Title: Losing Faith

Summary: It's the summer after Ginny's sixth year, and Voldemort is dead. But still, things are not how they should be. How will everyone cope now that the worst threat is over? HG RHr

Genre: Angst/Drama

Rating: T

Disclaimer: It's all JK Rowling's. 'Nuff said.

A/N: I am so, so, so sorry! Three months since the last update is just appalling – I promised myself I would be better at updating than that. Real life has been absolutely mad, and my muse went AWOL, so it has taken me a while to get a chapter that I'm happy with.

V I V I V

COMING HOME

"Harry?" Molly's voice broke through Harry's dismal thoughts, and he tore his gaze from the floor to see her watching him with some amount of concern. Distractedly, he noticed that Ginny had at some point wriggled from his embrace and disappeared off somewhere with her father and Ron. Healer Gregory had come to them some time ago, visibly white and shaking, and told them the news in hushed and trembling tones that made Harry's heart plummet.

She's Nesshe struggled to reassure himself. She's a damned Healer herself. Of course she's gonna make it.

"I'm sorry." Harry found himself automatically saying, and before he realised what was happening a fresh wave of guilt came crashing over him at the look on Mrs. Weasley's face. "It was – to just disappear off like that, and to ignore your letters… after everything you've done for me, I can't… I'm sorry."

Molly sucked in a breath through her teeth and drew him into one of her motherly hugs. Instead of freezing up and flushing as he used to, Harry clung to her like he was a child instead of a burly eighteen-year-old, biting hard down on his lower lip to stop himself from crying and making a complete fool of himself.

"I can't pretend to understand what you went through – what you're going through, dear." She murmured to him, and the attempt to keep the tears back became that much harder. "But I only want the best for you, Harry, and if you felt that's what you had to do, regardless of whether it was right or not, then I'll say no more. We all missed you dreadfully, and we just hope – you'll be back with us for good, now."

He pulled away, blinking hard, and nodded shakily. "I am, I promise." He said fervently, recalling the awful, gut wrenching feeling that had taken a hold of him when he thought that Ginny would never forgive him, that he had lost her forever. "I'm sorry, I really am… I just… I didn't know what to do. I didn't…" He broke off, casting his eye downwards and focusing on his hands, twisting together nervously. "I was afraid that I'd end up hurting Ginny or one of you… and you know, Voldemort had been my whole life, you know? I never thought that I'd… that there'd be a time when I'd not have that hanging over my head."

I never thought I'd survive, were his unspoken words, and from the pained expression on his girlfriend's mother's face he could tell that she knew exactly what he meant.

"It's over now." She told him reassuringly, patting his hand. "There will always be war, sadly. That's the way the world is. But it doesn't rest on your shoulders. You must sit back and let the adults fight it, like we should have done from the beginning. You have a childhood to catch up on. It is something that will always be in your past, Harry, but you have to look ahead now, to a future you want, and not what has been prophesized."

He knew that he would never be able to sit back and let the adults fight it, for, after all, he was one of them now, but refrained from saying it, knowing it would only upset her further. Instead, he offered her a weary, slightly sad smile.

Molly smiled fondly back at him. "Come on, Harry. Let's go home."

The word 'home' struck a chord somewhere deep inside him, and he rose to his feet, casting one last glance at the doors that led to where Ness was struggling for her life before turning and following Mrs. Weasley down the corridor to the fireplaces that would, in fact, take him home.

V I V I V

As soon as Harry and Mrs. Weasley came through the fireplace into the Burrow's kitchen, a wave of exhaustion swept over him, and before he really knew what was happening Ginny had taken him by the hand and was leading him upstairs. To his surprise, there was no protest from either Molly or Ron, who was perched on the edge of the kitchen table scrutinizing them with an unfathomable expression on his face. Then he was in Ginny's room, and she was pushing him down to sit on her bed with the flowered bedspread soft beneath his hands.

"Ginny, I really…"

Her brown eyes twinkled wickedly. "Oh, Harry," She sighed heavily, kneeling before him and resting her elbows on his knees to gaze him in the face. "But it's been so long…"

Harry could only gape. "You're not… are you… Ginny, I…"

She let out a giggle that sounded more high-pitched than usual and pulled away from him. "You men are all the same." She teased, tugging her loose, dust-filled hair into a hasty ponytail. "Take you into my bedroom and you assume we're going to do it."

