When they arrived at the Burrow, Harry saw that many people were already gathered in the Weasley living room, including Charlie Weasley.
Kingsley Shacklebolt approached Harry and vigorously shook his hand.
"Well done, Harry, well done! Have you heard, they have just appointed me Minister for Magic?"
"Well congratulations, erm, M-minister." Harry said awkwardly, he was distracted as he watched a swish of long, fiery red hair disappear round the corner as its owner went up the stairs.
"Well it's not the most desirable job at the moment, as there's a lot to clear up – but things can only get better from now on, thanks to you, dear boy!" His face then changed to a more solemn expression. "Well, we had better start the ceremony then. Sonorous."
Kingsley then began to speak to the whole room, as everyone took their seats. Harry sat down and saw Ginny re-enter the room. He realised with a lurch from his stomach that he was at Fred's funeral, as tears poured down her face at Kingsley's words. Kingsley spoke for at least 45 minutes, and then the guests proceeded outside for the burial. Fred lay in an open casket next to a deep hole, he was wearing his WWW uniform and was also accompanied by his quidditch robes, beater's bat, broomstick and wand. George stood next to him, dropping a few puking pastilles into his brother's coffin.
"In case you get bored, mate," he murmured, with a half smile mirrored in Fred's stony face.
"Now if anyone would like to say something, now is your chance." said Kingsley.
George spoke to his brother, "Fred, words won't even begin to describe the love I felt for you when you were here, and the hurt I'll feel now that you've gone. I know you'll be watching over me so I promise to annoy Ron doubly as much to compensate for your loss. I know you have no regrets, brother, but I just hope you know I would happily have gone in your place." With that, he took his own WWW name badge out of his pocket and placed it under Fred's, and then sat down.
No-one wanted to follow George's speech, as they all knew none of them could begin to fathom his loss, as it was far more than their own. After a few minutes of silence, the coffin was Levitated and lowered down into the hole. Everyone was then invited to throw a handful of dirt into the grave, and maybe say a few words if they wished. Each of the Weasley family said a few words. Harry watched tearfully as the last to go up, Ginny, held a tiny amount of soil in her delicate fingertips and dropped it silently into the grave, tears spilling down her pale face. As she looked up she caught Harry's eye for just a second. A shining second, in Harry's eyes, which made his heart stop for a split second and then beat faster than ever before. He internally kicked himself for feeling happy at such a sad event, especially as he was responsible for it, but he couldn't help it. Ginny's eyes were filled with nothing but hurt. He knew she blamed him.
"I'm sorry," he mouthed, but she had already turned her head, her whole face covered by her fiery sheet of red hair.
Once the ceremony was finished, most of the guests left, leaving only close friends and family. Harry sat awkwardly in a corner with his head down, feeling out of place and unwanted. He felt someone sit down next to him, but he didn't look up.
"I know you're blaming yourself," said Hermione. Harry didn't answer. After a few moments, she continued, "No-one else does."
"Ginny does," Harry growled.
"I disagree," said Hermione.
"I know you're always right about everything Hermione," Harry snapped. "But you didn't see the way she looked at me." He said it through gritted teeth, and then stood up and left the room. He walked up the stairs and into his and Ron's bedroom. He sat and thought for a few minutes, before yelling loudly. He heard footsteps walking on the landing, which stopped at his outburst. There was a knock at the door. Harry ignored it, but the door opened anyway.
It was Ginny.
"G-Ginny!" Harry stammered. She just looked at him. "Can we... go for a walk?"
For a moment she stared at him like he was crazy, but then nodded her head once.
Harry and Ginny walked silently out onto the lawn. The moon had come up and there were stars in the sky.
"Today has gone so quickly," Ginny was the first to speak.
"Ginny, I'm sorry, I know you blame me and I blame myself, too. People shouldn't have died for me; I'm not worth it-"
"Harry, I don't blame you for Fred's death. He knew what he was getting into, we all did and we all knew the risks. I'm still hurting for you leaving me for nearly a whole year. You couldn't even have sent an owl?"
"I don't have an owl," said Harry, his heart giving a painful pang at the thought of Hedwig. Ginny blushed.
"I watched you, every night, on this," Harry pulled the marauder's map out of the pouch around his neck. Ginny's cheeks flushed harder and her eyes filled with tears.
"Harry... Oh, Harry," she threw her arms around his neck. Harry instantly relaxed, forgetting everything that was troubling him. He was safe, here, with Ginny, and she was safe, too. "I thought you were dead, Harry, it was the worst feeling ever." She said it quietly; embarrassed to show how much it had hurt for she didn't believe Harry felt the same way about her. "I love you Harry."
"Ginny I love you, too. I love you so much and that's why I left you, to keep you safe. If anything had happened to you – well there would be no point in fighting anymore. I would rather live in a world run by deatheaters with you, than live in a perfect world without you!"
Ginny moved her head so their lips were centimetres apart. "Oh Harry, you are worth it." With that, she closed the gap between their lips. Harry's heart melted as he breathed in her flowery scent and ran his hands through her beautiful, soft hair.
Suddenly, he felt a searing place in his right leg. He yelled and looked down to see a gnome sinking his teeth into his flesh.
"Stupefy!" he yelled and then kicked the gnome over the hedge. "Now, where were we?" He said, turning back to Ginny, but she was rolling on the grass laughing. He smiled and sat down next to her. It was good to see her laugh after such a difficult day.