Disclaimer: I don't Harry Potter. Enjoy!
There were a few times- actually many times he thought- in his life where he assumed something and then it was completely wrong. This time, he was hoping it was certain. But no, Harry must bring back the Dursley's to their house and tell them Voldemort was dead and they were free of his lot at last. Because Harry needed some stupid closure with the last line of his mum's relative. Harry hated himself sometimes. He was avoiding people like the plague this week and yet, he going to talk to some people who closely resemble the plague because Harry is an idiot.
Sunday after the Snape's funeral, Harry apparated to the Dursley's safe house and saw three people who probably disliked him as much as Voldemort disliked him. They all looked the same, not much changed except Dudley who doesn't look like a whale but a baby whale maybe. Uncle Vernon looked aggravated and irritated with him as always and Aunt Petunia, well she looked at him like he was dirt like always.
"You lot can go home, Voldemort is dead," Harry spoke bluntly not caring to put any references or give any details. He was regretting his decision to come and tell them himself. Harry felt the anger building up the minute he saw them. He thought he'd gotten over that.
"Why didn't that Diddly bloke come to tell us that, I thought you didn't want to see us again?" Uncle Vernon rounding on Harry. Harry just shrugged. He didn't have to tell him the reason.
"Actually, Aunt Petunia, may I have a word with you?" asked Harry. She looked startled but nevertheless, walked to him to an empty room and he began to pace. He had so much rage all of the sudden of seeing her. The last line of his mum's family and she was as welcoming as flobberworms.
"You are the only one out of those two who knew somewhat of what my world consists of and yet, you gave me one of the biggest disadvantages. How could you expect to stomp out someone's fucking magic and think it would work? Hell, your sister was a muggle and she had magic in her and I was born to two of the best wizard and witch," Harry was seething. He was finally able to tell her what he couldn't say for the last seventeen years. He can speak his mind for once and not be worried about being shoved into the damn cupboard or not getting food. He looked at her and she looked petrified. Good, Harry thought.
"You knew my mother. She absolutely loved you. Yet, you decided to be a bitch towards her, but she still loved you. Because you were her sister. She didn't care that you weren't a witch, but you did. You drove your relationship with Lily apart."
"You knew my mother's capability of forgiveness. You knew she was an uncommonly kind person and you took advantage of her and me. If the roles were reversed and you and Vernon been murdered, and she and my dad had to take in Dudley, she'd love him as a second son," Harry let out a breath. "Thank you for doing the bare minimum because of fear, not because of love."
He left her stunned and quite frankly himself. He wasn't planning to say all that, but he knew it was his only chance because there was no way in hell she or he would want to meet each other again. He was meant to mend things, but he didn't think that was possible. There was too much history. And he had every right to be mad. She never defended him, never loved him. He could've been the next Lord Voldemort or worse the way he was raised, but because of his special power of being capable of loving, he didn't go down that path. His rant gave him closure. He was free of the Dursley's. He vowed when he had his own family, to never base any of it on the one he grew up with.
He apparated back to The Burrow and felt somewhat calmer from a couple of minutes ago. He walked slowly to the door and was met by Professor McGonagall of all people. Not that he minded, just surprised.
"Mr. Potter, are you alright?" asked Professor McGonagall. Harry realized he still looked like he was ready to fight another war with how pissed off he was looking.
"I'm alright, just had to deal with some unpleasantries."
Professor McGonagall looked at him strangely, like she wanted to ask, but figured she rather not get involved, "I came here because I would like to offer you the Defense Against Dark Arts Professor job," she said calmly as if that was a normal thing she said every day. Harry was stunned and was a bit speechless. "Now obviously not immediately. You can start next term if you'd like, but I doubt you do seeing your excited expression. Now, if you are still planning to, you can do what you planned, becoming an Auror. The job as professor will always be available to you. I am also here to tell you that Shacklebolt is willing to instate you and Mr. Weasley in the Auror field in September without N.E.W.T.S or the training most Auror's get. I already told Ron, but he seems uncertain"
Harry bit his lip nervously. He hadn't thought much about the future or what he was planning to do or even if he wanted to be an Auror still. He didn't think about his future for a year. Harry thought was in front of him, Voldemort. But he is dead now and Harry can think about the future and what he wants. And what he wanted was peace. It was a lot more fighting being an Auror, but he didn't have to do it forever, he thought.
"I'll think about it, but I will definitely consider the Professor position. Maybe in a few years though," said Harry surprising himself.
"Very well, will you tell Molly I am off?" Harry said yes and headed inside. He found Ron in his room. He was glad that this year, staying in Percy's old room. It was eerie being next to George and Fred's room, it didn't help him with the nightmares. He didn't want to bother Ron with all of his nightmares and screaming. The only down side it was near Ginny's room, who he was trying to avoid. Ron probably enjoys having the room to himself again though.
"Hey Harry, Professor McGonagall talk to you yet? Crazy, a fully authorized Auror at 18 years old. What do you tell McGonagall? I know you probably said yes-" Harry cut him off.
