This chapter is kind of short but I promise to try to keep the upcoming chapters at a normal length.

Chapter 9

The next few days were a blur of activity. All lessons were suspended, all examinations postponed. Many of the students were pulled out of school by worried parents.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were spending all their time together. It was cruel how the weather could be so beautiful when the world seemed so bleak. They frequented the hospital wing, visiting twice a day. Neville was released, though Bill remained under care.

"I supposed I'm going to have to accept that he's going to marry her." Ginny said about Fleur later one evening, as she, Harry, Ron and Hermione saw beside the window in the Gryffindor common room.

"She's not so bad." Harry said. "Ugly though. " He added when Ginny glared at him.

"I suppose if Mum can handle it, so can I."

"Anyone else we know died?" Ron asked Hermione as she flipped through the Evening Prophet.

"No," she said. "They're still looking for Snape though."

Ginny shifted uncomfortably. Every mention of Snape made her think of Draco, who had disappeared with the Death Eaters.

"They won't find him. " Harry said, who became angry whenever the subject came up.

"I'm going to bed." yawned Ginny. "I haven't been sleeping that well lately." She kissed Harry, which made Ron look away suddenly.

Ginny went up to her dorm, climbing onto her bed. The dorm was incredibly empty. She could hardly stand it.

Ginny sat beside Harry at breakfast. Her eyes followed his to the Slytherin table. Poor Harry. She thought.

Professor McGonagall stood and Ginny nudged Harry in the ribs.

"It's nearly time." She announced. "Please follow your Heads of Houses."

The Gryffindors rose and followed McGonagall out onto the grounds. The funeral was solemn. There were many people there, most of whom Ginny didn't recognize. Many members of the Order showed up, in addition to an assorted number of people.

As the funeral drew to a close, Ginny chanced a glance at Harry. His eyes locked with hers and it was almost as if she could read his mind. She knew what was coming. This was the end and she would have to let him go.

"Ginny, listen..." Harry said quietly. "We have to stop seeing each other. We can't be together."

An odd smile curved her lips as she said, "It's for some stupid, noble reason, isn't it?"

"These last few weeks, they've been like a dream to me." He said. "But I can't... we can't do this. I've got to do this on my own."

Ginny didn't cry. She knew it wouldn't help.

"Voldemort's using people close to me. He already used you once, don't you remember? And you were only my best friend's sister then." He told her. "He'll find out about us. Imagine how much danger you'll be in then."

He ruins everything. The only thing I have left and he's taking it away. "What if I don't care?" She said fiercely.

"I do care." He said. "I couldn't handle it if this was your funeral and it was my fault."

"I never gave up on you Harry." Ginny said. "Not really. I always hoped that one day, maybe, you'd notice me. Hermione told me to get on with life and date other people. She thought you might notice me more if you could see the real me."

"Smart girl, that Hermione." said Harry. "I just wish I'd asked you sooner. Then we could have had so much more time together."

"Yeah. But you've been too busy saving the world. Maybe that's why I like you so much. But then, I knew this would happen in the end." She kissed him on the cheek. "You're a wonderful guy, Harry." She said, walking away.

Ginny headed over to Luna and Neville. "Hey Neville. How are you feeling?"

Neville smiled. "Better, thanks. How are you doing Gin?"

"Oh you know. Things could be better."

"Well, at least you have Harry." Luna remarked.

She looked away. "Not really. Harry and I, we, uh, we just broke up."

"Why?" Neville asked.

"Oh you know Harry." she said. "He's busy being a hero and doesn't want to put me in danger."

"You're handling this all awful well." Neville said.

"It's not as if I hadn't seen it coming." Ginny said. "Honestly guys, I'm okay. Do you guys want to get a seat on the train?"

"Sure." Luna smiled.