Chapter 1: Dreaming Of You

The chamber was dark and damp. The cold of the room and the dreary surroundings, however, were noticed by no one. There were flashes of light, spilled blood on the floor, dead bodies, and screams echoing and reverberating off the walls of the Chamber of Secrets. The war raged. There were many deaths on the Order's side but the Death Eaters were also suffering a great many losses.

Ginny saw her mother and Fleur dueling Bellatrix Lestrange, Fred and George were fighting five Death Eaters at once, Ron was attempting to revive an unconscious Hermione, and Kingsley and Tonks were fighting Rodolphus Lestrange, Augustus Rookwood and Lucius Malfoy all at once. Mad-Eye was fighting several at once, Neville and Luna were battling with Narcissa Malfoy, and her father, Mr. Weasley, was throwing a punch into Nott's face.

Ginny herself was trying to reach the jagged rock where Harry and Voldemort dueled. She crawled past body after body. She saw Ollivander's body twisted and mutilated in a sickening way, Charlie, her own brother, bleeding from the head, Remus Lupin who had been clawed, chewed and beaten by Fenrir Greyback, Peter Pettigrew had had his left leg cursed off and had bled to death and there were many dead Death Eaters as well. Ginny noticed none of these bodies however, for there would be time to grieve later, when Voldemort was dead, and Harry was there to comfort her. She was now close enough to see Voldemort and Harry dueling.

Their wands moved faster then she had ever seen before. She heard Voldemort scream something, there was a flash of blue and then green light. Blood spurted from Harry's chest.

"NO!" she screamed. Voldemort's mirthless laugh rang in her ears.

Then she saw Harry, with his last ounce of strength, drive Godric Gryffindor's sword into Voldemort's gut. Blinding gold light filled the entire chamber and everyone turned to look. Voldemort crumpled and then burst into dust. There were cheers and shouts of glee, but Ginny heard none of it. Harry was hurt, blood seeping out of him. Harry turned his head and saw Ginny and they locked eyes. Harry gave her a defeated look and then slumped forward onto the damp stone. Crying, she ran forward, not caring about tearing her robes or slipping off the rocks. When she reached the top, she saw the dusty remains of Voldemort, but she found no Harry. He had vanished, leaving nothing but an enormous blood stain on the rocks.

Ginny awoke with a start. She wiped sweat off her forehead and tears off her face. It had been a long time since she had had that dream. Though it wasn't a dream she reminded herself. It was a memory of what had happened all those years ago. She glanced over at the clock. It read 5:05. Knowing that she wasn't going to get any more sleep, she got up and padded across the hall to the room where her children slept. She stood in the doorway and leaned against the frame gazing at her three perfect children. When she first found out she was going to have triplets she had panicked, but she wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.

The first that had come was James Ronald Weasley, who, ironically looked exactly like James. He had black hair that stuck up at the back, just like Harry's and James's had, and he had her enormous brown eyes. James was quite devious and very protective over his siblings.

Charlie Remus Weasley came next, he had poufy red hair that made anyone long to touch it, and had Harry's almond-shaped emerald green eyes. Charlie was a lot more quite than James was.

Lily Molly Weasley was the last to come. She had red hair, but had startling blue eyes that reminded her constantly of Ron. She was always smiling and was very outgoing.

Ginny felt much better. After her dream, the sound of her children breathing was oddly calming. Though, of course, her children could always make her feel better.

The three of them were all sleeping in one enormous bed. Lily had fallen asleep sucking her thumb and was clutching her stuffed tiger. Her white night shirt (that had once been Ginny's T-shirt) was barely visible from under the covers. Her red hair was sprawled across her pillow. Charlie, with his blue teddy bear print pajamas, was also clutching his stuffed animal, though his was puppy dog. James, who was sprawled out on his back, showing his forest green pajamas that had little snitches on them, didn't have a stuffed animal because he preferred his 'blankie' which was a baby blue blanket that was tangled with James's small body.

Ginny grinned from the doorway. Then her smile faltered as she remembered her dream, remembered…Harry. After months of searching, Harry James Potter had been pronounced dead – Leaving a heartbroken and pregnant Ginny to raise three children on her own. Ginny hadn't even been able to tell Harry she was pregnant with his child (at the time before she found out she would be having triplets) before he died. For a long time, Ginny had refused point blank to accept that Harry was dead, but she then gave birth to three beautiful children, and the years pasted and there was still no Harry. She had finally admitted that Harry was dead and that he wouldn't be coming back on the triplets second birthday.

Rubbing her eyes wearily, she made her ways downstairs. She made herself some coffee and then sat down at the kitchen table. She looked around her kitchen morosely. It was actually quite a nice kitchen…a nice house, for that matter. After the war, she lived with her mother and father. Then, when the triplets were a year old, she got a job, moved out, and had bought this little property.

