Those Who Love Us

Those Who Love Us

Harry Potter sat alone underneath a tree as the sun set beyond the horizon of Ottery St. Catchpole. Behind him was the paddock where the Weasley children practiced Quidditch away from prying muggle eyes. And down below at the bottom of the hill was the Weasley family home, known affectionately as "The Burrow." He had arrived there earlier that day.

Harry had had his shortest stay at Privet Drive yet, which normally would have cheered him up. But Harry had had little cheer over the past year. And as the worst year he could remember came to an end, he had little time to recover from it before the next year began.

It had all started, as usual, with an argument with Uncle Vernon...

"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME IN THAT TONE?" Vernon yelled up the stairs at Harry, who had stopped halfway to the top.

"I'LL SPEAK TO YOU ANY WAY I DAMN WELL PLEASE!" replied Harry angrily. "I'M SICK AND TIRED OF WALKING ON EGGSHELLS AROUND YOU PEOPLE! THE ONLY REASON YOU LET ME STAY IS BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID OF DUMBLEDO..." he began before he was interrupted.

Vernon almost exploded as he cut Harry off before he could mention any wizard's name, no matter if Vernon knew who they were or not. "DO NOT SPEAK THAT MAN'S NAME IN MY HOUSE!" he bellowed. "I WILL NOT HAVE ANY MORE MENTION OF YOUR...ABNORMALITY, AND THAT'S FINAL!" he finished, purple faced.

Harry looked at Vernon incredulously. "WHY?" he cried. "IT'S NOT LIKE YOU CARE ABOUT ME AT ALL! IT'S NOT LIKE YOU CARE THAT MY GODFATHER DIED LAST MONTH!" he finished in rage.

Vernon harrumphed at the mention of Harry's godfather. "You mean that murderer from the news a few years back?" he said with a scowl.

Harry's eyes flashed angrily. His words were barely above a whisper as he growled, "He wasn't a murderer! He was innocent!"

Vernon rolled his eyes and huffed, "Right...they're all innocent aren't they?"

Harry felt the need to continue, to defend his godfather from anyone who would dare to say anything bad about him, even though he knew Vernon could care less who Sirius Black was and why Harry cared. "They said he was responsible for my parents' murder," he began, "but it was someone else, another one of their friends!"

Vernon of course could care less. They deserved what they got, he thought as he walked up the steps toward Harry. "Serves them right as far as I'm concerned, untrustworthy lot they are." Vernon said as he stopped in front of Harry. "And that's all that's going to happen to you when you run around with that crowd." he said as he poked his large beefy fingers into Harry's chest. "People like that," he said with a huff, "claim to be your friend then stab you in the back!"

If not for the knock on the door, Harry might well have attacked his Uncle right then and there.

"Get the door!" Vernon said in annoyance as he walked down the stairs toward the kitchen. "And if it's one of your weirdo friends, tell them they can keep you as far as I'm concerned!" he said as he disappeared into the downstairs hallway.

Harry stomped down the stairs and pulled the door open angrily, startling two of the three people standing there. Mad-Eye Moody just grinned crookedly through his scarred face, with his bowler hat tilted to the side, covering his magical eye.

"Alright there Potter?" asked Mad-Eye curiously as he noticed Harry's flushed face. "The Muggles treating you okay?" he frowned.

"Not really, but nothing out of the ordinary I guess," Harry replied as his color returned to normal. "What's going on?" he asked as he looked around and noticed the others.

"We've come to fetch you," said Tonks, grinning.

"To where?" asked Harry in genuine curiosity. He had hoped all week that they'd come for him soon. The Dursleys were driving him mad. And if Harry had to stay for one more day he was sure that he and they would try to murder one another.

"We're leaving for the new safe house." replied Remus Lupin gravely. "The fighting has begun," he finished.

****

Moody stood watch by the foot of the stairs as Harry, Tonks, and Lupin went to retrieve Harry's things.

Vernon came out of the kitchen once, to see what was going on. He took one look at a scowling Moody and darted back into the kitchen with a squeak. Mad-Eye chuckled to himself.

