For the following few days, things were rather awkward between Harry and Ginny. The worst part was though that people were beginning to notice the tension. Hermione had broached the topic with Ginny several times during the rebuilding process. On Tuesday, she had asked while they were mending some of the stone wall, "So…why are you cold-shouldering Harry?"

Ginny glanced around to make certain no-one else was listening. Luckily, they were at the far end of the corridor so she didn't have to worry about anyone overhearing. She sighed and mumbled, "He…he won't let me touch him." Hermione accidentally dropped a piece of stone which she had been levitating, causing it to shatter again. This caused some glances from people on the other end of the hallway.

Hermione said in surprise, "Well…I did not see that coming!" Ginny sighed and whispered, "I know he's like a brother to you which is why I didn't feel like it was appropriate to speak about it." Hermione nodded in reply, "It's true, you know. He is like a brother to me. But you're also my friend, Ginny. I'm here for you too."

This made Ginny smile and she sighed, "Well, whenever I just a little bit too passionate for his liking, he shuts me down." Hermione winced, as if she was in pain. Ginny nodded and mumbled, "Yeah, it's as bad as it sounds." Hermione was silent for a moment, contemplating all of this. Then she said knowingly, "Harry has never had much physical affection in his life. I mean, you know even from a baby. If we consider what happened with Lily and James, and then look at how he was treated by the Dursely's, I think it's safe to say that he doesn't know how to deal with it. It might be making him uncomfortable. He's not used to even being loved."

Ginny stopped what she was doing in mending the stone before her. She hadn't thought about this. She whispered, "But he loves you right? As a sister, I mean…" she added hurriedly at the confused look on Hermione's face, "I mean he told me you're basically a sister to him." Hermione grinned for the first time in days, "He said that? I means he's never voiced how he feels about our friendship to me, but I'm happy to hear that. With Harry though, he might not even know that he loves me, even if he knows how he feels above our friendship, does that make sense?"

Ginny just felt even more confused, "Not really, no…" Hermione sighed and replied, "Let's just say Harry can be very smart intellectually, yes. I mean he got an O for Defence Against the Dark Arts and I couldn't even do that…" This made both Ginny and Hermione smile. Hermione replied, "But even though he is smart intellectually, his emotional IQ may be somewhat lacking, purely based on his life you can understand why. I hope that makes sense?"
Ginny nodded and said thoughtfully, "It explains him a little bit more, thanks Hermione." The elder girl smiled at Ginny, "Of course. I'm sorry that you didn't feel like you could ask me though. I'm here for you too." This made her smile and reply, "Thanks, I know in the future. Any luck with your parents?" Hermione shook her head glumly, "No. I don't think there's any point in me getting there until I have figured out a way to remove my enchantment on their memories." Ginny grimaced at that, "I'm sorry none of us can really be of help." Hermione smiled sadly, "It's alright, Gin. We're all doing what we can to get by for the next little while."

So Hermione had noticed Harry's demeanor towards Ginny was not particularly friendly. Over the next two days, it didn't change much either. Finally Neville asked Ginny on Thursday afternoon, "Is everything alright with Harry? He looks rather…peeved about something. I get the feeling you're involved. You two have barely spoken."
Ginny paused in fixing a large rock for the castle. She turned to Neville and inquired, "Has it been that obvious?" Neville was busy placing a stone in the wall, "Yeah. I mean…you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I just noticed." She swallowed and sighed, "Well things have been awkward, yeah. But I'm not going to go into details as to why. That's between me and Harry." Neville shrugged and nodded, "Fair enough."
They rebuilt for the rest of the morning in silence. Luna was working with them too and she thankfully hadn't said anything about Harry. When they eventually went down for lunch, Ginny, Luna and Neville all sat together, a little away from Harry, Ron and Hermione. They were joined by Seamus and Dean so they had plenty of company.

At the end of lunch, Hermione approached Ginny and smiled sheepishly, "Can I talk to you?" she asked quietly. Ginny nodded and shrugged, "Sure, I guess. What's up?" She shook her head and took Ginny's arm so that they were a little further away from Ron and Harry. She lead her into the Great Hall and whispered, "I think you need to talk to Harry. He's upset." Ginny grumbled, "And so am I."
Hermione sighed, "I thought we talked about this?" Ginny turned to her friend and shrugged, "You talked. I listened. I never said I'd do anything about it. And besides which he is the one ignoring me. Everyone is noticing it. You've noticed. Neville's noticed. It's obvious Hermione." Her friend sighed and mumbled, "I will talk Harry too. But you can't keep up this cold war between the two of you. Not after being separated for so long. Ask yourself this: is it worth it?" She raised an eyebrow questioningly with a very knowing look in her eyes.

