Chapter Six

Life Moves On

One and a half years had past since they all heard the content of Dumbledore's will. The world was now a happier place. All of the Death Eaters had been caught and sent to Azkaban for life. Arthur and Molly Weasley where in happier moods. Arthur had gotten another promotion and was now the Minister of Magic. Bill and Fleur where now expecting twins. Bill's job at Gringott's was working out great, as he had been promoted. Charlie is planning to get married to a lovely woman named Samantha Peterson. They where opening their own Dragon Farm, in southern Scotland. Percy still clams that he's not apart of the Weasley family and quite the Ministry of Magic and moved away from England with his wife Penelope Clearwater, and their one year old son Johnathan. Fred had married Angelina Johnson, and George had married Alicia Spinnet. The twin's joke shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, was working out to be the top joke shop in Europe. Ron was now working as an Auror in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He and Hermione where to be married with in a month. Hermione was now working as a Healer at St. Mongo's. Ginny had finished school and was taking a year off before she started her training as a Healer like Hermione.

Ginny was happy for her family. She was happy that they all had someone to share their happiness with. But for her, there was no one. She was still waiting for Harry. Over the past year and a half he had only come home twice. The first visit home was over Christmas. Everyone was happy to see him. Everyone was happy to see the sparkle in Ginny's eyes and his again. But that was short lived for after Ginny went back to Hogwarts. Harry went missing again. No one knew where he was, no one but Ginny. She did know where he was, and she knew what he was putting himself through. He wasn't training for anything. He wasn't even looking for something. All he was doing was reliving his worst memories in silence. The second visit was Ginny's graduation from Hogwarts. He had promised to go to it, and so he kept to his promise. But he still seemed to be detached from their world. Ginny wanted to help him. She may have known what he was up to, but she didn't know where he was, exactly. She sat on her bedroom window set, at the Burrow, watching the clouds move across the bright clear blue sky, and she sighed. Why won't he let me help him? She thought to herself. She had been out of school for a month now. She would be starting her training in a year and a half. But what she really needed now was Harry by her side. She remembered his last visit.

Flash back

She stood in the Gryffindor common room one last time before she left to go down to the ceremony, where all her friends and family where. She walked down the stairs and past pictures that helped her through the years she was at Hogwarts. This was hard for her. It was her graduation. But it wasn't as hard as it had been for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Harry had clamed Hogwarts his home. Ron said that it was like living with a bunch of sisters and brothers. Hermione had said it was the best years of her life, and she was happy that Harry and Ron where her best friends. They where known through out the school as the famous trio. They where going to be there. They had all promised to see her graduation. She knew Ron and Hermione where going to be there, but it was Harry she was worried about.

She reached the Entrance hall and found that all the seventh years' students of each house lined up in front of the Great Hall oak doors. She took her place at the front of the Gryffindor line. She looked to her left and saw Luna, from Ravenclaw, and to her right she saw her friend Sally from Hufflepuff. They smiled at each other as the oak doors opened at let them through. As Ginny walked into the great hall she saw her hole family, mines Percy. She saw Ron, who was sitting by Hermione on his left, and on Hermione's left sat Harry. She smiled when she saw him. He watched her walk up to the empty sets that sat at the front of the crowd. He had smiled back at her, with his heart breaking smile. She saw his eyes light up at the sight of her. His brilliant bright green eyes grew, if possible, even brighter and greener. Ginny was now in heaven knowing he was there. Even though she knew it would be short lived.