After a few loud thumps and muffled apologies by Tonks, she and Harry came down the stairs again dragging Harry's trunk. Lupin walked behind them limping slightly, carrying Hedwig in her cage, and carrying Harry's Firebolt. They dragged Harry's trunk out the door without a word of goodbye to the Dursleys.

As they stepped out into the noonday sun, Harry noticed a pair of witches on broomsticks waiting in the shadows. Harry recognized them immediately as Hestia Jones and Emmeline Vance, both Aurors and members of the Order of the Phoenix's Advance Guard.

They strapped the trunk and the Firebolt between their broomsticks as Lupin freed Hedwig and attached a message to her leg. He fed her a bit of food and she was off.

"Where'd you send Hedwig?" asked Harry as Lupin attached the empty cage to the rest of Harry's gear.

"To Professor Dumbledore," replied Lupin, "to keep him up to date."

"Drop this stuff off at you-know-where. And tell Dung we'll be there in the morning," growled Moody to Emmeline, who nodded. She and Hestia performed disillusionment charms on themselves and Harry's belongings, then rose slowly into the sky and disappeared from sight.

I wonder why we're not going to Grimmauld Place, thought Harry. Then the truth struck him. Kreacher, he thought darkly. Grimmauld Place was compromised because of him! And Sirius was...was...

Lupin noticed Harry's sudden distress and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder in reassurance. "Are you all right Harry?" he asked in concern.

Harry nodded and looked up at him. "We're not going straight to...to the new safe house?" he asked.

"Nope, we're makin' a stop somewhere else first," replied Moody as he pulled an empty glass bottle from the Dursley's dust bin. He set it on top of a nearby fence post and waved his wand at it, turning it into a portkey.

"Remus? Where are we going exactly?" asked Harry nervously at the thought of using the portkey, which was definitely not his favorite mode of travel. But it was better than floo powder in his opinion.

"You'll see," replied Lupin with a small smile.

They touched the empty glass bottle and disappeared in a flash of light.

****

Harry, Lupin, Tonks, and Mad-Eye reappeared in front of the Weasley family's home.

"The Burrow?" said Harry, trying to seem happy.

"They're uh...relocating for the summer tomorrow. We've come to help," said Lupin, smiling.

"Harry!" cried a female voice, causing him to look up just in time as a blur with long red hair crashed into him and nearly knocked him to the ground.

Ginny Weasley hugged Harry tightly before pulling away. "It's good to see you!" she said in genuine excitement.

"Hey Gin," Harry replied, feeling his spirits lifting slightly, even though she gave him an odd look when he used her nickname.

"Oy mate!" came Ron's voice as he bounded down the front steps, grinning from ear to ear, followed closely by Hermione. Harry and Ron high-fived each other and Hermione and Harry embraced.

"Hello Harry," said Hermione happily. "How have you been?" she asked.

"Fine," Harry shrugged, "but it's only been two weeks."

"I know," replied Hermione before glancing knowingly at Ron.

"It seemed like longer," said Ron quickly.

"Actually we've been worried about you," Ginny said as she took Harry's arm and guided him into the house. "You haven't been answering our letters after all," she chided.

Leave it to Ginny to be honest with me, Harry thought darkly as Ron and Hermione frowned slightly. Why can't everyone just tell me the bloody truth?

Mrs. Weasley looked up cheerfully from putting the finishing touches on that evening's dinner. "There you are Harry!" she exclaimed in relief. "We were beginning to worry," she said as she turned to the others. "Hello Remus, Tonks," she began, before shaking her head in amusement at Mad-Eye and saying, "Will you please take off that ridiculous hat Alastor! What is it with you and Arthur?"

"Where is Arthur?" asked Remus as he walked over to help Molly.

Mad-Eye hung his hat on the coat rack and he and Tonks sat at the table along with Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione.

Molly glanced toward the clock on the wall. The hand with her husband Arthur's picture on it moved from Work to Home. "Arthur should be home any moment now," she said as she began bringing the food over to the table. She smiled when her twin sons Fred and George's hands moved to Home as well.

Seconds later, Mr. Weasley walked through the front door with sons Fred and George in tow. "Evening dear," Arthur said before kissing his wife on the cheek.

