Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, as I am not J. K. Rowling.

The Second Time Around

Chapter 1:

It had absolutely been the worst moment in her life. Even worse than when he ended it all…because that was at least justified. It wasn't that he didn't love her anymore, or that there was something she did wrong. He was trying to protect her. And as much as she hated the fact that people were always trying to protect her, he was completely logical in his reasoning. And while she didn't care if she herself was killed to protect him…he did. And that made it all better in her eyes. It was almost…cute…in a really, really painful way.

It was worse than Tom Riddle slowly siphoning her soul from her body until the point that she'd rather just die already than continue the torture.

It was worse than the embarrassing moments with Harry, when she so obviously liked him, while he didn't even look at her.

No. This was worse. This was Voldemort's high and extremely scary voice announcing that Harry was dead. Not to mention the insulting lie that Harry was trying to run away and got killed, when it was clear that Harry had gone to give up his life for them all. The pain welled up in her heart, and she couldn't see a thing. It was excruciating. It was all over. It was almost that all her senses had been turned off.

She heard people screaming "NO!", and she realized that her voice was among them. Through the glaze of tears that were covering her eyes, she could see Hagrid, who holding a broken body. Just a body. Not Harry. She couldn't let herself think of the body as Harry. It hurt too much.

Voldemort was telling lies about Harry, and she couldn't stand it. Suddenly, everyone was screaming and shouting. Then the voices were cut off, and she felt her own scream gagged off halfway up her throat.

And then Neville was opposing Voldemort, and Voldemort was torturing him, and then chaos started. There were giants and centaurs and Neville was killing Nagini and Voldemort was about to kill Neville. And then Harry went missing.

Everyone was herded into the castle, and people were trampling over bodies of Death Eaters and Hogwarts' students alike. Everyone was fighting, and Ginny found herself in the Great Hall fighting Bellatrix with Hermione and Luna. She was fighting with every ounce of her being, determined to avenge Harry. She heard pure chaos all around her, as duels went on and people were attacked.

A Killing Curse nearly hit her and suddenly her mother was dueling with Bellatrix to the death. A fierce anger lit her mother's face, worse than Ginny had ever seen, even with the worst of Fred and George's tricks. It was pure and unadulterated hatred. And Bellatrix was killed.

Voldemort was about to kill her mother, and horror filled Ginny's stomach. And then, a miracle occurred. The greatest and biggest miracle that could ever exist. Harry reappeared.

Ginny's heart leaped with excitement and happiness and joy, although it was quickly quenched by the realization that now Harry was going against Voldemort and she would quite possibly have to watch him die. "Let him live. Let him live," she prayed, although to who, she wasn't quite sure. She wished she could send her strength to him, or do anything to help.

"I don't want anyone else to try to help," he said, "It's got to be like this. It's got to be me."

Harry and Voldemort were circling each other now.

"You won't be killing anyone else tonight," Harry said, and Ginny could read the determination in his eyes. She could see his fierce love for every single good person in this world, and how much he was willing to give up to save them.

Harry was explaining the concept and power of love to Voldemort.

And then, the duel was about to start. "So it all comes down to this, doesn't it?" Harry whispered. "Does the wand in your hand know its last master was Disarmed? Because if it does…I am the true master of the Elder Wand." Apprehension filled Ginny's stomach. This was it.

The sun began to rise as Voldemort and Harry yelled out their spells. Suddenly, their spells collided, and the Elder Wand was flying towards Harry, and Harry caught it. And Voldemort was dead.

It took a second for everyone to realize that it was really over. Ginny felt herself running to Harry, determined to hug him and never let go. Her heart was filled with joy and jubilation. Harry was alive and Voldemort was gone!

Everyone sat at the House tables, jumbled together, not caring about Houses or races. Every person felt both intense exhaustion and relief. Ginny felt alone. Everyone else could surround Harry, talk to Harry, hug Harry. But she had to sit here with her mother, torn between her joy and relief and exhaustion and grief. She was sitting, waiting for Harry to come to her, hoping it would happen, but doubting it would.

Harry had disappeared from where he was sitting, and so had Ron and Hermione. No doubt they went off to have a talk. Cause it had always been the three of them. She had always felt like an extra when she was with them, the unwanted one.

Ginny walked away from her mother, saying she needed to be by herself for a little bit. She went to sit by the beech tree overlooking the lake. She needed to think things through. She did not intend to fall asleep there.

She woke up as the sun was rising the next day. Her brain hurt a lot less now that she had some sleep in her, although grief became a dominant emotion in her head. Suddenly, she saw a dark-haired man walk towards her. Her heart sped up.