The ceremony lasted for two hours. With speeches from Professor McGonagall, the other teachers, and the Head Boy and Girl of Ginny's year. Then cam something like the sorting ceremony in their first year. Each and every name was called. They all had to put the Sorting Hat on and hear it's last few words of advise. Then came Ginny's turn. She stood from her set and walked up to the stole with the Sorting Hat on it. She sat down and put the hat on. "Ah, yes. Miss Ginevra Molly Weasley. The last Weasley to graduate from Hogwarts." The Sorting Hat began to say. "Your heart is still strong and whole. And you now know the meaning of 'True Love'. Carry that with you always Ginny. You may never know when you will need it again. I wish you luck with all you do." Then the red and gold on her robes disappeared into the black. The Gryffindor Lion moved to the center of her chest and vanished. She stood and walked over to the empty chairs that sat in front of the crowd. She smiled when she heard all the cherries and saw her family, Hermione, Harry, and her other school friends stand and cheered her on.

After the ceremony Ginny walked over to her family and friends. Every one hugged her and clapped her on the back. Saying awesome job and good luck next year. Then she turned to Harry. They hugged and kissed each other. Ginny was in a better mood than she had been in quite some time. But something in Harry's eyes told her that there was more for him to do by himself. Later that night, Harry and Ginny stood by the lake at Hogwarts in each other's arms. "Ginny. I'm going to have to be gone a little bit longer." Harry said with a great sigh. He didn't dear look at her straight in the eye. He knew she would find a way to try a keep him where he belonged.

"Harry, why do you do this? You know you need to be around the people you love and who love you." Ginny answered breaking away from him. She couldn't stand it any longer. She was happy that he kept his promises, but that wasn't enough for her anymore.

"Ginny, you know why I have to do it. You're the only person who knows what it is." Harry said looking at her in the eyes now. "You're the only one who fully understands why I'm hiding from the world."

"It's not enough Harry. You will always have nightmares. You will always have that pain in your heart and soul. You can't hid anymore. I need you, Ron and Hermione need you. We all need you to be with us." Ginny said in a cold kind of voice. She did know that he hid from the world because of the pain in his heart and in his soul. Pain that no one, not even she could take away from him, to let him rest easer. That pain he had was also the pain everyone they knew had. That pain that you have lost every thing, and yet had everything you have always needed. "You can't do this anymore. You can't Harry. You just can't. If you keep doing this to yourself, then where do I fit into it all?" This question had been coming up in her mind since the day they had heard Dumbledore's will. A question that could only be answered by Harry and no one else. She had to know. She had to know then and there.

"You fit in all of it Gin. You're the one thing that keeps me going." Harry said, getting frustrated with himself and Ginny. "You're the thing that keeps me sane. Without you. . . .I can't do this not now." then he was gone.

End of Flash Back

Ginny sat there looking out the window thinking of that last meeting. Harry hadn't finished his sentence that he wanted to say. He had just stood there looking at her. That's when it finial hit her. He was still afraid that he might loss her. That he might loss Ron and Hermione, or even anyone else he had come to love and care for. Ginny stood up. She knew where to find Harry. It had been so clear where he went to hid from the world. Why haven't I thought of it before? She asked herself, as she walked out of her room and walked down to the kitchen where she found her mother cooking up a storm, Ron and Hermione where in the living room sitting close together talking in whispers. Both had a smile on their faces. This made Ginny smile, but then she thought of Harry again. And knew what she had to do. She walked through the kitchen to the back door. "Hey mom. I'm going out for a while, ok!" Ginny said to her mother.

"Ok Ginny dear. Will you be home for dinner?" Mrs. Weasley asked turning to face her daughter.

"I'm not sure. I have something important to do." Ginny answered walking out the door. Two steppes from the door and she apparited to number twelve, Grimmauld Place. She stood in front of the big house. He hasn't changed it yet. No wonder he isn't sleeping well. Ginny thought to herself. She walked up to the front door, and knocked.

The door opened a few minutes later after she knocked five times. It was opened by Harry himself. He looked like he was just getting out of bed, but Ginny knew better than to think that. "Ginny!" He exclaimed. "What are you doing here? How did you know where to find me?"