"How was your day?" she asked as he walked over to the table.

"Exhausting," he replied wearily, "I honestly don't know how Fudge managed it all."

"Dad's been named Minister of Magic," replied Ron proudly at Harry's questioning glance.

"Although I do wish it was under different circumstances," said Arthur tiredly as he sat at the head of the table. "Being Minister of Magic during wartime is not a position I'd wish on anyone," he finished.

"Enough talk about war," said Molly sternly, setting the final dish on the table and sitting beside Arthur. She looked around the room at others, gaining their attention and said, "Dinnertime should be spent talking about pleasant things for once."

****

All through dinner Harry ate silently and watched those around him. Ron and Hermione sat close by each other whispering and laughing quietly, while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley talked cheerily with Lupin and Mad-Eye, who, as usual, was eating food he himself had prepared earlier.

Fred and George, usually quite talkative were eerily silent, watching Ron and Hermione curiously and trying to suppress grins. Harry made a mental note to keep out of their way in case they had a new joke planned, or worse, a new product to test.

He glanced over at Ginny who was sitting unusually close to him, almost protectively, as they were literally shoulder-to-shoulder. This caused a strange sensation in Harry, a tingling sensation that started deep in the pit of his stomach and spread up to his cheeks, which seemed unusually warm. Ginny didn't seem to notice however as she and Tonks joked with one another.

Harry looked around at the others, but they didn't seem to notice either, so he just sat silently by and enjoyed the sensation, not just being near Ginny, but being around friends and the people he considered his family. This is nice, he thought, the way things should be.

The brief moment of comfort did not last however as inevitably, the conversations turned back to the war.

"Amelia Bones...dead?" Molly gasped.

"Just this morning," said Lupin sadly.

Harry suddenly had a sinking feeling inside him as Ron glanced at him nervously, and Hermione asked, "Is Susan all right?"

"Susan's fine," replied Tonks, "she was away at a friend's house."

"Poor thing," said Molly, shaking her head in sympathy, "her entire family gone now...where will she stay?"

"The Sprouts have taken her in for now," replied Lupin.

Harry watched Molly as she glanced protectively at her children and husband. He knew what she was thinking, and he knew exactly what she felt. She had lost her side of the family, the Prewitts, to Voldemort years before, just as Harry had. But he was surprised when she turned her gaze to he and Hermione, for the look she gave them was not what he expected. She was looking upon them not like they were her children's friends, but like they were her own children. And it was clear from her expression that she would protect them any way she possibly could.

The sudden swell of emotions inside him threatened to bring him to tears. It had been a long time since anyone had looked at him like that. What was said next froze him inside however.

"That's not all," said Mad-Eye gravely, causing Lupin to frown uncomfortably. He continued, "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has marked several people for death."

"Perhaps the children should go upstairs." said Molly nervously.

Ron and Ginny were about to protest when Mad-Eye continued, causing Molly to grow pale. "No Molly," he said, "this concerns them. This concerns us all." He looked around the table at each and every person before continuing, "We have all been marked for death."

A dead silence filled the room. It was several seconds before anyone spoke.

"Even the children?" asked Molly in barely more than a whisper.

"Your entire family," replied Lupin sadly. "And all those who fought in the Department of Mysteries," he finished quietly.

Harry felt as though he had been kicked in the stomach. He had brought death marks to those he cared for the most, those who had taken him in and treated him like he was a member of their family. And after all they had done for him; this was how he repaid them? What was wrong with him?

The others, caught up in their own thoughts and fears, didn't notice the dark clouds that began forming in Harry's eyes.

"Neville and Luna...!" Hermione began worriedly.

"Have been warned," Lupin continued, "and are safe."

"But why us?" asked Ron in panic. "We're just kids!" he exclaimed.

Harry finally exploded. "Isn't it obvious?" he growled. "IT'S BECAUSE OF ME!" he yelled as he jumped to his feet. "ISN'T IT? He's going after everyone close to me!" he continued as he stormed out of the house. "As if taking Sirius away wasn't enough!" he said under this breath, as he kicked the door open.

