Soft rays of moonlight landing on his bed had woken Harry up. It took him a moment to figure out why he is not in a tent, and another moment to remember all the events of the previous night. He couldn't decide if they made him happy or sad. On one hand, Voldemort was gone. The war has ended, and it looked like a bright future was ahead of him. On the other, so many lives had been lost. So many friends and family. It was a strange feeling, and Harry was glad he had enough sense to ask for the Dreamless sleep potion.

But now he was back to reality. Dumbledore once asked him if he ever felt as if too many thoughts and memories were crammed into his mind. At that time, Harry could honestly say that he has never experienced such a feeling. It has been four years since that happened, though. And today, Harry knew exactly how it felt to be full of feelings, thoughts, and memories -the nice and the bad ones. He couldn't just confide to a Pensieve, though. He needed a person. Not Ron or Hermione, they had their own share of problems. He knew who he wanted to see. But did she want to see him?

Ginny spent the whole day awake. Everyone has gone to sleep, everyone needed to rest. But not her. She couldn't. She could've asked for a potion. But she didn't want to sleep. She wanted to cry until her eyes burned to the point of pain. She wanted to yell, scream, and tear her feather stuffed pillow apart. Luckily, she was alone in her dorm. All of the other girls from her year were with their families. No matter if they went home the previous night when McGonagall ordered them to, or this morning, when they just wanted to be at peace in their homes. Most of the students left in the castle were the children who who lost someone in the battle, children who wanted to help with getting everything back in order, or simply families who didn't have the strength to go home after all they've been through. After what they have all been through.

In the last forty-eight hours, Ginny lost a brother. Ginny lost friends. Ginny lost mentors. Ginny thought she had lost the love of her life. At that point, her life came crumbling down. Seeing Harry lie on the ground before her, helpless, immobile...she forced herself to think of the last word. Dead. After seeing Fred, Remus, Tonks, even Colin that way, this was the last straw. She had cried because of Harry countless times that year.

Well, not countless, actually. Thirteen thousand, five hundred and thirty seven. But she has always gathered herself. She has never let anyone see her cry. But the thirteen thousand, five hundred and thirty eight time she cried because of Harry, everyone saw. She screamed his name. She refused to believe he was dead.

After months of being away, after the tremendous joy that has overcome her when she saw him back, she couldn't believe that she only got three sentences from him before he died. And then in a second, his body was gone. Harry was gone, and she felt the slightest trace of hope. Maybe he wasn't dead. Maybe he was just hit with that curse that hit Hermione in the Department of Mysteries.

And she was right. He wasn't dead. He was standing in the middle of the Great Hall. He just saved her Mum's life. He was still standing. He talked about something she couldn't hear. The only thing she saw was Harry. Harry, standing against Voldemort. Harry, shouting in the air. Voldemort, falling to the ground. Dead. Fallen.

In that second, nothing else mattered. She was tired, she was hurt, and she felt horrible. But she picked up all the strength that she had left, and she ran. She ran the fastest she ever did. She needed to see him for herself, to feel him, to make sure he really is alive. She managed to hug him for a split second, and for that time, it was enough. She could hug him and then go back to her family. Now she needed him, more than ever. But it wasn't as simple as that. He had to come to her. He had left, and he was the one who should come and fix it all now.

Harry was standing in front of Ginny's room for the last fifteen minutes. In his mind, once Harry was there, he would come up with a brilliant speech that would make her fall back into his arms at once. But in reality, there wasn't one single word on Harry's mind. He was just a nervous teenager who needed someone to share his feelings with. So, using all the courage he had left, he curled his hand in a fist and knocked on the door.

A muffled thump came from the room, followed by loud cursing. "Gin, are you okay?"

"Yeah, just a second!" Her voice was harsh and husky. She has been crying.

"Damn you, hairbrush!" Thump. Thump. Thump. Footsteps? Harry's thoughts were confirmed when he heard the door unlock. Ginny stood before him, looking like a mess. Her hair tangled up, her eyes red and swollen, paired with large bags under them. Harry sighed. It was obvious that Ginny hasn't gotten get any rest since the battle. "Hey, Harry."

"Hey, Gin. Mind if I come in?" She shook her head no and moved to her bed.

"Did you need to talk to me about something?" She looked at him with anger in her eyes. Was she really mad at him? She had every right to be. Harry knew that. So why did it surprise him to see her like this?

"Well, yes...actually, no. How are you, Gin?" The look she gave him was enough to regret asking that question immediately. "Oh, I'm swell, Potter! You have no idea what wonders the battle has done for me. Yeah, I can't wait to throw an end of the year party once the term is officially over."

Harry let out a sigh and took her hand in his. "You know I didn't mean it like that. I just thought...we're both having a hard time. It's easier when you share your thoughts with someone, you know." Ginny broke free of his hand, and started to walk up and down the bedroom. "Well, if you're having such a hard time, maybe you should go to Ron and Hermione. After all, who am I? Just Harry Potter's little ex-girlfriend."

"You know why I had to break up with you, Gin."

"Yeah, but I don't remember signing a contract to wait by the window until you get home."

Harry backed up a bit, he didn't expect this. Ginny was right, though. It would be stupid to think she'd stay single while he was away, not when she was so gorgeous and funny and smart and everything a guy could ask for. "So, who is he?"

She lifted her head up, looking puzzled. "What?"

"You just said..." She got up, looking even angrier than before. "Why do you always get it so wrong? There isn't a him. There's you, off on an another adventure, and then there's me, a maiden waiting for her hero. But I don't want to be Penelope anymore, Harry. I don't want to just sit and..." She never got to finish the sentence as Harry quickly stood up, wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her comforting kiss, murmuring "It's okay now. I'm here." She looked up at him, showing a slight hint of a smile. "You actually thought I found a new boyfriend?"

Harry smiled as he sat back on the bed and pulled Ginny on his lap. "Come to think of it, that was a stupid thought. You were busy stealing swords and saving first years. You're not Penelope. You're Ginny, the girl who took things over."

She finally smiled as she placed her arms around Harry's neck. "Well, you don't always have to be the hero."