"That's not true!" Harry protested mightily, though that was what he had thought. "You were the one that started talking about it!"

"I didn't." Ginny pouted. "I was talking about it being so long since we'd really been alone together. Not that."

Harry rolled his eyes fondly. "You're a wonder, Ginny Weasley." He told her, his smile fading slightly. Sprawling on the rug in front of her bed and crossing her legs, she leant back on her elbows and watched him carefully, her own smile gone.

"It will be okay, you know."

"I know." Harry sighed. "But just when I think it's over, it's…" He started tracing the design of the bedspread with his index finger. "They came after Ness. What will stop them from coming after you, Ron, your family?"

"Our family," Ginny corrected. "And I don't know, maybe the dozen wards that have been erected around the Burrow that even You-Know-Who himself couldn't get through, or maybe the fact we have several round the clock Aurors living here. They're outnumbered, Harry. We'll be fine." She pushed a loose strand of hair out of her dark eyes. "Your duty has been done. It's time for you to live the life you chose."

Harry stared at her for a long, silent moment, before blurting out, "I'm not going to become an Auror."

Ginny smiled slightly. "Good." And she clambered up off the floor and onto the bed, clinging to him so tightly as if her life depended on it, and he was startled to feel the wetness of salty tears dampening the shoulder of his robes. His girlfriend was trembling in his grasp, and he hugged her back tightly, stroking her hair, wondering why he had ever felt so uncomfortable about trying to comfort crying girls because this, this felt like the most natural thing in the world.

There came the sound of wood scraping against wood as the door slowly opened, and Harry looked over Ginny's shoulder to see Bill and Charlie standing in the doorway, Charlie so dirty and disheveled it was clear he had just come from the dragon camp, and Bill looking much older than his years.

Swallowing hard, Harry glanced down at Ginny as she continued to cry, realising that she hadn't heard her brothers come in, then worriedly looked back at the two eldest Weasley boys, just waiting for the blow or the shouting.

Charlie's muddy face split into a grin, his white teeth standing out against his tanned skin, and Bill slowly gave hesitant thumbs up, nodding. 'Welcome back', he mouthed, and then, clapping Charlie on the shoulder, turned and left the room.

Harry shook his head in wonder. He had always thought that the Weasleys put on a tough exterior when everyone of them was soft at heart, but when it came to the well-being of one of their own; he figured that he would have suffered the wrath of every single one of them.

"Our family," Ginny's words echoed in his mind. It was hard to comprehend; the only family he had known had made it clear that they had never wanted him, and only put up with him for the safety of themselves. To have people that wanted him as their own despite having no blood relation… it was something, all right.

Pushing all thoughts of doubt out of his mind, he took Ginny's chin in his hand and lifted her stained face to his; gently kissing away the tears that still fell from her eyes.

"It's okay," He said fervently, pulling away. "It's going to be okay."

She nodded, sniffing. "Oh, I know," She replied in weak, choked tones. "We've survived this far. We can make it." She slid off the bed, tugging him to his feet. "Now, you're knackered and I could do with some food, so off to bed. Go on. I bet Mum's already set up a place in Ron's room."

"I haven't, actually," Molly said from the open doorway, and Harry jerked in surprise, scolding himself for waiting to be berated on being in Ginny's bedroom. Molly simply smiled mysteriously at him.

"Mum!" Ginny whined, sounding much like the ten-year-old girl Harry had first met in King's Cross Station, as she waved her brothers off to Hogwarts all the while wishing she were going with them. Harry struggled to hide a snicker.

"Go on up to the door past Ron's room, Harry." Mrs. Weasley said kindly.

Ginny gasped. "You didn't!"

"Yes, we thought it was about time. The paperwork came through and the structure could handle one more extension, so with Bill and Alastor's help, we got it finished last week."

Both Weasley women laughed at the bewildered look on Harry's face. "Just go on up to your bedroom, Harry." Molly insisted, patting him on the shoulder. "It's next to Ron's. I hope you'll like it – you can decorate it to your taste, of course."

