Mrs Weasley was waiting in the kitchen for Harry and Ginny when the returned.
"Harry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."
"It doesn't matter."
"But it does, Harry. I do support you, I just hate seeing you having to deal with these things alone."
"I've not had to deal with a lot on my own since I met you and your family. I want to thank you for accepting me into your family, and for being there when I need someone." Harry smiled at Mrs Weasley as he spoke, once again, meaning every word he said.
"We all need someone to turn to, Harry."
"I know."
Mrs Weasley noticed him looking at Ginny as he spoke.
"Why don't you stay here, Harry? It's better than Grimmauld Place, and you have your friends and family to help you."
"Thank you."
"Ginny, why don't you help Harry to get his remaining belongings?"
"Sure, Mum." Ginny said, before turning to Harry, "You do realise you left your trunk in Ron's room when you left don't you? Not to mention Hedwig."
"Yeah, I realised that a couple of days ago."
Ginny grabbed the pot of Floo powder and led Harry into the living room, where he hesitated in the doorway.
"I hope you can Apparate, Ginny."
"Why?" She fixed him with a piercing gaze, causing him to squirm uncomfortably. "I dread to think how you managed two years without Hermione to keep you on track." She said, disappearing into the kitchen once more.
When she returned, Harry noticed she held a glass jar, into which she poured a measure of Floo powder and handed it to him.
"Thanks," he muttered.
Ginny grinned, "Come on Mr Potter, let's get your stuff before Mum does it herself."
Harry, also grinning, walked out the house and stood looking in through the window of the living room. He waved to Ginny and Disapparated. Ginny shrugged and threw a handful of Floo powder into the fire, stepped in after it and shouted "Number 12, Grimmauld Place."
Moments later, she tumbled out of the fire in the dingy kitchen at Grimmauld Place. Harry was leaning casually on the counter with his arms folded, the jar of Floo powder next to him.
"You took your time," he teased.
Ginny leapt on him, knocking him to the floor. She hovered above him for a moment before closing the gap between them and kissing him firmly on the lips. Harry returned the kiss, but a moment later had to push Ginny away and clap his hands to his scar.
"Harry, what it is?"
"He knows," Harry gasped, rolling onto his side.
Ginny grabbed another handful of Floo powder and chucked it rather forcefully into the fireplace.
"Remus, get to Grimmauld Place, now."
Harry heard her commanding voice, but was not aware of his surroundings, only the pain searing through his scar as a result of Voldemort's jubilation.
Seconds later, Lupin was striding across to the two teens. He knelt beside Harry and laid a gentle hand on his arm.
"Harry, what is it?"
"He knows," Harry repeated, wishing the pain would stop.
"Knows what?"
"How I feel – about Ginny."
Lupin glanced at Ginny, conjured a glass, filled it with water and passed it to Harry.
As the pain gradually disappeared, Harry carefully sat up, feeling very weak. Lupin removed his hand while Harry sat up, and now replaced it on his shoulder.
"Are you ok?" He asked.
"I've been better. Maybe I should just stay here."
"No, Harry, you are not staying here alone. Besides, Mum would just worry constantly about you. You know what she's like."
"Yeah, but you're in even more danger now than before."
"So you need to be there to protect us. You said either you kill him, or he kills you. He's all ready killed you if you don't let your friends in. You should be living your life right up to the end, whether that end is in one year or sixty years. Don't let Voldemort dictate your life."
Harry took a deep, shaky breath, "I know what you're saying makes sense, but it's just so hard to do."
He sounds so desperate, Ginny thought; I've got to help him to live.
"Don't worry, Harry, we're all here for you, and we're all going to help you."
"I know."
Lupin helped Harry to his feet. As he leaned shakily on the wall, Lupin spoke again.
"What were you two doing here alone anyway?"
"We're getting my few possessions to take to The Burrow. Mrs Weasley persuaded me to stay there."
"How? You seemed pretty intent on staying anywhere but there when I spoke to you last time."
"She told me I was family," Harry shrugged, "oh, and thanks for telling Mr and Mrs Weasley I'd returned. They helped me to see how stupid I was being."
Harry eased himself off the wall until he was standing up without support.
"I suppose I should get my stuff, before Mrs Weasley starts worrying."
Lupin followed Harry out of the kitchen, while Ginny remained behind, sensing the two had something important to talk about. Once they were out of hearing range of the kitchen, Lupin asked the question Harry knew he was longing to ask.
"Are you sure you're all right, Harry?"
"No."
"What's up?"
"How am I supposed to kill Voldemort? He's loads more powerful than me, not to mention the Death Eaters that are bound to 'lend a hand' with my destruction."
"You can do it, Harry, because you have the ability to love people, unlike Voldemort."
"That sound's like something Dumbledore would have said." Harry smiled faintly, wishing he could speak to his dead headmaster again.
Something of this thought must have shown on Harry's face, for Lupin stopped walking, turned around and grasped Harry's shoulders.
"Dumbledore is dead, Harry, nothing you can do will bring him back."
"I know," Harry whispered, blinking furiously to clear his eyes.
Ginny didn't have to wait long before Harry and Lupin returned to the kitchen. Harry placed the box he was carrying on the table. Ginny noticed Lupin's eyes kept flicking across to Harry. She too looked at Harry, startled by how pale and withdrawn he seemed.
"Is everything all right?"
"Yeah, it's fine, we should go, before your mum sends out a search party."
"I'll follow in a minute," Lupin said, "I've got some stuff I need to sort out. Leave the box, I'll bring it over."
Harry nodded and followed Ginny into the fireplace.
Ginny caught him as he tumbled out at the other end.
"You're amazing," she laughed, "after everything you've done, you still can't stay on your feet with Floo travel."
Harry pulled back and turned away. Ginny stopped laughing almost immediately.
"Are you sure everything's fine, Harry, because I can sense something is very wrong."
"It doesn't matter, it's not important."
"Please tell me what it is, Harry, I want to help."
"I told you, it's nothing important, just drop it, ok?"
"I'm trying to help you!"
"Yeah, well it's a little late for that, so if you'll excuse me…"
Harry made to leave, but Ginny reached out and grabbed his arm, turning him to face her.
"I know something is wrong, Harry, please just tell me what it is. I want to help you."
Harry wrenched his arm from Ginny's grip. Without saying anything else, he walked away, his head bowed. It was only when Ginny heard the front door slam that she followed him. She pulled it open and ran out after him.
"Harry, wait!"
He raised his head, looked directly at her for a moment, then turned and disappeared. The breath caught in her throat for a moment, until he was gone.
"HARRY!" Ginny screamed.
Both Mr Weasley, in the study, and Mrs Weasley, in the kitchen, heard Ginny shouting Harry's name. Both hurried to their daughter's side, arriving at the same time as Lupin. He took one look at Ginny's tear stained face and left just as suddenly, dropping the box in his haste.