Thanks for reading and all the reviews!

It's actually been harder writing these next few chapters to transition from the grief immedialtely after the battle ti starting to move on and adjust to their new life.

I don't own any of this...just playing in the universe created by the brilliant JKR

Chapter 10

After the funerals, life had fallen into a certain pattern. Hermione had left for two weeks to track her parents down in Australia. She had returned home and Harry and Hermione were living at the Burrow. Harry visited Teddy twice a week, sometimes alone, sometimes with Ron and Hermione. Andromeda and Teddy came to the Burrow for a big family dinner once a week, along with the entire Weasley family. Life seemed to be falling in place. Laughter was slowly returning to the Burrow, not as loud as before, but wounds were healing.

Ginny was no longer ignoring Harry. But, she wasn't exactly talking to him either. He finally began to realize how much his breaking up with her, his leaving her, had hurt her. He remembered the nights he sat watching her dot on the Maurader's Map and realized that she had been hurting as much as he had been. Harry was frustrated because he had dreams of Ginny running into his arms and living happy ever after. He slowly realized that the work to rebuild the Wizarding world was minor compared to the work to rebuild his relationship.

It was the third week in July. The war had ended almost two months ago, at the beginning of June. Harry, Ron and Hermione still had nightmares. They weren't as bad as they had been weeks earlier. They had finally dimmed to once or twice a week for Ron and Hermione. Harry still woke up once or twice a night, soaked in sweat, reaching for his wand. Harry wondered often when they would go away. He was alone in the orchard thinking. Ron and Hermione had taken a walk, looking for some alone time. Harry was mostly happy for them, but a little jealous at the same time. Harry was thinking about what the future was to bring. He had concentrated so hard on defeating Voldemort, he was really unsure what he wanted to do next. He never really imagined a life after Voldemort, except that it would be with Ginny.

Ginny approached the orchard, heading towards Harry. She really just wanted to see him. She was still angry and hurting. But sometimes when she hadn't seen him in a few hours, she started to get anxious and was afraid she wouldn't see him again. She had spent a year with these feelings and couldn't live with it any longer. Even though they didn't talk much, sometimes, just seeing him seemed to ease the pain and fear. She finally found him sitting under a tree.

"Mind if I join you," she asked hesitantly.

Harry jumped, startled to hear her voice. "Please, sit down," he stammered, not sure what to think or feel. She had never come looking for him before unless ordered by her mother, never talked to him first, never initiated any kind of contact and Harry was nervous. Ginny sat next to the tree across from Harry. They both looked at each other, then away. Both were afraid to make eye contact.

Daring to be the first to speak, Harry started, "I'm sorry."

Ginny looked at him. "What for?"

Harry looked back at her, directly into her eyes. He knew this wasn't going to be easy, but he knew that nothing worth having was easy. He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for hurting you this past year. I'm sorry I broke it off with you. I was so afraid that you would be hurt if we stayed together, so afraid that you would be a target if we were still together. I realize now that you would have been a target anyway. But I thought I could keep you safe. I realize how much you were hurting, but I honestly thought your safety was more important. Breaking up with you was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I missed you so much this past year. I was so afraid for you whenever I heard stories coming from Hogwarts. I just wanted you safe."

"Harry," Ginny interrupted.

"No, Ginny, please let me finish," Harry said. "Every night we were apart, when I got in my sleeping bag, I took out the map and watched you. I just stared at the dot that said Ginny Weasley. It was my way of making sure you were safe. I looked at the dot and thought of you, hoping it would make you think of me. I don't know what's going to happen now. I never thought much of life after Voldemort. The only part of that life I had ever really thought of was that it would be with you. I know you're mad at me. You should be. I was stupid. I just want you to know that I'm here. I'll be the one waiting for you this time."

"Harry," Ginny replied. "You're right. I am angry, hurting. But I still care about you. It's been so confusing these past weeks. I've wanted to yell at you, hurt you and hold you and never let you go again all at the same time. Maybe we can start again as friends."

Harry smiled. "That worked the first time."

Ginny and Harry sat there, silently. Harry was able to hope for the first time since the war had ended that he could have a happy future. Ron and Hermione joined them and the four sat in silence, just being with each other.

Ginny broke the silence, "You know that the three of you promised everyone you would tell them what you had been doing this past year. Do you remember?"

