Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter. All rights to the characters and universe the story belongs in belong to JK Rowling
Chapter 2 - Someone Worth Living For
Harry was walking through the forbidden forest hidden by his invisibility cloak. He was deep into the woods now and the starlight was no longer visible through the canopy as Harry had left the well-trodden path far behind.
As he crept along the forest floor, silent as a shadow, he recognised the route he was taking as the one he had taken to the Acromantula nest. In the distance he could hear the sounds of jeering and cheering, it was this that he was heading towards.
After a couple of minutes he could see a soft, flickering orange glow, which he recognised as fire light. After moving on for another hundred yards Harry reached the edge of a clearing. In the centre was a small fire with around thirty cloaked witches and wizards crowded around. All of them were wearing face masks and had their hoods pulled up over their heads. At the head of the group stood a tall man with red eyes and snake like features.
'Silencccce' hissed Voldemort, despite the word being just louder than the breeze, the death eaters were instantly quiet. Voldemort raised his wand, pointing it at the edge of the clearing where Harry could just make out a figure emerging. Harry watched in Horror as Ginny stepped out into the light facing Voldemort with nothing but determination and hatred in her eyes.
'So, the great Harry Potter sends another to die for him. A pity, but don't worry, he and the rest of your family and friends will join you soon, in this Lord Voldemort is merciful.' Harry tried to get to Ginny but his legs were like jelly and unresponsive. There was a flash of green light as a scream ripped from his throat.
'NOOOOOO!' Harry woke up from his nightmare bolting up right. He was panting, sweating and his palms were bleeding where his nails had dug into them. Breathing deeply, trying to calm himself down, he rammed his glasses onto his face.
He could still hear the faint snoring from Ron on the bed next to him so at least he hadn't woken up his best friend. He searched around for his wand and muttered 'lumos' a light sprung from its tip which he used to see the clock on the wall. The time was five past five in the morning. Hmm might as well get up I'm not getting back to sleep now.
Harry rose, got dressed quickly and left the room, heading down to the kitchen. They had all arrived at the Burrow three days ago, it had proven to be a lot harder than they had imagined. George walked straight up the stairs promptly locking himself in his room, he only left for the occasional meal which took a lot of coaxing from Ginny.
It looked for all intents and purposes that Mrs Weasley had been handling Fred's death rather well, everyone soon realized that she had been putting a brave face on it at the castle. Being back at the family home where she had raised all her children (and seeing that it had been ravished by Death Eaters) seemed to be the breaking of the dam as she instantly broke down in tears.
After being carried to bed by her two eldest sons she didn't come out again until the next morning where she didn't stop or let any else help with any of the chores until mid-afternoon. Mr Weasley recognised that she was trying to keep herself busy, but when she almost burnt down the kitchen by leaving the lunch in the oven whilst cleaning out the chicken coop, he stepped in telling her to get everyone else to help.
The Weasley siblings, along with Harry and Hermione's help, steadily repaired the Burrow starting from the ground up. Bill and Charlie had done a lot of the repair work during the days that Harry was out cold after the battle, so it was hospitable. However, the bedrooms in particular needed a bit more TLC even after the traps had been removed.
Harry's biggest worry at the moment was Ginny, the two of them hadn't had chance to talk alone since they had got to the Burrow, he saw the pain that she was bottling up as she tried to support the rest of her family. She was constantly offering words of comfort to everyone and once she had finished her own chores went to help everyone else.
He really wanted to comfort her. However, as their rekindled relationship was a secret for now, he was struggling to get her away. Whenever they found time alone it wouldn't be long before Ron and Hermione suddenly appeared. Harry half wished that he and Ginny weren't hiding anything so they could tell them to leave them alone for five minutes.
Then again even if Ron did know he would try and make sure we never had a moments peace. Maybe I can try and spin it to look like we're giving him time alone with Hermione so that I can talk to Ginny.
Harry couldn't complain too much though, he knew Ginny's reasons for keeping quiet and to be honest he agreed with them. He just didn't think it would be this hard to get some time together.
