Harry and Ginevra

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Chapter 1 Two Lost Souls

Harry and Ginny rarely saw each other after the war. They had both experienced such terrible horrors that they could hardly live with themselves let alone be around others. Ginny secluded herself in her room at the Burrow, coming out only for meals and rarely speaking to the family. She had suffered untold terrors and was subjected to torture and humiliation. She suffered nightmares every time she fell asleep. She rarely got more than four hours sleep a night, and even that was fitful. She was exhausted, burnt-out, ready to dig a deep hole and bury herself. She wallowed in her misery and despair. She was broken.

Harry secluded himself in Muggle London, spending most of his time drunk in sleazy bars and sleeping in infested hotel rooms. That is when he slept. His nightmares hounded him. He dreamt of the people he had seen tortured and killed, the people he had killed. So many, he was forced to kill so many, not that they didn't deserve it. They were Death Eaters after all, torturing and killing the innocent. But still, a life is a life, and he had taken so many lives that day. How could he even live with himself. That and his ever present feeling of guilt about his friends and classmates who were killed. He had to blame himself. How different it would have been if he hadn't even been born. He didn't know, but he still felt responsible. He wallowed in his misery and despair. He too was broken.

Late that summer Ron and Hermione tracked Harry down and dragged his drunken body out of the squalor to their flat. They were getting married in a weeks time and insisted that he be their for them. He refused, using every stupid excuse he could think of. But they insisted, saying that he was going to be there if they had to bind and gag him and him tie to a chair in front of everyone. He finally relented and promised that he would be no trouble, but only after Ron threatened to cut off his bits.

The ceremony took place at the Burrow, Hermione's parents having been killed in the war. Ron chose his oldest brother as best man, and Hermione chose her younger sister, Portia, to be her maid of honor. Ron's father, Arthur, proudly walked Hermione down the aisle. Many of their classmates were in attendance along with Weasley family members and a few Hogwarts teachers.

Charlie Weasley was assigned to be Harry's watchdog, keeping him out of trouble and monitor his drinking. And Ginny. Yes, Ginny was there also. Luna had been assigned watchdog duty over her. Strange, how two broken spirits seemed to attract each other. Before long, Harry and Ginny found themselves sitting side by side. Not talking, not even acknowledging each others presence. But if you looked closely, and looked down under the table, you would see that their hands were entwined. And if you looked even closer at Ginny and Harry's faces, you would detect an ever so slight smile just starting to form. They may not have been talking, but they were communicating. They still refused to socialize beyond an occasional polite greeting. "Hello. Nice to see you again. Well, good by, see you again some time."

They stuck together like super glue the entire time. They did thank and congratulate the bride and groom when they circulated around to their table. They graciously met Hermione's sister, telling her that she looked so much like Hermione. And Harry thanked Arthur and Molly for a great evening. Arthur tried to get Harry into a discussion, but Harry backed off, saying that he had a headache and went looking for aspirin. Naturally, Arthur saw right through Harry's excuse, but chose not to pursue it.

Now it was time for Harry to leave. He didn't want to, but knew that it was time. He really did not want to leave Ginny. He felt safe and protected from all his troubles while he was with her. He had not felt this way in a long time. He had the feeling that she felt the same. Standing at the apparation field with Ginny, he took her hand in his and gave her a light kiss on her cheek.

"I'd like to see you again Ginny," he said, looking longingly into her eyes. "Can I floo you sometime soon? I don't have an owl. I don't even have a descent place to live right now."

"I'd like that," she said, "But don't wait too long. I'll miss you." And with that she leaned up and kissed him on the lips.

Harry smiled a great big ear to ear smile. "See you soon," he said, and apparated back to London.

End Chapter 1