Ginny yawned as she came down the steps. Most of her family were already seated there, enjoying breakfast. Bill and Fleur were, of course, at Shell Cottage, but everyone else was there, including Hermione.

Ginny slipped into her seat, hoping her mother wouldn't notice her late arrival. However, not much got past Molly Weasley when it came to her children, and her eyes immediately went to the dark shadows under Ginny's eyes.

"Didn't sleep well again, love?" she asked.

Ginny shook her head, sipping at her cup of tea. Molly pushed a platter of food in front of her.

"Maybe a nice big breakfast will do the trick," she suggested brightly.

Ginny shot her a look, and took a piece of toast and nibbled on the corner. Her mother sighed, dissatisfied. Her dad smiled at her sympathetically and winked at her. Ginny relaxed slightly.

"Hey Shortstuff, how about a fly later?" asked Charlie.

Ginny shrugged. "I thought you'd be at Hogwarts, helping to rebuild?"

Charlie smiled at her. "Yeah, I am, but I'd come home to go flying with you."

Ginny looked at him, until he looked away.

"Maybe after breakfast we can go over my school books from last year. You know, get a head start on the coming school year. I wonder if they'll teach the exact same topics. I know I'm not the only one repeating my last year," said Hermione.

Ginny looked down. She knew what was happening. They were trying to come up with ways to distract her.

"Maybe you girls can come in to Diagon Alley and meet us for lunch?" suggested Ron. George nodded.

Ginny sat up. "Yes, we could-"

"No! No, I'm sorry Ginny. I just don't think it's a good idea," said Molly, firmly.

"Why not?" asked Ginny, trying to hold down her temper.

"You're too young to be gallivanting around Diagon Alley. You're still underage and-"

"But I'd go with Hermione, who's nearly twenty, and we'd be meeting Ron for lunch, who's eighteen," said Ginny.

"I need you to help me around the house. There's a lot of cleaning to be done," said Molly.

"The house has been cleaned from top to bottom. Please, I want to go to Diagon Alley," implored Ginny.

"Molly...?" asked Arthur.

"No. Not till you're of age. Then you can make choices of your own. For now, you will stay here," said Molly.

Ginny stood up from the table, visibly shaking with anger. "Why? Why are you treating me this way. I feel like a prisoner."

Molly gasped. "The Burrow is your home. You're safe here, Ginny."

"Safe from what? There's no more Voldemort, no more Death Eaters. What exactly are you keeping me safe from, mother?" asked Ginny. "Or should I say who?"

Molly flushed. "I don't care for your tone, and I don't wish to discuss this further. If you're finished your breakfast, you can go and clean the hen house and collect the eggs."

"I cleaned the hen house yesterday. I'm going for a shower." Ginny turned and went up the stairs to her bedroom.

Molly sighed, aware that most of the family were watching her. "She barely eats. She's lost weight. She has nightmares. It's like her first year all over again. She needs to be home, where I can keep an eye on her."

"Now, Molly," began Arthur.

"Mum, I don't get it. Why are you being like this with Gin?" asked Ron. Hermione wisely kept her head down, although she was interested to hear Molly's reasonings.

"She hasn't been herself since she woke up in the Infirmary. Merlin only knows what she saw in the forest that night. She was THERE, when Voldemort was killed. She saw everything," cried Molly.

"Ginny told me she and Harry Potter ended him together," said George.

"ENOUGH!" Molly slammed the plate down on the table. "My daughter is not a murderer. She was under the Cruciatus. She would have been too weak. She's a good girl."

"But Dumbledore said-" began Ron.

"I said ENOUGH!" cried Molly. She breathed heavily. "I suggest you get on with your day. If you have nothing to do, I'm sure I can find you something."

"Time to go to work, hey Ron?" said George, hurriedly. Ron nodded, swiping Ginny's barely eaten toast off her plate.

"You ready to head to the Ministry, Dad?" asked Percy.

"You go on, son. I'll see you there later," said Arthur, keeping an eye on Molly.

"I think I'll take my books outside and read near the pond," said Hermione, quickly.

"I'm off to Hogwarts. See you for tea," said Charlie.

One by one they all left. Arthur waited until it was silent, then went into the kitchen. He watched Molly potter around.

"Why won't you let her see him?" he asked her softly.

Molly stiffened. She kept her back to him. "I don't see how that will help her."

"He was there, Molly. When it all went down, he was there with Ginny. Maybe she just needs to talk things over with him," said Arthur.

"She wouldn't talk to that counsellor Dumbledore suggested, so what makes you think talking to Harry Potter will do any good."

