A/N Sorry about the long update, stupid amount of schoolwork I've been doing! But it's here now!! Thanks to reviews:

SierraPotter: You're definitely right about emotional pain being harder to get rid of… But I'll see what I can do for you eh? Lol!

The (French) dark lord: Thanks! I love to hear from new reviewers!! And I generally write like that, what I want to happen in the seventh book, or at least what could happen. Sometimes I write about what I don't want to happen… That's always fun too! Both view points, you know!

Returning

'.. And so it is concluded by the Wizarding Community that the Death Eaters are still out there today, terrorizing only once in a while, as to keep the ministry off their trail. These spontaneous attacks on the Wizarding and Muggle world alike are too random to predict. The Minister for Magic advises that all people, whether young or elderly, that they should stick together in these strange and mysterious times. Although it may not seem as bad as when the Dark Lord was upon us, these attacks have been tragic and unexpected; so therefore may be interpreted as just as dangerous.

'But let us not forget that there is still a ray of hope. Harry Potter has not been seen or heard from for over a year; the best that can be assumed is that he is out there somewhere, finding these traitorous Death Eaters and putting a stop to their dreadful crimes. He has saved the world once, he can do it again.'

Harry put down the evening addition of the Daily Prophet; he couldn't bear to read the rest. Slowly, he pulled out a piece of parchment from his cloak pocket.

There was nothing particularly interesting going on in Hogwarts Castle tonight; there never usually was. Just a few boys and girls sneaking out of their Common Rooms to meet each other in the night. And Harry couldn't help but smile when he saw the words 'Severus Snape' walk around a corner to find a young boy and girl behind a statue.

Harry's mind started to wander as he looked out of the grimy window of the Shrieking Shack. He remembered that he was here the first time he met his Godfather, in his third year. Or he remembered that this place was the subject of conversation as Ron and Hermione had started to get close. His memories were often the same each night, but considering he had been here for some time now, he would have thought them to go away.

Harry had been lodging at the Shrieking Shack for over six months; and before that had gone to Sirius' old house. But after the first attack had happened, the Order had re-formed and he had to get out before anyone would find him. This place was the only building left he could find that wasn't occupied but did have four walls and a ceiling, so he had to make do. He had of course used magic to make it easier to live in; for example he had cleaned the room he stayed in from top to bottom; and, after a great deal of searching for a spell to do so, added a modern bathroom in the same room.

He had received many letters in the past year from Ron and Hermione, for the owls would always know where to find him; it had always fascinated Harry how the owls would find the recipients of letters, even when they move around so much. Each letter to him had been a plea for him to go and visit, or at least tell them where he was so that they could visit him. But Harry had never replied to a single letter, so for all they knew, he could be dead. For all the whole world knew, Harry Potter could be dead. And that was almost how he wanted it to be. To not be famous anymore would make his life a hundred times better… Or so he thought. But it seemed that even after a year of hiding, the Ministry still clung to him for hope.

He stared at the prophet that lay on the floor next to him. He shook his head in disbelief as he watched a devastated woman cry and cry repeatedly at the reporter as she held a dead baby in her arms. How people could do such horrible things was beyond him…

There was a loud knocking on the window and Harry looked up to see a large brown owl waiting for it to be opened for him. He was shocked at seeing it; he had not received a letter from Ron or Hermione for a matter of months now. There was usually at least one a week being delivered to him, but then their numbers slowly decreased as a year passed, and then there were none. This did hurt Harry a little bit, to think that perhaps his best friends had forgotten about him. But then he had never replied to any of the letters, and he had just left one day without looking back once.

As Harry opened the window the owl flew in and dropped the letter on the floor before soaring straight back out. He watched as it disappeared into the royal blue sky and then turned to pick up the letter.

He smiled slightly as he remembered this handwriting; so neatly joined up in an orderly way. Although as he read through the letter a couple of times, he realized that this letter was not written in a calm or orderly manner.

Dear Harry,

Firstly Harry, how are you? Ok? I do hope that my owl doesn't return with this letter still in its beak, which means that he couldn't find you… and that means that you're possibly…

Look Harry, we're sorry we haven't written for months. But you never replied and we feared the worst. You've probably got really annoyed with all the plea's for you to come back and see us, but this one is different. Harry, Ron's in trouble. He's really ill and we need you here. He asks for you every time we go to the hospital but we never know what to say. It's not that he's mad in the head, he knows that you won't be there, but he's still got that tiny ray of hope that you might come back.

You see, he was fighting people suspected of Death Eater activity, (I assume you know what's been happening; all the deaths and such) and one of them hit him with a curse. We don't even know what it is, but he's so ill he can scarcely move. Harry, no matter how much I hate to admit it, if you don't come and see him now, you might never see him again.

Please Harry you must come and see him, he needs you. And you never know, your coming might heal him a bit. Please Harry, he needs you… We all need you.

Your's faithfully,

Hermione

Harry looked wildly around the room. What on earth was he doing here? This letter had opened his eyes to what he had done. Leaving the burrow was in fact the worst thing he had done with his life. And now his best friend in the entire world was dying and all because of him. Fighting those people… it was all wrong! All because of him… Well he was going to put it right, Ron was going to get better and everything would be as it used to be.

