Relentless - A Dramione FanFic

The Burrow ~ Home

Harry lay hidden in the tall, sweeping grass just past the garden at the Burrow. When he found the chaos inside the Weasley Home overwhelming, he'd escape to this secret sanctuary and simply watch the clouds roll by. Often, Ginny would join him once she realized he'd disappeared, and it was in this spot where they'd first made love. Today was not a day that she would be joining him, however, as it was her argument with Molly that sent Harry to his hideout. The three of them were alone at the Burrow, and the two women had been going at it for nearly an hour. He'd snuck out 20 minutes after hearing the first shouts. He knew better than to get between the two fire-headed females, and he also knew that if given the chance, Ginny would pull him in to take her side, so he had slipped on the invisibility cloak, and made his way to this favorite spot.

It was the week before school started and Ginny, Hermoine and Luna had made plans to spend the weekend in London, buying school supplies in Diagon Alley, and "muggling" (doing muggle things), as Mr. Weasley liked to call it, in the non-magic part of London. But Mrs. Weasley was having none of it.

"For the last time, Ginevra, you are not spending three days gallivanting around London, unsupervised." Molly shrilled. "I simply won't stand for it."

"And for the last time, mother," Ginny threw her signature sass into that last word, "I won't be gallivanting or unsupervised. Hermoine has reservations at a very nice muggle hotel, and I will be with her every second. I'll even take her with me to the loo if that makes you feel better." Ginny threw her hands up and stomped a few feet away in exasperation. "For Merlin's sake," she said turning back to face Molly, "I've fought death eaters! More than once! You'd think that would qualify me as capable enough to spend the weekend in London without you tagging along." Ginny argued.

Molly's tone softened a bit as she responded, "Ginny, its not that I don't think you're capable. Its just that..." she bowed her head before continuing in a barely audible whisper. "This is my last chance to... What I mean is, you're my last..." Molly couldn't bring herself to finish. Instead, she looked at her only daughter with tear-filled eyes, pleading for her to understand.

Ginny knew how much her mother had been hurting since she lost Fred, and now, here she was selfishly asserting her independence when all Molly wanted was to be the mother she had always been.

"Oh, mum, I'm sorry!" Ginny had grown nearly as tall as Ron, so when she wrapped her arms around her crying mother, Molly's face was buried in her shoulder. "Of course I'll shop with you like we always do." Tears now stung Ginny's eyes as well, and she nuzzled her cheek into her mother's curly red hair as they started to fall.

The two Weasley women remained in their embrace long enough for each of them to regain their composure. When she pulled away, Molly placed her hands on Ginny's arms and said, "How about a compromise? You stay with Hermoine and Luna Friday night so you can do that theater thing, and I will come Saturday afternoon to take you to Diagon Alley. We can stay over at The Leaky Cauldron, and I can properly see you off on Sunday."

"That sounds great to me, mum." Ginny replied, giving a small grin.

It was probably safe to leave his sanctuary now, but Harry couldn't bring himself to stir just yet. The Burrow would always feel like home to him, and he wanted to soak in every detail in his last few days here. For many years, Harry thought of Hogwarts as his home, but the final battle forever changed his feelings.

He could no longer walk through the halls without seeing the bodies of those he loved and lost there. The faces of Fred, Lupin, Tonks, Dumbledore and even Snape, the unmasked Snape who had always secretly loved Lily, all haunted him in every corridor. Ghosts, Harry could deal with, but these personal demons were trying to eat him alive. If it hadn't been for Hermoine's insistence and Ginny's pleading, he would not be returning to Hogwarts at all.