Harry stumbled as the path to The Burrow swam into view. His stomach churned slightly, either from the apparation or his anger, or both. His knees buckled and he fell to the ground.
He wasn't going to cry. He didn't need her, he told himself forcibly.
He slammed his fist down, making a shallow indent in the dry earth. He pictured himself hexing the muggle, melting his legs into the concrete. It didn't really do much to improve his anger.
"Diffindo!" Harry aggresively flailed his wand as he got up; a small tree ripped in two and hit the ground with a loud THUD. "Incendio!" he shouted, aiming his wand at anything he could, and channelling his anger into the countryside. "Diffindo! CONFRINGO! Fuck!"
Everything was wrong and unfair. In minutes he was exhausted, collapsing into one of the few patches of grass that weren't smoking or upturned. As his heartbeat steadied and his temper flooded out of him, he serveyed the countryside with some regret. He would clean it up before he made his way back to The Burrow.
"Harry! We've been worried sick!" Hermione rushed as soon as Harry opened the door an hour or so later. "Have you seen Ginny? She's not back either, and she's always back before dark!" She peeked around Harry as though Ginny might be hiding behind him.
"No," Harry lied, not meeting her eye. "I'm going to bed." He didn't want to snap at Hermione, but was reminded of how angry he was with her as well. She had known all along about Ginny's muggle. She could have told him. She should have told him. They were best friends, after all!
"Oh," said Hermione with a dawning expression. "Oh, Harry, you found out, didn't you?" Her voice was quiet and meek.
Harry nearly laughed.
"Harry, she really wanted to tell you!"
"Why didn't she then?"
"She didn't want to hurt you!"
"If she didn't want to hurt me," spat Harry, "she wouldn't have done it in the first place."
"Harry, please," Hermione pleaded, "look at it from Ginny's point of view. You've been practically ignoring her, ever since..." she trailed off, but Harry knew what she meant. Ever since the war.
"She hasn't exactly been paying me much attention either," Harry countered.
"Of course she was going to give you some space! We've all been trying to give you space, Harry! You've been through so much..."
"Maybe I needed her comforting after all I've been through - rather than rushing off with the first guy who'd take her."
"But, Harry," Hermione sounded weaker with every word, "it's not a fling. It's been months now."
"What?" Harry said, feeling empty. Hermione seemed to shrink slightly. "You knew? All that time - while we were in the forest? Looking for Horcruxes?!"
"I didn't know then!" Hermione squeaked. "How could I possibly - I only found out when we-"
But Harry wasn't listening, he pushed past her and stormed out into the hallway.
"Harry!"
"Go away!" Harry roared back at her as she tried to follow. He turned away from her and marched up the stairs. When he reached Ron's room he slammed the door shut and sank onto the stretcher.
He didn't want to think. He pulled out his Dreamless Sleep (courtesy of Mr Weasley, to Mrs Weasley's disapproval) and, after a poorly estimated gulp, was asleep within minutes.
The following morning, Harry woke up early with a plan in mind. A very vague plan, but a plan he was determined to follow none-the-less.
As usual, Ron was still snoring, so Harry packed his things quietly. Over the recent weeks, tokens of appreciation had arrived from all over Europe, and were now stacked against the wall of Ron's room. These ranged from gift certificates for the latest Floo home instalments, to a miniature, solid gold statue of him riding the Gringott's dragon.
Embarrassed, he'd tried to give them all away, but the Weasley's wouldn't take it - although the food baskets they had agreed to share.
Harry only took two things from the pile; the Squall60, which was the latest racing broom from Flyte and Barker (it had arrived yesterday, much to Ron's delight), and a weightless, magically pocketed travelling cloak from a company in France.
Harry didn't have much otherwise - not that he would need - and everything fit neatly into his suitcase. The broom needed to be charmed for size, and he tried to charm his large bottle of Dreamless Sleep too, to make it shatterproof. There was no way of testing whether the spell had worked, so he wrapped it in a towel for extra measure.
Harry thought he might be the first one up, but was surprised when he saw Hermione sitting alone at the table with a hot cup of tea. She looked up at him as he entered. Her hair was a nest and her eyes were red.
"Morning, Hermione," he said awkwardly. He cringed as she flinched, but when it appeared Harry wasn't going to start yelling again, she replied.
"Morning, Harry."
Harry sat down opposite her, and for a few minutes they remained in silence, Hermione sipping at her drink.
