Harry's heart skipped a beat as they descended the last few steps of the Grand Staircase, as standing there, next to the huge double entrance doors, was Ginny Weasley. She started towards them, her steely gaze fixed directly on Harry.

Harry quickly turned to the others while Ginny was still a safe distance away and hurriedly said, 'Sorry, I need a minute or two alone ... can I get you all in the Great Hall?'

Judging by their reaction, Harry needn't have asked. Every one of them, even McGonagall, decided that the safest place in Hogwarts at that moment, was as far away from the impending explosion of Ginny Weasley as they could possibly get.

Harry groaned inwardly as Ginny approached, he really had hoped to put this off for a while, he didn't think he was ready to face what was surely coming, but it looked like he wasn't going to have any choice but to face up to it now.

She was right in front of him now, he could see her eyes, glistening with tears, but flashing dangerously, as if flames were dancing behind them. He knew this was never a good sign of things to come.

'Harry, I - I've been trying to get your attention, all morning!' She started, her voice rising dangerously with every word, 'How could you just sit there and ignore me, and expect me to be fine with that!?'

Harry was certain that this wouldn't continue to be a private conversation for much longer if Ginny's voice got much louder, so decided to try for a change of surroundings. 'Er, can we take a walk, Ginny?' He mumbled quietly, nodding towards the doors that led out to the Hogwarts Grounds, 'I really have wanted to talk, I just didn't think it was the right time...' His voice trailed off as she had already grabbed his hand and literally dragged him through the doors and out of the castle.

They walked, or rather she walked, he was pulled along, until they were about halfway along the lake to the south of the castle. It was a beautiful day and if the circumstances of their little walk had been different, he was certain it would have been a most pleasant venture. That thought was pushed firmly from his mind, though, when she turned to face him and said, simply, 'Well?...'

Harry gazed over the lake, taking in the tranquil sight of the sun shimmering on the clear blue surface for a moment, before turning back to Ginny, realising once again just how beautiful she really was, even when she was angry. He then tried to tell her what he'd felt for over a year - he felt irritated with himself for being so bad at this sort of thing... 'Ginny, I'm so sorry, sorry for everything. You know I had my reasons for having to break things off last year, it was for your own good, but I've regretted it every day since, because I've missed you so badly.' He tried to swallow, but found it exceptionally difficult. He couldn't remember his throat being this dry beforehand...'I was going to wait until after the memorial services to see ... to see if you still wanted to be with me. I understand if I've left it too late ... but I really do love you' He finished croakily.

Silence... - Harry had averted his gaze from Ginny when he'd mentioned the memorial services and it took great mental strength to make himself look back up at her, to meet those fiery eyes. He'd been expecting the mention of her brothers funeral to sent her into another rage, for her to direct all of her emotion at him and release it, but to his surprise, when he did look up, he saw that she was smiling ... There were still some tears there, but she was definitely smiling.

Then, without warning, she was on him, kissing him with such passion, such intensity, that he suddenly forgot all about how confused he was at her sudden change of mood. He matched her intensity, breathing in her sweet aroma, feeling every bit of her body pressed against his ... it was a long time before either of them were ready to break the trance of the kiss and when they did, it was with great reluctance.

Ginny was the first to speak afterwards, she was still a bit out of breath, 'Finally, you've finally said it!' She said, sounding half annoyed, half delighted, 'If you'd said that this morning, I wouldn't have had to force it from you ... have you any idea how close I was to hexing you when you never spoke to me all morning?' Amusement flashed through her brilliant brown eyes at the look of pretend shock on Harry's face, 'I love you too, by the way, but you're not getting off with this until you do one more thing for me.'

Harry couldn't quite believe his ears, Ginny still wanted him, more than that - she loved him. He was feeling so overjoyed at that moment that he was pretty certain even if her request was for him to wrestle a Troll for her, he would accept without a moments thought, 'What is it you need?' He eventually asked...

'I need to know, that no matter what happens from here, you will never walk away from us again. Regardless of how much you think you're protecting me - leaving me behind is not an option - agreed?'