Fred's funeral was to be held at the Burrow on Saturday which was three days from now, the day before was to be the joint funeral of Remus and Tonks. Their funerals were to be held in Godric's Hollow, Harry had owled Andromeda to ask if he could meet Teddy and to see if she needed any help with the funeral. She replied to say that she would love him to meet his godson so if he wanted to come over the day before the funeral, he could meet Teddy and help with some last-minute arrangements. Harry was only too happy to accept.
Sitting alone at the table with a freshly made cup of coffee, Harry, started to wonder what to do with the day. I would like to visit my parents graves alone for a while. I've only ever been once and that was while I was in hiding and using Polyjuice Potion. Making up his mind he realised that if he wanted to go alone, now was the best time, before someone could volunteer to go with him.
Harry wrote out a quick note explaining where he was going downed his coffee and left the Burrow. It was a bright, clear morning and the early hour meant that the streets of Godrics Hollow were almost empty apart from the few tradesmen that had to leave for work early.
The Church stood tall in the middle of the village square, as he moved towards it Harry started to take in the village itself. This would be a nice place to live no wonder my parents settled here. It's peaceful, picturesque and has a nice welcoming feel to it. It doesn't have the same stuffiness as Privet Drive, where everyone competed to have the best lawn. This place feels homely and people are accepted regardless of how well they use a strimmer. Is this really a place where I could settle down though?
Pondering the answer to that question, he entered the burial ground making his way to the site where his parents were buried.
When he reached their headstone he kneeled down gently, bowing his head with his eyes closed. He began to speak softly at first but as he went on his voice became stronger.
'Hi Mum, Hi Dad. I'm sorry I've only ever been able to visit once before. To be honest until I got here I didn't even know this was where you were buried. It's nice to be able to come here without the evil of Tom Riddle hanging over the wizarding world.
'We finally did it, beating him cost too much, but at least no one else will suffer because of him. I wish so many people didn't have to give their lives in order to stop a madman, I wish I could have had more time with you and got to know you.' Tears were gently rolling from his eyes which he didn't bother to wipe them away.
'I know I'm not perfect but I would like to think you are proud of me, that I've manged to live up to the sacrifices you made to keep me safe. Whenever I get compared to either of you it gives me a rush that I can't explain, well apart from when Snape used to compare me to you dad. He used to make my blood boil and I never thought I would find a teacher that I would hate more than him, then Fudge stuck us with old toad face.' The back of Harry's right hand tingled a little at the mention of his old DADA teacher (if you can ever call her that).
'Although you never saw eye to eye with him dad, and what he called you mum was inexcusable, I do hope you can find some measure of forgiveness for him. Even though he told Voldemort part of the prophecy, he did then try to save us. I think he did truly love you mom, he was just influenced by the wrong people. Without him we could never have won this war and I think he became the bravest man I've ever known. Not many would have been brave enough to be a spy in Voldemort's inner circle, and even fewer would have been successful.
'I'm sorry to say mum, as much as I'm - grateful' Harry spat out the last word in the same way you spit out a piece of paper you didn't realise was stuck to a sweet 'to the Dursley's for taking me in. Your sister and her family will never be my own, I think I understand now that she is just jealous of our abilities, there are just too many bad memories for me to want to make the effort.
'It was hell, growing up with them and I only started to realise that when I turned eleven and even more so when I stayed with the Weasley's. Meeting Ron and sitting with him on my first train ride to Hogwarts turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. It was the first time I could say I truly had a friend. Eventually we became friends with Hermione too even if we didn't get along when we first met. I reckon taking down a troll together is one of the few things that instantly makes you friends.' He smiled at memory of the fight in the girl's bathroom, he and Ron may have upset Hermione that day but it worked out in the end.
'Through Ron I met the most amazing person I know, his sister Ginny. It's weird to think that back then she seemed like this shy girl who couldn't be in the same room as me without knocking something over and running out the room blushing furiously.' Reminiscing about Ginny's inability to be in the same room as him, made Harry grin a little. He also remembered the valentine she had given him.
