"Wake up, Harry."

Harry's eyes snapped open. He sat bolt upright and fumbled on the nightstand for his glasses. When he had them on, he saw Ron and Hermione sitting at the foot of his bed. He reached for his forehead, feeling for the familiar patch of skin.

"You all right there, mate?" asked Ron.

Harry let out a sigh as his hand found his scar. He didn't know if he should feel relieved or disappointed, but he was back.

"Harry, are you sure you're ready?" asked Hermione.

Harry looked up again. Ron and Hermione were clearly concerned for him. But, as he read deeper into their faces, he could see some of the same anxiety he had been feeling before his meeting with Dumbledore. A surge of love went through his heart. Ron and Hermione HAD made a choice. They were bound by no prophecy, no burden of fate. They were coming with him of their own accord. He wished there was some way he could make them understand how important that was. On impulse, he did the only thing he could think of: he reached across the bed, grabbing each of them with one arm, and engulfed them in a rough, impulsive hug.

"Thank you," he whispered, tears leaking from his eyes.

Although clearly startled, Ron and Hermione quickly responded, drawing Harry closer.

"We're with you, Harry," said Hermione.

"Thick and thin, mate, yeah?" said Ron.

Harry wiped his eyes and let go. "I've had some interesting dreams that you guys should know about."

888

Ginny Weasley had slept very badly. The imminent departure of the Trio had been weighing heavily on her mind. Her brother, one of her best friends and The Boy Who Broke Her Heart. He didn't mean to, but he did. She tried her best to keep it from him, but a Weasley heart could only be kept hidden for so long. As much as she might try, it was not in Ginny to simply bear things with a calm exterior. When Ginny was upset, she needed to act, to fight, to resist.

During the time they were together, Ginny had very rarely held back from giving Harry a piece of her mind when she was upset. The threat of one of her hexes usually put most people in line, but this was different. She knew that Harry was only doing what he thought best, and maybe he was right. The news from the outside world was not good. She realized that if the Death Eaters wanted her dead, there would be very little she would be able to do about it. Harry just wanted to make sure that didn't happen. He cared so much about everyone that he couldn't stand to let anything happen to those he loved.

Stupid prat.

At last, she gave up on getting back to sleep. She walked over to the window to look down on the garden. It was still dark out; the sun wouldn't rise for another half hour or so. She could still see a few fairies dancing along the rose bushes. It seemed a fitting image. There were small points of light here and there, but all she could really see was darkness. It felt like she was waiting for a sunrise that would never come.

Dumbledore was dead. Bill had been married, but the next full moon was approaching and no one knew what would happen to him then. Percy hadn't made it to the wedding. The family hadn't heard from him in many months. The papers were full of dire stories. And Harry Potter was leaving because he was the only one who could bring the sunlight back. The same boy who looked like he was falling apart into a million pieces when they had shared what might be their last dance the night before.

Ginny could feel the tears coming, so she decided to head downstairs for some juice. She stopped short at the bottom of the stairs as she saw Ron, Hermione and Harry all already seated, each with a mug in front of them, deep in conversation. Harry was the first to notice her. Ron and Hermione each turned to look at her, before turning back to Harry. Hermione reached for Harry's hand.

"Why don't we give the two of you a minute?"

Hermione stood, and Ron took her hand as the two of them headed for the living room. Ginny remained rooted to her spot, and Harry's eyes remained downcast, as if looking for answers at the bottom of his mug. Finally, Harry found his voice.

"Ginny, you should come sit. We have a lot to talk about," he said quietly.

Ginny crossed her arms in front of her, taking on a defensive posture. "So you're finally talking to me?"

Harry's head stayed bowed, as he let out a sigh. "I'm sorry, Ginny. Please, we need to talk."

"What's there to talk about?"

Harry let out a chuckle, "Quite a lot actually."

"Because there wasn't anything to talk about at all yesterday, or the week before that, or the week before that now, was there?"

Harry let out another sigh. "Well, I suppose things build up if you put them off." He finally raised his head to meet her eyes.

Ginny could see the unshed tears in his eyes. She didn't know whether to feel justified or compassionate. Truth be told, she was feeling both.

"Ginny, please, sit down. We really do need to talk." Harry's voice was still quiet, but there was a hint of urgency that tugged at Ginny's heartstrings, the way only Harry could. She went into the kitchen to fetch a mug of pumpkin juice before sitting across from Harry.

