A/N I've had quite a few messages about Molly – I know this is brutal but I just think she would be devastated and not thinking clearly. It's another angst filled fest here – but I promise it does get better! I'm always happy to get reviews. Thank you for reading!

Harry lay awake listening to Ron and Hermione gently breathing in and out. The trio had stayed together in Ron's room overnight since the battle and Harry found some small comfort in the sound of them peacefully sleeping nearby. He knew at some point he was going to have to move out of this room, and out of the Burrow but for the moment he didn't have the strength to leave and felt this was his best option.

It was a week since the Battle of Hogwarts and two days since Fred's funeral. Harry still couldn't believe that he had done that without Ginny by his side. He couldn't believe she had done it without anybody by her side. Each day felt endless and he felt the now familiar roll of panic begin to course through him as it did every night. Life seemed more helpless in the still darkness of night. In the darkness, it was easy to let his imagination run riot over his common sense.

With a thumping heart and sweaty palms, he took a deep breath, reaching as he always did in moments like these for an image of Ginny. Red hair filled his vision and he imagined the swish of it in the breeze which would send the scent of a summer's day washing over him. His pure panic began to ebb away and he chased it with another few calming breaths. Hermione had been subtly commenting on breathing techniques and he begrudgingly admitted they worked.

He rolled over and swung his legs out of bed, he made to quietly sneak out of the room. Harry stiffened when Hermione rolled over and fixed him with a stare.

"Harry?"

"Hermione?" he replied with none of his usual bluster.

"I can hear you thinking from here," she replied softly.

Harry huffed and scrubbed his hands through his hair. "I can't sleep. Thought I might get some air,"

"Do you need some company?" Hermione asked kindly.

Harry prickled at the implied pity in her tone but ruthlessly pushed it aside. The last thing he needed now was to offend Hermione. Instead, he shook his head, gesturing to the door. "I just need a breather," Hermione smiled and nodded. She rolled over back towards Ron again and Harry felt his heart contract painfully.

He stood, pulling a tee-shirt over his head and headed down the levels of the burrow. He did not as he told Hermione intend to take some air but made his way to Ginny's room. Harry opened the door, breathing in deeply but finding no trace of flowers in the air. His brow tuckered at the lack of evidence of Ginny's presence. Her room looked as if nobody in particular lived there. He realised with another bolt of panic that he couldn't really remember how it had been organised before. Did she have her clothes on the floor? Was her desk usually messy or bare as it was today? He walked the room a moment, tracing his fingers along the edge of the desk and stared out the window into the blackness beyond.

With a soft sigh, he confessed "I love you, Ginny," as he ran a hand through his hair and then retreated to the armchair he had dragged up here a few days earlier and sank into its depths. Molly and Arthur hadn't commented on his movement of the furniture. Arthur had sent George to help him move it from the living room to her room. With a final glance around and a sigh, Harry pulled the throw over himself and closed his eyes. Finally finding some sleep.

Ginny watched as she had for the past few nights for the door to open. She knew his footsteps by heart now, those familiar steps on the stairs brought her some measure of comfort. She drew breath as Harry opened the door and she watched as he took his own deep breath and walked her room. She sat cross-legged on the bed as he ran his fingers along her desk. Her heart simultaneously swooped and broke at his whispered confession. She added her own silent, "I love you too," her heart hammering in her chest as she did so.

As Harry sank into the armchair, she waited for his breath to even out and then she slipped from her bed. She reached out gently, running her fingers along the edge of the tasselled throw he had chosen. She tucked it tighter around his shoulder and pulled his glasses from his face, tucking them onto the arm of the chair for safekeeping.

Her fingers trailed along his arm for the moment and she stood staring at his face, cataloguing his features into her brain. Ginny knew he probably wouldn't stay at the Burrow much longer and her heart thumped painfully at the thought of him leaving.

Mind made she stood up, crossed the hallway and headed to her parents' room. She knew her mum would be there, she always was at the moment. She also knew her Dad had taken to late night sessions in his shed. She thought it probably brought him some solace. Ginny knocked on the door briefly and then entered.

