ALWAYS

The remains of wizards, witches, and the battles that destroyed them littered the grounds of Hogwarts, marking the magical battle of the century. In the end, victory had been won, but at the price they had paid...

Was it worth it? She wondered. What is there left for those who did survive?

Her mortal wounds biting into her very existence, Ginevra Molly Weasley, youngest and only daughter of the Weasley clan, staggered to the young man on the ground, who was shallowly gasping her name.

"Ginny, Ginny..." She could make these last moments for him good. He wished her pain on himself. Save her, he thought. Let her be the one to live

"Harry," She whispered. He looked as physically bad as she did, but it was the acceptance of death in his eyes she couldn't bear. She tried to smile, but ended up forcing out a few tears instead.

Harry dimly noticed awful looking gash on the right of her neck. Reaching out, he tenderly ran shaking fingers across it.

"How are you, Gin?" He muttered.

She gave a choked laugh, her once- bubbly giggle now laced with blood, pain, and irony. "Just like you," she said.

"You'll live," he told her. "Live to tell our story, won't you?"

As much as she hated to let him down, he had to know the truth, she thought. "Sorry, Potter..." she gasped. "That'll have to be Ron or Hermione. They'll live I bet."

"Damn," he swore. He couldn't think straight. "Ronny will tell it wrong."

She giggled dazedly, her broken body shaking slightly as she fought to hold it up. "But he'll tell it. So will she. So will their children, and grandchildren. I know. Always."

And that word alone brought him back to a better time...in front of the fire, in the Common Room, sitting in those nice red sofas...Christmas spirit was in the hearts of most, but it had only made him glummer.

"I don't know how to take it all," He said.

"Neither do I," she replied. "But we'll have that problem all our life, we've just got to keep living. Always."

"Always," he murmured. "There's a word I wish I could trust."

"Maybe trust isn't the point," she said, "maybe the point is to keep on living. You don't have to trust everything you enjoy."

He raised an eyebrow, "Why should I enjoy the word 'always'?"

Ginny smiled and took his hand in hers, "because it sounds so much nicer than never."

"Always," he gasped to her. "I'll never forget that word. You taught me the meaning. I'll always remember."

"Good," she said. She could feel everything starting to shut down, but he had to know first. "But remember this too." She steadied herself. "I love you. Always have...always will."

Harry stroked her cheek with a trembling hand. "So beautiful." He couldn't have named all the things he was referring to in that moment, but she was certainly one of them.

"I love you, Gin...but why should I say it now? In a few minutes I'll have all of eternity to tell you, in any way I want."

Another tear lit up her left eye while another streaked through the smudge on her right cheek. She slowly bent her head to give him one last, mortal kiss.

"I'll meet you on the other side, then, Harry?" She whispered.

Giving her the truest smile he had ever shown, he said, "Always." He wrapped his hand in hers.

That was all they'd ever need. Having faith in the word, they each slipped into their alternate oblivion, but knowing their destination was the same. After all, death was but the next great adventure and it always would be.

AN: wow...shorter than I had anticipated, but I think I really like it. Tell me what you think...

windsweptstars