Disclaimer: This ice is made from the water of JK Rowling, or something equally profound that doesn't sound quite so dirty.

Disclaimer to Diclaimer: All of the witty disclaimers you see are not mine. They are by Jack Ichijoui on the SugarQuill dot net. Read his stuff. Its funny. Very funny. All hail Jack.

Phoenix Flame01 has the best Fanfic I have ever read. Go read A Step too Far. Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant!

Let's all pretend I said something funny and metaphoric here about how reviewers have my eternal thanks.

"Hello? Can someone help me with these groceries?" Mrs. Weasley's voice called.

"Yeah, Mum! I'm coming!" Ginny called jumping up. "Get them out of here! Luna can side-along with someone can't she?" she whispered furiously before heading into the kitchen.

"Oh, Ginny! Take these and put them in the cupboards. I am going to put this new lamp in the living room." Mrs. Weasley said stuffing an arm full of new pots into her arms.

"Wait!" Ginny burst out in panic. Mrs. Weasley turned to face her.

"What?" She asked with a curious look on her face.

"Wouldn't it look much nicer in here? I mean, it's not all too bright in here and the red in the lamp matches the flowers on the wallpaper." She said wildly off the top of her head. Mrs. Weasley studied the wallpaper.

"I guess it would… Ginny, you have such a knack for decorating!" She placed the lamp on the table and tapped it with her wand causing it to ignite.

"Now doesn't that look nice? It does brighten the room." Mrs. Weasley admired her lamp, not noticing the people tip-toeing outside. Ginny watched them through the window and, with another wave of panic, thought of the cracking noise the apparating people would make. Thinking quickly, Ginny dropped the pots she was holding, hoping to cover up the many cracks their exiting guests were making. To her relief, they couldn't hear a thing over the racquet of the metal hitting the tile floor.

"Goodness, Ginny! Be careful with those!" her mother scolded.

"Sorry, Mum." Ginny said, pretending to be ashamed. As Ginny picked up the pots, she saw Harry give her the thumbs up from the doorway. Ginny quickly stuffed the pots into a cupboard and headed for the living room. Plopping down next to Harry on the couch she looked around at the relieved family.

"That was close!" Fred and George said together. Everyone nodded in agreement. Ginny looked around at Harry and saw just how relieved he looked. She had to hold her breath so she wouldn't laugh but decided they should all laugh about this. Ginny began to laugh at the look on Harry's face.

Everyone's head's turned around to look at her. She laughed even more at their stunned expressions that said 'How can you be laughing right now!'. Soon enough, every Weasley, Harry, and Hermione, were all laughing.

-----------------------------

"I hope you realize just how close that was!" Harry told Ginny that night as they were brushing their teeth.

"Harry, you worry too much." Ginny said, wiping her mouth off. Harry slipped his arms around her waist.

"I think I worry just the right amount, thank you very much." He said tapping her forehead.

"No. I think you need to live more." Ginny said, resting her forehead on his.

"Oh, really?"

"Really."

"And how do you propose I do that, Oh-wise-one?" Harry asked her. Ginny smiled.

"I'm sure you'll think of something." She said leaning in a little closer.

"Yeah, me too," he said before closing the space between them.

-------------------------

Harry was sprinting down the halls of Hogwarts. It was here. He knew it. It had to be. Turning left he headed up the marble staircase two at a time. With a jolt of surprise, Harry found himself falling down into the darkness. He landed hard on his feet and looked around at his surroundings. He must have fallen through the vanishing stair…

Looking around, Harry saw that there in front of him was Hufflepuff's cup. Harry reached out to take it when someone shouted his name.

"Harry…Harry! Ouch! Harry!"

Harry woke with a start. Ginny was next to him with a concerned expression on her face.

"Are you okay?" She asked him placing a hand on his shoulder. Harry nodded, wiping the sweat off his face.

"Yeah. I have to go." Harry said, jumping out of bed and pulling a T-shirt on. Ginny looked at him incredulously.

"Sorry. You what?" Harry looked around at her sad and angry face. He suddenly felt guilty. He went over to her and cupped her face in his hand.

"I'm sorry, Ginny. I have to do this. You understand that, right?" She nodded slowly. Harry kissed her briefly before heading to the door.

"Harry…" Ginny burst out from behind him. Harry turned around.

"Yeah?" Harry felt a pang of quilt at the sad expression on her face.

"I love you." Harry went back over to her and hugged her tightly, making a note of how perfectly she fitted to him.

"I love you too," Harry said letting her go. "I'm coming back. I promise."

Harry looked back as he reached for the handle, gave a short wave, and disappeared behind the door. Harry went into Ron's room and went over the snoring red-head

"Ron! Ron! Wake up! We have to go." Harry said tapping Ron on the head.

"Bloody hell…Why?" Ron said groggily smashing a pillow over his head to block Harry out.

"I know where it is." Harry said trying to heave Ron out of bed.

"Where what is?" Ron said taking the pillow over his head and trying to beat Harry away with it.

