A Mother's Love

Chapter 1: A Change of Plans.

"Oi, Harry! Stop doing that at once. Do you want me to go blind?"

Harry looked up at Ron from kissing Ginny as both Ron and Hermione entered the compartment. They had just finished their prefect rounds. "You have seen us before Ron, and you can still see, So, I think I will finish what I started." Harry started to snog Ginny again. Hermione giggled. Ginny also started giggling which made it harder for Harry to kiss her.

Ron groaned from his seat. "Harry, would you please stop. That's my little sister!"

"Ron Weasley. Just deal with it! If Harry and Ginny want to snog on the way home, I don't see any reason for you to complain. After all, they won't be able to see each other for at least several weeks once we get back to London. I would think that instead of wasting your time complaining about their snogging you might do a little of your own! But no, you have to ... Hhhrrrruummmppphh!"

Harry and Ginny paused when Hermione's words suddenly stopped short and looked over at the other side of the compartment where she was sitting. There sat Ron and Hermione, lips locked together.

"Harry," asked Ginny, "do we look like that when we snog?"

"I'm not sure Gin. What do you mean exactly?"

"Well," Ginny replied, "like we are devouring each other."

"I don't know. Should we try again and find out?"

"Yes," purred Ginny as she hugged Harry closer, "let's see if we can."

With that, there was silence in the compartment.

...

Later, about an hour or so from London, the four friends were talking about the upcoming summer.

"How long," Ron asked, "do you have to stay with the muggles this year, Harry?"

"It's not so bad. I only have to stay until my birthday." Explained Harry. "Remus told me that Dumbledore said that after my birthday I could spend the rest of the summer someplace else. He asked me where I wanted to go and I said the Burrow of course."

"That isn't the way I heard it, my love. It was so sweet the way he said it Hermione." Ginny snuggled up next to her boyfriend who was now blushing a bit from embarrassment. "Tell them what you said exactly Harry."

"All I said was that I wanted to go wherever Ginny was, the exact location didn't really matter so long as she was there."

"That's so sweet Harry." Hermione leaned over and gave him a brief hug. "Could I ask a favor of you? Would you please give Ron some lessons on how to be romantic? Sometimes he's totally clueless."

"Hey, I know how to be romantic. Didn't I give you those roses for Valentines Day? Now that's romantic."

"Ron, they were Orange! Chudley Cannons Bright Orange. Nobody gives a person Orange Roses for valentines. Sometimes I just don't think you understand mmrrruuummpphh...."

Harry and Ginny looked onward as Ron once again stopped Hermione with a passionate kiss. She fought it at first, but then she settled into it as she always did. She wrapped her arms around Ron. This had become their favorite way of ending their arguments over the course of the year.

Harry looked at Ginny who looked back at him. "Shall we join them?"

"Let's!"

Those were the last words spoken in the compartment until they reached King's Cross.

...

As the train pulled into the station, the four teenagers began to gather their things together. They had already changed into their muggle clothes.

"Something seemed different on this trip," Harry commented. "I wonder what it was?"

"I know what it was," said Hermione. "There was no visit from Malfoy this trip."

"I wonder why ferret boy missed us this year?" asked Ron. "He usually comes by for harassment at least. I found the perfect jinx to use on him. Too bad I didn't have the chance."

"I heard that he was staying with Snape this year. Something about him needing a place to stay where it was safe. Ever since his mother was found dead after his father escaped from Azkaban, he hasn't been the same." Hermione paused as she put Crookshanks into his carrier. "Didn't you notice how little he hung around Crabbe and Goyle after Christmas? He hasn't been insulting us as much either. I think his mother's death has affected him. I wonder if he thinks his father did it. He doesn't seem too happy that his father is free."

"Well, I am sorry his mother died. Maybe it will help him understand the real world just a little bit. Did they figure out how she died?" asked Harry.

"Nobody knows," said Hermione. "She was found in Diagon Ally one morning near the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. It might have been natural or it might have been a curse. There is no way of knowing."

The four walked up the platform as they continued talking. Harry was the first to notice the crowd of adults waiting for them near the gateway onto the platform. He quickly pointed it out to the others as they walked up.

"Hello Remus, Mad-eye, Tonks. What are you guys doing here? Is something wrong?" Harry looked at the adults. He knew from the expressions on their faces that something was wrong.

