Author's Notes: Thank you, thank you to my wonderful beta, Arnel, who has stuck with me and this story and convinced me I needed to wrap it up. I hope you enjoy the last few parts, as Ginny finishes school.

Ginny didn't mention to Harry what she had witnessed in the Pensieve until he confessed to her everything he had kept to himself over the past year or so. She had been quite content to spend their first moments together merely kissing, but he pulled away from her before it could lead to anything more and rested his forehead against her.

"Ginny," he started. "I have a few things I should really tell you." He broke off, and she could sense his trepidation.

He began hesitantly, starting with the very last moments he had spent with Dumbledore before they had returned to Hogwarts and the headmaster's demise. She listened as he recounted the Horcrux hunt, much as Ron had, including his row with her brother that had led to Ron's abandonment, and how that affected him. He mentioned Godric's Hollow and seeing his parents' graves and his old house, and how Bathilda Bagshot had turned out to be Nagini in disguise and had attacked him.

He told her about his wand being broken in two, beyond repair and his despair over losing the one thing he thought would make a difference if he ever had to actually face Voldemort. He told her about the encounter with Luna's father and that he had turned them in and her heart turned to stone even though they had escaped and he was here now, alive and well.

When he mentioned being caught by Snatchers and taken to Malfoy Manor, the terror she had felt that evening when she and her parents had to escape to Great Aunt Muriel's house returned. Harry explained how he had managed to disarm Draco and escape with Dobby's help, only to have the poor house-elf die.

"Ginny," Harry said. "It hurt so much when Dobby died, and I can only imagine that feeling a thousand times worse if it had been you. I know you have every right to be angry with me for not wanting you to leave the Room of Requirement. You have to understand, I only wanted to keep you safe."

"I know, Harry," she answered. "But you can't keep me locked away to protect me. It's not fair."

He nodded. "I was wrong and I'm sorry. I saw you during the battle, and you were amazing. I never should have doubted you. It's just that, well, I'm not good with words, but you mean everything to me. I don't honestly know what I would do without you. I'm not quite sure how I managed so long as it is."

"Harry, don't you think I feel the same way about you?" Ginny asked, looking at him intently. "You are my world."

She leaned in to kiss him again, but he pulled away, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I have more to tell you, it's the hardest part. It might change how you feel about me."

She shook her head, reaching out and placing her hand on the side of his face gently. "Nothing you could tell me would change my love for you."

So, with extreme hesitancy he continued, telling her about finding Voldemort and Snape in the Shrieking Shack and that in his quest to gain control of the Elder Wand, Voldemort had Nagini kill Snape. It had been a horrific sight to behold and before their former Potions professor had died, Harry, Ron and Hermione had crept to his side, and it was then that Snape had given Harry his memories.

"He loved my mum," Harry said, swallowing. "I think from the first moment he ever saw her. Snape turned against Voldemort when he set his sights on my parents, and joined Dumbledore, but it was too late. You know that part of the story, except there was more. I told you about all the Horcruxes, except one. When Voldemort killed my defenceless mother he unknowingly split his soul one final time and that part, well it wound up in me."

"I know," Ginny admitted, tears shining in her eyes as she gazed at him.

Harry's brow furrowed in confusion. "You do?"

Ginny nodded. "When we couldn't find you, Hermione told me that you may have gone to Dumbledore's office to view Snape's memories. I went to his office looking for you, but you were already gone. I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have, but Phineas Nigellus told me you had been distraught and that I should see for myself."

"So, you already knew?" Harry asked, realization dawning.

"Yes," Ginny replied softly.

Relief flooded his face. "It's gone now. I saw it."

"Saw it?" Ginny asked, confused.

"The piece of soul. In the in-between," Harry answered. "I don't know what you would call it exactly – the place between here and whatever is on the other side."

"Wait," Ginny stumbled, thinking she had known everything all along, but apparently she had been mistaken. "You actually died? I thought you were only pretending to fool Voldemort."

Harry shook his head earnestly, sensing her growing distress. "Only for a brief while, I suppose? Honestly, Ginny I don't know. I had a long talk with Dumbledore and he tried to explain things, but it's becoming muddled in my head. He told me I could make a choice, move forward or go back."

"You came back," she whispered.

"I had too much to live for," he admitted. "My mum and dad, Sirius, Remus, and, Ginny, I'm sure Fred and Colin too, they'll all be there watching over us and waiting. I don't think time passes there like it does here. I was there talking with Dumbledore for quite some time, but when I came back hardly any time had passed."