He ran across the room and picked up his wand, the picture of his parents and Sirius and went to fill his trunk. Just before leaving, he went to his bed and removed the pillow. Underneath it was his one and only picture of Ginny, creased and crumpled from being handled so much. This was he reason he never went back to see his friends, and now one of them was dying. But he put this behind him and picked up the picture. And with that he walked out of the Shrieking Shack and disapparated from the blank view.


The door to the Burrow opened and a short Mrs Weasley stood before him, but not looking at him.

"Yes, yes Ginny just go! We need to leave!" She shouted behind her, her voice directed up the stairs. Then she turned to him, "I'm sorry can I help…"

Harry plastered a fake smile on his face and Mrs Weasley burst into tears; but as she did so, a real smile spread across his lips.

"Harry dear!" She cried loudly, pulling him indoors, "Is it really you?"

"Yeah, it's me Mrs Weasley," He replied, his voice croaking form lack of use.

"Oh Harry," She said, wiping away the remains of her tears, "Harry dear…"

"Harry?"

His eyes zoomed over to see Hermione standing on the stairs; her hair wet and dangling over her shoulders, a tear rolling down her cheek and a shocked smile on her face.

"Hermione…" He said, walking over to her, taking in her older and more mature appearance as he did so.

She stood and stared at him for what seemed like hours, tears rolling down her face as she looked. She was obviously taking in his appearance as he had taken in hers. He was much bigger now, bulkier and a little bit taller. His hair had gotten slightly longer in the past year and a bit, but it still stuck up and was very messy.

Then Hermione took him by surprise and jumped on him from the third step up. She was laughing as he caught her and spun her round.

"Harry! I can't believe you're here!" She said he put her back on the floor.

"Neither can I," He said truthfully.

"Was it my letter then?" She asked, sitting down at the kitchen table with Mrs Weasley.

"Yeah, thank you for making me realise how much I missed you," He said quietly.

"It's ok. But I sent you that last night, what have you been doing all night?"

"Well I, I went back to my house…" He replied, not looking at her.

"Oh…" Hermione said, obviously not knowing what to say.

"And I fell asleep, so that's why I'm late," Harry said, trying to ease the tension.

"That's ok," Mrs Weasley chipped in, "We didn't go to see Ron last night anyway."

It was then that it dawned on Harry that this wonderful woman's son was dying, and then he felt a pang of guilt because it was, after all, his own fault.

"Mrs Weasley I…"

"Harry, it's Molly," She cut in kindly.

He smiled and went on, "I'm so sorry about Ron, how is he?"

"You've nothing to be sorry about dear," Mrs Weasley smiled at him.

"It's not your fault that he was fighting," Hermione comforted.

"Well I… I mean if I hadn't…" Harry sighed inwardly. There was no way he could tell them the truth about what he'd been doing while he was away, it would break all of their hearts.

"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Well it's just that… I just wish I had been here, that's all," He replied, mentally cursing himself for not telling them.

"Mum, where's my jumper?"

Harry's body froze. He hadn't thought very much about the fact that he would see Ginny again. But upon hearing her voice behind him, everything about him froze, and then melted. Even her voice was beautiful, he dreaded to see her again when he turned around. He looked across the table at Hermione, who was facing him and Ginny. She was biting her lip and looking from one to the other. Ginny had clearly noticed who was sitting at the table with her mother and friend, but how was she reacting?

"Ha… Mum… What?" Ginny stuttered out. "Who… who is that…" She said, although it was clear that she did know.

Harry looked again at Hermione, who just opened her eyes wider to signal that she didn't know what to do. He thought that there was only one thing for it, and turned around.

He was completely taken aback by Ginny's appearance; she had changed so much in the space of a year. Her hair was much shorter now, in the wet state it hung just above her shoulders, she was taller now, but still not as tall as Ron, and he couldn't help but notice the other thing; she was much more grown up now. Her whole body had grown and she was very much a woman. He felt himself very much wanting to hold her and caress her like he used to; just as any nineteen year old would want to, to someone of that beauty.

They stared at each other for minutes on end in silence, neither of them knowing what to do or say. Neither one wanted to say something that would offend the other, nor compliment them.

"Oh for goodness sake!" Mrs Weasley piped up after a long time waiting, "Hug each other would you?!"

Harry looked at her and stood up tentatively, not quite knowing if he should hug her or not, no matter how much he wanted to.

He waited for a moment, but when Ginny didn't walk towards him, he knew he wasn't going to receive a hug.

"Hi Harry," She finally said.

He paused and breathed heavily. The hurt inside of him was greater than that of when he left the Burrow. He had expected something a little more than at a 'hi'.

"Hi Ginny," He replied, still swallowing tears.

From the corner of his eye he saw Hermione and Mrs Weasley look disappointedly at each other and then he jumped about a mile from his skin as Ginny shouted loudly "For God's sake mother where's my jumper?!"

"It's in the basket in your room dear," Mrs Weasley said quietly.

And with that Ginny stormed off up the stairs towards her bedroom. And maybe he was imagining it, but Harry was sure he heard loud sobs after the door slammed.


A/N Aww it's so sad!! I liked this chapter, a lot more emotion in it!! So, I want you please to tell me what you think Harry has been doing while he was away? And did you like the big leap of time? Sorry if you didn't, but please all give me your views!! Thanks for reading!!