Ginny huffed and blew out a piece of her hair, "I know…it's just…I'm tired of being the one to apologize. I did nothing wrong for crying out loud!" Hermione shrugged and replied, "Don't say I didn't try. I hear Romilda is coming to help with the rebuild tomorrow." This caused Ginny to snap, "What?" Hermione shrugged and said, "If there's tension between you and Harry, she's going to pick up on it. I suggest you sort this awkwardness out as soon as possible."

Ginny nodded, dumbfounded. She whispered, "Thanks Hermione. I'll…uh…get on to it." Hermione grumbled, "You better, and went back inside to find Ron. Ginny decided to follow her, and went to go and join their group. She sat down beside Harry, who was luckily sitting on the edge, and she smiled at him sweetly, "Hey Harry. Hey Ron." Ron frowned suspiciously, "What are you doing here?" Ginny shrugged her shoulders, "Coming to see my boyfriend and my brother. Is that a problem, Ronald?"
Ron, who was sitting on the other side of the table, frowned. Harry was watching her warily and Ginny smiled at him before placing a hand on his leg. He stared at her with serious intensity and Ginny felt herself blush.
Then she turned back to Ron and Hermione, "How's the building been going?" Hermione shrugged as she helped herself to some pork cutlets, "Fine, thanks Gin. I mean, it's been a long and difficult day. And I'm still no closer to finding out how to help my parents. I'm feeling really demotivated right now." Ginny sighed and shook her head, "I'm sorry Hermione. I'll tell you what, when we finish today, I'll come and help you look in the library, alright?" Hermione beamed at her, "Thanks Ginny! That would mean the world to me!"
Ginny still had not removed her hand from Harry's leg and was avidly avoiding looking at her. She moved it down a little and she could see him become tense. She sighed and removed her hand as Hagrid came to join them, "Hello you lot. How've things been keeping?" Ginny muttered under her breath, "I'm not sure, Hagrid. There seems to be some tension in the air." She glanced at Harry who stared at her silently.

Hagrid frowned in confusion, "Really? Who's tense. I mean, I know a lot has happened in the last few days. Everyone is exhausted." Ginny nodded and changed the subject, "How's Madame Maxime?" Hagrid gave a week smile, "Oh she's fine. She's upset of course about Dumbledore and what happened here. She's coming to visit in a few days te help the rebuild. You alright Harry?"

Harry glanced up from his brooding and nodded shortly, "Yeah, just fine thanks Hagrid. Tonks died. Lupin died. Percy died. Colin died. Countless of other people died. And why? Because of me." There was a silence that fell upon the small group and Hagrid said sternly, "Harry, you can't blame yourself for all of tha'! You didn't do the killin." When he had mentioned Tonks and Colin, Ginny felt a jolt of electricity go through her body. Like it was a shock to her system. She whispered coldly, "Well Hagrid, I think Harry likes to blame himself. Because as much as I try to convince him otherwise, he won't listen."
At this, Harry glared at her and she nodded stiffly and got up from the table, "If you're going to let the guilt consume you and it's why you've been avoiding me these last few days, then I can't be with you Harry." Hagrid stared at the table and Hermione gasped, "Ginny…it's still early days…"

Ginny stared at her friend and said, "It's Colin's funeral tomorrow. I think I want to go alone." She nodded and then left them sitting there. She couldn't bare the tension anymore. She rejoined Neville and Luna further up the table. She glanced at the group and saw Hermione arguing with Harry. Whatever. Let them argue. If he was going to blame himself for their death, she wasn't going to have any part in it. She thought Harry was overcoming these fears. Clearly she had thought wrong.

XXX

At the end of the day, Ginny decided to go for a stroll on her own outside. She needed space to think and she needed to get away from people. She skipped dinner to do so. She walked down to the lake where she knew he could get a clear head. No one was around and she stared at the water. She felt like diving in and never resurfacing. So many deaths. And so much bloodshed. She knew how Harry was feeling. But she was feeling it too. What if she could have done more to stop it?
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a voice, "Mind if I join you?" Ginny nodded, not needing to look up and see it belonged to. Harry sat down beside her and she was silent for a moment before he whispered, "Did you mean what you said, about ending it with me?" She glanced at him and said firmly, "Well you certainly know how to make a girl feel…unwanted. Dejected. Unloved." Harry blinked furiously, "No! You can't say that. I love you so much Ginny!" It was the first time he had said it to her. At the very least, the first time in a long while. And she felt goosebumps erupt over her skin.