"Harry, I'm so sorry," she said eventually. "You're right, we should have told you."
"No," said Harry firmly. "Ginny told you in confidence. I can understand why you didn't." After a pause, he added, "I shouldn't have yelled."
Hermione smiled, and Harry smiled back.
"Harry dear, Hermione, you two are up early!" Mrs Weasley had just walked in, surprising them both. She was wearing a floral nightgown and large fluffy brown slippers.
"Good morning, Mrs Weasley!" said Hermione, sounding considerably more cheerful. "Can I help with anything?"
"Breakfast isn't for another hour, I'm afraid, but I can whip you two up some toast if you're hungry?"
"Oh, I'm fine, thanks," said Hermione politely, as Harry also assured her that he could wait an hour. Hermione yawned, and Mrs. Weasley cast her a sympathetic smile.
"You should be asleep, dear. If anyone should be up and offering to help, it's that ungrateful daughter of mine."
Harry raised an eyebrow at Hermione, which Mrs Weasley caught.
"Ginny didn't come home till midnight last night, the nerve of her!" She she sent a piece of toast on a plate skidding along the table between Harry and Hermione, forgetting they weren't hungry. "Never again!"
"I'm sure she just lost track of time," said Hermione weakly. Harry suddenly felt annoyed with her again.
"That's no excuse," Mrs Weasley snapped, flicking her wand to direct more toast to the table. She muttered to herself as she went looking for jam, and Hermione shrunk into a copy of the Daily Prophet.
By breakfast all the Weasleys but Ginny were up, and Harry still hadn't told anyone of his plan to leave. He wasn't entirely sure how he was going to announce it, but he hoped no one would try and convince him to stay.
"Harry, did you hear about Ginny?" Ron said as he sat down. "She was out til morning. Mum had a fit! She thinks Ginny's got a boyfriend in the village!" He laughed loudly, but stopped at Hermione's sharp look.
"What?" he asked, clueless.
Hermione looked at Harry apologetically, but said nothing.
"Anyway," said Ron, ignoring Hermione, "do you want to play Quidditch again after breakfast?"
"I'm not really in the mood," said Harry.
"What about Wizards' Chess?"
"You know I'll lose."
"Exploding Snap?" asked Ron hopefully.
"Sorry, Ron."
"What's up, mate?"
Harry avoided his gaze, and watched George as he picked at his food silently. From the corner of his eye he saw Hermione shake her head at Ron, but Ron pursued.
"You alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry lied, forcing a smile. "It's just... I don't think I'll be staying here much longer."
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly that. I can't stay here any longer, Ron."
"Of course you can," said Ron, making a face.
"I need to go out and make something of my life."
"But Harry," Hermione interrupted. "You've already made something of your life. Don't you think you deserve some peace and rest?"
"Yeah!" Ron added.
Harry's smile faded, he hadn't expected them to understand.
"I don't think I'm capable of that," he said bitterly. "Besides, I need some time alone."
"But where will you go?" asked Ron. "Grimmauld Place?"
"What will you do?" Hermione asked at the same time.
"I want to come, too!" Ron added as an afterthought.
"Ron, he said he wants some time alone. That generally means time away from people like you," Hermione snapped.
"Don't take it personally," Harry pleaded. "I'll come back, I promise."
Ron and Hermione shared a look, before turning back to Harry.
"You will write, won't you?" asked Hermione earnestly.
"Of course."
Having told Ron and Hermione, Harry found it easier telling the rest of the present Weasleys. Ginny had stayed in her room all day; Harry knew he wouldn't see her before he left, and Mr Weasley was almost always away on Ministry business. After breakfast, Harry emerged into the dining area with his suitcase.
"When you said you were leaving, I didn't think you meant immediately!" Mrs Weasley fussed when she saw him.
"Sorry, Mrs Weasley."
"Well, at least wait let me pack you a lunch," she said, hurrying back to the kitchen.
"So, this is it then?" Ron held out his hand to Harry.
"I won't be long." Harry assured him, grasping his hand firmly.
"You better not be."
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione suddenly appeared between them, breaking their hand shake, and flinging her arms around Harry before removing herself just as quickly. She sniffed as she stepped back. "It's going to be awfully quiet without you!"
Harry grinned. "I'll send you a howler every week."
With Mrs. Weasley's lunch in hand, Harry stepped out onto the sunny porch and glanced back to take one last look at Hermione and the Weasleys, before turning and marching away, ready for a new adventure.