Disclaimer: Nah Harry isn't mine. Sadly.

This is another favourite chapter of mine. It just really has a lot of emotions in it. I hope you like it. I'm sorry for the delay but I had my first As Level exam today and well things have been chaotic. Will update more often though as my next exam isn't for ages.

12 Grimmauld Place

Harry and Hermione hurried up the drive of 12 Grimmauld place. Breathless and heart racing, Harry's sweaty hand opened the door. He walked in and Hermione followed close behind.

Along the hall Harry could see the kitchen door slightly ajar, a beam of light peeped through the gap and rested on the old painting of Sirius' mother. Harry stopped walking suddenly and wiped his hands on his trousers.

He scratched his stubble and adjusted his glasses nervously. Hermione placed a hand on his arm and said "Go on," in a gentle voice. Harry breathed as he ran a hand through his messy hair and nodded. He walked quickly to the door and pushed it open.

"Ginny?" He asked in a hushed voice. He peered round the door his eyes lingered over the dark kitchen table and then he looked across the room to the fireplace. The fire was ablaze and a red headed woman sat on the floor with her back to him.

As soon as Harry spoke the woman turned around, her dark brown eyes overpowering and strong but full of tears. Harry's breath caught in his chest and his eyes were wet. It was his Ginny. She was back.

Ginny pushed herself up to a standing position and ran into Harry's outstretched arms. "Oh Harry," she sobbed as she buried her head into his chest. Their arms were wrapped around each other tightly and they held each other as if the world would crash apart if they let go.

Ginny's body shook but she no longer felt feeble. She was shaking with anger and frustration. She had been fighting against being under someone else' control for so many years and was enslaved by a spell, Harry's hold on Ginny tightened as anger roared through his whole being.

He kissed the top of her head and stroked her hair. Then he did something he had not allowed himself to do for so long. He laid his head on top of Ginny's and sobbed. Tears ran down his cheeks and wet Ginny's hair but she didn't appear to mind. She was crying too.

No one could say how long the two of them stayed like that. Hermione never entered the kitchen behind Harry- perhaps it was to give them privacy, Harry didn't know.

By the time the two of them had stopped crying and broke apart ever so slightly, sunlight streamed through the kitchen windows and the fire had died down. The two of them looked at each other, both had red eyes and their breathing was uneven.

Harry leaned forward and brushed his lips over Ginny's. She responded to his touch and captured his lips in hers. They broke apart softly then kissed again and again. The kisses were light, innocent kisses- the kind that an old married couple share during a tender moment. Harry cupped Ginny's face in his hands and gave her one last kiss and took her hands in his. Ginny smiled weakly then closed her eyes as more tears leaked out and she bowed her head. The two of them sat down at the table.

Harry heard birds singing outside and the windows rattling as the wind howled. The sunlight grew stronger and soon the dark kitchen was bright and cheerful. He squeezed Ginny's pale hands slightly and she looked up at him. He could feel his eyes twinkle as he looked at her.

"I love you." He said simply. Ginny smiled and closed her eyes as if she was savouring the moment. Then she opened them again her eyes giving away her feelings of fear and dread.

Harry's smile disappeared as he looked at her concerned. "What's wrong?" he asked softly. She fidgeted in her seat uncomfortably.

"I probably know the answer, but I have to know for sure." She said in a rasping voice. Harry still looked puzzled.

"Are my parents dead?" Ginny asked quietly. Harry felt like his heart had been squeezed and his scar throbbed with pain. He closed his eyes and felt something heavy on his chest.

"-yes" he whispered as hurt seared throughout his body. He had been too busy focussing on Ginny to remember what he saw at the Burrow. He knew that he must return and bury the bodies, but part of him wanted to run far away from the Burrow and never return. Ginny's face paled but she didn't cry. Instead, she simply nodded her head slightly.

"-And my brothers?" She asked. Harry rubbed his thumb across her smooth knuckles and sighed.

"Fred and George. The rest survived." He said. He kept his eyes away from Ginny, he looked at the dirty floor, the grimy ceiling, the stone fireplace, the wooden table, the brilliant sunlight outside the windows, anywhere to avoid looking at Ginny.

"Where's Hermione?" Ginny asked in a slightly stronger voice. Harry looked back at her and watched her wipe her eyes and clear her throat. Harry shrugged.

"I guess she's in the other room." He said as he looked at the kitchen door. "She didn't follow me in..." Harry trailed off. Ginny nodded and stood up.