'I think the first words she spoke in front of me were when she tried to defend me against Malfoy. I should have known then she wasn't a witch to cross. As I got to know her, I began to realise how incredibly brave, beautiful and fun she is. It took me too long to get too know her properly and it's a shame you'll never get to meet her, you would really have got on.' He said proudly. 'She's just as much a troublemaker as I am and she's one of the few who could live up to the twins, I reckon those pair could give you marauders a run for your money.' Chuckling at the thought of that Harry became quiet again.
He conjured a bouquet of Lilies and placed them on the grave. 'Well I best be off before I miss breakfast. Take care, I promise I'll be back soon.' With that he rose to his feet and left.
Walking back into the kitchen of the burrow he walked straight in on his two best friends playing a form of tennis that doesn't require a racquet. Grinning evilly, unnoticed Harry leaned against the counter folding his arms.
'At least tell me you've both brushed your teeth, the morning breath must be atrocious.' They both jumped apart blushing furiously.
'Morning' squeaked Hermione
'Morning Harry' Ron looked rather put out at being interrupted.
'Morning, don't stop on my account but I would rather you find a room' Chuckled Harry.
Ron just shook his head 'Sorry mate, I thought you would be gone longer after we got your note and we knew no one else would be up yet.'
Harry waved his hand at him 'Don't worry about it I'm glad you two are so happy together' said Harry smiling.
'We are happy, I just wish you could be too.' Hermione started cautiously, 'Have you managed to speak to Ginny?'
'I told you Hermione, we've already spoken about us and we're happy to remain friends for now. With everything that happened during the battle I'm not sure either of us are ready for anything else.' He lied easily 'I am worried about her though.'
'She seems to be handling everything well!' Exclaimed Ron, 'I mean she's the only one who can get George out of his room.'
'Helping everyone else is Ginny's way of dealing with everything. Your sister is incredibly strong Ron but even the strongest of us need help in times like these.' Replied Harry sadly.
'I tried talking to her last night, I couldn't get her to open up though, she just told me everything was fine and changed the subject' Hermione cut in dejectedly.
'Don't worry Hermione, when she's ready she'll talk. I just wish she didn't feel like she had to carry the burden of her own grief on her own as she shares everyone else's.'
'Yeah, because who else do we know who's like that?' Said Ron sarcastically. 'I can remember a certain scrawny prat thinking he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.' The three of them broke out laughing.
Throughout the day Harry became more concerned about Ginny, she seemed quick to snap at people and even the fake smile she had been putting on had started to slip. It wasn't until tea on the evening though that he manged to speak to her.
He knew that she was struggling because when she sat down next to him, she linked her foot around his ankle under the table, Harry could feel her leg shaking slightly. After a couple of minutes she visibly relaxed.
As they kept up with the general conversation, Harry reached over to grab the salt on the other side of Ginny, so he could whisper in her ear. 'Do you want take a walk? Meet at the shed after dinner?' She merely nodded slightly, her lips twitching upwards.
After that dinner couldn't end soon enough. Once everyone was finished Harry quickly helped clear the table, then walked through the living room and slipped out the backdoor, just before Ginny went out the front.
Harry waited on the far side of the shed where they would be shielded from view of the Burrow. He had only been waiting a few minutes when Ginny came around the corner and threw her arms around him. She was still trembling slightly, Harry just held her tightly only talking after the trembling stopped.
'Are you OK Ginny?' asked Harry.
'I will be, it's just hard' she choked hoarsely 'everywhere I go all I can see if his face. In every room there's a different memory. Even when I shut my eyes all I see is Fred's face laughing at some prank he and George played.'
Ginny sniffed before continuing 'Wh-Whenever I hear my mom's voice, I hear her telling off the twins to their faces and then laughing after she's sent them upstairs, so I can't concentrate on what she's actually saying.'
Harry was at a loss he didn't know how it felt, as he had never truly had a family. Sirius had almost been a father to him although even that had been a pipe dream after he was taken too soon. The level of suffering Ginny was going through, losing someone you had cared about your entire life, was completely alien to him.