"Oh," she gulped in air, pressing her hands to her chest, trying to process everything he was telling her. That he had died and chosen to return even after discovering that there was an after-life, and that their loved ones watched over them. Her mind was so full of questions she had no idea where to begin. "Are they happy?"

"Yes," Harry answered surely. "Even Remus. He was very much at peace."

It was then that she cried, thinking that if Remus could be happy after leaving behind his newborn son, then how could Fred possibly not be? He had appeared content even in death, like Luna had said, and knowing, that wherever he may be, he was watching over her gave her a small sense of peace.

Harry, who had come back to her alive and whole, pulled her towards him, wrapping his arms around her as she cried. This time, she felt like the tears were already healing the gaping holes in her heart, much like Fawkes' tears had healed Harry and she held on to him tightly until she cried herself out. The last thing she felt before sleep took her was Harry's soft kiss on the top of her head.

hghghghghghghgh ghghghghghghgh

When Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the Great Hall the following morning, the sound of conversations ceased almost immediately as word spread like wildfire that the four of them had appeared. Ginny spotted her family sitting at the Gryffindor table, and squeezing Harry's hand, led him down the aisle. Several people reached out to touch Harry, but no one tried to impede them in anyway, as had happened to him yesterday.

Half way to her family, her mother stood, followed by her father and approached them. Without saying a word, her mother reached one hand up to touch Harry's face and then hair before pulling him into an embrace, making Ginny's heart sing. Harry tentatively placed his arms around her mother, causing her mum to sob into his chest, murmuring nearly incoherent words of love and gratitude.

"We're so thankful you're alive, son," her father said softly, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.

After that simple statement, the rest of Ginny's family, including Ron and Hermione surrounded them.

Glancing down the table, Ginny saw Demelza sitting with Neville and Seamus, staring forlornly at a full plate of food in front of her. In all the confusion of the battle, Ginny had had no idea that Demelza had even remained behind. Knowing she was leaving Harry in good hands, Ginny moved down the table towards her friend. Noticing her approach, Demelza lifted her eyes from her plate and looked up a Ginny.

"Ginny," she started and stopped uncertain what to say.

"You stayed and fought?" Ginny asked stupidly.

"I…," Demelza began. "Oh, Ginny I am so sorry, for everything. I've been a horrible friend. Can you forgive me?"

Sinking onto the bench next to her friend, Ginny pulled Demelza into a tight hug. "There's nothing to forgive," she whispered.

Demelza clung to her like a life raft and wept on her shoulder.

The next few days were very much like her reunion with Demelza, crying, hugging, whispering 'I'm sorry' because no one could think of anything else to say. What was there to say really?

They took Fred's body home the day after the battle and prepared for his funeral. Laying him on his old bed, her father cast the Preserving Charm that would keep his body from decaying until he was interred, and her mother spent nearly every waking moment by his side, holding his hand. George never left the room except to attend to personal needs, and they had to bring him his meals, which he barely touched.

Fleur took over running the household and was constantly fluttering around the kitchen preparing food and trays of tea for all the visitors who came and went. Ginny marvelled that no matter how busy Fleur appeared to be, she always looked spectacular, even when she was crying.

Great Aunt Muriel made herself at home in the most comfortable chair in the sitting room, and camped out there, yelling out demands to anyone who passed by. Ginny made a point of avoiding the sitting room as much as possible, and only felt slightly guilty when Hermione was cornered by Muriel, forced to bring her a tray of tea and then explain exactly who she was and why she was there. Ginny would have rescued her, but thought it best if Hermione became acquainted with the eccentricities of Muriel.

The day of Fred's funeral dawned dark, cold and grey, and by the time they were ready to leave for the Weasley family plot, it was pouring. George refused to leave his room, and cried that he couldn't bury his brother on such a dismal day. Not even Ginny's mother and father had been able to convince him otherwise, and it wasn't until Angelina Johnson arrived and went upstairs to speak with him that George finally appeared.

Ginny gripped Harry's arm for dear life on the way to the plot, knowing she was more than likely leaving finger-shaped bruises, but he didn't complain. It had been much easier helping with all the preparations than attending the actual funeral. At least, while she was working in the kitchen, changing sheets on beds, or greeting guests her mind could be otherwise occupied, but there would be no avoiding the fact that today was the day they would bury her brother.

