Disclaimer: I am a college student, so that means I am poor, which means that I do not own Harry Potter or anything to do with him…unfortunately.

Timeline: The story starts around the year 2000. Two years after the final battle.

Summary: Harry has saved the wizarding world, but after all of the celebrations were over, everyone moved on and seemingly forgot all about the boy that saved them. Left to his own devices, can be overcome the pain that comes with witnessing so much pain and death? Help may be on the way in the form of red hair. Slightly AU mainly because I cannot write in a world where Fred Weasley is dead.

A/N: As a military vet myself, this day holds a special meaning for me, so today I pause to remember those who have paid the ultimate price in the defense of our country, as well as those who are still serving. I salute you all.

I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Two: Homecoming and Kittens

Home

The realization hit her in a soft, pleasant way and spread over her body in a warm, comforting way. A smile forming on her face, she allowed the familiarity that was the Burrow overwhelm her like one of her mum's handmade quilts.

There was the shed where her father spent untold hours tinkering with muggle objects against her mother's (sometimes) silent protests. There was the small pond where she had spent many summers swimming with her brothers and, in later years, Hermione and Harry. There was the sorry looking homemade quiddich pitch where she had practiced on her own in secret for years. Even the chickens were there, contributing to her sense of home.

That muggle from Kansas had it right, there IS no place like home.

Ginny had enjoyed her time away, traveling the world. After the events of the past few years, she had felt that not only would the time away be good for her, but the experience itself would go a long way towards helping her in life as well…two points that she used to convince her mother to accept her doing this in the first place.

She would have gone anyway, she was of age after all, but there was still a part of her, the little girl deep inside, that still wanted the approval of her parents. In the end, it was her father and, surprisingly, her brother Ron who had convinced her mother that her trip would be good for her. Her father's support did not surprise her; he had always stuck up for his little girl. But Ron, Ron had always been a stubborn, pigheaded prat, never wanting to let his sister do anything remotely dangerous.

Perhaps Hermione has had some positive influence on him after all

Still smiling, Ginny picked up her trunk and headed into the Burrow, and to the inevitable welcome home party that she was certain was awaiting her, hoping, almost without even thinking about it, that a certain messy haired boy would be among the ones welcoming her home.


Ginny had not been disappointed. When she had entered the back door of the Burrow, she was immediately been accosted by what seemed like every single member of her family.

Perhaps sending that owl letting them know when I would exactly be home was not the brightest of ideas.

Still, even though she may complain about it sometimes, Ginny really did love her family, and was immensely happy about being home again.

Sitting at the huge family table, finishing off another one of her mother's feasts, she sat back and took a moment to look at each member of her family, looking for any changes, both good and bad, that may have occurred while she was gone.

Starting with Bill, she smiled for what seemed like the millionth time that day. She had known that Fleur was pregnant when she left, but she had not had the chance to meet her new niece as of yet. Happily, that oversight was corrected minutes after her arrival when weeks old Victoire was placed in her arms. Ginny, of course, immediately fell in love with the blond haired child and vowed to spoil her as much as she could.

Charlie was there as well, which kind of surprised her as she thought that he was still in Romania doing his thing with the dragons. Well, he still was, but took the occasion of her homecoming as an excuse to have a visit home. And more to the point, he had brought along his new girlfriend, fellow dragon handler Chelsea Douglas. They both danced around the questions regarding the seriousness of their relationship, but Ginny was betting that her second oldest brother had finally met his match. She liked Chelsea, and fervently hoped that she would be an official part of the family before too much longer.

Percy was there with his new Fiancée Audrey. Ginny did not feel as close to Percy as she did to her other brothers, but she was one of the first to forgive him after he had realized what an ass he was being and decided to return to the family. He may be stiff and more formal than anyone she knew, but he was still family, and she did love him. She did not know Audrey well, but from what little she knew, she liked her well enough. She mentally started to prepare herself for being a bridesmaid in her wedding.

