A/N - Please feel free to tell me what you think. Since this is an experiment of sorts, it would be great if you could let me know if you think the characters and situations are believable or not. Also, this story follows the questions I had after Deathly Hallows. If you had any questions, feel free to tell me. Who knows? Maybe it'll impact this story.

And onward to Chapter 6..;D..

Chapter 6 - First and Accusation (Prompts)

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"It's a funny thing, isn't it? Life."

Harry fought the urge to turn back and look at her, her tone of sadness mixed with sarcasm making him curious as to what she was planning to tell him. He could have answered, but the question was too rhetorical for him to be able to give a satisfying answer. Instead, he waited.

"You said you would be coming back. At the end of sixth year," she said softly. "But you didn't, did you?"

Harry stayed painfully still, his confusion rising with every word. Deep down, his compulsion was to disagree with her. He had come back, as was promised. He was alive, after all. He had survived. But he knew that she probably meant something different. Something that only Hermione could probably explain to him by spelling it out emotion by emotion. At times like these he regretted being such a bloke, who wasn't privy to the thought processes of the fairer sex.

The silence stretched for so long before Harry had the courage to shift on the steps and cautiously turn to face her. Her voice had been so strong and unwavering, that seeing her with tears in her eyes threw him. She had just lost her brother; this was not the time or place to have this conversation. He honestly didn't know if she wanted him to say something; and if she did want him to speak, he honestly didn't know what to say.

Ginny smiled sadly, the lifted corners of her lips a sharp contrast to the absolute devastation he could see in her eyes. "I'm sorry I'm such a mess, Harry."

"You're not," he said quickly, a slight attempt to fixing this awkward situation he was placed in. He wanted to say more, but he was afraid that he might say the wrong thing and make her fail miserably in holding back her tears. He waited a moment longer for Ginny to continue, but when she didn't, he felt the pressure to speak weighing heavily on his shoulders. He had to say something. Anything. And it had to be carefully worded as well as sensitive.

Swallowing, as was his habit, Harry tried telling her what was on his mind. "I didn't mean..." He stopped. What was he going to say? That he didn't mean not to come back? That very idea sounded ridiculous when he thought it.

Ginny seemed to see how uncomfortable he was and decided to take pity on him. "I know," she said softly, her eyes kind. No other two words could have made him feel worse.

"What I meant was-"

"I'm not accusing you, Harry," Ginny said sadly. "We were part of a war. It would be naïve to think it wouldn't change things. I just wish I had been there with you. That I hadn't listened to everyone and stayed in Hogwarts instead of joining you, Ron and Hermione." She shrugged lightly. "Maybe things would have been different then."

Harry felt his throat dry up instantly. What was the right thing to say? Why couldn't anything come into his brain?

"Although," Ginny continued softly, her gaze falling to her entwined fingers on her lap, "if I was wishing for anything, that wouldn't be it."

Fred. He would always be on her mind; as well as on his, along with his parents, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Moody, Colin and even Hedwig. She was right; it's hard to come back from that.

"I'm just sad for everything that has happened. I wish it was all different. And I wish that you and I were different." She let out a shaky breath, her fingers twitching slightly.

Harry still felt the impulse to do something, to comfort her or to say something. Finally what came out of his mouth was a weak, "I'm sorry".

Ginny shook her head, denying his apology. "Don't be. It was bound to happen, right?" She smiled at him then, which Harry knew for certain was a facade.

They looked at each other sadly, knowing where they were going from here. This wasn't the time or the place for this conversation; but it was a conversation they needed to have. He could appreciate that.

Harry watched as Ginny stood up before she took in a deep breath and turned to face him once more. "You're my first, Harry. And I can't imagine you being anything but my last." She looked at him sadly. "But I can't wait forever for you to come back." And with those parting words which left a heavy rock in Harry's chest, she turned to leave, bumping into Hermione as she came out to call for him.

Hermione glanced back at Ginny's retreating form before she turned to face him. "Everything alright?"

"I... I don't know," Harry mumbled uncertainly. Honestly, he had no idea.

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