"Harry, would you come over here with me for a moment?" Remus asked as he motioned towards a bench on the platform. Harry moved over towards the bench and sat down. Ginny moved to go with him but Molly Weasley put her hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"Give them a minute alone, dear."

"Mum, I love Harry and he loves me. Whatever it is, he'll expect me there with him. We promised to face things together when we started dating." She moved over to the bench. Harry took her hand pulling her to sit beside him.

Remus paused for a moment.

"Go on Remus, we're ready now." Harry looked at Remus wondering what had happened.

"A little while ago Mrs. Figg appeared in Dumbledore's office. He didn't get much information from her because she was injured very badly. He immediately sent for Madam Pomfrey to help her. He sent a message to the Order's HQ to go and check her residence and Privet Drive. We just came from there Harry. I am afraid that I must tell you that your aunt's family is dead. Apparently, some people attacked your relatives this morning. They shot all three of them. Then they set fire to the house. I'm sorry, Harry. No one survived. It couldn't have been wizards because of the wards. So, it must have been muggles. Mrs. Figg was also attacked. We were never able to find out more, as she didn't survive despite Poppy's best efforts. She was shot with a muggle gun just like your relatives. We are certain that this was not a random attack. Dumbledore wants you taken to Grimmauld Place as soon as possible. It is probably the safest place for you except for Hogwarts. You will have to appear at a muggle inquest. We must find you suitable guardians that the muggle authorities will accept. Funeral services will be arranged for your family. We'll need to get you something appropriate to wear. For now though we need to get you someplace safe."

Harry sat there for a moment. He wasn't sure exactly what he was feeling. Was it anger, hate, sorrow, or just sadness? He knew that these weren't random attacks. Once again Tom had struck at him. But why the Dursleys? It wasn't as if they were close. As a matter of fact, he felt worse over the death of Mrs. Figg than over Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley. All he knew was that 'things' were starting. He wondered if he was ready. He felt a squeeze on his shoulder and looked at Ginny. She was there for him, small tears in her beautiful chocolate brown eyes. He leaned over and hugged her as he cried a few tears over the senseless killings. Crying in public wasn't something he used to be able to do, but Ginny had taught him that it wasn't weak to cry. Being able to cry helped him to carry his burdens. After a few moments, Harry turned back to Remus, wiping his eyes with his handkerchief.

"Remus, thank you for coming to tell me. Do I have to go to Grimmauld Place or can I go to the Burrow with the Weasleys?"

"Well Harry, since the Weasleys and the Grangers are coming to Grimmauld Place, I didn't think you would mind." Remus smiled faintly at Harry's reaction to hearing this.

Harry grinned a little at Ginny. "Well, that should make it a little easier to handle. We had better get going then."

Harry rose from his seat and reached down to help Ginny up. Then, hand in hand, they followed Remus back to the others. They had obviously been filled in on what had happened. Hermione came forward and gave Harry a hug, offering her condolences along with Ron. Quickly the others followed suit.

"We need to get going!" Mad-Eye growled out to everyone. "We have been here to long."

"How are we going?" Asked Harry.

"Portkey. Everybody grab hold of this rope."

As everyone grabbed hold of the rope, Mad-Eye said the incantation and that familiar feeling happened as they suddenly found themselves in the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place. Moody took their trunks out of his pocket, where he had placed them after shrinking them, and enlarged them again back to their normal size.

"Dobby!" Remus called out and there was a Pop.

"Yes professor Remus sir? Harry Potter sir! Welcome sir. Dobby is very sad of Mister Harry Potter's loss sir. If there is anything Dobby can do for Mister Harry Potter sir Harry Potter just has to tell Dobby." Dobby looked at Harry with his big eyes brimming with tears.

"It's ok Dobby, thank you. And Dobby, just call me Harry, ok?"

"Dobby could never just call you Harry Mister Harry Potter sir. Mister Harry Potter sir is the greatest wizard Dobby has ever known sir, and the most compassionate and kind and understanding and friendly..."

"Potter, do something with this elf!" Moody grumbled.

"Dobby, please take the students' things to their rooms now," said Remus with amusement in his eyes.

"Yes sir professor Remus sir. Goodbye Mister Harry Potter sir. Call Dobby if you need anything sir." With that, Dobby snapped his fingers and he and the trunks disappeared together. After they left, everybody laughed just a bit as Moody rambled on about rabid, fanatic house elves.