"We should find her and help her find Ron. You and I both know the pain of being away from the people we love." Harry nodded gravely and stood. The two of them walked out of the kitchen, hand in hand.

They walked along the hall and entered the living room intending to find Hermione on one of the sofas, perhaps reading or something. However, the room was completely empty. Harry and Ginny exchanged confused looks and decided to split up. Ginny checked the second floor whilst Harry made his way to the third. Every room Harry looked in was empty. He pushed open the door to Buckbeak's room and found it empty. Panic overcame him. Buckbeak was gone. He dashed down the stairs and found Ginny hurrying out of a room with a piece of parchement in her hands. She waved it at Harry looking worried.

"Harry!" she exclaimed.

"Buckbeak's gone." Harry said quickly. Ginny thrust the parchment into Harry's hands and said "Read." Her face screwed up in anger and she paced about the hallway as Harry looked down at the parchment. It was a letter written in Hermione's handwriting.

"Dear Harry and Ginny,

I have gone to find Ron. Please don't worry about me. Take care of yourselves.

Love, Hermione."

Harry looked up seething. How dare she go off on her own. "She's never done something so foolish before!" Harry said angrily. He ran his hand through his hair and held the bridge of his nose between his fingers, trying to calm the throbbing pain in his head. Ginny shook her head.

"Love does crazy things to people." She said as she stopped pacing. "I'm not mad at the fact that she's gone, but the fact that she didn't tell us where she's heading." Harry nodded in agreement.

"So what can we do?" Harry asked helplessly. He stared down at the note in hope that a clue would jump out in his face.

"Wait, you said Buckbeak is gone?" Ginny said suddenly. Harry blinked.

"Yeah." He said slowly. Something wasn't right there. Why would Hermione need Buckbeak when she could easily apparate somewhere?

"Hermione hates flying Buckbeak…why would she take him?" Ginny asked. Harry looked up at Ginny confused.

"That really doesn't make sense," he said. The Ginny gasped with a sudden thought.

"What?" Harry asked quickly. Ginny shook her head.

"No way," she said to herself. "She wouldn't, my gosh she's clever! I would never have thought…." Harry blinked again.

"What?" he repeated.

"Buckbeak! He's like a bird right?" Harry looked at Ginny worriedly, thinking perhaps the spell had left her insane. She certainly was acting like she was mad.

"I guess…" he said slowly. Ginny hit her forehead with frustration.

"Seriously Harry, for someone who saved the world, you're not very quick." She said. Harry sighed exasperatingly.

"Just tell me what's going on," he said quickly. Ginny gave him a look.

"Buckbeak, he has the same intuition as a bird right? Like an owl?" she said slowly. Harry gasped as a sudden realisation dawned on him

"…and owls can find anyone….Hedwig never had a problem." He continued. Ginny nodded quickly.

"She's gone on Buckbeak because she thinks that he'll know where Ron is." Ginny said. Harry smiled at Hermione's cleverness.

"But how do we get to Hermione?" Harry asked. Ginny closed her mouth and bit her lip.

"I'm not sure." She murmured. Harry rubbed his chin and winced as his stubble pulled at his skin. He absentmindedly got out his wand, muttered a spell and felt his chin again. Smooth. Much better.

He flicked the parchment to the other side and saw a sentence quickly scrawled on the back. Harry looked closer at the note and squinted to make out the miniscule writing.

It said: "I have the mirror." He looked up and grinned. Ginny looked at Harry puzzled.

"What is it?" she asked. Harry hurriedly took out the pocket mirror which he kept in his pocket. He gave a quick smile to Ginny who suddenly looked hopeful and then held the mirror firmly infront of him. He said clearly. "Hermione Granger." The mirror grew foggy for a few moments then Hermione's face came into view. She looked windswept and petrified.

"Harry," she gasped. "This is horrible." If Harry was in a better mood he would have chuckled.

"Where are you?" he asked urgently. Hermione looked down and then back at him.

"I think I'm flying to some sort of village. There's a big old mansion ahead, and a large graveyard…"

Harry jumped and yelled "Don't let Buckbeak land until I get there. Ginny and I are apparating there immediately." Hermione nodded and disappeared.

Ginny took Harry's hand. "Do you know where she is?" she asked. Harry nodded speechless. He stuffed the mirror and his wand in his pocket and looked at her.

"Imagine a graveyard. Apparate to Tom Riddle's house." He said quickly. He turned and with a final look at Ginny's horrified face, he apparated.

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