When they arrived back at Grimmauld Place, it was so quiet that it was frightening – a big change from all of the noise of Diagon Alley and the Burrow. The only noises were from Kreacher, who was making something in the kitchen. "What are you doing Kreacher?" Ginny asked him.
"Kreacher is preparing dinner for the master and the mistress, as a good house elf should." Ginny was going to tell him not to bother. Harry hadn't been eating much of anything lately. He usually only took nibbles of food so that the elf wouldn't get angry. When she remembered this, she hit herself mentally for forgetting it. I should have realized that something was wrong when that started.
"He calls you the mistress now?" Ron whispered to her.
"I'm pretty damn close to it, aren't I?" she snapped.
"Yeah, but it's just weird." Ginny set her bags on the table and noticed two empty bottles of firewhiskey. Ron had noticed them too. "Oh, so it's like that," he mumbled.
"Kreacher, did you find these bottles?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, Kreacher found them. Kreacher was cleaning, and found them last night."
"Well, then, it might not be from him," Ron said, but neither of them really believed that.
"Where's Harry?" Ginny asked.
Kreacher looked up. "Master went upstairs some time ago. Kreacher hasn't seen him since."
Ginny left the kitchen and headed upstairs. She checked in every room, just to make sure. The house was dark and quiet. She had nearly made it up to the bedroom when she heard the shower running. "Harry?" She knocked on the bathroom door. "Harry?" No answer. She opened the door a bit. "Harry?"
"What?"
Ginny jumped. She hadn't expected him to answer so loudly. He sounded angry with her. "Oh, I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"I'm fine."
"Okay." She closed the door quietly. Ron was behind her – he looked shocked as well. "I know. He's been like this all day."
"Maybe if we just let him alone he'll come around."
"I hope so."
They waited about an hour before trying again. Harry had left the shower and it was quiet again in the house. Ginny snuck back upstairs with her brother close behind her. They found Harry sitting in a chair, staring at something in his hands. "Harry?"
He quickly hid whatever he had. "What?"
"Are you okay?"
"Why do you think there's something wrong with me?"
"You haven't been yourself."
"I'm fine, Ginny."
"No, you're not."
Harry sighed. "Maybe I'm just annoyed because you won't leave me alone." Ginny's heart sank. He wanted her to…
"Fine, I'll leave you alone." She turned and walked straight past Ron and up to the bedroom. In under a minute her things were packed and she walked downstairs quickly.
"You're leaving?" Ron asked her.
"I'm doing just what he wants me to do – leaving him alone." She walked into the fireplace and flooed away.
((Random character switch…))
Ron was left standing in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. He didn't blame Ginny for leaving – Harry had treated her badly. But before he followed her he was going to make sure Harry regretted what he had said.
Ron burst into the room and hung Harry by his ankles. "What the hell is your problem?"
"What – Ron? When did you get here?"
"I've been here this whole time."
"Put me down. What are you talking about?"
"I've been with Ginny this whole time, and I must tell you that I don't like you talking to my sister like that."
"Like what?" Ron spun Harry around. Harry swore at him. "Stop it already!"
"I don't act kindly to those who treat my family like that. You should be happy, though, because she's gone." He sent Harry flying into a wall, then turned on his heels and left.
"What do you mean she's gone?" Harry shouted.
"Gone, left you." He was already making his way down the stairs.
"What? Why? Ron, wait," Harry came to the door. "What's wrong with Ginny?"
Ron stopped and looked back at him. "If you don't know then you didn't deserve to have her in the first place."