Never Let Her Go

The walls were strewn across the floor as Harry made his way across the entrance hall, his head pounding with an enormous headache which had been building since the apex of the fight as the adrenaline slowly wore off. His eyes were now searching for the familiar red hair of the Weasley family – though a specific head he was looking for. Finally he spotted her by the back of the room. She crouched with a small hand clutched in hers. He noticed her red cheeks as he approached; with red, puffy eyes to match.

The short walk across the hall took him an eternity as every couple steps he was stopped by another group of students congratulating him on their win, or parents thanking him for 'saving' their child. The worst was when one of the DA told him of the casualties.
"We've lost three members and over…" Harry had had enough. He pushed through the crowd of chattering wizards and witches and almost ran the rest of the length of the hall.

Finally he stood before her, a small smile forming on his lips. This fleeting happiness faded as he looked at the form of Colin Creevey, suddenly looking so small in death. Had she been his friend? Her breathing was slow and calm, but every few breaths hitched as a sob threatened to heave her chest. Harry knelt beside her, his hand lying softly on top of hers. She jumped slightly at the touch, her eyes darting to his face.
"Are you okay?" He whispered; they were so close that he could smell her flowery scent. Ginny shook her head and leant into him, her head resting against his grimy shoulder.
"'S too many g-," a small hiccough escaped her throat, "-goodbyes!" She softly wailed, fresh tears fell across her cheeks as she pressed herself closer to him, her breathing becoming uneven and shallow. Harry rubbed her shoulders softly, his arm surrounding her without hesitation.

They sat in each other's arms for a few minutes before Harry finally said, "Gin, can we talk… privately?" His eyes scanned the packed hall and saw no place of pure peace. While many had left, or abandoned the ruin of a castle for medical attention or the comfort of their family homes, others had remained – some still scared to be alone with their thoughts or memories of the last few months. There was an awkward silence that was cut through with even more awkward chatter as those who remained tried to fill in the void of the dead. Ginny nodded in answer to Harry's question and they walked together, undisturbed, from the hall. It seemed that finally those remaining understood that 'the Chosen one' needed some 'alone time'.

They finally settled beneath a large tree overlooking the lake. There was a stillness to the water, as if it were waiting for the next round of chaos. They both let out a soft breath, their eyes trained on the shimmering water.
"What did you want to say?" she finally said, turning to face Harry. His tongue was caught and his voice refused to sound as he looked at her. The light caught her hair and made the orange shine like fire in the rising sun. She was so beautiful.
"I guess I just needed some space, but not to be alone." Ginny smiled and Harry's heart stopped.
"I'll always be here for you," she whispered, returning to her place on his shoulder and looked back out across the water.

After a few days of barely seeing each other, the Weasleys finally found themselves around the one table again; two extra chairs pulled up to accommodate the honorary Weasleys, Hermione and Harry. Everyone was silent as they tried not to stare at the two empty seats around the ever-shifting table. Side-by-side, the seats stood as a reminder of what they lost. One brother now gone forever – the other brother driven to depression over their loss. The emptiness hung in the air; the whole house felt so empty yet suffocatingly full.

Harry and Ginny had constantly tried to talk to each other about their… 'feelings', but every time they were interrupted by a nosy family member or suddenly developed cold feet.

Tired of the back and forward 'not-actually-talking-to-each-other-or-saying-anything-substantial' battle they seemed to be having, Harry finally went to his best friend for help. It just so happened that his best friend was also Ginny's brother, Ron.
"What should I do, man?" He sighed, falling onto the Chudley Cannons bed-sheet that covered the small bed in the attic where they slept. Harry's temporary bed was set up on the floor, though it had become more permanent as time moved on and Harry had no relatives to return to.
"I think you just need to be honest, " Ron paused as he turned from his seat by the window to look at his best friend. "Do you see yourself dating her?" Harry considered this question as he stared at the dusty ceiling.
"Yes! But everything is so hectic at the moment," he sighed, and looked up as he felt a shift in the mattress; Ron had joined him on the bed.
"Then tell her that?" Harry nodded, thanking Ron for his advice, who continued: "I can't believe I'm giving you advice on dating my sister." Harry smiled as he moved to the door. Before he could reach for the handle, however, he heard his friend whisper something.
"Do you actually love her?" Harry did not turn back, but continued walking as though he hadn't heard. Did he?

