When they finally broke apart, they cuddled beside a tree, so that Harry was leaning against it and Ginny was slouched in his arms. She sighed in contentment and he whispered, "I missed you." She glanced up at his face from below and murmured, "I missed you too." He rolled his eyes, "Really? Because with the way you were cold-shouldering me you would think I'd killed someone." Ginny giggled slightly and replied, "You did kill someone. But you killed the right person."

Harry stiffened at that and she turned fully to face him, "I'm sorry, I know you don't want to talk about it." Ginny sighed and then leant back against him, loving the feeling of his arms around her stomach. She whispered, "You don't have to if you don't want to. But I worry that you may never talk about it." Harry shrugged and replied, "I'll speak about it when I'm ready."
She nodded, accepting that. They sat and stared out at the lake like they had for the six weeks while they were dating. She thought about the way he used to kiss her until she couldn't breathe, and the kiss they had shared earlier had been better than that. Harry had actually smiled for the first time in days afterwards. It made it all feel worthwhile- to see that smile after all the pain and suffering.

Ginny sighed contentedly and almost dozed off in Harry's arms. The warmth from his body made her feel comfortable as it was starting to get colder. She relaxed until she felt someone nudging her. She groaned and opened her blurry eyes, "What?" she asked grouchily. She found Ron and Hermione standing above them and Ron said firmly, "You two need to wake up." Harry seemed to have also fallen asleep as she turned to look at him, his eyes glazed. He groaned, "Why Ron?" Ron said crossly, "Firstly because you're all shacked up with my sister. Secondly, because dinner is going to be served in the next half an hour or so." Harry cringed about what Ron said- them being shacked up. He rubbed her arm and said, "I think its best we do as he says, Gin." Hermione stood quietly smiling at the two of them.

Ginny asked her as they got up, "What you smirking at?" Hermione shrugged, "Nothing…just that you two look so cute all cuddled up." She scowled at her friend, "Don't mention it." Ron was fairly silent on the matter and Ginny had to wonder why but didn't dare ask. Harry took Ginny's hand in hers and she smiled at him. Maybe things were going to work out after all.

XXX

The following day was the wake and Ginny got barely any sleep that night. She kept thinking about all those who she had lost and it was starting to leave a permanent ache in her chest. She sighed eventually at around twelve o clock and decided she needed some fresh air. When she reached the common room, she saw a mop of messy black hair sitting on the couch in front of the fire.

There was nobody else around. Ginny quietly walked up to him and sat down beside him. He didn't even jump or anything at her movement. She sighed and asked, "Can't sleep?" Harry nodded and turned his gaze to her, "I just don't think I can bare the idea that so many people died…for me." Ginny had a feeling he was going to beat himself up over this, even if he hadn't yet voiced it. She sighed, "Harry, it's not your fault." He was shaking his head before she was even done, "I know. I know everyone is going to tell me that too. But it still feels like it was and that's the part that hurts. It's a part of me that I'll always have to live with and it's a part of me that I hate." His voice cracked on the last word.
Harry swallowed hard and Ginny moved so that she could take his hand in hers. She squeezed it tightly, "Harry look at me." He did as she asked and she could see the fresh, unshed tears in his eyes. She had to say something to try and relieve him of this pain. It would never go away- she knew Harry too well for that. But he could live with it, and that he needed to know. She whispered, "I'll say this however often you need me to, and I hope you understand that. I hope it brings some form comfort to you because I know it's something you will struggle with for your whole life. But I want you to know that all of this was not your fault. You didn't choose for Voldemort to track you down when you were a baby, just like I didn't choose for Lucius Malfoy to put Riddle's diary in my cauldron. It just happened." Harry smiled bleakly at her, "Thanks Gin. It doesn't make it any easier to deal with right now though."
She sighed and shrugged her shoulders, "I know, but what I'm telling you is that you can get through it." Harry swallowed hard and his green eyes gazed into hers, "Only if you're there with me. I can't do it alone." Ginny swallowed too and felt like she was on the brink of tears because she knew that Harry wasn't talking about a short-term anything. He was expecting full on commitment and she sure she was ready. But she knew she loved him. If there was one thing she knew with her whole being it was that she loved Harry Potter. But she still needed time. She had dreamt of Harry saying those words to her for so long that now hearing him actually say them out loud, she felt like she could burst with joy.
Ginny whispered tightly, "I'll try my best Harry. I'll do my best as a friend first and then maybe at some point more. I'll always be your friend, no matter what…even if I have been a bit difficult these last few days." Harry smiled slightly and nodded at that, "You've been the most confusing person to be around out of everyone surprisingly. I thought facing your mum and dad would have been the hardest part. I was wrong." Ginny forced a smile, "Haven't made things easy for you, have I?"
Harry shook his head with a semblance of a smile, "Not in the slightest." They were thrown into silence and they stared at the dying flames in front of them. Harry asked tentatively, "Can I ask you something?" Ginny stiffened but nodded mutely. Harry whispered, "Will you please tell me what happened here? I feel like you know my story, but I know nothing about what happened to you and it doesn't feel right."
Ginny whispered hoarsely, "One of the reasons I don't want to tell you is because I know it will just add more guilt to what's already there. You'll beat yourself up for not being there when the truth is, even if you were here, you wouldn't have been able to stop what happened. Nobody could have." Harry tensed and then he tried to calm down, "Alright. I'll bare it in mind."

