Chapter 2

"Harry!" Hermione yelled, running over to her friend and hugging him.

"Hermione, it's good to see you." He said. He sounded like he had a cold. Looking up, it was only then that Hermione noticed that there were tears glistening on Harry's cheek. She gingerly wiped them away and hugged him nearer. Harry put his arms around his friends shoulders and looked behind her. As much as he loved Hermione, there was someone else he was eager to see. Ginny. He watched as she sat on one of the little wooden chairs, staring into space in a daydream, subconsciously twirling a lock of red hair around her index finger, biting down on her bottom lip with her perfectly even, white teeth...She was stunning. Hermione elbowed him in the ribs.

"Quit staring." She muttered. Hermione and Harry had a bond that nobody else could understand. People used to think the pair were in love, but it became evidently clear that they were wrong when Harry went after Cho Chang and Hermione went for Viktor Krum. The pair loved each other like siblings. They could tell each other anything at all, no matter how bad or silly it was. Having both been brought up by Muggle families, they understood each other a lot better than Ron, as he was brought up in a purely magical atmosphere. Harry knew that for a number of years, Hermione had been interested in Seamus Finnigan but it was sort of wearing off now. Hermione knew that Harry had a crush on Cho Chang, but in the last term of school, she had found out that Harry was actually interested in Ginny. She knew how guilty he must feel, with Gin being Ron's younger sister and all, but she couldn't help being pleased about his choice in girl all the same. Harry and Hermione had been through countless situations together and were practically brother and sister and nobody could break that bond.

"Sorry." Harry murmured, trying to draw his eyes away from Ginny.

"When does Bill get here?" Hermione piped up. Mrs Weasley, who was making dinner, turned around with an eager smile.

"He'll be here in twenty minutes. Why don't you all get washed and changed for him coming? And Ginny, dear, would you be kind enough to alert the twins?" Molly continued. Ginny sighed once more and got up to tell Fred and George.

"Ginny and Hermione, you two better hurry, you're both still covered in paint." Molly said, shaking her head at the girls. Harry looked Hermione up and down and took in her appearance. She had her hair pulled into a ponytail that didn't even reach her shoulders, she was wearing a red, off-one-shoulder top, with light denim ripped jeans and a pair of red converse trainers. She was splattered with lilac paint. There were smudges of it on her shirt, smears across her cheeks and flecks in her hair. Harry smiled. He liked seeing her loosened up. She needed a bit of fun in her life.

"Yes, I'd better go change." She said, running out of the room. She headed up the stairs and into the room she was sharing with Ginny. She pulled open her suitcase and rifled through it, searching for something presentable to wear. She finally managed to get all the paint out of her hair and let it hang in loose curls around her shoulders. She put on a light blue with little white dots crop top, and light jeggings, before padding down to the kitchen.

Ginny on the other hand, after going into George's room and seeing him lying on the bed, staring into space and then into Fred's room and getting yelled at, had decided she wanted to make an effort and impress Harry. She went back to her room and slipped on a loose fitting, navy blue and white striped t-shirt and black jeans, and left her hair straight and falling down her back, all the way to her tiny waist. She bounded down the stairs to the kitchen and sat down, in between Harry and where Bill would sit.

"Ginny, darling, are Fred and George coming down?" Molly asked, anxiously.

"I doubt it, Mum." She replied sadly. Molly's face fell. It suddenly hit her that she probably wouldn't have another family dinner where they were all there. Trying hard not to cry, Molly turned back and started to put dinners onto plates.

"Now, Harry, do you like parsnips, because-" But Molly was stopped by a loud pop and the sound of footsteps beside her.

"Hello, fellow Weasleys." Came a cheeky voice. At once, the whole family chorused "Bill" and Hermione and Harry gazed on lovingly, wondering what it was like to be part of a family like the Weasleys.

"Bill, darling, it's nice to see you again." Molly cooed at her eldest son.

"Nice to see you all too." He said. "Boy, I'm hungry." This statement, pleased Mrs Weasley immensely.

"Good to hear it, Bill, dinner is just being put out. You'll be sitting on the end there, next to Ginny." She smiled. Ginny jumped up and hugged Bill. It was no secret that Bill and Ginny had a special bond. Bill was her favorite sibling and Ginny was his.

