Harry woke up in his bed in the Gryffindor tower.

What happened? he thought, reaching for his glasses.

Then everything flooded back.

The battle.

His sacrifice.

Voldemort's death.

He smiled. Voldemort was gone. He couldn't hurt his friends anymore. Everyone he loved would be safe now.

Just at that moment, Ginny walked in, carrying a tray of food. She set it down on the bedside table and glanced over at Harry.

Seeing his eyes open made her practically jump out of her skin.

"Harry," she breathed. He smiled. He always loved it when she said his name. "How-how are you feeling?"

He didn't answer; he was concentrating on her face. It was filled with fear and worry. But there was also relief and happiness and...love. Yes, there was a lot of love shining in her eyes.

"Ginny," he whispered. For a moment, Harry thought she stopped breathing, it was so silent.

All at once, she started to cry. Harry racked through his brain trying to figure out what he did wrong. All he'd said was her name!

"Ginny, don't-don't cry, Ginny. I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...upset you or anything," he said quickly. She shook her head and motioned for him to stop. He waited until she got a good enough handle on herself.

"Harry," she said, her voice cracking.

"What's wrong, Ginny?" he asked, not helping himself.

"You're here," she said, tears glistening in her eyes.

He must've looked as confused as he felt because she went on, explaining.

"When he brought out your-your body," she trembled, "all I could think was 'Not, Harry.' Suddenly, I'd felt as if I'd died with you.I had the feeling that I wouldn't being able to get out of Hogwarts. Like I wouldn't be able to make it on my own out there, in the real world. Like I'd never get married or have kids. It was like, without you, I could never be happy again. I know it sounds foolish because we're not even together anymore and-"

Harry couldn't let her go on. He kissed her like he'd been wanting to kiss her since the moment he told her they couldn't be together anymore.

Finally they broke apart, but Harry kept their foreheads close together.

"Ginny Weasley," he breathed. "There wasn't a moment that I didn't think or worry about you while I was gone. You have no idea how much it killed me when I heard you were still getting hurt when I was miles away and unable to keep you safe."

She opened her mouth to, no doubt, tell him that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but Harry went on. "I never want to be separated from you ever again, Ginny. I love you too much."

She sat back and stared at him with tear-glistened eyes. Harry looked back and gathered all his courage.

"Ginny, marry me."

Her brown eyes widened and her mouth formed the shape of an O.

"Harry," she whispered.

"Just say yes, Ginny," he begged.

"Yes," she whispered.

Harry jumped out of bed and picked Ginny up, twirling her in his arms while kissing her wide smile.