Harry Potter paced nervously. Ever since he'd gotten out of the car and barricaded himself in his room, it was all he had done. He hadn't eaten. He hadn't slept. He simply couldn't. Questions raced through his head, so quickly and so vague, that by the time he started to address the aforesaid question, another popped into his head, promptly cutting off the previous one.

Where am i going to learn the magic i need to defeat voldemort?

Moody? No. He might be smart and good at defense against the dark arts, but there was no way he knew enough to teach him. It was like drowning in a sea of his own inability. Tonks? She's an auror. She has to know a little about all that. No. He didn't know her well enough to trust her.

How am i going to look for the rest of the Horcruxes now that Dumbledore is dead?

He had no clue as to where to look, how to look, and who to look to to help him. McGonagell?

No. She's to clean cut and noble, not to mention old, to get involved in this now. Besides, he wasn't supposed to tell anyone, but on second thought, doing this alone is pretty much going to be impossible for a seventeen year old to be to do by himself.

Am i really going to let Ron and Hermion come with me?

He could see no where around it. He wasn't even sure if not going to Hogwarts was the right thing to do. Besides, even if he didn't go, he would need help. No harm in letting them come i suppose.

Did i do the right thing with Ginny? Should i have kept her close instead of pushing her away?

He sighed. Only time would tell with her. He missed her so bad it hurt. Literally. Every time a thought about her opped up in his head, his heart would give a painful thump, as if it was losing it's will to live.

Sighing once more he turned to the alarm clock on his bed side table. It read 11:45. Fifteen minutes and he could leave forever. He might as well start packing. He waltzed around the room, throwing anything of his into his trunk. He just realized that he didn't know if it was safe to apparate with animals. Taking Hedwigs cage to the window, he opened and and put her on the ledge of the window.

"Go to the burrow, would you girl? I don't know if it's safe to apparate with you, so it's safer this way. I'll be there soon." Hooting softly she took off. Harry watched her go, waited until he no longer saw her, and, with one last look around the room, and a confirmation look at the alarm clock to make sure that it was past twelve, magicked his trunk down the stairs for his final confrontation with his aunt and uncle.

--

Cantering down the stairs with the trunk hovering ahead of him, he couldn't help but smile, despite his previous depressing recollections of his current predicament. How could you not be happy leaving a place you hated?

Then his grin faded. He had completely forgotten would would happen if Deatheaters happened to attack the house. No matter the size of the grudge he had on the Dursley's, he didn't think he could live with himself if the were killed because of them. Luckily, his Aunt was in the kitchen, doing her usual before midnight srub down of the house. He walked over to her slowly.

"Aunt Petunia?" he asked in a weary voice. He didn't want to be snapped at, or start an argument now that he was almost gone.

With out looking up, she said in a very brittle voice, "Yes?"

"Well. Erm. The thing is...people might come here looking for me. Wizards. But not the good kind... though you probably think we're all bad, don't you?" A shaky laugh escaped Harry's mouth. And as soon as it had, he immediately regretted laughing.

He head shot up and she said in a voice filled with malice and scorn, "Get to the point! I need to concentrate on cleaning!"

"Erm. Well anyways...if they're wearing masks, or they just don't seem...nice like order members were..." He had to stop again. Apparently, describing a wizard of any sort as 'nice' was a glaring offense in her house.

"If they seem...evil. I want you to grab hold of Uncle Vernon and Dudley, and pull this out of the bag.

He grabbed a spoon out of the cupboard, and pointing his wand at it, muttered 'Portus'.

"It'll take you to headquarters. There will most likely be someone there to help you if have to use it, ok?"

He had turned to leave, when a small sniffing sound made him turn back.

She was crying. Not sobbing loudly or wailing, but silent tears were running down her face.

"Wha-?" He managed to chock out before she flung herself at him, and began sobbing in his shoulder.

"I've been w- w- waiting for this for a while. I know we were never g- great to you, but i still cared for you, even though i m- might not of shown it all the time..."