Ginny didn't answer as she made her way into the old house. Harry just watched her, not believing his eyes at who had just come through his door. "I took a wild guess on where to find you." She said, as she closed the door behind her and lead him into the living room. She sat him down on the old sofa, and looked at him. He looked back. He knew she would do something like this. He knew he couldn't hid from her or anyone else. It was all of a matter of time before someone realized where he really was and not out traveling the world like he had done his first year away from them all. "I don't want to be the understanding girlfriend anymore Harry." Ginny said with a very Mrs. Weasley like stern voice. "I don't want to sit around wondering where you are and what your doing. I want to be with you. I want to be by your side, where I can help you through your nightmares and worries."

"Ginny no. I don't want you to get hurt. It's something I have to do by my self." Harry said. Shaking his head to what she was telling him.

"Then just try to get me out of this house." She said, ready to hex him if he even came close to putting her out of the house. "You know you need me more than you ever have before. So let me help you. That's what I'm here for. You don't have to do anything by yourself anymore. He's gone Harry. Live the life you've always wanted."

"Ginny. . . ." He couldn't finish his sentence. How could I throw her out? She's right. How is it that she's always right, like everyone else? Harry thought to himself. He couldn't take it anymore. He did need her. He did want her there by his side. With him tell the day he died. But with all that want came a price. A price to great to pay with his life or even with her life.

"Harry show me what's bothering you so much." Ginny said sitting in front of him. Her hands in his. She was watching his eyes. They where covered in worry and want.

"I can't Gin. I can't show you. It's to painful." Harry said, he had tears forming in his eyes. He tried to hid them but knew that he couldn't hid them from her. She felt everything he did. She knew more about him than he did himself. He knew she was strong, but he didn't want her nightmares to come true as well as his.

"Harry if you talk about it. You'll get over it much faster than you would if you hid from the world and the ones that love you." Ginny said in a calm, comforting voice. Something he had needed for the past year and a half. Ginny waved her wand and through the living room door came Dumbledore's old pensive. It landed on the coffee table in front of them. "Harry, you can show me, even if it brings my nightmares true as well. I'm here for you Harry, I always will be. I love you."

"I love you too Ginny." Harry said in a whisper where she could hear it.

"If you love me then you'll show me your nightmares!" she answered, giving him a couriering smile. Harry lifted his wand to his temple said a simple spell and pulled his wand away with a silver string attacked to his wand. He waved it over the pensive and the silver water type liquid started to shift.

"Gin are you sure you want to know my nightmares?" Harry asked looking up into the face of the woman he loved with all his heart. Ginny nodded her head and said;

"Harry, I can handle it. I want to help and this is the only way." She looked watched his face closely, mostly his eyes. They were filled with fear and worry that hadn't been there for some time. She put her arms around his neck and hugged him close. She hadn't done that in a long while. Harry put his arms around her middle and held her close to him. He didn't want to let her go. Not now, not ever. He knew this was the only way she could ever help him.

"I'm going to need you close if we're going to do this." He said in her ear, as he released her. Ginny nodded again in understanding and sat closer to Harry. Harry then pulled the pensive closer to them, he bent over the pensive and touched the surface and was absorbed into the memories. Ginny took a breath of air and prepared herself and followed suit.

Ginny opened her eyes. They where standing in a room that she had never been in before, it was a nursery by the looks of it. Harry was standing next to her looking at the door. She turned and saw what he was looking at. Standing in the middle of the room was a cot. Ginny looked down into the cot and saw a little boy with unruly jet black hair, and brilliant, bright green eyes. She was looking at a baby Harry. Then they heard a bang and Ginny jumped. She moved closer to the Harry that was standing by her, he put his arms around her, as in protecting her from what was coming. They listened to the battle that was ranging through the house, they listened to James Potter lose his life trying to protected his family that he loved so much. Then Lily Potter ran through the door. "James!" Lily screamed as she went to the baby Harry picking him up in her arms and turning around as the door was blasted open. There standing in the door way was the one thing that scared Ginny the most. Lord Voldemort stood looking straight at Lily.

"Stand aside!" his cold, curl voice sounded through out the room.