Harry remembered how accepted and loved he had felt when Molly put his and Hermione's hands on the famous clock in the kitchen. This, this was about five times better, and he had to hurry from the room before he could let the sting of tears in his eyes betray him.

Yes, he was definitely a Weasley now.

V I V I V

"Ouch."

The first thing Ness saw when she opened her eyes was the face of Healer Alan Gregory smiling down at her and she immediately squeezed her lids shut again, a grimace of pain twisting on her lips.

"Oh, that's who I wanted to see as soon as I woke up." The grimace twisted into a teasing smile as she blinked up at Gregory, who looked torn between being righteously outraged or simply relieved. He settled for the latter, pulling a chair up to her bed and sitting just within her view. "You made it out all right without much more than a scratch, I see." She offered, touching the sling his right arm was in.

"More than can be said for you," Alan sighed, leaning back against the wooden frame of the chair and scrutinizing her. "They – we – were all worried about you for a while there. They didn't think you'd make it."

"Will take more than that to off me." Ness joked, coughing weakly and gratefully accepting the glass of water that the Healer offered her. "You should know that by now."

"What am I gonna do with you, eh?" Alan shook his head in disbelief, turning to an imaginary audience. "A brush with death and the woman is quipping jokes left right and center."

Abruptly, Ness sat upright, wincing as her newly formed scars pulled against her skin. "The girls next door! Ginny and Glyn – are they all right?"

"The girls are fine – the kid got to her cousins safely and they're with family now while their house is being rebuilt. Miss Weasley and Mr. Potter got a bit of a shock when they came to your house and found it in the state it was, but they're unharmed, and I think they're both at Miss Weasley's house now."

Ness sank back against the pillows, breathing a sigh of relief. "Thank Merlin."

"As for you…"

Ness winced, avoiding his gaze. "Oh, Alan, don't."

"Of all the stupid, idiotic things to do!" Alan blurted out, anger bubbling up to the surface. "Over paperwork, you almost died, Vanessa!"

"That paperwork tells us everything there is to know about Harry – including his gift!" Ness retorted, and he couldn't help but feel relieved about how alive she looked as her eyes flashed. He had been so terrified that, even if she had survived, the amount of times she had been succumbed to the Cruciatus curse would have destroyed her mind. "They could easily find a way to kill Harry if they had that information, Alan. It shows him at his weakest. And you know that is exactly how You-Know-Who liked to do things; find people's weakest points. So – I know it was stupid but it was a matter of life or death… it was mine or Harry's!"

Alan reared back, startled. "I just – it's been horrible, all right?" He attempted lamely. "What they did to you – and then being told that there was little chance you'd live… it's been a rough day." He suddenly looked uncharacteristically shy, running his hands over the wrinkles on the bed sheets to smooth them out. "The thought of losing you, Vanessa, it's just…" He trailed off, his cheeks tinged with pink. For perhaps the first time ever, Ness looked lost for words, her own face no longer pasty but turning a healthy red, and she caught his hand in her own, entwining their fingers. When he looked back at her, she said nothing, and simply offered a small smile.

"Right." Unwilling to break the comfortable moment but unsure what else to do, the Healer got to his feet, taking his hand from hers and instantly missing the feel of her slender fingers against his. "I'd better go and tell your young charges that you're okay." He looked her over. "You are, aren't you?" He asked suddenly, worriedly. Ness grinned.

"I ache all over, and feel like I could sleep for a week, but yes, I'm fine. I know they'll be disappointed."

Instead of quirking a smile at her joke, Alan shook his head, his grey eyes boring into hers seriously. "Don't."

Ness nodded, blinking back tears. "Okay." She said softly. "Go and tell them I said hi, and I'm glad they're okay."

The door swung shut behind him, and Ness found herself staring at the closed door for several moments longer, her brow creased into a pained frown. To be honest, she had never seen Alan as anything more than a friend. She thought he was a decent guy, and certainly good-looking, but she had never been physically attracted to him. But then… if he hadn't come after her when the Death Eaters attacked, she would be most likely be dead.

"Oh, that's who I wanted to see as soon as I woke up."

In truth, Ness realised with a jerk of shock, that there was no other person she would have rather seen. Sinking back down under the sheets, exhaustion sweeping over her, her last fleeting thought before sleep claimed her was that maybe she wasn't so alone after all.

V I V I V

Harry had never slept so well. Just the feeling of warmth and homeliness in the small but comfortable room at the top of the house had sent all nightmares from his mind and his sleep had been one of restful dreamlessness. Glancing at the clock on his bedside table – his, he still had to adjust to calling it his room and his belongings – he hurriedly dressed and bolted down the three flights of stairs to the kitchen where the majority of the Weasley family were sitting. Stopping in the doorway, he realised with a sinking feeling that he hadn't actually really spoken to anyone besides Ginny and Mrs. Weasley. Maybe they didn't want him after everything he had put them through.

His first thought was that he should just leave, but firmly pushed that from his mind straight away. He had promised Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley, and he would hold them to that promise forever. He would face the Weasley brothers like a man – after all, he had suffered the wrath of Voldemort, he could certainly face the overprotective brothers of his girlfriend, couldn't he?

"Sit down, dear, and have some breakfast." Molly said kindly, nodding to the empty chair next to Ron. Hesitantly, Harry took the proffered seat, studiously avoiding everyone's gazes. Feeling a slight pressure on his foot, he looked up, receiving a reassuring smile from Ginny.

Knowing that he would probably be sick if he tried to eat a thing, Harry pushed his chair back and stood up, pressing the palms of his hands against the table top and staring at his empty plate. Summoning up all the courage he could muster, he forced himself to look around the table. To his surprise, none of the Weasleys were glaring at him, though Ron looked decidedly uncomfortable.

"I just want to say," Harry stated, his voice shaking ever so slightly. "That I'm sorry. You've all – err, you've all done a lot for me over the past years, and – I didn't exactly repay you very well. I just wasn't sure how to – it was a lot to deal with, and I knew I had to cope by myself. I knew if I told you where I was then you'd demand I came back but – it wasn't safe, not for you or me, until I – well, until I learned to deal. It wasn't the best way to deal with things but I couldn't think of another way. And – well, yeah, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry."

Flushing red, he started to leave the room, but was stopped by Ron's hoarse voice saying, "Oh, stop, you git."

Startled, Harry spun around. Ron was on his feet, smiling crookedly. "I was right pissed off at you at first, mate." He admitted, ignoring his mother's shocked berate at his language. "But you had to do what you had to do. As long as you don't carry on buggering off without telling us where you're going, we'll be all right."

"Hear, hear." Fred exchanged a wicked glance with George. "But you do owe us, Harry."

"I know." Harry said before he realised just what he was letting himself into. All the Weasleys aside from the twins groaned simultaneously, and Ginny let her head drop onto the table with a thud. Surprised, Harry looked around at them all, saw the twins' thoughtful smiles and Mr. Weasley's amused expression, and found himself shaking with laughter.

"You've got a lot to learn about this family, Harry." Ginny giggled, raising her head, her brown eyes twinkling. "Never admit you owe anything to the twins – they'll make your life hell."

Bill and Ron were both sniggering now, and even Mrs. Weasley looked torn between amusement and exasperation. Harry couldn't help but join in on the laughter, not even sure what he was laughing at but finding himself unable to stop.

In fact, he didn't want to.

"Laughter is the best medicine," He recalled Hermione quoting solemnly during their sixth year. Ron had looked confused and told Hermione that you couldn't drink laughter, but Harry understood. And sitting in the kitchen with the whole clan of redheads laughing at nothing in particular was making him feel infinitely better.

"Don't worry, mate," Ron said to him quietly as they all settled back down to breakfast as if Harry's speech had never happened. "Bill and Charlie – their bark is worse than their bite. You're forgiven yet, I'm sure." Sure enough, there was no hostility in Charlie's gaze as he caught Harry's eye across the table, and Bill was eagerly chatting away to Ginny about her escapades in Venice.

"And what about you?" Harry asked back softly.

"I told you. I was hurt at first that you felt you couldn't talk to me and Hermione – but well, I'd never be able to understand. Only Ginny can, really. Just – if you do ever want to talk, you know I'm here, right?"

"I know." Harry said. "And thanks. But – I'm okay."

And, he realised, he really was.

It was finally over.