Chapter One
Coming to Terms
What had happened the night before? I think I remember, but is this real? Seventeen year old Harry Potter couldn't help but wonder. Absentmindedly, he traced the thin lighting scar on his forehead, hoping to find evidence that Lord Voldemort's soul had indeed been removed from his body. Harry was staring up at the canopy of his four-poster bed, the curtains surrounding him, snug inside the covers. He knew Ron occupied the bed next to him, he could hear Ron's muffled sobs. Fred. Why Fred? Hadn't the weasleys sacrificed enough? If they hadn't of known me…
Hours later, or so it seemed, Harry drifted into an uneasy sleep. The repulsive image if Voldemort haunted his dream, even in death. He woke several times that early morning panting, eventually giving up sleep. The deaths still hadn't fully hit Harry, except the loss of his friend and marauder, Remus Lupin. Remus, you needn't have died! You silly man! You had a son! It was too much, even for Harry Potter, The Savior of the Wizarding World.
"Can't you sleep? Harry, you look Bloody awful." said Ginny, noticing Harry walking aimlessly around the halls about an hour after he'd given up the hope of rest. Ginny was sitting on the stairs, her eyes heavy and her makeup running. He hated seeing her like this.
"Not if I can avoid it. I'm sick of seeing Voldemort die. Once was enough." said Harry, purposely avoiding Ginny's dark brown eyes. He didn't bother to ask her why she was still awake, he had his answer; Ginny was too stricken with grief and it showed in her face. Grief for Fred, for Collin, for Remus and Tonks, but for Harry, also.
"You're older now. I can see it in your eyes. Oh, Harry, how can something so wonderful make me feel so sad." Ginny said, rising from her place on the staircase, sounding defeated.
"I know how you feel. We've all suffered enough. When will the goddamn pain end?" spat Harry, hastily. And with this, he turned to leave. Seeing Ginny so broken down only confirmed his fear. He, Harry James Potter, had brought pain upon the people he loved. If only Dumbledore had killed me as an infant….
"HARRY POTTER, DON'T YOU LEAVE ME AGAIN! DON'T YOU TURN AWAY FROM ME AGAIN! I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN AND WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING TURNING YOUR BACK ON ME NOW !I WILL NEVER LET YOU LEAVE ME AGAIN!" screeched Ginny, and within seconds, she began to sob inconsolably into Harry's chest. After she had found her calm, she gave Harry the same hard blazing look she had given Harry from their first kiss and when he left her at Dumbledore's funeral. "You have always been my beacon of hope, and I can't bear to see you like this, so stop it! You're scaring me! I won't lose you. I'd kill myself…" said she. Harry didn't know what to do. He had never seen her in such a mood. He allowed his body to work at its will. After a few minuets, he found himself wrapped around Ginny, kissing her deeply. When they broke apart, she whispered,
"They'd want us to be together, to be happy."
"You think?" asked Harry, kissing her neck.
"I think. But you must promise me something."
"Anything."
"I want you kiss my forehead every night before bed, and I want you to hold me like holding me is going to keep you alive, and Harry?"
"yes?"
"I want you to love me." she whispered directly into his ear. This sent chills down his spine, and he took the opportunity to kiss her deeply once more. This time, however, his hands seemed to be listening to a master of their own…
"Will you do that?" said Ginny, half moaning with pleasure as Harry kissed her neck.
"For the rest of my life."
Harry and Ginny could have ended up doing many things that night, but Harry, being a perfect gentleman, kissed her forehead as promised, and bade her goodnight. All was getting well…
As the afternoon approached, reporters and photographers were lined up outside the Hogwarts front doors, all dying to get the story of the death of the Dark Lord and the man who vindicated. Professor McGonagall would have none of it. There were enough people inside the castle hounding Harry. There needn't be anymore. He deserved his peace. The Dailey Prophet had been the first to report Voldemort's death. The bloody paper even confirmed that Rita Skeeter would be wring a book on Harry entitled Harry Potter- Heroic or Harmful? It was all happening so quickly! Suddenly, something that was not welcomed happened to Harry. Professor McGonagall invited him to her office claiming to have import matters concerning him awaiting in the dramatic head's office. There, Harry saw the very souls who had been responsibly for nine years of misery, his only living relatives, the Dursleys.