The Aftermath

Chapter 2

"Harry, I----."

Ginny suddenly collapsed, her head meeting the ground in a flash. Harry panicked, not knowing what was wrong. "Help!" he screamed, "Somebody send for help!"

Around twenty people ran out of the Front Doors. A stretcher was immediately conjured. "What's wrong with her? Why wont you tell me anything?" Harry said, concern in his voice. Was this why she wasn't talking at the time, but Harry just wasn't paying attention? Had she made any jester that she was hurt?

Harry couldn't recall Ginny doing anything to indicate that she was hurt, or that she needed help. He hadn't really looked at her for most of his talk to her. Only before, and after when she hadn't been saying anything. Harry hadn't realized it, but he was shaking. It was only when Hermione put her hands on his shoulders that he stopped.

"Harry, man, you have to calm down. She's going to be okay." Reasoned Ron. Hermione nodded, always being the one to side with Ron. "But---," said Harry, thinking carefully about his next words. He didn't want to be blamed for anything he didn't do, and he couldn't possibly tell Ginny's family that he had just told Ginny that he loved her. They weren't even going together, for Merlin's sake. "But I'm worried about her." He finished. "We all are. We aren't sure what's up, right now, though, mate. That's why she's going to St. Mungo's."

"I'm going for a walk." Mumbled Harry.

* *

The next week without Ginny was like a personal hell for Harry. He had been right when he had said that he wouldn't be able to live without her. He hadn't been able to sleep or eat, and the bags under his eyes, scared even himself, when he looked in a mirror.

Although he had been to visit Ginny, she wasn't allowed to have visitors, which is a real pain. The only people allowed in were Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

The healers had said that Ginny had some curse, unknown of course, put on her during the battle. From what they had seen, it caused her to collapse at random times. Upon awakening she momentarily forgot who and where she was.

Harry felt that he was the cause of this. If they hadn't been involved, she wouldn't have been at the war. And then she wouldn't have gotten the curse put on her. But her family tried to say otherwise. They said it wasn't his fault, that he couldn't have done anything. All they could hope for was the best.

And the best came. About a month later, Ginny was released from St. Mungo's. The first person she went to see was Harry.

Then it was her turn to go first. She said the same as him, in different words. She loved him, she couldn't live without him, and that she didn't know if Harry still felt the same. Harry stared her in disbelief. How could she honestly think that Harry wouldn't love her anymore. She was like a drug, and he was addicted.

Once things were flowing again, Harry decided he should probably work. He had to been able to support Ginny, and Teddy. He really wanted to be an Auror, so he decided to approach the Ministry. Now that it was under Kingsley Shacklebolt, he didn't really mind going there anymore. He never took the magical entrance, although. He used the telephone booth that Mr. Weasley had once showed him, although that time wasn't the best circumstances.

Auror training was taking its toll on Harry. Every night he came home, to his apartment, tired and exhausted. Enter Teddy, his godson into the picture. Since Tonks and Lupin died in the war, Harry was the guardian of Teddy, but Tonks' mother was taking care of him, which probably wouldn't last for very long, as everyone expected Harry to become grown-up, and face his responsibilities.

So Harry didn't know what to do. Ginny and him were doing fine, and she was talking about moving in with Harry. Although, she still had a year to finish at Hogwarts, she wasn't sure she was going. Harry still wanted her too, as did her family. He had said that he would be fine without her, and he would come visit her in Hogsmead. The school year was only a month to come, and they still hadn't convinced Ginny to go.

"But, you need to go! Luna, and all your friends are going to be there!" argued Harry. "You wont be there! That's my whole point!" said Ginny. Harry sighed. As of right now he was losing the fight. "I will be there enough. We will see each other in Hogsmead, and I'm sure Professor McGonagall will want me to stop in and help her. And we have to learn to be dependent of each other. I want you to go, Ginny."

"Fine." She huffed. "I'll go. But only on one condition."

"And that is?" Harry asked.

"You have to let me move in with you." She smiled slyly.

"Ginny…" he groaned. "We've talked about this. I told you that you needed to stay with your parents, until you are of legal age. And you know that."

"But you know my parents will let me. And that's the only thing I want. I want to live with you. Don't you want that?" she asked.

"Of course! Why wouldn't I? But you aren't of age. It's illegal. But if you really want to, I guess we can talk to your parents. If that's what you really want to do."

"Oh, it is! This is great!" squealed Ginny.

* *

Ginny and Harry sat in the Burrow's living room, talking to Arthur and Molly. "Mom, Dad. We want to ask you something." Harry and Ginny had agreed that she would introduce the topic to them.

"You see I know how you guys, and Harry want me to go back to Hogwarts for my last year. So I have come up with a compromise. I want to move in with Harry." She said in a quiet, but confident voice.

Molly and Arthur looked at each other. "We thought this would be happening soon. And we realize that Harry's of age now, and that you two are pretty serious. So we agree. You can, Ginny. It's only a month until you go to school, and then you will be at school, and when you come back you'll be of age too."

Ginny grinned. "See? I told you they would understand!" She jumped up and grabbed Harry by the hands, and then she hugged him, tight.