The Weasley family plot was located in an ancient cemetery near Ottery St. Catchpole that many Wizarding families used, including the Lovegoods. Luna's mother was buried there as well as Ginny's father's parents, Septimus and Cedrella Black Weasley. Fred's grave was several spaces down from their grandparents, and Ginny tried not to think that the two empty plots between were for her parents one day. Fred's stone marker was already in place and she forced herself to read it:

Frederick Gideon Weasley

April 1, 1978 – May 2, 1998

Mischief Managed

She stared blankly at the gravestone as Bill, Charlie, Percy, and Ron levitated Fred's coffin into the freshly dug hole. George sobbed, loud choking cries as the coffin settled gently to the ground, and tears streaked down Ginny's cheeks.

The officiator said a few words that were meaningless to her. When he was finished, all of the immediate family was asked to step forward, take a handful of dirt from the pile by the grave and toss it in. Harry squeezed her hand encouragingly before she left his side and joined her family. This was the part she was dreading the most, because this was the official good-bye.

She followed after her mother and father and took a small handful of the moist dirt, clenching it tightly in her fist. Her mother was sobbing as she threw her handful in and had to be supported by her father who, while able to be stoic for her mother, had silent tears running down his cheeks. Ginny pitched her dirt in, but bits of it clung to her hand, stuck in-between her fingers and she wiped her hand on her dress robes without thinking as she followed her parents around to the other side of the grave.

Her mother placed her arm around Ginny's shoulders, pulling her towards her, and Ginny gratefully hugged her, laying her head on her mother's shoulder. Looking across the way, Ginny saw that Harry held Hermione, who was crying openly onto his chest. His green eyes shimmered with unshed tears as he watched her remaining five brothers bid Fred good-bye.

When her brothers gathered around Ginny and her mother and father, the officiator levitated the remaining dirt into the hole, filling it up until it was mounded neatly all around. He then asked for anyone who wished to come forward and say a few words.

Percy stepped up and spoke of how he had learned so much from Fred without realizing it until the very end and that he planned to make every effort to lighten up and enjoy life more. Ron spoke of how Fred and George had tormented him incessantly, which was true, and that he had them to thank for how well he turned out.

"He was my brother, my partner, and my best friend," George mustered. "We did everything together. I'm not going t-to stand up here and lie, it's going to be b-bloody hard, but I'll do m-my best to make him proud I was his twin."

As George was finishing, Ron and Percy set off a box of Weasley Wildfire Whizbangs that filled the air with colourful spinning pinwheels, exploding stars, and a large Gryffindor lion that made itself at home on top of the mound of dirt over Fred's grave, kneading the ground beneath its paws before settling down to groom itself. Gasps rippled through those in attendance and there were even a few barks of startled laughter from others at the irreverent tribute. Surprisingly enough, George laughed the loudest of all, his face cracking into a wide smile and he sent a grateful look over to his brothers.

Everyone convened back at The Burrow where a large marquee and tables and chairs had been erected in the garden to accommodate all the friends and family. Fleur had prepared a luncheon that was already spread out on the tables, and most of the guests began helping themselves and finding places to sit.

None of the food looked appetizing to Ginny at the moment. What she wanted more than anything was to get away from everyone and all the sadness that hung in the air.

"Come for a walk with me?" Ginny whispered to Harry, taking his hand and linking her fingers through his.

He smiled softly down at her and followed her out of the tent into the warm afternoon sun. The storm clouds had quickly cleared, leaving the sky a bright blue and the wet grass a vivid green. Ginny leaned on Harry's arm as they walked, cherishing how real and solid he was.

Fred's funeral was only the beginning of the services they would have to attend. Remus' and Tonks' burials were tomorrow and a few days after that would be Colin's. They would all be difficult, but Ginny had a feeling that Colin's was going to be nearly as painful as Fred's had been. She tried not to think about it, deciding it was best to take one day at a time.

She was sure she would not be functioning nearly so well if she had had to deal with all the grief without Harry. Her friends' and family's love and support would have been comforting, but she was discovering that being able to share the loss of loved ones with your soul-mate made getting up in the morning infinitely easier. Since they had reunited, their relationship had quickly picked up where they had left off, and if anything, everything they had gone through had brought them closer together.

