Hey guys. Sorry it took me so long to get started but i`ve had alot of homework and i`ve been stressed lately as i have to choose my options soon. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it!

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Chapter 1 - The Beginning of a Deep Dark Depression

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Harry was tired, there was no mistaking it. He looked dead on his feet. He had defeated Voldemort five hours ago and was still at Hogwarts trying to clear the rubble and help identify bodies of death eaters and friends. Harry`s thoughts at this time went to all the bodies he had seen himself. There were so many. Just to name a few there were Snape, Colin, Lavender, Fred, Lupin and Tonks. Harry`s heart throbbed for the Weasley's and for his godson. Teddy would grow up just like him. Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts as he entered the Great Hall for some well needed coffee.

Professor McGonagall walked over to Harry. It was now the early hours of 3rd May a day after the battle and Harry needed rest. "You do know that won`t keep you going for forever."

Harry stared at her with an amused grin. "I don`t need it to."

"I think you misunderstood my meaning Mr Potter. I think you should go to the girlfriend you have back home that is very worried about you. She asked me to give this to you. She couldn`t come here but gave the note to me through the floo network." With that McGonagall handed a shocked Harry the letter and walked to another table to talk to the teachers.

Harry put down his coffee and unfolded the letter:

Dear Harry,

The burrow seems different. There`s no laughter or weird explosions coming from his room. Mum`s losing it. She`s just sitting in the garden playing with all the things she confiscated from him over the years. Dad`s gone to work but he left far too early and probably won`t be back until late even though there can`t be much work for him to do. Bill is in his room with Fleur tending to him. Charlie is leaving this afternoon but he`ll be back soon. Percy sits with George in George`s room. I think he blames himself. Ron just sits with Hermione all the time. You never find them apart. Their at the lake now. Please, please, please try to come home soon. We need you. I need you.

Love from

Ginny

xxx

As Harry read the letter he notice tear stains on the parchment and the odd ink blob where Ginny had pressed too hard and snapped the end of her quill. If Harry thought his heart hurt before it was nothing to what he was feeling now. His vision blurred as he reread the letter. Professor McGonagall watched as Harry took off his glasses to wipe his eyes. She stood up and went over to Harry once more. Harry hastily put on his glasses and look at the professor.

"If you need to go, go. We can do the rest. You`ve done more than enough. Thank you." Harry nodded and stood up not bothering to finish his drink. "Use the floo in my office. Luckily that wasn`t harmed." Harry nodded and ran up to Professor McGonagall`s office.

Once there, he took a pinch of floo powder and dropped it into the fireplace. "The Burrow!" he shouted and his world began to spin.

-x-x-x-

As Harry stepped out of the fireplace and into The Burrow, he was immediately met with a very ill looking Ginny. She threw herself at him at hugged him with all the strength she had as he put his head onto hers and inhaled her scent. Harry kissed the top of her forehead just as Ron and Hermione walked through the door. Ron and Hermione stood there for some time just waiting for them to break apart.

After a good five minutes Ron gave a gentle cough. Harry quickly backed away from Ginny but when he saw it was only Ron he moved back to Ginny and put his arm around her.

"Hi mate," Ron smiled but it didn`t quite reach his eyes.

"Hi Ron. Hi Hermione." Harry walked over to Hermione and she hugged him.

"Harry James Potter, never scare us like that again," Hermione sobbed onto his shoulder.

Harry then felt a hand smack the back of his head. He yelped, rubbing the back of his head. It didn`t hurt but it startled him all the same. He turned round to see Ginny very close to tears. He pulled her close, forgetting about his friends.

"Are you ok? I didn`t mean to hurt you," Ginny mumbled. "You just really scared me when Hagrid carried your lifeless body to us, sobbing."

Harry wiped a few tears off of her cheek and stared into her eyes. "I`m sorry I scared you and don`t worry, that didn`t hurt. It just surprised me, that's all."

At that moment Mrs Weasley walked in from the garden and squeezed Harry in a death hug. As she pulled away she noticed that he was extremely tired and looked like he hadn`t eaten properly in ages. "Oh, Harry, dear! I`ve missed you so much. Now you look really tired. Go rest on the sofa and I`ll bring you some breakfast," she fussed.

"Thank you, Mrs Weasley, but I`m not that hungry and it`s so early."

"Don`t worry Harry. We`ve been eating at odd times lately. Yesterday we had dinner at nearly midnight. Now go and rest."

Knowing that he would never win the argument he left the kitchen and made his way to the living room, hand-in-hand with Ginny.

"Mum`s right you know," Ginny told Harry.

"About what?"

"The fact that you look really tired and ready to pass out with hunger."

