A/N: I did it! I finally finished! It only took me, well, nearly two years . But, I have several reasons that it took this long; but really they are not relevant.

But I woke up this morning after a series of exceedingly strange dreams that somehow had put me in the right frame of mind to write, and thought to myself, "I can finish that today." So here it is, all done, all finished. And yes, there are people and things to thank and all that, so please stay tuned to the end for a word from our sponsors So, read, enjoy, laugh, cry, and PLEASE REVIEW!

Chapter Seven: Mourning and Dawn

The peaceful night wind whipped through the leaves on the Hogwarts grounds. As Ginny settled under an ancient willow, she watched the lithe branches sway to the foreboding tune of an oncoming storm. She smiled to herself as the breeze whipped her hair up around her face. When she was younger, she had hated storms. Her mother told her the typical story that it was just the angels playing quidditch, that the loud cracks were just the sound of beaters bats walloping the bludgers at a band of Lucifer's minions. She hadn't believed it for one instant. So as a storm made the Burrow quiver one dark night, her father had come into her room to find her cowering under the covers. He had settled down on the bed and had placed her on his knee and told her of an ancient folk tale that his grandfather had told him, of how when a storm came, it was time for the passage of the departed into the afterlife. He had said that the thunder was a signal for all souls to gather, and that lightning was a beacon, to show them the way. He had told her that the rain was the departed's way of bidding their loved ones farewell, and letting them know that they were okay, that they had reached their destination and no longer had to wander, waiting for the next storm.

As soon as her father had finished his tale she had jumped off his knee and ran to her window. She had watch the clouds swirling and asked her father if the departed were crying, and that was why it rained. He had come over and placed a careworn hand on her shoulder and told her that they were, but that they were happy that their loved ones could move on, and while their tears were those of sadness, they were a sign of love as they were looking out for the ones left behind, telling them everything was going to be alright. She had always remembered that story and had always watched the storms roll in. Two days after Sirius had died, there was a storm. She had snuck out of her room and onto the grounds to watch it, and to say goodbye. She did the same thing after Dumbledore's death. The storm had come quickly, but she had just assumed that Dumbledore must have been extremely prolific, even in death, and that the powers that be had not wanted to keep him waiting.

Now, after all of the death and destruction, the dead were going to experience immediate passage. It was comforting for her in a way, to think that Fred would be free so soon, but also disheartening to think of the fact that she would have to say good-bye so soon. She gazed at the fleeting half-moon which was now making way for the sun. The pitch black sky was slowly turning into a lighter purple, but there was no pink as there would have been on a typical morning. It was as if the heavens were afraid to show too much joy, that they were in a state of mourning.

Ginny hugged her knees to her chest. She had been in the great hall with everyone, well, almost everyone. She had looked around for Harry, only to not see him again. She knew that he would return, that he was probably finishing up some business matter, but all of a sudden, she had just felt the need to get out. She just needed to go, just be by herself for a little while to absorb. So much had happened in the last 24 hours, and she had never truly had a chance to stop and think, or grieve, or rejoice. So she had come out here to think, and breathe. She rested her head upon her knees and gazed at the choppy waters of the Black Lake. It seemed like lifetime ago that she had watched Harry compete in the second trial of the Triwizard tournament, though in reality, it was only 3 years ago. In retrospect however, it really had been a lifetime ago. Life had been different then. The world was calm, and nobody knew for sure what had happened to Voldemort, or where he was. He wasn't a threat. Innocence had still reigned in Hogwarts. It wouldn't be until the end of that year that the world as Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Harry knew it would be shattered. Back in those days, there biggest problems had been pointless spats between friends and class work. Now, death, destruction, and evil had engulfed their lives for that past 3 years.

But not all of it had been bad. She thought back to her fifth year, just last year, before Dumbledore had been murdered. She remembered beautiful sunny days by the lake, in this very spot, with her and Harry. She had been so blissfully happy back then; it had all seemed too good to be true. There may have been a war going on outside the grounds of Hogwarts, but as far as she was concerned, life was perfectly wonderful. It was not until the night of Dumbledore's death that the she felt truly flung into the war. And now…

Well life could start again, but it would never be the same. Nothing would.

Ginny was started out of her reverie by the sound of a twig snapping. She sprung up and spun to face to source of the sound with her wand drawn, only to find herself face to face with Harry Potter.

He looked at her drawn wand with apprehension and a hint of a grin. She lowered her wand and slipped it back into her jacket pocket.

"Sorry," she said apologetically, "force of habit."

Harry grinned, "No, I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to startle you."

Ginny sighed as she settled back down, "It's not your fault. I'm easily startled these days."

Harry sat down next to her, "That's not a bad thing. The difference between easily startled and ignorance could very well be the difference between life and death."

Ginny chuckled half-heartedly, "You sound like Mad-eye."

Harry gazed at the lake as he responded quietly, "sometimes I think things would be better if we all thought a little like Moody."

They sat side by side for a while, each engrossed in their own thoughts until Harry broke the silence.

"So, why are you out here and not inside with everyone else, celebrating?"

Ginny heaved a deep sigh before answering, "I guess I just don't really feel much like celebrating. But really because I needed some time to think about things."

Harry glanced at her. "Like what?" he queried

"Like, the war finally being over, all of my friends that died, losing my brother, almost losing you…"

Harry placed a hand on her knee. "Ginny," he said softly, "we knew people were going to die. I'm not saying that it makes it any better," he added quickly as Ginny had turned and looked at him, "but I am saying that they all knew the risk. Didn't you think about the possibility that you might not come out of this alive?" Ginny nodded, she had, for over a year, ever since that night when Dumbledore had died, perhaps even two years, after the battle in the Department of Mysteries. Harry continued,

"While that doesn't make it any better that they died, at least they were fighting for something that they believed in. For something that we all believed in. And at least they didn't die alone. Fred was surrounded by those that he loved, and those who loved him."

"In the end, we are all alone." Ginny quoted, but from where, she could not remember.

"Yes, but it is in the moment before we die, when we feel it, when we know we are going to die that it counts. And in that moment, Fred was not alone. After that moment, we don't know anything."

Ginny looked up at Harry, "did you really die?" she asked quietly.

He hesitated for a split second as if he was not sure how she would handle it.

"Yes", he answered.

"Were you alone?"

He seemed surprised by her question.

"No, no I wasn't alone."

"Who was with you?"

"Well, Voldemort…"

Ginny punched him in the shoulder, not particularly lightly, "Death Eaters don't count."

"Oh, okay then. Hagrid was there. And…" Harry hesitated before finishing, not sure how Ginny would take it, or if she would even believe him.

"Who else was there Harry?" she asked gently

"My parents."

"Your parents?"

"Yes, my parents, and Sirius, and Remus."

"But, how?"

Harry turned to look at her, "Ginny, have you ever heard the tale of the Three Brothers?"

"Yes, mum told me when I was young."

"You remember the second brother who wanted to live with the girl who had died?"

"Yes, I always found that a bit creepy."

Harry chuckled, "Well, the stone that he uses is real. It's called the resurrection stone."

Ginny looked at him blankly for a moment before comprehending, "Harry, do you mean…"

Harry nodded, "yes, it was in the snitch that Dumbledore left me."

Ginny just nodded, deciding to take it for what it was and not question too much. But there was still one question that she wanted an answer to.

"Harry?"

"Yes Ginny?"

"Why didn't you say goodbye."

He looked at for a minute. He had been afraid that this question might come up. "Because I knew you would have talked me out of it."

Ginny stood up and looked down on him. "Bloody right I would have."

Harry winced, "Ginny…"

"No, I don't think you understand. Do you have any idea how many people you hurt? Did you ever stop to think of how all the people that loved you would take it? Did you think of Hagrid, who had to watch you die? Did you think of McGonagall, and all of the other professors who had taught you for six years?"

Harry tried to interrupt again, but Ginny was on a roll.