"What's on your mind, Potter?"

Harry frowned at her distant attitude, but he couldn't blame her. It was time to fix his mistakes. "I owe you an apology."

Ginny raised an eyebrow, opting to match his understatement. "Yes, you do."

"You have to understand -"

"Don't worry, Harry, I do. It doesn't mean I have to like it."

Harry ran a hand through his hair. "I don't want it to be like this."

"Can you think of another way?"

In response, Harry rose from his chair and pulled up one next to Ginny. He took her hands in his, and held her gaze. "It's time you knew the truth."

Ginny could feel her heart beating faster. Harry always had this effect on her, and the determined look in his eyes took her breath away. "What are you saying?"

"I need you, Ginny, and I need to tell you why."

888

"Harry, darling, wake up."

"Hmmm..."

"Come on, son, rise and shine."

"What... what's going on?"

"We need to talk, dear, please wake up."

Harry reached for his glasses and the scene came into focus. His mum and dad were seated on either side of his bed. Panic began to rise in his chest.

As if sensing his unease, Lily put a reassuring hand in his. "Don't worry, dear, this is a dream."

James came over and joined his hand with Lily and Harry's. "The bridge your elf friend created hasn't quite faded yet. So we have an opportunity, one we never thought we'd have."

"Harry, we just wanted you to know, we're so proud of you. We love you, son, never doubt that," said Lily.

"We've been watching you. You've never failed to do us proud. It's not fair that we never got to share our lives together, but always know that our love goes with you. Do you understand, son?"

Harry felt like he could scarcely breathe, that the weight of what he was feeling was pushing on his chest.

"I'm sorry, I don't remember anything about you."

James smiled. "That's not true, son. You do remember. You may have only been a baby, but you were happy, and you were loved. That left a mark on you. Dumbledore tried to explain it to you once. Sometimes your heart remembers what your mind can't."

"How long do we have?"

"Not very long, son, you'll probably wake as the sun rises in a quarter of an hour."

"That's not fair."

Lily smiled sadly. "No, it's not, dear. But life's not always fair. You've done so well even though life has been unkind to you. We're so proud of you, we love you, and we have to keep telling you that because we don't have a chance to do it in person."

"I'll remember this when I wake up, won't I?"

"Yes."

"Then can I ask a favour?"

"Anything."

"Will you hold me, and sing me to sleep, like when I was a baby?"

Lily and James both had tears in their eyes, the same tears that were in Harry's eyes. Lily took Harry's head in her lap, and James put his arm around Lily. Harry felt as though he were literally wrapped in love like it was a blanket. And perhaps, that was exactly true.

Baby sleep, gently sleep

Life is long and love is deep

Time will be, sweet for thee

All the world to see

Time to look about and know

Though the shadows come and go

How the breeze, stirs the trees

How the blossoms grow...

888

"Harry, wake up."

"Hmmm?"

"Unless you'd rather that mum and dad found us sharing a blanket on the couch. Because I'm sure that'd go over real well."

Harry reached for his glasses, and when his vision came into focus, he found Ginny hovering over him.

"I could get used to waking up this way," he said in a far off voice.

"Oh, so you think it's that easy? Tell a girl all about how a madman is trying to kill you and how he plans to make himself immortal and she'll fall all over you?"

"Did it work?"

"Maybe," said Ginny as she leaned in for a kiss.

"We really should get up, Harry."

"Why?"

"Well, if mum and dad find us-"

"Let them."

"Harry?"

"I want to be free, Ginny. I want us to be free. Besides, there's no danger."

"I thought you were breaking up with me before because there was danger."

"Well, yes, we both might be killed and all, but your mum and dad should know that there's no danger. I love you, you see."

"Oh," said Ginny with a blush.

"And some very wise people have told me that love is magic."

"Is that so?"

"I'll show you," said Harry as he planted a kiss on Ginny's lips. "Did you feel it?"

"I reckon I did."

"So you see, there's nothing to fear. I love you."

Harry and Ginny drew closer together and drew the blanket tighter. Harry's heart felt lighter than it had in months. Dumbledore was right. Love was the strongest magic. And more love was not a bad thing.

He was finally ready to go out and complete the quest. He was ready to win, and to celebrate his win. He was ready to live.

THE END