Hey guys! I am not new to fanfiction, although this username is relatively new. I started another HP fanfic but I just had no inspiration to continue no matter how hard I tried. While sitting in class the other day I had an idea to write a one-shot for the major events (Engagements, Weddings, Babies, Jobs, etc.) that happened in everyone's lives but as I sat down to write what was to be Harry and Ginny's first post-war encounter I had no control over what flowed from my brain straight to my fingertips. So, instead of one-shots, it looks like you guys are going to be getting a full blown story! I would love love any constructive criticism from you guys. Are my chapters too short/too long? Is dialog flowing? Do I use any particular words too much? Those are the kinds of things authors love to hear about in reviews! Enjoy!
Ginny bit her lip as she saw Ron and Hermione winding their way towards her through the crowd of people, mentally crossing her fingers that Harry would be with them, even if under the invisibility cloak. When they reached her, Hermione gently shook her head. "He's not with us, but he does want to see you."
Ginny's spirits soared as she stood. "Where?"
Ron spoke up, "Gryffindor common room. Gin, tell mum and dad where you're going."
Ginny nodded and gave Ron and Hermione a quick hug before walking over to where her parents sat, hands clasped, heads together. Hating to interrupt them, Ginny cleared her throat just ever so slightly.
"Ginny. Sorry, we didn't see you there dear." Molly shot her a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Arthur reached up to pat Ginny's hand. "Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine. It's just that, well Harry is waiting to talk to me and –"
"Go." Molly and Arthur said in unison, without hesitation.
"You sure? I'll stay if you me." Ginny frowned.
"Sweetheart, he needs you more. Go." Molly placed a hand on Ginny's elbow, gently pushing.
Ginny grinned and gave them each a kiss on the cheek.
With that Ginny took off towards Gryffindor tower, only slowing to avoid tripping over debris.
Harry sat on the couch in front of the fire, hoping Ginny would come. Harry knew that at some point, he would have to face all of the death and destruction that surrounded them. But right now, all he wanted to do is see Ginny and know that she is okay. He glanced up as he heard a noise at the portrait hole. He stood as Ginny stepped into the room and for just a moment, they both simply stared at each other. As if a magnet were pulling them together, they both ran across the room and collided into one another, each grasping the other into a hug. After a full minute of just holding on, Harry stepped back and held Ginny at arm's length. His eyes scanned her body, taking in every bruise, burn, and scrape. Ginny was doing the same and noted that Harry's eyes drooped as if he hadn't slept in days, which she suspected was true. She took hold of his hand and led him over to the couch he previously occupied. She pushed him to sit as she perched on the arm.
"Ginny, there's so much to talk about but I just don't even know where to begin." Harry sighed, looking every bit the exhausted teenager he truly was.
"I know Harry, I know. But right now, I think you should sleep."
Harry began to protest, just as she knew he would, but Ginny shook her head to silence him. "This is not up for discussion. We have the rest of our lives to talk, but right now, you need rest."
Harry smiled goofily at her words before pulling her down to sit beside him. He then scooted down on the couch until his feet hung off one arm of the couch and his head rested in Ginny's lap, grinning up at her.
"Comfortable?" Ginny teased as she began running her hands through his unruly hair.
Harry sighed, "Very."
"Good. Sweet dreams, Harry." Ginny bent down to give his cheek a quick kiss and began to softly hum a lullaby while stroking his hair.
Harry smiled and, overwhelmed with comfort and fatigue, drifted off within a matter of seconds. Ginny tried her best to stay awake but the events of the past few days had suddenly caught up with her and her eyes floated shut and she was asleep just as quickly.
"Ron, Hermione." Molly shook them gently. The couple had fallen asleep side by side at a table with their heads propped on their arms. "Come on dears, we're going to be staying at the castle for a bit. We're going to stay in Gryffindor tower, as it is mostly intact. Come now, off to bed." She shooed them out of the Great Hall and up the stairs.
She and Arthur walked hand in hand to Gryffindor tower with Ron, Hermione, George, Percy, Bill, and Fleur trailing behind, each wearing a face torn with both grief and exhaustion. As they stepped through the portrait hole and took in the common room, each of them stopped in their tracks until they formed almost a circle around the couch that Harry and Ginny currently occupied. Sometime in the last hour that they had been sleeping, they had moved so that they now lay together on the couch, with Ginny resting snugly between Harry's side and the couch, his arms protectively encircling her.
