Part 30

Ginny didn't try to speak to Harry during the train ride to King's Cross the next morning, nor did she say goodbye when he walked off towards his uncle at the station.

She knew why he left that morning. It would be easier for the both of them if they didn't have to say goodbye. So they didn't.

-

When Ginny got home, the Order was waiting in her living room. They explained the plan.

"Harry's not going to like that." Said Hermione, who'd come here after 'tying up loose ends' at her muggle home. Ginny had an idea of what 'ends' she was talking about.

When she'd finally come clean to her and Ron, Ginny wanted to hug her and never let go.

"She's right." Ron piped up. "He won't do it willingly.

"Well you'll have to walk up behind him and pull the hair straight from his head." Said Ginny.

Moody nodded his approval. "All right, clan. Let's be off."

-

Ginny waited for hours. There was no telling how long this would take, so she paced, sat and bounced her knee, stared into space, and watched mum bustle about the kitchen.

More nervous than even Ginny was, Molly cooked, scrubbed, washed, and tidied everything she could see. When she'd finished and nobody had returned, she did it all again.

Until eventually, there was a loud splash acres away, and Hagrid and Harry, the real Harry, returned.

"Are we the first ones back?" Harry asked, horrified. Molly nodded.

"Well, thank goodness you two are alright." She feigned a smile and helped them both inside. Harry and Ginny shared a meaningful look before he left.

I'm really glad you're alright.

Ginny resumed her most recent pastime of staring at the sky, waiting for a spec to come barreling towards the burrow. Soon Harry joined her. They didn't say a word, but shared a silent conversation. They were in pain, their friends in danger, their lives forever changed. But the two of them were alright, and together. They liked this place: Harry, Ginny, and the stars. As the world caught fire and crumbled around them, they stayed together, and under the stars. Harry and Ginny liked this place.

-

George came back bleeding. Ginny's vision always goes blurry when George is bleeding and for a moment, Ginny felt young. When she was six years old, George cut his finger on a kitchen knife, and Ginny's vision went blurry. She didn't mind that she couldn't see, though. She just didn't want George to be hurt.

Arthur came back shaken.He didn't say a word to Molly. He looked so afraid, and for a moment, Ginny felt old. Daddy always protected her when she was afraid. What was she supposed to do when he was afraid? Ginny wasn't sure.

Ron came back with a scratch on his nose.How dare anybody scratch his nose, she thought. How dare anybody touch him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight and for a moment, Ginny felt tall. She used to only be able to reach his stomach... when did this happen?

Professor Moody did not come back.

-

That night, Ginny curled up in an armchair across from Fred and George who were draped and asleep on the couch. What was this feeling in her stomach, this dread? When was the last time she was so anxious she couldn't sleep? When was the last time she was so angry she couldn't sleep?

Moody is dead, George is cursed, her family is in danger and afraid. And Harry is in pain. And She can't help Harry. And Ginny is awake on the armchair, gripping her wand, eyes wide and blazing. And the next person to walk in that door is dead.

Hi everyone! I am posting this on the four year anniversary of my last update to this fanfic (yikes.) I hope you all have grown up well and are doing well now, if you're reading this. This chapter is a draft that I wrote in 2023, and I'm going to use the engagements on this update to gauge whether or not to continue with this fic.

I've been getting the urge to write again and Autumn is coming so my annual Harry Potter itch is back! If not this story I might start on another one I've been thinking about, and maybe more mature. (do you guys like Draco?) 

Anyways let me know how you all have been, I missed you! :)