"Please have mercy." Lily cried.

"Stand aside you silly girl." Voldemort said again.

"Please not Harry, Take me instead." Lily cried even harder.

"STAND ASIDE!" Voldemort boomed. His red eyes going redder if it was possible.

"Please take me instead. Please not Harry. Not Harry please." Lily said as Voldemort said the killing course killing her on the spot. Ginny tightened her grip on Harry, as they watch Lily fall to the floor, her life gone from her body. Ginny looked up at Harry, he had silent tears falling from his green green eyes. And down his soft cheeks.

"We can skip the rest of this one." He said, and with a flick of his wand they where in a new memory.

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They where standing in a familiar place, a place that Ginny herself had visited many times in her dreams. "We can skip this one too. I don't want your nightmares to come back." Harry said ready to flick his wand again, but Ginny stopped him. Ginny looked around the Chamber of Secrets and shook her head.

"No, I need to know what happened while I was unconscious." she answered, her eyes now focused on her younger self lying prone on the ground in front of them. She felt a little exposed standing in the Chamber again, as she watched the twelve year old Harry run to her side to check for signs of life. She was prouder of Harry than she ever was before, as she watched him. His loyalty to Dumbledore never failing and his bravery in fighting the Basilisk. She watched as Harry was given a fatal bite from the fang of the snake, and then saw his quick thinking as he destroyed the diary. Harry drew his wand again and they where in yet another memory.

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They where standing in a dark tunnel. In front of them where Remus, Ron, and Wormtail limping along. Just behind them Ginny saw Sirius, a thirteen year old Harry, and Hermione. They where walking back from through the tunnel. Sirius was talking to Harry and Ginny saw his face light up as to what he was hearing. "This is one of my weird Nightmares. It's a very happy memory, but it always leads into this one. . . ." Harry said and Ginny found they where standing in the Department of Mysteries. Her heart stopped as she watched what she missed the night they went to save Sirius. She realized why it had taken Harry so long to get over Sirius' death. He had fallen through the veil so fast. . . .It really did seem he would come right back out. But they were then running from the room and were in the large lobby of the Ministry of Magic. Her heart broke in two as she watched Harry crumple in pain under the Cruciatus Curse, she watched him beg for death. . . .Then they both where back to five minutes before those events in the hall and she saw Neville, Ron, Luna, Hermione, and herself. Hermione fell, appearing to be dead. Ginny then realized the similarities between this moment and having seen Lily Potter lose her life and she fully understood the look on the fifteen year old Harry's face. He thought he had lost one of his best friends, thinking she was now dead and lost to them forever. . . .

Harry looked down at Ginny. "You knew a lot about most of these memories. I'm not sure why, but this may be harder for you. . . .It's my worst memory and nightmare. . . .I was even more helpless than I've ever been. . . ." Ginny reached out and took his hand in hers tightly. He smiled at her sadly and flicked his wand, his eyes closed.

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Ginny found them at the entrance to the Maze of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, and she tried to settle herself. She knew what Harry's worst nightmare was; she was going to see Cedric murdered. They followed Harry and Cedric into the maze, Ginny already had tears forming in her brown eyes as she remembered Cedric Diggory, then she was focused on the obstacles Harry faced in the maze. She watched as Harry found Cedric being attacked by Krum, as he approached the center of the maze, the spider, his warning to Cedric, she smiled at their nobility as they discussed who should take the cup. Then it happened. They were all in the grave yard. . . .The curl voice and jet of green light and Ginny watched as she saw the haunting face of Cedric's body. She saw the pain on Harry's face and gripped his hand tighter as he led her to where his younger self was now tied to Tom Riddles' father's gravestone.

