Hey Guys! This is the first HP fic I have written so I hope you like it. If, like me, you are desperate to find out what happened before the epilogue, then read on to see my version of events. Unfortunately, I do not own any of the HP characters. That honour belongs to the genius that is J.K. Rowling. Enjoy!

Pain.

It can come in many forms: broken bones, cuts, bruises, accidents. That is what usually springs to mind when one is confronted with the word. But to Ginny Weasley, it triggered something else. She had found out the hard way that pain isn't just physical hurts. It can be deep down, right into your heart and soul. It can feel so bad that you ache from it. That was the pain she was feeling now, that she had felt for nearly a year. Her heart ached from not seeing the man she loved for over a week.

She sighed deeply as she looked through the window of the Burrow's living room, watching the sun bounce off the ground. It was a picturesque summers day outside, hard to believe that the fate of the wizarding world had hung in the balance just 8 days ago. It was because of this that the Saviour of said world hadn't been seen since.

Harry Potter.

That name was now uttered like a sacred litany amongst all. If he had been famous before, there were no words to describe it now. He had freed everyone from the darkness, the fear and despair. Everyone apart from himself that is.

Ginny huffed frustratedly as she thought back to when they had all last seen Harry. She and the rest of her family, including Hermione, Neville and Luna had all been gathered in the common room the morning after the final battle. It was then that Harry had emerged from the dormitories, looking far from rested, and muttered something about taking a walk. She had been about to follow him, but her mother had restrained her, telling her to give him some space. When he hadn't come back by the evening, everyone had grown worried. After a quick search they had found a note on his bed. Just a few simple words etched into a piece of parchment.

I'm sorry. I can't do this. I need to get away.

Ginny knew what he was doing. He was blaming himself for it all, for all those who had died, he felt responsible.

Stupid, noble git

She knew where he was. After looking for two days, Hermione suggested they tried Grimmauld Place, only to find that none of them could get in. Not by floo, apparation or portkey. It had then become clear that Harry had barricaded himself inside, locking himself away from the world.

They had all tried banging on the door, using every spell they could think of, only to be told by Kreacher, through the door itself, that "Master Harry didn't want visitors, he wanted to be left alone." Maybe banging the door hadn't been such a great idea.

They had tried to convince Kreacher to let them in, but the old house elf had stayed loyal to his master's wishes.

Ginny found herself wishing that Kreacher was still like his old self, hating everyone including Harry. He would have let them in then. He wouldn't have cared.

She was so desperate to see Harry. That last year had been torture for her, not knowing where he was, listening desperately for any news about him. She knew snippets of what he had been up to but didn't have the full story. When she had seen him in the room of requirement, it took all her willpower not to fling her arms around his neck and snog him silly. She had been taken aback at how rough he looked. She knew that being on the run would have been no picnic for him but she hadn't expected such a shocking change.

He was taller, his hair had been the same adorable mess it always was and he had a scruffy stubble across his face. His clothes were torn and messy and he had been covered in dirt and looking like he was in desperate need of a decent meal. The thing that had shocked her the most were his eyes. The light seemed to have disappeared from the once emerald orbs, not as piercing as she remembered. But he had never looked more handsome to her.

She closed her eyes as she thought about what he must be going through, knowing he was mentally torturing himself, finding a way to place all the blame upon him. He needed someone to be there for him, to look after him. Not to be locked up in a creepy old house with a half batty elf.

She was pulled out of her thoughts as a loud cack sounded through the room, making her jump out of her skin. As she turned to find the source of the sound, she was shocked to see Kreacher standing in the middle of the room.

The little house elf stared at her, before his eyes darted quickly around the room.

"Kreacher?" she asked as she got up off the sofa "what are you doing here?"

The little elf looked extremely nervous and wrung his hands together as he fidgeted on the spot.

"Kreacher has come for help" he croaked "Kreacher's master is not well and he is needing help. Master doesn't sleep and he hasn't eaten any of Kreacher's cooking" he wailed.

Ginny ignored the stab in her heart and as she listened before she spoke.

"Did Harry send you?" she questioned him softly, but urgently.

Kreacher shook his head frantically before sobbing.

"Master does not know Kreacher is here! Kreacher sneaked out without permission to get help for Master Harry! Kreacher shouldn't have done it but he doesn't know what else to do! Master will be angry when he finds out Kreacher betrayed him! Kreacher is a bad elf!"

Kreacher was absolutely distraught now and had drawn the attention of several others inside the house. Hermione, Ron and Mrs. Weasley were all standing at the door.

"What's going on?" Ron grunted.

Ginny ignored him and kept her attention on the elf.

"Kreacher, did Harry say that you couldn't leave the house?" she urged.

Kreacher wiped his nose on his towel before answering "No"

"Then you haven't disobeyed him. He won't be mad at you. You're trying to help him."

"But what if Master Harry punishes Kreacher with clothes!" Kreacher yelled. He made move to smack his head against the coffee table but was restrained by Ginny's firm grasp.

