A/N I hope you enjoy this! Please review! :) Constructive criticism is always welcome.

I don't own Harry Potter :(

They sit together after the battle. Ginny face is bruised and Luna has a cut on her forehead but for the most part they're unharmed. A steady stream of tears run through the dirt on Ginny's cheeks.

They sit in silence, side by side at the Gryffindor table. Luna is trembling, as the adrenaline leaves her body.

Luna wraps her arms around Ginny. Ginny leans into the hug, nestling her head on Luna's shoulder.

Luna strokes Ginny's hair, teasing some of the tangles out with her fingers. She feels Ginny's tears against her skin.

"I thought it would feel good," Ginny whispers suddenly, her voice shaking.

Luna nods, "Like in the stories."

"Yes. Bright and beautiful. Victory. Not... not this. This hurts. It hurts so much, and I will never forget this pain. I will never forget this pain," Ginny murmurs,"I knew the fight would be hard but I thought the end would be glorious,"

"I thought so too." Luna squeezes Ginny tightly.

"So many are dead, so many. My brother. Remus and Tonks. Colin Creevey. Colin's dead. I can't- I can't- he was so small- and he was alive-," Ginny breaks off. Tears soak Luna's shoulder.

"It doesn't seem real," Luna says softly, "It feels like a dream."

"A nightmare. Like a horrible nightmare. Fred... He's... It's like a nightmare. The worst nightmare I've ever had. The most vivid. The scariest. The saddest. The...the worst."

"Were you afraid?" Luna asks.

"Yes. I was terrified. I pushed it away, though. Mostly. And then... and then after I knew about- about Fred, I was just angry. Furious. Even when Bellatrix Lestrange was trying to kill me, even then I wasn't scared. Just the angriest I've ever been. I've been extremely angry before too, so that's saying something. I wanted to kill all those Death Eaters. Slowly. One by one. I wanted them to suffer." For a moment, Ginny shakes with rage.

"I was scared," Luna whispers. Ginny relaxes. She goes limp in Luna's arms.

"We're going to be alright." Ginny mutters, half to Luna and half to herself.

"I know. It'll take time, but we'll heal. So will Hogwarts. The entire world will heal." Luna agrees.

Ginny nods.

"We will be happy again. One day. I'll never forget this pain, but I will live. We will live,"

They fall into a comfortable silence. They stay like that for hours, Luna's arms around Ginny.

Ginny's tears stop. Luna's trembling dies away.

They sit together and dream of the future.