A/N: I don't own anything you recognize.

This is for the Harry Potter Fanfiction Challenges forum

Are you crazy enough to do it Challenge

229. (genre) Western

The If You Dare Challenge

882. The Distance To Your Home

1300 miles

Ginny felt her heart pounding. Harry would be back, she hoped. He'd been sent on a mission somewhere, she didn't know where. No one would tell her anything. Higgins, Harry's boss, had only offered his sympathy. They all knew he wasn't coming back, knew the man he'd been sent to capture was too dangerous.

Ginny had seen the wanted posters plastered everywhere. The Demon, they called him, he'd shot an entire bar full of people, and then disappeared without a trace. Harry was the best, he could find anyone, who wouldn't want to hire him for this? Who wouldn't want to send the best, never mind the fact it was a suicide mission, never mind the fact he had a family waiting back home.

1000 miles

Harry had been tracking the Demon for nearly a week now, lead after lead failing to pan out. He was tired, he was hungry, he was pissed and starting think about an early retirement. If he got this guy the money alone would be enough...he wondered if Ginny was waiting for him.

What if she believed he was dead, he wondered if the letters had ever reached her. He doubt it. Mail was unreliable at best lately. He set up camp and waited. He would start the search fresh in the morning.

962 miles

Ginny ran her fingers over the stone, Harry's name carved into the granite. She bit back tears. A month, he'd been gone a month and everyone had given up, she wanted to give up, she wanted to grieve, she couldn't. She couldn't accept he was dead. They'd found his camp, his supplies, his horse, everything except his body.

They said he'd been ambushed, murdered by the Demon he was tracking. Ginny refused to believe it. Harry was the best, he wouldn't allow himself to be caught by surprise. She knew he had to be out there somewhere.

852 miles

Harry pulled himself from the river, arms exhausted, hair plastered to his face. All his supplies were gone, but he knew he'd be alright. He had to, Ginny was waiting for him at home. He pictured her face, her hair, her smile and found the strength to climb onto the muddy riverbed.

He'd lost the Demon's trail, but he knew he would find it again, the man wasn't nearly as careful as Harry had thought. He'd be home soon, holding Ginny.

700 miles

Ginny shuddered. She'd been feeling eyes on her all day, as she'd done the washing, as she gone to the store. She couldn't seem to shake the feeling. She couldn't think of who would want to watch her, a possible widow with a baby on the way. Harry hadn't even known when he'd left. Tears filled her eyes. He might never see his son.

She locked the door tightly, closed the curtains, trying to keep the feeling at bay. If only Harry were here. She couldn't allow herself to think like that, couldn't allow herself to dream about Harry returning and sweeping her up in his arms. She cried herself to sleep.

420 miles

Harry had found the trail and he was worried now. It led back towards his town, his home where Ginny was. He'd picked up the pace, still so far from home. He'd stolen a horse, one no one would miss for a good while. The horse, a black skeletal thing, had been abused and Harry felt no remorse in freeing him.

The horse's hooves barely made a sound as they hit the ground, Harry hoping he would make it in time, hoping he was wrong about where the Demon was headed. Hoping Ginny would be alright, that someone would protect her if he was too late.

150 miles

Ginny heard the sound of hoof beats and double checked the door. Lately she'd been feeling more and more worried. She knew it was all in her head, why would anyone come after her? The eyes she'd been feeling most likely belonged to Mister Malfoy, who seemed to have an intent to court her now that Harry was gone.

She checked the door again and made her way upstairs, wondering if she'd see Harry in her dreams tonight. She was starting to wonder if maybe she should consider Mister Malfoy's offer. Her baby would need a father.

2 miles

Harry forced the horse into a run, he could feel the Demon close by. He had no idea why the man was targeting his wife, but he would stop him. He was so close to home now. He could almost see the house from here. Was Ginny already asleep, he couldn't see any lights.

Harry spun, his heel digging into the dirt. His hand on his wand, the Demon would lose tonight, Harry would defend what was his.

0 miles

Ginny heard the scream, the thud. She rose from the bed, her hair flying behind her. Fear propelled her down the stairs. She thought she had heard Harry's voice, his usual spell, disarm the opponant. She threw the door open throwing caution into the wind. A body lay at her feet, a man she recognized only from the posters. The Demon.

Harry stood at the foot of the steps, his wand still drawn. Ginny flew into his arms, kissing his lips. He could barely twirl her, but he tried. She looked at the Demon. It was over. It was finally all over. Harry was home and she could tell Mister Malfoy exactly where to shove his intents.