When Harry finally got back to the school the morning sun was starting to rise, and Hogwarts looked like it had seen better days, there was smoke billowing from the astronomy tower, and the walls looked like they had been blasted at. Chunks of rock lay scattered across the floors and many a window was smashed, and yet it didn't seem foreboding.
Harry walked to the entrance doors, they were hanging dangerously by their hinges, then he walked up the staircase, the paintings were all but ruined; only a few remained behind.
"My dear boy!" one exclaimed as he saw Harry.
"What happened?" Harry asked desperately.
"It was just a mass of fighting, horrible, I can't tell, blood, everywhere," The portrait shuddered, he looked ill, and Harry could see blood splattered over his canvas.
And suddenly terrified Harry ran up the stairs, he ran and ran, until he reached the portrait entrance to Gryffindor common room, but she wasn't there.
"MELANIE! GINNY! MELANIE!" Harry bellowed, hitting the portrait, trying desperately to get through.
"They're not here Harry," A gentle vice said from behind Harry, the young man spun around to find Dumbledore standing there looking older then ever before.
"Where are they?" Harry demanded.
"They left for the Heads private study area, but Harry, they believe you're dead," Dumbledore told him. "They are now at Emma's house."
"Why do they think I'm dead?" Harry asked.
"You've been gone nearly a week," Dumbledore told him.
"Wait no, no; I've been gone for hours maybe, but not that long. I went to get the key, I needed it, Voldemort was going to get it soon. So I got it." Harry said confused. Dumbledore nodded.
"All I ask next time Harry is for a little warning before you disappear in such dire times," Dumbledore said, Harry nodded.
"How did the battle go, I guess we won, but what was the price?" Harry asked.
"We neither won nor lost Harry, but the price we paid was grave. Three of our teachers died, Filius Flitwick, Argus Filch and Bathsheda Babbling. Professors McGonagall, Snape and Trelawney have been put in St Mungo's. The school has been closed, and won't open for another week, by which time we will be in early October. And Several Aurors lost their lives." Dumbledore said.
"No students died?" Harry asked.
"No but I'm afraid we lost some of our members to join the Deatheaters ranks, such a shame," Dumbledore said, Harry looked at the elderly man and saw the disappointment etched into his face, and for the first time he could really see how much hope he held in his students.
"I have the key on me." Harry told his headmaster after a pause.
"Amazing isn't it Harry?" Dumbledore said.
"It's everything a good school should be made of," Harry said. "It reminded me of people, my family, friends, and you sir." Harry said, total honesty.
"Thank you Harry," Dumbledore said, Harry saw more emotion on the mans face and felt heat rise to his cheeks, but it was only the truth.
Melanie had locked herself away for the last couple of days, she hadn't eaten, all she had was a glass of water. It was scaring Draco and Ginny, but Ginny was also a mess, she spent most of her time crying, though holding onto the distant hope that Harry was alive. Christopher didn't say a word to anyone. The Potter household was truly broken. And yet the feeling of death wasn't quite there. The pang didn't occur, the pang of losing someone loved, but still the pure terror of it had eaten away at them for the last week.
So there was a great fuss when Dumbledore appeared in the living room, and not alone, Ginny and Hermione started to scream before throwing themselves at Harry and knocking him the floor. Eventually Hermione got up and settle for hugging everyone else in the room, while Ginny remained on top on Harry, snogging him senseless.
Ron and Draco were hugging, Blaise was hugging Hermione and Pansy was dancing when Melanie came down the stairs, tears streaming down her face. She saw the hugging and dancing then she saw Ginny on top of another boy.
"I can't Believe y-" Melanie started to shout when Ginny got off of Harry and he sat up looking dishevelled.
For a moment silence fell, everything stopped, and then she threw herself at Harry, knocking him to the floor once more, hugging him so tightly he couldn't breathe.
"I thought you were dead!" Melanie cried.
When she had finished hugging Harry she then went to Christopher and latched onto him.
