Comfort

Harry strode purposefully through the deserted halls, leaving fresh footprints in the dust causing it to float up and swirl amongst the rubble. The elder wand was secure in his hand and the cold night air filled the castle as a pause from victory while everyone slept soundly in the dormitories. His slow strides echoed off the great stone walls of the Entrance Hall. In his mind, his destination was clear as he turned and began the slow walk towards the Black Lake. The past hours of celebration had been like a burst of precious life. However, upon waking from some much needed sleep, the loss of so many was raw in the very air of the castle.

Slowly, he embarked upon his last path, down along to the glistening water's edge.

There sat the tomb in its peaceful solitude, never to be disturbed. Harry made his way closer, dreading the regret he would surely feel at the sight of a lifeless wonder. The grass was soft under foot, cushioning the hard walk. A large slab of glossy white marble, fallen on its side, revealed the body of his old headmaster, pale and rotting. Harry felt the stabbing pain at the back of his eyes, yet the tears did not fall – too many had fallen already. Silently he placed the wand between the long, bony fingers and stepped back.

Taking his own wand from his jeans, Harry wordlessly restored the broken tomb. The bandages began to wrap around the body and the marble repositioned, closing over the corpse. Dumbledore's soul lived on, journeying into the next great adventure.

It was done. Silently, Harry offered thanks, relishing the bravery and honour of the departed. He turned from the dark shadows towards a life unmarred by evil.

Sitting in the distance was a small figure, curled up. He hadn't noticed her before now. He crept closer and the dazzling red of her hair shone through the darkness. Harry's breath hitched in his throat.

Her body seemed so small and fragile under the weight of sorrow. As he grew closer to her, slowly that leaping, bounding heart was set free from the unbearable strain that had loomed there for so many months. Her mind seemed focused on the dancing ripples. Harry knelt beside her, pulling his legs inward and hugging them, copying her stance. She pulled herself from the tranquil water; her warm brown eyes were red and puffy, helpless in awe of death. Unconsciously, his arms encircled her frame and she reciprocated, pulling him close.

"Harry," her voice was a mere whisper against his chest. Harry breathed in the smell of her, relished the warmth of her embrace. "What are you doing down here?"

"Just returning something to its owner, what are you doing?"

She was silent for a moment. "I'm thinking," pulling her tear stained face from his chest. "Setting my mind straight, you know?"

"Yeah I know," Harry replied. "You haven't slept yet have you?"

"No. I will soon."

He wanted to comfort her and to tell her soothing words. He just wasn't sure how because he felt her pain too and just as strongly. Fred's death was never meant to have happened and seeing the Weasley's torn apart by it was heart wrenching. It made him thankful that it was all over and Voldemort could no longer harm them.

Ginny's face against his shoulder sent relief flowing through his body. Voldemort would never hurt her again.

"Are you... okay?" He asked tentatively, hoping his hold on her wasn't hurting her injuries.

Ginny eyes met his and she smiled a little at his question, "I've been better."

"Ginny. I'm... I'm so sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I don't want you to be sorry," she lifted her hand and placed it softly against his cheek, her thumb brushing against his skin.

Harry lifted his own hand, holding hers to his face, "Ginny..."

"Ron told us you were there. When he..." Her voice trailed off, clearly at a loss.

Harry looked at her, seeing her searching gaze and hearing her unspoken words.

"I miss him so much... half of me can't believe it is real."

"I miss him too." Harry said, pressing his check to her hair, "I never wanted-"

"None of us wanted him to die, Harry," her words caught, and Harry could feel her fresh tears as he brought his hand up to her face. He gently lifted her face to look at him, the wetness on her cheeks glistened.

"Ginny, when it happened... he was happy." Harry confessed, giving the only comfort he could.

"He was?"

"Yes, he was laughing... at Percy."

Ginny's eyes gleamed with something close to satisfaction and a smile played across her lips as she pressed her hand into his, "I knew he must have been happy, he always was."

Harry touched his check to her hair as she settled against his shoulder again, memories of Fred obviously on her mind.

The wind stilled momentarily and Harry stared across the lake before them, letting her heat warm his side. It had been so long since he'd held her in his arms, so long since they'd been alone. Suddenly he remembered, with the light floating back, as if through a long and dark tunnel, that they had lain here on the soft grass last year talking and laughing in the sun.

They sat in each other's arm for what seemed like hours, Harry relishing the closeness. There was more to say, more to tell. But for now all he could see and feel was Ginny. He looked down to see her eyes on him and Harry saw that she was no longer crying.

"I've missed you," he murmured.

Ginny stared steadily at him. A flash of something whipped before his eyes, a fleeting memory of that look, "Me too, Harry."

"Ginny, look, I --" wordlessly, he stroked the hair obscuring her face. At that moment, her eyes blazing, she leaned forward and their lips met. They were kissing like never before. Not even Ron could stop them now. Her lips caressing his were salvation. In that moment, Harry saw no barriers in his way, no malevolence that could tear them apart again. Out in the cold evening air, he felt warm and blissful as he held Ginny's body close to his.

They broke apart slowly. Opening his eyes, he stared directly into Ginny's. Such warmth came from their depths and he felt the softness of her hands on his neck, "There were no Veela, right?" she whispered.

Harry grinned, remembering her words, "Definitely no Veela."

Ginny smiled softly in return.

"Ginny, you should sleep."

She nodded slowly, pulling herself closer to him for a moment, "Come with me?"

"I was going to," Harry stood and held out his hand to her. "Come on."

She took his hand and lifted herself up. Once on her feet, she hugged him, her arms around him and her warm breath on his neck sent shivers down his spine.

"I'm so glad you're here, Harry," she murmured.

"Me too, Ginny," he said softy against her hair, smelling that familiar flowery scent, "Me too." He took her hand and led her onward toward the soft rays of light shinning from the open walls of the castle in the distance.

Ginny's stopped abruptly and turned to face him, taking a deep breath, "Harry, thank you."

Her fingers grasped his palm and she stared steadily at him. "Thank you?"

"For everything," she replied.

Harry pulled her into his arms, "Ginny, don't…"

"I know… but Harry it was you in the end, I knew it would be."

He felt he lips at his ear, her body flush against his. Harry couldn't say anything, he couldn't think. She finally pulled away, smiling softly at him and continued without a sound to the castle.

Perhaps one day soon he would tell her – tell her everything – but he couldn't, not now.

From the quiet Entrance Hall, they strolled on through the still, silent corridors. In the dim light, Harry saw the cut across Ginny's cheek and many small bruises that littered her jaw. Each step they took reminded him of the battle, but somehow Ginny was here, alive, and so was he. His heart was still beating, pounding in his chest.

He squeezed Ginny's hand gently in his own as they reached the Fat Lady; she and Violet were slumped over each other, clearly spent after their drunken celebrations. Ginny cleared her throat pointedly and asked, "Can we go in?"

The Fat Lady raised a weary head and made an undistinguishable sound before swinging open to admit them. Ginny chuckled a little as the Fat Lady fell backwards, toppling out of the frame.

They stepped through the Portrait Hole and into the Gryffindor Common Room. It had somehow remained relatively untouched, some windows were smashed but other than that it was intact and its usual, welcoming self.

Harry curled up on the sofa, his arms around Ginny. She kissed him deeply before resting her head on his chest.

"Harry," she mumbled.

"Ginny?"

She never replied. After only a few minutes, he heard her heavy breathing and knew she was asleep. His eyelids grew heavy and he thought of the new days that were to come as he drifted off into to a blissful sleep.

Thank you to my beta Kelly for her amazing help!