Chapter ThreeChapter Three The Burrow

The four of them were walking towards the Gryffindor common room doorway when suddenly, Harry stopped in his tracks.

'I don't want to see anyone, not yet, so I'm going to go under the cloak. We need to get outside the grounds to be able to apparate, am I correct Hermione?'

'I…I'm not sure', was her response. It seemed for the first time in her life that Hermione was uncertain of something of this nature.

'My god, did you just hear what I just heard!?' exclaimed Ron.

Harry grinned, 'Yeah I think I did, Hermione could you repeat that for us please?'

'Well I don't…no I could not, you heard me perfectly the first time boys!' she snapped.

Harry, Ron and Ginny burst out laughing simultaneously; Hermione blushed a brilliant pink before joining in shortly afterwards after seeing the funny side of the situation.

'Well, I can always go and find professor McGonagall and ask her?' offered Hermione.

'OK', said Harry, 'we can all go, but I will be under the cloak, and please, tell her I'm still in bed.'

All of them set off towards the head teacher's office. They would check there first as it was one of the only places they knew to be still fully intact. As they wandered along the deserted corridors, the extent of the damage caused by the battle became apparent. Bricks were strewn randomly on the scratched marble floors, smashed coats of armour lay forlornly against blood splattered walls, whilst portraits lay torn and battered; their persistent moans audible from quite a distance away. And when the usually hyper-active Peeves glided above their heads on a staircase, they were shocked when he remained perfectly silent, reflecting everyone's solemn mood.

As the quartet approached the tower, they saw the gargoyles were back in their rightful places. However they did not ask for a password, instead they merely remained open for the moment. The four of them wandered up the stairs, Harry still hidden under the cloak as requested. McGonagall, sure enough, was sitting on her chair in the office. She looked up upon hearing their footsteps.

'Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, Mr. Weasley, how are you today?' she asked inquisitively, '…and where is Mr. Potter?'

'Well', Hermione began, 'Harry's still in bed, he must be very tired…'

McGonagall opened her mouth to speak, but Hermione pressed on.

'…we were just wondering if we could apparate from the castle at the moment? After all, the other protective enchantments are gone aren't they?'

'Oh, well I guess you will be able to then, the enchantments are indeed momentarily down. Are you planning on going home then Miss Granger?'

Ron intervened, 'We just wanted to know professor, if we could apparate out of here and see my parents?'

'But of course Mr. Weasley, are you all going?'

'Yes,' Ginny interjected, 'but we will be back later, probably with my mother and father, I think they told you they would be back today?'

'Ah, indeed they did Miss Weasley. In that case, I shall let you get on, and see you in the near future, you're help will be much appreciated, as of course it was last night…'

McGonagall smiled and continued, '…and can you please tell Mr. Potter I would like to see him when he wakes? We have a few things I think we need to discuss.'

'Yes, of course professor,' agreed Hermione.

With that the trio, along with the invisible Harry, made there way back to the door.

'Goodbye professor, see you soon,' all three of them chorused simultaneously.

Once outside the office, Hermione and Ron apparated with a large pop, leaving Harry and Ginny alone for a second. Harry leaned towards her, and whispered, 'Take my hand, it's quite an unpleasant sensation, I'm sorry if you don't like it!'

'Nonsense, I will be with you,' she responded confidently.

Ginny blushed. Harry smiled, held her hand tightly and duly turned on the spot.

Pop! The next thing he knew he had landed outside the Burrow, with Ginny landing next to him. Ron and Hermione were hugging Arthur and Molly Weasley as they approached the front door.

Molly jumped, 'Ginny dear, we were worried you weren't coming!'

'Mum, I'm not eleven anymore, I can look after myself,' she retorted.

'I know Ginny, but I still worry…oh hello Harry dear, how are you feeling?'

'Fine thank you Mrs. Weasley,' he said, trying to remain positive.

She looked like she hadn't slept at all, and neither did Arthur. The loss of Fred must have hit them hard thought Harry. Despite what she had been through in the last twenty four hours, Molly managed to muster a smile. She walked over to Harry and gave him a hug, whilst summoning them all inside the house.

Once inside the living room, she swished her wand twice, firstly for a plate of shortbread biscuits to be placed on the table, and secondly for a chilled pitcher of pumpkin juice and glasses to appear. Bill, Fleur, Percy, George and Charlie were all there. Bill had an arm round his wife, who was crying but smiling at the same time, giving off the aura of beauty she always exuded. Percy and Charlie were talking amongst themselves, and George, his head bowed, was looking at the ground, moving his feet from side to side shiftily. Mrs. Weasley was the first to break the silence.