The three looked at each other uneasily. "We remember Ginny." Harry replied. "We're just not sure how to begin, how much everyone knows."

Hermione gave a little sigh, "we're also still scared."

"When?" Ginny asked. "I think everyone is losing patience. We thought you would have told us by now. It's been almost two months."

Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other. No one knew what to say. They all knew that the family was expecting answers to what had been going on this past year. They were actually surprised that no one had asked before now. But, they really didn't know how to talk about it. Harry had only ever shared what happened with Ron and Hermione. Ron had shared some of the highlights with his parents each summer. But they had never really talked about what was going on with the whole family, never shared the terror. But they knew that hey had to keep their promise. With a look at Ron and Hermione, Harry answered with one word – "Soon."

Harry, Ron and Hermione spent the next two days together. The weekly family dinner was coming up and since Ginny had asked again, they figured they better be ready to talk soon. Harry really didn't want to make any one else mad. They talked a lot about how they should tell the story – where do they begin? Harry insisted that Ron and Hermione had to help him – he couldn't tell it on his own. The big question was were to begin – they all had different ideas of how to procceed. In the end, they gave in and agreed to Hermione's plan.

That Sunday was one of those perfect summer days. The sun was out, birds were singing – it was a fairytale kind of day. But, Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't notice. They fidgeted. They couldn't sit still. They looked at each other, nervously. As the rest of the family arrived, they mumbled their hellos and refused to make eye contact. The family looked at them, worried. They didn't know what to make of the way they were acting. Andromeda was the one who finally asked.

"Just what is wrong with you today?" she demanded.

"What do you mean?" Harry answered, not aware of who he was talking to.

"Usually when Teddy and I arrive, you take him out of my arms before I am even in the door. Today, you barely acknowledged that we existed."

Harry looked at her. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time. "I'm sorry," he said softly. He walked over to Teddy who was being held by Mr. Weasley. "I'm sorry Teddy," Harry whispered as he kissed Teddy on the cheek. The three month old reached for Harry's glasses as Harry stood up. "I've just been thinking." He gestured to Ron and Hermione, "we all have been.
"Are you going to share these thoughts," Bill asked when Harry paused again.

Hermione was the one to answer, "After dinner. We thought it was time we answered some questions."

The Weasley's and Andromeda looked around at the three of them. Andromeda didn't know what questions Hermione was referring to. The Weasleys did. They all looked surprised. Mrs. Weasley announced that dinner was ready.

Dinner that evening was an interesting affair. Conversation flowed easily for all but the trio. Mrs. Weasley's food, usually so delicious and comforting, was hard to swallow. Even Ron seemed to be having a hard time eating. Harry was nervous. He had never talked about this story with anyone but Ron and Hermione, never shared the true nature of what had happened over the years with anyone but them. After what seemed like ages, dinner was over.

Harry spoke, "A few weeks ago, Ron, Hermione and I promised you that we would tell you what we had been doing this past year, that we would answer all of your questions. We know you were hoping for answers to your questions before now. I'm sorry it's taken so long. We've been talking and we think we're ready now."

Harry hesitated. In that pause, Mr. Weasley spoke, "Why don't we go into the sitting room? We can be more comfortable in there while you talk."

He led the family, Andromeda and Hermione into the sitting room. While everyone was finding a seat, Harry had ran upstairs. He returned carrying a basin. He had owled Professor McGonagall asking if he could borrow it for the evening. Hermione and Ron had convinced him that some things would be easier if shown. Everyone found seats, except for Ron, Harry and Hermione. They sat on the floor, in front of everyone.

"I'm not sure where to begin." He started. "We've spent the last few days trying to figure out how to tell the story. We thought of starting when we left the day of the wedding, but realized that we would have to backtrack a lot to fill in the blanks." Harry looked around, all eyes were staring at him.

Ron continued, "A lot of things happened when we at Hogwarts that play an important part in the past year. We never told you the truth about everything that happened those years. Probably the only year that you know the whole truth about is our second and fourth year, maybe our third year as well, depending on what Professor Dumbledore told you and what Mum and Dad shared with the rest of you."

Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley looked confused. "What do you mean?" Mr. Weasley asked.

Harry looked at them. "Everything that happened every year I was in school, wondering in the forest, sneaking out of school, every injury, every accident was connected to Voldemort." He stated plainly and clearly. He saw the surprised confused looks on Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Percy, George, Ginny and Andromeda's face.