A/N: Sorry for the rating change, but there will be some language, and content that I didn't realise I would be writing. If that's not your cup of tea, then you don't have to finish reading. If you want to know how it turns out anyway, leave a review.
When Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny got to Grimauld Place, Kreacher was waiting for them. He had the steak and kidney pie for them that he had promised on the day they left for the Ministry and never returned. That day seemed like it was ages ago, so much had happened since then; the destruction of five Horcruxes, as well as the downfall of the most feared wizard of all-time.
As Harry had predicted, every person who had access to Grimauld Place showed up at least once that night. The Weasleys, of course, suggested that he go home with them, to the burrow. "This is my home, now. I need to stay here."
"Fine, Harry, but you should still have some sort of protection. There's no guarantee that we got all the Death Eaters. Not to mention all of the fans you're going to have now. I don't want you here by yourself."
"I'll be fine, Mrs. Weasley. Ron, Hermione and Ginny will all be here tonight. And tomorrow I'm going to go find my cousin. I don't care for my aunt and uncle, but I want to let Dudley know that I'm alright."
"And after that, we're going to Australia to get my parents," Hermione cut in. "Harry wants to get away from the drama that will surely follow the downfall of Voldemort. An Australian vacation could do him well."
With that, all but the two youngest Weasleys left, only to be replaced by Kingsley Shaklebolt, the temporary Minister for Magic. "Harry," he said, in his deep, soothing voice. "It is not yet safe for you to be here. We have yet to check this house for traps and such, especially since the protection Mad-Eye put on this place seems to have worn off. I would strongly suggest going to the Burrow for at least a couple of days."
"No offence, Minister, but I think that after taking on Voldemort and finally winning, as pissed off as the Death Eaters may be, they're terrified of me."
Kingsley sighed, "You're probably right, but I would feel much better if the saviour of the wizarding world wasn't alone."
"It's okay Kingsley," Ginny broke in, "He'll never have to be alone ever again if I have anything to do with it. I love him too much."
"Actually," Harry broke in, "going to find Dudley is something I want to do on my own. And I actually want to go alone this time," he said, looking at Ron and Hermione pointedly.
Hermione gave him a quizzical look, but nodded just the same. She knew that he deserved some time to himself after being stuck with her and Ron for so long. Ginny, on the other hand, wondered why he said he wanted to go alone after saying the other day that he never wanted to let her go.
After Kingsley left, she let into him. "Harry Potter you are a lying git, you know that, right?" Ron and Hermione looked at her, shocked that she would say something like that, but Harry just looked exhausted, and, was that annoyance on his face?
"You tell me the other day that you never want to let me go, and then there was last night, and now you want to be alone? What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Ginny," Hermione started carefully. "Harry, what the hell did you do to my sister, last night?" Ron yelled, hoping, for Harry's sake, that Harry didn't deflower his younger sister. He didn't really want to have to kill his best friend after he just escaped being killed by the Dark Lord.
"That's none of your business, Ronald." Ginny was pissed now, and just wanted to talk to, or maybe yell at, Harry in private.
"Come on Ron," Hermione interjected, "We should let them talk." Ron followed her grudgingly, mumbling about not wanting to let Harry alone with his sister. He cheered up when he realised where Hermione was leading him.
"Harry, I want, and I think I deserve, some sort of explanation."
"Ginny, listen, last night was great, and I really don't want to lose you, but I need to be on my own for a bit, and I need to find Dudley. It's just something I have to do. I do love you, and I'll be back before you know it. The entire wizarding world wants to thank and congratulate me, when all I did was keep from being killed. I need to just disappear into the Muggle world for a bit. And I have no idea where to start looking for my family – yes, even if I can't stand them, they're still family. I have no idea where to look for them because no one was told, and Dedalus and Hestia went to the final battle and were killed, as I'm sure you heard."
"Harry – "
"Ginny, I'm not done. I love you, I really do, but I need to do this on my own. I'll owl you when I'm on my way back. I promise."
"What about the Australian vacation that Hermione so desperately wants you to go on?" Harry laughed at this. "She'll either have to wait until I get back, or she will have to go without me, and I'll meet up with you guys there."
