Chapter Title: Chater 2: Happy Anniversary
Characters:
Genres:
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: HBP Spoiler
Summary: Halloween is a different kind of holiday now. Harry takes a weekend to enjoy the company of his favorite adopted family to celebrate the day. But before the night is over, long lost memories resurface to haunt him... and help him.
"Harry, would you hurry up! We're going to be late," bellowed Ron, staring anxiously out the front window of Harry's modest house.
"I'll be right there, keep your shirt on."
"Mum wanted us there at exactly 5 o'clock."
"Alright. I'm ready, I'm ready." Harry emerged from the bathroom wearing a handsome set forest-green robes that were so perfectly pressed, Ron knew he must have spent hours ironing them. "Since when are you Mr. Punctuality anyway?"
"Since I started going with Hermione, that's when," chided Ron, who was wearing a nice set of robes in a deep burgundy red.
"Hey, nice maroon," joked Harry, lifting up an edge of Ron's robes as if to feel the material, then quickly stepping out of Ron's reach.
"They're not maroon!" Ron shot back, narrowly missing Harry's shoulder with his fist. "Can we finally go now? I've been here for nearly half an hour," he grumbled at Harry.
"Hey, it's a special day. I had to make sure everything was… you know," Harry said, locking his front door and walking out into the crisp autumn air.
"Why do you insist on using that Muggle iron for your clothes anyway? Magic would be much faster you know."
"Ginny can tell. She likes it when I put extra effort into things."
Ron rolled his eyes as they climbed into Harry's car and set off down the road. Ron looked as though he might say something but thought better of it. Harry knew what he was thinking. They had argued about it more times than he could remember, but Harry had held firm. He didn't much care for the idea of simply popping up in the Weasley's fireplace, expected or not, and even with his level of experience and proficiency, Harry disliked Apparating almost as much now as he had when he had first done it with Dumbledore. He thought it might be a lingering remnant of his Muggle-bound childhood that made magical transport seem almost boring sometimes. One fact was for sure, he very much enjoyed driving.
"Godric's Hollow is so great this time of year. Don't you think?" said Harry, inhaling deeply through his open window.
"Sure." Ron regarded the quaint houses as they drove past. The foliage on the trees had littered the gardens with a blanket of multicolored leaves. Smoke rose from the various chimneys poking up here and there and Ron longed for the warmth of his mother's kitchen. "Say Harry, would you mind rolling up the window. It's nearly November you know."
"Sure," Harry responded, twiddling the handle automatically. "I think this is going to be a great weekend don't you?"
"Yeah," Ron replied noncommittally.
"Do you know if Bill and Charlie managed to work it out so they could come too?" Harry asked as they left town and picked up speed.
"I haven't heard anything yet. Maybe."
"I hope so. We haven't seen them in, I dunno, how long?"
"Harry?" Ron said tentatively.
"What?" Harry asked narrowing his eyes quizzically at his best friend.
"Are you sure you're up to this?"
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, in case you've forgotten, we tried this last year and… well nobody blames you Harry. It's an awful lot to deal with so soon after it all happened."
"Don't worry about it. I admit, it was too early last year, but a year is a long time. Trust me. Everything will be fine." Harry fiddled with the air vents and stared resolutely ahead. Ron watched his best friend for a moment in silence, wondering yet again, what was going on underneath that mess of jet-black hair.
"Okay," Ron said after the silence became too awkward, "but if you start to feel weird again and you want to get away, I'm sure everyone will understand."
"I appreciate that, but it won't be necessary." Harry closed his eyes for a dangerously long few seconds, considering he was driving. When they opened again he set his face firmly and put on a relatively convincing smile. "Let's just forget about it and enjoy the weekend. Cheer up. You don't want to be all grouchy when we arrive. We're nearly there now."
Ron looked up incredulously as the landscape became more and more familiar. He had spent so much of the ride concentrating on Harry that he had no idea what was going on outside. "You know, I've seen Ministry drivers cut around Muggle cars without being noticed, but I don't think I've ever seen anyone that can drive so fast on top of it. Last time I tried this I nearly ran over some bloke walking his dog."