She sighed. He was being stubborn about this was he? Ginny mumbled, "There's not much to tell, really. Basically the Carrows- Amycus and Alecto. Amycus taught Defense with the Dark Arts and Alecto taught Muggle Studies." Harry raised an eyebrow at her, "Defense with the Dark Arts?!" He asked incredulously. Ginny nodded and grimaced, "Yeah. Amycus taught that subject. He liked us to practice Unforgivable Curses on each other." Harry's jaw dropped and he stammered, "A…and that included I…Imperius?" Ginny shrugged and replied in a whisper, "It did. I was his favorite to use that one. He only used it for special occasions. He took an instant dislike to me because I was your girlfriend." She smiled a wry smile and Harry blanched, "But then how did they not find out that we were communicating? How did they not track us down sooner? You must be exceptionally strong-willed if you could resist them…" Ginny was shaking her head before he was even done and she laughed bitterly, "No, I'm afraid it's not quite like that Harry. From the moment I arrived in McGonagall's office at the start of the term she handed me a potion which would help me resist all forms of interrogation in order to help keep you, my brother and Hermione safe."

Harry blinked in surprise. He had not seen this coming. His mouth gaped open and he murmured, "I…I better thank the professor when I see her tomorrow." Ginny smiled and shrugged, "She has great insight, the professor." Harry nodded in agreement, "I never doubted that. I'm just extremely grateful. I mean how she knew that they would choose to interrogate you of all people…" Ginny shrugged and interrupted, "I suppose she had the same thoughts as you. I mean I am the most obvious target. I'm closest to the three of you. Anyway wasn't long until she was proven right. They wanted me because of my connection to you…as you feared. Carrow made that pretty obvious even from the first class."

Harry visibly tensed and clenched his fingers tightly. His face was glowing from the light of the fire and Ginny could see the internal struggle that was happening in his mind. She suddenly wanted to help him cope with his demons. It wasn't fair to carry so much alone. Without really thinking about it too much and leant forward, wrapping her arms around his neck. She whispered painfully, "Harry…let me help you get rid of some of the pain..." he turned to her and when he did she pressed her lips on his again. The warmth she felt spread to her stomach and made her shiver and it wasn't from the fire.

Harry pulled away after a second and choked, "Ginny, I need to know if you will be with me, romantically forever. I can be your friend but it will always change the way we interact with each other. This can't keep happening. I know it's a lot to ask you to consider, but I need to know before I get my hopes up." He held his breath for a second and then he inhaled sharply, "I don't feel like being a girlfriend is a strong enough way to describe how I want my future with you to be."
Ginny did a double take. She fell back on the couch and blinked at him perplexedly. She whispered hoarsely, "Are you saying what I think you're saying Harry James Potter?" He smiled genuinely and watched her carefully, "I like it when you say my full name. I'm not saying right now, Ginny. But what I'm saying is I can't go back. I can't imagine being with someone else. You are my life now Ginny. You have been for a long time, but I need to know you're feeling the same way. I have no reason to back off now. I've spent too much time without you to know what I want."

He finished his speech and Ginny turned so that she was staring at the flames. All she could hear was their crackling noises. Did she want Harry to be with other? No. Did she want him for the rest of her life? Yes. She turned back to him and whispered, "Alright Harry. But let's take it slow please? After being away from you I think I need to learn to re-trust you. I need to trust you'll never leave me again. Oh! And that's the other thing…" She inhaled sharply, knowing that this was also going to be a difficult conversation to have, "Do you know what you still want to be doing with your life?" Harry frowned and muttered, "That's kind of an odd question given the conversation…" Ginny shook her head, "No it's not. What if you go off and become and Auror like you wanted to? What if I'm constantly worrying about your safety like I did the whole of the last year?" Harry nodded in understanding and took a moment to consider this. He whispered, "I know it will be difficult, but I figure if you love me enough we can make it work."
Ginny watched him seriously- his hazel eyes entirely focused on her. She whispered in the next breath, "Give me time to think about it please? I know I love you, that has never been a question, but that's a lot to ask of me. I don't know the answer." Harry nodded briefly, "Of course. In the meantime I think we should both get some sleep." Ginny grabbed his hand as he got up to leave, "Wait!" she wasn't sure why but she didn't want him to leave yet.

Harry turned and she whispered throatily, "I can't sleep. I keep thinking about Colin and Tonks and everyone else…" Harry's expression softened, "So…?" he asked. Ginny swallowed hard, "So would you please consider staying here with me tonight?" Harry smiled and replied, "Alright. Shift up." Ginny got up so that she could lie down beside him. He was facing her and he was so close that she could see every green fleck in his eyes from the light of the fire. She said softly, "Thank you." Harry placed his hand on her face and kissed her lips gently, "You're welcome. Get some rest." Ginny nodded and then within minutes she was asleep.

Hi All, sorry for not writing anything recently. I have been particularly uninspired and not sure how to write this story. Also been busy getting ready to leave my homeland to live overseas so that has been taking up time. And graduating. So life has been crazy busy but I hope you enjoy it. Much love.