They received the news two weeks after the Battle of Hogwarts. Filius Flitwick had succumbed to his injuries and had sadly died. This final death shocked everyone in the Weasley house and the quiet sadness blanketed itself once more over the family. They returned to Hogwarts to say goodbye to their teacher and mourn the losses of the war.

They all took in the worn down mess that was once the magnificent castle. The rubble had been removed from the grounds and the castle just looked abandoned. Crowds of people swarmed to the lake where Dumbledore's cracked marble tomb lay, with layers of protection covering the white surface once more. A smaller grey, stone tomb lay next to his. McGonagall explained that no one knew what Flitwick's burial wishes were, so they laid him to rest on the grounds of the school he dedicated his life to, and next to his mentor and long-time friend.

Harry sat listening to the service next to Ron and Hermione, but his eyes continuously darted to Ginny, who was sitting down the row with her head on her father's shoulder. Finally everyone had said what they needed to and guests had started taking their leave. Harry took a deep breath and approached Ginny with a sad smile.
"Can we go for a walk?" He asked softly. There was a soft breeze as they walked away from the buzz of the guests and Harry could feel his heart pounding in his chest. After a moment Ginny turned to him, and he could see that she had been crying. He opened his mouth to speak but she held up her hand.
"If you're going to tell me that for some stupid reason, we can't be together – then just close your mouth." He did. They both took deep breaths. Ginny shook her head, but Harry tried to explain.
"I really care for you and I know that everything is crazy right now – but I finally feel that I can be honest with you!" She just stared at him as he spoke, showing little emotion. She crossed her arms across her chest and shifted on her feet. "I feel that I don't deserve to find love and be happy when so many of our friends," indicates to tomb, "and," he chokes softly on the word, "family… can't." There were suddenly tears in her eyes and Harry knew she was thinking of Fred. Harry nodded, pulling her into his arms and rubbed her back, trying to sooth her.

Harry finally moved out of the Wealseys' house, taking advantage of the empty apartment left to him by his godfather; Grimmauld place. He had been trying to clean it up a bit, with the help of Kreacher, but the dust seemed to have worked its way into the wood since the last time he was here.

He remembered that time so clearly. They were preparing to break into the Ministry; stupid plan really. Harry's eyes watered as he dusted another shelf, the particles flying into his eyes. After shaking out his grey hair, discoloured with all the dust and grime, he made his way to the kitchen. There, sitting on the counter, was something he had never noticed. A photo frame. Harry rubbed the glass clean and stared at it. It contained a photo of so many smiling people. The new Order of the Phoenix – including all of the Weasley kids, and himself. His eyes were drawn to the smiling face of the youngest Weasley. And as their eyes met and her smile brightened as she waved at him. Suddenly Harry knew what a fool he had been. Of course he loved her!

Harry landed just outside the Weasley's fence, slightly disoriented by the disapperation. Once he got his bearing he ran forward, jumping over the fence, not wasting any time. He burst into the house and looked around frantically. At that moment Ron descended the stairs. His eyes landed on Harry and his brow furrowed.
"Harry…?"
"Ron! Where is she?"
"In the garden, I think. Why?" Harry shook his head, racing past his friend and into the gardens out the back of the house.

Harry's heart stopped as he saw her. She was sitting in the sun, causing her hair to come to life around her, her eyes focused on the book in her lap. Harry could not remember seeing anything as beautiful, or calming, as what lay before him. It took all the courage he had to continue walking until he stood before her. She noticed his presence and looked up, her face shifting into an expression of complete confusion. Her lips were still forming the word, "What?" when he blurted:
"I love you."

She just looked at him, her mouth hanging open in shock. She stood, her face still showing no signs of reaction other than surprise. Harry could not breathe as he waited for her to say something.
"I love you too, dummy!" She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. Harry let out the breath he had been holding and pressed his face into her shoulder, a deep sigh falling from his lips. His arms wrapped around her and held her tight to his body.
"Thank god!" He whispered, leaning back to look at her. Her eyes were shining as she smiled at him. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, feeling so elated that it barely seemed real. The kiss was explosive, their first since the war yet both knew that it would not be their last.

'You only know you love her then you let her go, and you let her go.'

A/N: Written for the Flying lessons - beginnings :)

Also the 'take a prompt, leave a prompt' challenge - you only know you love her when you let her go