"It just takes practice. You have to really know the car," Harry responded. He sat comfortably with one hand on the wheel, easing into his good mood, however forced it might have been. After a moment he tapped the brakes and turned lightly onto a dusty country road. Slowing to savor the moment, Harry gazed distantly through the window at the very distinct image of the Burrow. Even with a few newer additions to the hodge-podge of rooms that were magically glued together, it still held the same wonderful charm it had when Harry had first encountered it ten years before. "You know. I'll never get tired of seeing that," said Harry breathlessly.
"Me neither!" Ron said distractedly, staring directly ahead at a familiar form that was running toward them as Harry parked the car.
"The house Ron," Harry replied, rolling his eyes.
"Huh…? Oh, right, the house, yeah, great." Ron replied automatically as he got out of the car just in time for Hermione to smother him in a tight embrace.
"Hi Hermione," Harry said with amusement, pocketing his keys.
"Oh. Hi Harry, It's good to see you," Hermione replied with a dignified blush. "Ginny's upstairs getting ready. She might be done by now. Those robes look really great on you by the way. Ouch Ronald, stop that. I didn't mean it that way."
"Thanks Hermione, Ginny gave them to me for my birthday. I haven't had an occasion to wear them 'till now," Harry smiled at his two best friends. "I'll leave you two to get reacquainted, it must have been at least two days since you've seen each other."
"Shut up Harry," Ron called after him as Harry turned toward the house. The familiar form of Mrs. Weasley waved from the window and yelled something over her shoulder as he approached. Harry smiled happily as he waved back. Her persistent good cheer gave him the feeling that tonight's festivities were just what he needed to clear his mind. Just as he neared the front door it opened and out stepped Ginny, wearing robes of beautiful, pale-blue satin, which magnificently intensified the color of her vibrant red hair. Around her neck was a simple sliver chain with a glimmering, green peridot gem hanging in the center.
"Looks like we had the same idea," Harry smiled embracing her tightly. "You look very nice tonight."
"So do you handsome. Thank you again for the necklace, and those robes do look quite smashing on you."
"Well, the person who picked them out had excellent taste, I must say," Harry said in a dignified voice, inclining his head formally.
"You should really thank that person," Ginny said, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, if you insist." Harry leaned in and kissed her.
"Well," said Ginny a few seconds later, fanning her face with her hand. "You're very welcome Mr. Potter."
"Don't you 'Mr. Potter' me," Harry laughed, ruffling her hair.
"Harry, don't," Ginny screamed running into the house, Harry hot on her trail. "No… Harry please, I spent half an hour getting it like this."
"I don't care if it's messed up," Harry chased her up the stairs.
"Well, I do." Ginny giggled, slapping his hands away as they rounded the first landing.
"Hey, you two, dinner's almost ready," Mrs. Weasley called up the stairs. "Ask the boys to come down please and then we can get started…" she paused for a moment, hands on her hips. "OKAY?" she bellowed.
"All right Mrs. Weasley, we'll be right down," Harry called down the stairs between fits of laughter. "Ouch, that hurt."
"Serves you right," Ginny shot back, turning into her bedroom. "You go call Fred and George while I fix this mess you've made," she commanded and shut the door with a snap.
"It's a very pretty mess," Harry called through the door, causing Ginny to giggle in spite of herself. With a satisfied smirk, Harry turned up the stairs. Things looked slightly different with the modifications that had been done since Harry had last been here. Ron's old room was still at the very top of the house, but it was much bigger now; all the more room for his orange Chudley Cannon's posters, which were much less tattered than they had been in the past. Harry glanced around, noticing a spare bed on the far side of the room, already made up and ready for him. Turning back to the door he saw a poster on which several orange clad Quidditch players zoomed about while, below them, an equally orange Ron stood bellowing silently up at the players.
Shaking his head, he turned back down the stairs, stopping by Fred and George's old room and knocking lightly on the door, causing a loud clatter at the sudden interruption. "What is it?" one of the twins called, sounding rather startled.