'Thank you for all you have done for us Harry, most of my family owes their life to you, as I guess a lot of families do.'

Harry turned around and walked towards the window, thoroughly embarrassed at this comment that he thought to be untrue. He considered Fred for a moment, but did not know whether to mention the subject. The room was silent again; nobody quite knew what to say. Everyone must have been thinking the same thing though, because as soon as he'd reached the window, Mrs. Weasley spoke again.

'Harry dear, there was nothing you could have done for them, you did all you could!'

'I am so sorry Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. I wish I could have saved him and the others,' he apologized.

'We can't expect you to be there all the time Harry; you've done more than enough for this fam…'

Arthur cut her off.

'Fred would not have wanted us…' he looked slowly around the room, '…any of us to be grieving like this. He was always happy and we should be happy in remembering him.'

Whilst Arthur was talking, Molly sat down. Arthur sat down immediately after saying this, and hugged his wife. Ginny ran over to her parents and hugged her mother. Molly tried to conceal her tears, wiping her face.

'Molly, I'm sure you will feel better if you see our son. We need to sort out a funeral, I know it's hard, knowing that we will never hear his voice again, never hear those jokes, the laughter…' Mr. Weasley's voice trailed off, as he bit his lip.

Hermione, who had been silent the whole time, was clearly overwhelmed and buried her head in Ron's shoulder. Ron, who had tears trickling down his face, put his arms round her, trying to help her cope. Ginny wandered over to where Harry was, still by the window. Her expression was soft and caring, even though her radiant brown eyes glistened with the tears coming from them. Harry, trying to hold back tears of his own, was stunned by how beautiful she looked at this very moment.

'I can't believe I'm never going to see or hear him again,' she whispered.

Harry wiped her face clear of tears with his thumb.

'I'm so sorry Ginny; I'm going to miss him badly as well.'

Harry pushed her long red hair from her face and went to put his arms round her but ended up stopping himself by scratching his face. He wanted so badly to touch and kiss her, but did not know whether Ginny would want her parents to know just yet and whether her brothers would approve after what happened last time. After all, Ron was still angry with him. Ginny just looked deeply into his eyes, hoping he would understand. Harry thought he heard her speak to him, but passed it off as his imagination.

'I'm here for you, whatever happens,' he promised.

'Thank you, but you shouldn't be sorry, you have nothing to be sorry about, and none of this is your fault!'

Ginny's expression changed to a hard blazing look, it was though she was looking directly into his soul, just as she had done in the Gryffindor common room before they had shared their first kiss. Harry looked back, and even though he wanted to argue, he knew it would not do him or anyone else any good to do so at this moment in time.

The rest of the room had been silent while Ginny and Harry spoke, and suddenly all eyes were on their exchange of words. Harry didn't like this at all, so sat down and took a biscuit, pouring out a glass of pumpkin juice for himself in the process. Ginny followed suit and sat down next to him. Not much was said, but Fleur kept giving Harry and Ginny a happy smile. This wasn't good as far as Harry was concerned. In fact, the silence had meant that all of Ginny's brothers were looking puzzled, wondering why Fleur was smiling at the pair of them. George, for a split second, had seemed to forget about his own anguish. Ron was glaring at Harry. Harry hadn't noticed, and he put his hand on Ginny's leg giving it a gentle squeeze. She tried her hardest not to look at him and instead placed her hand on his thigh.

Molly Weasley suddenly jumped up from where she was sitting, and rushed off up the stairs. Arthur sighed loudly and followed her.

'I've never seen her so distressed,' groaned Charlie.

His mother's actions had pulled George back to his state of grieving.

'She…we've n...n...never experienced…dea...this before,' he sobbed.

Bill and Percy, who were sitting either side of him, each put an arm round him. George bowed his head forwards. Ron took his murderous glare from Harry, turned on his heel and ran off up the stairs. Hermione followed, and there was a loud slamming noise from the bedroom above. Hermione returned disgruntled a few seconds later with tears in her eyes.

'Hermione, are you OK?' asked Ginny as she got up to hug her.

Hermione responded through tears, 'I'll be fine, don't worry.'