Having become lost in her thoughts, Ginny wasn't paying attention to where she was walking, and nearly trod on a rather large grass snake that was curled up on a rock, warming itself in the sun. Ginny involuntarily shrieked, freezing in her tracks, and causing Harry to stumble next to her.

She stood rigid, staring at the snake, and only moved when Harry pushed her behind him so he could see what the trouble was.

"Ginny," he said. "It's just a grass snake. It won't hurt you."

"I – I know, it's just," she began, mortified that her phobia still plagued her and that she was going to have to tell Harry about it. After everything they had gone through, it seemed like such a petty and childish fear to have.

"I'll take care of it, alright?" he asked and she nodded as he looked towards the snake and said, "Go away."

The snake continued to lie before them and didn't move an inch. Harry stared at the snake intensely and spoke again. "Go away, please. GO AWAY!" Nothing happened and Harry looked confused.

Ginny looked over at him wondering if the grief over Fred's death had finally sent Harry over the edge. "Why are you yelling at that snake?"

"Wait," he said, glancing at her. "You understood what I said? It didn't sound like hissing or the like?"

"No. You bellowed 'go away' three times," Ginny said and added acerbically. "Maybe if you shout at it some more it'll wake up and possibly hiss at us or something."

"But, if you understood me," Harry started and then stopped, ignoring her sarcasm and pondering the snake. He concentrated all of his attention once more and looked to be thinking very fixedly before speaking once more, "Go away."

Ginny found herself snickering, her grief momentarily forgotten. "Harry, what are you doing?"

"I was trying to speak Parseltongue," he explained. "I can't – I can't do it." His eyes widened as the realization sunk in. "I'm not a Parselmouth anymore." He grinned and picked Ginny up, spinning her around. "How brilliant is that?"

"Brilliant," she agreed.

"Oh," he said, stopping as suddenly as he had begun, and placing Ginny disappointingly back on her feet. She was rather enjoying being twirled about.

"Sorry," Harry apologized and pulled out his wand, sending a mild Stinging Hex at the snake. It hissed grumpily as it uncoiled and slithered off into the grass and disappeared under a bush.

"So what's this about snakes?" Harry asked with concern. "You reminded me of Ron when he sees a spider."

Ginny grimaced realizing the moment of yet another confession had come. "I may have a small phobia regarding snakes, and perhaps reptiles in general." She tried to make it sound light, but she knew her face had paled. "I didn't want you to know."

"Why?" he asked gently leading her towards the pond.

"I'm embarrassed," she admitted. "I don't like having weaknesses."

Harry sighed heavily. "We all have weaknesses, Ginny."

"Oh?" she asked. "What's yours?"

"Dementors," he answered immediately without a trace of thought or hesitation.

"Harry," Ginny said. "Your Patronus can send hundreds of Dementors flying in the opposite direction. They aren't a weakness of yours anymore."

"I still don't want to encounter one, and most definitely not a hundred," he said. "I didn't tell you this, but during the Final Battle, the Dementors were converging on the grounds and I froze. I couldn't do anything. It was up to Luna, Seamus, and Ernie to take care of them. So, yes, they are a weakness, and always will be."

"Seriously?" she asked. "You aren't just saying that to make me feel better?"

He shook his head. "I'm not. Ask Luna; she'll tell you. Ginny, it's okay to have fears."

"I was afraid you'd think I was being childish," Ginny confessed.

"I would never think that," Harry said firmly. "It's a legitimate fear and you have nothing to be ashamed of, Gin."

Gin. She couldn't recall when he had ever called her that before, and she had to admit she liked it. She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."

They'd reached the pond and letting go of her hand, Harry cast a drying charm on the ground before settling down under a willow tree. Nudging his legs apart, Ginny sat on the ground between them and leaned back against him. Harry hesitated a moment before encircling her arms with his and linking their hands together.

He rested his head on hers, breathing in deeply and exhaling slowly, making her hair ruffle around her cheeks and causing her pulse to quicken and her belly to tighten. When she was with Harry, it was easy to forget about everything they had lost. She clung to those moments, enjoying the bliss that seeped into her, and squashing the guilt that pricked at her for being able to be happy when she thought she was supposed to be sad.

There were plenty of moments when she was disconsolate, like at night when she lay in her bed and spent hours staring at the ceiling because sleep wouldn't come from all the turmoil in her heart; or the other day when she had tripped over a shoe on the back steps and realized it was Fred's. There would be many more instances such as that, but what she hoped was that occasions like this one with Harry would become more frequent and the melancholic ones less.