"Dinner's ready," Harry said smirking and shaking his head. There were several quick footsteps and the door opened wide enough for a face to appear.
"It is Harry!" Fred called back to his twin enthusiastically.
"The one and only," Harry said, bowing deeply.
"Great, tell mum we'll be right down. Won't be a tick."
When Harry turned into the kitchen he was shocked to find it empty. The familiar scrubbed wood table was gone and Mrs. Weasley, with her multitude of steaming pots, was nowhere in sight.
"Where'd everybody go?" Harry said in confusion.
"Oh, we're back here dear," Mrs. Weasley called Harry over as she came in from the other side of the room to retrieve a basket of bread from the oven. "Arthur added a dining room last month. Come see!"
Through the new opening in the wall, Harry could see two tables arranged along a nicely appointed, oval-shaped dining room. Upon entering the room he noticed there were windows almost all the way around the room, which offered a stunning view of the hills around the Burrow. To compliment the beauty of the setting, dishes full of steaming food sat, wafting amazing scents into the air, and Harry was instantly starving. Taking a seat next to Mr. Weasley, Harry could hardly wait to get started.
"Harry, how are you these days? Not too busy I hope?" said Mr. Weasley, folding up his copy of the Evening Prophet and stashing it on a small buffet behind his seat.
"Not too busy, no. I've been trying to cut back a little," Harry responded casually as he carefully positioned his napkin to best protect his new dress robes. "We're still pretty well staffed, of course, so there are plenty of people to cover everything."
"Right you are. Must have been quite a party there today eh Harry?"
"Yeah. We didn't get a whole lot done. Those guys really deserve it though." Harry fiddled with his glass distractedly. "Can you believe it's been two years?"
"It's hard to imagine, after so much darkness… It really was a great day, for all of us, you especially Harry."
"Well…" Harry waved his hand dismissively. "I never would have done it alone. We must have had the entire Ministry there that night." Just then Ron and Hermione came in and sat down across from Harry.
"Great, food. I'm starving. Where's the wine?"
"Slow down Ronald, not everybody's here yet," admonished Hermione, reclaiming her glass from his eager grip and directing him to his own.
"Hello all," called Fred and George as they sat down beside Ron.
"Did Bill and Charlie make it?" asked Harry.
"I'm afraid not, Harry. They send you their best," said Mr. Weasley.
"Looks like Percy's here early," called Fred, pointing outside.
"Really? He said he wouldn't be able to make it 'till tomorrow," said Mrs. Weasley waving out the window. Percy saw the gathering at the table and began to trot faster toward the house. "Where has Ginny gone to anyway?"
"Still upstairs probably," said Harry. Suddenly a scream floated in from the kitchen. "Guess not." Fred and George laughed appreciatively. Ron just rolled his eyes.
"Hello little sis, how are you?" They could hear Percy's voice from the other room as the front door slammed.
"You're early! Oh, it's so good to see you," came Ginny's excited voice. "Here, just put your things over there, mum's got dinner ready."
"Greetings!" called Percy as he followed his sister into the dining room, holding one arm up ceremoniously and looking around at everyone as they greeted him all at once. Fred and George, who were closest, each took Percy's hand in turn and shook it vigorously.
"Percy, absolutely marvelous to see you old boy," said Fred pompously.
"M,yes absolutely spiffing," said George in his best Winston Churchill impression. Mr. Weasley laughed out loud. His love for everything Muggle related had recently turned to historical figures.
"It's great to see you guys too," said Percy laughing and sitting down next to Ginny, who had taken the seat next to Harry.
"How's Charlotte?" asked Mrs. Weasley as she took the remaining seat, next to Hermione.
"Mother, we live in Raleigh," Percy corrected her.
"Your wife Percy!" she said shaking her head.
"Oh, right, Char. She's doing very well… sends you her love of course," he said to the group.
"It's too bad she couldn't make it," Mr. Weasley mused.
"Well she's working overtime at the hospital right now. They're opening a new wing on Monday."
