A/N chapter 2
Ron couldn't recall a time when he had been more content. Here he was safe and sound picking out flats with Hermione. Flats for him and Hermione. Harry would be living at the Burrow. He needed an escort to and from St. Mungo's each day for his appointment with an emotional healer to help him wash the blood off his hands. The blood that Harry saw and the rest of the Wizarding world rejoiced in.
"I've had enough for today, how 'bout you Ron?" Hermione offered taking his hand and moving so her side was flush against his. "Let's go for a walk in the park Yeah?" Ron responded letting go of her hand and placing his arm around her waist and pulling her even closer. The two set out for the park, even though it was the middle of Muggle London, strolled about admiring one an other and whispering words of endearment.
Fred grinned, the trademark Weasley twin grin. Ginny somehow had inherited the wonderful mischievous grin that he and George had practically patented when inventing. "Nice work Twin," George exclaimed holding what appeared to be an ugly orange bowler hat off of his head, which reappeared with the lack of the bowler hat. "Shield and invisibility, we are geniuses with capital G's."
"What will we need them for now though?" Fred mused. The war is over… Harry saved the entire wizarding world. George's good spirits were quickly crushed by Fred's somber mood. Sensing Fred's desire for space George left. "I'm going to Lee's," he called exiting their small flat and going out through the store which was still covered in brightly colored U-Know-Poo posters.
Fred for his part summoned his shoes and key and apparated to just outside St. Mungos. He strolled around muggle London for an hour framing what he was going to say and wound up with nothing. No one he knew was in the hospital any longer. Angelina had returned home and was a potion regimen. Ginny was back at the burrow eager to begin her final year of Hogwarts now that it had been reopened. Harry was also at the Burrow, silent and brooding. Angelina he thought that's who I really want to see. Fred apparated to the Burrow and crawled into his childhood bed, crying himself to sleep.
Ginny loved flying. Her broom might be old and horrible but she loved the wind in her hair. She grasped the ponytail holder and shook out her locks into the air. Then she moved into a lazy dive, turning at the last second and whipping back up to the makeshift pitch her brothers had constructed when Bill and Charlie had gotten their first real brooms.
An hour later she returned to the house sweaty and exhausted from flying and denoming the garden. "Hey mum," she snatched a roll from the table and made her way up the stairs. She slipped into the bathroom, turning on the shower and stripping out of her dirty quiddich gear. The hot water coursed down her back as she reached for the shampoo and began to wash her legs.
She emerged from the bathroom after wrapping a large green towel round her body and returned to her room. Then dressing quickly, in a yellow tank top and pink shorts she went downstairs and began to set the table. "Just us mum?" Ginny asked, entering the kitchen for plates.
"Fred's up in his and George's room, he came while you were flying, but I don't think he's up for supper." Mrs. Weasley responded sounding rather forlorn.
"So just the four of us then," Ginny nodded and grabbed plates.
"Set us in the kitchen Ginny dear," the older woman pointed her wand at potatoes which shot out of their skins rather quickly.
Dinner was a subdued affair. Harry was still not talking and Ginny was in a quiet mood. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley chatted in whispers about the newest plans to guard Askaban, the Wizarding prison. Halfway through Fred came down, and set himself a plate, eating little and joking with Ginny halfheartedly. Ron and Hermione arrived during desert, Ron, as usual, eating a slice of cake and Hermione declining and going up to Ginny's room.
Ginny went upstairs to find Hermione looking at various pictures and newspaper clippings on Ginny's vanity. "Hey," the redhead said, keen to know what Hermione was thinking about so seriously. "Hey" Hermione remarked, her voice tinged with worry and intrigue. "It seems like yesterday we were in the middle of a war and now we have nothing to worry about," she picked up the picture of her and Ron from Bill and Fleur's wedding.
"We have plenty to worry about 'Mione," Ron whispered from the door gathering her in his arms and placing a chaste kiss on her forehead. She pushed out of his arms and sank to the floor, arms around her knees sobbing quietly. Ginny slipped out of the room heading quietly down to the sofa and sitting beside Harry. It felt strange to see her hand no longer pointed to Mortal peril but at Home.
"Ginny?" asked Harry turning to look at her, "do you hate me?"