She twisted around in his arms until she was sitting on her knees, facing him. He looked at her questioningly as Ginny stared at him, taking in his startling green eyes and the perpetually messy hair that stubbornly stuck up on the back of his head no matter what. She remembered her mother trying to make it stay down numerous times in the past, fussing over him just as she would Ron or any of her other sons and Ginny smiled.

"What?" Harry finally asked.

"Just thinking, is all," Ginny replied, reaching over to smooth the trouble spot down.

"I hate it when you do that," Harry said.

"No you don't," she said lightly, twining her fingers in his hair.

"Yes, I do," he insisted. "It makes me self-conscious."

"Rubbish," Ginny whispered, leaning in.

"Gin," Harry started.

"I like that, by the way," she stated.

"What?" Harry asked, confused again.

"You calling me Gin," she admitted. "Say it again."

"Gin," Harry complied.

"Kiss me?" Ginny asked, placing her hands on his chest.

Harry looked troubled. "Is that such a good idea? I mean…"

Ginny put a finger to his lips, stopping him from saying anymore. "Don't say it. After this moment, we'll have to go back, and I'll cry in my pillow tonight over today and what's to come tomorrow and the day after that, but can't we just forget for a bit and be happy? Is that so wrong?"

He shook his head, removed her finger from his lips, slipped his hand under her hair and to the back of her neck, pulling her towards him. Their parted lips met, sending jolts of electricity through Ginny and she splayed her hands against his chest, leaning in to get closer, deepening the kiss. When Harry's tongue twirled with hers Ginny felt like she had died and gone to heaven. Her hands slid up his chest to the sides of his head, knocking his glasses askew. She plucked them off and tossed them into the grass and threaded her fingers in his hair, drowning in his kisses that blunted the sorrow in her heart.

hghghghghghghghg ghghghghghghghgh

-a month later-

Standing in the middle of a dirt lane, Ginny looked over the gate of a stone fence that surrounded a neat garden in front of rustic stone cottage that had to be centuries old. She was waiting for Demelza to arrive so they could go in together to see Willow. Ginny had been planning on visiting her friend anyway, but when an owl from Willow's mother had arrived at The Burrow that morning asking Ginny to come as soon as she could, Ginny had dropped everything, giving her mother a hurried kiss on the cheek as she explained where she was going. She hadn't had time to find Harry, but knew her mother would pass the message along to him.

She felt guilty that she hadn't been able to see Willow since Colin's funeral. She'd hugged her briefly afterwards before Willow's parents had taken her away, but Ginny had been so caught up in her own grief over Colin's death and dealing with the after-effects Willow's music had had on herself as well as Harry, that she simply hadn't had the time or energy.

She still wasn't certain who had thought it would be a good idea for Willow to play at the funeral, or why Willow had even agreed in the first place. In a word, it had been a disaster. She had been so emotionally charged her keyboard had tuned into it as it had with all of Willow's other songs and the end result had been a discordant catastrophe.

Ginny had found herself weeping uncontrollably thinking about Fred and Colin. Images of them both alive and dead assaulted her memory and it was only when Harry sagged against her, nearly unconscious from the despair, had she been able to shake the feeling off enough to tend to him.

Willow had stopped playing not long after in the middle of the song, and collapsed over her keyboard, engulfed in her grief. It had been a horrible sight to behold. Willow's parents had rushed up and dragged her away from the keyboard, while poor Colin's parents sat there looking utterly confused over what had just happened. It made Ginny wonder how Muggles were affected, if at all.

A loud 'pop' came from behind her and instinctually Ginny whirled to see Demelza wobbling on her feet and trying not to fall over in the dirt.

"Sorry," Demelza said. "I'm still getting the hang of it."

Ginny grinned at her. "I'm not sure which is worse, Floo or Apparition."

"Oh," Demelza said. "Definitely Floo. All that soot on your robes."

Shaking her head, Ginny turned back to the gate and opened it, heading up the walk towards the front door. Grasping the handle of the brass knocker in the shape of a lion's head set in the centre of the door, Ginny knocked three times.

Hurried footsteps could be heard on the other side and not long after an older woman who had to be Willow's mother opened the door. She had the same aquamarine eyes and ash-blonde hair Willow had, only Mrs. Starling's hair was liberally streaked with grey. Worry lines were evident on her face and despite careful effort with make-up Ginny could still see the dark circles the woman had around her eyes.