'Come on, we'll go to the study so we can have a chat'

Hermione just nodded and took Ginny's hand, following her to the study. Once Ginny and Hermione were out of the room, Fleur spoke.

'Arry, let us leave zee brozers for a few moments, I weesh to 'ave a word wis you.'

Looking slightly puzzled, Harry followed Fleur outside, and looked up the long and winding gravel pathway that led into the village of Ottery St. Catchpole. Fleur led Harry to the willow tree about fifty yards up the pathway.

'Arry, before you deny it, I can see eet in your eyes, and I think eets wonderful, take good care of her Arry, I see it in her eyes too!'

'I'm sorry Fleur,' he quizzed, '…what exactly do you see?'

'Arry you know what I see, do not worry, I weel not mention eet, but I do know zat you are falling for Ginny, and I think zat she is falling for you, if she 'as not fallen for you already.'

Harry's expression changed from a look of fake confusion to a shy smile.

'I thought you knew, thank you for not saying anything, I'm not sure that the family are ready for the shock of it yet, and I don't know whether Ron has forgiven me for ending it the first time,' he conceded.

'Arry, he weel come round, just show him and his brozers ow much you care, she is going to need you, as much as you are going to need her.'

Harry didn't look too pleased by her comment, but knew she was right.

'Don't worry, I don't plan on going anywhere, I will show them,' he responded defiantly.

'Well, I theenk I 'ave said all I need to say, you go and find her, I'll bet she misses you already.'

'Thanks Fleur, I will do that right away.'

Harry walked towards the door with a grin on his face. He looked over his shoulder and smiled at Fleur; she smiled back, looking more beautiful than ever.

Ginny and Hermione were sitting in the study, when there was a knock on the door.

'Can I come in,' asked Harry.

'Yes, of course,' called Hermione.

'Where is everyone? Bill, Charlie, Percy, and George have left the table.'

'They went upstairs, I heard them saying they were going to see how Mrs. Weasley was,' replied Hermione.

As Harry looked into the room he could see that Ginny was sitting at the small wooden desk with her head in her hands.

'Ginny, are you alright?' he gasped.

He walked over to her and put his arms round her neck, kissing the top of her head in the process.

'I'd better go find Ron,' Hermione said understandingly as she left the room.

Neither Harry nor Ginny heard her; Ginny had turned around towards him and looked sheepishly into his eyes, placing her hands in his.

'Harry I'm so glad you're here!'

'Ginny, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.'

She moved her lips up to his and kissed him slowly. Harry adjusted his hands; one stroked her neck and the other ran through her hair. Ginny moved her hands up and down his back. The kiss turned into a passionate snog. It seemed to last years to Harry. The moment was indescribably perfect, just like on his 17th birthday, only this time it wasn't interrupted.

When they eventually pulled away, they just gazed into each other's eyes. Ginny felt now was a better time to quiz Harry about why he did not come to say goodbye before going to find Voldemort in the forest. She was still angry with him and could feel the rage building inside herself, but after hearing what she had heard earlier that day in the common room, she felt he had been through enough without her shouting at him.

Quietly she asked, 'Harry, before you went into the forest to die, why didn't you come and find me? I would never have seen you again.'

'Ginny, if I had come to say goodbye, I wouldn't have been able to leave. I wouldn't have been able to see you hurt. I didn't think I was coming back, I thought it was the end, and I wanted you to be able to live your life.'

'Harry, I felt you near me. I was comforting that girl when you walked past. I sensed you, and you didn't say anything.'

'I wanted to Gin, I really did. But I couldn't, you know I couldn't. There is no way I could have spoken to you and then willingly gone to die.'

Ginny, started to cry, Harry pulled her close to him. She rested her head on his chest and put her arms round him, squeezing him tightly.

'I would never have seen you again Harry,' she repeated, 'that would have killed me! I guess I understand why you didn't say goodbye, but…'

'But nothing Ginny…' Harry's voice rose, then fell almost instantly, '…you and I both know that I would not have been able to leave you, I wouldn't want you to get hurt, and you wouldn't want me to get hurt either. I would have either stayed with you, or you would have insisted on coming with me to die.'

Ginny was silent, she did not know what to say. Harry continued.

'Gin, I wanted to say goodbye so badly, I wanted to hug you and kiss you and never leave your side. But if I had not done what I did, who knows what might have happened; Voldemort may still be alive!'

'I know Harry, and I forgive you and understand, but it still hurts that you didn't say goodbye! I was broken when I saw Hagrid holding your body, I screamed your name, I was so scared I'd lost you forever...'

