Dear Harry

I love you. Did you know that? I never got the chance to tell you before you had to leave the burrow and so, by writing this down, I hope that someday you will know, that I will be able to tell you in person, and I will tell you every, single day.

Some people think that I ought to be angry with you; saddened by you; maddened by you: but I just can't Harry James, I just can't. You know why? - Because I am so damn proud of you! Yes you, you may think you're nothing special but, and you better believe me, you are so goddamn special! To me, to Ron and Hermione, to everyone in this world!

I have tried! Oh Merlin, have I tried to be angry, to be upset with you, but I can't stop missing you long enough to be angry with you. It's insane – I know – you're probably laughing at me for this letter – but, Harry James Potter, I don't care - I want you back in my life. I know we were only properly together for an unfairly short amount of time, but those few months were the best of my life.

A part of me wants to be unbelievably selfish and to tell you to come back and hide and not to leave me: but I can't do that. I know you, Harry. And I know how much this mission of yours means to you and to defeating Voldemort, and I want you to be happy and free and safe, and for that you need to go on this mission. The logical part of my brain tells me that whilst you're with Ron and Hermione, you'll be alright, because with Hermione's brains and the courage of all three of you, you can't really go wrong. But there is a part of me that doesn't recognise these things, and thinks of the death eaters, and Harry, there are these people called snatchers – death-eater minions and wannabes essentially, so be careful, please Harry.

Fred and George are still making us smile and laugh when we don't feel like it, but it makes us feel better. The other day they started shooting those muggle streamers out of George's ear hole – you should have heard Mum shout about how insensitive and inappropriate it was and how they should start acting more mature. It was great because for a moment, we all forgot and had a laugh, something which we all miss doing but can't bring ourselves to do.

I wish that I could tell you more tales about Fred and George's pranks, but this war is taking its toll on us all, Harry, and I won't lie about that. Dad's going crazy, having to go into work and pretend like this is how he wants it, but we need to survive this, and if that means that Dad goes to work and I go to school soon, then I guess that's how it will have to be. I hate to write this to you, I really do, but you are my strength, my courage and my determination; because whilst I can hold onto the thought of you coming home to me, safe and alive, then I can live through this war.

I'm scared Harry. I hate to admit this, but I would be lying if I said that I wasn't scared. I don't know what school will bring, but I'm telling you this now, I will not buckle under those death eaters and don't you dare tell me stay safe and keep a low profile, because anything and everything that will help you, I will do. I don't know what school will be like, who knows how much power the old teachers will have, because there will probably be a few vacancies. I hope McGonagall is head, but somehow, I don't think that will happen. You see, when I was hiding in yours and Ron's room, I found some extendable ears that the twins left behind, so I've been picking and choosing my moments to listen to conversations between members of the order. It seems like...Voldemort... has gained potions full worth of power over the summer since Dumbledore died, and even more now that the Ministry has fallen. So, I can't help but think that Hogwarts isn't going to be so safe anymore.

Remus and Tonks are happy. Both of them, but particularly Remus, seems to have gained a new lease of life, an energy and vibrancy that he lacked for most of the time I have known him. Thankfully he isn't living with the other werewolves anymore, it's too dangerous and Tonks (thankfully) has made sure that he's safe and relatively pain-free at the full moon – it turns out she's pretty good at brewing potions so he's managed to continue taking the Wolfsbane potion without Snape.

Bill and 'Flem' are happy too and have found their own house: Shell Cottage. It's on the south coast, right next to the sea. Bill doesn't fully transform, but he doesn't stay the Bill we know either, so it's best for them to be there because it's so secluded. It's changed into a safe place for anyone on our side to go to if they're in danger, the Burrow and Grimmauld place are too risky now and as far as we know, no one knows about Shell Cottage.

Percy is still an arrogant twat. But it's really taken its toll on Mum now. I think she hoped, well we all did, that when the Ministry fell then he would wake up and see sense: but he hasn't. She cried like it had only just happened, it was horrible.

Harry James Potter, you look after yourself, and my brother and my honorary sister, because I can't bear the thought of losing any of you. I love you, you are my first and only love, so don't you dare make me miss you more than I do now because I don't know how I could cope.

I love you. Come home safe.

Ginny

xxxx