"That's wonderful. Tell her congratulations for us."
"I will."
"Well, everybody, dig in," Mrs. Weasley said with great satisfaction.
For hours they all talked and ate and drank and laughed. Harry was feeling completely at ease, enjoying the company of his adoptive family. Mr. Weasley sat comfortably back in his chair, allowing others to drive the conversation as usual and interjecting his own opinion where it was warranted. Mrs. Weasley was in her element, forcing extra helpings on everybody until they begged for mercy. Ginny probed Percy for stories of life in the U.S., which turned out to be much more interesting than the dry conversation he usually brought to the table. Fred and George lightened the mood as they regaled them all with the latest mayhem at the joke shops. Harry watched with amusement as Ron and Hermione argued over a new book she was writing. Ginny would occasionally sit in silence, leaning dreamily up against Harry's shoulder as he conversed with the rest of the family. Voldemort's existence seemed a very long time ago as they carried on late into the night. Before any of them knew it, the clock chimed nine, and Mrs. Weasley nearly knocked Fred out of his seat as she leaped up.
"Oh, my is it that late already. Arthur, help me, quickly," she ordered frantically. "We've only got a few minutes."
Moments later everybody was standing in the living room, holding champagne glasses.
"First of all," Mr. Weasley spoke to the room, "I want to thank you all for being here on this extra special evening. By some amount of luck or fate we find ourselves recognizing a number of important events on this day every year. Thirty-four years ago today, Molly and I were married." The whole room applauded. "Thank you, thank you. Unfortunately, this day was not always a happy one. We also remember fondly, two of the most wonderful people Molly and I ever had the pleasure of knowing. We honor the memories of Lily and James Potter on this, the day they were brutally murdered twenty-one years ago." Ron and Hermione each reached over and squeezed Harry's shoulder gently and Ginny held his hand tightly. Harry nodded appreciatively at the loving faces surrounding him as a silent tear rolled down his cheek.
After a brief pause Mr. Weasley continued, "On that same day, Voldemort changed the course of history forever when he cursed Harry, and set in action a course of events that would change all of our lives. Ultimately, we now know, Voldemort's decision was his undoing. And so, lastly, we rejoice amongst ourselves, and indeed alongside all wizard kind as we celebrate the second anniversary of the Dark Lord's defeat, and the end of the Great War."
The room grew silent as everyone looked anxiously at the clock, which now read: 9:17. Harry, who had kept his eyes closed for most of Mr. Weasley's speech, began to feel a bit light-headed and swayed slightly on his feet. "Are you alright Harry?" Ginny whispered. Harry nodded silently, steeling himself, determined to hold strong.
After what felt like days, the clock finally twitched and, with its own sense of anticipation, slowly turned over to 9:18. Loud bangs and whistles rang out in every direction. Through the windows they all could see a dazzling color display as several dozen of Fred and George's Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-Bangs ignited with tremendous energy. With a cacophony of clinking glass, everybody drank with great satisfaction.
Harry didn't know what was happening. As he and Ginny kissed in celebration his vision became fuzzy and he stumbled over to the couch, leaning on it for support. "Harry? Harry what's wrong?" Ginny said with an increasing sound of panic in her voice. "Everybody back up, give him room!" she bellowed, getting everyone's attention. They all backed away slowly, looking on with startled expressions as Ginny helped Harry into a chair. "My god, Harry, you're all pale and clammy. Harry, talk to me. I'm right here. I'm right here. Harry I love you so much, I love you so much…"
"…I love you so much, I love you so much," Ginny's voice echoed in Harry's head as a thousand memories cascaded into his consciousness. He saw her looking at him. Terror was in her tearful eyes. She looked different somehow. Her mouth was moving frantically but he couldn't hear what she was saying. He listened harder.
Harry, please don't go. You can't. I won't let you.
Harry heard his own voice distantly, as if from another world.
I have to Ginny. Everything will be all right. Please don't make this harder than it already is. You have to trust me. Harry saw himself holding Ginny's hand. I have to do this Ginny.
