Where Do I Go From Here?

Harry slowly felt the fog lifting as he came out of his early morning reverie. Opening his eyes, he reached for his glasses on the nightstand next to the bed. Although the first rays of the summer sun were barely penetrating through the darkness of the waning night, a few birds were already chirping merrily outside the window.

Smiling sadly at his surroundings of the Burrow, Harry wondered when he would see his second home again. Since he had long ago stopped considering the Dursleys' house his home, Hogwarts had become his first home, but spending summers and Christmas with the Weasleys was a close number two.

Across the room, Ron was snoring lightly, his mouth open and his right arm hanging over the side of the bed. Even though he could have chosen to spend the night in the twins' old room, Harry decided to sleep one last time in Ron's room, for old time's sake.

A passing thought went through his mind, and Harry wondered what would happen if he simply decided to sneak out of the house unnoticed by the sleeping family and be on his way. He knew how insistent Ron and Hermione had been on accompanying him on his journey to who-knows-where. He guiltily thought of Ginny, frowning with consternation at her sheer persistence yesterday in coming with them.

Harry knew, though, that if he left without his friends, they would find him somehow, between Hermione's intelligence and Ron's craftiness. So, deciding now was as best a time as any, Harry stood up and got dressed. He made sure he had his bags packed and shrunk them down to a miniscule size, placing them inside his pocket.

Once he was downstairs, he was greeted by Mrs. Weasley, who was already banging about the kitchen preparing breakfast, her nerves obviously frayed. Harry flashed her a small, quick smile, and she smiled back sadly.

"Maybe it's selfish of me to think this, Harry, but I don't want you to go," she murmured softly, stirring a pot of oatmeal. She brought her hand up to wipe a stray tear away.

"You're not being selfish, Mrs. Weasley," Harry replied. "Just... concerned. I understand, and thank you for caring so much. This is something I have to do, though."

"I know, dear; I know. That doesn't make it any easier, though." She came over toward Harry and placed a bowl of oatmeal in front of him. "Eat up, young man. You'll need your strength."

Smiling wistfully, Harry ate the oatmeal in silence, unsure of what to say.

Before long, Hermione and Ron had joined him. Mrs. Weasley was practically drowning herself in a flood of torrential tears by the time the trio announced their departure. Mr. Weasley, on the other hand, kept most of his emotion inside, but that didn't mean he wasn't concerned for them. Ginny stood oddly silent to the side, her face nearly expressionless, which worried Harry more than he wished. He gave her a half-hearted hug, but she barely returned it, only placing one arm weakly around Harry and then turning her head the other way. After being told countless times to be careful and keep in touch, Harry, Ron, and Hermione left through the front door and walked a short distance.

"Well, she knew she wasn't allowed to come," Ron was saying.

"Yeah, but she was acting quite off," Hermione insisted. "I'm telling you, Ron, something isn't right with Ginny."

"'Course not," Ron tried to joke. "She's Ginny, after all."

Hermione smacked him half-playfully in the arm.

"Hey, guys... I was thinking of going to Grimmauld Place first," Harry started to say, but then his attention was drawn away from his two bickering friends. In the road ahead, he thought he saw something move in the shade of a tree. Reaching for his wand, Harry hissed to his friends, "Stop. There's someone up there."

Ron cursed under his breath, and Hermione's breath hitched in her throat. They stopped moving all together and kept their eyes peeled. Then, the figure emerged slightly from the shadows, enough for a glimpse of red long hair to be seen.

"Ginny!" they all exclaimed, totally astonished.

"What the blazes d'you think you're doing?" Ron asked heatedly, quickly charging toward her. "How'd you get here before us? You were back at the house."

"Was I?" Ginny asked, a slight smirk on her face. "Don't tell me you're that thick. Surely you noticed something odd about 'me.'"

Then it dawned on Harry. "Polyjuice," he said simply.

Ginny nodded with triumph.

"But how- ?" Ron started to say, but Hermione cut him off. "Let me guess - Fred and George were behind this," she said.

"Ten points to Hermione," Ginny said. "Fred wasn't exactly too thrilled to be hugged by you all, especially you, Ron, but he was willing to do what was necessary if it meant this whole thing would be successful."

Harry thought of the twins' joke shop and imagined that they must have access to all sorts of rare and exotic things, including the ingredients for making Polyjuice Potion. As impressed as he was, however, he had a bad feeling about whatever Ginny meant by "this whole thing" being "successful."

"I'm coming with you," she plainly stated.

"No, Ginny," Harry tried to argue as gently as possible. "It's-"

"Too dangerous, yes, I know. I've heard you say it a million times already, Harry, and you know what? I don't care!"

Ron laughed and rolled his eyes. "Right, Gin. You're so convinced that you're gonna come with us, huh? Good luck trying to apparate. You haven't even got a license."

"You know," Ginny said almost conversationally, "I may not have a license, but I have had two very effective, influential teachers. Fred and George were naturals when it came to learning how to apparate."

"Fred and George have been teaching you how to apparate!" Ron exploded. "I don't believe you! When? Where? That's a load of rubbish if I've ever heard one."

"Actually, Ron," intervened Hermione, "it is possible. They could have practiced anywhere on your property. Underage wizards and witches are expected to not use their magic outside school, but it can't be traced on private wizard property, including their homes. Parents are supposed to keep their kids under control. Knowing Fred and George, this is exactly the kind of thing they would do."

Ron glowered severely. "Well, you're still not coming with us," he ground out.

"Try me," Ginny replied just as intensely. "I heard where Harry said you were planning on going. Extendable Ears = another thing I have to thank Fred and George for. You run to Mum or try to go without me, and I'll attempt apparating by myself."

"Like hell you will!" Ron exclaimed, making to grab her by the arm, but Harry stepped in front of her.

"Ron, calm down!" Harry exclaimed, growing annoyed with his friend. "You're not helping."

"Then what do you suggest, o-mighty leader?" Ron questioned sardonically.

Harry had to refrain from rolling his eyes. Turning to Ginny, he sighed. "You're pretty insistent on going, I say see, Gin, and when you've got your mind made up, I know you wouldn't change it for the world." Turning to Ron and Hermione, he continued, "She'll have to come with us. We can't risk her doing anything rash and wind up breaking the law or worse, spliching herself."

Hermione nodded with understanding, but Ron simply continued to glare at Ginny and Harry.

Harry wrapped his arm around Ginny, whispering into her ear, "You can apparate with me. I'll keep you safe."

With their destination in mind, three crackling pops were heard, and four teenagers disappeared out of sight.