'But you haven't Gin, can we drop this please, I am here with you now, and I never want to leave you, never say goodbye, ever again!'

'OK, I am glad you're here, but I'm still angry with you for not telling me. I have heard a lot about what has happened to you, and I think if the rest is that bad, I couldn't hear much more of it, so a little at a time please. And of course I forgive you for what you have done. I just can't believe all that has happened to you. Just promise me you won't ever leave me!'

'I promise Gin.'

She smiled blissfully, as Harry looked deep into her eyes.

After a few moments Harry spoke again.

'You know while we were apart last year, when I was sleeping rough in the tent, I couldn't help but think of you, the thought of you kept me sane. I stared at your name on the marauders map for hours when I couldn't sleep, hoping you could feel me looking at you, I was even talking to you in my head sometimes.'

Ginny simply stared at him looking confused.

'What's the marauders map Harry?' she quizzed

'Oh, of course I've never shown you. Well, it's an enchanted map of Hogwarts that shows you where everyone is in the castle with their name above them. You were always in bed when I looked at it.'

Ginny giggled, 'Harry, that's so sweet, and you know, some nights I could feel this strange warmth, and while I felt it all I could think about was you!'

Ginny's eyes grew wider as she spoke; the realization of what Harry had said had just hit her. She continued excitedly.

'Harry, I swear I could hear your voice some nights, I thought you were in Hogwarts, in my room, but whenever I looked for you I couldn't see you…' her jaw dropped, '…I thought I was imagining things, but what if I could actually hear you?!'

'Gin, I could feel warmth whenever I looked at the map just like you could,' answered Harry in shock. 'I couldn't hear voices though,' he added quickly.

'I never said anything Harry, not even in my head, I just thought about you.'

'Merlin Gin, what if we can communicate like that. I think we should ask someone about this, especially if you think you could hear what I was saying to you in my head!'

Harry suddenly thought of the perfect person to ask and smiled.

'Dumbledore's portrait maybe?'

'Yeah, we can ask it when we go to Hogwarts to help McGonagall!' she agreed.

Both of them gazed at each other in disbelief and held each other's hands tightly. Harry then plucked up the courage to say something he had never said or even contemplated saying to anyone before.

'Gin, I don't quite know how to say this, I've never had anyone to say it to before but…'

She looked surprised and cut in.

'What is it Harry, you can tell me anything you know?'

'Gin, I've fallen head over heels in love with you. Ever since the summer after the ministry battle, not a single day has gone by when I didn't think about you.'

Ginny just stared at him before breaking into a huge smile.

'Harry, I love you too, from the moment I saw you years ago I think I knew it!' she cried.

Before they realised, they were locked in a lingering kiss and soon their hands were all over each other. Harry was in a state of bliss, someone loved him; he had waited almost eighteen years for someone to say those words to his face. As his mind was wandering in dreamland, Ginny broke their kiss.

'Harry, don't we need to go and see how everyone is, we need to get back to school f...for Fred…' her words trailed off as she started to sob.

Harry just held her head to his chest, playing with her hair in a soothing motion. A few minutes passed and neither of them had moved when Hermione knocked on the door.

'Harry, Ginny I think were going to go back to the school tomorrow morning rather than this evening, everyone is far too drained. Ginny, your mum is cooking; she said she'd like your help. Oh, and Harry, can I have a word please?'

Ginny wiped her face, and went to the kitchen to help her mother with dinner without saying another word. Harry and Hermione went back to the living room and sat down on one of the sofas. He had a sure feeling about what Hermione was going to say.

'Harry, I just wanted to warn you that Ron still doesn't approve of you and Ginny after what happened last year, but he doesn't want to make her life harder than it already is as she's just lost a brother,' she grimaced. 'So he's trying not to say anything right now.'

Harry frowned, and then replied, 'Hermione, I can understand how he feels but there is no way anything is going to get in the way of our relationship, surely you know that. Last year I didn't want to see her get hurt at the hands of Voldemort because of me, but now there is no reason why we can't be together! If Ron has a problem with that then so be it, but he should talk to me about it rather than glaring at me all of the time.'

'Of course I know how you feel about each other, I could see it in our sixth year, and I know you looked at the marauders map while we were searching for horcruxes, simply staring at her name. Please just show Ron how much you care for her and he will come round, I promise.'

