A Not-So-Happy Reunion
Harry Potter followed Ron and Hermione back through the silent corridors to Gryffindor Tower. Deep in thought, Harry barely noticed all the dance around him. He was thinking about how he could get the Elder Wand back to Dumbledore's tomb without being seen. Maybe he should use the cloak? Well, that could wait until tomorrow. First order of business: sleep. Then, he would talk to the Weasleys and maybe reunite with a certain beautiful red headed girl.
By the time the trio arrived at Gryffindor Tower, Harry could barely stand up. He couldn't remember the last time he had slept. The portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and admitted him without a word. With Ron and Hermione's help, he was able to make it through the darkened common room, up the stairs and into his dorm room. Hogwart's newest couple dropped the Boy Who Lived onto his trusty old four-poster and silently left. They knew that Harry could use some rest and they didn't want to disturb him.
Before Harry fell asleep, he remembered that he was still hungry. His thoughts returned to that sandwich and quietly, he called out "Kreacher!"
With a crack, Kreacher appeared.
"Yes Master," croaked the wizened house elf.
"Kreacher, I'm starving. Could you please get me a sandwich or something from the kitchens? I'll never make it down there and back up again," Harry said.
"Kreacher is glad to help Master Harry," Kreacher replied, and with a crack he was gone.
When the house elf appeared a few minutes later, Harry had crashed on his bed. He was sound asleep. Kreacher let out a sigh and left the sandwich on the table next to the bed. He performed a quick warming charm so that the sandwich would still be good when his master awakened.
Meanwhile, down in the common room, Ron and Hermione sitting in a comfortable armchair in front of a roaring fire, quietly talking
"Why did he do it," Ron asked. "He knew he was going to die, so why did he go into the forest? And why is he still alive? I would give anything to know what happened in that forest."
"That would be up to Harry to tell us," Hermione answered. "He can tell us when he is ready. I doubt he even fully understands what happened and why he is still here."
"But why would he go to die. He had already seen the others. Remus, Tonk, Fred..."
When he mentioned his dead brother's name, Ron choked up.
Hermione put her arms around her new boyfriend and gave him a quick snog. "Maybe that's why he did it," she replied. "He saw all the others dead and wanted it to stop. We all know Harry is selfless. He is always putting others before himself. Now stop crying Ron, and let's go get some rest. I know that Fred doesn't want anyone crying over him."
"Your right," Ron said as they stood up. Ron was already headed for the boys dormitory when Hermione pulled him back.
"No, don't disturb Harry," she whispered.
"But where am I going to sleep?" Ron inquired.
"With me Ronald, you silly git," she giggled.
Ron gaped at her with an open mouth. This was not the answer he had been expecting. "But, but, but," he stammered.
"But what?" asked Hermione. "It's not like will will be doing anything. Your Mom will never find out. And besides, I doubt I'll be able to fall asleep on my own."
Ron shrugged his shoulders and followed. He could hardly deny the request to join this beautiful creature, one he had secretly liked for four years now, in bed. A few minutes later, they were asleep in Hermione's four poster, wrapped up in each other's arms.
Harry awoke with a start. Sunlight was pouring into his room. He rubbed his eyes and looked over at the clock. What he saw came as a complete surprise. It was the next morning. He had slept for almost a whole day! He jumped out of bed and walked down to the Common Room below.
"Ah, the Sleeping Beauty is awake!" Ron exclaimed. "C'mon, let's go get some breakfast with the rest of the family."
"Always thinking of his stomach first," laughed Hermione.
As they walked through the maze of corridors down to the Great Hall, Harry got more and more nervous. After all, it was his fault that Fred had died. And he would soon be walking up to the dead boy's family. He was sure that the Weasleys would blame him. In fact, he could understand if they never wanted to see him again. Maybe that was the way it was supposed to be. Maybe Harry Potter was meant to be forever about a family.
As they walked into the Hall, Ron and Hermione led the way over to the Weasleys, with Harry lagging behind. The couple sat down at the Gryffindor table with Molly, Arthur, Bill, Fleur, Percy, and George before they noticed Harry standing ten feet away, white as a sheet.
"C'mon Harry what are you waiting for! Come sit down!" Ron insisted.
Harry slowly walked over to the table and sat down.
"What's wrong dear?" Molly asked him.
"Mrs. Weasley, I'm so sorry" he began. " I'm so sorry for bringing your family here, so sorry for causing Fred's death, so sorry I ever put you through any trouble. I know you'd rather Fred be here. It's all my fault you had to be here. I'll be completely understanding if you never want to see me again."