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Ginny's scream seared into Harry's head and his scar burned as she collapsed, sobbing into his arms. He could still hear her pleading voice echoing in the distance. Slowly her image and her voice faded into nothing and everything went black.
Harry was looking out over a vast sea of bright orange flames. Screams drifted from every direction as the multicolored lights of spells glanced this way and that. Occasionally, loud explosions echoed across the vast landscape below him. He was leaning against a stone wall, looking over it, panting, looking down. Suddenly a bright flash illuminated a large lake in the distance and Harry knew where he was. This must be the Astronomy tower at Hogwarts. Harry wanted to look around, but he was somehow paralyzed. He couldn't move. He simply stared ahead as the flaming trees below him burned high into the sky. He could feel the heat on his face.
There was a noise behind him and a hollow, high-pitched laugh soared into the night sky, filling Harry simultaneously with terror and rage. Harry wanted to turn, to confront, to fight. But he couldn't move. He screamed but no sound came out. Suddenly the high-pitched voice bellowed and everything was filled with a bright green light. Harry felt as though a hot poker had stabbed him in the back. His forehead screamed in agony. A brilliant surge of energy filled his body and he felt as though he might explode. He heard screaming in his head. It was the memory of his mother's scream he had become so painfully familiar with. But there was another voice. He couldn't concentrate on it long enough. It was familiar, but he couldn't remember where he'd heard it before. The scorching pain moved through his body, from the scar on his forehead, to the burning spot on his back. The high-pitched voice behind him was laughing, higher and higher.
No, it wasn't laughing at all. It was screaming too. Harry felt he would go deaf from the piercing sound. With all his might he pushed against the stone. Finally facing his fate, he saw a brilliant white light, too bright to look at. The screaming was agonizing. He could no longer bear the sound. A sudden blast knocked him back into the wall and the screaming was gone. In the sudden silence, a dark figure floated briefly in the distance and tumbled off of the battlements and out of sight. The floor beneath Harry trembled and the sky above him glowed bright red. The pain in Harry's body seemed to melt away as a distant, haunting cry echoed across the land. It was the most beautiful sound Harry had ever heard. Slowly, gently, his consciousness faded, until he could see, and hear, and feel no more.
"My god, what have we done?"
"Harry?"
"Here, put this on his forehead."
"Harry! Harry please, answer me."
Harry couldn't breathe. He could feel cool water dripping down his face. He could feel Ginny squeezing his hand. Summoning all of his strength, he opened his eyes. With a gasping breath he felt cold air fill his lungs and he began coughing uncontrollably.
"Turn him over."
He felt hands pulling him up, hands turning him around, hands slapping his back. Suddenly, he rose to his feet and ran from the room. He made it to the bathroom just in time and retched, over and over again. His stomach and his lungs heaving, he leaned there, panting and coughing. The pain on his forehead was now matched by an equally intense one on his back.
"Harry," called Ginny's voice. "Are you alright?" He tried to speak but only raspy air came out. He nodded instead. Cautiously he turned and walked gingerly back toward the living room. Ginny walked slowly alongside him and reached out, placing her arm around him. He winced in pain as she brushed over the tender spot along his back. "What's wrong? I'm sorry; I didn't mean to hurt you. What is it?" She pulled his robes back and lifted up his shirt to see what had caused him to flinch, and let out a sudden, frightened gasp. Hermione and Ron quickly ran over to look. Hermione failed to silence her yelp, Ron simply stood there, too stunned to speak.
"Oh Harry. Why didn't you ever say anything?" asked Hermione.
Harry regained his voice. "Say anything about what?"
"The scar on your back."
"What scar?"
"There's a lightning shaped scar on your back mate, just like the one on your forehead," Ron stammered.
"Hang on," Ginny ran up the stairs quickly and returned seconds later with a handheld mirror. "Come over here Harry." Ginny pulled Harry over to a large mirror hanging on the far wall. "See for yourself," she said, handing him the mirror and holding up his shirt for him. There it was, just below his left shoulder blade. It was almost identical to the one on his forehead except this scar was slightly smaller. Both were burning bright red.