"Mum, how are you?" she asked in a measured tone. She sat on the edge of the bed, patting her mum's knee to get her attention.

"Ginny, lovely, how have you been today?" Molly looked up brightly.

"Good, mum," she replied impatiently, "listen I wanted to talk to you again,"

"Ginny, I'll just stop you there, I've agreed I will tell your father tomorrow. I will make him a secret keeper," she smiled at Ginny.

Ginny huffed in frustration and took a deep breath.

"Mum I don't want Dad to be a secret keeper, I want you to lift the charm. This is getting ridiculous," Ginny tried not to raise her voice, and keep back her anger but it was hard. "I just want to see everybody, it's not fair, you making me do this alone!"

"But you aren't alone dear, you have me," Her mum patted her knee encouragingly.

"Mum! You are not listening to me. How long will this go on? How long are you going to keep me from everything? It won't help in the long run. What if something happens to you, what will happen to me then?" Ginny was on her feet now, and she shoved her hair roughly back from her face. "I NEED you to lift this mum. It's too long,"

"Ginevra Weasley, you will not take that tone with me, this is for your own safety." Molly put down her knitting. "I have to do this, I have to protect you. I couldn't protect Fred."

Tears sprang quickly to Ginny's eyes and she blinked, "Mum, I... I can't imagine your pain, but it doesn't help by keeping me trapped. Harry can protect me from whatever you think I am in danger from." She crossed the room, sinking once again onto the comfort of her parent's bed. She lifted her palm to her mum's face, "Mum, please —"

"I can't Ginny. I just can't."

Ginny closed her eyes as tears rolled gently down her face and she leant into her mum's touch. She sobbed as the reality of the situation hit her again. Turning she fled, seeking the sanctuary of her own room to break into pieces.

In her room, she touched her hand briefly to Harry's face and smiled shakily as Harry sighed in his sleep. With her goodnight ritual complete she padded back to her bed. Folding herself into a small space she tucked her duvet around her tight and sank gratefully into oblivion herself.

Harry woke a few hours later with a crick in his neck. He fumbled for his glasses and placed them on his face. As he did so he jumped with a start throwing the blanket off him. His heart thrummed and he blew his cheeks out. Who had removed his glasses? "Ginny?" He asked tentatively, holding his breath as he did so.

He frowned when there was no reply but he touched his hand to his glasses again, a slow smile spreading across his face. He stood like that a moment, listening to the sound of his own blood rushing through his ears as his heart hammered out a frantic beat. After he had collected himself, he gradually noticed sounds coming back to life around him: the creak in the stairs as somebody moved downward, the clink of crockery downstairs and the shower groaning into life. Suddenly the noises of the Burrow felt more homely, more welcoming and he moved downstairs, shoulders squared ready to face the day.

"Morning Harry," Arthur greeted him with a bracing smile. Harry didn't reply but gave a small smile. He took his seat and buttered toast which he ate mechanically. Arthur sat down in the chair opposite, "Molly and I spoke last night, she is going to tell me today. She is feeling more settled I think," he looked over at Harry in anticipation.

Harry raised his eyebrows in frustration, "Arthur, we need for her to lift the charm, Ginny wouldn't want this, it isn't fair. She can't do this to her,"

"I know Harry, I know this is so difficult for you to understand, but Molly is struggling, Fred..."

"Putting Ginny under the Fidelius is not going to bring Fred back," Harry said firmly.

Arthur sighed wearily, "I know, and so does Molly. But she is terrified, and she is protecting Ginny in the only way she knows how."

"I can keep her safe, Arthur, I can," Harry stated softly. "She is here Arthur, she's up in that room on her own watching the rest of us. Somebody removed the glasses from my face last night when I fell asleep. Imagine how she feels!" He looked up then, face flushed, breathing erratic to meet Arthur's gaze; he broke off after a moment, brushing at his eyes fiercely as he turned back to breakfast.

