DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER. THE VERY FIRST LINE IS J.K ROWLING'S. THE REST IS MY IMAGINATION. LOL

"I've had enough trouble for a lifetime."

Chapter 1. Where We Left Off

"Don't wake him."

"But--"

"No. Ron, he must be exausted!"

"I am, too... But--"

"No. Let him sleep."

Harry could hear his best friends' voices growing steadily louder as he woke up. He slowly opened his eyes. Standing at the and of his four poster bed was Ron and Hermione. He leaned up on his elbows, hoping to find a clock showing the time.

"Oh now you've done it. Why did you want to wake him anyway?" asked Hermione as though Harry were still asleep.

"Hermione. It's been almost a day--"

"Hark who's talking. You didn't wake up til a few hours ago yourself."

"And you only a little before me!"

"Morning," said Harry groggily.

"Good morning Harry," said Hermione.

"Hey mate, how's it going?" asked Ron.

"How long have I been asleep?" he asked. "The last thing I remember was talking to Dumbledore's portrait."

"Well, right after we finished talking to Dumbledore we headed back to Gryffindor Tower. You called for Kreacher and thanked him for everything he'd done and asked him if he could please, bring you a sandwhich. You went upstairs mumbling something about Ginny and by the time Kreacher was back, you were dead asleep.

Ginny.

He needed to talk to Ginny.

"Where's Ginny?" he asked suddenly.

"Er--" Ron looked caught by surprise.

"Last I saw her she was going down to breakfast," said Hermione.

"What time is it?" asked Harry. He was very confused. When he had spoken to Dumbledore's portrait the sun had just risen not long before. Had he only been asleep a few hours? But Ron had said it had been nearly a day. His thoughts were interrupted by Ron.

"It's eight o clock mate. You've been out for about a day. It was around seven when you went to sleep the other morning."

Suddenly it all came hurtling back to him. The battle. Voldemort's death. Fred, Lupin, and Tonks lying on the Great Hall. They appeared to be sleeping, but in reality he knew they weren't. The other dead and wounded scattered across the Great Hall. Harry slowly started to get up and it seemed as though every part of him was screaming in protest. His head ached and the place where Voldemort's killing curse had hit him felt like an iron fist was repeatedly punching him there. Ignoring every thought in his head screaming 'Lay back down and go to bed!' he got up and headed straight for his trunk, but suddenly remembered it wouldn't be there. He hadn't gone to Hogwarts for schoolwork. Coming to no other solution, he scourgified his clothes and went to the lavatry to wash his face. He came out to the familiar sound of Ron and Hermione bickering about something pointless.

"But-" Ron began to protest, but Hermione cut across him.

"Do you want to go down to breakfast with us?" Hermione asked loudly over Ron's stuttering.

"Sure, let's go," obliged Harry.

They made their way down to the common room and out to the corridor. Hermione and Ron were talking, but Harry wasn't listening. He was taking in the state of the castle. Burn marks were abundant and there were chunks of wall missing that ranged from the size of tennis balls to the size of large cars. Windows were broken and some of the remainders of Professor McGonagall's crystal orbs were scattered across the floors. There were few portraits that were in their frames in the hallway. They were probably all crammed into the vast room Harry, Ron, and Hermione were about to enter. Harry scanned the Great Hall in search of the familiar streak of red hair and finally, at the Ravenclaw table, accompanied by Luna Lovegood and a couple girls from her year, sat Ginny Weasley. He mumbled something to Ron and Hermione about meeting up with them later. Hermione had understood completely and grabbing Ron by the hand, pulled him off in the direction of the Gryffindor table, where Ron's family sat. Harry slowly made his way over to Ginny. Harry had a few moments to ready himself,(Ginny had her back to him) but Luna was the first to notcie his presence.

"Oh, hello Harry!" she said in her usual serene voice. Ginny, who had been talking animatedly, had stopped dead. She slowly turned around.

"Hey Ginny..." he began. The Hall had gotten suddenly very quiet. "Wouldyouliketotakeawalkwithme?" he said breathlessly.

She took a deep breath. "Okay," she said quietly. "Let's go."

They walked side by side out of the Great Hall, throught the corridors, throught the Entrance Hall, and outside. They both had agreed silently where the were going. Soon they had arrived at a large tree by the lake. Ginny had gotten there seconds before him and turned to face him. She took a long, deep breath. She looked down at the ground, then fixed her gaze straight into his eyes. "Okay, talk."

"Ginny..." he began. He took a deep breath. "Blimey, this was way harder than I though it was gunna be."

"Harder than not knowing if you were alive or dead for almost a year?" she harshly and suddenly.

"Ginny..." he reached for her arm, but she jerked back.

"Harder than seeing someone you care for so much lying, apparently dead, at the feet of Lord V-v... VOLDEMORT?" she half yelled. "I thought you were DEAD. Gone. Along with Fred and Lupin and Tonks and Colin--"

"Ginny, I love you." Harry said loudly across her. "I have ever since... I don't know when. But believe me, Ginny, it's been a while. Even if you don't take me back I will still love you," he continued seriously. "I had to walk to my death," Ginny looked confused. "I had to walk past you without saying good-bye to get there and that was worse."

"I don't understand," Ginny said suddenly.

"Wha--?"

"What do you mean 'I had to walk to my death'?"

Harry took a deep breath. "Do you want to know the whole story?" he asked heavily.

"I can take it."

Harry took another breath and told her the whole story. Starting with the night Dumbledore died and ending with the final battle, Harry told her every detail of his adventures. He hadn't even noticed she had taken his hand. When he had finished she looked as white as a sheet. Looking into her eyes he saw horror and need and love and sympathy. He suddenly realized how much he had really hurt her. The one person he never wanted to hurt, had been hurt the most. And he had hurt her. She suddenly started to cry. Harry had only see her cry once or twice in the time he had known her and even then, she had been barely crying.

"Oh, Ginny..." he put his arm around her and she cried on his shoulder. "I love you Ginny. Blimey, I love you so much."

She lifted her head up and wiped her eyes. "I love you, too Harry."

He lowered his face to hers and kissed her. It was sweet and slow and as he kissed her it felt as though, maybe, for the moment, he was a normal guy, with an amazing girl.

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Ok well that's my first chapter!! Please review!! Next chapter will be up A.S.A.P!!