Chapter 4:

Harry looked at Ginny in shock. He wasn't sure if he had heard it…it had been barely a whisper carried by the wind.

He ran his fingers through her hair, and said, "Ginny?" Ginny nodded. A single tear slid down her face.

"Hello Harry," she said in her raspy voice. It was a little stronger than last time. Harry smiled, and kissed her again.

"You have no clue as to how long I've waited to hear your beautiful voice. Do you want to talk about it?" Ginny fell silent again, and shook her head. "Why not?" Ginny picked up a piece of paper, and began to write on it.

It's too hard. I knew that hearing my voice would make you feel better.

"So…this is just a one time thing?" She nodded. "Why?"

I don't want to talk about it. Please, just leave. Come back tomorrow.

"Before I leave, I have a question. I was at Ron and Hermione's last night, they got married you know. Anyway, Hermione wanted to know if she could come and visit you. I told her that I'd ask. Is it alright if Hermione comes over tomorrow?" Ginny shrugged.

I guess you could bring Hermione tomorrow. You aren't going to tell them about today, are you?

"No, it's not my place." With one final kiss on the cheek, Harry left Ginny alone to her thoughts.

Harry Apparated outside Ron and Hermione's house, and knocked on the door. He could hear someone walk towards the door, and Hermione answered it.

"Harry!" she exclaimed, hugging him. Harry smiled and returned the hug.

"Hey, 'Mione. I just came from Ginny's," he said.

"Come in, I'm sure Ron would like to hear this," she said, stepping aside so Harry could enter their house. Ron was sitting in the family room, reading the Daily Prophet.

"Hey, Ron," Harry said. Ron stood up, and put away the paper. "I just came from your sister's house."
"How did things go?" Hermione asked anxiously. Harry sat down on the couch, and sighed. "Is she talking?"

"No," Harry said. He wasn't going to break his word to Ginny. "She's still not talking, but she said that Hermione could come with me tomorrow."
"What about me?" Ron asked. Harry shrugged.

"I didn't ask, and no offense Ron, but I don't need her mad at me. If she did get mad at me, then she probably won't tell me what happened to her, and that's the last thing I need."

Ron looked disappointed, but said, "That's okay, I understand. Could you tell her that I love her, and that I'm worried about her?" Harry nodded, and looked at his watch.

"I have to go into work for a few hours, I'll be here around 2:00 PM tomorrow to get you 'Mione, that alright?"

"Yeah, we'll see you then."

Harry left. Hermione went over to Ron, and sat on his lap. She ran her fingers through his fiery red hair.

"You're upset because you're not going to go and see Ginny tomorrow, aren't you?" she asked him. Ron nodded.

"She's my kid sister, I don't understand why I can't go and see her." Hermione kissed him.

"Because if you show up, and Ginny gets mad at Harry for not telling her that you were coming, then all hopes of finding out what happened to her are completely gone."

"I guess so," Ron said before kissing Hermione. They became completely caught up in each other. "I love you," he whispered into her neck between kisses. Hermione smiled, and told him that she loved him too.

Ginny was a nervous wreck all the next day. Harry was bringing Hermione by some time that day, and she knew that pretty soon it would be one of her brothers, or her parents, or one of the members of the Order, and she couldn't take that. She liked her life of solitude. It was hard to believe that just a few days before she hadn't seen Harry, the love of her life, in 5 years. Now, and now, he was coming by daily to see her, and trying to find out what was wrong with her. Ginny was making herself a snack when she heard a knock on the door. She looked at the clock. It was 2:15 PM. It had to be Harry and Hermione. Wiping her hands on her robes, she answered the door.

"Ginny!" cried Hermione, giving her friend a warm hug. Ginny couldn't help but smile slightly, but quickly stopped. It was too late though, Harry had seen her smiling, and smiled back. "It's great to see you!" Hermione exclaimed, finally letting go of her friend. Ginny stood to the side, and motioned for her and Harry to come in. Harry led Hermione to the family room where she sat on the chair, and Harry sat on the couch. Ginny sat down lightly next to Harry.

"Ron says hi, and wants you to know that he loves you," Harry told her. Ginny nodded. Then, she pulled out a piece of parchment (she started to keep one with her all the time, along with a quill), and began to write on it.

Thanks for the books, 'Mione, I have a whole bunch of them to return to you. Harry read to message out loud so Hermione could hear.

"Oh, don't worry about it, I've read all of them already," Hermione said, waving her hand as if to wave the thought away. "I'm glad you liked them."

They're addictive. I'll start one, and before I know it, I've read three or four that day! I get lost in them, and forget about everything else. Hermione laughed.

"I'm the same way, except I have Ron bugging me to stop reading and go out with him or something." Ginny smiled. That was so like Ron and Hermione.

The threesome chatted for almost an hour, before Hermione changed the subject to something more secretive to Ginny.

"Ginny," she said. "May I ask you a personal question?" Ginny seemed hesitant, but nodded. "Why did you leave? Surely someone could have helped you through this!" Ginny looked away, close to tears. Hands shaking, she picked up a new piece of parchment.

No offence, 'Mione, but I don't want to talk about it. I don't mean to be rude, but I think it's time that you got home. Hermione nodded, and stood up.

"It was good to see you again," she said, somewhat stiffly before Disapparating back to her house.

Harry turned to Ginny, and demanded, "What was that about?" Ginny looked at him with penetrating eyes.

I don't want to talk about what happened to me.

"You were talking yesterday, why won't you talk to me now?" he asked, taking her face in his hands. Ginny tried to look away, but she couldn't for some reason. She bit her bottom lip. Harry ran his fingers through her bright red hair. "Talk to me Ginny. Tell me what happened….please." Ginny looked at him is disbelief. He looked like he was about to cry. With a small smile, she brushed away the single tear that slid down his cheek.

"You want to talk….fine. We'll talk then," she said quietly.

A/N: Don't know when I'll be able to update again….maybe tomorrow, but that's pushing it. For those of you who've read Her Story or Happy Birthday, Harry, then you remember me talking about my uncle being in the hospital. Well, he was a lot better, and then he died this morning. I'll be at his funeral (four hours away) on Friday, and then my Dad's cousin's husband's on Saturday. I'll be back Sunday, but then on Tuesday my dad's having heart surgery. I'll try to update soon though! Much love!

Tina101