Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any characters, place names, or content that appears in this story. This story is a fan fiction and does not necessarily comply with the actual Harry Potter timeline. Rated T for romance and violence.
A/N: this is a fan fiction where Sirius, Remus, Tonks, and Fred never died. Sorry, I'm a perfectionist.
Harry Potter say in the armchair in front of the fire, staring into its depths. His eyes were swollen and puffy, which gave him a sleep deprived look. Every inch of him still ached, and he wanted nothing more than to sleep. But sleeping doesn't come easy when you're constantly surrounded by fans.
That comes with defeating the most dangerous wizard in history. Girls just seem to find you irresistible. And boys just want your autograph. But purposes notwithstanding, the only reason Harry was alone was because the literal army of fans did not know he was there.
Harry cracked a smile as he imagined all those students: first-years, seventh-years, the lot, all clutching scraps of paper and wandering the corridors of the library, looking for The Boy Who Lived. He chuckled as he recalled to himself that Invisibility Cloaks were good for more than just hiding.
The sounds of their chants seemed to ring in Harry's ears, and he considered using the Half-Blood Prince's Langlock curse on the next fangirl he found shouting in his ear.
Barely had the thought formed in his mind, when a soft voice said, "Harry?"
Harry spun around in the chair, wand in hand, but relaxed immediately when he saw who it was.
"Evening Ginny."
Ginny Weasley smiled at him, but her face was full of concern.
"Do you mind if I sit with you for a while," she asked. "I know you want some time alone, but-"
But Harry shook his head and motioned for her to come and sit down. She did, and for a while neither spoke.
Harry felt distinctly awkward together; the memory of their last face-to-face talk, at Dumbledore's funeral, kept intruding on his thoughts. From her expression, it was clear that she was remembering them too. Silence descended on them, until Ginny could stand it no longer.
"So what are you gonna do now?"
"Hmm?" Harry mumbled, looking at her.
"You know. No Voldemort, no Horcruxes, no Death Eaters… What're you gonna do now?"
"Well," Harry thought. "I think I'll try for being an Auror. Yeah… And then, well, I dunno."
"I suppose, being 'The Chosen One', and all that, you would be kinda pre-qualified for the job, huh?"
"It would tend to give me an edge, yes." Said Harry, and both of them laughed.
"In the dating business, yes; have you seen how many fans are out there?"
Both of them roared with laughter.
"Are you kidding me," Harry exclaimed over the laughter. "I don't know what was worse; being chased by angry, murderous, Death Eaters, or fans!"
Shrieks of laughter.
"I knew you would be here, but the only reason we're still alone is because I told them I had definitely seen you in there and that they could not have looked properly." Ginny chuckled.
Laughter ensured. Once it had died down, both of them found themselves staring into the fire again, not saying a word. Harry burned to tell Ginny… To speak to the one person he had wanted to see, ever since Tom Riddle had died…
But Ginny, surprisingly, beat him to it.
"Hey Harry?"
"Hmm?"
Ginny spoke slowly and carefully, knowing this was her one chance and that she could not afford to screw up.
"You remember… Last year, when you told me we couldn't be together, because Voldemort would hunt me down?"
Harry felt his heart thumping somewhere in the region of his lungs, but made an effort to control himself, and just nodded. Did this really mean-?
But Ginny was speaking again.
"Well, he's dead now, so… What you said last year… Does that still… Um… Apply?
She realised how stupid she must sound saying it, and immediately thought, 'damn it Ginny, look what you've done! Now how's he ever going to like you again?'
But Harry couldn't believe it. He had been hoping in his heart of hearts, if he could talk Ginny into this, and yet, here it was on a silver platter. He tried to control his trembling.
"Voldemort's dead, his Death Eaters flee, why should we not be together?"
Ginny's heart exploded. She launched herself off her seat, and kissed him. Harry kissed her back, as both sides, unbeknownst to one another, thought, 'yes! I did it!'
A few hours later, Ron and Hermione came wandering around the corner, looking for Harry. The Fat Lady swung forward to admit them without a password, and Hermione climbed in first.
She was glad she did. Sitting in the armchair by the fire, was Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter. They had both fallen asleep, Ginny wrapped in Harry's arms.
Hermione was happy for them, but, knowing what Ron was likely to say, she tried anxiously to block his view of the common room, while saying that he wasn't there, that he had probably gone down to dinner already, and that they should follow suit.