"She's been calling out his name in her sleep. Don't you think it's worth a shot?" asked Arthur, worriedly.

"He's the most popular wizard in our world. What makes you think he even remembers our Ginny. He didn't hang around waiting for her to wake up, did he?" argued Molly.

"I had an owl from his godfather. He asked for permission for Harry to see Ginny, at a location and time of hers and our choice. He said he was happy for anyone to accompany her, and that she would be in no danger," said Arthur.

"Why didn't you say anything last night?" asked Molly, her heart beating rapidly.

"I didn't want to say anything in front of the kids, especially Ginny," said Arthur. "and I'm afraid I fell asleep before you came to bed last night."

"No. I absolutely forbid it. If Harry is anything like his godfather, he's a smooth talking charmer. I don't want him anywhere near Ginny. Harry or Sirius Black!"

"Isn't Sirius a second or third cousin of yours Molly?" asked Arthur, trying to appeal to her sense of family.

Molly shook her head. "I know what you're trying to do, Arthur, and my answer is no. Now, off to work with you."

Arthur came forward to hug his wife. He kissed the top of her head. "Please, Molly, just think about it. He could come here, under our own roof. I think it would be good for Ginny. I hate seeing her like she is now."

"Go on with you," said Molly, smiling brightly. "Off to work."

Arthur picked up his case and left. The smile on Molly's face died off and she sank onto a chair. "Merlin help me. I am doing this for Ginny's benefit. I don't want to lose my daughter and she doesn't need to be around wizards like them."

With the days ticking down till Ginny came of age, Molly felt her heart grow heavy.

OooO

Harry woke up and stretched. He'd slept restlessly again. He glanced out the window, and saw it had the beginnings of a nice day. June was creeping by, July would be here soon.

He showered and dressed, before going off to find Sirius. He found him at the breakfast table, reading the paper.

"Any word?" he asked, for the fifth day running.

Sirius lowered the paper. "Morning, Pup. No, no word. I thought I'd go over and speak to her father today. He works at the Ministry."

"Can I go too?" asked Harry, eagerly.

Sirius considered it. "I don't know if that would be for the best. Let me talk to him, get a feel for what's going on?"

Harry sat back glumly. "All right. Could you give him a note to give to Ginny. Please, Sirius?"

Sirius chuckled. "Sure, no problems."

Harry brightened considerably. He pushed away his breakfast, racing upstairs to write a note.

OooO

Hemione knocked lightly before going in to the room she shared with Ginny. "Hi," she said.

"Hi," said Ginny, sitting on the seat near the window.

"So, did you want to come and sit out near the pond and look at my school books. It's going to be a lovely day."

Ginny shrugged.

"Have you thought about what you want to do when you're finished with Hogwarts, what career you want? That will help you in your subject choices," said Hermione.

Ginny watched as the witch droned on and on about career opportunites. She tuned her out and turned back to the window.

How could she explain to Hermione and everyone else the restlessness she felt. That there was so much more waiting for her, just out of reach. That her hunch was that they involved Harry Potter, if only she could talk to him for a while.

She smiled and nodded as Hermione continued her rant.

OooO

"Arthur, please. Harry just wants to talk with her, make sure she's okay. They went through quite an ordeal together. You can understand that, can't you?" asked Sirius.

"Yes, yes, I know, but it's Molly. She's always been over protective of Ginny. Merlin knows, it may help Ginny," said Arthur.

"Help Ginny? What's wrong with her?" asked Sirius.

"She's not sleeping well, she doesn't have much of an appetite, so she's losing weight. It's like her first year all over again," said Arthur, worriedly.

"What happened in her first year?" asked Sirius. He didn't want to mention to Arthur that Harry was experiencing the same things.

Arthur flushed. "Look, it's really not relevant now. Please, let me talk to Molly."

Sirius sighed. "Very well. Look Arthur, Harry wrote a letter to Ginny. Would you see that she gets it please?"

Arthur took it from Sirius and placed it in his pocket. "Of course."

"Goodbye, Arthur. I hope to hear from you soon.

OooO

Molly was going through Arthur pants pockets when she found the parchment. Wondering why Arthur would have a letter addressed to Ginny, she opened it and read it.

For a brief moment, she wondered if she was doing the right thing, keeping Harry and Ginny apart. Harry's letter had just stated that he hoped she was doing well and enjoying her summer holidays. He wrote that he hoped they may meet again, to talk about what they had been through.

It was only as she read his last statement. 'I can't get you out of my mind,' that Molly knew in her heart she was doing the right thing.

She destroyed the letter.

One day, Ginny may even thank her for this.