Ginny, gave in, knowing that Harry was just too damn stubborn to change his mind. "Come on Harry, if you're going away tomorrow, I want to give Ron another reason to castrate you tonight." She grinned up at him as he winced at the thought of castration. He then grinned as Ginny grabbed his hand and led him upstairs. They were so preoccupied with getting to Sirius' room that they didn't hear the moans of pleasure coming from the room that Ron was staying in.
The next morning when Ginny woke up, Harry had already gone. She sighed as she realised that he wasn't in bed, and after getting dressed and brushing her hair she went down to the kitchen, hoping he hadn't left yet. Tears sprung to her eyes when she realised that he had left without saying goodbye.
Just then, Hermione came into the room, so Ginny busied herself with making breakfast so the older girl wouldn't see her cry. But whether or not Ginny wanted her to, Hermione sensed that something was wrong with her friend.
"Ginny, what's wrong?" she asked softly. Then she saw the parchment on the table that Ginny had missed. She picked it up and read it as Ron walked in.
"What's that?" he asked, giving her a quick kiss.
Ginny turned around as Hermione started reading the parchment aloud –
"Ginny, Ron, and Hermione,
I know you all are going to kill me the next time you see me, but I had to do this on my own. I love you all, and I can handle myself in the Muggle world, having grown up in it for eleven years. Ginny, I never meant to hurt you, I swear, but it would have been one hell of a lot harder for me to leave if you were awake when I did.
I talked to McGonagall, and we can all go back to Hogwarts in September to finish school. I expect you'll be happy about that, Hermione."
Ron laughed at this, until Ginny gave him a look that would frighten a Death Eater.
"I have gone to look for the Dursleys and I'm sorry, but I don't want you to follow me. Go and have your Australian vacation, go find Hermione's parents and restore their memories. I will meet you in Australia when I have found Dudley. If I don't find him by the 31st of July, I will send you an owl, and I will see you on the Hogwarts Express on the first of September.
Give everyone my love,
Harry
P.S. Someone please owl McGonagall and tell her that I will go see the portrait when I return. She'll know what you're talking about."
Hermione sighed, knowing now what was wrong with Ginny. She looked up at her, but she had gone, presumably back to her room to calm down." Ron, can I borrow Pig to send to Professor McGonagall please?" As she was saying this, an owl flew in with a piece of parchment bearing the official Hogwarts seal, addressed to Harry. "Never mind, I'll send this one back."
"What do you think is in that letter?" Ron asked.
"It doesn't matter, it's addressed to Harry. We should respect that and leave it here for him. It would be an invasion of privacy if we opened it."
But Ron wasn't listening, as usual. He took the parchment and opened it.
"Dear Mr Potter
The portrait of the late Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Professor Severus Snape has begun to move. I am writing to tell you this, not only because you asked me to, but because he is asking to speak with you.
He says it is urgent that he speak with you as soon as possible, regarding your mother's family. Please come to the castle as soon as possible.
Yours,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry"
"Ronald! Did you not hear me say that's an invasion of privacy? Argh! You never listen, do you?" Hermione was upset, and even after she stalked off and tried to calm down, she knew what she had to do.
"Ron," she called. "Ron, will you come here for a minute please?"
Ron entered the room, looking a bit apprehensive, "What is it, Hermione? Going to yell at me some more?"
"No, Ron, but…you're still not going to like what I have to say. We're always fighting, and we never seem to agree on anything. I…I…I think we shouldn't see each other. At least, not right now." Her eyes were shining with tears as she said this, not wanting to, but knowing it had to be done.
"Do...you're leaving me?" he asked, in a pained voice. "Did last night mean nothing to you? Do I mean nothing to you? After all this time, were you just stringing me along?"
"No, Ron, it's not like that! You have to understand, I love you, but there are some things we don't agree on, and if one of those is privacy, then this won't work."
"I can change, Hermione. I promise I can, just give me a chance, please." He pleaded with her. She looked at him with a sad smile.
"If you're really willing to change for me, then I can give you another chance."
"Oh thank you Hermione!" he exclaimed, pulling her into a kiss. He held her close, knowing that he would have to try so very hard to change for her, but also knowing that he would do whatever it took.