She smiled hopefully at Harry and they continued to chat about what had happened this past year, and what may lie ahead for them.

Ginny was with her mum in the kitchen, but she couldn't help but look over towards where Harry was sitting in the living room every now and then.

Molly noticed this and promptly asked, 'Ginny dear, is there anything you want to tell me about why you wished to stay at the castle last night?'

'Mum, I wanted to stay because Harry needed his friends around him,' she lied.

'But Ginny dear, I know there is more to it, I see the way you look at him, it is not a look between friends, you can tell your own mother!'

Knowing she couldn't hide it any longer she conceded, 'I know mum, but I didn't want to worry anyone or put more weight on anyone's shoulders. You've all got enough to think about at the moment.'

'So young lady, is that an admission that you two are more than friends?' smiled Molly, a knowing look in her eyes.

Ginny sighed, 'Yes mum, I guess it is; we are together again.'

'What do you mean again?'

'Harry and I were together at the end of my fifth year in Hogwarts, before Dumbledore's death, after which he ended our relationship because he did not want Voldemort to hurt me to get to him. But I'm in love with him and he told me he loves me too, I don't want to be apart from him again like I was for the last year, I need him just as much as he needs me.'

Ginny looked nervously towards her mother, but Molly was beaming back at her.

'Oh Ginny, this is wonderful news, I don't know how your brothers will take it, they are very protective, but I'm sure they will come round, even if they don't approve of it straight away!'

Molly hugged her daughter tightly with a huge grin on her face; she looked happy for the first time since Fred's death.

'Ginny, you said he told you he loves you?' she whispered.

'Yes mum, he did, and I know he means every word of it.'

Molly paused for a moment and thought to herself. The meaning of this was huge in her opinion.

'Ginny, how many times have people said they love you? How many times in your life have you said you loved someone else?'

'Loads mum, hundreds, thousands maybe.'

'Exactly dear,' looking Ginny in the eye to make sure she fully understood, 'Harry must really love you Ginny, you do realize that he probably has never had anyone to say that to before, and I don't expect he's had anyone say it to him either. Remember he has no family… well, except maybe us. You should be flattered Ginny, he had no parents to tell him, no siblings, no one.'

Ginny thought about her mother's words for a minute, letting their significance sink in.

'Mum, I never thought about it like that, but I guess now I realize that I must be very special to him, just as he is very special to me, and I'm never going to let go of him ever again! I will make sure to tell him whenever I can.'

Ginny looked at her mum, who smiled back.

'Thanks mum, I will talk to Harry about it later, I hope he realizes what he's getting himself into though,' she said grinning.

'Oh, there's one more thing Ginny, we wanted to offer Harry a place to live, here at the Burrow with us. But in light of what we have just discussed, I think it more likely he will say yes if you ask him, we all know how stubborn he is.'

'I will ask him mum, but I haven't had a chance to talk to him about what he wants to do yet,' she agreed.

'OK dear, well just make sure to mention it to him. And also, as I have already said, I'm not sure how your brothers will take the news that you and Harry are together, so just be careful how you break it. Maybe today is not the best time to tell them, but it is up to you, you're old enough to make that sort of decision yourself.'

She nodded and smiled at these words.

'OK mum.'

The two of them worked happily after this was said, preparing dinner. Molly's mind had been put to rest for now, due to the fact she was busy fussing over the others. Everyone else had come down the stairs to join Harry and Hermione in the living room. They all seemed to be content to just sit and fully contemplate what had happened in the last couple of days. No-one had had time to do this yet and everybody seemed grateful for the opportunity.

Half an hour later, Ginny came through into the living room and everyone looked up intently.

'Dinner's ready people, everyone sit round the table please.'

Everyone obeyed, leaving their seats and walking towards the dining table. Harry smiled at Ginny and she walked over towards him. She whispered softly in his ear.

'Harry, mum knows about us, and I'm guessing that dad must do if she does.'

'Do you think it is time to tell your brothers?' he whispered back smiling slightly.

Ginny pondered over what her mum had said to her earlier, they would have to tell her brothers sometime she thought. She and Harry couldn't go on pretending they were not together, it just wouldn't work. On the spur of the moment, she grabbed Harry's hand and entwined her fingers in his, pulling him towards her so that they were staring into each others eyes once more. Before Harry knew what was happening, she had thrown her arms around his neck, before planting a kiss on his lips to which he quickly responded. The kiss did not last very long, but it certainly had the effect Ginny desired. All of her brothers had noticed, and there was whistling and cheering from all of them. All of them except Ron. He simply scowled at them again, as Hermione slapped his wrist before he turned away.

