Author's Note- I still don't own Harry Potter (sad day). The amazing J.K. Rowling does. Also, I'm sorry for the long wait. I have just gotten super busy between school and sports! I will try to stay more on top of things!
Chapter Five- Nightmares
Dinner was a somber affair, with not much talking. The food was wonderful, but Ginny hardly payed attention to it. She was concentrating on the fact that Harry's arm was casually draped around her shoulders, and his other hand found hers underneath the table. She knew that her family was aware that she and Harry had feelings for each other, but she still enjoyed the fact that other people could see that they were together. After dinner, the family dispersed into their separate rooms. Ginny, however was not ready to be alone. She was afraid what the darkness would bring, afraid of what cruel terrors she would have to re-visit. She got up and walked with Harry up into Ron's room. Hermione and Ron decided to "take a walk outside", so Ginny knew she would have Harry's undivided attention for awhile.
Harry was glad to see that Ginny followed him upstairs. He knew he was not ready for the nightmares that were sure to come. They climbed the stairs and sat down in the floor together, talking about anything but the war. However, the list of non-war related subjects was relatively short, seeing as it had been less than 72 hours since it had ended. Harry found himself playing with Ginny's hair, he was amazed at how silky and smooth it was. They sat like this, Ginny leaning against Harry's chest, late into the night. Occasionally they would speak, but they really found themselves enjoying the comfortably silence. However, it was getting rather late. Harry noticed Ginny's head beginning to nod, and he knew it wouldn't be appropriate to be found like this. He gently nudged Ginny, and whispered into her ear. "Gin, I think it might be time to go to bed. It's getting late, and I don't want Ron to overreact when he sees you in his room this late". Ginny grumbled, but she knew he was right. After a long, sweet kiss, Ginny made her way back down the stairs.
Ginny crawled into bed, noticing with a smile that Hermione was not back from "her walk" yet. It seemed that Ginny had barely drifted asleep when she heard a blood-curling scream. She jumped up from her bed, grabbed her wand, and scrambled to the source of the noise- Ron's room. She pushed open the door, wand at the ready. Instead of revenge-seeking Death Eaters like she expected, she only saw Harry's silhouette thrashing about in his bed. She rushed forward, and shook his shoulder gently. He didn't wake to this, but kept thrashing about. He let out another scream, causing the sound of foot steps to drift up the stairs. Ginny shook Harry again, this time not so gently. Harry bolted up right, his eyes wandering madly. When he finally realized where he was, he burst into tears. Ginny embraced him, rubbing his back and whispering soothing words. " Harry, it's okay, it was only a dream. Shhhh, it's okay now, it's over." Harry nodded, his face still buried in her shoulder. Ginny became aware of another light, and craned her neck to find her family watching her. Ron and Hermione, who had fallen asleep under the stars, looked worried. Mrs. Weasley had tears running down her face, while Mr. Weasley comforted her. George looked shaken, and Charlie and Percy both had determined looks on their faces. Seeing Ginny's look, Mr. Weasley ushered them all away.
Once they had all gone, Ginny pulled away from Harry. She brushed the tears from under his eyes, and kissed him on the forehead. He looked nothing like the fierce warrior who defeated Voldemort, but more like a scared 11 year old boy. It broke Ginny's heart, to see him like this. Once Harry's shuddering breaths had stopped, Ginny asked; "Do you want to talk about it?" Harry waited a moment before answering in a small voice, "I just kept seeing everyone dead. I saw Remus and Tonks and Fred and the rest of your family. But mostly, I saw you, dead. I saw you, falling dead, over and over, because of m-e." His voice broke again at the last part, but Ginny didn't care. She was shocked that Harry felt so strongly about her. She knew he cared about her, but she had never quite accepted the fact that he loved her as much as she loved him. She kissed him, and pushed him back down onto the bed. She buried her face into his chest, and put her arms around him. She felt his arms go tightly around her, and heard him sigh. They fell asleep like this, not caring what anyone else would think. They slept like this, and there were no more nightmares that night.
