-1Chapter 1 - The past brings tears

"Ginny…Ginny love, please don't cry." Harry pulled Ginny into a loving embrace, not caring that her tears would flow freely on his shirt.

Ginny, having already cried for an hour, looked up at her exquisite boyfriend, tears still running down her crimson cheeks, "Harry" was all she could mutter before burying her head deeply into his chest.

"Love it's going to be alright. I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere."

Ginny's mind, however, kept racing back to that horrible night.

"Ginny don't ever let go of our love. If I don't come back, know that I have always loved you."

"Harry don't. You will come back. We'll all be ok. Mum, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, Dad, Tonks, Remus, Hermione…' she stuttered…'everyone! We're…we're going to defeat Lord Voldemort together. And so be it if I have to, I will kill that ferret Draco Malfoy.'

'Ginny no. All of you need to stay safe. I will not let you fight or worse,' he couldn't finish his thought, choking up on the words.

Ginny gave Harry the most passionate kiss she'd ever laid on him before. "Harry James Potter, I love you whole heartedly, and nothing will ever, EVER, change that. Not what happens in this war, not what's happened in the past, and not even you telling me you hate me could change it.'

"Gin…I do love you. I love you more then words could explain. That's why I don't want you to fight. I don't want you to…' he looked away from her momentarily, until Ginny moved her hand up to his face to make him look back.

'Then let me fight…if you love me, let me fight next to you. You know how powerful I am, and can be. Just let me.'

'And what if you do die? What then? I won't be able to blame anyone but myself for not protecting you."

Ginny snapped out of it when Harry planted a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose. "Hmm?"

'Gin, what's going on in that head of yours? I know that things were hard, but I'm not going anywhere. I promise. I'm here now for good.' He slightly smiled which helped Ginny to relax.

Ginny felt loved in Harry's embrace, like nothing could ever destroy the bonds between them. She had no other way to explain her love when her parents asked earlier that morning, 'why do you love Harry so much?' All she could tell them was that she just knew. She knew he was the right one, that he was everything to her and more.

"Ahem" Hermione had appeared in the doorway and was nearly gaping at the sight of Harry. She quickly ran over to him and gave him a great big hug, pulling him from Ginny's embrace.

'Hermione you've been crying as well.'

'Yes, not that it matters.' She looked Ginny's way, 'same thing as before?'

Ginny merely nodded her head, but Hermione fully understood what went on in Ginny's mind. It was almost the same as what went on in hers.

'Mione I'm not letting you come with. I can't bear to lose you.'

'You incomparable git. I'm going with you and Harry, whether you like it or not.'

'Hermione, I love you.'

Hermione stood soundly still. She had never heard those words come out of Ron's mouth before. She was frozen to her spot for a few seconds before she finally lunged forward at him and kissed him hard. 'Ron, I love you too!'

'Then please, stay with Ginny…don't come with us.'

'Even so, you're not getting rid of me that easily. What would you and Harry do without me if it required a spell that I've learned and you haven't? What would you do then? Die? Because by the sounds of it, that's exactly what would happen. And if you really do love me, you'll let me come to protect you when you need it. Otherwise, you can do all the protecting.'

Ron simply shook his head, but pulled Hermione into a warm embrace. 'If you die, I'm going down with you.'

Harry looked at Hermione, and pulled Ginny back to his embrace. 'Hermione if I didn't know any better I'd say you have a stronger connection then you know with Ginny.'

The girls both burst out into a fit of giggles. This was the first smile Harry witnessed on either of their faces after the war was over.

'You've no idea Harry' Ginny replied between giggles.

'Well I'm glad to see that you two can still smile. Where's Ron?'

Hermione froze, 'He's been gone the past few days. He said something along the lines of, 'I don't know anymore Mione, how can we last when we're both full of nothing but sorrow.' He said he was just going to go for a walk to clear his mind, but he hasn't returned in three days. I'm starting to get more then worried. I've tried everything to Apparate directly to him, spells to try and lead him back here, everything.'

Ginny let go of Harry and hugged Hermione. 'He'll be back. I just know he will. He loves you unconditionally.'