'I'm sorry Ginny, I can't imagine how hard this is for you.'
'It helps that you're here. Without you I think I would have gone mad today. I didn't think it was going to be this hard though.' Her voice was muffled slightly from his shoulder
'What do you mean?' He asked softly.
'I'm trying to be strong for everyone else, but I don't feel strong myself. It's only when I'm with you I feel like I'm not falling apart.' Explained Ginny. 'I just don't seem to be able to get you on your own.' She added cheekily.
'Why so you can have your wicked way with me?' Ginny giggled slightly. 'For the record I think you're very strong.'
'I'm not as strong as you.' She stated.
'You're right. You're stronger.' She looked at him as if he had just told her the sky's green – and that he believed it. 'Look I'll explain. Let's take a walk, it's about time I told you everything, if you're ready to hear it?'
'Let's go' she said determinedly leading him away by the arm. They soon found somewhere by the river, on the other side of the orchard, to settle down comfortably. Answering Ginny's confused look after he had just put up the concealing charms they used whilst in hiding, he simply shrugged 'I don't want to be disturbed.'
She smiled at him and after he'd laid down, she lay next to him with her head on his shoulder. 'This might change the way you look at me you know. All I ask is that you tell me if there's anything wrong afterwards.' Harry said with apprehension.
'It won't I promise' Ginny assured. 'You'll still be the man I know Harry. You're forgetting I don't see you as Harry Potter the hero anymore. I see you, flaws and all.'
Spurred on by her words Harry began 'OK, do you know what a horcrux is?'
'No, sorry.'
'It's Ok, I would be more worried if you did to be honest. Well a horcrux is an object where you can store a part of your soul, while that piece of soul exists and the object it's stored in remains unharmed, you can't die.'
'What? That can't be right otherwise everyone would do it wouldn't they?' Ginny blurted out.
'No, they wouldn't' Harry said simply, Ginny didn't look convinced. 'Creating a horcrux is very advanced dark magic. You can only split your soul by committing murder.' Understanding dawned on Ginny and she shuddered.
'That's how he did it isn't? That's how Voldemort survived the night your parents died, he had a horcrux!' She exclaimed.
Harry grimaced 'Not quite, he made six.' Ginny gasped. 'Dumbledore guessed that he had created a horcrux but he wasn't certain. What proved it to him was Tom Riddle's diary.' Harry braced himself for the reaction.
'Tom Riddle's Diary? That was just a mem..or..y.' Her eyes snapped round to meet Harry's, she started to shake 'It wasn't a memory was it, it was a piece of his soul!' She shot up shuddering violently, crawling away from him hurriedly before throwing up, 'Oh Merlin, I can't believe it. I was so stupid.'
'No Ginny you weren't,' Harry pulled her back into his embrace and was stroking her hair 'if it wasn't for you we would never of known about the horcrux's and he would have returned to power two years earlier. Believe me Gin, people a lot older than you were then, have fallen under his spell. You're one of the only ones who fought him and survived.'
'Only because you rescued me' she muttered.
'If you hadn't held him off so long, I wouldn't have had the chance.' Harry frowned at her. 'I've had Riddle in my head too you know. You realised on your own you needed to get rid of him and you did it. I didn't learn that lesson quickly enough, it cost me Sirius.' At the mention of his godfather he pulled Ginny closer.
'I still tried to get the diary back and those muggleborn's would have been fine if not for me.' She said stubbornly.
'Christ you're as stubborn as me' Harry exasperated 'The point is no one died, and you held him off long enough on your own for Hermione, Ron and me to figure it out. Yeah?'
'Yeah' She sighed.
'Well the diary worried Dumbledore, not because of what it was but because of how it was used. You see for a horcrux to serve its purpose it should be hidden and protected, not used as a weapon. So this is what led to him believing that Voldemort had multiple horcruxes' Harry pulled her onto his lap as he explained the lessons with Dumbledore during his sixth year, the night Dumbledore died and everything that happened after Bill and Fleur's wedding.