Harry didn't speak for a long time. Stunned, he walked slowly over to the couch and slumped down into it. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley simply stood, looking worried. Somehow they knew it was best to let Harry's friends handle this; after all, they had helped Harry in similar situations in the past. The Weasley's and Hermione watched patiently as Harry collected his thoughts. Ginny came and sat beside him, holding his hand. The sensation brought Harry out of his reverie and, finally, he spoke. "You know how I told you all that I couldn't remember anything that happened up in the Astronomy tower with Voldemort?"
"Yeah," said Ron. "You said the last thing you could remember was a sort of déjà vu feeling and you just knew to run up there."
"Yeah, I didn't have any idea why, but somehow, I knew that's what I was supposed to do."
"We remember Harry," said Hermione patiently.
"Wow, I guess, whatever that was just then… I guess I just remembered it all. It was like a vision, or a dream."
"What happened Harry?" asked Ginny.
Harry recalled everything to them, from the burning forest, to the high-pitched laughing and screaming, to the phoenix song he heard just before he blacked out. It seemed to take a very long time. When he was done they all sat there in silence. Distantly, Harry noticed the fireworks still banging away outside.
"So, I guess that explains the scar then." Harry swallowed hard as Ginny fussed over him, pulling stray hairs back away from his face. "Voldemort tried to kill me twice. Both times it didn't work, both times it left a scar. I guess the one on my back was there all along. It's just in such an awkward place I never noticed it before."
"How does it feel, Harry?" Ginny asked tenderly.
"Better." Harry reached and felt along his back. "It isn't so sensitive now. What I don't understand is…" Harry looked down at the floor and the room waited in patient silence. After a few minutes of thought, Harry shook his head in defeat. Whatever he was trying to work out was obviously lost.
"Well, it's late. Maybe we all should get some rest. I think Harry especially could use some," said Mrs. Weasley, sensing a need to break the tension.
"What time is it?" asked Harry, standing up.
"About ten after midnight," said Percy.
"Hey dad," said Ginny. "There's another anniversary we can celebrate, now that it's tomorrow… or today, or… you know what I mean," she stammered.
"What's that dear?" Mr. Weasley smiled wearily.
"This is Harry's and my two year anniversary. He asked me out the day after all that happened."
"That is cause for celebration," said Percy. "Congratulations you two."
"Thanks," Harry replied meekly. "You all are really the best friends a guy could ask for," he said shaking Ron's hand. "You're all so great to me." He kissed Hermione on the cheek. "I'm sorry. It's been a hard night. I think I will have to turn in. Thank you for the wonderful dinner Mrs. Weasley." He hugged Mrs. Weasley and shook Mr. Weasley's hand. "I'll see you all in the morning." Harry shook the hands of Fred, George, and Percy as he made his way to the stairs.
"Sleep well dear. I'll have breakfast for you whenever you wake up. Sleep as long as you like." called Mrs. Weasley. Harry smiled and turned up the stairs, closely followed by Ginny.
After Harry had dressed in his pajamas in Ron's bathroom, he turned to Ginny and kissed her gently. Smiling, she reached over and turned down his sheets. Harry slid into the cozy bed gratefully as Ginny leaned over and tucked him in, placing his glasses on the nightstand.
"You're hair's all messed up you know," Harry said softly.
She smiled and kissed him silently on his forehead. He was asleep before she had even closed the door.
The smell of bacon wafted up to Harry's nose as a light breeze tickled the curtains in the window. The sun was shining in and Harry couldn't believe the feeling inside of him. It was like a kind of finality that he had never experienced before. Two years ago, when people had told him Voldemort was dead, Harry really thought he would feel a sense of relief, but that relief had never come, at least until now. Now, he thought he had never before in his life known what happiness truly felt like.
Harry heard a creak and looked up, seeing a blurry figure in the doorway. "You're up!" Ginny said happily as she bounced over to his bedside. "How are you feeling?" she asked, brushing her fingers lightly on his forehead. Harry absently reached for his glasses and slipped them on.