"A Horcrux, you prat! Get up!" Harry whispered furiously. "Don't make me use my wand!" Ron blinked and yawned, finally sitting up.

"Good man. Get Hermione and meet me downstairs."

Harry ran downstairs and scribbled a note to the Weasley's. He explained how they went to finish 'the mission' and that they would be back…well, he wasn't sure; a two weeks...give or take.

Suddenly having a burst of memory, Harry ran upstairs and into his room. Ginny was sitting, her knees to her chest, on the bed. Harry went over to her and put his arms around her.

"Happy Birthday, love," Harry whispered gently in her ear. Ginny grinned and kissed him on the cheek.

"I thought you'd forgotten."

"Nearly did. I'll bring you your present when we get back, okay?" She nodded and watched him go.

"Are we ready?" Hermione said as her entered the kitchen. Harry and Ron nodded.

"To Godric's Hollow, then?" Ron said, looking around at them.

"To Godric's Hollow." Harry agreed. With a 'pop' they were gone.

-------------------------

Ginny wiped her mouth on her sleeve. She snatched up her toothbrush, trying to do anything to get the vomit flavor ridden from her mouth.

"I hate the flu…" She murmured to herself stumbling sleepily back into her room. Ginny gently laid herself back on her bed, as not to upset her stomach. As she lay there, gazing at her blank white ceiling.

'I should really paint that someday…' Ginny thought, twisting her hair around her finger. 'Maybe I can get Harry to help me with that…'

Again, she found her thoughts drifting to Harry. She thought of how she couldn't even think about painting her ceiling without thinking of Harry. He had said he would be gone a two weeks—'give or take.' Ginny almost laughed. Last time they had gone off on their 'adventure', or whatever they wanted to call it, they had been gone one month. That was merely a lifetime compared to this wait. Another month seemed like another eternity.

The only proof Ginny had that showed he was alive, so far, was a hurriedly scribbled note that she kept on her bedside table. It was short, yet sweet, and Ginny had read it so many times she knew it by heart, not that it was hard to memorize.

Dear Ginny,

We wanted to let you know that we are all fine. I can't tell you where we are. I just wanted to tell you that I did not forget about you and that we are all okay. Send my love to the family.

I love you,

Harry

P.S. - Ron and Hermione send their love too. They say hi.

Sleep began to overtake her again just before her stomach gave a sickening lurch. Ginny ran to the bathroom and took her routine route to the toilet.

This flu bug refused to go away! She had had it for weeks now and wasn't even making an improvement. Deciding that the fresh air would do her some good, she pulled her jumper from last Christmas over her head. The October air was chilly, so she decided to pull on some jeans rather than walking about in her night pants.

"Oh, come on!" Ginny said, frustrated with the fact that the clasp wouldn't snap. "Mum's cooking is going to be the death of me!"

Finally giving up, she threw on a pair of sweatpants. Ginny crept down the stairs, avoiding the creaky spots.

When she opened the door, a bust of cool, crisp autumn air hit her face. She strolled along the edge of the pond, by the tree she had watched the sunset with Harry, beside the orchard, through the trees she had hid in as a child… Finally she came to sit on the tire swing dangling on the old oak tree. Charlie had put up it for her when she was little. She remembered how she had played tag with Ron in the spot in front of her. They had run until they couldn't breathe, or at least until Mum had called them in, saying that they would catch their death-of-cold.

The pink clouds that hovered on the horizon told her that the sun was about to make its appearance. Sure enough, a few moments later, the sun began to peak over the line of the trees.

She could help but think, maybe, hopefully, Harry might be watching too…wherever that may be.

-------------------------

Harry heart was beating very fast as he lay sprawled on the ground. His body was throbbing in pain. Ron and Hermione stood watching, unable to do anything but wait until the curse wore off.

Harry thought this wasn't as bad as the curse Hufflepuff's cup had on it. Tom Riddle's Special-Services-to-the-School shield was destroyed; though not without punishment before and after.

The pain was slowly ebbing away. Slowly, but yes, it was receding. Harry attempted to stand up but fell to his knees. Ron grabbed his hand and pulled him up. Harry glared at the broken plaque, laying there in pieces.

"That bastard..." Harry spat. Harry picked up three of the broken pieces and handed one to Ron and Hermione each and pocketed his.

"Five down, one to go." Ron said, throwing an arm around Harry and Hermione's shoulders. Harry sighed in relief. One to go...

"I think it's time to go home." Harry said. Hermione nodded and Ron said, "Yeah…home."

A/N: Sorry about the short chapter. Wondering whats up with Ginny? Anyone guessing?

I know the age-ing is really off. Ginny would normally be turning 16 but I can't think of an excuse for that.

Ginny is 17.

Harry, Ron and Hermione are 18.

So there. Let's say that this fic started about a year after the 6th year. Umm...Yeah. Because everything in the world was on pause but the people still aged...? I don't know. Make up an excuse.

A big cookie to whoever reviews! A BIG cookie!

Press the button! You know you want to...

sends chocolate

Emmy

Next Chapter will be up soon.