Ginny was a great listener, oohing and aahing in all the right places. Although when she heard the part where Ron left she lost the plot. 'THE PRAT DID WHAT!'
'Let me explain Ginny, it was the horcrux. It affected all of us differently. It made Ron think he was worthless, made him think your mom would have preferred me and that me and Hermione were in a relationship.' Harry said patiently.
'He still shouldn't have believed it.' She said pointedly
'The part of Riddle in the locket was very convincing. It's the closest the three of us have ever been to being broken apart. It didn't help we had very little food. The three of us have kissed and made up now so you don't need to make him feel any worse about it.'
'OK, I won't give him a hard time, well I might use it against him if he winds me up.'
'Thank you' Harry said gratefully, giving her a squeeze. He then continued the story, with Godric's hollow, Ron's glorious return, his obsession with the Deathly Hallows and doubts about Dumbledore.
When he got to the battle he almost glossed over Fred's death but sensing he was about to miss something after he stalled Ginny urged him on. So, he told her about the fight he saw between Fred, Percy and the death eaters.
'Percy, of all people cracked a joke about resigning from the ministry, Fred was laughing when the air around us exploded. Any of us or all of us could have died, I thought the world had ended.' Harry admitted, tears glistening in his eyes.
'At least he died with a smile on his face, it's fitting, it wouldn't have been right any other way.' Ginny stated with a smile on her face, she still couldn't keep her tears from falling gently though. 'Thankyou Harry, I've been tormented by the fact that he died slowly, tortured, maybe even scared. It's good to know it was quick and he was laughing until the end.'
Harry gave her a reassuring squeeze and carried on by explaining Snape's death and his memories.
'You, you were a Horcrux?' Ginny asked him wide eyed. Harry could only nod. 'Oh Harry, how did you get rid of it. Dumbledore said you had to die?' Harry looked away and couldn't meet her eyes. 'You went to die didn't you? You didn't think you were coming back.' She whispered. Ginny lent over cupping his cheek with her hand turning his head to face her. Tears were streaming from his eyes, he knew what the next question was.
'Why didn't you say goodbye?' She asked, hurt that he could just leave her behind without a word.
'Ginny, do you really think I'm that strong?' His voice was shaking with emotion. 'Do you really think I could have walked up to you and said goodbye without a backwards glance? We both know I wouldn't have been able to walk away, and we both know you wouldn't let me go, at least not alone.' Ginny was sobbing now and was holding him closely.
'I saw you' Harry managed to croak out 'on my way out through the grounds, you were helping a girl get back into the castle. She had been hurt bad and was crying. You've never looked more beautiful than you did then. Even though you were hurting, you still tried to help others. You really are amazing.'
'That poor girl, she was really hurt and had lost a lot of blood. I didn't think she was going to make it. I take it you were under the invisibility cloak? It was weird I thought someone was watching I should have known when you weren't in the Great Hall that you had gone to face him.'
'It was the longest walk of my life, I wouldn't have made it if I hadn't found the resurrection stone in the snitch Dumbledore gave me.' He said gravely.
'The Stone's real?' Ginny said surprised.
'Yeah, I saw my mom, dad, Sirius and Remus.'
'Did you speak to them?' she asked gently.
'Yeah, it was weird, like they were there to take me with them. They stayed with me, until the clearing, until I faced him.' Harry's voice was barely a whisper now. 'When I faced him, I didn't even raise my wand. I just stood there and let it happen.'
'There was nothing you could have done Harry. We both know there was only one reason you were there and that was to kill the thing inside you. Only you would have been brave enough to get killed to save everyone else.' Ginny said consolingly 'How did it feel? Dying. If you can even call it that.'
'I did die Ginny. It was easier than falling asleep' he tried a reassuring smile. 'Do you know what my last thought was? The only thing I could think of when Riddle pointed his wand at me and my vision filled with green?' Ginny was to too captivated to respond.
'It was you. All I could see was the look in your eyes and the kiss that day in the common room.' he grinned despite himself. Ginny grinned back.