"I haven't said yes yet. It's a lot to think about. Like you said fully authorized Auror at the age of 18. What was Shacklebolt thinking?" Harry wondered.
"He might have not honestly, could've been the aftershock of the war you know?" Ron said. "You have plenty of experiencing dealing with dark wizards, but me?-" Harry cut him off.
Harry knew of Ron's flaw in that he doubts himself and that he'll compare himself to Harry, "Just because you don't have as much experience as I do, doesn't mean you don't have experience. Trust me, you got plenty. You could do it too, you'd be good."
"Thanks mate, I just don't think I want to be involved with dark wizards for the rest of my life you know?" Ron said.
Harry understood. But Harry felt like his work wasn't done yet and wanted to help capture the last of Voldemort's Death Eaters. They were still out there, trying to fulfil what Voldemort failed. He knew and understood how Death Eaters worked. He could do the Auror thing for a few years. Keep his mind occupied, keep him busy. If only he could start now and not September 1st.
"Do you know what you want to do then?" asked Harry.
Ron shrugged. "Not sure yet, at least we got till September to decide right?"
Harry nodded and left Ron's room,"Night, mate."
Ginny laid on her bed staring at the pink ceiling with her eyes closed but not asleep. Sleep wasn't easy to come by and when it did, nightmares came. Nightmares of the last year, of Fred and of course, her never-ending nightmare of the Chambers. Those would usually come with triggers like in her fifth year when she reminded Harry that she'd been possessed by Voldemort before and he had forgotten or when Voldemort came back in her third year. They change though. It is not just her reliving the past. Sometimes it was Fred or Tonks who was lying on the floor of the chambers. A lot of times it is Harry who she is unable to save. He'll end up dying but come back as a ghost and yell at her. Screaming that he is always saving people, why couldn't she saved him. That particular nightmare then usually would accompany another nightmare of Harry being dead from the Forbidden Forest. Those dreams are now intertwined with nightmares of the past year. Of the detentions where the Carrow's letting her be a target for the students to practice the cruciatus curse or dueling with older Slytherins about blood rights.
She bit her lip as she rolled over to her right side. She'd forgotten about her bruised shoulder. She sighed and flipped back to her left side. She was facing the window to where it looked out to the orchard. Though dark now, she remembers the memories. The Quidditch Games she was able to watch and then finally join, the wedding of Bill and Fleur's, the family dinners.
Ginny unable to sleep, got up and walked downstairs quietly. She didn't know how late it was, but she saw George asleep on the couch. She sighed. She knew most everyone has barely been sleeping, but George would often pass out on the couch due to exhaustion. He would not sleep in their old room or his flat. At least he was sleeping where they could keep an eye on him. Ginny grabbed the purple blanket that sat on the armchair and placed it gently on him.
She walked into the kitchen, grab a glass of milk and heat it up with her wand. She didn't think anyone would be in the kitchen until she saw a pair of green eyes staring at her. They have been pretty good at avoiding each other. For example, right now he was avoiding her and the family by eating alone late in the evening. She wanted to talk to him, but he was grieving, so she let him. She let him have his space. She was also afraid whenever she talked to him that he would scream like in her nightmares, which she knows wouldn't rationally, but irrationally anything could happen. Ginny was also afraid that she'd yell at him. Yell for letting her think he was dead, yell for thinking he needs to grieve alone.
"Don't you have to wait a couple of months before doing magic legally?" asked Harry quietly. Ginny shrugged.
"The Ministry hasn't really enforced that rule this summer yet," said Ginny coolly. "Are you going to turn me in? I heard you might be coming an Auror?" Ginny questioned him with a slight smirk.
Harry chuckled quietly and shook his head. "No, that would be a very awkward conversation with your mother about why you weren't here in the morning. And yeah I might, but not for long."
"What will you do after that then if you not going to be an Auror for long?" asked Ginny sitting down across from him.
"The Defense Against the Dark Art's Professor."
"Why not start immediately, you've got the experience," said Ginny. Harry explained to her why.
He told her about cleaning up the rest of Voldemort's Death Eaters. "Everyone expects me to stay an Auror forever, but I've done my part. I fought and fought. I don't want to fight forever. I'm ready to move on," said Harry.
"It makes sense. Though, it'd be fun having Professor Potter as a teacher for next year," smiled Ginny.
Harry smiled. They sat in silence for a few minutes. This is the most they've talked since before the final battle. They had a few polite conversations here and there, but not like they used to. Ginny missed this, she knew in time they would reconcile, but things are going to be a lot slower. She was grateful she at least got the opportunity, as he was actually dead for a bit. And with that realization, she looked at him and decided that she was going to stop avoiding him. She wasn't going to continuously be near him, but she would actively stop avoiding him. They are both alive, so why avoid each other?
"I missed you," Ginny said honestly. She didn't say it in sadness, nor in regret. She did not make it sound like a weepy girl who missed her boyfriend. She just missed him, it was a fact. Ginny figured he ought to know that. He looked at her for a while, and then he got up. He took her glass and washed his dishes. She figured he didn't want to talk anymore, so she'd gotten up to leave, but he grabbed her wrist gently.