Arthur sighed and took tea and toast upstairs leaving Harry to his thoughts.

Harry, Ron and Hermione lay at the Weasley pond surrounded by textbooks. Harry lay on his stomach leafing through pages, searching for any mention of the charm. They had been there for what felt like hours now as he huffed and flipped onto his back, shading his eyes from the sun with his arm.

"I just cannot see any mention of how to lift the charm without the caster doing so themselves," he spoke bitterly.

"I've been thinking about that too Harry, and I think we need to go to Hogwarts," Hermione looked over at him. "I think maybe Dumbledore had a personal library in the Headmaster's quarters, we know he removed texts from the library previously, and we know he was the secret keeper for Grimmauld Place originally." Hermione put down the book she was holding and looked over at Ron.

Harry could tell that Ron felt conflicted and uncomfortable, but he didn't have the energy to try and help him feel better about it.

Ron sighed "I still think we just need to talk to mum, she has to either share the secret or have the charm lifted. I can't see any way we can get around this Hermione, sometimes we have to accept there isn't a loophole,"

"Nonsense, we just haven't been looking in the right books!" Hermione exclaimed.

Harry kept his mouth shut, personally, he agreed with Ron but Hermione was not to be told otherwise. He let their bickering wash over him and closed his eyes. He still couldn't believe they were no further forward with this. It felt like a lifetime since he had curled up with Ginny in the Gryffindor dorms.

"I'm heading inside," he announced abruptly, he left his books behind and headed back towards the burrow. As he wandered through the large overgrown grounds he couldn't help wonder where Ginny actually was and what she was doing. His thoughts were still bumbling around his head when he opened the kitchen door and with a start realised that Molly was down from her room.

"Harry... Harry dear," Molly moved towards him and then hesitated, in mid gesture, as if she had been about to hug him. Harry stiffened and then remember what Ron had just said. Without too much further thought he closed the gap and let Mrs Weasley hug him. She absently patted his back and Harry was dismayed to feel her start crying.

"Mrs Weasley, I know how hard this is but I really, really wish you would just share this with me. I know you are so scared, and I have been so scared all year. But I am telling you, I will protect her, I will love her 'til my dying days," Harry pulled back, holding Molly at the shoulders, "I promise you."

"Harry, you brave boy...I promised Arthur I would consider all of you. I want to - I really do, I just...I need to do this, for Ginny," she pulled back further and patted his arm.

Harry tried to rein in his anger, he felt like a pan about to boil over, but he ruthlessly pushed it down. "And did you ask Ginny? Because she was pretty mad when we tried to hold her in the room of requirement!" he ran his hands through his hair in frustration. Molly patted his arm gently again and turned from the room, heading through to the living room. Harry watched her go, then turned and kicked a chair, growling at himself when the resultant pain rushed through his foot.

The following evening, they sat in Ron's room, as they laid out their plans for the following few days. Hermione was going to apply to go back to Hogwarts for her seventh year and as part of that had arranged a meeting with McGonagall. She would then ask if she could view Dumbledore's private library in his office. They didn't know the library existed of course but they were banking on it.

As Harry listened to Ron and Hermione go over the research questions Hermione had put together he found himself observing them. The small touches, the smiles they shared with each other, the way that Ron answered questions when Hermione was only halfway through them. He rubbed his chest absentmindedly as he watched them. His nerves prickled as he thought about what he would say next. He waited for a lull in their conversation and then took a fortifying breath.

"I have another suggestion too," he fiddled with his glasses a moment and then looked up at the pair of them. "Now I don't want to upset you, Ron," he started carefully, "but I was thinking that maybe we should look at getting Molly some help," he paused, raising his eyes initially looking to Hermione who nodded. "I had considered that too," she leant over to Ron placing a hand on his thigh, "St Mungo's have healers who would be able to help her work out her feelings."

Harry turned to Ron as well, "I'm happy to suggest it and I can pay for it too," he broke off then as Ron huffed.