"Oh, I am so glad you are here," she said, attempting a smile. "Please come in."

Ginny and Demelza stepped inside and stood in the entryway awkwardly, as Mrs. Starling shut the door and turned back towards them.

"I am so sorry to ask you to come," she said, wringing her hands nervously. "I know you are dealing with your own sorrows, but I simply don't know what to do with Willow. She hasn't come out of her room in days, and I can't get her to eat. I thought maybe the two of you, being her best friends might be able to help her."

Ginny looked at Mrs. Starling with concern. "We'll certainly try, Mrs. Starling."

"Oh, thank you," Willow's mother replied. "Her room is at the top of the stairs on the right. I'll be in the kitchen preparing lunch if you need me. I hope you will stay for lunch, at least."

"That would be nice," Demelza answered.

Mrs. Starling left and Ginny and Demelza headed up the stairs. When they reached the top they stopped at the door Mrs. Starling had indicated and knocked softly. They waited a moment, but when there was no answer Ginny turned the knob and opened the door.

Willow's room was painted a light sea-shell pink and decorated with white bedroom furniture. A rumpled yellow duvet was at the foot of the bed, above which were posters of the Weird Sisters, as well as a couple of lesser known wizard rock bands. On the bedside table sat a framed photo of Colin. His posture was slouched and he was gazing forlornly at Willow, who was curled up in a ball in the middle of her bed staring blankly at the wall opposite the door.

"Go away," she muttered, not even bothering to see who was at her door.

"Willow," Ginny said softly. "It's me and Demelza."

"I don't care," her friend replied, still not moving. "I don't want to see anyone."

"Willow, please," Demelza pleaded, looking over at Ginny questioningly.

Ginny wasn't sure what to do. She thought that probably the best thing to do was to treat Willow exactly how she and her family had been treating George. He didn't always want to talk and had moments similar to Willow's where he could barely function. At those times, they would simply sit with him.

She walked over to the bed and sat on the edge next to her grieving friend. Reaching over, Ginny started rubbing small circles on Willow's back. Demelza sat next to Ginny, but refrained from saying or doing anything else.

Hiccupping sobs came from Willow, and if it were possible, she curled up tighter. Her mother had every right to be concerned, Willow was in a terrible state. Her long blonde hair lay in tangled clumps on her pillow, clearly not having been washed in days and there were empty bottles of butterbeer and bags of crisps littering the floor around her bed.

As if noticing the trash at the same moment as Ginny, Demelza rose from her spot on the bed and looked around for a waste paper bin. Finding one shoved under Willow's desk, Demelza pulled it out and began disposing of the clutter. When she was finished, she set the nearly overflowing bin outside the door and sat back down next to Ginny, looking at her questioningly.

Ginny shrugged her shoulders, uncertain if speaking again was a good idea or not, but deciding to give it a try. "Will, do you want to talk about it?"

"All I want to do is scream," Willow answered vehemently. "I'm so ANGRY!"

Demelza jumped at the sudden outburst, but Ginny didn't flinch. "You have every right to be," she said quietly.

"He LEFT me behind!" Willow wailed. "Did he think he was protecting me? Did he even THINK about how I would feel if he died? How am I supposed to LIVE without him?"

"I know," Ginny whispered. "Believe me, I know."

"I d-didn't even get to tell him good-bye," Willow whimpered, deflating as quickly as she had exploded. "H-he sent Dennis back t-to tell me everything was all right, and n-not to worry. Why'd he do that?""

"I don't know, Willow," Ginny honestly answered.

More tears leaked out of Willow's eyes, and Ginny pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and handed it to her distraught friend. Willow dabbed her eyes and nose, before balling the handkerchief in her fist. She breathed heavily as she stared at the wall and Ginny went back to rubbing her friend's back.

"I can't go back to Hogwarts," Willow mumbled.

"Yes, you can," Ginny said. "Demelza and I will be there. It's your final year, and Colin would not want you to quit."

Willow shook her head, and wrapped her arms around her belly. "No, I can't," she whispered. "I'm pregnant."

Demelza gasped and belatedly covered her mouth with her hands. Ginny shot her a look, but didn't stop rubbing Willow's back, even if her friend's admission had come as somewhat of a shock.

"Are you sure?" Ginny asked.

