Moving on

Chapter 1

Harry walked slightly behind Ron and Hermione as they left Dumbledore's office. His newly fixed wand in one hand and the Elder wand in the other. He knew soon that he would return it to Dumbledore's tomb but couldn't face doing it tonight. He noticed as he walked that Hermione had slipped her hand into Ron's and he briefly smiled and registered how pleased he was that his two best friends had finally realised their feelings for each other. It was something that Harry knew had been brewing for years, but hadn't told either of them his suspicions for fear of then biting his head off. He remembered, however, a conversation he had had at the Burrow a couple of summers ago with Ginny, Fred and George. All had agreed that there was chemistry between the youngest Weasley son and Hermione. If he remembered correctly it was Fred that had said they would get together when they least expect it and Harry thought about how in the middle of the Battle, it was probably the time where neither of them expected to find a partner. But then Harry stopped … Fred, who was lying in the chamber with all the other bodies, Lupin, Tonks, Colin and however many more there were.

"Harry are you coming?" asked Ron, who had noticed Harry was no longer right behind them.

"Actually there's something I have to do, I'll see you later, in the common room?" suggested Harry, knowing the other two were going to the Great Hall to see the rest of the Weasley's and knowing that he needed some time alone, to think and to reflect on what had happened.

"Okay mate, if you're sure. See you later then," and Ron put his arm round Hermione as they made their way down the corridor away from Harry.

Harry watched them go before heading in the same direction, only when he got to the entrance hall instead of turning right into the Great Hall, he walked straight on and through the open doors of the Castle and into the grounds. The brisk evening air hit his face and he appreciated how late it was, but he had no intention of sleeping any time soon. His body was still full of adrenaline from the fight and he knew that if he closed his eyes he would see their faces, the people that died ... died because of him. He came to rest next to a tree near the lake, the same tree he had seen in the pensive a couple of years ago with his dad sat with the rest of the marauders. Harry sat down and leant against the tree looking over the lake and then at the grounds. Everything was silent now. Only a couple of hours ago the grounds were full of screams and fights but it was all over. He looked up at the Castle and noticed just how damaged it was. Bricks lay on the floor and windows were smashed. A couple of towers seemed to have completely fallen and looking over at Hagrid's cabin, it was nothing more than rubble on the ground. All because of me, he thought. All because I brought Voldemort here and put everyone in danger.

After a while, he didn't know how long, he felt someone approaching put didn't look up. He didn't want to talk to anyone, didn't want to see anyone and have them tell him how brave he was. He wasn't brave, he did what he had to do because that was what was expected of him. Right from birth it was his destiny to kill Voldemort and that is what he did. People said that he was noble but he didn't feel like it. All he felt was guilt. The person sat down beside Harry wordlessly and he noticed a familiar smell. One he hadn't smelt in nearly a year but had dreamed of. It was Ginny. He looked up at her and saw tears in her eyes but she wasn't crying. She had dust in her hair from the debris of the Castle and she looked exhausted. Their hands were next to each other and slowly, not quite knowing if it was the right thing to do, Harry slipped his hand into Ginny's and squeezed. Ginny looked up at him and smiled ever so slightly.

"I've missed you," she said and that was all it took for Harry to know that she still cared about him. Harry reached over and pulled her into a hug.

"How did you know I would be here?" asked Harry, thinking that no one would think to find him here.

"I watched you leave. Ron and Hermione came over without you and I saw you through the door to the Great Hall. So I followed and came outside and found you here. I wanted to be near you, see you ... speak to you. I wanted to know that you were okay," replied Ginny.

"I'm sorry … about Fred," Harry said.

"It wasn't your fault Harry. None of it was. I know that you're going to blame yourself but don't. We fought here tonight for the good of the world. We believed it was the right thing to do, it's not your fault. We all knew the risks and with a family the size of ours it would have been an absolute miracle for us to all have survived. Fred died fighting and smiling Harry and that's how he would have wanted to go. He was doing what he was best at and so don't blame yourself. He knew the risks and he accepted them, along with everyone else. No one blames you, not one person in this Castle or in the wizarding community. You're a hero Harry, you've made the world a much safer place and everyone will thank you for that," Ginny ended her speech.

"Those people died because I brought him here," Harry said.

"You had no choice. Besides, if you hadn't then he probably would still be alive. We would all still be living in fear and I wouldn't be sat here with you."

"I missed you too, you know," said Harry. "I'm sorry I had to leave you. I had no choice."

"I know that you did it for the good of the world and I've accepted that. But, if you ever leave me again, if you go off without taking me with you, then there will be trouble," smiled Ginny, half laughing.

"I promise that I will never go anywhere without you again. So … does this mean ... I mean what does this …. Us?" faltered Harry not able to get the words out. Ginny's brother had just died, was this really the best time to be talking about their relationship?

But Ginny answered for him, it wasn't so much an answer as a kiss, which Harry returned. The two finally pulled away from each other and Harry smiled properly for the first time that evening.

"I guess that means we're back together then," said Harry.

"I guess it does. Now come on, you're freezing, lets go back up to the Castle. The others want to see you, to thank you," said Ginny as she got up and held her hand out to him.

"Ginny I can't go in their, not again tonight," Harry said, talking about the Great Hall where everyone was celebrating and mourning. He couldn't face everyone.

"I know. The others were all going up to the common room with Mum and Dad. Everyone who fought is staying the night," explained Ginny. "McGonagall explained after you left. There's going to be a ceremony tomorrow and she told me to tell you she wants to talk to you tomorrow when you wake up."

Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and stood up. He put his arm round her and she put her arm round him. Together they would get through whatever life through at them and for the moment both just wanted to sleep, once again in the comfort of Gryffindor tower, somewhere neither had been for a long time.