The Second Order of The Phoenix was established, with Number 12, Grimauld Place being Headquarters. Just before the new term started, Ron and Hermione were declared prefects. Everybody were overjoyed to hear this, and Mrs. Weasley even held a party to congratulate them.
Hermione and Ron walked up to each other. "Ron, I love you!" Hermione said putting her arms around Ron's neck. As Ron patted her on the back, he said, "I love you too, Mione!"
Ron and Hermione then kissed. Then there were loud cheers and applause. It felt like they kissed for an eternity. Suddenly, they found themselves going back to Hogwarts.
The next few months saw Dumbledore showing Harry memories and giving him information about Voldemort's past. When Harry showed Dumbledore the scars at the back of his hand for which Umbridge was responsible, Dumbledore promptly took the case to the Ministry. The dumb Minister for Magic still refused to believe Voldemort was back, and let Umbridge continue teaching at Hogwarts, so Dumbledore made it clear that Umbridge would not be allowed to deal with students on her own because she was too dangerous.
Dumbledore didn't look into Harry's eyes or talk to him directly. But he communicated with Harry through Ginny and explained that since he suspects Voldemort can read through Harry's mind, there is the risk of Voldemort seeing through Harry's mind and accessing information about Dumbledore's plans.
Ginny and Harry showed improvement in their Occlumency lessons. It was during one such Occlumency lesson that Dumbledore started making them practice Occlumency at each other. Dumbledore excused himself, saying he would be back soon.
"Ready, Potter?" Ginny teased Harry.
"Don't even ask, Weasley." Harry laughed.
The first time Ginny saw through Harry's mind, she was appalled. She first saw Harry's parents dead on the floor, then saw Harry locked in the cupboard under the staircase, and finally saw Dudley and Aunt Marge bullying Harry throughout his childhood while Petunia and Vernon laughed at his misery. The Dursleys had been especially cruel to Harry. Marge Dursley treated Harry like an infected rabid dog. Vernon and Petunia had lied to Harry that his parents had died in a car crash and treated him horribly. Dudley and his gang bullied Harry throughout primary school, where Harry had no friends. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger had been Harry's first friends! Hogwarts was Harry's home, a place he truly cherished. The Burrow was his second home, where he was surrounded by his real family, not by blood but by emotions. They were the only ones who treated Harry kindly. None of them saw him as a freak the way the Dursleys did: Ron, Ginny, Fred, George, Percy, Charlie, Bill, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Harry had the reputation at the Dursleys of being a mental freak who deserved to be locked up.
Ginny couldn't imagine for a moment her parents or any of her siblings being dead. Harry had lived through that horror for fourteen years now! She couldn't imagine the love of her life being treated like trash by his so-called relatives.
Harry had playfully let her inside his mind, without realizing that his hidden past would be exposed. He didn't like to think of his past, of the entire trauma. That was why he hadn't told anybody about that, not even his two best friends in the universe, Ron and Hermione.
Ginny collapsed to the floor. Shocked, Harry ran towards her "Ginny, you okay?"
Ginny's eyes were bloodshot red. She slowly looked up at him, and he despised that look of sorrow and pity in her eyes. He never wanted to be seen as a 'poor little victim.' No, he would not be seen as a weakling, he told himself. But his heart broke when he saw red hot tears streaming down his girlfriend's face. He wished this moment had never happened. She was on the floor and hadn't noticed her bleeding knee. He kneeled down and conjured a band-aid for Ginny and applied the medicine to her knee. She continued to stare at him, and her face now looked tear-stricken. Trembling, he brought Ginny closer to his chest while he stood on his knees. She put her arms around his back and patted his back in an effort to comfort him.
Neither knew how long they embraced each other, but Dumbledore promptly knocked before opening the door and entering. Harry and Ginny, he observed, were standing next to one another.
"Ms. Weasley? Is there any particular reason for this outburst?" Dumbledore asked kindly. Ginny hadn't regained her full voice but replied in a broken voice, "None of us can imagine the horrors Harry has seen in his life, Professor. I give my word." She said, suddenly looking up with fire in her eyes, looking straight into Harry's, "I will always be there for you, Harry. You're not weak. You are the strongest man I've ever met! It shall stay that way! I will not let anything happen to you! Not on my watch!"
Harry was taken aback but was glad that Ginny had gotten the point. He and Ginny understood each other on a level no one else did with him.
Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively and dismissed the two of them. "Keep practicing with each other. I'll henceforth call you for purposes other than practicing Occlumency. Such as Horcruxes."
"I cannot keep this to myself, Harry. I'll protect you as per my word, but my brother and Hermione deserve to know!" Ginny hissed back as Harry tried to convince her not to. But Ginny was not giving in, so Harry accepted defeat. Without looking Ron and Hermione in the eyes, he mumbled goodnight and went upstairs. He could already picture the horrified faces of Ron and Hermione when Ginny explained everything. He hated being the center of attention. He loathed being the 'Chosen One' or 'The Boy Who Lived.' No, he would rather be a nobody and have his parents back. He would rather have Lily and James Potter with him than be with Petunia and Vernon Dursley. He didn't want to be remembered, hailed, pitied, and/or criticized for something he was too young to remember in the first place.
The following day, Ron looked at him with red eyes and tear stricken face, while Hermione looked at him with a pained expression and tears in her eyes. No, he did not want his two best friends to become distant from him. He covered his face in his hands. Ron and Hermione would surely treat him with pity from now on, not as a friend! He would once again become the lonely kid. He knew word would eventually spread to Ron's parents and other siblings. He would once again become a stranger.
Harry didn't talk to any of them the entire day, and the following morning, he awoke early due to uneasiness. So, he went to the Common Room. As he sat there idly, he decided he would cut all ties with the Wizarding World and go somewhere Voldemort could find him and kill him. As soon as he spoke these words in his mind, he heard a gasp behind him. He turned behind him to see Ginny, her eyes welling up and her hands covering her mouth.