Don't Go

Harry sat straight backed against the headboard of Bill's old bed, too terrified to fall asleep. Every night the nightmares got worse and every morning he'd wake in a cold sweat. He would scream and shout and thrash about, trying to claw his way out of his own consciousness. Not only was the shouting so loud that it would wake anyone in the near vicinity but the dreams involved images of all the people who had died instead of him. During the day he could just about keep these images at bay but at night he had no control. It was simple, if he didn't sleep, the nightmares wouldn't claim him and he would be free for another night.

Harry plucked book from t a nearby shelf and begun to read. It was going to be a long night.

xxxxxx

Ron approached the hunched figure on the worn bench. He had a sneaking suspicion that the occupant was asleep but was soon proven wrong.

Harry raised his head at the sound of approaching footsteps and instinctively tightened his grip on his wand but soon realised it was Ron.

Harry flinched as the bench creaked under Ron's weight. His head was pounding from lack of sleep and even the slightest noise caused him pain. He hadn't slept a full night since the battle, over a week ago.

Ron took a proper look at Harry, something he hadn't done in a long time, to busy mourning his own losses. His face was ghostly white and drawn. Bruise like shadows blossomed beneath his red-ringed, dull, green eyes. Harry was wearing one of Charlie's old jumpers (as his were all too big, too dirty or falling apart.) Hs brother was only slightly larger than the young man sat beside him but the jumper hung from his skeletal as if he was a small boy wearing his father's. None of the Weasley family had been eating much, despite the copious amount provided by Mrs. Weasley, but Harry was the worst by far. When his best friend did come down to meals, Ron would see him take a bite of whatever was on offer, nearly choke and quietly excuse himself, not meeting any of the families eyes.

"Harry, mate, why don't you go and get some sleep?" Ron asked carefully.

Harry looked up slowly, as if it cost him a huge amount.

"I can't." He stated hoarsely. Harry rose from the bench and stumbled into the house. Ron vaguely wondered if he'd make it up the stairs.

xxxxxx

Harry walked down the marble staircase, wand aloft. Something was wrong but what, Harry didn't know. He came across a door. It was panelled oak and heavy looking. Harry reached out a hand took hold of the brass door knob. He hesitated in turning it, he couldn't for the life of him decide why though. Shaking the worries from his mind, Harry opened the door with surprising ease and stepped through.

What he saw made his blood run cold. Hundreds of dead bodies littered the marble floor. His mother, his father, Fred, Tonks, Remus, Sirius. Everybody who had died in the war laid out before him, waiting for him to walk through the door and stumble upon them. It was if their blank faces and staring eyes were mocking him, blaming him for what he'd put them through. He turned his gaze from their bodies, averted his eyes but he found there was no where to look. He was surrounded by the dead. He was drawn to a spot in the corner of the monumentally sized room. His feet took him there without asking and what he found made his heart stop. Ginny. Her hair fanned out around her, as bright and vibrant as ever but she was pale and her lips were blue. A single trickle of blood slid down her temple.

Harry's eyes flicked to the bodies around her, no longer able to look at her still form. He saw Ron, Hermione, Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley and all the people he cared about. He turned and ran, out through the oak door and down and endless corridor, all the while feeling as if someone had torn out his heart and trying fight the wave of nausea and loss that threatened to overwhelm him.

"Harry?"

He ran.

"Harry!"

And ran.

"Harry!"

xxxxxx

Ginny stood in the doorway to Bill's old bedroom, not quite sure whether to go in or not. Harry was clearly in the middle of a nightmare. She wanted to comfort him so much it hurt, but some unknown force was stopping her.

Making up her mind, Ginny crept into the room.

"Harry?" She whispered.

"Harry!" She called loudly as he gave a loud shout.

"Harry!" He sat up suddenly, making her jump slightly. His hair was stuck up in all directions and his eyes were wide with pain and fear.

Ginny climbed on the bed next to him and was shocked to see tears sliding noiselessly down the hollow planes of his face.

He sank back into the bed and turned away from her, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

Ginny lay down on the bed next to him and placed one of her small hands against his back. He tensed at the contact and slowly turned around to face her, so they were nearly nose to nose. She brushed the tears from his face with the pad of her thumb and gently draped and arm over his shaking form.

Harry closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, taking in the scent that was undeniably Ginny.

"Don't go." He whispered, so quietly that Ginny nearly missed it. Ginny knew right then, as chocolate looked into emerald, that she wasn't ever going anywhere. He needed her and, most importantly, she needed him.

xxxxxx

A/N: I'M BACK! So you probably thought I'd disappeared of the face of the earth but I haven't, as you can see. Due to not having a keyboard I haven't been able to type anything up but now, due to a very nice Drama teacher of mine, I have an external one. Expect a few updates from me in the next week.

Anyway, Review please. Love you all