Ginny whispered, "If that's true, why won't you let me be close to you? It's all I want, Harry. Especially in these difficult times." Harry sighed, "You don't believe that I love you?" Ginny stared at the water and avoided his gaze now. He whispered, "I may not have been acting like I do recently, but did I tell you that you were the last person I thought of before I died?" Admittedly, Ginny had forgotten about this. She grimaced and whispered, "I remember. But then why won't you let me touch you, Harry? I feel like every time I try, you become more and more distant from me. I don't like this feeling."

Harry sighed and took her hand in his. It was cut and bruised from the battle, but it was healing. He whispered, "Because when I died, Voldemort's killing curse left a mark." Ginny froze and stared at Harry unwaveringly. She watched him intensely and he whispered slowly, "I haven't even told Ron and Hermione about this. So please, don't tell them. I don't want them to think I'm injured. But I do think it's permanent."

Ginny stared at him fixedly and she whispered, "I'm sorry Harry. Does it hurt?" He shrugged his shoulders, "Sometimes it's a little painful. It's like a permanent reminder of the pain I feel for all those who died. And it's like I'm still dead, sometimes. Do you know the story of the Deathly Hallows?" Ginny nodded and he whispered, "Well, the brother who brought his girlfriend back from the dead with the Resurrection Stone said that the girl was miserable because she didn't belong in the mortal world. Sometimes…I feel the same."
She felt a tear trickling down her face at hearing this. She placed her hand on his cheek and whispered, "I will never let that happen to you, Harry. You are here to stay with me, and Ron and Hermione. We will get through all of the hurt and the pain together. I need you here." He nodded morbidly, and she rested her head on his shoulder. She whispered, "I didn't mean what I said earlier, about not wanting to be with you. I was just mad that you were being so...moody again. I'm sorry." Harry didn't say anything for a heartbeat and then he took her hands in his, "I love you Ginny. Please don't ever forget that." Ginny couldn't help but smile, "I love you too, Harry. I have since I was ten years old."
Harry wrapped his arms around her and she sighed and snuggled into his chest. He whispered, "Are you still going to Colin's funeral tomorrow?" Ginny felt tears sliding down her cheeks fast and furiously now, "Yes, I am. I would love for you to come with me." He nodded and then she was full on sobbing for the first time in this whole long week. Harry pulled her as close as he could, and she cried until his shirt was wet through.

XXX

They arrived at the Creevey's house at one o clock, as planned. Harry had apparated them to an area close by and then they had walked the rest of the distance. They were greeted by Mr Creevey and led into the sitting room. They were going to go with the Creevey's to the church as Mrs Creevey said she wanted to speak with them beforehand.

They made small talk with Mr Creevey until Mrs Creevey came downstairs. She wore a knee-length black and white striped dress and she looked puffy-faced from crying. She smiled when she saw Ginny and Harry though. Ginny got up and she held her arms open, "Ginny, it's so good to see you." Ginny hugged her and she then turned to Harry, "Mr Potter, thank you for coming with." Harry nodded and Mrs Creevey said, "Please, sit down."

They did as she asked and then Ginny noticed that she had small package in her hands. She smiled and said swiftly, "I asked you to come here early today because I have something for you that I think Colin would have wanted you to have. In fact, I know he did." Ginny turned to Harry awkwardly and then nodded warily, "Alright…"

Mrs Creevey handed her the package, which Ginny now saw had a note on it that said, "For Ginny." She bit her lip and Mrs Creevey encouraged her, "Open it." Inside was another letter but she didn't want to read it now. Instead, she took out the other contents of the bag. There was a sealed plastic bag which had pictures in it. Ginny opened the bag carefully and she found a tone of photographs of her. She flipped through them and they were all amazing. There were pictures of her flying during Quidditch games which were great action shots of her scoring. There were pictures of her smiling and laughing at the lunch tables. And there were pictures of her during house celebrations which she hadn't even realized he'd been taking. Ginny stared at them in awe. He was so much better at this than she'd ever given him credit for. The pictures just seem to portray her in the best possible way- always laughing, always smiling and always happy. It seemed like he saw her like that always, and she didn't think of herself in that way.