The house was actually only several miles away from the village of Ottery St. Catchpole, in the opposite direction of the Burrow. It was two stories tall. The upstairs consisted of two bedrooms (one Ginny slept in and one for the triplets), a bathroom and stairs leading to the attic. The downstairs had a large kitchen that led to an even larger living room, a pantry, a bathroom and another bedroom that was for guests. When the triplets got older, she would move into the downstairs bedroom and let them share the two bedrooms upstairs.

Pulling herself out of her musings she glanced at the clock. 5:55. Where did the time go these days? Sighing, she cleaned up a bit in the kitchen, putting away clean dishes and washing out the now empty coffee pot, and then headed upstairs to get dressed. She had a long day ahead of her at work. She pulled on ripped jeans splattered with paint, a white T-shirt, and a cute black hoody. She put her red hair into pig tails. She almost laughed as she looked in the mirror she hardly looked like a mother of seven year old triplets. She was still so young. Only 23 years old.

She glanced at the clock again – 6:14. Sighing, she went across the hall to wake the kiddies. She switched on the lights, which caused groaning and mumbling.

"Come on, get up. Mama's got to go to work," She said giving James's shoulder a small shake.

"Mmmph" was the only response she got. Lily, however, after several moments, had sat up blinking in the bright light.

"Morning, Sleepy girl!" Ginny said smiling at her. Lily brought both of her small hands up to her eyes to rub the sleep out of them. Ginny lifted her from the bed and held her for a moment before placing her down to get dressed.

"Come on you two! You're going to make me late for work!" Charlie climbed slowly out of bed. James sat up frowning. Ginny couldn't help but smile; even if she could let them sleep all day long, James still wouldn't want to get up.

"Why do we have to get up so early?" James grumbled.

"I have an early class today," Ginny replied, placing Lily on the floor so she could get dressed. "Come on, up!" She waited for James to get out of bed before leaving the room.

Several minutes later the trio trudged down the stairs. All of them were bleary-eyed from being woken so early in the morning. Ginny saw them and smiled. "Are you ready to go?" She asked them. They nodded. "Come on then. Lily, do you have Stripes?" Lily nodded, holding up her stuffed tiger. "And Charlie do you have Puppy?" another nod. "Alright then, everyone hold hands."

There was darkness and they felt as though they were being squeezed through a very small hole, then the pressure lifted, and they found themselves outside the Burrow. An older red-headed woman stood waiting for them outside the house.

"Grandma!" Lily shouted, running over to hug her grandmother. Charlie and James ran after her. Ginny grinned from ear to ear and the older woman winked.

"You'd think," Ginny said, "that seeing how they see you practically everyday they wouldn't be this excited!"

Molly Weasley smiled "Hmm, you would think. But they're my favorite grandchildren! Aren't you?" she said, looking down at the triplets.

"Grandma, you tell all of your grandchildren that they're your favorite!" James exclaimed.

"That's because you're all my favorites! Every single one of my grandchildren! Now come inside, I'll fix you something to eat!" The children ran inside and Molly and Ginny could hear "Grandpa!" and Mr. Weasley chuckling.

"Thanks, Mum, for watching them this early, but I have an early class today."

"It's nothing, dear," Mrs. Weasley said, and she wrapped her daughter in a bone-cracking hug. "I love having the house full of children, anyways." Ginny smiled.

"I really must be off."

"Oh but Ginny don't you want some breakfast? I'm sure whatever they have at that muggle school is h –"

"I'll be fine mum. I'll be back around seven, I think."

"Alright, dear. Take care, see you at seven."

"Bye, Mum."

And Ginny turned on the spot and disapparated. She arrived in a damp alleyway that was a few blocks away from the Art School that she taught a class at. She walked down the street, in search of a bagel store to grab something to eat.

He caught Ginny's eye. He saw how scared she was. The pain in his chest was blinding. He slumped forward onto the cold rock, and thought of the first place that would come to mind… He apparated to an alleyway in London. Stumbling, he came out of the alleyway looking for help. As he was crossing the street, he fell unconscious from the amount of blood that he had lost. He heard a car's screeching tires, men shouting, women screaming and then all went blank.

He woke up hours later, to find himself on a soft bed in a room that smelled of wild flowers. He opened his eyes to see a young woman, probably around the same age he was. She spoke to him.

"I know you must have a million questions, and I have quite a few myself, but all that needs to be said for now is that I saved you from being run over by that car, and I healed all your wounds, you'll have quite a few scars of course but I did my best and… sorry, I'm rambling. Let me start over. My name is Rachel Thompson. I'm a witch and I healed your wounds."