Then there were the twins. Fred and George were doing their best to draw attention to themselves, and doing a grand job of it. Their store had become hugely successful after the war had ended, and as a result, they had just put the finishing touches on their second store, which was ready to open in Hogsmead anytime now. George was still single, but Fred had recently started to date Angelina Johnson. Ginny smiled to herself again, for even when she was at her worse, those two never failed to make her forget what was wrong and just smile. She loved them both dearly.

Finally, there was Ron with one arm firmly around Hermione and the other….to no one's surprise was shoveling winterberry pie in at an alarming rate.

Good to know that some things will never change.

Ginny had been delighted to hear of Ron and Hermione's engagement, even though she had a feeling that it would happen forever. She loved Ron very much, but he had always had that…roughness about him that made it hard to be around him sometimes. Knowing Hermione though, she would start to polish those rough edges and make him a better man than he already was…if she had not started to do so already.

Feeling stuffed and satisfied, Ginny leaned back in her chair and let her contentment spread over her. Yes, it was good to be home. Training and work could wait for now, right now she just wanted to bask in the glow of a warm, loving family.


Darkness

Well, that was because he had his eyes closed of course.

Groaning, Harry slowly opened his eyes, kind of surprised to see everything in focus. Maybe fore once his glasses did not fall off when he had passed out.

Grateful for this small favor, he slowly stood up from the pavement that he had been lying on. That in itself was no shock to him. He had very often passed out on the street in front of his home, in an ally in Diagon Alley, outside of muggle pubs, it really did not matter, he was used to it.

So he finally stood up, brushed some dirt off of his already hopelessly stained robes, and took a few unsteady steps. So intent was he on steadying himself, he did not fully take in his surroundings. He had assumed that he was in a back alley somewhere near his home, but for some reason, that house in front of him did not look all that familiar to him.

Hold on, on second glance, it looked a little too familiar.

What the hell was he doing at 4 Privet drive? Had he apparated here on accident? Was someone playing a very cruel joke on him?

Whatever the case, Harry intended on getting the hell out of here as soon as he could. This place had been hell for him growing up and he had not one fond memory of the place.

He started to apparate, but try as he might, he could not. No matter how hard he tried, he could not complete the process. This immediately put him into a defensive mode, his auror instincts kicking in. If anti apparition wards were in place, whoever put him here meant him harm.

His wand out in front of him, he started to make his way down Privet, alert for anything that may happen…his only goal to find out just what the heck was going on and to just get the hell out of here.

After what seemed like an eternity, but in reality was only a few minutes, he spotted what looked to be a group of people headed his way. He almost welcomed this since it was the first sign of life that he had seen since his "arrival" in this strange place. Oh it looked familiar enough, but there was just something in the back of his head that nagged him that something was not quite right here.

As this group got closer, he could make out the features of the person in the lead, and when he did, his stomach dropped and his wand raised higher.

It kind of figures that if I am on Privet, that Dudley would make an appearance.

Sure enough, it was his cousin in the lead of a group that looked to be about half a dozen. When they got closer, it took every bit of control that Harry had to not run away screaming. Not only was Dudley looking like he had not aged since he was about fourteen, but the others in his little gang looked nothing like the gang that he had been with when he had terrorized Harry and the rest of the neighborhood when they were both teenagers. No, Dudders had a new gang now.

Cedric Diggory was there, and looking almost exactly like he had when Harry had last seen him. Though now his skin was pale and waxy, and his eyes were unfocused and unseeing. He looked every bit like the zombies that Harry had seen on television on those rare occasions when he had sneaked a look when the Dursley's had been away.

Remus and Tonks were there as well and looking just as dead, but there were looks on both of their faces that Harry had never seen before…was that hate? The expression looked almost foreign on the heart shaped face of Tonks and he had never thought he would see it in his former teacher's expression.

This is so not good.

