you would always be there, so I'm having trouble understanding how you could betray me. My stomach is churning up with all these emotions, which just get translated into nonsense in my head. I don't know what to do, what to think.

I can't comprehend how I feel about you anymore, I don't know if I hate you because I feel cheated, or if I can still love you, despite it.

I do, I do still love you, much as I wish otherwise. And I wish that I could have told you in a more romantic way, but as it is, I love you. I want to kick you where the sun doesn't shine, but I love you.

We need to talk.

Ginny

(A/N): Review please! I'll give you cookies!

Loves,

Emma