"Hey little one." He smiled and ruffled her hair before sitting down and being handed his plate. He began to eat ravenously, enjoying everything his mother had made for them. Everyone enjoyed the meals at The Burrow. Mrs Weasley was an excellent cook! Nobody spoke while they ate, and they ate for quite some time, eventually finishing up and having a slice of apple pie, homemade, once again, by Mrs Weasley.

"Ah, you've all ate a good meal, go and sit down in the living room now." Mrs Weasley said, flicking her wand and the dished began cleaning themselves. Everyone trooped in and sat down, rubbing their full stomachs. After some small talk, Bill took a deep breath before addressing the more serious issue.

"So, are we going to talk about this?" He asked.

"Talk about what sweetheart?" Molly asked.

"This. The family."

"Maybe we should go..." Harry said, taking Hermione's arm and getting up.

"No, no you two. Stay where you are." Molly said, so sharply that the both sat down immediately. "Yes. We're going to talk about it. But we need the twins first." Molly said, folding her arms across her chest.

"I'll get them." Ginny said, running upstairs and getting both boys. A few moments later, the three Weasley's arrived back.

"Sit down boys." Molly said, tiredly. She looked around the room at her four children, her husband, Harry and Hermione. She took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Your father and I were speaking to a Healer yesterday." She said. "He was telling us about Charlie's current state. He said it didn't look like he had much longer." Tears started to roll down Molly's cheeks. Arthur buried his head in his hands, the twins both shared identical looks of utter shock, Ginny let out a squeal and Bill went pale white. Bill and Charlie had also been very close.

"No. No. Mum you're wrong." Bill said, shaking his head.

"Bill, sweetheart..." Molly tried to hug him but he stood up angrily. His protests had now turned to shouts.

"No! You're wrong! Charlie's going to pull through this. He has to!" He said, beginning to cry. Suddenly Ginny was very scared. Bill never cries. Ever.

"Bill, you need to understand that when Charlie was fighting that dragon, he gave it his all. The dragon had already killed hundreds of people and he finally managed to finish it off." Molly cried.

"So he had to sacrifice his self?" Bill yelled.

"He was a brave man." Molly whispered.

"No Mum. He is a brave man. Stop saying was." Bill said, storming out of the living room and back to his old room, where he had slept many years ago.

He looked over at his alarm clock and noted that it was 03:57.

"Great." He thought as he rolled over in bed again.

After his little outburst after dinner about Charlie, Bill had retreated to his room and unpacked his belongings. Then he took a shower and got into bed. He just lay in bed, lost in his thoughts. He thought about the time he and Charlie had broken all of their mum's best China and blamed Percy. He thought of the time he and Charlie had tried to dye Professor Dumbledore's beard bubblegum pink. He thought of the time that he and Charlie had hidden in the twins wardrobe and waited until they'd fell asleep before drawing on their faces. Then he started thinking about his other siblings. Percy hadn't even bothered to speak to them, make sure that they're okay or anything. He could never understand Percy. He was always the odd one out of the family. But something seemed to be bothering Fred. He noticed straight away that Fred was angry about something. It wasn't like him. He was usually making jokes here, there and everywhere. So was George. But George had retreated into himself and wasn't speaking to anyone. Not even Fred. Fred and George's relationship was the strongest of the whole family, so he couldn't understand why they were no longer speaking. Ron was missing and nobody was bothering to look for him. It all seemed normal. That was something he couldn't comprehend. Why was nobody looking for Ron? It was a tricky subject to work out, but he was determined to get to the bottom of it. And then there's Ginny. This can't be going very well with her. Her whole lives been turned upside down lately. Then there was Fleur and Victoire. He missed them so much. Even though he and Fleur were having a lot of troubles, he wanted her back. But he couldn't have her. And he wanted to be happy with his baby girl again. He thought of her, lying in her little bed, looking like a princess, sound asleep and nice and peaceful. He sighed. He was going to have to have quite a few serious talks the next morning.

Everyone eventually went upstairs to their bed and fell asleep. Well, everyone except Ginny, that is. Ginny went up to bed but found she couldn't fall asleep. she tossed and turned for a couple of hours before finally giving in and reaching under her mattress for the little purple notebook she kept there. She padded as quietly as she could, down the stairs and into the kitchen, before pulling out a chair and sitting down. She opened the notebook at a fresh page and began writing.