She inhaled sharply when she saw one of her and him together that he'd asked someone to take at a Gryffindor after party. Her hands were wrapped around him in a brotherly way and they were both laughing at some joke or another. Mrs Creevey smiled when she saw it, "He's never looked happier than in that picture." The motion of them laughing was so beautiful that it made Ginny want to cry.
She stared at the picture for longer than necessary. Harry whispered, "Your son was an excellent photographer, Mrs Creevey. He captured Ginny so well." Mr Creevey piped up then, "Yes, she was his muse for a long while. I think you never stopped being his muse, Ginny." Ginny couldn't help but smile, "Well, I miss him so much. I'm finding it so strange without him. I can't even believe he's not here…" she trailed off and felt tears forming in her eyes.

Harry took her hand in his and gently stroked her hand with his thumb to try and calm her. It worked a little but she still felt really upset. Had she honestly not paid so much attention to Colin's work?! How had she been so disinterested in his photography, when it had clearly had been such a huge passion of his?
Ginny sighed and whispered, "They're beautiful, Mrs Creevey. Are you sure you don't want them?" She shook her head and smiled, "No thanks, dear. I have plenty that Colin has taken from over the years. He wanted you to have them."

Ginny thanked her again and she heard a voice inquire, "Are we going, dad?" She glanced to the doorway to find Colin's younger brother, Dennis, standing there. She stood up and whispered, "Hi Dennis. How are you?" Colin's brother looked thin and tired- like he hadn't slept in days. Dennis shrugged and said, "About as good as you'd expect…given the circumstances."

Dennis didn't look unlike his brother. In fact, the resemblance was rather striking! Ginny took a moment to blink and then she said sadly, "I'm really sorry. I'm feeling it too." Dennis issued her a small smile and then is father replied, "Right, we better get going! Harry, Ginny, you are coming with us?" They nodded and Harry replied, "Yes, Sir. If that's alright." Mr Creevey nodded, "It is of course. Come along, this way." They went to the funeral together and it was so hard to hear the words that Dennis said about his brother. He was choking up halfway through. Ginny couldn't bare just watching him, so she got up and stood beside him to help him finish. He smiled at her gratefully, and when the funeral was over, they went outside and Harry held Ginny while she cried. She tried not get his shirt wet.

Five minutes or so later, a girl came up to Ginny. She had long brown, perfectly wavy hair and she said curiously, "Are you Ginny Weasley?" She was perfectly pale, and Ginny wondered who on earth she was. Ginny nodded, "That's me. Who are you?" The girl raised her eyebrows and she replied stiffly, "I'm Colin's best friend. He didn't even mention me to you?" Ginny glanced at Harry, who was eyeing this girl cautiously, "No, I'm sorry what's your name?" The girl glared at Ginny with brilliantly blue eyes, "I'm Nicole. Nice to meet you too," she said rather icily. Ginny frowned and Harry asked, "Did Colin mention her to you, Gin?" Ginny shook her head sadly, "No. Not a word. He never mentioned anything about his friends and family back home. I have to wonder, why?"

Harry took her hand and then called out, "Hey Nicole, it's not Ginny's fault that Colin didn't mention you." Nicole turned slowly on her heel and appraised them, "Yeah, but he always spoke about her." The way she said it so acidly made Ginny feel extremely unwelcome- like this girl totally hated her guts. She supposed if she was in her position, she'd probably feel the same.
Ginny walked up to her and said slowly, "I'm sorry he's never mentioned you to me. But I would like to get to know you, if that's alright with you?" Nicole analyzed her in silence and then mumbled, "Fine. Well, there's a tea after the funeral. If you'd like to chat, we can talk then." She nodded stiffly and then rejoined her group of friends who were waiting for her. Ginny whispered tightly, "I can't believe he never mentioned her. And they were best friends." Harry shrugged, "Maybe we can find out why."

A/N: Hey guys, sorry for not posting this weekend! It was quite a busy one. Anyway, here's there next chapter for you. It's quite a sad one, but I hope it's interesting at least. It's snowing today and it's freezing cold. Brrr. Have a good week everyone. Also to topofthemuffin, thanks for such a kind review. It's those kinds of reviews that make writing this so worthwhile.