"Do you have a minute? I want to show you something," said Harry. Ginny nodded and followed upstairs to Harry's room.
They walked up to the second-floor landing quietly. Most of the resident's in the house were asleep, or they assumed they were. It was two in the morning after all. Harry opened his bedroom door and let Ginny walk in. He got his rucksack out from underneath his bed, pulled out the Marauder's Map and sat on his bed next to Ginny and heard her gasp quietly.
"I've seen that before!" Ginny quietly exclaimed. "I've always wanted to know what that was. I've seen your lot and George and- Fred with it countless of times."
Harry grinned at her observations. "This is that Marauder's Map. My dad and his friends created it when they were in Hogwarts. My dad was Prongs, Remus was Moony, Peter was Wormtail, and Sirius was Padfoot. This has gotten me out of some tight spots," Harry told her. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Harry spoke and pointed his wand. The map revealed Hogwarts and those who were inhabiting it. Since it was Summer, and it was at night, not many were there, but it was enough for Ginny to get the gist. "This Map shows you where someone is in Hogwarts, for example, you'll see Professor McGonagall in her office."
Ginny was amazed, "You know, this map could've helped me, Neville, and Luna out a lot last year."
"Sorry. I had to take it in case we got back and needed it," apologized Harry knowing how useful the map was when staying in Hogwarts.
"Not that I don't appreciate it Harry, but why are you showing me this now?" asked Ginny curiously.
Harry took a deep breath. He reckoned Ron and Hermione knew, but he hasn't told anyone this. Now realizing this, it's going to sound very odd saying it out loud. "When we were away, I used the map, but not because we were near Hogwarts or were planning to be there but, I um… I'd look at your name on the map," Harry rushed out the words to save himself the embarrassment. He looked at Ginny and even in the very dimly light room, he could see that she was slightly blushing. "I told you this because I wanted to tell you that I missed you too," he said that part without being embarrassed or ashamed. He looked at her and her mouth was slightly opened due to being in shock.
Harry took the opportunity and kissed her. He wasn't planning to, but he felt like it was right. He felt her relax against him and he cupped the side of her face. She placed her arms around his neck. He missed this. The taste of her lips. Kissing her was one of the many things he had yearned the most about her, hell it was one of the last things he thought about before he thought he'd died. He felt her run her hand through his very untidy black hair and leaned in more into the kiss, deepening it.
They kissed slowly for a few minutes, taking each other in. Kissing as if they would never get to again, because after his birthday last year, Harry didn't know if he'd get to. She pulled apart after a couple of minutes of kissing.
"We can't Harry," whispered Ginny with her eyes closed. Harry felt his heart drop in his stomach. He kept his eyes close, not wanting to face her. She opened her eyes and placed a gentle hand on his check and he opened his eyes. "Not now. We're still grieving, still dealing with what has happened."
Harry decided that if he was going to fight for a relationship with Ginny, it was now. "We could try?" suggested Harry hopefully.
Ginny bit her lip. "Do you think you can handle a relationship right now? I- I know the last year hasn't been easy for you, and you'll start Auror training soon…" Ginny trailed off.
"I think I can handle it, now it won't be like before-" Ginny cut Harry off.
"Don't you think I know that?" she shook her head.
"I won't be the best boyfriend for the first few months. I'll probably ignore you some days, I'll be moody-" Harry was cut off by Ginny snorting. He ignored her and continued. "I won't always be up for hand holding and snogging. You probably won't know what you'll be getting from me honestly," said Harry. "But I do want to be with you. I- I like you a lot. The question is now that do you want to be with me and will you be able to handle what comes, the good and the bad?" asked Harry.
"If you want to then yes, I want to be with you Harry, I like you a lot too," Ginny smiled and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
The two talked for most of the night as neither were very tired and avoiding sleep to not have nightmares. Ginny laid next to Harry and explained about some of last year. About how she, Neville, and Luna would try to make it as difficult as possible for the Carrow's and Snape. They fought the Slytherin students who fought first with duels and hexes. That they used many of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products to make it as difficult as possible for the Death Eaters who roamed the school. Ginny told him of her future. She told him of wanting to play Quidditch professionally, in which Harry supported a hundred percent. She told him of some of the memories she had of Remus, Tonks, and Sirius which he hadn't heard of.
And in return, he told her somethings. He told her of his last visit with the Dursley. Ginny was full support of him blowing up in front of Petunia. He told her about how guilty he felt at yelling at Remus when he came to Grimmauld Place. He told her of the memories Snape had given to him. Harry told her about the Horcruxes, not by name but the gest of their mission. He told her about his trip to Godric's Hollow and seeing his parent's grave. He talked about Teddy, his godson. Harry realized that Ginny was Teddy's godmother as she pointed out and the two talked about him for a little bit.
It wasn't until the nearly the crack of dawn when the two fell asleep, both not realizing that they were sleeping in the same bed. Not that it'd matter to either of them, as they both slept, feeling at peace for right now. Until the nightmares start to come. But they hoped with sleeping so little that they would be in a blissful state of sleep.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it!