As if those four were not enough, the other two rounding out the group were another two of his former professors, or at least one that had been impersonated and one that he had hated with a passion for most of his life. Mad Eye Moody had looked ghastly in real life and death had not done him any favors. The pale skin did nothing to compliment him and while his leg was whole again, he still walked with an unsteady gate….the walk of death to be sure. And of course, Severus Snape had to be here. After all, what would a nightmare (which he was now certain this was) be without him? The sneer that Harry had come to know all too well looked like it was permanently etched on his face now and the pale death skin did little to offset his still greasy looking black hair.

Harry, with his wand still upraised, tried to back away, to find some way out of this nightmare, only to see this group of six advance on him just as fast as he could attempt his escape, and then they spoke.

"What's the matter loser? Scared of a little beating?" Dudley stated, clearly taking up after his fourteen year old self.

"No, I don't think he is scared", said Cedric, "maybe acting like a little coward, but not scared".

"Typical Potter behavior of course", Snape said in an almost bored tone, "always willing to fight against what he thinks is evil, but too cowardly to face the consequences of his actions".

"We are all dead because of you!" shouted Mad Eye. "YOU got us into this fight and WE died, but you still live! And now you have to live with that! So face us you coward"!

Harry dropped his wand and fell to his knees on the hard pavement, burying his face into his hands and rocking back and forth.

"No. It's not my fault! I tried! I really did try to save you! Please leave me alone"!

Remus scoffed at this. "Tried? Stop with the excuses Potter. Your father would not have just tried", he said this past word in a whinny voice that was meant to mock Harry. "He would have succeeded or died in the attempt! But you did not even have the decency to die in the defense of your friends. You sicken me".

"You are no hero"! Spat Tonks. "It's because of you that our little boy has to grow up without his parents! Wanted him to be just like you didn't you? The fact that we made you his godfather makes me want to vomit".

Harry fell to the cold, hard pavement and started to shake and sob.

"No! Stop please! I tried, I really did! It's not my fault! Leave me alone!"

He braced himself, ready for the pain and perhaps the release of the death that he was sure was awaiting him as the group of six advanced on him. Even though there was a small part of him that knew that this was still a nightmare, he almost hoped that it wasn't so he could end this once and for all.


But, instead of the pain, he felt something warm, wet, and….rough? on his cheek. What the hell was that? Scared to do so, but feeling that he had to if only to find out what the hell was on his face, he chanced to open his eyes.

He would have laughed if he wasn't still so scared. There was a kitten licking his tear stained face. Apparently he was where he thought he was in the first place, in an alley outside of the Three Broomsticks. Harry pulled himself up slowly, partially to steady himself and partially to not scare the kitten. When he had done so, he got a good look at the cat. It looked to be about a few months old, no older. It was black all over, save for completely white feet and a white streak on its chest going all the way up to the front part of its face.

It also looked as though it was near starved to death. Apparently it was a stray and was licking his tears as a desperate way to get some kind of moisture. Taking a chance, Harry gently reached for it and picked it up, cuddling it to his chest and tried to relax. The kitten did not object, and in fact was soon purring itself to sleep against his chest.

Harry had not had a pet since Hedwig had died, so what the hell, having this cat may be good for him. He needed some kind of companionship and it (giving a quick look and disturbing its nap briefly, Harry determined that it was a she) obviously needed help too. They could help each other.

He got to his feet and started to walk home, not wanting to chance apparating with his new friend. Still shaken from his nightmare, Harry still could not help feeling at least a little wanted, even if it was from a small cat.

Now if only a few certain humans wanted me the same way.

And chapter two is now complete. This was another "gateway" chapter introducing Ginny and getting you caught up with the Weasleys. I also wanted to give you a small glimpse of one of Harry's nightmares so you could see pretty much exactly what he has to deal with. Don't worry though, this is the last intro chapter and the next one (which should be out in a day or two) will really start to get into the meat of the story. Also, they will not all be as dark as these first two chapters, and while there will still be some more unhappiness, things WILL get better I promise. PLEASE review, I really love seeing those in my inbox and seeing how you guys like the story.