Once again, Harry was standing by the window in Grimmauld Place. It was the only way he felt able to cope with living here. He'd only been here 5 days, but it seemed more like 5 years sometimes. He vaguely heard someone knocking on the door. For once Mrs Black remained silent. Harry looked down to see the top of two red-haired people. He sighed and went to open the door to two of the people he'd not yet wanted to see.
"Harry, Lupin told us you had returned."
Harry did not speak, but stepped to one side and left in Mrs and Mrs Weasley.
The first thing Mrs Weasley noticed was how thin Harry had become since she'd last seen him, and then she saw how down he seemed.
"Do either of you want a drink?" Harry forced himself to be polite.
"No, thank you, dear."
"Better not, Harry. Thanks for the offer."
Feeling a little relieved, Harry led them up to the drawing room. If they were planning on staying for a while, they'd most likely have accepted a drink, and Harry wasn't sure if he was ready for their company yet.
"How long have you been back, Harry?" Mrs Weasley asked, all ready knowing the answer thanks to the conversation with Lupin.
"5 days."
"Was your mission successful?" Mr Weasley tried to get the boy talking.
"Yes, thank you." Harry hoped neither one knew what the mission had been, he knew Mrs Weasley would worry, and try to persuade him not to kill Voldemort, to leave it up to the Aurors. Fortunately he missed the look they exchanged while he was thinking this.
"Harry, you mustn't blame yourself for what happened to Sirius and Dumbledore. Their deaths were just accidents, none of it was your fault."
Harry flinched, "I was stupid enough to believe the fake-vision Voldemort sent me. Besides Dumbledore should have told me it might happen, maybe then Sirius would still be alive. He shouldn't have tried to protect me that way. And Dumbledore's death wasn't an accident, he was murdered, you both know that."
The hatred in Harry's voice concerned Mr Weasley. Harry and Dumbledore had always seemed to get on so well, and they had seemed quite close, though maybe not as close since the incident in the Department of Mysteries. Then there was the matter of the grudge Harry had held against Snape since that tragic night.
"Dumbledore only did what he thought was best, Harry. We all make mistakes."
"Yeah, like ever trusting certain people."
Mr Weasley knew Harry was referring to Snape at this point. He looked at his wife, desperately asking for help.
"Harry, forget about what happened to Sirius and Dumbledore. It wasn't your fault." Mrs Weasleys words were gentle as she attempted to comfort Harry.
"I can't forget, not now I'm living here."
"Then come back to The Burrow." Mrs Weasley tried, almost desperate.
"I can't."
"Why? Because Ginny is there and you're afraid You-Know-Who will use her to get to you." Mr Weasley asked, rather forcefully.
"Basically," Harry replied.
"So you'd rather dwell on the memories you need to forget about?"
"I don't want either," Harry stood up and moved away towards the window, "but I have no choice. I've got to live with one or the other."
"Ginny misses you, Harry. If I were you, I'd rather be with her."
"But you aren't me. I don't want to put anyone in danger. I don't want anyone else to die because of my constant battle with Voldemort." Harry hated the listlessness in his voice.
"That battle will end one day, Harry. The day it does, we'll all be there, Ginny included. I could not stop her from being beside the man she loves at his time of need. I think you need her now more that ever. You're not doing yourself any favours by staying away from her and your friends." Mrs Weasley said as her heart went out to Harry.
"I'll wait for that day, thank you."
Mr Weasley sighed quietly. Harry could be so stubborn at times, a lot like his daughter. Yet together they were something else. He could see tears in his wife's eyes, and behind them, a great sorrow for the young man standing before them. He got to his feet, Mrs Weasley, sensing defeat, followed suit.
"There will always be space at The Burrow for you, Harry. You have friends there, and a family." Mr Weasley, just before they left Harry to think about the conversation they'd just had.
Harry staring out the window again, was stunned by the words. He knew the Weasley's were all good friends, except Percy maybe, and he had come to see them as a second family, but had no idea that they saw him as a seventh son, or yet another brother. He turned to thank Mr and Mrs Weasley, but they were gone. He was alone again.