Willow nodded. "Three months."

The three of them sat in silence for some time after this admission. Ginny supposed it had been somewhat naïve of her not to realize how intimate her friends had become. She looked over at Demelza who raised her eyebrows at her in question.

"Willow," Ginny said soothingly. "Why don't we run a bath for you? I think a good soak would do you some good."

She nodded at Demelza, who stood up from the bed and headed towards the door in search of the bathroom. Ginny slipped her arm under Willow's arm and shoulder and pulled her up until she was leaning against Ginny's chest.

"Come on," Ginny said. "Let's take this one step at a time. Let's get you cleaned up and then worry about everything else."

Willow allowed Ginny to stand her up and lead her to the bathroom, where Demelza already had the claw-footed tub nearly full and the whole room smelled like the lavender bubble bath she had poured in.

Willow managed to undress herself and both Ginny and Demelza helped her into the tub. Sinking down in the water, she leaned back, resting her head on the edge of the tub and closed her eyes. Ginny knelt behind her and taking a cup Demelza handed her poured water over her friend's hair, not caring that it puddled on the floor around her knees. She ran her fingers through Willow's hair trying to work out all the knots and tangles and then piled it on top of her head to rub shampoo into it.

Demelza started scrubbing Willow's arms and shoulders with a washcloth before Willow managed to shake herself out of her melancholy long enough to finish the job. Letting Willow soak until the water turned tepid, Ginny helped her out and Demelza wrapped her in a large towel and the three of them headed back to Willow's room.

Ginny looked through Willow's wardrobe until she found a pair of shorts and a t-shirt for her friend to wear. After she was dressed, Willow returned to her spot on the bed, but sat up this time and looked at her friends.

"Willow," Ginny began. "You need to go to St. Mungo's."

"No," Willow said. "They'll find out I'm pregnant."

Ginny sighed. "You aren't going to be able to hide it forever. Haven't you told your parents?"

Willow shook her head, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. "I'm afraid to."

"We understand that," Ginny said. "I think while Demelza and I are here, now would be as good a time as any to tell your mother."

"If she overreacts and kicks you out, you can come home with one of us," Demelza offered.

Willow looked frightened and it was all Ginny could do not to knock Demelza across the side of the head. When would her friend ever learn to think before she opened her mouth?

"That isn't going to happen," she stated firmly. "Your mother is only concerned for your well-being. You will feel better if you tell her."

She looked over at Ginny. "You'll help me? Tell my mother?"

"Yes," Ginny said, rising from Willow's side.

"We have to do it now?" Willow asked, staring at Ginny with wide, terrified blue eyes.

"The sooner you get it over with the better you'll feel," Ginny repeated, firmly.

She held out her hand to Willow and waited patiently. Willow slipped her hand in Ginny's and scooted to the edge of the bed, standing unsteadily on her feet. Demelza jumped up and took a firm hold of her other arm. Leading their little parade down the stairs, Ginny pulled them in the direction Mrs. Starling had disappeared in shortly after Ginny and Demelza had arrived.

The hallway led to a tidy and spacious kitchen. In the middle of the room was a large butcher-block table, upon which sat a huge bowl containing a tossed salad, and on either side of the table stood two long benches. Mrs. Starling had set four places, and was standing at the kitchen sink staring sightlessly out into the back garden that contained a vegetable garden, no doubt where the contents of the salad had come from.

She turned when she heard them enter and her face broke into a huge smile when she saw Willow standing uncertainly behind Ginny.

"Willow!" her mother exclaimed before looking at Ginny and Demelza. "Thank you."

Ginny moved into the room, followed by Demelza, but Willow continued to hover in the doorway, looking like a timid rabbit that would bolt at the slightest sound. Mrs. Starling's smile faltered and she looked her daughter over in concern.

"Willow?" she asked.

Willow looked over at her mother and her face contorted in grief once more as she sagged against the doorjamb. Mrs. Starling rushed to her immediately and pulled her into a fierce embrace. Ginny felt at a loss again, wondering if she was doing the right thing, forcing Willow to talk to her mother, and looked over at Demelza. She looked just as concerned, and shrugged her shoulders, clearly not knowing any better than Ginny what to do.

"Shhh, sweetie," Mrs. Starling crooned. "I'm here."

"Mum," Willow's muffled voice came from her mother's shoulder. "Mum, I have something I need to tell you."