"What about all of your friends? Neville? Dean? Luna? What about Ron and Hermione, who have loved you and been through everything with you since the day you all met seven years ago? Did you bother to say goodbye to them, the ones who left school and their families to help you on your quest to Merlin knows where? And what about the Order? Haven't they been there for you through it all? Haven't they sacrificed enough to help you, you had to go and die with out even thanking them? What about my family? Hadn't already been hurt enough, after having lost one son? Do you have any idea how much it hurt my mother to think that you were dead? You go off for a year, dragging one of her other sons with you, don't make any contact, don't even say goodbye when you left in the middle of Bill's wedding? And she still thinks of you as her son, loves you like one. Cried for you like one. My father cared for you. He gave you advice, helped cover up for Ron when you left, put himself at risk everyday at the Ministry because it was known that he would have helped you, and he didn't deny it. He turned his back on one of his own sons, his flesh and blood, when he didn't believe you. And tonight he had regained all three of his estranged sons, only to lose two. He wept for you just as he had for Fred. Yet you don't think he deserved enough consideration for at least a goodbye? And me. I have loved you, and put up with all of your trouble and schemes, and your knack for getting yourself into danger since the day I met you. Even before we dated, I had loved you. I allowed you to break up with me because it would put your mind at peace to think that you weren't putting me in danger, even though I was in danger everyday for having known you enough to believe you. And yet, I don't get a goodbye? What does that say? It leaves me wondering if you ever even loved me!"

Ginny stopped and took a deep breath as she looked at Harry. He had stood when trying to get her to stop and now stood still next to the swaying willow tree. His body language was defeated, and his facial expression emanated shock and shame. Ginny had just voice nearly every doubt and guilt he had ever had, and others that he had never even thought of. Ginny gazed at him for a moment before flinging herself onto him sobbing.

"I thought that you were dead, and I didn't think that I could deal with it, especially not after having already lost Fred." She sobbed into his shoulder.

Harry looked exceptionally confused, but pulled her closer and stroked her hair while she sobbed. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear,

"I didn't say goodbye because I knew you would try to talk me out of it. And I didn't want you to do that, because I didn't think that I would have the strength to walk away from you. From anyone of those people that you named. I didn't think that I would have had the strength to walk away from anyone, but especially you, because I want to be with you forever, and I didn't want forever to end today."

Ginny stopped crying and looked at him.

"I love you Harry," she said, "but, I don't know if Ron's ready to here you say any of that. It might just kill him."

Harry laughed and pulled her close again and inhaled the flowery sent of her hair.

"We don't have to tell him yet." He chuckled.

"Good." Ginny muttered into his shoulder, "We can keep this to ourselves for a while. Just promise me one thing."

"And what would that be?"

"That forever can start today."

Harry smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

They stayed that way for a while, embraced under the willow tree, as the storm clouds swirled above. Finally Harry released her and looked down into her bright eyes.

"We should probably head back in before they send the cavalry searching for us." He stated with a slight chuckle. Ginny nodded and took his hand as they head back to the castle together. As they were nearing the steps there was a giant peal of thunder. Ginny stopped to look as a double fork of lightning hit the ground by the Forbbiden Forest. As the rain started to fall, she slipped her hand out of Harry's as he was heading up the steps.

"Ginny? What are you doing?" He turned and asked her.

"Saying goodbye." She answered.

Harry stepped off of the stairs and joined her as she gazed up at the heavens. She closed he eyes and thought of all the people who had died. Collin. Tonks. Remus. Fred. She whispered a goodbye to each and felt another tear escape and join the rain as it ran down her face. When she finished there was another peal of thunder. She smiled to herself and turned to Harry.

"Let's go inside." She said, holding out her hand. He smiled and took it, and they walked back up the steps to the castle together.

Fin.

A/N: well it's done! Sad, but good in the fact that you no longer have to wonder. And neither do I, since I didn't know how it was going to end until about three minutes ago. So thanks have to go to;

thejealousone for his advice, and some beta-ing (in chapter three I believe), on the earlier parts of my story while I was in process of beta-ing his. He was also good for the occasional funny e-mail.

All my readers for sticking with me, for enjoying this story, and for all of their thoughtful reviews. Keep 'em coming!

So the end is here, it's bittersweet, and now I must say ciao.

- EmeraldFire512-