'Well I guess that means you thought it was time to tell them then Gin?' chuckled Harry.

Ginny winked at him, 'Yeah, they would have found out sooner or later.'

'What's all the racket in here?' said Molly as she came bustling through the archway with food, plates and cutlery hovering in front of her.

She stopped dead and looked around the room, which was now silent. Every Weasley was in the room along with Hermione and Harry. They all must have thought that Molly did not know about Harry and Ginny, for none of them dared speak. Molly looked over at Harry and Ginny noticing in the process that they were holding hands. She grinned at them.

'Oh I see, you decided to tell them today then?'

All the Weasley brothers were looking at their mother, relieved that it was not one of them who had to tell her that Ginny was with Harry.

'Yes mum, well I didn't really say much,' she giggled.

Grinning, Molly replied, 'Well, now everything's out in the open, why don't we eat?'

No one needed a second invitation; it had been a hard day, and a very tiring night previously. Ron would not look at Harry during the meal. Everyone else was talking happily, trying to take their minds off of what had happened to their beloved Fred. There were congratulations for Harry from the rest of Ginny's brothers and Hermione. He was glad that the rest of them seemed to approve. He tried to get Ron's attention once, but decided better of it; he knew Ron still hated the thought of his best friend's relationship with his sister.

Ginny had seen Harry trying to catch Ron's eye and put her hand on his thigh in a caring manner to let him know she was there for him. He returned the gesture, before getting up from the table early, proclaiming he needed rest. This was probably true, but not the real reason he left. He kissed Ginny on the cheek, and said goodnight to everyone before heading up to bed.

Harry lay down on the bed; his mind was swimming with thoughts of how the rest of his life might live out, how he would to marry Ginny and have kids together, how Ron might hate him forever… his mind eventually gave in and he was fast asleep.

A couple of hours later, Harry awoke to find Hermione kissing Ron goodnight. This was his chance; Harry had to say something while he could.

'Ron, I know you don't approve of me and Ginny, but she makes me happy and I make her happy, and after all that's happened that's all I want right now…'

Ron just shot him another thunderous glare, and climbed into bed. Harry wasn't giving up just yet and continued.

'…Ron, I know that when we split up before, I hurt her, but it hurt me just as much to do it too! I wanted to be with her more than anything, but I did not want to risk putting her in danger with Voldemort at large. As it turned out, she was in danger anyway, but I couldn't have left knowing I had put the woman I love in that position, her life in the balance every day because of me. Ginny and I have talked for hours about it and we've sorted it.'

At last, Ron decided to respond.

Coldly, he replied, 'I don't want to see you hurt her again, it hurt her badly.'

'Ron I didn't even expect to be here with Voldemort gone, I thought I would be dead, and well, I was very nearly correct. So it was the lesser of two evils to finish with her, better that than be with her and have us both die. But I do love her Ron, and I'm never going to let her go again if I can help it, no matter what you might think.'

Ron frowned and said, 'You're going to have to prove that to me, you've always been my best mate, but you do anything to hurt my sister and that will change.'

Harry smiled; he seemed to be getting somewhere at last.

'Don't worry mate, I don't need to do anything special to prove it, I know I love her, and you will see that everyday too. Just don't hex me in my sleep! Goodnight Ron.'

'I'm not done with you Harry, you've gotta prove this to me...'

Ron rolled over so he had his back to Harry. Harry sighed, changed into his pyjamas and got into bed. Before he knew it, he was asleep again. His sleep however was not kind to him. Harry tossed and turned in his bed, kicking and punching the air, whilst screaming his friend's names. This was a horrible nightmare.

Harry was in the graveyard he had been taken to at the end of his fourth year at Hogwarts, but instead of just being there with Cedric, everyone from the Burrow was there, held captive, all being tortured by Voldemort and his death eaters. Every single Weasley, along with Fleur and Hermione, were all crippled in pain. Voldemort was taunting him and laughing cruelly.

'…so Potter, I will let you choose one, and only one. Which one of your blood traitor family will you save!?'

'NO, PLEASE. LEAVE THEM ALONE, TAKE ME! NOOOOOOOO!' begged Harry.

Voldemort just cackled evilly with that horrible piercing laughter once more, the noise reverberating around the graveyard...