He stood there, numb shock coursing through his body. He patted her back ackwardly, and she sobbed on.

"I know it might not mean much to you, but on the living room table is the b- blanket you were wraped in when you came here. You c- can take it if you want."

Harry gave her a hug, walked into the living room for one last time, grabbed the blanket, and walked out of the house. He looked back at the kitchen window one last time, and saw his Aunt waving a hasty good bye. Waving, he grabbed hold of his trunk and with one last sad smile, dissaparated.

--

As soon as he appeared in the garden of his favorite house, Harry noticed the kitchen light was on. Making his was way quietly to the door, he entered as quietly as he could. As soon as he had shut the door, there was a great roar of

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!!"

Grinning, harry set his trunk down and walked over to the group of people assembled before him. Ron was there, and he looked about as tall as he would get. He was still skinny, but not like he was the previous summer. There was some definite muscle to him now. Hermione was at his side, and though they were trying to hide it, Harry noticed that their hands were entertwined. I wonder when they both wised up? At least i won't have to put up with their bickering anymore. I hope. The rest of the Weasleys were there, along with Mad Eye, Tonks, Lupin, what looked like the rest of the order, and last but not least. Though she smiled brightly at him, he could tell there was pain in the eyes he loved so much.

Mrs. Weasley strode toward him, and said, "Ah Harry. We had wondered when you would be getting here. Do sit down dear, i have dinner all ready for you, and after that we'll open your present's, then you need to rest. There's a wedding tomorrow you know!" She smiled kindly as she forced him into a seat, and all the others sate too.

As everyone dove into the food, which was, to be expected, excedingly good, Harry caught little tid bits of what was going on after Dumbledore had died. He listened as Hagrid babbled happily that the North American giants might be willing to help them. Charlie was taking to his father about some sort of pact that was to be signed between some dragon club with his father. Tonks and Remus were happily talking about their own marriage, which was to occur after term started. Harry caught Ginny looking at him every few minutes or so, but when he turned to look at her in earnest, she turned her head, pertending never to have looked at him to begin with.

Finally, when everything had been devoured, a veritable mountain of presents was tossed at Harry. He got a book about advanced shielding techniques from Hermione, a restocked broomstick servicing kit from Ron, Mrs Weasley had given her usual package of sweets and food, The twins had given a huge box of products from their shop, Mad Eye a spare wand, ("Never know when your gonna neen a spare Potter!", he muttered under his breath as he handed it to Harry.) And Hagrid had given him a pair of shoes that looked to be made entirely out of Unicorn Hair.(Pu' these an whe' ya nee' as much speed as ya ca' get.)

Finally Lupin looked at him and everyoen quieted down. He pulled a small gold box out of his pocket. "James made this sometime after we all left Hogwarts. He told me to give it to you...erm, if he ever got into trouble and couldn't. All he told me was that it would open when it was supposed to." Harry accepted it, and put it into his pocket.

Yawning hugely, he said to the whole room in general, "Well, i'm tured everyone. I better turn in."

Ron waved him off wwhen asked if he was coming, so Harry made his way up to the highest room, ready for a long nights sleep. When he entered the room, the door slammed, and the lights flicked on. Harry had his wand drawn before the lights were on, and was about to stun whoever it was when he realized it was Ginny.

"I- Sor-" Harry stammered.

She interupted him by saying in a dreamy voice, "I never got to give you my present Harry. I don't think mum would of liked it, so i decided to wait for you to come up to bed..."

She walked over to him slowly, keeping eye contact the whole time. Hey eyes slammed shut as she starting kissing him. There was no way he could resist, he was helplessly lost, enjoying the fire burning in his body as it intensified. Then suddenly, it stopped. Horrified by the sudden loss of feeling, his eyes opened just as she shut the door.

He stood there, stunned for several seconds, then a tears raced down his cheek, followed closely by more. There was a loud clicking sound, but he didn't care. Laying on the bed, he sobbed gently until exhaustion made him sleep.