"Harry, we don't need you to do that," Ron paused, "but I can't say it hadn't crossed my mind. I do worry there aren't any loopholes here and that we need to work on mum lifting it herself."

"Then please, let me help. I feel so useless and this could be a way to help," Harry waited patiently his hands sweating now as he waited to see Ron's reaction. He searched his best mates face as he waited.

"Yeah, alright, let me talk to Bill. He'll know what to do." Ron gave a small bracing smile at the pair of them and the lapsed into silence.

"Do you think she knows we are doing all of this?" Hermione asked.

"She knows, she's always here," Harry said forcefully. He sighed as Hermione flinched, "She takes my glasses off my face every night. I leave them on purposefully now," he shrugged awkwardly.

Hermione looked at him with bright eyes, "Oh, Harry," and she reached out and enveloped him in a hug. His eyes prickled and stung but he swallowed his grief down. As Hermione let go Ron slapped him on the shoulder bracingly and Harry gave a watery grin.

"We will sort it mate, we always do," Ron said softly.

Harry leant against the kitchen door frame as Bill spoke with Arthur, he listened with half an ear, the rest of his brain thinking about Ginny. He allowed his thoughts to swirl around his brain as he conjured her image to his mind. He started as Arthur spoke to him.

"Harry," Arthur turned towards him and raised his eyebrows, "You're happy to pay for all of this? I feel uncomfortable with how much this could cost."

Harry shrugged and ducked his head in embarrassment, "You always tell me I'm family so let me do this. You've all done so much for me and the longer this goes on the clearer it is to that Molly isn't well," he shifted his stance again and pushed his glasses up his nose. "I just want Ginny back, I feel like part of me is missing, and we need Molly to do that."

Arthur considered his answer then nodded and sighed "What a mess," he said half to himself. Harry watched as he straightened then and it occurred to Harry that he was seeing why Arthur was loved by his family. He wouldn't shy away from difficult situations. "I'll see to Molly if you see to the hospital?"

Harry nodded slowly and then red-faced spoke again, "I was hoping actually that Bill might to that and I could avoid the hospital initially, but I'll pay – Bill can access my vault?"

Bill looked up and gave Harry an encouraging smile "Of course, if you grant me access, I can do the withdrawals."

"Thanks, I... appreciate it," Harry felt his cheeks burn again and ran a hand through his hair.

Arthur waved his hands then, "Of course, I forgot, the press. We'll have to manage that," he nodded again at Harry and turned then to Bill. "You'll need to floo ahead, hopefully, we can move Molly with the minimum fuss."

Arthur turned then and strode towards Harry, who looked up in alarm and took a step back. Arthur placed both hands on Harry's shoulders then. "You're a good man Harry, and you are doing a good thing. I want you to know you can stay here for however long this takes. You are family," his voice broke a little then and he wiped at his eyes before moving past Harry through the house.

Harry watched him go and then moved to sit with Bill. "You'll sort it all out then?" He asked hesitantly.

"I'll go to St Mungo's in the morning, I know some of the healers well through my work and they'll know what's best for mum," Bill too then reached out to clasp Harry's shoulder. "You're handling this well, I know it's not easy,"

Harry pulled in on himself, "I don't have much choice," his tone more bitter than before, "our research is slow going and it's clear Molly is unwell."

He leant forward then placing his head in his hands. "I know Gin is here though, I've told Ron and Hermione, so it's just a case of getting the charm lifted." He rose then, a grim smile on his lips. "Thanks, Bill," and he headed outside, to shrug off the stifling feeling that jumped up through his body.

He felt his anger and anxiety mix together in a peak and blasted another hole in the path with his wand. Moments later as the crest of the wave broke over him, he fixed the mess with a brief wave of his wand. He looked up at the window to see Molly staring down from her room and lifted a hand feebly at her.

His emotions roiled again, anxiety mixed with guilt now as his heart tried to leap out of his chest. He took another of Hermione's recommended deep breaths as he strode away towards the orchard.