'Thanks Ginny.' Hermione let out a small smile. 'I'm going to go make myself something for lunch, would you two like anything?'

At those words, Ron, who'd been standing in the doorway the whole time the conversation had gone on, replied, 'well you know I'm always hungry' he smiled. Soon enough, Hermione ran to him, almost knocking him down on impact, which made him chuckle a little. 'Miss me?'

'You…you' Hermione punched him hard in the gut. 'Why did you leave? Why did you let me be here, to cry, with no support, no…no…' She started crying again, Ron quickly forgiving her for punching him, pulled her into a hug, nearly lifting her off the floor.

'Mione I'll never leave you again. I thought getting away would give me time to think and understand things, but..it didn't. I had fully intended on coming back the same day as well but I ran into a Death Eater and had to find ways to escape him. I'm sorry I couldn't get back sooner. Every time I would even think about Apparating I couldn't make myself calm down enough to not be afraid of splinching myself. I ended up making it to Diagon Alley, and ran into George, who helped me kill the Death Eater. It was Draco.'

Ginny gasped, as did Hermione. Harry stood there, not understanding. He thought that Draco had been killed in the battle at Hogwarts.

'Harry mate, you look like you've seen a ghost.'

Ginny helped Harry to take a seat on the large loveseat, then plopped herself down in his lap.

'But I thought that Draco died at Hogwarts.'

Ron looked a bit irritated, but Hermione took his hand and spoke up. 'That's what we all thought Harry. But the truth is, Goyle took a polyjuice potion to turn himself into Malfoy. He apparently didn't realize that none of us were scared of him. He wasn't too bright to being with, but he died trying to save himself as he was more afraid of this war then anyone.'

Harry's jaw had dropped at this revelation. He had no idea that any of the Slytherin's were scared in the slightest.

'The only part I feel bad about after killing Malfoy though, was finding out he had recently married Pansy and she's pregnant. I know none of us got along with her, but she isn't all bad. She married Draco out of fear.' Ron had nearly lost his tone near the end of it all.

At this, Ginny started to cry again.

'Love, what is it?' Harry looked at the young woman sitting on his lap.

'It's just…all of that…makes me think…I could've lost…'she sobbed onto Harry's shoulder.

"Gin look at me.' When she refused to, Harry pulled her face up gently with his hand. 'I didn't die, and even though there are still Death Eaters out there, you will not lose me. I fought and killed the darkest wizard in this world. A Death Eater is not about to scare me.'

'Why am I such a bloody baby about all of this then?'

'Because you're a bit younger then us, and already experienced more then most adults, magical or not, do in a lifetime. That's not something that's easily dealt with. You're allowed to cry, and be scared. No one wrote any rules about not crying before, during, or after the war took place. And honestly, if someone did, they should be hit with an Imperius curse.'

Ginny laughed a bit at that. 'Harry you are the most wonderful person…and boyfriend…a girl could ever have.'

'I really am going to go get something for all of us to eat…Ginny would you come help me?'

'Sure,' she gave Harry a quick kiss then left with Hermione.

Harry had a bit of an awkward look on his face. 'Ron, can we talk…you know I love your sister right?'

'Of course, not that I want to see you snogging her in front of me, but I do know you love her.'

'Well I think now's as good a time as any to ask her to marry me…I want to spend the rest of my life with her.' Harry kept his voice low while saying all of this.

Ron just looked a little quizzically at Harry. 'Mate, you're still young, are you sure you want to commit?'

'Ginny is the entire reason I'm still here now. Well, you and Hermione of course physically helped…but mentally, she's what kept me going, just like Hermione kept you mentally going.'

'Then you have my blessing…all you need is to talk to Mum and Dad.'

All talking ceased as the boys suddenly noticed their beautiful girlfriends coming back into the room.

'What are you two up to?' Hermione knew that look on Ron's face. She'd know it even if he hadn't turned a bit crimson.

'Mione we'll talk about it later ok?' Ron was even more crimson now then he had been just a few seconds ago.

Hermione said nothing, just went up to Ron and wrapped her arms around him, burying her head deep into his chest.

