Ginny couldn't bring herself to move. Was she breathing? Who knows. Well, Luna, probably.

She blinked and gazed into the orb like eyes of her carefree friend.

"Lu-Luna... What on earth..." she whispered shakily, unable to bring forth the plethora of words and questions zipping through her mind. She furrowed her brows and watched the other girls cheeks flush slightly pink against her porcelain skin. Ginny had barely a moment to react, when again Luna leaned forward and kissed her. She lingered, lips unmoving, and lightly caressed down Ginnys arms with her fingertips. Ginny could feel her heart thumping painfully fast and struggled with thoughts of returning the kiss she dreamed so often about or pushing the girl back off of her as gently as possible. Before she could decide, however, Luna pulled back and smiled.

"You don't need to say or do anything now, Ginevra. I know how you feel, but you need to figure that out for yourself. I'll write you. My time away will go by so quickly, so make sure you figure out you like me by the time I return."

Ginny could only stare at the girl as she stood from her spot on the floor. Luna grabbed her bag and walked to the door. She offered a cheeky grin over her shoulder before departing, the door clicked shut quietly behind her. Ginny felt her face growing hotter by the second, and several knots seemed to have formed within her belly. What on earth was she supposed to make of something like that. After everything, the war, the battle, the deaths and hurt, the camaraderie, the hope... never in a million years could she have seen this being the next upheaval in her life.

She let out a long breath and kicked her feet over the edge of the bed. A shower. She needed a shower.

o0O0o

"Hey, Gin." Harry was seated at the dining table when Ginny made it back downstairs. Her mum was puttering about, fussing over this and that, doing anything she could to keep her mind off the people no longer with them. Especially her son.

"Hey..." she said offering him a sad smile and sliding into the seat across him. Without prompting, Mrs. Weasley sent over a kettle and two tea cups for them as well as a tray with milk, sugar and biscuits. She left the room in a flurry and Harry set about to making their tea.

"So, how have you been?" he asked quietly. She sighed and shook her head. How had she been? That was hard to say nowadays. She was still trying to sort through her emotions, still trying to be strong for her family, still trying to move forward with her career plans, and still trying to sort through what happened between her and Luna. She looked up into Harry's expectant eyes and thanked him for the tea he handed her.

"Harry, I am going to tell you something that I'd like to stay between us. The only reason is because you and I have a... special kind of friendship, and I hope you'll understand me more than I do at the moment." He nodded and sipped his tea, waiting for her to continue.

"I have a lot of regrets leading up to the battle at Hogwarts, and I blame myself for Colin dying. I should not have let him return with me to the school. I also have so many regrets about us; you and me. I feel awful that I couldn't love you the way you deserved. I feel like I cheated you out of some kind of normal life. I also... I like someone. I've liked this person for a long time, I think. They know it, but said that I'm still too confused about my own feelings to know what to do about it. I also feel silly for wondering over these things now, while I should just be grieving and focusing on training with the Harpies. I've just got so many things in my head, I feel like I can't be myself or relax or talk to anyone else."

She let out a slow and shaking breath as she finished her monologue, and kept her eyes glued to the saucer her cup sat upon. She wondered what kind of expression might be on Harry's face, but was too embarrassed and nervous to see for herself. After a few beats, Harry cleared his throat and sniffed.

"Ginny, all that is perfectly normal, you know. You honestly should not feel guilty about us not working out. We were ill suited. We were pulled together by familiarity, that's all. As for Colin, well... he knew what he was getting into, Gin, and he would do it over and over if given the chance. We shouldn't allow the guilt to consume us, but be thankful and mourn appropriately for the friends that loved us and our world so much that they were willing to fight and die for it."

Ginny finally managed to look into his shining eyes, certain that he was holding back tears just as she was. They knew the sacrifices, and would have gladly done the same if it meant saving someone they loved. Colin saved her and she would never forget it. She nodded and sniffled as he went on.

"Your family will need you, but they don't expect you to remain stagnant. Life doesn't stop just because it feels like our own worlds have crumbled. You'll all lean on each other, but that's the most important part. You're not alone and neither are they. So, coming to the fact that you like someone... well, that's just wonderful, and another person that can help your heart heal the way you'll help theirs. I'm happy for you, Ginny, because life is giving you the future now that we all fought for. Freedom, and peace."

She studied him for a moment and smiled a bit. "Since when did you become all wise and emotionally aware, Mr. Potter?"

He let out a breathy laugh and took another sip of his tea. "Since I could finally be just Harry again, without the threat of impending doom hovering over my shoulder."

She shook her head and laughed with him. It seemed such a small thing, this little conversation with the man who beat you know who, but she felt immeasurably calmer and allowed herself the moment to free herself of any lingering guilt or doubts about her purpose. She was going to make her days count, starting with Luna Lovegood.

End Chapter 9

Sorry for the wait! Hope this was okay. I struggled alot, but I really like that Gin had a little heart to heart with Harry. I imagine them being very comfortable friends.