"Ginny, I`m…"

"Don`t say your fine, Harry James Potter!" she snapped. "You`ve been gone for nearly half a year doing Merlin knows what and you have defeated the most darkest and dangerous wizard of all time and haven`t slept or eaten in hours!" Ginny was on the verge of tears.

Harry wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug. After a minute he pulled away and led Ginny to the sofa. He sat down, pulled Ginny onto his lap and rocked her gently.

"Professor McGonagall made me rest and I have had plenty to eat. Don`t worry."

"But I did, all that time when you were gone, when you went to face Voldemort. Seeing Hagrid carrying your lifeless body towards us, it all scared me. I missed you so much." She whispered the last part hoping Harry wouldn`t hear.

"I missed you too, Ginny. Every night I would look for your name on the Marauder`s Map. When it disappeared one night and didn`t show again, I thought the Death Eaters had got you or something."

Ginny turned her head to look at Harry. She stared deep into his green orbs as he stared into her chocolate brown ones.

"Ginny…" Harry breathed.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to go out with me again, now that it doesn`t put you in any danger?"

"Of course," Ginny smiled.

Harry leaned forward and they kissed not caring that all of Ginny`s family and Hermione were watching. After a few moments they broke apart and fell asleep in front of the fire.

-x-x-x-

When Harry woke up he saw Ginny staring at him.

"What time is it?" Harry mumbled.

"Eleven O`clock," Ginny answered.

"Damn. Charlie leaves soon doesn`t he?" The thought of Ginny missing her favourite brother`s goodbye coursed through his head.

"Not until two. Mum`s just reheating your breakfast."

"Ok." Relief filled him at the fact. "I`m going to have a shower. See you soon?"

"I`ll meet you at breakfast."

She got up, gave him a quick peck on the cheek and ran upstairs, probably to change into something fresh.

-x-x-x-

"Ron, this is stupid!" Hermione screeched. "You know full well that the only reason that Harry and Ginny stopped going out is because she could`ve been a target for Voldemort."

"She was hurt!" Ron argued.

"She understood the situation though!"

"I don`t care! Anyways he didn`t ask my permission!"

"It`s not your decision! Even your brothers understand! Ginny`s going to kill you when she finds out you`ve done this."

"I`m doing it for her!"

"Fine but you know how powerful Ginny`s magic can be when she`s hiding emotion."

Just as Hermione said that, Harry walked in.

"Hey Harry," Hermione smiled and then to Ron, she said, "If that`s what you think…" and walked out of the room.

Harry was the first to break the awkward silence. "Ron, mate, can I borrow some clothes?"

"No need. Mum kept all your stuff. In there." Ron was pointing at the trunk that stood in the corner. At closer examination, Harry realised that it was his Hogwarts trunk and all his things were in it.

"Thanks. Do I really want to know what you and Hermione were arguing about?"

"Not really…" Ron mumbled.

Harry walked into the bathroom and had a shower. The hot water was just what his muscles needed. After drying and dressing, he walked back to Ron`s room to put his towel away. Just as he turned to leave the room Ron spoke up.

"I know."

"About?" Harry prompted.

"You and Ginny. Everyone knows. Mum went to get us for breakfast and we were going to go and tell you but you were staring into each other's eyes and you asked her a question and her face lit up with happiness. Then you kissed for ages. What do you think you`re doing playing with my sister`s heart like that?"

Harry opened his mouth to speak but a different voice answered.

"Firstly Ronald, he is not playing with my heart," as she said this she walked next to Harry and held his hand. "Secondly, what does it mean to you?"

Ron gulped and he had a right to. Ginny was passed mad, she was pissed. Ron thanked Merlin that Ginny was underage at the minute.

"You're my sister. I have to stop you from getting your heart broken."

"Harry has never broken my heart and never will!" Ginny yelled, her anger rising.

"What about after Dumbledore died? What would you call that?"

"Saving me from being targeted from Voldemort! Come on, Harry. Our breakfast is waiting."

The anger was boiling up inside Ginny. How could he say those things? She looked up to see Harry looking worriedly at her.

"I`ll be fine," Ginny said, answering the unspoken question.

Harry still didn`t look too sure so Ginny put her hands in his hair, brought him down to her height and kissed him. Hearing a door slam, she knew that Ron had seen it. When they broke apart, Harry could see the fire in Ginny`s eyes had died and Ron wouldn`t be killed as long as he kept his distance from Ginny for a few days.

"Come on. Let`s get breakfast."

-x-x-x-

Charlie`s departure was slightly different than all the other ones Harry had seen.

