Authors note: I really hope you enjoy this! And once again, thatnks to my betas(you people are amazing) and my friends. Please, please review. and constructive criticism is always welcome.

Chapter Two

Flashback
*a few months after the war*

"Harry?"
"Hmm?"
"Can't we try, Harry, please... What went wrong? We were fine, weren't we? We can make this work, can't we Harry? I love you. And I know you love me too..."said Ginny as she sat beside him in the backyard, the wind dancing through her fiery red mane.

"Gin, I am so sorry. But, you have got to understand me. I need to fix myself first. It's like, I don't have a direction anymore, I have to pull myself up, and I need to do that myself."

"Let me help you Harry. I... you don't have to do this alone. I'm here.
I'll be here. Please. You know what, let's go somewhere for vacation," she said at length, and at Harry's semi-perplexed expression, she went on, "Come on, it'll be fun, won't it? Just the two of us... I saw this poster on my way home the other day. Romantic Getaway to Bali, it said. Muggle thing, but that won't be a problem. We can work this out, I know we can."

Harry still looked unconvinced. Ginny scooted closer. "Just imagine, Harry–just the two of us, away from all these godforsaken funerals and trials... A whole week to ourselves without worrying about who else needs a testimony or who succumbed to their injuries..." She was unable to keep the wistfulness out of her voice.

Harry sighed and then turned his face to Ginny's. He carefully studied her pale face and bright eyes, and finally said, "I don't think I can do that yet. You know, Gin, they need me." Ginny frowned at this, and Harry quickly elaborated, "I mean, those people died because I wasn't fast enough. I think the least I can do is honour the reason they died. Or even testifying... Those bastards need to be in Azkaban as soon as possible, right? Don't you think?"

"No, Harry, I don't. Forgive me, but sometimes I like to think about my own self as well," Ginny said, a resentful tone making a guest appearance. "Don't you ever just want to have fun? Can't we at least try to have fun and make the best out of it?" She sounded as if she was trying to cajole a brick wall.

"Fun?" scoffed Harry, straightening up and turning away from his girlfriend. "Bollocks, are you? We just had a war, Gin. People died, our loved ones being a few of them. Hogwarts, the only place that was ever mine, is in shambles. The war changed all of us, Gin. And this entire thing has been the only part of my life which had been constant, however twisted that sounds. I don't even know what to do next or who I am or even what people expect me to do... And as far as I have figured things out, I need to be here, beside them." Harry finished, deflated.

Ginny scooted towards Harry and gripped his shoulders. With tears threatening to fall, she said, "So, we just sit here and wallow in self pity? That's how we get better? You don't think I know what we lost? What we had to do to survive? But can we not try and make the best out of this hell of a situation? I need you too, Harry, I want you to be there for me as well. Can't you do that?" The desperate lilt in her voice made Harry want to turn around a hug her, but something kept him frozen.

"I am here, Ginny, but this is the best I can do now," Harry retorted, jaw stiff. "I need some time. I can't pretend to be happy when I'm not. I can't pretend to enjoy a vacation, which I know I won't. In a few months, maybe yes. But now, it doesn't feel right. Ginny I can't do this. Us, I mean. " His pleading tone was higher than usual, giving the perfect cue to his girlfriend's tears.

Reflexively, Harry turned to comfort her, but Ginny was already angrily brushing her tears away.

"It shouldn't always be about you," Ginny said, darkly and defeated, intermittent sobs making appearances. She finally lay her head, against Harry's shoulders "I can't allow those nightmares to get to me–I need happy memories, Harry, don't you see? I want to cope by doing something that will make me happy. And you broke up with me because you thought I couldn't face a war. Guess what, Harry, didn't work. We were all pawns, and you have no idea, how bad it was. I don't want to feel that way anymore, and you have to help me Harry."

"Ginny, please. Please don't do this. I am here," Harry said, putting his arms around her, tightly. "Right here. But, I can't handle a relationship now."
"So this is it?" Ginny asked her voice barely audible.
"I am so sorry, Gin. I am. But, I have to fix myself. I am sorry."

A long silence followed, punctuated by the wind, and the birdcalls. Nature in all her glory, absolutely refused to sympathise with the turmoil going through the minds of the two heroes, and they sat, huddled together, on the porch.
"Harry?" Ginny said, some time later, a resolve clear in her voice. "Promise me, you'll look after yourself. And, you'll tell me if you need my help. I still don't believe you, but, it's okay if you need some time."
"Thanks. I promise. Friends?"
"For now."

As a cold shiver ran down his spine, Harry found himself wishing for some kind of normalcy. One not scarred by blood, death, and doom.