He didn't even have to think about it, and in way of answering her question, he pulled her closed for another fantastic, lingering kiss. When they'd come apart again, he asked 'Shall we head back to get the others then? They'll be wondering where we've gotten to and Ron will have a fit if he finds out what we've been up to!'

She laughed and reluctantly agreed. This time, on the way back, they both really did appreciate the beauty of the Hogwarts grounds, regardless of how badly damaged they had been in the battle. Like everything else though, they would be back to their glorious self, all in good time.

Just before they reached the castle doors again, Harry had one last thing he had to ask. One last thing to get off his chest before he could truly start to heal and move on with his life... their life. 'Ginny,' he said suddenly, 'Do you blame me for, well, you know ... for what happened to Fred?' It took a lot for him to ask this, and he felt himself holding his breath as he waited on Ginny's reply. She was staring at him, with a look of sympathy and sadness on her face.

'No, Harry, not in the slightest. And neither does anyone else. Not a single person on this planet holds any of this against you.' she sighed deeply, as if she had expected this from him. 'Everyone we've lost knew what they were fighting for and everyone was willing to give their lives for it. Every single person knows that you were willing to give your life for them, you proved it when you fully believed Voldmemort would kill you, but accepted it, because you thought you were saving everyone else. You're so brave Harry, but sometimes it amazes me how even after you've saved the entire Wizarding World, you can still blame yourself for everything that's gone wrong.' She smiled at this, he guessed that she must like that particular trait of his, and then she finally said, 'Ŵe all really miss Fred, Remus and Tonks but we all know you do too. We will get through it much easier if we tackle all of this together, as a family.'

Harry smiled and pulled her close to kiss her again, 'Thank You' he said softly - and he really meant it.

As they returned to the Great Hall, they found everyone else ready to go. Mrs Weasley was still hovering round the table though, apparently trying to determine whose luggage belonged to who, but gave up upon seing Ginny and Harry enter. 'There you both are!, she said excitedly, 'I can tell that everything went well then!' - she looked genuinely happy for them and Harry was once again reminded of why he loved Ginny's mother so much.

'Whad'ya mean everything went well?' Interrupted Ron, eyeing Harry and Ginny suspiciously, 'Please tell me you haven't been snogging my sister this whole time, Harry!' Harry's face must have told the whole story, as Ron suddenly groaned and shook his head as if trying to get rid of the thought.

'I don't know what you're moaning at mate,' he said to Ron, a huge grin still on his face, 'at least we waited until the fighting had stopped before we shared our special moment!'

This got a laugh out of everyone and Ron suddenly turned a bright shade of red, cursing Harry's quick wit under his breath, he suddenly took a great interest in the luggage, as if he were determined to find his case Inbetween everyone else's. Hermione though, spotted his little diversionary trick and stepped in to pull him away from the suitcases, 'It's ok Ron,' she said with a playful smile, 'you are allowed to show affection in public you know!'

Ron muttered something indeterminable that deffinately contained something about 'my sister' but then joined in laughing with the rest of them.

'Right,' said Mrs Weasley, above the noise, 'I think it's best we all got going then. Minerva is kindly going to lift the protective charms placed on the School within the Hall itself, so we can all Apparate home. So we will just send these cases on first, ( - she waved her wand and half of the cases vanished) and these too'... ( - another flick of her wand) ... And all the luggage was gone. 'Right you are Minerva, ready when you are!' She called to McGonagall, who rose from the Head Table to perform a series of complicated wand movements. As soon as she had finished, Harry felt a rush of what felt like fresh air and knew the spells had been lifted.

'All right everyone, here we go, see you all at home.' Said Mrs Weasley, and with a twist of her robes, she was gone.

Harry had one last look round the hall, waved a final farewell to McGonagall and the rest of the teachers, made sure Ginny had a tight hold of him as she would be side along Apparating with him, then spun on the spot, opening his eyes a second later to see his second favourite building in the world directly in front of him: The Burrow.