Walking down the deserted hallways with his best friends by his side, Harry knew he was only going to make it so far before he collapsed, too tired to do anything. But Ron and Hermione had other ideas.
As Harry turned to head toward Gryffindor Tower they stopped him. "Where are you going?" Hermione asked.
"I'm going to take a nap. And not wake up for two days," he told them plainly.
"Come on mate. Everyone's going to want to see you. You killed V-Voldemort. Not to mention Mum is crazy and won't rest until she sees all of us and is certain we are alright."
Groaning, Harry reluctantly followed them to the Grand hall. He knew that Ron was right. Mrs. Weasley has always been wonderful to Harry and Hermione, accepting them into her family immediately, and he knew that she would be worried. But there was no doubt that she was crazy. He just didn't want to deal with all the other admirers vying for his attention.
And he was right in worrying. The second that Harry stepped into the large room he was bombarded with people. People wanting to hug him, touch him, thank him. Ron and Hermione were no help, immediately ducking out and heading over to the Weasley's and their other friends who survived.
Slowly and grudgingly, Harry worked through the crowd. He was pulled off course sometimes, but he tried to steer towards the group of redheads. Finally he made it to the other side of the gaggle of people and had some space to breath.
He saw his friends – his family – standing a ways off. They were all talking in a semicircle, sharing their stories, helping each other in their grief. He stood for a moment and watched them, not wanting to interrupt their moment together.
Finally he was noticed by the one he was watching the most – Ginny. When their eyes met, a large smile pulled across her face. Once he reciprocated her smile, she pulled away from her mother. Harry noticed that they were asking her where she was going, but she ignored them. She was staring squarely at him.
After taking three steps away from everyone, Ginny was running. Her face was just as fierce as the first time Harry kissed her after winning the Quidditch Cup.
Harry took a few steps forward so that when he pulled her into him, he could pick her up and spin her around without hitting the people behind him. All thoughts of retreating to the Tower and sleep were lost for the moment. Harry was just happy to have Ginny in his arms again; to hold her without worrying about the danger he was putting her in.
Harry was enjoying the smell of her hair when he went to put her back on the ground. But apparently Ginny wasn't having that. When she sensed he was putting her down, she pulled herself up and snaked her legs around his waist. Harry smiled, pulling her closer, trying to look her in the face.
He only got to stare at her beautiful brown eyes for a second before her lips were crashing down on his. He remembered the last time they kissed similarly to this was when Ron and Hermione barged in on them. Now they were only in front of Ron, Hermione, Ginny's whole family, and most of the school including Professors.
When they broke apart, breathing heavily, they rested their foreheads against each other's, ignoring their classmates' applause. Harry looked at her girlfriend, ignoring the blood on her shirt and the grime on her face. He watched the lights dance in her eyes, "Hi."
She laughed breathlessly at his candidness, speaking as if nothing else mattered, replying "Hi."
Harry watched Ginny's eyes tear up. As the first one threatened to fall over the rim, she wrapped her arms around his neck in a death grip, burrowing her face into his neck. He gripped her to him, looking over her shoulder.
"I missed you Harry," Ginny whispered against his skin. Pulling her closer still – if that were even possible – he buried his face in her long red hair.
"I missed you too," he whispered in her ear, trying not to chuckle at the lingering image of his future in-laws gapping mouths.