…Harry was screaming in his sleep and Ron had been unable to wake him. He tried desperately to hold him down on the bed, but could not do so on his own. Soon though, the whole family had been awoken. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were first to arrive, followed by George, Percy, Charlie and lastly Ginny and Hermione. George and Percy took one leg each and tried to hold Harry still, but they were just kicked off of him; he was moving about with ferocious power. Ginny was in tears, Hermione was holding her back from going to his side.

'Hermione let me go, he needs me, I can't bear to see him like this, I've got to help him,' she cried.

'Ginny you can't, you could get hurt…' Ginny cut Hermione off and screamed.

'I don't care; I'm not just going to stand here when the man I love is in pain!'

Every face in the room stared at her when she said this, but Ginny was beyond caring and she broke away from Hermione, moving to Harry as quickly as she could. She was kneeling next to him as she reached out and put a hand on his face. For a split second the kicks, punches and screaming stopped, but resumed shortly afterwards. Ginny took his hand in hers; again there was a pause in the physical violence he was displaying and again it started just a few seconds later. This time Harry hit Ginny. She fell backwards, but did not let go of his hand. The whole family was watching, too scared to go near him. Ginny put her hand on his cheek and as soon as he stopped moving she climbed onto the bed next to him, hugging the whole of his body tightly. This seemed to make the punching and kicking subside totally. Every Weasley suddenly rushed back around Harry; Ron and George held his arms, Percy and Charlie his legs. Mrs. Weasley buried her face into Arthur's shoulder; she couldn't bear to see him like this.

'Harry, Harry its OK, it was just a dream…Harry?' As Ginny spoke to him, there was deep anguish in her voice; she spoke with such desire, a desire for him to be all right.

Harry stirred and his eyes opened slowly. The Weasley brothers moved from the bed and stood in silence. Harry was shaking badly, his face a livid white, sweat pouring from his brow. Ginny pulled his arms around her and he held on tightly.

'Harry, oh Harry,' she whispered very quietly.

An element of fear was apparent in Harry's voice when he spoke.

'Your all OK, thank Merlin, I thought I was going to lose you Gin, lose all of you, he was there, in the graveyard from my fourth year, and so were all of you…'

His words seemed to pour out, making no sense at all, so Ginny moved her finger slowly to his lips and tried to calm him.

'Harry its OK honest, it was just a dream,' Ginny responded in a very shaky voice; she knew what his dreams had meant in the last few years of his life. 'Voldemort is dead, you have no need to fear dreams anymore.'

'I know, but it seemed so real, like the one's I have had all my life, how did you make it stop?'

Harry was still quivering badly, as Mrs. Weasley intervened.

'It appeared that whenever Ginny touched you, you stopped being violent, but it wasn't until she hugged you that you stopped entirely. We were all too scared to go near you, but not Ginny, I could see it in her face, she was scared for you and kept trying, even after you threw her off…'

Harry looked up and was about to apologize but saw the looks on everyone's faces.

'…we don't blame you Harry, it was a dream, no-one else could stop you, all the boys tried, but only Ginny could do it. For her to put herself in harms way to relinquish you of pain, Merlin, that takes a very strong bond with someone. Love is a very strong bond.'

Everyone in the room looked shocked at how Molly had worded this, especially Ron. But Harry and Ginny were not so; they both knew they loved each other and after what Dumbledore had told him about the power of love, Harry knew that it was the reason for Ginny being able to stop his nightmare. Harry leant forwards, smiling for the first time since the nightmare and kissed Ginny on the cheek. Ginny looked at her mother.

'Mum, I'm not leaving him alone tonight; I can't let him go through this again!' she said defiantly.

'Well, seeing as we don't have any dreamless sleep potion, I think I can allow it until we get some. Now, let us all get some rest, it's going to be a long day tomorrow, and Harry dear, don't worry about that dream of yours, we're all here for you.'

Through the whole exchange Ron had remained speechless. Harry looked over at him; Ron smiled weakly back and spoke.

'Harry, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for the way I reacted to the news of you and Ginny, I can see she loves you from the way she acted tonight and I think even a fool could see you love her from the way you have been today. I was just too stubborn to believe it, after all she is my baby sister.'

Harry sat up, looking delighted.

'Thanks mate, that means the world to me!'

Smiles radiated all around the room.

'Well now that that's sorted, let's get some rest,' sighed Mr. Weasley.