"Should we wake them?" Percy mumbled.
"No, leave them be. They look happy." George spoke quietly and then walked off towards the stairs that led to the boys dormitories, motioning for Percy to follow him.
Fleur grabbed an old quilt from the back of the couch and threw it over the sleeping couple before grasping Bill's hand and leading him up the stairs.
Molly sighed and wrapped her arm around Arthur's waist as they followed their children up the stairs.
Ron and Hermione, wanting to stay together but uncomfortable with sharing a bed in a room with their family, cuddled up on the couch near the window.
Within minutes, the only sounds to be heard throughout the entire tower were the deep tones of the Weasley men's snores.
Harry woke up to something tickling his nose. As he wiggled his nose to fend off whatever it was, he struggled to open his eyes. It was then that he realized that Ginny Weasley was wrapped around him and it was a chunk of her fiery red hair that was tickling his nose. Careful not to wake her, Harry gently brushed the hair away and stared at Ginny's sleeping face. She looked more beautiful than ever, despite the smudges of dirt and dried blood that littered her fair skin. Maybe it was because she looked so peaceful or maybe it was because she had grown up a lot in the almost year since Harry had seen her. As he thought about leaving Ginny last summer, Harry's mind started to race through all that had happened in the past year. The hiding, the running, the horcruxs, the battle, the destruction, the death. Harry blinked back tears as he thought of all of those that had died just in the past two days – Fred, Remus, Tonks, Colin Creevy and not to mention the countless others whom he didn't know very well. He allowed himself a moment of grief for those that died fighting against Voldemort. But Harry also couldn't help but smirk a little bit as he thought of the fact that Voldemort is dead. Voldemort is finally gone! As he thought about this, he remembered what he had promised himself as Hagrid carried his "lifeless" body to the castle. After his chat with Dumbledore—which he still wasn't sure was real or not—Harry decided that he would not let grief and guilt consume him. Instead, he would make sure to enjoy the rest of his life and do his best to spend it making himself and his loved ones happy. Ginny gave a small sigh in her sleep and tightened her grip on Harry. He chuckled softly and quickly figured up how long they had been sleeping, he really wanted to wake Ginny up. According to the sun streaming through the windows Harry decided that it was probably about 7 in the morning and that they had been sleeping for close to 12 hours.
"You're thinking too loud, Harry."
Harry grinned down at the gorgeous girl in his arms. "Hey."
"Hey yourself." Ginny stretched out her arms and legs, effectively pushing Harry off the couch. Once he was sprawled on the floor, she grabbed the throw pillow and shoved it under her head, curling herself into a ball, giggling the entire time.
Harry's body felt so stiff and sore that he couldn't do anything but laugh try to stretch his tired muscles.
Ginny leaned over the side of the couch and smiled down at Harry. Harry realized that he hadn't kissed her properly in almost a year. As he moved up to do so, Ron stumbled off the couch across the room, mumbling about the loo. Hermione followed suit, her wavy hair sticking up all over the place.
"You know, I could really go for a hot shower and some breakfast." Ginny stood up from her position on the couch, stretching her arms towards the ceiling.
"That sounds brilliant!" Harry briefly wondered where they could find some clean clothes before noticing 10 bundles lined up along the bottom of the fireplace. He and Ginny wandered over and discovered that the bundles were actually piles of clothes for each of the Weasleys and Harry and Hermione. Lying beside his own pile was a note written in scratchy handwriting, 'Kreacher though Master Potter and his family could use some clean clothing.' Harry smiled to himself; he wasn't sure if he would ever figure Kreacher out. He and Ginny picked up their separate bundles, heading off to shower. When they got to the split in the stairs, Ginny gave Harry a soft peck on the cheek before heading off towards the girl's dormitories. Harry watched her walk away and briefly wondered why she had only kissed him on the cheek. Trudging up the stairs Harry had the alarming thought that it was quite possible that while it was obvious there was still something between them, Ginny might not want to be with him. Shaking his head as if to get rid of the upsetting thought, Harry hurried into the bathrooms before all the shower stalls were filled with Weasleys.