A celebration started, Molly was cooking as if tomorrow would never come, the Weasley boys, including Fleur and Bill and Charlie, who had come to the house at the news Harry was dead. Ginny was not to be separated from Harry all night, and he was only to happy with that.
When the clock struck two am, Harry decided it was time he went to bed, he was starting to get tired; he bid good night to everyone then left for his room.
Just as he settled down in bed, the door to his room opened, and there stood Ginny, dressed in her worn jeans and fitted purple jumper. She smiled slightly at Harry as he sat up in his bed.
"I was so scared that I had lost you," Ginny said softly, she stepped towards him slightly, still leaving about ten foot between her and his bed. Only coming any closer when he held out his hand to her, slowly she sat on his bed and laced her fingers through his.
"I'm sorry," Harry said, he pulled her close, and sat her on his lap over the covers.
"I was scared that you wouldn't return, and I know we're still only kids Harry, but I love you so much. I don't want a life without you..." Ginny said softly, so softly it was almost whisper.
Harry pulled her closer still and kissed her head, he didn't want her to be feeling like this, because he wasn't around.
"Harry?" Ginny said. He looked at her, but was caught off guard when she kissed him hard, her tongue ran across his bottom lip, asking for entrance, he allowed, and soon her was roaming his mouth, moaning as he kissed her back. And soon he was out of the covers, lying on top of his girlfriend, with nothing other then her on his mind, then she did something that slightly shocked him, she pulled away long enough so she could pull her jumper over her head, then returned to kissing Harry.
And slowly but surely his hands moved from her hips, over her flat stomach, Ginny moaned once more as his hands moved over the soft skin.
Harry's lips left Ginny's plump lips long enough for him to nibble and suck at the skin on her neck, then down until he reached her collar bone, then again further down, Ginny arched her back slightly and Harry took his chance to unclasp her bra, then pull it down her arms.
Then Ginny annoyed with her jeans stopping her skin from touching Harry's undid the buttons and then pulled them down, around her ankles then kicked them to the floor. Then she did something a little more daring and pulled down Harry's boxers, the last remaining bit of clothing on him. They had never gotten so far with each other before, well, not with anyone else either.
The next Morning Ginny awoke with Harry's arm around her waist, and then realised that she was completely naked. She scrambled away from Harry then pulled the cover off him so she could get her knickers back on and one of his t-shirts.
"Gin, what are you doing?" Harry groaned, Ginny smiled, at him, he looked so cute.
"I'm getting some clothes on," Ginny told him. This caused Harry to laugh.
"Unless you plan on going somewhere you don't need them, remember last night, I kinda saw you naked," Harry said grinning; he smirked when Ginny playfully swiped at him.
"I know that, it's just that we're not quite at the point of walking around in the nude." Ginny said.
Eventually the pair found themselves down the in kitchen; Ginny by now had changed into a black skirt, with purple tights and a white t-shirt.
"You look nice Ginny," Emma said setting a rather large portion in front of her, consisting of several bits of bacon, three sausages, a large mound of beans, a lot of scrambled eggs, and two pieces of toast, the smile on the younger girls face told all, and she would surely be hungry.
Ginny flushed red; she could see the smirks on most the adult faces, even receiving a wink from Tonks.
"Have you guys read this?" Hermione asked as she walked in carrying the Daily Prophet. She put the paper on the table.
Thirza School hits back
After all thesae attacks, The Irish school of Magic is hitting back and stating that anyone who supports He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will not be allowed to attend the school. This is a very much supported idea, after the attack at Hogwarts only a week ago, 'limit the magical ability and limit the damage'… (Story continues on the page 6 & 7)
"Are you going to see Sev today?" Melanie asked as she walked into the room, Emma took her attention form Ginny and smiled at her Goddaughter.
"Of course, they say he should be out in time for school, Minerva though, may not. Belle has taken her place, just until she gets better." Emma said, Melanie beamed at Belle.
"Wicked."