"I've never felt like this before," He said, stretching and sitting up against the headboard. Ginny sat next to him and took his hand. "It's like I've been carrying around this burden for my entire life and I never fully knew it was there. Now it's just, gone. I feel like I could fly."
"I'm glad. You look like it too." Ginny smiled at him and kissed him softly. "Happy anniversary Harry."
"Happy anniversary to y—" Harry suddenly leapt out of bed, leaving Ginny looking bewildered as she stood and turned to face him.
"Harry, what is it?"
"I've just thought of something." Harry's eyes jerked around anxiously as he formulated his thoughts, pacing in front of the window. He wasn't going to let it get away this time.
"What?" Ginny said softly after a minute. She was still too stunned to move.
"I saw something else last night. With all the stuff about Voldemort I completely forgot. I remembered that conversation we had right before I left for Hogwarts that night. Do you remember it?" He turned to face her with concern in his eyes. "You didn't want me to go. You pleaded with me not to go."
"Yes," Ginny looked stricken. "I remember that Harry. It hurt me so much to see you go. I know we hadn't been 'together' since Dumbledore's funeral, but that didn't change the way I felt about you. I could never…"
"Me either. But Ginny, there's one piece of the puzzle that's still missing." Harry resumed his pacing. "You know how I survived Voldemort the first time because of my mother's love?"
"Yes."
"Well, that love caused Voldemort great pain right. That's what made the spell backfire, and that's why he couldn't bear to touch me."
"Yeah."
"Well, that changed when he came back, you know, in that graveyard, after the tournament. He could touch me again. That same protection my mother gave me was now in him because of my blood in the potion." Harry chewed on his fist anxiously as he assembled his thoughts, finally understanding.
"Where are you going with this Harry?"
"I'm saying, that power my mother gave me 21 years ago wouldn't have worked anymore, not against Voldemort. That curse up in the Astronomy tower should have killed me."
Ginny quailed at these words and leaned against the bed for support. After a moment she stammered, "You… you don't know that," she insisted, as though admitting it would make it true. "Maybe your mother's love was stronger for you because it was intended for you, not for Voldemort," she reasoned.
"Maybe, but I don't think that was all of it. I think there had to be something else, something more," Harry finished slowly. After a pause he seemed to have assembled his final conclusion. He stopped, facing the window again and spoke in an oddly resigned but thoroughly convinced tone. "Something to equal the power of my mothers love."
"What could do that?"
"You Ginny." Harry turned to her, his eyes flashing. "It was you!"
"What was?" Ginny looked very confused and worried. "Harry, what do you mean?"
"You loved me." Harry choked on the words, but swallowed and went on with determination. "You loved me more than anyone else ever has. I knew it that night when I left. I just didn't know it could mean so much, or be so strong."
"Harry, what are you saying?"
"You saved me Ginny! You saved me with your love for me," Harry said, pacing around the room. "Ginny, you helped me defeat Voldemort. We did it together." Harry walked quickly over to her and held her by the shoulders, looking her square in the eye. "Don't you see? It was never about which spell could finally kill him or some kind of tactic that would give me the upper hand. There had always been that fundamental difference between him and me. Ever since the prophecy." Harry looked away, trying to remember the exact words he had heard seven years ago in Dumbledore's office. " It said: 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord…' power, not strength. Why didn't I see that before?"
Harry was trembling with the combined excitement and sheer gravity of what he had just realized. Ginny was paralyzed, unable to move as she gazed into his fiery green eyes.
"That has to be it, Ginny. I've never felt like this before. I've never known a stronger truth in my entire life. I know it from the depths of my soul. It was you Ginny. It is you." He could bear it no longer. As he kissed her, it was as if he left his own body. Warmth spread through him such as he had never felt before. When they pulled apart, they suddenly realized that they were both kneeling on the floor. Looking into each other's eyes, they knew.
"Ginny?" Harry croaked.
"Harry?" Ginny sobbed.
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes."