Harry sat on the back row of the Gryffindor Quidditch stands, looking over at the pitch, memorizing himself in the three hoops which brought back so many memories. He'd never seen the pitch from the spectators view and he wondered what his victories and losses looked like to others. Running his hands through his unkempt, blood-matted, black hair, he leaned back wishing that he could somehow erase the last 24 hours of his life. His most recent victory had been against Voldemort himself who had now vanished into dust; gone forever. Harry felt comfort that his scar would never strike with pain. He would never have visions forced upon himself. His friends were safe and alive.
Almost all of his friends.
Closing his eyes tight and resting his head on the wooden wall behind him, his thoughts lingered on the ones he had lost over the 17 years of his life. His mother and father. Cedric. Sirius. Dumbledore. Mad-Eye. Hedwig. Dobby. Fred. Remus and Tonks. Snape. He would never see any of them alive again, laughing and smiling. Not that Snape smiled anyway. Clenching his eyes tighter, he couldn't help but feel responsible for all of their deaths. They all risked their lives for him, leaving their partners, offspring, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers to grieve them and Harry felt guilty.
Relaxing and calming his mind, he was shocked at how exhausted and drained he felt. It was evident that the adrenaline of the battle had left his blood completely, leaving his body with aches and pains and exhaustion. He rolled horizontally on the stand and rested his head on his arms. Keeping his eyes closed, he clouded his mind with happy memories of all his loved ones.
The memory Harry settled on before falling into a deep sleep was Ginny kissing him, embracing him. He remembered the way her lips moved, how her tongue moved, how she always bit her lip afterwards, seeming to expect rejection.
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"Harry James Potter, you are the biggest asshole ever."
Still half-asleep, Harry dazedly opened his eyes, forgetting where he was and as a result falling off the stand onto the hard wooden floor. As soon as he hit the floor, he was bombarded with fists, hammering on his chest. Harry quickly woke up, reacting to the sound and attacks. Someone was crying.
He propped himself up onto his elbow and with his eyes coming into full focus, he saw Ginny beating her fists on his chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Ginny? What's wrong?"
"You are wrong Harry Potter. Leaving me. Not knowing whether you would come back. How dare you! How DARE you!" She bellowed loudly, echoing upon the vacant grounds. Continuing to fight him, she sobbed louder, almost hysterically.
Harry grabbed her wrists, trying to stop the on-slaughter long enough to speak to her. But Ginny was persistent. She threw herself around more violently and wild and Harry let go in the end in fear of her hurting herself. Once again, Harry was assaulted with fists. He pulled Ginny into a cradle of his arms but the comfort didn't halt her attack. She sobbed uncontrollably into Harry's shirt, still pounding Harry's now bruised chest and all Harry did was rock slowly back and forth in a soothing motion.
As time passed, Ginny's punches became feeble and weak until they ceased finally. Her sobs became silent whimpers as if all the water was drained from her body, leaving nothing more for tears. She sniffled loudly and Harry took this as a rest.
Cautiously he opened his mouth to speak but Ginny felt his jaw move on the top of her head. "Don't say it Harry. Don't say a thing." Her hand trembled as it reached to Harry face and it forced his shut and sealed it with a finger to the lips. Her hand moved from his lips but rested on his neck, her cold fingers tingling on his skin.
Ginny began shivering in his hold and Harry took off his cloak and draped it over her ice cold body. She instinctively snuggled into the cloak, embracing the warmth it provided. Obviously exhausted, Ginny closed her eyes and soon her breathing became deeper and her hand fell into her lap.
Although Ginny was asleep, Harry couldn't. Having Ginny in his arms, smelling her, feeling her, watching her, hearing her breaths made him memorized, leaving him entranced in her simple beauty. So he just stroked her red long hair repeatedly, keeping her close.
Harry looked up at the sunset that was setting beyond the furthest three hoops, turning the sky orange and red. He looked over at the castle, noticing the gaping holes missing, feeling loss for his home. His true home where he believed he belonged. But then he looked down at the slumbering girl in his arms. He'd survived death twice. The first time alone made him famous. He knew he could have any girl in the world. However he only wanted her. She was his last thought before Voldemort had striked. She was the first one he would fight to protect.
And he did fight. He fought and won so his true love could live and be happy; so his friends could be happy; so his lost ones could be avenged peacefully. And he had won.
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Hours later, Ginny stirred in his lap just as the Sun disappeared from behind the hills and Harry looked down at her. He watched her eyes flicker open and she scanned the scenery, confirming where she was and then she looked up and she confirmed who she was with. Ginny's face was impassive. Harry couldn't read an inch of it. Would she start battering him again? Would she cry? It was impossible to tell.
"Ginny?" Harry said her name very slowly, squinting his face, waiting. When he opened his eyes, Ginny was just looking up at him. "Ginny, I'm so sorry. I know you are angry but please let me explain."
Ginny looked down at her lap and then slowly faced Harry again, smiling weakly. Harry took this as a yes and began to explain the events of the last 24 hours.
He explained about what happened in the Ravenclaw common room with Luna, about what happened in the Room of Requirement, how he destroyed the diadem and the horcrux hidden within. Ginny interrupted at this point.
"What's a horcrux?"
Harry remembered that he hadn't told Ginny about his mission. She didn't know where he had been all year since the wedding. Therefore Harry kept the story short, skipping the endless camping nights, the dangerous attacks like the one at Godric's Hollow with Nagini, though he did shudder at the thought.
The fact that horrified Ginny was when Harry explained what a horcrux was. "Who could torture their soul enough to rip it into 7 pieces?" Her voice was high with shock and pain. She couldn't believe how it could be done.
Harry kissed the top of Ginny's head. "Someone without a heart." Harry soothed her and then he continued with his story. He explained Snape's death and what he witnessed in the Pensieve from Snape's memories and then he explained the hardest thing that had ever happened to him.
He started with the Snitch and how it opened when Harry had accepted his death. The words of his death shuddered Ginny and a sob broke out but turned silent as Harry slowly rubbed her back. Ginny looked up at Harry, telling him to continue.
But Harry feared that too much would overload Ginny and her fragile state would tip her into a hysterical cry. Therefore he kept the details simple, not indulging in the pain, the fear, the dread. Ginny didn't seem to mind or maybe she didn't notice and when she was caught up with the events, she turned in Harry's lap to face him.
Her fists started slamming on Harry again. There were no sobs in her voice, just anger. "Why didn't you tell me before? Why didn't you say goodbye? You went willingly to your death and you didn't say goodbye. You let me think you were dea-."
Harry caught her wrists once again and Ginny fell silent, looking up at Harry. "I am so sorry Ginny. I never wanted you to hurt. I never wanted to burden you with all of this. I love you too much to allow you to feel the pain I have felt. I thought I was doing the right thing Ginny."
"Yo .. You love me?"
"Yes, of course Ginny. I was always hoping I'd survive and you were my last thought before … I thought I was doing the right thing." Harry leaned his head forward and rested his forehead on Ginny's, staring into her eyes. "I'd do anything to protect you. I love you."
"I love you too," Ginny said, stroking Harry's face and then lifting his chin up so she could kiss him. Ginny became lost in the moment and their passion erupted. Ginny grabbed Harry's face with two hands and pushed herself against Harry's body, the cloak falling off her shoulders and Harry's arms wrapped themselves around her waist. Ginny pulled Harry's towards her and she fell gently on the floor, Harry on top, his hands cradling her head so it would land safely. He pulled away and looked down at Ginny.
"As much fun as this is, and trust me it's fun, I imagined a bed and other things like us not covered in cuts and bruises. Let's head back to the castle." Harry kneeled up and pulled Ginny up too. The pair clambered to their feet and Harry wrapped the cloak back around Ginny's shoulders.
"If there is a castle left," Ginny laughed weakly and so did Harry but there was tension. It felt wrong to laugh when so many were dead. She took hold of Harry's hand and squeezed it tightly as they walked down the stairs of the stands.
####
"Harry! Ginny!" Hermione squealed, jumping up from the crumbled steps and flying into Harry and Ginny, hugging and squeezing them tightly. Ron, who had been standing at the top of the steps, slowly walked down the steps towards them, keeping his face in a poker face. Harry looked up at him and smiled.
"Where have you been? They started cleaning the castle up," Hermione said, letting go, allowing Harry and Ginny to breathe. Her eyes fell to their hands that were still interlocked and Hermione's cheeks flourished crimson. Ron reached the bottom of the steps and he looked at Hermione who was still looking at Harry and Ginny's hands. His knuckles turned white and his hands clenched into fists but his lips didn't even quivered.
"Well," Harry said, rocking on his heels and biting his bottom lip. "We'll go and help then." He led Ginny up towards the steps but froze when Ron stepped in front of them. The tension in the atmosphere were so dense that it felt like one word would explode .
"You can't help." Ron spoke slowly, his fingers flexing, fists clenching and relaxing each second. "McGonagall wants you to rest. No doubt The Daily Prophet will be all over this battle and she wants you to be rested when you give a statement."
"Oh. Thanks Ron. I guess I'll head to the tower."
"I'm coming too." Ginny murmured, stepping closer to Harry's side. "I'm not leaving Harry's side."
Harry looked at Ginny and looked at Ron, absorbing his reaction. Hermione had moved next to him and was clutching his arm as if she knew she would have to restrain him possibly.
However Ron just gritted his teeth and spoke bluntly. "Mum wants you to go and see her."
"Tell her I'm resting. I'm not leaving Harry's side Ronald!" Ginny pushed past her brother and strode up the steps, taking two steps at the time, pulling Harry along. Harry looked back and saw Hermione pulling on Ron's arm, Ron flapping himself around.
As they walked through the Entrance Hall, Harry kissed Ginny's hand that was still laced with his own and the pair walked up the stairs and past the Great Hall doors. They couldn't help but look, just glance at those inside. Madam Pomfrey was recklessly running around, treating the wounded. Neville was turning the sword in his hands, marvelling at it and showing it to Luna who seemed more interested in Neville's ear. The Weasleys were huddled in a group, their backs Harry and Ginny. Harry could see George on the floor, stroking a limp hand gently. A quiet whimper sounded from Ginny and Harry steered her away from the Great Hall and through the empty corridors, weaving around the piles of rubble. They reached the portrait of the Fat Lady who, realising it was Harry, opened the door without a password. There were a few people in the common room, huddled in front of the fire but Harry ignored them and they did the same. Harry had to practically carry Ginny up the stone steps to his dormitory. Her legs moved lifelessly, the shock of the past events overloading her. Harry kicked his door open to find an empty room and he sighed in relief. He wanted to be alone with Ginny. He wanted to dream everything away.
Balancing Ginny on his shoulder, Harry pulled the covers back and slipped the cloak off her shoulders. Then he pulled her into his bed next to him. They faced each other, their noses touching lightly and Ginny pulled her knees up to her chest so her shoes were rested Harry's thighs.
Harry took off his glasses and put them on the nightstand behind Ginny. He stroked her red hair from her face and cradled her kindly, never wanting to let go. They both closed their eyes but Harry didn't sleep until Ginny's sobs became heavy breaths and then he finally allowed himself to dream happily.