With that, the family left the room and went back to their respective rooms, whilst Ginny stayed behind with Harry. Ron looked up in bed a grinned at them.

'Night Harry, Ginny, sleep well, and no funny business.'

'Night Ron, there won't be, I promise,' he chuckled.

Harry then cast a silencing charm around his bed in case the nightmares came back. He whispered to Ginny in the darkness.

'You know Gin, I could have passed over when I was at King's Cross with Dumbledore, I could have died, but I chose to come back for you and only you, you were the only thing that made me come back, I couldn't hurt you, I couldn't leave you...'

'Harry...' Ginny said with a ghostly look on her face. That was quite something to live up to, he had come back to be with her. Harry smiled at her and put a finger to her lips, suggesting for her to keep listening.

'…I was willing to die to kill him, to finish him once and for all, so he couldn't cause any more pain to anyone. The thought of passing over crossed my mind, but I couldn't give up. Then I thought of you, and I knew that, because of you, I had to live.'

He kissed her on the lips; the kiss was a long loving kiss and when it broke Ginny whispered in his ear.

'Harry, I was so scared for you, I hate seeing you in pain, I can't lose you.'

'Gin, as long as you're here with me that pain will be nothing compared to the happiness you give me…' He pulled her close, feeling her warmth on his body and kissed her softly, '…I love you Ginevra Molly Weasley.'

'I love you too Harry James Potter, good night.'

Ginny rolled over so her back was to him and Harry reached around her holding on tightly.

'Good night Gin.'

Almost immediately they both fell asleep. Harry felt so secure with Ginny next to him that the nightmares thankfully didn't return.

The morning arrived and Ron was up already when Harry awoke. He lay still in his bed. Ginny had already got up and gone to her room to change; Harry had felt her kiss his forehead as he was waking up.

'Morning mate,' called Ron.

'Morning Ron.'

'How you feeling?'

'I've been better,' laughed Harry.

Ron grinned at him, then said, 'Come on then, get dressed, or we'll miss breakfast.'

Both Harry and Ron got dressed before heading downstairs for food. Arthur and Molly Weasley were sitting on the sofa in the living room. All of the Weasleys were in attendance.

'Morning Harry, morning Ron,' was echoed all over the room as everyone greeted the pair.

Harry replied, 'Good morning,' whilst smiling around the room and wandering over to Ginny.

Ron did exactly the same before heading towards Hermione.

'Right, I think its time we got going, Hogwarts needs our help' said Mr. Weasley as he stood up, taking Mrs. Weasley's hand and helping her up as he did so. 'We can all apparate with the exception of Ginny, so Ginny, you go side-along with Harry. We must hurry, we can't afford to waste anymore time.'

'What about breakfast?' asked Ron gloomily, his stomach rumbling simultaneously.

His mother shot him a glare he didn't like one bit, so he turned his attention back towards Hermione.

With several pops, Arthur, Molly, Bill, George, Charlie and Percy were gone in a flash. Hermione and Ron followed, leaving Ginny and Harry on their own briefly.

'How are you feeling, are you OK this morning?' she asked. 'Only, you still look very tired.'

'I'm OK thanks Gin, I'm tired but I'm with you, so I'll survive.'

He winked at her as Ginny smiled back and planted a kiss on his lips.

'Harry have you thought about what you want to do now that it's all over, I mean will you go back to school? You don't have to answer that right now, I just wondered if you'd given it any thought.' She looked happily at him. 'I think whatever you've decided though, my mum and dad were going to offer you a place to live, here with us, at least that's what mum said to me yesterday.'

'I am not entirely sure what I want to do now, I haven't given it much thought, and that's very thoughtful of your parents, but I don't want to get in the way.'

'Mum would want you here though, I know it. And now that George has left, and, well, Fred won't be coming back either, I think she'd like more heads under our roof…'

Ginny started to choke on salty tears as she was saying this; Harry had never known Ginny so tearful, she was always happy and bubbly. He didn't know what to say, so he grabbed her hand and looked deep into her eyes. She gazed longingly back into his as he kissed her on the lips, letting it linger for a few seconds.

'Gin, I'm here for you, whatever you need I'm here, OK?'

Ginny merely nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes.

'We had better get going then, before they think I've apparated to the arctic or something,' he chuckled.

Ginny smiled back and took his arm as Harry twirled on the spot and they took off with a loud pop towards Hogwarts.