Lying in his bed that night, it was almost as if Harry's mind had come to a decision without Harry being aware of it. All he knew when he rose the following morning was that he would pay a visit to the Weasley family and make his return known to them all.
After a quick shower and breakfast, he checked he had his wand and invisibility cloak safely stored on his person, and left Number 12, Grimmauld Place. As the house disappeared behind him, Harry Apparated to The Burrow to join his friends and family.
Both Ron and Harry had passed their Apparition tests near the end of the first year, as a quick getaway was needed a few times. Hermione, being Hermione, was all ready able to Apparate legally.
Once Harry had got his balance after arriving outside The Burrow, he slowly opened his eyes and turned to face the house. He'd first laid eyes upon the building on the day after his twelfth birthday, having been rescued from the Dursley's by Ron, Fred and George in their father's flying Ford Anglia.
Mr Weasley glanced out of the window just as Harry appeared in the front yard. He looked at Mrs Weasley, Ginny and Ron, all in the room with him.
"It seems we have a visitor." He said, quite casually.
"Oh, who?" Mrs Weasley too looked out the window, and gasped.
"Who is it?" Ron asked, looking up from the game of chess as Ginny's knight took his castle.
Mr Weasley exchanged a smile with his wife before turning back to his youngest two children.
"Harry."
Ginny gave a small shriek and hurtled out of the room, closely followed by Ron, the chess game forgotten.
Harry couldn't help but grin as two of his best friends came running from the house. Ginny reached him first, and almost threw herself onto him.
"I missed you so much," she whispered.
"I've missed you too, Gin," Harry returned the hug and kissed her on the cheek.
When they pulled apart, Ron was standing a few feet away with a lopsided grin on his face.
"Welcome back, mate."
"Thanks."
"So, did you do it?"
"Yeah, Voldemort is human again, and I'm closer to fulfilling the prophecy."
"Prophecy?" Ginny stared at Harry, a confused expression upon her pretty features.
"I forgot, you don't know what it said." Harry said.
"I though it smashed, the day – Sirius died."
"It did, but Dumbledore told me what it said in his office, that same night." Harry turned away as though the memory caused him pain.
Ginny went to him and laid a hand on his arm.
"It's because of the prophecy that I've been gone these last three years," Harry muttered, it was time Ginny found out. She would be in no more danger than if she were involved with him, "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives." Harry recited.
A gasp behind them made all three spin around. None of them had heard Mr and Mrs Weasley approach them. Mrs Weasley looked close to tears, while Mr Weasley looked as though he had all ready known what the prophecy said. Harry went visibly pale, afraid of Mrs Weasley's reaction.
A little later, while sitting out in the garden, Ron, Harry and Ginny all heard the angry voices drifting out from the kitchen.
"How can you just stand there while all this is happening?"
"We shouldn't interfere with a prophecy, Molly."
"He's only nineteen – "
"Exactly, he's an adult now – "
"– He shouldn't be the only person capable of destroying You-Know-Who. He's not experienced enough!"
Ron and Ginny quickly looked at Harry, wondering how he was taking all this. He was still pale, but his face was set.
"Molly, you can't say Harry has no experience. It was him who saw He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named come back, and he'd all ready met him in some form twice before that. Not to mention what happened in the Department of Mysteries."
"Dumbledore would've – "
"Dumbledore knew all along what Harry has to do. That's why he made sure Harry knew about the Horcruxes. He understood what the prophecy would mean to everyone, he knew what a difference it will make to the world, both wizard and muggle."
They know about the Horcruxes, Harry thought, trying not to show any emotion on his face. He got to his feet, aware of Ron and Ginny following his every move. A moment later, his voice joined the argument.
"I know you don't like what the prophecy said, but it's almost complete anyway, there's nothing you can do to help. You can't help me destroy Voldemort when I meet him for the last time. Once he's gone, it's over. One of us will die, I hope it's him, but it could just as easily be me. I know what I have to do, and what it involves, but without the support of the people around me, I can't do it."
"We do support you, Harry." Mr Weasley pointed out.
"But Mrs Weasley doesn't."
"I do, Harry – "
"No, you don't want me to have anything to do with this. I heard you arguing. If you truly see me as a Weasley, you'll accept it. Either I kill Voldemort – or he kills me."
Harry turned and walked out of the kitchen. Forcing his steps to be calm, and leaving a stunned silence behind him. The moment he was out of sight of the two Weasley parents, he ran, only stopping once the trees hid him from sight. Here he fell to the ground as tears of despair overflowed and he found himself wondering yet again how he was supposed to destroy Voldemort, while the thought of doing it was destroying him.
Ginny followed Harry into the woods, aware of how dark it felt here. She stopped and listened intently, but heard nothing except the rustle of the wind through the leaves and distant birdsong. She set off again, moving quietly and slowly.
Back at The Burrow, Ron entered the kitchen. His parents both seemed shocked and stunned by Harry's words.
"I think you just hurt Harry's feelings, Mum."
"I know he's an adult now, but it's so hard just to let go of him after all he's been through."
Ron took pity on his mother and softened his voice.
"I know it's hard. I though Dumbledore would be the one to get rid of V-Voldemort. I was really shocked when Harry told Hermione and me in the summer before our sixth year."
"He's seen more than most of the Order all ready. He's coping with it much better than we are." Mr Weasley said, still wondering how Harry had managed to cope with it all.
Little did they know that at the moment, Harry was sobbing into Ginny's shoulder.
She sat quietly, holding him close, waiting patiently while he tried to control his emotions. After a few minutes, he pulled back and wiped his cheeks.
"Thank you for following me, Gin."
"I wouldn't have done anything else, Harry. I love you, and I hate to see alone and upset. I hate it when you're just upset, but alone as well…" Ginny's voice trailed off.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, before Harry finally decided they should return to the house.
"We're all behind you, Harry, and we'll be there, at the final battle. We'll hold the Death Eaters off so you can concentrate on Voldemort."
"I know you will. I won't stop you going, even though I want to. Just promise me one thing, Gin."
"Anything, Harry."
"Promise me you'll be careful. I don't want to lose you."
"I'll promise you that, Harry, as long as you do as well."
"Of course, Ginny." Harry said, fully meaning it.