AN: ok so this chapter goes pretty quickly...umm hope you enjoy it and the next chapter will be up soon. I've almost finished it, so yea...enjoy!

"So did you hear he withdrew from the elections?"

"I heard he told everyone to vote for that Weasley kid."

"Well I heard he told everyone that he was going to India for awhile in search of his soul."

"I'm not so sure. Peggy told me he's an alcoholic, and he only volunteered because he was drunk."

Harry tried not to listen to the whispered rumours around him as he made his way down Diagon Alley, but it was hard to do. Every single person was talking about his unexpected speech the day before.

"It sucks to have everyone talking about you, huh?"

Harry turned his head to see the tall girl with long blonde hair who had nominated him the week before.

"We haven't met," she said, stepping forward and holding out her hand. "I'm Tania."

"Harry," he said, shaking her hand.

"So I heard you pulled out of the elections?"

Harry shook his head. "No I'm still in. I just told everyone the truth yesterday. About how I'm not old enough or experienced enough to be Minister."

"I think you could do it," she said, falling into step beside him.

Harry frowned. "You don't know me."

She shrugged. "Well I knew that you would never nominate yourself. And I also know that what this community needs right now is someone they have faith in."

"Yea," Harry said. "But they won't have faith in me once I stuff everything up will they? I can't be minister. I'm not the right person for the job."

Tania just shrugged and they continued to walk down the cobbled street in silence. Harry wasn't sure he trusted this girl. He still didn't know who she was and yet she was talking to him as though they were long lost friends.

"You didn't go to Hogwarts," Harry said after a few minutes.

She smiled. "No, I've just moved here actually. The magical ambassador for Australia was killed last week and my dad works in International Relations so he was asked to take the previous Ambassador's place, so we all moved here. I don't really know anyone yet."

Harry considered her for a moment, then said, "Well I'm going out to dinner with my girlfriend and some friends tonight if you'd like to join us."

---

"I wish you could come too," Ginny whispered, her face tilted up to Harry's.

"I wish you could come with me," Harry said back, kissing her forehead. They both sighed and stared unhappily into the other's eyes. "I'm going to miss you so much."

Burying her face into Harry's warm chest, Ginny felt the tears burning her eyes and threatening to spill over. She was going back to school and he was going off in search of Snape. And they were both too stubborn to change their minds.

"I'll see you at Christmas, right?"

Harry nodded. "Hermione's coming back then as well."

"Write this time, won't you?" Ginny demanded, glaring fiercely at him. He laughed and nodded his head again, kissing her eyelids, nose and mouth, until her knees went weak and it was a good thing Harry was holding her up. "And try not to get into too much trouble."

"You too," Harry said as the Hogwarts express whistled and they were both brought back to reality. Brushing the tears off of her face, Harry told her he loved her and before he knew it, she was gone.

"You'll see her soon," Ron mumbled as they watched the train turn a bend and chug out of sight. "She'll be back at Christmas."

"That's almost four months," said Harry. Tania patted his arm sympathetically and the three teenagers made their way back over to Mr and Mrs Weasley.

---

"So, how are things going with Tania?" Harry asked, smirking.

"None of your bloody business," Ron shot back, throwing a pillow at him. Harry dodged it and stretched out on his back. They were both lounging on the squishy sofas back in Harry's apartment, waiting for Kingsley Shacklebolt's latest news on Snape. After Dumbledore's death, Shacklebolt had been given the task of tracking down and capturing the murderer Severus Snape, but so far, there were no leads.

"I hear they're doing another no-magic day tomorrow," Harry said, flicking open a book then chucking it back onto the coffee table. He was too worked up to read. These "no-magic days" were orders of the ministry, a plan devised by the new Minister of Magic, Percy Weasley. The theory was that any magic used during the course of that day must have been used by a Deatheater, and therefore the Ministry's job of tracking them all down was made much easier. So far the plan wasn't working.

"She's really nice and all," Ron said, gazing into the distance, his mind clearly still on Tania. "And she's reeeaaally good looking" Harry nodded in agreement "but it's like we don't really fit. I mean, she's not…" he blushed and looked around guiltily. "It's just…well, she's not…Hermione."

Harry cleared his throat uncomfortably and scratched his head. "If you liked Hermione so much, why did you act like such a prat around her?"

Ron shrugged and the conversation was brought to a close when the door banged open and Tania came running in, her face flushed and eyes shining. In her hand was an envelope and this seemed to be the focus of her excitement.

Without pausing to say hello, she said, "They've found him!"

---

"Harry, come on! We've got to get out of here," Ron said urgently, pulling on Harry's robes, trying to make him see reason. However, Harry didn't notice. He couldn't see anything except the crumpled body on the floor and the glistening, dark red blood on his hands.

"Harry, we have to go!" Another hand grabbed his arm, pulling him away from the body, away from the murder. Snapping out of his trance, Harry dropped his wand with a clatter and took a few hurried steps backwards.

"No," he muttered, trying to wipe his hands clean on his robes, with no success. "No."

Ron grabbed Harry's wand and with a crack, he, Harry and Tania disapparated.

---

"No you don't understand!" Harry yelled in frustration. "I killed a man."

"You killed Severus Snape," Tania yelled back equally loud. "He was responsible for hundreds of deaths, including your parents! You had no choice, he would have killed you."

"I could've done something else," Harry muttered, trying to recreate the sequence of events in his head, but his memory was too blurry. He couldn't remember exactly what had happened.

"What were you supposed to do?" Ron spat bitterly. "Everyone thinks you did the right thing. The ministry gave you an Order of Merlin, first class! If you hadn't killed him, he would have killed you."

Harry wasn't listening. He ran a hand through his rumpled hair and began to walk towards the front door of the Burrow.

"Where are you going?" Tania asked.

"I've got to figure a few things out," Harry said, pulling the door open. "I've got to get away."

"For how long?"

"As long as it takes!" Harry yelled, turning on them both. "You have no idea what I'm going through. I just killed someone."

Silence filled the living room as Harry glared at his two friends then stormed over to the door and pulled it open.

"Harry, wait," Tania said. He turned angrily. He didn't want to be talked out of this. He had to leave; he just had to. What he'd done…no, he couldn't impose himself on others. He'd lost himself in anger and hatred. He'd lost all sense and acted in a way that he could never forgive. He had to leave, just to prove he had the willpower to leave the security of home, the comfort of his friends company, because he didn't deserve either thing anymore.

"What?" he asked.

Tania held out a cloak. "It's cold outside."

He looked at her for a moment, and then took the cloak with a murmur of thanks.

"And Harry? It's Christmas in two weeks…just, try and come back by then, ok?"

Harry attempted a small smile and left the house, forcing himself out into the bitterly cold weather, forcing himself to be alone, because he felt he didn't deserve the comforts of warmth and company. After all, he was a murderer.

AN: ok so i know this went quickly but hey when there isn't fluff it's just not fun. ;) anyway in case you were wondering i don't think tania will play a big role, but i thought ron really needed a new gf. and where do hot ppl come from? australia...just look at me, i'm living proof haha. anyway please please review. didn't get as many on my last chapter so i was quite upset. cya! xxx