Harry was sitting next to the lake at the Burrow, his face buried in his arms. It had happened again, the terrible memories and all the guilt had come rushing back to him. He'd come out here to be alone with the memories, the faces of all the people he'd brought about the deaths of running through his mind. He felt a tap on his shoulder and looked up into Ginny's beautiful face.
She smiled slightly and said, "Hey. I just wanted to check on you, make sure you're still breathing."
He said nothing, just looked at her with pain-filled eyes as if not really seeing her at all.
"Well, I guess I'll leave you, then," she said, thinking he wanted to be alone with his thoughts, the same thoughts that had been plaguing her and everyone else at the Burrow since Voldemort's defeat.
She turned to go, but something in his eyes said he needed her, so she turned back around.
"I get them too, you know," she said softly. "The thoughts of how I could have done something differently, saved Fred's life, prevented all of this. The nights when I wake up screaming because I see his dead face in my dreams and realize he'll never make another joke…" She trailed off as the tears dripped down her face.
"Ginny, I-" Harry started to talk, to say something to make her feel better, but the tears choked him. So instead he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.
They sat there, embracing each other like they'd never let go, their tears mingling as they let out all the sorrow and pain of the past month.
Finally, Ginny pulled away and looked at him. She felt a sudden urge to laugh, seeing a glimpse of humor in the dark world.
"We're a mess, aren't we?" she said with a laugh.
He smiled a genuine smile for what felt like the first time in forever. The mirth faded quickly, however.
"I just thought," he said slowly, "I just thought it'd all be so easy once it was over. Once I'd killed him. But this…this is the hardest thing I've ever gone through. And that's saying a lot," he added with a wry smile.
She smiled too, but it fell from her face as she quietly asked, "Is this what it's always been like for you, Harry?"
His eyes dropped to the ground as he responded. "Yeah," he said, so low she could barely hear him.
He forced his eyes upward to meet her steady gaze.
"Yeah," he repeated, more loudly this time. He went on, "There were times when it got better. Sixth year, when I was with you, that was when it was easiest to forget."
Her eyes filled up with tears again, and he looked at her intently.
"This is why I need you, Ginny," he murmured softly, his hand gracing her skin as he pulled her closer to him.
"I love you, Ginny," he said for the first time before pulling her in for a kiss.