First Charlie said goodbye to Molly and Arthur. Molly hung onto him like he was her life-line. When Arthur managed to pry his wife off of his son, he shook Charlie`s hand and told him to be careful.

Next he went to Bill and Fleur. Bill shook Charlie`s hand and Fleur gave him a hug.

Then he went to Percy. They still weren`t speaking so they gave each other quick nods.

George was in his room but Charlie had already said goodbye to him. Charlie then turned to Ron and Hermione. Ron pulled him into a brotherly hug and Hermione hug him as well.

Lastly he turned to Ginny and Harry. Charlie picked up his sister and spun her round like when they were younger. As Charlie put her down, she buried her head in his neck and tried to hold it together. When at long last she let go Charlie motioned for Harry to follow him.

He stopped at the bottom of the garden by the gate. Charlie`s face became serious as he turned to face Harry.

"Harry, don`t look so scared. I`m just going to give you a job."

Harry nodded and blew out a breath he didn`t know was holding.

Charlie continued. "My sister loves you so much. Before you came here, she wouldn`t do anything. As soon as you asked her to go back out with you, the happiness on her face… I`ve missed it. You know as well as I do that Ginny doesn`t like showing her emotions in front of others. Basically, what I`m asking you to do is after all the funerals I want you to take her to Grimmauld Place and help her with her emotions as, well to be honest, you know what it`s like hiding emotion. Don`t bring her back here until the day before she goes to Hogwarts." Charlie handed him a piece of parchment. "This is a letter to Mum explaining that it is all my idea. Put it in the kitchen the night you go. Don`t worry about packing anything, I`ve already sent it there. All Ginny knows is that you will be taking her on a trip so she can spend time with you before she goes to Hogwarts. Are you up to the challenge?"

Harry nodded and Charlie handed him the letter. "Thanks, Harry," and with that he left.

-x-x-x-

The next day Harry woke up to Molly`s voice shouting about something. She was probably going to send a howler. Harry reached for his glasses and put them on. He looked around the room and saw Ginny sitting on Ron`s bed smiling at him.

"Morning sleepy head," Ginny grinned as she sat on the edge of Harry`s bed and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Morning," Harry mumbled. A thought suddenly entered his head. "Err… Ginny,… it`s not that I don`t like what you`re doing but… won`t Ron… I don`t know… lose it?"

"We don`t have to worry about that," Ginny said, a sly smile playing on her lips.

"Why not?"

"Wow you really did sleep well. Mum`s shouting was so much louder an hour ago! Basically Ron went with Hermione last night to help find her parents. Mum knew about Hermione but when she found that Ron had gone she lost it. She is currently sending a howler," Ginny smirked. "That means that we don`t have to worry about him poking his nose into everything we do until they get back."

Harry smiled and started to get up. The happiness was beginning to show in her eyes. By the time she went back to Hogwarts, hopefully, she`d be her natural, carefree-self.

Harry got up, gave Ginny a gentle kiss, and told her to wait for him downstairs. He quickly dressed and hurried downstairs to see a very red Mrs Weasley.

As she heard him come in she turned to Harry and mumbled something.

"Sorry, Mrs Weasley, but I couldn`t hear you," Harry apologised.

"Did you know Ron was going to go with her?" She looked so broken. In the space of a few days she had lost a son, seen one off to Romania and now she had lost her youngest son without warning as he`d gone to Australia. Her eyes brimmed with tears and Harry sat next to her and rubbed comforting circles on her back whilst shaking his head at her question.

Ginny walked into the kitchen when she heard her mum`s sobs and made them a cup of tea each. Harry and Ginny then led Mrs Weasley to the sofa.

That's when the letters began to arrive.

-x-x-x-

Everyday letters would arrive for Harry asking him to tend the funeral of a loved one that had fallen at the battle of Hogwarts.

Ginny knew that the only reason that Harry was attending the funerals was because he felt like it was his fault. Many a time she had told Harry it wasn`t but it was no use as the noble git just wouldn`t listen. However, being the kind girlfriend she was, she attended all of the fifty odd funerals that Harry had been invited to.

They attended all of them and at all of them Harry would tell them it was his fault and that he was sorry.

Two funerals that really stood out for Ginny and Harry was Colin and Lavender`s funerals.

Colin`s was decorated with the pictures that he had taken during his time at Hogwarts. Most of them were of Harry. Colin`s parents said they were willing to copy any of the ones the guests wanted. Ginny immediately went up and asked if she could have a picture of Harry in his Quidditch uniform during a practice. The great thing about this picture was that Harry never knew that Colin was there so he wasn`t frustrated. Harry also found a picture he liked. It was of the Gryffindor common room. He obviously hadn`t seen Colin taking this picture as he wasn`t glaring at where the boy with the camera should have been. The picture had been taken somewhere Harry`s sixth year at Hogwarts in-between the time when he had finally realised his true feelings for Ginny and asked her out and the time he separated from her at Dumbledore`s funeral.