'What's wrong?'

'I'll be fine…I just need to feel your embrace right now ok?'

Ron didn't say a word, just nodded solemnly. He held Hermione tightly and didn't let go until she was ready.

As the battle raged on, Hermione fought vigorously, attempting to ward off any Death Eater that would come her way. Just as she thought she'd seen the last of them, she was hit with a spell that caused her leg to split down the front. She cried out in agony, but with all the fighting going on, no one could hear her. She tried everything in her power to call out for Ron…spells, hitting him with a spell, even yelling, but nothing would distract him from fending off the Death Eaters he was facing for fear he'd be hit with an automatic Avada Kedavra. After an agonizing half hour, Hermione finally lost her will to stay awake and let herself just fall asleep, the pain searing through her entire body.

Ron, finally having gotten back to the spot where Hermione laid, threw himself over her for protection. 'I can't lose you Hermione,' was the last thing Ron whispered before he was hit with a stunning spell. His body lay limp over Hermione's, but it did protect her. However uncertain she had been of his love before, she was certain when she felt the weight bear down on her that Ron loved her more then anything in the world. It took every ounce of her not to wake up and proclaim that love, because she didn't want Ron to be hurt any worse then he already had been…or worse, killed.

Hermione's tears subsided as she gently pulled out of Ron's embrace a bit.

'All right?' Ron asked, looking into Hermione's dark brown eyes.

'I'm fine now Ron. Actually, couldn't be better. I have you and that's all I need.'

Having had spent that short amount of time together, Hermione hadn't sensed anyone or anything else in the room, but was baffled when she looked up to see Harry cradling a sobbing Ginny.

'She'll be all right, you two eat. We'll eat when things are ok.'

Ginny never knew so much fear in her heart until that moment. It was the moment that she saw a killing curse fly directly at Harry's heart. She was ready to jump at the chance to save him, considering she'd broken all of his wishes and joined the battle, but knew if she did, she would never see him and all the happiness in the world would be drained from her. Ginny hadn't known though, that Harry had given himself protection from this curse in many ways, she would never understand. He loved Ginny unconditionally, and willed himself to never love another. It was an unbreakable vow that could never be disrupted, no matter what spell was thrown his way. Ginny had fallen to the floor, sobbing, seeing her one and only love fall to the floor from midair where he'd been suspended by Lord Voldemort. She didn't know how to take the news that her true love was gone from the world. Narcissa Malfoy took this as an opportunity to rid Ginny from the world, but her plan failed miserably when Neville had cast a Killing Curse on her.

'Never try to destroy one of my friends you blimey excuse for a mother!'

Ginny was shocked, she'd never heard anything bad come from Neville's mouth before.

'Is itty bitty Potter dead?' Ginny heard Bellatrix call out. 'And his poor itty bitty girlfriend can't help…'

For once, Ginny didn't care what kind of magic it took, she was going to kill Bellatrix, and fast. She worked up all the courage inside of her and sent one of the most ancient spells she knew directly at Bellatrix, knocking her back against the wall. She twitched for a bit, but then the twitching stopped, and she was no more.

'Ginny…' it took Ginny a moment to register the voice as being Neville's since her own spell had sent her flying back and knocked her out for a few moments.

'I'm fine Neville. Where's Voldemort?'

'He's dead Ginny. The war's over!'

Ginny thought this wasn't possible. She had just seen the Dark Lord reigning, and killing her boyfriend. 'What about…'

'Harry?' Luna piped up.

'Where did you…'

She was interrupted again by Luna, 'Come from? I was fighting in the Room of Requirement and then George came in and claimed it was over. All the remaining Death Eaters vanished.'

'But where's…'

'Harry is at St Mungo's. He was still breathing although no one's quite sure how.'

'When can I go see him?' Ginny had tears in her eyes, fearing the worst.

'Ginny he looks worse then ever…'

'I DON'T CARE! I NEED TO…'

Ron ran up, holding Hermione in his arms. 'We're going there. Hold on tight to me Ginny. I'm going to Apparate us there.'

Trusting her older brother, she held steadfast on to him.