Chapter 2: As shadows fall

The majority of the Weasleys, Hermione and Harry arrived at Diagon Alley the next morning as the clock struck eleven. The bell echoed eerily throughout the empty shops and the usually bustling, cobbled street. They all stood there, realising that even the wizards' haven had been deeply affected by Voldemort and his malicious followers. It was as if a dark shadow had fallen on the ransacked and torn-apart shops. Glass was strewn across the damp ground. Ginny felt a raindrop on her face as she looked up to the gloomy, rumbling clouds.

Mr Weasley was the first the break them out of their shocked trance, and sudden realisation that the summer wouldn't last forever. They began walking up towards the shops which were still intact at the other end of the alley. The people they came across were huddled in tight-knit groups and didn't stop to chat or gossip. This change scared Ginny. She suddenly felt frightened of the war which was inevitable. She was fed up with Voldemort getting inside everybody's lives and spoiling everything and endangering everyone she held dear. She was walking near the back of the group, and was hurrying to keep close, as her eyes were beginning to water slightly. She brushed the tears threatening to spill away, as Harry glanced around and noticed. He changed his step to match hers.

"Gin, are you okay?" He whispered quietly to her. He must have known the last thing she would've wanted was for everyone to see her being a stupid cry babyl. Ginny nodded and forced a smile onto her face.

"Everything has changed hasn't it? There's no turning back. There's going to be a war and people may die. But somebody better kill Voldemort sooner rather than later, cause he's a bastard."

They'd finished shopping for Hogwarts supplies and were excited to see the Twins' shop; Weasley Wizard Wheezes. They'd all been sceptic about how well it would work out, but they seemed to be raking in the galleons and customers, who all needed some laughter in their lives. Fred and George were the most perfect people who could do this, Ginny thought.

Swiftly, Diagon Alley was transformed from a dull, lifeless place, to being filled with colour and sound. Ginny was amused by the massive sign in the window advertising 'U-NO-POO', however Mrs Weasley muttered under her breath that they were going to get themselves killed.

They entered the already crowded store to be greeted with the most wondrous sight to any child in the world. The shelves were lined with hundreds of sweets of any sort, to colourful pranks and jokes, to muggle card tricks, to love potions, to shoes which let you walk on walls- literally everything. Ginny was amazed by how much her older brothers had done and began browsing the store and dodging around people. She admired the love potions with Hermione, until the boys caught up with them and laughed. She then moved on to the Pygmy Puffs, which were pink furry animals, and instantly fell in love with one and bought it.

She looked around the shop to find the other three, but couldn't see them anywhere. She knew they would turn up so didn't worry too much. She went to talk to George, and tried to persuade him to give her some chocolate.

"Ginny, have you seen Harry, Ron, or Hermione anywhere?" Her mum rushed over to her, looking rather flushed. "We need to get a move on soon..."

She told her mum she hadn't seen them, and Mrs Weasley hurried away again. Just then, Ginny turned around and was caught off guard by a pair of arms wrapping around her waist and a kiss being gently planted on her forehead.

"Hey Ginny!" exclaimed Dean, "It's great to see you again! It didn't know you'd be here... How are you?"

"Hi Dean, yeah same!" she returned the embrace and a true smile grew upon her face, "We all came to get our school stuff... I'm great, summer has been really fun." They chatted animatedly for several minutes, until Ron came over and told her they had to go now. Ginny bid Dean goodbye with a quick kiss, and promised to meet on the Hogwarts Express.

On the last evening at the Burrow before the students returned to Hogwarts, Mrs Weasley yet again prepared a feast of homely delicious food, making sure to include everyone's favourite dishes and desserts. The Twins joined them, and they sat crowded around the table, so their elbows and arms knocked as they ate. Ginny found herself squished between Harry and Hermione, and squirmed at the memory of her first year and the butter dish accident...

They were all having a wonderful time. They chatted, laughed, ate, messed around, and Fred and George kept them thoroughly amused. Mrs Weasley kept fussing all of them, and almost burst into tears because they were all leaving for school the next day. Ginny reminded herself to give her mum a big hug later. She was the only one of them who really appreciated what her mum did for them all, but didn't show it that much. As a child she always tried to be one of the boys and be tough and not girly, and being surrounded by her older brothers, it isn't much a surprise.

The end of the meal came when everybody was filled with delicious food and homely love. Ginny escaped upstairs to finish packing her trunk for school. She escaped from them all as she needed time to think alone. Her mind was whizzing with summer memories and she felt confounded about why she was drawn to Harry, like a moth to a flame. She really liked Dean, and when she saw him today she was genuinely happy. She was looking forward to spending time with him back at Hogwarts. But Harry was always there. She wondered if she would ever be free of the blushing and tingles when their eyes or skin met.

Ginny finally put the last book in her trunk and began wrestling with the lid to close it. There was a knock, and Harry poked his head around her door. He briefly scanned the room, before chuckling to himself and coming over to help her.

"You need a bit of help there, chaser?"

Ginny, looked up and poked her tongue out in a childish manner. "I'm perfectly alright by myself... Arghh!" Ginny was flung backwards onto the floor and lay in fits of giggles. "Maybe just a little bit of help?"

Harry leant over and pulled her up, laughing along with her. "Of course 'Your Highness'". They shoved the lid down and flicked the catch. They both attempted to take deep breaths to stop giggling, but they caught each other's eyes and it began again. They fell back onto her bed, until they could finally breath normally again.

"Thanks Harry, if I'd have asked one of my brothers they would have killed me..."

Harry shot her a grin and raised his eyebrows, "How do you know I won't? Well not literally but still..."

She looked up, "Ohh I'm scared!" She raised her hands in mock surrender, before emitting a shrill scream of laughter as Harry attacked her with tickles. "Stop it! Owww!"

Harry did and they once again lay there trying to stop giggling. "Ginn, it's going to be weird back at Hogwarts isn't it?"

"What do you mean?" Ginny suddenly realised their position and sat up, blushing a soft pink and covering her face with her hair.

"Well, you'll be with your friends an... and Dean." It was Harry's turn to look away. "I mean, here we're all together, umm... like staying here, well living here. Sorry, I'm babbling."

She shot him a reassuring glance and whispered, "It's been really great. I've had a lush time. Don't worry you can't get rid of me that easily!"

There was an awkward silence, as if they both realised something and then were lost in their own thoughts. Then the door was swung open by Hermione, who was closely followed by Ron, and they snapped out of their trances.

"Guys, what are you doing in here?" Ron obliviously enquired while taking a bite out of yet another slice of sponge cake.

"I was just... Err... Helping Ginny with her trunk" Harry responded, as he stood up, slightly too quickly. Hermione momentary looked at Ginny with one raised eyebrow, but Ginny just turned away and began tidying up something on her window sill. "Night Ginny, Hermione" Harry spoke softly, as he left her room with Ron.

Hermione tried questioning Ginny about her sudden silence. But she just shook her head and she didn't answer with a usual snappy remark. Eventually she gave up and got into the bed across from Ginny's. Hermione carefully whispered into the darkening room, "Ginny, don't worry, whatever will happen this year we don't know. But please don't worry, it'll be alright, you'll see."

Ginny snuggled under her blanket, and decided then and there what she was going to do. She believed it was the right thing. But somehow a single tear trailed down her face just thinking about it.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed my first chapter! It made me want to continue with the story... So I hope you like the second chapter!