Harry sighed. Without looking away from the fire, he said, "Come out, Ginny."

Ginny stood from where she had been sitting on the fourth stair and, placing her hand on the stair rail, walked to the landing. She stayed there, and said, "Yes, Harry?" Her face showed no emotion.

Harry had noticed her sitting there, watching him, about half an hour ago. He hadn't mentioned anything, in case she wanted to stay there. He finally couldn't take it anymore, though, for he needed someone to talk to. He had so much on his mind, and he knew Ginny would always be willing to listen. He moved over on the couch and pat the seat next to him. Ginny smiled. She slowly walked over to where Harry was sitting and joined him. They got comfortable, Ginny snuggling in to Harry's side, and Harry putting his ankle on his knee and his arm on the top of the sofa. They both faced the fire. Neither spoke for a while.

Harry was the one who broke the silence. "I want to get out of here, Ginny. I feel so powerless, not being out there doing something."

"I know, Harry."

Harry swallowed, and blinked. "I'm scared, too."

"I know."

They continued staring at the fire. Harry had the ghost of a grin on his face. After a moment, he spoke. "How do you always know, Gin?

Ginny shrugged against Harry's side. "I can see it in your eyes."

Harry seemed almost surprised by that answer, but not quite. He wondered about Ginny's response. They both fell silent again. The fire threw shadows onto the walls around them.

"I'm so tired of it always being me, Ginny. I mean, I want to get out there and fight, but it seems like everything constantly falls on my shoulders."

If Harry had not still been engrossed in the fire, he would have seen her eyes steel over a bit. She did not answer. Harry went on.

"Why couldn't I have just had a normal life, Ginny? Why can't someone else save the world for once?"

"Harry?" Ginny leaned back, and looked at her love… her friend.

Harry looked over at her, as she looked back at him. What had been wrong with staring at the fire? Why did she have to move? The comfort he had gotten from her closeness…

Ginny saw those questions in his eyes, and chose not to answer them. Instead she said what she had meant to, which was "Please stop feeling sorry for yourself." Her voice held a slight begging tone.

Harry was surprised by her voice. When one usually said those words, they sounded annoyed, or angry. Ginny was neither. He would have known how to react had she not sounded so hesitant, or helpless.

Ginny continued. "It's just that, well, it does always seem to fall on you, doesn't it? But even so, are you sure that's a bad thing? Because you have the ability to save so many more people, and their families, than anyone else. And, er, no one else does." She looked sheepish. Maybe she should have gotten her thoughts together before she spoke.

Harry sighed. "But if it weren't for me, Gin, people I care about wouldn't have had to die in the first place." Harry stared back into the fire, and would have gotten lost in his thoughts once more, if Ginny had let him.

No such luck.

Ginny seemed to be almost a little angry. She scooted to the edge of her seat, and placed her hand on the coffee table, so she would be facing Harry, and he wouldn't be able to escape from her stare. "Voldemort would have already taken over the Wizarding world if it weren't for you, so don't even try and pull that load of rubbish." Her voice softened. "I just don't want you to loose sight of what's important, just because of some silly thing like self-pity, that's all." She sustained her stare for a minute, and then curled back up in his side. "I'm worried about you, Harry."

Harry suddenly felt horrible about himself, and what he had done to Ginny at the end of this school year. "Why?" His voice sounded pained.

"Just because you ended our relationship doesn't mean my feelings for you have changed." Ginny said softly. She thought for a second, and continued. "That's not necessarily true, I suppose." Ginny figured Harry should at least know the whole truth. "My feelings have changed. But, er, not any less than they were before. They're… more." Ginny took and steeled herself for what she was about to say. "I love you, Harry. I just wanted you to know, before you left."

Harry was stunned. He blinked, and looked back at the fire. He felt doubly horrible, now. Something was different, though. The balance had shifted between him and Ginny, when she had said those words. He needed time to think. Ginny saw that in his eyes, got up from her spot at Harry's side, and walked to the stairway. When she reached the first step, she said, "I'll always be here for you, Harry."

Harry looked up at his… what was she? Harry didn't know what she was to him. He didn't know what to think. He couldn't think. All he could see were her eyes, her chocolate brown eyes that had a sort of longing in them that he couldn't describe. The happiness that her eyes had always held was slightly dimmed. Harry didn't want to think that he could be the cause for that. There was some sadness, and it made him want to cry. It was mixed up with a little worry, for him, Harry supposed, and something else. It was a soft feeling, and it looked as if it went on forever. It was rich, and full, and content. Harry thought that was the love she had said that she had for him. He smiled.

"I know, Gin."

Ginny smiled, and sighed. She turned and walked up the stairs to her room. When she got to the third stair, it creaked.