Lavender`s funeral did make a few tears run down Ginny`s face. The music showed all of the emotions that Lavender had probably felt during her life. Harry pulled Ginny close and just sat listening to the music that Lavender had written herself.

-x-x-x-

It was now the beginning of June and Harry and Ginny had been to all the funerals they had been invited to. However, now they had to help plan the funerals for Snape, Tonks and Lupin, and finally Fred.

The first one Harry wanted to get done was Snape`s. He sent an owl to McGonagall asking if Snape could be buried at Hogwarts. She said that he could. The service was a short one. Harry said a few words about Snape and where his true loyalty lay and all the tragic things that had happened in his life. He didn`t notice, however, Rita Skeeter in her animagus form. After the funeral Harry made sure that a portrait of Snape was put up in the Headmaster`s office.

Tonks and Lupin`s were harder for Harry to organise. Every few seconds he would hear Teddy crying and it would break his heart to hear it. In the end he had to get Ginny to help him with it. Together they got through it. The actual service, however, was a whole different story. Teddy would keep crying and would only settle down if Harry or Ginny held him. Harry realised that he needed to say a few words so he went up still holding onto Teddy.

"Tonks and Lupin were amazing people. Lupin taught me how to produce a patronus. Thanks to him, I managed to save my godfather. Also he would tell me stories about the Marauders. Tonks was always there for me. She would comfort me like no one else could. I can remember the time Lupin came to me when he found out Tonks was pregnant. I remember telling him to go back. Told him he was a coward. When Teddy was born Lupin came to me and asked me to be Teddy`s godfather and, I have to say, I…"

Harry stopped trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. Ginny got up from her seat and whispered, "It`s ok to cry," in Harry`s ear.

He nodded his thanks and continued. "I promised myself that I`d be just as good a godfather as my godfather was to me. He won`t have to go through anything I went through as a child as he has people who love him everywhere."

Harry then held Teddy close to him and sat down. The only other thing he could remember was not letting Teddy out of his sight.

-x-x-x-

A few days after those funerals Ron and Hermione came back from Australia.

"I`ve found my parents!" Hermione squealed as soon as the door was open. "Their moving back into our house as we speak."

"That's great Hermione," Ginny smiled, again the smile not quite reaching her eyes, as she hugged Hermione.

Ron then walked through the door with the suitcases and spied the way that as soon as Ginny had hugged Hermione she went back into Harry as if going without his touch for too long would kill her. She looked worse than that really. Like she hadn`t slept for weeks.

A cry shook Ron from his thoughts.

"Don`t worry, I`ll get him," Harry told Ginny as he went through into the living room where the cries immediately subsided.

Ginny gave a sigh and fell into one of the kitchen chairs, looking as if she would pass out any second.

"Ginny, what`s wrong?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing. I just haven`t been sleeping well lately, well since…" Ron interrupted her.

"Yeah. Since you and Harry had sex and you`ve found out your pregnant and have been suffering from morning sickness!" he yelled.

What happened next happened so fast the Ron didn`t know what hit him.

Ginny had gone a deep red and was shaking from her anger. The finest china that Molly had began to rattle around and the next thing Ron knew was that all the cups were flying towards him. As soon as it started, it stopped.

Ron looked at his sister who was still shaking and had tears running down her face. Harry was holding her up as she looked ready to pass out.

Mrs Weasley ran into the room and stopped as soon as she saw the scene. Pushing the mess to the back of her mind she ran over to Ginny and helped Harry to move her to the living room.

Hermione sent an angered glared of hated to Ron and hurried after them.

After a few seconds he walked to the door way of the living room and stared at the sight.

The first surprise he got was that the whole floor was covered in baby toys and other items. The next shock he received was his mother searching that he had nothing 'sharp or dangerous' on him. The final thing he saw was Ginny holding on to a bundle, holding onto it like it like it was her lifeline. When she saw Ron she stiffened. Harry followed the direction of her eyes. He kissed her and ran his fingers along the bundle, his eyes holding an emotion that Ron couldn`t quite make out. Harry walked over to Ron, motioning for him to follow.

"I knew it, I knew it! I was right!" Ron shouted at Harry. "Why would you do somethi-"

"SHUTUP!" Harry shouted. "Just be quiet."

Hearing Harry`s outburst, Hermione ran into the kitchen and slapped Ron round the face. "How could you be so stupid!?" she yelled.