Ginny shook her head firmly. "He won't Kreacher, I promise. He will know that you only came here to help him and you have done nothing wrong ok?"

He nodded, but looked unconvinced.

When he didn't speak again Ginny knelt besides him.

"Kreacher, will you take me to help Harry?" she asked "you said he needs help."

He looked up at her with large, watery eyes and nodded.

Ginny smiled at him before turning to address the others.

"Mum..."

"It's ok dear. Go on and bring him home" Mrs Weasley soothed.

Hermione and Ron nodded their support and she sent a grateful smile back at them before turning back to the elf.

"OK, let's go Kreacher."

The elf nodded and before she knew it, he had taken her hand and apparated back to Grimmauld place.

She steadied herself as she regained a sense of gravity. She had never seen the attraction to apparating.

Kreacher stood motionless staring up at her before turning his gaze up the long staircase. He looked extremely worried. As though something was going to fly down the stairs and attack him. Ginny didn't miss this and bent back down to address him.

"Kreacher. Would you be ok to go and find some food for Harry? I imagine he will be quite hungry."

Kreacher shook his head "Master won't eat. Kreacher has tried."

"He will if I make him" she muttered before looking back down at the elf. "Just a little something Kreacher, please?"

The little elf nodded. "I will make some onion soup that Master likes so much."

Ginny smiled at him. "Thanks Kreacher. I will call you when he's ready for it ok?"

He nodded before bowing and turning towards the kitchen.

"Kreacher" Ginny stopped him "what room is he in?" she asked when he turned.

"In Master Sirius' old room" and with that, Kreacher plodded into the Kitchen.

Ginny sighed. Of course he had locked himself into that room, torturing himself further, surrounding himself with the presence of another death he blamed himself for.

She began making her way up the stairs, her heart pounding. It was only now that she began to feel nervous upon seeing him again. They hadn't spoken in nearly a year. What would she say to him? Would he kick her out? Listen to her?

She sighed deeply as she came to the top of the staircase, eyes fixed on Sirius' old door.

Too bad if he doesn't want to see me she thought.

I have waited a year to see him properly and he will listen to what I have to say she resolved.

With this new determination she strode to the door and knocked.

There was no answer.

Not to be beaten, she tried again, much louder this time. She heard some form of movement in the room before it all went quiet again. He was definitely in there. He was just ignoring her.

Stubborn arse

Getting a little angry, she knocked again, with a great force that rattled the door.

She heard a croaky sigh from behind the door before she actually heard him speak.

"Kreacher, I appreciate the concern but will you please leave me alone" Harry's tired voice drifted through the door.

Ginny guessed from his tone that this was something he repeated to the elf on a regular bases.

Tired of knocking, her hand reached for the doorknob and opened the door, stepping inside the darkened room. It took her eyes a second to adjust before they began to search the room. Her eyes finally landed on a figure that was looking out of the window.

Harry. Her Harry.

Even though he had his back turned to her, she could she how exhausted he looked. His whole body sagged and looked as though it was taking all of the energy he had to keep himself propped up against the window frame.

She shut the door behind her, never taking her eyes off him. The noise of it clicking closed drew Harry's attention away from the window and onto her. She saw his eyes widen in surprise as they stared at her from behind his glasses.

They simply stared at each other, not speaking. Minutes or even hours could have passed by before he finally spoke.

"Ginny?" He asked softly.

That one word made her want to cry. The desperation and despair in his voice was almost more than she could bear. But breaking down in front of him wouldn't be any help right now. She stared at him for a moment, taking in the wounds which still hadn't fully healed which littered his face and arms.

"Oh, Harry" She whispered as she moved a little closer to him.

Harry backed up a little before replying. "Don't"

That one world made her stop dead in her tracks.

"Harry..." she began

"What are you doing here? How did you get in?" he croaked.

"It doesn't really matter how I got in. I am here to take you home." She replied stubbornly.

A sad smile occupied his face for the briefest of moments before he answered softly "I don't have a home."

She didn't know if it were the words themselves or his sincere belief in them that made it feel like her heart had been jammed in a vice. She willed the tears away; her crying right now wouldn't be very beneficial to either of them.

"Harry, that is not true. You do have a home. Your home is with the people who care about you. Who love you."

Harry let out a soft snort.

"Love me? How can they after what I have done! I don't deserve anyone." He turned away from her and resumed his position of looking out the window.

It was as she suspected. This, she mentally sighed, was Harry Potter's flaw. He always blamed himself for things that were beyond his control. She was pretty sure that if a mouse died he would find a way to place the blame upon himself.

"Well I think that's the stupidest thing I have ever heard you say" she paused as she let her words sink in. He made to move to show he has heard them, but she knew he was listening intently.

"Do you know how worried everyone has been about you these past few days? Mum is beside herself, Ron is desperate to see you, and Hermione has been pouring over every book she can find, trying to find a way to get in here."

She looked as he back as she heard him sigh.

"And what about me?" she continued. "Harry, I miss you so much. I am so worried about you"

He turned to face her "how?"