The Weasley family looked at each other in shock. Each was wondering what made Harry think that everything was his fault. Then they realized: Harry had never been loved, had never been cared for before he met the Weasleys. They had taken him each summer, fed him and gave him a place to sleep. And now a member of their family was dead because Voldemort had followed Harry to Hogwarts and the Weasleys had stood around Harry.
"Oh no dear boy," Mrs Weasley spoke. "We don't blame you at all. You are a member of this family. You and Hermione have always been a couple of extra children to me. We chose to come here because we wanted to fight for what was right. We would never ever not love you Harry. Speaking for all of us, we want you to come home to The Burrow this summer and stay with us until you decide your future."
Arthur spoke next. "Harry," he said. "Like Molly said, you are a member of our family. We chose to come here. Fred chose to come here. We all knew the risks coming in. We all knew what was a stake. We can only thank you for making sure we only lost one member of our family."
"Harry, Fred always wanted to die a hero. He couldn't have lived with himself if he hadn't been here fighting for what was right." George whispered, tears filling his eyes.
Bill, Fleur, and Percy nodded their agreement.
"Honestly Harry. You're my best friend. How could you ever think I would blame you!" Ron demanded. "Now have some breakfast before I have to stuff it down your face."
Harry didn't know what to say. He had not expected this. He knew he didn't deserve forgiveness from the Weasleys. "I don't know what to say," he choked out. "I've never had a family to be part of. This is all so different for me."
The Weasleys, as one wrapped Harry into a giant hug, tears streaming down all of their faces.
After a hearty Breakfast, Harry was feeling much better. All of a sudden, he noticed that the Weasley he most wanted to see was missing. "Where's Ginny?" he asked.
"I'm not sure dear," responded Molly. "She left before you got here."
"Well, I guess I had better go look for her. I want to talk to her too," Harry said.
Ron and Hermione exchanged knowing glances as Harry rushed out of the hall.
Harry spent the next hour searching for his Ginny. He had decided that she was definitely not in the castle when he remembered that she loved to sit out by the lake. He wondered how he had not thought of that earlier. They had spent so much time there just a year ago.
As Harry rushed out of the castle, all he could think of was Ginny. Her beautiful red hair that hung in a glossy sheet over her shoulders, her blazing chocolate brown eyes, her petite figure with all the right curves, her creamy skin and cute freckles. All he wanted to do was hold her, kiss her, never let her go. He would apologize for leaving her and promise her that he would never leave her again.
Harry reached the lake, and knew immediately why someone would want to be there. It was so peaceful. There was no indication that a massive battle had been fought a mere 100 metres away. It was a beautiful morning: the sun was shining on the water, making it sparkle. There was a slight breeze and not a cloud in the sky. The giant squid basked contentedly in the shallows. Harry looked around for his beloved and to his relief he saw Ginny there, sitting in the sand next to the lake. That relief disappeared quickly, though. Ginny was sitting with her head in her hands, crying. Harry couldn't stand to see her like this. He rushed to her side, wanting only to comfort her. He put his arms around her small body. He got a nasty shock seconds later.
Ginny pushed Harry away. "What the hell Harry!" She screamed, crying harder than ever.
Harry was totally taken aback. "Gin," he whispered.
"Harry, you left me last summer. I had to come back here and suffer all year with the Carrow's. Then you show up here a couple nights ago and refuse to let me help you fight. A couple hours later, you pass me on the way to the forest without even stopping to say goodbye. Next thing I know, there you are, dead. I wanted nothing more then to die then Harry, you can't imagine how much that hurt. I have wanted you since I was five years old. Ever since I heard your story. Then, I try to join you, to die. I almost succeeded! I almost got hit by a Killing Curse because I wanted to be with you so badly. And Fred, Remus and Tonks are dead. Then you walk up to me and just put your arms around me like nothing ever changed! How could you! Please, explain to me what happened!" Ginny burst into tears all over again.
Harry had no idea what to say. He tried to say something, anything but he couldn't. He just couldn't force himself to talk about how he had died for her. He wasn't ready yet.
Ginny stood there for a minute, waiting for him to answer. When he didn't, she did two things that Harry would never have expected of her: First, she nailed him with the Bat Bogey Hex, then she ran off sobbing.
"Gin! wait!" Harry cried, but it was too late. She was gone. He fell to the ground, put his head in his hands, and much like Ginny few minutes before, he started crying.