It had been all of three months since Harry Potter had defeated Voldemort and saved the wizarding world and although there were celebrations happening everywhere, the pain and grief for all those who had been lost to the war was only just beginning for Harry and his family. Hermione still hadn't managed to bring herself to restore her parent's memories due to the overwhelming sadness that had consumed her during the last few months, she had begun to wonder if it was worth the trip and effort, after all, she felt her parents would find it difficult to forgive her. Ron, on the other hand, was in just as much turmoil as everybody else in his family. Most days he wouldn't leave the house as the pain was all too much. He couldn't stand sitting at the kitchen table facing the empty spot opposite him. And Harry, well, he didn't know whether he was coming or going. He was the reason most of the people he had loved and lost to the war were dead. He was the reason the Weasley's couldn't be a normal family. He was the reason why George couldn't bring himself to speak to anybody or leave his bedroom. It didn't matter how many times Hermione had tried to tell him that he was not to blame for anything that had happened, he couldn't bring himself to believe her or forgive himself.

When Hermione had received an owl from Mrs Weasley inviting herself and Harry to stay the summer at the Burrow, it had taken a lot of convincing on her part to get him to accept. Finally, after days of telling him it would do them all some good to be back together, he finally packed up his bags and apparated with her to the place he liked to call home.

"I still don't know about this Hermione," Harry uttered as they reached the garden gate.

"Come on Harry, they're all looking forward to seeing us," Hermione assured him as she rubbed his shoulder.

"Not all of them," Harry feared.

Hermione knew who Harry was referencing and wasn't prepared to believe that George would actually be blaming him for Fred's death.

"You don't honestly believe that do you?" Hermione asked softly as they began to make their way towards the front door.

"Hermione, if it wasn't for me, Fred would still be alive, so would Remus and Tonks and everybody else Voldemort took out -,"

"Exactly Harry, it was Voldemort and the Death Eaters who took them out, so if you're going to blame anybody blame him, Fred's death was an accident, it's nobody's fault, especially not yours,"

Harry sighed and nodded at his dearest friend, he knew deep down she was right. She was always right.

"Okay, Mione,"

Hermione smiled and gave Harry a long hug before turning back to the door and giving it a few knocks. After a few moments, the pair were greeted by a smiling Mrs Weasley. Although she wore a smile, they could see the pain that lay in her eyes.

"Oh, thank goodness you're both here safe and sound, come in and make yourselves at home," she said as she ushered them into the living room where to their surprise everybody was sat waiting for their arrival – well everybody except George which was understandable.

"Harry," Ginny stood up at once and practically fell into his arms.

He returned the embrace, knowing the love of his life still loved him at least.

"Hiya mate," Ron sighed as he too arose and greeted his best friend, "We didn't think you'd come, given everything that – uh, well –,"

Harry gave Ron an understanding smile and nodded, "I know mate, I know,"

After Hermione and Harry had settled back in, Mrs Weasley had started to prepare for the evening meal. Hermione had decided to catch up with Ginny before dinner was ready, after everything that had happened, she really needed some girl talk. Ginny's bedroom was ready for Hermione's arrival with a put me up bed beside her own and a space cleared in her wardrobe for Hermione's clothes. After unpacking, the girls sat together on Ginny's windowsill that overlooked the yard surrounding the Burrow each clutching a cup of tea.

"Thank you for convincing Harry to come," Ginny sighed, tapping her fingertips around the rim of her cup, "What made him change his mind?"

Hermione smiled lightly, "You of course,"

Ginny scoffed and shook her head, an unconvinced smile now etched upon her face.

"Yeah right, I'm not sure that wasn't the reason,"

"Why would you say that?" Hermione questioned taking a sip of tea.

Ginny shuffled in her seating position and crossed her legs.

"He's not exactly given me the impression that he's glad to be here,"

"Well he's only just started to speaking to me since the war, for a long time he wasn't sure whether or not he was going to stay or leave, he's in a bad place right now Ginny,"

Ginny furrowed her brows and turned to Hermione.

"Leave? What do you mean leave?"

Hermione sighed, avoiding Ginny's eye line and gazed out of the window at the setting sun in the distance.

