Stranger on a Train

Harry Potter, sitting at his wooden desk in his new room, was debating whether to stay or leave. Voldemort was sure to be there to find him within the week, so if he was going to leave, he had to do it soon. He let his head sink into his bandaged palms, and wondered whether he should wait, and let the prophecy be fulfilled. But just because he had the power, did that mean that he had to use it? Besides, what was there left for him? Ron and Hermione were long gone, and they hadn't even written to him in the past few years. As for Ginny, his dear Ginny, well, he knew hope was lost. Even if he was willing to go out and find her, which he wasn't, he would never put her in danger. The loss of her would force him out of his numbed mind, leaving him empty as if kissed by a dementor, rotting from the inside out. Just then, a battered old gray owl flew through the window and perched on Harry's desk, dropped a letter, and flew off again. Harry opened the crinkled, slightly damp letter and found a song.

Giving Up On Love

I'm whirling in my mind

Can't have what I can't find

But when all I want is you

Reality strikes me too.

I want to share your laughs

I want to build your crafts

I want to spend my time

With a life colored lemon-lime.

Don't tell me just to go

Cause I'm trying to take it slow

All I want is you

And I know you want me too.

Don't let this go to waste

Don't throw this out with haste.

What are you hiding from?

Or are you just too numb?

I want to see you through

But there's some things I can't do

'sides, if you don't know what love is

Now you're faced with a big fat quiz.

Don't tell me just to go

Cause I'm trying to take it slow

All I want is you

And I know you want me too.

Stabilize your life

But don't hold on to strife

Don't be a bitter fool

With your life wound on a spool.

Don't let your brittle threads

Snap off and leave the ends

I love you.

Don't tell me just to go

Cause I'm trying to take it slow

All I want is you

And I know you want me too.

I'm whirling in my mind

Can't have what I can't find

But when all I want is you

Reality strikes me too.

I want to share your laughs

I want to build your crafts

I want to spend my time

With a life colored lemon-lime.

Let me through

Don't keep me out.

You don't know

I'll show you what it's all about.

- Love, Ginny.

Harry clenched the letter, and grabbed his suitcase, slamming the door behind him. He began to burn with all sorts of feelings. So, his Hogwarts sweetheart still had a little girlish crush on him, so what? Then again, however, the song was really deep and evocative. Could it really be love? After all this time? But hey, whatever, you know? Harry knew then and there that he was making the right decision, getting on a train and leaving for who knows where. He didn't even care anymore where he was headed. His plan was to hop on the first train he saw and go far away, so far that not even an owl could find him.

He reached a station about two miles away. It was small, dark, and reeking of urine. Harry saw a steam cloud approaching from a distance. In a few moments, it was at the station. He paid the conductor, and found a booth. He plopped his suitcase down beside him and sat back, staring out the window. He had missed his entire childhood. He was never really capable of an innocent phase of childhood; the Dursleys, Hogwarts, the most dangerous wizard in the world after him. He was only about twenty nine years old and already felt that he had experienced a lifetime's worth of adventure, fame, fortune, and...dare he even think it...love. Just then, a young woman smashed through the doors of the compartment and collapsed on the bench, crying her eyes out. She looked up, and finally noticed Harry. Harry, who had aged nicely over the years, looked quite different than how he did when he was the Boy Who Lived. He was lucky enough that the young lady did not recognize him at first sight. She looked up, and she showed a gaunt and pale, although very pretty, face. She wore a green beret and a dark patched coat. She finally noticed Harry.

"Oh, I'm sorry sir, I didn't mean to intrude in your compartment," she apologized.

"That's quite alright. You can stay if you like. Are you alright?" Harry asked.

"Yes...yes I'm fine. The thing is...well, I sent a letter to the man I love, and my senses tell me that he is planning on running away to Ireland. So that's why I'm here, I'm trying to find him before it is too late!" she was sobbing again.

"Too late? Why, is he in danger or something?"

"Yes, he may very well be. And how about you?" she asked.

"Well, I got on this train to get away from where I was. It was neither safe nor comfortable for me anymore." Harry rubbed his eyes, and pulled out the letter from Ginny again.

"You know, you look like a kind soul, sir. I'm only twenty eight myself, but you remind me of...well...never mind." She watched him squinting with a puzzled look on her face.

"Ah, I can't read this without my glasses!" Harry reached into his bag and pulled out his signature round glasses, and put them on. All of a sudden, he felt a hand lift his head up.

"Oh, dear. These always give me away." Harry pulled his glasses off in a flash, worried that now she would look at him as though he were insane. Instead, the young woman let out a squeal and pulled him into a huge hug. She pulled back for a moment, and pulled off her beret, revealing fiery read hair that only a Weasley would have.

"Harry...I..." but Harry put his fingers to her lips. He pulled her close, and the two embraced as the train left England, leaving their memories behind once and for all, and allowing them to start anew. And for the first time in a long time, a tear fell down Mr. Potter's face, as he knew in that split second that his life was still left to be lived out, regardless of what any bat of a teacher ever said. Hope rushed into his body, filling the voids, and as he stroked her hair, he knew that he had a long way to go.