Harry, knowing that Hermione would keep Ron quiet for a few minutes began boiling some water so Ginny could have some coffee to give her more energy. As Harry carried Ginny`s drink to her, she was on the verge of tears yet again. Harry held her close while mouthing to Mrs Weasley that he`d explain the situation later.

When Hermione came back through to the living room she said, "He`s ready to listen now. If he doesn`t just call."

Harry nodded and went to see Ron.

Harry picked up the cup of coffee he had made for himself and took a slip from it. He then went to the door, had a final check on Ginny and closed the door. Remembering that Teddy was in the next room he casted a silencing charm around the room and sat down again facing Ron.

"Ask me a question and I`ll try and answer it to the best of my abilities." Harry told Ron.

"What did you do whilst me and Hermione were gone?"

"Tried comforting your mother and attended funerals."

"What`s wrong with Ginny?"

"She`s trapping her emotion inside her. I did the same thing when I was angry and blew my aunt up. Not only that but she`s been finding it hard to sleep since the war."

"What was the thing that you and Ginny were looking at with so much love but hurt?"

"A baby."

"Aha! So I was right!"

"No you weren't!" Harry shouted banging his fist on the table.

"Yes I was! You got her pregnant!"

Harry stood up so quickly that his chair went flying backwards.

"If you don`t believe me I`ll show you."

He took a sip of coffee and walked over to the door. He came back a few minutes later with the bundle.

He stood next to Ron and said in a choked voice, "This is my godson, Teddy Remus Lupin."

Ron felt so stupid. This child clearly did not belong to Harry and Ginny. For one thing in his head he had just worked out the fact that Harry couldn`t have had sex with Ginny because they were on the camping trip at the time that Lupin had announced that he would be a father.

Ron wasn`t the sort of guy to apologise straight away so without saying a word he stood up and went upstairs to his room.

-x-x-x-

The day of Fred`s funeral arrived. It had taken so long to organise. Everyone could only work on it for an hour a day before Molly started crying and everyone else would try and find some sort of comfort. It was held on 17th August.

Ginny was told to do the speech on behalf of her family as she was less likely to cry. Harry looked at her as she got up to speak. She looked so scared so he went up with her and held her hand. Before she began he whispered in her ear, "If it`s too much stop and give it to me to finish." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and with a deep breath, began.

"Fred was a much loved son, brother, nephew and friend. He was always pranking people but somehow got excellent grades. I remember when I was in my 4th year at Hogwarts they sent off their dragon fireworks and escaped the castle on brooms. Somehow they had enough money to open a joke shop. During the war, he helped do the show Potterwatch and helped to fight during the Battle of Hogwarts. He died fighting for his friends and family, making a joke about the giant git sitting on the end of the row next to George." She took a deep breath. It was nearly over. "He left me a note before he left for the battle. George and I found it when going through his notebook and thought that we would share it with you. If I should die during the battle, here are bets that I was going to make when the times come.

I bet against you George on the engagement and wedding bet.

I believe that the first pair to get married will have a girl first

I definitely think the second pair to get married will have a boy first.

You know what you have to do if I`m right, love Fred.

Fred will be dearly missed." At that everyone clapped and Ginny buried her face in Harry`s shirt to hide her tears.

-x-x-x-

When everyone had gone home and Ginny was sleeping on the sofa, Charlie came over and sat next to Harry. In a whisper he said, "When everyone is upstairs and asleep go. It needs to be tonight or she won`t have long enough to recover."

Harry nodded. "I`ve spoken to Arthur. He has agreed for me to use the car."

Arthur had brought and bewitched another car.

Charlie nodded. "Leave at 1 O'clock at the earliest. 2 O`clock is the latest you can leave."

Harry nodded again.

Charlie got up said, "Good Luck and don`t forget the letter," and went upstairs to bed.

-x-x-x-

Harry set an alarm for 1 O`clock and fell asleep on the sofa with Ginny. It went off far too early for Harry`s liking but he got up, stretched, and started to wake Ginny.

When Ginny was awake Harry told her that they were leaving and to wait in the car.

When Ginny was in the car he put the letter on the table and thanked Merlin that Teddy had gone home that afternoon.

When he got into the car Ginny was already asleep. He casted a silencing charm around the car and would remove it when they were in the town. He looked up to Charlie`s bedroom window and saw him there. He waved at him and began the journey from Devon all the way to London.

-x-x-x-

Well that`s the end of that chapter. If you spotted any mistakes that I have failed to pick up on please PM them to me. Also if you have any questions then PM them to me as well and I will answer them to the best of my ability. Please rate and Review.
K. Joycelyn