Eighteen

A/N: okay, so I know I'm not the only one who wishes J.K. Rowling had elaborated on what happened between the end of the war and Albus Severus Potter's first day of Hogwarts, so I've decided to write this story. Each chapter will cover the twenty birthdays that Harry had during those nineteen years. Hope you all enjoy. Review please.

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July 31, 1998

Harry Potter is sitting outside of the Burrow in the shade of a large willow tree next to the pond. He's avoiding what he knows he eventually has to face: Going inside and plastering a smile on his face, pretending to be happy, while the others wish him a happy birthday. He has always hated his birthday, ever since he can remember. Why be excited when it was just another day that the Dursley's would just ignore him and forget that it was his birthday? Now it's just a painful reminder of all that he has lost. He has no family to wish him their best. He feels it is unfair, that he's alive and celebrating another year when so many people died just a few months earlier. They will never celebrate again, so why should he? He's brought back from his depressing train of thought when he hears the sound of approaching footsteps.

He turns and sees the distinctive long flaming hair of Ginny Weasley. He sighs slightly. He's been avoiding Ginny for the last three months. He just can't bring himself to talk to her when her brother is dead because of him. He knows she must've moved on long ago by now.

She comes and silently sits beside him. For a while they just stare out over the water as Harry thinks about the various ways he can get out of this conversation when Ginny looks at him sharply.

"Don't you dare try and get away Harry Potter; I want to talk to you." She states firmly. He winces slightly and sits down heavily. He really, really wishes that the ground will just open up and swallow him. "Why are you avoiding everyone? And don't try and lie to me, Harry. I've talked to Ron and Hermione and they both said you've been ignoring them too." She demands this all the while staring at him with a determined expression on her face.

"Why can't I be by myself? Doesn't everyone need alone time?" he snaps rather angrily. He never said he's going to make this easy.

She glares at him. "Yes, Harry, people need to have alone time but this is different. You're pulling away from everyone. You've barely said a word in the last three months. You aren't sleeping, and you're hardly eating. It's not healthy Harry, and you've got to stop."

He stands up agitatedly and starts to pace. "Why would anyone want to be around me? I'm the reason so many people are dead. They don't care anymore either. Who needs a hero after the world is done needing saving? No one cares what I had to go through, what I lost. No one needs me anymore." He finishes bitterly. He turns around and stops pacing, his back to Ginny.

He jumps when he feels a hand on his arm. He glances back and sees Ginny standing beside him with a soft look in her eyes. "Is that what you think?" she asks gently. When she receives no response she assumes that means yes. "That's not true Harry. There are people who need you. You're family to us all Harry, whether you choose to see that or not. The boys are missing a brother, Mum and Dad are missing a son, and I'm missing a friend. You need us Harry. So don't run away. You have to open up to us. I'm not asking you to tell us what happened while you, Ron, and Hermione were away. That's between the three of you, but you can't just shut everyone out. And those that died did it so we could all live in a better world, one free of suffering. It wasn't your fault."

He looks her in the eyes, wondering if she knows just how much those words mean to him. Her chocolate brown eyes are sincere and comforting. Suddenly, it's like a dam has broken somewhere inside of Harry. He feels his eyes well up with tears, and his chest tightens. He goes to turn away, but Ginny just wraps her arms around him and leads him back to where he had been sitting before. Sitting him down, she sits next to him and lets him cry into her shoulder. She doesn't say anything; just lets him get it all out. This has been coming for a long time.

When he's sure he won't cry anymore, he lifts his head off of her now damp shoulder. "I'm sorry," he croaks, "you're right. I should never have tried to shut you out."

"I understand Harry. We all need to heal some more before things can go back to how they were before. It will be hard, but you're not alone. We're all here. I'm here."

"I know." He sniffs and wipes the tears from his face. Looking back at the Burrow, he sighs. "I guess I should start now, eh?"

She smiles at him. "That would be the best. Though I should probably warn you. Mum baked a cake and everyone is waiting in the kitchen for you. I was sent to fetch you."

He gives her a mock-betrayed look. "Why you sly little minx. Here I was thinking you had come out here just to see me, and now I hear that you had alterior motives? How rude."

She laughs. "Well I'm sorry Mr. Potter, but it wasn't as if you didn't expect this. It is your birthday after all. Come on." She takes his hand and pulls him to his feet.

They walk back to the house together, joking and laughing over his past birthday experiences. It will take time to heal, but as long as Ginny is there, Harry thinks it might not be so hard or lonely after all.

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A/N: Okay, so there's chapter one. I know I didn't cover the whole day, but I wanted to emphasize on their relationship. There will be more Harry/Ginny moments in the future. I hope you all liked this. Cheers. A/N#2 ~ Now edited for grammer errors. (3/27/13) - HF

-hawkeyeforever