Ron stood to follow him, but was stopped by Hermione as Ginny rushed out the door after Harry.

"Let her try Ron," Hermione said quietly. "Trust me," she said at Ron's confused look.

****

Ginny stepped outside and looked around as the sun dipped low in the sky.

"Harry?" she called, looking around.

She finally spotted a lone figure trudging up the hill toward the paddock where she and her brothers honed their Quidditch skills. She smiled sadly before following him.

She found Harry sitting underneath one of the trees when she finally reached the top. He glanced over at her before looking away. Most people would have flinched at the look he gave her, but not Ginny. She was stronger than most people would have given her credit for. Growing up with six older brothers had made her that way, especially when two of those brothers happened to be Fred and George Weasley.

"You're being a git you know," she said matter-of-fact as she sat down beside him.

Harry said nothing and continued to look out across the horizon.

"Harry?" she said softly.

"It's all my fault Ginny. I got us into this," he said, still not looking at her. He picked up a small rock and hurled it away from him in disgust. "You guys would be better off without me," he said in a defeated tone.

"Please don't say things like that Harry. Stop beating yourself up," she said in concern, "you know it's not your fault."

Harry was on the verge of tears when he spoke again and said, "Sirius would still be alive and you wouldn't be marked for death, would you?"

"Sirius would still be in Azkaban if it wasn't for you," Ginny said soothingly, trying to comfort him.

"Yeah, I rescued him all right," Harry said darkly, "and then I got him killed!"

Ginny rested her hand on top of his in an attempt to ease his pain. "It wasn't your fault Harry," she said gently, but firmly. She continued in a soothing voice, "And he died on his own terms, as a free man, not as a prisoner in a cage."

"But that's just it," Harry said dejectedly, "that is why he died, from being cooped up in Grimmauld Place...unable to do anything until..."

Ginny closed her eyes as the events of three weeks earlier flashed through her mind. She missed Sirius too. And it took all her strength to hold back her grief over his death. But Harry, who was always the strong one, needed someone else to assume that role right now. And for some unexplainable reason, Ginny felt that Harry needed it to be her. She cupped his face in her hand and gently turned his head so that they were facing one another. The look of despair on Harry's face nearly broke her heart and her resolve. She continued on however, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "He went there to save you, just as you went there to save him, because you loved one another!"

"Maybe I don't want to love anyone anymore," Harry said softly.

This took Ginny by surprise. "What? How could you say something like that?" she asked in disbelief.

"If I can't love, I can't get hurt, can I?" asked Harry hoarsely.

"But living without love," Ginny began, shaking her head, "that's the worst thing I can imagine...because I've seen it...I've lived it!"

Harry looked at her in confusion as she climbed to her knees and knelt in front of him. "That's what Tom was like; cold, uncaring, no compassion...only rage, and fear...and loneliness." she said with a faraway look in her eyes. She came back to herself and took Harry's hands in hers, and looked up at him pleadingly. "You don't want to wind up like that Harry," she began as tears welled up in her eyes. "Your love is what makes you better than him. It's what makes you a hero. It's why we love you!" she finished as her tears began to fall.

"But I just don't want to hurt anymore! I don't want to lose anyone else!" Harry said as tears began to stream down his face.

Ginny pulled him into an embrace as Harry began to shake uncontrollably, his body wracked by his sobs. They stayed that way for several minutes as they mourned their friend's death.

Eventually, Harry's sobs began to subside. "I don't know what will happen tomorrow Harry," Ginny began, "but I can promise you, that no matter what happens...we will always love you. I'll always love you," she said softly.

And with those words, Harry was reminded of Sirius's words, years ago, just before he was about to ride off with Buckbeak to freedom. "Those who love us never truly leave us," he had begun, "and they can always be found...right here," Sirius had said as he placed his hand over Harry's heart.

And as Harry sat underneath the tree, wrapped tightly in Ginny Weasley's warm embrace, he began to understand that it was okay to love. He began to understand that the pain would go away. And though it would take a long time for him to completely heal, he would be okay in the end, because he did love his friends, and they loved him, and that really is all you need in life after all.