Mrs. Starling guided her daughter over to the table and sat on the nearest bench, pulling Willow down to sit next to her. Willow wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands and looked over at Ginny and Demelza for reassurance.

Ginny sat down next to Willow on the bench and rubbed her shoulder encouragingly. "Go on," Ginny reassured. "It'll be alright."

Willow nodded and looked back at her mother. "Mum, I'm pregnant."

Not even a flicker of shock or surprise crossed Mrs. Starling's face. Instead, she wrapped her arms around her daughter and hugged her tightly. "I know, sweetheart. I've been waiting for you to tell me."

Willow sobbed harder than ever, clutching at her mother's robes with her hand. Ginny's heart broke for her friend over her loss and what she was forced to face, not alone, but without her true love. Ginny didn't even want to contemplate what that must feel like. Quite honestly, she thought dying would be much easier than being left behind to pick up the pieces of a shattered heart.

"Mum," Willow whimpered. "Mum, I feel so lost without him."

Mrs. Starling gently rocked Willow as she whispered, "Oh, my baby. My poor, sweet baby."

Seeing the devastation Colin's death had caused in Willow's life, reminded Ginny of just how closely she had come to being in a similar state. She counted herself extremely fortunate that she had only had to experience the pain Willow was going through for a short time.

Ginny rubbed the back of Willow's hand with her thumb, as all three of them, herself, Demelza, and Mrs. Starling waited patiently for her sobbing to subside. Eventually, she cried herself out and lay exhausted against her mother.

"Oh, Willow, darling," Mrs. Starling sighed. "Listen to me. I know you are grieving, but you must pull yourself together. You are pregnant and need to take better care of yourself, starting right now. Colin will always, always be in your heart, but believe me when I tell you, that baby is a precious gift, and the love you will feel for it will over-shadow everything else. It may not seem so right now, but when you hold it for the very first time, you will understand.

"Now, sweetheart" she said, rising slowly and sitting Willow up at the table. "Your lovely friends have agreed to join us for lunch. You are going to eat a proper meal and then you and I are going directly to St. Mungo's."

Willow nodded glumly and whispered. "I'm sorry. I've been selfish, I know."

"Darling," her mother said softly. "You can cry on my shoulder as much as you like, and I will rock you every night if it helps you, but Colin would not want you to be living like this."

"He's watching over you, you know," Ginny added, hoping to somehow reassure Willow. "Someone told me that's what our loved ones do when they die."

Willow looked over at her and Ginny didn't think it was possible for her friend's eyes to look any sadder than they already did, but she was mistaken. Willow knew, just like she always did, what Ginny was thinking. She knew who had told Ginny that, and that even if it had only been briefly, Ginny could understand what it was Willow was feeling.

They settled at the table, and had a very subdued lunch. Willow picked at her salad, and managed to eat a few bites, but she had reverted back into her shell, and didn't speak again. Her mother chatted with Ginny and Demelza, asking how they were doing. Ginny allowed Demelza to do most of the talking, as she didn't think she had anything further to talk about that could possibly make Willow feel any better, and more than likely would make her feel worse.

After lunch, Willow's mother thanked them for coming by and asked Willow to walk them to the door while she cleared the kitchen. The three girls walked silently back down the hall to the front door and awkwardly stood there, uncertain as to what else to say.

"Thank you," Willow finally said simply, opening the door for Ginny and Demelza.

Demelza hugged Willow quickly and stepped down onto the garden path while Ginny hugged Willow, tears pricking her eyes. "Please write or Floo anytime. We'll come back to see you soon."

Willow nodded and stepped away from her, back into the foyer of her house. Ginny lingered on the stoop a moment longer looking at her friend uncertainly.

"Go, Ginny," Willow said quietly, and took a ragged breath. "I'm sorry. I'm really glad you came, and I don't think I could have told my mum without you, but I need you to go now, please? I know you understand and want to help, but it's…," Willow choked on the words, and swallowed, tears shining in her eyes once more. "It's too hard."

"I'll miss you," Ginny said lamely.

"I'll miss you too," Willow said sincerely. "I'll try to write soon." She looked over to where Demelza was standing in the path. "To both of you."

Ginny nodded and stepped down, joining Demelza. Willow waved one last time and quickly shut the door.

"Is she going to be all right?" Demelza asked as they walked back out to the lane.

"I don't know," Ginny answered honestly.

TBC