"Ginny, Cover your eyes now or I will never forgive myself. I'm serious." She looked at him in surprise but seeing how serious he really was, turned her face into his shoulder, his arms around her now. Then they heard a blood curdling scream, and Ginny felt Harry flinch and tightened her grip on him as she knew what had just happened as Wormtail had chopped of his own hand. She felt sick now, and only looked up again once Voldemort had fully risen again and restored Wormtail's hand. She looked up and clapped both hands to her mouth as she watched Voldemort stand only feet from her and Harry, torturing the younger Harry. She heard his screams and closed her eyes.

She opened them again and watched them battle for control of their wands and saw the comfort Harry received from hearing his parents' voices, their advice and his escape, holding the cup, an hand tightly gripping Cedric's lifeless wrist. Ginny then expected Harry to show her Barty Crouch Jr.'s confession, yet she found herself in the hospital wing as Mr. And Mrs. Diggory entered and spoke to Harry. Her heart warmed as she watched that their conversation had effected him so much. She couldn't believe that he had not shared any of this with her or anyone before.

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"Two more. . . ." Harry said as he flicked his wand again. Two? What? Memories? Ginny thought to herself. She had expected just the final battle to remain. . . .She looked around. They where in the Chamber again. Harry, Ron, and Hermione racing to her body on the ground. Harry looking like he was going to die if she was dead. Then she saw Voldemort again. And saw how easily it was for him to take her from Ron and Hermione's arms and past Harry. She saw as he realized that he lost her. That she was taken from him, yet again. She saw his face go from worry to dread. Then for the first time in a long time she saw him scream her name and cry. She looked up at the Harry next to her. He had tears falling from his eyes again.

"You thought you had lost me forever, didn't you?" She asked pulling his face to look at her. She saw his fear rise in his eyes. She saw his worry, his grief, his longing that she would never leave him. She pulled him into another hug and he held her closer than he had ever done before. He didn't answer, but he didn't have to. He flicked his wand one last time and they where back at where it all started for Harry. She watched as he battled Voldemort one last time. She saw how Harry gained power five minutes before he finished Voldemort. Then she remembered what she had been doing. She was only living room as they battled. She had said she loved him. She looked at the Harry fighting Voldemort and saw that he muttered something after he shouted the spell that killed Voldemort. She turned and looked at Harry standing next to her. She saw his face as she turned. He pulled her into a hug and she found them sitting back on the sofa in the living room.

"Yes. I did think I had lost you forever." Harry said, standing up and walking to the fireplace, standing there watching the fire burn it's great flames.

"Harry what did you say after you yelled the last spell?" Ginny asked, not taking her eyes off Harry. "I know that I helped you by saying I loved you. But that was only half of your power that you gained that night."

"Yes, your right. You gave me the last of my strength that I needed to win. But your also right in saying that it was only half." Harry said, not turning around to face her. "I heard you loud and clear when you said those words Ginny. Like you where standing right next to me whispering them into my ear."

"What did you say after the final spell was cast?" Ginny asked, not giving up on trying to find what those words where. And she could only get them from Harry, and no one else.

"I said 'I loved you' back." Harry answered, in a voice just above a whisper. Ginny could tell he was trying hard not to cry again. Not in front of her. She stood up and walked over to him. She put her hands on his face and made him look at her.

"That's what I thought you said." She said, and kissed him full on the lips. Harry wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her into him closer. They felt complete, safe in each other's arms, warm, and comforted. Ginny pulled away and looked into his eyes. They had their sparkle back, they looked happy again, but for how long would he be that way. How long would it last this time? The same questions ran through Harry's mind as well and Ginny's. "Are you ok now? Will you stop hiding from those who love you?" Ginny asked looking up at him.

"I'll try. But I'm not promising anything." Harry answered, pulling her into another kiss. As they broke for more air Ginny said,

"Then come to dinner tonight. Everyone will be there. And I know mum is worried sick over you." She smiled as she saw his reaction.

"Fine. I'll come to dinner, but I'm not answering any more questions from anyone." Harry answered.

"That's fine with me. As long as we can keep doing this." Ginny said kissing him again.

"That's a promise I can make." Harry said smiling for the first time in a year in a half.