"I – … Thank you . . . ," He trailed off. Rachel smiled at him and winked. She got up to leave the room. "Wait!"

"Yes?"

"You – I mean can you… can you not tell anyone who I am or where I am? Please – I…" Rachel nodded.

"Of course. If Harry Potter wants to remain hidden, who am I to stop him? I'll leave you to rest."

Harry awoke with a start. He sighed…Ginny. He pulled on sweats over his boxers and a T-shirt and walked into the kitchen.He pulled out a pitcher of pink lemonade that Rachel had made the day before, and sat down at the kitchen table with a glass of the ice-cold liquid.

He had known before the final battle that if he managed to kill Voldemort and live, that he would leave. He knew there would be deaths, suffering and pain…and he wanted to get away from it all.

All his life, he had been surrounded by people whom he loved that died right before his eyes, he had suffered and watched others suffer, and he felt both physical pain and emotional pain and so did everyone else around him. He wanted to escape and live a different life. So he had left. He had, all his life, been surrounded by people whom he loved that died right before his eyes, he had suffered and watched others suffer, and he felt both physical pain and emotional pain and so did everyone else around him. He wanted to escape and live a different life. So he had left. He knew he was being a coward. A complete non-Gryffindor, but he had been young and immature and now he was living with the decisions he had made in his youth.

Rachel had found him, healed him and didn't object to him changing his life (for she had said: "Who am I to tell you what you should or shouldn't do? If you wanted to go back, I'd help you. If you want to stay, I'll help and support you. It's your decision alone." They had become fast friends and she helped him start a new life. They have been living together for six years now.

Harry felt a soft hand squeeze his shoulder.

"Mornin' you. You're up early. Couldn't sleep?"

"Bad dream," Harry muttered, wiping sleep from his eyes. Rachel nodded knowingly. Then she smiled.

"Did your bad dream happen to include the airplane I'm going on crashing, and me dying in the wreckage?" she asked jokingly, as she poured herself a glass of lemonade.

"What? Oh! Right, I forgot that you were leaving to be with your relatives."

"That's right. I leave today and I won't be back for a month."

"How am I supposed to survive without you? Who's gonna feed me?" Harry asked grinning.

"Oh, please! You sound like a dog!"

"You know," said Harry after several moments as Rachel read the newspaper, "airplanes have been statistically proven to be the safest way to travel." Rachel said nothing but looked at him over her newspaper.

"Why, again, are you flying there? It would be so much easier and faster if you just apparate!"

"Exactly! I'm procrastinating. I don't want to be with my crazy relatives longer than I have to. I'm required to be there, though. My little sister is getting married and they need my help – organizing, decorating, and keeping my nieces and nephews under control." Harry laughed.

"So what time are you leaving?"

"Right now."

"What? Wait, what about breakfast, what am I supposed to do?!"

"Oh, grow up! Go out to eat and then teach yourself how to cook!" Harry helped her carry the luggage downstairs to a taxi that was waiting for her.

"I'll miss you," Harry said hugging her.

"I'll miss you too, handsome!" she kissed his cheek and got into the cab. He waved them off, and then went back up to the loft where they lived, to get dressed for the day.

He threw on jeans and a red T-shirt. As he was about to leave he caught the sight of his appearance. Harry was far too recognizable. If he wanted to stay hidden, he'd have to change that, so Rachel had helped him transfigure his features.

He no longer had the lightning bolt scar on his forehead. His hair was now changed to a light brownish color and it no longer stuck up in the back. Rachel had somehow managed to transfigure his hair so that it was a different texture. He no longer wore glasses and his eyes were more round and were an astonishing blue color. He no longer had the scars on his hand that said "I must not tell lies". It had taken him a long time to adjust to his new appearance but after six years, he had grown accustomed to it.

He left the loft and went out looking for a good place to eat breakfast. He saw a bagel place and went in. He ordered his food and a drink and sat down to eat. His seat had a clear view of the door and while he ate, he watched the people come and go. He was halfway through with his bagel when she entered the shop.

In a surprisingly strong way she reminded him of Ginny, but this woman couldn't be Ginny, she was different. The woman's red hair was a lighter red and had natural highlights, which was unlike Ginny's. The woman was skinny, but not in an unhealthy way, and she wasn't short – but she wasn't tall either. He watched as she leaned over the counter for some service. Harry couldn't help but look at the woman's backside. Then a worker appeared behind the counter and she ordered a bagel and coffee. Once she had gotten her food, she sat down at a table across from him. She pulled out a notebook and pencil and began drawing. After a while, she sat back, and shook her red hair out of her eyes.

A/N: Please leave a review and comment about what you think of my story so far! Thanks to my awesome beta! bridges !

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