"How what?" she asked, puzzled.

"How can you feel that way after what I have done? How can you even look at me? Ginny, its because of me that Fred died!" he answered, his voice raising slightly.

She shook her head firmly and stalked towards him, uncaring that she was invading his space.

"Don't you DARE blame yourself for that. Fred's death wasn't your fault! It was the bastards who killed him!" she practically yelled.

Harry closed his eye firmly and shook his head.

She grasped his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. When she spoke again, it was much softer

"He chose to be there Harry. You didn't make him, he wanted to. Just like you didn't make Remus or Tonks or Colin or anyone else." Her voice cracked a little but she continued on "They were all there because they had something to fight for, because they believed in the cause. You can't blame yourself for every death. It was a war Harry. It's what happens. Yes, its devastating and heartbreaking, but we can't change it. Please stop doing this to yourself. You don't deserve to be blamed for anything."

At the mention of Remus, Tonks and Colin, a tear had slipped down Harry's cheek. Ginny brushed it away with her thumb.

"But if I had got there sooner, if I had gone to Riddle faster, they would still be here." He argued, his voice thick with tears.

Ginny once again shook her head "You can't possibly know that Harry. Stop blaming yourself for things you have no control over. If it weren't for you, hundreds of people would have died. You saved us Harry. You gave yourself up for everyone else. Why can't you see that?"

He sniffed a little before he looked deep into her eyes. She made no move to speak again.

"I don't deserve..."

"Stop it! You deserve to be happy. To live the life you fought so hard for. Live for them Harry. Live for them. Don't dishonour their memories by wasting away here."

"I don't know how to." He admitted softly and it broke her heart to hear it.

"I will help you Harry. We all will."

"why?" he asked

"Because we love you. Because I love you." She whispered.

Harry started a little as he heard those three words and more tears escaped his emerald orbs.

"You can't" he said desperately.

"I can and I do. Nothing you say is going to change that Harry. Nothing will ever make me ever stop loving you."

Harry looked at her for a moment before a sob fell from his throat. Ginny pulled him into a fierce embrace, resting her hand on the back of his head and stroking his hair softly.

Harry's arms wrapped around her tightly, as though scared she would disappear.

"I love you too Ginny." He spoke into her shoulder. "I love you so much and it killed me to be away from you."

"Shhh." She soothed as she let her own tears fall as she lowered them so they were now sitting on the floor.

She let him cry quietly into her shoulder, grieving together for all those they had lost. It seemed as though years of pent up emotion were spilling from him. She realised that this was probably the first time he had let it all out. He was crying for the parents he never knew, for Sirius, Dumbledore, Fred, Remus, Tonks, Dobby, Hedwig, Colin. It broke her heart that his losses were so substantial.

After a while, his cries lessened and they simply sat there, holding each other close.

At length, he pulled away, rubbing his eyes as he did so.

"Sorry" he mumbled, embarrassed.

She brushed a hand through his hair "don't ever apologise for how you feel Harry."

He reached out to grasp her hand in hers, looking down at where their hands connected.

"Harry, will you please come home?" she asked softly.

He nodded gently as he looked up at her. "yes" he whispered.

She flashed him a brilliant smile as she pulled him up from the floor.

"Go and get cleaned up and I will get you something to eat" she said.

He nodded as he made his way to the bathroom.

Ginny couldn't help the smile from spreading across her face. They had a long way to go, she knew that. It would take a while for Harry to heal, for any of them to. But they would get through it, they had all the time in the world to.

After Harry had showered and eaten a quick portion of soup, at Ginny's insistence and Kreacher's delight, they were ready to go. With a promise to Kreacher that he would call him if needed, Ginny grasped his hand and apparated them to the burrow.

They arrived in the garden, just at the end of the path that led to the Burrow's door.

"I never did like apparating" Harry muttered as he regained his senses.

"me neither" Ginny replied.

She pulled on their still clasped hands in the direction of the house but stopped when she felt resistance from Harry. She turned to look at him and was greeted with a look of uncertainty.

"Harry, everyone in this house loves you and wants you to be here. No one blames you, for anything. Come on" she reassured.

Harry looked up at the house, so welcoming and homey. He had some of his best memories here and he knew that inside where the people he loved. His family.

He smiled at Ginny as she pulled him up the path to the door.

"Brace yourself. Mum may pounce" Ginny grinned.

Harry let out a chuckle just before the door floor open and he was pulled into the arms of one very emotional Molly Weasley.

"oh Harry dear! Thank goodness you are home" she cried and she clung tightly to him.

Harry hugged her back before she pulled away at arm's length and looked at him sternly.

"don't you ever do that to me again Harry James Potter. I won't have my children running off like that."

Her words warmed Harry's heart as he smiled at the woman who was like a mother to him.

"I promise I won't" he replied as he looked over at Ginny, who returned his smile with one of her own.

Harry was finally home.

There you have it guys, I hope it lived up to your expectations. I was thinking about making this into a full story instead of a one-shot so let me know your thoughts!