Harry Potter was strolling through the corridors of Hogwarts, taking everything in. He was to leave soon with the Weasleys. It was several days after the last battle, but yet everything was repaired. The only thing Harry had left of that horrible night was his memories.
Harry sighed. He wasn't really too fond of this school now. After everyone had died, shed blood, sweat, and tears, he felt as though no matter how much they renovated or swept away the shattered glass, he could only start to loathe his first home. Especially after Fred- Harry couldn't bring himself to finish the thought. So instead, he let his thoughts stray to Ginny.
Harry had barely spoken to her about any of these feelings. No matter how much he wanted to vent his feelings to someone he was close to, he would hate himself if he made them feel even worse about the matter. If Molly, Hermione, or Ginny found out that he was keeping anything from them, they would have a fit. They didn't need anything else to worry about. That was just another reason Harry kept his emotions to himself.
He rounded a corner and ran full force into someone.
"Ron-" Harry started, but was cut off.
"There you are! Hermione- he's over here!" he turned back to Harry. "Mum's been looking for you. She says if she ever gets her hands on you, you'll regret it." he finished.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked in confusion.
"Dunno. But that's why I came to find you. To tell you to keep a low profile and steer clear of Mum for the next few days." Ron whispered to Harry, who grinned.
"I heard you, Ronald." a voice came from behind him. Ron whirled around so quickly, he nearly knocked Harry over.
"Bloody-" he started to say, but Hermione cut him off sharply.
"Save it. You know how upset your mum gets when Harry's 'safety' is involved. How could you just go and tell Harry to avoid her?! I mean you know…" Hermione kept talking, her eyes squeezed tightly in rage.
"What is she going on about now?" Harry's face slit into an inevitable grin when he heard the voice. "What, did Ron let slip another foul remark about a house elf again?" she asked Harry, all the while Hermione continued her lecture, oblivious to the topic change.
Harry turned to Ginny. "Well, you know how Ron is…" he joked. Ron turned to him and he gave him a mock-glare. His mouth opened and closed a few times, trying to find a suitable insult to throw back, but failed miserably.
"That's what I thought. Once again, I am correct about my suspicions." Ginny said rather smugly, yet in a teasing tone, a smirk twitched its way onto her face.
Harry was about to reply when a loud huff was heard, coming from Hermione.
"Are you even listening?!" she cried, a line appeared between her eyebrows.
"Er- I- um- uh-" Ron stuttered, thrown off guard by the tone in her voice.
"Just answer the question, Ronald!" Hermione snapped. Ron slowly focused his gaze on his feet, which were shuffling nervously.
"He looks like a puppy that was caught rummaging through the rubbish bin." Ginny breathed into Harry's ear, making his snort loudly. Hermione locked eyes with Harry and gave him a death stare.
"You think this is funny? The way no one cares about was I have to say?" she asked accusingly.
"Erm- I- no." he stated, looking quite scared that the focus was now on him. Ginny barely contained the laughter that was threatening to escape.
"Give it a rest Hermione! We don't listen to you because you always say the same things!" Ron blurted, a hand flying to his mouth. He had a sheer look of terror on his face and his eyes had a look that clearly said, 'Did I just say that aloud?' Ron quickly turned around and hurried off, Hermione at his heels, threatening him with things like, "Ronald, come back here, or I'll send a flock of birds after you!" and "Ronald! If you value your life, you would turn around and face me like a man! Right now, you're acting like you have the backbone of a pygmy puff!"
Once Ron and Hermione were out of earshot, Harry and Ginnycollapsed to the ground in fits of laughter. Harry gripped his stomach; it felt as though it was about to implode from the laughter. A good five minutes later, Harry found himself slumped against the wall next to Ginny. She was wiping the tears from her eyes with her sleeve.
"Oh Merlin…" she breathed. It was painful to talk in a normal voice after all of that laughing. "That was the most hilarious thing I think I've ever witnessed." she said, leaning her head back onto the cold, stone wall. "I mean, did you see the look on his face?"
"Ginny, you do realize that if they knew we were laughing at them like this, they'd hex us into the next country?" Harry said, turning to look at her.
"Yeah, I know, but its just so hard to resist-" she replied, her eyes closed, a wide grin spreading across her face.
"Yeah… I don't think I've ever laughed so hard like that." Harry replied, cleaning his glasses on his Muggle t-shirt. An awkward silence filled the corridor. The air became tense as Harry realized that this was the first time he'd really been alone with Ginny since his birthday. She, too, seemed to realize this.
"So…" she started, breaking the intense silence between them. "Are you still planning on becoming an Auror?" Ginny asked, crossing her legs, giving him her whole attention.
"I don't know… I think so, but I cant be sure yet. How am I supposed to know if it will work out? I just wish I had a glimpse into the future, to see what I'm destined to be."
"Why?" Ginny asked curiously.
"I just don't want to make a mistake and ruin my life." Harry replied simply, like it was an obvious answer. Ginny blushed.
"Oh, yeah…"
Harry crawled into his temporary bed at the Burrow. He was going to stay with them until he got a job and a place to live. Molly and Arthur would say that he could take his time, but Harry loathed to feel like an intruder. He was surprised that they were so welcoming, after all that happened before the battle. When he went off with Ron and Hermione, he was sure that Molly would never forgive him for being so secretive. Harry let his thoughts wander all the memories he had spent here. His favorite memory was his 17th birthday party. Of course, he had a wonderful time. He was in a wonderful mood- mostly when he was with Ron and Hermione- but that all came crashing down around him when Scrimgeour showed up with Dumbledore's will.
Harry remembered the rage he felt when he found out that Dumbledore had left him the sword, but he couldn't have it. 'Do I really want to work for the Ministry? They all must be the same as Fudge and Scrimgeour…' Harry asked himself. He pondered that thought for a moment. 'I guess I'll never know until it happens…'
Harry thought about his future and what lie ahead. He had always thought he would have to live his life worrying about the threat of Voldemort. He wondered if he could live a normal life, with a wife, children, and a family. Harry's heart jumped at the thought. On his birthday he had gotten the mental picture of Ginny marrying a faceless stranger… now, those thoughts changed… 'I wonder what life would be like if I did end up with Ginny…'
Harry fell into a deep sleep, feeling as though his whole world was spinning. He disregarded that fact. The only thought spinning in his head was what the future held.
Harry Potter woke with a start. "Merlin, how long did I sleep?-" he murmured to himself. He felt as though he had been asleep for a month. He drearily rubbed his eyes and reached for his glasses on the bedside table in Ron's room. His eyelids flew open. 'Where am I?! Where's Ron? What time is it?' he frantically looked around the unfamiliar room.
Harry was laying wearing pajamas he didn't remember putting on. He looked at the bed under him. Nothing was familiar to him; yet- he felt a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. What was it? It was almost as though he felt he belonged here.
Harry's mouth dropped open to form a perfect O. He gaped at the figure lying beside him, gazing up at him with a soft expression. 'It can't be…'
"Good morning, Harry." Ginny said softly. Harry stared at her intently, but it was a soft stare. She looked older than she did last night at the Burrow. He could swear that she looked at least in her mid-twenties.
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked, sitting up. "Are you feeling unwell?" she slid her hand onto his forehead.
"I-I-I'm fine." Harry stuttered, looking around the room. He could see a bathroom to his left. "I'll be r-right back." Harry muttered quickly and closed the bathroom door behind him.
'What is going on?!'