Talking to the Moon

I don't own anything in the HPverse

Chapter 3: First Shift

"I'll take first shift" Harry said grabbing a hold of the Horcrux and putting it around his neck. Making sure he hand his wand, Harry grabbed a chair and went outside into the cold. He doubted whether Hermione or Ron even heard him.

This was no regular camping trip. There would be no roasted marshmallows or late night ghost stories. Harry could hear Ron's quiet bickering and Hermione's whispered rebuttals. So this isn't what they were expecting. Truthfully speaking this wasn't what Harry was expecting either. He knew it would be no picnic. There were hunting pieces of Voldemort's soul after all. Things were just going so slowly. It felt like it took them ages just to find this horcrux, they had no idea how to destroy it, plus there were three more they had to find.

All these new revelations about Dumbledore made Harry wonder if he was right. What if he underestimated Voldemort? What if he made more than six horcruxes? What if they're better protected than anyone could imagine. That cave? Harry would have never known to look there and alone he wouldn't have known how to make it past those enchantments. What if the others were safeguarded as well? How would they get past them? Would he or one of his friends be forced into drinking another horrid potion? Was each defense different?

Harry didn't want to seem ungrateful. He was glad for whatever help Dumbledore did give them, even if it isn't turning out the way he expected. he had to do this. Neither can live while the others survive. He has to finish this..

Would he survive it?

Harry shook the thought out of his head. He had so many questions and no answers.

Like always his life seemed to be out of his hands. He wanted to tell that prophecy, destiny, and fate they could all go to hell, but he knew it would do no good.

Harry wasn't out here in the cold, starving, with no place to call home, on an impossible mission because of fate. He was out here because he was one of the three living people who knew the truth about Voldemort's immortality. When he ends it, if he ends it, Harry didn't know what he would do.

Harry never thought about the future. Growing up he didn't know how he was going to escape the Dursleys. Each school year at Hogwarts he just thought about making it pass the year, not what he would do afterwards. Sure being an auror was his dream job, but Harry didn't see how that was going to happen now. He's skipping out on his last year of school, so no NEWTs for him.

What would he do when, if, Voldemort is gone?

An image of a redhead beauty popped into his mind. Ginny. Just by thinking her name Harry could almost smell the scent of her flowery shampoo. He missed her so much already.

Harry had already berated himself for not noticing her sooner. With so much constantly going on he didn't have much of a chance for a love life, but through it all Ginny was always there.

It wasn't enough, just thinking about the private moments they had. Harry wanted more. He wished he had a picture of her or something. In old days girls used to give guys a lock of hair to remember them by. Harry shook the thought from his head. It might have seemed cool back then, but now having a lock of a girl's hair just seemed creepy and stalker like. Hair could be used in potions and he'd hate to think of what would happen to Ginny's hair in the wrong hands.

If only there was a way he could see her. Check to make sure she's doing okay. What if something happens at the school? Snape has been known to commit murder before. Would she be safe at the school?

Suddenly a thought entered Harry's head and he quickly reached around his neck for his moleskin pouch. With fumbling fingers he opened it and pulled out an old piece of parchment.

Drawing his wand he muttered "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good"

As the map started to fill itself Harry began looking for Ginny's name. It was night time and no doubt she'd be up in the Gryffindor Tower. He searched the sixth year girl's dormitory but her bed was empty. Harry frowned. There was no finder spell on the map. If she wasn't in the bed where was she? A hundred crazy scenarios passed through his head, but Harry blew them all off.

Yes Snape is the new headmaster. Hogwarts wasn't Hogwarts any more. There was no telling what rule changes where implemented. Ginny is underage so it's not like she could've been there with him. School was mandatory. But oh boy if it wasn't. Would it be him and Ginny keeping warm in the tent while the others kept watch? Would he be holding her, smelling her hair, kissing her soft lips. They had so little time together, yet it felt like he was in love with her his whole life.

After Harry searched the whole Gryffindor Tower began to search elsewhere. He didn't know how long he stared at the map. It felt like hours past. Clouds overhead shifted, uncovering the moon and giving him more light. And then he finally found it. Ginny, Neville, and Luna all appeared on the seventh floor.

Harry smiled to himself. While he didn't like the thought of Ginny sneaking around the castle at night, he could hardly berate her for it. He had done so, so many times it would be hypocritical. He wondered what they were doing? If they were meeting with other students. If they were revolting.

Harry smiled. Of course they were.

Ginny was always one for speaking her mind. There was no way she'd spend her year meekly doing whatever death eaters told her to do. She was strong.

Harry felt a great rush of pride. While they may not be together anymore, she will always be the one for him. His eyes followed her name as it moved down the hallways feeling a little guilty. He should have given her the map. He didn't know the school was going to be taken over by death eaters, but he should have given it to her when he realized that he wouldn't be attending Hogwarts anymore. If she had the map she'd be able to use it to stay out of trouble. Well, to not get caught anyway.

Harry watched as Ginny entered her dorm. She paused by her bed and Harry guessed she was changing into her night clothes. A faint blush tinted his cheeks as he imagined it. In all of their private times Harry had never seen in a state of undress. Sure he had felt up her shirt a bit, traced the lace outline of her knickers but it never gotten much further than that. Harry felt his cheeks heat up and knew it was probably time he changed his train of thought.

Ginny's name moved to the bed and moved no more. Harry stared at the dot. He hoped that maybe she was dreaming about him. He wondered if she missed him as much as he missed her. She was very popular after all, and any guy would be lucky to have her. Harry shook his head. What he felt for Ginny was real and he was quite certain she felt the same way. She wouldn't move on to someone else. He just had to hope that when this was all over she'd still feel the same way.