This story is for Amy, my friend, my foil and my shoulder to cry on.
Harry sat up, suddenly awake and alert. He could hear someone moving around his room and he strained his eyes against the darkness to try to see who it was. "Ron?" he called croakily, his eyes scanning the dark, finally alighting upon a dark irregular shape which Harry took to be the intruder."No." The intruder spoke. The voice was soft and feminine. "It's Ginny." She whispered, settling on the end of the bed. "Ginny?" He inquired, leaning forward and switching on the bedside lamp. "What's wrong?" he asked, blinking in the bright light that now bathed the room."The nightmare came back again." She replied and she began to sob into her hands.
Harry crawled down to the end of the bed and wrapped his arms around her. He knew words would never comfort her now. Ginny leaned back against him, her whole body shaking with her cries and Harry held her tighter, trying to comfort her but she just sobbed harder. He picked her up and carried her to the other end of the bed, laying her under the covers before curling up beside her and cradling her in his arms.
Harry wished with all his might that he could somehow make her stop. That he could take away all her pain and banish the horror inflicted upon her mind as she slept. He rocked her back and forth as she wept and tried to control his own tears as he thought of what she must relive each night. The death and destruction they all wished they could forget but knew that would be emblazoned on their minds forever. Harry began to cry himself, the hot tears running freely down his face as he saw the lost in his head. Sirius, laughter still etched upon his features as he fell through the veil, Dumbledore pleading with Snape, Fred sharing one last joke, Remus and Tonks lying lifeless together, Snape calling to him as his life drained away. All the faces, too many faces, flashed before his eyes. So much life just wasted.
Sons and daughters. Mothers and fathers. Each one loved by someone. And each one in a far better place the firm voice spoke in his mind and his sobs began to ease. Beside him Ginny still cried, showing no signs of stopping. He stroked her auburn hair, whispering reassuring words in her ear. She turned to face him, tears still flowing down her face, her body still shaking. He looked into her eyes, seeking to stop them. She gazed right back, biting her lip, secretly pleading. So he kissed her. She was truly beautiful when she cried.