'Well it was a remarkable day, we won the cup and there was this really cute guy standing alone by the portrait hole, I couldn't just leave him alone.'
Harry laughed 'Well you certainly left your mark let me tell you.'
Ginny stroked his cheek gently 'So how did you survive?'
'I don't really know. You see after I got hit I sort of went to a place my mind created, well I think it was my mind' he mused slowly. 'It might as well have been god's waiting room. It was bright there and it was nice and warm. I'd never felt more at piece than when I was there. It was quite nice.
'Dumbledore was there, and he explained to me that because Voldemort used my blood to resurrect himself, the protection my mother left me lived through him. So, because I let him kill me, I had a choice. I could either go on and die, or I could come back and try and stop him.' Harry explained.
'So why did you come back?' She asked pushing him back onto his back. 'The way you talk about it, it sounds like you would have been content to stay.'
'I had my reasons' he said evasively.
Ginny raised her eyebrows at him 'Oh really, care to share?'
'You.'
'Me, just me?' Ginny laughed in surprise 'What makes me so special?'
Harry thought for a moment before answering 'Remember when I thought Sirius was being tortured by Voldemort?' Ginny nodded. 'Well before and during that everyone – Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, everyone – just told me to get on with it and practice Occlumency. You on the other hand, didn't just dismiss it, you gave me a solution to the problem. You tried to help me get in touch with Sirius instead of just telling me to ignore it. In that moment you understood me better than even Ron or Hermione ever could, you just knew I wouldn't let it go.'
'Well of course not, I would have wanted to know for definite too, especially after what happened with my dad.' Said Ginny as if it was obvious.
'Exactly, that's what makes you different. You know everyone of my friends has helped me as I've fought for a cause worth dying for. All of them have pushed me knowing that any of us might not make it to the end. I would die for any one of them. The difference between them and you is that you're the only one I would live for.' He said softly
'I still don't understand.'
'I would have died for any of my friends Ginny. However, you're the only person I've ever seen a future with. You're the only one who gave me hope of a life past Voldemort, without you I wouldn't have come out of that forest. Suddenly with the horcrux in me gone I had a future. I didn't just have a cause to die for, I had the very thing that made me so much more powerful than Voldemort.' He continued passionately.
'The power he knew not was love Ginny, he never gave it and never really received it. That meant he never understood, he didn't have any idea how hard I would fight for the woman I loved.'
Ginny was stunned at this revelation, she looked directly into the eyes of the man who had suffered so much in order to save the wizarding world. The same man who lived only for her and a warm feeling slowly worked its way through her. She knew it was the real thing, for so long she suspected, now she knew.
'I love you too Harry' she whispered lowering herself down to kiss him. It was pure bliss for the pair of them, they both knew that they both felt the same way. Ginny had one hand in his hair and the other on his chest while his hands were wrapped around her waist, gently caressing her.
It was some time before they broke apart. Ginny looked back into his eyes with a serious expression on her face. 'I need you to promise me something Harry.'
'OK' he asked worriedly.
'I need you to promise you won't run away from us again, even if it is to protect me. We either face everything from now on together or we might as well leave it here' she said with forceful determination.
'I promise Ginny, I'm not leaving you behind again. Whatever comes we'll face it together.' He said earnestly.
Ginny relaxed 'Good, if you ever try I'm going to hex you until you change your mind.' Smiling she rested her head on his chest.
'What's your plans for tomorrow?' She asked.
'I'm going to meet Teddy for the first time.' He said, though he sounded concerned.
'Oh yeah, I forgot about that, are you nervous?'
'Yeah, I am, not about meeting him, but the faces I'll see in him. I just hope I can keep it together.'
'You will' she said confidently 'would you like some company?'
'Please' sounding far less grateful than he actually was, 'I said I would go over around eleven for a few hours.'
'That's settled it then' she said decisively and they both grew quiet. Ginny snuggled closer entwining her legs with his. He gently stroked her hair as she fell asleep, it wasn't long before Harry followed.