1: Aftermath

Harry Potter lay on the 4 poster bed in Gryffindor tower. The curtains were drawn around him. This was unnecessary, as he was the only one in the room. Kreacher had been nice enough to bring him a turkey sandwich and pumpkin juice, but Harry was barely able to swallow the first bite past the lump in his throat. The rejected sandwich sat on his bedside table, beside his empty glass, his wand, and his glasses. Though his body felt exhausted, Harry found himself unable to sleep.

It was all over. Harry tried to find happiness in the thought of the world being rid of Voldemort, but found it impossible. He could only picture his friends, his family, dead in front of him. Fred. Lupin. Tonks. Even Colin Creevey. None of them needed to die for him. If only he had given himself up to Voldemort sooner.

Harry heard the door creak and shut his eyes, feigning sleep. In his mind, he wondered who it could be. Neville had gone with Luna to get her father from Azkaban. Dean had returned to his family, who had not heard from him since he fled many months ago. Seamus had also gone home to his mother, who was worried sick over him. And Ron, Ron was with his family, in the terrible time of loss that Harry had brought upon them.

He heard his curtains dragged open, and felt a rush of panic. Surely whoever it was, if it was friend, would not be disturbing his rest? Perhaps one of his enemies had survived the search for them, and was about to finish Voldemort's work. Harry was just deciding the best way to get to his wand, when he felt the bed creek and a warm body snuggle up under his chin.

He opened his eyes a crack, and saw the flaming hair that could only belong to Ginny Weasley. Her eyes were closed as she pressed her face into Harry's chest, and he heard her breathe deeply. He had been imagining, wishing for this since he had first broken up with her, for her own good. Surely he deserved this now? The thought disgusted him. Why should he, the one responsible for all these deaths, deserve what he wanted? He was sure Lupin and Tonks wanted to get to know their son, but they were never going to be able to do that.

His stomach churning, Harry gently pushed Ginny away from him. Her eyes flashed open. She looked up at him, a thousand questions in her eyes.

"How are you?" Was the first she asked.

"I feel fine," Harry responded. His head echoed with the lie. His body hurt. His head ached. The new scar, in the middle of his chest, from the second failed killing curse, burned. It was surrounded by the scar of the Slytherin locket. His body was covered with cuts and bruises from being bounced on the ground by Voldemort, while playing dead. But this was not what pained him. The guilt was worse, heavy and pressing on his heart, his lungs, everywhere.

Ginny tried to move back next to him, but Harry moved away.

"Ginny, please," Harry said, looking at her hands, instead of the hurt he knew would be in her eyes.

"You…you don't want me?" Ginny asked slowly, her voice cracking on the last word. Harry looked up sharply, and found her eyes brimming with tears. Never in his life had he seen Ginny cry. Not when she had been possessed by Voldemort, not when she had broken her ankle in the Ministry, never.

"Ginny, no, believe me, I want you,"

"Then have me," she interrupted.

"I can't. I don't deserve you after what I've done."

"What you've done? You mean saving me? Saving everyone from Voldemort?"

"Well, I didn't save everyone."

"Harry, you can't think like that. They all chose to fight. They had the choice to go home."

"Ginny, I ripped your family apart. Fred died because of me. And Lupin, and Tonks."

"Fred chose to be here. Do you really think he wouldn't defend you? You have been friends for years. He considered you one of the family. If Voldemort was after Fred, would you have risked your life fighting for him?"

"Well, yes," Harry answered.

"Exactly. And Lupin, he took over for Sirius, in the whole godfather department, I believe. He felt it was his duty, as your father's last living friend, to watch over you. He felt he owed it to you and your father, for all you had done for him. And Tonks, she knew what she was getting into. She was safe at home, but you know her, she can't miss anything, especially when it concerned almost everyone she loved."

Harry listened to Ginny's speech, staring at her hand covering his. Yes, what she said was true, but was he really allowed to forgive and forget so easily?

"Harry, you don't need to forget them," Ginny said, as if reading his mind, "I just don't think they died so you could sit here and sulk. They died so you could live, so we all could live."

Harry contemplated this for a moment. As he pondered, Ginny once again slid under his chin. This time, Harry stroked her hair. He pressed his lips to her hair and felt warm water spreading down his chest. He realized that Ginny was crying. It nearly broke him in two. He knew she did not like to cry, to look weak in front of others. That was why she came to find Harry. She felt comfortable letting him hold her while she cried. She would not show her tears in front of anyone else. And he had let her down, with his own problems. Of course, she must feel worse than him.

"Oh Ginny," Harry said, pulling her closer. "I'm so sorry."

They lay in the bed together. Harry awoke with a start to the sunlight flashing in his eyes through the open curtain. Ginny was still in his arms, though awake. She was tracing the scars on his chest.

"Is this, is this where it hit you?" She asked, tracing the bolt identical to the one on his forehead.

"Yes," he answered simply.

"I was so worried Harry. You don't know what it was like. I thought, I thought you were dead. First Fred, my own brother, then Tonks, who was like a sister to me. And when I saw Hagrid carrying your body, you looked so, I don't know. Something in me changed. I was ready to take on Voldemort himself, as soon as he stepped from the woods."

"Ginny, that would be suicide."

"I know," She said, her brown eyes burning fiercely into his. "I told you, something in me changed. It's you, I need you. You are my everything."

Harry didn't know what to say. And in the next moment, he didn't care. He crushed his lips to hers, and she responded. He leaned over her, kissing her like he never had before. It wasn't until a silver terrier bounded into the room that they broke apart with a gasp. It spoke to them in Ron's voice.

"Harry, come on down to the great hall. Mum says we are leaving and we are taking you with us. She won't take no for an answer. And stop by the girls dorms, Ginny is sleeping, can you get her for me?"

The dog burst into a silvery cloud and disappeared.

"I guess we better get going," Ginny said, disappointment obvious in her voice. "I'll let Ron know we will be down in a few."

She flicked her wand, muttered expecto patronum, and produced a silvery doe.

"Tell Ron, 'I got your message. I'm getting dressed. Harry is waiting for me the common room. We will be down in 5 minutes,' okay?"

The doe turned around and cantered gracefully toward the exit.

Harry stared after it in puzzlement. He was sure…

"Yes, my patronus was a horse. But like I said, when I saw you, dead, I changed. This is one of the physical signs."

Harry was speechless.

"I thought of you, you know," he burst out.

"Um, what?" Ginny asked in confusion.

"When I died." Harry wasn't sure what made him say it. He wasn't sure he was ready to talk about his encounter with Voldemort yet. But a warmness spread through his heart and filled his body. He had a sudden desire for Ginny to know everything about him, including what happened.

"I saw Snape's memory, and I knew I was to die. Part of Voldemort was inside me, and unless that was killed, Voldemort could never be defeated. I walked through those woods, knowing my fate. I saw Voldemort talking with his death eaters, on how he was sure I would come. And just before he left to get back to the war, I revealed myself. I revealed myself to die. I didn't so much as lift my wand. But I thought of you. I was scared, terrified to die. But all I could see was your face. I knew if I died, I could save you. It gave me the courage to stand there and see that green light."

Ginny was once again looking at him with sadness in her eyes, but it was different this time.

"Oh, Harry," she pressed her lips to his once more. After a minute, Harry pulled away.

"Ron is expecting us in 5 minutes you know," he said, smiling slightly at her. She fake pouted, and climbed out of the bed and out the door. They met in the common room, dressed in fresh robes left by Kreacher.

"Let's go," Harry said, holding out his hand. Ginny grasped it and he helped her through the door.