"I mean – leave, like leave altogether, run away,"

Ginny couldn't quite believe what she was hearing, Harry was actually going to consider leaving the country without even saying goodbye or giving an explanation? Why would he do that, did he really not think that we needed him more than ever?

"Why would he want to do that?" she asked as Hermione set her cup down on the dresser behind her.

"He thought we were all better off without him, he blames himself for everything, all the destruction," she paused, "And the deaths,"

Ginny noticed Hermione was now not able to finish her sentence, instead, she looked down into her lap.

"Hermione?"

"Sorry Ginny – it's, it's still difficult, that's all,"

Ginny nodded.

"I know – our family has fallen apart since Fred's death, nothing is as it was, trying to get anything out of George is like trying to get blood out of a stone," Ginny wept.

She was usually the strong one and she had kept a lot of her sadness in over the last few months but having Harry and Hermione back had sort of bought it all back to her. She knew she could talk to them as they weren't exactly family.

"As long as you remember him how he was, nothing will ever take him away," Hermione smiled sadly, "It's just weird being here and he's not sneaking about with George trying to pull a prank on me," she chuckled.

Ginny joined in the light-hearted yet solemn laughter before letting out another sigh.

"We've tried everything Hermione, he won't speak to any of us, he's broken – we all are,"

Hermione reached out her hand to hold onto Ginny's and smiled sadly.

"I know, listen, we just need to be there for him and for each other – it's over, it's all over,"

"Hermione, Ginny, dinner is ready," Harry said as he opened the door and peeped in.

The two witches looked up at him. He looked as though he'd had a good rest and was much more alert than when they had arrived a few hours earlier.

"Thank you, Harry," Hermione said giving him a kind smile., "I'll give you both a minute," she said now turning to Ginny and standing to leave the couple alone.

"Thanks, Hermione," Harry said as he let her pass through the door and out onto the landing.

Harry closed the door behind her and slowly walked over to Ginny who was now standing by the window.

"H-how are you?"

Ginny shrugged as she began to fiddle with her hands nervously.

"Happier now you're here – Hermione told me you were going to make a run for it – is that true?"

Harry couldn't lie to Ginny, no matter how much he knew that it may hurt her to know the truth. He took a deep breath and nodded, stepping closer to her and taking both her trembling hands within his own.

"I didn't want to – I thought it'd be best, I'd caused enough damage," his voice broke slightly, "You didn't need me,"

"I will always need you, Harry, I can't stop thinking about us, about what we had before all of this mess – for Merlin's sake, I love you!"

Harry lifted his head and his eyes came up to meet hers that were now becoming increasingly more tearful by the second.

"Ginny -,"

"Don't say it Harry – don't say it, not if you don't mean it," Ginny told him tearfully, wiping her eyes with the cuff of her jumper.

Harry lifted his finger to her face and wiped away a few stray tears that were trickling down her cheeks and finally brought his hands to rest against them, cupping her face.

"I love you, Ginny," he whispered bring his forehead to rest against hers.

"Please don't leave again, please - I love you," Ginny sobbed as Harry leant down and kissed her.

"I'm not going anywhere – I promise," he whispered again as he pulled away, "I'm so sorry, I'm sorry for everything,"

Ginny shook her head and smiled lightly, running her fingers through Harry's hair.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, nothing you hear me?!" she finished firmly, "You're the reason I'm still standing here, the reason we're all still here,"

"Not all of us," he choked, looking at the floor.

"It's not your fault Harry, please just - just don't blame yourself for-,"

"Fred wouldn't have died if it hadn't been -,"

"Yes, he would!" Ginny snapped, "He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, believe me, we have tried everything we can possibly think of to bring Fred back - but we can't, he's gone,"

Harry looked back up at Ginny who was now clutching at his hands tightly.

"We should go, they're all waiting for us," she said.

Harry could see in her eyes that she was hurting and mentally kicked himself for mentioning Fred at all.

"Ginny I'm sorry," he sighed, "It's been tough - really tough, I don't know who I am at the moment,"

"Well, maybe a full stomach will remind you, eh?" Ginny smiled, lifting Harry's head up to face her and giving him a chaste kiss, "Come on,"