Dear Diary. Things are tough. Bill has moved back to the Burrow and into his old room, meaning I've had to move into the room I had before he moved out, which is the smallest in the house. I know I shouldn't be upset about something so small and stupid but a lot of things have happened in that room, memories I don't want to give up. This is all Phlegm's fault. She had to go and wreck everything. First she went after the one guy I've ever actually had feelings for and then she went after my favorite brother! Fantastic. What a moron! Anyway, mum and dad told us today that Charlie doesn't have very long left and we all just started shaking and crying, and in Bill's case, yelling and screaming. It must've been so awkward for Hermione and Harry. I don't want to lose Charlie. I do love him. Loads. I don't want to write about this stuff anymore. It makes it sound more real. Harry is so hot. I'm not even joking. Harry is absolutely gorgeous. But he has Cho Chang. I should've knocked her off her broom last year. Hermione told me last year just to get over him but I can't. I want to just forget about him but it's proving a lot harder than I ever could've imagined. I'd better get to bed now, will write tomorrow.

-Ginny x

Ginny got up from the table and tucked the diary into the pocket of her pyjama trousers. It was pitch black, so she had to feel her way out of the kitchen. Clutching onto the door frame, Ginny put out her foot and went to head for the stairs, only to bump into something solid. Ginny opened her mouth to scream, but the figure grabbed her arm to steady her and with their other hand, covered her mouth to stifle the scream.

"Ginny! Ginny, it's okay. It's only me. Harry." He said, in a hurried whisper. Ginny let out a sigh of relief, before anger seeped through her.

"Harry James Potter, I'm going to bloody kill you!" She whisper-shouted.

"Ginny, I'm sorry. I didn't see you either." He explained.

"Whatever. Hey, what are you doing up anyway?" She asked.

"Couldn't sleep." He muttered. They stood in the same position outside of the kitchen.

"Oh no. Those nightmares aren't back, are they?" Ginny asked, thinking back to when he saw her father not far from dead at the Ministry last year. Harry sighed. It was pointless trying to hide things from Ginny, she knew him too well.

"Come on. Let's sit down." Ginny said, taking his hand and leading him into the kitchen. Ginny sat in the chair beside his and faced him, taking his hand in hers.

"Harry, talk to me." She said, looking deep into his piercing, green eyes. Harry felt as though she could see right into his soul, into all his memories and dreams, his secrets and ambitions. Everything.

"They're horrible Ginny." He sighed. "It's like he can see everything I can. Like he's coming to get me, to kill me. And I don't want the people around me to get hurt."

Ginny sighed too. She thought of how hard this must be for him. He was going through this massively tough time and he was more worried about the people around him, no matter how hard his situation was. He was so noble. It was one of the things she loved the most about him.

"Harry, you need to worry about yourself sometimes. You're a good guy, but sometimes you need to be careful for you not anyone else."

"But-"

"No, Harry. No but's. Listen to me. You need to worry about you." Harry looked deep into her eyes.

"Thank you." He whispered, giving her hand a grateful squeeze.

"My pleasure." She grinned at him. Harry wasn't sure what he was doing, but he was leaning in, looking at her soft, plump. pink lips, that were just made for kissing. Harry leaned in a little further and brushed his lips against hers. Ginny felt a wave of shock rush through her, that was quickly replaced with pleasure. She leaned in again and brushed her lips against his again. Harry put his hand around her waist and pulled her in and onto his lap, then put his other hand in her hair. They continued to kiss for several minutes before Harry ran his tongue along her bottom lip, asking for entrance to her mouth. She opened her lips and allowed him to let his tongue explore her mouth. She ran her hands over his hard chest, mentally thanking Quidditch for being such hard work. They made out for several minutes, enjoying every moment of it before Ginny tried to slip his shirt over his head, earning a pleasured groan from Harry. Before she managed to get the shirt from him, they heard a shocked gasp from the doorway. They sprung apart guiltily and looked to see who the unexpected visitor was. Standing in the doorway, wearing a white tank top and grey shorts, was Hermione.

AN: Hi guys, so I decided to start you off with two chapters and see how you guys like it. So will you please drop a review my way and tell me what you think...

Good? Bad? Please stop writing?

Also, PM me names for this review box. The last one was Patsy, now I need a new one. You can also tell me if you want a shout out if I pick your review box name. I'll update this on Saturday nights or Sundays, depending on the time differences. If I'm not too busy, Chapter 3 might be out tonight or tomorrow if you want me to continue writing. The Review Box competition ends on the 1st June 2014. Thanks guys -Beth x