"Come on! I am so hungry, I think I'm starving!" Ron whined as he paced in front of the portrait hole.
"Ronald! You are not starving. That bottomless pit you call your stomach can wait just a few more minutes. Your mum wants us all to go down to Breakfast together, so we will wait on Harry!" Hermione scolded Ron and received a wink and a smile from Molly.
Harry had spent his entire shower going through everything he wanted to talk to Ginny and her family about and playing out every possible scenario in his mind. He did this for so long that the water actually shut off on him; a spell in place to keep the students from lingering too long. He was pulling on his t-shirt as he walked into the common room, unaware that 9 pairs of eyes were waiting and watching. Harry stopped in his tracks when he noticed. It was the first time he had come face to face with 6 of them since everything went down the previous day. He decided that there were a few things he wanted to say to all of them and now was just as good a time as any.
"Before we go, I just want to tell you all that you are some of the most amazing, brilliant, courageous people I have ever met in my life."
"Harry—," Arthur placed a gentle hand on Molly's arm; it was obvious that Harry needed to finish whatever he was saying.
Harry nodded to him in thanks. "You are also the best family that anyone could ask for and I am so very grateful to have each and every one of you in my life. We have all been through so much in the past 7 years and it will take a while for our hearts to completely heal from all of this heartache and pain. But, I know that as long as we stick together, we can all get through anything – together. I love you all, very much. "
Molly couldn't hold out any longer and a sob escaped from her throat. She scrambled over to Harry and grabbed him up into the tightest hug he had ever felt, and he squeezed back just as equally hard. She finally let go and held his face in her hands. "Now you listen to me Harry James Potter. When we leave here you are going to come home with us and you are going to let me take care of you. Do you understand?"
Harry grinned and nodded, afraid that if he spoke, the tears might fall. Arthur winked at Harry and pulled Molly aside.
"Harry, you were loyal to my family, even when I was led astray. Thank you." Percy nodded at Harry and walked over to join his parents.
"If we all go around the room and tell Harry how much we love him, THEN can we go eat?" Ron grumbled but followed Hermione into Harry's embrace without hesitation. Hermione sighed and kissed Harry's cheek. "We do love you, you know. You've been the best—," Hermione's voiced cracked and tears began rolling down her face. Harry pulled her into a tight hug. "I know." He whispered. Ron put his arm around Hermione's shoulders and led her through the portrait hole, followed by his parents and Percy.
"Harry, Fleur and I are so grateful for everything you have done and we want you to know that you are welcome to Shell Cottage anytime you please." Bill reached out to shake his hand as Fleur threw her hands around Harry's neck. "Merci, 'Arry." The couple held onto each other and followed their family out of the common room.
The only ones left in the room with Harry were George and Ginny. Harry and Ginny, seeing that George obviously wanted to say something to Harry, didn't move a muscle.
George walked up to Harry and glanced up at the ceiling before speaking. "Fred wanted to do this. He wanted to fight. Don't EVER feel guilty Harry, EVER. I will take it as a personal insult and a disgrace to Fred's memory if you do. Understand?" When Harry nodded, George continued, "I—I would really like it if you would speak at Fred's fu—funeral. We're not sure when it will be as of yet but I know that Fred wouldn't want some stuffy old bloke yapping on, so I've asked a few people to speak."
Harry felt both honored and embarrassed at the same time. "I would be glad to George. Thank you." George nodded and clapped Harry on the back before walking out.
"Wow."
"Wow is right. Harry, I am so proud of you. You truly have grown up. The old Harry would have pushed us all away at a time like this." Ginny held out her hand as the two walked out of the portrait hole to catch up with the rest of the family.
"I have grown a lot. I have learned so many life lessons in the past year. Speaking of, do you think we could find a chance to talk? Just the two of us?" Harry glances over at her nervously.
Ginny smiled and nodded, "Of course, after breakfast we'll talk a walk. Right now, let's go stuff our faces. I am starving!"
"You Weasleys and your stomachs!" Harry chucked and dodged a playful slap from Ginny before placing an arm around her shoulders and leading her towards the Great Hall.