There are gains for all our losses,
There are balms for all our pain:
But when youth, the dream, departs,
It takes something from our hearts,
And it never comes again.
~Richard Henry Stoddard
Harry wandered his way up to the tower. He was trying to not think about the faces that floated in front of him. He was exhausted. What he knew he needed was to sleep. What he needed was…the password. He looked up at the portrait helplessly. The Fat Lady merely looked at the boy and smiled.
"Harry, dear, you are more than welcome here any time." She let the hanging swing open and allow him inside. The common room was unchanged from the last time he'd seen it, outside of a thin layer of dust that seemed to have accumulated on the furniture. The weariness he felt was fast overwhelming him so he quickly made his way up to the dormitories and collapsed into the closest bed to the door. He hadn't had such a sleep in years. It was dreamless and peaceful.
It seemed like days had passed since he'd come up to the dormitory. He awoke to a familiar scent and a warmth next to him. His eyes opened briefly and he was surrounded by the most brilliant shade of red. "Ginny," he murmured sleepily as he smiled. There was a time when all would be remembered. The war, the deaths, everything. He was just consumed by the girl who slept right next to him.
He gently placed his arm around her waist. This seemed to stir her and Harry froze, afraid he had disturbed this peace that had settled in for the moment. Instead, Ginny simply turned in toward Harry and curled into his chest. Harry still didn't move, still worried he had woken her. Ginny let out a small sigh. "Harry," she murmured in her sleep as she clung to his chest.
Harry held her close and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'm here, love," he whispered, "I'll never leave you again. "
There would be time to feel what had been lost when they woke. Harry knew that full well. For now, however, he was content to hold the woman who held his heart.