He was in complete darkness. Sometimes he clawed his way out of the darkness and could see a hint of light but then he was back to where he started. Sometimes he could hear a woman's voice and feel cool cloths on his head. At other times, he could hear other voices. But the woman…she was always there, it seemed. She spoke soothingly to him. Told him she loved him and wasn't giving up on him. Urged him to try to wake up. He tried to wake up, but was just pulled back into the darkness. It seemed like this went on for infinity. That this was the constant rhythm of his life, to try to wake up to only be pulled into a deeper sleep.
He could hear the woman again, crying, wanting him to wake up. He forced himself to concentrate on her voice. He was getting closer and closer to it. He could hear her voice better than ever. He blinked in an effort to open his eyes. He forced one eye open and looked at the woman sitting next to him. He knew who she was. Knew that he loved her.
Concentrate a bit more! he thought to himself. He forced his other eye open and blinked. "Ginny?" he said in a raspy voice.
"Harry! You're awake!" Ginny said with tears streaming down her face.
"How-how long have I been unconscious?" Harry managed.
"You've been out for two weeks, Harry." Ginny said softly. She spooned a couple of ice chips out of a nearby cup. "Here, Harry, have these. They've said you're dehydrated."
Harry accepted the ice and let it melt on his tongue. His throat was so dry, it hurt to talk. "Water." he managed. Ginny held out a cup with a straw and Harry sipped the water shakily. Ginny removed the cup, and he fell back onto the bed, fatigued by even that small act.
"Do you remember what happened before you fainted?" Ginny asked.
"Yes. I killed Voldemort." Harry replied. "Tell me what happened after that."
"Harry, I think we should wait until you get a little stronger before-"
"Tell me." Harry interrupted.
"Well, the fight didn't stop just because Voldemort was dead. In fact, it intensified. The Death Eaters were furious that you had killed him. We fought for hours before we finally had disarmed and bound all of them. The ones who are still alive are back in Azkaban. Ginny explained. "Human guards this time."
There was a silence and then Ginny spoke. "I'm going to owl the Burrow right away, Harry. Ron and Hermione have been here almost as much as I have but they've gone to get some rest. I'll be right back."
Harry nodded and she was gone. He thought about what Ginny had told him about the battle. And he thought about what she had not told him- whether or not any of his friends and family didn't make it. Obviously, Ron and Hermione had and he was thankful for that.
Ginny returned almost instantly. "Can I get you anything, Harry?" she asked softly.
He shook his head. "Just tell me, did everyone make it alright?"
Ginny couldn't look him in the eye and Harry took that as a bad sign.
"Unfortunately, there were a few who, um, didn't make it." Ginny said hesitantly, holding Harry's hand.
"Tell me." he said.
"I really think that you should get your strength back before you hear the bad news." Ginny pleaded.
"Tell me." Harry repeated grimly.
A tear slid down Ginny's cheek and she wiped it away furiously. "Okay, um, Moody was the first. He was fighting Crabbe and he just all of a sudden Avada Kedavra'd him. He didn't have a chance, Harry."
"Who else?"
"Snape. Malfoy was furious when he found out that he had really been on our side all along. Also, a Ravenclaw I didn't know very well, Jason Smithson.
Harry took a deep breath. He had gotten to know Moody a lot better over the summer and it hurt to lose him. He had mixed feelings about Snape, but he still didn't want him to die. He didn't want anyone to die. He wished that they could have won the battle without any deaths, but he knew that was not realistic.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Ginny asked softly.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Harry said hoarsely. Just then Ron and Hermione came running into the room.
"Oh, Harry, I'm so glad you're okay!" Hermione exclaimed as she reached over to hug him.
"It's good to see you up, mate." Ron greeted.
The four friends had been talking for awhile when a healer came into Harry's room and told them that they had to leave so Harry could get some rest.
"We'll be back tomorrow morning, Harry, with Mom and Dad." Ron said as he and Hermione left.
Harry looked at Ginny, who still hadn't moved from the chair beside the hospital bed. "Aren't you going with them?"
"The healers and I came to an agreement when you were first admitted to the hospital. I usually stayed here at night with you in case you needed me."
"I'm fine, Ginny. Go on with Ron, you need your rest." Harry said firmly. "I love you, I'll see you tomorrow."
Ginny left reluctantly after Harry assured her again that he would be alright until morning.
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One week later, Harry was home from the hospital and settling into Fred and George's room at the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley kept running in the room every ten minutes with something to drink, food, or just to check that his was okay.
"Mrs. Weasley, really, I'm okay." Harry said after her tenth visit that day, somewhat embarrassed with all the attention she was giving him.
"Oh, Harry dear, I just want to make sure that you have everything you need up here. The healers said that you should have another few days bed rest before you started to move around the house." Mrs. Weasley explained with a smile.
Harry recovered rapidly and was soon as good as new. He and Ginny were making up for lost time and spending every spare moment with each other as well with Ron and Hermione. Now that Voldemort had been defeated, Hogwarts was going to be open after all, although it would open one month late.
Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Harry were saying goodbye to Mr. And Mrs. Weasley a few days later as they were heading off to catch the Hogwarts Express. "Are you sure you don't need us to come with you?" Mrs. Weasley asked somewhat tearfully.
"Molly, really, I think after the summer, they can handle pretty much anything." Mr. Weasley said gently. She relented and the final goodbyes were said as the group apparated to Diagon Alley.
The foursome hurried to the train, to catch up with all their old friends. They boarded quickly and found a compartment, Hermione and Ron performing their duties as the train was boarded. There was a strange atmosphere on the train that day. Everyone was happy to be reunited with their friends after everything that had happened during the summer, but were sad about losing a friend and a teacher in battle. Neville and Luna were walking past when they spotted Harry and Ginny.
"Hello!" Luna said in her absent-minded tone of voice.
"Hey, Luna. Hey, Neville." Ginny greeted with a smile. "Have a seat!" The four friends chatted animatedly were joined by Ron and Hermione after a bit. It wasn't long until Hermione suggested they change into their school robes. Soon, their ride was over and they had arrived at Hogwarts. The four friends quickly greeted Hagrid and then followed the others up to the castle.
The four friends took their seats at the Gryffindor table and waited to see their last Sorting. It was over all too soon and then McGonagall stood up to speak.
"We are all so glad to be able to open for the school year. We do have a few people to thank for that and so I think it would be appropriate to recognize them here today. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, and Ginny Weasley, please stand. We all owe you four so very much for the courage and dedication you showed this summer. If it weren't for you, Hogwarts would still be closed. On behalf of Hogwarts faculty, staff, and students, we would like to thank you."
The four Gryffindors looked at each other with reddening faces. They sat down quickly as soon as McGonagall finished her speech and to their surprise it was met by applause from most everyone in the room.
Harry looked around the room and was glad to be back for seventh year. He was glad to have his friends sitting with him and he was glad to have Ginny beside him. He knew that one day, another Voldemort could try to rise up, but it wasn't today and when and if it did happen, he and his friends would be there to help.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who has come along for the journey of my first fanfic. I enjoyed writing it, but we have come to the end of this particular one. I hope you enjoyed the story and I hope that you'll enjoy the many more I hope to write. Thanks again!